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To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find my Week 5 fantasy football rankings below. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Need to know who the best starts and sits of the week are? We have an article for that. We also have fantasy defense rankings, kicker rankings, and a trade value chart to help with all your trade decisions.

Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up until a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.

Week 5 fantasy football quarterback rankings

STOCK UP: Jordan Love finished as the QB2 against the Vikings in Week 4 and will face what should be a much easier test vs. the Rams. To date, Los Angeles has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
STOCK UP: Justin Fields was the only signal-caller who outscored Love last week, riding 367 total yards and three scores (two on the ground) en route to 32 fantasy points. Dating to last year, Fields has finished as a top-eight quarterback in half of his last 14 starts. He’ll match up well with a Dallas team that’s ceding the ninth-most fantasy points and second-most rushing yards to the position.
STOCK DOWN: Trevor Lawrence has finished as the QB16 or worse in each of the first four weeks, and he’s failed to finish higher than QB10 in 16 of his last 19 games. The Colts have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks but keep your expectations in check.
STOCK DOWN: Sam Darnold is currently relying on an unsustainable 10.6% touchdown rate. The highest since 2020 has been 6.9%. There’s a good chance he comes crashing back down to earth against a Jets defense that’s allowed the fewest fantasy points to passers since the start of last season.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Week 5 fantasy football running back rankings

STOCK UP: D’Andre Swift tore apart the Rams in Week 4 with a 165-yard, one-touchdown performance. He’s now averaging 18.7 touches since Week 1. That kind of volume should play well against a Panthers squad that just gave up 170 yards and three touchdowns to Chase Brown and Zack Moss.
STOCK UP: Alexander Mattison is finally set to lead the Raiders backfield with Zamir White listed as out with a groin injury. Mattison has played well in a limited role and is currently top 15 among running backs in yards after contact both on the ground and through the air. He’s a volume-based top-24 play.
STOCK DOWN: Brian Robinson Jr.will play on Sunday after being listed as questionable with a knee injury, but he won’t have the RB1 upside he had last week. In half-PPR formats, Robinson has finished higher than RB10 just once in his last 17 games, and the return of Austin Ekeler dampens his upside. It doesn’t help that the Browns have ceded the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing backfields.
STOCK DOWN: Zack Moss had just one more touch than Chase Brown in Week 4, and a split workload might not be enough to get it done against Baltimore. Through four weeks, the Ravens have limited opposing backs to just 2.7 yards per carry, which is the best mark in the league.

Week 5 fantasy football wide receiver rankings

STOCK UP: Amari Cooper was on the wrong end of phantom holding call last week, which prevented him from finishing as a top-five receiver for the second week in a row. In Week 5, he’ll take on a Washington secondary that’s given up the most fantasy points to wideouts this season.
STOCK UP: Dontayvion Wicks will be the prime beneficiary of injury to Christian Watson, but the suspension of Romeo Doubs further narrows the target tree for Green Bay. Wicks was targeted a whopping 13 times against Minnesota in Week 4 and racked up 78 yards and two touchdowns. A salivating matchup with the Rams awaits in Week 5.
STOCK DOWN: D.J. Moore ranks seventh among receivers in targets, and yet his best finish on the season has been WR31. The game script and presence of Keenan Allen in Week 4 resulted in a season-low six targets, and his outlook doesn’t look all that much better against the Panthers this week.
STOCK DOWN: Jakobi Meyers turned 10 targets last week into 5 receptions for 49 scoreless yards, and a matchup with Patrick Surtain II and the Broncos is up next. He’s better off left on benches.

Week 5 fantasy football tight end rankings

STOCK UP: Travis Kelce is in prime position to regain elite fantasy tight end status with Rahsee Rice out of the lineup, and he might very well be in the overall TE1 discussion. The second-year receiver ranked second in the league with a 33.7% target share through Week 3.
STOCK UP: Tucker Kraft should also benefit from the narrowing of Green Bay’s target tree. With Watson and Doubs out of the lineup, Kraft is a locked-in top-10 option at a thin position.
STOCK DOWN:Dalton Schultz finished as the TE18 with Tank Dell out of the lineup in Week 4. The veteran tight end is probably droppable in most leagues.

Week 5 fantasy football rankings

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America is sending arguably its greatest export to London on Sunday morning: NFL football.

The New York Jets (2-2) take on the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (4-0) in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to kick off the Sunday slate of games., kicking off the remainder of the NFL’s international slate of games for 2024.

The Jets get to see an old friend on Sunday: Quarterback Sam Darnold, whom the Jets drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has helped guide the surprising Vikings to a 4-0 record.

The veteran backup stepped in for Minnesota when first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was injured and declared out for the season during training camp. He hasn’t looked back since: Darnold leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (11) and is a sleeper MVP pick through four weeks.

The Jets are looking to bounce back from a dreadful showing against the Broncos in Week 4, during which New York mustered just 248 yards of total offense in a 10-9 loss. They failed to score a touchdown in the sloppy affair.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Now, both teams are on a collision course across the pond for the first of a trio of London games this season. Here’s what to know about the Jets-Vikings matchup in London this Sunday:

What time is Jets vs. Vikings London game?

Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 6 (Week 5)

The Jets and Vikings are set to kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday morning. The matchup should bring NFL fans almost up to the 1 p.m. slate of games, and make for a roughly 14-hour day of NFL action.

Where is Jets vs. Vikings?

Location: Tottenham, London, England
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Jets and Vikings are set to kick off from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Tottenham, London, England.

The stadium is a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2019 and seats nearly 63,000 fans.

Jets vs. Vikings TV channel, live stream

TV channel: NFL Network (national) | CBS2 (New York market) | Fox 9 (Minneapolis market)
Live stream:Fubo, NFL+

The Jets vs. Vikings matchup will air nationally on NFL Network. For those in the New York market without NFL Network, the game will air on CBS 2. Fans of the Vikings in Minneapolis can catch the game on Fox 9.

For cord-cutters, Fubo carries NFL Network, as well as CBS, Fox, NBC and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action all season with the streaming service.

NFL’s proprietary streaming service, NFL+, will also carry the game.

NFL international games 2024

In addition to the Week 1 Packers-Eagles matchup in Brazil, here is the rest of the NFL’s international series for 2024:

Jets vs. Vikings in London

Date: Sunday, Oct. 6 (Week 5)
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Location: London, England
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The NFL international series continues in Week 5 with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets facing Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota enters this matchup as the only undefeated team remaining in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Jets look to get back in the win column after an embarrassing loss to the Broncos.

Jaguars vs. Bears in London

Date: Sunday, Oct. 13 (Week 6)
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Location: London, England
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Jacksonville Jaguars have become a staple of the NFL games in London. The Jaguars are scheduled to play back-to-back games in London after they also did in 2023. The international crowd will get to watch the No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, under center for the Chicago Bears.

Patriots vs. Jaguars in London

Date: Sunday, Oct. 20 (Week 7)
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Location: London
Venue: Wembley Stadium

The third consecutive week with an NFL London matchup concludes with the Jaguars against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The No. 3 overall pick, Drake Maye, could be the starting quarterback for New England by this time, adding to the intrigue.

Giants vs. Panthers in Germany

Date: Sunday, Nov. 10 (Week 10)
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Location: Munich, Germany
Venue: Allianz Arena

The final international NFL game in 2024 features the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants. Both squads are off to slow starts and share the longest Super Bowl odds after the season’s first month.

Tom Viera contributed to this piece.

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Week 5 of the NFL season is here. This week sees the first bye weeks of the year as four teams will not be suiting up: the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans.

That still leaves 14 games to enjoy across the week, including a dozen on Sunday. The Sunday slate features five divisional matchups and a ‘Sunday Night Football’ game between two of the most successful franchises in NFL history.

Here’s what to know about Sunday’s Week 4 NFL games.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

NFL Week 5 schedule

Odds from BetMGM NFL odds as of Saturday.

Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Jets

Time/TV: 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London
Betting odds: MIN (-2.5); O/U: 40.5

The first London game of the year features the red-hot Vikings who are 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2016. Quarterback Sam Darnold leads the No. 4 scoring offense in the league behind an NFL-best 11 passing touchdowns and the Vikings’ No. 4-ranked scoring defense is one of the best in the league at forcing turnovers. New York (2-2) dropped a sloppy game to the Broncos in Week 4 and are looking to bounce back behind the No. 2 passing defense in the league by yards.

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Location: Soldier Field in Chicago
Betting odds: CHI (-4); O/U: 41

The Bears (2-2) got back in the win column against Los Angeles last week behind rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ best performance of the season by passer rating. They selected Williams with a draft pick they got from Carolina (1-3), who have improved on offense since moving quarterback Andy Dalton into the starting role over 2023 top pick Bryce Young.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati
Betting odds: BAL (-2.5); O/U: 48.5

Baltimore (2-2) looks like one of the best teams in the league after a ‘Sunday Night Football’ drubbing of the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills. The Ravens have become the top rushing attack in the league behind quarterback Lamar Jackson and free agent acquisition Derrick Henry. Cincinnati (1-3) finally banked a win in Week 4 over Carolina behind their best performance on the ground this season. Both teams are looking to make up ground to AFC North leader Pittsburgh (3-1) this week.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: NRG Stadium in Houston
Betting odds: HOU (-1); O/U: 47

Buffalo (3-1) had its worst performance of the year on offense and defense in last week’s loss to the Ravens. Josh Allen is still one of the top quarterbacks so far this year even with the loss but Buffalo takes on another playoff team from last season. Houston (3-1) needed a go-ahead touchdown with 18 seconds left to beat the Jaguars in Week 4. Their running game struggled despite the win and the defense gave up a season-high in yards.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
Betting odds: JAC (-3); O/U: 45.5

Jacksonville (0-4) is now the only winless team in the NFL after last week’s heartbreaking loss to Houston. The defense gave up a season-high 435 yards to the Texans and ranks at or near the bottom of the league in most metrics. Indianapolis (2-2) handed Pittsburgh its first loss of the year last week but they’re facing questions at quarterback again after Anthony Richardson left Week 4 with a hip injury.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Location: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Betting odds: MIA (-1); O/U: 35.5

New England (1-3) has dropped three straight and managed just 16 total points over the last two weeks. They’re now ranked 31st in the league in points per game and the defense is giving up more than 400 yards per game over the last two losses. Miami (1-3) had its worst week of the year on offense last week with new starting quarterback Tyler Huntley. The defense is still performing well, though, especially against the pass.

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Location: Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
Betting odds: WAS (-3); O/U: 43.5

Washington is 3-1 for the first time since 2011 behind one of the most efficient and top-scoring offenses in the league. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leads the league in completion percentage (82.1%) and the Commanders have a top-five rushing attack. Their defense ranks 25th in points and 27th in yards allowed per game, though, which could be good for Cleveland (1-3). The Browns’ offense is a bottom-five unit so far this season and could use a strong performance.

Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos

Time/TV: 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
Location: Empower Field at Mile High in Denver
Betting odds: DEN (-3); O/U: 35.5

The biggest story coming into this one might be off the field as Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has requested a trade. Las Vegas (2-2) will miss him on offense; the Raiders have been leaning on the passing game because of their No. 31-ranked rushing attack. Denver (2-2) earned a low-scoring win last week despite managing just 60 yards passing as a team. This is the first of back-to-back AFC West games for Denver with Los Angeles on deck.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Time/TV: 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
Location: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Betting odds: SF (-7); O/U: 49

San Francisco (2-2) bounced back in Week 4 with their best performance on both sides of the ball in a win over New England. Quarterback Brock Purdy sits second in the league in passing yards and the 49ers are a top-10 rushing team again. The defense will face a tougher test this week against Arizona (1-3), one of the better rushing teams in the league. The Cardinals had their biggest loss of the season to Washington last week and have back-to-back road games against playoff teams from last season.

Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Betting odds: GB (-3); O/U: 49

Green Bay (2-2) couldn’t complete the comeback last week after going down 28-0 to Minnesota. Still, quarterback Jordan Love set a career-high in passing yards in his first game back from injury. The Packers boast the No. 6-ranked scoring offense ahead of this week against a Los Angeles (1-3) defense that’s allowing the second-most points per game. The Rams’ injuries are piling up ahead of next week’s bye, especially on offense.

New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Lumen Field in Seattle
Betting odds: SEA (-7); O/U: 42.5

New York’s (1-3) offensive woes continued in Week 4 and they rank 29th in the league in scoring entering Week 5. Star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers may not be in the lineup due to concussion, making things even tougher for the Giants on the road. Seattle (3-1) lost its first game of the year on ‘Monday Night Football’ but quarterback Geno Smith leads the league in passing yards and the defense should get back on track against one of the worst offenses in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers

Time/TV: 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Location: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh
Betting odds: PIT (-2.5); O/U: 44

The Steelers (3-1) lost their first game of the season in Week 4 against Indianapolis. The offense had its best performance of the season in the loss and the defense remains one of the best in the league by many statistics. Dallas (2-2) got back in the win column against the Giants last week but are facing injury questions, including to star pass rusher Micah Parsons.

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NASCAR motors into Talladega Superspeedway for the second race of the second round of the Cup Series playoffs.

NASCAR’s largest and fastest oval, the sometime chaotic nature of racing at Talladega – with its tight pack racing and tendency for big, multi-car crashes – could play a perilous role in how the playoffs shake out. Twelve drivers remain in the playoffs and following next weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the field will be trimmed to eight.

A win Sunday at Talladega would provide automatic advancement into the third round and remove all the pressure at the Charlotte elimination race. A strong showing this Sunday – or just avoiding calamity at Talladega – could also provide a big boost – both in points and confidence.

But Talladega could also completely upend the playoff standings, putting some drivers into a massive hole if they get caught up in the ‘The Big One’ on Sunday and crash out due to no fault of their own. At the end of the day, avoiding major misfortune could be the biggest win.

Who will conquer Talladega on Sunday? Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the YellaWood 500:

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega start?

The YellaWood 500 starts at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega on?

NBC is broadcasting the YellaWood 500 and has a pre-race show beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local).

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

The YellaWood 500 can be live streamed on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream on Fubo.

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

The YellaWood 500 is 188 laps around the 2.66-mile oval for a total of 500.08 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 60 laps; Stage 3: 68 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Talladega?

Tyler Reddick led 13 laps on April 21, 2024, including the final six, before beating Brad Keselowski as the race ended under caution.

And one year ago, Ryan Blaney led eight laps, including the final two after passing Kevin Harvick, before edging William Byron by 0.012 seconds in the playoff race on Oct. 1, 2023.

What are the playoff standings heading into the NASCAR race at Talladega?

Rank, driver, team, points, deficit to leader. Through four races; top eight drivers following next weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will advance to the third round.

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,074
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske … 3,068 (-6 points)
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing … 3,068 (-6)
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,058 (-16)
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing … 3,051 (-23)
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,048 (-26)
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports … 3,044 (-30)
Joey Logano, Team Penske … 3,044 (-30)
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing … 3,040 (-34)
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing … 3,030 (-44)
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing … 3,019 (-55)
Austin Cindric, Team Penske … 3,015 (-59)

What is the lineup for the YellaWood 500 NASCAR playoff race at Talladega?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

1. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford

2. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford

3. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford

4. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

5. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford

6. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford

7. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

8. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota

9. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford

10. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

11. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet

12. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet

13. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford

14. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota

15. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota

16. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet

17. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

18. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford

19. (4) Josh Berry, Ford

20. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford

21. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota

22. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford

23. (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet

24. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota

25. (13) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

26. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

27. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

28. (51) Corey LaJoie, Ford

29. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

30. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota

31. (99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet

32. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

33. (62) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet

34. (15) Cody Ware, Ford

35. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet

36. (14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford

37. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

38. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet

39. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet

40. (44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet

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NBC featured a possible AFC Championship matchup in Week 4 of its ‘Sunday Night Football’ schedule. In Week 5, we will witness a battle between two of the NFL’s more storied franchises.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the road in Week 5 to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a ‘Sunday Night Football’ battle. Pittsburgh and Dallas have met in the Super Bowl three times and are the top two in overall wins since the 1970 NFL merger. The Steelers have the most at 517, and Dallas follows with 497.

The Cowboys will be on the road in primetime for the second consecutive week after they defeated the New York Giants 20-15 on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 4.

Meanwhile, the Steelers were handed their first loss of the season in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, 27-24.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The Steelers have been terrific to start 2024, and a win over Dallas in primetime will show them to be legitimate contenders.

Here’s everything to know about the ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup for Week 5.

Who plays on Sunday Night Football tonight?

Matchup: Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

The Steelers (3-1) are hosting the Cowboys (2-2) in NBC’s fifth ‘Sunday Night Football’ broadcast of the season. Pittsburgh enters the game favored to win, but Dallas presents a difficult challenge.

Each roster has many injuries on both sides of the ball heading into Week 5. The Cowboys will be without wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Pass rushers Demarcus Lawrence (IR) and Micah Parsons will also be out on defense after they suffered injuries in Week 4 against the Giants. These injuries are significant because the Steelers’ offensive line is extremely banged up.

Steelers starting right guard James Daniels tore his Achilles in Week 4 and will join fellow offensive linemen Nate Herbig, Troy Fautanu, and Dylan Cook on injured reserve. Starting left guard Isaac Seumalo has missed the first four games; however, he could return to play against the Cowboys. The Steelers have started a different five-man offensive line combination three times in the first four weeks.

Pittsburgh has been the model of consistency for nearly two decades, managing 17 consecutive seasons with a .500 record or better. The Steelers’ determination and grit to win games is displayed weekly, spearheaded by head coach Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin has announced that Justin Fields will start his fifth consecutive game for Pittsburgh as Russell Wilson continues to recover from a calf injury he suffered in training camp.

The Steelers’ defense was bolstered this offseason with the addition of former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen. Pittsburgh has a handful of blue-chip players on that side of the ball, including T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward up front and Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary.

Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt is a player to watch on ‘SNF.’ Watt played all 17 games last season, finishing with a league-high 19 sacks. He was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year behind Myles Garrett, and some believe he was snubbed from the award. He has led the league in sacks three times in his career.

The Cowboys’ offense was a juggernaut last season but hasn’t quite replicated that in 2024. They are dead last in rushing yards per game and have leaned heavily on Dak Prescott’s right arm. CeeDee Lamb will continue to be the focal point of the offense.

The winner of this game can springboard their momentum through the middle part of the season and have playoff implications at the end of the regular season.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

Date: Sunday, October 6
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Steelers vs. Cowboys game will start at 8:20 p.m. ET, the typical start time for most of NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ broadcasts during the 2024 NFL season. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analysis), and Melissa Starks (field reporter) are on the game call.

NBC will also begin showing its pregame show, ‘Football Night In America,’ at 7 p.m. ET. Maria Taylor will host the program alongside NBC talents, including Jason Garrett, Tony Dungy, Devin McCourty, and Matthew Berry.

What channel is Sunday Night Football on tonight?

TV Channel: NBC
Live stream: Peacock | Fubo

‘Sunday Night Football’ will air on NBC in 2024, just as it has since the network bought the rights to the program in 2006.

Cord-cutters can still catch the game using NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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Matt Hayes analyzes four hot topics from Saturday’s games.

First down: Chaos in the SEC

All of those one-possession games, all of those one-possession losses. Had to even out at some point, right?

Welcome back to the sunny side of the street, Sam Pittman.

Arkansas’ snakebitten coach of the last two seasons – with double-digit losses in one-possession games (two this season) – finally got a breakthrough win Saturday night in a 19-14 victory over No. 4 Tennessee.

It took a late defensive stop after Tennessee let Arkansas backup quarterback Malachi Singleton score to set up the final drive, but the Hogs won a game of significance under Pittman for the first time since the 2021 season.

Arkansas did it by overcoming a dropped touchdown pass, a missed field goal, two failed fourth-down conversions and only 13 points in four trips to the red zone.

It was the first time in SEC history that two top-five teams were upset on the same day. Vanderbilt stunned No. 1 Alabama on Saturday afternoon.

The upsets of Alabama, Tennessee and No. 9 Missouri mean every league team except Texas has at least one loss. It also means the weekly winnowing of elite teams vying for College Football Playoff spots has begun.

Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Oklahoma all have one loss, and all play multiple games against each other over (and unbeaten Texas) the next two months.

The overriding question after early upsets have left eight teams with one loss only one week into October: Is it possible for the SEC to get a three-loss team into the CFP?

Second down: Texas A&M and motivation

Let me reintroduce you to an age-old motivator, and how it has Texas A&M right back in the SEC race.

The bench.

Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman spent the last three weeks on the sidelines recovering from a shoulder injury, watching backup Marcel Reed play flawlessly and lead the Aggies to three straight victories.

You see where this is headed, right?

Battling for his job with his backup close in the rearview, Weigman had a career game in a rout of Missouri – and the Aggies got a significant SEC win.

In the age of NIL money and free player movement, where’s the motivation, you ask? Where it has always been: the bench.  

While Aggies coach Mike Elko kept insisting Weigman was the team’s starter if healthy, there’s little doubt the shadow of Reed as a legitimate option lit a fire under Weigman – who played poorly in the season-opening loss to Notre Dame.  

Fast-forward to this week, and Missouri rolled into town on the heels of coach Eli Drinkwitz publicly stating he believed the Aggies would play Reed because he makes them more difficult to defend. More fuel for Weigman.

So Weigman went out and played the best game of his injury-filled career, completing 18 of 22 passes for 276 yards, and rushing five times for 33 yards in a 41-10 victory that keeps Texas A&M (5-1) unbeaten in the SEC.

Weigman injured his shoulder in a Week 1 loss to Notre Dame, played with the injury in Week 2 and then sat out the next three games – while Reed gave Elko every reason to stay with him as the starter.

But Weigman is still the same player who NFL scouts say has Day 1 draft potential, and he completed explosion-play throws of 40, 33, 29 18 and 13 yards on the No. 5 pass defense in the nation.

“That’s real arm talent. He throws a beautiful ball,” an NFL scout told USA Today on Saturday afternoon, asking to speak anonymously to protect his team’s draft information. “But it’s consistency and accuracy, and really, can he stay healthy? You can see what it looks like when he’s healthy and has time to throw it.”

And when properly motivated.

Third down: The rise of SMU

They bought their way into the ACC. Threw $100 million at desperate conference presidents and secured a spot at the power conference table.

Now the SMU Mustangs look like a legitimate threat to win the new, reimagined ACC (All Coast Conference) with the emergence of redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Jennings.

Playing on a field that Lamar Jackson made famous not so long ago, Jennings looked a whole lot like Louisville’s Heisman Trophy winner of a decade ago in an important 34-27 ACC win.

Jennings threw for 281 yards and ran for 113, and the Mustangs have been a completely different team since he replaced starter Preston Stone in an 18-15 Week 3 loss to unbeaten BYU.

SMU has won three straight with Jennings starting, and should be favored in every game over the remainder of the regular season (at Stanford, at Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, at Virginia, California).

In the three games since he took over, Jennings has completed 74% of his passes, thrown for 672 yards and five TDs without an interception, and rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown in wins over TCU, Florida State and Louisville.

More dangerous moving forward: SMU’s offense has completely changed under Jennings.

SMU’s defense isn’t exactly championship material, but it may not matter with Jennings and his rare ability. The Mustangs routed bitter rival TCU and defending ACC champion FSU at home, and never trailed in a difficult road environment at Louisville.

And the Mustangs haven’t hit their ceiling under Jennings yet.

Fourth down: Ohio State, Oregon set up showdown

They’ve cruised and sometimes plodded their way through the first five weeks of the season.

Now we get to see next week what Ohio State and Oregon are all about.

The Buckeyes dispatched Iowa in Columbus on Saturday, and it wasn’t so much a 35-7 rout as it was watching paint dry. But for a handful of ridiculous plays from freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (good luck dealing with him for three years, college football), Ohio State hasn’t really shown its full potential under new transfer quarterback Will Howard and tailback Quinshon Judkins.

That all changes with next week’s trip to Oregon, which. like Ohio State, hasn’t really hit full stride with a new transfer quarterback (Dillon Gabriel) running the show. The Ducks are finally getting consistent play from the offensive line, and the offense is beginning to look dynamic and dangerous.

Ohio State has feasted on three overmatched Group of Five schools and two Big Ten rivals (Michigan State, Iowa) in rebuild mode. Oregon, meanwhile, had a tight win over Gruup of Five heavyweight Boise State, and had similar wins over rebuilding Big Ten teams (Michigan State, UCLA).

It could be the first of two or three games for the Big Ten favorites, who both are significant favorites to advance to the Big Ten Championship Game and the CFP.

And the first time we find out how the Big Ten favorites react in a big-game setting.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X @MattHayesCFB.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — No matter how good they were in the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers knew they needed to do one thing: show up when it counts.

It’s far from over, but one game in, the Dodgers have done so.

Los Angeles overcame an early deficit thanks to the bats of Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez to beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 in Game 1 of the Division Series between the NL West rivals.

The first inning looked like deja vu for the Dodgers. San Diego quickly attacked Yoshinobo Yamamoto and jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Manny Machado’s home run before Ohtani could take his first postseason at-bat, and it felt like it could be another disappointing night at Chavez Ravine.

Then one mighty swing from the presumed NL MVP changed it all. A three-run blast by baseball’s first 50-50 man in the second inning tied it up and had Dodger Stadium shaking. After the Padres retook the lead in the third, Los Angeles responded with a three-spot in the fourth inning and another run in the following frame that put them out in front for good.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

For as much attention the Dodgers bats got Saturday night, it was the bullpen that saved the day and spared Yamamoto from taking a loss in his first postseason game. In six shutout innings of work from five relievers, Los Angeles limited the San Diego offense to two hits with seven strikeouts, overcoming four walks in the final two innings and a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

The win ends the Dodgers’ six-game postseason losing streak and puts them ahead 1-0 in the best-of-five series. In 2022, it was the Dodgers that won Game 1 in the NLDS before the Padres took the next three and sent Los Angeles home. 

Game 2 will be Sunday back in Los Angeles, and San Diego will try to steal one on the road just like it did two seasons ago.

Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:

Dodgers escape bases-loaded jam in 8th

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers kept San Diego off the board. 

After Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen combined to walk the bases loaded for the Padres, Treinen got Donovan Solano swinging on a filthy sweeper to end the eighth inning and keep the score at 7-5. 

Dodgers add another run

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers took advantage of a Manny Machado error to extend their lead to 7-5.

In the bottom of the fifth, Will Smith hit a ground ball to Machado, but the two-time Gold Glove winner overthrew first baseman Donovan Solano, which allowed Smith to advance to second. After a Gavin Lux hit moved Smith to third with no outs, Tommy Edman grounded into a double play that brought Smith to home and add to the Dodgers’ lead.

Dodgers storm back to take first lead

Back-and-forth we go in Los Angeles. A three-run inning has given the Dodgers the lead through four.

After getting Dylan Cease out of the game, a Shohei Ohtani single loaded the bases for Los Angeles. With Mookie Betts up to bat, a pitch from Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon got past catcher Kyle Higashioka and Tommy Edman came home to add a run. The Padres opted to intentionally walk Mookie Betts to load the bases again before Freddie Freeman hit a ball to first baseman Donovan Solano, who went home Miguel Rojas out on the force play.

But San Diego brought in right-hander Jeremiah Estrada to face Teoscar Hernandez, and the Dodgers left fielder made the Padres pay. He hit a single that got just under the glove of center fielder Jackson Merrill to bring in two more runs and take the lead 6-5.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto done after three innings

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobo Yamamoto’s first playoff game is done after three innings as the Padres were able to do some damage against the rookie.

Yamamoto finished giving up five runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout on Saturday night.

Padres retake lead in third inning

San Diego is back in front once again.

With two outs and two on in the top of the third, Xander Bogaerts hit a double to left field to bring in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, making it 5-3 after Shohei Ohtani tied it up with a homer in the previous frame.

Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez tried to cut the ball off but it went past him as he slid, allowing Merrill to easily score from first and make it a two-run ballgame.

Shohei Ohtani ties it with massive home run

LOS ANGELES — Welcome to the playoffs, Shohei Ohtani.

The presumed NL MVP hit a no doubt three-run blast to the right field pavilion and sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy to tie it at 3-3 in the bottom of the second. 

Ohtani knew it right away.

Shohei Ohtani flies out in first playoff at-bat

Shohei Ohtani finally made his playoff debut and it ended with an out.

On the sixth pitch of his at-bat, he flew out to left field to get the Dodgers’ half of the inning started, already in a 3-0 hole.

Manny Machado home run in Padres’ huge first inning

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobo Yamamoto and catcher Will Smith aren’t connecting well, and it’s led to the Padres scoring in the top of the first.

After Luis Arraez hit an opposite-field single, he advanced to second on a passed ball and then to third on a wild pitch with Fernando Tatis Jr. at the plate. Tatis drew a walk, and Jurickson Profar hit a ground out to second to bring in Arrez for the first run of the night. 

The following at-bat, Manny Machado hit a no-doubter to left field as San Diego jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.

Yamamoto ended up throwing 28 pitches in the first.

What time is Dodgers vs Padres?

First pitch in Game 1 is scheduled for 8:38 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers vs Padres TV channel

TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)

Dodgers lineup: Freddie Freeman returns from injury

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Will Smith (R) C
Gavin Lux (L) 2B
Tommy Edman (S) CF
Miguel Rojas (R) SS

Padres lineup for NLDS Game 1

Luis Arraez (L) DH
Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
Jurickson Profar (S) LF
Manny Machado (R) 3B
Jackson Merrill (L) CF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
Donovan Solano (R) 1B
Kyle Higashioka (R) C

Clayton Kershaw finished for 2024

LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Dodgers head into the 2024 postseason in need of pitching depth, they won’t have their future Hall of Fame left-hander.

Manager Dave Roberts announced ahead of Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series that Clayton Kershaw will not pitch again this season.

“Clayton has done everything he can to keep this thing moving forward and giving himself a chance to participate in the postseason,” Roberts said. ‘But where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe, just is not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse. Yeah, this is it for Clayton for 2024.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

As the U.S. mulls over a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq, its Kurdish allies have a message: Don’t forget us. 

‘This is not the time to reduce coalition forces in Iraq,’ Treefa Aziz, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s special representative to the U.S., told Fox News Digital. 

‘Extremist groups like ISIS and armed militias continue to pose a serious threat to the people of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.’

The U.S. announced plans to shrink the U.S. ‘footprint’ in Iraq and end the current mission of coalition forces – including the Kurds – to fight ISIS, but declined to say how many of the 2,500 troops currently stationed there would remain. 

‘A decade ago, Kurdish Peshmerga forces worked alongside U.S. troops to defeat ISIS and continue to actively combat ISIS remnants to prevent a resurgence of terror today,’ Aziz said. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ‘has been a reliable security partner for the United States and remains ready to enhance cooperation.’

But now, if Baghdad is pushing the U.S. out of Iraq, the U.S. could feel it must honor that request or risk making another enemy in the Middle East. The KRG says it would be ‘willing and able’ to host U.S. coalition forces in its territory. 

The current mission is now set to end by September 2025, with a plan to keep the number of forces on the Iraqi side to back up the 900 U.S. troops in Syria until at least 2026. 

News of a plan that could amount to a significant drawdown of U.S. forces called to mind 2019, when former President Donald Trump announced plans to pull out of Syria and the Kurds felt abandoned by a partner they had fought alongside for years – leaving them open to an attack by Turkish forces.  

Trump, at the time, left the Kurds with a warning to their longtime enemies: ‘I have told Turkey that if they do anything outside of what we would think is humane . . . they could suffer the wrath of an extremely decimated economy.’

The U.S. relationship with the Kurds – an indigenous group of daring fighters whose quest for their own formal state has been unsuccessful – spans back decades. 

When the Turks denied the U.S. passage into Iraq for the invasion in 2003, Iraqi Kurds helped the U.S. overthrow Saddam Hussein. 

The Kurds have fought with U.S. coalition forces since they reentered Iraq in 2014 to fight ISIS, and the U.S. pledged arms support and humanitarian aid. 

The group faces attacks from terror groups on all sides. And as Iran increasingly encroaches on the Iraqi government, Baghdad has the KRG in a choke-hold, officials say. 

‘There is growing concern regarding efforts to weaken the federal system in Iraq. The constitutional framework, which is designed to ensure shared governance, is disregarded,’ one Kurdish official said.

‘The continued suspension of oil exports from the Kurdistan region has placed significant economic strain. More than a year and half later, we have yet to see the resumption of these exports.’ 

The KRG has been trying to work with the Iraqis on a power-sharing agreement with no real results.

‘Some of these actions appear to align with external influences rather than the broader national interest,’ the official said, referring to Iranian influence. ‘With the assistance of our allies, we believe these issues can be resolvable through constructive dialogue and cooperation.’

The KRG is also asking the U.S. government to ‘honor its commitment’ included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ‘provide the KRG with a comprehensive air defense system. 

The law required the Department of Defense to submit and implement a plan for providing the Iraqi security forces and  Kurdistan Region with air defenses by July 2024. 

‘As a steadfast U.S. ally that is regularly targeted by extremist violence, the KRG requires assurances that it will be protected from all threats, both internal and external,’ said Aziz. 

Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, told the House Armed Services Committee in March that ISIS-K, which launched a horrific attack in Moscow earlier this year, ‘retains the capability and the will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months with little to no warning.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

SEATTLE — Everything was going wrong for Michigan football, which left head coach Sherrone Moore with little choice.

His team fell into an early two-touchdown hole after three short, sputtering offensive drives to open the game, when he turned to seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle to replace Alex Orji in search of an offensive spark.

To say it worked would be an understatement. Tuttle, 25, not only led Michigan to a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his first possession, but later put U-M ahead by three in the third quarter after he led an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended when he found Colston Loveland on an 8-yard touchdown strike.

Washington tied the game with a 29-yard field goal with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter, but after Ernest Hausmann came away with a key interception of Will Rogers deep in Michigan territory, U-M gave it back five plays later on a Tuttle fumble.

Four plays after that, Jonah Coleman leapt over the pile for a one-yard score, and a Tuttle interception allowed the Huskies to prevail for a 27-17 win.

Michigan’s 27-game Big Ten Conference win streak is over.

Tuttle was intercepted by Kamren Fabiculanan to end Michigan’s comeback attempt. Washington put the game away thanks in part to a pass interference by Will Johnson and roughing the passer penalty on Brandyn Hillman, adding a late chip-shot field goal.

The Wolverines seemed to take a step forward on their search for a balanced attack. Tuttle completed 10 of 18 passes for 98 yards, one score and one interception, while the rushing attack combined to churn out 37 carries for 174 yards and one touchdown.

Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) has its bye next week, its first of two byes this season, but returns to action on the road Oct. 19 at No. 25 Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten).

State of the offense

The first three drives were anemic, as they lasted 16 plays and combined to pick up just 47 yards (2.9 per play).

That’s when Tuttle came in on the fourth drive and immediately changed the tone of the game.

After a four-yard run by Donovan Edwards, Tuttle found Max Bredeson on a gain of five before Kalel Mullings plowed ahead for a first down. Tuttle then showed his legs with a seven-yard run, which opened up a lane for Edwards to gain nine and then Tuttle to pick up seven one more time. That’s when Edwards hit a cut-back behind the double-team block and ran 39 yards untouched for Michigan’s first score.

Michigan added a field goal on its next possession when on third-and-2, left tackle Jeff Persi (replacing Myles Hinton) got beat off the ball and the defender dropped Mullings for a loss. Dominic Zvada drilled a 45-yarder to make it 14-10.

The first drive out of the half was perhaps Michigan’s best of the season. It went 11 plays, covered 75 yards, chewed up nearly seven minutes off the clock and had six run calls compared to five passes.

The best play came on third-and-10, when Tuttle dropped back in the pocket, moved through his progression and then ripped a ball up the middle for a 22-yard strike to Amorion Walker (the longest catch of his career) to keep the drive alive. Tuttle found Loveland later on a scramble for the lead.

The next three drives, however, left more to be desired. U-M went three-and-out on consecutive possessions, gaining a total of five yards, before Hausmann’s interception set up a potential go-ahead score. Instead, Tuttle fumbled which set up the Huskies with a short field.

When Michigan got the ball back with 6:22 to play, Mullings converted on fourth-and-inches, but after a false start on Josh Priebe, Tuttle threw an interception when looking for Loveland on an out-route with 3:24 to play. The ball was behind the tight end.

Defense picked apart through the air

The defense was a similar story in terms of a slow start before settling in.

Washington had its way early with three of its first four drives picking up 50 yards or more. It started early, when Rogers found Denzel Boston on a 36-yard double move against Jyaire Hill (something that happened a lot) on the first play of the game. Coleman ripped off a 10-yard rush on the next play, but U-M’s defense stood tall and forced a 42-yard Grady Gross field goal attempt which he pulled wide left.

The next drive was not as fortunate. After U-M forced an early third-and-11, Rogers found former Michigan wideout Giles Jackson for a deep gain of 41 after he ran by Makari Paige. Michigan gave up another third-and-7 when Rogers found Boston on a slant in front of Hill, and five plays later, Rogers found Boston on a fade for a touchdown.

Two drives later, the Huskies went 75 yards on seven plays, the most consequential play a sweet double pass from Rogers to No. 2 quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to Cameron Davis for a gain of 37. On the next play, Rogers found Jackson for a 17-yard score to put Washington up 14-0.

Rogers finished 21 of 32 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.

Michigan’s defense awoke after the QB change, and ended the first half by forcing a punt and then blocking a short field goal attempt as time expired. It forced a punt on the first drive of the second half after the Wolverines took a 17-14 lead on the opening drive.

After Washington tied the game and marched into U-M territory midway through the fourth quarter, Rogers threw a pass over the middle to his tight end when Hausmann made a leaping interception to get U-M the ball back, but the comeback fell short as the defense allowed 13 fourth-quarter points.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

It’s time to settle some bad blood.

After 20 years since the last edition, WWE brings back Bad Blood premium live event and it’s the perfect title for what will have several feuds either entering a new chapter or culminating on Saturday night.

Highlighting the night are two of the top feuds of 2024: CM Punk and Drew McIntyre meeting in a Hell in a Cell match, and Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns putting their differences aside to go up against the new version of The Bloodline. Also on the schedule is The Judgment Day going up against the Terror Twins in two matches, and a rematch will take place for the WWE Women’s Championship.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the action for Bad Blood 2024:

Kevin Owens attacks Cody Rhodes after Bad Blood ends

Cody Rhodes was scheduled to speak at the press conference that followed the show but Triple H informed the media that Rhodes wasn’t going to make it.

Shortly after, videos began to surface on social media of Kevin Owens attacking the WWE Champion in front of the fans, who were waiting outside the arena with the intention of seeing and interacting with the various members of the show as they left the venue.

Owens has not been pleased with Cody in recent weeks after Cody decided to team up with Roman Reigns.

The Rock appears at Bad Blood

As things appear to be settling down with the main event, the Rock made an appearance to end the show. While he didn’t verbally say anything, he did make gestures toward Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. The three of them were all involved in the WrestleMania 40 main event.

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline results

Roman Reigns and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes lived up to their word to one another and managed to get a victory over Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa from the Bloodline.

Roman and Cody, considering their ties to the state of Georgia, had the majority of the crowd behind them throughout most of the match.

Roman played football at Georgia Tech while Cody is currently based out of Atlanta.

After a back-and-forth match between the two teams, momentum began to shift in favor of Roman and Cody, after the champion jumped from the turnbuckle and landed on Jacob, who was lying on an announce table.

The moment kept Jacob out of the match the rest of the way while Roman and Solo continued to battle in the ring.

Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa ran out to distract Roman but Jimmy Uso arrived to help make the save.

Following the conclusion of the match, Roman looked shocked to see Jimmy.

Jimmy’s brother, Jey Uso, was spotted in the arena earlier in the evening but did not come out during the main event.

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns acknowledged each other before leaving the ring. As Jimmy and Roman begin to head back toward the locker room, Cody is attacked by members of the Bloodline. While Roman took a brief pause to think about returning to the ring, some convincing from Jimmy led to both men coming back to assist the WWE Champion.

Cody Rhodes invites University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff marching band to perform

Cody Rhodes had the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff marching band out at ringside to perform his entrance song ‘Kingdom’ as he made his way toward the ring prior to the main event.

The band went viral after performing Cody’s entrance song during a football game in August.

Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan results

Dominik Mysterio managed to pick the lock and open the cage door as Rhea performed a frog splash on Liv. Rhea was distracted and taunted Dom.

Moments later as Dom tried to find a way to escape, he managed to find himself hanging by the chain around his leg outside of the cage. Rhea started attacking him with a kendo stick before Raquel Rodriguez came out to attack Rhea.

Raquel’s unexpected arrival proved to be the difference as Liv managed to retain her championship.

Famous faces in the Bad Blood crowd

Musicians Metro Boomin, Quavo and Lil Baby were all seen in the crowd at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Several WWE Hall of Famers, including Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were also in the crowd.

Triple H introduces a new Crown Jewel championship at Bad Blood

Triple H came out to the ring to unveil a new 15K carat diamond championship that will be on the line during a pair of matches at Crown Jewel.

The chief content officer also announced 16,092 were in attendance for the Bad Blood event and said it was WWE’s 60th sold out event in 2024.

Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor results

Damian Priest and Finn Balor was a fairly even contest until Carlito and JD McDonagh of Judgement Day came down to the ring to interferre.

Despite Judgement Day’s best effort to get involved in the match, Priest overcame the uneven odds to secure a victory over Balor with a South of Heaven chokeslam.

Bayley-Nia Jax RAW Women’s Title results

Nia Jax used her power as an advantage and delivered punishment to Bayley early on in the match. Despite Bayley’s attempts to rally in the match, Jax would slam her on the steel steps and the barricade outside of the ring.

Referee Jessika Carr was caught in the crossfire and taken down during an exchange between the two competitors. Bayley tried to pin Nia but the official wasn’t there to make the count. Tiffany Stratton came down to the ring to potentially cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase and win the championship for herself.

While Stratton was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, her appearance proved to be enough of a distraction to give Jax the upper hand and the eventual victory after using a Samoan drop and her finisher, the Annihilator, on Bayley.

Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre results

The feud appears to have concluded with a bloody fight that lived up to the event’s title, ‘Bad Blood.’

Drew McIntyre remained dominant early on and caused CM Punk to bleed with strikes to his head, using the steel stairs at ringside. Punk would return the favor, causing McIntyre to bleed as well after hitting him with a metal toolbox. Both would perform the rest of the match with crimson masks as a result of their wounds.

The pace of the match slowed down after McIntyre got a hold of Punk, who was attempting to suplex him, and performed a suplex of his own that took both men out of the ring and crashing through a table.

CM Punk got the best of Drew McIntyre in the end, having wrapped a steel chain around his right knee and driving it into the face of his opponent. The aftermath of the fight left the ring mat a bloody mess and red, white and blue beads scattered all over the ring. The beads were symbolic of Punk’s beaded bracelet that featured the name of his wife AJ Lee and his dog ‘Larry’ that was stolen by McIntyre.

Punk walked out of the ring and began making his way back to the locker room before he collapsed to the ground and was briefly attended to by medical personnel.

Metro Boomin is in attendance for Bad Blood

Record producer and songwriter Metro Boomin appeared at the start of Bad Blood arriving with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. He was also seen in a photo with WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque on social media. WWE is using Metro Boomin and Future’s song ‘GTA’ as the theme song for Bad Blood.

When is Bad Blood 2024?

Bad Blood 2024 is Saturday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. ET.

Is there a Bad Blood 2024 preshow?

WWE is having a Bad Blood preshow right now on YouTube and X (formally Twitter).

Where is Bad Blood 2024?

The WWE’s Bad Blood 2024 is taking place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

How to watch Bad Blood 2024: TV channel, streaming

The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have a premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on WWE Network.

Bad Blood 2024 match card

Matches not in order

Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
WWE Women’s Championship match: Nia Jax vs. Bayley
Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
Women’s World Championship match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark tank.)
Tag team match: Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu)

Who will host WWE Bad Blood?

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will serve as the hosts of Bad Blood.

Are the Motor City Machine Guns coming to WWE?

All signs point to the Moto City Machine Guns tag team coming to WWE soon. A ‘coming soon’ vignette aired on SmackDown last night, indicating a new arrival.

The tag team consists of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, who are known for their success with TNA (Total Nonstop Action).

James H. Williams’ Bad Blood 2024 predictions

Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor: The former tag team partner, as members of the Judgement Day have been at odds and Balor is partly the reason for that. Balor was responsible for ending Priest’s first championship reign at 118 days. I expect Carlito and JD McDonagh to get to help Balor, but will it be enough? Winner: Damian Priest
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley: This feud started in 2022 and could come to an end with the championship on the line and Dominik Mysterio hanging above the ring in a shark cage. Liv has managed to get the best of Rhea when it’s counted most, but Rhea will look to settle the score with Dominik out of the way. I expect Rhea to be aggressive early on and dominate. Winner: Rhea Ripley.
Nia Jax vs. Bayley: Bayley has won a championship on seven different occasions during her WWE career but could add another this weekend. Nia Jax has looked strong in her return to WWE and entered the match as champion, but whether she leaves with the championship could be decided on what Tiffany Stratton has planned with her Money in the Bank contract opportunity. Winner: Nia Jax
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre: CM Punk has prevented Drew McIntyre from having any true success involving the WWE Championship in recent months. McIntyre has tried his best to get revenge on Punk and often made it personal by mentioning Punk’s family on several occasions. With a potentially bloody battle ahead with these two men locked in a cage, the rubber match will likely decide the feud’s true victor. Winner: Drew McIntyre
Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu (The Bloodline): Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns have headlined the last two WrestleManias as enemies but appear to have a common goal in stopping the latest version of the Bloodline faction. While I think the other members of the Bloodline could factor into the match, I think Kevin Owens’ involvement will determine the outcome of the match after not being pleased with Cody as of late. Winner: The Bloodline

Jordan Mendoza’s Bad Blood 2024 predictions

Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor: Balor took a long back seat while Priest rose to the top. Balor gets his revenge and some momentum with a victory, likely with some help from The Judgement Day. Winner: Finn Balor.
Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor: Balor took a long back seat while Priest rose to the top. Balor gets his revenge and some momentum with a victory, likely with some help from The Judgement Day. Winner: Finn Balor.
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley: The stipulation favors Ripley, but don’t be surprised by any hijinks for Morgan. Still, one of the Terror Twins should come out with a win, and Ripley does it in the next chapter of this rivalry. Winner: Rhea Ripley.
Nia Jax vs. Bayley: Bayley finally gets her rematch, but Jax is on a real heater and can’t see her dropping the title to the challenger. However, wouldn’t be surprised if we get a Money in the Bank cash-in. Winner: Nia Jax.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre: The best rivalry in WWE finally reaches its end. While you can make the case for either one to win, CM Punk is headed toward having a title match at WrestleMania and winning this feud would be the momentum he needs to get there. Winner: CM Punk.
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu): A match that can go off the rails, Reigns completes the next step toward regaining his title as “Tribal Chief.” But after the match, will there be a surprise? Winner: Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.

Why is WWE Bad Blood start time earlier than most premium live events?

Bad Blood’s start time is earlier than usual for a WWE premium live event because of the UFC 307 PPV later tonight, according to Fightful Select.

The WWE and UFC are both owned by TKO Group Holdings.

WWE Bad Blood history

Saturday will be the fourth Bad Blood event but the first since 2004.

The event first took place in 1997 with Badd Blood: In Your House, where the first-ever Hell in a Cell match took place. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels battled it out in the inaugural Hell in a Cell match in St. Louis.

Bad Blood returned in 2003 in Houston and took place in Columbus, Ohio the following year before it went on a 20-year hiatus. Saturday will mark the 27th anniversary of the first BadBlood.

Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley match stipulation

“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio will be back behind bars when the Women’s World Championship match takes place. 

With Mysterio providing assistance to Morgan ever since he turned on Ripley, he won’t have any chance to interfere this time around.

During the bout, Mysterio will be raised above the ring in a shark cage. He will only be able to look down and watch the action.

AJ Styles update

Veteran wrestler AJ Styles made his return to SmackDown last night in Tennessee but was apparently injured during a match against Carmelo Hayes. WWE’s Jackie Redmond provides an update on Styles.

When are the upcoming WWE events?

There will be plenty of follow up to tonight’s action on the weekly episodes of RAW and SmackDown but WWE will also have some of its bigger shows coming up. Here’s the latest schedule:

Roman Reigns shares some final thoughts before Bad Blood

Former WWE champion Roman Reigns kept his final message before his main event tag team match with Cody Rhodes short:

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