The New England Patriots’ backfield took a hit during the team’s signature 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

Running back Antonio Gibson suffered a season-ending torn ACL during the win, an MRI confirmed on Monday, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The injury occurred during the second quarter when Gibson was hit hard on a kickoff return. He immediately grabbed his right knee and was in visible pain on the field.

The Patriots quickly ruled Gibson out for the remainder of the contest.

Gibson’s season-ending knee injury is a blow to New England’s special teams unit and offensive backfield.

Gibson was the team’s top return man. His 28.5 yards kick return averaged ranked in the top 10 in the league. He had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 2. It’s the longest kickoff return in the NFL this season.

On offense, Gibson was New England’s No. 3 option at running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson. Gibson tallied 25 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown this year.

The sixth-year running back spent the first four years of his career in Washington. He signed with the Patriots in 2024.

Gibson has 787 carries, 3,287 rushing yards and 24 rushing TDs in 83 career games. He’s averaged 25.1 yards per kick return during his career.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

Philadelphia Phillies are in the postseason for the fourth year in a row
Owner John Middleton’s team has the third-highest payroll in baseball.
Dave Dombrowski joined the club in 2020 and has built a juggernaut roster.

PHILADELPHIA — They are friends – business partners really – who share the same passion and goals, but they can’t sit together.

One looks like a GQ model, often wearing a sports jacket, his hair combed perfectly, always looking relaxed and composed. The other dresses like he could be a stadium worker, constantly in motion, pacing by the batting cage, even picking up baseballs after batting practice as if he’s trying to justify a minimum wage salary.

One is comfortably rich. The other generationally wealthy.

Together, John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski are baseball’s incomparable power couple, striving to create a legacy that will forever be remembered in Philadelphia Phillies’ history.

Middleton, 70, is the managing partner who owns the Phillies.

Dombrowski, 69, is the president of baseball operations who runs the Phillies.

Together, no owner-front office tandem in baseball may be more closely aligned, sharing the ultimate respect and admiration for one another, while doing everything in their power to bring a World Series championship to Philadelphia.

“This is all I think about,’ Middleton told USA TODAY Sports, whose team faces a 1-0 deficit in this best-of-five NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park. “This is the most important thing I’ve ever done professionally. It means more to me than anything I’ve done, really.

“I want to bring a World Series championship to Philadelphia. This is the best team we’ve had since I became owner, and it’s also the toughest team we’ve ever had. They keep taking punches, get off the canvas, and hit the other team back in the nose. It’s a little bit like that ’80 [World Series championship] team with the toughness to get them over the hump.

“I really think that we are the best team in baseball.

“Now, we’ve got to go out and prove it.’

Middleton, whose family goes back 150 years in Philadelphia, lives and breathes each night with the Phillies. His wife’s family has been in the area even longer.

He sits in on scouting and development meetings. He roams the clubhouse to talk with players before games. He’s in the stands with the fans during games. He’s always on the move.

“I love walking through the stands,’ Middleton says. “People always ask me why don’t I bring security with me. I say, ‘Why would I need security? If I need security at my own stadium, I’m clearly not doing my job well.”

And when he’s not walking, he’ll sit in his own ballpark suite with his wife, Leigh, but never ventures into Dombrowski’s suite.

“I can’t sit with Dave,’ Middleton says. “He and his staff don’t need me in the room. Frankly, I don’t think they want me in the room.

“My guess is he probably would let me if I asked. I’m also quite sure that he would prefer me not to ask.’’

Middleton, wearing a red Phillies shirt and khaki pants, is the one responsible for the entire organization, with Dombrowski in charge of the baseball side, but the reality is they are true business partners.

“They’re great together because they’re all about winning,’ agent Scott Boras says. “It’s clear they make their own decisions independently, but from a development standpoint, from a negotiating free-agent standpoint, they’re a committed group. They have a real idea what they want.’’

That, of course, is to deliver the Phillies’ first World Series championship since 2008, and only the third in the 143-year history of the franchise.

“I have told Dave that his job is to figure out how to win,’ Middleton says. “My job is to figure out how to get him the money so he can do his job well.’’

Middleton and Dombrowski have been together nearly five years now but can’t think of a single disagreement. Middleton controls the money, and Dombrowski has virtual full carte blanche on baseball decisions, working in unison to make the Phillies one of baseball’s premier destinations.

“I don’t think you could have – from my perspective, an organization’s perspective, a team’s perspective, a fan’s perspective,’ Dombrowski says, ‘a better owner than John. He’s just absolutely tremendous. He wants to win. He wants to do things first class. He lets you do your job, and he cares so passionately.

“That’s why I know what this would mean to bring a championship to John, this organization, and this city. I mean, anybody you talk to, I don’t think there’s a more passionate place in the game.’

Dave Dombrowski, hard to get

Their relationship began after the COVID season when the Phillies began looking for a new head of baseball operations after re-assigning Matt Klentak. Middleton and Phillies president Andy MacPhail decided to make separate lists of potential candidates.

Middleton submitted his list of top candidates.

MacPhail jotted down only one name: Dombrowski.

When MacPhail called him, Dombrowski had no interest. He and his wife, Karie, had just moved to Nashville, built their dream home and were involved in a group trying to lure an expansion franchise to the city.

The Phillies then turned to Thad Levine of the Minnesota Twins. They brought him in, determined he was their man, only for Levine to change his mind, and stay with the Twins.

So, Middleton had MacPhail reach out to Dombrowski again. Same answer.

Middleton told him to try again. For the third time, Dombrowski said no.

“I finally told Andy that if I’m going to hear ‘no,’ I want to hear it from (Dombrowski’s) mouth,’ Middleton says.

MacPhail reached back out and asked Dombrowski if it was OK for him to talk to Middleton. Middleton called, Dombrowski said no again, but Middleton demanded to know the reason. Dombrowski explained that while he was flattered by the Phillies’ interest, he was committed to Nashville and their group, trying to either land an expansion team or have the Tampa Bay Rays or Oakland A’s relocate to Nashville.

“I had nothing against the Phillies,’ Dombrowski said, “but what it really came down to is that I made a commitment to the people in Nashville. I gave them my word.’

Middleton’s response: “Dave, as chairman of the ownership committee, I can tell you right now, there’s no chance of you getting an expansion team anytime soon. And there’s no chance of a team relocating to Nashville anytime soon.’

If Dombrowski didn’t believe Middleton, he invited him to call Manfred directly.

Dombrowski called, and Manfred echoed Middleton’s opinion. Expansion wouldn’t happen until at least 2030, maybe 2031.

Dombrowski called Middleton, reciprocated interest for the first time, and Middleton told him: “Here’s what we had in mind for a salary and I’ll put in a clause that you could void the contract if Nashville has a chance to land a team.’

Dombrowski, without a single negotiation, accepted. He only asked Middleton for his vision.

Middleton: “I want to win now, and I want to win in the future.’

The conversation lasted only a few minutes. Dombrowski was hired on Dec. 11, 2020.

“It all happened within a day,’ Dombrowski says. “I mean, it was boom, boom, boom.’

And ever since Dombrowski’s arrival, the Phillies have won. They produced their first winning record in 10 years in 2021 and reached the postseason in each of the past four seasons, but have fallen short of the ultimate prize.

Yet, World Series trophy or not, the two have grown so close that it’s almost comical how their own contract negotiations have transpired.

Where else would you have an owner offer his employee a lucrative four-year contract extension in 2022, only for the employee to negotiate a three-year deal for less money?

“I remember asking him what he wanted in years and dollars,’ Middleton recalls. “Dave says, ‘Two years seems fair, and you already pay me a lot of money, so I don’t need an increase.’

“I told him, ‘I would like to extend you four years and forget about no increase.”

Dombrowski: “How about we split the different and settle on three years?’’

The contract was finalized two days later.

Where else would you have a boss declare that you have lifetime security only for the employee to tell him not to be silly?

“I offered Dave a lifetime contract,’ Middleton says, “and he said that was too much and would raise questions. So, I told him he has a lifetime contract anyway. My biggest concern with Dave is just making sure he is happy in Philadelphia.

“I have been privileged in my career to work with a handful of executives who are truly elite, world class. When I am lucky enough to find someone that is that good, I hold onto them as tightly as I can because replacing them is impossible. Dave is one of those.’

‘It’s just money’

Everything, of course, is judged by a World Series in Philadelphia. Anything short of a championship trophy and a parade is considered a failure. This is why they went out and dominated the trade deadline. Dombrowski acquired All-Star closer Jhoan Duran, center fielder Harrison Bader and signed free-agent reliever David Robertson in July.

They pulled off the coup by trading four prospects, but none of their most prized ones: Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller or Justin Crawford.

The only real cost to Middleton was money, paying Robertson $6 million, which translates to a $12 million expenditure for salary cap ramifications. It increased their luxury tax payroll to $311 million – third-largest in baseball behind the Dodgers and New York Mets.

“It didn’t cost us players, it didn’t cost us prospects,’ Middleton said, “it was only money. I want to win. If you win a World Series, does it really matter how much you had to spend? Does anyone know whether the ’27 Yankees made money? Did they lose money? Nobody knows. Nobody cares.

“All anyone remembers is that they were great. We want to be great, too. We want to be World Series champions.’

Middleton, who became the Phillies’ control person and managing partner in November 2016, isn’t about to let money stand in the way of building a perennial championship contender.

He opened his checkbook and signed outfielder Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million contract in 2019, and didn’t stop. Twenty-two months later, he signed shortstop Trea Turner to an 11-year, $300 million contract. Then came DH Kyle Schwarber with a four-year, $79 million contract and outfielder Nick Castellanos to a five-year, $100 million deal in the same week. And then they signed ace Zack Wheeler to a record three-year, $126 million extension.

“It’s just money,’ says Middleton. “The fans don’t care how much I make or how much I lose. They just want to know how many World Series trophies you win.

“So do I.’

‘Wouldn’t chnage it for the world’

It was the signing of Harper that started the renaissance. Middleton negotiated around the clock for two days with Boras, Harper’s agent, in Las Vegas. The meetings concluded, there was no deal, and Middleton flew back to Philadelphia. Middleton stopped long enough to grab some clothes, pick up his wife, Leigh, and immediately returned to Las Vegas for a dinner date with Harper and his wife, Kayla.

It was a table of five, but it was virtually a conversation of one. Leigh talked about her passion and love for the city of Philadelphia and the Phillies. She talked about their love affair that began on a blind date set up by their own mothers, with Leigh and John born at the same hospital and the families attending the same church. They got engaged after Leigh turned 19 in 1976, married on June 17, 1978, and have been inseparable since, raising two children.

Leigh was the one who ultimately convinced Harper and his wife that Philadelphia is where they needed to spend at least the next 13 years of their lives.

“Leigh kind of sold me, man’ Harper says. “She had such a knack of talking to us. It was all about family. It was all about Philadelphia and her love for the Phillies and how much the Phillies meant to the city. We had so much fun being able to sit there and talk to John and Leigh about everything Philly.’

It turned out to be the best career decision Harper says he ever made, and even with 22 players earning more money this season, he never once has he regretted not having an opt-out clause.

“It’s been so great here, I wouldn’t change it for the world,’ Harper said. “I didn’t want an opt-out. The biggest thing for me was that I didn’t want everybody talking about where I was going. That’s all anybody talked about when I was in D.C.

“When I signed here, John really talked about these next 13 years, what it was going to look like and how we were going to communicate. He’s always had his door open from the jump. Always. He just wants to win so bad. It’s the same with Dave. Anything we really need, he’s talking to us about it, from families to planes to food or stuff in the training room, technology, everything. They always communicate or have an answer for us.

“It just goes to show how much they want to win, in any capacity, on the field, off the field, always trying to get use that leg up on everything.’

The Phillies have purchased the most advanced technology. They spent $4 million creating space for 60 new offices for their research and development department. They are in negotiations on a massive project to make their Clearwater, Fla., spring-training complex into a state-of-the art facility. They expanded and remodeled their family room at Citizens Bank Park at the tune of $8 million. The players make requests, Dombrowski and Middleton listen, and they deliver.

“There’s something about having an owner who wants to win and will do everything in his power to help us win,’ Harper says. “You just don’t see that in today’s game. You can tell how much he loves this team, and not just him, but the whole family. Man, they really enjoy it.

“That’s why it would be so great for John and Leigh and the fans to and everyone here to win this thing. We’ve been here in the playoffs the last couple of years, but we haven’t gotten the job done.

“The time is now.’

‘I feel more urgency for this group’

The Phillies know the window isn’t closing, but this team still will look different next year. They have four key free agents – Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto, starter Ranger Suarez and Bader. They will do everything in their power to re-sign Schwarber, who led the NL with 56 homers and is the Phillies’ clubhouse leader, but surely can’t sign them all.

“I think Kyle likes it here,’ Middleton says, “and we intend to do everything to make him like it here.’’

It’s not just the amount of money that will determine Schwarber’s decision, but the chance to win, the people he’ll be surrounded by, and the community itself.

Advantage: Middleton.

“If there’s anything we need, he wants to make sure that’s going to be provided because he wants the best out of us,’ Schwarber says. “That’s something that you can’t underestimate because it doesn’t happen everywhere. He’s very invested in Philadelphia. He’s very invested in what he does with Citizens Bank [Park]. And he’s very invested with this team.

“It’s been like that ever since I signed here, and as a player you appreciate that because it could be just the status quo. But he’s always checking in and making sure how guys are doing and seeing how morale is. And what’s really cool is that whenever someone has a charity event or something outside of the field, he and Leigh are always there to support, making donations to help the community.

“We all want to perform well for him because we know how much he cares for us.’

Middleton wouldn’t have traveled with the team to Los Angeles – even sitting on the tarmac for hours before their flight departed – if he didn’t want to share his team’s euphoria when they clinched the NL East. He even took a few swigs from the beer bong passed around in the clubhouse, something he doesn’t remember doing before.

“I feel more urgency for this group,’ Middleton says. “I mean, I’m getting older, too. But you age as an owner an executive differently than a world-class competitive athlete. So, there’s a tomorrow for me that there isn’t for some of the players.

“I want this group to win. We’ve had such a great regular season record (368 victories, tied for 5th most) the last four years, which is nice, but without the title, it seems a little hollow.

“At the end of the day, there’s only one winner. There are 29 losers.

“I want to be that winner.’

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

The Cardinals suffered one of the biggest letdowns of Week 5 with their late, error-filled collapse against the Titans.
The Bills’ loss to the Patriots robbed them of the title of the NFL’s last unbeaten team standing – and it could prove even costlier in the playoff race.
The Broncos notched a major win with a fourth-quarter surge on the road against the Eagles.

As temperatures dip as the calendar flips to October, Week 5 in the NFL saw a number of teams lose their cool.

On Sunday alone, five teams had double-digit leads give way to eventual losses. The day also featured the NFL’s only two remaining undefeated teams – the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles – being dealt their first blemishes, while several struggling franchises – including the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens – suffered their most deflating defeats yet. Throughout the league, the time for excuses is up as the march toward midseason begins.

Here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 5 in the NFL:

NFL Week 5 winners

New England Patriots

Mike Vrabel’s first impression as the Patriots coach left many feeling a little empty, as the Patriots stumbled to a 1-2 mark with mistake-riddled setbacks against the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet a 23-20 breakthrough against the Bills gave reason to believe that the many imported pieces are coming together. An uncharacteristicly sloppy outing from Sean McDermott’s crew provided a massive opportunity for New England, which failed to fully capitalize on the errors in the early going. But the defense did its part to keep Josh Allen (22-of-31 passing for 253 yards) in check while also bottling up James Cook (49 yards on 15 carries), and Drake Maye did superlative work to fuel Stefon Diggs’ revenge game effort. Now standing at 3-2 after their first back-to-back wins since 2022 with their next three games coming against three one-win teams, the Patriots are shaping up to be serious threat for the wild-card mix.

1972 Miami Dolphins

With the Bills going down in ‘Sunday Night Football’ after the Eagles met the same fate, the wait for the league’s last undefeated team to slip up is already over. Not since 2014 have the members of that legendary Dolphins team been able to pop the champagne this early. At least someone in the South Florida world has cause to celebrate.

Denver Broncos

Sean Payton’s plan is starting to come to fruition. While Bo Nix and Denver’s offense had some rough patches that led many to question whether the unit really was in line for a substantial leap in Year 2 of the quarterback’s reign, Sunday’s 21-17 road win over the Philadelphia Eagles showed what’s possible when all of the new elements are properly incorporated into the attack. Though Nix looked stumped by Vic Fangio’s defense for the bulk of the day, J.K. Dobbins’ work to help the ground game get going late helped rev up the entire operation. Nix then found more success attacking downfield, and tight end Evan Engram finally made a difference with his touchdown catch that preceded the go-ahead two-point conversion. Philadelphia has shown itself exceedingly difficult to best in these close contests, so Payton managing to pull this off stands as a major validation of what he’s building in Denver.

Jonathan Taylor

His early season performance has been somewhat overshadowed by backfield mate Daniel Jones’ resurgence. Still, the Indianapolis Colts running back is on a roll, piling up three more rushing scores in a 40-6 romp against the Raiders. That was his second outing of 2025 with three scores on the ground; no other player in the NFL has one such performance. At a time when few backs can truly be called stars, Taylor is putting himself in a league of his own among all ball carriers. And with fewer than 20 carries for the fourth time this season, he’s boosting the offense without having to shoulder a disproportionate load that could weigh him down later in the campaign.

Kellen Moore

The New Orleans Saints didn’t look as hapless as the NFL’s other winless teams through the first four weeks of the season. Now, the standings finally reflect that dynamic. With a 26-14 victory over the New York Giants, Moore notched his first win as a head coach and broke a losing skid that reached back to Week 14 of last season. The Saints neutralized the Giants’ imposing pass rush by largely emphasizing a quick passing game, though Spencer Rattler did manage to connect with Rashid Shaheed on a deep heave that went for an 87-yard touchdown. New Orleans hasn’t had much to build on at the beginning of the ongoing reset, but this at least gives the team some proof of concept moving forward.

Rico Dowdle

The spotlight has largely eluded the fifth-year running back, who even flew under the radar in 2024 while posting a 1,079-yard season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starter. But with lead back Chuba Hubbard ruled out with a calf injury Sunday, Dowdle delivered a career day with 206 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Carolina Panthers’ 27-24 win over the Miami Dolphins. His ground output was the highest for any player so far this season and fell just short of DeAngelo Williams’ franchise record of 210 yards, a mark Dowdle said he would have topped if not for calf cramps that sidelined him late. His performance seemed to help stabilize the offense after two early turnovers from Bryce Young, with the defense also buckling down late. After an offseason in which he signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal in a tepid free agency market, the South Carolina native already seems to have paid off for his home team in a major way. And any fantasy owners who had the foresight and conviction to start Dowdle should enjoy their well-earned victories this week.

Eric Collins

In his first NFL broadcast for Fox, the play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets quickly proved himself up to the task of elevating a Dolphins-Panthers game that otherwise might have been reduced to Red Zone background noise for many. Collins quickly built an overwhelmingly positive buzz on social media for his emphatic calls, which captured the unexpected entertainment value of the early window matchup. Given his background, it probably should come as little surprise that he’s adept at bringing some genuine fun to a market that has been short on it in recent years.

An elite uniform matchup – and Week 5’s best game

After a September slate replete with meetings between leading contenders, the NFL opened October with a set of games that seemed like a serious step down from previous weeks. The Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced off in what appeared to be the possible highlight of the afternoon. Sartorially speaking, the two teams were on another level with their respective throwbacks. But the game also ended up being the most appealing on-field product of the weekend, with the Buccaneers coming out just barely ahead in the 38-35 shootout. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold engineered a historic duel, as no previous game has ever featured two quarterbacks throwing for more than 325 yards while completing more than 80% of their passes. It was a needed break from a run of games that otherwise featured a good deal of sloppiness.

Jordan Addison

Maybe people are taking Justin Jefferson’s greatness for granted, as the two-time All-Pro wideout repeatedly propped up the Minnesota Vikings’ wounded offense on Sunday. But it was Addison who stepped up late in a 21-17 win in London, catching the game-winning 12-yard score and snaring two more grabs on the final drive. That’s quite the way to salvage a game in which the third-year receiver was held out for the first quarter due to a missed walkthrough earlier in the week. After serving a three-game suspension stemming from a 2024 DUI citation, Addison has already made a sizable mark on a wobbly offense. But Jefferson saying postgame that he ‘had words’ with Addison clearly indicates that more is expected of the former first-rounder.

NFL Week 5 losers

Arizona Cardinals’ composure

Facing expectations of a third-year breakout under Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals couldn’t seem to get out of their own way in the first month of the season, going 2-2 despite a favorable setup. But a new low for the coaching staff arrived Sunday, when two critical fourth-quarter errors by Arizona allowed the previously winless Tennessee Titans to mount a stunning rally for a 22-21 victory. The game swung on a massive blunder by running back Emari Demercado, who slowed down after a 71-yard run and then let go of the ball before crossing the goal line, erasing a touchdown that would have nearly iced the contest. A Titans offense that had managed just two field goals in the previous three quarters went 80 yards in six plays for a touchdown on the ensuing drive after the touchback, cutting the deficit to 21-12. Tennessee’s hopes appeared dashed when Cam Ward threw an interception with under five minutes remaining, but Dadrian Taylor-Demerson’s fumble was recovered in the end zone by Titans wide receiver Tyler Lockett for a truly bizarre touchdown. After an Arizona punt, Tennessee then set itself up for the game-winning field goal with an impressive 38-yard connection between Ward and Calvin Ridley. Between poor decision-making and outright blunders, this might have established a new standard for ugly losses in 2025. And with the Colts and Green Bay Packers up next before the bye, the Cardinals could find themselves needing to make up ground in a hurry if they don’t clean up the operation.

Buffalo Bills

If you dress like a different team, you might end up playing like one, too. Decked out in their icy ‘Rivalries’ uniforms, the Bills certainly didn’t resemble their usual selves with three turnovers and 11 penalties. That identity crisis proved substantially costly, with the Patriots mustering enough to prevent Buffalo from turning the AFC East race into a stroll before Halloween hits. But the real toll could eventually be felt in the push for the conference’s No. 1 seed, as Buffalo squandered a chance to maintain some distance at a time when the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be finding their form once again.

Baltimore Ravens

The skeleton crew that the Ravens trotted out Sunday more closely resembles the kind of lineup one might see in an irrelevant Week 17 game than an early October tilt. What, then, could be expected from a group that started five rookies on defense? A nightmare start to the season dragged on with the Houston Texans’ 44-10 rout. The Texans’ previously floundering offense coasted, with C.J. Stroud racking up four touchdowns through the air. Another nearly came via the ground when Stroud, who last week said he felt as though he had lost a step as a runner from his high school days, pulled away from nearly all comers on a season-long 30-yard scramble. A franchise that once set the bar for defensive excellence now finds itself as the only outfit in the Super Bowl era that has given up 37 or more points in four of its first five games. On the other side, Cooper Rush didn’t give hope for any notion of a shootout, throwing three interceptions on the day. John Harbaugh is trying to stay the course, saying after the game that he’s sticking with defensive coordinator Zach Orr. But with a showdown against the Los Angeles Rams looming before the bye, the Ravens are facing a rapidly increasing likelihood of this becoming a lost season.

Eagles’ offensive consistency problems

When Saquon Barkley broke his longest rush (17 yards) of the season early against the Broncos, it seemed that Philadelphia might finally be set for a breakthrough that many hoped had been bubbling for weeks. With a heavy dose of RPOs opening up the run game and putting Philadelphia in more favorable spots on early downs, the long-awaited deep shots – including a 52-yarder to DeVonta Smith and 47-yard score to Saquon Barkley – finally materialized. But the Eagles once again saw everything come to a screeching halt. The next four drives produced a grand total of 3 net yards as Denver pushed ahead. And when forced into an obvious passing situation on the final drive, Philadelphia’s offense was unable to pose a serious threat. The first loss of the season shouldn’t be cause for outright panic, but the consternation regarding what’s preventing this unit from achieving any semblance of sustained success will live on for at least another week.

Aaron Glenn

On Sunday, Glenn took his place as the only Jets coach to start 0-5 in his first year with the team. Yet even more discouraging than the results themselves has been the manner in which Gang Green continues to plunge to new depths. Miscues remain plentiful, as New York’s defense had 13 missed tackles in the first half alone, according to Next Gen Stats. The team also became the first to go winless and without a single takeaway through the first five weeks of the season. Meanwhile, New York’s offense was largely rudderless, scoring just six points until the game was in hand in the fourth quarter. This season always seemed bound to entail a good deal of pain up front, but the sloppiness that has become the hallmark of the new regime’s inaugural group might demand significant action from Glenn, though the coach already brushed off the notion of taking defensive play-calling duties away from coordinator Steve Wilks.

Jaxson Dart’s encore

With a win in the rookie quarterback’s starting debut to be followed by a meet-up with the 0-4 Saints, the Giants seemed to have plenty going for them in helping Dart settle in. That optimism seemed justified early against New Orleans, with a pair of first-half touchdown passes to tight end Theo Johnson and a series of runs showcasing the new elements the No. 25 overall pick brings to the offense. But everything came unspooled shortly thereafter. The Giants turned the ball over on five consecutive drives, including a fourth-quarter fumble that Saints safety Jordan Howden returned 86 yards for a touchdown. Dart took responsibility after the game in a move that highlighted his maturity, but the outcome underscored that the Giants’ faulty build likely can’t yield the nearly flawless conditions required for the offense to succeed in its current form.

Raiders

It would be easy to pin all of the Giants’ problems on Geno Smith, who threw two more interceptions to extend his league-leading total to 9. But there’s no way to process a 40-6 defeat as anything other than an all-around failure. Visions of Smith and Pete Carroll restoring the franchise to respectability in short order are fading fast, with special teams problems and third-down defense woes – Indianapolis converted eight of 10 attempts – continuing to pile up. Said Carroll after the game: ‘I’m just kind of waiting for that moment where we kick it in, we have the answers, we make the right choices, we make the right plays, the right calls.’ It’s shaping up to be quite the wait.

Los Angeles Chargers’ early season success

When it comes to safeguarding Justin Herbert, the Bolts have been in full-on crisis mode for the past two weeks. That trend continued Sunday, when the Washington Commanders put together a 27-10 win thanks in large part to a persistent pass rush. Herbert took four sacks and was hit nine times while finishing with a season-low 166 yards passing. And for the second consecutive week, a Chargers team that opened the year in fine form was off in a variety of ways, from two turnovers to basic procedural problems. It was only two weeks ago that Los Angeles seemed poised to pad its early lead in the AFC West and gain some separation from the Chiefs. But a win by Kansas City on Monday against the Jacksonville Jaguars will create a three-way tie atop the division, leaving the distinct sense that the Chargers squandered their promising start.

Texas and Penn State auditioned for the starring roles in college football’s flop fest.
Don’t forget about Clemson in flop fest, but at least Tigers beat North Carolina.
Bill Belichick’s buyout, you ask? More than $20 million.

Texas and Penn State auditioned in Week 6 for the starring roles in college football’s fraud fest.

No more can we say UCLA is the worst Power Four team, not after its stunning takedown of Penn State. Who’s here for the Nico Iamaleava redemption story? Texas coach Steve Sarkisian needs to evaluate his starting quarterback situation after another bad showing from Arch Manning.

Oh, the drama!

No. 1 Ohio State avoids drama, at least. The most intrigue in a Buckeyes game is whether the opponent will cross the goal line.

Here are some questions left on my mind after an eventful Week 6:

Which team is college football’s biggest flop?

∎ Top flop: Clemson. When Clemson’s shining moment is a decisive win against hapless North Carolina, that’s a sign of how bad it got for the Tigers in September. Billed as a national championship contender in August, Clemson faceplanted in three losses that now have it earmarked for an also-ran bowl. Preseason rank: No. 6. Current rank: Unranked.

∎ Runner-up: Texas. It’s not just that Arch Manning was grossly overhyped. This whole team got blown out of proportion in the preseason. Manning’s a bust, but he’s also received little support. The offensive line is flimsy, the run game is insufficient and the defense isn’t nearly as fierce as its billing. Preseason rank: No. 1. Current rank: No. 19.

∎ Third: Penn State. Those thinking in August that James Franklin would produce a national championship and that Drew Allar was a Heisman contender must have been sipping some kind of Kool-Aid. Franklin and Allar have upheld their reputations for wilting in big games, but this loss to woebegone UCLA is a new wrinkle for misery. Preseason rank: No. 3. Current rank: No. 22.

∎ Fourth: Kansas State. Never travel to Ireland. Not if you’re a college football team. A year ago, Florida State lost in Ireland to open the season and never recovered. Now, it’s Kansas State, which lost a close one to Iowa State in Dublin, the first of four losses. A preseason Big 12 frontrunner, the Wildcats will struggle to reach a bowl game. Preseason rank: No. 20. Current rank: Unranked.

∎ Fifth: SMU. The Mustangs returned their star quarterback from a playoff team. That should have laid groundwork for another year of playoff contention, except SMU was actually an average team in 2024 that qualified for the playoff thanks to a weak schedule and some poor logic by the committee. SMU’s mask slipped in two September losses. More losses await. Preseason rank: No. 16. Current rank: Unranked.

Rounding out the top 10: Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Boise State.

What’s Bill Belichick’s buyout?

Belichick would be owed more than $20 million if North Carolina fires its coach after one season. That buyout affords Belichick some protection for a second season, but UNC cannot hope to recapture the energy that surrounded the program barely more than a month ago, when Tar Heels fans wanted to believe a six-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots would spur an uprising. He’s spawned embarrassment.

By the second half of a 38-10 loss to Clemson, Kenan Stadium looked emptier than a beach in a hurricane.

Spare me the excuse Belichick’s roster features more than 70 new players. Most new coaches nowadays undergo a significant roster overhaul, and the transfer portal allows opportunity for instant upgrade. In Curt Cignetti’s first season at Indiana, he infused a mass influx of transfers to turn a 3-9 program into an 11-win playoff qualifier.

When I watch UNC, I don’t see a squad that will improve greatly with another year of seasoning. I only see a bad team Belichick and his staff assembled.

Ohio State or Miami for No. 1 ranking?

There’s two ways to go about this.

If voting based purely off resumé, Miami should be No. 1. The Hurricanes look formidable and without weakness, and they own wins against Notre Dame, Florida, Florida State and South Florida, the last of which has a case for being the Group of Five’s best team. That’s an unmatched collection of wins. Miami dazzles on the eye test, too.

If voting based on sheer dominance, then Ohio State is the play. The Buckeyes have allowed two touchdowns all season. No opponent has reached 10 points against them. Quarterback Julian Sayin keeps getting better, and the Buckeyes’ wide receivers form one of those rare groups that’s even a notch better than Miami’s wideouts.

Ohio State doesn’t have Miami’s resumé. Its best win, in the season opener against Texas, lost luster after the Longhorns were subsequently revealed to be a fraud.

Not many nits to pick with the Buckeyes’ performance, though.

If I had a vote, I’d put Ohio State No. 1, followed by Miami, followed by whichever team wins Indiana-Oregon this weekend.

Is Billy Napier off the hot seat after Florida beat Texas?

Not by a long shot. Credit Napier for not turtling up and sticking his hand out for the buyout check. That’s never been his style. He saves his finest coaching for when his rump sits on a scalding hot seat. He outcoached Steve Sarkisian in a 29-21 victory at The Swamp.

Napier now owns wins against Sarkisian, Brian Kelly and Lane Kiffin within the past calendar year. The problem is, those aren’t his only games, and that loogie-logged loss to South Florida is a stain that won’t scrub away with one win against Texas.

Napier remains a sub-.500 coach in his fourth season, and the remaining schedule is daunting. He’ll need several more triumphs like this one against Texas to escape the heat, but allow the man a victory lap for throttling Texas. He earned that much.

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.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a sprained ankle in practice on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The team has listed Morant as ‘week-to-week’ with the injury.
Morant has a history of injuries, playing in only 59 games over the past two seasons.
His status for the regular season opener on Oct. 22 against the New Orleans Pelicans is uncertain.

The Memphis Grizzlies told reporters that Morant suffered a sprained ankle in practice on Sunday, Oct. 5, ahead of the team’s preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons on Monday. It’s another setback for the highlight-producing point guard, who has had trouble staying on the court since emerging as one of the league’s young stars three years ago. He was No. 25 in USA TODAY’s NBA player rankings for the 2025-26 season.

Morant, 26, played in just 59 games combined the past two seasons, missing all but nine games during the 2023-24 campaign because of a 25-game suspension handed out by the NBA and a season-ending shoulder injury. He missed 32 games last season due to a variety of ailments. Morant told reporters at the Grizzlies media day last week that one of his individual goals for the 2025-26 season was ‘to play 82’ games.

Morant’s status for the start of the regular season remains unclear, with the Grizzlies set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 22. He is out for the team’s preseason game Monday vs. the Pistons. Here’s what we know about Morant’s latest injury, including a timeline announced by the team:

Ja Morant injury update

A Memphis Grizzlies spokesperson told reporters on Monday, before Memphis played the Detroit Pistons in its 2025 NBA preseason opener, that Morant suffered a sprained left ankle in practice on Sunday. He is considered ‘week-to-week,’ the team said, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Ja Morant injury history

Injuries and durability concerns are nothing new for Morant. He missed at least two games in a row five different times during the 2024-25 season and did not finish the team’s first-round playoff series loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The list of injuries Morant dealt with last season, according to the Grizzlies injury report, included issues with his back, shoulder, knee, ankle, foot, hamstring and hip. He only played nine games after his suspension to start the 2023-24 season due to shoulder surgery after suffering a labral tear in a training session. That’s the only major injury of Morant’s NBA career.

Morant has, however, suffered several ankle sprains over his six seasons, including one in December 2020 in which he missed eight games. A knee injury against the Golden State Warriors kept Morant from completing the Grizzlies’ playoff run in 2022.

Ja Morant stats

7th season, 307 career games
Career: 22.6 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals
2024-25: 50 games, 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals
2020 NBA Rookie of the Year
2022 NBA Most Improved Player
2022 second team all-NBA
2-time All-Star

Penn State dropped to No. 45 following a 42-37 loss to previously winless UCLA.
Texas is now ranked No. 33, and Florida State sits at No. 35 after their respective defeats.
Virginia and Cincinnati made notable jumps in the rankings after significant wins.

You’ll have to keep scrolling down the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-136, past the top 10, the top 25, even the top 30, before bumping into preseason favorites Texas, Florida State and Penn State.

The former contenders turned two-loss disappointments are well off the pace set by the top teams in the Bowl Subdivision. The Longhorns and Nittany Lions in particular are miles away from lofty preseason expectations of returning to the College Football Playoff and winning the national championship.

Texas is down to No. 33 after losing 29-21 to Florida. The Longhorns managed just 52 rushing yards and were stung by two Arch Manning interceptions. Florida State drops to No. 35 after losing 28-22 to Miami.

Penn State plummets to No. 45 after falling behind 27-7 at halftime to previously winless UCLA and eventually losing 42-37. The Nittany Lions allowed 280 rushing yards and had no answer for Nico Iamaleava, who had one of the best games of his career with 294 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns.

Looking at the team’s overall résumé, Penn State has a competitive loss to Oregon, the horrendous loss to the Bruins and three totally meaningless wins against Nevada, Villanova and Florida International. And the Nittany Lions didn’t play well in those wins, either, making the No. 45 ranking an accurate reflection of what they’ve achieved and how they’ve looked through five games.

Penn State now comes in behind nine other Big Ten teams: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 7 Indiana, No. 14 Illinois, No. 20 Michigan, No. 26 Southern California, No. 28 Washington, No. 31 Nebraska and No. 40 Iowa.

In more positive news, No. 19 Virginia imrpoved16 spots after beating Louisville in overtime and No. 24 Cincinnati went up 18 spots after handing Iowa State its first loss. The 4-1 Bearcats are looking like one of the best teams in the Big 12.

College football NCAA Re-Rank 1-136

Can Duke repeat? Louisville and Clemson were the surprise teams last season. They won’t sneak up on anyone this season. Can Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels rebound from a down year? Can Will Wade bring his McNeese State magic to NC State?

We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover ACC schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards.

You can watch ACC media days on the ACC Network, starting 1 p.m., Tuesday and again at 9 a.m., Wednesday.

USA TODAY Network ACC basketball preseason poll

Duke
Louisville
NC State
North Carolina
Virginia
Miami
SMU
Notre Dame
Clemson
Syracuse
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
Florida State
Cal
Stanford
Boston College

2025-26 preseason All-ACC basketball team

FIRST TEAM

Darrion Williams, NC State, forward, Sr. (unanimous selection)
Cameron Boozer, Duke, forward, Fr. (unanimous selection)
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, guard, Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, guard, Fr.
Ryan Conwell, Louisville, guard, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Malik Reneau, Miami, forward, Sr.
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina, center, Jr.
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, forward, Fr.
Isaiah Evans, Duke, guard, So.
Seth Trimble, North Carolina, guard, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Clemson: Nick Davidson
Georgia Tech: Baye Ndongo
Louisville: Isaac McKneely, J’Vone Hadley
Miami: Tre Donaldson
NC State: Tre Holloman
SMU: Boopie Miller
Syracuse: Naithan George, JJ Starling
Virginia: Johann Grunloh, Malik Thomas
Virginia Tech: Neoklis Avdalas

ACC basketball preseason Player of the Year

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was named on 56% of the ballots, edging out NC State’s Darrion Williams. The 6-9 Boozer is the heir apparent to Cooper Flag and is a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

ACC basketball preseason Newcomer of the Year

NC State forward Darrion Williams was a runaway winner. The Texas Tech transfer was named on 78% of the ballots. Louisville newcomers Ryan Conwell (Xavier transfer) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State transfer) also received votes.

A first-team All-Big 12 pick, Williams was among the top players in the portal after averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Red Raiders last season. He showed up in the NCAA tournament, scoring 28 points in a second-round win over Drake and 23 against eventual national champion Florida in the Elite Eight. He’ll be key to Will Wade’s turnaround in Raleigh.

ACC basketball preseason Freshman of the Year

Duke forward Cameron Boozer got all but one vote (Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., got the other). Boozer, the son of former Duke star and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, joins Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils alongside twin brother Cayden. A three-level scorer, Boozer should hit the ground running in Durham.

Miami’s strong resume, including wins against Notre Dame and Florida State, has sparked debate about them being the No. 1 team.
Penn State’s playoff hopes are in jeopardy following a damaging loss to UCLA, making their path to a 10-2 record difficult.
Despite a loss to Florida, Texas may still have a chance to salvage its season with key upcoming games against Oklahoma and Georgia.

Week 6 in college football was pure gold for us here at Overreaction HQ, with fan bases and pundits all over the map experiencing peak elation, existential despair, and every emotion in between. Our job of course is to try and sort everything out.

We’ll go through the top five overreactions of the weekend, with the goal of providing enough perspective to get a feel for whether these kneejerk responses are justified or just one-week blips on a long season. So whether you’re feeling high in the sky or down in the dumps, take a deep breath, and let’s delve into what we’ve just witnessed.

Miami should be No. 1

We will concede that the Hurricanes at this moment have the best resume. Their conquest of the Sunshine State along with the opening-week triumph against Notre Dame has more collective value than the results for the teams ranked ahead of them in the US LBM Coaches Poll, as Ohio State and Oregon saw their best wins depreciate in value over the weekend (more on those teams below).

The Hurricanes need the teams they’ve beaten thus far to keep winning, however, as the rest of their schedule offers few opportunities for what might qualify as quality victories, while the Big Ten squads they’re pursuing and the SEC clubs chasing them have many chances to move the proverbial needle ahead of them.

But again, the polls are not considered by the playoff committee, and we’re still a month away from getting a glimpse into their process with the release of their initial rankings. In short, talking about who should be No. 1 is always fodder for debate, but it doesn’t mean much with over half the season to go.

Penn State is cooked

From what constitutes a good win, we now consider the opposite question of how damaging a bad loss is. In this space a week ago we laid out the path to recovery for the Nittany Lions after their much more forgivable loss to Oregon. But the UCLA result will be a constant anchor on their overall body of work, much in the way of a basketball bubble team with a Quad 4 loss on the eve of March Madness.

Trouble is, in football there are fewer datapoints available to overcome a stain on the resume. Mathematically speaking, Penn State can run the table and get to 10-2. That would require wins at Ohio State and home against Indiana, a tall order given the team’s well-documented track record against top-10 teams under James Franklin. There’s also the always treacherous trip to Iowa, and even a late home date with Nebraska could be iffy after what we saw from the Lions in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Just one more loss the rest of the way would put Penn State in a pool of other 9-3 at-large candidates, and it’s unlikely its resume would stack up well against those others with the UCLA defeat and a lack of notable out-of-conference achievements to bolster it. So yes, it’s probably not an overreaction to say that one was a season-killer.

Texas is cooked

The Longhorns would appear to be in similarly dire straits after their loss to Florida, in which Arch Manning had few answers and even the usually reliable defense couldn’t shut down the struggling Gators.

But Texas fans might have more reason for hope than Nittany Lions’ faithful. For one thing, it’s possible that Florida might have more wins in it going forward, which would mitigate the damage to the Longhorns’ body of work. We’ve also seen narratives turn on a dime in this sport from one week to the next. Should Texas find a way to topple Red River foe Oklahoma next week, the entire conversation changes.

With that said, however, the ‘Horns can probably afford no more than one more loss the rest of the way, and this team will need to show something we haven’t seen yet to convince us a strong enough finish is in the cards. . The remaining slate includes a trip to Georgia and a home finisher against Texas A&M, as well as a tricky date with Vanderbilt.

Top Ten Texas Tech?

With Iowa State falling from the ranks of the unbeaten at Cincinnati, Texas Tech now carries the banner as the highest-ranked squad from the Big 12, and as such the de facto league favorite. But are the Red Raiders actually a top-10 team? At this early juncture in the league campaign, about the only answer we have for that question is, maybe.

We’ll allow this much – at least the Red Raiders have looked the part. Texas Tech’s preconference schedule was about as tissue-soft as it could have been. But the Red Raiders handled their first two league assignments against then-undefeated opponents, both on the road, with similar start-to-finish dominance. Houston’s resume was also inflated, but Utah had begun the season by rolling UCLA, a result that is now not so easy to dismiss. In the end, we suppose, every poll position is earned, so Red Raider fans should enjoy the ride.

Finally ranked, Memphis is the American favorite

With the season near the midpoint, the likelihood is high that the fifth automatic playoff qualifier will come from the American Conference. But the race to determine that league’s champion is barely underway.

Memphis, the defending conference champ, is at present the lone league member in the Top 25. But the Tigers have plenty of company. Navy and North Texas also have unblemished records thus far, and South Florida and Tulane also picked up valuable wins against the so-called Power Four conferences in the first month. A true favorite in what should bea compelling race in the American is hard to identify until we start getting more head-to-head results, so stay tuned.

The last two Stanley Cup Finals have had a familiar look, with the Florida Panthers downing the Edmonton Oilers both times.

Are we looking at a third consecutive meeting and a three-peat for the Panthers?

USA TODAY Sports’ NHL panel doesn’t think so, with neither team chosen to make the Final.

Two have the Carolina Hurricanes reaching the Final for the first time since 2006 and two have the Colorado Avalanche coming out of the Western Conference.

One had the Panthers winning the Atlantic Division and the Oilers are represented in individual awards with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl winning the Hart Trophy.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ preseason predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season:

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The Florida Panthers enter the 2025-26 season with a chance at a rare NHL three-peat.

No NHL team has won three in a row since the New York Islanders won four in the early 1980s, and the Panthers are also looking for a fourth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

But their chances are complicated because captain Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk will miss considerable time with injuries. Both are recovering from surgery, Barkov after he was hurt in practice.

Of course, the Panthers remain among the elite teams, especially after general manager Bill Zito was able to re-sign his key free agents.

Here where the Panthers and the other 31 teams place in USA TODAY’s initial NHL power rankings for the 2025-26 season:

1. Dallas Stars

New coach Glen Gulutzan inherits a strong team in his second stint with the Stars, starting with a full season out of trade deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen.

2. Vegas Golden Knights

They addressed their need for more scoring from the wing by signing 100-point scorer Mitch Marner. But they’ll have to deal with an injury to defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.

3. Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have changed up the people surrounding Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but those two make Edmonton a contender for a third consecutive trip to the final.

4. Florida Panthers

The two-time defending champions have tremendous injuries. Barkov is gone for seven to nine months and Tkachuk is out until December. But they also have tremendous depth and a front office and coaching staff that will help them overcome.

5. Carolina Hurricanes

After two seasons of being unable to get trade acquisitions to stay, they added coveted free agent Nikolaj Ehlers. The defense also got younger.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

Always a threat to win the division, they’re aided as rival Toronto and Florida deal with key absences.

7. Winnipeg Jets

No goalie has won three consecutive Vezina trophies since Dominik Hasek in the 1990s. Connor Hellebuyck will try to join him and also is the reigning Hart Trophy winner.

8. Colorado Avalanche

Captain Gabriel Landeskog is back for a full season, adding to an already loaded roster that has Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and former MVP Nathan MacKinnon.

9. Washington Capitals

The Capitals have brought back key contributors from last season. Everything went right in the 2024-25 regular season, especially Alex Ovechkin’s goal record. Can coach of the year Spencer Carbery repeat the magic?

10. Toronto Maple Leafs

Coach Craig Berube faces the challenge of guiding a team without Marner. The Leafs’ bottom six is better, but a second consecutive division title might be out of reach.

11. New Jersey Devils

All is good with the Hughes brothers. Jack is healthy after last year’s surgery and Luke is averaging $9 million a year in a deal he signed during the preseaon.

12. Minnesota Wild

13. Los Angeles Kings

Their defense has taken a step back, but the team will be motivated to try to make a run in Anze Kopitar’s final season.

14. Ottawa Senators

They ended a seven-year playoff drought, and Brady Tkachuk and company have the tools to get back.

15. Utah Mammoth

A playoff appearance seems likely. JJ Peterka joins a talented forward group and they added Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Nate Schmidt.

16. St. Louis Blues

The Blues squeezed into the playoffs and nearly upset the No. 1 overall Jets. They’ll push for another berth.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets

They rode the memory of Johnny Gaudreau to within two points of a playoff berth. Better scoring depth and goalie Jet Greaves could get them there this season.

18. Vancouver Canucks

Goalie Thatcher Demko is healthy, Brock Boeser re-signed and Adam Foote was promoted to coach. They really need Elias Pettersson to return to elite status.

19. New York Rangers

Pretty much everything went wrong as the Rangers missed the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. New coach Mike Sullivan has his work cut out to get them back to the playoffs.

20. Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens made the playoffs and added Noah Dobson. They’ll be among many teams competing for a wild-card spot.

21. Calgary Flames

The Flames extended goalie Dustin Wolf, coach Ryan Huska and others after missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker. They’ll be in the mix again this season.

22. Anaheim Ducks

23. New York Islanders

The Islanders need better injury luck after Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair missed a combined 90 games last season. Dobson is gone but that creates an opportunity for No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer.

24. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres, trying to end a record 14-year playoff drought, are dealing with injuries. Not a good sign.

25. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are trying to end a long drought (nine years). They had a fine offseason but it doesn’t seem enough.

26. Boston Bruins

Goalie Jeremy Swayman will be better after not missing training camp this year and David Pastrnak is always dangerous. Does this team have enough depth after last season’s sell-off?

27. Philadelphia Flyers

The key additions are coach Rick Tocchet, forward Trevor Zegras and penalty killer Christian Dvorak, but the question, as usual, is whether they can keep the puck out of their net.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins

Longtime coach Sullivan is gone, replaced by Dan Muse. The Penguins’ core is skilled but aging and the team could end up shedding some secondary veterans, depending on how the season goes.

29. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken fired coach Dan Bylsma after one season and brought in Lane Lambert, who didn’t last two seasons as Islanders head coach. This team is still looking for an identity.

30. Nashville Predators

The Predators can’t be as disappointing as last season, right? After ‘winning’ the 2024 offseason, they finished with the third worst record. The 2025 offseason was low-key, and they’ll need plenty of bounce-back individual efforts.

31. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks loaded up with second-tier veterans to reach the cap floor but youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith hold the key.

32. Chicago Blackhawks