49ers opt against major moves at trade deadline despite injury woes By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have been aggressive at the trade deadline in past seasons, trading valuable draft picks for upgrades they believed could increase their chances of winning a Super Bowl.
With the team holding a 6-3 record this year and in the thick of the playoff race, San Francisco opted against making a major move to bolster its injury-depleted roster before the trade deadline on Tuesday. The only in-season trade the 49ers made ended up being last week's deal that brought in defensive end Keion White from New England for a late-round draft swap.
“I don’t think it has to do with how we viewed this year’s team," coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. “I think we worked just as hard this year to make a trade that made sense for our team this year and next year, just as hard as we do every year. There are a lot of teams with records like 6-3 or better that didn’t make any big trade. Just because you make a big trade doesn’t mean it’s always a smart move. There’s a lot of risk that goes into it, not just for this year, but throughout your whole future.”
The 49ers added key pieces such as receiver Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, running back Christian McCaffrey in 2022, and defensive end Chase Young in 2023 who were part of deep playoff runs.
But they head into the back half of this season with a roster that has been decimated by injuries, especially on defense, where Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and rookie Mykell Williams are all out for the season.
The Niners will get a boost this week with the expected return of defensive end Bryce Huff, who leads the team with four sacks. Huff missed the past two games with a hamstring injury but has little help on the defensive line, with the rest of the players on the active roster combining for just four sacks all season.
McCaffrey said he wasn't bothered by the lack of additions, viewing it as a “vote of confidence” by the front office in the players already on the roster.
“Those guys, they’re hired for a reason,” he said. “They have a job and they’re obviously really good at it. For me, I just don’t focus on that stuff. The guys that you go out there and play with are the guys you feel confident playing with. I think everybody on this team can play. I’m fired up about our team and where we’re at.”
Purdy remains limited
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy remains limited by a toe injury that has sidelined him for five straight games and seven games overall this season.
Purdy has been able to practice on a limited basis the past few weeks but hasn't been healthy enough to play. Shanahan said he expected Purdy to get more work with the starters this week in practice but wasn't sure if he would be able to start.
Mac Jones has gone 5-2 in Purdy's place.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall remains out of practice with a knee injury that has sidelined him for five games.
Niners center Jake Brendel (hamstring), linebacker Dee Winters (knee) and linebacker Tatum Bethune (thigh) were all limited.
Offensive lineman Ben Bartch was a full participant in practice and is expected to be activated from injured reserve after missing seven games with an ankle injury. Shanahan said he wasn't sure whether Bartch or Spencer Burford would start at left guard this week.
Shanahan said receiver Brandon Aiyuk remains “week to week” as he works his way back from knee surgery last season. Shanahan said he expected Aiyuk would have his three-week practice window opened from the physically unable to perform list at some point before the end of the season.
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Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed 'here to stay' after trade from Saints By ANDREW DESTIN AP Sports Writer The Associated Press RENTON, Wash.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Rashid Shaheed could very well be a half-season rental for the Seattle Seahawks as they go for the team's first playoff appearance since 2022.
Shaheed was acquired in a trade with New Orleans on Tuesday for two draft picks. The fourth-year receiver is well on his way to a career year in the final season of his contract.
The 27-year-old Shaheed would like for his success to lead to a new deal with the 6-2 Seahawks at the end of this year.
“I’m here to stay,” Shaheed said Wednesday. “So, I’m excited to see if we can figure something out after the season ends. But, yeah, I’m excited.”
First up for Shaheed is Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. He had 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns with the Saints this season, as well as a combined 158 return yards on punts and kickoffs.
“It’s a great opportunity to add to our team,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “Didn’t feel like we were missing something. Not like we were trying to plug holes or anything like that. Just an opportunity to get a great player and augment what we were doing.”
Shaheed hails from a family of track athletes, including his parents and both sisters.
“I was just kind of born to run,” Shaheed said. “It’s a big part of my game, and I try to focus on that as much as possible.”
For Seattle’s offense, which has racked up the ninth-most passing yards in the league and features the NFL’s leading receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the hope is for Shaheed to provide quarterback Sam Darnold with another downfield threat.
Cooper Kupp, the Seahawks’ second-leading receiver, did not practice Wednesday. If Kupp’s injury turns out to be serious, the burden would only increase for Smith-Njigba.
As such, Shaheed is eager to help out. He has already heard about Smith-Njigba from former Saints teammate Chris Olave, who played with him at Ohio State.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Shaheed said. “I’m excited to team up with him. He’s had a great year so far, a great career. I’m just excited to be able to share the same field, as well as the rest of his offense to come together, and win some games.”
Shaheed doesn’t think his transition to the Seahawks’ offense will be terribly difficult. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak served in the same capacity with the Saints last year, which was his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator.
Shaheed said the Seahawks’ playbook is “pretty much the same” as the one the Saints used last season, and that he anticipates quickly picking up the playbook’s verbiage.
“I’m super glad to be connected back with (Kubiak),” Shaheed said. “He’s familiar with me. He knows my strengths, and I know what his mindset is going into games. It shouldn’t be too hard to get acclimated with him and just find my role in the offense.”
It remains to be seen what role Shaheed will assume. That’s nothing new for Shaheed, though, who went undrafted after a five-year collegiate career at FCS Weber State. He has long relished opportunities to put his head down and keep working hard, and in turn be an example for others of how any player can make it out from anywhere.
Unlike in New Orleans, where Shaheed had to claw for a roster spot, he arrives in Seattle as a proven commodity. It’s a new setup altogether, but one that Shaheed is quite appreciative of — and hopes will become his long-term home.
“Just excited about the journey, excited to be here and excited to be a part of this organization,” Shaheed said. “So far, it’s been nothing but welcoming and just feeling good right now.”
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Arizona's Jacoby Brissett earns another start at QB after stellar play; Murray's status unclear By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer The Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jacoby Brissett's excellent quarterback play has given the Arizona Cardinals' season new life.
The veteran backup will get at least one more week to keep it going.
Coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday that Brissett will start against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday while franchise quarterback Kyler Murray continues to recover from a foot injury. Gannon didn't rule Murray out for the Seahawks game, but said announcing a starter gives the team some clarity during preparation.
“Jacoby will start and Kyler will keep working on his health,” Gannon said. “I do like what the offense is doing right now. We've operated well.”
Brissett had a third straight good performance in Murray's place on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive 27-17 win that snapped a five-game losing streak .
Brissett's excellence under center — combined with Murray's lackluster play over the first five games — has created a bit of a quarterback controversy in the desert.
The Cardinals (3-5) are still harboring hopes for a run to the playoffs, and it sure looks as if Brissett would give them the best chance to make it happen.
Brissett brushed aside a question on Monday night asking if he should be the full-time starter, saying he doesn't “get into that stuff" and just wants to perform well when called upon.
“The good teams in this league find ways to continue to get better," Brissett added. "That is what we are doing at this point in the season, just trying to find ways to get better. You tweak things, you go back to your drawing board.”
The 32-year-old has completed 65.2% of his passes for 860 yards, six touchdowns and one interception over three games. He's rapidly gaining chemistry with the team's top receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. caught a career-high seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys.
The Brissett-to-Harrison success helped blunt some sharp criticism levied by Harrison's dad, Marvin Harrison Sr.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer was critical of Arizona's offense in comments to ESPN in an article published on Monday before the game.
“Everyone has their own opinions,” Harrison Jr. said after his breakout performance. “That’s how he feels, not how I feel. I trust in all the guys. I know everyone works really hard.”
No matter what happens with the quarterback situation over the next few weeks, Murray's long-term future with the franchise appears tenuous. The two-time Pro Bowl selection — who hasn't spoken with reporters since his injury on Oct. 5 — is in the middle of a $230.5 million, five-year deal that runs through 2027 with a team option for 2028.
“He wants to be out there, he's a competitor,” Gannon said. “I've talked to him today. He's a good teammate and working to get healthy.”
What’s working
The team's defense had a great all-around game against Dallas, signaling that the defense is improving during a vital part of the season. Veterans Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell have a combined 12 sacks through eight games while rookie Walter Nolen III added a sack in his NFL debut on Monday after missing the first seven games with a calf injury.
What needs help
Arizona’s passing game was fairly lopsided through the first several games, with tight end Trey McBride and Harrison receiving almost all of the targets. That's changed a little in recent weeks with Brissett under center. Zay Jones, Michael Wilson and Elijah Higgins are getting more looks.
Stock up
RB Emari Demercado earned a bit of redemption on Monday night, running for 79 yards on 14 carries to lead the Cardinals' rushing offense. It's been roughly a month since Demercado had a costly blunder , dropping the football before crossing the goal line on a potential 72-yard touchdown run in a loss against the Titans. Demercado figures to be an important player moving forward with the team's top two running backs — James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) — out with injuries.
Stock down
Murray's fall from franchise quarterback to potential backup has been stunning to watch over the past month. The No. 1 overall pick in 2019 threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions over the first five games.
Injuries
CB Max Melton is in concussion protocol and LB Mack Wilson Sr. (ribs) left the Cowboys game late. LB BJ Ojulari (knee) is getting closer to his return after missing more than one full season. Conner is out for the season but Benson could return in the coming weeks, which would help in the backfield.
Key number
15-27 — That's the record for Gannon midway through his third season with the Cardinals. Monday night's win against the Cowboys was a stabilizing moment after a frustrating five-game losing streak. A strong finish might be needed for this coaching staff to earn a fourth year in charge.
Next steps
The Cardinals are on the road against the Seahawks on Sunday. After that, three of the next four games are at home, including two games against NFC West opponents.
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NFL midseason trends: Why scoring is up, offenses are bigger, and finishes are dramatic By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
As the NFL passes the midpoint of the season, there are a few trends that have started to develop.
Scoring is up thanks in part to some special teams rule changes and increased aggressiveness on fourth downs, offenses are getting bigger with more plays than ever with an extra lineman or tight end, and no great teams have emerged.
For just the fourth time since the merger, every team in the NFL has at least two losses after nine weeks of the season as no team has risen above the competition. The only other years with no teams with one or fewer losses headed into Week 10 were 1979, 1981 and 2010.
The change is perhaps most evident with the Kansas City Chiefs , who remain the Super Bowl favorites according to BetMGM. despite a 5-4 record that currently would leave them on the outside of the playoff picture. The Chiefs were undefeated at this point last season as they were trying for their unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title.
The top three teams in the league by record — Indianapolis , Denver and New England — have combined for no playoff wins in the past six seasons. The other division leader in the AFC, Pittsburgh , hasn't won a playoff game since 2016.
The AFC could have four new division winners after going back-to-back years with Buffalo, Baltimore, Houston and Kansas City finishing first.
The NFC has a bit more stability with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles currently holding the top seed and have a more than three-game lead in the division with the chance to become the first repeat champion in the NFC East since they did it from 2001-04.
There have also been more dramatic finishes this season with the 35 games decided by a score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime tied with 2021 for the most ever through nine weeks.
Offenses getting bigger
One big trend so far this season is offenses getting bigger by using extra offensive linemen and more tight ends at an increasingly high pace.
Teams have run 457 plays with at least one extra offensive lineman, nearly double the number in the first nine weeks from 2023. Adding in plays with at least one extra tight end and the league has had the most plays through nine weeks with an extra lineman or tight end as far as records at Sportradar go back to 2006.
The big bodies aren't just for more running with teams passing on more than 25% of plays with an extra lineman or tight end and posting a 101.2 passer rating that is more than 10 points higher than plays with at least three receivers on the field.
New kickoff rule has big impact
The first year of the so-called “dynamic kickoff” didn't produce the results the NFL initially wanted with only a slight increase in returns from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season.
Moving the touchback spot from the 30 to the 35 this season has led to a major change with the return rate reaching 79% so far this season for the highest rate in 17 years.
There have only been two kickoff returns for touchdowns but there have been 42 returns of at least 40 yards — the most through nine weeks since there were 53 at this point in 2012.
The changes have also had a positive impact on scoring with the average starting field position following kickoffs being the 30.2 yard line for the best for offenses since at least 2000. Scoring is up more than two points per game than at this point last season.
K-balls lead to long distance kicks
The kickoff changes aren't the only new rules that have had a major impact so far this season. The league also made changes to how teams can prepare balls used for kicking, allowing preparation before game day for the first time since the 1990s.
The more broken-in balls are traveling further with many kickers estimating they have a few extra yards on their kicks. That has led to a new record for longest field goal when Jacksonville's Cam Little hit a record-setting 68-yarder on Sunday against Las Vegas, breaking the previous mark of 66 held by Justin Tucker.
There have already been an NFL record seven made field goals from at least 60 yards, including two by Dallas' Brandon Aubrey, who missed his own attempt from 68 yards wide left on Monday night against Arizona.
The 39 makes from at least 55 yards are already the fourth most for any entire season and one more than there was for a 13-year span from 1994-2006.
While long kicks are on a record-setting pace, short ones are becoming more rare thanks in part to the improved field position from ensuing kickoffs. The 250 field goal attempts from less than 40 yards are the fewest through nine weeks since 1998.
Fourth-down revolution
The improved average starting field position and more coaches willing to be aggressive has the league off to a record-setting pace when it comes to fourth-down attempts.
Even traditionally more conservative coaches like Kansas City's Andy Reid and San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan have gotten into the act with the Chiefs going for it 11 times in the first half for the most in Reid's 13 seasons. The 49ers went for it on their opening drive Sunday against the New York Giants, marking the first time Shanahan had ever attempted a fourth-down try in the first quarter in his own territory.
The 419 fourth-down tries are the most ever through nine weeks with 210 coming in the first three quarters before desperation kicks in.
The success rate is also at a record-setting pace with teams converting 59.7% of tries for the highest rate since at least 2000, including 72.6% on fourth and 1.
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Sauce Gardner is the biggest winner from the NFL's trade deadline By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
The Colts went all-in. The Eagles were aggressive. The Jets looked to the future.
NFL teams were active in the weeks, days and minutes leading up to the trade deadline on Tuesday with the wildest moves coming from the Big Apple.
Two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner went from New York to Indianapolis for two first-round picks. The Jets also sent three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas in another blockbuster deal for a second-round pick in 2026 and a first-round pick in 2027.
Here are some winners and losers:
Biggest individual winner
Gardner . He goes from the worst team in the AFC East to the first-place team in the AFC South. Gardner has never been part of a team that won more than seven games in a season. He joins one that won seven before November. The Colts are 7-2 and aiming for a No. 1 seed.
Biggest team winner
Philadelphia Eagles. The defending Super Bowl champions didn’t make a move Tuesday but have been active since training camp, making nine trades. They made three over the past six days.
The Eagles (6-2) got edge rusher Jaelan Phillips from Miami on Monday. He reunites with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and fills a big need. Phillips has as many sacks (three) in his last five games as all of Philadelphia’s edge rushers have combined this season.
The Eagles acquired slot cornerback Michael Carter II from the Jets last week and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Carter should step into the lineup right away. Alexander provides depth and could play a bigger role if he returns to his old form.
Biggest individual loser
Breece Hall. The Jets didn’t trade the running back to the Chiefs or another team. He’s stuck on a losing team in New York instead of heading to a contender.
Biggest team loser
New York Jets. Until they use the draft capital they acquired for Gardner and Williams to get star players, it’s hard to say the Jets made the right move. Breaking up a 1-7 team is understandable.
“I wouldn’t call it a teardown,” general manager Darren Mougey said.
The Jets didn’t win with Gardner or Williams. But both are young guys and the type of cornerstone players that franchises build around. The defense is significantly worse without them and now the goal will be to find players as talented with the picks they received.
Wait and see
The Cowboys (3-5-1) improved the league’s second-worst defense by getting Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson. But they’re not going anywhere this season and they surrendered valuable picks along with defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a first-round pick in 2023 who didn’t pan out.
The first-round pick sent to the Jets will be the better of the two the Cowboys own. They got a pair of firsts from Green Bay for Micah Parsons.
So, the haul for Parsons now is Williams, Kenny Clark and a 2026 first plus salary cap space. Williams was an All-Pro in 2022, is under contract through 2027 and teams with Clark to give Dallas a formidable interior line.
Jerry Jones had to do something to boost the defense now and for the future. The Cowboys are better now. That could impact their draft positioning but that’s another story.
Stand Pat
The Patriots (7-2), Broncos (7-2), Buccaneers (6-2) and Chiefs (5-4) were among the teams that didn’t make any moves. New England, Denver and Kansas City could’ve used another playmaker on offense. Tampa Bay is thin at several positions. The Bucs are counting on injured players returning as additions.
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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report.
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Bill Belichick among 9 coaching semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick and four other head coaches who won Super Bowls are among the nine semifinalists in the coach category for the 2026 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Belichick is in his first year of eligibility after rule changes put in place last year requiring coaches only to be out of the NFL for one full season before being considered for the Hall.
Two-time Super Bowl champion coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Shanahan and George Seifert also advanced, along with another Super Bowl winner in Mike Holmgren.
The other coaches in the running are Buddy Parker, who won two NFL titles with Detroit in the pre-Super Bowl era, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves and Marty Schottenheimer.
A blue-ribbon committee will cut the list down to one finalist. Holmgren earned that spot last year but fell short in the final vote. The coach will be grouped with one contributor and three seniors candidates. Between one and three of those five finalists will make it to the Hall based on getting at least 80% of the votes from the full committee.
Belichick was the architect of the New England Patriots dynasty in the 2000s, leading the franchise to six Super Bowl titles and three other appearances in the game during an 18-year span from 2001-18. Belichick’s 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs with New England and Cleveland are the second most to Don Shula’s 347.
Belichick also was one of the game’s top defensive assistants before taking over New England, winning two more Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
Belichick’s tenure in New England ended following the 2023 season and he is now coaching in college at North Carolina.
Belichick, Coughlin, Shanahan and Seifert are among the 14 coaches who have won multiple Super Bowls. Nine of those coaches are already in, with Andy Reid still active as the other.
Coughlin coached 20 years for Jacksonville and the New York Giants. He led the Jaguars to the AFC title game in their second season as a franchise and back again in the 1999 season. But his greatest success came after taking over the Giants in 2004.
He led the franchise to a Super Bowl title in the 2007 season when New York upset the undefeated Patriots and then knocked off Belichick, Tom Brady and New England again four years later. Coughlin finished with a 170-150 regular-season record.
Seifert helped San Francisco win two titles as a defensive coordinator under Bill Walsh and then two more as head coach after taking over for Walsh in 1989.
He won at least 10 games in all eight seasons in charge of the 49ers with his 98-30 record (.766) the best for any coach on a single team with at least 100 games. But he was unable to duplicate that success in three seasons with Carolina, going 16-32.
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator under Seifert on San Francisco’s 1994 championship team and then won back-to-back titles as head coach in Denver in 1997-98. Shanahan finished with a 170-138 record for the Raiders, Broncos and Washington and his impact on the game is still strong today through his disciples, including his son, Kyle, who coaches San Francisco.
Four other current NFL head coaches worked under Shanahan in Washington — Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel, Matt LaFleur and Raheem Morris — and the offensive system he brought into the league that tied the outside zone run with the passing game is still the most prevalent in the league today.
Holmgren preceded Shanahan as offensive coordinator in San Francisco and also had a big impact on future coaches with Reid and Jon Gruden going on to win Super Bowls after working under Holmgren in Green Bay. Holmgren had a 161-111 record for the Packers and Seahawks, winning the title in 1996. He also got to the Super Bowl the following season in Green Bay and then again in the 2005 season in Seattle.
Reeves won 201 games in his career and went to the Super Bowl four times, losing three times with Denver and once with Atlanta.
Marty Schottenheimer won 205 games in a career that featured stints in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego.
Knox was a three-time NFL Coach of the Year who won 193 games as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo and Seattle.
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Broncos aim to extend lead in AFC West against struggling Raiders By The Associated Press The Associated Press
Las Vegas (2-6) at Denver (7-2)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EST, Amazon Prime Video.
BetMGM line: Broncos by 9.
Against the spread: Raiders 3-5, Broncos 4-4-1.
Series record: Raiders lead 76-53-2.
Last meeting: Broncos beat Raiders 29-19 on Nov. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Last week: Raiders lost to Jaguars 30-29, Broncos beat Texans 18-15.
Raiders offense: overall (30), rush (29), pass (24), scoring (29)
Raiders defense: overall (19), rush (16), pass (21), scoring (23)
Broncos offense: overall (13), rush (7), pass (17), scoring (14)
Broncos defense: overall (1), rush (8), pass (6), scoring (4)
Turnover differential: Raiders minus-5; Broncos minus-3.
Raiders player to watch
WR Tre Tucker. He might be in line to be the top wide receiver option now that Jakobi Meyers has been traded to Jacksonville. The third-year pro is having his best season with 32 receptions for 427 yards and four touchdowns, but will need to step up his production even more.
Broncos player to watch
ILB Dre Greenlaw is rounding into form after missing seven games with a strained quadriceps and one more for a suspension. In 48 snaps over two games, the Broncos’ prized free agent addition has 14 tackles and a sack.
Key matchup
TE Brock Bowers versus Denver's improved defense, albeit without injured star cornerback Pat Surtain II, who matched up on Bowers the previous time these teams played. Helping with the task this time will be Greenlaw and fellow former 49ers star safety Talanoa Hufanga, who have made Denver's defense much more formidable in the middle of the field.
Key injuries
Raiders: S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (fractured leg) could make his season debut and is listed as questionable. S Isaiah Pola-Mao (hip) and DT Adam Butler (back) also are questionable.
Broncos: Pat Surtain II will miss his second straight game with a strained left pectoral muscle. ... TE Nate Atkins (knee) is out again, too. ... WR-KR Marvin Mims Jr. hoped to return from a concussion that sidelined him last week, but was ruled out. ... S P.J. Locke (neck) had his first full practice Wednesday and is questionable.
Series notes
The Broncos snapped an eight-game skid against the Raiders by sweeping Las Vegas last season. They won 34-18 at home and 29-19 on the road. The Broncos, who visit the Raiders on Dec. 7, are alone atop the AFC West in November for the first time since their most recent Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. They have a one-game edge on the Chargers and a two-game lead on the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the division every year since 2016.
Stats and stuff
Las Vegas’ 13 passes defended by linemen are the most in the league. New Orleans is next with 10. … Brock Bowers has five career games with 10 or more catches, the highest total ever among tight ends in their first two seasons. ... Raheem Mostert averages 32.4 yards per kickoff return, the highest in the NFL. ... S Jeremy Chinn needs one sack to become the eighth defensive back since 1982 with six consecutive seasons with at least one. … K Daniel Carlson’s 215 made field goals since he entered the league in 2018 are tied with Justin Tucker, who is no longer playing. … A victory would give coach Pete Carroll No. 173 for his career, which would move him into a tie for 16th with Jeff Fisher. Carroll is tied with Bill Parcells. … Las Vegas’ defense has gone into nickel coverage on 28.6% of snaps, the NFL’s lowest rate, according to Next Gen Stats. ... The Broncos are off to their best start since their 2015 Super Bowl-winning season. ... The Broncos lead the league with 40 sacks and 14 players have gotten one so far, and the Broncos' plus-31 sack differential is the largest after nine games in NFL history. ... Denver has held opponents to under 20% on third down in five games this season, including last week when the Broncos held Houston to 3 of 17 (17.6%). ... Four times the Broncos have kept opponents from scoring a touchdown on them. ... The Broncos have the league's longest active home winning streak at nine games. ... QB Bo Nix can become the fourth player in NFL history with multiple TD passes in 10 games over his first two seasons on Thursday night. ... RB J.K. Dobbins is one of two (Colts' Jonathan Taylor) with 60 or more yards rushing in eight games this season. ... CB Riley Moss has a career-best 10 pass breakups so far.
Fantasy tips
Bowers is coming off a big game in his return from a three-week absence with a knee injury. He caught 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars last week.
Broncos rookie RB RJ Harvey set career highs with five catches for 51 yards last week against the Texans when he caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season.
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Fantasy plays: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 10 By DORIAN COLBERT of RosterWatch The Associated Press
By Week 10, every roster decision in fantasy football counts. Roles have stabilized, but matchups still swing outcomes. These are the plays and sits that can separate playoff contenders from pretenders this week.
Quarterbacks
Start: Bo Nix, Broncos vs Raiders
Nix continues to impress with his poise and accuracy in Sean Payton’s offense. The Raiders have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four straight games and struggle to contain mobile quarterbacks. Expect another efficient, high-floor outing with top-10 upside at home.
Other locks:
— Jared Goff vs Commanders
— Matthew Stafford vs 49ers
— Caleb Williams vs Giants
Avoid: Jordan Love, Packers vs Eagles
Love’s inconsistency against pressure-heavy defenses makes him a risky start. While Philadelphia isn’t among the league leaders in sacks, its front still collapses pockets effectively and forces quick throws. With Green Bay’s line struggling to protect and Love’s accuracy dipping under duress, his turnover risk outweighs his ceiling.
Running backs
Start: RJ Harvey, Broncos vs Raiders
Harvey has blossomed over the past couple of weeks, finding the end zone four times. An asset in the passing game, he led the Broncos in receiving last week. Harvey doesn’t need a slew of carries to produce in fantasy. He’ll continue to be one of Bo Nix’s most viable options against Las Vegas.
Other locks:
— Christian McCaffrey vs Rams
— Jaylen Warren vs Chargers
— Jonathan Taylor vs Falcons
Avoid: Kimani Vidal, Chargers vs Steelers
Vidal has been up and down the past month, trading off boom games for gut-wrenching struggles every other week. We might have seen a changing of the guard last week when Jarret Patterson out-carried him 7-4 over the last half of the game. Vidal’s role is now unclear at best and diminishing at worst.
Wide receivers
Start: Marvin Harrison, Cardinals vs Seahawks
It’s not a great matchup for Harrison, but he’s shown that he can handle Seattle already this season, logging his second-highest catch total (six) and scoring against them in Week 4. Harrison is a constant go-to for new starting QB Jacoby Brissett, so play him with confidence this week.
Other locks:
— Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Commanders
— Drake London vs Colts
— Emeka Egbuka vs Patriots
Avoid: Zay Flowers, Ravens vs Vikings
Minnesota’s coverage scheme funnels passes underneath, neutralizing big plays. With Lamar Jackson distributing passes more evenly, Flowers’ volatility makes him a risky WR3 in this matchup.
Tight ends
Start: Dalton Schultz, Texans vs Jaguars
Schultz remains a steady option with C.J. Stroud’s trust in critical situations, garnering at least eight targets in two of his past three games. Jacksonville ranks near the bottom in receptions and yards allowed to tight ends, making Schultz a safe play.
Other locks:
— Harold Fannin Jr. vs Jets
— Cade Otton vs Patriots
— Pat Freiermuth vs Chargers
Avoid: Evan Engram, Denver vs Raiders
Engram had more than 50% of snaps for the second time this season last week, but he had no receptions. Even in games that he gets considerable targets, they aren’t high yield, as in Week 7 when he got eight targets for only 42 yards. Tight end hasn’t been a priority in Denver, and it likely won’t be this week against a Raiders unit that actually defends them well.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by RosterWatch, www.rosterwatch.com .
Jets' trades of Gardner, Williams tough now, but big-picture plan focused on hope, high draft picks By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Darren Mougey insisted this wasn't “a teardown.” Aaron Glenn reiterated that the New York Jets will be a team that makes the fans proud.
But a day after trading two of the biggest stars in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, it was clear the Jets are in a major rebuild during which patience will need to precede pride.
“It was a pretty intense day,” Glenn acknowledged Wednesday.
And for many of the players, coaches and fans, a stunning and sad one.
Gardner was traded to Indianapolis on Tuesday for a first-round draft pick in 2026 and another in 2027, along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. A few hours later, Williams was dealt to Dallas for a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round selection in 2027 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Gardner and Williams were thought to be key parts of the foundation that both Glenn and Mougey are trying to set for the Jets' future while attempting to return the franchise to respectability.
“When an opportunity presents itself for us to be able to build this team, it's hard to pass it up,” Glenn said. "Listen, those two guys are great players, we all know that. All-Pro players. The one constant in this league is change.
“And I've said that to all our players, not just today but throughout this season, that this is a fluid game. Players come and go. Coaches come and go. But the one thing I do know is with change, there comes opportunity.”
While both Gardner and Williams are now on teams trying to reach the playoffs , the 1-7 Jets are likely going to miss the postseason for the 15th straight year. And that was clear even before the franchise-altering moves.
“I wouldn’t call it a teardown,” Mougey said Tuesday, a few hours after the trades.
When Glenn was hired, he preached patience and the process. That has been a tough sell to the fanbase, though. And now they have to watch their team play out the string of the last nine games without two of their best players, first-round picks who were once symbols of hope.
“Nothing different than I’ve been saying,” Glenn said of what he'd say to frustrated fans. “Listen, I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of, but again, I never said that we’re gonna be proud of them right now. At some point, I want this to be a team that the fans are proud of and I still stick with that.”
The big picture view for the Jets is clear: They have two first-round draft picks in 2026, along with two second-rounders, and three first-rounders in 2027. That's the glimmer of hope in a season that quickly went awry.
In theory, Mougey will have the flexibility in the next two drafts to remake the roster and, most importantly, find a quarterback who can be the foundational-type piece New York has been craving for decades. But the Jets will need to hit on most, if not all, of those decisions to make the two stunning moves Tuesday look good.
“The goal is always to win,” Mougey said. "Look, these coaches and players work too hard every day, all day, with the goal of winning on Sunday. And that never changes because that's what the fans deserve. That's what the players deserve and that's what the coaches deserve and that never changes.
“I understand the trade deadline and different moving parts, but the goal is to always win on Sunday.”
But that will be tougher to do now, starting Sunday at home against Cleveland, without Gardner and Williams, and even nickel cornerback Michael Carter II, who was sent to Philadelphia last week.
“I’d be lying if I said I was happy my brothers are gone because I’m not, I’m sick,” edge rusher Jermaine Johnson posted on X on Tuesday. "But, I believe strongly in the organization, staff and my other brothers in the locker room. I said when I got drafted I wanted to be the reason or part of the reason this thing gets changed for the better and that’s going to continue to be my outlook. I love this team and this fan base and y’all will continue to get my all, my absolute best on and off the field.
“Let’s look onward and upward because better things are coming and I give my word on that. Go Jets always.”
Glenn said he spoke to the players Wednesday morning when the team gathered for meetings, but said he didn't “wanna make too much of a deal” about the trades.
“Man, we are moving forward,” Glenn said. “We have a good amount of draft capital that we’re looking forward to. And when that time comes, we’ll handle that. But right now, we’re focused on Cleveland.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Surging Broncos look to keep their winning streak alive against the reeling Raiders By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press DENVER
DENVER (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos meet Thursday to kick off Week 10 with a matchup of AFC West rivals headed in different directions.
The Raiders (2-6) traded top wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville on Tuesday for draft picks in the fourth and sixth rounds as the front office focuses on fixes for the future.
The Broncos (7-2) have won six straight games and are alone atop their division in November for the first time in a decade. They made no deals at the NFL's trade deadline, the latest exhibit in their belief they already have a contending roster.
“It’s great," Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said when the deadline passed without any moves from general manager George Paton. "Obviously if there’s a need you want to get it, but we feel like we have all the pieces. Sometimes when something like that happens, it shakes things up. We have something good going, and we just want to keep riding this wave and finding ways to win.”
The Broncos have won all four games in which they trailed entering the fourth quarter, including last week at Houston, when they rallied against the league's stingiest defense for an 18-15 win .
They keep coming up clutch in crunch time to atone for stretches of offensive ineptitude and special teams issues. During their winning streak, they've outscored their opponents 86-20 in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders gambled and lost when they went for a 2-point conversion and the win but came up short in a 30-29 loss to Jacksonville last week, and now QB Geno Smith doesn't have Meyers either.
Although tight end Brock Bowers is Las Vegas’ top receiving option, Meyers was the Raiders' No. 1 wide receiver. Now, third-year wideout Tre Tucker figures to be the one to fill the void, and he is having his best season with 32 catches for 427 yards and four touchdowns.
Meyers’ departure also is an opportunity for new acquisition Tyler Lockett as well as rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr., whose contributions have been limited at this point.
“It’s like a player got hurt, he’s out of a game, then what do you do?” offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. “It’s the next guy’s up. So Lockett and Bech and Dont’e and those guys will have to step up, and we’ll go from there.”
The Raiders' receivers catch a break this week with Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral) out, although Riley Moss, Kris Abrams-Drain and first-rounder Jahdae Barron stepped up big against the Texans, the fourth opponent that Denver has kept out of the end zone this season.
Getting Jeanty on track
Ashton Jeanty, drafted sixth overall by the Raiders, is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He also has received 17 or fewer carries five times and has a combined 19 rushing attempts the past two games.
“Maybe some fantasy people are a little disturbed, but we’re not coaching for fantasy people,” Kelly said. “We’re just trying to win games. I mean, he’s our No. 1 back, and when we’re running the ball, he’s running the football. … He’s continuing to grow. He’s doing a heck of a job. Really excited that we have him.”
Harvey catching on
RJ Harvey, whom the Broncos selected 60th overall in the second round, is averaging 4.5 yards per carry but he only has 46 attempts while backing up J.K. Dobbins. However, he has four touchdown catches to go with two rushing TDs.
Harvey's four TD receptions match the number he had in four years at Central Florida.
“With Harvey, we saw this dynamic rusher, but we also knew" he had great hands coming out of the backfield, coach Sean Payton said. "His senior year, we got to see rails (routes) and you saw soft hands. You knew he played quarterback. It’s hard to predict sometimes that a certain play is going to develop, but his body stature and his agility before contact, all of those things we really liked.”
Veteran head coaches
This matchup has Super Bowl-winning coaches who have a combined 369 NFL victories, 20 of them in the playoffs. Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, 74, is 183-137-1 and Payton, 61, is 186-116.
Payton is 4-3 against Carroll with all the games coming while Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints and Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks.
“Pete does a great job," Payton said. “He has always been someone I consider a good friend in the industry. He is someone you know you will get a real well-coached team. I told you this early, I thanked him when he took the job because it made me the youngest coach in the division.”
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AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson contributed from Las Vegas.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl