HOUSTON — No, he didn’t regress. He just had a rough game.

It happens. Ask Tom Brady — not that anyone is saying Jared Goff is Tom Brady.  

The best quarterbacks throw interceptions and miss receivers and throw the ball into the turf, as Goff did more times than anyone can remember him doing all season. The best quarterbacks lose games, except for — apparently — Patrick Mahomes. The best quarterbacks have off nights. 

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Leo Chenal knew it wouldn’t hurt to pray. The Kansas City Chiefs undefeated season and franchise-record winning streak were poised to bite the dust as Wil Lutz lined up for a 35-yard field goal with one second on the clock at Arrowhead Stadium. 

For all the close calls survived this season, the Chiefs were so doomed. Or so it seemed. 

Then came what Chenal would later describe as “complete shock.” 

The third-year linebacker was among a bevy of rushers who crashed through the protection from Lutz’s left side. Chenal dove, stretched and blocked the kick as time expired. The football hit just below the palm of his right hand. And that was that. In surviving the Broncos, 16-14, the Chiefs (9-0) found yet another way to win in what has been a season of inexplicable perfection. 

“I was really praying for something to happen,” Chenal said. “That moment is so heavy. There’s a second on the clock. They’re going to kick the field goal. You feel the weight of the moment.” 

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While Chenal paid homage to his faith after the dramatic finish, Chiefs coach Andy Reid promised to give him a cheeseburger during the postgame locker room celebration. Talk about your ingredients for a winning formula. Now that must be some creative motivation. 

Reid and his talented staff have undoubtedly developed myriad strategies to keep winning despite various forms of adversity during a campaign that includes the mission to become the first franchise to three-peat as Super Bowl champs. For the game-winning block, Chenal pointed to special teams coordinator Dave Toub for the designing the rush that broke through after so many reps on the practice field. 

But still: The way this season has gone, maybe there has been divine intervention, too. 

“He should wear white cleats next time,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “That’s my advice for him.” 

In Week 2, they edged the Bengals as Harrison Butker nailed a 51-yard yard field goal as time expired. The kick was set up by a pass interference penalty on rookie safety Daijahn Anthony – on fourth-and-16. 

In Week 3, it took two fourth-down stops inside their 13-yard line in the final six minutes at Atlanta. And they caught a break on one of the drives when safety Bryan Cook wasn’t called for passing interference as he mauled Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts in the end zone.  

Nonetheless, it came down to Nick Bolton blowing up a fourth-and-1 run in the final minute, dropping Bijan Robinson for a 3-yard loss. 

“What great teams do, they find a way to win,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said after the win in Atlanta. “Whatever it is. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s about letters.” 

As in W’s. 

The Chiefs have won seven of their games this season by a one-possession margin, and it’s been one thing after another. They trailed at some point in eight of the games. Injuries have wreaked havoc on the wide receiver corps, and running back Isiah Pacheco hasn’t played since Week 2, when he suffered what was reportedly a fractured fibula.  

They have extended their winning streak (including postseason) to 15 games despite Mahomes passing for 300 yards just once this season. It’s the longest winning streak in the NFL since the Packers won 19 in a row in 2010 and 2011. 

While the Chiefs are the fifth defending Super Bowl champion to start 9-0, they also stand as the team with the lowest point differential (+58) for any 9-0 team in history. 

Never mind that. The resilience is wrapped by poise in crunch time. In other words, they don’t beat themselves.  

“I thought we outplayed ‘em,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the effort on Sunday. “Nonetheless, you’ve got to beat a champion.” 

Denver upset the Chiefs last season and had them on the ropes with a 14-3 edge in the first half. The Chiefs had to settle for field goals three times after driving to the red zone. On the final drive, the Broncos drove to the 14-yard line before setting up for what could have been the winning kick. 

It looked like a real formula for beating the Chiefs. 

Just like last week. What was it that Payton said about having to beat a champion? The Bucs tied the Chiefs with a last-minute drive to force overtime last Monday night but bypassed the chance to go for a make-or-break two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds. The second-guessing intensified with the outcome. 

The Chiefs won the overtime coin toss, and the Bucs never possessed the football again as Mahomes engineered a 70-yard touchdown drive. 

That was one type of walk-off win. With Chenal’s block came another way. 

“You live for these moments,” said Mahomes. “When you grow up playing football, you live for that walk-off, no matter what it is. It’s special.” 

Mahomes said he was “sick” that he missed on throws late in game that could have connected with Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy for touchdowns.  

“If we make those two throws,” he added, “we’re not relying on the block by Leo.” 

Or needing prayers. 

Then again, the Chiefs have to be used to these nerve-wracking finishes. Who knows? Maybe they’ll win one of these games with a “fumble-rooski.” 

It sure won’t be easier next Sunday in Buffalo, where the Chiefs won in the AFC divisional playoffs in January. The Bills (8-2) are one of the hottest teams in the league (again), eager for revenge. It looms as perhaps the stiffest test yet for the Chiefs to stay undefeated. 

Predicting how it goes down is another matter, as the Chiefs keep showing us. 

“It’s a week-to-week league,” Mahomes said. 

And how. And sometimes so hard to explain. 

We’re back to look in on a few locales around the country with the aim of putting the most recent outcomes in context. Here are the top five overreactions from a busy set of results.

Texas is back – to being the SEC favorite

The Longhorns are once again the highest-ranked SEC squad in the US LBM Coaches Poll, and for the moment at least they look the part of the best team in the crowded league after dismantling Florida. As far as the actual standings are concerned, Texas is now one of just three teams with just one league loss with Tennessee and Texas A&M. So as long as Texas beats the Aggies at the end of the month it will play for the league title, right?

Well, yes, but there are a couple of matters the ‘Longhorns must attend to first. Their next two opponents, Arkansas (away) and Kentucky (home) have already sprung upsets despite being considerably farther down the standings. In the nice, clean scenario, Texas will take care of those two games, and Tennessee will handle its remaining schedule to set up a meeting with the Longhorns-Aggies winner in Atlanta. But come on, who really thinks things will be that simple?

The U is back – to mediocrity

In truth, neither the perception of Miami nor its actual situation in the ACC race has changed in the wake of the Georgia Tech loss. The Hurricanes had a few narrow escapes before and will probably have others, so they weren’t exactly seen as the most dominant of undefeated contenders to begin with. As far as the conference is concerned, the ‘Canes would get the nod in a head-to-head tiebreaker with Clemson by virtue of their win against Louisville, so they’ll still make the title game if they win out against Wake Forest and Syracuse.

But what did change is Miami’s place in the at-large pecking order. A second loss, even if it comes in the conference finale, would leave the ‘Canes with a sketchy playoff resume, including a non-conference win against Florida of nominal value. The good news for the ‘Canes is they have a week off to regroup before a manageable stretch run, but they’d best leave nothing to chance and secure the automatic berth.

HEAT IS ON: Mississippi’s win puts pressure on CFP committee

Colorado is going to win the Big 12

We’ll say this much. No one in the league is playing better than the Buffaloes right now. In addition, Colorado sits alone in second, meaning it no longer needs help to reach the championship game.

The Buffs have three hurdles to clear, and the next two figure to be the toughest. Up next week is a home date with Utah, a team whose season has been disappointing but still has plenty of physical specimens at the line of scrimmage. The Utes also will be more than a little salty after the way their ‘Holy War’ showdown with league leader Brigham Young ended. After that, Colorado visits Kansas, which has a losing record but can still be dangerous – just ask Iowa State. If the Buffs get by those two and an Oklahoma State team that has clearly checked out on its season, it’s on to a likely date with BYU for the championship.

The bad news for Colorado and the rest of the Big 12 is it’s probably a one-bid league, unless BYU gets to 12-0 and loses in the title game. But it goes without saying that the interest level in Boulder is higher than it’s been in years, and now there are results to match it.

There will be no drama in the Big Ten

While the SEC finish is still very much up in the air, matters in the Big Ten appear to be all but settled. Oregon will face the winner of Ohio State and Indiana for the conference championship, and those three along with Penn State will all be in the playoff.

Honestly, this probably isn’t even an overreaction. The only potential agents of chaos remaining are Wisconsin, which hosts Oregon next week, and Minnesota, having a home date with Penn State on Nov. 23. Yes, Ohio State will have that small matter of Michigan to deal with, but an upset there is even harder to envision.

The Army/Boise State conundrum

Before we get into the specifics of the wild scenario we are about to present, we need to begin with a refresher. The 12-team playoff field will consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions plus seven at-large selections, with the top four of the automatic qualifiers guaranteed first-round byes.

Since this format was announced, most analysts have accepted as an article of faith that said byes would go to the champions of the four so-called power conferences, with the fifth automatic spot going to the best of the rest from the Group of Five leagues. That last spot figures to come down to Boise State or Army, assuming they win the rest of their games in their respective conferences. But – is it conceivable that that ‘or’ could be an ‘and?’ Given that both the ACC and Big 12 are shaping up as one-bid leagues, is it possible that both the Mountain West and American Athletic Conference champs could finish ahead of the winner of one of them?

Let’s start with Army, which absolutely positively has to beat Notre Dame in two weeks for this crazy twist to even be in play. But if the Black Knights can do it, then complete their AAC slate with a win against Texas-San Antonio then likely the winner of next week’s Navy-Tulane game for the league title, that resume would be hard to ignore. The Broncos wouldn’t have a win of that magnitude on their resume and would have to hang their collective hats on losing by a field goal at Oregon, and it would help the cause if the Ducks remain as the top overall seed.

In short, they’d both need to win out, and they’d probably need more upheaval in one of the other major conferences for it to happen. But it’s something to ponder as the next few weeks play out

University of Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden will continue to lead the Gators, despite being the subject of an ongoing Title IX investigation into his conduct.

The school issued a statement Sunday night confirming that there is no change in Golden’s status in the wake of a complaint alleging he engaged in sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberstalking involving multiple women.

Golden will be courtside as the 2-0 Gators host Grambling State on Monday night.

A formal Title IX complaint was initiated Sept. 27, but was just revealed publicly on Friday when the university’s student publication, The Alligator, broke the story with details corroborated by two former students.

The third-year coach confirmed Saturday that he is cooperating with the investigation and has hired attorney Ken Turkel to represent him in a possible defamation case.

Golden, 39, is 42-29 in three seasons at UF and he led the school to an NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

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Ausar Thompson and the Detroit Pistons finally received the good news they have been awaiting.

Thompson on Monday officially has been cleared to resume full five-on-five basketball activity after his rookie season was prematurely shut down due to blood clots, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced.

He has missed 11 games so far this season for the Pistons (4-7), eight months since his last game appearance March 9. He sat out the final 19 games last season. It’s unknown how long the ramp-up period might take before Thompson debuts this season.

Thompson, 21, had to clear the NBA’s Fitness-To-Play Panel, which consists of three physicians – one appointed by the NBA, one appointed by the NBPA and one approved by both parties – who determine if it’s safe for a player dealing with a life-threatening medical situation to return to basketball.

During media day Sept. 30, new Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said Thompson could participate in conditioning and non-contact drills while awaiting the final decision. Thompson initially was cleared for conditioning work before the end of March. He last played in a game March 9 vs. Dallas, exiting early with what initially was deemed ‘asthma.’

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‘We’re supporting him as much as possible and just waiting for the resolution from the NBA and the PA,’ Langdon said at media day. ‘We’re excited and look forward to having Ausar back. This time I just can’t say any more to that as we’re just looking for a resolution to that process.’

‘Ever since what happened, happened, I’ve been working out and have slowly progressed the workouts to be harder and harder,’ Thompson said on media day. ‘Right now I feel great, I feel perfectly fine.’ 

Thompson averaged 8.8 points in 63 games (38 starts) last season, with 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25.1 minutes per game. He shot 48.3% from the field but an NBA-worst 18.6% (21-for-113) from 3-point range. He was the team’s best perimeter defender, averaging 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

Rookie Ron Holland, 19, has stepped up in place of Thompson’s do-everything role. The No. 5 overall pick in June has averaged 6.1 points per game over 14.4 minutes in 11 appearances this season.

The Pistons next play Tuesday vs. the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup opening game.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.

The power looks real.

The speed looks real.

Yet the question persists: Is this a real fight?

Watching Tyson and Paul in the ring Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will help provide the answer. It should be clear whether the two are throwing punches with full force and trying to win a heavyweight bout scheduled for eight rounds. But until then, a real fight?

The tentative answer is undeniably “yes’ based on some protocols: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates combat sports in Texas, sanctioned the Tyson-Paul fight as a pro bout, not an exhibition.

Like all real fights, it will be scored by three licensed judges, a winner will be declared and the result will count in the fighters’ records.

Or the answer to whether the fight is real is a wholehearted “no’ based on rules for the bout, which is scheduled for eight rounds. The rounds will last two minutes and the gloves will be 14 ounces rather than the standard rounds of three minutes and 10-ounce gloves.

Others have looked beyond the specific rules when questioning the legitimacy of a fight.

Until recent weeks, the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion and 27-year-old YouTuber have shown affection for one another as they prepare to make tens of millions of dollars.

“It feels like two brothers want to fight each other in the backyard during a family reunion,’ Jay Kornegay, executive vice president of race and sportsbook operations at the Westgate SuperBook, told USA TODAY Sports by text message last month. “I’m not sure how serious they will be.’

Why bout can be considered legitimate

Paul is a more accomplished YouTuber than boxer, but he has fought in 11 sanctioned pro bouts since January 2020. He’s 10-1 with seven knockouts.

Tyson might not be able to turn back the clock and look like the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet.’ But he’s 50-6 with 44 knockouts and fought Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition in 2020.

Their bout has gained legitimacy from BoxRec, the official boxing registry. The fight already is entered online as a pro bout, and there are no plans to change that when the listing is updated with the result, said Grey Johnson, chief marketing director for BoxRec.

“This is the first men’s professional fight I can remember that will have two-minute rounds in the United States, though the practice historically isn’t uncommon in other countries such as the United Kingdom,’ Johnson told USA TODAY Sports by email. “The question if this is an exhibition or a pro bout is ultimately up to the Texas commission to answer.’

A common complaint from people who refuse to accept Tyson vs. Paul as a real fight is Texas deviating from the unified rules set forth by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC). They call for three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves rather than the two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves that will be in use when Tyson and Paul fight.

But Mike Mazzulli, president of the ABC, said member commissions are required to use unified rules only during title fights. Tyson and Paul will be fighting for tens of millions of dollars but not a title.

“They’re getting in the ring,’ Mazzulli said. “They’re judging the fight. So it’s a real fight. Absolutely.’

A ‘pine box’ for Jake Paul

Last week, New York and five other states confirmed they will prohibit wagering on the Tyson-Paul fight, essentially because they have deemed it an exhibition.

That move paralleled strong sentiment in the boxing community that this is not a real pro bout. The non-traditional rules aren’t the only objection.

“I think that it’s preposterous that a 58-year-old man with arthritis and the known weed business and affection for it is in a pro fight in a major jurisdiction and pretending it’s a real boxing match,’ said Lou DiBella Jr., a well-known boxing promoter. “It’s absurd.

“If this fight was being done 30 years ago, there would have to be a pine box sitting next to the ring for Jake Paul. But it’s not. Mike’s 58 years old and it’s an entertainment spectacle.’

Boxing has no central authority to govern the sport, so each state commission largely can sanction bouts as it sees fit.

In 2018, Texas officials sanctioned a pro bout between Jack Lucious, then 62, and Yail Eligio, a younger boxer whose age is not listed in BoxRec, the sport’s official registry. In the first round, the 62-year-old Lucious lost by TKO.

“I don’t know how they pull this off,’ Al Low, the former chairman of the Michigan State Boxing Commission, said of Texas sanctioning the fight as pro. “It would’ve never been allowed in Michigan.’

Greg Sirb, who served as commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission for 33 years before retiring last year, said the two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves remain problematic.

“I don’t see how even a Texas says it’s a sanctioned bout,’ he said.

The 32 things we learned from Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season:

1. Despite remaining the league’s lone undefeated outfit, the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs’ average margin of victory this season is just 6.4 points.

2. After surviving the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon by blocking a game-winning field-goal attempt on the final play to preserve a 16-14 victory, K.C. improved to 9-0 for the third time in franchise history. Only two of the Chiefs’ wins are by more than seven points. Per OptaSTATS, the Chiefs are the first team in NFL history to win nine consecutive games (including playoffs) in which they trailed after halftime.

3. But whether or not Kansas City can go an unprecedented 17-0 in the regular season – or even an unprecedented 20-0 with the first-ever Super Bowl threepeat – is probably a premature question, even if they are currently on cruise control to the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

4. The more intriguing query might be asking who’s the biggest threat to the Detroit Lions, who scratched out a 26-23 win Sunday night in Houston, in the NFC.

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5. Could it be the Philadelphia Eagles? Their five-game winning streak is currently eclipsed only by the heaters the Chiefs and Lions are on. Sunday, Philly moved back atop the NFC East after dismantling the Dak-less Dallas Cowboys 34-6. The Eagles are starting to resemble the team that nearly took out the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 and less like the one that imploded down the stretch in 2023. Thursday night, Philadelphia hosts …

6. … the Washington Commanders, who are only a half-game back in the division after Sunday’s 28-27 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though Washington has a rookie behind center, Jayden Daniels is already one of the league’s most dynamic players. And he should get reinforcements – RB Brian Robinson Jr., K Austin Seibert and recently acquired CB Marshon Lattimore – back into the lineup very soon.

7. Could it be the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals, who have won four in a row after embarrassing the New York Jets 31-6 on Sunday? The Cards have a multi-faceted offense but, perhaps more importantly, the defense has finally begun to round into shape. And second-year HC Jonathan Gannon imbues a philosophical attitude similar to Detroit’s Dan Campbell.

8. The San Francisco 49ers, you say? Since the start of the 2019 season, they’ve only missed the NFC title game once. They’re also a club known for playing better in the second half of the season under coach Kyle Shanahan. That should be much easier in 2024 now that All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey is back.

9. And let’s not ignore the Lions’ backyard, which includes the Green Bay Packers. The Pack finished very fast last season and are certainly set up to do so again – assuming QB Jordan Love gets reasonably healthy and into the kind of torrid second-half groove he enjoyed in 2023, one that carried the then-inexperienced team to the divisional round.

10. The number of games – i.e., all of them – Ravens RB Derrick Henry has scored a TD this season. He’s only the fifth player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to start a season with a touchdown streak this long.

11. MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson’s league-leading passer rating now stands at 123.2. (Remember when there was debate ahead of the 2018 draft about whether he should be a receiver?) Aaron Rodgers holds the single season record of 122.5, set 13 years ago when Rodgers won the first of his four league MVP awards.

12. But despite the consistent heroics of Jackson, Henry and Baltimore’s rocket-fueled offense, the Ravens don’t shave the Cincinnati Bengals 35-34 on Thursday night without a key forced fumble from their problematic defense. CB Marlon Humphrey’s punchout triggered a second-half comeback that went down to the wire – and, per NFL Media, also made him the only player since 2020 with both double-digit interceptions and fumbles forced.

13. Welcome back to McCaffrey. In his 2024 regular-season debut after recovering from Achilles issues, CMC, the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 107 yards on 19 touches in a 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers in Tampa.

14. After a 23-yard catch in Sunday’s loss, Commanders rookie WR Luke McCaffrey, Christian’s youngest brother, has 134 total yards in 10 games this season.

15. And welcome (all the way) back to Niners rookie WR Ricky Pearsall Jr. Shot on the streets of San Francisco just two months ago – first responders quickly ensured his life wasn’t in jeopardy even if his first NFL season seemed so – the 2024 first-rounder scored his first professional TD on Sunday courtesy of a 46-yard connection with QB Brock Purdy.

16. The Steelers didn’t take long to reap the rewards of their trade deadline moves. WR Mike Williams’ first (and currently only) catch with Pittsburgh was a game-winning 32-yard TD reception at Washington. Newly acquired OLB Preston Smith also collected his first sack in the black and gold, dropping the elusive Daniels.

17. Number of consecutive completions Cards QB Kyler Murray had at one point Sunday against the Jets’ once-formidable defense, establishing a new record for a franchise in its 105th season.

18. Just when the NFC South seems to be coming into focus, it regresses to its traditional .500 mean. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay both lost Sunday, while the (apparently) lowly Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints both prevailed to improve to 3-7, the Saints ending a seven-game skid.

19. Congratulations to Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi winning his first game Sunday after replacing fired Dennis Allen. Maybe Rizzi should be on the Jets’ short list next time they need a sideline temp, especially after his, uh, unforgettable postgame news conference.

20. RB Alvin Kamara overtook former backfield mate Mark Ingram as New Orleans’ all-time leading rusher. One of the best dual-threat backs in league history, Kamara’s 55-yard day on the ground puts him at 6,544 career rushing yards.

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21.Falcons K Younghoe Koo missed a career-worst three field goals in Atlanta’s 20-17 loss.

22. Niners K Jake Moody missed a career-worst three fields in San Francisco’s three-point win.

22a. However Moody did hit the game-winning 44-yarder at the gun … but not before a sideline dustup with teammate Deebo Samuel. Maybe Drake London should have gone after Koo.

23. If you like sloppy quarterback play, the Lions-Texans game was for you. Detroit’s Jared Goff and Houston’s C.J. Stroud combined for seven interceptions – five by Goff, who hadn’t served up one in his previous five games, a stretch that had been among the most efficient in league annals.

24. If you like sloppy quarterback play, the Bills-Colts game was for you. Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Indianapolis’ Joe Flacco combined for six turnovers – four by Flacco (3 INTs, fumble). Would love to know what benched Indy QB Anthony Richardson is thinking after that.

25. If you like sloppy quarterback play, the Vikings-Jaguars game was for you. Minnesota’s Sam Darnold and Jacksonville’s Mac Jones combined for six turnovers – three apiece.

25a. But at least Jones blessedly enabled a tribute to retired Australian break dancer Raygun by Vikes S Camryn Bynum.

26. The Chicago Bears have lost three straight since their bye week and are in danger of breaking rookie QB Caleb Williams. The No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft only passed for 120 yards in an ugly 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots and was also sacked nine times.

26a. The Bears’ 142 total yards were their fewest in more than three years but the second time they’ve been held to fewer than 150 this season. The smoke around HC Matt Eberflus and OC Shane Waldron will likely continue to billow.

27. New York Giants QB Daniel Jones hadn’t committed multiple turnovers since Week 2 … until he served up two INTs Sunday in Munich. Still, that’s nine giveaways in 10 games this season, which hardly bolsters Jones’ case to stick around in 2025 and beyond.

28. But it was rookie RB Tyrone Tracy’s first career fumble – in overtime – that really did in Big Blue, which fell 20-17 to the Panthers in the league’s final International Series installment of the season. The Giants’ five-game losing streak is currently the league’s longest.

29. Shoutout to Panthers LB Josey Jewell, who had six tackles, two pass breakups, an INT and recovered Tracy’s pivotal fumble in OT as Carolina won in back-to-back weeks for the first time in three years.

30. However the highlight of the game might have been referee Shawn Hochuli digging into his famous father’s bag and delivering a false start penalty in German.

31. Uniform note of the week: Always cool when the Cowboys add the red stripe to the centerline of their helmets when the NFL is doing its November “Salute to Service” campaign around Veterans Day.

31a. Second uniform note of the week: They make me think of the 1985 Tom Cruise movie ‘Legend’ – (look it up). I’m speaking of the Texans’ devilishly striking, candy-painted red helmets of course, which made their first on-field appearance Sunday night.

31b. Third uniform note of the week: The Ravens’ unveiled their “Purple Rising” helmets in Thursday’s victory, the first time they’d been crowned in anything other than black headgear. As far as beak-on views of birds go, much better than the Seattle Seahawks’ attempt years ago.

31c. Third uniform note of the week: The Jaguars debuted their “shell” white helmet Sunday. Kinda meh? Might have looked better with teal jerseys or monochrome white, but those unfortunately aren’t options due to the league’s uniform uniformity rules.

32. Last, but certainly not least, a tip of the cap to the great fans of Germany, who continue their avid, decades-long support of American football – and with a great twist, Sunday’s fußball-esque ‘tifo’ a spectacular one.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.