India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (IANS image)
NEW DELHI: India suffered a major setback in badminton at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday as defending men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were knocked out in the opening round.The fourth-seeded Indian pair, who were among the country’s leading medal hopes, were stunned by Thailand’s Pakkapan Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun, losing 21-12, 19-21, 14-21 in a contest that lasted one hour and eight minutes.The defeat ended Satwik and Chirag’s bid to defend the gold medal they won at the previous edition of the Asian Games.
Satwik-Chirag surrender early advantage
The Indian duo made an impressive start and appeared to be in control after taking the opening game 21-12 in 20 minutes.However, Teeraratsakul and Sukphun gradually found their rhythm and turned the contest around. The Thai pair kept the pressure on the Indians in the second game and eventually edged it 21-19 after 24 minutes to force a decider.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | ScheduleSatwik and Chirag were unable to regain their momentum in the final game. The Thai pair quickly took control and completed the upset in just 19 minutes, winning the decider 21-14.The Indian pair’s inability to close out the match after winning the opening game proved costly as the Thai shuttlers produced a composed finish to seal one of the major upsets of the badminton competition.
Setback after team event bronze
The early exit is a disappointing start to India’s individual badminton campaign after the men’s team secured a bronze medal in the team competition.Satwik and Chirag had entered the men’s doubles draw as the fourth seeds and were expected to challenge for another podium finish after their gold-medal success at the previous Asian Games at Hangzhou.Instead, their campaign ended in the first round, leaving India without one of its biggest medal contenders in the men’s doubles event.
Jurel reveals Jaiswal Fernando confrontation (Image: IANS)
The on-field confrontation between India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the second Test in Colombo had become one of the talking points of the series. Nearly a month after the incident, India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has revealed what Jaiswal told him about the exchange.The incident took place during the opening session on Day 1 of the second Test. Jaiswal was batting aggressively on 45 and had already struck Fernando for three boundaries in the over before the Sri Lankan pacer dismissed him with the final delivery of the 17th over.Fernando celebrated the wicket with an animated send-off as Jaiswal began walking back towards the dressing room. However, the Indian batter soon turned around and walked back towards the Sri Lankan pacer, leading to a heated confrontation.
‘He didn’t say anything’
The two players came face-to-face before teammates and the Sri Lankan captain intervened to separate them. Jurel has now claimed that Jaiswal told him Fernando had been verbally abusing him continuously following the dismissal.“When he got out, he was quietly walking back to the dressing room. He didn’t say anything. If you look at the footage, Jaiswal immediately turned around. The Sri Lankan pacer was abusing him. Jaiswal told me that he was abusing him nonstop,” Jurel told former India batter Aakash Chopra.According to Jurel, Jaiswal did not object to Fernando celebrating the wicket but drew the line at personal abuse.“Jaiswal told him, ‘It’s okay. You took my wicket, you can show normal aggression, but you can’t abuse me,’” Jurel added.
‘He never starts it’
Jurel, who is also Jaiswal’s teammate at Rajasthan Royals, described the opener as someone who does not generally initiate verbal exchanges but is willing to respond when provoked.When Chopra suggested that Jaiswal is a “feisty guy” who gives it back when someone provokes him, Jurel agreed.“100 per cent. He will never start it; I have never seen him do that. He is always in the zone; he is always thinking about his batting. But if you provoke us, we will also return it,” Jurel said.The confrontation eventually required the intervention of players from both sides, bringing an end to the tense exchange on the field. Both Jaiswal and Fernando were subsequently sanctioned by the International Cricket Council for breaches of its Code of Conduct following the incident.
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes was made to play in a different position as Portugal beat Wales 1-0 and his manager has taken a swipe
Bruno Fernandes operated as a left-winger in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales in the Nations League on Thursday night. But the Manchester United attacker’s new international boss, Jorge Jesus, thinks the 32-year-old was lacking.
Since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020, Fernandes has been nothing short of talismanic for United. His 111 goals and 106 assists to date have sealed countless results, including a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town last month courtesy of a Fernandes hat-trick. He was named club captain in July 2023 and has retained the armband ever since.
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However, last year the Portugal star found himself at the centre of tactical discourse as ex-United boss Ruben Amorim altered his position. Traditionally, Fernandes had always been utilised as a No. 10, pulling the strings and getting into dangerous areas. But Amorim’s set-up did not feature a No. 10.
The 32-year-old was once again shifted to a wider area on Thursday by debuting boss Jesus, as often occurred under his predecessor, Roberto Martinez. He was enlisted as a left-sided forward as his national team bested Wales 1-0 in a Group D Nations League clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
Ex-Chelsea star Joao Felix played centrally, where Fernandes usually operates for United. Felix’s first-half strike was the difference-maker for the reigning Nations League champions, but Jesus was far from impressed with the sometimes isolated Fernandes’ performance.
Speaking on Fernandes, who was substituted for Joao Neves in the 90th minute, Jesus told RTP: “Every game has its own story. With Ruben Amorim, he played like that. It’s a position he knows perfectly. The only difference is that, defensively, he has to drop deeper. He could have been better with the ball. The team needed him more.”
Fernandes had his own take on the match and his positioning. He said: “If you notice, I was rarely on the wing. Defensively, yes, tracking back, pressing the full-back in higher positions on the pitch.
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“Otherwise, it’s very much about what the manager’s idea is, which is to have a player inside who can link up play, drop deep to play, also support the striker and the second striker, create a triangle in the middle and on the wings, help in both areas.
“That’s what I did. The manager asked me for this role in this game. He’s already told me I can play in different positions with him, so for me, the most important thing is that what I do helps the team, and I will always do my best in whatever position the manager puts me in.”
On the result, Fernandes added: “We created many opportunities, we were almost always in the opponent’s half. We were very capable of having the ball, of dominating the game.
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“Obviously, there are always aspects to improve in every game, regardless of the result, but I think it was a very good performance. After three days of work, the team assimilated the ideas well and what the manager asked of us, but there are aspects to improve.”
1 min read Last Updated : Sep 25 2026 | 12:33 PM IST
India’s Manush Shah and Diya Chitale stunned World No. 4 Doo Hoi Kem and Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong in the quarterfinals to assure themselves of a medal in the table tennis mixed doubles event at the Asian Games here on Friday.
This is India’s second mixed doubles medal at the Asiad after Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra won bronze in Jakarta eight years back.
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The Indian duo will face China’s Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin in the semifinals later in the day.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WEST LAFAYETTE − The Shillelagh Trophy is up for grabs when Notre Dame visits Purdue football.
For the Boilermakers, it’s their last chance before an eight-game slate of Big Ten matchups to get things operating.
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However, the third-ranked Irish might be the wrong opponent for a “get right” game.
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Notre Dame has won the last 10 meetings and scored a combined 122 points against Purdue the last two seasons.
Here’s what to know ahead of the Boilermakers’ final non-conference game:
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Defensive failure offsets offensive progress for Purdue football at UCLA
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) throws a 75-yard touchdown pass against the UCLA Bruins in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1 / 8
Defensive failure offsets offensive progress for Purdue football at UCLA
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) throws a 75-yard touchdown pass against the UCLA Bruins in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Purdue striving for elite offense, but Notre Dame poses biggest challenge
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA;Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Xavier Townsend (3) carries the ball against UCLA Bruins defensive back Scooter Jackson (1) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) throws a 75-yard touchdown pass against the UCLA Bruins in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) carries the ball against UCLA Bruins linebacker Scott Taylor (20), defensive back Malik Hartford (12) and defensive back Ty Lee (22) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Jaivian Thomas (21) carries the ball against Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Don Saunders (7) in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Semaj Morgan (4) scores on a 27-yard touchdown pass against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Semaj Morgan (4) catches a 20-yard touddown pass against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Check out our Purdue football at UCLA photo gallery: Best images
Sep 19, 2026; Pasadena, California, USA; A general overall aerial view of the Rose Bowl stadium.
The Irish are led by second-year starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Carr, who has yet to turn the ball over through three games.
Carr and the Irish offense are averaging 40 points per game, with a stout defense to match that has allowed just 23 total points in wins over Wisconsin, Rice and Michigan State. Running the ball might be a challenge for Purdue, which struggled in that area a week ago. Notre Dame is giving up just 1.9 yards per carry.
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Notre Dame stat leaders: Passing − CJ Carr (53-73, 726 yards, 6 TD). Rushing − Nolan James Jr. (39 car., 169 yards, 3 TD), Aneyas Williams (38 car., 146 yards, 3 TD). Receiving − Micah Gilbert (13 rec., 251 yards, 1 TD); Jordan Faison (13 rec., 173 yards, 2 TD). Tackles − Drayk Bowen (19), Jordan Anthony (14). Tackles for loss − Bryce Young (3.5), Boubacar Traore (3). Sacks − Traore (2). Interceptions − DJ McKinney (1), Adon Shuler (1), Luke Talich (1). Kicking − Spencer Porath (5-6 FG, long of 52, 15-15 PAT).
Despite an abysmal defensive performance at Rose Bowl Stadium last week in its 52-38 loss to UCLA, defensive end Breeon Ishmail shined. Will that translate to more reps against the Irish? Tight end George Burhenn caught his first touchdown pass last week since the 2023 season finale. Burhenn suffered a season-ending injury at Notre Dame last season. Offensive coordinator Josh Henson said on Monday when asked if there’s a desire to get the tight ends more involved in the passing game with one word, “Yes.”
Purdue stat leaders: Passing − Ryan Browne (74-101, 1,024 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT). Rushing − Fame Ijeboi (55 car., 248 yards, 6 TD). Receiving − Asaad Waseem (20 rec., 321 yards, 1 TD); Xavier Townsend (19 rec., 267 yards, 2 TD). Tackles − John Slaughter (21), Charles Correa (20), Don Saunders (20). Tackles for loss − Jeremy Lewis (2.5). Sacks − Lewis (1.5). Kicking − Jacobo Echeverria Lozano (7-8 FG, long of 39, 13-13 PAT).
What uniform combination will Purdue wear vs. Notre Dame?
Purdue will go all black uniforms against Notre Dame, donning a black helmet with black jerseys and pants.
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Purdue football honorary captain
Raheem Mostert will return to West Lafayette and serve as honorary captain for the Boilermakers.
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Mostert played for Purdue from 2011-15. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL for the Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, Bears, 49ers and Raiders. He led the NFL is rushing touchdowns in 2023 with Miami. His 220 rushing yards in a Jan. 19, 2020 win over the Packers is an NFC Championship game record.
Purdue football injury report
Head coach Barry Odom said after last Saturday’s loss at UCLA that he was hopeful left tackle Joey Tanona would return to practice this week. Tanona has been out since mid camp with an ankle injury. Defensive end Elo Modozie missed last week’s game at UCLA, and defensive back Mister Clark has missed each of the last two games.
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Purdue football vs. Notre Dame prediction
The Boilermakers are averaging 39 points per game. This game will be the best indicator yet whether that is a legit statistical number that means the offense is much-improved. Regardless, the defense showed little resistance to assist last week’s offensive showing and now faces a more talented quarterback for a team with national championship aspirations.
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Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Purdue 14.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
Inspired by the women’s team’s continental title win in August, which they came to Garoua to showcase, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in style with a 3-1 victory over the Comoros. This was a promising beginning for Cameroon, who were not involved in last summer’s World Cup.
The Ivorians also got their campaign off to a flying start by beating Ghana’s Black Stars 2-0. Today, Patrick Vieira begins his tenure as manager of the Lions of Teranga. His primary objective is to restore order to a squad still reeling from its painful World Cup exit. Meanwhile, his former France teammate Zinédine Zidane is also set to make his debut as manager of the French national team.
An Indiana state court has opened the door for Indiana Hoosiers defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt to return to the playing field for Friday night’s Big Ten Conference opener against the Northwestern Wildcats.
Monroe Circuit Court Judge Kara Krothe issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday that grants Daley, Wyatt and more than 90 other athletes a fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA is expected to appeal.
For now, though, the ruling clears the way for Daley, Wyatt and dozens of others to return to action.
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“The 2026-27 Division football, soccer, cross country, and field hockey seasons are underway,” Krothe wrote in a 37-page opinion. “Swimming and basketball seasons are fast approaching, with official practices for basketball beginning on September 21. 2026. Spring sports are around the comer.
She added: “Plaintiffs have secured roster spots, but will not receive scholarship aid or NIL payments until their eligibility is continued by court order. If relief is denied, they will lose their roster spots. College sports seasons are time-limited opportunities. Once lost, they cannot be restored, even if plaintiffs later prevail on the merits.”
Daley and Wyatt did not play in Indiana’s 38-0 victory over Western Kentucky last weekend because a temporary restraining order allowing them to compete had expired.
Both testified in court last week, but when the decision did not come down before the game, they were held out. Krothe’s ruling was expected this week.
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Daley and Wyatt were starters on last season’s national championship team but suffered season-ending injuries before Indiana’s playoff run. Neither was selected in April’s NFL draft and neither signed an NFL contract to be part of either offseason workouts or training camp.
Kellan Wyatt had 2.5 sacks for Indiana in 2025. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti has repeatedly said he supported the efforts of Daley and Wyatt to get an extra year of eligibility, and he alluded to it again after last weekend’s game.
“We’ve gotten better since the first game for sure,” Cignetti said. “You know, it sure will help if we have Wyatt and Daley. It’s hard to measure that. We’ll find out we think soon. But if not, we lost some key guys last year and other guys stepped up.”
Wednesday’s ruling is the latest twist in a chaotic start to the 2026 college football season, which has been mired in court fights across the country.
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The NCAA announced in June it was going to adopt a new eligibility model allowing all athletes to compete for five college seasons over five years. The legal fights began when college sports’ largest governing body said the new model would not apply to the freshman class of 2022-23.
Stephen Daley led the Big Ten with 19.0 tackles for loss in 2025. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Colorado District Judge Charlotte Sweeney then ruled some members from that freshman class could receive a fifth year of eligibility, a decision that led some players in NFL training camps to consider resuming their college careers. Eventually, Sweeney issued a clarification that pro athletes were not covered by her ruling.
That decision was stayed in August by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, but lower courts, such as the one in Bloomington, have since entered the fray.
“Under the plain terms of the 2026-27 NCAA Manual, they are eligible to compete, and the NCAA is breaching its contractual obligations by denying them that opportunity,” Krothe wrote. “Harm to the NCAA by virtue of this injunction is minimal or nonexistent. The NCAA regularly grants waivers allowing athletes five years to play, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of athletes at time. This injunction covers less than one hundred athletes across a multitude of sports.”
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has offered a strong endorsement of Hansi Flick’s work at Barcelona, describing the Blaugrana as “unstoppable” while continuing his own comeback with Ajax.
The German goalkeeper returned to international duty after several months away and started for Germany in their 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.
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It was a significant step for the Barcelona loanee after a difficult period, with the 33-year-old clearly pleased to be back representing his country.
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His focus may now be on Ajax, but his connection with Barcelona remains strong.
Ter Stegen’s return to the Germany starting XI carried particular importance given everything he has experienced over recent years.
Ter Stegen returned to international duty with Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
The goalkeeper admitted that just being back on the pitch for his country was something he valued greatly.
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“I felt good. I’m proud of the journey I’ve been on and everything I’ve given, given what I’ve been through in recent years, and now I’m just very happy to be back here,” he explained.
The former Barcelona captain also made clear that returning to the international setup has not changed his competitive ambitions.
Simply put, Ter Stegen still wants to establish himself as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper and believes performances like the one against the Netherlands can help him achieve that.
“My aim is always to be number one. To be 100% fit and up to the task. And today was a good opportunity to prove that once again,” he said.
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Ter Stegen praises Flick and Barcelona
Ter Stegen has praised Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Despite being away from Barcelona on loan, Ter Stegen continues to follow developments at his former club closely. Asked about Barça’s impressive start under Flick, the goalkeeper had an emphatic response.
“They’re unstoppable right now, and that’s what I wish for them because they’re working hard with Hansi as their manager, and I obviously wish them all the best from afar.
“But I’m at another club and focused on my own business.
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“That said, I’m always keeping an eye on what they’re doing, and I’m really happy for them that things are going so well,” he concluded.
Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season didn’t feature as much scoring as Week 1, but there were still several quarterbacks who impressed, at least in Tom Brady’s eyes.
In the most recent edition of Tom Brady’s power rankings, the GOAT pinpointed a handful of quarterbacks who have starred through the first two weeks. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was among them, with Brady saying that he’s playing “very dangerous football” following his five-touchdown performance.
But was Allen’s performance enough to help the Bills unseat the Seattle Seahawks at No. 1 in his power rankings? Here’s a closer look at Brady’s top 10.
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Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 9 ↓
Brady’s thoughts: I know they sneak in at 1-1, but look, it was a short week in Buffalo. That’s pretty tough. Buffalo was opening up a new stadium. That’s as hard as it gets. Bills Mafia was out in full force.
Jared Goff, give him his love. He’s playing lights out. He’s got six touchdowns and no picks in his first two games. I kind of like their prospects here as the season goes on.
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Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: Unranked
Brady’s thoughts: Listen, it’s not hometown bias by me. Their plus-26 point differential is third in the league. Kirk Cousins has six touchdowns in two games. C’mon, that’s pretty impressive. They go on the road and beat the Chargers.
Look, undefeated is undefeated. What’s that saying? Just win, baby.
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Kirk Cousins has thrown for six touchdowns this season, which is tied for the most in the league. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: Unranked
Brady’s thoughts: They’re 2-0 in the division with their backup quarterback. What? No Kyler Murray. No J.J. McCarthy. Give Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores a lot of credit. It’s a great coaching job. They held Chicago to three points. Yeah, the weather was a little nasty. But three points for Chicago a week after the Bears put up 59? Interesting.
I think Kevin has amazing IQ, EQ and charisma. I think if you stack all three together, and he’s a great leader of men. So, he’s given his team a scheme advantage, getting them hyped up and ready to play every single game and he’s got an amazing intelligence about what he does. He knows how to read his guys and what they need to hear. He’s always going to put those guys in a position to win.
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Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: Unranked
Brady’s thoughts: The Australia trip — that’s in the past. That’s way behind them. It’s been overtalked about, overplayed — all of it. They took care of business back at home. Look, they had no Myles Garret, no Puka Nacua and they limited Aaron Donald [against the New York Giants].
This team is more than big names. Davante Adams went off for 195 yards and two tuddies. That’s exactly what they needed to get back on track.
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Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 10 ↑
Brady’s thoughts: I’m very impressed with this start as well from Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. A lot of complementary football — that’s what I’m seeing from Cincy. How about that defense? That’s music to the Bengals fans’ ears. We haven’t talked about that in a few years. They have eight sacks and four takeaways just to start the season in these first two weeks. That’s winning football.
Two catches in Week 1 for Ja’Marr [Chase], but two touchdowns in Week 2 — possibly the catch of the year with that toe-tap on the sideline.
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Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 6 ↑
Brady’s thoughts: Week 1 was kind of funny and some teams are winning big, but the Eagles are winning close ones. That’s nothing new to Eagles fans. It’s not a bad thing to have a close road test under your belt in September in very hot, humid conditions. They showed a lot of toughness, and that’s not easy to do for a team from the Northeast.
Record: 2-0
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Previous ranking: 7 ↑
Brady’s thoughts: Through two games, these four teams have kind of set themselves apart. [Patrick] Mahomes’ rust is completely non-existent. He looked invincible the other night. A vintage overtime performance at Arrowhead with almost 400 yards passing and Travis Kelce going off. Kenneth Walker, he’s been an absolute menace for these defenses.
However, I will say their defense needs to find a way to pressure the QB. I’ve got an idea, though: Steve Spagnuolo, that guy calling the plays on defense, he’s the right guy to figure it out.
Record: 2-0
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Previous ranking: 5 ↑
Brady’s thoughts: The Bills got out to a fast start in their new stadium, which I’m really looking forward to seeing. And Detroit, they were literally playing catch-up the entire night. Tough to go on the road against a team like that; that’s really hot. The Bills’ offense had 36 points against Houston and 41 against Dan Campbell and the Lions.
No turnovers across the board from Josh Allen in two games. Very impressive. I’m very impressed with Josh’s ability to eliminate the negative plays. I think early in his career, he was always trying to make a big play. He was a little bit inaccurate in the passing game. He’s really settled down and become an accurate passer. He knows when to take his chances. He’s playing very dangerous football. That’s going to be a tough team to beat.
Record: 2-0
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Previous ranking: 3 ↑
Brady’s thoughts: They get home from Australia and that travel didn’t bother them. They dominated the Dolphins. They have a plus-42 point differential this year. That’s almost double the next best in the NFL. Their offense is averaging eight [yards] per play and had no turnovers on Sunday.
Are you seeing a trend here? Brock Purdy, how about this guy? He’s just always making the right decisions with his pre-snap reads. I always feel like he’s in total control. He’s very poised. I like the way Purdy’s playing.
This Niners team — watch out. No one thought about them.
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Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 1
Brady’s thoughts: In order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Seattle is 2-0, winning in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Great complementary football.
And who can forget about JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba)? He’s got four tuddies in two games.
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Sam Darnold goes out a few plays into the season and in comes Drew Lock, who is completing 73% of his passes. And even more impressive, I talk about negative plays a lot, he’s had zero interceptions. That’s hard to do.
They had 162 yards last week — a true running back by committee. They might miss Kenneth Walker a little bit, but you can’t keep everybody. They seem to have picked the right guys so far.
Manchester City have yet to drop points in the Champions League and Premier League so far this season as we enter the first international break
Since the disappointing defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, Manchester City have been perfect. Enzo Maresca could not have wished for a much better start with seven wins on the bounce – including a gutsy ten-man victory over Manchester United, youngsters shining against Norwich and an eight-goal thriller at home to Sunderland, on Sunday.
There are many factors that have gone into Maresca’s brilliant start, but what has made it more impressive has been the fact that City oversaw a major squad overhaul in the summer. There was an exodus of stars post-Pep Guardiola, most of whom needed replacing.
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As such, the transfer window went down to the final hours as City backed Maresca to rebuild the team. On the showing so far, the Italian head coach has done a brilliant job. With this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at the nine new signings this summer and given them a ranking from A to F. Spoiler alert, that F was not needed.
Geronimo Rulli – Marseille (£1.7m)
James Trafford’s exit to Leeds felt inevitable. City were frankly blessed with two No.1s last season and that was always going to change. This season, there is no doubting who the No.1 is and that’s probably preferable for all involved.
Rulli’s journey back to the Etihad Stadium is heartwarming, but his opportunities will likely be limited to the cups. As such, we have only seen him once so far, but he did nothing wrong in the 5-0 thrashing of Norwich.
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Tougher tests await for him, including the next round of the Carabao Cup against Brighton. C
Pierce Charles – Sheffield Wednesday (£3m rising to potential £10m)
Another goalkeeper returning to City is Charles. The 21-year-old left the Blues for regular opportunities at Wednesday. But once they dropped into the third tier last season, it always seemed likely that he would leave Hillsborough.
Charles is a signing for the future and you could see a situation where he pushes Gianluigi Donnarumma, just like Trafford did. Upon signing for City, he was loaned to Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers where he is getting plenty of opportunities.
Rulli is contracted to City until 2028, so it may be a while before we see Charles playing at the Etihad. However, he is a promising addition. C
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Jeremy Monga – Leicester City (£10m rising to potential £12.5m)
This signing feels a step up from Charles. At 17, Monga is a brilliant talent and signing him from under Arsenal’s noses made the deal even sweeter for Maresca.
We saw a glimpse of what he could do during pre-season and, for his age, he did well. Maresca made the right call to loan him to Swansea, particularly when you compare him to Ryan McAidoo.
Unfortunately, Monga has not played for the Swans yet, with their good start to the season forcing the teenager to wait for his chance. However, this feels like a good signing at what could be a bargain of a price, in the future. B
Mathys Detourbet – Troyes (£21.5m)
Like Charles, Detourbet was signed and then instantly sent on loan. The 19-year-old’s loan stint will be at AS Monaco and, unlike Monga, he has already gained some minutes off the bench for the principality club..
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The teenager is clearly a player that City know a lot about and, truthfully, had Troyes not been an affiliate club, they would have likely spent more to sign him. By virtue of us not seeing any of him for City just yet, he gets the same ranks as Charles. C
Allan – Palmeiras (£32m rising to potential £34.2m)
Initially, I was going to give Allan a C. My first thought was about that first half against Norwich. It was a rude awakening to English football as Darlin Yongwa bullied him.
Full credit to Maresca though, he moved him to the left at half-time and, three minutes in, he scored a superb goal. It is too early to tell if he is an upgrade on Savinho and this season will be a case of adjusting him to the Premier League.
Considering Palmeiras wanted £85m and City got him for a fraction of that, this feels like good business. Let’s hope we see more good signs moving forward. B
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Iliman Ndiaye – Everton (£60m rising to potential £65m)
The first of the big hitters is Ndiaye. We have all seen his quality for Everton and it was surprising the Toffees let him go so late in the window. But that says more about them, than the quality he possesses.
He hasn’t registered an assist for City yet, but should have, had it not been for Erling Haaland producing an uncharacteristic miss. Ndiaye deserves particular plaudits for his performance off the bench against United. The 26-year-old helped turn the game in City’s favour and he clearly has the presence to be a success.
We have no doubt the forward will produce plenty of goals and assists before the year is out. B+
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Lille (£85m)
It isn’t often you spend £85m and feel like you have snagged a bargain. But that’s exactly the case with Bouaddi. The fact he hasn’t started more games says a lot for the two remaining players on this list.
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His display against Porto in the Champions League was very impressive. He dictated the match on his first start for the club and provides the luxury of a like-for-like replacement in midfield. City’s strength in depth is scary.
Plus, he’s only 18! It’s startling to think how good he could still become. A
Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest (£116m)
City knew they were getting a brilliant midfielder when they decided to splash the cash on Anderson. However, it feels like he has performed even better than many expected him to.
The World Cup experience has matured him and that’s just as well because, without Rodri, he needed to be the main guy. Nobody could replace Rodri, but Anderson has slotted in brilliantly and nobody has so far complained they are missing the Ballon d’Or winner.
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That is a credit to Anderson and if he stays at City for as long as Rodri did, he will have been worth every penny. A
Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea (£125m)
This move split opinions on deadline day. There was no escaping his huge price tag and that came with its own pressure. Then there was the World Cup shenanigans that has seen boos follow him up and down the country.
However, he has channelled that energy to become the missing piece of Maresca’s puzzle. He can play across the central midfield roles with ease and he has added that bite to the team that all Premier League champions have, in some form or another.
‘He’s in your head’ is starting to drown out the boos and he could end up being the difference between City winning the Premier League and being runners up. A
 "Manush Shah and Diya Chitale")
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