Centre Henry Slade will resume his starting role in England's midfield against New Zealand on Saturday despite playing only 54 minutes of club rugby this season.

Slade had shoulder surgery in the summer and only made his comeback in Exeter's defeat by Harlequins last weekend.

Elsewhere, Ben Spencer, whose previous six caps have all come as a replacement, comes in for the injured Alex Mitchell at scrum-half, with Bristol's Harry Randall on the bench.

Tom Curry is included in the back row alongside Chandler Cunningham-South and Ben Earl, with brother Ben among six forwards replacements.

George Ford, fit again after a quad injury, is also on the bench, but there is no place for Sam Underhill, who started both England's July defeats in New Zealand, in the matchday squad.

Ellis Genge, who missed the summer tour with a calf injury, is back at loose-head prop and named as one of four vice-captains to back up skipper Jamie George.

Second row and new Saracens captain Maro Itoje, Ford and Earl complete the on-pitch leadership group.

"Were excited for the challenge of playing against one of the best teams in world rugby," said head coach Steve Borthwick.

"Well need to be accurate, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity throughout the match, from the first whistle to the final moment.

"With just two games at Allianz Stadium in our last 15, its fantastic to be returning to play in front of our home crowd again."

The amount of preparation, practice and pre-game work that goes into a single NHL game can go a long way to helping a team execute its plan on the ice. The ability to put in that effort ahead of time is impacted on significantly when a team is playing in a back-to-back set of games.

The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks meet in a game in which each one is on the different half of a back-to-back set. The Sharks pulled out an OT win in Utah on Monday evening, while the Kings will head home to host the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday after Tuesday's contest.

The Kings do come in as heavy money line favorites, perhaps because of some of this back-to-back history.

ESPN has saved the past three years of betting odds for us to have a look at how back-to-back teams have fared. Remembering the premise of preparation being a key component to how NHL team's approach games, you may not be surprised to note that there is a trend when it comes to the team on the second-leg of a back-to-back.

In the past three seasons overall, when the favorite is on the road, they have won 904 out of 1,439 games - or 62.82%. But of those situations, when the home underdog is coming off a game the day before, the road favorite success rate jumps to 72.22% (130 out of 180 games). The historical data from ESPN doesn't include spread information, but, we can still do some inference. Overall road favorites have won by two or more goals in 40.93% of those 1,439 games; when the home underdog is completing a back-to-back set, that percentage climbs to 50.56%.

Having a tired team involved, as the Sharks are bound to be on Tuesday, also helps push goal totals. In the past three seasons, the overall over/under results in games with a home underdog have gone over 47.12% of the time. But exclusively in games when that home underdogs is playing for the second time in as many days, the over has hit 57.22% of the time.

The preparation and recovery between games have had clear implications on outcomes in the recent past, particularly for teams on the second half of a back-to-back. When a road team draws a home underdog on short rest, the results tend to tip in their favor - significantly increasing their win rate and often extending the margin of victory. Additionally, whether it's the toll on a team's energy or the frequent use of backup goaltenders in these exact situations, the goal totals tend to rise.

Featured games

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

7:30 p.m., Capital One Arena

• Rangers (-1.5, +165), -145 money line

• Capitals (+1.5, -200), +125 money line

• Total 5.5: (Over -135, Under +115)

From the world of one win of the Sharks, to the world of one regulation loss for the Rangers. New York visits the upstart (5-2-0) Capitals in the featured early contest.

It's Logan Thompson's turn in net for Washington, assuming they continue their strict rotation, while Igor Shesterkin should be back in action for the first time since last Thursday after getting Saturday's game off.

The Capitals are home underdogs, a label combination that has the lowest win total so far this season of the four (home/road, favorite/underdog) at just 13.1%, but the home dogs have fared well against the spread, beating it 26 out of 56 times this season (46.4%).

Of all the props, I like Tom Wilson for shots (Over 2.5, +107) because it has positive odds, the threshold isn't as high (Alex Ovechkin gets 3.5) and the Rangers are top 10 for shots allowed to opposing top-six forwards.

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks

10 p.m., SAP Center

• Kings (-1.5, -110), -275 money line

• Sharks (+1.5, -110), +225 money line

• Total 5.5: (Over -135, Under +115)

Given the above discussion, a Kings money line looks very good and, with a 5.5 total on offer, it can be parlayed with the over for plus odds (+121).

In the props department, the Sharks allow the fourth-most shots against to opposing top-six forwards so far this season. Kevin Fiala should be able to clear the Over 2.5 shots on goal threshold set for him (-130). For player points, Mikael Granlund has been a part of 13 of the Sharks total 23 goals, so you could argue that if they score, there is a better than 50-50 chance he earned a point (Over 0.5 Points, -230). However, the books know that, too, so you'll need to parlay to get decent return. Consider backing Fabian Zetterlund for a goal (Over 0.5 goals, +240), as he is coming off two on Monday.

Both teams are at the bottom of the league in penalty killing, too, both with 10 power-play goals allowed on the young season. Jake Walman (Over 0.5 total goals, +650) and Brandt Clarke (Over 0.5 power play points, +375) could make for good plays from the blue line. Walman was back as the quarterback on Monday for the Sharks after ceding time there to Jack Thompson (who was a healthy scratch).

Betting trends

On Monday, the Sharks earned their first win of the season, clawing back from a 4-1 deficit with five minutes to go in the third to beat Utah Hockey Club in overtime. Is there anything to be said for momentum in a case like this? We certainly don't have a big enough sample to look at first wins of the season as any kind of trend, but what about extending the back-to-back discussion to look at how the previous results can impact on the second leg.

With our data from the previous three seasons from ESPN, there are 391 times when a team played their second of consecutive games at home. Of those 391, the team in question won the first leg 197 times and lost 194 times.

Now the outcomes of the second leg: When a team playing at home is coming off a win the day before, they have a record of 100-97. When the home team on the second leg is coming off a loss, the record is 75-119.

This isn't unexpected; teams that win, win and teams that lose, lose. But what if we apply expectations to drill down even further?

If that second-leg home team is also an underdog on the books and they won the day before, the record is 23-52, or a win rate of 30.7%. If that underdog team is coming off a loss to play a consecutive game at home, the record is 27-78, or a win rate of 25.7%.

That is to say, the Sharks chances are improved because they won on Monday, but only marginally.

Enzo Maresca has said he is under no pressure from Chelsea to secure Champions League qualification in his first season at the club.

Chelsea face Newcastle United in their Carabao Cup round-of-16 clash on Wednesday after defeating them 2-1 in Sunday's league match at Stamford Bridge.

The west London side reached the final of the Carabao Cup last season, losing to Liverpool in extra time under previous manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Since succeeding the Argentine, Maresca's side have lost three out of 14 matches across all competitions and are fifth in the league.

"The club never mentioned to me about top four. They always mentioned to me the target was to build something important for the next four or five years," Maresca told a news conference on Tuesday.

"For sure, we work every day to reach something important. Pressure, on the players? I don't think so, to be honest. If you go game by game, you can see yourself where you are in that moment. If you start to think about top four or top six, you are thinking about June and for me, it's too far."

Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns before their Carabao Cup clash and Maresca added that defender Wesley Fofana, who suffered a knock against Newcastle is fit to play.

Asked about former Manchester United player Jadon Sancho, has been an unused substitute in Chelsea's past two matches, Maresca said: "Players cannot maintain the same level for the whole season because the amount of games is huge, so the last two games he didn't play simply down to tactical decisions."

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea on loan from United after falling out with their former boss Erik ten Hag and Maresca added that the winger will have more playing time in the future.

"Jadon has been doing well since he arrived," Maresca said. "He will play many games and the only thing he has to do is continue to work hard and when we give him a chance, he has to take it."

Manchester City are not planning on getting involved in the pursuit for Rúben Amorim, a source has told ESPN, leaving Manchester United with a clear run as they negotiate with Sporting CP for the Portuguese coach.

Amorim has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked by United on Monday.

There have been suggestions that the 39-year-old may wait to see if City make their own proposal after hiring Sporting director of football Hugo Viana to replace Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season.

However, a City source has told ESPN that their preference is for Pep Guardiola to extend his contract beyond the end of the season and that Amorim is not a top candidate to become the next manager even if there is a vacancy in the summer.

Amorim, according to the source, has admirers at the Etihad Stadium after a successful spell in charge of Sporting, but his style of play does not suit the way that City want to play.

Guardiola's first team and City's academy teams usually play in a 4-3-3 system. Amorim's preferred tactical set-up is a three-man defence in a 3-4-3 system.

It leaves United with a clear run to appoint Amorim as they continue to negotiate with Sporting. A source has told ESPN that his release clause is around 10 million ($12.9m).

United also hold an interest in Thomas Frank, but the release clause in his Brentford contract is nearly double that of Amorim's, according to a source.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed caretaker manager at Old Trafford in the wake of Ten Hag's dismissal.

He's set to take charge of the Carabao cup tie against Leicester City on Wednesday, but it is not clear whether he will be required to lead the team against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Premier League managers have expressed sympathy for Erik ten Hag after he was sacked by Manchester United on Monday, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot describing his compatriot's dismissal as "a pity" and Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola saying he feels "sorry" for him.

Ten Hag's two-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford came to an end after Sunday's 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium and he leaves with the club 14th in the Premier League table and without a victory in Europe in more than 12 months.

"He is a Dutch manager so that makes it even harder for me, for us as Dutch people," Slot told a news conference on Tuesday. "Always your first thoughts are with the person. We are all in this job so we know that it can happen but if it happens ... Especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it, and then to get this news for him is of course a pity.

"But we also know, especially us coming from Holland, how well he did at Ajax and that he won two trophies over here so we will see him I think in the near future at a big club again, but at this moment for him and his family it's of course ... Tragedy is maybe a bit too much to say but it's a big disappointment."

City boss Pep Guardiola admitted that he felt "sorry" for Ten Hag and said that job insecurity is part of the game for managers at the top level.

"I feel sorry for him," he said on Tuesday. "I don't see architects, doctors, teachers who get the sack, people expect results from us"

"If I didn't get results I wouldn't be here, it is a business. you have to take results."

Meanwhile, Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou said Ten Hag's exit was "almost inevitable."

Asked if he was shocked by the the Dutchman's sacking, Posetecoglou said: "No, not really shocked... As disappointing as it was, it was almost inevitable with the scrutiny he'd had so, yeah, it's just the nature of football these days."

Ruben Amorim has emerged as the leading contender to take over from Erik ten Hag at United, a source has told ESPN.

The Sporting CP coach is aware of the interest, according to the source, as is his club, with United attempting to move quickly to name a new permanent manager after appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as the caretaker.

Erik ten Hag craved control at Manchester United but it meant that, with problems piling up, there was nowhere to hide. In the end, his fingerprints were all over too much of the failure -- there were no excuses left -- and Sunday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham United proved to be his final act as manager.

Ten Hag did it his way, accommodated by the club at almost every turn, but still couldn't make it work. On a preseason trip to Oslo in the summer of 2023, he complained to club staff that the grass at the Ullevaal Stadion was longer than had been agreed. He was told that rain in the Norwegian capital overnight led to unexpected growth, and it was just one of those things; Ten Hag replied that it wasn't good enough.

The Dutchman enjoyed a lot of control while at Man United. He dictated details from the length of the grass to aid quicker passing to the layout of Old Trafford. Early on in his reign, Ten Hag was allowed to redesign a group video analysis room at Carrington -- complete with a huge screen, tiered flooring and interior decoration featuring images of United fans -- at a cost of more than 200,000. Yet his changes weren't restricted to the facilities.

Ten Hag changed the way players prepared for games, asking them to arrive four hours early for matches at Old Trafford in their own cars rather than spending the night before at a Manchester hotel and arriving together on a coach. He repurposed a large hospitality suite and turned it into a prematch room for his squad. He moved the lockers in the dressing room so the defenders sat to his left, and the midfielders and forwards sat to his right, when he stood in front of his tactics board.

At Old Trafford, Ten Hag insisted on switching the benches around to be nearer the tunnel, even though it meant his technical area would then straddle the halfway line, which, in his opinion, would give him a better view of the game. He was told it would cost money to make the change because the home benches are heated and the away benches are not, but Ten Hag put his foot down and got his way. He often did.

United knew what they were getting when they hired him from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer of 2022. Club bosses were told a story that when he first arrived at Ajax in December 2017, he continued to use a suitcase embroidered with the branding of his former club, FC Utrecht. He was told it was perhaps not the best look for the Ajax manager to be carrying Utrecht merchandise, but he liked the bag and used it anyway. Ajax bosses told their United counterparts that it showed "Ten Hag's stubbornness in a nutshell."

Ten Hag was the same at Old Trafford, but with so much control came ultimate responsibility for performances and results that were eventually deemed unacceptable. After a little over two years, four months in charge, Ten Hag was sacked on Monday after a run of just four wins from 13 matches in all competitions to start the 2024-25 season. Languishing at 14th in the table -- as close to the relegation places as the top four -- United were on course to place even lower than last season's worst-ever Premier League finish.

Ten Hag leaves with a record of 70 wins and 35 defeats in 128 games. The signs of discord have been there for a while and even though United sources insist Ten Hag has conducted himself with professionalism and dignity throughout his time at Old Trafford, his departure is no surprise.

Conflict with players from Ronaldo to Sancho

After completing the purchase of a 27.7% stake in the club early in 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team were initially sympathetic to the issues faced by Ten Hag, but increasingly found that many of the problems pointed back to the manager.

Ten Hag survived their extensive end-of-season review largely because of the surprise FA Cup success over Manchester City on May 25, and because agreements couldn't be reached with other candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. That victory was such a shock that a postmatch party had to be hastily arranged with no prior planning.

Ten Hag's contract was soon extended by a year after, but there was a feeling within the Ineos hierarchy even then that a change might be necessary if the form that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League last season -- United's lowest-ever finish in the league's 31-year history -- didn't drastically improve during the early part of the new campaign.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake also arrived in a summer revamp of Ten Hag's coaching staff. Ten Hag had a previous relationship with Hake, but not with Van Nistelrooy, and it prompted some players to speculate that the former Netherlands international, who spent a year in charge of PSV Eindhoven between 2022 and 2023, would be a ready-made replacement if Ten Hag was sacked; exactly what ended up happening when Van Nistelrooy was appointed as caretaker manager on Monday.

It was telling that CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth -- hired in by Ratcliffe and Ineos to revamp the club's footballing structure -- both distanced themselves from the decision to keep Ten Hag by making it known privately that they weren't involved in the conversations because they had not officially started in their new roles in July. It gave their public backing of Ten Hag in early September a hollow feel.

Ten Hag's time in charge ultimately delivered two trophies in two years, but it was never easy.

After beginning his reign with defeats to Brighton and Brentford in August 2022, sources told ESPN there were early complaints from some players that Ten Hag struggled to communicate, and concerns that instructions were being lost in translation leading to confusion on the pitch. Following the 4-0 defeat to Brentford, one player told close friends that Ten Hag didn't know how to motivate, with players often finding him difficult to read. He could be jolly one day, and extremely serious the next. One source described Ten Hag as "too strict."

His disciplinarian approach was initially welcomed by senior players who believed standards had slipped under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, but some of his rules would cause additional issues.

Most players agreed that Cristiano Ronaldo was in the wrong when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham in October 2022 but, after seemingly winning the battle of wills initially, sources told ESPN many within the club soon started to think Ten Hag had taken the punishment too far.

Ronaldo was initially ordered to train away from the first team, but when he tried to enter the dressing room and retrieve a pair of his trainers, he was told by staff he wasn't allowed in. The stand-off ended only when Ronaldo enlisted an academy player to go into the dressing room for him, with a number of senior players viewing the blanket ban as an unnecessary humiliation.

The fallout with Ronaldo was seismic, but although the Portugal legend's departure from Old Trafford during the break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was relatively clean, a similar situation with Jadon Sancho was not.

Sancho was a high-profile and highly coveted signing when announced on July 1, 2021. His arrival, fresh off the back of four brilliant years at Borussia Dortmund, was seen as a coup for United in the face of interest from other top clubs, but things quickly devolved after a promising start.

A public fallout between the England international and Ten Hag was followed by four months of Sancho being made to train, eat and change on his own. A number of players tried to encourage Sancho to apologise, but the longer the situation went on, the more players began to believe that -- again -- Ten Hag had taken things too far. Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag wanted Sancho to say sorry publicly because the player had made the conflict public on social media, but sources tell ESPN that some players viewed the demand as an unnecessary humiliation.

The Sancho situation increasingly became an embarrassment. As Sancho -- sent on loan to former club Dortmund in January 2024 -- was tearing holes in Paris Saint-Germain during the Champions League semifinal first leg in April, United representatives sent messages to high-profile pundits telling them to stop talking up the forward's contribution because it reflected badly on the club.

With no one willing to match Sancho's valuation over the summer, Ten Hag was convinced to allow him back into first-team training. He remained reluctant throughout the uneasy truce, feeling that it could be viewed as a loss of his authority. Eventually Sancho joined Chelsea in a cut-price loan deal on Deadline Day in August 2024.

Players question his training methods as injuries mount

Sancho was one of a number of issues Ten Hag faced during a particularly difficult second season. Injuries were a problem, and not just the volume of them: United had to deal with 45 separate cases during that campaign.

Players questioned the intensity of some of the training sessions and were often left thinking they would benefit from more individually tailored programmes. One senior player put his injury problems down to being asked to train in the same way as much younger squad members, believing instead that he should be allowed longer to recover after games.

Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag would use extra training as a response to poor results and performances, which many players found counterproductive. They would feel tired ahead of the next game, lose, and then be given more extra training. Ten Hag's answer was always that Premier League football is intense, so training must be the same.

Towards the end of last season, Ten Hag was cutting an increasingly isolated figure. Members of his own staff began to question why the team was being set up in the same way despite often conceding 20 or more shots. Players, too, began to feel the team was "too open."

Ten Hag never lost the entire dressing room in the way Jose Mourinho did before he was sacked but, over time, more and more individuals began to develop their own gripes. Ratcliffe's right-hand man at Ineos, Sir Dave Brailsford, held one-on-one meetings with the squad in February and again in April. There was an overriding feeling that support for the manager within the dressing room had dipped significantly during the intervening two months.

Ten Hag put his case forward to Ratcliffe and Brailsford, insisting that "no team in the world" could have coped with the amount of injuries Man United had suffered. He pointed to his promotion of youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, and voiced his frustration that the club had missed out on signing stars like Frenkie de Jong (who stayed at Barcelona), Alexis Mac Allister (who joined Liverpool), Federico Valverde (who remained at Real Madrid) and Harry Kane (who went to Bayern Munich).

Sources have told ESPN that Ineos was told during conversations with the recruitment team that many of Ten Hag's transfer demands were "unrealistic."

Tension over recruitment and transfer policies

Recruitment was a contentious issue throughout Ten Hag's time at Old Trafford. His demand for control over transfers saw United terminate their collaboration with Rangnick, who had agreed a two-year deal to act as a consultant. When Ten Hag took over in the summer of 2022, Rangnick expected to meet face-to-face for a detailed meeting about the state of the squad only to discover the new United manager was willing to only grant him a phone call.

One player Ten Hag did get was Antony. Having worked together at Ajax, Ten Hag was the driving force behind signing the Brazilian winger, but the transfer has been an unmitigated disaster. During talks with Ineos, Ten Hag said that, while he wanted Antony, it was not his fault that the fee had risen to more than 85 million when he was available for a much lower price earlier in the summer of 2022. A source has told ESPN that Ajax could not believe the offer United eventually made because it was so far above his market value, while other sources note that signing Antony and Casemiro was partly driven by the panic caused by those early defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

There was further tension in recruitment meetings following the Ineos takeover, with Brailsford keen to stress that responsibility for signings would ultimately be handed to Ashworth and technical director, Jason Wilcox.

Ten Hag at first struggled to build a working relationship with Wilcox, dismissing him as somebody who lacked the credentials for his job, having previously run Man City's academy set-up and then a year as Southampton director of football. Things improved following talks over the summer, but Ten Hag was still reluctant to give up control, arguing that he had been granted a transfer veto in his contract. Sources have told ESPN that Ineos was not impressed with his record in the market.

Ten Hag insisted that he hadn't pushed for every transfer made under his watch and instead was forced to accept certain players because positions had to be filled. He wanted Kane -- an experienced goal scorer -- when the club was looking for a striker in the summer of 2023 and instead got Rasmus Højlund, a young player with vast potential but very much a work in progress.

Furthermore, Ten Hag was exasperated by the club's financial situation and viewed both January transfer windows during his reign as missed opportunities. He was allowed to only sign Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer on short-term loans in January 2023, and his request for a striker in January 2024 to help ease the burden on Hojlund was turned down.

According to a source, Ten Hag insisted that he had to sign Antony, Lisandro Martínez and Casemiro in part because they were strong characters who were vital to deal with a dressing room that was in a mess post-Rangnick. Antony and Martinez demanded Ajax let them go -- Martinez at one point argued directly with an Ajax official over a move to United -- which impressed Ten Hag and football director John Murtough.

Martinez, a staunch Ten Hag supporter, was missed in the dressing room and on the training pitch during a long injury layoff between September 2023 and January 2024. The Argentinian was encouraged to spend more time around the squad during a particularly poor run of form in December 2023, when staff reported back to Ten Hag that he was close to losing the support of some influential senior players.

Defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs De Ligt and arrived from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but the United hierarchy was initially unconvinced as to why the club needed the latter player, having just signed Leny Yoro to a long-term deal. Mazraoui was seen as a straight replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who ultimately joined West Ham, while De Ligt was felt to be decent value and added more depth at a problem position. After discussions with Ten Hag, they sanctioned it due to the low costs involved.

Ten Hag did his best to manage the squad with an emphasis on individual meetings but, privately, he accepted it was a step up from what he had known at Ajax and found United players were almost "businesses" in their own right with huge entourages around them, all with their own opinions. On one occasion, a request made by a player's PR representative for more exposure on the club's social media channels ended up on his desk.

Ten Hag, according to sources, made a conscious effort to avoid criticising individuals in the media for fear that it would do more harm than good. After almost capitulating to Championship side to Coventry City in the FA Cup semifinal in April, he kept the players in the Wembley dressing room for so long that by the time they came out, the Coventry players were lined up waiting to swap shirts. But in his news conference immediately afterward, he decided to shield his squad, instead focusing on the fact United had won the game on penalties to reach a second successive FA Cup final.

Some staff felt Ten Hag protected his players too much and instead inadvertently made himself a lightning rod for criticism. Ten Hag, though, believed that many players didn't respond well to public criticism and that it was important to keep the dressing room behind him as best he could. He repeatedly backed Marcus Rashford despite concerns about his body language during training and games.

Ten Hag wanted to stay in control, even if it increased an already massive workload. He picked the squad numbers for new signings -- it was his decision to hand Mason Mount the No. 7 shirt rather than to Garnacho -- and wanted to know what media commitments players had, why they were doing it and whether or not they were contractually obliged.

When club staff were worried Ten Hag was being asked to hold too many news conferences, they suggested former assistant Steve McClaren could take over before a Carabao Cup tie. Ten Hag declined, insisting the "message" always had to come from him. According to a source, a request made by a TV company to speak to Van Nistelrooy in August was turned down on Ten Hag's say-so.

On one occasion Ten Hag cancelled his own interview with Robin van Persie, who had flown to Manchester to conduct it, because it clashed with his training schedule. Nothing got in the way of his work -- something acknowledged by Ratcliffe and Brailsford -- but it wasn't enough to save him after a disastrous end to his second season and miserable start to his third.

In the end, too many bad results

Ten Hag is one of only four managers in United's history to win trophies in consecutive seasons alongside Ernest Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, but winning the FA Cup was achieved against a backdrop of United's worst league season for 34 years.

When Ratcliffe and Ineos began the process of investing in United in November 2022, they had no intention of sacking Ten Hag. Even early this year, their feeling was that the structure at the club was wrong and that any manager would struggle to perform. But after finally formalising their agreement to buy a minority stake in February, setbacks on the pitch came thick and fast.

The 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford on Feb. 24 was considered a watershed moment. Ten Hag called the squad into Carrington the following day and made them watch a replay of the game in full before going out to train.

Six weeks later, Ratcliffe was in the stands at Stamford Bridge as United conceded twice in stoppage time to lose 4-3 to a Chelsea team that was also in a state of flux. Sources have told ESPN that Ratcliffe made his frustration with the performance well-known both during and after the game. Ratcliffe was in the stands again at Wembley as United threw away the three-goal lead against Coventry, and it was followed two weeks later by the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ten Hag had started to seriously fear that he was not in Ratcliffe's long-term plans in March when he was informed that assistant Benni McCarthy -- a key member of staff in his first two years -- had not been approached about signing a new contract. Chelsea's surprise decision to part company with Pochettino in late May prompted concerns among United's new leadership team that they had to act quickly because both clubs would be picking from the same pool of managers.

It led to discussions with potential candidates in the week leading up to the FA Cup final, a situation considered so humiliating that close friends advised Ten Hag to quit.

Sat in the Wembley news conference theatre after beating Man City, Ten Hag was defiant saying that if Ratcliffe and the new co-owners "don't want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do."

In the same room in February 2023, he walked into his news conference carrying the Carabao Cup -- United's first trophy for six years -- and nearly left it on the desk before joking that he was "already thinking about the next one." After two in two years, he won't get the chance to make it three in three.

The surprise victory over City in the FA Cup final was enough to keep him in a job for another six months, but the goodwill built up after that day at Wembley eventually eroded. Their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in September caused renewed worry among United's leadership that Ten Hag may not be able to turn things around.

After that, United's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham a month later was another nail in his coffin. A source has told ESPN that after Bruno Fernandes had been sent off late in the first half, the players were unsure what Ten Hag's plan was as they emerged for the second 45 minutes and conceded just two minutes into the half.

Serious consideration was given to sacking Ten Hag during the October international break and, despite beating Brentford when domestic fixtures resumed, the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday was the tipping point. The final decision was made on Sunday night, and Ashworth and Berrada were waiting at Carrington early on Monday morning to deliver the news.

With Van Nistelrooy left to prepare for his interim role and a Carabao Cup game against Leicester City on Wednesday, Ten Hag was driven out of Carrington for the last time and on Monday afternoon arrived at Manchester airport to fly home to the Netherlands.

United handed Ten Hag the keys to Old Trafford when he arrived. Two years on, he's been told to give them back.

Additional reporting by Mark Ogden.

Manchester United's bid to hire Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim has moved closer with the Portuguese club informing the country's financial regulator that the Premier League team have confirmed their willingness to pay Amorim's 10 million ($10.79m) release clause.

Amorim is due to take charge of Sporting in a Taca da Liga tie against Nacional at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night, but it could be the 39-year-old's final game as coach following confirmation of United's move.

Due to their listing on the stock market, Portuguese champions Sporting have an obligation to inform the CMVM -- Portugal's financial regulator -- of any significant impact on the club's business and they have this afternoon released a statement outlining United's offer for Amorim.

The statement to the CMVM said: "Sporting comes, under the terms and for the purpose of fulfilling the information obligation arising from the provisions of Article 17.º of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 16, inform the market in the following terms: "1. Manchester United FC expressed interest in hiring coach Rúben Amorim, and the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD referred to the terms and conditions provided for in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically for the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00;

"2. Manchester United FC expressed interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of said clause."

While it is unclear at this stage whether Amorim has accepted the challenge of succeeding Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, United are determined to seal a deal for the highly-rated coach before Sunday's Premier League clash against Chelsea.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, hired as assistant manager to Ten Hag during the summer, has been named as interim head coach by United until a permanent appointment is made and the former United and Real Madrid forward will be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City on Wednesday at Old Trafford.

However, it is likely that the Leicester game will be Van Nistelrooy's only fixture in charge if talks with Sporting and Amorim continue to move at pace.

Amorim has guided Sporting to two league titles since arriving at the club from Braga in 2020. Prior to Amorim's appointment, Sporting had endured a 19-year wait to end their title drought.

The former Portugal midfielder was considered by Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and West Ham for their vacant managerial roles last season before committing his future to Sporting at the end of last season.

However, reports in Portugal have said that Sporting are now preparing for Amorim's departure this week by lining up the club's B-team coach João Pereira to take charge for the rest of the season.

Amorim has drawn praise for his time at Sporting from United captain Bruno Fernandes.

"Since coach Amorim arrived to Sporting they became one of the teams that play better and most consistent football. I think the signings have been right, and they are in a very good moment. They've won last year and this season have started leading in the standings. It's a very well-prepared team," he said at a news conference with Portugal earlier this month.

"Regarding Mr. Amorim, I spoke about him several times and I said that at this moment he is well prepared because it is not easy to win titles at Sporting. Sporting was 20 years without winning trophies. Mr. Amorim came and won two and that proves his work has been good.

"Now, if he will be able to do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else? We'll never know until he gets there but I'm sure that Mr. Amorim qualities are there in everyone's eyes."

Welcome to Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season. Unexpected wins from two teams at the bottom of last week's Power Rankings -- the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots -- and unexpected losses to Week 8 top-10 teams -- the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings -- shook up this week's rankings.

The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated and in the top spot, but who is after them? Below, we've updated the rankings.

We also asked NFL Nation reporters to name the best offseason addition for each team. This can be a rookie or a veteran who has started the season off playing well for his new team.

Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)

Week 8 result: Beat the Raiders 27-20
Week 8 ranking: 1

Best offseason addition: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy

Worthy, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick, leads the team in touchdowns with five. He has delivered some big plays when the Chiefs needed them, and his deep speed has helped open up some targets for other receivers. He hasn't been a high-volume receiver, with 19 catches in seven games, but it's possible that part of his game will come with development, as he's still only 21. -- Adam Teicher

2. Detroit Lions (6-1)

Week 8 result: Beat the Titans 52-14
Week 8 ranking: 2

Best offseason addition: Kicker Jake Bates

Bates signed as a free agent with the Lions in June after one season in the UFL and a brief stint with the Texans in 2023. He was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 7 after nailing the game-winning 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to help Detroit secure a victory at Minnesota. Bates is 11-for-11 on field goals and 27-for-28 on extra points this season. -- Eric Woodyard

3. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Seahawks 31-10
Week 8 ranking: 3

Best offseason addition: Wide receiver Keon Coleman

In Week 7, Coleman had his first 100-yard receiving game. He followed that up with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown -- including an impressive one-handed grab to score -- against the Seahawks. After Sunday's win, coach Sean McDermott noted how the addition of established veteran Amari Cooper to the wide receiver room will help Coleman and the rest of the receivers. -- Alaina Getzenberg

4. Green Bay Packers (6-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Jaguars 30-27
Week 8 ranking: 5

Best offseason addition: Safety Xavier McKinney

This was a close call considering the contributions the Packers have gotten from running back Josh Jacobs, quarterback Malik Willis and rookie defenders Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Edgerrin Cooper. But McKinney helped transform the mindset of this takeaway-centric defense with a league-leading six interceptions, and the Packers already have forced more turnovers (19) in eight games than they did all of last season. -- Rob Demovsky

5. Houston Texans (6-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Colts 23-20
Week 8 ranking: 7

Best offseason addition: Running back Joe Mixon

Mixon is averaging 100.6 rushing yards per game, which is third best in the NFL. He gives the offense a jolt when the Texans' passing game struggles, keeping quarterback C.J. Stroud out of unfavorable third-and-long situations. The offense averages 26.8 points when Mixon plays compared with 18.0 when he missed three games with an ankle injury. The other offseason additions in wideout Stefon Diggs and defensive end Danielle Hunter have been productive, but Mixon has contributed slightly more to winning. -- DJ Bien-Aime

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Browns 29-24
Week 8 ranking: 4

Best offseason addition: Running back Derrick Henry

There were questions about what type of playmaker the Ravens were getting with a 30-year-old running back, but Henry has proved to be one of the biggest steals of free agency. He's leading the league with 946 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, reaching the end zone in each of Baltimore's first eight games and showing off his speed with an NFL-best 13 runs of 15 or more yards. The only Ravens player to have more rushing yards in the first eight games of a season was Jamal Lewis when he totaled 977 rushing yards in 2003 as the franchise's only 2,000-yard rusher. -- Jamison Hensley

7. Washington Commanders (6-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Bears 18-15
Week 8 ranking: 9

Best offseason addition: Quarterback Jayden Daniels

Daniels, the No. 2 pick and the early favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has made intelligent and highlight plays -- not just the Hail Mary to beat Chicago. And he has provided hope for a franchise that has sought an answer at quarterback for decades. He has thrown for 1,736 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 424 yards and four scores. Daniels' 72.7 QBR ranks fifth in the NFL -- Washington's cumulative QBR was 40.3 from 2018 to 2023. -- John Keim

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Giants 26-18
Week 8 ranking: 8

Best offseason addition: Safety DeShon Elliott

With additions such as quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and linebacker Patrick Queen, Elliott got somewhat overlooked in the Steelers' free agency cycle. But he has been hard to miss since the first regular-season game. Elliott grabbed an interception in Week 1 against the Falcons, and he had a fumble recovery against the Raiders in Week 6. He also leads the team in solo tackles (38) and combined tackles (58). -- Brooke Pryor

9. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Rams 30-20
Week 8 ranking: 6

Best offseason addition: LB Andrew Van Ginkel

The Vikings' front office produced a stellar free agent class, and the team would not be 5-2 without contributions from running back Aaron Jones, corner Stephon Gilmore and linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman, among others. But none has been as impactful as Van Ginkel, who is not only tied for the team lead with five sacks but has also used a unique understanding of the short-range passing game to return two interceptions for touchdowns. He is a legitimate candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. -- Kevin Seifert

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)

Week 8 result: Beat the Bengals 37-17
Week 8 ranking: 11

Best offseason addition: Running back Saquon Barkley

Barkley has been sensational. He is second to only the Ravens' Derrick Henry in rushing yards (766) and rushing yards per game (109.4). Barkley has posted 100-plus scrimmage yards in six of the first seven games, becoming just the third Eagle ever to do so. Philadelphia has shifted to more of a run-heavy identity as a result of his success, helping it rip off three straight wins. -- Tim McManus

11. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

Week 8 result: Beat the Buccaneers 31-26
Week 8 ranking: 16

Best offseason addition: Quarterback Kirk Cousins

The Falcons have struggled with quarterback play since the Matt Ryan era. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March, has stepped in and been a savior at the position. Cousins has the third-most passing yards (2,106), is tied for the fourth-most touchdown passes (14) and is tied for 10th with a 61.2 QBR. Last season for Atlanta, quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke threw for a combined 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. -- Marc Raimondi

12. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

Week 8 result: Beat the Cowboys 30-24
Week 8 ranking: 13

Best offseason addition: Guard Dominick Puni

The third-round pick has been exactly what the Niners needed at a position that has been troublesome for most of the coach Kyle Shanahan/GM John Lynch era. Injuries opened an opportunity for Puni during training camp, and he seized the job. His 94.1% pass block win rate ranks 12th among guards, and his run block win rate of 74.5% is 14th among players who have played at least 100 snaps at guard. -- Nick Wagoner

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Falcons 31-26
Week 8 ranking: 10

Best offseason addition: Running back Bucky Irving

The Bucs' fourth-round draft pick isn't even the team's lead back (yet) but is averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 76 rushing attempts -- eighth best in the league. His 27 first downs are second only to wide receiver Chris Godwin (34) among the team's skill players. And his 559 net yards are also second to Godwin, who is now out for the year with an ankle injury. -- Jenna Laine

14. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Bills 31-10
Week 8 ranking: 12

Best offseason addition: Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II

The rookie first-round pick gets the nod in the absence of any obvious Seahawks candidate. Murphy missed three games with a hamstring injury and has yet to deliver a breakout performance, but he has shown flashes of the game-wrecking talent that made him the 16th selection. In five games, Murphy has a half sack, two tackles for loss and a pressure that led to a Kirk Cousins interception in a Week 7 win over Atlanta. -- Brady Henderson

15. Chicago Bears (4-3)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Commanders 18-15
Week 8 ranking: 14

Best offseason addition: Quarterback Caleb Williams

Suffice to say that the Bears wouldn't have had a chance at a win in Washington had it not been for Williams. The quarterback orchestrated a 10-play, 62-yard drive where he converted a critical third-down throw to receiver Rome Odunze that led to a go-ahead touchdown before Washington's Hail Mary. The No. 1 pick has elevated the Bears' offense in ways that have rarely -- if ever -- been seen by a quarterback in Chicago. His steady growth from week to week keeps proving that the Bears made the right choice. -- Courtney Cronin

16. Denver Broncos (5-3)

Week 8 result: Beat the Panthers 28-14
Week 8 ranking: 17

Best offseason addition: Defensive end John Franklin-Myers

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is showing progress, but the jury is still out on whether Russell Wilson or Jarrett Stidham would have fared just as well with the Broncos' dominant defense. Franklin-Myers, acquired in a draft weekend trade with the Jets, has allowed others along the defensive front to switch to assignments that suit them better. Zach Allen, having an All-Pro-worthy season at defensive end, has credited Franklin-Myers' arrival as facilitating a big part of his own impact. The Broncos have 12 players with at least half of a sack and the highest pass-rush win rate in the league (55.8%). -- Jeff Legwold

17. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

Week 8 result: Beat the Saints 26-8
Week 8 ranking: 18

Best offseason addition: Running back J.K. Dobbins

After the Chargers' win over the Saints, coach Jim Harbaugh used his news conference to campaign for Dobbins as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. "If I am the first to nominate him, then so be it," Harbaugh said. After an Achilles tear ended Dobbins' season in Week 1 last year, he has been one of the league's best running backs. He is sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (76.4) and is tied for sixth in rushes of 10-plus yards (14). -- Kris Rhim

18. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

Week 8 result: Beat the Dolphins 28-27
Week 8 ranking: 21

Best offseason addition: Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Cardinals' first-round pick is coming off his second-best game of the season. He went through a slow stretch where he didn't have more than 64 yards in five games, but Harrison continued to impact Arizona's offense by drawing defensive coverages his way to open up the field for the rest of the skill players. Sunday in Miami showed just how dangerous Harrison can be. He finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on six catches off seven targets. -- Josh Weinfuss

19. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

Week 8 result: Beat the Vikings 30-20
Week 8 ranking: 23

Best offseason addition: Linebacker Jared Verse

Verse, the Rams' first first-round pick since 2016, has impressed early in his rookie season. Through seven games, he leads all rookies in quarterback hits (12) and has six more than the next-closest defender (Buccaneers linebacker Chris Braswell). The Rams knew one player wouldn't be able to replace Aaron Donald's production, but Verse has made an impact so far, including 1.5 sacks on Thursday night against the Vikings. -- Sarah Barshop

20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

Week 8 result: Lost to the 49ers 30-24
Week 8 ranking: 15

Best offseason addition: Linebacker Eric Kendricks

There aren't many options, considering how the Cowboys approached the offseason. Kendricks is the Cowboys' leading tackler, and he has missed a game, which might say something about how the defense has played. When he was out, the Cowboys were misaligned far too many times in a 38-point loss to the Lions. He is the defense's quarterback and has been as reliable as any defender Dallas has. -- Todd Archer

21. Indianapolis Colts (4-3)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Texans 23-20
Week 8 ranking: 20

Best offseason addition: Defensive end Laiatu Latu

Indianapolis had as quiet an offseason as any team in the NFL, so newcomers were scarce. But first-round draft choice Latu is showing flashes of being a staple for the Colts. He's third among rookies with 11 pressures and is second among first-year players with 17 pass rush wins. According to ESPN tracking, Latu's pressure has created three sacks even though he has faced double-teams on 20.3% of his pass rush snaps. -- Stephen Holder

22. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Eagles 37-17
Week 8 ranking: 19

Best offseason addition: Right tackle Amarius Mims

While Mims' blocking numbers aren't great -- third-worst pass block win rate among rookies (81.7%) -- he has been a very capable starter at right tackle. According to ESPN Research, Mims has surrendered only three sacks, which is tied for the fourth-fewest among his fellow rookies. His presence has been highlighted, especially with the lack of depth at that position due to injuries. -- Ben Baby

23. Miami Dolphins (2-5)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Cardinals 28-27
Week 8 ranking: 25

Best offseason addition: Defensive lineman Calais Campbell

Campbell joined the team late in the offseason, but the 17-year veteran has been one of the Dolphins' best players this season. The 38-year-old leads the team in sacks (two), quarterback hits (five) and tackles for a loss (seven), and he ranks fifth in the NFL in pass rush win rate as an interior defender (13.3%). His 41% run stop win rate is tied for eight-best best in the league for any position and would represent the third-best mark of his career (if it holds) since 2017. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

22. New Orleans Saints (2-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Chargers 26-8
Week 8 ranking: 22

Best offseason addition: Left tackle Taliese Fuaga

Fuaga has been the starter at left tackle since day one and has not missed a game despite injuries to the entire interior of the offensive line. Fuaga has played almost every snap this season and has proved he'll likely be one of the Saints' starting tackles, either on the right side or the left side, for several years to come. -- Katherine Terrell

25. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Chiefs 31-29
Week 8 ranking: 28

Best offseason addition: Tight end Brock Bowers

The No. 13 draft pick has been everything Las Vegas had hoped for and more. After Week 8, the rookie is leading the NFL with 52 catches. "He's in a league of his own, I think," said receiver Jakobi Meyers when asked how Bowers stacks up to other tight ends. "That's a different kind of cat." Indeed, Bowers' 535 receiving yards also lead all NFL tight ends. -- Paul Gutierrez

26. Cleveland Browns (2-6)

Week 8 result: Beat the Ravens 29-24
Week 8 ranking: 30

Best offseason addition: Linebacker Jordan Hicks

Hicks and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have provided the Browns with a linebacker duo that's rarely out of place or misses tackles. Hicks has called defensive plays on the field and ranked third in tackles (19) through Week 4 before injuries forced him to miss three of the past four games. "Jordan brings a lot to us," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "He's a great communicator, he's played physical, he's made plays for us ... gives us a lot of energy on the field." -- Daniel Oyefusi

27. New York Jets (2-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Patriots 25-22
Week 8 ranking: 24

Best offseason addition: Running back Braelon Allen

None of their veteran additions are playing up to expectations, so let's go with the rookie. Allen, a fourth-round pick, has been a nice complement to Breece Hall in the backfield. He has three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving), playing about 15-20 snaps per game. He's averaging only 3.8 yards per rush, but that's deceptive because he's used in short-yardage situations. The 240-pound Allen has brought a physical edge to the rushing attack. -- Rich Cimini

28. New York Giants (2-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Steelers 26-18
Week 8 ranking: 26

Best offseason addition: Wide receiver Malik Nabers

The Giants' first-round pick missed a couple of games with a concussion and still leads the team with 498 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He has been so good in such a limited sample size that there is little doubt he's a true No. 1 receiver. It's on full display on a daily basis, even at practice. Just last week, in his first rep of one-on-one drills, Nabers made a sensational catch after he jumped over the back of Deonte Banks and secured the ball through the cornerback's body. This is normal for Nabers. He has proved he's going to be special. -- Jordan Raanan

29. New England Patriots (2-6)

Week 8 result: Beat the Jets 25-22
Week 8 ranking: 31

Best offseason addition: Quarterback Drake Maye

No need to overcomplicate it -- Maye has injected life into the Patriots' offense since being elevated to the starting lineup in Week 6. The No. 3 pick is currently in concussion protocol after taking a hit to the helmet late in the first quarter of Sunday's win. Before he left the game, his running ability complemented his passing prowess with three scrambles for 46 yards. That type of dual threat has transformed the team's offense. -- Mike Reiss

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Packers 30-27
Week 8 ranking: 27

Best offseason addition: Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas leads the Jaguars in catches (33), receiving yards (573) and receiving touchdowns (five). He's on pace to break the franchise rookie receiving records set by Justin Blackmon (64 catches, 865 yards in 2012) and Allen Hurns (six TD catches in 2014). He suffered a chest/rib injury against Green Bay, and that might impact his chances depending on how much time he has to miss. Thomas averages 17.4 yards per catch and has brought a downfield element that the Jaguars have been missing since Allen Robinson (2014-17). -- Michael DiRocco

31. Tennessee Titans (1-6)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Lions 52-14
Week 8 ranking: 29

Best offseason addition: Running back Tony Pollard

Pollard has been the one consistent player on offense for the Titans. Tennessee averages 119.7 rushing yards per game, and Pollard accounts for 70.6 of them. His three touchdowns tie him with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the team lead. Pollard also leads the team with 494 rushing yards. Coach Brian Callahan has mentioned him as one of the leaders on the Titans' offense and named him the sixth captain for their Week 6 matchup with the Colts. -- Turron Davenport

32. Carolina Panthers (1-7)

Week 8 result: Lost to the Broncos 28-14
Week 8 ranking: 32

Best offseason addition: Guard Robert Hunt

Hunt and fellow G Damien Lewis were signed to upgrade the middle of the offensive line that gave up 35 sacks last season. That has worked out well for the Panthers. Carolina gave up 65 sacks as a team in 2023 but has allowed only 16 in 2024, tied for ninth in the NFL. Hunt has also been integral to an improved run game -- his 75.3% run block win rate ranks second among linemen. -- David Newton