Sports
Real Madrid enjoy statement Clasico win; Liverpool lose again; more
What a weekend! Europe’s top leagues again delivered a ton of things to talk about, with high drama in Spain, big results in England and controversy in Serie A.
To start, how about a Clasico that delivered on and off the field? Real Madrid took all three points with an impressive 2-1 win over Barcelona, though not every Madrid player was happy — Vinicius Jr. stormed off, visibly mad, following a second-half substitution — and the game ended in an on-pitch scuffle that saw several yellow and red cards dispensed after the final whistle.
In the Premier League, champions Liverpool endured a fourth straight defeat that not only put a big dent in their hopes of repeating, but laid bare what’s wrong with this team. Italy‘s duel of title contenders had a ton to unpack, too, as Napoli wrapped up a big win over Inter Milan even with a dubiously awarded penalty. (Napoli fans will be hoping Kevin de Bruyne isn’t seriously hurt, though, after the mercurial playmaker limped off before halftime.)
Elsewhere, there is much to discuss about Bayern Munich (who made it 13 wins from 13 games to open the season), Chelsea (who really miss Cole Palmer), Tottenham (who haven’t quite turned the corner despite beating Everton 3-0), Manchester United (who may well have turned the corner by beating Brentford), Paris Saint-Germain (who continue to manage minutes well) and much more.
It’s Monday morning, so what better time for Gab Marcotti’s musings? Let’s get into it.
A statement Clasico win for Real Madrid as Lamine Yamal vs. Vinícius offers spicy subtext
Sunday’s Clasico ended with police pitch-side averting a potential tag-team blockbuster: Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior on one side, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha on the other. It had shades of the nastier Jose Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola Clasico clashes, even though Real manager Xabi Alonso (who was a loyal Mourinho foot soldier back in those days) was quick to minimize matters at the end, calling it a “healthy rivalry.”
We’ll get to the off-pitch stuff; first the football. Real Madrid’s first-half display in the 2-1 win over Barcelona may well have been the best we’ve seen since Alonso’s arrival. He put his faith in Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, and they responded, big-time: They neutered Barca’s possession and maximized their own time with the ball. Thirty-six percent possession to generate an xG of 2.29 is an efficiency masterclass. The one slip-up was Fermín López‘s goal, entirely against the run of play following a rare mistake from Arda Güler.
– Reaction: Alonso, Real Madrid get statement Clasico win
– Vinicius tantrum distracts from victory: ‘It’s not about you‘
– Barca’s De Jong slams Carvajal for Yamal ‘scene’
Alonso got the work rate and intensity he wanted from his stars — even the maligned ones like Vini and Bellingham. If you want to nitpick, they slowed down more than they should have after the break, riding the performance of Éder Militão at the back, though if Kylian Mbappé had converted his second-half penalty, that wouldn’t really have been an issue, either. (And by the way, anyone who questions the decision to award it is clearly unfamiliar to how the handball rule has been enforced in Spain for the past couple of years.) But it’s still a Clasico, and breaking the streak of futility — after four consecutive defeats — was critical, not just for their confidence, but also for Alonso’s clout with the club.
How much of this result was down to Barcelona’s deficiencies? A lot.
1:35
Moreno: Real Madrid played their best 45 minutes under Alonso
Ale Moreno discusses Real Madrid’s performance against Barcelona that give Xabi Alonso his first El Clasico win in LaLiga.
Against a Real Madrid side playing with this level of intensity and physicality, you needed creativity coming from someone other than Pedri (who did his part, all told, and his upcoming suspension after the red card will sting). With Yamal clearly unfit (but still playing, and at some point you hope this doesn’t come back to haunt him since he’s still 18), it became very difficult for Dani Olmo and Raphinha (and Gavi, who gets forgotten too often) to break Real Madrid’s lines. Lopez is fantastic, but he’s not that sort of player, and neither is Marcus Rashford.
The lack of options on the bench — ending the game with Ronald Araújo as a pretend center forward (yes, Robert Lewandowski is also still sidelined) is not what anyone wants to see — serves a partial alibi on the day, but not on the season. As I’ve noted many times, this side was not well-constructed, and if you end up with Eric García and Pau Cubarsí struggling to execute Hansi Flick’s high line, it’s partly because you’ve chosen to put your resources elsewhere, namely in eye candy players you don’t need.
As for the discipline part, there’s only so much Flick can say since he was watching from up in the stands, having lost his composure and getting sent off in their last outing. But really it starts from the top. Sending an 18-year-old Yamal out on the eve of a Clasico to tell Ibai Llanos that Real Madrid “steal and then complain” is just irresponsible. That’s simply a lack of leadership from the higher echelons of the club, even if they believe it’s true.
I’m not saying you can’t ever say things like that, whether to gain a psychological edge or unsettle the opposition or simply air legitimate grievances. But there’s a way to do it, there’s a time to do it and there’s the right messenger to deliver it. It’s not a message a teenager should be delivering on the eve of the biggest game of the season, let alone one who isn’t fully fit and who is carrying far more weight on his shoulders than he should be.
1:37
Moreno: Yamal ran his mouth before El Clásico and didn’t perform
ESPN’s Alejandro Moreno believes Lamine Yamal’s El Clásico performance didn’t match his pre-match words.
It was inevitable that the proverbial chickens would come home to roost. Carvajal and Vini (not a guy immune from disciplinary issues himself, witness his reaction to being substituted) called him out, and it ended the way it did. Worst of all for Barca, if Alonso pushes the right psychological messages, this can be a rallying cry for unity in a dressing room that is packed with egos.
For Flick, on the other hand, it’s going to raise the question of whether Yamal needs to be dialed back. And the problem with doing that is that right now he needs him, even when he’s only half-fit.
Arne Slot is brutally honest as Liverpool lose four league games on the bounce
The headline is that after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Brentford, Liverpool have now lost four straight league games, which is as many as they lost on their way to the title last season. Slot is taking it on the chin — rather than, say, whining about the Cody Gakpo penalty that wasn’t given (though if he hadn’t thrown his hands in the air, it might have been) — saying there are “quite a few things” that aren’t going right at the moment, and adding there have been different things in different games during his team’s poor run.
On Saturday, he emphasized defensive shortcomings, and it was hard not to, when you concede the sort of goal like Brentford’s second. Mikkel Damsgaard hit a fine pass for Kevin Schade to chase and finish, but Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté looked like novices out there. Heck, for all the talk about Michael Kayode‘s ability to throw the ball really, really, really far, you’re still getting beat at the near post, which is really the only place the ball can go. (I’m not even going to try to explain away how Milos Kerkez defended Dango Ouattara’s finish.)
– Lindop: Liverpool’s good times seem so far away after another loss
– Carragher: Liverpool in ‘crisis mode’
– O’Hanlon: Should Liverpool be worried about Salah?
You can work on defensive solidity, and here, it’s pretty binary. There are no viable center backs other than Konate and Van Dijk; they’re part of the problem, and they need to flick a switch and become part of the solution. Van Dijk said they “need to look in the mirror,” and he’s right.
But if all Slot can really do is wait for his guys to sort themselves out in central defense, elsewhere there is plenty of scope for him to fix things. The middle of the park is unrecognizable, and Ryan Gravenberch‘s absence doesn’t help. Newcomers Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz haven’t yet lived up to the billing (or the fees), and while Mohamed Salah scored a peach of a goal in garbage time, this season he has shown only glimpses, while last year he was carrying the side offensively.
2:19
How can Arne Slot fix Liverpool’s Premier League form?
Gabriele Marcotti and Stewart Robson discuss how Arne Slot can turn around Liverpool’s bad form after another defeat in the Premier League.
Too many newcomers in one go? Sure. Slot said so himself, and I’ve been making the point all season: It’s going to take a while to make the pieces fit together. But in the meantime, you need to make things work and grind out points. The version of the 4-4-2 formation we saw in midweek against Eintracht Frankfurt may be worth wheeling out again. Not because Liverpool won 5-1 — Eintracht were terrible, as you’d expect from a side that had conceded 18 goals in five games going into it — but because it provided a certain balance.
Against Eintracht, Wirtz was on the right side off the ball, offering cover to the fullback and with enough autonomy to shade inside and create when in possession. The midfield duo offered cover to the back four, and with two guys up front, you can still press, though obviously the triggers and patterns are going to be different.
You can choose your front two from Salah (given the amount of defending he does wide, you may as well relieve him of those duties), Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Isak (with Sweden) and Ekitike (with Eintracht last season) both have experience in a front two. Changing things up at this stage of the season isn’t ideal because you don’t have the training time, but because of how the window went — and the injuries they’ve suffered — they haven’t had much time training the 4-2-3-1, either.
Coaches are always balancing short-term and long-term gains. You can keep building for the 4-2-3-1 you like and hope the chemistry will develop. But do it for too long, and you’ll be so far behind, you risk fighting for a Europa Conference League spot.
Inter can blame themselves, rather than the penalty call, for 3-1 defeat at Napoli
Let’s be clear. The penalty awarded to Kevin De Bruyne (which saw him pull a hamstring in the process of converting) after half an hour was absurd. Reportedly, the Italian referees association agrees, which is why referee Maurizio Mariani is likely to be suspended.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan‘s contact with Giovanni Di Lorenzo was initiated by the Napoli player, who then went down in the box. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene and the referee initially did not give it, but the linesman apparently signaled to the ref, who then decided to award it nearly 10 seconds later. There’s a lot wrong here — and not just the linesman’s interpretation, but the fact that Mariani allowed him to change his mind, possibly thinking the VAR could “fix” matters if he got it wrong. (Theoretically, he might have, but evidently he didn’t feel it met the “clear and obvious” criteria. A directive reportedly given to VAR officials to use a “high threshold” when getting involved probably didn’t help, either.)
The logical thing for the referee to do here given the situation was to ask for an on-field review — something he’s entitled to ask for, but that very rarely happens because it amounts to admitting you’re not sure. And refs don’t like to do that.
A bad call, however, doesn’t explain what happened to Inter, who started brightly and should have taken the lead via Lautaro Martínez, only to wilt after the penalty. Scott McTominay‘s long-range strike early in the second half only made things worse, and despite Hakan Calhanoglu pulling a goal back from the spot, they never got into the game, and André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa’s strike fixed the final score at 3-1.
Inter chief executive Beppe Marotta said the Napoli penalty changed the game. I much prefer the interpretation of his own coach, Cristian Chivu: “We can’t use it as an alibi and complain about the referee. We should look at ourselves.”
That’s what Inter lacked, along with decent defending from Francesco Acerbi and Manuel Akanji — the sort of determination to get punched in the face and fight back. You know, the kind of drive Napoli — who got spanked 6-2 by PSV in midweek — showed. Sure it’s easier to sit, defend and be solid after someone gifts you a penalty. But lest we forget, Napoli had David Neres up front as a makeshift forward, no Stanislav Lobotka in midfield and, after half an hour, no De Bruyne, either.
Inter are, by some distance, the best team in Serie A, but it’s Napoli who move to the top of the league table, alongside Roma. If Chivu’s crew are going to win it, they need to kick it up several notches.
Quick hits
0:46
Is 17-year-old Lennart Karl Bayern Munich’s next superstar?
Shaka Hislop reacts to Lennart Karl’s goal in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
10. Bayern Munich equal record with 13 straight wins: It was top vs. bottom in the Bundesliga, which means Bayern’s 3-0 win away at Borussia Moenchengladbach isn’t much of a surprise. The fact that they played with an extra man from the 19th minute onward, but didn’t actually score until Joshua Kimmich‘s strike nearly halfway through the second half, might raise some eyebrows. But this was the classic game in which one team parks the bus, especially after going a man down. Bayern’s xG before the goal was 2.41, and Gladbach’s only shot in the entire match was the Kevin Stöger penalty he sent against the post with 15 minutes to go.
That makes it 13 wins in all competitions for Bayern to start a season, matching the record for a Big Five club set by Milan back in 1992-93. And as I wrote last week, it’s remarkable when you consider what the mood was like at the close of the transfer window.
9. Defending and set pieces power Arsenal as they extend Premier League lead, and it could be key to winning a title: This isn’t a criticism, just a fact. They beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to another set piece strike (though, to be fair, Eberechi Eze still had a lot to do against his former club). At the same time, they limited Palace, who had scored in every game this season, to a single shot on target. They’ve conceded a league-best three goals this season (on an xG of 5.3, also a league best) and have scored a whopping 11 set-piece goals, while just five have come from open play.
What’s the upshot? Their top-notch defending keeps them in games and the set pieces allow them to score goals others might not. That translates into points even when they’re not playing particularly well, as was the case against Palace. Can they kick it up a notch? Probably, when Bukayo Saka gets back to his 2024-25 levels and when Martin Odegaard (and Kai Havertz) return to fitness. Until then, they will ride the back four and dead balls as far as they will take them.
0:59
Nicol: Arsenal have the consistency to win the Premier League
Steve Nicol analyses whether Arsenal are the favourites to win the Premier League after their victory over Palace to be top the table.
8. Paris Saint-Germain roll past Brest as Luis Enrique manages minutes: We should probably get used to more games like these. Brest parked the bus away to PSG (who ended the game with a whopping 75% possession) and it became a question of when, not if, Luis Enrique’s crew found a way. They did so twice, via Achraf Hakimi (the latter after more genius from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia), to virtually end proceedings in the first half, before Désiré Doué came on to add a third in garbage time. Whatever chances Brest may have thought they had were squandered when Romain Del Castillo slipped (a la John Terry in Moscow) and sent a penalty over the bar.
No injuries and a reshuffled squad (Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembélé, Doue and Nuno Mendes all started on the bench) allowed for plenty of rest. Luis Enrique couldn’t have asked for a better Saturday.
7. Newly promoted Sunderland beat Chelsea to fly high up the table, and the Blues still have a Cole Palmer problem: I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but Palmer dependency is a thing for Chelsea, especially in games like this. You take the lead early, at home, against a side that varies deep defending with coordinated pressing — and therefore should offer opportunities — and you really need to do better. But with Marc Guiu offering almost nothing (two touches in the opposition box in 76 minutes), João Pedro having an off day and Alejandro Garnacho disappearing after scoring early, there just wasn’t enough attacking oomph. Estêvão from the start might have helped, but let’s not forget, the kid is 18 years old and settling into a new league.
You can point to the defensive issues that led to Sunderland’s winner, but conceding in transition in injury time is always risky if you’re trying to get the three points. The bigger issue is at the attacking end. Palmer papers over cracks, and when he’s not there, the lack of chemistry shows. All that said, credit Sunderland and coach Regis Le Bris, who outcoached Enzo Maresca on Saturday (and would have done so even without Chemsdine Talbi‘s late winner). Third place in November is beyond their wildest expectations.
1:37
Michallik: Chelsea were chaotic in loss vs. Sunderland
Janusz Michallik reacts to Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Sunderland in the Premier League.
6. Don’t look now, but Borussia Dortmund could actually be finding some solidity: Yeah, I know, it’s still Borussia Dortmund, so pinch of salt and all that, but it’s legitimate to wonder if something is brewing here under Nico Kovac. Their 1-0 win over Koln on Saturday felt like the sort of game in which they would have lost points in past years. At home against a counterattacking opponent, they gave the ball away and nearly paid a hefty price even as the ball refused to go into the net at the other end until Maxi Beier’s injury-time goal. But there’s a resilience and, dare I say, a humility to this Dortmund side that wasn’t there before. The shot count after the 35th minute was 22-0 for BVB. They never lost belief. Felix Nmecha is finally playing to his talent. Kovac isn’t afraid to set up blue-collar style and leave the likes of Julian Brandt, Jobe Bellingham and Marcel Sabitzer on the bench. Let’s see whether it lasts.
5. Are we ready to say Manchester United have turned the corner (despite another late scare)? Sort of. First, the good news. It’s three league wins in a row, and that hadn’t happened since February 2024. Players know what they’re supposed to do: execute to the best of their ability and appear suited to the role (with the exception of Bruno Fernandes, who remains a square peg in a round hole — an extremely gifted square peg, mind you). And when Brighton clawed two goals back — one a free kick, the other a defensive error off a set piece — to make it 3-2, United didn’t lose their heads but instead added a fourth, which is also good.
On the flip side, this is still a reactive team that was more effective without the ball than with it. Matheus Cunha‘s opener was from outside the box, while their second, also from way out, benefited from a huge deflection. Four goals from an xG of 1.29 tells you things did go a little wacky, so baby steps for sure. But the direction of travel is promising, and they’re two points out of second place, which is not nothing.
1:38
Has Ruben Amorim proved the doubters wrong?
Gabriele Marcotti and Stewart Robson react to Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Brighton and debate if Ruben Amorim has proved the doubters wrong.
4. RB Leipzig‘s reset after last season’s embarrassment is coming along nicely: The 2024-25 season was a veritable nightmare for Leipzig and their energy drink owners. Seventh place — their worst league finish since you-know-who got involved 16 years ago and the money started pouring in — some hideous European performances and a manager change midseason. Rather than prolonging the pain, they blew up the team in the summer, moving on Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons, Loïs Openda, Lutsharel Geertruida, Arthur Vermeeren and even Yussuf Poulsen.
New-look Leipzig under new boss Ole Werner are a work in progress, but after the 6-0 road thumping of Augsburg, they’re up to second in the table. The playbook is the same — spend money on gifted kids and develop them — and it has been a slow burn (Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa are stepping up), but the lack of European football is a huge plus this season, and they may be Bayern’s biggest (only?) domestic challengers.
1:16
Why do Tottenham perform better away from home?
ESPN’s Steve Nicol believes Tottenham play with more pressure at home compared to playing away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
3. Spurs romp past Everton 3-0, but it shouldn’t paper over the cracks: Two Micky Van de Ven headers off set pieces sent Spurs on their way to a 3-0 win away to Everton (Pape Sarr added a third in garbage time), so naturally some folks are talking about Tottenham emulating Arsenal’s dead-ball prowess. (This is of course nonsense, given that Thomas Frank was big on set pieces at Brentford, too.) It’s an important win and their fourth in five league road games, but you’d hope Frank knows there’s plenty to work on still.
Guglielmo Vicario was once again Lanky Saint Vic, making two huge saves. Everton more than held their own, while Spurs once again looked limited in possession. Randal Kolo Muani doesn’t yet look like the answer up front, Xavi Simons was quiet again and Mohamed Kudus sometimes looks like a guy playing on his own. Between them, the trio combined for zero goals, one shot and three touches in the opposition box. Spurs have a long injury list, and Frank will be glad he has more options.
2. Juventus lose to under-strength Lazio, but piling on Igor Tudor is foolish: Nothing like overreaction driven by results rather than performances, eh? After three defeats in a row and eight games without a win, Tudor has failed to save his job, with news Monday morning that the club had fired him. It’s evident Juventus haven’t been good, and Tudor’s choices haven’t helped. Many wanted to see two forwards on the pitch, and we got that (Jonathan David and Dusan Vlahovic), but it came at the expense of Kenan Yildiz, which is hard to understand.
That said, they were coming off a narrow loss to Real Madrid, and they got none of the breaks against Lazio. They go a goal down after nine minutes to a deflected shot. Still, they create a bunch of chances (handily winning the xG battle) and, perhaps most importantly, should have had a penalty when Gila came down on Chico Conceicao’s foot at the hour mark. That’s the funny thing: Had they converted that penalty and not missed their sitters, they would have had three points and Tudor would be (relatively) safe.
1:12
Is Pep’s playing ‘philosophy’ the problem at Man City?
Steve Nicol discusses why Pep Guardiola’s playing tactics might be the problem at Manchester City after loosing to Aston Villa.
1. Not as simple as no Erling Haaland goal and no Manchester City points, but it’s not far off, either: After 13 games for club and country, Haaland failed to find the net and Manchester City lost away to Aston Villa. That much is hard to ignore, just as it’s hard to ignore that — precisely because Pep Guardiola was trying to address concerns his team was becoming somewhat one-dimensional — he mixed things up vs. Aston Villa. With Rodri unavailable, he tried Tijjani Reijnders, not really a defensive midfielder, in front of the back four in an effort to juice his team creatively.
It worked in terms of making City more varied — Haaland ended up with just four touches in the opposition box and three shots, two of them in the last 20 minutes — but on the day they were no more effective. Credit Villa manager Unai Emery, who on his day, can tie the opposition up in knots with the best of them. It’s not a tragedy, just dropped points. Guardiola does need to fix the issue (Haaland is not a machine, he just comes across as one sometimes) and with the creativity available to him, he will get there. It’s just a question of how quickly he does.
Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season was filled with dominant wins, as it featured the first Sunday slate with one or zero games decided by single digits since Dec. 20, 1970, per ESPN Research. That one matchup happened to be the Jets’ first victory of the season, in which they overcame a 14-point deficit with less than eight minutes remaining against the Bengals. Week 8 concluded with the Chiefs handling the Commanders on “Monday Night Football.”
How do all of these teams fit in our updated Power Rankings? We restacked the NFL heading into Week 9, which includes byes for four teams (Browns, Buccaneers, Eagles and Jets). In addition to the 1-32 rankings, our NFL Nation reporters picked the best offseason addition from each roster. They chose from 2025 draft picks, free agent signings, trade acquisitions or coach hirings. Who has made the most impact so far?
Let’s get into it with our No. 1 team, which is different from last week. Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluated how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Week 8 result: Beat the Titans 38-14
Week 8 ranking: 2
Best offseason addition: QB Daniel Jones
The one-year deal for Jones was characterized as competition for Anthony Richardson Sr. in the spring. In the end, it turned out to be so much more. Jones’ decision-making has helped the Colts become No. 1 in the NFL in yards per game (385.3), yards per play (6.5) and points per game (33.8). He is second behind the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott in QBR (79.3) and is completing a career-best 71.2% of his pass attempts. — Stephen Holder
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 1
Best offseason addition: RG Tate Ratledge
After losing Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow (retirement) and veteran guard Kevin Zeitler (signed with the Titans), the Lions drafted Ratledge in the second round to help navigate those offseason departures. He has started in all seven games at right guard next to All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell, and Detroit hasn’t missed a beat with the third-most points per game in the NFL (30.7). Detroit was forced to replace 40% of an offensive line that was on the field for the second-most points and touchdowns of any five-man unit in the NFL last season, per ESPN Research. — Eric Woodyard
Week 8 result: Beat the Giants 38-20
Week 8 ranking: 3
Best offseason addition: LB Jihaad Campbell
The first-round pick out of Alabama has been a contributor in Vic Fangio’s defense from the jump. Campbell has played 87% of the snaps with 45 tackles, eight QB pressures and an interception. His role shifted when Nakobe Dean recently returned from a knee injury, moving from starting inside linebacker to more of a hybrid edge player. That has come with a learning curve, but Campbell’s versatility is already proving valuable. — Tim McManus
Week 8 result: Beat the Panthers 40-9
Week 8 ranking: 6
Best offseason addition: DT Deone Walker
The fourth-round pick has turned into a valuable player for the Bills, especially given the injuries that have hit their defensive tackle position. Playing time for Walker and other defensive rookies isn’t a surprise, but he has started six games and played 51.7% of defensive plays. He is tied for the team high in tackles for loss (seven) with Ed Oliver and is third leaguewide in run stop rate (8.2%). Since Oliver is out indefinitely with a torn left biceps, the Bills will need Walker to continue stepping up. — Alaina Getzenberg
Week 8 result: Beat the Saints 23-3
Week 8 ranking: 4
Best offseason addition: WR Emeka Egbuka
The No. 19 pick has been slowed by a hamstring injury while playing when the team has been without its other top three receivers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan). But Egbuka’s 562 receiving yards are seventh most in the league, and all five of his touchdown grabs (tied for eighth most) came in the first five games. The rookie put together his best performance in Week 5 against the Seahawks, catching all seven of his targets for 163 yards and a touchdown. — Jenna Laine
Week 8 result: Beat the Commanders 28-7
Week 8 ranking: 7
Best offseason addition: LT Josh Simmons
Although Simmons has been away from the team since Oct. 12 because of a family situation, the first-round pick has shown he can be the Chiefs’ franchise left tackle for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In five games, Simmons was exceptional in pass protection, allowing the Chiefs’ offense to be functional. When he returns, he could develop into a Pro Bowler. A qualified second candidate is left tackle Jaylon Moore, a four-year veteran who has played well in Simmons’ absence. — Nate Taylor
Week 8 result: Beat the Steelers 35-25
Week 8 ranking: 8
Best offseason addition: DE Micah Parsons
Parsons has been everything the Packers had hoped for — and perhaps even more — when they traded away two first-round picks plus Kenny Clark before giving Parsons a $188 million contract. Parsons not only leads the NFL in pressures (33), he has helped free up Rashan Gary (who leads the Packers with 7.5 sacks) and bring an overall energy to the Packers’ defense. Green Bay ranks sixth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (289.4). — Rob Demovsky
1:19
Does the road to the Super Bowl go through the Packers?
Alex Smith, Adam Schefter and Rex Ryan discuss the Packers’ young roster and their chances of reaching the Super Bowl.
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 5
Best offseason addition: WR Davante Adams
The Rams retooled their receivers room this offseason, adding the veteran on a two-year, $46 million deal to pair with Puka Nacua. While Adams and quarterback Matthew Stafford have said building chemistry with a new teammate takes time, that growth showed up in the Rams’ last game before their bye. Against the Jaguars in Week 7, Adams had his most productive performance of the season with three touchdown catches in London. — Sarah Barshop
Week 8 result: Beat the Cowboys 44-24
Week 8 ranking: 11
Best offseason addition: RB J.K. Dobbins
After getting four touchdowns from rookies on Sunday, the long-term answer here could be different. But right now, fifth-year ball carrier Dobbins is third in the league at 79.3 rushing yards per game and second only to the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in runs of at least 10 yards. Dobbins is the first Broncos running back with two 100-yard rushing games in a season since Melvin Gordon had three in 2021. And with his reliability as a pass protector and a receiver, Dobbins has checked every box. — Jeff Legwold
Week 8 result: Beat the Browns 32-13
Week 8 ranking: 12
Best offseason addition: HC Mike Vrabel
When Vrabel was hired in January as the 16th head coach in franchise history, he said: “I want to galvanize our football team. I want to galvanize this building. I want to galvanize our fans.” Consider it all galvanized. The Patriots are off to their best start since 2019; Vrabel’s clear focus on team identity and goals have resonated throughout the organization. The Pats play with “effort and finish,” as Vrabel said, and are ahead of schedule on their first goal of competing for the AFC East title, as they hold a half-game lead over the Bills. — Mike Reiss
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 9
Best offseason addition: QB Sam Darnold
You could come up with a long list of home run additions that general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald made this past offseason, including offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and rookie left guard Grey Zabel. But when a team changes quarterbacks and gets the kind of play that Darnold has given Seattle, he’s the easy choice. Signed to a three-year, $100.5 million deal after the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Raiders, Darnold ranks sixth in Total QBR, and he’s showing that his brilliant season with the Vikings was no one-year wonder. — Brady Henderson
Week 8 result: Lost to the Texans 26-15
Week 8 ranking: 10
Best offseason addition: DC Robert Saleh
Take it from San Francisco tight end George Kittle, who has said all year that Saleh has been the Niners’ biggest addition. Through eight games, Saleh has had to earn every penny with a revamped defense that has lost star linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and end Nick Bosa (ACL) to season-ending injuries. It hasn’t been perfect, as there is still a lack of pass rush and interceptions, but Saleh’s defense is eighth best in points allowed (20.5). It would be no surprise if Saleh is again a strong candidate in the next head coaching cycle. — Nick Wagoner
Week 8 result: Lost to the Packers 35-25
Week 8 ranking: 13
Best offseason addition: QB Aaron Rodgers
Of all the uncharacteristic offseason acquisitions, Rodgers, perhaps the most controversial addition, has been the Steelers’ most reliable. At 41 years old and two years removed from an Achilles tear, it was unclear exactly what he had left in the tank. Rodgers, though, has been a steadying leader for the offense, and he has shown flashes of vintage moves by extending the play, breaking the pocket and firing deep balls downfield. But he isn’t a cure-all for the Steelers’ offense, which converted just 1-of-10 third-down opportunities against the Packers. — Brooke Pryor
2:19
Rex Ryan: Steelers’ defense got old
Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Adam Schefter discuss the Steelers’ struggling defense and how it could be detrimental to their season.
Week 8 result: Beat the Vikings 37-10
Week 8 ranking: 15
Best offseason addition: WR Keenan Allen
Allen is only technically an addition. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Chargers but was traded to Chicago for a fourth-round pick after a contract dispute prior to the 2024 season. He returned to the Bolts in early August, and he has been quarterback Justin Herbert‘s favorite target. Allen is first in the team in yards (479), receptions (48) and targets (70). He has earned the nickname “third-and-Keenan” from teammates, as he has the fifth-most first-down receptions in the NFL (31). — Kris Rhim
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 17
Best offseason addition: WR/CB Travis Hunter
He’s arguably the Jaguars’ best receiver and cornerback already. Coach Liam Coen also is making it a priority to call more plays where Hunter is the No. 1 option on offense. He leads the team with 28 catches and is coming off his first 100-yard game (eight catches, 101 yards and a score against the Rams). Hunter has three pass breakups in limited work on defense, including one on third down against Davante Adams. — Mike DiRocco
Week 8 result: Lost to the Ravens 30-16
Week 8 ranking: 14
Best offseason addition: HC Ben Johnson
The Bears are a competent, well-coached football team under Johnson. The results aren’t always there, as red zone efficiency and penalties continue to be a problem. But Chicago put together a four-game win streak, and it has buy-in that feels different than other seasons. Johnson has preached accountability, which he has demonstrated in his honest reflection on decisions and calls that didn’t work. That’s a breath of fresh air as the culture shifts inside Halas Hall. — Courtney Cronin
Week 8 result: Beat the 49ers 26-15
Week 8 ranking: 21
Best offseason addition: RB Woody Marks
The fourth-round pick has been a nice addition to the offense. Marks is boom or bust at times, but when he booms, he shows explosiveness and dynamic ability in the running and passing games. He has had three catches for over 20 yards this season. The rookie out of USC has been a nice complementary player to Nick Chubb, who is more of a bruiser on early downs. Marks leads the Texans in scrimmage yards with 379. — DJ Bien-Aime
Week 8 result: Lost to the Broncos 44-24
Week 8 ranking: 16
Best offseason addition: RB Javonte Williams
Nobody could have predicted Williams would be on pace for a 1,345-yard, 17-touchdown season when the Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal. Yet, here he is. Williams has shown the ability to break some long runs and pick up the dirty yards. How he holds up over the course of the season with the usage he has so far (on track for a career-high 264 carries) will be of interest. But if teams want to play their safeties deep to defend wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, then the Cowboys will continue to feed Williams. — Todd Archer
2:58
Stephen A. to Jerry Jones: ‘You’ve got to try something’ to fix the defense
Stephen A. Smith urges Jerry Jones to strengthen the Cowboys’ defense to go along with their strong offense.
Week 8 result: Lost to the Bills 40-9
Week 8 ranking: 18
Best offseason addition: RB Rico Dowdle
Over a two-game stretch when Chuba Hubbard was injured, Dowdle set a franchise record with 473 scrimmage yards and Carolina went 2-0. For the season, the former Cowboys running back has a team-leading 551 rushing yards to go with 121 receiving yards. While the Panthers are now splitting series between Hubbard and Dowdle, the latter clearly has made more impactful plays. — David Newton
Week 8 result: Lost to the Chiefs 28-7
Week 8 ranking: 19
Best offseason addition: LT Laremy Tunsil
Washington traded away four picks, including a 2025 third-rounder and a second-rounder in 2026, to Houston for Tunsil and a fourth-round pick. He has provided the Commanders with their best tackle play since Trent Williams in 2018. Tunsil is credited with allowing three sacks, though one of those came on a play that took 3.7 seconds. Regardless, he came at a premium cost, and he is worthy of an extension with one year left on his deal, even at age 31. “I would definitely want Laremy to be my bodyguard,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said after Week 1. That remains true two months later, though a hamstring injury suffered Monday will need to be monitored. — John Keim
Week 8 result: Lost to the Chargers 37-10
Week 8 ranking: 22
Best offseason addition: RB Jordan Mason
Acquired via trade from the 49ers, Mason has proved to be a powerful and resourceful runner. He is averaging 2.02 yards after contact per carry, part of the reason his first-down rate is 28.4%, which is 11th best in the NFL and by far the highest for a Vikings running back since coach Kevin O’Connell arrived in 2022. Mason’s four rushing touchdowns might seem modest, but they are only one short of what Aaron Jones Sr. produced in all of 2024. — Kevin Seifert
Week 8 result: Beat the Bears 30-16
Week 8 ranking: 26
Best offseason addition: K Tyler Loop
The Ravens took a risk by going with a sixth-round pick to replace Justin Tucker, the NFL’s most accurate kicker at the time when Baltimore cut him amid accusations of sexual misconduct. But Loop has exceeded expectations so far, making 12 of 13 field goals (92.3%). His only miss was from 55 yards. In comparison, Tucker was 12-of-15 (80%) in his first seven games last season, which ended up as the worst of his career. Loop has struggled at times on kickoffs, and he has missed an extra point, but he has been an upgrade over Tucker on field goals to this point. — Jamison Hensley
1:19
Schefter: NFL to investigate Lamar Jackson’s injury status
Adam Schefter tells Pat McAfee that the Ravens will likely face some punishment over the Lamar Jackon injury report issue.
Week 8 result: Lost to the Jets 39-38
Week 8 ranking: 23
Best offseason addition: TE Noah Fant
Fant was a late addition to the Bengals’ roster because of the injuries they were dealing with at the position. But he has been a valuable asset for their offense, especially given the injury to starting quarterback Joe Burrow. Fant has 23 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns. With Mike Gesicki on injured reserve (pectoral injury), Fant has become a very important player for Cincinnati. — Ben Baby
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 24
Best offseason addition: Edge Josh Sweat
Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett has a strong case. But since Arizona lost in both of his starts, Sweat becomes the best offseason acquisition. Sweat has made an instant impact on Arizona’s defense, which has kept the Cardinals in a number of games while the offense has struggled. He has five sacks, two forced fumbles and a batted pass. More importantly, Sweat is one of the focal points for opposing offensive coordinators to game-plan around, which opens the pass rush for everyone else. — Josh Weinfuss
Week 8 result: Beat the Falcons 34-10
Week 8 ranking: 30
Best offseason addition: CB Rasul Douglas
Douglas signed with the Dolphins just before the regular season and was thrust into a starting role after an injury to Storm Duck in Week 1. Now that he has had two months to digest Miami’s playbook, Douglas has stabilized the position for a defense that desperately needed it. He has been the Fins’ most targeted defensive back but has allowed only one touchdown this season — on a play in which Jets wideout Garrett Wilson had less than a yard of separation when the pass arrived. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Week 8 result: Lost to the Dolphins 34-10
Week 8 ranking: 20
Best offseason addition: S Xavier Watts
Watts has been such a good complement to Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III that Bates has said the rookie out of Notre Dame reminds him of a younger version of himself. Watts has two interceptions and four pass breakups. He was named an NFC Defensive Player of the Week in September. Watts has been a key figure for a Falcons defense that has allowed the second-fewest yards per game (275.6) in the league. So far, he has looked like a steal as a third-round pick. — Marc Raimondi
Week 8 result: Lost to the Patriots 32-13
Week 8 ranking: 25
Best offseason addition: DT Maliek Collins
The Browns signed Collins to a two-year, $20 million deal this offseason. The 30-year-old lineman has been a perfect fit, taking advantage of the one-on-one opportunities afforded him while star pass rusher Myles Garrett faces double-teams. Collins ranks 10th in the league in pass rush win rate at defensive tackle (12.4%), and his 3.5 sacks are second most on the Browns. He also has been a valuable mentor for young players such as No. 5 pick Mason Graham. — Daniel Oyefusi
Week 8 result: Lost to the Eagles 38-20
Week 8 ranking: 27
Best offseason addition: QB Jaxson Dart
The rookie quarterback has impressed despite being 2-3 as a starter. He has injected life into a listless Giants offense that had trouble scoring the previous two-plus seasons. It’s more than just Dart’s arm. Perhaps most impressive has been his ability to avoid sacks and use his legs. Dart joined Cam Newton this week as the only quarterbacks since 1950 to have a passing and rushing touchdown in four of their first five career starts, per ESPN Research. — Jordan Raanan
1:09
Rich Eisen: Cam Skattebo’s ankle injury is a bummer
Rich Eisen reacts to Giants running back Cam Skattebo’s season-ending ankle injury.
Week 8 result: Bye
Week 8 ranking: 29
Best offseason addition: CB Eric Stokes
Stokes, who signed a one-year deal with Las Vegas in the offseason, has been fairly solid as a starter. In 221 coverage snaps, Stokes has allowed 11 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets. He has given up a passer rating of 93.6 and a completion rate of 52.4%. “He’s just a steady player… Very athletic [and] smart,” Raiders defensive backs coach Joe Woods said. “He hasn’t made a lot of plays on the ball because there haven’t been a lot of opportunities coming his way. But at the same time, he hasn’t given up a lot of plays.” — Ryan McFadden
Week 8 result: Lost to the Buccaneers 23-3
Week 8 ranking: 28
Best offseason addition: S Jonas Sanker
The rookie third-round pick had to fill in almost immediately after Julian Blackmon suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Saints’ Week 1 loss to the Cardinals. Sanker has been a solid addition to a team that has struggled; he has registered one interception, one fumble recovery and 38 total tackles in seven starts. Sanker’s 27 solo tackles are the most by any rookie defensive back this season. — Katherine Terrell
Week 8 result: Beat the Bengals 39-38
Week 8 ranking: 32
Best offseason addition: RT Armand Membou
Drafted with the No. 7 pick, Membou assumed a starting role in OTAs, and he hasn’t looked back while playing every offensive snap. He is excelling as a run blocker, ranking seventh out of 63 qualified tackles in run block win rate. Membou has had some hiccups in pass protection (39th in pass block win rate), but he hasn’t looked out of place. He is a steady rookie with a high ceiling. — Rich Cimini
Week 8 result: Lost to the Colts 38-14
Week 8 ranking: 31
Best offseason addition: WR Chimere Dike
Dike has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Titans. The 2025 fourth-round pick leads the league in all-purpose yards, thanks in large part to an NFL-high 991 return yards. Without top receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring) for the past two weeks, Dike has led the team in receiving yards. His seven receptions for 93 yards against the Colts were both career highs. He and quarterback Cam Ward have spent increased time together in the film room to improve their chemistry. — Turron Davenport
Sports
Where does the Dodgers-Blue Jays Game 3 thriller rank in longest World Series games of all time
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just play a baseball game — they played a marathon.
The Dodgers walked off the Blue Jays 6-5 in 18 innings Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium in Game 3 of the World Series. The game lasted a whopping six hours and 39 minutes.
Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman crushed a home run in the bottom of the 18th inning to send the fans home happy.
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The Dodgers-Blue Jays thriller tied the record for the longest game in World Series history.
Dodgers fans are no strangers to long World Series games, as the game they tied was their own. The Dodgers and Boston Red Sox also played 18 innings in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series four games to one.
DODGERS’ FREDDIE FREEMAN HITS WALK-OFF HOME RUN FOR WORLD SERIES GAME 3 WIN IN 18-INNING CLASSIC
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates his walk-off home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the 18th inning in Game 3 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2025. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)
Country artist Brad Paisley, who is also a big Dodgers fan, sang the National Anthem prior to both Game 3 of the 2018 World Series and Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. Paisley sung the National Anthem prior to Game 2 of the 2017 World Series and Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, and both of those respective games went to extra-innings as well (11 and 10 innings).
Here is a list of the five longest World Series games in MLB history:
- 18 innings, 2018 World Series, Game 3, Dodgers beat the Red Sox 3-2
- 18 innings, 2025 World Series, Game 3, Dodgers beat the Blue Jays 6-5
- 14 innings, 2015 World Series, Game 1, Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets 5-4
- 14 innings, 2005 World Series, Game 3, Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 7-5
- 14 innings, 1916 World Series, Game 2, Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins (now the Dodgers) 2-1
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani celebrates his win against the Toronto Blue Jays during the 18th inning in Game 3 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2025. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)
The Dodgers and Blue Jays have a quick turnaround, as Game 4 is set for 8 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast exclusively on FOX.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The first time Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the ball to tight end Travis Kelce against the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the play resulted in a 1-yard loss. But on the next play, Mahomes put the ball in Kelce’s hands. The lone issue for the Chiefs was that the ball didn’t stay with Kelce, instead bouncing in the air and intercepted by linebacker Bobby Wagner.
From that moment on, Kelce put together a vintage performance, one that powered the Chiefs to a 28-7 victory. Kelce led the Chiefs with six receptions on eight targets for 99 yards for his best game of the season.
Kelce’s 10-yard touchdown late in the third quarter — which gave the Chiefs a 14-point lead — was also historic, as his 83rd career score tied former running back Priest Holmes for the most total touchdowns in Chiefs franchise history
The biggest highlight for Kansas City was when Kelce wasn’t Mahomes first, second or third passing option on a play-action snap early in the third quarter. Kelce leaked out after blocking for a wide-open 38-yard gain in which the tight end rumbled into the red zone.
Together, Mahomes and Kelce are just the third quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history to record 75 touchdowns, including the playoffs, joining Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (105) and Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (90).
Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:
Most surprising performance: Defensive end Mike Danna has struggled for much of this season, but the five-year veteran had a night to remember. Danna ended the Commanders’ opening drive with an interception, the first of his career after quarterback Marcus Mariota‘s pass bounced off the shoulder of receiver Deebo Samuel.
And just before the end of the third quarter, Danna collected his first sack of the season, a 10-yard loss on third down that pushed the Commanders out of field goal range.
Stat to know: Monday’s game was another example of the Chiefs proving to be the NFL’s best offense on fourth down. Twice against the Commanders, the Chiefs converted on fourth down, the latter occurring at a pivotal point early in the third quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Mahomes scrambled to extend the play before finding running back Kareem Hunt in the end zone for a touchdown. With Mahomes on the field this season, the Chiefs have converted on 14-of-16 attempts on fourth down (87.5%), the highest success rate of teams who have had 10 or more attempts.
Trend to watch: The Chiefs should have all of their projected defensive starters available for Sunday’s game against the Bills, and the group of linemen around pass rusher Chris Jones — defensive ends George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and Danna — are performing better than they did at the beginning of the season. — Nate Taylor
Next game: at Buffalo Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Commanders did what they could to beat the Chiefs. They moved the ball, at least in the first half, forced turnovers and were aggressive on fourth down.
It didn’t work.
Washington fell to 3-5 after Monday’s loss to Kansas City. A team that won 12 games last season is already fighting for its playoff life. Washington has upcoming home games against the Seattle Seahawks (5-2) and Detroit Lions (5-2).
Injuries have played a key role in the Commanders’ early stumbles. They played for a third game this season without quarterback Jayden Daniels, this time out because of a hamstring injury. They also lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a hamstring injury in the first half.
But Washington’s defense, which intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice in the first half, kept giving up big plays — often because of one player not adhering to his responsibility. It led to gains of 27, 31, 38 and 24 yards. It has been a seasonlong issue and shows no signs of abating.
After Washington outgained Kansas City 195-156 in the first half, it finished with only 260 for the game. The Chiefs took over in the second half leading to more misery and questions for Washington.
What to make of the QB performance: It’s hard to put all blame for this one on Marcus Mariota, who completed 21-of-30 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. He played with poise and kept his eyes downfield, allowing him to make plays on the move. But key drops, two interceptions and an inability to make plays on fourth down hurt.
Turning point: The first drive of the second half for each team was the difference. After Kansas City scored on its first possession for a 14-7 lead, Washington responded with returner Jaylin Lane muffing the kickoff and having to start from its own 2-yard line. Lane then dropped a pass on third down to kill the drive — and the Chiefs rolled.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The run game continues to struggle. Of Washington’s 60 yards rushing, Mariota led with 28. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished with only 25 yards on nine carries. Washington needs to revive the run game in a hurry. — John Keim
Next game: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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