Advanced coverage grade uses machine learning to map the separation allowed on a play to the expected PFF coverage grade the player would have earned had they been targeted. This system also takes into account the difficulty of the assignment and the situation when making that assessment. Premium Content Sign Up PFF Advanced Coverage Grade: Ranking the best defenders in the NFL ahead of Week 9 By PFF.com Posted Oct 30, 2025 8:45 am EDT Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool. It’s never too early to start preparing for next season, and for PFF, that means looking at ways to improve PFF Premium Stats. Last season, we presented a metric called “Advanced Coverage Grade,” which adds even more context to PFF’s traditional coverage grade. What is Advanced Coverage Grade? Advanced coverage grade uses machine learning to map the separation allowed on a play to the expected PFF coverage grade the player would have earned had they been targeted. This system also takes into account the difficulty of the assignment and the situation when making that assessment. The variables considered for assignment and situation include play position, player assignment within coverage, overall coverage scheme, safety rotation, press coverage, route depth and play action. Going old school, this is a +/- grading system, though 0 doesn’t necessarily represent expected or average results.
PFF Advanced Coverage Grade: Ranking the best defenders in the NFL ahead of Week 9
Giants NFL trade rumors: Is 49ers WR Jauan Jennings a target?
Rumors regarding the 2025 NFL trade deadline are all the rage. It certainly helps that we’ve already seen a remarkably active trade market in the month leading up to the trade deadline on Tuesday, November 4th. There has been quite a bit of conversation around the New York Giants and a potential trade for a wide receiver. The Giants’ receiving corps was acceptable to start the year, with Malik Nabers as the WR1 and Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton rounding out their 11-personnel package. But it was thin, with an unproven Jalen Hyatt and then a collection of special teams players rounding out the depth chart. Ben Solak of ESPN has added San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings to the pile of potential targets for the Giants. Solak says: 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings. The Giants’ receiver room is built for speed and quickness, so adding a bruising force in Jennings makes sense in the short and long term. Dart likes throwing 50-50 balls but targeting Lil’Jordan Humphrey on such routes has taken the team only so far. Jennings would get volume and make a strong case for the big extension he’s seeking this offseason. — Solak Raptor’s thoughts Okay, first off… I’ll push back on the analysis that Dart “loves to throw up 50/50 balls”. Dart has been above league average in turnover worthy plays, despite also being among the league-leaders in Big Time Throws. Dart’s risky throws typically only come when he feels the need to try and will the offense to success. And another reliable target besides Robinson would limit the number of risky throws that Dart feels as though he needs to attempt. Okay, now some real talk: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Giants trade for Jennings. Not because of any scheme fit, price point, or anything like that… Nope, pure cynicism on my part. Jennings is on my Fantasy roster. So when I saw his name pop up as a potential target for the Giants I immediately assumed the deal would be made, probably after a good (but not overly productive) day against the Giants’ defense. Of course, I would also expect him to get hurt — again, he’s on my roster and that’s usually the kiss of death. Look, there’s a reason why I don’t write our Fantasy Advice pieces. All that aside, Jennings would probably be a solid addition for the Giants. He has good size at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, and plenty of experience in a sophisticated offense that demands good timing. He’s a smart and sophisticated route runner which allows him to play much faster than his 4.7-second 40 time. Jennings is the type of player who could be a primary target for the Giants this year, a good pair for Wan’Dale Robinson, and a dynamic partner for Malik Nabers for the next three to five years. Will it happen? Who knows. But it’s a (potentially) reasonable deal that could make sense. I’ll just make sure to drop him from my squad if there’s any heat to the smoke. See More: New York Giants rumors
Giants news, 10/30: Dexter Lawrence fires back at Carl Banks, Brian Burns, Tyrone Tracy, more headlines
Good morning, New York Giants fans! From Big Blue View Other Giant observations The historic obstacle standing in way of Brian Burns’ hardware dream | New York Post NFL sacks co-leader Brian Burns is bidding to win Defensive Player of the Year, which ‘would mean a lot.’ It won’t be easy. The last 18 winners have been from winning teams. Standing in his way? The Giants records and history of players on losing teams getting passed over. “The way you formed that question is true — sadly. At least I know I’ll have no regrets at the end of the season.” Tyrone Tracy on handling a bigger role Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Abdul Carter, New York Giants. Carter is in a tier of his own when it comes to rookie pass-rushing production through the first eight weeks of the season. The No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft leads all rookies in PFF pass-rush grade (76.4), total pressures (32) and win rate (13.5%). 2025 NFL midseason All-Rookie Team | CBSSports.com Quarterback: Jaxson Dart. The choice came down to Titans quarterback Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart. There are some intriguing moments with Ward, but then he has also made reckless decisions with the football. Neither quarterback has done enough to earn long-term confidence, but there is no question Dart has provided a spark to that offense and has shown improvement as a passer. He obviously brings a level of toughness to the field and is able to turn a broken-down play into chunk yardage with his legs. Edge rushers: Abdul Carter. Abdul Carter was the easy selection. He leads all rookies in pressures (32) and has produced more game-altering plays than any other. There is room for him to improve as a run defender, but Carter has shown an ability to win in a variety of ways. Jaxson Dart on Eli Manning’s son dressing as him for Halloween 2025 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 9 | Bleacher Report There’s no guarantee New York views pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux as a core contributor long-term. He was a first-round pick in 2022 and is under contract through 2026, but the Giants have also invested heavily in pass-rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. Is New York really about to give lucrative long-term deals to three edge-rushers when it has other needs on the roster? Probably not. We’re not pulling him off our board with a week to go, even if the price to acquire him is high. Potential Suitors: San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The complaints have continued through the middle of the week with the latest being that Baun was guilty of a hip-drop tackle on the play that ended Skattebo’s season midway through the second quarter. Google “Zack Baun hip-drop tackle” and you can take your pick of complaints and nasty comments about what Baun did. To be fair, some Giants fans did defend Baun. The “classic example” — if there is such a thing — typically takes place when a runner has the football and is either being chased from behind or on an angle like on the plays in this video. Baun’s tackle of Skattebo doesn’t come close to looking like any of these and it’s disturbing that some would suggest otherwise because it insinuates it was a cheap shot. This week’s opponent Kyle Shanahan on Brock Purdy’s toe injury: ‘It’s not as black and white as you guys want it to be’ | Niners Nation Kyle Shanahan said Purdy will take reps today. He wouldn’t say whether it’d be with the first or second team, but Purdy will practice in some capacity. Purdy needs to show the team that he’s confident and ready to suit up this Sunday: That he’s confident and ready to go, based off how his toe feels. He’s going to look that way most likely, when he’s out there. If he gets out there and he’s hobbling around and stuff, he won’t be out there. He’s got to go out there and go through the practices and stuff and really let us know how good he feels, because it’s hard to know what’s going on with the toe. They’re really iffy things. Last time, we felt like he was feeling pretty good in practice. And then in the game, one hit set him back five, or six weeks. Whatever this has been. Four weeks. So, it’s kind of a sensitive situation. Hopefully, getting some reps in practice will give him some confidence that it was better than last time. The Patriots agreed to trade defensive end Keion White to the 49ers, according to multiple reports. New England will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick for a 2026 seventh-rounder and White. White, a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2023, has played five games with one start. He has seen action on 123 defensive snaps and 43 on special teams. He was a healthy scratch on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have waived OL Drew Moss and signed DL Clelin Ferrell to the team’s practice squad. Ferrell (6-4, 265) was originally drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders as the fourth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his seven-year NFL career with the Raiders (2019-22), 49ers (2023), Washington Commanders (2024) and Los Angeles Chargers (2025), he has appeared in 90 games (57 starts) and registered 157 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 17.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Around the league Commanders WR Terry McLaurin re-injured quad, won’t play in Week 9 game vs. Seahawks | NFL.com Hot Schotts: Brian Schottenheimer is letting the Cowboys down in one major way | Blogging the Boys Jets will trade CB Michael Carter to Eagles for WR John Metchie | Pro Football Talk Saints turn to Tyler Shough as starting QB, Spencer Rattler moves to bench for New Orleans | CBSSports.com Broncos signing 41-year-old TE Marcedes Lewis to practice squad: Source | The Athletic BBV mailbag Have a Giants-related question? E-mail
Ravens-Dolphins Thursday Night Football Week 9 Preview: Odds, lines, best bets
Despite the Dolphins’ general struggles, Tua Tagovailoa has excelled against man coverage, setting the stage for him to go over his passing props. Ravens-Dolphins Thursday Night Football Week 9 Preview: Odds, lines, best bets By Mason Cameron Posted Oct 30, 2025 6:00 am EDT Available exclusively to PFF+ subscribers in the PFF app, the PFF Player Prop Tool harnesses the power of predictive analytics and matchup data to help you make smarter, faster and more confident picks. Download the PFF app now — available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) vs. Miami Dolphins [Total: 50.5] Game Overview The marquee storyline of this matchup is the health and status of quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP was expected back this past week against the Bears, with that spread settling around 6.5 points. Controversy ensued when Jackson was ultimately ruled out, raising questions about the validity of the Ravens’ injury reporting process. Markets quickly adjusted the line to -1.5, a mark Baltimore cleared handily. Jackson is again expected to make his return this week — a welcome boost for a team that has struggled to generate offense in his absence. With Jackson in the lineup, Baltimore’s offense ranks in the top 10 in EPA per play (0.068, 10th), successful play rate (37.2%, eighth) and touchdown drive rate (35.9%, second). Without him, the unit places in the bottom five in each metric. However, the question remains if Baltimore can cover as a heavy favorite on the road. While the Ravens have covered once at home this season as 12.5-point favorites, they hold an overall 2-3 record against the spread as a favorite, including two outright losses on the road. On the other sideline, the Dolphins are coming off an emphatic road win as seven-point underdogs in Atlanta. With that win, Miami moves to a 2-0 record against the spread as touchdown underdogs. The Dolphins now head back to Miami for a four-game homestand, where they hold a 2-1 against-the-spread record. While Miami’s offense has shown flashes this season, the team’s defensive inefficiency has created significant deficits. Before Week 8, the Dolphins ranked 32nd in EPA per play allowed. Against the Falcons, they showed massive improvements, allowing the fifth-best EPA per play mark in the NFL last week. Their success this week will hinge on tapping into that level of play again. Given the offensive potential of both teams, matched with some porous defensive play — both units rank at the bottom of the NFL in scoring drive rate allowed — there will likely be movement around the game total leading up to kickoff. As things stand, the percentage of bets on each side hovers around an even split, while the total percentage of the handle leans heavily toward the over. Explore Top Player Props QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: Over 1.5 passing TDs (+123) Click here to explore the PFF Player Prop Tool! Despite waves of criticism and open speculation about Mike McDaniel’s and Tua Tagovailoa’s futures, the Dolphins’ offense was clicking this past week. Tagovailoa tossed a season-best four touchdown passes, his fifth multi-touchdown game of the year. While Baltimore has made some improvements in coverage in recent outings, this unit has struggled mightily overall. The Ravens’ defense ranks 27th in passing touchdowns allowed, with nine scores coming in just their past four games. That could spell trouble, as Tagovailoa has thrown for eight touchdowns in his two career matchups against the Ravens. Click here to explore the PFF Player Prop Tool! Stylistically, this matchup frames as favorable for Tagovailoa’s passing overs. The Ravens run man coverage at the third-highest rate (39.9%) in the NFL, a coverage look against which Tagovailoa traditionally excels. His man-zone PFF passing grade splits emphasize that, with his 90.1 mark against man ranking third best in the NFL this season, highlighted by a seven-to-zero touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Dolphins’ quarterback also operates much more effectively from a clean pocket. His 74.0 PFF passing grade when left clean is nearly 30 points higher on the grading scale than his PFF passing grade when under pressure. The Ravens’ defense has struggled to rush the passer this season, ranking 29th in pressure rate (28.5%).
ESPN proposes trade ahead of deadline for since demoted young Colts QB
According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the Minnesota Vikings should trade for Indianapolis Colts since demoted starting quarterback Anthony Richardson just ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline: If there was anywhere for the former 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to resurrect his early career, Minnesota would arguably be at the top of any […] Vikings get: QB Anthony Richardson Sr., 2026 fifth-round pickColts get: 2026 third-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick (can become a conditional fifth “. . . What about Richardson, the fourth overall pick from 2023 who never panned out for the Colts? Richardson is currently on IR with a fractured orbital bone courtesy of a fluke pregame warmup injury featuring a wayward resistance band, and he has missed plenty of time in his career with injuries. He brings a similar availability concern to that of McCarthy, and the O’Connell offense — which has almost exclusively featured pocket passers — would need to be catered to his skill set. But O’Connell is, presumably, a Richardson believer. Remember his words to Richardson following a Week 9 game in Minnesota: The price (a third-round pick) might look big. But Trey Lance was moved for a fourth-round pick two years into his career, and Richardson has been better and played more at a similar career stage. Plus, there’s a fifth-rounder going back. I don’t think Richardson would walk in and immediately start (the Flacco, as we call it). But if McCarthy continues to struggle getting his ankle back to health, then Richardson would get a crack at the starting gig after a week or two of learning the offense. If McCarthy gets back in time, Richardson gives Minnesota another young dart throw at a position where it must hit on a cost-controlled player to keep the rest of the roster paid. I don’t know how bright of a future Richardson has in the league. If he is to find one, it’s hard to imagine a better place to rebound than in Minnesota under O’Connell. As evidenced by quarterbacks across the league, almost anything is possible in the right new home. If there was anywhere for the former 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to resurrect his early career, Minnesota would arguably be at the top of any list, as it’s recently seen two former first round castoffs, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, have career resurrections following their short stints with offensive minded head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings. The Vikings have been rumored to be interested in Richardson in the fairly recent past, as they were reportedly trying to trade up for him ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft with a major trade haul. That being said, Richardson recently suffered an orbital fracture during pre-game work in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals after a medical band malfunctioned at Lucas Oil Stadium. He’s currently on injured reserve, which would keep him out for Indianapolis until at least Week 12 (with the Colts having a BYE in Week 11). However, the latest reports are that Richardson’s return this season is uncertain following recent surgery—meaning he could miss even more time, perhaps even the remainder of his 3rd season after such a weird pre-game freak accident. The guy just can’t find great injury luck right now. To me, I have a hard time seeing a trade suitor acquiring Richardson in-season ahead of the league deadline, when he may not even be available to practice and/or play the rest of the 2025 campaign. From that perspective, an offseason deal would make a whole lot more sense. While the trade compensation here is fair given Richardson’s initial inconsistent performances, as well as lack of collective availability, being frequently oft-injured, he’s also only making $10.8M next season, which isn’t exorbitant at all for a solid backup QB with some starting experience and upside. Given that Jones hasn’t exactly been an NFL ironman throughout his 7-year career, and the Colts don’t have to rush to a decision on Richardson anytime soon—although one will be looming eventually on that 5th-year club option, which as of now, one would have to think Indianapolis would reasonably decline—or pick up, only to ship Richardson in an eventual deal elsewhere. Richardson still remains enigmatic for me. We’ve seen other former first rounders turn their careers around at a future stop, whether it’s been Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and now, even the Colts’ very own Daniel Jones. We’ve also seen some never live up to their high draft billing, even at their next NFL destination. Richardson showed some really promising flashes as a rookie during 2023 in his first four starts before being shut down with a shoulder injury, which would eventually require season-ending surgery. He largely struggled last season, particularly with his accuracy throwing, and there were some maturity issues (i.e., the in-game tap out), which led to a 2-game in season benching before being reinserted back into the Colts starting lineup. However, he made some strides down the season’s stretch, only to miss the team’s final 2 games because of further injury. Sometimes, one of the greatest abilities is availability, and so far, Richardson hasn’t shown nearly enough of it. If it’s not one thing, it’s seemingly another regarding a myriad of injuries he’s suffered so far. It’s interesting because between him and Jones, one could make the case that Richardson was arguably the stronger performer on the field during this past training camp and preseason, but it was all the little things outside the whistle (showing up early/staying late at W. 56th Street, practice habits, watching film, command of the offense, pre-snap recognition, etc.) that convinced embattled 3rd-year head coach Shane Steichen that Jones was surprisingly the guy going forward—which has so far, looked like a masterful stroke of genius. It doesn’t look great for Richardson that Jones mastered the Colts now, well-oiled offense in a matter of months since arriving this past offseason, while Richardson has been here for over 2 years, and his
Brock Bowers is at full health
The Las Vegas Raiders are, indeed, expecting to get the centerpiece of their offense back at full health for the first time since Week 1 Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wednesday, head coach Pete Carroll said star second-season tight end Brock Bowers is practicing at full speed and looks great. He was then […] The Las Vegas Raiders are, indeed, expecting to get the centerpiece of their offense back at full health for the first time since Week 1 Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wednesday, head coach Pete Carroll said star second-season tight end Brock Bowers is practicing at full speed and looks great. He was then a full participant in practice Wednesday. He missed the past three games. Bowers injured his knee late in Week 1, but played the next three weeks with a brace on his knee and he didn’t look to be himself. The knee brace has been removed. Bowers, who broke several NFL records as a rookie, has 19 catches for 225 yards on the season. Expect Bowers to be a focal point of the Raiders’ offense Sunday with him fully healthy. Top wide receiver Jakobi Meyers also practiced fully. He missed Week 7 with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Carroll said starting defensive tackle Adam Butler, who was hurt in pre-game warmups in Week 7, will try to practice Friday with an attempt to play Sunday. Carroll said there is a chance safety/special teamer Lonnie Johnson will be ready to make his debut Sunday. He has been out since early in training camp with a knee. Carroll said he is unsure when quarterback Aidan O’Connell will be ready to be removed from his 21-day practice window with a return from the injured reserve. O’Connell, who broke his worst in the final preseason game, will throw Wednesday. Carroll was non-committal on whether the Raiders will keep Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett and O’Connell all on the 53-man roster when O’Connell is ready to be active. Meanwhile, ESPN reported star defensive end Maxx Crosby was not practicing Wednesday. He didn’t play in the second half at Kansas City in Week 7 because of back and knee issues. He didn’t practice during the two bye-week workouts, either. But Carroll has indicated Crosby will be able to play along with Butler. Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao left the Chiefs’ game with an ankle injury, but he practiced fully Wednesday. So, the Raiders are getting healthy coming out of the bye week. See More:
Recapping the Bengals’ offensive performance against the Jets via All-22 film
The Cincinnati Bengals had a nightmare performance defensively against the New York Jets. However, that tape will be discussed in a different article. For now, let’s take a look at some of the offensive plays from the game on Sunday. Ja’Marr Chase put up another 12 catches for 91 yards. Tee Higgins added a 44-yard […] The Cincinnati Bengals had a nightmare performance defensively against the New York Jets. However, that tape will be discussed in a different article. For now, let’s take a look at some of the offensive plays from the game on Sunday. Ja’Marr Chase put up another 12 catches for 91 yards. Tee Higgins added a 44-yard touchdown. The real highlight of the day offensively, though, was the running game. Chase Brown had a couple of nice runs on the Bengals’ opening drive. Those runs help set up the first three points of the day for Cincinnati. Flacco scored the Bengals’ first touchdown of the game on that second series. It was set up by a tough run by Samaje Perine. The Bengals went up 10-0 early after the score. After the Jets cut the lead to 17-3 later in the game, Chase Brown was able to make a couple of huge plays to get the Bengals back in the end zone. He helped avoid disaster with the first one, on a broken flea-flicker play. Then, he was able to get open over the middle and fight his way in for the score after the reception. Even Joe Flacco was able to get in on the Bengals’ rushing performance. The Bengals finished the game with 181 total rushing yards, 13 of those coming on this scamper from Joey Jets. The defense started to struggle more and more in the second half. Before a complete meltdown, the offense was able to get the lead back up to 31-16 with a couple of good runs by Samaje Perine. Dylan Fairchild had a couple of terrific blocks to open those lanes. After the Jets were able to get the lead down to 31-24, the Bengals’ rushing attack once again moved them right down the field. Perine and Brown took turns making big plays to push the lead back up to 14. Perine finished the game with 9 carries, 94 yards, and a touchdown. Brown had 12 carries, 73 yards, and a rushing touchdown. He also put up 3 receptions for 32 yards and a score. What should have been a game to celebrate two great rushing performances turned into one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Bengals were unable to score again on their last two possessions. The Jets ultimately came back to win the game 39-38 and drop Cincinnati to 3-5 on the season. The last play of the game was the third ball that hit Andrei Iosivas in the hands on the day. He ended with zero receptions on those three passes. The Bengals will look to get to 4-5 on the season when they face the Chicago Bears on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. See More: Cincinnati Bengals Analysis
NFL Power Rankings Week 9 Roundup: Chiefs barely move after latest win
After weeks of climbing the power rankings, the Kansas City Chiefs experienced little movement after dealing the Washington Commanders a 28-7 loss on “Monday Night Football.” Many rankings held firm from Week 8 to Week 9, looking forward to making a stronger judgment after the very significant game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Here’s […] After weeks of climbing the power rankings, the Kansas City Chiefs experienced little movement after dealing the Washington Commanders a 28-7 loss on “Monday Night Football.” Many rankings held firm from Week 8 to Week 9, looking forward to making a stronger judgment after the very significant game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Here’s this week’s sampling: (Same ranking last week) After a funky start, with two Patrick Mahomes interceptions (one off Travis Kelce’s hands), the Chiefs began to flex on the Commanders. Mahomes hit three different players with TD passes on Kansas City’s first three possessions of the second half, finally putting Washington away. Mahomes took a few hits, but he and the Chiefs’ offense look to be in pretty great shape prior to this Sunday’s huge showdown in Buffalo, assuming Isiah Pacheco’s injury isn’t too serious. You can almost throw out the befores and afters when the Bills and Chiefs meet, but for what it’s worth, the Kansas City defense has hit a new tier since the Jaguars loss in Week 5, allowing 24 points total to the Lions, Raiders and Commanders. Washington moved the ball early, but K.C. got the key stops it needed. — Eric Edholm ESPN: 6 (Up from 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 The Athletic: 4 (Same ranking last week) The NFL’s hardest team to kill has now won five of its last six games. Patrick Mahomes was solid, and Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice both had big nights in the passing game on Monday. Kansas City has scored at least 28 points in each of its last three games, and over that stretch, the Chiefs lead the NFL in margin of victory at plus-65. — Josh Kendall Sports Illustrated: 1 (Same ranking last week) Is it strange that I am far more in awe of the 4–3 Chiefs than the 7–0 Chiefs at the same point last season? — Conor Orr Pro Football Talk: 8 (Same ranking last week) A fourth straight Super Bowl appearance suddenly seems a lot more plausible. — Mike Florio (Same ranking last week) They started slowly against the Commanders, but they got it going in the second half. Now comes a big one with the Bills. — Pete Prisco Yahoo! Sports: 1 (Same ranking last week) The Chiefs ran the ball pretty well in the second half Monday, which is one of the few missing pieces for them this season. They rushed for 148 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. If that is a sign of an awakening, the Chiefs get even tougher to beat. — Frank Schwab The Sporting News: 3 (Up from 4) The Chiefs are the current favorites to win Super Bowl 60 despite having three losses through Week 8 and just getting back above .500. Everyone can see Patrick Mahomes is a quarterback possessed and it’s not fair they still have a top defense, too. The Bills present a great next litmus test after walkovers vs. the Raiders and Commanders. — Vinnie Iyer (Same ranking last week) Rekindled TE Travis Kelce is a microcosm for a rekindled dynasty, one that’s won five of six heading into the teeth of its schedule − starting Sunday at Buffalo. — Nate Davis FOX Sports: 8 (Up from 8) A top-five defense. A top-five offense. Winners of three straight now and winners of five of their past six. A win in Buffalo next Sunday and they might end up real close to the top of this list. — Ralph Vacchiano See More:
5 Rams predictions for the second half of the season
The Los Angeles Rams finished the first half of their schedule with a 5-2 record. Following the bye week, the Rams will enter the second half of their season, which will be much more difficult than the first half. The real season starts on Sunday as the Rams play five of their six division games […] The Los Angeles Rams finished the first half of their schedule with a 5-2 record. Following the bye week, the Rams will enter the second half of their season, which will be much more difficult than the first half. The real season starts on Sunday as the Rams play five of their six division games over the next 10 weeks. This is a team that will have a lot to prove over the next two months. They will need to show that they are true contenders in the NFC. Here are five predictions for the second half of the season. 1. Rams defense will finish inside the top-10 This almost didn’t seem possible heading into the season, with many predicting that the Rams defense would finish inside the bottom-10 or below average at best. Before the season, I did a ‘half-baked’ takes piece in which I wrote about things that I sort of believed and were at least within the realm of possibility. In that piece, I said that the Rams defense would finish closer to the top-10 than the bottom-10. Well, here we are eight weeks into the NFL season and I’m going to solidify that prediction a little more. This Rams defense is going to finish the season inside the top-10. As it stands, the Rams defense ranks second in the NFL in EPA per play behind only the Houston Texans. They are also second in defense DVOA behind the Detroit Lions. This Rams defense has been outstanding this year. While they will have some more difficult opponents in the second half of the year, this is a group that knows what its identity is and they should be able to continue building on that as the season progresses. There may be a drop-off, but they shouldn’t fall outside the top-10. Matthew Stafford is currently tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes with Patrick Mahomes. However, Mahomes has played one more game than Stafford. Nearly one-third of Stafford’s passing touchdowns have come in one game. With that said, he’s also thrown multiple touchdown passes in five out of seven games this season. Removing the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Stafford is still averaging two touchdown passes per game with a touchdown rate of 5.6 percent. Even if Stafford sees some regression over the next 10 games, 20 touchdown passes is still possible, and he could eclipse that. Again, the schedule for the Rams does get more difficult, but the Rams play pass defenses ranked 27th, 26th, and 20th over the second half of the season. They also play defenses that have allowed the 6th, 12th, 15th, and 16th-most touchdown passes per game. Stafford seemed to find some chemistry with Davante Adams in the red zone before the bye week which will only help both of their touchdown numbers. 3. Rams will have top-2 seed in the NFC If the playoffs were to start this week, the Rams would be the sixth seed in the NFC and have to travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers. However, over the second half of the season, the Rams are going to have an opportunity to work their way up the standings. They’ve currently only played two conference opponents and one division game. Over the next 10 weeks, all 10 are NFC opponents, and five of those are division games. One of those games is against the aforementioned Buccaneers in addition to the Detroit Lions. The Rams will also play the Seattle Seahawks twice. Matthew Stafford has never lost to the Seahawks since arriving in Los Angeles. It is certainly within the realm of possibility that the Rams finish 13-4. Earning a top-two seed won’t be easy, but if the Rams can win four of their final five division games and then lose one other conference game that isn’t the Buccaneers or Lions, they can do it. That would put the Rams at home until at least the NFC Championship game. 4. Jared Verse will finish top-3 in DPOY conversation As it stands, Jared Verse is sixth in Defensive Player of the Year odds at +1800 behind Will Anderson, Nik Bonitto, Aidan Hutchinson, Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons. Given the Browns’ struggles, it’s unlikely that Garrett will receive serious consideration. The Houston Texans have also been mildly disappointing this season. Verse may have started the season slow, but he has a sack in four of his last five games. He leads all edge rushers in run-stop win-rate in 2025. Since Week 3, he’s tied for fifth in total pressures and is ninth in win-rate. When it comes to impact plays, he’s second in forced fumbles among edge rushers behind Hutchinson. As Verse is healthy and the Rams play eight teams in the bottom half of the league in pass-blocking, it should allow him to have a second-half surge. Hutchinson or Parsons may win the award, but Verse will be in the conversation. 5. Terrance Ferguson will surpass Gerald Everett’s rookie numbers Coming out of the bye week, Terrance Ferguson has two receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Over the first seven games of the season, Ferguson had been inactive for two of them and played less than 10 percent of the offensive snaps in two others. However, this was all likely part of the development plan. Ferguson’s snap count has gone up in each of the last two games. He played a season-high 48.6 percent of the offensive snaps against the Ravens in Week 7. With Tutu Atwell out, it’s going to open up more opportunities and Ferguson has the ability to unlock the vertical passing game. To surpass Gerald Everett’s rookie
Bengals vs. Jets Week 8: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and suffered a heart-breaker, 39-38. The result was one of the more maddening losses of the season, and in recent memory, for Cincinnati. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad and yes — the ugly. […] On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the New York Jets at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati and suffered a heart-breaker, 39-38. The result was one of the more maddening losses of the season, and in recent memory, for Cincinnati. Here’s a full breakdown of the good, the bad and yes — the ugly. The Good Offensive production still showed life Quarterback Joe Flacco completed 21 of 34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown, putting his total of eight (seven passing, one rushing) against zero turnovers in three starts with the team. He’s also posted passer ratings of 90.9, 108.6, and 100.5 the last three games. The Bengals moved the ball and accumulated 398 total net yards. This is a stark contrast from the pre-Flacco/post-Joe Burrow starts, as Cincinnati is showing signs of being a well-rounded offense under No. 16. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had 12 receptions for 91 yards — showing he’s still a weapon even in a chaotic game. His 54 targets over the past three weeks are the most ever for a receiver over that span and he’s responded with 38 catches for 346 yards and two scores. Running backs contributed: Samaje Perine rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown, and Chase Brown added 73 yards and a score. This type of balance has been craved for the Bengals for some time and that ability to control the clock—particularly in the second half—should have been the catalyst to a convincing victory. The Bengals jumped out to a strong start, taking a 10-0 first quarter lead and a 24-13 lead at halftime. All in all, the offense gave hope that this team can still move the ball and score, even when on their third starting quarterback this season. Touchdowns, not field goals Flacco’s two touchdown passes came relatively early — one to Tee Higgins (44 yards) and one to Chase Brown (19 yards) — helping build the lead. Flacco, Brown and Perine had touchdown runs as well on Sunday, showcasing the offense’s ability to finish drives and not having to settle for three points. That kind of execution should have given Cincinnati the platform for a win. The Bad Letting a manageable lead slip away Despite leading 31-16 entering the fourth quarter, the Bengals allowed the Jets to score 23 points in the final quarter and lost by one. This collapse was incredibly epic, especially considering that Cincinnati held a two-touchdown lead around the midway point in the fourth quarter. Time of possession: The Jets held the ball for 33:40 vs. the Bengals’ 26:20. That kind of edge often factors in late-game breakdowns. In short: you build a lead, but you must finish the game. The Bengals didn’t. Defensive collapse when it mattered most The Jets ran for 255 yards and executed key plays in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati’s defense still has massive issues on third downs—particularly when in third-and-long situations. The Bengals failed to create turnovers or big plays in the red zone late. According to some postgame quotes: “someone’s got to step up … create a turnover … win offensively explosive play … never happened for us.” The defense simply didn’t hold up when it mattered most. The Devil is in the Details Cincinnati was coming off of a feel-good win against their bitter rivals on primetime. Flacco was feeling comfortable (and did again against the Jets), the team was in the middle of three consecutive games at Paycor Stadium and enjoying a “mini-bye”. Yet, none of that seemed to matter, as Cincinnati suffered a hallmark loss. While it makes sense to target Chase so frequently, Tee Higgins had only two targets on the day. With Andrei Iosivas struggling to come down with the ball a couple of more times in traffic on Sunday, more looks to No. 5 would have made some sense. The Ugly Blowout on paper, razor-thin on result It’s one thing to lose a close game; it’s another to lead by 14-15 points in the fourth quarter and still lose. That magnifies every mistake. Some outlets are already calling this the worst loss of coach Zac Taylor’s era. Moral victory turned bitter For a team like the Jets to earn their first win of the year at Cincinnati? That stings. The Bengals became the scapegoat in a foundational win for Aaron Glenn and New York. The Jets’ running game, led by Breece Hall (133 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, plus an inexplicable passing touchdown) overshadowed any positivity the Bengals mustered on the day. When the winless team comes back and beats you on your home turf — that’s a major problem. Playoff implications and larger narrative Cincinnati fell to 3-5 with this loss. According to standings at the time, this drops them behind many AFC competitors. That’s really saying something, given the weak division and a conference that has been more mediocre than originally expected. The lack of defensive identity and late-game resilience raises deeper questions about this roster’s championship or even playoff viability. It’s ugly because it forces reflection: is this team built for big moments? The Fallout Injuries coming from this game may prove to be crucial for the next few weeks. Flacco reportedly suffered an AC Joint sprain on this throwing arm on his only hit by the Jets. Trey Hendrickson was came up gimpy once again midway through the game after missing the Thursday night matchup against the Steelers, so that’s another big injury to monitor. Sunday afternoon and Monday saw a flurry of frustration from those inside and out of the Paycor walls. Regarding the locker room, Chase was visibly
