The Los Angeles Rams are getting additional help in the secondary ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

The Rams on Monday agreed to acquire cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a pick swap. The Titans will receive a fifth-round selection while sending back a sixth-rounder.

McCreary, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s the second cornerback to be traded by Tennessee’s new regime after the team also sent Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to the New York Jets in September.

The former second-round pick out of Auburn helps solidify the back end of a Rams defense that was left vulnerable after starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a broken clavicle in Week 2, landing him on injured reserve.

‘We’re looking to be able to just add some depth,’ Rams coach Sean McVay said in a news conference Monday after the deal. ‘He was a guy that we respect from playing against him earlier this year. Has some inside, outside flexibility….We’re excited to get him in.’

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 4.

Fifth-year pro Austin Reaves just got thrust into the national NBA spotlight after the undrafted vet dropped 51 points.
Reaves’ career effective field goal percentage is .571.
Reaves has the skills necessary to take over any game he’s in. After all, he’s scored at least 30 on numerous occasions throughout his career.

Fifth-year pro Austin Reaves just got thrust into the national NBA spotlight after the undrafted vet dropped 51 points on the Sacramento Kings in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 127-120 win.

On a team that features both Luka Doncic and LeBron James − although the latter is currently injured − Reaves has established himself as a high-end third scoring option on one of the NBA’s most storied franchises. His 51-point performance was already the third 50-point game of the NBA season (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Aaron Gordon), but Reaves’ felt different.

SGA is the reigning league MVP, fresh off an NBA title and Finals MVP as well. Gordon is a former top-five draft pick who played a pivotal role in Denver’s 2023 championship run. Reaves was undrafted, and before 2025, his career high was 35 points.

You may not have known about Reaves before Sunday night’s game, but NBA fans have had this man on their radar for quite some time, and last night likely won’t be his last 50 piece.

Austin Reaves’ efficiency

Reaves is a shooter. After all, one of his more popular nicknames is literally a firearm. However, just because someone can hit shots doesn’t mean they have the potential to drop a 50-burger, right?

Sure, the best shooters of all-time can. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Reggie Miller and many of the league’s best all-time shooters have done so. Many of them have even done it on multiple occasions. You probably think Reaves doesn’t fit into that category. Think again.

In terms of efficiency, Reaves is one of the best. He quietly put up over 20 points per game a season ago, which may not seem like a big accomplishment, but let’s dive a little deeper, shall we?

Reaves averaged 20.2 points per game, which ranked 34th in the NBA. He did this on just 14.2 field goal attempts per game. Among all guards who ranked in the top 50 in the NBA in scoring a season ago, only Tyrese Haliburton (18.6 PPG on 13.8 FGA) and Collin Sexton (18.4 PPG on 13.8 FGA) attempted fewer shots. And both of them averaged over 1.5 points fewer per game than Reaves. Reaves has always done a lot with what he’s been given, and no stat displays that better than effective field goal percentage (eFG%).

Effective field goal percentage

Effective field goal percentage is a statistic meant to more effectively represent a player’s field goal percentage based on the types of shots they take. For example, a three-pointer is worth 1.5 times a two-pointer, and eFG% takes that into account. The formula is as follows:

(2-pt FGM + 1.5*3-pt FGM) / FGA

For reference, anything over .400 for guards is considered solid. Anything over .450 is considered good. And anything over .500 is considered excellent. Obviously, the volume of shots will play a factor, but we’ll get into that in a moment.

Reaves’ career eFG% is .571. For context, Steph Curry’s is .582. Kevin Durant’s is .554. LeBron James’ is .548. Luka Doncic’s is .542. James Harden’s is .525. Anthony Edwards’ is .524.

Now the obvious difference is that Reaves hasn’t taken as many shots as those other players. If he was forced to take more shots, he wouldn’t have such great efficiency stats, right? Well, let’s not be too hasty.

For his career, Austin Reaves has had 90 games in which he has attempted at least 13 field goals. His eFG% was higher than .400 in 76 of those games. That’s right. He’s only had 14 career games where he was subpar as a high-volume shooter.

Last year, Luka Doncic had 49 games with at least 13 field goal attempts. Nine of those saw him post an eFG% under .400. Anthony Edwards had 14 such games in 73 contests with at least 13 field goal attempts last year.

Those are two of the most well-renowned scoring guards in the NBA, and in terms of efficiency, Reaves is right there with them for his career. His efficiency hasn’t dropped much at all as his role with the Lakers has increased.

Reaves’ outlook

It’s clear the Lakers want to increase Reaves’ role in the team’s offense. His field goal attempts and minutes played have increased every season he’s been in the league, and to that measure, so have his point totals.

Furthermore, with the NBA’s new ‘hot-stove’ contact rule, where fouls are called if a defender hits a shooter’s arm after the ball has been released, Reaves could see much more of the charity stripe as well, further enabling his scoring potential. While it has only been three games, he’s already averaging 12.3 free throw attempts per game this season, more than double his previous career-high (5.0). Albeit, he took 22 in his 50-point game last night, and that won’t happen every third game.

That said, even without taking a plethora of free throws, Reaves has the skills necessary to take over any game he’s in. After all, he’s scored at least 30 on numerous occasions throughout his career. 14 times to be exact. Is it that much of a leap to say that with the new rules, increased role and LeBron James’ impending retirement, Reaves won’t be able to score 50 again? No.

The man is only 27 years old, entering his prime. And if Tony Delk can hit 50, why can’t Austin Reaves do it again?

Pittsburgh football coach Pat Narduzzi is not a fan of the NCAA’s recent decision regarding sports betting for its student-athletes.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Division II and Division III Management Council voted to approve a change in the NCAA’s sports betting policy, allowing student-athletes and athletics department staff members to make bets on professional sports. Division I adopted the change on Oct. 8.

The new rule goes into effect on Saturday, Nov. 1, just nine days after the NBA started dealing with a major gambling issue of its own.

Narduzzi railed against the decision on Monday, Oct. 27, at his weekly news conference.

‘It’s absolutely one of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever seen,’ Narduzzi said. ‘First of all, it’s a habit. It’s no different than smoking, drinking, doing drugs, it’s a bad habit. I don’t think anyone here encourages you guys to go out drinking and getting smashed on a Friday or Saturday night, or at a ball game.

‘It’s a disease. I mean, you saw the same day that comes out, there’s a disease in the NBA with what’s going on over there.’

Narduzzi also went on to bash the injury reports — which are required by all Power Four conferences as of the 2025 season — as another form of enabling gamblers.

‘It’s the same thing with these availability reports. I mean, what are we doing? We’re encouraging gambling,’ Narduzzi said. ‘People say, ‘Oh, he’s out. Let me put some money down there, see if I can get it done and win.”

Narduzzi said he would talk to his players in a team meeting, but he is not going to encourage his players to gamble on pro sports.

‘I just think it’s not good,’ Narduzzi said. ‘And I am not going to change my tune tomorrow. I’ll talk about it in a team meeting. One of the first things I’ll talk about is, I guess Nov. 1, they can do that. ‘But stay away. Nothing changes in our room. You guys shouldn’t be doing any of that. Save your money, put it in the bank.’ That’s my feelings.’

Texas QB Arch Manning is in the concussion protocol and missed practice on Monday, Oct. 27.
Manning’s status for this week’s game against Vanderbilt is uncertain, although coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t rule out Manning playing.
The injury occurred on a 13-yard scramble during overtime against Mississippi State.

Arch Manning is in danger of missing Texas football’s matchup against Vanderbilt this weekend.

According to the No. 19 Longhorn’s coach Steve Sarkisian, Manning missed practice on Monday, Oct. 27, and is in the concussion protocol. Sarkisian did not rule out Manning playing this weekend against the No. 11 Commodores.

‘He’s in protocol right now,’ Sarkisian said. ‘We’ll have more information as the week goes on.’

Here’s the latest on Manning’s injury:

Arch Manning injury updates

Manning helped lead the Longhorns to a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. However, in the overtime period, Manning scrambled for a 13-yard gain but exited after taking a hard hit.

He was hit by a pair of Bulldogs’ defenders – including defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones – while reaching for extra yardage. Manning was down on the field for several minutes before being taken to the medical tent.

Matthew Caldwell delivered the game-winning touchdown pass to Emmett Mosley V in the same overtime session to complete the come-from-behind victory. Caldwell received the first team reps on Monday, with true freshman KJ Lacey playing with the second team.

Sarkisian added that Texas has submitted the hit on Manning to the SEC to be reviewed.

‘We’ve turned in a few plays, and that’s not uncommon,’ Sarkisian said. ‘We’re always trying to just to make sure that we’re understanding of the rules.’

Halloween is here and the NFL trade deadline is near.

‘Spooky Season’ is coming to a close this week, but that isn’t stopping the league from putting on an epic costume party. Plenty of players across the league will soon learn their fate and what costume they’ll be donning for the remainder of the season.

For players going from bad teams to potential contenders, it’s hard to imagine a much better treat. For players on the opposite side, it is one cruel trick.

Several players could find themselves in the position to earn a treat, however.

The NFL trade deadline may not be as explosive as other professional sports, but anything can happen before the final bell rings.

Here are the latest rumors around the league.

NFL trade rumors: Latest deadline news, rumors

Titans trade CB Roger McCreary to the Rams

Date: Oct. 27
Source: Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams landed some help in the secondary, swinging a deal for the 25-year-old McCreary. It only cost the team a pick swap, as the Titans will receive a fifth-round selection and send a sixth-rounder back to LA.

McCreary, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, will bolster a cornerback room that already lost starter Ahkello Witherspoon to a broken clavicle in Week 2.

Liam Coen: Jaguars have ‘no plans’ of trading Brian Thomas Jr.

Date: Oct. 27
Source: Liam Coen, Jaguars head coach

Thomas Jr. has gotten off to a slower-than-expected start to his second NFL season, which has sparked trade rumors around the LSU product. However, Jaguars coach Liam Coen told reporters the team is going to keep its No. 1 receiver.

‘We have no plans on moving Brian Thomas Jr at all,’ Coen told reporters.

Jerry Jones says Cowboys’ Week 8 loss doesn’t change deadline plans

Date: Oct. 26
Source: Jerry Jones

The Cowboys defense was shredded in Week 8, surrendering a season-high 44 points in their loss to the Broncos. Dallas has plenty of holes, especially on defense, that need to be fixed, but that didn’t stop Jones from talking about possible trades.

“A loss is discouraging but as far as my temperament, if I saw a proposition for us to help this team, no matter what this score was today, I would look at it on the merits of this team. If you’re talking about trading for a player or trading a player, I’d completely look at it on the merits of this team, both for next week or the weeks after or for the longer term,” Jones told reporters after the loss. “No, today would not affect decisions on trading for a player.”

Jets could trade Breece Hall, unlikely to deal Quinnen Williams

Date: Oct. 26
Source: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo

The winless Jets are heading for another rebuild, meaning it could be time to start shipping some talent out of town. Hall is set to be a free agent after the season.

Garafolo says to keep an eye on Hall in trade talks, but indicated that Williams is unlikely to be on the move. He noted that there is a price for everyone, but it would be his brother, Quincy Williams, that has a better chance of being dealt.

Cowboys rebuffed by Raiders, Bengals in Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson talks

Date: Oct. 26
Source: Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer

The Cowboys’ decision to trade Micah Parsons was primarily motivated by money, but that doesn’t mean the team can’t use their newly acquired assets to swing a deal for a cheaper pass-rusher.

Dallas called about Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, but the Raiders and Bengals showed no interest in moving those players. Crosby also told the Raiders that he doesn’t want to be dealt. The Cowboys are continuing to look for help on defense, but it does take two to tango. Unfortunately for Jerry Jones, he can’t find a dance partner at the moment.

Saints’ Rashid Shaheed could be dealt for right price

Date: Oct. 26
Source: ESPN’s Adam Schefter

Plenty of teams are on the hunt for a receiver as the deadline nears. Fortunately for the Saints, they have plenty of them and could control the market. Shaheed, who is set to be a free agent after the season, could be had while New Orleans attempts to work out an extension for Chris Olave. It is believed that the Saints could receive a third-round pick in exchange for Shaheed, according to Schefter.

Saints WRs generating trade interest

Date: Oct. 26
Source: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

Olave and Shaheed are the headliners, but Brandin Cooks could also enter the trade discussion. He could be traded for the fifth time, which would be an NFL record. New Orleans continues to express their desire to keep Olave, but that security doesn’t appear to be there for anyone else in the receiver room.

Titans won’t trade Cam Ward, Jeffery Simmons

Date: Oct. 26
Source: ESPN’s Adam Schefter

This season has been a complete disaster for the Titans. They already fired their coach and Cam Ward has been forced to navigate an increasingly tricky rookie season. Schefter says that Tennessee is open to make some deals, but that won’t be for Ward or Simmons.

They are building blocks and the Titans are prepared to move forward with both.

Eagles not expected to trade A.J. Brown

Date: Oct. 25
Source: ESPN’s Adam Schefter

Despite plenty of complaints this season, Brown doesn’t seem like a candidate to be changing jerseys at the deadline. Schefter says that hasn’t stopped teams from reaching out, but the team won’t part with their star for anything less than a blockbuster offer.

Brown is currently battling a hamstring injury and just inked a three-year, $96 million extension with the Eagles during the 2024 offseason.

NFL trade candidates

USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz named these players among likely trade candidates ahead of this year’s deadline:

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
QB Russell Wilson, New York Giants
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Edge Jaelen Phillips, Miami Dolphins
CB Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

When is the 2025 NFL trade deadline?

Date: November 4
Time: 4 p.m. ET

The 2025 NFL trade deadline is set for Nov. 4, with 4 p.m. ET being the official cutoff. It’s the last opportunity for teams to make major changes to their rosters ahead of the stretch run. That leaves waivers and free agency as the last two avenues to improve before the offseason.

TNT is out, ESPN is in. After years of NBA fans laughing at their television screens thanks to the camaraderie of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, the incredible foursome has moved to ESPN for the 2025-26 season.

The team’s first broadcast on their new channel aired today at 6 p.m. ET in anticipation of the first full slate of NBA games this season.

One of the most highly anticipated games of the afternoon is the San Antonio Spurs at the Dallas Mavericks. Not only does it feature the return of Victor Wembanyama, but it will also feature the debut of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg for the Dallas Mavericks. Whenever San Antonio is involved, you know Charles Barkley could offer up a hilarious statement at any moment.

Here are the best moments from ESPN’s inaugural ‘Inside the NBA’ broadcast.

Best moments from ‘Inside the NBA’ on ESPN

‘Inside the NBA’ wasted no time leaning into their new channel. They also wasted no time mocking Charles Barkley for his enormous workload. Barkley fired back by poking at every athlete’s childhood dream of being on ESPN. Barkley even admitted he was nervous before coming on air today. However, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith called Barkley out for sucking up to their new bosses. Barkley was unamused.

The group also leaned in on their new sponsor, Popeye’s. Barkley was the first one to bring it up, but Shaq stole the show when he ‘gave a little soul’ to the famous Popeye’s jingle, which is shocking considering Shaq owns several stores in several fast food chains, but not a single Popeye’s.

Shaq calls Barkley a ‘sex symbol’

After returning from their second break, the team began making their picks to represent the Eastern Conference in this year’s NBA Finals. Barkley picked the New York Knicks, which was promptly clowned on by the rest of the team. When Barkley tried to point out some big moments that happened last year, Shaq answered back by saying, ‘That was last year. Charles [Barkley] was fat last year. Now look at him. He’s a sex symbol.’

Charles retorted with a massive grin, ‘Well you’re right about the sex symbol thing.’

Shaq picked the Cavaliers to make it out of the East. Kenny backed up Chuck, asking Ernie Johnson to add him to Chuck’s bold statement.

‘Inside the NBA’ Western Conference picks

Early on the show, Charles Barkley claimed that if Anthony Davis stays healthy, the Mavericks will go to the Western Conference Finals this year.

Later in the show, Barkley didn’t even name the Mavericks among his top-three Western Conference teams, listing the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets as his favorites to win the West.

Kenny Smith was very big on the Rockets, noting that Houston matches up very well with Oklahoma City, despite their loss to the Thunder on opening night.

Shaq, meanwhile, brought up the Golden State Warriors. He claimed that the Warriors’ starting five is as good as anyone else’s, but his concern about their health upset Ernie Johnson. Shaq made a bold statement, though, claiming that the Warriors would have a top-four seed in the Western Conference playoffs. He even said that if the Warriors are healthy, the Warriors’ lineup will be one of the scariest in the league come the postseason.

Mickey Mouse offers Chuck a plate of donuts

The group made several jokes throughout the show regarding Barkley’s improved frame. The 1993 NBA MVP has slimmed down remarkably since last season. But that didn’t stop the crew from giving him some food. In fact, ESPN rolled out the red carpet with the mouse himself offering Barkley a plate of donuts.

Barkley, unaware of Mickey Mouse’s presence, was startled when the donuts showed up. Fans did not get to see whether or not Barkley ate any of the donuts.

Who he broadcast for?

Other highlights

A five-sack day should have been cause for Myles Garrett to celebrate, but instead it feels as though the Browns star’s prime is going to waste.
The Texans offense managed to find its footing Sunday with a stellar performance in a win over the 49ers.
The Falcons and Bengals stumbled in ways that could prove lethal to each team’s playoff hopes.

Week 8 in the NFL was short on drama but long on consequences.

Blowouts became a running theme of the week, with nine matchups decided by two touchdowns or more. But parity is still running strong throughout the league, with little clarity on just who will emerge as buyers or sellers ahead of next Tuesday’s trade deadline. And with just one week of games remaining until the regular season reaches its halfway point, several teams are still looking to build momentum for a late-season playoff push.

With all that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 8 in the NFL:

NFL Week 8 winners

Houston Texans offense

Maybe they need to switch to the H-Town threads for good. Decked out in their distinctly cool alternate uniforms, the Texans looked markedly different in a 26-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Employing a heavy dose of jumbo packages, the Texans were able to solve their protection problems and keep C.J. Stroud out of duress. The result: A season-high 318 passing yards and an offense that kept possession of the ball for 24:31 in the first half, the highest mark of any team since 2009, according to Next Gen Stats. Even with top target Nico Collins sidelined by a concussion, Stroud put his troika of former Iowa State receivers to work, with Xaiver Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins combining for 14 catches, 166 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, rookie running back Woody Marks continued to be a difference-maker with 111 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches. The offense will need to prove it can hold up against opposition that hasn’t suffered the devastating personnel losses that the 49ers have, but this actually looks like a path forward for a much-maligned unit.

Tua Tagovailoa

Added to the injury report Sunday with an illness, the Miami Dolphins quarterback said he woke up with his left eye swollen shut. That might spell doom for many passers, especially one coming off two consecutive three-interception games as well as a controversy regarding his pointing the blame at others for a spiraling campaign. Instead, Tagovailoa fired off a season-high four touchdown passes to help Miami break a three-game losing streak with a 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The sixth-year signal-caller said after the game he would be keeping the visor he donned, but that’s hardly the only thing he and the offense should be clinging onto. A heavier commitment to the run game – particularly when feeding rookie Ollie Gordon III in short-yardage situations – helped the Dolphins keep the Falcons off balance, and nine different receivers got in on the action by recording at least one catch.

Aaron Glenn

Not many coaches have navigated a more difficult introduction to their first top job than Glenn, who seemed at a loss to account for his team’s repeated miscues through nearly the first two months of the season. Yet with things seemingly continuing to build against him – owner Woody Johnson’s pointed criticism of Justin Fields this week only drove more drama, as did the team’s decision not to reveal its starter prior to the weekend – the leader of Gang Green finally scored a breakthrough with a 39-38 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Trailing by two scores at multiple separate points in the fourth quarter, Glenn twice called for a two-point conversion attempt. Those would prove plenty meaningful, as New York eventually took the definitive lead on its final touchdown. For a coaching staff that had been accused of lacking aggression in recent weeks, the outcome yielded a long-awaited proof of concept in a rebuild that had seemingly stalled out. With a home tilt against the Cleveland Browns on the other side of the upcoming bye, is it time to talk about … a winning streak?

Tucker Kraft

On an otherwise muted National Tight Ends Day, the Green Bay Packers’ third-year standout seized the spotlight in prime time. Operating as the focal point of the Packers’ aerial attack, Kraft hauled in seven catches for 143 yards – tops among all players on Sunday – and two touchdowns. The former third-round pick from South Dakota State has blossomed from intriguing talent to a true go-to target, despite coach Matt LaFleur’s previous insistence that his offense didn’t require one. Travis Kelce has a chance to grab plenty of attention on Monday night against the Washington Commanders, but for now, National Tight Ends Day belongs to Kraft. More importantly, Kraft’s emergence as a devastating run-after-catch threat dovetails nicely with the return of deep threat Christian Watson, who posted 85 yards on four catches in his first game back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in January. If Jordan Love maintains the level of consistency he displayed in tying a franchise record with 20 consecutive completions, no one might be able to catch Green Bay for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

James Cook III

Is it possible for a 216-yard, two-touchdown outing to feel like a light day? That’s how Cook’s performance came across, as the Buffalo Bills running back needed just 19 carries – none of them coming in the fourth quarter – to set a career high in his team’s 40-9 romp against the Carolina Panthers. His 64-yard touchdown jaunt was especially worthy of the punctuation he provided with a diving tumble into the end zone. This was a good tune-up for Cook and the offense as a whole ahead of next week’s massive matchup against the Chiefs.

Tyler Huntley

Nothing is guaranteed in the life of a veteran fill-in quarterback, as Andy Dalton and Kirk Cousins can attest after trying days. But when the Baltimore Ravens’ already tumultuous season threatened to careen off a cliff as Lamar Jackson missed yet another game amid controversy, Huntley stepped in to secure a 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears that could prove critical to the team’s hopes of a midseason revival. No, he didn’t do enough to stop the jokes about him being a ‘former Pro Bowl QB’ after he made it in as the fourth alternate in 2022. But Huntley, who stepped in after backup Cooper Rush flamed out in a Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, strung together an efficient day by completing 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards while adding 53 more on the ground. The Ravens were the lone AFC North team to win on Sunday, putting them two and a half games back of the Steelers. If Baltimore can handle an eminently winnable Thursday matchup with the Dolphins ahead of a bye that figures to allow Jackson and others to get healthy, a resurgence could be in the cards.

NFL Week 8 losers

Atlanta Falcons

Can’t expect to break a seven-year playoff drought – tied for the second-longest active streak – with monthly faceplants like this. Between September’s 30-0 flop against the Panthers and Sunday’s drubbing by the Dolphins, Atlanta now owns two of the most bewildering performances of the early season. Kirk Cousins once again proved not up to the task of handling the offensive reins, failing to get much of anything going until garbage time. And for the second straight contest, Bijan Robinson and the ground game looked largely toothless. The back, whom Falcons coach Raheem Morris repeatedly called ‘the best player in football,’ averaged just 2.8 yards per carry against a defense that had given up 5.2 yards per carry entering the contest. And for all the strides the defense has made under first-year coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the unit was wholly unprepared to stop Miami’s offense from finding its established comfort zone. With the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts on tap in the next two weeks, the Falcons could find themselves in a serious hole if this level of stagnation continues.

Cincinnati Bengals

Heading into Sunday, the Bengals looked on the precipice of doing the unthinkable: creeping back into the playoff race thanks to an in-season trade for a 40-year-old quarterback. Simply handling the winless Jets would have put Cincinnati back at .500 with a favorable setup down the stretch. Yet despite racking up 181 rushing yards and not turning the ball over, the Bengals couldn’t figure out a way to slow New York, particularly in a fourth quarter that saw them surrender 23 points. Afterward, coach Zac Taylor pleaded for someone to ‘step up and lead’ the defense. But the inexperienced and error-prone group is the product of Cincinnati’s flawed build that allotted an outsized slice of the team’s resources for a few key figures. The organization has also undermined the veteran presence on the unit at several turns, including with the benching of linebacker Logan Wilson and the contract stalemate with Trey Hendrickson, who was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a hip injury. And now, the decision to largely stand pat with an interior defensive line that looked seriously questionable this offseason might leave Cincinnati without any moves to save its season.

New York Giants

Cam Skattebo’s gruesome ankle injury took a visible toll on the rookie running back’s teammates, and the New York Giants had legitimate reason to be upset with some key calls in a 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, there’s no question that most of Big Blue’s misery is a product of the team’s own doing. It came as no surprise that Saquon Barkley enjoyed a get-right game with a season-high 150 yards against his former team and a vulnerable run defense. Yet having return specialist and backup Tank Bigsby erupt for 104 yards on nine carries should sound an alarm. Meanwhile, an up-and-down Philadelphia passing attack didn’t falter without A.J. Brown, with diminutive receiver Jahan Dotson plucking a pass over the top of practice squad fill-in Korie Black for one of the Eagles’ four touchdowns through the air. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart said after the game it was ‘an embarrassing feeling’ to be dominated so thoroughly and that he wouldn’t accept continued losing. When your primary purveyor of hope is striking that tone, things are looking quite bleak.

Dallas Cowboys’ defense

Leave it to Sean Payton to pull no punches in summing up his offense’s mentality when facing the league’s last-ranked defense. ‘We wanted to keep them last,’ said the Denver Broncos coach. That he and his charges did, as Bo Nix and Co. rolled to a 44-24 win that featured little resistance. Nix threw four touchdown passes – with a fifth easily within reach, had it not been for a penalty and subsequent drop by Courtland Sutton – while taking zero sacks and just one hit. Even though the second-year signal-caller has struggled against other teams’ zone looks this season, he patiently picked apart Dallas’ shorthanded secondary. But the woes didn’t end there, as Jerry Jones’ beloved run defense also floundered in allowing 179 yards on the ground. Jones has left the door open for the team to make a move at the trade deadline, but what acquirable piece would legitimately boost this group? If the Cowboys really are intent on making a splash, it might not be feasible until the offseason.

Myles Garrett’s brilliance

The lasting image of Garrett’s day should have been him wrapping up Drake Maye on any one of the edge rusher’s five sacks. Instead, it might be the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year sitting alone at the end of the Cleveland Browns’ bench toward the culmination of a 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots. Quite literally, Garrett has set himself apart from his peers since he entered the league, and he reinforced that Sunday by passing Hall of Famer Reggie White for the most sacks (112 ½) by any player before turning 30. But the Browns’ continued inability to build in any form off Garrett’s record-setting performance creates an uncomfortable dissonance. Garrett slammed his helmet after being pulled by the Browns, and it’s understandable that he would feel frustration while bumping against the ceiling of just how much he can do for this franchise. But the four-time All-Pro had a chance to force his way into a more prosperous setting this offseason, yet he retreated from his trade demand to sign a lucrative contract extension. If Garrett is feeling exasperated, it’s important for him to recall that he essentially signed up for this by re-upping with a franchise that gave every indication it was looking ahead to a more complete rebuild in 2026 and beyond. And barring a historic turnaround in the coming years, he looks on track to occupy a similar space to former Browns legend Joe Thomas, going down as an all-time great whose singular contributions at a premium position weren’t enough to lift an organization that repeatedly undercut itself at almost every turn.

Dillon Gabriel

There’s no quarterback controversy in Cleveland, where coach Kevin Stefanski affirmed after Sunday’s rout that Gabriel would remain the starter coming out of the forthcoming bye. But it’s getting harder to figure out the third-round rookie passer’s value when he’s coughing up interceptions, with two bad ones coming against the Patriots. Gabriel also was responsible for a baffling safety when he appeared to panic in the pocket and threw to no one in particular in the flat, earning him an intentional grounding penalty. The makeup of this offense is hardly his fault, and a lackluster receiving corps isn’t doing nearly enough. But once this team gets into obvious passing situations with him, there’s little hope of the offense clawing its way back. Said Patriots coach Mike Vrabel of his defense: ‘When their gimmick plays ran out, we played pretty good defense.”

NFL trade deadline momentum

The annual cutoff for deals is now eight days away, and there doesn’t seem to be very many indicators for a major swap ahead. Sunday’s action did little to move the needle. Teams like the Dolphins and Ravens already looked resistant to selling off key pieces, and now they have even more reason to hold firm heading into their Thursday night matchup. Parting with Hendrickson appears to be a non-starter for the Bengals, who remain intent on hanging around in the playoff picture despite their woeful defense. Flipping either Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed would put the New Orleans Saints’ struggling offense in an even more unenviable position as they try to evaluate their young quarterbacks. And is there any way that the Jets could sell off Breece Hall after the running back’s three-touchdown day helped fuel the franchise’s first win of the season? Maybe a handful of moves will materialize, but the rumor mill fodder for the biggest names might not amount to much more than some fun speculation.