Lionel Messi turned his official farewell to Argentina into a gala performance, contributing a penalty and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin in an international friendly on Tuesday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, where the crowd offered a deafening final ovation to the genius who, for over two decades, defined the footballing pulse of a nation.

In front of 85,000 fans, the superstar capped off an international career spanning 21 years, 126 goals, a 2022 World Cup victory, and two Copa América titles.

Orchestrating The Win

Following a corner kick taken Messi, defender Nicolas Otamendi connected with a header to open the scoring in the 48th minute. Messi then provided an assist to young talent Nicolas Paz, who paid tribute to the star with an exquisite left-foot finish in the 61st.

Ten minutes later, Messi buried a left-foot penalty into the top corner, adding to his tally as the Albiceleste’s all-time leading scorer.

“Olé, olé, Messi,” the crowd chanted in his honor.

(Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

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Passing The Torch

Despite still playing at a high level at age 39, Messi announced on Aug. 31 that the end of his time with Argentina was set.

 (Photo by Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images)

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Messi played his final match — his 208th for Argentina — amid a spectacular fireworks display. He wore a special edition Albiceleste jersey featuring wider vertical stripes than the standard design, a giant sun, and a golden No. 10 on the back. The back detail featured a goat’s horns in the print — a nod to the “GOAT,” referencing both the animal and his status as the “Greatest of All Time.”

(Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)

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Ten minutes after kickoff, the referee paused the match to honor the Argentine captain. Rivals and teammates approached to greet him while fans rose for a standing ovation. Messi raised his hand in acknowledgment.

“Come, come, sing with me, and a friend you’ll find; hand in hand with Leo Messi, we’ll all celebrate the victory,” the crowd sang to him.

From Heartbreak To World Cup Glory

A successor to the legendary Diego Maradona, Messi made his debut for the senior national team in 2005. But his journey was fraught with frustration until 2022, when he finally lifted the World Cup — a triumph that secured his place in the pantheon of the sport’s greatest players and cemented his status as a national hero in Argentina.

Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

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Accompanied by his sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, Messi was overcome with emotion as the Argentine national anthem played, sung by a veteran of the 1982 Falklands War. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez tried to comfort him by placing an arm around his shoulders.

Devoted Fans And Moving Tributes

“It’s not a goodbye, it’s a ‘farewell forever,’ Captain” — that was the message Rebeca Arias and Daniel Lema emblazoned on a hat designed for the occasion. On the brim, they drew various depictions of Messi corresponding to each of the six World Cups he contested. The young couple traveled more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from their native Tucumán to witness his final performance.

(Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

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“We believe this is a unique moment. It’s all worth it — being here, making the journey we did. Something like this might never happen again with a player,” Arias remarked.

In the last World Cup, Messi went close to another title, falling just short after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final. However, the runner-up finish didn’t overshadow his remarkable performance in the tournament — featuring eight goals and four assists.

His contribution was so pivotal that Messi has once again entered the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, competing against the two top contenders to succeed him: Spaniard Lamine Yamal and Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.

The Argentine star remains the only footballer to have won the award eight times.

Messi Receives Honorary Doctorate

Before his farewell at the stadium, Messi received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), a public institution.

The academic institution presented the honor at the national team’s training complex in the suburb of Ezeiza. The star was awarded a diploma and a medal in recognition of his performance with the national team, as well as his influence both on and off the pitch.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Dodgers took control of their NL Division Series on Tuesday night, and the Padres ensured they’ll have one more game – and another chance to rock out to “All The Small Things.” 

In Atlanta, Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out a postseason career-high 10 in seven innings as Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman homered in the same inning against Braves ace Chris Sale for a 3-1 Los Angeles win. The Dodgers lead the series 2-1 and are one win from the NLCS in their bid for a third straight World Series title.

In San Diego, Jake Cronenworth hit a solo shot and Xander Boegarts scored on a throwing error to help the Padres beat the Brewers 4-3. That means the Brewers, who lead the series 2-1, will try to advance on Wednesday to their second straight NLCS. 

In the AL, Wednesday brings the ALDS Game 3s, with the White Sox and Rays each up 2-0 and the Guardians and Yankees on the brink.

Here is what stood out from Day 4 of the MLB Division Series:

Biggest Moment

Clutch Run on Error Keeps Padres Alive

Every game in the Brewers vs. Padres series has been a nail-biter, and Game 3 in front of a raucous and packed Petco Park in San Diego proved no different. 

With clutch hits and some beautiful defensive plays, we kind of don’t want this series to end. Thankfully, we’ll have a Game 4 as the Padres held onto a 4-3 win. In fact, every game in this series has been decided by one run.

The deciding moment was a wacky play in the bottom of the sixth inning when baserunner Xander Bogaerts showed off some nifty athleticism by avoiding the barrel of Miguel Andojar’s broken-bat grounder. Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s errant throw to first was bobbled by Jake Bauers, allowing Bogaerts to scoot home. 

Kudos to Padres pitcher Michael King, as well, who came in the eighth inning in relief to earn his first save since 2023 when he was with the Yankees. He showed some guts in the ninth when he got the Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich to ground out into a double play to secure the win. 

There will be some sighs of relief across the Gaslamp Quarter tonight as the Padres will try to stave off elimination once again on Wednesday. 

Best Hitter

Kiké Hernández was the surprise of a lineup Dave Roberts shuffled before first pitch to counter Sale. 

Making his first start of the playoffs, Hernández came up in the fourth inning after Andy Pages singled and turned on a Sale changeup that stayed up, driving it into the left-field seats for a two-run homer to put the Dodgers ahead.

It was his 12th postseason homer as a Dodger and the 17th of his postseason career, and it raised the Dodgers’ win probability by nearly 21%.

Freeman followed one out later with a solo shot to right, his 18th career postseason homer, for a 3-0 lead. Freeman had been robbed an inning earlier when Mauricio Dubón made a leaping catch at the left-field wall. 

Sale, who had dominated the Dodgers earlier in the season, was gone after allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings. Hernández has a long record as a postseason hitter, and his homer was the swing that put the Dodgers in position for a series lead. 

Best Pitcher

Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his first postseason appearance since closing out Game 7 of last year’s World Series, and he looked like the MVP of that series. He struck out 10 in seven innings, a postseason career high that passed his previous mark of nine in Game 2 of last year’s NL Wild Card Series, and he allowed just four hits, one walk and one run. 

The Dodgers hadn’t used him until Game 3, starting lefties Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell against the Braves in Games 1 and 2.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and scratched a run across on Drake Baldwin’s groundout, but Yamamoto was otherwise in complete control. “I was feeling really good with my fastball,” he said. 

He is the first Dodger with a postseason start of seven-plus innings, 10 strikeouts and one run or fewer since Snell in Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card, and the third Japanese-born pitcher with double-digit strikeouts in a postseason game, joining Shohei Ohtani and Hiroki Kuroda. He is 8-1 in his postseason career.

What’s Next

The division series continues with the NLDS Game 4 and the ALDS Game 3s on Wednesday. Here’s how it will play out:

• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Guardians at White Sox (Game 3), 4 p.m. ET. The White Sox lead the series 2-0.
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Dodgers at Braves (Game 4), 6 p.m. ET on FS1. The Dodgers lead the series 2-1.
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Rays at Yankees (Game 3), 8 p.m. ET. The Rays lead the series 2-0.
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Brewers at Padres (Game 4), time TBD. The Brewers lead the series 2-1.

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With their season on the brink of ending, the Padres refused to go down quietly.

Down 0-2 to the Brewers, the best team in baseball with 103 regular-season wins, San Diego battled in the face of elimination and came through with an adventurous 4-3 win that kept their October dreams alive.

This series has had no shortage of bizarre plays and wild last-minute finishes and Game 3 was no different. The Padres still trail in the NLDS, 2-1, but now they have the momentum, and that can be a dangerous thing. 

Here are my takeaways:

1. No Miller, No Problem

(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) –>

The Padres desperately could’ve used their electric closer in the late innings of Tuesday night’s tight, one-run game. But right-hander Mason Miller was placed on the paternity list hours before first pitch. He’s expected to miss anywhere from one to three days for the birth of his first child. With their backs up against the wall, and the Padres trying to hang on to a tiny 4-3 lead without Miller, they went to their next best option.

Enter: a ruthless Michael King. 

King, making his best impression of Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, entered the eighth inning from the bullpen. He had just pitched five one-run innings against Milwaukee in Game 2 of the NLDS, striking out six batters and limiting the Brewers to just three hits. King returned to the mound Tuesday night on just two days’ rest. While it seemed like a ridiculous move in the moment, he had been there before many, many times. 

King switched between the rotation and the bullpen throughout his five years with the Yankees. He finished 24 games and collected seven saves in 115 games in that span. It wasn’t until he was sent to the Padres in the notorious Juan Soto trade ahead of the 2024 season that San Diego transformed King into a full-time starter. That’s part of why it was easy to tell just how comfortable King was pitching out of the bullpen in a do-or-die game for the Padres. 

He took care of business in the eighth, retiring three of his four batters faced, with his only blemish that inning being a single to Brewers pinch-hitter David Hamilton. But the ninth inning proved trickier as he worked around a pair of walks. The Brewers had the go-ahead run on base with one out, but Padres manager Craig Stammen stuck with King, and he was rewarded for that gutsy decision.

On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich ripped a 107.1 mph screamer to shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who was ready. Bogaerts charged second base for the first out, then fired to first for the final out of the game, completing the expected double play to end the wild Game 3 and bring the Padres back to life.

2. Welcome To The Crone Zone

(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune) –>

This was one way to eliminate all the momentum the Brewers had just garnered. Moments after Milwaukee tied the game, Padres second baseman and No. 9 hitter Jake Cronenworth led off the bottom of the fifth inning and pounced on the first pitch from Brewers left-hander JoJo Romero. Cronenworth pummeled his 80 mph sweeper, low and breaking away, into the right-field seats for the go-ahead home run. Just like that, the Padres were back in front, 3-2.

What a relief this must have been for Cronenworth, who entered that fifth-inning at-bat having gone 1-for-13 in this postseason. Plus, he had compounded his poor performance at the plate by making a couple of mistakes in the dirt in Game 2’s loss to Milwaukee, including a questionable first step on Jackson Chourio’s walkoff single in the ninth inning on Sunday. 

Cronenworth made up for those blunders with some good old-fashioned left-on-left crime on Tuesday. He had gone yard against a left-hander just once in 93 plate appearances in the regular season this year. As for Romero, that was the fifth home run he’d allowed to a left-handed hitter this season. 

3. Pratt’s Hustle On Shallow Sacrifice Fly

(Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

Have you ever heard of a 242-foot sacrifice fly? Look no further than the way the Brewers scored the tying run in the fifth inning to understand how difficult it is for opposing teams to play against them. 

Milwaukee got two men on base after back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. The lineup moved those two men into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Then Jackson Chourio hit a fly ball to shallow left field. Padres left fielder Dustin Harris got under it, caught the ball, and held onto it. In the several seconds it took Harris to get rid of the ball, Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt had already tagged third base and was well on his way home. By the time Harris’ throw reached the dish, it was too late. Pratt scored easily on Chourio’s sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2.

This is what the Brewers do. They put pressure on the defense and force opposing teams to make near-perfect plays in order to get the out. Harris and the Padres seemed like they were caught off guard by Pratt’s decision to run home. That was their first mistake. They should know, by now, that the Brewers will take every extra inch given to them. 

Their other mistake was letting Harris, the left fielder, catch Chourio’s fly ball instead of Merrill, the center fielder. Merrill would’ve had the stronger throw home and the faster reflexes to get rid of the ball sooner. But that would’ve required San Diego to anticipate plays before they happen. Neglecting to do so gives the Brewers the edge, more often than not. The Padres learned that the hard way in the top of the fifth inning on Tuesday.

3 ½. What’s Next?

The Padres will try to keep the good times rolling in Wednesday night’s Game 4 with very little turnaround time. San Diego has to win the next two games straight to eliminate the Brew Crew and advance to the NLCS. Milwaukee, meanwhile, just needs to win one — with home-field advantage in Game 5 if the series gets to that point. As of the final out of Tuesday’s Game 3, neither team had announced a starting pitcher for Game 4.

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Between the two of them, David Ortiz and Justin Verlander have a combined five World Series rings, 20 All-Star appearances and 3,088 games played in MLB. So, recalling facts about their own illustrious careers shouldn’t be too hard for them, right?

Their memories were put to the test in a new game called “Fact Or Splat,” with some help from Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. The rules are simple: If you get the answer right, you get to drop a fruit on a giant cutout of your opponent’s face; if you get it wrong, your opponent gets to drop the fruit.

How did Verlander and Big Papi do? Let’s see the results:

Big Papi & Justin Verlander Take on MESSIEST MLB Trivia Challenge 🫟 FACT or SPLAT

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Who did Big Papi hit his first HR off of in Fenway Park?

Jeter gave the hint, “It’s someone that’s in the family.” Ortiz immediately knew the answer: former Dominican right-hander Ramon Martinez.

The cake was a direct hit.

Who was Justin Verlander’s first strikeout victim?

Next, it was Verlander’s turn to answer his first question.

Jeter asked, “Who was your first strikeout victim ever in your career?”

The recently retired right-hander did not hesitate: “Travis Hafner.”

It was a fast answer, but Verlander’s toss did not make nearly as impressive contact with Ortiz’s face.

Who was Big Papi’s longest-tenured teammate?

Next up: “Papi, this one’s for you. Who was your longest-tenured teammate?”

Ortiz played 20 years in the majors, 14 of which came in Boston. It could have been any number of players.

The answer? Dustin Pedroia. Ortiz’s guess was knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Verlander got better on his second toss and made a direct hit on Ortiz’s face.

Which of Jeter, A-Rod and Big Papi had the best batting average against Verlander?

Verlander looked around and said, “I’m going to go with Derek.”

The ace nailed it, and down went a pumpkin onto Big Papi’s face.

Who were the three World Series MVPs on Big Papi’s title teams?

Papi didn’t need much time to answer this one.

“Manny Ramirez, Mikey Lowell and myself,” he answered before cake went falling on Verlander’s face.

Which eight of Verlander’s teammates have won the Cy Young award?

Verlander got Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Tarik Skubal (he got a generous hint from A-Rod to get him) and Gerrit Cole.

The four players who Verlander missed: Dallas Keuchel, Zack Greinke, David Price and Robbie Ray.

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Kiké Hernández only has one hit in the 2026 MLB playoffs, but it’s the biggest hit of the year for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With Game 3 of the National League Division Series scoreless in the top of the fourth inning and a runner on first base with nobody out, Hernández crushed a changeup from Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale over the left field wall for a two-run home run, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Ultimately, that long ball would be enough for Los Angeles to get a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves and take a 2-1 series lead.

“He’s a big-time player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hernández in his postgame press conference on Tuesday night. “I said it earlier, we needed a little bit of that Kiké dust, and he’s always prepared, and he loves moments like this. He has a way to lock in. He doubled up on a changeup, and he put a good swing on it and made a couple really nice defensive plays, as well.

“It’s just one of those things where having him in a lineup in the postseason just adds that extra sort of urgency and that kind of grit that you need.”

The aforementioned home run was the 12th postseason long ball for Hernández in a Dodgers uniform; Hernández, who has extensive experience at every position but catcher (he has even made 11 appearances on the mound), is in his second stint and 10th overall season with the Dodgers (2015-20 and 2023-present).

Two batters after Hernández went deep, first baseman Freddie Freeman did the same, launching a solo home run to right. On the hill, Los Angeles got seven potent innings from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who logged 10 strikeouts and gave up just one run and five baserunners (four hits and one walk). Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz followed with a scoreless inning of relief apiece.

Kiké Hernández Postseason Heroics

The 35-year-old Hernández, who traditionally gets lauded for his defensive play and versatility, has been a postseason hero for the Dodgers. With Los Angeles trailing the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 in the 2025 World Series and trying to extend the series, Hernández turned a game-ending double-play in left field with the tying run in scoring position to force Game 7, which the Dodgers would win in 11 innings.

In 2020, Hernández hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Braves in Game 7 of the NLCS, which the Dodgers went on to win, and he drove in one of the Dodgers’ two runs against the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the 2024 NLDS on a solo home run.

Meanwhile, Hernández blasted three home runs for the Dodgers in a closeout Game 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the 2017 NLCS and hit five home runs across 11 postseason games for the Boston Red Sox in 2021.

Kiké Hernández 2026 Campaign

Hernández, who started at third base for the Dodgers in Game 3 and later moved to left field, was limited to 41 games in the 2026 regular season due to elbow and oblique injuries, respectively.

In all, the Dodgers have scored just 10 runs in the NLDS, but they’ve held the Braves to seven runs. The Dodgers have the chance to advance to the NL Championship Series in Game 4 on Wednesday afternoon (6 p.m. ET on FS1). Atlanta will send Tyler Mahle to the hill, while Los Angeles counters with Tyler Glasnow.

Should the Dodgers advance, they’d play the winner of the NLDS matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Padres, who staved off elimination with a Game 3 win on Tuesday night, in the NLCS.

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Odell Beckham Jr. has found a new home.

The Minnesota Vikings have signed the 33-year-old wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowler to their practice squad, the team announced on Wednesday morning.

Beckham was released by the New York Giants last week. The veteran receiver appeared in each of the Giants’ first three games, but he registered just one target. 

Minnesota signing Beckham comes in the wake of superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson missing the team’s Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins due to an ankle sprain and potentially missing its Week 5 road tilt against the New Orleans Saints (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX).

Odell Beckham Jr.’s Career

Should Beckham be elevated to Minnesota’s active roster, the Vikings would mark the sixth team he plays for.

Beckham, a Pro Bowler from 2014-16, had two stints with the Giants (2014-18 and 2026), while spending two-plus years with the Cleveland Browns (2019-21), playing the second half of the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Rams — who won the Super Bowl later that year — and having one-year stints with the Baltimore Ravens (2023) and Miami Dolphins (2024).

He missed the 2022 season due to a torn ACL and wasn’t on an NFL roster in 2025.

Vikings’ Offensive Struggles

The Vikings are 4-0 and one of just three undefeated teams in the NFL. With that said, their offense has been stuck in the mud, as the Vikings are last in the NFL in passing yards (156.0 per game), 31st in total yards (262.8 per game), 18th in points (21.5 per game) and 16th in points (106.8 per game).

Moreover, Minnesota has just four passing touchdowns, three of them coming from backup quarterback Carson Wentz and one from starter Kyler Murray; Wentz started for the Vikings in Week 2 in place of Murray, who suffered a concussion in Week 1, and played the majority of the team’s Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers.

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Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) — Kyle Shanahan needed another explosive playmaker with receivers Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk and DeMarcus Robinson all on the injured reserve list.

Deebo Samuel needed a place to show the league he could still play.

In a relationship where both sides needed each other, Samuel signed a one-year, $4.1 million deal in August to reunite with San Francisco’s head coach. And so far, things have worked out in Samuel’s second chapter with the team. 

Samuel finished with 70 scrimmage yards and two scores in a solid victory over the Denver Broncos last week, helping the San Francisco 49ers remain one of three undefeated NFL teams.

“I didn’t draw it up no kind of way,” Samuel responded when asked about the symmetry of being back in San Francisco on a Super Bowl contender. “But I’m going to enjoy 4-0 for sure and get ready for next week.” 

Speaking of next week, the 49ers face the defending champions Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on the road on Sunday in a battle for the top spot in the NFC West. The last time these two teams played, Seattle embarrassed San Francisco, 41-6, in the divisional round of the playoffs. Two weeks prior, the 49ers lost to the Seahawks, 13-3, in a battle that determined the NFC West winner.

But Samuel was with the Washington Commanders at that time and didn’t play in either game. Now that he’s back in San Francisco, Samuel could make a major impact in the rivalry matchup. He has 1,092 scrimmage yards and eight total touchdowns in 10 career games against Seattle, including the playoffs. The 49ers are 6-4 against the Seahawks in games Samuel plays. Samuel has also served as San Francisco’s kick returner since coming back to the team, and has a combined 490 yards through four games, No. 10 in the league. 

San Francisco left tackle Trent Williams predicted Samuel would shine before the season started.

“When we signed Deebo, I said we’re probably going to get the best Deebo we’ve seen,” Williams said at his locker. “And he’s been making my words true. I’m really proud of him. We anticipated this. We knew Deebo was coming back with a vengeance. I’m just really happy for him.

And why did Williams believe San Francisco would get the best version of Samuel?

“From me knowing him as well as I do, I think this offseason was probably the first time in his career that he was doubted,” Williams said when I asked him in the locker room. “He’s always been supremely talented. He’s always been a playmaker. But you know, this league turns on you quick. And I think him having to feel that doubt for the first time, it lit a fire under him.” 

Another person who thought Samuel would play well in his return was his private receiver coach, Brandon White, founder of Receiver Factory. Based in Florida, White has helped train Samuel in the offseason during his eight-year NFL career. White has also worked with some of the top receivers in the NFL, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

“He’s passionate and he cares,” White told me when I asked about Samuel’s mindset going into the season, having to wait for the right team. “Deebo wants to ball. He wants to make plays. That’s just fuel for a guy like that. And you can see he was honed in. It’s not like he didn’t think he was going to get a shot again, but the shot he got and the way he got it and the time it took, there had to be something building up the entire time.” 

White told me he trained Samuel in three different stints in Arizona during the offseason, working on his short-area quickness and route running to prepare the South Carolina product for the season. He said that Samuel’s daily regimen in Arizona included strength and agility training, sprint work, boxing workouts and field work with White, followed by a timed mile run.

Samuel, now 30, went through that regimen to show the league he could still play after spending a season with the Commanders and not playing to his full potential. 

“We were on a mission,” White told me. “He was focused. Our whole thing when we get together is we make sure he’s like a Swiss Army knife and everything’s popping. He knows how to run routes. He knows how to get open. He understands how to make plays in space.

“We just wanted to make sure going into the season he’s as quick and as sharp as possible. We were really working on short-area quickness, fast twitch and then a lot of coming out of breaks.” 

Samuel’s work he put in during the offseason has shown. He has 185 receiving yards on 14 catches with three receiving touchdowns through the first four games. And he has another 74 rushing yards on seven carries, averaging 9.4 per carry.

“I know when he’s got the ball in his hand, I do want to make an extra block or run down the field and chase the ball because you never know when he’s going to break a tackle and get free,” 49ers offensive lineman Colton McKivitz told me. “You can have that extra block to keep a guy off him. He just has that ‘It’ factor.” 

During the height of Samuel’s time with San Francisco in 2021, he finished with 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards, earning the nickname “wide back.” But San Francisco’s offense runs through Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle now, so those days aren’t returning.

Instead, Samuel serves as a key gadget player to jump-start San Francisco’s offense when they need a big play in critical moments of the game.

“Game-time Deebo is something else,” San Francisco quarterback Mac Jones told me. “He brings an extra gear. He came here after training camp, so I didn’t get a lot of reps with him. But I’ve always been a fan. He puts a lot of really good stuff on tape because he plays with a lot of passion. And you can feel him. 

“They used him differently in ’23 and ’24 than they’re doing now. He’s returning kicks, which he didn’t do before. And they’re using him in more gadget stuff. A lot of motion. If you checked his yardage stuff, I bet he ran the most out of anyone today. Kyle does a good job of scheming him up, and that creates good matchups for other people. He’s like that pawn you have on a chess board who’s always available.”

Under Center: West Coast Offense Is Back

Speaking of Shanahan, he passed one of the cornerstones of the West Coast offense, Hall of Famer Bill Walsh, for the most games coached in 49ers’ history (167), an impressive feat for a head coach at 46 years old.

The West Coast offense never really went away, but the emphasis on zone reads and quarterbacks in shotgun had become the dominant way to move the chains in modern football.  But over the past handful of years, with defenses led by gurus like Mike Macdonald and Vic Fangio leaning on two-high shells to keep explosives to a minimum, more teams are using quarterbacks under center to ignite the run and play-action game against lighter boxes.

Per Next Gen Stats, 39.5% of snaps on offense were taken under center so far this season, the highest usage in the last decade. Six teams in the top half of the league operating under center through the first four weeks are out West, including the Raiders (125 snaps), 49ers (124), Seahawks (123), Cardinals (118), Rams (117) and Chiefs (100).

With West Coast offense principles being used more through the first four weeks of the season, I decided to hit up former NFL and college offensive guru Norm Chow to try and find out why. Chow said he first learned the West Coast offense as an assistant at BYU from former San Francisco quarterback and coach Doug Scovil. Also serving on BYU’s staff during Chow’s 26 years coaching there were West Coast offense masterminds Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has been one of the biggest proponent’s of using West Coast offense principles so far this season. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Chow said he’s not surprised to see a return to more West Coast principles, including under center runs and play-action passes.

“Football is cyclical,” Chow told me. “Everyone thinks this RPO (run-pass option) stuff is new, but all it is the Wishbone triple option stuff dressed up from before. … But I think that’s why the NFL never left (the West Coast offense). If you drop back and throw all the time, they can cover that. And if you run it all the time, they can cover that.

“The deception comes from under center with the run, as opposed to the shotgun.” 

Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, whose father Paul Hackett was one of the first offensive coordinators to teach the West Coast offense, said the core philosophies in quarterback footwork have never left the game.

“Whenever we look at the West Coast offense, it’s from how you coach the quarterback — from progressions, to footwork to timing,” Hackett told me. “The actual West Coast, from when Bill Walsh did it and my dad and those guys, has gone the way of the white buffalo. 

“So, we’ve kind of adapted with everything that we’ve done to teach the quarterback the same way we did in the West Coast, but to different kinds of plays and variations of the plays that we have in the West Coast. It’s a collaboration of all those things, while still bringing along those base principles.”

Because of the timing and rhythm of the West Coast offense, teams that can create disruption in the early downs are having the most success. Just look at Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flories. The Vikings lead the league in scoring defense (12.8 per game) and blitz percentage (70.5%).

Hall of Famer Michael Haynes said his Raiders defense, known for playing disruptive, sticky bump-and-run coverage, was effective against the West Coast scheme because of their ability to apply pressure with great pass rushers like fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long and Greg Townsend up front and force the ball out quickly.

“If those quarterbacks have all day to throw it where they want to throw it, it’s going to be a tough day,” Haynes told me. “A great pass rush always helps the DBs. Most teams were playing zone and trying to disguise their man-to-man coverages from off [coverage]. And we didn’t. We didn’t care that you knew we were coming, because we had a great pass rush.” 

Kansas City found the blindside protector for the most accomplished quarterback currently playing at the team’s rookie minicamp a week after the draft.

Khalil Benson, who wasn’t selected in April’s draft after helping the Indiana Hoosiers win the national championship, showed up as one of over 75 invited, undrafted rookies to the camp. He impressed coaches and scouts enough there to earn a spot on the 90-man roster.

From there, Benson worked his way up the depth chart during offseason work, wrestling the starting right tackle job from Jaylon Moore and eventually shifting over to left tackle — which he hadn’t played since high school — to replace an injured Josh Simmons (back) to start the regular season.

Benson hasn’t given up the starting job since, earning Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. Benson has allowed nine quarterback pressures and one sack in 118 pass block snaps, per Next Gen Stat. Among all rookies with at least 15 pass block snaps, Benson has the second-highest percentage of one-on-one matchups (84.9%). He has contributed to a Kansas City offense that has only allowed six sacks in 2026, tied for the fifth-fewest in the league.

“He’s a professional player,” Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy said about Benson. “There’s some things he can do that others cannot do. That’s why he’s here. We feel that we found a unique player that can basically upgrade the depth in our O-line room.”

Chris Brainard of APE Fitness and Performance in Texas helped prepare Benson for his pro day. Because Benson wasn’t invited to the combine, he had extra time to train before the April workout.

At 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, Brainard said Benson set a personal best in his 40-yard time (5.08) and bench press (23 reps at 225 pounds).

“The guy handled the entire process as a professional,” Brainard told me. “That was cool to see, and we’re seeing those benefits pay off now. Just coming in, he’s got the size and he’s got the motor. He just needed things to kind of fall in place for him.”

Former NFL offensive lineman Chris Chester also worked with Benson on offensive line training in the lead-up to the draft. As Brainard stated, Chester emphasized Benson’s professionalism and ability to quickly pick up concepts.

With the dearth of quality offensive lineman, Chester said he was surprised Benson didn’t get drafted.

“I get it, there’s a lot of voices during the draft process and narratives get made,” Chester told me. “I was surprised he didn’t get drafted, but you’ve got to run your own race.

“He’s strong — that’s one of the things that kind of jumped out — once he got his hands on you, it was kind of wrap. It was a lot of one-on-one with me and him, and I’m doing some of the looks. I’m not as young as I used to be, and he was kind of throwing me around. So, I got to experience it firsthand. He’s heavy-handed, got a good strike and hits you like a hammer. And I can’t say enough about his positive attitude. And he absorbed information well.” 

  Top 5 On The West Side

5. Los Angeles Rams

After a tough stretch to open the season, the Rams get three of the next four games at home. It starts with the Buffalo Bills on Monday night as they look to improve their 2-2 record. 

4. Las Vegas Raiders 

The schedule heats up for the Silver and Black, who face the Patriots, Bills and Rams over the next three. But they might have legitimized their 3-0 record with their showing against the Chiefs, climbing six spots in our Ralph Vacchiano’s power rankings despite the loss. 

3. Seattle Seahawks 

Defense still leads the way in Seattle, with the Seahawks holding teams to a league-best 246.8 yards a game. They also forced Justin Herbert to turn the ball over three times in their win over the Chargers on Sunday. 

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are already combing the waiver wire due to the annual rash of injuries at wide receiver. Will Tyreek Hill be back on the roster when they return from their Week 5 bye?

1. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers started 4-0 for the third time since 2019 and the seventh in team history, as quarterback Brock Purdy has emerged as an early MVP frontrunner. 

“Ribs are different. No matter how bad you want to go, it’s usually too painful. The way he was Friday, just being able to go through the walk-through, and I know how much pain he was in, but he never grimaced, never changed his stride or anything, how he’s carrying himself. It was really, really impressive today what he did.”

– San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan on Mike Evans playing through injured ribs but leading the team with five receptions for 76 yards. 

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It’s early, but a few teams’ postseason hopes are already in jeopardy.

Let’s check out the latest “To Miss Playoffs” odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 7.

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.

To Miss Playoffs Odds

Dolphins: -50000 (bet $10 to win $10.02 total)
Cardinals: −25000 (bet $10 to win $10.04 total) 
Titans: -25000 (bet $10 to win $10.04 total)
Jets: -1200 (bet $10 to win $10.83 total)
Buccaneers: -1200 (bet $10 to win $10.83 total)
Chargers: -1200 (bet $10 to win $10.83 total)
Commanders: -900 (bet $10 to win $11.11 total)
Giants: -450 (bet $10 to win $12.22 total)
Steelers: -425 (bet $10 to win $12.35 total)
Browns: -400 (bet $10 to win $12.50 total)
Texans: -340 (bet $10 to win $12.94 total)
Packers: -330 (bet $10 to win $13.03 total)
Saints: -270 (bet $10 to win $13.70 total)
Panthers: -230 (bet $10 to win $14.35 total)
Raiders: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)
Falcons: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)
Colts: -180 (bet $10 to win $15.56 total)
Eagles: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)
Cowboys: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Lions: +105 (bet $10 to win $20.50 total)
Bears: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
Broncos: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
Bengals: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Patriots: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Vikings: +210 (bet $10 to win $31 total)
Seahawks: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)
Rams: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total) 
Jaguars: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
49ers: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Ravens: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.50 total)
Chiefs: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Bills: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)

Here’s what to know about the oddsboard:

Off To A Rough Start: Only once in NFL history has a team started the season 0-4 and made the playoffs. That team was the 1992 San Diego Chargers, who flipped that start into an 11-5 regular-season record. Five teams are winless through four weeks this season: Miami, Tennessee, Houston, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Chargers. Each is heavily favored to miss the postseason but will try to make history in 2026.

Biggest Surprises: The Packers and Chargers opened the year at +122 and +140 to miss the playoffs, respectively. However, Green Bay is 2-2 and now -330 to miss the postseason, and the aforementioned Chargers have yet to earn a win and sit at -1200 to miss the postseason. However, next to the Chargers, arguably the biggest surprise so far this season is the Houston Texans. They opened the year at +150 to miss the playoffs, but now they sit at -340. Last season, the Texans went 12-5 and had the best defense in the NFL. They eventually fell to the Patriots in the AFC divisional round, but were a team that many thought could challenge for the AFC crown in 2026. Shockingly, through four games, they are allowing 27.3 points per game, the sixth-highest mark in the league, alongside 260 passing yards per game, the fifth-most in the NFL. It should be pointed out that Houston’s four losses have come by a combined 25 points, including a 5-point loss to Buffalo, a 2-point loss to Indianapolis and 4-point loss to Dallas. 

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Through five weeks of the 2025 college football season, some first-year head coaches have exceeded their expectations, and others… not so much.

UCLA’s Bob Chesney is in his first year as head coach of a Power Four program, and has brought UCLA into its first 4-0 overall and 2-0 conference play start since the 2022 season. For a coach like Penn State’s Matt Campbell, suffering a loss to Northwestern on the road was not supposed to be in the cards in his first year in the Big Ten. Michigan, Utah, Oklahoma State and more also all have first-year coaches, and have already found success or failure all along that spectrum.

For FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt, here’s a look at how first-year coaches are fulfilling their expectations:

Below Expectations

Kyle Whittingham

(Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “It’s easy to forget what Kyle Whittingham inherited … they want to contend for a playoff spot. I think that’s a realistic expectation for Michigan and Michigan fans. They want to return to the top tier of the Big Ten. They owned the Big Ten for a few years there … it might be unfair to Kyle Whittingham in year one, but that’s the expectation. Now what have we gotten? Well, all offseason we kind of wondered what this marriage was going to look like. More specifically, the marriage between his new offensive coordinator (Jason Beck) and Bryce Underwood and what that offense is going to look like. 

“I think we have less questions about the defensive side of the ball. Because you just assume like ‘OK, Michigan can play solid defense. They’ve got solid players.’ And the assumption was, because of what Jason Beck was able to do at Utah last year, that he would come in and transform this offense into something more potent … they’re going into this bye week, and they’re trying to figure out what this offense going to look like, and what do they need to do to succeed. 

“I think this is a progress report that even [Whittingham] would admit to, and they are below expectations.”

Matt Campbell

(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “The expectation (for Matt Campbell) is to go further than what James Franklin had given him. James Franklin had given him a program that had an insanely high floor, but unfortunately a low ceiling. James Franklin beat everybody that he should beat. And they could not beat the teams they desperately wanted him to beat … For Matt Campbell, it’s win the big games in the Big Ten. We expected Matt Campbell’s floor to be high as well, coming from Iowa State and the program he had built at Iowa State … that floor is way lower. And the last two weeks, it has gotten bad … this is not what they signed up for. 

“I love Matt Campbell. I think he’s a great coach. But he clearly has taken a step back. The last six quarters of football have not been good. I think this is more of a rebuild than we realize. That roster is an Iowa State roster. And at times, they’re not even playing to that level. They’ve got some work cut out for them. Progress report is below expectations for Matt Campbell.”

Meeting Expectations

Jon Sumrall

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

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Klatt’s thoughts: “Jon Sumrall at Florida year-one goals: return to the top half of the SEC. I thought that this was even a low, low bar for Florida. This is a proud program. Now they have struggled, and they have been underachieving for a number of years, it feels like. But [Sumrall] is a coach that seems like he’s going to get the most out of them. I know that was a disappointing performance against Missouri last week. But the game against Ole Miss, you’re like, ‘All right, you know, I’m into that.’ 

“Now they’ve done that before. And so Sumrall, what he has to do, is he has to make sure that he’s not getting the [Billy] Napier big win over Ole Miss and then fall by the wayside, because that’s kind of where we’re at right now. So, I don’t think he’s below expectations, and I don’t think that he is exceeding expectations. I think right now if I’m a Gator fan, that Ole Miss win showed me that I can play at the high end. Last week showed me like, all right, we’ve got work to do, but I’m meeting expectations.”

James Franklin

(Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “Year-one goals: compete for an ACC championship. That might be too high – if I’m giving a pass to Jon Sumrall, this might be too high. But I put it up there because it’s the ACC, right? It’s Virginia Tech. I think that’s what they want eventually. I thought that was really tough for him to lose his first kind of big game against Pitt, and I think there’s going to be some people who are like, ‘Well this is James Franklin, this is what he does. This is what he did back at Penn State.’

“I think that’s unfair … I think he’s got people thinking about Virginia Tech again, which they weren’t for a number of years. This is a program that’s got a great fan base. They got Metallica playing as they’re coming in. They’ve got ‘Enter Sandman,’ all of that going on. And he needs to produce at a level that’s got them competing toward a potential ACC championship game. I think there are some huge games coming later.”

Lane Kiffin

(Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “What are his expectations, and what are his goals? For LSU fans, it’s to be in the top tier of the SEC and make the playoff. Not just contend for the playoff, make the playoff. This is what you expect when you pull this guy out of a playoff race at Ole Miss, when you deal with all the crap that comes with Lane Kiffn and the attention that he gets … He’s got a ton of resources down there … I do know one thing, this LSU defense can play. They were almost going to come back and win that game against Ole Miss in the middle of that environment. They’re kind of where they need to be at this point. They have, what I think, is one of the most important things to have in the SEC, a pass rush. They have things on the defensive side that will cause problems for their direct schedule and competitors. 

“I think Lane is meeting expectations. I don’t think he can exceed yet. The only way for Lane to exceed is for Lane to go all the way to the playoff and go all the way to the national semifinals and maybe even the national championship.”

Morgan Scalley

(Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “Now he’s been at Utah for a long time, so it’s not his first year at Utah, but it is his first year as the head coach. The goal for Morgan Scally is to keep their kind of tier-one position in the Big 12. And he has absolutely done that. Utah has gone out and taken care of business. Quarterback Devon Dampier has played very well. Their offense is playing well. It does not hurt that they’re sitting there, and they’re ranked No. 12 in the country, and Michigan is unranked with Kyle Whittingham having left Salt Lake.

“They’re on track to play BYU in the Holy War later in the year. I think the winner of that game is going to go to Dallas and play for the Big 12 title. And if you’re playing for the Big 12 title, you are 60 minutes away from a spot in the College Football Playoff. There’s only two ranked games left on their schedule. Both are at home. I think it’s one of the tougher places to play in the Big 12. Houston and BYU both go to Utah. … Utah is right where they expect to be, want to be, and as a first-year head coach he’s doing a really nice job meeting those expectations.”

Exceeding Expectations

Eric Morris

(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “I think Oklahoma State fans were used to Mike Gundy playing at a very high level. Mike Gundy had a bunch of 10-win years. He was excellent at Oklahoma State. It did not end well. And granted, we know that. One win, Mike Gundy fired. I think they want Oklahoma State to be back as a Big 12 title contender because that’s what they were for a long time under Mike Gundy. They were a top-tier, tier-one, Big 12 title contender, and that’s what they want from Eric Morris.

“This program was in rough shape, and then they went out Week 1 and lost to Tulsa. … Don’t worry, they just turned around and beat Oregon, and they put up all those rushing yards – 270-plus rushing yards in that one. So they immediately come back and, by the way, they beat Oregon, and they’re averaging over 600 yards per game over the last three games. It’s like the traditional, old-school, Big 12 offense which Oklahoma State fans love. … This, to me, is a team that is absolutely going to contend for a Big 12 title this year. I think they’re that good, in particular on the offensive side.”

Bob Chesney

(Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “If you’re UCLA, and you’re a fan of UCLA, and you’re really honest with yourselves, you want two things: you want relevancy and some competitiveness. They weren’t relevant, and they weren’t competitive before Bob Chesney … this is a much lower bar than Kyle Whittingham has at Michigan, and that’s OK. Here’s the deal. I think there are times when it’s easier to go into a tear down rather than go into a remodel … He can have his fingerprints on that program right away.  He has full autonomy to go in there and do what he wishes and do what he pleases, and everyone’s going to follow him … this is a (Curt) Cignetti model. You bring your coaching staff, you bring your players, it’s all yours. 

“They’re off to an incredible start. They’re 4-0. They’re running the ball like crazy, they’re one of the best teams running the football in the country … Here’s the thing, there’s buzz about UCLA … The last five years that was not the case. Bob Chesney is exceeding expectations right now at UCLA.”

Will Stein

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Klatt’s thoughts: “If you’re Kentucky coming off the Stoops era, I think for Will Stein it’s like, ‘Can you establish us as a true middle SEC team?’ Can we just be middle to top half? Because I think Kentucky fans would be like, ‘You know, I would take that right now.’ And Will’s got Kentucky just outside of the top 25. I think that has been a great start.

“Now granted, they didn’t play great in the second half against Alabama, but man, how about a couple of their road wins in SEC play? They go to A&M and get a win, they go to South Carolina and get a win. That was an emotional win, obviously, with the 2-point conversion. … Will’s a really good coach … Now he’s got his own program. Played his college ball at Louisville, he’s been around that area. I think he can succeed there. I don’t know what level Kentucky can ever get to in the SEC, but if you’re asking him to establish a top-half SEC program, you’re kind of seeing it.”

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The Milwaukee Brewers visit the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. ET from Petco Park in San Diego, CA, with Milwaukee leading the NLDS 2-1.

The Brewers won Game 1 by a score of 3-2 and Game 2 by 4-3, both at American Family Field, before San Diego took Game 3 by 4-3 on Tuesday. Jackson Chourio has driven in 5 runs in the series, and William Contreras homered in both Game 1 and Game 3, going 3 for 5 in the Game 3 loss.

For San Diego, Jake Cronenworth homered and had two hits in Game 3, and Michael King has struck out 14 this postseason, including 6 over five innings in Game 2. Walker Buehler gets the ball for the Padres, and Milwaukee has not yet announced its Game 4 starter.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Brewers vs. Padres

• When: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
• TV: FS1
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Players To Watch

Manny Machado has six hits and five walks in 21 postseason plate appearances, with two doubles and a home run. He went 2 for 4 with a double in Game 1 of this series, drew two walks in Game 2 and went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a walk in Game 3.

Milwaukee pitchers allowed their first home run of the series in Game 3, a 4-3 San Diego win that cut the Brewers’ series lead to 2-1. Machado went 5 for 24 without an extra-base hit in six regular-season games against the Brewers, and 12 of his 30 home runs came at Petco Park.

San Diego’s first run of Game 2 came on a Ty France RBI single in the first inning, and he added another RBI single in the seventh. He is 7 for 19 in the postseason, a .368 average, including 0 for 4 in Game 3, after hitting .295 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI in the regular season.

Milwaukee held right-handed hitters to a .230 average and a .683 OPS in the regular season. France went 7 for 18 with a home run in six games against the Brewers, and he hit .303 with a .385 on-base percentage at Petco Park.

Milwaukee’s walk-off in Game 2 came on a Jackson Chourio two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, one game after his two-run home run in the third inning of Game 1. He has five RBI in the series and went 0 for 4 with an RBI in Game 3. In the regular season, he hit .291 with 25 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

Game 4 is at Petco Park, where San Diego’s staff posted a 3.48 ERA and held opponents to a .223 average in the regular season. Chourio hit .272 with a .749 OPS on the road, compared with a .933 OPS at home.

Christian Yelich scored twice in Game 2. He doubled in the fifth inning and came home on a Sal Frelick single, then walked in the ninth, stole second and scored on the walk-off. He is 4 for 10 with a double and two walks in the series, including 2 for 4 with a walk in Game 3, and he drove in 49 of his 59 regular-season RBI with runners in scoring position.

The Padres also allowed 106 stolen bases in the regular season, when Milwaukee stole 162 as a team and Yelich added 11.

Brewers vs. Padres Odds

Learn more about the Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres NLDS Game 4 and check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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