His grandchild gave it to him, the skateboarding legend says, coughing his way through a Zoom conversation from his home in San Diego. Ten years ago, he probably would’ve canceled this interview because of it. But he’s different now, at 57 years old. Healthier, in body and soul.

‘Because I take care of myself in other aspects, that’s allowed me to push through this illness,’ he says.

Part of that health quest includes taking a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test called Cancerguard, from the makers of colorectal cancer screening tool Cologuard. Cancerguard is a blood test that scans for cancer signals, including aggressive ones without other detection options. A positive result requires further testing to confirm a diagnosis. It costs $689. It’s one of several MCED testing options on the market, including Galleri, as people search for ways to get ahead of the disease; 70% of cancer deaths come from those without recommended screening tests. Five cancers in the United States have such tests: breast, colorectal, prostate, cervical and lung cancer (only in high-risk patients).

Hawk took the Cancerguard test earlier this month and is still waiting on his results.

‘I’m thankful to live in this age of modern medicine, that I can get the opportunity to take a test like this,’ he says. His father died of lung cancer at age 72. Is he nervous about the outcome? Absolutely. ‘Wouldn’t everyone be?’ But he’s ‘excited to have this early detection,’ too.

‘I’m not Peter Pan’

Hawk has tried to avoid junk food and soda as he’s aged, and opted for more moderation in his diet. He stays as active as possible.

‘I never exercised outside of just skateboarding up until a few years ago,’ he says, which has helped with stamina, flexibility and overall strength. Breaking his leg around then inspired a major reality check.

‘That was literally the hardest lesson, that I’m not Peter Pan, and if I want to continue to do this at a high level, I have to work outside of just skating,’ he says. He’s a father of six between him and wife Catherine Goodman, not to mention a grandfather. ‘I want to stick around.’ Part of his routine includes stretches to deal with deterioration in his back, and he still skateboards almost daily.

What also happens every day? Random people seeing him in public who don’t believe it.

‘People don’t expect this name or this face to be old,’ he says, ‘and that’s usually what trips people up. I’ve literally had people say, ‘you look like an older Tony Hawk.’ That is literally what I am.’

‘Who knows what the future brings’?

A typical day for Hawk starts early. He wakes up by 6 a.m. He scarfs down eggs and chicken chorizo before working out for about an hour and taking care of business needs: interviews, social media, emails. By mid-morning, it’s time to go skate. Later on in the day he revels in quality family time, including taking care of his grandchild.

This time of year, as Thanksgiving approaches, he’s grateful that his family is happy and healthy and relatively close by: ‘I’m thankful for that, because who knows what the future brings?’

The day of our interview, the immediate future means sneaking in a skate once we wrap. Not even a cold would wipe out those plans.

DENVER – Riley Moss was in a corner of the festive Denver Broncos locker room, bragging on fellow cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian after the big showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he struck a chord that explains much about the formula that keeps winning.

The Broncos – winners of eight in a row – are not winning just football games.

They are winning mind games, too.

McMillian, the nickel back, got a game ball from Broncos coach Sean Payton after the 22-19 victory against Kansas City, and there was absolutely no doubt that he earned it. He came hot on blitzes to notch two of the three sacks on Patrick Mahomes. And he snagged the game’s only interception, too. Never mind that McMillian was beaten for Mahomes’ longest completion – a 61-yard hookup with Tyquan Thornton – that set up a tying touchdown in the third quarter.

Let Moss explain.

“The kid’s an absolute stud,” Moss said of McMillian, a fourth-year pro who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. “So, he gave up that one. Unfazed, right? That’s how you became a good DB. You forget about the negative and you continue to ball. We’ve seen this. He’s like this.”

With the game tied, McMillian made the big play on what turned out to be Kansas City’s final offensive play, leaping to corral Mahomes for an 11-yard sack on a third-and-10 with just under four minutes to play. The Broncos took possession after the ensuing punt and marched 58 yards for Wil Lutz’s game-winning, 35-yard field goal as time expired.

As he pondered the turn of events, McMillian acknowledged being on the wrong end of the big completion. “That’s one of those plays I want back,” he said.

“But I guess I made up for it at the end.”

How did he process it in the heat of battle? “Short-term memory.”

In words, chalk up another one for the mental edge.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Broncos (9-2) lost the type of close games that they won in reigniting the rivalry with the Chiefs. Last season, when the Broncos earned a wild-card berth and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, they were 1-6 in one-score games. This season, they are 7-2 in such contests, with seven consecutive one-score wins since dropping back-to-back games in September on walk-off field goals as time expired.

Someone asked Bo Nix – the embattled, clutch quarterback – to explain the difference. This, too, points to all sorts of mind over matter.

“I think it’s honestly, a non-physical factor,” Nix said. “I think it’s a belief or mentality, or a grit, a toughness, something that you just build as a team. We just kind of have this belief, ‘Get us to the end of the game, we’re going to find a way.’ ”

Well, it has worked again. The Broncos, in Year 3 since Payton took over, keep demonstrating that they have learned how to win. Even for a team that committed 10 penalties – including two long pass interference flags on Moss that counted for 87 yards – they are repping their coach by playing smart when it matters most. To pull it out on Sunday, this included converting on a third-and-15 just before the two-minute warning. Nix found Courtland Sutton for 20 yards.

Sutton is Denver’s most established and dangerous receiver, which is why the Chiefs consistently blanketed him with double coverage. That allowed opportunities for Troy Franklin (4 catches, 84 yards) and Pat Bryant (5 catches, 82 yards) yet also constituted another type of mental battle.

“I just try to stay locked in the whole game,” said Sutton, who caught four passes for 49 yards. “Third down, you never know where the ball is going to go. But you know we’ve got to convert. That’s the mentality.”

Five plays later, Nix planned to look for Sutton again. But the coverage dictated otherwise. Nix instead fired a laser to Franklin for a 32-yard gain that set up Lutz’s fifth field goal of the game.

Said Franklin, who played with Nix at Oregon, “I think Bo trusted me to get open and make a play.”

Trust is undoubtedly essential to the Broncos’ formula about now. While the defense ranks atop the NFL in several categories – including sacks, third down percentage and red zone rate – the Nix-led offense has sputtered in significant stretches.

It happened again on Sunday. Both of the Broncos’ first two possessions advanced to Kansas City’s 5-yard line yet they settled for Lutz field goals. Those are the type of wasted opportunities that can doom chances of winning. For as much as Denver has rallied to pull out the close ones, it’s also a habit that carries a warning signal.

In any event, the formula has worked to the point that Denver is building a commanding lead in the AFC West.

Bo knows.

“It starts with having a defense,” he said. “You know they’re going to stop ’em. At some critical moment, they’re going to stop ’em, we’re going to have opportunities as an offense. There’s going to be a moment when you’re going to have the football in your hand and you’ll have a chance to go on a drive to get points or win the game.”

It happened again, just the way they drew it up. Or something like that.

Never mind if you believe in them or not.

“Our point is being made,” outside linebacker Jonathan Cooper said. “It’s hard for people not to get the point. Shoot, we’re 9-2. It’s tough to win in this league.”

Yet the Broncos surely have discovered some essentials to make that happen.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

The Dallas Cowboys will make what will doubtless be an emotional return to the football field Nov. 17 when they take on the Raiders at Las Vegas in a nationally televised ‘Monday Night Football’ game on ESPN. It will be the Cowboys’ first contest since the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland nearly two weeks ago.

There have been several developments in the aftermath of the 24-year-old Kneeland’s untimely passing. That said, new details regarding his death have been slow to arrive as Frisco, Texas, police continue their investigation.

As the Cowboys carry on without a young man who was only in his second professional season, here’s what we know about Kneeland, his final days, and what’s occurred since.

When did Marshawn Kneeland die?

The time of Kneeland’s death hasn’t been pinpointed and may never be. The Frisco Police Department joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in pursuit of his vehicle when a chase entered the city limits at 10:39 p.m. CT on Nov. 5. Authorities found Kneeland’s vehicle shortly thereafter, crashed on a local parkway, however he’d fled the scene. Police searched for him with the assistance of K-9 units and drones but didn’t find his body until 1:31 a.m. ET CT on Nov. 6.

Marshawn Kneeland cause of death

In a media release provided on Nov. 6, Frisco police characterized Kneeland’s death as a ‘possible suicide,’ saying he was ‘found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.’ The FPD learned Kneeland ‘had expressed suicidal ideations’ in the interim between finding his abandoned vehicle and his body.

When will Marshawn Kneeland’s death be determined?

Frisco police have not provided a timeline regarding Kneeland’s autopsy and don’t plan to provide further details while their investigation unfolds. The cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Collin County medical examiner’s office.

What are the Cowboys doing to honor Marshawn Kneeland?

The team is providing long-term financial assistance for Kneeland’s girlfriend, who is pregnant.

‘We’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina,’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters last week. ‘She’s pregnant, and so we want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby’s taken care of for the rest of their lives.’

Starting with the Raiders game, the Cowboys will wear helmet decals in remembrance of Kneeland for the remainder of the season. They’ll also warm up in special T-shirts in a bid to honor him, both on Monday night and on Nov. 23 against the Philadelphia Eagles, which will be Dallas’ first home game since Kneeland died. He scored his only professional TD on Nov. 3, the Cowboys’ most recent appearance, returning a blocked punt for a score in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The team also shared a tribute to Kneeland on social media.

What has Dak Prescott said about Marshawn Kneeland’s death?

‘Just a great dude,’ the Cowboys quarterback said of Kneeland last Thursday. ‘Spirit was always high. Any time you crossed him, very contagious attitude. We spent a lot of time throughout the training room passing each other, having small conversations here and there. Very loving, contagious guy. I know it’s been noted his saying was ‘One Love,’ I think you just felt that. You felt that aura, you felt that demeanor, you felt him carry that and that’s everything that he did.’

Prescott, whose older brother Jace died by suicide in 2020, felt the loss poignantly, calling it ‘triggering’ with his first public comments on Nov. 6.

“Having dealt with loss, that is the best medicine for me,” Prescott added last Thursday. “Getting back out there, handing the ball off and sprinting an extra 10 yards and making sure I’m doing it hard. Marshawn went through my mind a few times in practice today, and I just countered that with running harder after a play or trying to do something to better this team and to show that.’

What has Jerry Jones said about Marshawn Kneeland’s death?

Jones, owner of the Cowboys, said he was ‘devastated’ on a Nov. 11 radio interview, his first public remarks about Kneeland following his death.

‘We all are having to share the sorrow, all are having to share the different ways or different things that come through your mind. It’s not light that as a teammate, Marshawn touched everybody in many different ways,’ Jones said.

‘But this is a reality check that at the end of the day, the human things of having someone’s company on earth, being able to be involved with them for the time that we’re here, they’re here, all of those things come to mind in times like this.

‘He was very unique in his zest for life, and he was very unique in his passion for the game. And of course the saddest thing for someone like me is the fact that he was only 24 years old. You think about all of the time that we’re going to miss him, and he’s going to be missed by the people around him, he was just getting started.’

Jones shared in a separate radio interview last Friday that he hopes playing again Monday will be ‘therapeutic’ for the Cowboys.

Marshawn Kneeland’s NFL career

A second-round draft pick, 56th overall, out of Western Michigan in 2024, Kneeland appeared in 18 NFL games. Aside from his touchdown on Nov. 3, he compiled 26 tackles (5 for losses), four quarterback hits, one sack, one pass break-up and one fumble recovery in his brief career.

Do you need mental health resources?

Once again, if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. You are not alone.

NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth was not a fan of a pass interference penalty called against Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin on the final drive of the Lions’ 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The controversial call occurred on a third-and-8 when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was trying to throw the ball to A.J. Brown on the right sideline. Brown and Ya-Sin were engaged in minor hand fighting as the ball arrived, which caused the penalty flag to be thrown.

But upon seeing the replay, Collinsworth was incredulous and expressed his displeasure with the call on the NBC broadcast.

‘Oh, come on. Come on! That is terrible,’ Collinsworth said. ‘That is an absolutely terrible call that’s going to decide this football game. If anything, it’s an offensive push.’

NBC did not have its rules analyst for the broadcast, Terry McAulay, weigh in on the play. That left Collinsworth and play-by-play man Mike Tirico to discuss the play.

The duo wrote off the contact between the two players as minimal, and Collinsworth closed his analysis by doubling down on his stance that the officials had gotten it wrong.

‘You wanna call a foul, it’s an offensive foul,’ he said. ‘Wow.’

It also notes that pass interference can occur only on forward passes beyond the line of scrimmage and that ‘eligible offensive and defensive receivers have the same right to the path of the ball and are subject to the same restrictions’ when the ball is in the air.

It isn’t clear what prompted the officials for Sunday’s game to call the pass interference penalty, as a pool report for the contest was not immediately made available.

Shedeur Sanders made his NFL debut for the Cleveland Browns after starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel left with a concussion.
Sanders had a difficult performance, finishing 4-for-16 for 47 yards with one interception in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Coach Kevin Stefanski stated Gabriel will start next week if he clears concussion protocol, as Sanders has had limited practice with the first-team offense.
Despite the loss, Sanders led a late drive into Baltimore territory that ultimately fell short.

The sports television gods are smiling. For on this fine Sunday, the Monday A-block, whether it’s being produced in the northeastern corner of Ohio or elsewhere, received the ultimate gift with the insertion of Shedeur Sanders as the Cleveland Browns quarterback. 

No matter that it was because the starter, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, exited with a concussion. No matter that it was a shaky showing (who could blame the guy, coming in cold against a Baltimore Ravens defense that finally found some fangs) in a 23-16 defeat. 

Because his last name is Sanders, it will matter – far more than it should. 

Don’t fall for it. 

In reality, it was an overmatched rookie making his NFL debut without a week of preparation to play any meaningful snaps. Seen it before. We’ll see it again. 

Strap in, Browns fans, for a week of the Shedeur Sanders experience

The reaction throughout the next week, especially if Sanders is pressed into starting duties in case of an extended Gabriel absence, will not be proportional. Nothing about his entire NFL experience, from the draft process to training camp QB “battle” (air quotes because he clearly never had a shot for the starting job) to the second half against the Ravens. 

When defensive coordinator Zach Orr sent blitzers, there were times he looked like a deer in the headlights. Sometimes he displayed some seasoned pocket presence and busted out an escape move that would look good on any quarterback’s tape. 

Sanders finished 4-for-16 passing for 47 yards with one interception. It wasn’t up to his expectations, Sander said. It was the first time he’d truly been hit since his last game at Colorado, he added. 

“I don’t think I played good. I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders told reporters. “I think there’s a lot of things we need to look at during the week and just be comfortable throwing routes with Jerry (Jeudy) and all those guys. I think it was my first ball to him all year.” 

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has already said that Gabriel will start next Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders if he clears the leagues’ concussion protocol. Reading into that as an indictment of Sanders would be misguided. That this front office and coaching staff hold Gabriel in higher esteem than Sanders has been clear since April, with the decision to draft him in the third round, to the depth chart shakeout. Sanders was fourth-string heading into the summer. 

On Sunday, the entire playbook was available to Sanders, Stefanski said. 

“We trust all of our guys. We trust our guys to perform,” he said. “Playing the backup quarterback role, it’s tough to come in there.

“(Sanders is) gonna battle like he does.” 

‘Oh this is what it’s like?’ Sanders is about to find out

After the game, Sanders flashed his signature smile from behind the podium, typically reserved for the starting quarterback.  

“It’s all you can ask for, honestly,” the fifth-round pick said. “A chance to get out there, get your feet wet, to experience how it feels to even be out here with the team, with the first group, with everybody. Surely, (I) was excited.

“It’s exciting to see, like, ‘Oh this is what it’s like? Oh, all right.’” 

Going into the final drive, Sanders had the mentality that the Browns would tie it, he said. With the game in the balance, Sanders fired a strike over the middle to Harold Fannin Jr. for 25 yards to move into Baltimore territory. He found Jerry Jeudy for 10 more and scrambled for an additional five.

On second down from the 25-yard line, he had Isaiah Bond streaking open into the corner of the end zone. It was a tough throw, but Sanders had already done the hard part by extending the play and flipping his hips toward his intended target. The pass sailed on him nonetheless. On the next play, he looked to the end zone again and nearly had a potentially game-tying touchdown, but Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie jarred the ball out of Gage Larvadain’s hands at the last moment. 

“I don’t like the feeling,” Sanders said of losing. “I know offensively, if I’m able to go out there and have an opportunity, I (have to) take it to a whole new level.

“The feeling of losing, that ain’t nothing we’re going to get comfortable with on my watch.”

By all accounts, this was the first time Sanders had extended work with the Browns’ starting offense. The way Stefanski explained it, he barely worked with the “ones” in practice. He is a quarterback who wants to harp on the details of how receivers like to run their routes – and how he likes to throw certain routes open. Sanders and the Browns’ best receivers lack that level of familiarity.  

“You’re always trying to get your starter ready to play, and certainly when your starter is a rookie, those are very valuable reps,” Stefanski said. 

And too valuable for Shedeur Sanders to have a couple, apparently. Which is why – for the moment – we’ll pass on too harsh a judgement regarding the Browns’ far-too-polarizing backup.

We are inching closer to finding out who will be the final person to face John Cena.

‘The Last Time is Now’ tournament rages on in WWE with a 16-person bracket to determine the opponent Cena, the 17-time WWE Champion, will face in the last match of his storied career. Some first-round matches have taken place and wrestlers have advanced to the next round, and more opportunities await others to make it to the quarterfinals and capture an incredible opportunity.

With the final first-round matches set to take place, here’s what to know for the tournament to decide Cena’s final opponent:

Who is John Cena’s final opponent?

John Cena’s final opponent will be determined through a 16-person tournament.

When is John Cena tournament?

The tournament began on the Monday, Nov. 10 edition of Raw and will take place throughout the month, leading into the first week of December.

Who is in John Cena tournament?

The 16 stars that make up the tournament will consist of wreslters from Raw, SmackDown and NXT, as well as some ‘who don’t even work here,’ Cena said. 

All but one star has been revealed, with a the mystery participant set to be unveiled on Monday, Nov. 17. Here’s who is in the tournament:

Damian Priest 
Rusev 
Sheamus 
Shinsuke Nakamura
The Miz
Jey Uso
LA Knight
Zach Ryder
Je’Von Evans 
Gunther
Solo Sikoa
Finn Balor
Penta
Bronson Reed
Carmelo Hayes

John Cena tournament bracket

First round

Rusev def. Damian Priest
Sheamus def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Jey Uso def. The Miz
LA Knight def. Zach Ryder
Je’Von Evans vs. Gunther (Raw, Nov. 17)
Solo Sikoa vs. surprise opponent (Raw, Nov. 17)
Finn Balor vs. Penta (SmackDown, Nov. 21)
Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed (SmackDown, Nov. 21)

Quarterfinals

Rusev vs. Sheamus
Jey Uso vs. LA Knight
TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. TBD

Semifinals

TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. TBD

Final

TBD vs. TBD

When is John Cena’s final match?

Cena’s final match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The College Football Playoff bubble is getting awfully crowded.
Five CFP qualifiers from the SEC? That’s no longshot.
Oklahoma upset of Alabama shakes up projected bracket.

Here’s a little secret. The College Football Playoff rankings are mostly just the Bowl Championship Series, with a human face. A calculation of how the BCS rankings would have looked last week showed near identical alignment with the latest CFP rankings.

But, hey, if we still used the BCS, whom would ESPN’s Rece Davis talk to on Tuesday nights?

Oklahoma beating Alabama crowded the playoff bubble. At one point, after Texas established an early lead on Georgia, the possibility of seven SEC teams with at least 10 wins remained in play. Texas, though, wilted in what become its third loss, a result the committee probably privately welcomed.

Here’s my latest playoff bracket projection. Note: This is not a prediction of how this week’s rankings will look. It’s also not a modeling of how the bracket would look if the season ended today. Rather, I’m projecting forward. This reflects how I think the selections will look come selection Sunday in December.

1. Ohio State (Big Ten)

You could be forgiven for not tuning in much to Ohio State’s season. The Buckeyes’ consistently vast superiority over their unremarkable schedule makes for an unrelenting string of blowouts. Here’s the CliffsNotes: Good everywhere, great at wide receiver.

2. Texas A&M (SEC)

Everything that could go wrong did for Texas A&M in the first half against South Carolina. That made the comeback all the more remarkable. Every team other than Ohio State has played at least one clunker. The Aggies survived theirs.

3. Indiana (at-large)

Indiana (and Wisconsin) have reached such points that a 31-7 Hoosiers triumph came off as tame and expected. Fernando Mendoza enhanced his Heisman Trophy candidacy. The Big Ten season has mostly become a sleepy charade until the Ohio State-Indiana clash we deserve in Indianapolis.

4. Texas Tech (Big 12)

If the Red Raiders smush their next two opponents and win the Big 12 championship, they’ll have earned a bye. He won’t win the award, but some outside-the-box Heisman voters should find a ballot spot for Jacob Rodriguez. The Texas Tech linebacker reached 100 tackles serving as the fulcrum of a nasty defense. 

5. Georgia (at-large)

Kirby Smart must be loving this. A third-place SEC finish would unlock prime real estate. The Bulldogs could rest up conference championship weekend, then host a first-round playoff tuneup against the Group of Five qualifier. Georgia’s coach also must be loving the performance of his offense, which he compared to an anaconda squeezing the life out of prey.

6. Mississippi (at-large)

Lane Kiffin’s ongoing stay-or-go saga hasn’t interfered with the team’s performance. No matter what Kiffin chooses, Ole Miss should savor this ride. Defensive liabilities keep the Rebels from being a top-shelf national title contender, but the offense is so good Ole Miss can win a playoff game, and perhaps more than one.

7. Oregon (at-large)

Here’s a CFP chaos scenario: What if two-loss Southern California beats Oregon? Is there room for a fourth Big Ten qualifier? Perhaps not. The committee wouldn’t admit this, but they’ll be quietly quacking next weekend, because a Ducks win would make their job easier. Oregon is good enough to oblige.

8. Oklahoma (at-large)

Turnovers are football’s version of the 3-point jumper. They’re the great equalizer. The yardage stats say Oklahoma had no business beating Alabama, but credit the Sooners for forcing four turnovers. In a bracket that will be loaded with great offenses, Oklahoma would field one of the stingiest defenses. 

9. Notre Dame (at-large)

Heisman ballots contain three spots. That’s enough room for Jeremiyah Love to collect some votes as the nation’s best tailback. Love’s filthy spin move against Pittsburgh negated the need for any Heisman pose. He has our attention. Too bad for the selection committee it can’t award Notre Dame an auto bid as a de facto ACC team. Too bad for the Irish they won’t likely face an ACC team in the playoff.

10. Alabama (at-large)

Alabama’s September win at Georgia should lift it into the playoff even if the Tide suffered a third loss in the SEC Championship game. Just don’t lose the Iron Bowl. Alabama isn’t dominant in any particular area, and the Tide need Ty Simpson at his best. He wasn’t in the loss to Oklahoma.

11. Georgia Tech (ACC)

The Yellow Jackets’ signature win against Clemson lost gravitas after the Tigers withered, but they don’t need a statement result so long as they beat Pittsburgh and then win the ACC Championship. Georgia Tech’s grit has allowed it to stay a step ahead of the ACC’s riff-raff.

12. Tulane (Group of Five)

We could have a worthy debate of whether guaranteeing a Group of Five bid in a 12-team playoff is a flaw that needs remedied, but if the American is to have a spot, let it be Tulane. The Green Wave played three Power Four opponents and beat two. It possesses the best G5 resume. Now, it needs to survive the American’s battle royale.

Dropping out from last week’s projection: Vanderbilt, SMU, South Florida.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

When do CFP rankings come out?

The rankings are released on ESPN at 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18

Every week for the duration of the 2025 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we’ll be watching then, too.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Here’s where things stand with Week 11 of the 2025 season nearly complete:

NFC playoff picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), NFC East leaders: Something catastrophic (not uncommon in Philly) would have to occur for the defending champs not to be the first back-to-back winners of this division since they last did it … 21 years ago. After Sunday night’s win over Detroit, a Week 3 escape from the Rams currently confers the No. 1 seed to Philly. Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Bears, at Chargers, vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders

2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2), NFC West leaders: They beat Seattle to notch their fifth straight win while taking over first place in the division. But the Rams effectively remain a game back of Philly in the conference standings. Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Panthers, at Cardinals, vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

3. Chicago Bears (7-3), NFC North leaders: They’ve won seven of eight since an 0-2 start to stunningly take over first place in the division. And now it appears they’ll draw a weakened Pittsburgh team in Week 12. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Eagles, at Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4), NFC South leaders: Their divisional lead is down to a half game over Carolina, but the Bucs’ schedule will soon get quite manageable. Remaining schedule: at Rams, vs. Cardinals, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers

5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3), wild card No. 1: Tough loss to the Rams drops them out of first place in the NFC West. All three of the ‘Hawks’ losses are against NFC opponents. Remaining schedule: at Titans, vs. Vikings, at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1), wild card No. 2: They get awfully banged up in Sunday’s victory over the Giants yet eventually advanced one rung in the NFC seedings. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Lions, vs. Bears, at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4), wild card No. 3: Detroit’s latest setback moves a third NFC West team into the projected seven-team NFC playoff field. And maybe the Niners can start building some momentum with QB1 Brock Purdy back in the lineup. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Browns, BYE, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

8. Detroit Lions (6-4), in the hunt: The offense crashed back to earth Sunday night in Philly as the Lions crashed out of the playoff picture … for now. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, vs. Packers, vs. Cowboys, at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears

AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos (9-2), AFC West leaders: Sunday’s win over Kansas City gave them a chokehold on the AFC West throne the Chiefs have sat upon since 2016. It also moved the Broncos past the Patriots for the conference’s top spot − Denver’s record in AFC games (6-2) currently a half-game better than New England’s. Remaining schedule: BYE, at Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

2. New England Patriots (9-2), AFC East leaders: The first team in the league to reach nine wins Thursday night, they’re in prime position to win the division for the first time since Tom Brady led them to first place in 2019 and maybe their first No. 1 playoff seed since 2017. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Giants, BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2), AFC South leaders: The schedule was Charmin soft before their bye, but you can’t control whom you play. But the second-half lineup seems much less forgiving. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Texans, at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4), AFC North leaders: Only one game up on Baltimore for the division lead and now facing life without QB Aaron Rodgers. Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Bills, at Ravens, vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

5. Buffalo Bills (7-3), wild card No. 1: QB Josh Allen’s big game Sunday moved Buffalo up one spot in the seeding but got the Bills no closer to the AFC East lead. Tough game in Houston looms Thursday night. Remaining schedule: at Texans, at Steelers, vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), wild card No. 2: The week off arrives right on time for a battered team that was bludgeoned in Duval County on Sunday. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4), wild card No. 3: They continue to collect potentially critical head-to-head tiebreakers, Sunday’s defeat of the Bolts added to the Jags’ wins over the Chiefs. Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, at Titans, vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

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