MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts' quarterback move didn't exactly play out as expected, with the team's offense producing its fewest points, yards and first downs of the season in Joe Flacco's first game since being named the starter over Anthony Richardson.

But coach Shane Steichen did not appear ready to revisit his much-debated decision, saying in the wake of Indianapolis' 21-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night that Flacco will remain the Colts' QB1.

"Right now, yes," Steichen replied when asked if Flacco is still his starter.

Steichen's decision was under scrutiny after he initiated the change Tuesday and, on Wednesday, told reporters the call was made because Flacco "gives us the best chance to win right now."

Instead, the Colts fell to 4-5, and their offense seemed to take a step back, producing season lows in offensive points (six), yards (227) and first downs (13) while struggling to find any consistency against the Brian Flores-led defense.

The Colts were particularly unproductive in the first half, generating just 92 yards of offense and 62 passing yards.

Indianapolis was 3-for-11 in third-down efficiency for the game, with Flacco going 3-of-9 for 47 yards in those scenarios.

"You know coming in here against a team like that, it's going to be difficult," Flacco said. "But I don't think you ever anticipate something like that."

Overall, Flacco completed 16 of his 27 passes for 179 yards with one interception, the result of a questionable decision that allowed Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. to undercut Colts wide receiver Josh Downs on a third-down outbreaking route.

Steichen said Flacco "was fine."

"Obviously, he's played in environments like this before," the coach said. "But again, it starts with myself ... I've got to keep looking at what we're doing offensively. We have eight [games] left, and I've got to look at scheme stuff and see what we're doing and go from there."

Richardson's struggles were well-documented, especially his NFL-low 44.4% completion rate and seven interceptions. But the Colts missed the attributes the 22-year-old quarterback provides, including his dangerous deep-ball throws and running ability.

Flacco on Sunday generated just two completions longer than 20 yards. His 7.7 air yards per attempt was the lowest by the Colts in a game this season. Explosive plays is an area where Richardson excelled, with an NFL-high 12.3 air yards per attempt in 2024.

As for the running game, the Colts struggled to produce any consistent success against the Vikings' formidable run defense. Richardson, a dual-threat quarterback, has given the Colts a boost on the ground that they perhaps missed on Sunday. Indianapolis finished with a season-low 68 rushing yards in Minneapolis, with running back Jonathan Taylor (48 yards) matching his lowest output of the season one week after rushing for 105 yards in a loss at the Houston Texans.

The change in quarterback "definitely changes up the plays that we run," Indy wideout Alec Pierce said. "We're not doing as many [run-pass option] types of things."

The offensive performance overshadowed a defensive surge by the Colts, who produced three turnovers, including a strip sack by Grover Stewart that was scooped up and returned for a touchdown by Kenny Moore II. It was the Colts' only TD of the game.

As Wales prepare to get their 2024 Autumn Nations Series under way this weekend, how well do you recall their last autumn campaign?

There was no series in 2023 because of the Rugby World Cup in France, so you will have to stretch your mind back two years to test your knowledge of the four games at the Principality Stadium in November 2022.

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders have fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after nine games, the team announced Sunday night.

The Raiders also fired quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach James Cregg.

The team is riding its first five-game losing streak since 2018 and shares the worst record in the NFL at 2-7 following Sunday's 41-24 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. Getsy's offense, while getting off to fast starts in scoring an opening-drive touchdown in four of Las Vegas' past five games, became too bogged down later in games.

"It wasn't a good day in the office," Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said after Sunday's loss, a game that was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter.

"It goes for all of us. I mean, it's a group effort. It's a team effort. We've all got to find a way to do better. We want to pinpoint from this game and look at a lot of things, from coaches to playcalling to players to execution to situations that we all can do a much better job and put ourselves in a position to get into the fourth quarter and actually have a chance to win. Not always playing catch up."

Getsy, who authored the NFL's Nos. 1 and 2 rushing offenses as the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023, respectively, oversaw a unit that ranked 28th in the NFL in total offense entering this weekend. It was No. 18 in passing and No. 31 in rushing, and the Raiders' 18.0 ppg scoring average was 26th in the NFL.

He was hired in February after former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury withdrew from consideration.

Getsy had also been moved from the field to the press box to call plays before the Raiders' loss at the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago.

More moves are expected as the Raiders, who also replaced starting quarterback Gardner Minshew with Desmond Ridder in the third quarter, prepare for their bye week.

Week 9 of the NFL season kicked off Thursday with the New York Jets defeating the Houston Texans.

On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens blew out the Denver Broncos, and the Buffalo Bills won a thriller over the Miami Dolphins. Later, the Detroit Lions earned their third straight win at Lambeau Field over the Green Bay Packers, and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks in overtime.

On "Sunday Night Football," the Minnesota Vikings ended a two-game skid by topping the Indianapolis Colts.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.

Jump to:
HOU-NYJ | DEN-BAL | DAL-ATL
LV-CIN | NO-CAR | LAC-CLE
WSH-NYG | MIA-BUF | NE-TEN
CHI-ARI | DET-GB | JAX-PHI
LAR-SEA | IND-MIN

Minnesota 21, Indianapolis 13

Vikings

Can the Vikings keep winning with Sam Darnold? Darnold had what you might call a "no, no, yes!" type of game. On the one hand, he threw for a season-high 290 yards and three touchdowns, completing 28 of his 34 passes. On the other hand, he threw two bad interceptions and lost a fumble on a controversial hit in the pocket that the Colts returned for their only touchdown. Darnold needed a fantastic effort by the Vikings' defense to cover for those mistakes. Fortunately for him and the Vikings, he got it.

Describe the game in two words: Defense dominated. After consecutive games of allowing at least 30 points, the Vikings' defense clamped down on the Colts to hold them to a single field goal. After cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.'s fourth-quarter interception, the Vikings now have more interceptions through eight games (13) than any NFL team since the 2019 New England Patriots (19).

Most surprising performance: Running back Cam Akers moved up a spot on the depth chart, two weeks after the Vikings acquired him from the Houston Texans, and he rushed for 46 yards on six carries behind starter Aaron Jones while catching two passes for 7 yards. Ty Chandler had been the Vikings' No. 2 running back throughout the first half of the season. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Colts

Was there a difference in the offense after the QB change? The Colts had relatively meager offensive production and a passing game that was largely ineffective in the first game since veteran Joe Flacco supplanted second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Flacco-led offense produced two completions for more than 20 yards, and Flacco had some notable misses on open receivers and an ugly interception. Yes, Flacco completed a higher rate of throws than Richardson has, but did he actually prove coach Shane Steichen right when he said Flacco gives the Colts a better chance to win?

Most surprising performance: Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart had an active night as a pass rusher, with the run-stopping interior defensive lineman stepping up with a pair of sacks. Stewart was responsible for the sack-fumble that jarred the ball loose from Darnold in the second quarter, then added another sack later in the quarter. Stewart had six pressures and a half sack entering the game.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Single covering Justin Jefferson: The Colts had the right idea in dedicating more bodies to the pass rush, but it came at a cost. The Colts' cornerbacks were left in single coverage against the Vikings' elite receiver, which led to a predictable result (137 yards, most by a Colts opponent this season). The Colts' young outside corners, Jaylon Jones and Sam Womack III, were no match for Jefferson without deep safety help. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

L.A. Rams 26, Seattle 20 (OT)

Rams

What does this victory mean for the Rams' NFC West chances? The Rams (4-4) entered the game with a 15.5% chance to win the division (according to ESPN's FPI) and end the week tied for second place, a half-game back of the Cardinals. With the 49ers on bye, the 5-4 Cardinals took the division lead with a victory over the Bears. The Rams are 2-1 in the division, holding the tiebreaker vs. the 49ers (4-4) and Seahawks (4-5). Los Angeles lost to Arizona in Week 2.

Most surprising performance: Safety Kamren Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick, who entered the game without an interception this season, had two in the fourth quarter. The first was a 103-yard pick-six to give the Rams an early lead in the fourth quarter and is the longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history, according to ESPN Research.

Describe the game in two words: No Nacua. And that was not a problem Sunday. Rams second-year receiver Puka Nacua was ejected for throwing a punch in the second quarter. But that didn't seem to matter as wide receiver Demarcus Robinson stepped up in a big way -- catching two touchdowns, including the game winner in OT. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

Why are the Seahawks so prone to hurting themselves? The Seahawks' last two games have been defined by self-inflicted wounds, and their mistakes wasted a strong day by their defense. The first half included two more botched shotgun snaps, with Geno Smith whiffing on one and not ready for another that was off target. Those two plays cost Seattle 44 yards, while a drop led to the first of Smith's three interceptions. Seattle had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Smith threw a reckless interception off his back foot on first-and-goal that was returned for a Rams touchdown.

Early prediction for next week: OT Abraham Lucas will make his season debut in Week 11 after Seattle's bye in Week 10. And it won't come a moment too soon. The Seahawks got OT George Fant back from his stint on IR, but his return lasted less than one quarter as he left with another knee injury. Rookie fourth-stringer Michael Jerrell was pressed back into action and struggled, committing two holding penalties and a false start.

Most surprising performance: Cody White came up huge in the fourth quarter after being elevated off the practice squad with DK Metcalf out. The fifth-year wide receiver caught passes of 16 and 28 yards, drew a defensive interference penalty and blocked a Rams punt to give the Seahawks another chance to tie the game before Smith's third interception. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: at 49ers (45613, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Philadelphia 28, Jacksonville 23

Eagles

Should Saquon Barkley be in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year? Absolutely. Barkley entered Sunday with the second-most scrimmage yards in the league (872) and tacked on nearly 200 more, along with a pair of touchdowns. He mesmerized the crowd with a backwards leap over a defender in the second quarter and showed off his pass-catching chops with a 20-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter. It wasn't all pretty, as Barkley was charged with a key fumble that the Jaguars returned for a touchdown, but overall he's performing as well as any skill player in the league.

Eye-popping stat: Wide receiver DeVonta Smith recorded his seventh receiving touchdown of at least 25 yards, which is tied for the third most in the NFL since 2023. Smith had one catch over 20 air yards this season before today.

Most surprising performance: Linebacker Zack Baun. He had minimal experience as an off-ball linebacker before joining the Eagles this offseason, but he has thrived in the role to this point in the year. Baun led the way Sunday with 10 tackles, two QB hits, two passes defensed and a key interception late in the first half. Fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean came up with the game-sealing interception in the back of the end zone with 1:38 remaining. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

Can the Jaguars figure out a way to start fast? The Jaguars fell behind 22-0 early against the Eagles before making a game of it. That has been an issue for much of the season as they fell behind Green Bay (10-0), New England (10-0) and Chicago (21-3). It's hard to play from behind all the time; now the Jaguars have to do it relying on second-year wide receiver Parker Washington and practice-squad receivers Austin Trammell and Elijah Cooks. The offense seems to get going when the Jaguars go up-tempo, so maybe that's a potential change.

Most surprising performance: The Jacksonville Jaguars may want to consider getting defensive end Travon Walker some carries going forward. On his 35-yard fumble return for a touchdown, he broke tackles by right guard Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Johnny Wilson before putting a move on quarterback Jalen Hurts at the 4-yard line. That return equaled the Jaguars' rushing total at that point.

Eye-popping stat: The Jaguars had 31 yards of offense (15 rushing, 16 passing) in the first half, the second fewest for a first half in franchise history. The lowest is 18 yards, which came against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth game of the franchise's expansion season in 1995. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Detroit 24, Green Bay 14

Lions

Does the victory put the Lions in the driver's seat in the NFC? Yes, Detroit has been dominant to this point of the season. The reigning NFC North champions have now beaten both of the top teams in their division, at Minnesota in Week 7 and now at Green Bay. And they've proved they can still string together victories in the face of adversity. They played without wide receiver Jameson Williams, who was serving the second game of his two-game suspension, and Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who underwent surgery on his left leg following the Lions' Week 6 win at Dallas.

Early prediction for next week: Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will score a receiving touchdown for the seventh straight game in Houston. Against the Packers, St. Brown tied Detroit's franchise mark -- shared by Herman Moore (1994) and Leon Hart (1951) -- with a receiving touchdown in six consecutive games. He had seven catches for 56 yards.

Most surprising performance: The Lions' defense. Although Detroit lost safety Brian Branch to a second-quarter ejection for a helmet-to-helmet hit, the defense allowed just one touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Safety Kerby Joseph also recorded the first pick-six of his career off Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the first half, which was the first by a Lions player at Green Bay since 1979. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Packers

Can the Packers fix Jordan Love's interception issues? That might not be what coach Matt LaFleur planned to study during this week's bye, but it has likely become his top priority after Love threw his 10th interception of the season. This one was a disastrous pick-six when they should have been running out the clock close to halftime. Instead, Love tried to force a pass to running back Josh Jacobs that Kerby Joseph returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Love threw 11 interceptions last season, but only one of those came in the final eight games, so the problem would appear to be fixable.

Describe the game in two words: Sloppy mess. That doesn't just apply to the constant rain and field conditions. It would describe the Packers' play and decision-making, too. On the way to falling behind 17-3 at halftime, they had eight penalties, three dropped passes and a disastrous interception. The Packers finished with 10 penalties, five dropped passes and several poor or mishandled shotgun snaps.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has had answers for a lot of things, but he didn't come up with anything effective for fourth downs Sunday. The Lions scored a pair of touchdowns on fourth-down plays -- one on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and another on a 15-yard rush by Jahmyr Gibbs on fourth-and-1. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Arizona 29, Chicago 9

Cardinals

Are the Cardinals for real? Sure looks like it. The Cardinals showed they can beat a team they're supposed to beat a week after beating a team they weren't expected to in the Dolphins. That's a sign of a team finding its rhythm. With wins in three straight games and four of their last five, the Cardinals (5-4) have emerged as one of the hottest teams in a division that's up for grabs. A telling sign for Arizona was how dominant the offense was without quarterback Kyler Murray being the hero.

Eye-popping stat: Running back Emari Demercado's 53-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the longest rushing touchdown in the final 20 seconds of a half since 1972, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Arizona's 213 rushing yards was its most since Week 2.

Most surprising performance: The Cardinals' pass rush figured itself out, recording a season-high six sacks vs. rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. It marked the Cardinals' most sacks since Week 1 of the 2023 season and the fourth time in the past four seasons that they reached six sacks in a game. -- Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Bears

Are the Bears' playoff hopes slipping away? Yes. After losing on a Hail Mary in Washington in Week 8, Chicago was listless in its second straight loss. The Bears failed to score a touchdown and gave up over 150 rushing yards for a third time this season. Chicago couldn't exploit any of Arizona's weaknesses -- particularly a defense that ranked 32nd on third down (the Bears were 3-of-13) -- and is seeing its playoff hopes evaporate with a rash of injuries (Chicago was without three defensive starters and lost right tackle Darnell Wright in the second half).

Describe the game in two words: Run woes. The Bears couldn't rush the ball (70 yards, 3.0 yards per rush) and couldn't stop the Cardinals' run game (yielding 213 yards, 6.3 yards per rush). The Bears entered the game averaging 80 rushing yards before contact per game, but they had 34 on Sunday.

Eye-popping stat: Entering Sunday, Caleb Williams completed just 31% of his throws with 15 or more air yards, 29th among qualified quarterbacks. Against the Cardinals, he was 1-of-8 (12.5%). Williams finished 22-of-41 for 216 yards and was sacked six times. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Tennessee 20, New England 17

Titans

Can the Titans' No. 1 defense finish the season that way? No. The Titans' defense was first in the NFL, allowing 265.4 total offensive yards per game coming into the week. They gave up 284 to the Patriots, tying a season high with four sacks. They did generate two takeaways, but giving up an 11-play drive covering 59 yards for a touchdown is something a top unit should be able to avoid. They did redeem themselves with an interception by Amani Hooker in overtime to seal the win.

Most surprising performance: The Titans' defensive front was a menace to the Patriots. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson attacked New England with blitzes from the linebackers and safeties, along with some well-executed stunts and twists up front throughout the game. Jeffery Simmons got one of Tennessee's sacks, and his pressure on rookie quarterback Drake Maye forced a rushed throw that was intercepted. Arden Key's strip sack set up the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

Describe the game in two words: Fourth quarter. The Titans average 1.7 points in the fourth quarter -- which ranks last in the NFL. But Tennessee found its way to the end zone against the Patriots, resulting in its first fourth-quarter touchdown since Week 4 against the Dolphins. The Patriots answered, but the Titans' field goal in overtime was the difference in the final score. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Patriots

How does rookie QB Drake Maye respond heading into next week's game against Caleb Williams and the Bears? Maye did some magical things to send the game to overtime, but two costly mistakes -- a strip sack and an interception in overtime -- provided the ultimate learning experience for the No. 3 pick as he faces the No. 1 pick next week. This was Maye's fourth start, and he hadn't been in that type of situation before. He answered the challenge at the end of regulation, scrambling to keep a final play alive before lofting a pass to Rhamondre Stevenson for a 5-yard touchdown. But his game-ending interception late in overtime, which hung up in the air, was underwhelming.

Eye-popping stat: The time to throw on Maye's game-tying touchdown pass was 11.82 seconds. That's the second-longest time to throw on any touchdown pass since NFL Next Gen Stats tracking began in 2016 (regular season or playoffs). Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary touchdown last week leads at 12.70 seconds. They are the only touchdown passes since tracking began with a time to throw of 10 seconds or longer.

Biggest hole in the game plan: No traditional running game. Stevenson was limited to 16 yards on 10 carries, and the Patriots' best rushing attack was Maye on unscripted scrambles. The coaching staff started rookie Layden Robinson at right guard after he missed Week 8 with an ankle injury, which bumped Mike Onwenu out to right tackle. The latter was a decision to second-guess as Robinson was pulled late in the second quarter. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Buffalo 30, Miami 27

Bills

Can the Bills find an answer for the slow starts this season? They better hope they can. After putting together a solid start to the game last week with an opening touchdown drive against the Seahawks, the Bills' trend of starting slowly came back against Miami. Buffalo trailed at halftime for the fifth time this season, and Keon Coleman and James Cook had bad drops in the first half. Then, in the second half, the Bills went on three straight touchdown drives. Some bad penalties didn't help, but finding an offensive rhythm earlier is something that must be corrected to avoid these late-game situations.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Finding ways to pressure the quarterback. This defense's ability to generate pressure is something to continue to monitor. Tua Tagovailoa was pressured on 17.2% of dropbacks and sacked once, and the Bills' defense registered two quarterback hits. They elected not to blitz often (10.3%), which allowed the Dolphins to put together long drives -- five of nine or more plays.

Early prediction for next week: Continued role expansion for running back Ray Davis. Why not? Davis has proved he can be a dynamic part of this offense alongside Cook. Davis' 63-yard receiving touchdown was the longest reception by a Bills running back since 2012 (C.J. Spiller), and he averaged 5.0 yards on his four carries. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

What are realistic expectations for Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill moving forward? The NFL's leading receiving duo over the past two seasons combined for two targets in the first half Sunday, both of which went to Hill. Both players are on pace to finish with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards for the first time as teammates, and Miami isn't forcing the issue with opposing defenses selling out to stop its home run-hitting receivers. The Dolphins' remaining schedule features six teams ranked 16th or better against the pass. Until they face more favorable coverages, it might be safe to assume both players will continue on this path.

Describe the game in two words: Balanced attack. While the Bills focused on taking away Hill and Waddle, the Dolphins turned to their other playmakers to move the ball. Nine different players touched the ball, three players received at least five targets and two players recorded at least 10 carries.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Defending the flat. The Bills lived on their short passing game, particularly to the right flat area of the field. Josh Allen completed 9 of 13 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown on out-breaking routes. He completed 20 of 32 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns on passes of 5.0 air yards or fewer, according to ESPN Research. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Rams (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Washington 27, N.Y. Giants 22

Commanders

Is quarterback Jayden Daniels a legitimate MVP candidate? He should be, considering his importance to Washington's offense. They're 7-2 in large part because of him. On Sunday, Daniels was not spectacular, but he made big-time throws and managed the game at a high level. Daniels completed 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. While others merit strong consideration -- Buffalo's Josh Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson among them -- Daniels warrants inclusion. He has nine touchdown passes, two picks and four rushing TDs. As tight end Zach Ertz said recently: He does not play like a rookie.

Describe the game in two words: Not pretty. Though the Commanders' offense scored 27 points, the Giants dominated time of possession and kept it close with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Of the Giants' 13 touchdowns this season, six have come against Washington. More importantly, the Commanders have swept the series after being 3-8-1 versus the Giants over the previous six years.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The first-half run defense. New York ran for 140 yards in the first half, gashing Washington up the middle. The Commanders fared much better after halftime, allowing 24 yards on the ground, partly because of the tackle play but also because they pulled ahead. Teams will continue to test their rush defense. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Giants

What does this loss mean for Daniel Jones' future? The Giants have to at least be thinking about their quarterback position if they're not willing to throw the ball. That was the case in the first half, when Jones was completely ineffective. They can turn to backup Drew Lock next week against the league's worst defense in Carolina. Or they can use the next two weeks, which includes a bye, to adjust their offense. At this point, it seems inevitable if coach Brian Daboll doesn't have confidence in his quarterback. Jones was better in the second half, going 16-of-20 for 174 yards with passing and rushing touchdowns.

Eye-popping stat: Jones had zero passing yards in the first half. He was 4-of-6 passing for 0 yards, but also with a touchdown. It was his first home touchdown pass in 672 days, dating back to 2022 Week 17. According to ESPN Research, Jones became the first player since at least 1978 to have a passing touchdown and 0 passing yards in a half (minimum five pass attempts). It's hard to win that way in today's NFL.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Giants' pass rush was missing in action, especially in the first half. Daniels was pressured on two of 13 dropbacks (15%) in the first half, per ESPN Research. The Giants entered Sunday pressuring opposing quarterbacks at a 35% clip. It's generally the strength of the team. They didn't have a sack in this contest. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

L.A. Chargers 27, Cleveland 10

Chargers

Should the Chargers be concerned about their pass protection? The Browns sacked Justin Herbert six times Sunday, all of which came in the first half. It was the most Herbert had been sacked in a game in his career and the sixth straight game in which he was sacked multiple times. The Chargers' offensive line was supposed to be a strong point, but it looked mediocre Sunday. The Browns' edge rushers dominated All-Pro tackle Rashawn Slater and first-round pick Joe Alt, as well as the interior offensive line.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Quentin Johnston. He had the best game of his career Sunday, finishing with four catches for 118 receiving yards. Johnston's top play came on a 66-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter when he sprinted by Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward for his fourth touchdown of the year.

Describe the game in two words: Defensive dominance. After scoring a season-high 29 points in a win over the Baltimore Ravens in quarterback Jameis Winston's first start, the Chargers held the Browns to a season low of 10 points. Cleveland's lone touchdown came with 44 seconds left in the game and most of L.A.'s defensive starters out. The Chargers secured three interceptions, sacked Winston six times and blocked a field goal. -- Kris Rhim

Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Browns

Should the Browns be willing to trade at the deadline? Only one team in the Super Bowl era has started 2-7 and made the playoffs. Cleveland's resurgence with Jameis Winston at quarterback was short-lived, and Tuesday's trade deadline is looming. The Browns have multiple veteran players on inexpensive contracts, most notably pass rusher Za'Darius Smith. He could net the draft picks the front office needs to retool after a disappointing first half of the season.

Describe the game in two words: Offensive regression. One week after Winston helped engineer a season-best performance, the Browns' offense struggled against a top defense in the NFL. Cleveland had 57 total net yards at halftime. Winston has now thrown 102 interceptions, the most by any player in his first 100 career games since Matthew Stafford in 2016, according to ESPN Research.

Most surprising performance: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, cornerback Denzel Ward allowed two receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns on five targets as the nearest defender. He had entered the day with one touchdown allowed as the nearest defender this season. Both scores came in zone coverage on apparent coverage busts. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Saints (45613, 1 p.m. ET)

Carolina 23, New Orleans 22

Panthers

Does Bryce Young get a third straight start? Heck yeah. As many times as coach Dave Canales has said Andy Dalton gives Carolina the best chance to win, Young engineered his first game-winning touchdown drive. He showed glimpses of why he was drafted No. 1. He 100% deserves to start in Germany. He threw with confidence (16-of-26 for 171 yards). His pick should have been a big catch by Xavier Legette. Were it not for conservative playcalling, the numbers would be better.

Most surprising performance: Red zone defense. Carolina allowed red zone touchdowns 71.4% of the time coming into the day. That was trimmed to 50%, which isn't great but is a huge improvement from the 94% in the first five games of the year. Forcing two red zone field goals early kept this one close enough to win.

Eye-popping stat: Ja'Tavion Sanders generated the most receiving yards over expected in a game by a rookie tight end this season (+50). His 87 receiving yards was more than leading wide receivers Jalen Coker and Legette had combined (69). -- David Newton

Next game: vs. Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Saints

Do the Saints move on from Dennis Allen? The Saints have now lost seven straight, their longest losing streak since 1999, which resulted in coach Mike Ditka getting fired at the end of the year. With a disgruntled fan base and little hope of making the playoffs, the Saints probably will have to consider major changes. They also could be without top receiver Chris Olave for an extended period of time, as he sustained his second concussion of the season in the first quarter and was taken to a local hospital.

Most surprising performance: CB Shemar Jean-Charles. The 26-year-old made his first career start after being signed to the active roster Saturday. Although he gave up an early touchdown and a big play late, he had an impressive interception in the fourth quarter, knocking the ball out of Xavier Legette's hands and into his own for his first career pick.

Describe the game in two words: Melting down. The defense gave up a late touchdown; the offense couldn't score consistently; and the injury list grew longer. The Saints haven't shown any signs of improvement during their seven-game losing streak and have made mistakes on both sides of the ball. They've had penalties at key times, questionable playcalls and time-management issues. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cincinnati 41, Las Vegas 24

Bengals

What does this Bengals win mean in the big picture? Not a ton. The Bengals did what they needed to do to avoid falling to 3-6 on the season. But Sunday's win still doesn't give Cincinnati a victory over a team with a winning record. The Raiders suffered several injuries and eventually went to backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. A win is a win, sure. But matchups against the Ravens, Chargers and Steelers in the next three weeks will be better litmus tests of where the Bengals stand.

Describe the game in two words: Palate cleanser. A relatively dominant victory erased the taste of a deflating Week 8 loss to the Eagles. Cincinnati needed a strong performance against a bad team to start building in-season momentum, especially with a showdown against the Ravens looming on a short week.

Eye-popping stat: Quarterback Joe Burrow scrambled for a total of 66.6 yards on his five touchdown passes, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Two of those touchdowns featured scrambles of 20 or more yards: his first score to Chase Brown and a touchdown to Drew Sample in the third quarter. -- Ben Baby

Next game: at Ravens (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Should the Raiders trade their big-name players before the deadline? Depends on how much job security general manager Tom Telesco feels he has, plus what can he get in return for a full rebuild. The Raiders have lost five straight games for the first time since 2018 and the bye could not come at a better time. Owner Mark Davis has already said defensive end Maxx Crosby is untouchable, so what other trade chips might the Raiders have? Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers? Cornerback Nate Hobbs? Left tackle Kolton Miller? Las Vegas probably doesn't get anything more than a fourth-round pick for any of them, so they could potentially package the picks to move up.

Describe the game in two words: Painful day. Both Hobbs and Miller left the game in the second quarter with ankle injuries. So did Miller's replacement at left tackle, Andrus Peat, and left guard Cody Whitehair. Tight end Harrison Bryant sustained an ankle injury in the third quarter. That doesn't account for the painful play of quarterback Gardner Minshew, who lost another fumble and was benched in favor of Desmond Ridder late in the third quarter.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Defending the middle of the field. It's a copycat league, so a week after the Chiefs plundered the Raiders just beyond the line of scrimmage, the Bengals did the same ... a lot. Quarterback Joe Burrow sliced and diced there in the first half, completing 12 of 14 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown on throws between the numbers. It continued in the second half. -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: at Dolphins (45613, 1 p.m. ET)

Atlanta 27, Dallas 21

Falcons

How can the Falcons get by if Drake London misses time? The receiver came into Sunday's game tied for fourth in the league in receptions (48) and tied for third in touchdown catches (five). London caught another touchdown Sunday, but then he left the game with a hip injury. London is also a key blocker on running plays, which makes the loss even tougher. Atlanta was already thin at wide receiver, so maybe the Falcons will look to make a trade before Tuesday's deadline if London is out for a bit.

Describe the game in two words: Sorely needed. The Falcons have been getting boastful in the NFC South, going 4-0 against their division with wins over the struggling Panthers and Saints. Against everyone else, Atlanta was 1-3. The Cowboys aren't elite, but this was a necessary, definitive victory for the Falcons, who have won five of their past six games.

Most surprising performance: The Falcons' pass rush entered the game with a league-low six sacks. On Sunday, they had three against quarterback Dak Prescott, with Arnold Ebiketie, Grady Jarrett and Kaden Elliss all getting to him. Jarrett leads the team with 2.5 sacks. Ebiketie and Elliss got their first sacks of this season. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

What should the Cowboys now do at the deadline? At 3-5, the Cowboys have as many losses as they had in each of the past three seasons. And they're not sure on the severity of Dak Prescott's hamstring injury, which forced him out of the game late in the third quarter. The Cowboys have plenty of needs -- wide receiver, defensive line, offensive line and running back -- but there hasn't been an indication that owner and general manager Jerry Jones will go "all-in," like he said he would during the offseason. Would they trade one of their core players? Jones has consistently said he likes the roster, so that is probably a no.

Eye-popping stat: In the first half, Prescott averaged 2.2 average air yards per target, the lowest rate in the first half of a game in his career and the second-lowest in any half of his career. Without any protection, even against a poor Falcons pass rush, the Cowboys had to get the ball out of Prescott's hands in a hurry. Not even that could prevent him from sustaining his injury.

Describe the game in two words: All wrong. The Cowboys entered the game without Ezekiel Elliott (disciplinary reasons), Micah Parsons (ankle) and DaRon Bland (foot). Then they lost Prescott. CeeDee Lamb appeared to injure his right shoulder too, though he caught a late TD after getting hurt. Perhaps Parsons and Bland play next week, but if Prescott is out for a prolonged period, this season is as doomed as 2015. That's when Tony Romo suffered two collarbone injuries and the team finished 4-12. -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Eagles (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Baltimore 41, Denver 10

Ravens

What does the Ravens' rout of the Broncos say about them? Baltimore is the hardest team in the NFL to predict. In winning six of their past seven games, the Ravens have beaten three teams with winning records -- the Bills, Commanders and Broncos -- by a combined score of 106-43. But this is the same Baltimore team that has lost to two last-place teams in the Raiders and Browns. It comes down to the much-criticized Ravens defense. When Baltimore holds teams to 25 or fewer points, the Ravens are 4-0.

Describe the game in two words: Perfect day. After missing two practices this week with back and knee injuries, Jackson recorded a perfect 158.3 passer rating by completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. This was Jackson's fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, which ties Ben Roethlisberger for the most by any player in NFL history (minimum 10 pass attempts), according to ESPN Research.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Zay Flowers. He became the first Ravens player to total 100 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in the same game since Hollywood Brown in 2019. Flowers also is the first player this year to record 100 receiving yards against a Broncos defense that was ranked No. 4 in pass defense before Sunday. Flowers has been on a tear with four 100-yard receiving games in the past five weeks. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Bengals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Broncos

Are the Broncos really not ready to fight up in weight class? The Broncos entered Sunday's game with a three-game stretch -- at Baltimore, at Kansas City and against Atlanta -- to reveal if they are to be in the playoff conversation. Consider the first test to be a robust "F." Their early fourth-down gambles didn't work and the Broncos had no answer for quarterback Lamar Jackson's ability to find their weak spots. The Broncos' offense found few big plays against a Ravens' defense that had surrendered a long list before Sunday. They will have to threaten opposing defenses far more in the coming weeks, tackle exponentially better and shorten the list of mistakes. Otherwise, the next two weeks will look similar.

Describe the game in two words: Bad memories. The Broncos defense had done the heavy lifting to get the team to 5-3, but in a sea of missed tackles, they looked a little too much like the team's defense early in 2023. The Ravens found backup safety Devon Key in coverage over and over again, they kept Flowers away from Pat Surtain II (the Broncos wanted to match up Surtain with Flowers at least in the red zone) and Jackson was never under much duress.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Broncos have not been a big-play offense all season, but the Ravens had surrendered 46 explosive plays coming into this game (runs of at least 10 yards or pass plays of at least 20). The Broncos had a 33-yard completion to Courtland Sutton and a 34-yard completion to Javonte Williams on a scramble. But beyond that, it was more of the same -- low-impact throws and missed opportunities. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: at Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

N.Y. Jets 21, Houston 13

Jets

Can the offense sustain what it showed in the second half? The Jets had three consecutive touchdown drives of 70-plus yards, something they hadn't done in a single game since 2016. QB Aaron Rodgers caught fire after a "terrible" first half (his word), with WRs Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams making big plays. Yes, they can keep it going because their next two opponents (the Cardinals and Colts) were ranked 27th and 28th in yards allowed, respectively, at the start of Week 9. The Jets cleaned up some issues in their operation and resembled what they were expected to be. Now they have to hope their injury-plagued offensive line can get healthy.

Eye-popping stat: 14%. That was the completion probability on Rodgers' third-and-19 touchdown pass to Wilson from the Houston 26, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Wilson made the play of the Jets' season, a one-handed, acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone. It could be a turning point for the Jets if they can work their way back into contention.

Most surprising performance: Edge rusher Haason Reddick. In his second game, he played a lot (and well) for someone who sat out six months of offseason workouts, training camp and games because of a holdout. He played 42 of 75 snaps, recorded eight quarterback pressures and was on the field for five of the Jets' eight sacks. There is no doubt that he adds juice to the pass rush. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Texans

Can the Texans snap out of their offensive funk? In the past three games, the Texans' offense has averaged only 19 points per game, contributing to a 1-2 record during that stretch. The pass blocking is at the root of their inability to score, as quarterback C.J. Stroud has been sacked 14 times since Week 7. If Houston can't fix this problem, a team that had Super Bowl aspirations will come up well short of that goal.

Describe the game in two words: No protection. Stroud was sacked eight times, and no quarterback can survive that type of barrage. If it continues, eventually Stroud's play will tail off, or at worst, he will suffer an injury that will sideline him.

Eye-popping stat: Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was targeted eight times against the Jets but allowed 22 receiving yards and registered a pass deflection. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

NEW ORLEANS -- Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels rejects the notion that he pretended to spray gunfire toward former teammates after hitting a 3-pointer in front of New Orleans' bench during a 126-111 victory over the Pelicans on Sunday night.

"I was just telling them all that it was worth 3 points," Daniels said, noting that when he extended his right arm toward the Pelicans' bench area, his thumb and two other fingers were extended, representing 3 points.

When told his gesture also appeared to resemble a gun, Daniels said, "It might have looked like it, but I was just telling them it was worth 3 points. You know, pointing at them all, that's all it was. I was making sure they all knew how many points it was worth."

The NBA has handed down some high-profile fines for gun gestures in the past decade, including $35,000 to Josh Jackson in 2017 and $25,000 to Gerald Green in 2015.

Meanwhile, Ja Morant was suspended 25 games in 2023 for waving an actual gun during a social media video.

Some on the Pelicans' bench appeared to ask officials to assess Daniels a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I didn't get one. So, the ref was right," said Daniels, an Australian whom the Pelicans made the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. "I was just out there having fun. I was hoping to hit a 3 in that corner so I could let the bench know about it. It was a game I had circled on my calendar."

Daniels and Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. were traded last offseason from New Orleans to Atlanta as part of a deal that brought point guard Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans. Murray did not play on Sunday night, having been sidelined four to six weeks by a broken hand during New Orleans' first game of the regular season.

Nance laughed when asked if he thought the Pelicans who called for Daniels to be assessed a technical foul were just kidding around, too.

"You know what? No comment," Nance said. "I'm going to steer clear of that one."

Nance, like Daniels, had some back and forth with the Pelicans bench, staring them down after a third-quarter dunk and then blowing them a kiss after a corner 3, also in front of New Orleans' bench.

Nance said that as he went into his shooting motion from behind the 3-point arc, Pelicans players were yelling, "Hell, no!"

"One, we're all competitors. And, two, we're friends," Nance said. "You're able to say some things to each other just because we know it's all love.

"Everybody in that locker room I have nothing but love and admiration for," Nance added. "Tonight was a lot of fun. I'm glad we won."

Daniels finished with 16 points in what was also his return from a two-game absence because of a right hip strain that he said was no longer bothering him.

"Even if I wasn't 100%, I was going to make sure I'd be back for this game," Daniels said, noting that it was a tough moment for him when he first learned New Orleans was trading him.

"It was unexpected. I came into the league here and this was home for me," Daniels said. "They drafted me. They believed in me. Everyone was great to me. But this is a business; these things happen. So, you've got to move on from it. I'm happy to be in Atlanta. I'm enjoying my opportunity there."

Nance scored 14 points during Sunday's game, which got chippy at times and included a flagrant foul against Hawks guard Garrison Matthews for what looked like a hard forearm to mid-section of Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.

"I don't know what type of play was that," said Alvarado, who was restrained by teammates as he advanced toward Matthews, yelling.

"I just wanted to ask him what was going on with that," Alvarado said. "It wasn't really like being aggressive. It felt like it was a cheap shot. I don't know why he did it."

The Premier League season is only three months old, but this weekend may have gone some way to shaping how it will look come May. Manchester City? They're no longer top after getting beaten by AFC Bournemouth. Arsenal? Not even in the top four following their loss at Newcastle United.

That's all put into perspective by events in Spain, where floods have left more than 200 people dead. Valencia's meeting with Real Madrid and Villarreal's encounter with Rayo Vallecano were postponed, but in the rest of LaLiga, the game went ahead.

In the Bundesliga, meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen just can't shake the feeling that they're not themselves. Last year's shock title winners suffered a goalless draw against VfB Stuttgart and are now seven points off the top of the table.

What else happened around Europe this weekend? ESPN's Weekend Review puts a bow on all the continental competition.

Premier League

Top takeaway: Early twist in the title race?

It is obviously too early to talk about a defining moment in the season, but a lot happened this weekend when it comes to the top teams and the top of the table.

Manchester City were the leaders going into this Gameweek 10, the only team still unbeaten in the Premier League. Yet, a very timid performance for 80 minutes at Bournemouth, injuries (to John Stones, Rodri, Rúben Dias and Jack Grealish, while Savinho, Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku were on the bench but not fully fit) and a lack of creativity for much of the game meant a deserved 2-1 defeat.

It also meant that Liverpool, with their hard-earned win against Brighton & Hove Albion, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 in the last 20 minutes, went top of the table, two points clear of City. The weekend was perfect for the Reds as they also saw Arsenal drop points.

The Gunners were not up for it at Newcastle and promptly fell 1-0, Declan Rice missing a massive chance to get a draw in the last minute of the game. It's now three games without a win in the league for Mikel Arteta & Co., and they're now fifth in the table behind Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

Best match: Spurs 4, Villa 1

After zero shots on target in his past 300 minutes in all competitions, Dominic Solanke ended his goal drought with a brace for Tottenham Hotspur at home against an Aston Villa side who took the lead but wasted too many chances while Spurs were clinical in front of goal (as evidenced by their tally of four goals from 2.63 expected).

Best goal: Aina vs. West Ham

Ola Aina doesn't score many goals as a right-back for Forest, let alone with his left foot. So the 28-year-old will remember the banger he netted against West Ham United on Saturday forever. They don't get much sweeter than a 20-yard strike flying in near the top corner.

MVP of the weekend: Milos Kerkez

In nine Premier League games this season, Kerkez had not provided a single assist to a teammate. In 90 minutes against Man City, the best team in the league for the past four seasons, he set up both of Bournemouth's goals and in doing so a historic win for a club who had never beaten City in their history. -- Julien Laurens

LaLiga

Top takeaway: LaLiga goes on as floods devastate Spain

Football took a back seat in Spain this weekend after flooding in the east of the country left more than 200 people dead, with many more still missing. LaLiga responded by postponing Valencia and Villarreal's home games against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, respectively, but the other eight top-flight games went ahead as usual. Many, though, felt all this weekend's fixtures should have been called off.

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said it made "no sense" to play football given events in the Valencia province and beyond. Girona's Miguel Gutiérrez dedicated his goal to a friend whose mum is still missing. Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno oversaw his side's 1-0 win against Real Valladolid on Saturday and then headed south to his hometown of Massanassa to help with the clean-up efforts in one of the worst-affected areas in the country. Injured Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, who is from Valencia, said he didn't have the energy to go to the stadium to support his teammates against Espanyol on Sunday.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas insisted the show had to go on. "We believe that the best message is not to stop, except in the areas affected," he posted on X. "The best message is to be on the front line, working, like everyone in every other sector, giving visibility [to the events], generating resources and explaining to the world that we must be all hands on deck to move forward."

Best match: Girona 4, Leganés 3

Girona edged a seven-goal thriller at Montilivi against Leganés, overcoming the longest injury list in LaLiga to win 4-3. They led 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2 but were hanging on at the end of an encounter that saw both teams take off the handbrake. The standout performances came from the Girona full-backs, Gutiérrez and Arnau Martínez, who were both on the scoresheet.

Best goal: Kubo vs. Sevilla

Takefusa Kubo's brilliant individual effort paved the way for Real Sociedad's 2-0 win at Sevilla. The Japan international collected the ball on the right, drifted inside past two defenders and fired past Álvaro Fernández from 15 yards with his left foot. An honourable mention for Munir El Haddadi's long-range ripper for Leganés, which set up a frantic finale against Girona.

TAKE KUBO #LALIGAHighlights | #SevillaFCRealSociedad pic.twitter.com/MUrChKRmcm

LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) November 3, 2024

MVP of the weekend: Dani Olmo

Olmo scored a brace on his first LaLiga start in more than a month as Barça beat Espanyol 3-1 in the Catalan derby to move nine points clear at the top of the table. Both goals were wonderfully taken -- the first after a beautiful Lamine Yamal pass and the second from the edge of the box -- and improved the Spain star's incredible scoring record this season. In five LaLiga appearances, he has already netted five times and is averaging 1.67 goals per 90 minutes. -- Sam Marsden

Bundesliga

Top takeaway: Leverkusen don't look themselves

Bayer Leverkusen's title win last season made for a tremendous story and seemingly freshened up the Bundesliga, because Bayern Munich's iron grip on the Meisterschale was finally broken. However, as great as Leverkusen performed under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso during the 2023-24 season, the Werkself have looked much more vulnerable since the summer break.

With some key players lacking top form and clear defensive deficiencies hindering the team, Leverkusen look far from dominant. Their goalless draw with VfB Stuttgart on Friday was a disappointment, despite outshooting their guests 19 to 4, unable to convert any of their chances.

It needs to be kept in mind that Alonso's side picked up a lot of last-minute wins in the previous 12 months. At some point though, a team reliant on such miraculous late goals will eventually see them dry up and begin dropping points.

After nine matchdays, Leverkusen are only fourth in the Bundesliga table. Meanwhile, Bayern have been able to extend their lead over the weekend thanks to a 3-0 win over Union Berlin, while RB Leipzig lost at Borussia Dortmund 2-1. Perhaps Leverkusen's championship was just a one-off, but it is still too early to tell how the championship race may unfold.

Best match: Frankfurt 7, Bochum 2

Eintracht Frankfurt have finally caught fire under manager Dino Toppmöller. The former UEFA Europa League winners have only lost twice this season and are increasingly showing their attacking prowess. Frankfurt scored four goals within 21 minutes in the first half and killed almost any hope for VfL Bochum, who are last in the standings, to gather their second point of the season on Saturday. Bochum started a small comeback after the break by scoring two goals, but Frankfurt's attack around striker Omar Marmoush was simply too strong.

Best goal: Amoura vs. Augsburg

VfL Wolfsburg were able to avoid a home loss against FC Augsburg thanks to a stellar goal in the final 10 minutes of the game. Joakim Maehle received a cross with his chest before laying the ball off to striker Mohamed Amoura, who used the outside of his boot to hit the upper right corner, leaving Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic no chance to deny Wolfsburg a point. It was a rare highlight moment in an otherwise-dull game.

MVP of the weekend: Alexander Blessin

St. Pauli's latest Bundesliga endeavor has not started as smoothly as hoped. The club from Hamburg had to replace manager Fabian Hürzeler, who decided to leave after he led the team to promotion and join Brighton. Blessin had achieved notoriety due to his managerial work for Belgium club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise last season and was subsequently hired by St. Pauli, but the new manager needed time to find the right balance between his trademark high-pressing football and a more cautious style akin to teams with a rather weak squad. While St. Pauli were a quite dominant side in the 2. Bundesliga, they have had to change their style to an extent in the Bundesliga. Thanks to an impressive 2-0 win at TSG Hoffenheim, St. Pauli have left the relegation zone for the time being. That win came on the heels of an encouraging performance at Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal, although the way Leipzig's second-string attack were able to outplay St. Pauli's defense underlined that Blessin needs to be creative to lead his team to wins. -- Constantin Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

All eyes on Amorim's Sporting

All eyes were on Rúben Amorim in Lisbon on Friday as he took charge of Sporting CP's game against Estrela Amadora after being appointed the new Manchester United coach, but the spotlight was once again stolen by Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish striker struck four times in a 5-1 win, taking his tally for the campaign to 16 in 10 in the league as the Portuguese champions made it 10 successive wins to start the season.

It is that sort of form that led to United swooping for Amorim this week, although he will remain in charge of Sporting for two more games, starting with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. That match will pit two of Europe's top marksmen against each other in Gyökeres and Erling Haaland. If the former can deliver against City, United fans will have even more reasons to dream of Amorim bringing him to Old Trafford with him. -- Marsden

What's Lijnders' future in Klopp's Red Bull?

For years, RB Salzburg dominated the Austrian Bundesliga and made occasional splashes in European competition under the likes of Jesse Marsch and Marco Rose. However, after losing out on the Austrian championship to Sturm Graz last season, this year is shaping up to be another disappointment.

Now coached by former Jürgen Klopp assistant Pepijn Lijnders, the team has had a rough first few months, losing all three of their Champions League games without scoring a goal, and dropping points in the domestic league including a 5-0 defeat to leaders Sturm Graz.

On Saturday, Lijnders' side found themselves essentially in a must-win situation, as they faced recently promoted Grazer AK. Salzburg were unable to score, settling for a draw with GAK, leaving the 17-time champions in third place and eight points behind Sturm Graz -- although with two games in hand. Still, if Salzburg suffer another loss in the Champions League, as they play at Feyenoord on Wednesday, Lijnders' future could be in doubt.

Given the fact that Klopp will soon start in his new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull, it will be interesting to see how, if at all, the former Liverpool boss handles the future of his former assistant. -- Eckner

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is a man of many words, but even he was left "speechless" after running back Saquon Barkley's reverse hurdle over a defender Sunday in a 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"It was the best play I've ever seen," Sirianni said. "What I think is so cool, there's going to be kids all over the country and all over Philadelphia trying to make that play and talking about that play and simulating that play as they play backyard football or peewee football. They ain't going to be able to make it -- I believe he's the only one in the world that can do that. I'm speechless. It was unbelievable."

With the Eagles facing a third-and-6 early in the second quarter, Barkley took a pass from Jalen Hurts in the flat, broke a tackle and then put a spin move on Devin Lloyd that had Lloyd grasping at air as he fell to the ground. Barkley was just getting warmed up. He then stepped so his back was to cornerback Jarrian Jones, elevated and blindly leapfrogged Jones for an extra 5 yards on what turned out to be a 14-yard gain.

The fans in attendance rose to their feet and began looking at one another in a state of shock.

"I've got to give credit to God, man. I'm not going to lie ... I feel like God gave me the ability to play this position and gave me some instincts. Sometimes you've got to let go and let God and your instincts take over," Barkley said.

This wasn't the first time Barkley has pulled off this move: He jumped backward over an Iowa defender his sophomore year at Penn State but said that one "wasn't as cool." This one was off the charts.

"Crazy," receiver DeVonta Smith said. "I ain't never seen nothing like it."

Barkley ended the day with 199 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. He is just the second player in Eagles history to record 1,000-plus scrimmage yards and eight-plus touchdowns through eight games, joining LeSean McCoy, who was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame Sunday.

Barkley wasn't the only Eagle who dazzled against Jacksonville. With A.J. Brown sidelined with a knee injury he suffered at the end of the first half, Smith rose to the occasion and made an incredible one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that ended up being the difference in the game.

Sirianni had no update on the status of Brown, who did not play in the second half.

"It's always tough when he goes down because he's such a dynamic player, such a big part of this team and this offense," Smith said. "If he goes down, I kind of get the feeling like I have to step up. For me, I'm always ready for the challenge."

Fellow receiver Jahan Dotson had a circus catch of his own, skying over a defender and tipping the ball to himself early in the third quarter for a 36-yard gain down the left sideline.

"I feel like there were three plays in that game: Dotson, Smitty and Saquon, plays that just make you go, 'Wow, this is why I love watching football,'" right tackle Lane Johnson said.