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Welcome to Week 3, which features two matchups between 2-0 teams …

➤ On tap for Thursday night: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills — Hoo boy, this one could get ugly. Josh Allen and the Bills have scored 71 points through their first two games. The Dolphins’ milquetoast defense is allowing 33 points a game, and 13 of 15 offensive drives by opponents have resulted in points. The Bills have won 12 consecutive regular-season home games, the longest such streak in the NFL. Allen, meanwhile, is undefeated (7-0) in Thursday games.

➤ Game of the week: Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles — The Rams and Eagles are among 10 teams that have opened the season 2-0. In a legitimacy power rankings, the Eagles and Rams rank No. 3 and 5, respectively. Perhaps more notably, this is a rematch of last season’s NFC divisional playoff. And one might recall it was the Rams who gave the Eagles the tightest game in last season’s playoffs, with Philly hanging on for a 28-22 win en route to Super Bowl glory. Sean McVay will be coaching hurt in this one after suffering a torn plantar fascia during the Rams’ Week 2 win.

➤ Sneaky-good game of the week: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers — There’s a chance that Brock Purdy could be back for this matchup of 2-0 teams. Even so, the 49ers – who are without George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk – aren’t quite at full strength. That, however, does not diminish the importance of this early-season NFC West clash. With the Rams also at 2-0 entering Week 3, these are the type of divisional games that could have big ramifications down the line.

➤ Survivor Pool Game of the Week: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns — The ‘pick whoever is playing the Browns’ strategy worked great last week, so we’re sticking to it. Vibes currently are great for the Packers, whose first two wins came against 2024 playoff teams. The Browns, meanwhile, already seemingly are steamrolling toward a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. (Previous survivor pool picks — Week 1: Broncos ; Week 2: Ravens .)

If you’re still alive in USA TODAY Sports’ survivor pool, make sure to make your Week 3 pick!

TNF BETTING LOCK

Josh Allen +340 to score 2+ touchdowns*. The reigning NFL MVP already has one game with two rushing touchdowns this season, so why not another in what is expected to be a blowout against the Dolphins? (The Bills are 12.5-point favorites*.) With two offensive touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving combined) on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ Allen can become the fastest player to reach 300 career offensive touchdowns (including the postseason), surpassing Patrick Mahomes (126 to Mahomes’ 128 games).

*Odds per BetMGM (as of publication)

ONE BOLD PREDICTION

➤ Mike McDaniel is the first head coach to get fired. And it could happen after the Dolphins’ ‘Thursday Night Football’ game. It might seem a bit early for a head coach dismissal (Robert Salah was the first head coach fired in 2024, and it happened after Week 5), but the Dolphins’ 0-2 start has been brutal. No AFC team has allowed more points or has a worse point differential than Miami, which is less than ideal when you consider the eccentric McDaniel already was on the hot seat entering the season. A blowout defeat in front of a prime-time audience could be the final straw in Miami.

HOT READS

The best NFL reads from USA TODAY and our Sports Network:

While the top five of our updated NFL power rankings remained the same, one 2-0 team made a 15-spot advance.

There are 10 NFL teams off to a 2-0 start, but not all look like contenders. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranks those teams from most to least legitimate.

There are 10 NFL teams off to the dreaded 0-2 start, and nearly 88% of teams that have started that way since 1990 have missed postseason. (So, you’re telling me there’s a chance!) Nate Davis ranks the winless teams based on playoff viability.

The booming noise around the Dolphins’ abysmal start will only get louder with nationally televised matchups in the next two weeks, Safid Deen writes.

Patrick Mahomes leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards. Jarrett Bell writes that this is not a good thing.

With injuries hitting key NFL quarterbacks, how’s your backup situation? Nate Davis ranked them all.

Tom Brady made some waves Monday night when ESPN cameras showed the former NFL QB and current FOX analyst in the Raiders’ coaches’ box. Chris Bumbaca breaks down what we know about Brady’s involvement with the Raiders and how that affects his broadcasting, while Nancy Armour writes how Brady continues to cause the NFL headaches even a decade after Deflategate.

FANTASY ESSENTIALS

We’re just two weeks into the 2025 NFL season, but injuries already are starting to take a toll … especially at quarterback. As always, we’re here to help you navigate through the ups and downs of the fantasy football season.

Week 3 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Kickers | Defense/special teams

NFL DRAFT PROSPECT TO WATCH

 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (vs. Illinois, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock) — This is not your older brother’s Illinois-Indiana matchup between Big Ten cellar-dwellers. This is a No. 8 (Fighting Illini) vs. No. 17 (Hoosiers) showdown on national television with possible College Football Playoff ramifications. We’re going to keep close tabs on Indiana’s quarterback. Mendoza currently is one of four quarterbacks projected to be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, per Draft Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports Network. 

ON THIS DAY IN NFL HISTORY

On Sept. 18, 2016, an NFL game was played in Los Angeles for the first time since 1994. The game itself wasn’t all that memorable (a 9-3 win for the Rams over the Seattle Seahawks), and the Rams were embarking on a forgettable 4-12 campaign in which head coach Jeff Fisher would get fired.

Before returning to L.A. for the 2016 season, the Rams played 21 seasons in St. Louis (appearing in two Super Bowls and winning one) after 49 seasons in Los Angeles (counting the 15 years in Anaheim). The Rams – who have appeared in two more Super Bowls, winning one since returning to Los Angeles – played four seasons in the historic L.A. Memorial Coliseum before moving into SoFi Stadium in 2020.

If you enjoy reading 4th and Monday , encourage your football fan friends to subscribe . Follow the writer of this newsletter on social media @jimreineking and drop a line if you want to talk some football .

The Indiana Fever will face off against the Atlanta Dream in a Game 3 showdown in first round of the WNBA playoffs at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

Following an 80-68 loss in Game 1, the Fever bounced back with a resounding 77-60 victory in Game 2, their first playoff game at home since 2016. Kelsey Mitchell scored 19 points, and Aliyah Boston had 15 points and five rebounds as the Fever extended the series to a winner-take-all third game.

Te-Hina Paopao, coming off the bench, led the Dream in scoring with 11 points, while Rhyne Howard added 10 points. Allisha Gray, who struggled with foul trouble and faced tensions with fans in the front row, contributed nine points and seven rebounds in the defeat.

What time is Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream?

The Atlanta Dream host the Indiana Fever in the decisive Game 3 on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

How to watch Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream: TV, stream

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gateway Center Arena (College Park, Georgia)
TV channel: ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Dream vs. Fever schedule

Game 1: Dream 80, Fever 68
Game 2: Fever 77, Dream 60
Game 3: Fever at Dream, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)

Allisha Gray stats

Allisha Gray averaged career highs in points (18.4), rebounds (5.3) and assists (3.5) in 42 games (all starts) this season. She had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, three steals and one block in the Dream’s Game 1 win, but was held to nine points (4-of-16 FG, 1-of-4 3PT) in the Dream’s Game 2 loss.

Kelsey Mitchell stats

Kelsey Mitchell averaged 20.2 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 44 games (all starts) this season. Mitchell dropped a game-high 27 points, four assists and one rebounds in the Fever’s Game 1 loss. She followed up that performance with a game-high 19 points in Game 2, shooting 6-of-13 from the field including 4-of-8 from 3.

Aliyah Boston stats

Boston, the 2023 WNBA rookie of the year, averaged a career-high 15 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 44 games this season. She recorded eight points, 12 rebound and five assists in 34 minutes of work in the Fever’s Game 1 loss on Sunday.

Caitlin Clark injury timeline

May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. 
June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 winover the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, and had six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
Aug. 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Aug. 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
Aug. 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight. … She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.
Aug. 20: White confirmed that Clark has not returned to practice yet.
Aug. 24: Clark participated in a team shootaround and went through some non-contact drills with the second team, marking her first time practicing with the team since suffering a right groin injury on July 15.
Sept. 4: Clark shared a post on her official X account, stating that she will miss the rest of the regular season and any potential postseason action.

Sophie Cunningham injury timeline

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham suffered a season-ending MCL injury in her right knee in August 2025. She underwent surgery a week later and began her recovery and rehabilitation process in September 2025. Cunningham is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2026 WNBA season, which begins in May

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

*if necessary

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

On the heels of a their 17-game wining streak being snapped, the Las Vegas Aces are in danger of seeing their season end on a two-game losing streak.

The Seattle Storm thundered back from a 14-point second-half deficit in Game 2 on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to create a winner-take-all showdown Thursday night on the Aces’ home court.

Seattle held Aces star A’ja Wilson scoreless over the final seven minutes and guard Skylar Diggins hit the clutch jumper in the final seconds to clinch an 86-83 win over No. 2-seeded Las Vegas and flip the series on its ear.

‘We weren’t scared to play against them,’ said Diggins, who finished with a game-high 26 points. ‘In the first game, we played hesitant. I was proud of the way we responded tonight and we had a great home crowd on our back to feed off.’

What time is Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces?

The Las Vegas Aces host the Seattle Storm in the decisive Game 3 on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

How to watch Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces: TV, stream

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada)
TV channel: ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

For the third time in four seasons, Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson has been named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

But this time there is a twist. Wilson will share the award with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith, the WNBA announced Thursday.

Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from 72 sportswriters and broadcasters on the panel. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished in second place with nine votes, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was third with three votes and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was fourth with two votes.

Smith, in her seventh WNBA season, was a 2024 All-Defensive second-team selection. Smith helped Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), ranked third in both blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80) and tied for 10th in total steals (55).

Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3), total rebounds (407), defensive rebounds (316), and combined steals and blocks (156). She also ranked second in total blocks (92) and rebounds per game (10.2).

Smith and Wilson will each be awarded $5,150 and a trophy.

WNBA defensive player of the year voting

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces/Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Past WNBA defensive player of the year winners

2025: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces/Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
2024: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx 
2023: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces 
2022: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
2021: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx 
2020: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks 
2019: Natasha Howard, Seattle Storm 
2018: Alana Beard, Los Angeles Sparks 
2017: Alana Beard, Los Angeles Sparks 
2016: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
2015: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury 
2014: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
2013: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky 
2012: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 
2011: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky
2010: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 
2009: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 
2008: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks 
2007: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
2006: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 
2005: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
2004: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
2003: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 
2002: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 
2001: Debbie Black, Miami Sol
2000: Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets
1999: Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs
1998: Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty 
1997: Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty

Documents show that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and other executives funneled $118 million to a now-bankrupt company called Aspiration.
These payments, made between 2021 and 2023, were for investments and carbon credits.
The NBA has hired a New York-based law firm to lead an inquiry into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap.
The Clippers stated Ballmer was ‘duped’ on the investment and that the carbon credit purchases were part of a sustainability effort for the team’s new arena.

The Los Angeles Clippers said owner Steve Ballmer was “duped” in light of new reporting showing the team and its executives funneled a total of $118 million to a now-bankrupt ‘green’ financial services company called Aspiration that is the focus of the NBA’s investigation around Kawhi Leonard’s alleged “no-show” endorsement deal.

In an episode of his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast that published Thursday, Sept.18, investigative sports reporter Pablo Torre published previously unreported documents that showed the paper trail of the money being wired. The payments spanned from September 2021 through March 2023 and came in the form of investments and payments for carbon credits.

The purchase of carbon credits was actually something Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban brought up in a social media post on Friday, Sept, 12, when referencing the NBA investigation that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap through the alleged “no-show” endorsement deal with Leonard.

Essentially, because carbon offset purchases would infuse cash into the company at a very high margin, the appearance of a business expense would shield any potential impropriety the Clippers would be conducting.

“I bring this up because it would have been a lot easier and a lot safer, if he was trying to circumvent the CBA to just buy more carbon credits,” Cuban wrote in the post.

Torre published a document from Tuesday, June 14, 2022, with Clippers letterhead at the top. That document is confirmation of a payment made to Aspiration for $20.96 million ‘used to fund … carbon projects.’ The document is signed by the chief financial officer of the Clippers.

Torre asked a former senior executive in Aspiration’s finance department, who was interviewed using a voice modifier, about the payments in carbon offsets.

“Literally (Cuban) described one of the few ways that the Clippers and Ballmer got money into Aspiration,” the person said. “He literally described exactly what they did. So I think he’s completely correct that that would be one of the avenues to circumvent the cap.”

The NBA has contracted the New York-based law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz – which it has used in the past for other investigations – to lead the inquiry into the Clippers and Leonard.

“Steve and his family are focused on sustainability, which is why Intuit Dome was designed to be a carbon neutral building from its inception and to achieve LEED Zero status over time,” the Clippers said in a Thursday, Sept. 18 statement responding to the carbon offset purchases.

The team went on to say that its “development agreements for the arena included mandates to buy carbon credits,” but that the Clippers “went far beyond those requirements” and sought to buy carbon offsets from Aspiration.

“Some of those commitments were built into the sponsorship deal with Aspiration — totally separate of the investment in the company — and we made payments to Aspiration until the company was unable to fulfill their responsibilities,” the statement continues.

“This effort reflects Steve wanting to set a positive example and raise awareness of the growing and important role of voluntary carbon markets. Unfortunately, he was duped on the investment and on some parts of this agreement, as were many other investors and employees.”

Anyone taking the Rams to get a small measure of revenge as they return to Philadelphia?
One other game features a pair of 2-0 teams, this one between NFC West rivals.
Which one of our experts went 13-3 in Week 2?

What was arguably the premier game of the 2024 NFL playoffs is undoubtedly the best matchup of Week 3 of the 2025 season.

The Los Angeles Rams are headed back to Philadelphia, where they came oh so close to knocking off the eventual Super Bowl champions in the postseason divisional round in January. The Eagles pretty much steamrolled everyone else.

While the stakes won’t be nearly as high Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, one of these clubs will emerge with a 3-0 record and maintain an early heading to the NFC’s top playoff seed.

Elsewhere, the Arizona Cardinals visit the San Francisco 49ers in the only other game pitting 2-0 teams. On the flip side, the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs will try to notch their first victory of the season on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ when they’ll face the similarly winless New York Giants.

Week 3 culminates Monday in what could be a fun shootout between the Detroit Lions and Ravens in Baltimore.

Who gets the next batch of Ws? Our panel of USA TODAY Sports football experts weighs in:

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

NFL Week 3 picks, predictions odds

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions

DeMelo, who announced in May that she had been diagnosed with Graves disease and hyperthyroidism, was hospitalized Sunday after taking a seat on the pitch late in the first half during a game between Louisville and the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.

The 27-year-old, who featured for the U.S. women’s national team at the 2023 World Cup, appeared unresponsive as trainers and first responders provided oxygen and other treatment, eventually getting her to an ambulance via stretcher. With players and staff emotional as the situation unfolded, referee Jaclyn Metz did not resume the first half, opting instead to start halftime.

The NWSL would decide to halt the match shortly thereafter, with play eventually being resumed Tuesday evening. Seattle would go on to win 1-0.

‘In that particular situation, I got the phone call that Savannah [DeMelo] had a medical emergency and needed treatment,’ Berman told reporters on Thursday following a league board meeting. ‘Everyone who was there was pretty rattled and [I] immediately directed the team [at Lumen Field] to abandon the game…

‘We’re so thankful that both of those players are okay, and that — although it presented some challenges for us in operations and from a business perspective — those situations happened at a time when medical staff were there to respond and make sure that they were safe. So that’s most important.’

Berman added that while she is the first choice to make such a decision, ‘if for some reason I wasn’t reachable, there’s others internally at the league office’ empowered to do so.

Per Racing, DeMelo was ‘stable and alert’ at a Seattle-area hospital as of Sunday night. On Monday, the club posted a statement from DeMelo, who said she’s awaiting test results and is ‘excited to cheer on the girls this week.’

NWSL: DeMelo medical emergency second of 2025 season

The incident was the second significant medical emergency experienced by an NWSL player during a game this season. During a May match between Angel City FC and the Utah Royals, defender Savy King received chest compressions and was treated with a defibrillator on the field before eventually stabilizing at a Los Angeles hospital.

That game eventually continued, with Utah coach Jimmy Coenraets and USWNT star Trinity Rodman among those criticizing the decision. In the aftermath, the league would admit that play should have been suspended, and issued revised protocols on the handling of such incidents.

‘As it relates to this summer, no one wants to have experience practicing these policies,’ said Berman. ‘Having had the opportunity to play it out earlier this year, assess and learn the things that we could do better, and then actually have the chance to do it better the second time around, it was a moment that allowed us to show what we’re capable of.’

Berman added that the revisions to league protocols included a streamlined ‘decision-making tree’ and better lines of communication.

‘The obvious decision to not continue the game was a no-brainer, and did not require contemplation,’ explained the commissioner. ‘We at least now know exactly how to manage those situations… hopefully we’ll never have to [manage] them again.’