Sports
Seahawks overcome stubborn Texans, create three-way tie atop the NFC West
SEATTLE — Not everything was bad for Seattle sports fans on Monday night.
While the Mariners fell just short of their first-ever World Series appearance, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business at Lumen Field, beating the Houston Texans 27-19. The Seahawks’ defense held Houston to 254 yards and sacked C.J. Stroud three times, helping them overcome four turnovers. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a touchdown pass while running back Zach Charbonnet ran for two more scores.
Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:
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Moments before kickoff on Monday, the Seahawks had franchise legends Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas raised the ceremonial 12 flag at Lumen Field. And then their defense turned in a performance that would make the Legion of Boom proud.
The Seahawks harassed C.J. Stroud, sacking him three times, intercepting him once and holding the Texans’ quarterback to under a 50% completion rate (23-for-49). Their loaded pass rush and typically strong run defense were enough to keep Houston’s offense out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter despite Seattle again playing short-handed in the secondary, with Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love both inactive.
Seattle’s offense got another huge game from Smith-Njigba, who caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but it turned the ball over four times and converted only 2 of 14 times on third down.
This night belonged to the defense, whose dominance helped Seattle improve to 5-2 heading into the bye. The Seahawks are off the rest of the week, but they may not be idle with the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching and a potential trade chip in their back pocket in cornerback Riq Woolen, who isn’t part of their long-term plans. The Seahawks are expecting Witherspoon (and Love) back after the bye, which could give them more freedom to move Woolen and, depending on what they get in return, potentially improve what is already one of the best defenses in the NFL.
What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold has done an excellent job this season of avoiding sacks and negative plays in general, but he didn’t do that Monday night. With the Seahawks backed up near their own goal line in the third quarter, he tried to retreat in the end zone with the pocket collapsing in front of him, leading to a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr. that the Houston edge rusher recovered in the end zone. Darnold was sacked another time and threw an interception in the fourth quarter, making it an atypical performance for a quarterback who had entered this game ranked third in Total QBR. Darnold completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and another touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba.
Trend to watch: If it wasn’t clear already, it should be now: Uchenna Nwosu is back to his old self. His sack of Stroud in the first quarter was his sixth in as many games this season. The veteran edge rusher missed the opener while coming back from offseason knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus he suffered in last season’s finale — one of several injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons. All the time he’s missed forced the 28-year-old Nwosu to take a pay cut over the offseason to return to Seattle, creating plenty of uncertainty over his future with the Seahawks beyond 2025. But that’s becoming less of a question.
Stat to know: Smith-Njigba became the first player in Seahawks history with at least 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in three straight games, according to ESPN Research. That’s just one stat that illustrates the incredible start he’s had to the season — the kind of tear that is putting him in the conversation of the best receivers in football. He entered Monday night leading the NFL in receiving by a wide margin with 696 yards, and he extended that lead with another 123 yards against Houston. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, his 11-yard touchdown catch had a completion probability of 28%, the least likely scoring pass for the Seahawks so far this season. — Brady Henderson
Next game: at Washington Commanders (Sunday, Nov. 2, 8:20 p.m. ET)
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The Texans’ disappointing offensive showing Monday night was best symbolized by an anemic fourth-quarter, goal-line possession.
Down 27-12 with 5:21 remaining, Houston’s offense lined up on the Seahawks’ 3-yard line while dealing with a deafening, flag-waving Lumen Stadium crowd. And the Texans’ offense did nothing to silence them. The series of plays — a 2-yard run, an incompletion, another incompletion, a false start then yet another incompletion – equaled a turnover on downs and their best shot to come back to win a game in which they forced four Seahawks turnovers.
When the game was on the line, Houston folded. The evening featured another slog for the Houston offense, which could only generate 13 points and 254 total yards. Stroud was sacked three times, threw a touchdown pass and an interception while Houston’s run game was invisible, totaling only 56 yards. It was a disappointing showing coming off a bye, which followed a 44-point showing against the Ravens two weeks ago.
Biggest hole in the game plan: All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. versus Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, was a marquee matchup. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 123 yards along with a touchdown, with Stingley allowing 49 yards and the score. But Stingley never matched up against him in press coverage, his strong suit. Heading into Monday’s game, opponents only completed 36% of their passes against Stingley in press coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. And last season he allowed a passer rating of 14.0 when playing press, the best in the NFL. Maybe Stingley, who had a fourth-quarter interception, could have slowed Smith-Njigba down if he was allowed to play press coverage.
QB performance: Stroud didn’t pick up where he left off before the bye, when he threw four touchdown passes in a 44-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. This week Stroud passed for 229 yards and threw an interception while only leading his offensive group to 13 points. It wasn’t all his fault; there were multiple plays when there were free rushers, leading to a sack or throwaways. Even on Stroud’s interception there was a free rusher at his feet, leading to the errant throw. Overall, Stroud’s numbers weren’t good, but the pieces around him didn’t help enough.
Turning point: The Texans were trailing 20-12 late in the third quarter as their offense faced a third-and-1 at their own 41-yard line. Running back Woody Marks got stuffed for no gain. Then on fourth-and-1, they called a similar run play in which Marks got stuffed again, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to go up 27-12, which gave them enough of a cushion to win. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Sports
PCB decides to hold PSL matches at AJK’s Muzaffarabad stadium – SUCH TV
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to host the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Muzaffarabad cricket stadium.
The announcement was made by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the PSL roadshow held at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Naqvi said that PCB has initiated steps to hold PSL fixtures at the Muzaffarabad stadium. He said the board is committed to preparing the venue to the highest standards.
“We are going to develop the Muzaffarabad cricket stadium in the best possible way,” he stated.
Naqvi added that Muzaffarabad already offers necessary facilities for international players, including high-quality five-star hotels.
He further noted that the initiative is not limited to PSL matches alone. “Along with PSL fixtures, other international matches will also be hosted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
However, the PCB chairman did not specify how many PSL matches will be staged in Muzaffarabad.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five franchises, is set for further expansion with the addition of two new teams from its upcoming 11th edition, set to be played next year.
With the upcoming additions, the PSL will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, bringing the total number of franchises to eight.
Sports
How BYU built its roster to maximize the season of AJ Dybantsa
Shortly after AJ Dybantsa announced his commitment to BYU in December 2024, coach Kevin Young and the Cougars’ staff hit pause on their celebrations to answer the next question: How could they build around him?
The No. 1 prospect of the 2025 high school class and the program’s first five-star recruit since the ESPN recruiting database started in 2007 would be the Cougars’ foundational building block, but they needed to assemble a winning team.
“Everybody had a different point of view,” Justin Young, BYU’s director of recruiting and Kevin’s brother, told ESPN. “Do we need to have specific positions around him? Or specialists?”
BYU ultimately focused on retaining and recruiting players who could play off Dybantsa in a dynamic offense — clear the lane and create opportunities for the Cougars star but also take shots when needed — and ended up with a balanced mix of stars and role players. Now the Cougars are developing the chemistry they’ll need to make another deep NCAA tournament run a year after a trip to the Sweet 16. And all of it is an effort to maximize what’s expected to be the only season of Dybantsa, ESPN’s projected No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, in Provo.
“You can’t squander [a chance like this] at a place like BYU,” Justin Young said. “You just can’t. It’s malpractice. When you have the buy-in — like, AJ is trying to win [a title], that dude honestly believes it every day he wakes up — you have to capitalize.”
Here are the three steps the Cougars, who face Clemson at Tuesday’s Jimmy V Classic (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), have followed in pursuit of making the most of this season’s opportunity.
Step 1: Recruit an elite guard
BYU’s staff knew it needed a backcourt star to pair with Dybantsa and All-Big 12 returnee Richie Saunders. With Dallin Hall initially expected to return, the Cougars didn’t know whether they needed a combo guard who could play alongside Hall, or someone to run point when Hall wasn’t on the floor.
Six days after the Cougars lost to Alabama in the Sweet 16, though, Hall entered the transfer portal and their need became evident: Even with Young’s plans to put the ball in Dybantsa’s hands, they needed a pure point guard.
Five days after that, Baylor’s Robert Wright III also entered the portal — and immediately became BYU’s target.
“It was pretty clear that he was the best point guard in the portal,” Kevin Young said.
Wright was a top-25 recruit in the 2024 high school class who established himself as one of the most dynamic freshmen point guards in the country once he was inserted into the Bears’ lineup for the second half of last season. Young and his staff witnessed Wright’s impact when he went for 22 points and 6 assists against the Cougars this past January.
Justin Young had been monitoring Wright since he was the starting point guard at Montverde Academy (Florida) — a team that also starred 2025 NBA draft first-round picks Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Asa Newell and Liam McNeeley.
“That might be the best high school team I’ve ever seen,” Justin Young said. “And he [performed] every single game.”
The Cougars had found their star guard answer in Wright. Lost in the hype of his addition, though, was how equally important Saunders’ return was — he was one of the best players in the country down the stretch of last season, averaging 20.0 points on 44.8% shooting from 3 over the final 11 games.
“He’s one of the best closeout players in college,” Kevin Young said. “And in a quote unquote big three, he fits next to ball-dominant guys.”
With Saunders, Wright and Dybantsa, BYU’s perimeter core was set: Wright as the playmaker at point guard, Dybantsa on one wing as the do-everything offensive focal point and Saunders on the other getting open catch-and-shoot opportunities. On paper, the trio was as explosive as any in the country.
“It makes not only my life easier, but their lives easier too,” Dybantsa said last month. “It’s not all about points for us but it’s just about winning, and whoever gets off gets off and us being happy for each other. … We can space the floor, so it gets each other open shots.”
Step 2: Find role players to complement the big three
There are cautionary tales about programs that don’t typically recruit elite talent unexpectedly landing lottery prospects — and not maximizing the potential of the teams they lead.
Ben Simmons was the No. 1 recruit in 2015 when he committed to LSU, which also brought in five-star guard Antonio Blakeney. The Tigers didn’t make the NCAA tournament. Markelle Fultz was the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NBA draft after one season at Washington. The Huskies went 9-22 in his lone college campaign. And most recently, Rutgers recruited eventual 2025 NBA draft lottery picks Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. The Scarlet Knights stumbled to a 15-17 finish.
“The real moral of those stories is it’s not good enough to just go get one or two good players,” Kevin Young said. “One thing that gets really lost at every level is roster composition and team-building.”
Young knew this from first-hand experience. He worked with top-heavy rosters as an NBA assistant, most notably with the Phoenix Suns, who traded for Bradley Beal to form a big three with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in 2023. They lost in the first round of the playoffs before missing them altogether, with Beal and Durant both departing in 2025.
“Sometimes you get paralyzed by the talent, so it’s more about still trying to get everyone to play together and not get hung up on the status of the ‘big three,'” Kevin Young said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not winning.”
Kevin Young first looked internally to find the rest of what he hoped to be a winning roster. Keba Keita, one of the best defensive big men in the country who started 35 games last season, was slated to return. The Cougars also brought back Dawson Baker and Mihailo Bošković, as well as Khadim Mboup who redshirted last season.
“I don’t want to say [retention is] the secret sauce in this era of college basketball, but it’s a separator,” Kevin Young said.
Next was the transfer portal. The Cougars had the budget to spend on another star after securing Wright’s commitment — Yaxel Lendeborg and Darrion Williams were among the in-demand transfers BYU was linked to — but opted for depth after consulting Dybantsa and Saunders about the types of players with which they work best.
“We went to them and were like, ‘What players can we put around you to be successful? Help us think through this,'” Justin Young said. “The NBA does it all the time. Talk to your franchise guys, your max contract guys, what works well with you in your mind. … When you have four Tier 1, alpha-male college players, the ball doesn’t move around that much.”
BYU was focused on finding floor-spacers, guys who would be happy to take and make open shots with the opposition’s attention on Dybantsa, Wright and Saunders.
Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis Jr. was the best of the group. He was immediately penciled into the starting lineup as a 3-and-D piece after averaging 16.3 points for the Salukis last season. He has transitioned nicely into the complementary role BYU hoped he would fill while also proving he can step up when needed (see: his 18 points against Miami on Thanksgiving).
Washington transfer Dominique Diomande was a high-ceiling addition, the ideal bench option alongside SC Next 100 recruit Xavion Staton, who played at Utah Prep with Dybantsa. UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens and Idaho transfer Tyler Mrus, who had big games against the Cougars last season (Pickens with 18 points and Mrus with 17 points), gave the Cougars two more perimeter shooters.
Despite losing Pickens (ankle) and Baker (ACL tear) to injury since the start of the season — and missing Davis for three games (one due to injury and the other two due to suspension) — the results so far have netted BYU the nation’s fifth-best offensive rating with 124.7 points per 100 possessions as the final (and ongoing) step of the Cougars’ roster construction process is put to the test.
Step 3: Develop chemistry
BYU’s big three are living up to expectations from a numbers perspective: Dybantsa is averaging 19.4 points on 54.4% shooting, Wright is putting up 16.9 points and 6.3 assists, and Saunders is averaging 18.9 points and shooting 42.6% from 3.
How well they play off each other is still a work in progress — there were some signs of “my turn, your turn” early on — but it has improved over the first five weeks of the season. Their near-comeback from a 20-point deficit against UConn on Nov. 15 was a turning point.
“I definitely noticed a change,” Wright said. “It’s just us getting more comfortable and building chemistry with each other. We’re a new team, so we got to build chemistry faster than other teams. And in the tougher games, that’s when you learn something.”
The Cougars’ 98-70 win over Wisconsin a week later showed their true potential as the trio combined for 54 points, 16 assists and 8 3-pointers. The team finished 14 for 34 from 3 and had 18 assists on 31 made baskets.
“That game felt good,” Kevin Young said. “That’s what I told them after the game. That’s BYU basketball for 25-26. That’s what we want it to look like and feel like.”
After Tuesday’s game against Clemson, BYU returns to the Marriott Center for the first time in more than 30 days to host four straight games. That stretch leading up to the start of Big 12 play in January will give the Cougars a chance to figure out ways to make the offense flow even better, much like they did last season, when they finally hit their stride in the second half of conference play.
With the potential for this to be the only season that BYU is home to a potential No. 1 pick and multiple All-America candidates, the team is aware it has a short window to make the most of these efforts.
“When you have great talent, it’s a lot of responsibility to do everything you can … to make it work and not squander something that can be a really good thing,” Kevin Young said.
Sports
NFL fans clamor for Colin Kaepernick to get another chance as Colts’ quarterback situation spirals
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Colin Kaepernick has not played a down of football since the 2016 season with the San Francisco 49ers, but it didn’t stop some NFL fans from clamoring for his return to the gridiron.
Reports indicated Monday that Philip Rivers was going to work out for the Indianapolis Colts as the AFC South team’s season spirals out of control with all three of their quarterbacks hurt. Rivers played the 2020 season with the Colts and retired after that. He recently turned 44 and became a grandfather.
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Eli Harold #58, Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest on the sideline, during the anthem, prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on Oct. 16, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
NFL fans suggested on social media that the Colts should give Kaepernick a look despite the quarterback being out of the league for nearly 10 years.
He has still held out hope that he would get another NFL shot, and his girlfriend made it clear as recently as August.
“All day, every day,” Nessa Diab told TMZ Sports over the weekend. “Nothing’s changed.”
She added that “of course” he still wants to play.
“It’s all up to the teams if they’ll let him,” she said.
Kaepernick, 38, last suited up for the during the 2016 season when he created a firestorm protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. He was 17-of-22 for 215 yards and a touchdown in his last NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Since then, teams have not been interested in Kaepernick enough to bring him onto their roster – even in training camp.
CHARGERS’ JUSTIN HERBERT HAS AWKWARD INTERACTION WITH SIDELINE REPORTER AFTER OT WIN

Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Kaepernick has also built up his social activist platform through Know Your Rights Camp and Kaepernick Publishing. He has compared the NFL Draft to a slave auction, called for the abolition of law enforcement and suggested the NFL has not taken meaningful steps to address social injustices.
Late last year, he admitted to NPR that he misses football and was still training in case a team called.
“I will forever miss it,” he told the outlet at the time while promoting his new children’s book “We Are Free You & Me.” “And I continue to train for it.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want to be in a position where I look back and have to question whether or not I gave it my all to try to pursue that. I will make sure that the reason I’m not playing is not because of my work ethic or commitment, but because I was held out of it.”
Kaepernick told Sky Sports he still believed he could lead a team to a Super Bowl.
“We’re still training, still pushing,” he said. “So hopefully. We’ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up.
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“It’s something I’ve trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field, I think that would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. I think I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.”
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