Week 8 of the NFL season kicked off on Thursday with the Los Angeles Rams handing the Minnesota Vikings their second loss of the season.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions blew out the Tennessee Titans, and QB Jameis Winston lifted Cleveland Browns past the Baltimore Ravens. Later, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders, moving to 7-0 on the season, and QB Jayden Daniels launched a 52-yard Hail Mary to rally the Washington Commanders past the Chicago Bears.

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

San Francisco 30, Dallas 24

49ers

At 4-4 heading into the bye and the trade deadline, what do the 49ers need to make another second-half run? The 49ers got a much-needed win against Dallas to get back to .500 and put themselves right back in the thick of the NFC West division race. But the schedule only gets more difficult from here, which is why the Niners should once again look to make an addition or two before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. With running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis) trending toward a post-bye return and linebacker Dre Greenlaw expected to return in the weeks that follow, the 49ers will get two significant additions for the stretch run. But don't be surprised if they look to add from the outside, particularly on the defensive line.

Describe the game in two words: Get right. San Francisco has owned the Cowboys of late, and their arrival to Santa Clara came at a time when the Niners needed it most. Even with Dallas coming off a bye and having a rest advantage, the 49ers always get up to play it. Including the playoffs, this is San Francisco's fourth straight victory against Dallas.

Eye-popping stat: After struggling in the first half, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy got it going in the third quarter by working the underneath routes. As his air yards per attempt dropped from 9.7 in the first half to 3.9 in the third quarter, his production skyrocketed. Purdy was 7-of-7 for 103 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter that turned the game in San Francisco's favor. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

Where do the Cowboys go from here? Not even the bye week could refresh and refocus the Cowboys. Two weeks after losing by 38 points, the Cowboys hung with the Niners for a half before dropping their first road game of the season. The Cowboys hope to have Micah Parsons (ankle), Brandin Cooks (knee), Marshawn Kneeland (knee) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) back within the month, but will it matter? At 3-4, the Cowboys are 2.5 games behind the Washington Commanders and two games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. The Cowboys' next four opponents (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and Washington) are a combined 22-9. Offensively, defensively and now on special teams (three kickoff penalties Sunday), they just have too many holes.

Describe the game in two words: Niners domination. The Cowboys have lost four straight to San Francisco, including two playoff games. They have been outscored 69-30 in the past two trips to Levi's Stadium. In the third quarter Sunday, the 49ers outgained the Cowboys 167-16, had 10 first downs to the Cowboys' zero and scored 21 points. According to ESPN Research, Dak Prescott is the first Cowboys quarterback with multiple interceptions in three straight games since Troy Aikman in 1992. Those Cowboys went on to win the Super Bowl. These Cowboys do not look like a playoff team.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Cowboys had no answers for 49ers tight end George Kittle. Certainly, it wasn't safety Donovan Wilson. He was caught in man coverage against Kittle far too often on a night when Kittle had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He had three catches for at least 25 yards, the most such catches he has had in a game in his career. In the two previous games vs. the Cowboys, including playoffs, Kittle had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 95 yards. -- Todd Archer

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

Washington 18, Chicago 15

Commanders

Do the Commanders now have a good defense? Washington's defense has allowed a combined 22 points over the past two games and was the primary reason for the win over Chicago, despite late scores. The Bears took nearly three quarters to generate any offense and moved the ball better in the fourth quarter. But Washington's defense harassed Bears QB Caleb Williams all game and forced him into hurried throws. If the Commanders can continue to play solid defense, they'll be be hard to beat in the NFC East.

Describe the game in two words: Hail Mary. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered possibly the play of the year. Playing with an injured rib and against a top-five defense, he never shied from playing his usual style. And he capped it with an unreal 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to receiver Noah Brown.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Red zone offense. The Commanders' first three field goals all were within 30 yards. A false start penalty impacted one drive, and Zach Ertz failed to control a pass in the end zone. Fortunately for the Commanders, kicker Austin Seibert has been automatic. He made 4 of 5 field goals and is now 23-for-25 this season. -- John Keim

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

Bears

What happened to the Bears' offense during the bye? It took the Bears three quarters to hit 100 yards of offense. The offense finally started to click late, despite a goal-line fumble by fullback Doug Kramer. D'Andre Swift scored a 56-yard rushing touchdown to cut Washington's lead to 12-7 with 43 seconds left in the third, and Roschon Johnson barreled in from the 1 to put the Bears up 15-12 with 23 seconds left in the fourth, but the Bears' luck ran out as the Commanders won on a Hail Mary at the buzzer.

Describe the game in two words: Red zone defense. The only reason the score reflects a close game is because of how stout the Bears' D was inside the 20-yard line. Chicago's third-ranked red zone defense held the Commanders to four field goals on five attempts, the last of which -- a 51-yard attempt -- appeared to be tipped by defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Early scoring. Chicago's biggest takeaway from its bye week evaluations centered on getting off to faster starts. The Bears have scored three points all season on their opening drives (tied for second fewest), and their 10 first-quarter points through seven games are the third fewest in the NFL. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Kansas City 27, Las Vegas 20

Chiefs

Even after acquiring DeAndre Hopkins, should the Chiefs pursue another wide receiver before the trade deadline? It wouldn't be a bad idea. Hopkins will have a bigger presence, and most likely more production, as the season progresses than he did in his first game with the Chiefs. But the Chiefs still don't have a lot of depth, even after JuJu Smith-Schuster returns from his hamstring injury. Xavier Worthy is a rookie and hasn't been a reliable presence from down to down at this point. The Chiefs' other receivers are nice complementary players, but at crunch time, having another threat wouldn't hurt.

Describe the game in two words: Defense rules. The Chiefs' defense saved them on two drives early in the third quarter. The Raiders started their first drive of the period on the Chiefs' 28 and the second one on the Kansas City 3. The Raiders came away with just a field goal. The Chiefs stopped the Raiders on downs on the other drive, one of several such stops by the Kansas City defense this season. The Chiefs also forced and recovered a fumble by Las Vegas QB Gardner Minshew in the fourth quarter.

Most surprising performance: Hopkins caught only two passes for 29 yards, but the real surprise was that he played as much as he did. He had 23 snaps, a good number for someone who didn't practice with the Chiefs until Thursday. -- Adam Teicher

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

Raiders

Why can't the Raiders run the ball? What in the names of Josh Jacobs, Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson is going on with the Raiders' (lack of a) running game? With two minutes to play against the Chiefs, Las Vegas averaged just 1.6 yards per carry (33 yards on 21 attempts), and it was the second time this season it averaged under 2.0 yards per rush. You can't run if there are no lanes, and rookie left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson had a rough go of it with Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. Design or desire?

Describe the game in two words: Lost opportunities. Twice the Raiders had the ball inside the Chiefs' 5-yard line, and Las Vegas could muster only three points out of those chances. And with the Raiders at the Chiefs' 3-yard line late in the third quarter, four plays resulted in 5 lost yards. In fact, per ESPN Research, the Raiders were contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on each play.

Early prediction for next week: Desmond Ridder will get a significant run in a Cincinnati homecoming, of sorts, for the new Raiders QB, who played his college ball in the Queen City. With Aidan O'Connell (thumb) on injured reserve and Gardner Minshew committing another costly turnover -- his mid-fourth-quarter fumble resulted in a Chiefs touchdown and was his league-leading 11th turnover -- the Raiders need a spark. Ridder took the field for a designed play that was wiped out by a false start. -- Paul Gutierrez

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

Denver 28, Carolina 14

Broncos

Is rookie QB Bo Nix ready for the tough part of the schedule? Nix had 220 passing yards in the first half of Sunday's win, more than he has had in all but one game this season (he had 246 passing yards in the Broncos' Week 2 loss to the Steelers). Now, Nix moves to the thorny part of the schedule, as the Broncos (5-3) are at Baltimore and at Kansas City the next two weeks.

Most surprising performance: The Broncos' tight ends had 17 receptions for 136 yards and no touchdowns as a group in the first seven games. Sunday, they had five receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Adam Trautman, whose previous career high was 58 yards, had four receptions for 85 yards and an eyebrow-raising one-handed touchdown grab before halftime. With Nix's struggles in the intermediate zones in the middle of the field, the Broncos have needed far more from the tight end position.

Describe the game in two words: Confidence game. Coach Sean Payton has consistently said any questions about Nix's confidence and ability to bounce back from mistakes are misplaced. Against a tepid Panthers pass rush, Payton included more things Nix is comfortable with (RPOs, rollouts, no huddle, in-breaking routes), and the rookie had his best day of the season (four total TDs). Coupled with another dominant performance from the defense, the Broncos should have their collective head in a good spot. -- Jeff Legwold

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

Panthers

Does QB Bryce Young deserve another start next week versus the Saints? Yes, but he likely won't get it because Andy Dalton will start if his thumb is good to go. Young was basically set up for failure Sunday. He was missing his top two receivers (Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen) because of injuries and facing the league's fourth-ranked defense. He actually looked decent on his first series, capped by a 6-yard touchdown, but quickly had to play catchup to get away from the ball-control game plan. He had no chance to win.

Describe the game in two words: Coaching meltdown. It was a two-score game midway through the third quarter when coach Dave Canales called a fake punt from his own 24 that didn't work. The play could have succeeded if punter Johnny Hekker's pass was decent, but Carolina still would have been about 65 yards from the end zone.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Pass defense. Carolina loaded up to stop the run, leaving receivers wide open. Denver rookie QB Bo Nix's 220 passing yards in the first half were more than he had in all but one game this season. The blitz didn't work. Nix was 8-of-12 in the first half for 147 yards and two TDs. -- David Newton

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

L.A. Chargers 26, New Orleans 8

Chargers

Has Ladd McConkey established himself as the Chargers' top receiver? The Chargers traded up in the second round of the 2024 draft for performances like the one McConkey had Sunday against the Saints. He caught all six of his targets and finished with 111 yards and two touchdowns. He became the first Chargers rookie receiver with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in a game since 2013, when Keenan Allen scored three. QB Justin Herbert lauded McConkey in the days leading up to the game, saying that the wide receiver makes throwing the ball easy for him; Sunday could be the beginning of a dominant pairing for the Chargers.

Describe the game in two words: Receiver redemption. After last week's loss to the Cardinals, Chargers receivers gathered in the locker room and discussed being more consistent. Joshua Palmer called their performance "unacceptable," and McConkey said "it sucks," but they vowed to be better. They responded with season highs in receiving yards for McConkey (111) and Palmer (72).

Biggest hole in the game plan: Pass protection. Herbert was sacked three times Sunday, the fifth straight game he has been sacked multiple times, which is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the NFL. Herbert escaped many would-be sacks Sunday and scrambled for 49 yards. As the Chargers look to make a playoff push, protecting Herbert will be paramount. -- Kris Rhim

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

Saints

Can anything save the Saints' season? The Saints touted the return of several injured players all week, hoping it could give them a boost to stop their losing skid. But New Orleans wasn't any better against the Chargers, committing penalties, giving up big plays and failing to move the ball. With the exception of QB Derek Carr's (oblique) potential return next week, there doesn't seem to be much hope this team can turn things around.

Describe the game in two words: Anemic offense. The Saints tried to turn to QB Jake Haener late in the game after rookie Spencer Rattler failed to get anything going, but it wasn't a magic fix for New Orleans' issues. It's clear the team's problems go beyond one position, and even the return of tight end Taysom Hill and receiver Chris Olave didn't seem to inspire much change.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Saints' conservative game plan. New Orleans didn't seem to have much trust in Rattler's ability to throw downfield, as only six of his 24 pass attempts went 10 or more yards through the air. That didn't help move the ball in the early going, and the Saints eventually made a quarterback change. -- Katherine Terrell

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

Buffalo 31, Seattle 10

Bills

Are the Bills the best team in the AFC? The Bills are certainly in the conversation and have made a case for being the conference's top squad. With the rest of the AFC East at two wins, the division is the Bills' for the taking. After that, there are some things for them to prove against the AFC's best, but in this lopsided win -- the team's fourth 20-point win of the season -- the Bills showed they can be considered among the AFC's elite. They put together a well-rounded performance in all three phases, turning QB Josh Allen's first interception of the season -- on a play in which receiver Amari Cooper appeared to slip -- into a minor note on the stat sheet, while decisively beating a team that entered Sunday atop the NFC West.

Most surprising performance: Run defense. The Bills did well stopping the run last week against the Titans, but this was an even better performance. The Seahawks had minus-1 rushing yards on 10 attempts in the first half and finished with a season-low 32 yards. They were contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on nine of 17 rush attempts in the game, with seven of those coming on first down.

Describe the game in two words: Supporting Allen. This game was an example of how a strong rushing attack can support the Bills' QB as running back James Cook rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Cook now has seven rushing touchdowns, the most by a Bills player in the first eight games of a season since Travis Henry had eight in 2003. Cook helped Buffalo extend drives and put the Bills in position to convert eight of 14 third downs. -- Alaina Getzenberg

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

Seahawks

Why are the Seahawks so up and down? A clean performance led to a 20-point road win last week over a Falcons team that had won three straight games, giving the Seahawks a 4-3 record and first place in the NFC West. Seven days later, the Seahawks got hammered at home amid a sloppy mess of unforced errors and missed opportunities. QB Geno Smith tripped over a teammate near the goal line for a turnover on downs at the 1, while another drive deep into Buffalo territory was thwarted by a bad snap. Seattle committed 11 penalties for 82 yards, including a roughing penalty on linebacker Derick Hall that led to a brief scuffle between defensive lineman Jarran Reed and the second-year outside linebacker. Receiver DK Metcalf (knee) didn't play, but that probably wouldn't have made much of a difference given how badly the Seahawks hurt themselves Sunday.

Most surprising performance: The Seahawks got very little out of their pass rush, which did not record a single hit on Allen despite the QB dropping back 36 times. They technically had a sack, but it came on a play in which Allen fumbled while running untouched. Per ESPN Research, Seattle generated pressure on just 19% of Allen's dropbacks (seven of 36), the lowest rate Allen has faced since Week 12 last season against the Eagles (18%).

Early prediction for next week: Josh Jobe and Tre Brown will battle for snaps as the third cornerback. That will essentially be a starting role given how often the Rams, Seattle's Week 9 opponent, use three-receiver sets, and it'll be an important one now that receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are back in the L.A. lineup. Jobe was up and down Sunday while playing ahead of Brown. He recorded his first career interception but committed a retaliation penalty and allowed several completions in coverage. -- Brady Henderson

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

Houston 23, Indianapolis 20

Texans

Can the Texans survive wideout Stefon Diggs' knee injury? The Texans are already without wideout Nico Collins (hamstring), so being down Diggs would drastically hinder the offense. The new No. 1 would be Tank Dell, who had four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown Sunday. For an offense that's struggling to protect QB C.J. Stroud, losing Diggs and Collins for another week makes life for Stroud much harder. The Jets, Houston's Week 9 opponent, ranks in the top 10 in fewest passing yards allowed.

Eye-popping stat: When the Texans made Colts QB Anthony Richardson drop back and pass without play-action, they locked him down. Richardson went 5-of-20 for 71 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 21.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Texans know G Kenyon Green is the weak link in allowing the passing attack to thrive -- Green allowed seven pressures and a sack Sunday. They benched him midgame for C/G Jarrett Patterson but that lasted one drive as Patterson suffered a concussion. -- DJ Bien-Aime

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

Colts

What's next for QB Anthony Richardson? Not all of Richardson's issues are self-inflicted -- i.e. the questionable playcalling, the drops from his passing targets and the pass protection. But there is no question Richardson's lack of consistency is making it difficult for the Colts to sustain drives. He has still made just 10 starts and remains a developmental quarterback. He was better than his numbers suggested -- 10-of-32 passing for 132 yards -- but he'll need to show improvement for the Colts to resist pressure to consider playing veteran backup Joe Flacco.

Most surprising performance: WR Michael Pittman (back) is still playing hurt, but the Colts' inability to get him going is becoming problematic. He caught one pass for 16 yards on Sunday on six targets. That's not enough production for a player who has been a volume receiver for Indianapolis and got paid accordingly this offseason. Indy badly needs to find a solution.

Early prediction for next week: Richardson and the Colts offense will have their hands full with the Vikings' Brian Flores-led defense. With Richardson and an offensive line that struggled with the noise on Sunday traveling to face a loud environment and crafty defense that is top 10 in scoring defense, Minnesota's defensive expected points added and rushing defense is concerning. -- Stephen Holder

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

Green Bay 30, Jacksonville 27

Packers

How are the Packers going to beat the Lions next week? Sunday's game against the Jaguars was a struggle even before QB Jordan Love left the game with a groin injury. The Packers trailed late in the third quarter before a Malik Willis-led drive -- capped by a 38-yard RB Josh Jacobs touchdown run -- put them back in the lead only to see the Jaguars tie it again late. For the second week in a row, the Packers needed a last-second field goal by Brandon McManus to win it. Meanwhile, the Lions -- who come to Lambeau Field next Sunday -- looked nearly unstoppable in their rout of the Titans, putting up 52 points.

Most surprising performance: Willis. Maybe it should no longer be a surprise, given that Willis already won two starts in place of Love. But this time, he didn't have a week to prepare for it. He had a halftime talk to do so. He looked as poised as could be as he stood in the pocket and lofted a deep ball to WR Jayden Reed for a 51-yard completion on the game-winning drive. Willis was 4-of-5 for 56 yards and a touchdown, plus a key 2-yard scramble.

Describe the game in two words: Team takeaways. That's what the Packers' defense should be known for in the first half of this season. With CB Xavier McKinney's first-half interception (his league-leading sixth of the season), plus LB Edgerrin Cooper's forced fumble that DT Devonte Wyatt recovered in the second half, the Packers now have 19 takeaways through eight games -- one more than they had all of last season. It's the Packers' most takeaways in the first eight games of a season since 2011 (when they also had 19). -- Rob Demovsky

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

Jaguars

Is the Jaguars' season essentially over? They did rally from a 2-6 start to make the playoffs in 2022, but this is a much different situation. They had six starters leave the game with injuries -- including the top three receivers -- and face Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit and Houston in their next four games. Now the question turns to what happens to coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke. Owner Shad Khan said he expected the playoffs this season and their jobs may be in jeopardy, especially if they can't overcome the injuries.

Describe the game in two words: M.A.S.H. unit. The Jaguars had six starters leave the game with injuries, and only RG Brandon Scherff (knee) returned. The top three receivers went down: Christian Kirk (shoulder), Gabe Davis (shoulder) and Brian Thomas Jr. (chest). Kirk's injury appeared the most serious (he went straight to locker room). LG Ezra Cleveland (ankle) and CB Ronald Darby (hip) also got hurt.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Weak start on offense. The Jaguars had no points and 15 yards of offense in the first quarter -- the fifth time they've put up 15 yards or less in a quarter this season. Slow starts have been a problem: They've scored just 20 first-quarter points in eight games this season. It's easier to play from ahead than from behind. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 26

Falcons

Does this win all but seal the NFC South for the Falcons? Not quite. But the Falcons have had a stranglehold on the division thus far. Atlanta is 4-0 against its division rivals and now has two wins over the Bucs, the team most likely to be there at the end of the season with the Falcons for division supremacy. Atlanta has the struggling Saints on the road in two weeks and then the woeful Panthers in Week 18. There's much more football to play, but the Falcons are certainly in pole position.

Eye-popping stat: Cousins has more touchdowns against the Buccaneers this season (eight) in two games than he does against the rest of the league (six) in six games. Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards against Tampa Bay in Week 5. On Sunday, Cousins was the first Falcons QB with three touchdowns in a first half since Matt Ryan in 2020.

Most surprising performance: Falcons fans -- and fantasy football aficionados -- have been waiting for a breakout game from TE Kyle Pitts for a long time. It came Sunday. Pitts tied his career-longest touchdown pass with a 36-yard grab and then followed with a 49-yard TD catch to set his personal record. -- Marc Raimondi

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

Buccaneers

Can the Bucs survive without WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin? QB Baker Mayfield leaned heavily on his running backs and TE Cade Otton, who scored two touchdowns. The downfield passing game wasn't there -- Mayfield was intercepted twice on passes intended for WRs Ryan Miller and Jalen McMillan -- although Rakim Jarrett emerged in the second half. They could get by dinking-and-dunking until Evans returns, if the defense stops giving up so many explosive plays. But their chance at winning the division may have slipped away.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bucs' pass defense struggled mightily defending WRs Darnell Mooney and Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts. Even worse was the pass rush's inability to get home against QB Kirk Cousins. DT C.J. Brewer had the Bucs' only two sacks of the game. Pitts beat S Kaevon Merriweather on a 36-yard touchdown, and then three defenders missed tackles on a 49-yard score on a slant route. CB Tyrek Funderburk got beaten by Mooney on a 30-yard score (he was replaced in the second half by S Josh Hayes) and RB Bijan Robinson went untouched into the end zone going into the flat.

Early prediction for next week: We could see another big week from Otton. The Chiefs were surrendering an average of 83.5 yards per game to opposing tight ends going into Week 8 -- that's the most given up by any team in the league. But they've also boasted one of the league's best run defenses this season, giving up just 3.8 yards per carry and 90.5 yards per game through the first seven weeks. -- Jenna Laine

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

New England 25, N.Y. Jets 22

Patriots

Did coach Jerod Mayo's criticism of the team last week work? The Patriots answered the call. They didn't play soft and, in fact, showed the mental toughness to pull out a dramatic win late in the fourth quarter. QB Jacoby Brissett took over for rookie Drake Maye (concussion) in the second quarter and led the team to a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to put the Patriots ahead with less than 30 seconds to go. This was a big response by the team after Mayo ran the risk of possibly losing the locker room by publicly calling out his players for "playing soft" last week. They looked like a different team this week.

Eye-popping stat: Before his injury, Maye reached a top speed of 20.33 miles per hour on a 17-yard TD run, the second-fastest top speed by a QB on a touchdown this season (Arizona's Kyler Murray hit 21.27). Maye tied for the fourth-fastest time on a TD run by a quarterback over the past five seasons.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Catching the ball. Patriots WRs let the team down for most of the afternoon. Kayshon Boutte, who talked about his sure-handed approach this week, had two drops. Veteran Kendrick Bourne had two drops, while Tyquan Thornton also had a costly drop on a beautiful ball from Maye. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins also dropped a would-be pick in the fourth quarter. -- Mike Reiss

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

Jets

Can the Jets be declared the league's biggest bust of 2024? Absolutely. They began the season with Super Bowl aspirations, and now their playoff dreams are cooked at 2-6 with a five-game losing streak. Heavily favored, the Jets came unraveled in every way possible, falling to 0-3 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. Owner Woody Johnson's gambit in firing Robert Saleh after only five games has backfired. The Jets were so unprepared that they had to burn three timeouts in the first quarter because the play clock was about to expire. Three weeks ago, they had a chance to move into first place. Now they're tied for last place with the Patriots. Brutal.

Most surprising performance: The Jets' defense fell apart in crunch time, allowing the Patriots to march for a 70-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds with a backup quarterback at the helm. New arrival DE Haason Reddick made no impact whatsoever, managing only two pressures on 26 snaps. Star CB Sauce Gardner allowed a big play late in the game, leading to their demise. Once upon a time, the defense was a vaunted unit. Not anymore.

Describe the game in two words: Wide left. Struggling K Greg Zuerlein may have secured a pink slip by missing a field goal and a PAT -- both pulled to the left. He now leads the league with six field goal misses. Zuerlein's shocking decline has played a key role in three losses. The Jets auditioned kickers two weeks ago. It might be time to replace Zuerlein. -- Rich Cimini

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

Arizona 28, Miami 27

Cardinals

Is this the start of a run for Arizona? It very well should be. The way the Cardinals played in the fourth quarter to give them their first back-to-back wins of the season is the type of football needed to win another game or two -- which, with games against the Bears and Jets coming up, is possible. Arizona finally got Marvin Harrison Jr. involved throughout the game and heavily in the fourth quarter, something it had hardly done all season. When Arizona needed a stop the most, its defense held on third-and-long late in the fourth quarter, leading to a punt, which led to Arizona's game-winning drive.

Describe the game in two words: Hello, Marvin! Harrison had his best game since Week 2, with 111 yards and a diving touchdown on five catches, including 38 yards in the fourth quarter. He helped the Cardinals march down the field in the fourth quarter to pull within two, showcasing his ability to do a little of everything.

Most surprising performance: A week after rushing for 101 yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry, RB James Conner couldn't get going Sunday in Miami. He finished with 53 yards on 20 carries for a 2.7 yards-per-carry average. -- Josh Weinfuss

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

Dolphins

Is this a positive sign of things to come for the Dolphins' offense? The NFL's worst-scoring offense put up a season-high 27 points and a season-high 377 yards in QB Tua Tagovailoa's return -- but it was against a Cardinals defense allowing the sixth-most yards per game. Miami looked worlds better than it did in its four games without Tagovailoa but faces a bigger test next week against a Bills team that has won 12 of its past 15 games against the Dolphins.

Describe the game in two words: Tua Time. The Dolphins quarterback returned from a four-game absence (concussion) and led his team to a season-high in points and touchdowns in his first game back. He wasn't flawless (28-of-38 for 234 yards and 1 TD), but his command of Miami's offense was at a level we simply did not see from any of the three quarterbacks who replaced him over the past month.

Most surprising performance: Dolphins LB Chop Robinson recorded a game-high four quarterback pressures against the Cardinals and consistently harassed QB Kyler Murray. In three games without Jaelan Phillips (knee), Robinson has recorded a team-leading 12 QB pressures. He's still looking for his first sack, but the lightbulb is coming on for the 2024 first-rounder. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

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

Cleveland 29, Baltimore 24

Browns

Can QB Jameis Winston provide a spark for the rest of the season? With Winston starting for the injured QB Deshaun Watson, the Browns' offense looked like a completely different unit. Cleveland reached 20 points for the first time all season and had a rhythm and flow to it that hadn't been present. Winston was on the verge of giving the ball away a few times but provided way more good than bad as he led a game-winning drive in his first start since the 2022 season.

Describe the game in two words: Flacco-esque magic. Winston's first game as starter was reminiscent of when Joe Flacco stepped in last year and settled the quarterback position for the Browns. It seemingly injected life into every phase of the team as the Browns pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season.

Early prediction for next week: RB Nick Chubb will record his first 100-yard game of the season. It was also a solid second game for Chubb, who provided some tough runs against one of the NFL's best run defenses. With Cleveland's offensive line getting healthier, Chubb could have a breakout game against the Chargers. -- Daniel Oyefusi

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

Ravens

How did the Ravens lose to the one-win Browns? Nothing should come as a surprise. The winning touchdown allowed by the Ravens -- a 38-yarder from Jameis Winston with 59 seconds left -- was the 21st completion of 25 or more yards given up by Baltimore, which leads the NFL. This was a secondary that was missing two of its top cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness) and had benched safety Marcus Williams. Plus, the Ravens have a history of playing down to their competitor's level. Before reeling off five straight wins, Baltimore lost to the last-place Raiders. The Ravens were due for a hiccup like this.

Describe the game in two words: Another collapse. This marked the Ravens' eighth loss when leading inside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter since the start of the 2022 season. That's the most such losses in the NFL over that span. Finishing has been a problem for the Baltimore defense, which entered this game with the most points allowed in the fourth quarter (84).

Most surprising performance: Dropped passes. The Ravens' wide receivers dropped a season-worst three throws from QB Lamar Jackson, all of which came on third down. Baltimore entered this game as the second-most efficient offense on third downs, converting 50% of the time. On Sunday, the Ravens failed on 8-of-10 third downs (20.0%). -- Jamison Hensley

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

Detroit 52, Tennessee 14

Lions

Can the Lions carry their momentum into the divisional showdown with the Packers? The Lions were impressive in all three phases, notably on special teams, where Kalif Raymond returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. CB Khalil Dorsey also had a 72-yard kick return as the Lions snapped their six-game losing streak to Tennessee. It'll be hard to find a team more talented than Detroit right now, and they're showing no signs of slowing down as they enter Green Bay on a roll. Even without its second-leading receiver, Jameson Williams, who was suspended for two games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy, Detroit put up 35 points in the first half for the first time since 1970.

Eye-popping stat: RB Jahmyr Gibbs reached a max speed of 22.03 mph on his career-long 70-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, which is the fastest top speed any Lion has reached as a ball carrier since 2016, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. It was also the longest rushing touchdown scored at Ford Field since former Lions RB Jahvid Best rushed for an 88-yard touchdown on Oct. 10, 2011.

Most surprising performance: The Lions' offensive line. Detroit allowed veteran QB Jared Goff to get sacked three times in the opening quarter for the first time in his career, per ESPN Research. Goff was also under pressure on three of his first six dropbacks (50%), and he fumbled after being sacked in the first quarter, but teammate Kevin Zeitler recovered it. -- Eric Woodyard

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

Titans

Are the Titans the worst team in the NFL? The Titans entered the week in an intense competition with the Panthers, Browns and Patriots for the worst team, but the Patriots and Browns were victorious this week. The same can't be said for the Titans who suffered a lopsided loss to the Lions. The defense might be the one thing that elevates Tennessee. Entering this week, they were tops in the NFL, allowing 272 yards per game. Although Detroit scored 52 points, they only gained 225 yards.

Most surprising performance: WR Calvin Ridley turned in the first 100-yard receiving performance of the season for the Titans. In the first quarter. Two of Ridleys' first three catches went for over 20 yards. The first seven times QB Mason Rudolph targeted Ridley resulted in completions which was much higher than his 30% catch rate entering this week. Ridley finished the game with 10 receptions for 143 yards.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Colt Anderson's special teams unit was terrible. Khalil Dorsey started with a 72-yard kickoff return, and Kalif Raymond, a former Titan, exploded for a 64-yard punt return in the second quarter and a 90-yard return for a touchdown later. Raymond is the first player with multiple 60-yard punt returns in a game since Gunner Olszewski for the Patriots in 2020. -- Turron Davenport

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

Philadelphia 37, Cincinnati 17

Eagles

Is it time to buy into this Eagles defense? It appears Vic Fangio's group has arrived. After holding the Browns and Giants to a total of 12 points the past two weeks, questions remained about whether the Eagles' defense could hold up against a more potent attack. They stabilized after a slow start against Cincinnati and came up with two huge, game-defining plays: A fourth-and-1 stick by CB Cooper DeJean on WR Ja'Marr Chase late in the third quarter that kept the Bengals short of the first-down marker, and a nice tip-drill interception from cornerback Isaiah Rodgers to safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on a quarterback Joe Burrow deep ball early in the fourth quarter -- one of two takeaways on the day. If Philadelphia can continue to play this kind of complementary football, it's going to be a tough team to beat.

Describe the game in two words: Slow start. Thanks to an opening drive by Cincinnati that ate up more than 10 minutes, the Eagles failed to score in the first quarter for the eighth consecutive game, marking the longest first-quarter drought for the team in the past 25 years. Philadelphia put up just 55 yards of offense. Jalen Hurts helped lead the charge from there, however, posting four total touchdowns, including three rushing scores. It is his third career game with three rushing TDs, which is the most by any QB since the start of 1950.

Eye-popping stat: Hurts' 45-yard TD pass to WR DeVonta Smith late in the third quarter had a completion probability of 21.6%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, the least likely TD pass for Hurts this season. It's the fifth-least likely TD of Hurts' career, with three of those going to Smith. It's the second-longest TD pass of Hurts' career by air yards (45). -- Tim McManus

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

Bengals

Were the last two weeks fool's gold? Yes. Turns out, beating a scuffling Giants squad that benched its quarterback a week later and a Browns team led by QB Deshaun Watson weren't high-caliber wins. In a game against a potential playoff contender and recent conference champion, Cincinnati struggled. The offense couldn't produce much outside of a strong drive to open the game, and the defense couldn't get enough stops. Instead of moving to .500, the Bengals are 3-5 and winless in four home games.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Cincinnati couldn't get the run game going. At one point, the Bengals had 48 rushing yards on 17 carries. The lack of faith in the ability to get a yard needed was evident when coach Zac Taylor dialed up a swing pass for WR Ja'Marr Chase on fourth-and-1 that was stopped short of the sticks. What had been a bright spot at times this season was ineffective when Cincinnati needed it.

Eye-popping stat: The Bengals couldn't find a way to disrupt Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Hurts was pressured on just two of his first 20 dropbacks. He completed both of them. That's not a winning metric when Cincinnati didn't blitz on 72.7% of those dropbacks. -- Ben Baby

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

L.A. Rams 30, Minnesota 20

Rams

With WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back, could the Rams take the NFC West? Winning the division is absolutely still in play, and Los Angeles showed Thursday night how good their offense can be when healthy. This is the offense the Rams envisioned this offseason, and it gives coach Sean McVay many options as a playcaller. The Rams are still in the mix in a crowded NFC West, and they play in Seattle in Week 9 for a chance to move even closer to the top of the division.

Most surprising performance: The Rams kept Nacua's return quiet, activating him from injured reserve despite the fact that he couldn't practice because of the short week. QB Matthew Stafford went to Nacua early and often on Thursday night, and the second-year receiver led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Stopping Justin Jefferson. Jefferson, the receiver Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula called "the best in the world" leading up to the game, had eight catches for 115 yards Thursday night. The Rams' pass defense entered the game ranked 30th in DVOA, and the group struggled to stop the Vikings' best player on what was otherwise a strong night for the defense. -- Sarah Barshop

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

Vikings

Who are these Vikings? Close observers left SoFi Stadium wondering whether these Vikings are the same team that dominated the first five games of the season, with the biggest point differential in the NFL. Or whether they are the one that allowed 61 points in two losses over five days. This was certainly a tougher stretch of the season than some realized, having played arguably the best and most physical team in the NFL (Detroit) and then traveling to the West Coast to play on a short week. The Vikings have put themselves in position for a playoff run, but they'll need to tighten up to stay on it.

Describe the game in two words: Overblown controversy. There is no doubt that referee Tra Blake and his crew missed a face mask foul late in the fourth quarter that would have reversed a safety and given the Vikings a first down on their final possession. But it's hard to say that call cost the Vikings the game. They still would have had to move nearly 80 yards in 1:36 with no timeouts for a touchdown, and then get a 2-point conversion just to force overtime. It was a bad miss, but the Vikings can't (and didn't) blame it for their loss.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Vikings couldn't find a way to get to Rams QB Matthew Stafford. They pressured him on only three of his 34 dropbacks; that 9% pressure rate was their lowest in a game since 2020. And even then, Stafford completed a pass against all three of those pressures, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Cooper Kupp after eluding DT Harrison Phillips and LB Jonathan Greenard. The pass rush had been key to the Vikings' hot start this season, and before Thursday they had posted at least a 24.6% pressure rate in every game. -- Kevin Seifert

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

At the Challenger event in Bergamo last October, Draper had just crept back inside the world's top 100 - an important marker on the professional tours and the gateway for direct entry into the Grand Slam events.

He was lamenting the "brutal" nature of a sport where he had started living up to his potential only to suffer another setback with a shoulder injury.

"I was 40 in the world, I got injured and my ranking completely dropped. I was back playing Challengers and I felt angry," said Draper.

"But I knew if I could get my body and my mind in a good place, my tennis is good enough to compete with the best players in the world."

This year, he has demonstrated that by:

"It's been a long year with lots of ups and downs," said Draper.

"But winning my first title, then the US Open, have been huge in really believing that I belong.

"It's been a snowball effect since then."

England will face New Zealand for the third match in a row as they kick off a challenging Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

They will be determined to see the job through at their home ground after failing to hold on to leads in their two summer Test defeats in New Zealand.

England, who are fifth in the world rankings behind Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and France, also suffered a narrow defeat in France in their final game of the Six Nations.

Head coach Steve Borthwick, whose team have won four of their eight games this year, wants his players to show they have learned from these tight matches.

"There was a period not so long ago where we weren't competing against the top four sides in the world," Borthwick said. "Now we're competing against them, but I want to make sure we get the job finished at the end.

"Make no mistake, I praise the players for their performances and for all their efforts because they've done a lot of good things, but there have also been times where we have lost games as opposed to the opposition winning them."

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

In this week's VAR Review: Were Manchester United hard done by with the penalty which resulted in their defeat at West Ham United? Should Arsenal have been given a spot kick against Liverpool? And was Tottenham's Micky van de Ven lucky not to be sent off?

West Ham 1-2 Man United

Possible penalty: De Ligt challenge on Ings

What happened: A cross was played into the area in the 87th minute, with the ball eventually dropping between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings. Both players moved toward it, with the West Ham striker going down holding his shin. Referee David Coote didn't see any foul and play continued, but it was looked at by the VAR, Michael Oliver.

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Jarrod Bowen.

VAR review: Whether it was right or wrong comes down to how VAR is applied in the Premier League, what we've come to expect from the video assistant.

In European competition, where pretty much any unexpected lower-body contact appears to result in a penalty, it would come as no shock to see the VAR get involved. In the Premier League, not so much,

There are some grounds here for a foul, because while both players do go into the challenge in a similar way, there is slightly more force from De Ligt. But that doesn't mean there's enough in it for the VAR to get involved. It's more a collision between two players, from which Ings comes off worse.

(Though the ball touched the hand of Ings as it bounced up, this would be considered accidental and not a handball offence.)

The Premier League has been determined to get the term "referee's call" into the lexicon this season, and this would be a perfect example. If Coote gave the penalty, you could see a reason. But it doesn't reach the clear and obvious threshold in English football to send the referee to the monitor.

Bowen's penalty led to a 2-1 defeat for Man United, with boss Erik ten Hag sacked on Monday morning.

PGMOL has been talking up how much faster VAR reviews have got this season, down from an average of 70 seconds per game to 25 seconds. But this took 2 minutes from the foul to Coote pointing to the penalty spot (and another 2 minutes until Bowen struck the ball.)

There's a secondary question about the use of the monitor. Why is it there, if we always see the referee change his decision?

The answer is simple, though the waters are muddied by protocol. The screen is supposed to be a safety net on subjective decisions, to give the referee the chance to spot an error by the VAR. That's the idea, but it doesn't really work.

Last season, there were five incorrect VAR interventions where the referee went to the screen and still changed his decision. Refs go to the monitor knowing they are being told they have made a clear and obvious error, and not just to have a second look. The limitations of this VAR process condition referees to think they have screwed up, so the "fail safe" is in itself flawed.

We'd all like referees to have more conviction and stick by their own call a few times, but it seldom happens. Two referees rejected an overturn last season, yet only one was deemed correct -- when Oliver turned down a review to rule out an Arsenal goal against Everton for handball.

Verdict: Incorrect VAR intervention. Oliver had one recorded error as the VAR last season, when he failed to award a penalty to Brentford at Nottingham Forest, and this will go down as a mistake.

Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool

Possible red card: Van Dijk challenge on Havertz

What happened: The game was only six minutes old when Virgil van Dijk and Kai Havertz tussled off the ball, with the Arsenal player going to ground. Referee Anthony Taylor had words with the two players but took no action.

VAR decision: No red card.

VAR review: Long gone are the days where a little kick is seen as a red card, as it was when England midfielder David Beckham was sent off against Argentina at the World Cup in 1998.

Today, referees look for an act which has a level of brutality to it. While Van Dijk should probably have been booked for throwing his boot back towards Havertz, this would be seen as petulant rather than violent conduct.

Verdict: No violent conduct so correct not to intervene.

Possible penalty: Konaté challenge on Martinelli

What happened: Arsenal were on the attack in the 31st minute when Gabriel Martinelli tried to break past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté. The Arsenal forward went to ground, but referee Taylor waved away the penalty claims.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: It looked a clumsy situation, as two Liverpool players challenged Martinelli at the same time.

However, Konate got contact on the ball first, knocking it away with his leg, just below his knee. There's then natural contact between the two players after the ball has been played. There's no foul contact by Alexander-Arnold.

Had Konaté gone through Martinelli to play the ball, that would have been grounds for a VAR intervention. However, much like the overturned penalty for Liverpool against Chelsea last weekend, the defending player played the ball first and didn't make the challenge in a reckless way.

Verdict: Correct decision not to award a penalty.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham

Possible red card: Van de Ven challenge on Sarr

What happened: A long ball was played over the top by Tyrick Mitchell in the 64th minute which Jean-Philippe Mateta flicked on to find the run of Ismaïla Sarr. The Crystal Palace forward looked to have a run on goal when he was fouled by Micky van de Ven. Referee Darren Bond produced a yellow card, and the VAR checked for a possible red.

VAR decision: No red card.

VAR review: Last week we discussed in detail the various factors a referee takes into account when deciding if the boxes have been ticked to give a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO). That was around the dismissal of Arsenal's William Saliba at AFC Bournemouth, so what's the difference in this case?

There's no chance of a covering defender getting over, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is backtracking so not a consideration. Sarr is also much closer to goal than Evanilson when he's brought down.

The yellow card in this instance is an acceptable outcome due to the general direction of play, as Van de Ven and Sarr are running on a diagonal away from goal to get to the ball. For the Saliba red card, Evanilson had a direct run to goal through the centre.

This might seem to be a trivial differences, but it's crucial in the assessment and deciding if the clear and obvious threshold has been reached.

Verdict: The VAR wouldn't have stepped in to cancel a red card had Bond made than decision but, unlike with Saliba, this falls just below a VAR intervention on DOGSO. Van de Ven was definitely fortunate, however.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

Possible penalty overturn: Burn challenge on Nkunku

What happened: Referee Simon Hooper awarded a penalty to Chelsea in the 90th minute when Christopher Nkunku went to ground when he appeared to be pulled back by Dan Burn. The VAR, Jarred Gillett, checked the decision.

VAR decision: Penalty cancelled.

VAR review: Nkunku went down very easily, and while there was some contact on his shoulder by Burn it appeared very slight and not enough to make the Chelsea striker go to down as he did.

Last season, Chelsea were wrongly awarded a penalty against Burnley when Lorenz Assignon was judged to have pulled down Mykhailo Mudryk. There was minimal contact and the VAR should have intervened, as he did in this case.

Though the penalty was cancelled, Sean Longstaff's booking for dissent isn't removed as it's considered an offence of a player's behaviour, rather than directly related to the award of the spot kick.

Verdict: A good intervention, and the kind of penalty VAR should be overturning.

Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

Possible ball out of play: McGinn goal

What happened: Aston Villa took the lead in the 27th minute through John McGinn. However, AFC Bournemouth players had appealed for the ball being out of play in the buildup when Ollie Watkins had attempted to keep it in. It was checked by Matt Donohue, who was acting as VAR for the first time.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed.

VAR review: Arsenal fans will be triggered by the goal scored against them by Newcastle United almost a year ago to the day. In that match at St James' Park, there was uncertainty about Joe Willock keeping the ball in play in the buildup to Anthony Gordon scoring the only goal of the game.

So, why was the VAR in this game able to intervene and disallow the goal, yet wasn't in Newcastle-Arsenal? It all comes down to the position of the play and the available camera angle.

Willock was close to the corner flag, an area which isn't covered by the goal-line camera as, understandably, the primary focus is the goal itself. So the VAR, Andy Madley, had to use a camera which wasn't directly in line, and due to the curvature of the ball it was difficult to be certain the whole of it was over the line.

Watkins was within the goal-line camera, so the VAR has the best possible view. It was very close, but "daylight" looks to be present between the ball and the line.

A more direct comparison comes from Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion last September. Rasmus Højlund thought he had equalised, but there was a check for the ball being out of play before it was cut back by Marcus Rashford.

Just like Watkins, Rashford was within the goal-line camera and the VAR was able to be certain that the ball was out.

Verdict: It was certainly a close call, but the evidence is there that the whole of the ball was over the line ... just.

Possible penalty: Cash challenge on Semenyo

What happened: Bournemouth were on the attack in the 80th minute when Antoine Semenyo went to ground when trying to go past Matty Cash. Referee Chris Kavanagh blew his whistle, but to book Semenyo for a dive.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: The VAR is looking at both the actions of the attacker, and any contact from the defending player.

While Cash slides in to make a challenge, Semenyo is already going to ground before there's any contact between the two players.

If this had been awarded as a penalty, the VAR wouldn't have intervened due to the contact from the defender (remember the spot kick Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon won against Manchester City), but at the same time the way the attacker goes down means it won't be seen as a clear and obvious error not to give and penalty.

And this is where VAR protocol gets very confusing for fans. You can argue it's not a penalty, but also not truly a dive either. So, is it a clear and obvious error to book Semenyo? And if so, does that mean the overall decision should be reviewed? But VAR cannot get involved in yellow cards, so will only send the referee to the monitor if a penalty has been missed, and for no other reason.

Verdict: Not enough for a VAR penalty.

Possible penalty: Handball by Bailey

What happened: Bournemouth won a corner in the 84th minute. As it dropped over the head of Leon Bailey it hit the Aston Villa player's arm. David Brooks, who was behind Bailey waiting for the ball, appealed for a penalty.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: Had this incident happened last season, there's a strong chance it would have been a VAR penalty. But this season, the arm really does have to be fully extended. The only handball penalty was given against Cash at Fulham last weekend when his arm was pointing out from his body.

Both of Bailey's arms are in a similar position as he spins to follow the dropping ball, and the argument is this is natural movement and not a deliberate act.

We saw two similar situations not result in a handball penalty earlier this season in a game between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers, including when the ball dropped the arm of Jørgen Strand Larsen as Chris Wood waited to collect the ball.

Verdict: Consistent with other handball decisions this season.

Brentford 4-3 Ipswich

Possible penalty: Position of foul by Harrison Clarke on Lewis-Potter

What happened: Brentford were on the attack in the 49th minute when Ipswich Town's Harrison Clarke brought down Keane Lewis-Potter on the edge of the area. Referee Lewis Smith blew for a free kick, but the VAR, Peter Bankes, had to consider if the offence had continued into the area.

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Bryan Mbeumo.

VAR review: If holding starts outside the area and continues into the box, then a penalty should be awarded. This is different to a foul tackle, when the point of contact on the opponent's body is used to determine where the offence took place; such a foul can take place outside the box and momentum take both players into it, but that won't be a penalty.

As the position of a foul is considered a factual decision, rather than subjective, it's made solely by the VAR without the referee needing to visit the pitchside monitor.

Verdict: A decision the referee will be disappointed to get wrong, as it was very clear that the holding continued into the box. An obvious VAR overturn.

Some factual parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.

Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat against West Ham United, the club announced Monday.

Ten Hag, who had his contract extended in the summer, had just four wins from 13 games to start the new season.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis and is expected to be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sources told ESPN that United bosses made the decision to sack Ten Hag after losing faith that the Dutchman would be able to turn things around after a poor start to the new campaign. After earning just 11 points from nine league games, there are already concerns that United are too far adrift to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Results and performances in the Premier League at the end of last season were also taken into account.

United finished eighth in the table last season and are languishing in 14th after defeat at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Ten Hag was kept on in the summer after leading United to a surprise 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The decision followed an extensive end-of-season review during which club bosses, including new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, held talks with a number of different candidates.

But despite conversations with potential replacements, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team decided to keep Ten Hag in his job and extend his contract until June 2026. Van Nistelrooy, who played for United between 2002 and 2006, arrived as part of a revamped backroom staff along with former Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake.

Hake is set to stay at Old Trafford to support Van Nistelrooy in his caretaker role. Van Nistelrooy has a year of managerial experience with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He left his role in 2023 after leading PSV to success in the Dutch cup.

Sources told ESPN that United have already started to assess options for their next permanent manager. Thomas Tuchel was a leading candidate in the summer, but the former Bayern Munich boss has since agreed to take over as England manager.

Ratcliffe, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth are all admirers of former England manager Gareth Southgate, although he has said he does not want to return to coaching until next summer.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez won the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball's prestigious honor awarded annually to the player whose humanitarian efforts exemplify off-the-field service.

The 34-year-old, who has spent all 13 years of his major league career with Kansas City, is the first Royals player to win the award and was lauded for his generosity not only in his adopted hometown but in Valencia, Venezuela, where Perez grew up, and Colombia, where his contributions honor a minor league pitcher who died of cancer.

"When we do something, we do because it's coming from my heart," Perez said. "I don't like to do things because somebody ask me to do it. When I sit with my mom and want to do something, we just do. We don't have to post anything on social media. I don't like that. If I do, I do it for my heart. I want to make people happy."

Perez, the Royals' captain who is one of the most beloved athletes in Kansas City sports history, played on Roberto Clemente Day this year in Pittsburgh, where the Hall of Fame outfielder spent each of his 18 seasons. Perez later donated his catcher's gear from that day to the Clemente Museum. Clemente, the Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pirates, died in a plane crash trying to deliver aid to Nicaragua after a devastating 1972 earthquake. Clemente, esteemed for his philanthropy across Latin America -- including his native Puerto Rico -- was 38.

"I've read a lot [about] Roberto Clemente. I know he was an amazing player, but he was even better outside the field," Perez said. "So that made him super special and made this award super special."

Perez said he is proudest of his work in Venezuela, a country ravaged by political instability and food insecurity. Along with his mother, Yilda Diaz, who raised him alone, Perez distributes food and kitchen supplies to nearly 2,000 houses near Valencia every year and has provided aid to more than 10,000 families in the area. In recent years, a youth league Perez owns has provided baseball for 220 children, offering free gear and clinics that promote education and safety.

"Everything starts where you're coming from," Perez said, "so you make it to this level, you have opportunity to help people.

"Venezuela is part of my heart, too," he continued. "That's the country that give me opportunity. And I started playing baseball when I was 4 years old, so it means a lot to me. But political and all that, it's kind of hard to talk about that. Things happen for a reason. I believe in God, and I think one day everything's going to change for the good way."

Venezuela's neighbor to the west, Colombia, has been helped by Perez as well through the Carlos Fortuna Foundation. Fortuna, a pitcher from the Dominican Republic in the Royals organization, died in 2013 of liver cancer at the age of 22. Monica Ramirez, the Royals' education/ESL & Latin American initiatives coordinator, helped create the foundation to foster parental education, particularly in low-income Latin American countries. She met Perez when he was 16, shortly after he signed with the Royals. Perez calls Ramirez "my second mom" and when she asked him to assist in the foundation's efforts, he said he jumped at the opportunity.

Across Kansas City -- where Perez is known for his postgame watercooler showers of teammates affectionately referred to as the Salvy Splash -- he is a consistent figure in the community. From his $1 million donation to the city's Urban Youth Academy, to his work with local ALS and childhood cancer organizations, payment for surgeries to repair cleft lips in children and donations to local police, Perez hopes his wide swath of service can inspire other players to be charitable.

"Sometimes you want to rest," he said. "Even if you think one day every month, just one day every month. That's it. One day every month try to make some kid happy. Do something. Even get your social media, make people happy. Have a picture with somebody. Just one day every month. I think that's going to change the world."

A nine-time All-Star, Perez has won five Gold Gloves and was MVP of the 2015 World Series.

He posted typically strong numbers this year, leading the Royals to the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons and hitting .271/.330/.456 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. Over his career, Perez is batting .267/.303/.459 with 273 home runs and 916 RBIs in 1,552 games.