| NEW YORK — Oct. 29, 2025 — Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks and New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 8 (October 23, 26-27).
OFFENSE: RB JAMES COOK, BUFFALO BILLS
DEFENSE: LB JORDYN BROOKS, MIAMI DOLPHINS
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR ISAIAH WILLIAMS, NEW YORK JETS
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James Cook, Jordyn Brooks & Isaiah Williams Named Week 8 AFC Players of the Week
Bama Survives Scare in Columbia: Tide Show Resilience
Going into the game, many fans believed that this game would end up being one of the easier ones for the Alabama Tide, but they were in for a very rude awakening. The Tide barely escaped Williams-Brice Stadium with the victory. The Gamecocks started off on offense and drove down the field on a drive that consisted of 15-plays to get a field goal.
Bama’s offense would then go three and out, and the defense decided to take scoring the team’s first points into their own hands. After LaNorris Sellers’s pass is bobbled and picked off by DaShawn Jones who would then return it for a pick six. Both teams would proceed to go three and out. South Carolina would attempt a 47-yard field goal but would end up missing it.
Photo Cred: Alabama
Bama’s offensive struggles would continue as Ty Simpson would end up getting stripped on a sack by Vicari Swain that would be recovered by the Gamecocks and turn into a field goal on the other end, bringing the score to 7-6. Bama’s offense would then put together a drive that saw running back Daniel Hill catch a pass along the sideline that was good for 41 yards. Bama would finish the drive with a touchdown after Simpson hit tight end Josh Cuevas with a pass on 4th down. The half would end with the Tide winning 14-6.
Coming out of halftime, the tide changed drastically for Alabama. On their first drive they would turn the ball over after Ryan Williams dropped a pass on 4th down, leading directly to a one play 54-yard passing touchdown from the Gamecock’s offense after Sellers found receiver Nyck Harbor behind the Tide’s coverage. Bama’s offense would continue to struggle after the Gamecocks would continue to force three and outs. South Carolina would then put together an 11-play drive that would end in a field goal and result in them taking the lead 15-14.
Bama would go on to punt again, and their misfortunes would continue to the special teams after South Carolina is forced to punt on their next drive. The punt takes an odd bounce and hits a Bama player on the leg and would be recovered by the Gamecocks. This mistake would lead to a touchdown for the Gamecocks after Sellers would run in for a touchdown, making it an 8-point game.
At this point ESPN gave the Tide an 18% chance of winning the game, the same percentage that South Carolina had to win going into the game. The Bama offense would then put together an eight-minute drive that would end after Simpson threw a pass to Germie Bernard for the touchdown and would run a trick play that freed up Cuevas for the two-point conversion, this tied the score at 22-22.
South Carolina would receive the ball with about two minutes left on the clock looking to drive down the field and score a late game score to take the lead and upset the Tide, but the Tide defense had other plans. On a designed QB run, Sellers is wrapped up by Tim Keenan III and Deontae Lawson would make the heads up play and strip Sellers of the football, and it would end up being recovered by the Tide. Bama would then drain some of the clock and find themselves facing a 3rd and 10, they would then run a direct snap to Bernard who would run past the defense for a late touchdown bringing the lead up to 29-22 and ending the game.
During Kalen DeBoer’s opening statement in the post-game interview, he brought up what it took his team to win this game when he said, “the story of the game is resiliency, doesn’t matter how you win and it ain’t going to be pretty all the time, especially when you go on the road in a SEC game.”
The Tide will have a bye next week and prepare to take on the LSU Tigers at home. They hope to have a game like the matchup that took place last year when the Tide went into Death Valley and slayed the Tigers in front of their home crowd in a game that ended with a score of 42-13.
Auburn’s Atkins is Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week
DALLAS (FWAA) – Linebacker Xavier Atkins led Auburn’s defense with a career-high 13 tackles Saturday, including a pair of sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss as the Tigers came from behind to take a 33-24 win at Arkansas. For his play leading the Tigers in tackles for a fifth straight SEC game, Atkins earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 25 by the Football Writers Association of America.
Each week during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. This is the first time since 2006 for an Auburn player to earn the weekly award and third time overall.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 20. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2025 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Players may be added or removed from the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list during the season. If a player isn’t already on the preseason watch list, including Atkins this week, each week’s honored player is added at that time.
Atkins, a 6-0, 210-pound sophomore from Houston, had a command performance against Arkansas as the Tigers’ defense held firm in the second half to allow the comeback. Atkins’ 13 tackles were the most by an Auburn player in just over three seasons since Owen Pappoe had 16 against Ole Miss on Oct. 15, 2022.
Auburn’s 17-0 scoring margin in the fourth quarter sealed the game at the end of a 23-3 rally in the second half. With Atkins leading the way, Auburn’s defense held the Hogs to only five first downs and 28 rushing yards in the second half.
It was a continuance of a torrid defensive streak for the inside linebacker in his first season at Auburn after playing his freshman season at LSU. Atkins leads the SEC with 13.0 TFL’s and is tied for second in the league with 61 tackles and 7.0 sacks. He has 4.0 sacks in the last two games.
In five SEC games, Atkins leads the league with 9.0 TFL (2.5 more than any other player) and ranks second in tackles (49) and third in sacks (5.0).
It is also Atkins’ second game with 4.0 tackles for loss this season, marking him as the first Tiger since 2005 (Stanley McClover) to have multiple games with 4.0+ TFL in a season. Two of the SEC’s four defensive performances with 4.0 TFL’s now belong to Atkins.
Auburn has not had a Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner. Its last finalist was defensive tackle Derrick Brown in 2019, with Nick Fairly (DT, 2010) and Carlos Rogers (CB, 2004) as other former finalists. The Tigers’ last weekly honoree was defensive end Quentin Groves on Oct. 14, 2006, following a 27-17 win over Florida.
The Tigers host Kentucky on Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on the SEC Network.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club’s scholarship efforts.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. For over 121 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia, to approximately 60 million consumers. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE”. More information about the Company is available at cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Iowa’s Jones is Outland Trophy National Player of the Week
DALLAS (FWAA) – Iowa dominated Minnesota early on and continued to pound the ball throughout its 41-3 win over their Big Ten rival. In the middle of the offensive line that graded as the country’s best last weekend is center Logan Jones. For his role in keeping the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy in Iowa for another season, Jones is the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 25, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
This is the third season for the FWAA to select an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week as part of the NCFAA’s weekly national honors from 12 awards. The recipient of the 2025 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 21, 2026.
The weekly winners are added to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list going forward. Jones is already a member of the 2025 watch list.
The home state-grown Jones, a 6-3, 302-pound center from Council Bluffs had the offensive line working well, and fast. The Hawkeyes (6-2) had a 128-12 advantage in total yards in the first quarter and 186-44 by halftime. Iowa scored on its opening drive for the first time since Week 3, and its 31 first-half points were the most it has scored in a half since 2021.
Jones, a graduate student starting his 46th career game who has been a game captain each week this season, helped the Hawkeyes allow only one pressure against a Minnesota defense that registered nine sacks against Nebraska in its previous game.
Iowa’s offensive line earned the highest grade in the FBS by Pro Football Focus from the game, and Jones is the No. 1-rated center by the service. With Jones in the middle, all five Hawkeye offensive linemen who played at least 40 snaps earned pass blocking grades above 80 percent against Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes have outrushed their opponents in seven of the team’s eight games and have 200 or more rushing yards in four of their eight games.
Jones’ protection along with the rest of the line has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski become a rushing threat. Gronowski rushed for a touchdown against Minnesota, marking an eighth straight games with a rushing score that is a Big Ten record for the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by a quarterback. His 11 rushing scores this season tie Wilburn Hollis for the most rushing touchdowns by an Iowa quarterback in program history.
Jones was recognized as an All-Big Ten lineman following the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Iowa has a proud history with the Outland Trophy with four former winners and two previous finalists. Its last finalist was the player Jones replaced as the starting center, Tyler Linderbaum in 2021. Hawkeyes defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon was also a finalist in 2020. Iowa’s last Outland Trophy winner was offensive tackle Brandon Scherff in 2014.
The Hawkeyes are idle this weekend. They will host Oregon on Sat., Nov. 8.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
The Outland Trophy, celebrating 80 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. For more information about the NCFAA, visit ncfaa.org.
Werner Enterprises, Inc. delivers superior truckload transportation and logistics services to customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada. With 2022 revenues of $3.3 billion, an industry-leading modern truck and trailer fleet, more than 14,000 talented associates and our innovative Werner EDGE technology, we are an essential solutions provider for customers who value the integrity of their supply chain and require safe and exceptional on time service. Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services as well as Logistics services that include 1truckload brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. As an industry leader, Werner is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Werner Enterprises common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WERN.” For further information about Werner, visit the company’s website at werner.com.
The Greater Omaha Sports Committee, founded in 1977, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, consisting of more than 1,300 men and women from the City of Omaha, the State of Nebraska, and others. The Committee serves to communicate, develop, initiate and promote sports activities in the Greater Omaha sports area. In addition to the Outland Trophy Award Events and Dinner, the Greater Omaha Sports Committee promotes high school, college, and professional sports in the Greater Omaha area and the Midwest. For more information contact Bob Mancuso Jr., Chairman at bmancuso@showofficeonline.com or see showofficeonline.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Maxwell Award Player of the Week
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Week 9 NFL Preview and Capsules
NEW YORK — Oct. 28, 2025 — Entering Week 9, 13 teams have recorded at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970, trailing only 1986 (16 teams) and 2020 (14).
Three teams – Baltimore, Miami and the New York Jets – earned victories in Week 8 after entering the week with one-or-fewer wins. The Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure their first win of the season.
Entering 2025, teams had lost 135 consecutive games when trailing by 15-or-more points entering the fourth quarter, including the postseason – there have been four such wins so far in 2025 (Buffalo in Week 1, Tennessee Week 5, Denver in Week 7 and the New York Jets in Week 8).
For Week 9 capsules, click here.
Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Week 9:
- 2024 AFC Championship Game rematch: When the Buffalo Bills (5-2) host the Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), it will mark the ninth matchup, including the postseason, between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. The Bills have won the past four regular-season matchups, while the Chiefs have won the past four postseason meetings, including the 2024 AFC Championship game in Kansas City. In Week 11 last season in Buffalo, the Bills defeated the Chiefs, 30-21, to hand Kansas City its first loss of the season after a 9-0 start.
- Both Kansas City and Buffalo enter Week 9 with a top-five offense, as the Bills ranks third overall with 382.9 yards per game and the Chiefs ranks fifth with 378.3 yards per game. Defensively, Buffalo (161.9 passing yards per game allowed) and Kansas City (177.8) lead the AFC in passing defense.
- Mahomes is tied for first with 17 touchdown passes this season and with at least three touchdown passes on Sunday, it will mark Mahomes’ fourth consecutive game with at least three touchdown passes, a feat he has only accomplished twice in his career (2018, 2021). Mahomes has 46 career games with at least three touchdown passes and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (46 games) for the most games with at least three touchdown passes by a player in his first nine seasons all-time.
- Last week, Allen registered his 46th career game with both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown, surpassing Cam Newton (45 games) for the most such games in NFL history. It also marked Allen’s 81st regular-season win since entering the NFL in 2018, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (80 wins) and Ben Roethlisberger (80) for the fourth-most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first eight seasons in NFL history.
- Leaders in the AFC: Three of the four division leaders in the AFC – Denver (6-2), Indianapolis (7-1) and New England (6-2) – have at least six wins this season and have winning streaks of four-or-more games. The two NFC teams with six wins – Philadelphia and Tampa Bay – each have a Week 9 bye.
- Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4) (1p.m. ET, FOX): The Broncos, who lead the NFL with 36 sacks and have allowed a league-low eight sacks this season, are the first team in NFL history with at least 35 sacks and 10-or-fewer sacks allowed in its first eight games of a season. Denver has won five consecutive games entering Week 9, including one-score road victories over Philadelphia (Week 5) and the New York Jets (Week 6, in London).
- Denver quarterback Bo Nix tied his career high with four touchdown passes last week in his 25th career start. Nix has seven games with at least three touchdown passes since 2024, fourth-most among AFC quarterbacks, trailing only Joe Burrow (10 games), Lamar Jackson (eight) and Patrick Mahomes (eight).
- The Texans have won three of their past four games, including home victories over Tennessee (Week 4) and San Francisco (Week 8). Houston leads the NFL in scoring defense (14.7 points per game allowed) and total defense (266.9 yards per game allowed) this season.
- Indianapolis Colts (7-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Indianapolis enters the game with a 7-1 record, their best start since 2009, when they started 14-0. Entering Week 9, the Colts rank first in the league in total offense (385.3 yards per game), touchdowns (32) and points per game (33.8). The last time the Colts finished a season leading the NFL in yards per game was 1976.
- Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor totaled 174 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 21 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in Week 8, becoming the fifth player since 2000 and first since 2006 (Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson) with at least three scrimmage touchdowns in four games in a season. Taylor is the only player with four games of 100-or-more rushing yards this season and leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,056), rushing yards (850), scrimmage touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12) this season.
- In his first season with Indianapolis, quarterback Daniel Jones has recorded career bests in passing yards (2,062), completion percentage (71.2), passer rating (109.5) and yards per attempt (8.5) through the first eight weeks. Since 1970, Jones is the eighth quarterback to win at least seven of his first eight starts with a team, among the team’s first eight games of the season.
- Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4) (1p.m. ET, FOX): The Broncos, who lead the NFL with 36 sacks and have allowed a league-low eight sacks this season, are the first team in NFL history with at least 35 sacks and 10-or-fewer sacks allowed in its first eight games of a season. Denver has won five consecutive games entering Week 9, including one-score road victories over Philadelphia (Week 5) and the New York Jets (Week 6, in London).
- Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2) (1 p.m. ET, FOX): The Week 9 meeting will mark the 127th all-time matchup between the division rivals, with the Vikings leading the series 80-45-2. In Week 18 last season, the Lions defeated the Vikings, 31-9, to secure the NFC North division title. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff has recorded a 116.4 passer rating and 74.9 completion percentage at home this season, both the second-highest mark in the league, trailing only New England quarterback Drake Maye.
- Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson surpassed 8,000 receiving yards last week, becoming the youngest player ever (26 years and 129 days old) and fastest player in the Super Bowl era (84 games) to reach the mark. In 10 career games against Detroit, he has recorded 72 receptions for 1,208 yards, his most receiving yards against any opponent.
- Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown enters the game tied for the league-lead in touchdown receptions with seven, six of which have come in Detroit’s three home games this season.
- Atlanta Falcons (3-4) at New England Patriots (6-2) (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Patriots have won five consecutive games entering Week 9 and can win six straight games for the first time since 2021. New England ranks fourth in the NFL in total defense, allowed 18.9 points per game and are one of four teams, along with Houston, Kansas City and Seattle, to allow 20-or-fewer points in six games this season.
- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye became the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five of his team’s first eight games of a season. In Week 9, he can become the first player under the age of 24 and fourth player in NFL history to record at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games.
- Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5) (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC, Sunday Night Football): Week 9 will mark the first time that Seattle and Washington have met on Sunday Night Football and just the third primetime meeting between the two clubs (Week 5, 2014 and Week 12, 2021, both on Monday night). Since 2024, the Seahawks are 10-1 (.909 winning percentage) on the road under head coach Mike Macdonald, the highest road winning percentage in the NFL.
- Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 819 receiving yards this season and has recorded at least eight receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past three games. At 23 years old, he is the youngest player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first seven games of a season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce (833 receiving yards in 1995) as the only players under the age of 24 with at least 800 receiving yards in their first seven games of a season.
- Originally selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by Seattle, Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner faces his former team for the first time since 2022, when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. In 11 seasons with the Seahawks, Wagner totaled 1,560 tackles, with at least 100 tackles in each season. He enters Week 9 ranked second in tackles this season (83) and has the most tackles (524) in primetime since entering the league in 2012, nearly double the next player (Eric Kendricks – 292 tackles). Since 2000, Wagner is the only player in the league to record at least 500 tackles in primetime games.
Media Contact: Sam Drexler, NFL; Sam.Drexler@NFL.com
Identity Crisis: Cardinals Enter Bye Week Searching for Direction
After a devastating loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, the Arizona Cardinals have their first bye week. This could not have come at a more perfect time, as the identity of this organization has been stripped through 7 games. Arizona went into this season with a new spark that had not been seen in this franchise in years, with an exciting defense and a versatile offense that the front office hoped would push Kyler Murray to his full potential.
Photo Cred: KNBR
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case — every Cardinals game this season has turned into a nail-biter, each decided by a single possession.. They are on a 5-game losing streak with a combined score of 13 points. After the loss to the Packers, head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters, “We do need to get rested up, I think physically, mentally (and) emotionally. I told them today we’ve got some projects we’ve got going on and (to) come back here Monday with a plan of action to get better, coaches, and players. Full steam ahead when we get back in here on Monday.”
One glaring issue Arizona needs to fix is its fourth-quarter defense — or lack thereof — and its ability to finish games. Through the first seven weeks, the Cardinals have surrendered 78 points in the first three quarters combined. Respectable numbers — until you look at the fourth quarter, where they’ve given up a staggering 76 points alone. What was supposed to be the team’s backbone has instead become its breaking point, with late-game collapses turning winnable contests into heartbreaking losses.
Efforts to fix Arizona’s late-game meltdowns have been underwhelming, to say the least. The defensive adjustments have been few, and the ones they’ve tried have fallen flat. If the Cardinals hope to finally close out games, they may need to shake things up — dialing up more blitzes and turning up the pressure when it matters most. Allowing the opposing quarterback to get comfortable late is a problem that the Cardinals have not been able to fix, and showing pressure is a great way to prevent a rhythm offense.
Kyler Murray is expected to make his long-awaited return under the bright lights of Monday
Night Football in Week 9 against Dallas — and all eyes will be on him. The pressure couldn’t be higher. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has made it clear: if Murray’s healthy, he’s the guy. Now it’s up to Kyler to prove why. This matchup won’t just test his readiness — it’ll reveal what this Cardinals team truly became during the bye week and what moves need to be made for next season. With the most likely being a new quarterback through the draft.
The Cardinals have one of the hardest schedules remaining after week 7, and it puts the franchise in an awkward spot.
Photo Cred: Sportsnet
The NFC West might be the toughest battleground in football this season,
with Arizona staring up at a three-way logjam — every other team sitting at five wins and
showing no signs of slowing down. This puts Arizona in a potential selling position, especially as quarterback questions have risen. Although this seems like an easy decision, Jonathan Gannon, as the head coach in Arizona, has a 14-27 record so far. What was supposed to be a franchise reset after Kliff Kingsbury’s firing hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. Constant quarterback injuries and inconsistency have kept the Cardinals from finding any real footing. If another rebuilding year is on the horizon, Gannon’s seat could start heating up fast as he approaches the end of his third season at the helm.
Chicago’s Promising Start Signals Bigger Things Ahead
Season of mediocrity
Following a disappointing loss on April 16th, 2025 to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament, all Bulls fans could do was put their heads down. The Bulls ended the season 39-43 and for the third straight season the Bulls had made the play in. And for the third straight season they failed to win their way to the postseason. Head coach Billy Donovan has had great success in his career at both the pro and collegiate levels, but he has only made the playoffs once in his five seasons as head coach of Chicago.
Photo Cred: SI
Going into the offseason, Chicago didn’t make many moves to bolster their roster. They drafted Noa Essegue with the 12th pick of the 2025 draft, but he is viewed as a long term, raw prospect. Otherwise, the Bulls traded Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, and re-signed Josh Giddey and Tre Jones and waived roster fillers. That’s about it. They didn’t get rid of any of their bad contracts: Patrick Williams, Zach Collins, and others. While also failing for the third summer in a row to move Nikola Vucevic. The one promising part of the roster is incoming second-year player Matas Buzelis. The rookie averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, but had a strong second half after the All-Star break, averaging 13 points and 5 rebounds per game.
Strong Start Going into this season, the Bulls were ranked 24th by ESPN. The Bulls didn’t make any improvements and were expected to start losing right away. But to start the season, the Bulls have been playing in another gear. The season and home opener against the Detroit Pistons was as fun of a first game as Bulls fans could have hoped for. The Bulls started the game up 16 in the first quarter, and ultimately won 115-111. Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey had double-doubles and Matas Buzelis had 21 points. But going into Orlando last Saturday, the Bulls were expected to lose to the Magic, as they were six point underdogs. But the Bulls fought, holding a two point lead at halftime. After a tightly fought third quarter, the Bulls pulled away. The Bulls outscored the Magic by nine in the fourth quarter and won 110-98 overall. Against all odds, the Bulls are 2-0.
How Did This Happen?
Although the Chicago Bulls didn’t make many changes to their roster, the media overlooked the consistency and quality of role players getting minutes for Chicago. What they lack in starpower, they make up for with depth. Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey are both leading the offense like they did last year. While Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter have started the season with hot hands. Matas Buzelis had an impressive 21 points in the first game before fouling out early on Saturday.
But if there was a major reason for them to be 2-0 to start the season. It would be because of their defense. The Bulls allowed teams to score 119.7 points per game last year, and to begin this season they have only allowed 104.5 points per game. The overall team defense and rotations are better. Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams have provided some great defense on
some physical wings the last two games and Tre Jones currently leads the team in assists. Overall, everybody is doing their share.
Photo Cred: Chicago Tribune
Is This Sustainable?
To Keep it Short, No. The Bulls have had a lot of promise to start this season. Not to mention they are still without Coby White who is the best scorer on the team. But the Bulls shouldn’t and aren’t in win now mode yet. This season is about seeing what fits the Bulls core and who to keep moving forward. Nikola Vucevic is in the last year of his contract and won’t be re-signed, while Kevin Huerter and Zach Collins are on expiring contracts. I expect the Bulls to even out to right around where they were last year, ending around the 8-10 range, but this time in a different position. I believe they will have shown promise all throughout the year, and it will be clear the team is destined to piece it together soon. I think they will finally have an all star this year and it will be clear Chicago is back.
Who Should Replace Brain Kelly at LSU?
Well the fours of Brian Kelly and LSU came to a close. The LSU Tigers have relieved the coach of his duty after a 5-3 start and an embarrassing second half blowout to Texas A&M in which they led at halftime. Kelly was 33rd head coach at LSU, replacing Ed Orgeron. Kelly was 34 and 14 with the Tigers. Kelly cited looser academic restrictions and a more football rich recruiting region in the south.
Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports
His contract more than tripled his previous salary, from his 2021 salary of $2.67 million to $9 million in 2022. His buyout was the second largest in college football history in 54 million. Not a bad pay day to not come back to work. The previous 3 coaches of Nick Sabon, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron all won a national championship. Let’s see who could be the next to try:
Lane Kiffin, Head Coach, Ole Miss
Kiffin’s name has come up with every big name coaching opening No. 1 target in Florida’s search to replace Billy Napier. But LSU has more recent success than Flordia. He’s 51-19 with the Rebels since 2020.
Eli Drinkwitz, Head Coach, Missouri
Drinkwitz could be ready to take a step up with the LSU job. He’s 44-26 at Missouri. But he’s 27-7 since the start of 23. He could thrive at recruiting, the NIL Money. and transfer portal era.
Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Tulane
LSU could turn into a rising star. He turned Tulane around and is 15-6 since taking over. He led the team appearance in the American Conference title game last season. He also went 23-4 at Troy from 2022-23. With a sense of how the region works, he could recruit the state and win at a high level.
Dabo Swinney, Head Coach, Clemson
Clemson is no longer a perennial title contender. Swinney has been at odds with Clemson the last few years for his refusal to adapt to the NIL and transfer portal. It pay be time for a fresh start and reset as LSU will push him outside his comfort zone.
NFL and lululemon Announce Elevated Fan Apparel Collection Exclusively Available Across NFL Shop, Fanatics and Team Shops
| Collection Launches Oct. 28 and Will Offer Fans of all 32 NFL Teams an Elevated Selection of lululemon Apparel and Accessories
NFL Legends Including Hall of Famer Joe Montana Featured in Brand Campaign to Celebrate the Collection NEW YORK & VANCOUVER – Oct. 27, 2025 – The National Football League and lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced an elevated apparel collection for fans of all 32 NFL teams, marking the first time the retailer has offered officially licensed products for the NFL or any of its teams. The collection will feature iconic lululemon pieces across men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, all proudly showcasing signature team marks. “Together with Fanatics, we are introducing an elevated collection that redefines modern fan apparel and is uniquely designed for everyday comfort,” said Renie Anderson, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at the NFL. “lululemon boasts a loyal fan base built on culture, meaningful connections and innovation, qualities that thoroughly reflect the NFL.” Beginning Oct. 28, fans can shop the new collection on NFLShop.com, Fanatics.com, and team retail locations, including online and at stadium retail stores. In addition, the collection will be available internationally on local NFL Shop sites. “True NFL fans wear their pride. For them, fan gear is more than apparel, it’s a badge of loyalty and a way to instantly connect with a community that is like a family,” said Celeste Burgoyne, president, Americas and global guest innovation, lululemon. “We looked to honor that passionate devotion, and are thrilled to be part of that ritual found throughout the NFL season.” The assortment features core lululemon products from its Steady State men’s franchise, along with signature women’s styles from Define, Scuba, and Align, among others. These iconic pieces have become staples of the lululemon portfolio that fans have come to love across men’s, women’s and accessories. To reinforce the connection between sport, fashion, fandom and community, NFL Legends, including Joe Montana, Nick Foles, Ryan Clark and Emmanuel Acho, are featured in the “Welcome to the Fam Club” brand campaign, spotlighting the families behind the athletes to commemorate the launch of the collection. Media Contacts: Liana Bailey, liana.bailey@nfl.com, Lindsey Cohen, lcohen4@lululemon.com About lululemon lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU) is a technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company for yoga, running, training, and most other activities, creating transformational products and experiences that build meaningful connections, unlocking greater possibility and wellbeing for all. Setting the bar in innovation of fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities around the world for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit lululemon.com. |
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