Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

Big players make big plays in big games. And in Week 9, the best players in the league stepped up to lead their teams to important victories that kept them moving toward the postseason.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow showed his trademark playmaking ability, finishing with 251 yards and five touchdowns in a blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The victory helped the Bengals improve to 4-5 and only a half-game out of the last playoff spot in the AFC.

[READ MORE: 2024 NFL Playoff Picture: Falcons, Chargers see fortunes rise; Packers fall back]

Lions quarterback Jared Goff continued his historic run, completing 81.8% of his passes for 145 yards and a touchdown in Detroit’s impressive win against the Green Bay Packers in rainy conditions at Lambeau Field.

The ultra-efficient Goff now has an 82.8 completion percentage over a six-week period, eclipsing Peyton Manning for the best such stretch in league history. Goff has thrown more touchdowns (28) than incompletions (24) during his impressive streak. His execution has put Detroit in the top spot in the NFC with a 7-1 record.

And down in the desert, running back James Conner helped to lead the Arizona Cardinals to a win over the Chicago Bears and the top spot in the NFC West. Conner finished with 107 rushing yards in a 29-9 victory over the Bears.

Let’s take a closer look at who’s hot and who’s not in this week’s NFL Heat Index.

WHO’S HOT

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Brown let his sweatshirt do the talking before the game as he stepped off the bus and entered Lambeau Field.

“Green Bay sucks.” 

If you wear something like that into enemy territory, you better back it up. Brown did, finishing with seven catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in his team’s big win over the Packers. In the process, Brown tied a franchise record shared by Herman Moore and Leon Hart with his sixth straight game with a receiving touchdown. 

Brown also continued an impressive streak of catching 30 straight targets from Goff dating back to Week 3. His performance on Sunday earned him recognition as Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game.

Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown | Week 9 DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE

Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

In his first season with the Eagles, Barkley has taken over as the engine of Philadelphia’s offense and is one of the frontrunners for Offensive Player of the Year. In a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Barkley finished with 199 scrimmage yards and two scores.

He also executed one of the most astonishing running moves in NFL history, jumping backward over Jacksonville defender cornerback Jarrian Jones after spinning to evade linebacker Devin Lloyd. 

“It was the best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. 

We agree. 

Bryce Young, QB Panthers

It’s not about the numbers Young produced, it’s about the vibes. Benched due to poor performance earlier this year, last year’s No. 1 overall pick helped Carolina finally get back in the win column with a victory over the New Orleans Saints. 

Young snapped a personal six-game losing streak, the longest among all quarterbacks. He finished 16-of-26 for 171 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. But more importantly, Young helped the Panthers snap a five-game losing streak.

Tyler Bass, K, Bills

Buffalo’s kicker hit a career-best 61-yard field goal in the final seconds for his team’s seventh victory of the season. Bass made up for a missed extra point and field goal attempt earlier in the game with the winning kick. 

In the postseason last year, Bass missed a 44-yard field goal that would have tied the Chiefs, and he had struggled from that distance this year, missing 4-of-7 kicks from 40 to 49 yards.

So, the 61-yarder was a confidence builder for Bass. 

Mike Gesicki, TE, Bengals

Cincinnati’s pass-catching tight end finished with five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s runaway win over the Raiders.

Gesicki became the first Cincinnati tight end with 100 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a game since Tyler Eifert accomplished that feat in 2015, also against the Raiders. The scores provided another opportunity for fans to see Gesicki’s cringy touchdown dance as he attempted to do his version of the “griddy.” 

WHO’S COLD

Mike McCarthy, HC, Cowboys

With Dallas losing three straight and two games under .500 for the first time since 2020, it seems time to throw dirt on the Cowboys (3-5) and their postseason hopes. McCarthy has been unable to steer Dallas clear of a season that appeared headed off a cliff since owner Jerry Jones said the organization was “all-in” on chasing a Super Bowl.

Adding injury to insult, franchise quarterback Dak Prescott had to leave Sunday’s game due to a hamstring issue. He was replaced by Cooper Rush. 

Dallas gets a much-needed bye week, with the hopes of getting edge Micah Parsons and cornerback Daron Bland back from injury in Week 11. It’s fair to wonder if even the return of those frontline players can change the team’s outlook at this point of the season. 

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans

Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year is on a cold streak. Over the past three games, Stroud has completed just 52.3% of his passes for 562 yards and one touchdown for a 76.0 passer rating.

Houston has lost two of its past three, averaging just 19 points a game during that time. Stroud has had to deal with injuries along the offensive line and at receiver. Still, as one of the best signal-callers in the game, he must figure out how to elevate the offense when it’s not at full strength. 

Shane Steichen, Head Coach, Colts 

Steichen made the switch from developmental QB Anthony Richardson to 39-year-old backup Joe Flacco, but the results were not any better on Sunday. Flacco threw for 179 yards and failed to lead the Colts to an offensive touchdown as they lost to the Minnesota Vikings on the road.

At 4-5, the Colts are just two games out of first place in the AFC South behind the 6-3 Texans. But if Flacco doesn’t perform better, it might be best to play Richardson and continue his development for next season. 

Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks

Smith made some beautiful throws down the stretch, engineering a touchdown drive that pushed his team into overtime against the Rams. However, Smith also finished with three head-scratching interceptions and two botched snaps during regulation that led to Seattle’s fourth loss in five games.

Turnovers and sloppy play are why the Seahawks have dropped to the bottom of the NFC West under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Turning things around starts with better execution from Smith. 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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Prior to the start of the WTA Finals on Saturday, 25-year-old Rybakina had not played on tour for two months because of a combination of illness and injury, and her opening match against Paolini ended in a straight-set defeat.

The former Wimbledon champion had looked fatigued during that match but started stronger against Zheng, putting pressure on the serve early on with the Chinese seventh seed forced to save two break points early in the opening set.

Momentum then swung Zheng’s way as she sealed a first break of serve on the way to a 4-1 lead, but as her unforced error count started to creep upwards, Rybakina was able to fight back into the set by winning three successive games.

Yet in the deciding tie-break, Rybakina nudged a return long to wrap up the opener for Zheng on her second set point.

Little could separate the pair at the start of the second set, but Rybakina found a much-needed higher gear after going 3-2 and a break down.

After getting the immediate break back, she saved two further break points from 15-40 down, reeling off three aces in the game before landing a backhand on the Zheng baseline.

That was in the second of four successive game wins to seal the second set, but Rybakina came unstuck again in the decider.

As she grew weary, opponent Zheng was able to capitalise with a break for 3-1 from which she never looked back, wrapping up her maiden WTA Finals win on her first match point.

Magomed Ankalaev claims he was ready to save UFC 310, but Alex Pereira wasn’t.

Ankalaev is eager to get his title shot against light heavyweight champion Pereira, to the point that he’s even willing to do it without a full camp. When welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was forced out of his title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov, UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas lost it’s main event.

Both Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) and Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) hinted that they’d be ready to replace that fight, but Ankalaev says only he was.

“Fake news, I’m the only one who was ready for December but he deserve rest.”

https://twitter.com/AnkalaevM/status/1853269283264143518

Pereira has competed in three title fights in the span of six months, knocking out Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and most recently Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 in October.

He revealed in an interview with Brazilian podcast Podpah (h/t MMA Fighting) that his hand is still hurting him from his fight against Rountree.

“That fourth round, I was throwing jabs and hurting my hand,” Pereira said. “I swear. I was thinking, ‘My hand must be broken.’ It still hurts. Not all the time, no, but if I squeeze here, it hurts.”

Riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak, most recently defeating Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308, Ankalaev jibed at Pereira for not accepting to fight him on short notice.

“Willing to fight everyone short notice but with me, he knows he have to be ready, he’s not stupid.”

https://twitter.com/AnkalaevM/status/1853312163781468188

Ankalaev also said that his title fight with Pereira could happen in the first quarter of 2025.

“I was offered three dates December, February, and March and I agreed to all three dates I have to win by KO I have no problem. It is condition.”

https://twitter.com/AnkalaevM/status/1853311478415122729

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Bob Pockrass

FOX NASCAR Insider

Until last year, the winner of the championship race was one of the four drivers eligible for the NASCAR Cup Series title.

Last year, Ross Chastain won the season finale while not one of the Championship 4 as Ryan Blaney finished second on his way to the championship on the 1-mile Phoenix oval.

Blaney is back to defend his title this year after a walk-off moment Sunday at Martinsville Speedway vaulted him into the Championship 4. The four drivers who race at Phoenix (among the rest of the non-championship eligible drivers) with the best of those four being crowned the champion.

All four of the drivers this year — Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and William Byron — have three wins apiece. None have led more than 600 laps this year.

The three drivers who combined to lead 3,632 laps (nearly 40 percent) — Kyle Larson (six wins), Christopher Bell (three wins) and Denny Hamlin (three wins) — were all eliminated at Martinsville, leaving this championship even more wide open.

“I never look at favorites when it gets to the Champ 4 because everyone is there for a reason, and all teams are really fast,” Blaney said. “They can be fast no matter what, any given weekend, any given track.”

Here’s a breakdown of the four drivers with analysis of why each can win the title — and why each won’t. They are listed in order of car number: 

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske No. 12 Ford

2024 season: 3 wins (Iowa, Pocono, Martinsville-2), 11 top-5s, 1 pole, 555 laps led

Next Gen Phoenix finishes: Mar2024-5th; Nov2023-2nd; Mar2023-2nd; Nov2022-2nd; Mar2022-4th

Championship 4 experience: 2nd appearance. 2023-Finished 1st

Why Blaney Will Win: He did it before and he can do it again. Last year, Blaney used a Martinsville victory to propel him into the championship and he has completed one-half of that equation this year. Even bigger is that his Martinsville victory came a week after Reddick passed him on the final lap at Homestead. And look at those finishes at Phoenix. He has led more laps in the Next Gen car than any other driver at Phoenix, and he already has two wins this year at tracks 1-mile or shorter.

Why Blaney Won’t Win: No driver has gone back-to-back in the playoff elimination area (which started in 2014); the last driver to defend his title was Jimmie Johnson, who won five consecutive championships from 2006-2010. And which Blaney will be racing at the finish? The driver who saw that win slip away at Homestead or the driver who triumphed at Martinsville?

Joey Logano, Team Penske No. 22 Ford

2024 season: 3 wins (Nashville, Atlanta-2, Veags-2), 6 top-5s, 3 poles, 307 laps led

Next Gen Phoenix finishes: Mar2024-34th; Nov2023-18th; Mar2023-11th; Nov2022-1st; Mar2022-8th

Championship 4 history: 6th appearance. 2014-Finished 4th, 2016-2nd, 2018-1st, 2020-3rd, 2022-1st

Why Logano Will Win: Logano has been on cruise control the past two weeks as he won at Las Vegas and didn’t have to worry about his Homestead and Martinsville finishes. He’s had no pressure. He’ll be fresh. And then there’s that even-year thing — this is his sixth championship appearance, with them all coming in even years. But, seriously, the dude seems to perform best when it matters most. And he hates to lose.

Why Logano Won’t Win: If Logano didn’t already have two Cup titles, he would be totally counted out already. He finished 15th in the regular-season points. He won a five-overtime race at Nashville just to get into the playoffs. He won a drafting race at Atlanta and then used a fuel-mileage strategy to win at Las Vegas. Of any of the drivers in the Champ 4, he’d be the hardest sell as having a “championship” year. You know what? He doesn’t care.

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet

2024 season: 3 wins (Daytona-1, Austin, Martinsville-1), 12 top-5s, 1 pole, 338 laps led

Next Gen Phoenix finishes: Mar2024-18th; Nov2023-4th; Mar2023-1st; Nov2022-6th; Mar2022-18th

Championship 4 history: 2nd appearance. 2023-Finished 3rd

Why Byron Will Win: Byron has run the most laps in the Next Gen car at Phoenix in the top-5 than any other driver. And it’s not even close as he has run in the top-5 for 1,058 laps — the next best among these four is Blaney (749). Byron won there in March 2023 and he seems comfortable there. He is the only Hendrick driver to make it to the championship round, so he’ll have a full effort from that organization.

Why Byron Won’t Win: While he has run in the top 5 for 1,058 laps in the Next Gen car at Phoenix, only 171 of those laps were actually in the lead. He hasn’t won since April as he carries a 27-race winless streak into the championship race. He knows he’ll be very good. The problem is he doesn’t know if he’ll be great.

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota

2024 season: 3 wins (Talladega-1, Michigan, Homestead), 12 top-5s, 3 poles, 597 laps led

Next Gen Phoenix finishes: Mar2024-10th; Nov2023-22nd; Mar2023-3rd; Nov2022-23rd; Mar2022-3rd

Championship 4 history: 1st appearance

Why Reddick Will Win: Reddick has led more laps this year than any other driver in the Champ 4. He was the regular-season champion and has shown the ability to gut out good runs when he needs them the most. Plus, he will probably have co-owner Michael Jordan there rooting him on. No pressure. 

Why Reddick Won’t Win: This will be Reddick’s first trip to the Champ 4 as well as the first trip for his crew chief, Billy Scott. Reddick did win two Xfinity titles in this format, but Cup is a different level. Phoenix is not one of his better tracks and all of his wins this year have come at tracks 1.5 miles in length or greater.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

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MARTIN ODEGAARD might be sidelined through injury – but he’s keeping busy away from the field.

The Arsenal midfielder has reportedly secretly tied the knot with pregnant partner Helene Spilling.

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Odegaard, 25, went Instagram official with the pro dancer, 27, last summer after she embraced him on the pitch at the end of the 2022-23 season.

In August, the pair announced they were expecting their first child together with an adorable baby reveal.

The 25-year-old Gunners skipper prefers to keep his private life behind closed doors.

Spilling was spotted out for a stroll in London last month wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring.

According to Norweigan outlet Verdens Gang, the Arsenal star has now changed his status to married in the national register.

Helene has also updated her name to Helene Spilling Odegaard.

A professional ballroom dancer, Spilling has won 17 gold medals in the Norwegian national championships.

She has also founded her own dance studio and launched a fashion brand. 

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Helene has featured on “Skal vi Danse” – Norway’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, winning the competition in 2021.

Spilling has been seen supporting her man at numerous Arsenal games over the past year.

In April, fans claimed Odegaard was “winning on and off the pitch” after his stunning Wag danced in the stands following the Gunners thrashing of Chelsea.

Odegaard is currently sidelined from action with an ankle injury.

The Gunners skipper hasn’t played since picking up the issue during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria in September.

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Meet the Arsenal Wags from Strictly star to a flight attendant

Tolami Benson – partner of Bukayo Saka

Benson and Saka have kept information on their relationship largely quiet.

They do not appear on each others Instagram pages but she was seen speaking to Saka at the 2022 World Cup.

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Helene Spilling – partner of Martin Odegaard

A professional dancer from Norway who rose to fame in the country’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, the pair were first spotted together at the Football Awards in March 2023.

Sophie Weber – partner of Kai Havertz

Weber works as a model and social media influencer and is the most high profile member of the group on online with almost 400,000 followers on Instagram.

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They are childhood sweethearts having grown up in the same neighbourhood.

Milly White – partner of Ben White

The couple got engaged in 2022 before tying the knot officially in May last year. They have matching “I love you tattoos” on their wrists. Milly White works as a model.

Laura Trossard Hilven – partner of Leandro Trossard

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The pair met in 2014 before getting married in 2019.

They have two sons together, Thiago and Amadeo.

Lauren Fryer – partner of Declan Rice

Lauren Fryer and Declan Rice have been together since 2015. She tends to keep a lower profile compared to some of Arsenal’s other Wags but is no less stunning.

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She sadly deleted all pictures on her Instagram after suffering horrific abuse by vile trolls.

Georgina Ramsdale – partner of Aaron Ramsdale

Georgina Ramsdale works as a flight attendant.

The couple got married last June after the Arsenal star proposed in 2022. They originally met in 2019.

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He has recently returned to training and could be in contention to face Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Odegaard recently said: “I’ve been out for a few weeks now, and have been working hard to get back as soon as possible.

“I feel like it’s close now, but although I haven’t been involved in the games lately, I feel I’ve still been able to use that time pretty well too.

“Hopefully I can come out of this period fresher and stronger and ready for the rest of the season.

“That’s the aim now, look at the positives and use this time in a good way. When I’m back I’m going to be feeling pretty good, I’m sure.”

Nuno returned to the Premier League after a spell in Saudi Arabia and there were a few doubters when he replaced Steve Cooper in December last year.

He had won the Saudi Pro League and the Super Cup with Al-Ittihad but after a short and difficult time at Tottenham, Forest fans would have been forgiven for being underwhelmed at his appointment.

His four-year spell at Wolves ended as things went stale at Molineux and the squad was unable to maintain their spectacular rise from the Championship to the Europa League quarter-finals.

But before the decline, he built a squad – with the help of agent Jorge Mendes – which included young talent like Ruben Neves combined with the experience of Joao Moutinho.

He is slowly doing the same at the City Ground with the arrival of six senior players, including defender Milenkovic who has helped Forest tighten up at the back and concede just seven goals so far. Only Liverpool – six – have shipped less.

Those who have covered Nuno at either Wolves, Spurs or now Forest know he is not the most expressive in news conferences.

He is a meticulous planner of what happens on the pitch which, over the course of a year, has steadily improved prospects at the City Ground, although he has still benefited from the foundations predecessor Cooper laid.

Cooper’s influence and relationship was crucial to signing Gibbs-White – who he won the Under-17 World Cup with while England manager – while the now-Leicester boss brought Wood to the club and kept them in the Premier League.

Nuno has built on that success, although he has let his emotions get the better of him on the touchline – despite promising to rein in the criticism of officials – and in August he was fined £40,000 and given a one-game suspended ban after his comments following the 2-0 defeat at Everton last season.

That suspension was activated when he was dismissed for contesting Gibbs-White’s red card in the draw at Brighton in September, meaning he has watched Forest’s last three games from the stands.