Erling Haaland alleged that Porto’s Pablo Rosario grabbed his bottom during Manchester City’s heated Champions League victory at the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday.

The two players were involved in a tense exchange during stoppage time of a tumultuous match, following an earlier confrontation in the tunnel at half-time.

The dispute occurred shortly after the 26-year-old Norway striker scored his second goal of the league-phase fixture to secure a 2-0 win.

Haaland was fouled by Rosario, prompting a further scuffle that resulted in a yellow card for the forward. However, he suggested there was more to the incident.

Speaking to Norway’s TV2, he said: “I was really keen on a hat-trick and it seemed like he (Rosario) was very eager to stop me from getting it. It was a little interesting, that.

“You’ll be seeing a picture where he’s grabbing my bottom. It’ll be interesting to see that picture.”

City are awaiting confirmation on whether tournament organisers Uefa will take disciplinary action after several flashpoints, the most serious occurring as players departed the pitch at the break.

Porto were left aggrieved that City’s Marc Guehi avoided a red card after striking Gabri Veiga in the head with his arm during an aerial challenge late in the first half.

An immediate altercation ensued on the field as Porto players vented their frustration to officials and opponents, with tempers failing to subside by the interval.

Tensions spilled over as the teams left the pitch, with reports of pushing and shoving in the tunnel requiring security personnel to step in. Footage also appeared to show City captain Ruben Dias placing his hand on Porto coach Francesco Farioli’s chest near the tunnel entrance.

UEFA will review reports from referee Szymon Marciniak and match delegate Stephanie Ford before deciding whether to open formal proceedings. City could face a financial penalty if action is pursued.

While City were worthy winners, Farioli argued the outcome could have been different had the opposition been reduced to 10 men.

He said: “The footage of the foul on Gabri Veiga is very clear and (Josko) Gvardiol should also have been shown a second yellow card. He behaved in an unsporting manner when he was already on a yellow.

“At this level, and playing against 10 men for an entire second half… things could have been different.”

Veiga added: “He (Marciniak) is a world-class referee and I respect him, but when an opponent leads with his elbow and then there is blood, there is not much to say. We all make mistakes.”

Haaland brushed aside the half-time friction to put City ahead with a 47th-minute header. Porto offered a spirited response and crafted several clear opportunities before Haaland ultimately put the result beyond doubt.

The Norwegian striker has now scored five goals in his last three appearances, three of them headers. He attributed his aerial form to extra drills with his father Alf-Inge, the former City and Leeds midfielder.

He said: “Over the years, I’ve worked a lot on my heading. I’ve improved it massively and it’s become a strength of my game.

“Actually, two days ago I was practising headers with my dad in the garden!”

We’ve come to it at last — Week 1 of the 2026 fantasy football season. There is no better time to reveal our boldest predictions for the campaign ahead — which will come true?

Luther Burden III emerges as a fantasy WR1

Burden returned from his groin injury two and half weeks before the season opener, meaning he’ll be all systems go for Week 1. Meanwhile, head coach Ben Johnson is talking about challenging for the highest-scoring offense of all time, which should get the attention of fantasy managers because he has the talent to do it.

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Burden is one of the players Johnson is continuously talked up this offseason, after the 22-year-old caught fire down the stretch as a rookie. From Week 10 when his playing time increased, Burden was the WR28 in fantasy points per game while playing at a 1,000-yard pace. In addition to posting the third best yards per route run among all wideouts (behind only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba), Burden also finished top-20 among receivers in both targets per route run and yards after the catch. The latter is particularly impressive considering he caught far fewer passes (47) than the players ahead of him in that category.

With 150 combined targets left behind by the departures of DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, the opportunity is there for multiple pass-catchers to thrive. You should be happy if you have any Bears on your fantasy roster, but Burden and tight end Colston Loveland are positioned for transcendent campaigns. — Justin Boone

Colston Loveland is the TE1 

Boone put this on a tee for me, I’ll smack it down the fairway.

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Ben Johnson is one of the best offensive designers in the league and the Bears will have to outscore a weak (and injury-ravaged) defense on the other side. I see the upside for Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, but they both have obvious injury concerns. And why can’t Loveland be the target hog in this offense? Over the last four games of 2025 (playoffs included), he went bonkers: 48 targets, 28 catches, 378 yards, two touchdowns. 

Let’s just appreciate how absurd that final Loveland run was. If you projected those stats for a full 17-game season, we’re looking at 204 targets, 119 catches, 1,606 yards and 8.5 touchdowns. That ceiling might be unrealistic, but Loveland has a legitimate chance to outscore all the tight ends in 2026. He’s been the most fun pick you can make in the fourth round all summer, with Ladd McConkey (save us, Mike McDaniel) not far behind. — Scott Pianowski

I know what you’re thinking. Two top-10 wide receivers from the same offense? Yes.

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Dak Prescott is a walking 4,000-yard passer when healthy, and he made a push for the passing title last season. Dallas finished second in passing yards and seventh in scoring during Brian Schottenheimer’s first season as head coach. More importantly, all 11 offensive starters would be back if not for the injury to Tyler Smith. This is not a projection built on a new scheme or chemistry that still has to be created. We already saw it work. Now give Pickens a full offseason in Dallas and another year learning how his game fits alongside Lamb. Pickens can continue what he started last season while a healthy Lamb gets back to being one of football’s most dominant receivers.

Dallas can be balanced on the ground, dangerous at tight end and still lethal through the air because this passing game runs through arguably the best receiver duo in football. If Prescott pushes 4,500 yards and 30-plus touchdowns, there is enough volume for both. My bold prediction is that Lamb and Pickens both finish inside the top 10. — Ray Garvin

De’Zhaun Stribling finishes as the rookie WR1

In any other situation, the fantasy football world would be fawning over the 33rd overall pick — who drew rave reviews in training camp and preseason action — only needing to compete with (a 33-year-old) Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. (on a retirement tour) for targets on an offense that is perennially top 10 in scoring. Yet here we are, with Stribling only able to climb as high as WR47 in consensus rankings during draft season.

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I get it. His college profile had questions. The draft community poorly projected where he would be selected. But shouldn’t we be picking players as if Kyle Shanahan is correct? That the 6-foot-2, 207 lbs receiver with 4.36 speed and some of the best blocking tape in the class and outside-to-inside versatility might just be better than believed?

If that reads like a supercharged version of Jauan Jennings, I’ll take his 2024 season as a nice rookie season projection: 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. This season, with Carnell Tate dealing with the Titans likely disappointment, Makai Lemon’s slow preseason and KC Concepcion glued to Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders … that might be enough for the rookie WR1 title. — Josh Norris

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Emeka Egbuka leads the NFL in receptions

I don’t care about his second half of the season skid in production while he and his quarterback played through injuries. None of the other, albeit quality, pass-catchers on the team bother me. My only concern about Emeka Egbuka’s outlook in 2026 is a toe injury that bothered him in training camp. However, considering he’s all but a lock to play in Week 1, I’m not even sure that’s a hindrance.

Egbuka put up a solid rookie season while playing out of position as the Buccaneers’ X-receiver, while Mike Evans missed most of last year. Even with Evans gone now, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Egbuka would move to the Z position in his offense. That is essentially the role Drake London has held down the last two seasons in Atlanta, where he lined up off the ball more than on and was in the slot on over 37% of his snaps. The 2025 Falcons lead the NFL in passing yards on plays where a receiver was in motion at the snap. The Bucs, under the same scheme, will offer better quarterback and offensive line play to this scheme.

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Egbuka benefits from that while also playing a receiver role that fits his prospect profile as a big slot and movement Z-receiver much better than we saw last season. — Matt Harmon

Chase Brown finishes inside the top 5 at RB

Luckily, we’ve already seen proof of concept when testing out the idea of Chase Brown as a top-five RB. Last year was Brown’s first as the unquestioned starter for the Bengals. He ranked inside the top 12 in every opportunity metric, from overall rush rate (65% – 11th) to target share (15% – 6th). Plus, the former Illini held on to the lead job at the goal line, out-touching Samaje Perine 2:1 when Joe Burrow was active.

However, it’s the results that should’ve had us eager to click on Brown at the 1-2 turn.

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His per-touch stats were ahead of some of the first-round darlings and just a shade behind the elites. And as just one of nine rushers with more than 60% of his team’s carries combined with a double-digit target rate, Chase already has one half of the “talent plus situation” equation locked up.

Now, let’s consider his environment. Let’s entertain the idea that the integration of under-center concepts will give Brown more advantageous looks at the LOS. Let’s buy into the idea that their defensive additions will take (some of) the burden off Burrow’s shoulders and put it on Brown’s. In that reality, Brown vaults into the top five ranks by season’s end. — Chris Allen

Kenneth Walker III finishes inside the top 3 at RB

Some of the best fantasy RB seasons of the past two decades have been with coach Andy Reid. From Brian Westbrook to LeSean McCoy to Jamal Charles. He didn’t have Patrick Mahomes at QB when those players were hitting either. Mahomes will be effective but won’t be leaned on as much, and the Chiefs defense will flirt with top-10 numbers as they typically do. It’s a great set up for fantasy points, especially with their interior OL being the best of Walker’s career.

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There’s proof of concept with Walker having an elite upside, too. In the final six games last year including playoffs, Walker averaged 19.4 half PPR points despite tough matchups. Don’t be surprised if this is a career year in touchdowns and receptions. — Hayden Winks

Jaylen Waddle finally fixes his fantasy perception

Jaylen Waddle has largely been viewed as a disappointment. For the last three seasons in Miami, he’s finished outside the top 20 fantasy WRs in PPG and has left several games due to smaller injuries. Although he hasn’t missed a ton of games in his career, there has been a handful of weeks lost due to mid-game exits. That has driven his ADP down to WR21 in the consensus, and makes me buy back in on a player who has hurt me before.

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I can’t promise that he will not miss a snap in 18 weeks, but I do believe that as long as he’s on the field, he’ll be winning managers’ games. Sean Payton and the Broncos paid a hefty price, both in draft capital and financially. He is the clear WR1 on a team whose QB led the league in passing attempts. The Broncos, with limited WR talent, ranked seventh in team WR fantasy points last season, as two WRs ranked inside the top eight in red zone targets (the only team), and Sutton ranking to five in routes and 15th in fantasy PPG. That fantasy passing offense just gave up a first and third round draft pick along with $29M per year to hand select their team’s next WR1. — Joel Smyth

On Saturday night, Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn collide in a high-profile clash for Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title, where the winner is sure to enhance their star power within the sport.

Now, British fan-favourite heavyweight, Dave Allen, has offered his thoughts on the fight and predicted one man to get the victory before the halfway point.

Garcia got his hands on the WBC marble back in February when he dropped Mario Barrios to kickstart a dominant performance that ultimately culminated in a one-sided decision win, rather than a first knockout triumph since 2023.

Meanwhile, Benn has not won inside the distance since his last welterweight outing back in April 2022, but hopes that he will have consequential punch power upon his return to the division, after five straight full-distance contests above the 147lb limit.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Allen looked ahead to the bout and believes that Garcia will score a statement stoppage win to retain his throne and hand Benn the first knockout defeat of his career.

“If we go off his last couple of fights; [Chris] Eubank Jr. and [Regis] Prograis, I weren’t massively impressed with the performances but he has beat two very good fighters, so you have to give him credit.

“Do I think that Conor Benn beats Garcia? I don’t see it, no. I think that Garcia is a level or two above, add in the weight and I think Garcia wins by stoppage and I think he probably does it inside six [rounds], as well.”

Garcia-Benn takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and can be purchased and watched live via DAZN PPV.

Patrick Mahomes’ place atop FOX Sports’ Nick Wright’s NFL quarterback power rankings has been so consistent the segment adopted his name.

Mahomes remained atop Wright’s summit, and can remind people why he’s the king of the mountain when he starts the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos, nine months after sustaining a season-ending torn ACL.

But if he stumbles, a group of worthy quarterbacks will try to dethrone him with their Week 1 performances. As for the rest of the rankings, Wright cracked down from his preseason edition, cutting a group of 32 down to 28.

“It’s go time,” Wright said. “It was the offseason, you know, hopes springs eternal… There’s only spots for seven rows.”

Here’s where each of those quarterbacks fell on Mahomes Mountain ahead of Week 1: 

Off The Mountain

Wright: “These four quarterbacks are not climbing the mountain. Geno… it makes me upset. Tua, who I don’t think is long to be the starter. Jacoby, shout out for getting paid. DeShaun, who’s not long to be the starter.”

“Of these guys, the most likely to make the mountain is Geno.”

7th Row: ‘Fans Believe’

Wright: “Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart are in one category: “Young players. Fans believe in them.”

Wright: “Bryce got to the playoffs, that’s kind of the end of the good story. Aaron’s turning 43. Malik Willis has no weapons at all. Kirk kind of keeping the seat warm for Fernando Mendoza.”

6th Row: ‘Polarizing Players’

Wright: “I would say these are polarizing players. All of them.

“Bo Nix, more wins than any quarterback ever through two years. Good numbers, been in the playoffs both years. Jayden Daniels, awesome rookie season, injury-riddled second year. Brock Purdy, once-upon-a-time, mainstay of the show. Last couple years, couple injuries, little disappointing play. CJ Stroud, his star is, you know, dimmed a bit.I think the book is in on Kyler, but there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Vikings this year. Daniel Jones, who was in the midst of what we thought was a career renaissance, then popped his achillies.”

5th Row: ‘Teams Are Content’

Wright: “If you wanted to say, ‘anyone of these guys is the most underrated quarterback in the league,’ make the argument… All of these guys on the mountain are outside of the top 10, you can make a case for anyone of them to in the top 10, or a strong case against it.

“My feeling on these guys is simple, if they are your starting quarterback, you’re content.”

4th Row: ‘Unquestionably, Great Resumes’

Wright: “Four guys with pretty, unquestionably, great resumes.

“Joe Burrow throws as pretty of a ball as anybody in the league. One of two active quarterbacks to beat Mahomes in the playoffs… Dak Prescott, if he’s healthy, they have an elite offense. If he’s healthy, he produces… The Prince (Trevor Lawrence) in Year 2 with Liam Coen with more from Travis Hunter, with more from Parker Washington, coming off his best individual season, and a great playoff game, even though he lost it.

“Sam Darnold, back-to-back 4,000 yard seasons. The defending Super Bowl champion for one of the Super Bowl favorites.”

3rd Row: ‘Could Win MVP’

Wright: “Two young guys and one veteran, any of whom could win MVP this year.”

“Drake Maye absolutely could win MVP this year. It’s not a bold prediction to say Drake could win MVP this year, even though he’s not my pick. Caleb, I think has a very good chance at MVP this year because I think they’re going to have to score a lot of points. Lamar, basically every year is an MVP favorite.”

2nd Row: ‘Missed The Moment’ To Dethrone Mahomes

Wright: “The defending league MVP, and the five-time offseason MVP, in Josh Allen. Arguably the two strongest arms in the league… Patrick is still atop because the guy’s who could have taken… missed the moment.”

1st Row: ‘The Best In the League’

Wright: “I understand it’s now a controversial opinion to say Mahomes is the best quarterback in the league… We’ve debated a bunch if the Chiefs are a playoff team or not, even having the fifth-best Super Bowl odds, is that too high. Is Patrick Mahomes, coming off a torn ACL, the only quarterback on this mountain that, with that exact Chiefs roster, with that exact supporting case, we would be talking about at all as a legitimate Super Bowl threat. I would argue, yes.”

AJ Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders during a game vs Dwight Ramos and Levanga Hokkaido in the Japan B.League Manila preseason game at Mall of Asia Arena. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Gunma Crane Thunders began the Manila leg of the Japan B.League preseason in rousing fashion, silencing Levanga Hokkaido, 98-81, at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night.

AJ Edu played sparingly for the Crane Thunders, finishing with three points, seven rebounds and four assists, but his Gunma teammates more than made up for his off-night.

READ: Dwight Ramos hopes fans bring Gilas energy to B.League Manila games

“It’s always special to play at home,” Edu said. “We want to keep growing as a team and go through these wins.”

HOMETOWN LOVE

WATCH: AJ Edu takes pictures with fans after Gunma’s win over Levanga. #BLeague | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/5aiiySDc5D

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) September 9, 2026

Stanley Johnson led Gunma with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Trey McKinney-Jones added 16 points, while Yuma Fujii had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.

“It was a great experience and an honor [to play here],” said Johnson, a former NBA journeyman. “Starting the preseason this way is such a great pleasure.”

Dwight Ramos was held to 13 points for Levanga, while Keisei Tominaga’s 19-point performance went to waste in the defeat.

READ: AJ Edu’s dirty work helps propel Gilas to much-needed wins

Ramos and Edu returned to Mall of Asia Arena just weeks after playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the fourth window of the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The two Gilas mainstays will see action again Thursday night in the rematch at the same venue.

Man Utd face Manchester City on Sunday in the first derby of the season but the visiting team have been handed an extra 48 hours to prepare.

Michael Carrick said the fixture schedule had done Manchester United no favours after handing them 48 hours less to prepare than Manchester City for the first derby of the season.

The United head coach said the schedule “wasn’t ideal” after Enzo Maresca’s side beat Porto in Portugal on Tuesday night, while his own side don’t kick off their own Champions League campaign until Thursday night when Sabah FK visit Old Trafford.

That hands the Blues longer to prepare for Sunday’s Premier League showdown but while Carrick hinted at his frustration around the calendar and the way the games had fallen, he did his best to play it down as a major concern.

The difference is slightly offset by the fact that City had to return from Portugal after their 2-0 win on Tuesday night, but they will still get more preparation time than United for the game on Sunday, which kicks off at 4.30pm.

“I’m not concerned,” said Carrick. “I wouldn’t say it’s ideal in some ways, but it’s not something that we’ve given too much thought about.

“We’re not in control of that. We’ve got to deal with the cards that we’re dealt and that’s what it is, so we’ll make the most of it.”

Before turning their attention to the derby, United aim to get their return to the Champions League off to a winning start against the Azerbaijani champions but Carrick knows it won’t be an easy game.

“I think they’re a very well-coached team,” he said. “You can see that quite clearly, their ideas, the principles that they have that are repeatable, and they have some really good things.

“I think they’ve obviously won a lot of football matches over the last 12 months or so, and so they’re playing with a lot of confidence and you can see the way they play and take the ball and play through the pitch.

“They have some really good connections and press well as a team. So, we obviously are fully aware of what we’re up against and the challenge that we face.”

Luke Shaw was absent from Manchester United’s final training session before their return to the Champions League on Thursday night.

The 31-year-old is the only natural senior left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad after the failure to reinforce in the transfer window. It is understood Shaw is on a recovery day hence why the defender missed the session.

Shaw started every Premier League game last season but has a long record of fitness issues during his Old Trafford career. In his absence Harry Amass trained with the first team, as did teenage midfielder Jim Thwaites and young goalkeeper Solomon Honor.

See the full training squad here >>>

The New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET from Lumen Field, Seattle, WA to open the NFL regular season.

Seattle is looking to build on a 10-game winning streak that closed out last season with a Super Bowl LX win over these same Patriots. New England counters with the NFL’s most efficient passing attack from a season ago, as Drake Maye posted a league-best 72 percent completion rate in 2025.

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

How to Watch Patriots vs. Seahawks

• When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET
• Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock

Players to Watch

With TreVeyon Henderson ruled out for the opener, Stevenson steps into one of the clearest volume roles in this matchup. He is expected to handle the bulk of New England’s snaps and touches out of the backfield, with Corey Kiner serving as the top understudy and additional depth likely coming from the practice squad.

That workload is what makes him so important against Seattle. The Patriots can lean on Stevenson on early downs and in the passing game, which gives him a direct path to shaping tempo and keeping the offense on schedule. If New England is going to control this game, Stevenson is the player most likely to set that tone.

For Seattle, the passing game spotlight naturally lands on Smith-Njigba because this opener puts him across from one of New England’s top cover corners. He is projected to remain a central piece of the Seahawks’ receiving group, and his role carries even more weight in a game where individual matchups on the perimeter could decide key possessions.

Last season, Smith-Njigba produced 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and that kind of production is why he is the receiver to track every snap. He gives Seattle a proven target who can stress coverage in multiple areas of the field. A strong night from him would go a long way toward opening the entire Seahawks offense.

On the other side of that same battle, Gonzalez is worth close attention because New England needs him to hold up against Seattle’s top receiving threat. He just signed a 4-year, $135 million extension, and the Patriots are counting on him to be a tone-setter in the secondary right away.

His recent big-game work adds real intrigue here. In last season’s playoffs, Gonzalez had 7 pass breakups and 1 interception across 4 games. In the Super Bowl meeting with Seattle, he allowed only 1 completion in coverage, a 16-yard catch by Smith-Njigba, and broke up 3 passes. If he can disrupt that matchup again, New England’s defense has a much better chance to keep this opener within its preferred script.

Seattle’s depth at receiver makes Horton an interesting name to monitor because his availability could shape how much the Seahawks can rotate behind their top three wideouts. He enters the opener listed as questionable with a hamstring issue, and if he is cleared, he is expected to work in a smaller role as the No. 4 receiver behind Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp.

That does not make him a headliner, but it does make him relevant. Horton gives Seattle another option if the game turns into a test of depth and situational targets. Even in limited usage, one timely catch could help extend a drive or force New England to account for one more body in the passing game.

Patriots vs. Seahawks Odds

Learn more about the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, plus check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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The 2026 NFL season is here, and I cannot wait to see how some of the trends that emerged in the spring and summer manifest on the field this fall and winter. 

Each week, I’ll be diving into the All-22 coaches’ film before offering five insights to watch. My first set of takeaways covers potential Super Bowl-shifting developments from the offseason.

In 2025, the Los Angeles Rams’ success with their 13 personnel package (1 RB, 3 TE, and 1 WR) captivated offensive coordinators looking for a creative way to combat two-high shells and light boxes that limit explosive plays in the passing game. By using heavy personnel typically associated with the running game, offensive playcallers are forcing defensive coordinators to run their base package or short-yardage/goal-line personnel in normal down-and-distance situations from anywhere on the field.  

The clever package features three “bigs” on the perimeter with the versatility to block effectively at the point, while also flashing the route-running ability to run vertical routes down the seam or crossers at intermediate range. The individual and collective talent of the Rams’ tight ends (Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen) enabled head coach Sean McVay to dictate the terms to the defense, while creating more big-play chances for Matthew Stafford by using max protection and play-action passes to attack down the field. As a result, the league MVP completed almost 70% of his passes and produced 20 touchdowns out of the grouping last year, per ESPN. 

The Rams’ Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have been one of the best coach-QB pairings over the past five years, and that’s partly due to their mutual willingness to evolve. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

With the Rams also using an assortment of bunch and clustered formations to create an unbalanced offensive line with extra gaps to defend in the running game, and “snug” alignments to test the discipline and communication skills of linebackers and safeties who are not accustomed to dealing with the switch calls needed to handle pick and rub routes, McVay discovered a cheat code that helped his offense light up scoreboards around the league. 

Given the Rams’ success as the league’s trendsetter in 13 personnel deployment, teams spent the offseason studying the package and made roster decisions with run-heavy packages in mind. A whopping 22 tight ends were taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, including nine in the top 100 overall. Five teams (the Broncos, Browns, Dolphins, Jaguars, Ravens) picked multiple tight ends to give them the flexibility to dabble with “13” personnel this season. Jacksonville, which took Nate Boerkircher in the second round and Tanner Koziol in the fifth, is coached by McVay disciple Liam Coen.

As more teams tap into multiple tight-end sets to create and exploit mismatches on the ground and through the air, the increased use of 13 personnel across the league is the No. 1 trend to watch early this season. 

The reunion between former Titans A.J. Brown and Mike Vrabel should produce fireworks in New England. The acquisition of an All-Pro with six 1,000-yard seasons, including a pair of seasons with 1,400-plus yards, gives the Patriots a legitimate No. 1 receiver to build the passing game around. Brown’s size, strength, and physicality make him a natural fit at “X,” where he can overpower defenders bold enough to press him at the line of scrimmage. 

As one of only four players in NFL history to average 75-plus receiving yards per game and 15-plus yards per reception, per Next Gen Stats, Brown consistently whips bump-and-run coverage on the perimeter. Last season, he earned a 34.7% target rate against press coverage and a 2.6 yards-per-route average, which was fifth-highest in the league. During his Eagles career (2022-2025), he led the league with a 3.4 yards-per-route average against press, the most of any receiver with 100 such routes during that span. 

Interestingly, Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels likened the veteran Brown to vaunted tight end Rob Gronkowski over the summer because of his superior physical dimensions and dominant playmaking ability on the perimeter. If that is any indication of how he will use Brown, we will likely see the big-bodied wideout on the backside of various 3×1 and empty formations, in turn forcing opponents to declare their coverage and telegraph possible double teams on his side.  

With the isolation alignment also allowing the Patriots to create and exploit potential mismatches, the presence of the three-time Pro Bowler should help third-year QB Drake Maye take his game up a notch with easier throws available on the perimeter. Considering he led the league in completion percentage and passer rating without a true WR1 at his disposal in 2025, the addition of Brown should add a dimension to an offense that sputtered in the NFL’s championship rounds (AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LX).  

McDaniels will enhance big-play potential by moving the veteran around within the formation to prevent teams from using simplistic schemes to minimize his impact. By putting Brown inside at slot receiver, the Pats can take advantage of his speed and quickness against nickel backs and linebackers in the passing game, while also utilizing his blocking skills to create room for runners on the edges. 

Given that New England’s passing game also features various hot routes and sight adjustments that instruct the receiver to alter his route based on coverage, Brown becomes a valuable chess piece who can counter the aggressive pressure tactics some opponents use to disrupt the quarterback’s rhythm.

His route-running skills and scheme mastery will be tested, though, in Wednesday’s season opener against a Seattle Seahawks defense that will challenge the outside receivers with aggressive bump-and-run tactics.

A defensive player has not won the NFL’s MVP award since Lawrence Taylor took home the hardware in 1986 after a spectacular campaign in which he totaled 20.5 sacks while leading the New York Giants to a 14-2 record and eventual Super Bowl XXI win. 

This year, all-world edge defender Myles Garrett is well-positioned to make a run at the illustrious honor as the Rams’ new “face of the franchise” on defense. Despite the return of fellow future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, the football world is paying closer attention to how the two-time Defensive Player of the Year makes his mark on a team with “Super Bowl-or-bust” aspirations. 

Over the past three years with the Cleveland Browns, former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz moved Garrett around to prevent opponents from honing in on his whereabouts before the snap. The five-time All-Pro can win with basic maneuvers out of a three-point stance or get into his bag with a collection of NBA-like moves that showcase his athleticism and agility. While most teams send a second and sometimes third blocker in his direction, Garrett is playing with a group of blue-chip pass-rushers who will punish opponents for overcommitting to the NFL’s all-time single-season sack holder. 

Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Donald are all capable of registering double-digit sacks with their respective array of one-on-one moves that will expose a blocker who lacks the talent and/or technique to win at the point of attack without help. The trio’s individual and collective dominance will force opponents to make tough decisions about when and how to double Garrett. 

Moreover, the group’s diverse talent will require defensive coordinator Chris Shula to create a playbook and call sheet that functions like organized chaos, with Garrett allowed to freelance without compromising the defense’s overall structure. Given that Los Angeles has played a 3-4 scheme with various iterations of nickel and dime sub-packages as complements, Shula must delicately balance the desire to play to his superstar’s strengths while keeping the scheme simple and consistent for the rest of the lineup. 

It’s a nice problem to have if you’re the Rams, and a potential nightmare if you’re the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.

Kevin O’Connell is regarded as one of the NFL’s quarterback whisperers due to his track record of coaxing Pro Bowl-caliber performance from the likes of Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold. And remember, the Vikings even got passable production when Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs were rotating in and out as emergency subs under center. 

Although the offense sputtered under J.J. McCarthy in 2025, the acquisition of Kyler Murray gives Minnesota an electric QB1 with the potential to light up the scoreboard as a runner and thrower from the pocket. The veteran is the most talented player KOC has worked with in Minnesota and his dynamic skill set will enable the creative play designer to utilize the back pages of the playbook.  

Before the Vikings get to the sexy stuff with their new starter, they might initially simplify their offensive approach to allow the two-time Pro Bowler to play “pitch-and-catch” to a talented collection of receivers, including All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. By encouraging Murray to string together completions on high-percentage passes, the Vikings are hoping to build out a quick-rhythm offense that overwhelms opponents with execution and efficiency. 

While skeptics question whether Murray can play within a highly structured offense after spending most of his time in Arizona freelancing and big-play hunting, a basic approach better suits his skills as a pinpoint passer with outstanding accuracy and range. With Murray expected to target the entire field with an assortment of rhythm throws that would stretch the defense from sideline-to-sideline and end line to end line, defensive coordinators must decide whether to play soft, umbrella coverage with defenders paying close attention to Jefferson and Addison while leaving cracks and creases available to Murray and the running backs on scrambles and designed runs. 

If defensive coordinators opt to load the box or ratchet up the pressure to attack Murray, the veteran’s explosiveness as a runner and range as a passer could make it a big-play bonanza for the Vikings. In a league where explosive plays routinely decide games, Murray’s big-play potential in a carefully crafted offense could be the storyline to watch this weekend as Minnesota hosts Green Bay. 

If you have not been paying attention to “America’s Team” this summer, the Cowboys are quietly emerging as title contenders behind an explosive offense and retooled defense that could surprise opponents this fall. Under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker, a Vic Fangio disciple who spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, the Cowboys have assembled a unit that is perfectly suited to throttle opponents forced to chase points against a high-powered offense. 

The 34-year-old defensive playcaller not only has a talented collection of pass-rushers with Pro Bowl experience (see: Von Miller, Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary), he has ball-hawking, high-IQ defenders in the secondary. That combination of rush and coverage should challenge the patience and discipline of passers lacking the patience to “dink-and-dunk” against a defensive backfield that will be committed to taking away deep throws and explosive plays. 

Von Miller’s 138.5 career sacks are the most of any active player in the NFL. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Additionally, the Cowboys want to stuff the run from two-high structures and light boxes that make it difficult for opponents to know where the extra defenders are coming from to plug their designated run gaps. By showing an umbrella structure before moving into airtight zones with single-high, weak-side rotations, the Cowboys want to frustrate opponents with a disciplined approach that condenses the field with a group of players who are playing fast and free in the back end. 

If the ultra-talented pass rush plays to its talent and potential with a mix of newcomers and veterans making key contributions, the Cowboys’ defense could grow into a suffocating unit that wins with simplicity and structure from a young coach who understands how to build a system that allows players to thrive as “see ball, get ball” defenders.

What has happened to LIV golf?

The breakaway golf tour, launched with much fanfare, billions of dollars of investment and a string of the world’s best players, in 2021. But on Tuesday it filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.

Bankruptcy protection is a way of keeping a company alive while it restructures its debts. In this case, LIV would be moving from being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which pulled out in April, to being supported by BC Partners, a British investment firm.

“This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf,” said the chief executive, Scott O’Neil.

According to documents related to the filing, LIV Golf has between $500m (€430 million) and $1bn in estimated liabilities to at least 1,000 creditors. This includes an estimated $45 million to a group of top players like Bryson DeChambeau ($5.7m), Jon Rahm ($7.5m) and Dustin Johnson ($5.7m).

O’Neil added that LIV intends to move towards a “player-first ownership model” but detail is thin and there is currently no schedule in place for 2027. Most of LIV’s staff were laid off earlier this year.

What has caused LIV golf to go bankrupt?

The sudden withdrawal of the PIF, which had invested an estimated $5 billion in LIV Golf, is the over-riding reason. At the time, the PIF said that LIV Golf was “no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy.”

This was considered evidence of the project’s failure to overthrow the established PGA Tour or make much in the way of money or impact. While the huge prize money on offer lured away several big names, many more remained with the PGA Tour.

While Tuesday’s legal move may buy LIV time, the withdrawal of Saudi funding was so key to its business model that it gives O’Neil few options. To survive, it seems, they must keep at least some of their big-name players while slimming down dramatically.

Why is Saudi Arabia investing billions in sports?

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Is this further evidence of Saudi Arabia pulling out of sport?

It certainly seems that investment in golf is a thing of the past for the oil-rich, Gulf state. There have also been withdrawals of funding for tournaments, clubs or organizations in snooker, women’s tennis, rugby and football. Saudi Arabia also backed away from its commitment to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Sport was a key part of Vision 2030, a pet project of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that aimed to diversify the Saudi economy and, in the eyes of many, also help launder its reputation through sport and other cultural assets.

The uncertainty caused by conflict in the Middle East has meant even the vast wealth of the Saudi ruling class has taken a hit while projects like the resort of Trojena, set to be a key resort in those Winter Games, have been scaled back.

The same is true of Neom, a proposed World Cup venue for 2034. Planned as an entirely new type of city – 500-meter-high, built in a straight line and powered by renewable energy, Neom’s construction has been significantly scaled back. The Guardian reported in late 2025 that several proposed World Cup stadium architects have been asked to rethink their plans to cut costs.

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What will happen to the LIV golf players now?

That too is unclear. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have always had a frosty relationship. Any player leaving to join LIV was immediately suspended from the PGA Tour, which runs all golf’s major championships.

The ‘returning member program’, used by US golfer Brooks Koepka earlier this year to return to the PGA, briefly offered a potential pathway. It was designed as a “route back to elite performers who no longer have contractual limitations preventing them from complying with PGA Tour rules and regulations.”

However it is was only open to players who left the PGA Tour at least two years ago and have won the The Players Championship or one of the four majors. DeChambeau, Cam Smith and Rahm were, therefore, the only players that qualified. But with that door now seemingly closed even to them, a return looks complex.

“I’m not part of the discussions but I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to be welcomed back straight away,” said Rory McIlroy, a six-time major winner who has been consistently critical of LIV, in August.

“They were offered this returning member program back in February, the one Brooks [Koepka] took, but that has come and gone and I think it was said at the time that the deal they get going forward if they decide to come back would not be as good at the one Brooks got. So I’d say it will be a tough road back.”

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Edited by: Jonathan Harding