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A recent (polarizing) World Series winner takes on the team no one thought had a chance to be here.

Let’s check out the odds for Astros-White Sox at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 30, as well as what to know.

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AL Wild Card: Astros vs. White Sox

  Series Winner

White Sox: -245 (bet $10 to win $14.08 total)
Astros: +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)

  Game 1 — CHW 6, HOU 3

Spread: Astros -1.5 (CHW covers)
Moneyline: Astros -123, White Sox +102 (CHW wins)
O/U: 8 (Over hits)

  Game 2 (Sept. 30)

Spread: Astros -1.5
Moneyline: Astros -147, White Sox +122
O/U: 7.5

Here’s what to know about the Astros-White Sox odds:

Season Series: Houston won five of the seven regular-season matchups against Chicago, including three of the last four. 

Game 1: Would you believe that, prior to this season, Chicago had at least 100 losses in each of the last three seasons? It had 102 last year, a modern-era record 121 in 2024, and 101 in 2023. It’s for that reason that absolutely no one came into this season thinking they had a chance to make the playoffs. But here they are, and they have a 1-0 lead on Houston in the wild-card round, after winning Game 1, 6-3. Chicago took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings behind a sacrifice fly from Munetaka Murakami and a 2-run single from Sam Antonacci. It essentially cruised from there, bolstered by a solo home run from Colson Montgomery in the top of the fourth. Game 2 is Wednesday in Houston. Sean Burke (CHW) will face Hunter Brown (HOU).

The White Sox last made the playoffs in 2021, and last won a playoff series in 2005, the same year they last won the World Series. As for the Astros, they finished 81-81 in the regular season, but it was still good enough to win the AL West. The Astros are the only team in the postseason that had a negative run differential in the regular season, having been outscored by 32 runs.

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The Cubs and Padres are no strangers to meeting in October.

For the second straight year, these two teams are facing off in the NL wild-card round, with Chicago looking to repeat last season’s postseason success against San Diego.

Can the Padres flip the script in 2026?

Let’s check out the odds for the series at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 30, as well as what to know.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

NL Wild Card: Padres vs. Cubs

   Series Winner

Padres: -450 (bet $10 to win $12.22 total)
Cubs: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)

   Game 1 — SD 9, CHI 0

Spread: Padres -1.5 (SD covers)
Moneyline: Padres -130, Cubs +108 (SD wins)
O/U: 7.5 (Over hits)

   Game 2 (Sept. 30)

Spread: Padres -1.5
Moneyline: Padres -137, Cubs +113
O/U: 7

Here’s what to know about the Padres-Cubs odds:

Season Series: During the regular season this year, the Cubs went 5-1 against the Padres in six games. Playing at Petco Park in late April, the Cubs took two of three games (losing 9-7 on April 27, then winning 8-3 on April 28 and 5-4 on April 29). The Cubs then completed a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field from June 29 to July 1, winning by scores of 3-2, 9-7, and a dominant 23-3 blowout in the finale.

Game 1: Things got ugly for the Cubs fast in Game 1. San Diego scored two in the first, one apiece in the third and fourth, and three in the fifth, before capping it off with one more run in the seventh. Michael King was lights out, allowing one hit in seven innings and striking out eight. The Padres’ superstar bats also came to play, as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado both hit solo jacks in the first inning to set the tone at Petco Park. 

Game 2 will go down Wednesday, as San Diego looks to make quick work of Chicago.

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The question has been an open one for weeks now: will Aaron Judge be on the Yankees’ postseason roster? For now, the answer appears to be no. Judge is not be on New York’s roster against the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series, as he is still recovering from a calf strain.

Judge suffered this latest injury barely a week into his return from a stress fracture in his ribs that sidelined him from June through Sept. 7. After returning on Sept. 8 against the Rockies, Judge played nearly every day for the Yankees – he skipped a rehab assignment in the minors to get back to the bigs as soon as possible, and uncharacteristically publicly voiced his displeasure with being removed from a game six innings in, as well.

As FOX Sports’ Deesha Thosar wrote, this quick ramp-up leading into a calf strain was a signal for the Yankees to stop letting Judge do what he wants when it comes to injuries. He played through the stress fracture at first, and by general manager Brian Cashman’s admission, possibly made it worse by doing so, then missed 85 games on top of that. And this is before possibly overdoing it in his return, leading to the latest injury – an event followed by Judge attempting to push his way on to the Wild Card Series roster, as well.

Yankees Related Stories

Even without Judge playing for most of 2026, the Yankees won the top wild-card in the AL, with a 93-68 record that stands as the second-best in the junior circuit this season. DH and first baseman Ben Rice ended up being the centerpiece of the offense in Judge’s absence, batting .264/.363/.534 with a team-best 41 homers and 146 OPS+ – Rice’s homer total was good for fourth in the American League.

The Yankees host the Red Sox for the three-game AL Wild Card Series beginning on Tuesday. Should New York advance, Judge could always be placed on the roster for the Division Series round, where the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays await the winner of this matchup.

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Brad Keselowski won’t return as a driver at the team he currently co-owns — a team that he potentially won’t co-own in the future.

Keselowski’s contract negotiations with the RFK Racing board — a somewhat expected formality considering his ownership stake — broke down and RFK Racing announced that it would part ways with Keselowski after this season. 

The 2012 Cup champion joined the team in 2022 when he became a co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing.

“I’m nowhere near ready to be done as a driver,” Keselowski said in a statement. “I still have a lot I want to accomplish in the sport, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”

Brad Keselowski not ready to call it quits but he’s out at RFK in 2027.

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Keselowski does not have a controlling interest in the team, and a statement from RFK indicated it would try to buy him out with the team being operated by Roush Industries and the Fenway Sports Group (the R and the F in RFK).

“RFK Racing and Keselowski intend to collaboratively and mutually work through the appropriate next steps regarding his existing ownership interest in the organization, and the team supports his desire to explore his career opportunities elsewhere,” the team said in its statement.

Whether the organization cuts to two cars (it currently has only two charters for next season) or replaces Keselowski in the No. 6 car is still to be determined. 

It is also possible the team runs a third car part time. 

The organization will have only two charters next year and had originally planned to operate one of the cars as an open car. The team statement said they will remain a three-car organization.

What’s next for Keselowski not that he’s out at the team he currently co-owns?

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“We have tremendous respect for Brad as a champion, competitor, and leader, and we are grateful for the energy and commitment he has brought to RFK,” team president Chip Bowers said in a statement.

“Brad has been clear about his desire to continue competing for years to come, and we respect and support him in pursuing the path that best allows him to achieve those goals.”

Keselowski has managed just one victory in his five seasons with the team. That victory came at Darlington in 2024. His teammates, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, both made The Chase this year. 

The 42-year-old Keselowski has 36 career wins with 34 of them coming during his tenure at Team Penske from 2010-2021.

He invested in RFK to have more of a say over competition decisions and more of a role in how the team operates. 

RFK has improved since Keselowski’s arrival, although Team Penske has, for the most part, been the top Ford team. 

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at RFK over the past five years and grateful for the people I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside,” Keselowski said.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Kyle Larson got his second win of The Chase. And even though he’s leading the pack in points, he’s not getting too comfortable.

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“Be better.”

That’s Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s message to quarterback Justin Herbert. 

​”Be better. Be better,” Harbaugh said when asked about Herbert’s “discernment” at his Monday press conference. “And that drives Justin, that drives me, that drives his position coach [Shane Day], that drives Mike [McDaniel], the coordinator. I mean, it drives us all.”

Herbert and the Chargers have dug themselves a hole. After losing at home to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, 26-14 apiece, the Chargers blew a 10-point first half lead on the road to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 and lost 24-16, falling to 0-3. Bills superstar quarterback Josh Allen threw two interceptions and finished with a mere 54.0 passer rating, which is the lowest mark of his career since posting a 53.3 passer rating in a Dec. 31, 2023 win over the New England Patriots.

What’s more, FOX Sports’ Tom Brady had a diabolical quote on Herbert’s fourth-quarter interception.

“There’s a safety in the middle of the field. Poor awareness, poor decision, throws him a meatball sub,” Brady said in reaction to Herbert’s pick.

As for Herbert, the two-time Pro Bowler has totaled 627 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, four interceptions and a 73.4 passer rating through three games, while completing 59.1% of his passes.

For context, Herbert averaged 3,798.5 passing yards, 24.5 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 97.9 passer rating per season over Harbaugh’s first two years in command (2024-25), while completing 66.1% of his passes. The Chargers posted back-to-back 11-win seasons but were later eliminated in the AFC wild-card round in both years.

In all, the Chargers are 29th in the NFL in points (14.7 per game), 20th in passing yards (195.7 per game) and total yards (308.7 per game) and 12th in rushing yards (113.0 per game).

Chargers Related Stories

If the Chargers ultimately right the ship, it will speak volumes, as their next six games come against the defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

“I use it as a source of making something right, making it right, making it good to really put it on myself. Where can I improve? What can I do? … My strategy has always been I got to get this better and improve this area or that area and the responsibility is for all three phases [offense, defense and special teams], the entire team,” Harbaugh expressed.

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Playoff baseball is here. Let the games begin. 

Before all four best-of-three wild-card series start Tuesday, let’s look at why each team can win, the X-factors to watch and series predictions.  

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Why the Cubs can win: They have the National League MVP favorite, Pete Crow-Armstrong, leading an offense that had the highest slugging percentage and OPS in the sport and a defense that was, by both standard and advanced metrics, clearly the best in baseball. Their pitching is more concerning, but their defense can mask a lot of issues as long as the Cubs can keep the ball in the park. 

 (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

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Cubs X-factor: Alex Bregman. Is he too talented to be considered an X-factor? Maybe, but he also just took a foul ball off the face a week ago. How did he respond to the facial fractures? By going 4-for-4 with two home runs in the regular season finale. The Cubs’ offense didn’t look great in September, but Bregman — who had a 1.010 OPS in the second half — gives Crow-Armstrong a co-star. This is what the five-year, $175 million were for. 

Why the Padres can win: They have all the momentum. The Padres went 35-17 over the season’s final two months behind an offense that went from the worst in baseball at the break to one of the best in the sport in the second half. Fernando Tatis Jr. launched 25 homers over his final 104 games, and he and Jackson Merrill were MLB’s only set of teammates with a 25-25 season. They employ MLB’s most intimidating bullpen and closer (hello, Mason Miller), and they’ll get to play this series at home, where they were 51-30. 

(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

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Padres X-factor: Ethan Salas. At 20 years old, Salas is set to become the youngest player ever to appear in a postseason game as a catcher. The Padres have other options at the position, but considering the way Salas performed down the stretch and stepped up in the Padres’ postseason-clinching win — he shook off an 0-for-14 start to his career to go 10-for-25 with a homer over his last 10 games — expect him to be involved. 

Who advances? Padres. These were the two best offenses in baseball after the break, and the Cubs’ pitching concerns might be too significant to overcome at Petco Park. 

Why the Phillies can win: They have star power with plenty of experience on this stage. This is the Phillies’ fifth straight trip to the postseason with a core that includes Kyle Schwarber, who tied for MLB’s home run lead this year, and All-Star Bryce Harper. They aren’t able to line up their star-studded rotation the way they’d like after a late-season slide forced them to use Zack Wheeler in Sunday’s regular season finale, but they still have some of the best high-end starting pitching in the sport. Cy Young contender Cristopher Sánchez should be ready to go for Game 2. And if the season’s on the line, I have a feeling Wheeler may still find his way into the mix. 

(Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Phillies X-factor: Jesús Luzardo. The last time Luzardo saw the Braves, he threw a complete-game, 12-strikeout shutout on Sept. 7. That was also his last full start. Luzardo’s shoulder started bothering him after that 109-pitch appearance, forcing him to the injured list. He returned in relief in the regular-season finale and retired three batters on four pitches. He finished the year ranked sixth in MLB with 221 strikeouts and is now slated to open for the Phillies in Game 1 against Sale. How much will he be able to give his team?

Why the Braves can win: They had the best record in the wild-card field for a reason. Chris Sale is one of the best pitchers in the sport. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, one capable of shortening games for the less-intimidating rotation options after Sale. Power plays in October, and the Braves had the fourth-most homers in baseball. Matt Olson is a 40-homer hitter, Ronald Acuna Jr. looked like a star down the stretch, and the Braves won nine of their 13 matchups against the Phillies this year. 

(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Braves X-factor: Tyler Mahle. The Braves should have the upper hand in Game 1, with Sale going up against what will likely be a limited version of Luzardo. But the Braves’ biggest question is their rotation depth. Mahle was one of the most impactful players to move at the deadline, recording a 1.99 ERA in nine starts in Atlanta. Can he keep that going on the biggest stage? 

Who advances? Phillies. Look, there’s too much randomness in October to go chalk across the board. There’s a lot of pressure on the Braves to win the Sale start. If they don’t, they’re vulnerable. So, here is my pick that I certainly won’t come to regret after the Phillies’ nearly collapsed in historic fashion down the stretch.

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

Why the Red Sox can win: The Red Sox had the best record in baseball from June 25 through the end of the regular season, and they have one of the most complete pitching staffs in the game to help guide them through October. The Boston bullpen had the lowest ERA in MLB, and the top three in the starting rotation — Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez — can compete with any playoff foe.  

Red Sox X-factor: Roman Anthony. After missing nearly four months with a wrist issue, Anthony returned at the end of August and looked solid over his final 25 games. But the Red Sox, who struggled to score down the stretch, will need someone beyond Willson Contreras to help carry the offensive load. Anthony’s 10 hits (and six extra-base hits) in 30 at-bats over his final eight games of the regular season offered an auspicious sign. 

(Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Why the Yankees can win: Even with Aaron Judge missing more than half the season and set to miss this series, the Yankees hit the second-most home runs in MLB this season and ranked sixth in slugging. They have a 40-homer hitter in Ben Rice and a plethora of other contributors — Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr, Luis Garcia Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, among them — who can give their star-studded rotation enough support to make a deep run. Their starting pitchers had the lowest ERA in MLB this year, and a playoff rotation featuring AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón can cause problems for even the best lineups in the sport. 

(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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Yankees X-factor: The deadline additions. It’s no secret that the Yankees’ offense packs less punch if Judge is continues to be out. That’s why they added help at the deadline, trading for Garcia and Heliot Ramos. Garcia, who mashes righties, was the bigger impact player for the Yankees, despite his imperfect fit on the roster. But the right-handed Ramos does most of his damage against lefties, and the Red Sox have two southpaws in the starting rotation in Payton Tolle and Ranger Suárez. 

Who advances? Yankees. After a roller-coaster season, the Red Sox finished 19th in OPS and 23rd in runs scored. In September, they ranked last in both categories. They might have a tough time against the Yankees’ elite rotation, especially if Contreras doesn’t look right after hurting his hand last month. 

Why the White Sox can win: Beware a team with nothing to lose. While the aging Astros might feel the burden of trying to keep their shrinking playoff window open, the youthful White Sox have already outplayed all expectations, shaking off three straight 100-loss seasons to make it to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Power plays in October, and they’re the only team in the sport with three 30-homer hitters (Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery). Astros pitchers, meanwhile, have surrendered the seventh-most homers in MLB. 

 (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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White Sox X-factor: Kyle Teel. This was not the follow-up campaign that the White Sox envisioned for Teel, who injured his right hamstring during the World Baseball Classic and later dealt with knee and ankle injuries that limited the second-year player to 39 games following his promising rookie season. But Teel started to find his rhythm in September as the team’s primary catcher — he had an .863 OPS over his final 18 games — and will be needed both at the plate and behind it in October, with the White Sox likely to use a plethora of arms. 

Why the Astros can win: Sure, the White Sox have some pop in the lineup. But which team hit the most home runs in MLB this season? That would be the Astros, led by AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez, who launched 42 home runs. Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Peña and Cam Smith all went deep more than 20 times this year, and Yainer Diaz had an OPS over 1.000 over his final 22 games. 

(Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

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Astros X-factor: Hunter Brown. He’s the best starting pitcher in a series that has very little of it. The Astros need to win the games he starts if they have any hope of making an October run. 

Who advances? Astros. Are they the only team ever to make the playoffs in a full season without a winning record? Yes. Am I going to regret this choice? Possibly. But they have the best player (Alvarez), the best pitcher (Brown) and the best closer (Josh Hader) in the series, plus the experience of having been here before. Meanwhile, Chicago’s best hitters struggled down the stretch, and they lack the frontline arms you want from a team in October (or late September). 

MLB Related Stories

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The waiting is over!

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will square off in the postseason for the seventh time and for the second consecutive year on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, the site of the best-of-three-game American League Wild Card Series. Is Yankees superstar and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who’s dealing with a calf strain, active? What about Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton? Is Boston ace Garrett Crochet back on the mound after a five-month absence due to a shoulder injury?

Here are both Boston and New York’s 26-man rosters for the wild-card round, which the two teams released on Tuesday morning:

Boston Red Sox Roster

Pitchers:

• Brayan Bello
• Jake Bennett
• Arolis Chapman
• Garrett Crochet
• Alec Gamboa
• Sonny Gray
• Erik Miller
• Wyatt Olds
• Ranger Suárez
• Payton Tolle
• Greg Weissert
• Garrett Whitlock

Catchers:

• Adley Rutschman
• Connor Wong

Infielders:

• Willson Contreras
• Caleb Durbin
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa
• Andruw Monasterio
• Trevor Story

Outfielders:

• Wilyer Abreu
• Roman Anthony
• Jarren Duren
• Ceddanne Rafaela
• Jahmai Jones

Utility:

New York Yankees Roster

Pitchers:

• David Bednar
• Paul Blackburn
• Gerrit Cole
• Max Fried
• Brent Headrick
• Carlos Rodón
• Cam Schlittler
• John Schreiber
• Will Warren
• Ryan Yarbrough

Catchers:

Infielders:

• José Caballero
• Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Luis García Jr.
• Paul Goldschmidt
• George Lombard Jr.
• Ryan McMahon
• Ben Rice
• Amed Rosario
• Anthony Volpe

Outfielders/Designated Hitter:

• Cody Bellinger
• Trent Grisham
• Spencer Jones
• Heliot Ramos
• Giancarlo Stanton

MLB Related Stories

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The first three weeks of the season are like a game of two truths and a lie. There might be one performance in the mix that serves as an outlier. But in many case, we’re starting to confirm what the season holds for this crop of quarterbacks.

Welcome back to the QB Stock Market.

These aren’t your typical QB rankings. I’m focused on monitoring the fluctuations of starters’ performances throughout the season. No one — not even Josh Allen — is safe at the top. No one — not even Cam Ward — is stuck at the bottom. There is room for quick ascent — and rapid decline. One question holds the most importance: What have you done for your team lately?

Previous: Offseason | Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Previous ranking: 26 ↓

Previous ranking: 19 ↓

It has been nothing short of astonishing to see Drake Maye dissolve into a puddle of piss-poor performance.

Over roughly seven games (four postseason performances in 2025 and three games in 2026), he has gone from being one of the five best quarterbacks to one of the five worst quarterbacks. 

Maye is on pace to throw for 3,315 passing yards, six touchdowns and 34 interceptions. That’s immediately following a season in which he threw for 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. It’s a total box-score reversal. 

It would’ve been one thing if Maye simply regressed. But he looks like a different person.

Maye ranks 29th in EPA per dropback (-0.21) this year after leading the NFL last season (0.28). That’s the biggest slide for a QB in the history of Next Gen Stats.

So what has gone wrong?

From my vantage point, coach Mike Vrabel explained it perfectly on WEEI on Monday.

“We need to stop trying to choke the life out of every single play. We need to relax,” the Patriots coach told the Boston sports radio show.

But therein lies the problem. You cannot simply tell someone to relax. That usually only instigates more stress. Vrabel can’t simply tell Maye to chill out and expect it to work.

Because the more you watch all six of Maye’s interceptions, the more you can see that there’s nothing wrong with his throwing motion or his footwork. Any speculation that he’s dealing with a lingering shoulder injury from last year is just that — speculation.

The pattern in Maye’s interceptions is just awful, overly aggressive decision-making. It’s a pattern the Patriots will have to reverse this season. And if the Patriots want to make the playoffs, Maye will have to make big changes quickly, because New England heads to Buffalo this week — before hosting the unbeaten Raiders in Week 5.

Previous ranking: 31 ↑

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Previous ranking: 17 ↓

It took all of Sean Payton’s offensive superpowers to help the Broncos overcome Bo Nix’s stinker of a game. Nix was throwing the ball into harm’s way for the entirety of Monday night against the Rams.

It’s a miracle he finished with only one interception. It’s an even bigger miracle the Broncos finished with a win. I counted three additional turnover-worthy passes on top of the interception. And then there was the interception that the officials (errantly) negated. That throw was probably the most egregious given the situation. Nix heaved the ball recklessly in the direction of Pat Bryant, who flopped to draw pass interference. If not for the officials falling for Bryant’s flop, Nix would have been credited with throwing a game-sealing interception. The results belied a bad process.

Nix was overthrowing his receivers with regularity in Week 3, and his two touchdown passes were on carefully schemed routes and play designs that got the pass-catchers wide open. Even Nix’s best throw — a gorgeous deep ball along the sideline to Courtland Sutton — preceded one of his worst: a pass to Jaylen Waddle in which the receiver broke one way and the QB threw the other. Rams CB Josh Wallace easily got in the way of the throw for an interception. (At least that one counted.)

The Broncos are making up for Nix — no one more than Payton.

Nix has got to grow. Maybe Denver will keep winning games in the regular season like this. But it’s not going to get it done in the postseason.

Sometimes it’s smart to feed your WR1 until the defense stops him. And in the case of Drake London, the Packers never figured out how to do that. Michael Penix Jr. may be a quick passer and a quick thinker on the field. But London took all the thinking out of it.

The QB and WR linked up for nine completions on 10 attempts for 194 yards. That accounted for the majority of the Falcons’ passing attack, with Penix going 18 for 25 with 256 yards, one touchdown and an interception in his season debut.

He came out shaky, perhaps a bit rusty from his offseason recovering from yet another season-ending injury. Penix’s early mistakes included an interception, an intentional grounding penalty and a few dangerous throws. It all left me initially concerned about what he might have to contend with in the game, especially considering how putrid Cooper Rush looked in this offense. But Penix began to feed London as a complement to Bijan Robinson going off for 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

There’s no doubt that Robinson can go off on any given week. But London? He’s not the class of receiver who can dominate for the next 14 weeks of the season. Penix will have to give up his safety blanket and distribute the ball to all his weapons. And there are many, from Robinson to Kyle Pitts to Jahan Dotson to Austin Hooper to rookie receiver Zachariah Branch.

Falcons ‘HAVE AWOKEN’ after dominating ‘BAD’ Packers | FTF

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Previous ranking: 11 ↓

It’s sort of a good thing for Matthew Stafford that Drake Maye has been such an abomination, because the Patriots QB has provided cover for the Rams QB following their tight MVP race last year.

It’s not like Stafford has been outwardly bad. As you can see, I still think highly of him. But he’s definitely not in the discussion with the QB elites this year. Not even close.

Among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, Stafford has regressed to .02 expected points added per dropback (7th) — down from .19 in 2025, per Next Gen Stats. His completions over expected is just 1.7% (9th). He’s thrown for six touchdowns but also four interceptions. And of course, the Rams are now 1-2 after their messy and embarrassing loss to the Broncos. 

This is a season where there hasn’t been a lot of consistency at the quarterback position across the league. It was easy to give Stafford a pass for his performance in Australia. But in Denver, he had to do way too much, throwing 30 of 55 for 390 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He saw pressure on 39.3% of his throws, per Next Gen Stats. Against pressure, he was 6 of 20 for 81 yards and an interception (a pick-six, no less).

I don’t want to say he looked old. But … he did.

It’s likely that Puka Nacua will cure basically many of the Rams’ offensive ills. It’s not just that Nacua is always open. It’s that he gets open quickly, providing an easy and explosive option for Stafford in the quick game, particularly against — you guessed it — pressure.

But the Rams aren’t the superteam we thought they were. And that’s, in part, because Stafford hasn’t looked like the MVP that he was last year.

Previous ranking: 14 ↑

Danny brings out MEATBALL SUB for Herbert-Chargers, Cowboys’ issues, Rams will NOT win NFC | FTF

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Previous ranking: 10 ↑

We’re beginning to forget that Trevor Lawrence was once touted as the best prospect in a decade.

And that’s actually a good thing.

Lawrence has a profound (and newfound) reliability to his game that he’d lacked before head coach Liam Coen arrived in Jacksonville last year. The former No. 1 overall pick actually had a ho-hum performance in a thorough walloping of the Patriots, completing 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He took just one sack. But most impressive, he was totally unaffected by pressure, finishing 6 of 8 for 64 yards with a +20.1% completion percentage over expected. And that’s because the game keeps slowing down for him.

My favorite play of the day wasn’t one of his touchdowns. (Though, his beautifully shaped score to Jakobi Meyers was awesome.) It was a simple 5-yard pickup on first down. And that’s because it showed why things ran so smoothly for Lawrence in Week 3.

Before the snap, Lawrence sniffed out New England’s blitz. That comes from good film study and strong awareness at the line of scrimmage. So Lawrence moved the members of his backfield into a different position to help with pass protection. Lawrence then got the ball out quickly for a short gain — and, most importantly, he avoided the potential for a disastrous surprise, which must have been what the Patriots had in mind with a seemingly random all-out blitz on first down.

Lawrence wasn’t good against the Broncos in Week 2, so I’m not ready to crown him an MVP candidate. But with Justin Herbert and Jordan Love struggling this year, Lawrence is the clubhouse leader for the Nerd’s Choice Award Winner in 2026. It’s an award I just made up that honors the QB whose stats don’t properly represent the massive impact he’s having on his team.

There often seems to be something special brewing in Baltimore around Lamar Jackson. This year is no exception. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle — the first apple to fall from the “Ben Johnson Tree of Coaching” — has delivered upon the hype.

Doyle is dressing up the Ravens’ offense nicely to get Zay Flowers the windows he needs to get the ball. If not for Flowers’ hamstring injury, I don’t think it’s crazy to wonder if he might be leading the NFL in receiving yards. He currently sits at 11th with 234. He’s been that good on his 26 routes run, a minuscule number. He has roughly the same number of receiving yards, for example, as Garrett Wilson (243), who has run four times the number of routes (102).

But it’s not just about Flowers. It’s about the way Baltimore is using Rashod Bateman. It’s about the way it’s using rookie tight end Matt Hibner. And even old reliable Mark Andrews. Just wait until training camp star receiver Jakobi Lane returns to the lineup. The rookie should be a high-impact player.

How many times have we wondered if the Ravens have the playmakers to help out Jackson?

(Countless times.)

Turns out it wasn’t the playmakers. It was the play designer. 

Jackson is playing as well as any QB in the NFL. We saw him exchange punches with the Cowboys all the way to the final second, where he exposed Dallas’ idiocy on defense. With only seven seconds remaining, Jackson dropped the ball into the perfect spot on the field and with perfect timing. I haven’t pulled punches with my criticisms of the Cowboys, but let’s also give credit where credit is due. It’s no coincidence that Jackson exposed the defense. 

It’s because he’s still really, really good.

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Monday, the New York Giants lost star linebacker Brian Burns for the year due to a torn ACL and acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings. Now, they’re saying “goodbye” to a former franchise star.

The New York Giants are releasing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, NFL Media reported on Tuesday afternoon.

Beckham, who returned to the Giants on a one-year deal after playing the first five years of his NFL career with the team from 2014-18, appeared in each of New York’s first three games this season but didn’t record a reception. He logged just one target.

With Beckham gone, New York has just three wide receivers on its active roster: third-year star Malik Nabers, veteran Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields. Of course, the Giants will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, with Jameis Winston serving as the team’s starter and McCarthy, a 2024 first-round pick, likely his backup.

New York is 2-1, with its Week 4 game being a home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Beckham was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons with the Giants (2014-16) and is second in franchise history with 5,476 receiving yards and fourth with both 390 receptions and 44 receiving touchdowns.

The Giants traded the now-33-year-old Beckham to the Cleveland Browns in 2019, with him later being waived by Cleveland during the 2021 season. After clearing waivers, Beckham signed with the Los Angeles Rams, helping them win Super Bowl LVI but tearing his ACL in the game and ultimately not playing in the 2022 NFL season.

Beckham then had one-year stints with the Baltimore Ravens (2023), where he was coached by now-Giants head coach John Harbaugh, and the Miami Dolphins (2024). 

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The U.S. women’s national team is back together for the first time since the spring, beginning a critical stretch of preparation for next summer’s 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

The Americans will face Spain twice – on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. and on Oct. 13 in Chester, Pennsylvania – in heavyweight matchups between the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the world. Spain enters as the reigning World Cup champions, while the U.S. is the defending Olympic gold medalist. 

Manager Emma Hayes has called in 26 players for this training camp, a roster loaded with talent and familiar names, including captain Lindsey Heaps, defenders Naomi Girma, Emily Fox and Tierna Davidson, and midfielder Sam Coffey. 

It could also be the first time we see the “Triple Espresso” – Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson – on the field together for the USA since the 2024 Olympic final. Wilson and Swanson have both been working on returning to full fitness after maternity leave.

Trinity Rodman is part of the USA’s upcoming squad. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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The squad also features several younger players continuing to establish themselves with the national team, along with four first-time call-ups. After three consecutive rosters without an uncapped player, Hayes has brought in goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, midfielder Evelyn Shores and forwards Pietra Tordin and Trinity Byars.

Another notable addition to this group is forward Ashley Sanchez, who is in the midst of a historic NWSL season. Sanchez has scored 20 goals in 26 matches, tying the league record for most goals in a single season.

Sanchez has 28 appearances for the U.S. senior national team and was part of the 2023 World Cup roster, though she did not see the field. She was last called up in January 2025 but has not appeared for the U.S. since Oct. 30, 2024, against Argentina.

Spain is the reigning Women’s World Cup champions. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP via Getty Images)

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“While we are very much looking forward to playing the World Cup champions, I keep coming back to the journey that we are all on together,” Hayes said in a statement. 

“This camp will be about reestablishing connections after a long break, looking at a few players who haven’t been with us this cycle, and putting on the best performances we can in front of packed stadiums. Of course, our dual focus will also be on our final preparations for the World Cup qualifying tournament.”

Neither team has played since June. The U.S. split two friendlies against Brazil in São Paulo and Fortaleza, while Spain played and won two World Cup qualifiers against England and Iceland.

The Americans will also have World Cup qualifying later this year, needing a win over El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal on Nov. 27 to secure their spot in next summer’s tournament. 

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 11), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 7)

DEFENDERS (8): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 70/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 78/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 54/2), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 14/1), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy FC; 9/0), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 12/0), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 7/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City FC, ENG; 46/5), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit FC; 178/40), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 20/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 122/29), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC; 0/0), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars; 103/38), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 20/1)

FORWARDS (8): Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave FC; 0/0), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 14/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 57/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 21/6), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 32/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 63/25)

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