This year’s trade deadline could be full of eager buyers with nearly half the league two games above .500.
Several strong teams not only have draft ammo to consummate a trade but the cap space to absorb a big contract.
One very old and two very young QBs could seemingly use some help.

Half a dozen weeks into most NFL seasons, generally speaking, the cream begins to separate itself – or it’s at least obvious who the primary threats to capture the Lombardi Trophy are.

Not so much in 2025.

This year, it’s readily apparent who’s curdled, the New York Jets still winless while five other teams are stuck on one victory – though even one of them, the decimated Baltimore Ravens, might actually be buttermilk if QB Lamar Jackson and enough of his injured teammates return in time to initiate a salvage operation.

Otherwise? Twenty of the league’s 32 teams are currently sitting at .500 or better – 14 of them amazingly sporting a winning percentage of .667 or better. Aside from being anomalous, this is significant for another reason: if so many squads, including a few surprise outfits, remain highly relevant as the Nov. 4 trade deadline draws nearer, a glutted market of buyers could materialize as clubs attempt to outrun the pack.

Here are seven who could be especially aggressive in the coming weeks:

Dallas Cowboys

What a surreal season already in Big D. Jerry Jones’ trade of DE Micah Parsons in late August set the tone for his season – and seemingly impacting the league at large – while simultaneously fueling the owner’s many critics. Yet Jones’ acquisition of WR George Pickens in the spring is proving to be an inspired stroke for a club that’s 2-3-1 but could easily be 5-1. Armed with an extra first-round draft pick in 2026 and more than $30 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap, to absorb a significant contract if he chooses, Jones indicated earlier this week that he’s willing to be active.

‘We have thought all along that if we see a way to improve this year with a trade at the deadline, then we’ll take advantage of it,’ Jones said. ‘That’s what we positioned for to start this year, was to have ammunition to do things if we have an opportunity.’

Perhaps he’s just playing to his fan base. Perhaps the return of WR CeeDee Lamb and LB DeMarvion Overshown will have the same effect as infusing new players into the lineup. But Jones also knows his Parsons-less defense, which is ranked dead last in the league and currently suspect at every level, is probably untenable for a team that will officially be three decades removed from its last Super Bowl appearance next January. 

Detroit Lions

The only team in the league that’s existed for the entirety of the Super Bowl era, which dates to 1966, but never played on Super Sunday views Dallas’ drought with envy. Yet despite Sunday’s loss in Kansas City, the Lions are again in a solid spot for their long-awaited breakthrough. However, a battered secondary looms as an Achilles for a team that was a No. 1 seed in last season’s playoffs but was fatally undermined by injuries on defense. Whether that means finding another pass rusher to complement DE Aidan Hutchinson, targeting healthy defensive backs or general depth, the Lions have a $27 million slush fund at a time when their historically rare championship window could – and maybe should – be cracked even wider.

New England Patriots

Look who’s sitting atop the AFC East for the first time at any point of a season since 2021. Not only are the Pats scheduled to have at least three additional draft picks in 2026, they have nearly $55 million in cap space – most in the league by far – that would enable them to go big-game hunting, if they so choose, while maximizing the flexibility to juice the roster given ascending QB Drake Maye can’t even begin broaching a raise from his rookie contract until the 2027 offseason. New England doesn’t necessarily have a glaring issue, though – as with most defenses – more production from and depth for the pass rush would most certainly help.

Philadelphia Eagles

Maybe the highly scrutinized issues of the defending champions are a bit overblown – after all, Philly didn’t really begin what turned into an unstoppable roll in 2024 until Week 7. And yet, in the absence of a Zen transplant for WR A.J. Brown, perpetually aggressive EVP/GM Howie Roseman obviously knows his roster could almost certainly benefit from another offensive lineman, depth at wideout and – most notably – help at pass rusher and in the secondary. Roseman might need to restructure a deal or two if he winds up pursuing a bigger fish like Cincinnati DE Trey Hendrickson, but he’s always willing to use his draft capital as ammunition and has an extra third-rounder in 2026 at his disposal.

Pittsburgh Steelers

As many pearls as coach Mike Tomlin has dropped in press conferences over the years, it was pretty out of character for him to single out one of his AFC North rivals – bemoaning the Browns’ intra-divisional trade of QB Joe Flacco, whom Pittsburgh will have to face in its Thursday night matchup with the Bengals in Cincinnati. But being proactive in the market has become something of a necessity in the modern NFL amid a rise of more aggressive general managers and dedicated analytics staffs which can pinpoint prime transactional opportunities. Even the historically conservative Steelers have made six deadline deals since 2020, GM Omar Khan importing both WR Mike Williams and OLB Preston Smith a year ago … for all the good it did.

Entering Week 7, the Steelers are quite surprisingly 2½ games clear of the divisional field. Yet for a team nearly nine years removed from its most recent playoff win and betting big that soon-to-be 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers can change that, this isn’t the time to get conservative as clustered as the AFC is and with the dormant Ravens and Bengals banking they can hold out for resurrections when and if their injured QB1s return. Barring some restructures, Khan doesn’t have a lot of financial flexibility (roughly $6 million in cap space). But it likely wouldn’t take much creativity – or money – to import, for example, another off-ball linebacker and/or depth at receiver … say WR Allen Lazard, a favorite teammate of Rodgers with the Jets and Packers who could certainly serve a tactical purpose here.

Seattle Seahawks

They made some lower-level pre-deadline deals last year, coach Mike Macdonald’s first in Seattle, but not enough to get them on the right side of a tiebreaker that cost them the NFC West crown (and a playoff berth in general) in 2024. The ‘Hawks are currently in a three-way tie atop the division and appear like the healthiest and possibly most balanced group relative to the Rams and 49ers. Now in his 16th season as GM, John Schneider has typically kicked over every personnel rock seeking an advantage – never afraid to take a risk in a bid to better the roster and now also much better attuned to what Macdonald wants and needs. And with more than $20 million in the cap bank, it shouldn’t be all that difficult for Seattle to pursue interior O-line help or certainly reinforcements for the second and third levels of a defense that was recently scalded by Tampa Bay and doesn’t have a takeaway this month.

Washington Commanders

Losers of three of five while battling the injury bug, falling to the Cowboys this weekend could drop Washington into a last-place NFC East tie at a time when expectations have spiked coming off last year’s unexpected run to the conference championship game. Like New England, the Commanders have something of a unique opportunity – flush with cap space (more than $25 million) and propelled by a young franchise quarterback, reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, who’s at least two years away from his first significant NFL payday. A young-ish secondary needs to perform better, last year’s pricey acquisition of veteran CB Marshon Lattimore has yet to return much on the investment of multiple mid-round picks. The real issue could be a leaky run defense – one ravaged by the Bears in Monday night’s loss and surrendering nearly 150 yards per game over the past three weeks.

Many believed the Cincinnati Bengals were dead and buried after the team lost four straight games following Joe Burrow’s significant turf toe injury.

Instead, Joe Flacco breathed life into the team by leading them to a 33-31 ‘Thursday Night Football’ upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers in his second start with the team.

Flacco and the Bengals played with poise Cincinnati’s offense hadn’t shown since Burrow exited the team’s Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 40-year-old veteran demonstrated great chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase (16 catches, 161 yards, one touchdown) and Tee Higgins (six catches, 96 yards, one touchdown) throughout Thursday’s contest.

Meanwhile, the rest of Cincinnati’s offense played with a level of desperation it hadn’t previously shown, knowing another loss could do considerable damage to their playoff chances even at this early stage in the 2025 NFL season.

Now 3-4, the Bengals are just a game-and-a-half back of the Steelers in the AFC North race. They will get a chance to claw their way back to .500 in Week 8, when the Bengals face a New York Jets squad that has yet to win a game.

As for the Steelers, they’ll go back to the drawing board, knowing Aaron Rodgers’ two-interception outing coupled with a poor defensive performance cost them an opportunity to keep the Bengals buried.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from this week’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup below:

Bengals vs. Steelers takeaways

Joe 2.0: Maybe Joe Burrow was sharing some of his secret stuff. Joe Flacco did exactly what he should have done: Take advantage of the weapons at his disposal. Big games from both Chase and Higgins helped resuscitate the Bengals offense, and that should give Cincy fans a modicum of hope while Burrow recovers.
Throwback Thursday: While Aaron Rodgers wasn’t quite vintage in this performance, he did move up the NFL’s career passing yards leader list, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger for fifth place all time.
Mike drop? Mike Tomlin now has a relatively curious record on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ The Steelers head coach is 0-7 on the road vs. AFC North opponents on Thursdays, which is oddly specific and probably apropos of nothing. Still, 0-7 vs. anyone in any situation isn’t necessarily a positive.

Bengals vs. Steelers highlights

Bengals win after Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary knocked down

Rodgers’ 41-year-old arm still has plenty of juice, as the quarterback heaved a 70-yard prayer to the end zone. But the pass was knocked down just inside the goal line, giving Cincinnati the stunning win on Thursday night.

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Evan McPherson puts Cincy ahead late

Thanks to Higgins’ play, a few kneel downs and a short field goal off of Evan McPherson’s foot puts the Bengals up with seven seconds left in regulation.

Bengals 33, Steelers 31

Tee Higgins makes high-IQ play

The Bengals wide receiver hauled in a pass from Joe Flacco and had a clear lane to the end zone – but Higgins slid short of the goal line, forcing the Steelers into a predicament.

By sliding short of the end zone, the Steelers are forced to use one of their two remaining timeouts. That will allow the Steelers to kneel out the clock, leaving roughly 10 seconds until they have to try a chip-shot field goal to take the lead.

Steelers take lead after Aaron Rodgers hits Pat Freiermuth for 68-yard TD

For the first time since they led 10-7, the Steelers are back on top. The Bengals lost Freiermuth in coverage and allowed him to catch a deep ball from Rodgers on a second-and-20 and run untouched into the end-zone.

Chris Boswell made the extra point, and the Steelers are now winning 31-30 with 2:21 left in regulation.

Steelers force Bengals punt, get ball back with 2:46 remaining

T.J. Watt finally got more pressure on Joe Flacco, which helped the Steelers force the Bengals to punt. The Steelers get the ball back to their 42-yard line after a nice return by Ke’Shawn Williams with a chance to mount a potential game-winning TD drive.

Joe Flacco rushes for 12 yards on second-and-10

The Bengals pulled out a bold play on second-and-10 from their own territory. They ran a zone read with Flacco, a 40-year-old not known for his mobility. 

It worked to perfection, as no Steelers players expected Flacco to run, allowing him to pick up the first down.

Steelers forced to punt after Pat Freiermuth can’t haul in third-and-4 pass

The Steelers went three-and-out following Cincinnati’s field goal. Aaron Rodgers tried to throw a quick strike to Freiermuth on third-and-4, but the tight end couldn’t bring it in amid tight coverage.

Corliss Waitman’s punt was a good one, checking up at the 9-yard line and being downed at the 10. The Steelers will need to quickly stop the Bengals, who are leading 30-24 with 5:16 left in regulation, to get another shot to mount a game-tying drive.

Ja’Marr Chase stats today

Chase has benefitted greatly from playing with Joe Flacco. The star receiver has been targeted 19 times, the most of any player in a game this season, and has made 14 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers defense limits Bengals to field goal

The Steelers let Joe Flacco and Ja’Marr Chase move down the field, but they ultimately came up with a key stop after Joey Porter Jr. had tight coverage on Tee Higgins on third-and-13.

Evan McPherson came on to attempt a 45-yard field goal. He makes it, putting the Bengals up 30-24 with 6:58 left in regulation.

Bengals 30, Steelers 24

Darnell Washington catches 2-yard TD from Aaron Rodgers

The Steelers have scored three touchdowns on Thursday. All have been by tight ends, with the 6-7, 264-pound Washington joining Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith as scorers on a middle-of-the-field strike from Rodgers.

Chris Boswell’s extra point is good, and Cincinnati’s lead is down to 27-24 with 11:03 left in regulation.

Bengals 27, Steelers 24

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Joe Flacco hits Noah Fant for TD to open fourth quarter

Flacco continues to look sharp, capping off an 8-play, 67-yard drive with a pass over the middle of the field to the wide-open Fant.

Evan McPherson makes the extra point and takes a 27-17 lead with 14:57 left in regulation.

Bengals will face key third-and-goal to open fourth quarter, leading 20-17

The third quarter saw the Steelers cut into the Bengals’ lead thanks to an impressive third-and-18 touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Pat Freiermuth, but Cincinnati continues to move the ball with ease against Pittsburgh’s defense.

When the fourth quarter opens, Joe Flacco and Co. will be facing a third-and-goal from the 5-yard line. The Bengals are outgaining the Steelers 345-244 and are winning the turnover battle 2-0.

Steelers cut into Bengals lead with 19-yard TD pass to Pat Freiermuth

The Steelers were facing a third-and-18 when Aaron Rodgers finally decided to throw a pass to the intermediate portion of the field. He got time to throw and managed to rip one up the seam to Pat Freiermuth, who was open and managed to catch the score with ease.

Chris Boswell’s extra point is good and the Bengals are now leading 20-17.

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Evan McPherson field goal lengthens lead

The Steelers managed to keep the Bengals out of the end-zone on third-and-goal, but McPherson drilled a 23-yard field goal with ease to extend the Bengals’ run of unanswered points to 20.

The Bengals are now up 20-10 and at up more than seven minutes of the third quarter on their first drive of the half. They have already possessed the ball for 21:45, and should be able to continue wearing out the Steelers’ defense.

Bengals 20, Steelers 10

Joe Flacco pushes ahead for 1-yard gain on fourth down

The Bengals convert their fourth down opportunity after the unsuccessful challenge. Flacco simply pushed ahead for a 1-yard gain on a quarterback sneak to create a first-and-goal opportunity.

Zac Taylor unsuccessfully challenges spot on Andre Iosivas catch

Iosivas was tackled a yard short of the line to gain on a third-and-7 catch. The Bengals lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1, but just one second before the play clock expired, Taylor challenged the spot.

A review revealed Iosivas was, in fact, short of the line to gain, costing the Bengals a timeout. The team had been planning to run a QB sneak with Joe Flacco before the stoppage, so it will be interesting to see if they choose that path again.

Aaron Rodgers stats at halftime

Rodgers started the game strong but threw a couple of interceptions in the second half. Overall, he has completed 13 of 19 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Rodgers continues to have trouble pushing the ball down the field. If he can’t more consistently find and hit his targets in the intermediate-to-deep part of the field, the Bengals will continue to sit on the short routes.

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Evan McPherson makes field goal for halftime lead

After a slow start, the Bengals have dominated the Steelers. Cincinnati has scored 17 unanswered points while forcing Aaron Rodgers into multiple interceptions.

Joe Flacco has been in rhythm all night, completing 14 of 21 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He has shown great chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase, who has seven catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Tee Higgins, who racked up three catches for 54 yards and a score.

Meanwhile, Chase Brown has had his best day of the season on the ground already, generating 74 yards on just five carries.

The Steelers defense will need to button things up in the second half after allowing three consecutive scoring drives to close the first half. If they can’t, Flacco and the Bengals will have a chance to snap a four-game losing streak and get back in the AFC North race.

DJ Turner rips interception out of DK Metcalf’s hands

The Bengals have created another big-time turnover. Aaron Rodgers nearly had a first-down completion to Metcalf, but the veteran receiver had the ball ripped out of his hands as he was going to the ground.

Turner managed to gain control of the ball and get a knee down in bounds. The Bengals will now have 40 seconds to mount a scoring drive before halftime. They have one timeout remaining.

Aaron Rodgers climbs to 5th on the NFL’s all-time passing list, passing Ben Roethlisberger

Rodgers has officially climbed ahead of Roethlisberger, a Steelers legend, on the NFL’s all-time passing list after his 15-yard completion to Jaylen Warren.

Below is a look at Rodgers’ present ranking on the passing list:

Tom Brady: 89,214
Drew Brees: 80,358
Peyton Manning: 71,940
Brett Favre: 71,838
Aaron Rodgers: 64,089

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Joe Flacco hits Tee Higgins for 29-yard TD

Flacco and the Bengals offense are starting to heat up. After the interception, the 40-year-old veteran managed to move Cincinnati down the field in a hurry. Chase Brown had a 37-yard carry but the drive was capped off by a strike to Tee Higgins, which saw the 6-4 wideout run straight up the middle after the catch to get into the end zone untouched.

Evan McPherson makes the extra point, and the Bengals are ahead for the first time of the evening, 14-10.

Aaron Rodgers tosses deep-ball interception after overthrowing DK Metcalf

Rodgers tried to create a big play down the field to Metcalf, but the Bengals had quality double-coverage on the play. 

Safety Jordan Battle came over the top to make the interception and had a nice return. However, the return was nullified after review, as Metcalf managed to touch Battle on the helmet as he went to the ground.

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Ja’Marr Chase gets Bengals on board with 8-yard TD from Joe Flacco

One play after dropping a potential touchdown, Chase was able to beat Jalen Ramsey for a score. Flacco managed to drop the lob pass in the bucket to him to get the Bengals on the board.

Evan McPherson makes the extra point and the Steelers’ lead is down to 10-7.

Steelers 10, Bengals 7

Joe Flacco threads pass to Ja’Marr Chase in end-zone, but WR can’t complete catch

Flacco made a near-perfect throw to Chase in the end-zone, but the veteran receiver wasn’t able to secure the ball going to the ground. He was clipped by Chuck Clark in a tight window, which caused him to be unable to secure the pass.

Originally, the officials ruled Chase’s catch a touchdown but it was overturned after an expedited review.

Ja’Marr Chase turns juggling catch into 8 yards

Chase nearly had a bad drop on a quick pass from Joe Flacco. Instead, he juggled it a few times and reeled it in, with his final bobble actually preventing him from being hit hard by cornerback Darius Slay.

How old is Aaron Rodgers?

The Steelers passer is 41 years old, and turns 42 on Dec. 2. He’s the oldest active player in the NFL.

Bengals vs. Steelers score: Pittsburgh settles for field goal

The Steelers got into a fourth-and-1 scenario and were poised to go for it. They were going to attempt a ‘Tush Push’ with tight end Connor Heyward, but the right side of Pittsburgh’s line jumped early.

After the penalty, Chris Boswell trotted out for a 41-yard field goal attempt. He nailed it to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead.

Steelers 10, Bengals 0

Jaylen Warren TD run wiped out by holding penalty

The Steelers briefly appeared to be in the end zone for a second time after a nice cut-back by Warren, but center Zach Frazier was penalized for holding on the play. The Steelers will now face a second-and-11 instead of doubling their lead.

Steelers leading Bengals 7-0 after strong first-quarter showing

The Steelers clearly have the advantage over the Bengals after 15 minutes. Pittsburgh has out-gained Cincinnati 122-44, as the Bengals have been unable to get any semblance of pressure on Aaron Rodgers without Trey Hendrickson.

Rodgers has completed 7 of 11 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He has been able to extend plays on multiple occasions, including one where he had 8.63 seconds to throw before finding Jonnu Smith for a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Joe Flacco has shown well considering he has been in Cincinnati for just 10 days. He has completed 4 of 8 passes for 36 yards but has been victimized by a couple of drops from Chase Brown and Andre Iosivas.

The Steelers will have the ball to start the second quarter and are already nearing Chris Boswell’s field goal range.

Steelers force another punt after critical Chase Brown, Andre Iosivas drops

The Bengals aren’t helping Joe Flacco much thus far tonight. Flacco did a great job sniffing out a first-and-10 blitz and delivered a perfect checkdown to Brown. The back would’ve had running room, but he failed to reel in the well-thrown pass.

Then, on third-and-11, Iosivas dropped a pass that hit him in the hands, forcing another Bengals punt.

Making matters worse, the Bengals ran into Steelers return man Ke’Shawn Williams while he tried to make a fair catch, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. Pittsburgh will get the ball at its own 27-yard line instead of its 12 as a result.

Steelers go three-and-out on second possession

The Steelers weren’t able to replicate the success they enjoyed during their first drive. They gained six yards on a dump-off to DK Metcalf but followed that up with back-to-back incompletions, including a flea flicker the Bengals snuffed out.

Corliss Waitman’s punt went 39 yards and pinned the Bengals at their own 17-yard line to start their second drive.

Was Andrew Whitworth on the Bengals?

Andrew Whitworth was a second-round pick for the Bengals in the 2006 NFL Draft. He quickly developed into a starter for them at left tackle, spending the 2006 through 2016 seasons in Cincinnati.

Whitworth spent the final five seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams and won Super Bowl 56 against the Bengals in his final NFL game.

Who did Joe Flacco play for?

Flacco played for the Cleveland Browns in 2025 before being traded to the Bengals. Below is a look at the full career timeline for the 40-year-old quarterback.

Baltimore Ravens (2008-18)
Denver Broncos (2019)
New York Jets (2020)
Philadelphia Eagles (2021)
New York Jets (2021-22)
Cleveland Browns (2023)
Indianapolis Colts (2024)
Cleveland Browns (2025)
Cincinnati Bengals (2025)

Bengals forced to punt after first drive

Joe Flacco hit Tee Higgins on an impressive, 18-yard strike to convert a third-and-long and avoid a three-and-out, but a couple of nice tackles by DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill didn’t allow Cincinnati to advance further.

Ryan Rehkow’s punt traveled just 37 yards and Ke’Shawn Williams returned it 10 yards to the Steelers 26-yard line.

Steelers vs. Bengals score: Aaron Rodgers finds Jonnu Smith for 10-yard TD

The absence of Trey Hendrickson showed up in a big way on the Bengals’ first defensive drive. Rodgers had a whopping 8.63 seconds to through on a third-and-6 in the red-zone before finding tight end Jonnu Smith open in the end-zone for a score.

Chris Boswell made the extra point, giving the Steelers an early 7-0 lead on the road in Cincinnati.

Steelers 7, Bengals 0

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers take the field

The Steelers received the opening kickoff in Cincinnati, and take over at their own 35-yard line to get the game underway.

What channel is Bengals vs. Steelers on?

TV channel (national): N/A
TV channel (Pittsburgh market): ABC4
TV channel (Cincinnati market): ABC9

The Bengals vs. Steelers matchup will air on Amazon Prime Video, meaning it will not air on traditional cable this week.

Viewers in the Pittsburgh TV market can catch the game on ABC4, while those in the Cincinnati market can view it on ABC9.

What year was Joe Flacco drafted?

Flacco was selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens chose the Delaware product 18th overall, making him the second quarterback selected after No. 3 overall pick Matt Ryan.

What year was Aaron Rodgers drafted?

Aaron Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. The Green Bay Packers made him the 24th overall selection in that year’s draft after one of the most notable draft slides in NFL history.

Many expected Rodgers to be the No. 1 overall pick, but the San Francisco 49ers instead spent the top selection on Alex Smith.

Darnell Washington size, height and weight

Washington – who has started the last three games for the Steelers at tight end – is listed at 6-7, 264 pounds on the Steelers’ official website. His size makes him a mismatch threat at the position and should eventually turn him into a threatening red-zone weapon.

Steelers vs. Bengals kickoff time

Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET | 7:15 p.m. CT

The Bengals and Steelers are set to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday night. That’s the traditional start time for ‘TNF.’

Is Joe Burrow playing tonight?

No, Burrow is not playing in Week 7. He isn’t expected to return to the field until mid-December after suffering a severe turf toe injury in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over the Jaguars.

That said, Burrow is expected to be on the sidelines for Thursday’s divisional clash, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Did Joe Flacco win a Super Bowl?

Yes, Joe Flacco won Super Bowl 47 following the 2012 NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Flacco completed 22 of 33 passes for 267 yards and a three touchdowns during the game, a 34-31 victory for John Harbaugh’s Ravens over the San Francisco 49ers, then coached by Jim Harbaugh. Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP after posting a 124.2 passer rating during the game.

When will Joe Burrow return?

Burrow had surgery to repair a Grade 3 turf toe injury he suffered against the Jaguars. He is expected to miss a minimum of three months because of the injury.

That said, the exact timetable for Burrow’s return remains unclear. The Bengals have not provided one since the 28-year-old signal-caller got hurt, as Zac Taylor merely made reporters aware Burrow would need surgery to repair the malady.

The three-month timeline would put Burrow on track to return at some point in December at the earliest – barring any setbacks.

Bengals vs. Steelers stream

Live stream:Amazon Prime Video

The Bengals vs. Steelers Week 7 matchup will air live on Amazon Prime Video for national viewers. Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home of ‘TNF’ in 2025 and beyond.

Al Michaels will be on the call with Kirk Herbstreit at his side. Kaylee Hartung will provide updates from the field.

Watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ with a Prime Video subscription

Bengals vs. Steelers prediction

Joe Flacco certainly will do his best to make the most use of the Bengals’ weapons in his second go of it in their offense, but their issues extend far beyond the quarterback position. Cincinnati has had a tough time getting to the passer this year, while Aaron Rodgers has made a habit of getting rid of the ball quickly. That makes for a tough recipe for Cincinnati to defend, even at home. The Steelers win this one by a touchdown.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Bengals 17

Bengals vs. Steelers injury report

Bengals inactives vs. Steelers

Trey Hendrickson is the most notable name inactive for the Bengals tonight, as he is dealing with a back injury. The rest of the list:

Steelers inactives vs. Bengals

No real surprises on the Steelers’ inactive list vs. Cincinnati, with Calvin Austin headlining the group:

Bengals vs. Steelers live betting odds, moneyline, O/U

Quarterback is the most important position in American sports. Making your mark at that position is a better way to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame than any other.

Iconic passers like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and John Elway stand out for their success and production on the field. They’ve taken their turns atop the career leaderboard for many statistics.

Brady sits in first for many statistics including career passing yards. At more than 89,214 yards, he covered more than 50 miles worth of distance on the football field.

On ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 7 one of the best quarterbacks of his generation – Aaron Rodgers – moved up a spot in that category.

Rodgers and the 4-1 Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road on a short week to take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rodgers, 41, needed a less-than-average night to move up to the top-five all-time in career passing yards. He more than did enough on Thursday in southern Ohio to reach that exclusive club on a pass in the second quarter to running back Jaylen Warren.

Here’s who makes up the top 15 in career passing yards as Rodgers narrows his gap to the top:

NFL career passing yards list

Tom Brady: 89,214
Drew Brees: 80,358
Peyton Manning: 71,940
Brett Favre: 71,838
Aaron Rodgers*: 64,106
Ben Roethlisberger: 64,088
Philip Rivers: 63,440
Matt Ryan: 62,792
Matthew Stafford*: 61,493
Dan Marino: 61,361
Eli Manning: 57,023
John Elway: 51,475
Warren Moon: 49,325
Fran Tarkenton: 47,003
Russell Wilson*: 46,921

* = still active

Milwaukee Brewers standout Jackson Chourio left Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an apparent right leg injury.

The injury occurred as Chourio swung at a pitch by Blake Treinen in the seventh inning on Thursday. Blake Perkins replaced Chourio as a pinch hitter as Chourio was not able to complete the at-bat.

He was seen hobbling back to the Brewers’ dugout after the swing.

The outfielder had previously hurt his right hamstring against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the NLDS on Oct. 4.

Milwaukee does have the option to remove Chourio, one of the team’s better hitters, from the roster before Game 4, but it would make the outfielder ineligible to play in the World Series if the Brewers were able to advance.

Jackson Chourio injury update

Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters after the game that Chourio had ‘continual cramps’ in his hamstring but the team remains ‘hopeful’ the 21-year-old will be good to go for Game 4.

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As the college football coaching carousel begins to churn, a major name is potentially coming off the board for a potential program to hire.

Indiana announced it has reached an extension with second-year football coach Curt Cignetti on Thursday, Oct. 16. The news comes four days after the firing of 12th-year Penn State football coach James Franklin. Cignetti has been on considered one of the potential replacements for Franklin in Happy Valley.

Cignetti led Indiana to the College Football Playoff and an 11-1 regular-season record in 2024 after taking the head coaching role after leaving James Madison. The Hoosiers finished 11-2 with losses only to Ohio State and Notre Dame, who played for the national championship to end the season.

“At Indiana University, we are committed to performing at the highest levels in everything we do, and no one has exemplified that more than Coach Cignetti,” Indiana president Pamela Whitten said in a news release on Oct. 16. ‘Put simply, Cig is a winner.

‘From last year’s College Football Playoff appearance to this year’s top-three national ranking, the IU football program’s success has been tremendous. Curt and Manette Cignetti are home in Indiana and we are delighted that the Cignetti family will be Hoosiers for many years to come.”

Said Indiana athletics director Scott Dolson in a statement:

“We are committed to investing in IU football in such a way that we can compete at a championship level, and the No. 1 priority in doing that is ensuring that Coach Cignetti is the leader of our program,’ Dolson said. “His accomplishments during the last season and a half have been nothing short of remarkable.

‘As much as anyone, he believed in what was possible with our program, and he’s turned that belief into reality. This is a great day for IU football and Indiana University. I look forward to working alongside Coach Cignetti for many years to come.’

Here’s what to know of Cignetti’s contract extension:

Curt Cignetti contract details

Following his extension, Cignetti’s contract now runs through Nov. 30, 2033, and will have an average annual compensation of approximately $11.6 million over eight years, according the school’s release.

Curt Cignetti speaks about Indiana extension

Shortly after the extension was announced, Indiana’s football social media account posted a video of Cignetti speaking about the new extension with the Hoosiers.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier and I plan on retiring as a Hoosier,’ Cigneti said in the video. ‘The way that this state has embraced us and our success in football has meant more to me than anything else.

“So, I just wanted to get on camera and let you know that Curt Cignetti is going to work daily to make Indiana the best they can be.”

LAS VEGAS — The garage stalls at Las Vegas Motor Speedway started opening at 11:30 a.m. sharp.

It was Sunday, Oct. 12, the day of the South Point 400 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Soon enough, men in racing uniforms with the Jumpman logo pushed the yellow No. 23 Toyota and the pink No. 45 Toyota out of the garage and under the sun.

The engines purred.

Then they gurgled.

Spectators gathered.

Five years since Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin announced they had formed 23XI Racing, those sweet-looking cars still draw a crowd.

“… As far as I’m concerned, we’re just getting started,” Jordan said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.

Jordan, the legendary basketball player, and Hamlin, an elite NASCAR driver, have built a team that includes formidable racers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the Cup Series.

The team has won nine races since its debut at the start of the 2021 season. Contended against the most successful and powerful teams in NASCAR. And threatened the current state of the sport … and, possibly, 23XI Racing’s own existence.

The race team, along with Front Row Motorsports, has sued NASCAR in federal court in the Western District of North Carolina for alleged antitrust violations. The presiding judge, Kenneth Bell, warned both sides that a trial could fundamentally change NASCAR’s structure.

‘It’s hard to picture a real winner out of this if this goes to the mat, or the flag in this case,” Bell said during a hearing in June. 

A trial date is set for Dec. 1, and settlement talks so far have proved futile.

‘Denny Hamlin, same character (as Michael Jordan),’ said Marc Tea, a fan who said he flew in from France to attend the South Point 400. ‘He likes a fight.’

Rumor becomes reality

Hamlin, at 44 still one of the top drivers in NASCAR, said he was at a Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats) game in 2008 or 2009 when Jordan’s security pulled him aside. It was halftime and Hamlin was headed for the concessions area.

“I thought maybe I’d stepped in an area I probably shouldn’t have, which is why they grabbed me,’’ Hamlin, who has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005, told USA TODAY Sports.

Then he met Jordan, who at the time was owner of the team.

“He started asking me a bunch of racing questions,” Hamlin said. “And at that point we exchanged phone numbers, and then the entire second half I was just texting back and forth with him about all these racing questions that he had.’’

More than a decade later, with the two men having become friends, Hamlin was on the ninth hole of The Pointe Golf Club in Powells Point, North Carolina, he recalled. He said he checked his phone and read a published rumor: Hamlin and Jordan were looking to purchase a minority stake in a race team.

“I remember reading that and saying, ‘Man, that’s kind of funny. Should I send it to Michael or not?’ ‘

He did send it.

Jordan’s response, as Hamlin remembers it: “haha.’’

“He’s like, ‘not true,’ but if you want to make it true, let me know,” Hamlin recalled.

Hamlin said he forgot to hit his next golf shot before driving to the green while trying to figure out his next move.

They hit the gas

Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, said he got connected with Hamlin in 2020 through a mutual friend around the same time Hamlin’s talks with Jordan began.

“Denny goes to play golf with Michael on a Friday, calls me up and says he wants to see a business plan,’’ Lauletta told USA TODAY Sports. “And I was like, ‘oh, wow.’ So, me and a couple of guys from his management company spend a weekend writing a 70-plus page business plan on how to start a one-car race team.’’

Lauletta had served as president of Chip Ganassi Racing for a decade. He was part of three Indy 500 victories before stepping away in 2018. He thought he understood high expectations and ambition.

Then came a flurry of activity involving Jordan’s longtime business manager, Curtis Polk, who would become the team’s third co-owner.

“Denny called me and said, ‘he’s in,’ ’’ Lauletta remembered. “And I was like, ‘what do you mean he’s in?’ He’s like, ‘yeah, (Jordan) wants to start a race team. He wants to give Bubba Wallace the chance … to show that he could really be a competitive race-winning Cup driver.’

“So, I was like, ‘man, Denny, that’s great for 2022.’ And he goes, ‘no, 2021.’ And I’m like, ‘that’s 4½ months from now. What are you going to do?’ ”

They hit the gas is what they did.

They officially formed 23XI Racing, named after Jordan’s longtime NBA number (23) and the car Hamlin has driven (No. 11) since his first Cup race in 2005. They bought the necessary NASCAR charter they needed in time to compete in 2021. Added a second car in 2022. Added a third car in 2025.

In 2024, they opened a state-of-the-art facility. They used to call these places garages. But Airspeed, as the 23XI Racing facility in Huntersville, North Carolina, is known, looks more like a contemporary art design center.

The team has grown to 130 employees from the original staff of 24, according to Lauletta. In 2023, the Sports Business Journal named 23XI one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports.”

“Look, everything we do here is set by the tone of (Jordan) and Denny,’’ Lauletta said. “They’re both two of the most competitive people you’ll ever want to be around.’

Learning from Jordan

Wallace made his 23XI Racing debut at the Daytona 500 in February 2021 and won his first race driving the team’s No. 23 car in October 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway. He added a win at Kansas Speedway in September 2022.

Then Wallace went through a 100-race winless streak.

The streak ended in July with his victory at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a guaranteed berth in the NASCAR playoffs.

Of course, losing never sat well with Jordan. As a member of the Chicago Bulls, he punched a teammate in the face, ridiculed others and demanded the best of everyone around him.

But Wallace said Jordan, 62, has taught him ‘more of glass half-full than glass half-empty. That’s kind of his mentality. Staying focused on the positives and just making sure that you did everything that you could to produce the best result.’

It appears the man demanding changes from NASCAR has made changes within himself, too.

During his NBA career, Jordan was notoriously apolitical. ‘Republicans buy sneakers, too,’ he once said, referring to his lucrative Nike shoe deal. But the summer of 2020 marked a public shift.

In early June 2020, Jordan announced he would donate $50 million over 10 years to organizations that work to advance racial equality, social justice, and access to education. The Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike, also pledged to donate another $50 million to the same causes.

And as Jordan and Hamlin were discussing the formation of a team, the basketball legend who transcended race embraced the lone Black driver in NASCAR’s premier series. On Sept. 21, 2020, on the day 23XI Racing was announced, Wallace was named the team’s first driver.

‘We wanted to be different from the get-go,’ Wallace said. ‘And I don’t think you have to go about suing the sanctioning body to prove that you’re different. I think that speaks volumes to the leadership that we have behind this team. that they’re willing to risk it all to make sure that we’re all treated equally.

‘And I can relate with that. I put it all in line for my team each and every weekend and fight for what’s fair and what’s right. And sometimes you have to ruffle with some feathers.”

NASCAR has formally recognized 23XI Racing multiple times for its efforts at promoting diversity.

How the power couple operates

Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway provided a snapshot of the working relationship between Jordan and Hamlin.

Jordan kept a low profile during the South Point 400, according to a public relations firm representing 23XI. Hamlin capped an eventful day by burning rubber and turning a couple of donuts in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after winning the playoff race in dramatic fashion.

Hamlin handles the day-to-day operations of 23XI Racing – while driving for JGR – and is far more visible.

“The way Michael explained it,’ Hamlin said, “is like, ‘if you were to invest in a basketball team, I wouldn’t be listening to your advice on how to do it. Hopefully, you would trust me.’ And so, it’s worked really, really well that way. And when it comes to big business decisions, we obviously talk and we confer and we come up with what we think is the best business decisions, and there’s always a compromise there.’

Then there was the antitrust lawsuit.

Before it was filed in October 2024, Hamlin said he and Jordan talked.

“The first thing Michael said to me is that we’re not going to go through this if you don’t want to because you are the one that has the most to lose,’’ Hamlin said. “And that is true. I can be blackballed from the sport. I’ll never make it into the Hall of Fame. I can lose certainly financially. This means more to me than anyone that’s involved.

“… But I’m also close enough to it to know that we’re standing up for what’s right.”

‘We’re not done yet’

At first glance, Jordan and Hamlin might not appear to be a natural fit. But Hamlin, who has three young children, a fiancée and a habit of taunting fans, notes similarities with his business partner.

“I feel like I’ve seen multiple personalities,’ Hamlin said of Jordan. “I do see the one that we go out and we play golf and we’re being competitive with each other. And then I see the family (man) Michael. And I always feel as a competitor, I’m very similar to what we saw on some of these (Jordan) documentaries, ‘The Last Dance’ specifically.’

On Sept. 28, during the second round of the NASCAR playoffs, Hamlin and Wallace were competing for the win at the Hollywood Casino 400 in overtime at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin forced Wallace up the track, into the outside wall and out of the lead – a move that cost them both the win.

Like Jordan, Hamlin will always try to take the winning shot if he has one. So, it’s likely no coincidence that the two fierce competitors were the ones to take their shot with a lawsuit they believe will improve the sport.

‘When Denny, Curtis, and I started 23XI, we had a shared and clear vision: build a winning team and bring fresh energy and a new perspective to NASCAR,’’ Jordan said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. “Five years later, we’ve done that and more.

‘We built an organization from the ground up, assembled a great staff, attracted top sponsors, and brought innovation to the sport. We’ve grown from one car to three and captured a regular-season championship in just our fourth year (Reddick in 2024). And we’re not done yet.’

NFL teams have less than a month until the trade deadline. Come Nov. 4, franchises across the league will have to decide whether they want to move on from a player on the roster or look to risk the future to add help now.

Teams that are likely out of contention could move veteran players with an eye towards the future with more draft capital. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara could be one of those players and he responded today to rumors that he’d met with general manager Mickey Loomis about teams calling for a potential deal.

‘I don’t know where that came from,’ Kamara said today, per The New Orleans Times-Picayune. ‘But I don’t want to go anywhere and I’ve said it countless times… If I was a [general manager], I guess I would go to the player and say, ‘Hey, we’re trading you, just so you know.’ So if Mickey [Loomis] comes down and says that, I’m going to go drink a piña colada somewhere.’

Kamara leads the team’s rushing attack with 83 carries for 314 yards and a touchdown through the first six games of the season. He’s also fourth on the team with 22 receptions for 122 yards through the air as well.

A third-round pick out of Tennessee in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kamara became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher last season despite never surpassing 1,000 yards in any of his eight seasons in the league. He’s not on pace so far to break that mark in 2025 either but is one of the top running backs in the league in total scrimmage yards.

New Orleans is 1-5 entering Week 7 in coach Kellen Moore’s first season at the helm. They’re on the road for three of the next four games starting Sunday at Chicago.

The Los Angeles Rams are preparing to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7 to close the NFL’s slate of London games for the 2025 season.

The Rams may be down one of their top offensive weapons, Puka Nacua, when they do so.

Nacua is dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss about half of the Rams’ Week 6 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The 24-year-old attempted to return to the game after initially exiting but wasn’t able to remain on the field.

Here’s what to know about Nacua’s injury and whether fans should expect him to suit up Sunday.

Puka Nacua injury update

Nacua is dealing with an ankle sprain he suffered in the Rams’ 17-3 Week 6 win over the Ravens. He was able to briefly return to the contest after suffering the injury, but he did not finish the game.

Nacua’s injury isn’t expected to be of the long-term variety, but he was unable to participate in Rams practice on either Wednesday or Thursday ahead of their Week 7. That may make it difficult for him to suit up for the team’s London clash with the Jaguars.

Is Puka Nacua playing Week 7?

As of Thursday, the Rams hadn’t yet made a determination about Nacua’s status for Sunday’s game.

However, coach Sean McVay implied during a Wednesday news conference it would be difficult – though not impossible – for Nacua to suit up in Week 7 if he does not practice at all.

‘There’s a difference between return to play, return to performance,’ McVay said in a news conference Wednesday. ‘You want to put him in a position to have successful outcomes. I do think some of that is reflected in is he able to go through practice and really get a good feel to allow him to feel comfortable and confident in what we would be asking if he goes.’

As such, Nacua will have one more chance to get on the field Friday. If he doesn’t, the Rams may rule him out for Sunday’s game, especially with the team’s Week 8 bye looming.

McVay expressed confidence his receiving corps would be able to hold up if Nacua is unable to play.

‘You don’t ever replace a stud like him, but we’ve got a lot of confidence in the other guys if that’s the case,’ McVay said.

Rams WR depth chart

The Rams presently have six receivers on their 53-man roster, including Nacua. They are as follows:

Puka Nacua
Davante Adams
Jordan Whittington
Tutu Atwell
Konata Mumpfield
Xavier Smith

Adams would be thrust into the No. 1 receiver role if Nacua is out of action while Whittington and Atwell would also be in line for more targets.

The Rams also have undrafted rookies Tru Edwards and Brennan Presley on the practice squad and could call one up for Sunday’s game if Nacua can’t play.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: Your ultimate guide to NFL Week 7.

The University of San Francisco announced the death of athletic director Larry Williams on Thursday, Oct. 16.

In a news release, the school announced Williams, 62, died while working out at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center on campus. USF did not release the cause of death.

‘Our prayers go out to Larry’s wife, Laura, their children, Kristin, Sean, Scott, Eric, and Louis, their families, and his grandchildren,’ university president Salvador Aceves wrote in a letter to the USF community. ‘My thoughts and prayers also go to the university’s 250 student-athletes and all of the coaches and staff under Larry’s skillful watch.’

Williams ― who has been the USF athletics director since Aug. 31, 2022 ― was a two-time All-American offensive lineman for Notre Dame. After being selected in the 10th round of the 1985 NFL Draft, he played 33 games for the Cleveland Browns in his NFL career from 1985 to 1992, which included stints with the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots.

While playing in the NFL, Williams earned his earned a law degree from the University of San Diego. Williams served as the University of Portland athletics director from 2004 to 2011 before making stops at Marquette and Akron.

USF deputy athletic director Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins has been named the school’s interim athletic director.

Tributes from the West Coast Conference, Marquette and the Portland Pilots were shared on social media following Williams’ death.