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That’s a great question, because we saw some very nice gains and we’re now approaching all-time highs, especially on the Dow Jones ($INDU) and S&P 500 ($SPX). The more growth-oriented NASDAQ 100 ($NDX) has much more work to do. How much more strength is required to generate those breakouts? Well, let’s go to the charts:

Dow Jones:

S&P 500:

NASDAQ 100:

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 are clearly the better relative performers as they’re both within 1% of all-time highs that were recently recorded. The NASDAQ 100? Not so much. Not only is the NDX well off its all-time closing high, I can see a clear short-term downtrend line that needs to be broken before we can even consider a move to test all-time highs.

The RSIs on the Dow, SPX, and NDX are currently 60, 58, and 55, respectively. 60 tends to be resistance in short-term downtrends. So we’re at very key technical levels in terms of both price and technical indicators. But it’s not just these challenges that must be overcome. There are major seasonal hurdles directly in front of us as we get set to receive our first interest rate cut in what Fed Chief Powell said was a changing Fed policy (from hawkish to dovish).

The major seasonal challenges were discussed in my Weekly Market Recap on YouTube this weekend. Market “hurricane season” is active in the second half of September. To see just how bad the market has performed during this upcoming period, check out my latest video, “Major Challenge Ahead For S&P 500 In Late September.” Please help us build our YouTube community by hitting that “Like” button and “Subscribe” to our channel to get our latest YouTube videos timely.

Happy trading!

Tom

Toward the end of his presidency, Ronald Reagan was doing the standard round of exit interviews, one with Tom Brokaw of NBC. During the taping, Brokaw asked Reagan a rather brilliant question, namely, was there anything from Reagan’s Hollywood days that helped him become a better president? 

The Gipper thought for a moment and finally replied, ‘I don’t know how you can do this job and not be an actor.’ There was great wisdom in what Reagan had to say.

Shakespeare was right. ‘All the world is a stage.’ The great leaders of the world all knew about presentation. Think about it. 

Julius Caesar in his finest armor. Napoleon insisted on his own uniform, and that of his men be presentable. George Washington understood that what one looks like is a part of leadership. He never went before his men without being dressed in his finest, his horse brushed, and the leather well-tended. He said little publicly, which only added to his aura. When he went before the Constitutional Convention, he was always dressed in his finest uniform. Same with Robert E. Lee. When he went to surrender to Gen. U.S. Grant, the Confederate leader put on his best uniform. 

Sun Tzu once said that ‘victorious warriors win first then go to war.’ By that, he meant winners gain a psychological advantage before engaging the enemy. And presentation is a large part of that advantage.

Dressing in character is also a part of leadership. Abraham Lincoln was no slave to fashion, but the old log splitter understood his ruffled style worked for him. It was what citizens wanted. It was a part of his authenticity.

The internet is replete with stories about leadership and presentation, something lost on the intelligentsia today. Donald Trump has his own style, and that is key. His rallies are a lot of entertaining and informative. He commands attention. He obviously has fun on stage.

In that manner, Trump may be the most exciting president in modern history. From his hair style to his ubiquitous red hat to his rallies, everything is unique. None of it is accidental; Trump has always understood the importance of not just being a leader but also being seen as a leader. Donald Trump in a Speedo would not work for him. JFK in a bathing suit worked for him. In fact, JFK was one of those lucky men who clothing always looked ‘leaderly’ on. Manly. In control.

Arguably, no moment revealed Trump’s leadership more profoundly than when, just moments after his assassination attempt, he stood up before the audience, put his fists in the air, and shouted with defiance, ‘Fight!’

Juxtapose this with his current ultra leftist challenger. There is nothing iconic or memorable about the Kamala Harris campaign. Her campaign sign is arguably one of the most bland ever conceived of, static white letters on a plain blue field. 

Harris has tried her best to coin phrases like ‘coconut army’ and ‘brat.’ They’ve even gone so far as to try and appropriate the patina of rural Americans by slapping the Harris campaign logo on a camouflage hat and calling it a day. Just the other day, she tried out a southern accent, Of course, it backfired. Her presentation seems so forced, so insincere. Fakery.

The American people crave authenticity, and they see right through phonies. California coastal elite Kamala Harris in a camouflage hat isn’t authentic. It didn’t work when then-presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren attempted to do a livestream with a beer. It didn’t work when Barack Obama had the White House release photos of him at a gun range. And it most definitely didn’t work when Michael Dukakis rode in a tank in 1988. 

The socialist Tim Walz is even worse. He screams fraud! The cognitive dissonance between the trappings of mainstream America and the ideology of a far-left ivory tower elite is making him inauthentic to millions of Americans. He’s not even good enough to be a cliché. He is something worse.

Even Democrats concede that no president in modern history has created more iconic looks than Ronald Reagan. From his California ranch to his cowboy boots to his legendary Stetson hat, Reagan looked and felt exactly like what a conservative should be. Bold, classic, individualistic and quintessentially American.

For this and a thousand other reasons, Reagan is now regarded as one of our four greatest presidents. And Biden? People have already forgotten him and his presidency. To coin a phrase, he will be consigned to the dustbin of history where all miserable presidents belong. His presentation and lack of leadership have banished him to the list of failed presidents.

And Shakespeare was right: ‘The play’s the thing!’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

One of the most anticipated revenge matchups of the 2024 NFL schedule is up in the air.

When the league’s regular-season slate was released in May, many circled the Week 2 showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. The tilt was set to mark Russell Wilson’s return to square off against Sean Payton just six months after he was unceremoniously released to cap a rocky two-year tenure with the franchise.

But after sitting out the Steelers’ season-opening win due to a calf injury, Wilson might miss Sunday’s highly anticipated game.

Here’s what we know about Wilson’s status and the Steelers’ plans at quarterback:

Russell Wilson injury updates: Latest on QB’s outlook

On Tuesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin revealed that his team was preparing as though Justin Fields would start against the Broncos. Tomlin kept the door open on Friday for Wilson to play by listing him as questionable. But his explanation of the designation reinforced that Fields has the inside track to take the reins.

All things Steelers: Latest Pittsburgh Steelers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘So, obviously if his availability is questionable, then starting is less so,’ Tomlin told reporters. ‘But we’ve been in that mindset all week. Like I’ve said, we’ve been focused on getting Justin (Fields) ready to play, and we’ll continue in that mindset as we push forward toward game time.’

Wilson maintained optimism this week that he could make his way into the lineup soon.

‘I feel like I’m getting closer and closer,’ Wilson said Thursday, according to ESPN. ‘I’m just trying to be smart and got to do a lot of work today on the field and everything else, throwing and all that, so just trying to be smart.’

Wilson served as the emergency quarterback for the Steelers’ win over the Falcons and could return to the role if he’s not yet fully ready to play.

Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 153 yards against Atlanta, but Pittsburgh settled for six field goals in the 18-10 victory.

Russell Wilson’s Broncos split revisited

Wilson was released by Denver in March, just days before his 2025 salary of $37 million was set to become fully guaranteed. His $39 million salary for this season was already locked in.

In moving on from Wilson, the Broncos incurred a record $85 million dead cap hit.

Wilson joined the franchise to great fanfare in March 2022 after the Seattle Seahawks traded him in exchange for three players and a package of picks that included two first-round selections and two second-round choices. But his debut season proved calamitous from the outset, with the nine-time Pro Bowl selection posting a career-worst 84.4 passer rating and first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett getting fired in December after going 4-11.

Payton took the helm the following season and criticized the previous regime’s handling of the veteran signal-caller. While Wilson’s play rebounded, Payton benched him for the final two weeks of the season. The coach maintained the decision was strictly driven by football considerations, though news later emerged that the team approached Wilson during a midseason bye about restructuring his contract and delaying the date at which point his injury guarantee for 2025 would become a full guarantee.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Sean O’Malley returned to the octagon Saturday night to defend his bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306.

O’Malley entered the event having won six of his last seven fights, with the other being ruled a no-contest after an accidental eye poke. Dvalishvili earned a title match after winning 10 straight fights, nine of those wins coming by unanimous decision.

Valentina Shevchenko fought Alexa Grasso for the women’s flyweight championship in the co-main event. It was the third fight between the two fighters.

Shevchenko had lost the title to Grasso in their first fight, by submission, at UFC 285 in March 2023. Their second fight ended in a split-decision draw.

Did you miss all the action? Check out all the results and highlights from UFC 306:

Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili result

First round: Dvalishvili received a warning from referee Herb Dean in the beginning seconds of the fight for trying to exchange words with someone in O’Malley’s corner. The fighters spent the first three minutes of the fight testing each other out before Dvalishvili decided to bring O’Malley down to the ground and press him against the side gate of the octagon.

Second round: Dvalishvili brought O’Malley back down to the ground and landed blind strikes to his face. O’Malley attempted a triangle choke but Dean separated the fighters after he said O’Malley tried to grab the inside of Dvalishvili’s glove. Dvalishvili finished the second round smothering O’Malley against the side of the octagon again, kissing his back before letting him go. O’Malley quickly answered back with a pair of punches at Dvalishvili while his back was turned before time expired.

Third round: O’Malley opened the round using his legs to kick at Dvalishvili while the fighters were upright. Dvalishvili manages to catch the leg and bring O’Malley back down to the ground before delivering a flurry of knee strikes to his face and hip. The fighters would spend most of the round standing up as O’Malley managed to stay clear of Dvalishvili’s takedown attempts.

Fourth round: Dvalishvili managed to bring his opponent back down again but developed a cut on his face. O’Malley would proceed to find an opening to get back to his feet but Dvalishvili would proceed to wear out the reigning champion with his body weight and various strikes. O’Malley showed signs of fatigue and frustration as the time in the fourth round expired.

Fifth round: Dvalishvili spent the first minute and a half in the final period keeping his distance from O’Malley, searching for an opportunity to bring his opponent down. O’Malley went back to his leg and knee strike attempts during the final two minutes, trying to knock out the challenger. Dvalishvili continued to keep his distance and secured the victory after a dominating performance.

Dvalishvili was declared the winner by unanimous decision and the new bantamweight champion. It was Dvalishvili’s 11th straight win.

‘I feel like I’m in a dream,’ Dvalishvili told Joe Rogan during the post-fight interview.

Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko result

Shevchenko beat Grasso, by a unanimous decision, to win the women’s flyweight championship again.

Shevchenko and Grasso spent part of the first round exchanging strikes before Shevchenko brought Grasso to the ground and slowed the pace of the fight. Grasso had opportunities to put Shevchenko in submissions from underneath but Shevchenko managed to escape.

Shevchenko continued to bring Grasso down to the ground in every round, executing her game plan and winning over the judges.

Familiar faces in the UFC 306 crowd

WWE superstars Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio were spotted in the audience.

Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes result

Lopes landed a series of punches early before taking Ortega to the ground. Ortega would continue to absorb the blows but suffered a cut above his left eye in the process. After several minutes, Ortega managed to get back to his feet. With two minutes remaining in the first round, Lopes was already credited with landing 21 significant punches to Ortega’s four punches.

Ortega began to develop a welt on his left leg after taking a few leg strikes from Lopes, who landed 10 of his 12 strikes through the first round and a half.

Lopes continued to wear down Ortega and used a big left-handed punch to rock him in the final seconds of the third round. Lopes was declared the winner of the featherweight bout by unanimous decision.

Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics result

Esteban Ribovics landed a big right-handed punch before launching a flurry of punches to daze Zellhuber in the third round. Zellhuber would manage to withstand the attack and stay in the fight. In the end, Ribovics won the bout by split decision.

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne result

Rodriguez beat Osbourne by unanimous decision. Rodriguez rallied from being knocked down and nearly submitted by Osbourne.

UFC 309 main event announced

Jon Jones will face Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title in the UFC 309 main event on Nov. 16. The event will be held at Madison Square Garden.

Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont result

Both Dumont and Aldana have continued to exchange strikes. As a result, Aldana has a crimson mask on her face from a gash on her forehead. Dumont wins by unaminous decision.

Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes result

Bahamondes knocks out Torres with a right hand to the jaw in the first round (4:02).

Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza result

Souza used a left hook to rattle Jauregui before using a rear naked chokehold to put her to sleep in the first round (3:02). It’s her second win by submission.

Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van result

Josh Van got the best of Edgar Chairez and was declared the winner by a unanimous decision. Van had an impressive second round after delivering several strikes to Chairez’s body and head that appeared to injure and rattle him.

The referee let the fight continue and Chairez delivered a spinning-back fist to create some distance from Van before putting him to the ground with a guillotine choke. Van had taken the fight on short notice.

Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng result

Rosas was declared the winner by unanimous decision. He’s now won three fights in a row and becomes the first fighter to win at the Sphere.

UFC 306 start time

Early prelims: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT (UFC Fight Pass)
Prelims: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (ESPNews/ESPN+)
Main card: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (PPV on ESPN+)

Watch UFC 306 with ESPN+

UFC 306 fight card

Main card

Sean O’Malley (c) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight championship)
Alexa Grasso (c) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (women’s flyweight championship)
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (featherweight)
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne (flyweight)

Prelims

Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
Edgar Chairez vs. Joshua Van (flyweight)

Early Prelims

Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng (bantamweight)

UFC 306 live stream

The early prelims and prelims will be broadcast on TV on ESPN, with a live stream available via ESPN+. The pay-per-view main event can be purchased and streamed through ESPN+.

UFC 306 price

The UFC 305 pay-per-view can be purchased through ESPN+ (which requires a subscription) for $79.99.

UFC 306 odds

All odds are for moneyline bets (as of Friday), according to BetMGM.

Sean O’Malley (-140) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (+115)
Alexa Grasso (-140) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (+115)
Brian Ortega (+155) vs. Diego Lopes (-190)
Daniel Zellhuber (-225) vs. Esteban Ribovics (+185)
Ronaldo Rodriguez (-165) vs. Ode Osbourne (+135)
Irene Aldana (-115) vs. Norma Dumont (-105)
Manuel Torres (-140) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (+115)
Yazmin Jauregui (-550) vs. Ketlen Souza (+380)
Edgar Chairez (+200) vs. Joshua Van (-250)
Raul Rosas Jr. (-1000) vs. Aoriqileng (+650)

UFC 306 location

The event will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Sphere is a new venue that opened on September 29, 2023, and could be found East of the Las Vegas strip. The arena held concerts and entertainment but will welcome UFC as its first live sporting event. The Sphere could have the capacity to seat at least 18,600 people.

Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili: Tale of the tape

UFC 306 Predictions

Action Sports Network: Merab Dvalishvili over Sean O’Malley

Sean Zerillo writes ‘I projected the fight to end inside the distance 54% of the time (-117 implied odds) compared to consensus odds nearer to -115. O’Malley is a threat to close the show anytime during the fight. Still, I feel Merab’s finishing chances – either via injury (with O’Malley’s historical ankle/foot issue) or cardio-based stoppage in the championship rounds are being undersold.’

MMAmania: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Sean O’Malley

Jesse Holland writes: ‘The challenger has the conditioning to spam takedowns for all five rounds and I’m not sure O’Malley — taken down six times by Petr Yan at UFC 280 — has the defense to stop him. I just don’t feel comfortable picking the champion on the slim chance he can land the kill shot before getting double-legged into oblivion.’

MMAjunkie: Merab Dvalishvili beats Sean O’Malley by decision

Dan Tom writes ‘I have a feeling that my initial lean toward an O’Malley knockout is the correct call, but I also believe that Davlishvili could be one of the toughest stylistic matchups for the champ outside of Umar Nurmagomedov. For that reason, I’ll semi-reluctantly side with the arguably more durable fighter in Davlishvili to survive the early storm and pull away down the stretch (possibly earning a late finish if O’Malley’s body fails to hold together).’

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Week 1 of the NFL season got off to a thrilling start with no shortage of comeback wins and upset losses. Now, all eyes are on Week 2 as teams look to build momentum early in the season. 

The second Sunday of the 2024 season will feature 14 games, highlighted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers at the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels will also take to the field for a second time as all three adjust to the growing pains of playing on the professional level. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s Week 2 NFL games.

Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandBetting odds: BAL (-9.5); O/U: 41.5

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

After failing to get their revenge on Kansas City after last year’s AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens will be eager to get a win under their belt in their home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. Statistically, the Raiders are the biggest underdogs of Week 2 as Las Vegas’ offense is expected to struggle to match the production of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North CarolinaBetting odds: LAC (-6.5); O/U: 39

The Los Angeles Chargers overcame a slow start to win their opening game against Las Vegas in Jim Harbaugh’s coaching debut with the team, demonstrating they’re ready for the long season ahead. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers were outplayed by the New Orleans Saints in their opener, 47-10, struggling both offensively and defensively. 

New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TexasBetting odds: DAL (-6.5); O/U: 45.5

While both teams dominated their Week 1 games, the Dallas Cowboys did so against a much stronger side in the the Cleveland Browns compared to the Panthers. Veteran quarterback Dak Prescott also will be eager to prove himself after landing a new $240 million four-year deal that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. His offensive efforts will be bolstered by a new defensive unit that was able to generate 25 pressures on Cleveland’s 56 dropbacks last week. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: Ford Field in Detroit, MichiganBetting odds: DET (-7); O/U: 51.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield had a formidable Week 1 outing as the only quarterback to throw for four touchdowns during Week 1 to secure Tampa’s resounding victory against the Washington Commanders. However, any offense is bound to struggle to match the high-scoring potential of Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, who contributed five receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown in Detroit’s overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams. That said, the Bucs will be hungry for revenge after Detroit eliminated the team from the playoffs last season. 

Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WisconsinBetting odds: IND (-3); O/U: 41

Although the Green Bay Packers headed into the 2024 season the stronger team on paper, the team’s outlook drastically changed after star quarterback Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain during the Packers’ opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Love is expected to miss at least the next few weeks of play and Green Bay is expected to start QB2 Malik Willis in his place. Willis’ limited experience in the league will be a major hurdle for Green Bay and the Indianapolis Colts will do all they can to expose this weakness as they seek their first win of the season. 

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FloridaBetting odds: JAX (-3.5); O/U: 42

This matchup will be a tale of two inconsistent offenses as neither team impressed during Week 1. The Jacksonville Jaguars fumbled a ball to lose against the Miami Dolphins after failing to score a single point in the second half and blowing a double-digit lead. Meanwhile, the Browns struggled against the Cowboys as QB Deshaun Watson, who now faces more sexual assault allegations, continues to be lackluster on the field. 

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MinnesotaBetting odds: SF (-6); O/U: 45.5

Even without 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers reminded everyone why they are reigning NFC champions with a dominant victory over the New York Jets on Monday night. Backup running back Jordan Mason stepped up to contribute 28 carries for 147 yards and one rushing touchdown. 

Even though Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold impressed during the Vikings’ opening win against the New York Giants, his team will face a tougher opponent in Week 2, and his performance Sunday should be a better indicator of the team’s postseason potential.

Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts Betting odds: SEA (-3); O/U: 38

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are navigating the start of the NFL season with new head coaches. Although Mike MacDonald’s Seahawks are favored to win, Jerod Mayo’s Patriots pulled off the biggest upset of Week 1 by defeating the Bengals. New England has the potential to do the same against a Seattle side that will have to travel to the East Coast for an early game time. The matchup will also mark the first home game of the 21st century at Gillette Stadium without former head coach Bill Belichick at the Patriots’ helm. 

New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TennesseeBetting odds: NYJ (-3.5); O/U: 41

After a year-long road to recovery from an Achilles tear, the 49ers denied Jets QB Aaron Rodgers an opening win Monday night. The reigning NFC champions held Rodgers to 167 yards and one touchdown. However, Rodgers had a stronger showing than Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis, who threw more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one) to blow a 17-0 lead in Tennessee’s opening loss to the Chicago Bears. The Titans’ offense will suffer once again if it fails to improve from Week 1.

New York Giants at Washington Commanders

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: Northwest Stadium in Landover, MarylandBetting odds: WAS (-1.5); O/U: 44

The Giants’ offensive woes continued in Week 1 as Daniel Jones returned to the field for the first time since a season-ending injury last November by throwing zero touchdowns and two interceptions to the sound of booing from his home crowd. The disjointed Giants squad could be the ideal opportunity for Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels, who, despite an opening loss to Tampa Bay, will aim for his first professional win as he looks to re-energize a long-struggling Washington side. 

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals

Time/TV: 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, ArizonaBetting odds: ARI (-1.5); O/U: 49.5

Both the Rams and the Arizona Cardinals enter Week 2 winless, the former suffering an overtime loss against Detroit and the latter blowing a double-digit lead against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. To make matters worse for Los Angeles, offensive linemen Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom, as well as wide receiver Puka Nacua have been placed on injured reserve, putting the Rams’ depth chart in even further turmoil. 

Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriBetting odds: KC (-6); O/U: 47.5

The Bengals’ abysmal loss to the New England Patriots at home was perhaps the biggest shock of Week 1. Bengals QB Joe Burrow and his team will be looking for redemption Sunday. Unfortunately for them, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs lie in store. Kansas City’s statement win against the Ravens demonstrated it was one of the best teams in the league and no team will have an easy outing against the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions in search of a historic three-peat.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)Location: Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, ColoradoBetting odds: PIT (-3); O/U: 36.5

Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix had a shaky NFL debut. The rookie threw two costly interceptions and completed 26 of 42 pass attempts (61.9%) for 138 yards en route to an opening loss against Seattle. On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed an opening win against the Atlanta Falcons despite playing with QB2 Justin Fields as starting QB Russell Wilson was out with a calf injury. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he planned to start Fields again for Week 2 as Wilson continues his recovery. 

The biggest challenge for Nix and the Broncos will be the Steelers’ commanding defense, anchored by linebacker T.J. Watt. Against the more experienced Kirk Cousins during Week 1, the defense won the game for Pittsburgh, recording two sacks and forcing three turnovers. If Nix is to improve on last week’s performance, he will have to navigate a tight Steelers defense that will show little mercy to the young quarterback as he adapts to the professional level. 

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans

Time/TV: 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, TexasBetting odds: HOU (-7); O/U: 46

The late-night game will be a battle between young quarterbacks and the Houston Texans are a 7-point favorite. Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams, who was drafted as the No. 1 pick, won his professional debut but contributed little to his team’s victory with all of Chicago’s scores coming from the defense or special teams. But, while Williams still needs to find his footing in the league, Houston QB C.J. Stroud has had an extra year to adjust and his Week 1 performance outshined Williams by a long shot. 

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With two games remaining in the regular season before the playoffs, the Indiana Fever (19-19) will try to break a two-game losing streak.

That losing streak came in back-to-back home games against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The Fever can do no worse than the sixth seed when the postseason begins, with the Dallas Wings, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention, coming to town.

Indiana and Dallas have split their two meetings this season. In the last matchup on Sept. 1, Kelsey Mitchell scored 36 points, and Caitlin Clark added 28 points and 12 assists to overcome a record-tying nine 3-pointers from Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale, who had 34 points in the 100-93 Fever victory.

Dallas has lost 15 games in a row on the road.

When is Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings?

Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

How to watch Caitlin Clark and Fever vs. Dallas Wings

TV:  NBA TV (national); MeTV Indianapolis, Bally Sports Southwest Extra (local)

In addition to local TV markets, the Fever-Sparks game will also be available on demand upon its conclusion on WNBA League Pass. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.

Caitlin Clark stats last game

Clark set the WNBA record for assists in a season in a 78-74 loss to the Aces. Clark now has 321 assists, breaking the record of 316 set last season by Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas.

In the game against the Aces, Clark scored 18 points, all in the second half, with eight rebounds and nine assists for Indiana. Clark is averaging 19.1 points, 8.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 38 games this season.

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After an eventful opening race of the 2024 NASCAR playoffs that saw Joey Logano prevail in an overtime shootout, the Cup Series changes gears from pack racing at Atlanta to road-course racing at Watkins Glen.

Team Penske had a very strong playoff opener with Logano’s race victory and stage wins by Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Blaney finished third and Cindric 10th at Atlanta.

But Watkins Glen could present a prime opportunity for playoff drivers at NASCAR’s two other biggest teams — Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing — to make a statement. Hendrick drivers have won the last five races (2018-2023) at The Glen, and JGR drivers won the previous two (2016-17). Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, went back-to-back in 2018 and ’19, while Kyle Larson, the 2021 champ, captured two in a row at The Glen in 2021 and ’22. William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. have also earned recent victories on the New York road course.

So, who will prevail Sunday? Here is all the information you need to get ready for the Go Bowling at The Glen:

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen start?

The Go Bowling at The Glen starts at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen on?

USA Network is broadcasting the Go Bowling at The Glen and has a pre-race show beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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

The Go Bowling at The Glen 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 Watkins Glen?

The Go Bowling at The Glen is 90 laps around the 2.45-mile road course for a total of 220.5 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 20 laps; Stage 2: 20 laps; Stage 3: 50 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen?

William Byron started second and led 66 of 90 laps, including the final 33, before pulling away from Denny Hamlin by 2.632 seconds on Aug. 20, 2023.

What are the driver standings heading into the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen?

x-clinched spot in second round. The bottom four drivers after the third playoff race next weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway will be eliminated.

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske … 2,071
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,066
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing … 2,059
William Bryon, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,059
x-Joey Logano, Team Penske … 2,054
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,053
Austin Cindric, Team Penske … 2,053
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,050
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing … 2,048
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,041
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,028
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,027
Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing … 2,026
Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing … 2,011
Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,008
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing … 2,006

What is the lineup for the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

1. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

2. (19) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota

3. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

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

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

6. (13) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

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

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

9. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford

10. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford

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

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

13. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet

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

15. (54) Ty Gibbs (P), Toyota

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

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

18. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet

19. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet

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

21. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford

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

23. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

24. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford

25. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota

26. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet

27. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet

28. (6) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford

29. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet

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

31. (4) Josh Berry, Ford

32. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota

33. (21) Harrison Burton (P), Ford

34. (50) Juan Pablo Montoya, Toyota

35. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota

36. (51) Justin Haley, Ford

37. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford

38. (15) Kaz Grala, Ford

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado Buffaloes reconfigured their offensive line, held steady on defense and got another brilliant performance from two-way star Travis Hunter.

Then they celebrated the results – a 28-9 win against rival Colorado State in front of announced crowd of 40,099 at Canvas Stadium.

Hunter did it all, finishing with 13 catches for 100 yards with two touchdowns, along with an interception and five tackles on defense. After giving up six sacks last week in a loss at Nebraska, the offensive line surrendered only one sack Saturday against the Rams.

By the time the night was over, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders had completed 36-of-49 passes for 310 yards with four touchdowns.

The overall performance serves as a bit of a relief for the Buffs. After last week’s 28-10 loss at rival Nebraska, a loss against Colorado State would have raised serious questions about the team’s progress in Deion Sanders’ second year as Colorado’s coach.

But look at what happened instead: The Buffs (2-1) took a 14-3 lead at halftime and got the kind of performance they needed on the road.

The win gives CU seven straight victories against CSU and puts the Buffs on the right track heading into their Big 12 Conference opener next Saturday at home against Baylor.

The Buffs now lead the all-time series against the Rams 69-22-2.

Colorado vs. Colorado State highlights

Final score: Colorado 28, Colorado State 9

Travis Hunter injury scare

Hunter was getting checked out on the bench after he appeared to be shaken up a bit after making a chasedown tackle. His arm appeared to be the area of concern.

He did not appear to see the field on Colorado’s ensuing offensive possession after Colorado State scored to make the score 28-9, but was back out there on defense the next series.

Colorado 28, Colorado State 3: Travis Hunter scores again

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Travis Hunter took advantage of his interception to end the third quarter with a 21-yard touchdown catch to open the fourth. The Colorado Buffaloes are now up 28-3 with 13:20 left in the game.

Hunter’s catch came against zone coverage by Colorado State in the corner of the end zone, where his quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, found him to cap a 5-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that started after Hunter’s intercepted pass on defense.

Hunter has 12 catches for 90 yards with two touchdowns.

Colorado 21, Colorado State 3: Third quarter ends with Travis Hunter interception

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Travis Hunter has struck again. After a big touchdown catch on offense, the Colorado two-way star now has an interception on defense as the Buffaloes lead Colorado State at the end of the third quarter, 21-3.

Hunter reached up to grab the deep fourth-down pass from Colorado State, then returned it 38 yards before getting flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his celebration.

“He’s unbelievable,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders told CBS after the interception.

The turnover was the third for Colorado State in the game and marked three combined turnovers for both teams in the final minutes of the third quarter.

In the Rams’ series before Hunter’s interception, Colorado State had marched the ball all the way down to the Colorado 4-yard line. They had a first down and a chance to narrow the gap on CU. They also had converted two fourth downs to keep the drive alive. But then disaster struck. Running back Keegan Holles fumbled on a tackle by Colorado linebacker LaVonta Bentley, who recovered it to give his team possession at its own 7-yard line.

The Buffs didn’t capitalize on it, however. CU running back Isaiah Augustave fumbled the ball back four players later. 

Colorado 21, Colorado State 3: Buffaloes turn interception into Travis Hunter TD

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter show is revving up again for Colorado.

The Buffaloes now lead Colorado State 21-3 with 10:11 left in the third quarter after a 2-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to Hunter, their sensational two-way star.

The score was set up by an interception by Colorado safety Preston Hodge, who picked off a pass fired into coverage by Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. The turnover gave the Buffs a first down at CSU’s 12-yard line after the Buffs offense sputtered on its opening possession after halftime.

Sanders is 25-for-34 passing for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Hunter has 10 catches for 68 yards with one score.

Halftime: Colorado 14, Colorado State 3

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders seems to be finding a groove after a slow start and has led the Buffaloes to a 14-3 lead here against Colorado State.

This time he marched the Buffs downfield on another touchdown drive culminating with another touchdown catch by receiver LaJohntay Wester – a 34 yarder over the middle of the field with 58 seconds left in the first half.

It was the second straight touchdown drive for Colorado after it failed to score in its first three possessions. Both drives went at least 84 yards, and both ended with touchdown catches to Wester, a transfer from Florida Atlantic. He has three catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

Sanders finished the first half 20-for-27 passing for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, the Colorado defense held Colorado State to 1-of-6 on third down conversions until the Rams’ final possession of the first half, when they missed a 52-yard field goal as time expired.

Rams quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is 6-for-10 passing for 52 yards.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders praised his linemen on both sides of the ball in an interview with CBS at halftime. The Buffs have not given up any quarterback sacks after giving up six last week in a loss against Nebraska. 

Colorado gets the ball to start the second half.

Colorado 7, Colorado State 3: Buffaloes take first lead

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado finally put together a sustained scoring driving on its fourth possession of the game, going 85 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.

The score came on a first-down slant pattern in the middle of the end zone and helped put the Buffaloes up 7-3 with 5:51 left before halftime.

Sanders is now 16-for-20 passing for 91 yards and a touchdown. Six receivers have caught balls so far from Sanders, led by Travis Hunter with six catches for 31 yards. 

Justin Marshall injury

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State running back Justin Marshall had to be helped off the field with 12:25 left in the second quarter after getting hit on the head on a tackle by Colorado linebacker LaVonta Bentley. It’s not clear if Marshall suffered a concussion, but he was flat on his back on the field during a break in play.

He had 45 yards on eight carries before the injury.

Who is Colorado State kicker?

Colorado State kicker Jordan Noyes is one of the oldest players in college football — the second-oldest in the game, in fact, per his university bio. The 32-year-old Englishman is a father of three and is in his fifth season of college football (he previously kicked at Utah). The Rams’ website says Noyes played football, soccer, rugby and did gymnastics back in the U.K.

Colorado State 3, Colorado 0: End of first quarter

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — At the end of the first quarter, Colorado State leads Colorado, 3-0. Colorado has missed a field goal and also hasn’t gotten much going on offense. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is 6-for-9 passing for 25 yards behind a reconfigured offensive line. Freshman running back Micah Welch has 36 rushing yards on three carries.

Colorado also already has three penalties for 20 yards.

Colorado misses field goal

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado kicker Alejandro Mata missed a 44-yard field goal wide right with 2:52 left in the first quarter, leaving the Buffs in a 3-0 hole against Colorado State.

On the bright side for Colorado, it has more rushing yards already (36) than it did last week at Nebraska (16). Freshman running back Micah Welch has all of them on three carries, running behind a new lineup on the offensive line for the Buffs.

One big change for the Buffs is a new starting right tackle — Phillip Houston, a transfer from Florida International. He replaces Tyler Brown, who moved to left guard in place of previous starting left guard Justin Mayers, a transfer from Texas-El Paso. Coach Deion Sanders hinted at changes on the offensive line after the Buffs gave up six sacks last week against Nebraska. 

Colorado State scores first

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State has struck first against Colorado, taking a 3-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal with 7:23 left in the first quarter.

Colorado State running back Justin Marshall had two big runs on the 48-yard drive. One was an inside-zone scamper to the right for a gain of 27 yards to the Colorado 28-yard line. Then he evaded defenders on another run toward the left on third-and-1 for a gain of 11. That put the Rams on the 8-yard-line before quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi bobbled a snap and fell on it at the 14.

Colorado State so far has outgained Colorado 54 yards to 2 yards, but Colorado only has had the ball once.

Deion Sanders makes grand entrance

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — One of Deion Sanders’ pregame rituals is to do a lap around the perimeter of the field more than an hour before the game. On Saturday, about 70 minutes before game time, he came out of the stadium tunnel dressed in gray sweats before heading straight across the end zone into a corner where Colorado State students jeered him loudly. One held a sign that said, “Coach past his Prime.” As Sanders made his way down the sideline, they also belted out a profane chant: “(Expletive) CU,” much like they did last week at Nebraska. 

College football schedule Week 3, Top 25

Friday

No. 15 Kansas State 31, No. 18 Arizona 7

Saturday

No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m., ABC
No. 3 Texas 56, UTSA 7
No. 4 Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10
No. 5 Ole Miss 40, Wake Forest 6
No. 8 Missouri 27, Boston College 21
No. 9 Tennessee vs. Kent State, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
No. 6 Oregon 49, Oregon State 14
No. 12 Miami (Fla.) 62, Ball State 0
No. 10 Utah 38, Utah State 21
No. 14 Oklahoma State 45, Tulsa 10
No. 13 Oklahoma 34, Tulane 19
No. 17 LSU 36, South Carolina 33
No. 16 Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18
No. 18 Notre Dame 66, Purdue 7
No. 23 Nebraska vs. Northern Iowa, 7:30 p.m., BTN

What time is Colorado-Colorado State game?

Colorado-Colorado State kicks off at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday night.

How to watch Colorado-Colorado State

Colorado-Colorado State will be broadcast on CBS.

Colorado injury updates: Shilo Sanders out

The Buffs will be without their leading tackler from last year, safety Shilo Sanders, as well as their leading rusher this year, Dallan Hayden. Sanders underwent surgery on his forearm after suffering an injury against Nebraska. His father, coach Deion Sanders, said he might be out two to three weeks. Hayden leads the team with 52 yards rushing but is likely out Saturday with an unspecified injury, Deion Sanders said this week.

Sophomore safety Carter Stoutmire is expected to start in place of Shilo Sanders after starting one game as a freshman in 2023. At running back, the Buffs have several options, including freshman Micah Welch, former walk-on Charlie Offerdahl and Arkansas transfer Isaiah Augustave.

Future series between Colorado and Colorado State?

These two teams won’t meet again until 2029 but will play six games from then through 2038, according to Colorado’s future schedule listings. Three of those future games are scheduled for Boulder, with the other three in Fort Collins – a departure from the recent practice of playing games only in Denver or Boulder.

Colorado leads the all-time series 68-22-2. Since the series resumed after a long hiatus in 1983, the game has been played in Fort Collins only three times in 33 games – in 1987, 1988 and 1996. Colorado won each of those road games. The Buffaloes have not lost in Fort Collins since 1955.

Colorado vs. Colorado State is ‘personal again’

Deion Sanders made sure to show his team video this week that shows two Colorado State players making provocative comments in an interview that circulated a few days before the game. Though many assumed the interview happened during the week of the game, including Sanders, it actually was filmed before the season on Aug. 14, as confirmed by CSU to USA TODAY Sports.

In the interview, CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi spoke about the hype that follows the Buffaloes with Sanders and how CSU came close to beating CU last year before losing in overtime, 43-35. The Rams had led by 11 points in the fourth quarter.

“It goes to show that the hype, the media train, it only gets you so far,” Fowler-Nicolosi said Aug. 14.

He also said, “We’ll see how far Instagram followers gets them.”

CSU receiver Tory Horton said Aug. 14 the Rams are coming for revenge.

He said, “We owe them one” and “We should have murdered them guys.”

When asked about these comments on the Colorado Football Coaches Show on Thursday, Sanders said, ‘it makes it personal again.”

Sanders said “of course” he showed the comments to his team.  Last year’s game was “personal,” too, because CSU coach Jay Norvell had taken a verbal shot at Sanders’s habit of wearing sunglasses and hats in the presence of “grown-ups.”

College football bold predictions, Week 3

Check out USA TODAY Sports’ full predictions for Week 3

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Tom Brady is scheduled to call his second NFL game during Week 2 this Sunday.

Brady and Kevin Burkhardt were in the booth together for the Cowboys’ Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Brady’s broadcasting debut drew mixed reactions, but his prowess as an NFL announcer remains to be seen.

His presence in the booth overshadowed the Cowboys’ impressive 33-17 win on the road.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion will take some time to get acquainted with holding the microphone on Sundays. This next step in his career will culminate when he calls Super Bowl 59 in February. With this being his second consecutive week covering the Cowboys, Brady will have an opportunity to provide expert insights and improve his announcing skills.

Here’s what to know about Brady’s second opportunity calling a game this weekend:

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

What game is Tom Brady broadcasting?

Game: Cowboys vs. Saints
Start time: 1 p.m. ET

Tom Brady will be on the call for the Fox broadcast this Sunday at AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints will play. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

Tom Brady will be alongside his broadcast partner, Kevin Burkhardt, while Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews will report from the sidelines.

Brady has been vocal in retirement about the current state of the NFL rules and coaches. He critically spoke on his ‘Let’s Go’ podcast last season, saying, ‘I think there’s a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL.’ What Brady says during a broadcast can carry a lot of weight, and his knack for not being afraid to criticize what’s happening on the field can make an impact.

Tom Brady’s broadcasting salary

The future Hall of Fame quarterback reportedly signed a historic 10-year, $375 million contract with FOX Sports.

The network’s contract with Brady could already be paying off. The reported viewership for FOX Sports’s Cowboys-Browns Week 1 matchup was 23.8 million, making it the network’s most-watched Week 1 game since 2020.

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The first ‘Sunday Night Football’ game of the 2024 NFL season was one of Week 1’s best, as the Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on a David Montgomery touchdown run.

NBC is turning its attention to two rising stars at quarterback in the hopes of getting another high-end matchup in Week 2.

The Houston Texans play host to the Chicago Bears on Sunday in a battle of two recent top quarterback picks: 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and 2023 No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud.

Williams accomplished a rare feat in Week 1, as he became the first No. 1 overall quarterback selection to win his first start since David Carr debuted with the Texans in 2002. Williams didn’t have a great showing – he completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards – but Chicago’s defense and special teams scored twice to power the Bears to a 24-17 victory over the Titans.

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

Stroud’s Texans also won their first matchup of the 2024 NFL season. They beat the Colts 29-27 in a tight division battle that saw Stefon Diggs catch two touchdown passes from Stroud while new acquisition Joe Mixon ran for 159 yards and a score on 30 carries.

Houston will hope to continue its dominance against Chicago, but the Bears defense will provide Stroud and Co. with a tough test at this early stage in the season.

Here’s everything to know about the ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup for Week 2.

Who plays on Sunday Night Football tonight?

Matchup: Chicago Bears at Houston Texans
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

The Bears (1-0) are traveling to Houston to play the Texans (1-0) in NBC’s second official ‘Sunday Night Football’ game of the season. The contest should be a strength-on-strength matchup, as Houston’s well-rounded offense will face a tough test in Chicago’s playmaking defense.

The Texans racked up 417 yards of total offense in their season debut against the Colts. That ranks second-best in the NFL behind only the Ravens and furthered the notion that Houston’s receiving corps of Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell would be one of the NFL’s best.

That said, the Bears allowed just 244 yards to the Titans in Week 1, good for the eighth-fewest in the NFL, and scored two touchdowns with their offense on the sideline. Montez Sweat and Darrell Taylor’s pash rushing ability coupled with the opportunistic ball-hawking skills of Jaylon Johnson and Tyrqiue Stevenson, who had a pick-six against the Titans, will make them a threat to force Stroud and Co. into some turnovers.

Still, for Chicago to mount a legitimate threat against Houston, the Bears have to be significantly better than they were on offense in Week 1. They racked up just 148 yards – 45 yards fewer than the next-worse team, the lowly Carolina Panthers – and averaged a meager 2.8 yards per play.

How can Williams and Co. do that? DJ Moore and Keenan Allen will have to carry the passing offense with rookie Rome Odunze (knee) banged up while D’Andre Swift will need to improve greatly upon his 10-carry, 30-yard performance against the Titans.

That may prove to be a tall order for the Bears, especially as Williams continues to acclimate himself to the pace of play at the NFL level.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Texans vs. Bears game is set to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET. NBC’s coverage of the event will begin at 7 p.m. ET with its ‘Football Night In America’ pregame show, hosted by Maria Taylor.

What channel is Sunday Night Football on tonight?

TV Channel: NBC
Live stream: Peacock | Fubo

NBC is the home of ‘Sunday Night Football’ in 2024, just as it has been since the network bought the rights to the program in 2006.

Cord-cutters will still be able to catch the game using NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, or with Fubo, which comes with a free trial.

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