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.

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

The start of the 2026 NFL season is finally here and I don’t want to spoil the entire year for you, but we already know who’s going to make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. 

OK, that might be a slight exaggeration, but we did simulate the entire 2026 season with the goal of trying to figure out who’s going to be walking away with the Lombardi Trophy in February. The simulation was created by our resident data scientist Stephen Oh of SportsLine. For those of you who are not familiar with Oh’s work, let me just say this: Oh is the closest thing the human race has to AI. 

If Oh’s simulation is any indication, then we should be in for a crazy season, especially in the NFC West, where we got a huge surprise. 

The best part about the beginning of the season is that every team still has hope, and yes, that even includes the Cleveland Browns. Every team is starting with a clean slate, and they’ll all be hoping to end the year in Los Angeles, where Super Bowl LXI will be played. 

So who’s going to end up playing in the first Valentine’s Day Super Bowl ever? Let’s get to our simulation results and find out. 

AFC playoff projection

Projections via SportsLine

1. Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champion) 
Projected record: 11-6

Our simulation has the Ravens coasting to a division title in Jesse Minter’s first year on the job. The Ravens are given a 60.9% chance of winning the division title, well ahead of the Bengals, who have the next-highest chance at 22.7%. Although the simulation has THREE AFC North teams finishing with winning records this year, it has only one of them making the playoffs. 

2. Houston Texans (AFC South champion)
Projected record: 11-6

The Jaguars won the AFC South last season, but there will be no repeat for Jacksonville. The Texans are projected to win the division, but it is expected to be a tight race: Houston has a 47.8% chance of winning it, while the Jaguars (28%) and Colts (23.9%) are right behind. If the Texans end up winning the AFC South, it would be their third title in four years, and it would result in their fourth straight playoff appearance. 

3. Denver Broncos (AFC West champion)
Projected record: 10-7

In the eyes of the oddsmakers, the Broncos definitely aren’t the favorite to win the AFC West. According to most sports books, Denver has the third-best odds to win the division, but our simulation doesn’t agree with that take. According to our projection, the Broncos are the favorite in the AFC West with a 47% chance of winning the division, putting them ahead of both the Chiefs (32.6%) and Chargers (20.1%). 

4. Buffalo Bills (AFC East champion)
Projected record: 10-7

The race between the Bills and the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East is expected to be a tight one. Our simulation gives Buffalo a 52.4% chance of winning the division, slightly ahead of the Patriots (41.5%). The Bills have dominated this division over the past decade with five first-place finishes since 2020, and our simulation has Joe Brady leading them back on top of the AFC East in his first year as head coach. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild card 1)
Projected record: 10-7

We don’t have the Jags winning the AFC South for the second straight year, but our simulation does have the Jaguars getting to the playoffs. If they get in as a wild card, that would be huge news for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1998-99. 

6. Kansas City Chiefs (Wild card 2)
Projected record: 10-7

One reason the oddsmakers are favoring the Chiefs to win the AFC West this year is because Patrick Mahomes is back and he’s healthy. However, our simulation doesn’t think that will be quite enough for Kansas City to overtake Denver for the division title.

7. New England Patriots (Wild card 3)
Projected record: 9-8

If our simulation is correct, then Week 18 of the NFL season should be pretty wild. Although the Patriots are being projected into this spot, they will be fighting tooth and nail for the final wild-card slot in the AFC. Our simulation has the Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Bengals and Steelers all finishing 9-8 with New England getting in on a tiebreaker. 

Other AFC playoff chances: Colts (55.5%), Bengals (52.4%), Chargers (47.4%), Steelers (40.1%), Browns (7.1%), Dolphins (6.5%), Jets (4.9%), Raiders (1.1%), Titans (1.0%).

NFC playoff projection

Projections via SportsLine

1. Seattle Seahawks (NFC West champion)
Projected record: 12-5

I promised you an NFC West twist when we started things at the top and here it is: Our simulation has the SEAHAWKS winning the division. With the Rams essentially building a super team, everyone seems to be sleeping on Seattle, but computers don’t sleep, so our simulation is all over the Seahawks. Seattle has a 50.3% chance of winning the division while the Rams are at 42.7%. 

2. Detroit Lions (NFC North champion)
Projected record: 11-6

The Lions are officially back! Well, it’s not official just yet, but our simulation definitely thinks it’s going to happen. We have the Lions returning to the top of the NFC North, which is expected to be the toughest division in the NFL this year. Our simulation has all FOUR teams finishing above .500 with the Lions being a heavy favorite: They have a 43% chance of winning the division followed by the Bears (20.9%), Vikings (18.1%) and Packers (18.1%). 

3. Philadelphia (NFC East champion)
Projected record: 10-7

It’s been more than 20 years since we’ve seen an NFC East team win three straight division titles, but our computer thinks that drought is finally going to come to an end this year. Our simulation has the Eagles running away with the division. Philadelphia has a 65.4% chance of winning the title, followed by the Cowboys (15.5%), Commanders (11.4%) and Giants (7.7%). 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South champion)
Projected record: 9-8

Last year, we saw exactly zero teams in the NFC South finish with a winning record. If you can finish above .500 in this division, that means you can win it and our computer has the Buccaneers doing exactly that with a 9-8 record. This is one of just two divisions where every team is being given a double-digit chance of winning it, with the Buccaneers at 44.2%, followed by the Falcons (22.3%), Panthers (19.8%) and Saints (13.7%). 

5. Los Angeles Rams (Wild card 1)
Projected record: 12-5

The Rams are the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite and our simulation does have them finishing at 12-5, which would be tied for the best record in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Rams, we have them tied with the Seahawks and our computer says Seattle would win the tiebreaker. 

6. Chicago Bears (Wild card 2)
Projected record: 9-8

The Bears have the most difficult strength of schedule in the NFL this year, and because of that, they’re expected to take a small step back in the win column after finishing 11-6 last year. Our computer has them going 9-8, which won’t win them the NFC North, but it will be good enough to put them in the playoffs for the second straight season.

7. Minnesota Vikings (Wild card 3)
Projected record: 9-8

Apparently, our computer loves Kyler Murray, because we have the Vikings stealing the NFC’s final playoff spot over the Packers and 49ers. The computer almost malfunctioned while trying to figure out who should get the last spot between the Vikings and Packers. Minnesota has a 48.3% chance of making the postseason, while the Packers are RIGHT behind them at 48.1%. 

Other NFC Playoff Chances: Packers (48.1%), 49ers (44.9%), Falcons (26.7%), Cowboys (25.4%), Panthers (23.7%), Commanders (19.4%), Saints (16.9%), Giants (13.2%), Cardinals (0.8%).

Wild Card matchups

NFC

(2) Lions over (7) Vikings
(3) Eagles over (6) Bears
(5) Rams over (4) Buccaneers
Bye: Seahawks

AFC
(7) Patriots at (2) Texans
(6) Chiefs at (3) Broncos
(5) Jaguars at (4) Bills
Bye: Ravens

WILD CARD BREAKDOWN: We don’t have any surprises here with the home team coming out victorious in five of our six wild-card games. The only road team to win is the Rams, but that’s not a huge surprise. 

Divisional round matchups

NFC
(5) Rams over (1) Seahawks
(2) Lions over (3) Eagles 

AFC
(1) Ravens over (4) Bills
(2) Texans over (3) Broncos

DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN: We have our first surprise of the playoffs! Although the computer has the Seahawks winning the NFC West, it actually views the Rams as the overall favorite to win the NFC. The Rams have a 26.03% chance of reaching the Super Bowl from the NFC, while the Seahawks are at 24.14%. 

So there’s your second NFC West twist: The Seahawks are projected to win the division, but the Rams are projected to go farther in the playoffs. 

As for the AFC, the home team has won every game in the AFC playoffs so far and that trend continues here. 

AFC and NFC Championship games

AFC: (1) Ravens over (2) Texans
NFC: (5) Rams over (2) Lions

Conference title game breakdown: If our simulation is correct, then we’re going to get Jared Goff in the ultimate revenge game. Goff and the Lions would get to host Matthew Stafford and the Rams with a trip to Super Bowl LXI on the line. A win by the Lions would give Goff a free trip back to Los Angeles, where he’d get to play a Super Bowl in the Rams’ home stadium on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately for Goff, our simulation has the Rams winning the game. 

As for the AFC, we have the unstoppable force going up against the immovable object with Lamar Jackson facing a Houston defense that should be one of the best in the NFL this year. The unstoppable force is the unstoppable force for a reason, which is why the simulation has Jackson and the Ravens moving on. 

Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium

(5) Rams over (1) Ravens

SUPER BOWL BREAKDOWN: If our simulation shows us one thing, it’s that the Rams are inevitable. Our computer gave us some drama by predicting the Seahawks would win the NFC West, but in the end, the Rams won the Super Bowl on their home turf at SoFi Stadium. 

It’s not easy to slow down Lamar Jackson, but the Rams have the defensive talent to pull that off. 

The computer views the Rams and the Seahawks as the two best teams in the NFL. The Rams have a 16.3% chance of winning the Lombardi Trophy while the Seahawks are at 14.2%. To put that in perspective, no other NFL team is above 9% and no other NFC team is above 6%. Our simulation sees the AFC as more wide open, with the Ravens (8.4%), Texans (5.7%), Broncos (5.8%), and Bills (4.8%) the top four favorites to win the Super Bowl in that conference. 

The Dallas Wings entered the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup break as one of the hottest teams in the WNBA. But when their players return to action, the team could be without one of its best defensive players.

Alanna Smith — the defending Defensive Player of the Year — will miss the rest of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup due to a lower leg injury, team Australia announced early Wednesday.

Bayley’s WWE future has become a talking point again following conflicting reports about her contract status. The Role Model returned to RAW on September 7 after spending several weeks away from television, immediately restarting her feud with 29-year-old Lyra Valkyria.

That could eventually lead to an interesting scenario. If the former Hugger’s WWE contract situation remains unresolved, she could potentially finish her current story with Valkyria before deciding that it is time to move on from the company.

The two women have already gone through a significant change in their relationship. Bayley spent much of the past year helping Valkyria develop, but their partnership fell apart after Valkyria blamed her former mentor for holding her back. Valkyria turned on the veteran following their loss to Brie Bella and Paige in June.

Bayley’s contract situation

Bayley’s long-term WWE status is currently unclear because of conflicting reports about her contract. A recent report stated that she had not signed a new deal, despite other reports suggesting that she had re-signed with WWE. It was also reported that she still had significant time remaining on her existing agreement, meaning there is no indication that she is about to leave immediately.

That uncertainty makes her current rivalry particularly interesting. The veteran’s first singles match in her current rivalry with Valkyria took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden on July 18. Valkyria defeated her former mentor in a physical encounter before continuing the attack after the match, making it seem as though their story had reached its conclusion.

However, that was not the end. After returning to RAW, the former WWE Women’s Champion interfered in Valkyria’s Money in the Bank qualifying match. She pulled the referee out of the ring as Valkyria appeared to be on the verge of winning, allowing Sol Ruca to take advantage and qualify instead. The Role Model then tried to put Valkyria through a table before the younger star escaped.

The two have only had one singles match, so a rematch would make sense before the rivalry is finally put to rest. WWE could even take it one step further and make their next encounter the second chapter of a potential trilogy.

If Valkyria eventually wins that series, it could serve as a fitting way for the veteran to put over the younger superstar one final time. Bayley has already played a significant role in helping establish Valkyria, and giving her another decisive victory could further cement the 29-year-old as one of WWE’s leading stars.

That said, this scenario is only based on speculation, and nothing has been confirmed.