#nfl

#nfl

The Patriots were in for a tough matchup against the Falcons last week, and based on how it unfolded, they are lucky to walk away with the win. Although they continued their hot streak to six wins in a row, it was an unfortunate misstep by a familiar face that helped them accomplish that, and now the Falcons have punished him for it.

In March, Samuel was the No. 14 overall free agent in ESPN's pre-free-agency rankings. Some team executives considered him the best overall corner in the class. But he went on injured reserve in 2024 and was limited to four games. At the end of that season, Samuel described the injury as a stinger in both shoulders but also a condition he has been dealing with since he was born. It became clear in the spring he needed the procedure.

They have had the NFL's top-producing offense for weeks. They'd also enjoyed the largest point differential in the league, having been on the right side of several blowouts. But on Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Colts left Acrisure Stadium trying to explain a six-turnover performance in their ugliest game of the season. The lessons from this 27-20 loss to the Steelers will be harder to swallow. But they can also be useful if put to use in the right way.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has frequently stated that he feels calmest when games are on the line. The former No. 1 pick has gone as far to say his heart rate drops when the pressure to deliver is at its highest.

We were on the sidelines after [former 49ers tight end Garrett] Celek's score when Jimmy [Garoppolo] asked, 'What is it, like National Tight Ends Day?'

"I've never seen a quarterback throw the deep ball better than this," Simmons said of Maye during a recent episode of his eponymously-named podcast. "He doesn't miss ever. "When we have a guy down the field and he's got a step, Maye hits him in stride, it feels like 90 percent of the time," added the longtime sports personality.

Yeah, I think the guys like the visor, so I'll stick with the visor,

Less than an hour after reportedly dealing Keion White to the 49ers, the Patriots reportedly traded away the team's longest-tenured player in safety Kyle Dugger. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Patriots are trading both Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Much like the reportedly miniscule return that New England is set to receive in its trade involving White (2026 sixth and seventh-round pick), the Patriots are selling low on a player in Dugger who struggled to carve out a definitive role in Mike Vrabel's revamped defense.

Any 49ers-Giants matchup should ooze excitement. Maybe that's because each franchise has four wins in their playoff matchups, two of which the Giants pulled out at Candlestick Park en route to Super Bowl wins in the 1990 and 2011 seasons. Maybe it's a West Coast vs. East Coast thing. Regardless, it will be a world away from Houston's dreary den in which the 49ers sleepwalked their way to a 26-15 defeat last Sunday and fell to 5-3.

Unstoppable last week, running back Christian McCaffrey had a measly 25 yards rushing on eight carries. And the Niners gave up big plays to Houston all day, clearly missing defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, both of whom are out for the season. There was occasional hope for a comeback. That aforementioned first time the 49ers got a first down led to a quick touchdown right before halftime that made the score a seemingly manageable 16-7.

Solak, Seth Walder and Matt Bowen bring different perspectives into how they approach sports betting. Solak leans on his expertise in player evaluation and the X's and O's to find edges, while Walder relies on statistical models to pick out plus-expected value bets. Bowen, a former NFL safety, predicts positive matchups and game winners from tape study and his understanding of the league.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Folds of Honor Founder Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney met with the Islam family inside the 47th Precinct and presented 7-year-old Ahyan Islam and 5-year-old Azhaan Islam with fully paid scholarships for their academic lives. According to Goodell, the scholarship was a token of appreciation for their father's service and ultimate sacrifice. Islam was working a paid security detail shift inside of 345 Park Ave., where the NFL offices are housed,

He sustained the injury when his right leg and ankle bent awkwardly while being tackled on a leaping catch attempt over the middle of the field. Players on both teams showed immediate concern. FOX declined to show a replay of the injury during the game broadcast due to its graphic nature. Skattebo was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast. He received a show of support from the Philadelphia crowd, which gave him a standing ovation.

Another week of wild finishes leaves us no closer to figuring out the NFL. And eight weeks in, I wouldn't have it any other way. Any Given Sunday isn't just a movie starring Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx; it's the perfect description of what we're seeing every week. The league is a topsy-turvy showcase of the best athletes on Earth, and it's reminding us why football is such an incredible game to play, watch, and argue about.

Interim coach Mike McCoy on Friday declared defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and wide receiver Calvin Ridley out for the AFC South contest. Both Ridley and Simmons missed all three practices this week due to hamstring injuries. Simmons' hamstring injury occurred late in the second quarter last Sunday against the New England Patriots. He only played 12 snaps and was ruled out by halftime. James Lynch led all defensive linemen with 44 snaps mostly in place of Simmons whose 4.5 sacks lead the Titans this season.