Sports

Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson, had a message for Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper during a Fox Sports appearance on Sunday.

“The owner of the Carolina Panthers, that’s the problem,” Johnson, who led the Dallas Cowboys to consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993, said. “He’s making the major decisions without listening to his football people. David Tepper, it’s his team. He can do whatever he wants to, but look at the people that’s left. He’s the one who wanted Bryce Young as the No. 1 pick.

“You look at Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Brian Burns, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold. You look at coaches: Steve Wilks, Frank Reich, Matt Rhule. On and on, he’s run them all off. He’s making the decisions. He has got to listen to his football people and quit playing fantasy football.”

Tepper bought the Panthers from Jerry Richardson, the franchise’s founder, in May of 2018 for $2.2 billion. Carolina is worth $5.9 billion in 2024, ranking 25th in the NFL, per CNBC’s official NFL team valuations. The Panthers have the league’s worst record (31-70) since start of 2018 season, when Tepper bought the team.

Johnson, along with a panel of Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee, were discussing the Panthers’ current quarterback situation. Carolina benched Young after starting 0-2 this season. The second-year quarterback threw for 245 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns through his two contests.

GO DEEPER

Is Bryce Young’s benching the beginning of the end for last year’s No. 1 pick?

Andy Dalton will start for the Panthers on Sunday in Las Vegas against the Raiders. Dalton’s only start during his Carolina tenure came in Week 3 of last season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished going 34-of-58 passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss.

Required reading

(Photo: David Jensen / Getty Images)

With the Boston Red Sox all but mathematically out of postseason contention, manager Alex Cora let out some of his frustration during Sunday’s doubleheader opener against the Minnesota Twins.

In the top of the first, Cora calmly walked out of the dugout to talk to the umpires after an obstruction call was made at second base. But the interaction turned heated with Cora waving his arms wildly. He then ran out to the second base bag, motioning with his hands from his eyes to the bag, while pointing furiously at second base umpire Dan Merzel. Cora then had to be held back by third base umpire Alan Porter.

The manager was quickly ejected.

Alex Cora was NOT happy with a call getting changed after Rocco Baldelli’s pleading 😬 pic.twitter.com/T8vaBnSiIC

— NESN (@NESN) September 22, 2024

The trouble started with Byron Buxton on second base. Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta threw back to the bag. But while receiving the throw, the knee of Red Sox second baseman Vaughn Grissom blocked the bag and the umpires moved the runner to third on an obstruction.

Cora appeared to be upset Porter made the call and not Merzel, despite Merzel’s proximity to the play. Cora also seemed irked that it took a request from the opposing manager, the Twins’ Rocco Baldelli, for the umpires to get the call correct. The crew initially had not called obstruction on the play.

“He blocked the bag,” Cora said after Boston’s 8-1 victory.  “He did. But, the whole mechanism, I didn’t like. It took (the Twins) to argue. And then Alan, called time to get together. They got the call, right, but you’re right there. Just call it. It’s a lot easier that way. And I took exception and I got thrown out.”

The play was rule was ruled an error on Grissom but Pivetta got out of the inning unscathed.

It marked Cora’s third ejection of the season. He will be eligible to manage the second game of the doubleheader starting at 5:35 p.m. ET.

(Photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)

Stay informed on all the biggest stories in Formula 1. Sign up here to receive the Prime Tire newsletter in your inbox every Monday and Friday. 

SINGAPORE — Under the lights of Marina Bay, Lando Norris was simply untouchable.

Regularly lapping 1.5 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen, his Formula One championship rival, Norris never looked for a moment like he’d lose the Singapore Grand Prix.

Norris was poised to record his first career ‘grand slam,’ scoring victory from pole position, leading the entire race (on his eighth attempt from pole, he managed to retain the lead on the opening lap) and setting the fastest lap.

His benchmark of 1:34.925s was so quick that, after he set it, his race engineer suggested he take a drink and manage his pace. Two glances of the wall offered brief scares. Kevin Magnussen had gone quicker on fresh softs, only for his time to be deleted for track limits. The fastest lap bonus point, so important in the title race, was Norris’ to lose.

And then Daniel Ricciardo came along.

In what could well be his final act as an F1 driver, Ricciardo pitted late to fit fresh soft tires and, in clean air, go half a second quicker than Norris on the race’s penultimate lap.

Ricciardo had been way back in 18th, running second to last. There was nothing for him or his team, RB, to gain by pitting for fresh softs and going for the fastest lap. The bonus point only counts if you finish inside the top 10.

But it would help Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, RB’s senior team. By denying Norris the bonus point, Verstappen’s championship lead dropped to 52 points instead of 51. Verstappen was quickly told on the radio after the race that his “old pal” Ricciardo had set the fastest lap, to which Verstappen replied: “Thank you, Daniel.”

Ricciardo joked that if Verstappen were to win the title by a point, he’d at least guaranteed himself a nice Christmas present.

“He can have anything he wants,” said Verstappen.

The fastest lap push immediately sparked questions over its reasons, given Red Bull and RB’s shared ownership. Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, has long spoken against the practice of so-called A and B teams in F1. Now, it looked like Red Bull’s sister team had moved to deny his driver a crucial point in the title race.

Brown told SiriusXM after the race that he would “certainly ask some questions” about what happened and that it illustrated his concerns over sister teams working together. “I think you wouldn’t have made that pit stop to go for that.”

Daniel Ricciardo driving during the Singapore Grand Prix. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella didn’t want to draw as strong a link, but admitted he found it “peculiar.” Norris shrugged it off, admitting there was nothing he could do. “(It’s) the logical thing to do, the smart play by them,” Norris said. “I’m happy for Daniel, that’s all.” Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, said he didn’t think it was “dirty tricks,” but Red Bull simply playing the game as part of the title fight.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, denied any coordination between Red Bull and RB over the fastest lap push. “Daniel obviously wanted to finish the race on a high,” he said. “You’d have to ask VCARB about that.” Ricciardo explained he “thought they were just letting me have some fun because we were a long way out of the points.”

The rationale behind the fastest lap push aside, it was a high to finish on in what could be the last race of Ricciardo’s F1 career.

On a weekend that started with serious doubt over whether he’d be on the grid for the next race in Austin (let alone for 2025) as Liam Lawson waits to step up, Sunday’s race felt like a final goodbye from the eight-time grand prix winner.

The hints were there after qualifying on Saturday when Ricciardo had dropped out in Q1 while teammate Yuki Tsunoda made it through to Q3. From 16th on the grid, at a street track like Singapore, getting anywhere near the points would always be a big, big ask. Ricciardo was clearly downbeat about the result, saying it “sucks” while noting “all the s— going on” around his future.

Without a safety car for the first time in the history of the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo didn’t stand much chance of advancing far up the order. An early stop helped get him the undercut while compromising his strategy. Two stops became three when he pitted for the fastest lap, which will go down as the 17th of his F1 career.

Was this really it? The end of the road after 13 years and more than 250 starts? Ricciardo could not say definitively after the race. Horner claims no decision has been made and the upcoming three-week break is a “period of time where we’ll evaluate all of the relevant performances of the drivers” within the Red Bull jigsaw.

However, Ricciardo’s body language throughout his post-race interviews and the emotion in his voice made it clear. This really may be it for him in F1.

Ricciardo couldn’t hold back his emotions after the race. (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

He admitted there was a “realistic chance” he wouldn’t be at the next race in Austin and wanted to soak up every single moment in Singapore. “I was aware maybe that was my last race, so I tried to enjoy that,” he said. The RB team even held a guard of honor for Ricciardo outside the motorhome after the race, just in case it was his final race for the team. The thought of that display having to be repeated this year is too awkward to contemplate.

Signing off with 18th place in his final start isn’t how Ricciardo would have wanted his F1 career to end, but there was no feeling of regret. “I’m proud of the career,” he said. “I tried to become world champion, I tried to become the best at something in the world. I think it is a tall task that we ask from ourselves. Some achieve it, some don’t.

“In the end, if I came up a little short, I also can’t be too hard on myself, happy with the effort I put in. And for that, there’s no sadness or feeling or regret or what could have been.”

Verstappen, Ricciardo’s teammate of almost three years at Red Bull, paid tribute to the Australian after the race, notably speaking in the past tense. “He’s a great guy, honestly,” Verstappen said. “We always had a great relationship. We had a sporting rivalry in the team. He would be remembered as a great driver, as a great person also. He has a great character. I think it’s very rare if someone hates him.

“I think also in a few years’ time, when I won’t be here anymore, we’ll sit back and look at all those years together and have a beer together.”

Quite the reception for Danny Ric back at RB 🤜🤛#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/yn39km1ba2

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2024

As inevitable as it looks, a swift decision would be best for everybody. The race-to-race, even session-to-session, swings within the Red Bull driver setup this year involving Ricciardo, Lawson and Sergio Pérez up at the senior team have been difficult for all involved, no matter how it may be viewed as a source of motivation. As painful as this may be for Ricciardo, there will at least be some resolution.

The fastest lap wasn’t Ricciardo’s only potential farewell gift. He was also voted ‘Driver of the Day’ by F1 fans with 20 percent of the vote.

“It’s not something to brag about, but I think today the fans read the media and know this could be my last one, so I think that’s a really nice gesture from them and today it is appreciated,” Ricciardo said.

“I do acknowledge that — I thank them for being a part of it and acknowledging my efforts and my love for the sport. Obviously, there were times it tested me, and I wasn’t always grinning ear to ear.

“But I felt like I always tried to have as much fun with it and leave as much as I could on track.”

If this is it for Daniel Ricciardo and F1, it’s a fine sentiment for him to finish with.

GO DEEPER

Daniel Ricciardo expects call on F1 future after Singapore amid questions about rest of season

Top photo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

A recent segment on a sports bulletin on Brazilian television neatly captured the excitement — and bafflement — caused by an influx of European players.

It started with a montage of goals scored by Memphis Depay, signed by Corinthians last week in a move that has sent large sections of the Sao Paulo club’s fanbase into delirium. Clips of supporters mimicking the Dutch forward’s trademark fingers-in-ears goal celebration were only a small sample of what can be expected in the months ahead.

Then came images of other players: Denmark international Martin Braithwaite; Maxime Dominguez, a midfielder from Switzerland; French 20-year-old Mohamed El Arouch; the former Norwich City and Newcastle United full-back Jamal Lewis.

All have signed for clubs in Brazil since the end of the 2023-24 European season. The TV segment playfully labelled the rundown a “Tour of Random Gringos”.

This is not even the full extent of it, however. The complete version of the list would also include former France playmaker Dimitri Payet, who has been playing for Vasco da Gama since August 2023, and Tobias Figueiredo, once a Portugal player at youth level and now at Criciuma on loan from Fortaleza. Spaniard Hector Hernandez is a possible strike partner for Depay at Corinthians. There is also Yannick Bolasie, also at Criciuma. He may have played 50 times for DR Congo, but he was born in France and raised in England, making him plenty European enough to count as an import from what Brazilians call the Old Continent.

An historic move for @Jamal_lewis1 🇧🇷🔥

Congratulations to our client Jamal Lewis who has completed a loan move to Brazilian giants @SaoPauloFC ✍️ #SPFC #NUFC pic.twitter.com/DakkLuKHb8

— PLG (@PLG_agency) September 3, 2024

It is an eye-catching trend whichever way you cut it. There have been Europeans in Brazil before — Serbian playmaker Dejan Petkovic is considered a legend at Flamengo and Clarence Seedorf had a memorable late-career spell at Botafogo — but never before have there been so many at once in the modern era. With numbers likely to swell further, it seems an appropriate time to ask the obvious question: what the heck is going on?

For one thing, the laws governing the use of players from outside Brazil have been slackening. Two years ago, clubs could use a maximum of five foreigners in a matchday squad. That was changed to seven in 2023. In March, the clubs in the top division of the Campeonato Brasileiro voted unanimously to raise the cap again, up to nine.

The impact of those alterations has been felt most keenly within South America. Brazil has hoovered up talent from Argentina, Uruguay and its other neighbours for years; now they can really cut loose. Current league leaders Botafogo have six non-Brazilian South Americans in their ranks, as do second-placed Palmeiras. Gremio, the traditional home of many such ‘hermanos’, have nine. The extra leeway, though, has also brought other markets into the equation.

It helps that Brazilian football has, broadly speaking, become more accommodating of outside voices over the last decade. Portuguese coaches Jorge Jesus and Abel Ferreira have enjoyed enormous success, beating a path that many others have followed. The local football federation wanted to break with tradition and appoint Carlo Ancelotti as coach of the men’s national team. Funding from abroad has led to modernisation behind the scenes. It makes sense that these patterns would be replicated on the pitch, too.

It is tempting to see the wave of Europeans as a sign that the Brazilian game is thriving. From afar, one might assume Brazilian clubs have acquired the financial clout to compete for players they would not previously have been able to sign, or the kinds of international scouting networks that would have been anathema to past generations. Maybe recent structural changes — the 2021 law that allowed clubs to become public companies (SAFs), increasing foreign investment, talk of a breakaway league — have moved the Campeonato Brasileiro up in the world.

This, though, would be an incredibly rosy-eyed reading. It would be one thing if these signings were concentrated among clubs who have their act together, but there is no real correlation. Gremio, who signed Braithwaite to replace the departed Luis Suarez in July, are on a solid financial footing, for example, but Corinthians have debts of more than two billion Reais (£278million, $368 million). If Depay cannot help them claw themselves out of the relegation zone in the remaining 12 matches of the season, they face financial ruin.

Martin Braithwaite playing for Gremio last month (Albari Rosa/AFP/Getty Images)

For Rodrigo Capelo, Brazil’s foremost expert on football finances, the recent spate of European arrivals is nothing to be excited about.

“These recent signings seem much more like a fad than anything strategic or based on structural change in Brazilian football,” he tells The Athletic. “Opportunities have arisen and club owners sensed they would go down well with fans. In the past, they only signed Brazilians or South Americans. Now they also have the chance to sign European players. They look good in photos.”

The comparison between Seedorf and Depay is interesting. Seedorf was 36 and some way past his prime when he joined Botafogo in 2012. Depay is 30 and still a mainstay of the Dutch national team. It would be a stretch to call it a coup, given that none of Europe’s top teams appeared to want him this summer, but it doesn’t feel like nothing.

Depay was keen to paint himself as a kind of envoy from the future at his first Corinthians press conference. “We always come to take the Brazilian talents to Europe because they have something special,” he said. “This league needs a light from the other side. It is time to show its potential. It will happen in the next few years.”

Capelo is not convinced. “It would be positive if this was a true sign that Brazilian football was getting stronger, more profitable, more responsible, more sustainable,” he says. “If that was the truth, it would be cool to pass that message on to the wider world by signing players who were still in demand in the European market, but it’s not the case.

“None of the players here today could find clubs in Europe. It’s interesting that they saw Brazil as an alternative but it doesn’t change our image on the global scene.”

For Capelo, the Seedorf example also serves as a cautionary tale. For all the excitement about that signing, for all that Seedorf proved to be an inspiration on the pitch, the move also symbolised the kind of financial irresponsibility that has so often defined the Brazilian game. When the sponsorship deals and a round of TV bonuses that had funded Seedorf’s arrival dried up, Botafogo were left on the brink of collapse. A year after the Dutchman retired, they were relegated to Serie B.

Seedorf playing for Botafogo in 2013 (Ricardo Ramos/Getty Images)

A decade on, plenty has changed. The rise of SAFs, including Botafogo, Cruzeiro, Fortaleza and Bahia, has been widely credited with bringing in fresh ideas and much-needed investment. The ownership model also tends to shape transfer policy: without presidential elections every few years, there is less temptation for these clubs to go for splashy, big-name signings that might previously have swayed fans in the short term.

Botafogo, for instance, spent heavily this summer, but on players who might reasonably be expected to increase in value. “We spent €20million on Luiz Henrique (from Real Betis), which is no big deal in Europe but was a record fee in Brazil,” John Textor, the owner of the club’s SAF, tells The Athletic. “We then broke it again for Thiago Almada (from Atlanta United). But we think these are investments and we have also invested money in our facilities. When (former Manchester United defender) Alex Telles joined, he told me that our training ground is the best of any club he’s played for.”

These advances have not been universal, however. Capelo, for one, still sees lingering similarities with the Seedorf era. He points to the recent boom in the Brazilian gambling industry, which has brought money into the game but may not be sustainable. “Certain practices still resemble those of the past,” he says.” A lot of clubs are spending money they don’t have.”

You can understand the appeal to the players. Depay is rumoured to be earning around £96,000 ($127,000) a week at Corinthians — not top European wages but hardly to be sniffed at. He will probably be one of the best players in the league. Like Telles, he has been impressed by the facilities at his new club. “The structure here is similar (to that at top European clubs), maybe even better in some respects,” Depay said at his unveiling.

There are also intangibles. The lifestyle available to rich footballers in Brazil will be markedly different to that they might experience in Saudi Arabia, say. There is also the allure of playing in what Depay called “the Mecca of football”, plus the undeniable feeling of adventure to it all.

It is much less clear whether deals like this augur anything good for the league. Bolasie is fast becoming a cult hero for Criciuma but it would be no great surprise if some of the other signings go the same way as Jese and Hugo Mallo, two Spaniards who pitched up last year and made minimal impact. And while not all of the European signings represent huge financial gambles, there does still seem to be an appetite for the outlandish: UEFA Champions League winners Mario Balotelli and Sergio Ramos have been linked with money-spinning moves in the last couple of months.

As for Depay, his contract includes an escape clause if Corinthians are relegated. The deal has largely been funded by one of the club’s sponsors, a betting company.

“These moves aren’t happening because Brazilian football became richer,” says Capelo, “but because there’s still a lot of irresponsibility.”

(Top photo: Memphis Depay training in Sao Paulo; by Nelson Almeida/AFP via Getty Images)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Kalel Mullings’ teammates used to tease him because he didn’t look that fast.

Mullings, a former linebacker, stands 6 feet 2 and weighs 233 pounds. If Michigan’s skill-position players lined up at the goal line and ran a 100-yard sprint, he probably wouldn’t win. He entered this season in the shadow of Donovan Edwards, the star of last year’s national championship game, and wasn’t mentioned among the best running backs in the Big Ten.

Late in the fourth quarter against USC, with Michigan running out of ideas to revive a comatose offense, the Wolverines finally landed on something that worked. They gave the ball to Mullings, who ran through the arms of USC’s John Humphrey for a 63-yard gain. They gave it to him again. And again. And again. With 41 seconds on the clock, Michigan faced fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, needing one more play to take the lead.

Hmm … what to call? Naked bootleg? Philly special? Or how about giving it to Mullings one more time?

!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HMTgB8YgGI

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 21, 2024

“We all knew what was about to happen,” quarterback Alex Orji said.

Mullings took the handoff and plowed into the end zone, giving No. 18 Michigan a 27-24 victory against the No. 11 Trojans. This was Michigan’s most improbable win in years, sparked by a running back who wasn’t supposed to be the No. 1 option. It’s clear now that every week is going to be a struggle for this Michigan team, but sometimes the struggle ends with a celebration.

“I feel like that’s a representation of who we are, always straining until the very end,” Mullings said. “Throughout that drive, it was just grit.”

Before that last drive, Michigan had the ball five times in the second half without a first down. The Wolverines gained 6 yards in the third quarter and had 32 passing yards for the game. None of this is in the how-to manual for beating a top-15 opponent.

Somehow, Michigan found a way. That was largely because of Mullings, who ran for 159 yards on 17 carries, his second consecutive game of more than 150 yards. Michigan’s offense has very few things it can depend on, but the Wolverines have learned they can depend on Mullings.

“He’s done everything for us,” coach Sherrone Moore said.

If nothing else, Michigan’s attempt to build an entire offense out of linemen, tight ends and former linebackers will be an interesting test of the Wolverines’ offensive ethos. Michigan has been a run-first team for the past several years, but with Orji at quarterback, it’s now a run-second and run-third team, too.

What Michigan did Saturday, beating a ranked opponent while attempting 12 passes, is likely unsustainable. At this point, the Wolverines aren’t looking for sustainability. They’re looking for whatever can help them win on a given Saturday. If that means running the ball 40-plus times per game, Moore will be the happiest person in the stadium.

“That’s my dream,” Moore said. “Yeah, I want to throw the ball, but when you can run the ball effectively, it kind of brings (the defense) down a little bit.”

Saturday was USC’s first conference game as a member of the Big Ten. It delivered exactly what the Big Ten wanted when it added four teams from the West Coast: a great scene, great drama, a clash of two iconic programs with contrasting styles.

GO DEEPER

USC let Michigan off the hook, and now the Trojans’ margin for error is slim

Michigan’s advantage in the trenches was significant. USC’s passing game was explosive; Michigan’s was non-existent. The game had wild momentum swings, including Will Johnson’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown and Kenneth Grant’s fumble recovery that was taken back by USC’s Woody Marks.

Michigan looked to be in deep trouble after Edwards coughed up a fumble and USC scored to take a 24-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The offense stalled in the second half, and the switch from Davis Warren to Orji at quarterback wasn’t looking like a dramatic upgrade.

Warren was reasonably efficient in the short and intermediate passing game but threw six interceptions in three starts. The Wolverines barely tried to throw the ball beyond the line of scrimmage with Orji, but he played turnover-free football and ran 13 times for 43 yards.

“A bunch of people were asking what I wanted out of my first start,” Orji said. “I wanted a ball-secure victory, and we got that.”

GO DEEPER

Alex Orji is a ‘one in a million’ athlete. Now it’s time to prove he can play QB

Despite its struggles, Michigan is 3-1 with a loss to No. 1 Texas and a win against a USC team that was regarded as a College Football Playoff contender. That’s not a bad first month of the season. Looking at how the Wolverines have won the past two weeks, it’s hard to feel confident that what they’re doing now is going to translate over a full season. But if Michigan can beat USC without a functional passing game, the Wolverines should be able to beat a few other teams, too.

Nothing’s going to come easy for Michigan this season. The Wolverines are going to have to get comfortable with winning ugly. They don’t have a great answer at quarterback, and their best hope is to put their trust in Orji and help him out however they can.

Giving the ball to Mullings is a great way to do that. As good as he’s been, he could still use more touches. The Wolverines are a tough team to play when Mullings is breaking tackles and Michigan’s defense is flying around, as USC discovered in its first taste of Big Ten football.

Beating a ranked team with 32 passing yards isn’t something Michigan is likely to replicate. But success on the ground with Mullings is repeatable, and Michigan’s final drive was perfect repetition.

“Whether you run it, whether you throw it — (people) say you should throw it more — we won,” Moore said. “We beat a good team. For us, that’s what it was all about.”

(Photo: Junfu Han / Imagn Images)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The dog can stay — at least for another round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

The future of little Lulu, the stray puppy Denny Hamlin’s daughters found under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis in June, has been in doubt ever since Hamlin decided the addition to his household had derailed his season.

Hamlin even had stats to back up his claims.

Before Lulu returned to North Carolina for a life of luxury with a three-time Daytona 500 winner and his two little girls, Hamlin had three wins, an average finish of 12th and had finished every race.

He was also ranked first in the Cup Series standings.

The very next week, Hamlin’s engine blew for his first DNF of the season. He crashed at Indianapolis, crashed again at Daytona, was dealt a severe penalty by NASCAR for something Toyota did to his engine that took him out of contention for regular-season champion, and started the playoffs ranked seventh in the standings.

Then the first two races of the opening round were disastrous and Hamlin went to Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night in danger of being eliminated from the 16-driver playoff field. That’s when he (jokingly) began looking to rehome Lulu, much to his daughters’ dismay.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

But when his fourth-place finish at Bristol — he figured he’d have to win the race to avoid elimination — advanced him into the second round of the playoffs, Lulu received a reprieve. It was the first thing 11-year-old Taylor asked on pit road as she stood in front of her father’s car.

Crew chief Chris Gabehart had packed up and was headed on his way when Taylor summoned him over to her.

“Can Lulu still stay though?” she asked.

“Close enough. Close enough,” Gabehart replied. “She survived another week.”

Taylor pumped her fists in joy and twice said, “Let’s Go!”

Hamlin, with 54 career Cup victories, is considered along with Hall of Famer Mark Martin as the best drivers to never win a Cup title. He’s come close — he was runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in 2010, finished third two times, and has advanced into the winner-take-all season finale several times only to come up empty.

He turns 44 in November and his lack of a championship ring has become a bit of a running gag amongst Hamlin and his friends. When he got engaged last December to longtime partner Jordan Fish, the mother of his daughters, he noted in the social media caption that the ring count was 1 for Jordan, 0 for DH.

Time isn’t on Hamlin’s side anymore, especially not with how Kyle Larson is running right now. Larson led all but 38 of the 500 laps Saturday night to win Bristol for his fifth victory of the year, and Christopher Bell, Hamlin’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, is actually the current points leader and has made it to the final four the last two seasons.

Hamlin isn’t giving up on his quest for that elusive Cup championship.

Next up is Kansas Speedway, where Hamlin has four career victories, including the 2023 spring race. He was second in the playoff race last year and fifth in May.

“It’s all offense from this point forward,” he said. “We’re going to Kansas, a track we’ve been really good at, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the run.”

And, at least for now, Lulu gets to stay at the Hamlin House.

&copy 2024 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – A late-season Blue Jays news release in 2023 trumpeted the team’s push to the post-season and release of playoff ticket info ahead of the final homestand.

The main hook of this year’s offering was instead promotional in nature. It focused on the possibility of fans breaking a stadium record for most one-dollar hotdogs consumed in a season.

What a difference a year makes.

The Blue Jays, who made the playoffs in three of the last four years, have been under the .500 mark since April 30 and are a good bet to finish last in the American League East.

As the club closes out the season with a weeklong homestand, here’s a look at five talking points.

FACE (S) OF THE FRANCHISE

The long-term plan for infielders Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette has been a hot topic since the homegrown talents emerged as star players in the major leagues.

That won’t change entering an off-season loaded with challenges for general manager Ross Atkins.

Guerrero and Bichette are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 campaign. The future plans of the franchise will become much clearer if they put pen to paper on contract extensions.

Related Videos

0:29
Bo Bichette going viral for openly flirting with trade

Previous Video

Next Video

Guerrero has rediscovered the form that saw him finish second in American League MVP voting in 2021. Bichette, who led the AL in hits in ’21 and ’22, struggled through an injury-plagued year.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

RELIEF NEEDED

A bullpen that had a variety of weapons last year was gutted this season due to trades, injuries and underperformance.

It’s arguably the biggest area of need as the Blue Jays look to return to contention next season.

Closer Jordan Romano is coming off elbow surgery, Yimi Garcia was traded, Erik Swanson had a stint in the minors and Tim Mayza’s long run in Toronto ended when he was designated for assignment.

Chad Green and Genesis Cabrera became the main high-leverage options in the second half with middling results.

STARTING ROTATION

A solid core is in place in the team’s starting rotation but more depth — particularly a quality left-hander — would be welcomed.

Veterans Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt provide a dependable 1-2-3 punch at the top.

Yariel Rodriguez is the likely No. 4 man and Bowden Francis, after a remarkable second half, has made a strong case to round out the five-man crew.

Alek Manoah, who missed most of the season after undergoing a hybrid Tommy John surgical procedure, will likely be out until June at the earliest.

TAKING A LOOK

One of the few positives from a last-place positioning in the standings is it allows an opportunity to take a look at rookies, up-and-coming players and recent trade acquisitions.

Players like Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement all had opportunities this season and could be factors in 2025.

BOSS ROSS

The front office will be under intense pressure this off-season before the competitive window with the current nucleus starts to close.

Atkins has been on the job as GM for almost nine years. The Blue Jays’ only playoff victories in that time came in 2016 when they reached the ALCS with a squad largely assembled by predecessor Alex Anthopoulos.

The Blue Jays missed out on two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani last year. Another big swing at a top free agent — think Juan Soto or Alex Bregman — is likely needed this fall.

Big bats are desperately needed for an offence that sagged all season. It would also prove to the fanbase and the baseball world that the Blue Jays are ready to make a major push to be contenders again.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2024.

Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.

&copy 2024 The Canadian Press

And now, 20 thoughts from Week 4, where Colorado conjured quite a 30th-anniversary tribute of Kordell Stewart’s Hail Mary to beat Michigan, while Michigan itself earned the biggest win of the weekend.

1. Saturday’s USC-Michigan thriller was a three-hour advertisement for New College Football. Two marquee brands that may have previously only met in a Rose Bowl, playing an intra-conference Big Ten game in September with Playoff implications for both teams’ resumes, as well as those of their opponents. And it came down to the end, with the 18th-ranked Wolverines (3-1) prevailing 27-24 after their defense thwarted the 11th-ranked Trojans’ (2-1) last-minute drive.

Hearing Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson call a Big Ten game on CBS after all those years at Alabama and LSU still feels unnatural. But here’s guessing their bosses — who forked over $350 million a year for the rights to Big Ten showdowns like this one — will be lighting cigars when the ratings arrive Tuesday.

Can’t believe we’re stuck with this game when we could be watching SC play Cal in front of 40,000 empty seats.

— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) September 21, 2024

2. The actual action on the field was the furthest thing from new and modern. This was a circa 1970s Big Ten duel. Michigan, incapable of completing a forward pass this season, ran the ball and ran it some more. USC’s defense, which has improved light years under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn, played admirably for most of the day, but the Wolverines popped a few big runs, most importantly Kalel Mullings’ 63-yard dash to set up the go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left. USC quarterback Miller Moss, who managed to throw three TDs despite facing constant duress, could not get into field-goal range.

Trojans fans should still feel encouraged. They have a legit defense now, one that had eight tackles for loss Saturday and made numerous open-field tackles. Their two biggest games down the stretch, Penn State and Notre Dame, are at home. Michigan, meanwhile, salvaged a season that threatened to turn dire if the Wolverines lost twice in September.

GO DEEPER

USC let Michigan off the hook, and now the Trojans’ margin for error is slim

3. Excluding quarterbacks, Colorado’s Travis Hunter is the most sensational player I’ve seen come through college since Christian McCaffrey was at Stanford. And that was eight years ago.

Saturday night against Baylor, the receiver/cornerback caught seven passes for 130 yards, his fourth 100-yard game to start the season, then sealed his team’s 38-31 win by forcing a fumble in overtime just as Bears running back Dominic Richardson was about to cross the goal line. Per ESPN, he is the first player to accomplish both feats in a game in at least 20 seasons.

I can’t imagine there is a more outstanding player in the country this season. But Heisman winners tend to play on great teams, and the Buffs, which needed a Shedeur Sanders Hail Mary to force overtime against a ho-hum foe, are not that. I’m skeptical Hunter will remain in the national conversation once his team is no longer in contention for anything significant. But he should be.

4. Two years ago, Tennessee rose to No. 1 in the CFP rankings with a bend-but-don’t-break defense that eventually broke. This Vols defense is not that one.

The sixth-ranked Vols (4-0) went 19 straight quarters (dating to last season) without allowing a touchdown before No. 15 Oklahoma (3-1) tacked on two in the fourth quarter of Tennessee’s 25-15 win in Norman. The defense forced three turnovers and notched 11 tackles for loss. Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw a 66-yard touchdown, may not be as fully formed as 2022 Hendon Hooker, but it doesn’t matter. With a strong rushing attack and a now-dominant defense, Tennessee is as well-equipped to contend for an SEC title as anyone.

Had a little something extra. pic.twitter.com/5R09sSlFb9

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 22, 2024

5. Oklahoma finally has a defense to make its fans proud — but, for the first time in decades, it has a problem at quarterback. After watching sophomore Jackson Arnold commit three first-half turnovers, and with OU down 19-3, Brent Venables pulled the former five-star signee. Arnold, mind you, was purportedly so talented that All-Big 12 starter Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon, but Arnold’s yet to pass for 200 yards in a game this season. Arnold’s replacement, true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., led OU to two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but it was too little, too late.

Venables’ defense is strong enough to hang with the best teams in the SEC, but his offense is many miles behind. Quarterback arguably wasn’t even his biggest problem. But it’s going to be his biggest headache going forward.

6. America’s most famous nephew got his first career start Saturday, and it went exactly as you’d expect. Texas’ Arch Manning mostly picked his spots against overmatched Louisiana-Monroe, throwing a 56-yard completion to Isaiah Bond and a 46-yarder to Matthew Golden. He also threw two interceptions. But the top-ranked Horns (4-0) were firmly in control throughout their 51-3 rout. Manning, who finished 15 of 29 for 258 yards, two TDs and two picks, is dripping with talent, but there are moments where he reminds you he’s in his first year on the field.

Quinn Ewers, a fourth-year junior, will get his job back as soon as he’s healthy, but man is it nice to be Steve Sarkisian and have both guys.

GO DEEPER

What we learned from Arch Manning’s first college start

7. Were one to pick a theme song for football in the state of North Carolina this season, it would be Green Day’s classic “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”

Clemson put up 45 points in the first half against NC State en route to a 59-35 win, becoming the second team in three games to hang 50 on the Wolfpack. (They lost 51-10 to Tennessee.) More stunning, James Madison went to Chapel Hill and scored 53 in the first half en route to a wild 70-50 win over host North Carolina. Just two weeks earlier, this same James Madison team — which lost head coach Curt Cignetti and many of its top players to Indiana this offseason — squeezed past Gardner Webb 13-6.

Meanwhile, normally stout Appalachian State has losses of 66-20 to Clemson and 48-14 to South Alabama. The good news for the state: Basketball practices begin soon.

GO DEEPER

How JMU, a former women’s teaching school, became a college sports disruptor

8. In December 2018, North Carolina brought back national championship coach Mack Brown — by then, out of coaching for five years — in hopes he could replicate his first stint at UNC, when the Tar Heels notched three 10-win seasons from 1993-97. It has not happened. There was a Top 25 season in 2020, a division title in 2022 and many highlights from NFL QBs Sam Howell and Drake Maye. But the common thread has been horrific defenses. After journeyman Gene Chizik couldn’t fix it the past two seasons, Brown turned to ex-Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins, whose defense allowed eight plays of 20-plus yards.

Brown, 73, told reporters afterward, “I am at fault, 100 percent.” Meanwhile, Inside Carolina reported that Brown told his team in the postgame locker room he would “walk away and step down if he was the problem.” Brown later told ESPN he will be back in the office Sunday, but you can see where this might be heading come season’s end.

9. Since a humbling 34-3 loss to then-No. 1 Georgia to start the season, Clemson (2-1) has scored at least 45 first-half points in consecutive games (against Appalachian State and NC State) for the first time in Dabo Swinney’s 16-year tenure. Quarterback Cade Klubnik broke a 55-yard touchdown run on the opening series Saturday against NC State and cruised from there. The two opponents’ defenses have admittedly been exposed in their other games, but it’s not like the Tigers will be facing Georgia every week.

As long as Clemson’s offense is more potent than it’s been the past few seasons, the Tigers can win the ACC.

Miami outgained USF 592 yards to 365 in a 50-15 win on Saturday. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)

10. But Miami (4-0) remains the favorite. Quarterback Cam Ward, who has moved to the top of most sportsbooks’ Heisman odds, went 24 of 34 for 404 yards, three TDs and one INT (which his receiver bobbled) in the eighth-ranked Hurricanes’ 50-15 win at USF (2-2). Ward, a Washington State transfer who makes seemingly every throw appear effortless, looks like he’s having a blast playing with Miami’s plethora of explosive playmakers, including receivers Isaiah Horton (eight catches, 108 yards Saturday) and Xavier Restrepo (six catches, 99 yards), former Houston receiver Samuel Brown (76-yard TD) and former Oregon State running back Damien Martinez (36-yard catch and run).

11. Longtime Pac-12 fans may miss their conference, but they don’t likely miss facing Utah’s defense. The 12th-ranked Utes smothered No. 14 Oklahoma State so thoroughly in the first half in Stillwater that Mike Gundy benched veteran quarterback Alan Bowman to start the second half. He eventually returned and threw two late TDs before Utah (4-0) held on, 22-19. The Utes, preseason Big 12 favorites, are once again dealing with a Cam Rising injury soap opera. He was a pregame scratch with a hand injury. Utah’s offense struggled without him, save for running back Micah Bernard, who ran for a career-high 182 yards.

Utah may still be the class of the Big 12, but not if it has to go through another weekly “Will he or won’t he” season with its star quarterback.

12. Three of the Big 12’s four newcomers failed to reach a bowl last season, but now they’re starting to come to life. BYU (4-0) delivered an unexpected 38-9 beatdown of No. 13 Kansas State late Saturday, highlighted by a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown and a remarkable 90-yard Parker Kingston punt return that began with him muffing the punt and going backward and ended with him vomiting on the bench in exhaustion. And Cincinnati (3-1), which went 3-9 last season, blanked Houston 34-0. The Bearcats should probably be 4-0 right now but blew a 27-6 lead against Pittsburgh two weeks ago.

The best of that 2023 class may still be UCF (3-0), which was off this week but gets a showcase opportunity next week when it hosts Colorado.

13. Revitalized Vanderbilt nearly pulled off a top-10 road upset but fell to No. 7 Missouri 30-27 in overtime on a missed field goal. It was poetic, given Mizzou (4-0) might have put the game away sooner if not for three missed field goals in regulation. The Tigers, which beat Boston College 27-21 at home last week, are probably not the No. 7 team in the country, but it also feels like they haven’t fully jelled yet. Running back Nate Noel went for 199 yards Saturday, but the passing game has not been as explosive as expected. Quarterback Brady Cook is averaging 7.4 yards per attempt, down from 9.0 last season, despite the presence of All-America receiver Luther Burden III.

GO DEEPER

No. 7 Missouri holds on while Vanderbilt gets another gut punch in double OT thriller

14. Hugh Freeze had fantastic runs at Ole Miss and Liberty, but he is flailing at Auburn (2-2). Two weeks ago, quarterback Payton Thorne threw four interceptions in a 21-14 home loss to Cal, after which Freeze pivoted to freshman Hank Brown. Saturday, Arkansas came to town. Brown threw three first-half picks, causing Freeze to pivot back to the veteran Thorne. His own pick allowed the Razorbacks (3-1) to go up two scores and eventually win 24-14. After which, Freeze said, “I know there’s people open, and I know that we’re running the football. We’ve got to find a guy who won’t throw it to the other team.”

And whose job is that?

We’re approaching the point that he’s thrown so many QBs under the bus , that maybe no one wants to play for him?? His offense helped me tremendously put numbers up when I blew my shoulder out…. But why is it someone else’s fault every time there’s a loss ?? … but when there’s… https://t.co/ADJoR1BzYJ

— Bo Wallace (@bowallace14) September 22, 2024

15. Only two teams in the country have already procured two Top 25 wins: Tennessee … and Illinois. The surprising Illini (4-0), ranked 24th, went to Lincoln and took down No. 22 Nebraska 31-24 in overtime, with Bret Bielema’s defense sacking Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola three times on their one overtime possession. Granted, Illinois’ accomplishment comes with the caveat that Kansas, ranked at the time of their Week 2 game, has now lost three straight, but still, the long-struggling program hasn’t notched two Top 25 wins in a season since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.

And now the Illini can try for a third one next Saturday night at No. 10 Penn State.

16. Iowa was not the only Big Ten team to prove you can win a big game without passing the ball. The Hawkeyes (3-1) went to Minneapolis and took back Floyd of Rosedale with a 31-14 win over the hated Gophers (2-2). Quarterback Cade McNamara passed for just 62 yards. But Iowa’s offense is no longer dreadful this season thanks to its powerful rushing attack. Kaleb Johnson carried 21 times for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns Saturday. He is now averaging 171.3 yards through four games. Kirk Ferentz’s best teams have at least had an above-average quarterback, so the 2024 edition might not be able to crash the CFP, but it shouldn’t be so hard to watch week to week.

Rutgers will host its Big Ten opener against Washington on Friday. (Peter Casey / Imagn Images)

17. It’s a new day at Rutgers (3-0), as evidenced by how the Scarlet Knights earned their 26-23 road win at Virginia Tech (2-2). Rutgers’ 23-7 fourth-quarter lead evaporated, with the Hokies tying the game with 4:35 left. The fans at Lane Stadium came to life as the Knights took over on offense. On the snap, Virginia Tech’s defense came after Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. So he threw a quick screen to Ian Strong, who broke it 63 yards to set up a go-ahead field goal. Then Robert Longerbeam intercepted Kyron Drones to seal the outcome.

Just a clutch performance all around for Greg Schiano’s team, which welcomes Washington for a big Friday night game this week. SHI Stadium will be rocking.

18. We wonder if the SEC office would consider calling in a preemptive mercy rule for Mississippi State. A week after falling 41-17 at home to Toledo, the Bulldogs (1-3) fell 45-28 at home to much-maligned Florida (2-2). Making matters worse, Jeff Lebby’s team lost starting quarterback Blake Shapen to a season-ending shoulder injury.

And making matters way worse than that? Mississippi State’s next two games are road trips to face No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Georgia. Who pulled this prank?

19. The thing about Group of 5 teams is they can swing wildly from week to week. Northern Illinois (2-1), off last week after upsetting Notre Dame, came back to earth with a 23-20 overtime loss at home to Buffalo. Toledo (3-1) followed up its blowout at Mississippi State with a mistake-strewn 26-21 loss at Western Kentucky. And Memphis (3-1), which began dreaming of a CFP berth after winning at ACC foe Florida State, is 0-1 in the AAC after falling 56-44 to Navy.

However, the AAC’s newest member, Army, is now 2-0 in conference play after routing Rice 37-14. Jeff Monken’s teams failed to make a bowl game the past two seasons, but the Black Knights hammered an athletic FAU team 24-7 a week earlier. And next week they visit 1-3 Temple.

20. Finally, was it really just two seasons ago that TCU played in the national championship game? Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs are 7-9 since then, with Saturday marking a new low point. In the Battle for the Iron Skillet, rival SMU hammered TCU 66-42. Dykes, formerly SMU’s coach, got ejected in the third quarter after drawing two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties while protesting a dubious holding call that wiped out a long Horned Frogs touchdown.

But Dykes wasn’t alone in causing embarrassment for TCU. On Friday, TCU’s social team posted a bizarre parody video ripping the ACC for putting the game on The CW. This prompted both the ACC and The CW to troll the Horned Frogs after SMU’s win.

pic.twitter.com/lSKr1Dl1OP

— The CW (@TheCW) September 22, 2024

College football in 2024 means trolling an opponent over its conference’s TV contract. In hindsight, perhaps TCU would have preferred the game was not on television anywhere.

(Top photo of Travis Hunter: Andrew Wevers / Getty Images)

Another week, another round of action-packed matchups across the NFL.

This week’s slate offers a bit of everything: A collection of unbeaten teams trying to build on impressive starts, a cast of desperate squads still in search of their first wins, players in search of redemption and more.

The Week 3 action kicked off Thursday with a Jets win over the Patriots. Sunday features 13 games before the weekend concludes with a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader: Jacksonville (0-2) visits Buffalo (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Washington (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-2) at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Here are five compelling storylines to follow in Week 3. (Find the schedule here.)

1. Who improves to 3-0?

Nine of 32 teams remain unbeaten entering Week 3. The esteemed group: The Bills, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans and Vikings.

At least two of these teams will have their perfect records soiled this weekend, because the schedule features two games between undefeated teams: Texans at Vikings and Chargers at Steelers.

The Texans, led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans, displayed grit and resilience in their first two games of the season. They held off the Colts for a 29-27 road win in Week 1, then weathered challenges from a stout Bears defense at home last Sunday night. Now they take on a Vikings squad that has been one of the early season surprises.

Many expected Kevin O’Connell’s team to take some steps backward following Kirk Cousins’ departure for the Falcons. Instead, new starting quarterback Sam Darnold looks like a man reborn. Deemed a bust after awful experiences with the Jets and Panthers, Darnold (the third pick of the 2018 draft) spent last season as a backup in San Francisco, then was signed by Minnesota as an insurance policy for the rookie quarterback it planned to draft. But after J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, the Vikings turned to Darnold, and he has delivered two strong performances to help Minnesota take an early lead in the NFC North. Can Darnold continue his resurgence against a Texans defense that ranks third-stingiest in yards allowed and second in sacks through two games? (Speaking of sacks, Minnesota has 11, so Stroud and Houston’s line better buckle up.)

Meanwhile, Chargers-Steelers should have a throwback feel. New coach Jim Harbaugh has guided L.A. to back-to-back victories while leaning heavily on a strong run game (​​running back J.K. Dobbins leads the NFL with 266 rushing yards) and dominant defense (227.5 yards and only 6.5 points allowed). The Chargers could need that rushing attack and stout defense more than ever Sunday, because quarterback Justin Herbert (three touchdown passes, one interception through two games) is questionable with a high ankle sprain. Interestingly, Pittsburgh utilizes a similar approach. Through two weeks, Mike Tomlin’s Steelers defense also has dominated, allowing 260.5 yards and just 8.0 points per game. That defense and a rushing attack that averages 139 yards per game has helped ease pressure on Justin Fields, who is expected to start his third game in place of a hobbled Russell Wilson.

It may not be sexy, but this approach has served both teams well. Which bruising squad will stay unbeaten? (Texans at Vikings and Chargers at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are 0-2 one season after making the AFC Championship Game. (Reggie Hildred / Imagn Images)

2. Desperation rising for 0-2 teams

From 2-0 squads … to those that are 0-2. Nine such teams — the Bengals, Broncos, Colts, Giants, Jaguars, Panthers, Rams, Ravens and Titans — remain in search of their first victories. The Bengals and Ravens have no business being in the basement. Both began the season with realistic expectations of challenging Kansas City for AFC supremacy yet have struggled to recapture their elite forms.

It’s still early, but the pressure is on. In the last 25 years, only four NFL teams have rebounded from 0-3 starts to reach the playoffs.

The Ravens, who suffered a stunning loss to the Raiders last week, head to Dallas — where the Cowboys are reeling after getting blown out by the Saints. Thus far, Baltimore’s defense has struggled following an offseason of change (top defensive coaches Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver and Dennard Wilson as well as playmakers Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney all departed). The usually stout unit has surrendered 26.5 points per game (fifth most in the NFL). Frustrations also plague the offense. Lamar Jackson and company do lead the league with 417.5 yards per game. But things aren’t clicking when it matters most, as the Ravens have gone from scoring 28.4 points per game in 2023 to 21.5 through two weeks in 2024.

GO DEEPER

Which 0-2 NFL teams should panic? Model projects playoff chances for Ravens, Bengals and more

Meanwhile, Cincinnati traditionally gets off to slow starts, but remains in search of offensive cohesion after a preseason dominated by contract disputes between the team and top wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. An upset at the hands of the Patriots in Week 1, and a one-point loss to the Chiefs, has the Bengals in their 0-2 hole. Joe Burrow looked more like himself last week while throwing for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but Chase managed just 35 yards on four receptions. Is this the week, at home against the Commanders, the Bengals’ offense finally kicks back into high gear?

Which of these projected AFC powers will regain their footing before it’s too late? (Ravens at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday; Commanders at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET Monday.)

3. Saints’ legitimacy

It seemed premature to get excited about the Saints’ 47-10 trouncing of the Panthers in Week 1, given Carolina’s issue. But then the Saints went to Dallas and thumped the Cowboys 44-19. Dallas is regarded as one of the better teams in the NFC. So, could this previously middling New Orleans team actually be for real? Could new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak really have made that much of a difference for quarterback Derek Carr and his teammates? And is a Saints defense that has held opponents to just 14.5 points per game equally as legit? When will we know for sure?

GO DEEPER

Why Derek Carr may have found the right fit in Klint Kubiak’s Saints offense

The Saints will receive another opportunity to prove themselves this week as they host the Eagles. Philadelphia is coming off a 22-21 loss to Atlanta after blowing a fourth-quarter lead. The Eagles are, however, still viewed as a formidable opponent with a loaded offense and quality pieces on defense. It remains to be seen if Jalen Hurts will have his top wide receiver, A.J. Brown (hamstring), but Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert still offer plenty of firepower. If the Saints can contain this unit while also continuing to light up the scoreboard, it may be time to change our opinions about them. (Eagles at Saints, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

4. Panthers’ truth-teller game

After two atrocious outings from Bryce Young and the offense, rookie head coach Dave Canales benched the second-year franchise quarterback in favor of 14-year veteran Andy Dalton. The move is rather perplexing given that the Panthers drafted Young first overall last season, fired coach Frank Reich after just 11 games and now expect Young to direct a new offense at a high level despite limited preseason action.

GO DEEPER

What’s happened to Bryce Young? Lack of development, loss of confidence dooming Carolina QB

Young may have made poor decisions in his first two games while throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns. He also got sacked six times. But he’s certainly not to blame for all of the other struggles related to talent deficiencies. Canales, however, doesn’t want to lose the locker room and has declared that Dalton gives the Panthers their best chance to win this week against the Raiders. Can Dalton help stop the bleeding, or is this team as bad as it seems regardless of who starts at quarterback? (Panthers at Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday.)

5. Will Levis’ last stand?

Speaking of young quarterbacks on a short leash …. Titans coach Brian Callahan’s frustrations with turnover-prone second-year quarterback Will Levis reached a boiling point last week. After opening the season with a fumble and interception returned for a touchdown in a 24-17 loss to the Bears, Levis added a fumble and two interceptions in another 24-17 loss, this time to the Jets. Callahan gave Levis a tongue lashing on the sideline and then didn’t mince words in his postgame news conference when asked about the quarterback’s blunders.

Levis flips it backwards and its a Jets fumble recovery!

📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/nZ38jEOfOo

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

Levis acknowledged he needs to do better, but how many more chances will he get? Callahan and GM Ran Carthon believe they have a quality roster with a mix of proven veterans and rising young contributors. They believe the Titans can compete within the AFC South. It’s hard to win games, however, when your quarterback is sloppy and displays poor decision-making under pressure.

Tennessee is 0-2 and very well could have scratched and clawed its way to two wins had Levis played with more poise. He’ll get a chance to display improvement this week against visiting Green Bay. If Levis’ turnover woes continue, could we soon see fifth-year veteran Mason Rudolph? (Packers at Titans, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

AUSTIN, Texas — Before he made his first media appearance as a Texas Longhorn last December, quarterback Arch Manning got some advice from members of his famous family.

The tip that most stood out came from his grandfather, College Football Hall of Famer and longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, who told him “less is best” when answering questions from reporters.

Arch heeded that mantra on Saturday when asked how he would grade his first collegiate start, three-plus quarters of action in a 51-3 domination of overmatched Louisiana-Monroe.

“Probably like a C-plus,” Manning said after exhaling then giving a way to a smile. “But a win’s a win.”

Manning, the most famous backup quarterback in the country, had an up-and-down starting debut on Saturday night in place of the injured Quinn Ewers. There was a lot to like, including the picturesque deep passes he unloaded to the Longhorns’ speedy receivers. And there are things he’d like to have back, such as his two interceptions and other passes he forced into coverage.

A few things became clear while watching Manning navigate his brightest spotlight yet: He’s focused yet understated in his approach. He likes to have fun. His physical gifts are immense. And he still has a lot of room to grow as a quarterback.

With help from a pair of binoculars trained on Manning throughout the night, here’s a closer look at how his starting debut went and how he handled everything that came with it.

Pregame

Outside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, it wasn’t hard to glean that Manning was starting. It only required a short walk down Bevo Blvd, — the festive pregame gathering space that occupies a stretch of San Jacinto Boulevard next to DKR, to spot burnt orange shirts and jerseys sporting his name and No. 16.

In the stadium, as Manning warmed up near the visitors’s sideline around the 5-yard line about 45 minutes before kickoff, countless eyes zeroed in on him. Photographers, videographers and other random smartphone-wielding citizens along the sideline had their devices pointed toward the redshirt freshman quarterback.

After the team returned to the locker room and the starting lineups were announced on DKR’s massive video board, Manning got the loudest cheers from the crowd when his name and picture displayed on the screen.

When kickoff approached, Manning stood behind head coach Steve Sarkisian on the sideline, clutching a football with both hands. Backup center Conner Robertson came up to Manning, dapped him up and tapped him on his chest.

When walk-on quarterback Cole Lourd, who served as the third-string quarterback on Saturday, hovered nearby, Manning gestured toward him for some last-minute warmup throws. Lourd obliged, and the two started tossing the ball before Manning took the field. What was going through his mind before he stepped on the field for the first time as the starter?

“Just to go try to execute to the best of my ability and move the ball forward,” Manning said afterward. “Getting the ball in my playmakers’ hands and giving us a chance to win.”

Manning jogged out for his first possession to loud cheers. He quickly gestured to the crowd, flapping his arms with palms facing down, for the fans to quiet down. They did.

First quarter, 14:55 left

Manning’s first series offered immediate adversity. On the first play from scrimmage, ULM’s pressure forced his first pass attempt to sail over the head of receiver Matthew Golden.

On his eighth snap, facing second-and-4 at the ULM 43, Manning sidestepped the initial pressure, then was leveled as he threw by 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle Jaylan Ware from the second wave of the Warhawks’ pass rush. Although Manning’s pass sailed toward two Texas receivers, three ULM defenders waited in the area, and Carl Fauntroy easily brought down the first interception of Manning’s career.

That one stuck with Manning, even after the game.

“It’s second-and-(4), just throw the ball away, let’s play another down,” Manning said.

Manning jogged toward the sideline and lifted his helmet to his forehead as he approached Sarkisian, who exchanged words with Manning before the quarterback headed to the bench. There, he plopped down next to quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee and began reviewing the first series on a tablet.

That became his regular seat on the sideline throughout the night.

“To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don’t think anybody in here thought that,” Sarkisian said.

And yes, Ewers also threw an interception on the first possession of his first start at Texas, on Sept. 3, 2022 against … ULM.

Manning took the brunt of some early pressure from ULM’s pass rush. (Daniel Dunn / Imagn Images)

First quarter, 10:00 left

Manning’s second series brought the night’s first taste of real success while offering a brief window into his on-field demeanor.

When he connected with receiver Isaiah Bond for a 56-yard completion on a third-and-1, Manning didn’t physically react. He just jogged downfield, looked toward the sideline and briefly put his hands over the earholes of his helmet to hear Sarkisian call the next play.

He also showed a dash of his competitive spirit. Later in the drive, after a handoff to running back Jaydon Blue, Manning looked ready to stick his nose in among the blockers at the line of scrimmage. As Blue spun, broke a tackle and gathered himself, Manning sprinted in front of Blue toward the ULM defense, extended his arm and put a light hand on ULM linebacker Billy Pullen, as if he were going to throw a block.

When Blue scored a touchdown to punctuate the drive, Manning went straight to the pile to try to help push Blue in, then looked at the head linesman approaching the pile and signaled touchdown before the official did. As players emerged from the scrum, Manning extended his right hand to center Jake Majors, helped him up, and patted him on the upper body, then sought out Blue for a celebratory handshake.

First quarter 5:28 left

After a would-be pick six by Texas linebacker Anthony Hill was brought back by a block-in-the-back penalty, Manning and the offense went to work again with a short field. It didn’t take long for the Longhorns to cash in: On the fourth play of the drive, Manning executed a play-action fake, rolled to his right and hit Blue with a strike near the front corner of the end zone and a 14-0 lead.

Manning performed a Tiger Woods-esque right fist pump — the first of at least three on the night — then looked toward an equipment staffer on the sideline and pointed at him. The staffer pointed right back at Manning.

Once Manning got rolling in the first half, Texas piled up the points. On his fourth series, upon hitting freshman Ryan Wingo for a touchdown pass, Manning loosened up. He raised his hand and gave high fives to his offensive linemen one by one, and when Majors approached, he leaped and Majors lifted Manning to the sky, then tapped him on the left side of his helmet in celebration.

“I think sometimes I play the best when I’m just having fun and keeping it lighthearted,” Manning said.

Second quarter, 13:26 left

Before his fifth series, Manning sought more warmup throws on the sideline, a typical routine throughout the night. His throwing partner early in the second quarter? Ewers. The Heisman Trophy candidate, who sported a black long-sleeved shirt under his No. 3 jersey, exchanged a few tosses with Manning before No. 16 returned to the field.

On his first play of the drive, Manning again unleashed a beauty, a 42-yard throw to a diving Silas Bolden. But the pass was ruled incomplete after officials concluded on replay review that the ball hit the turf when Bolden secured it. No matter. Manning connected with Golden for a 46-yard gain on third-and-10 to keep the drive alive.

As with nearly every bomb he connected on, Manning offered no reaction and simply jogged to the line of scrimmage, looking toward the sideline for the next play.

Second quarter, 1:40 left

After throwing an incomplete deep ball to Johntay Cook, who was surrounded by two ULM defenders with a third closing in, Manning turned back to watch the replay on the video board. After missing Blue near the left sideline on the next play, he looked at the big screen again.

After an offside penalty made it third-and-5, Manning tried to hit Blue on a Texas route in the middle of the field, but the ball went off Blue’s hands and into those of Wydett Williams Jr. for Manning’s second interception.

Manning just looked toward the sideline and unbuckled his chin strap. When Manning got to the sideline and heard from Sarkisian and Milwee, Manning yanked his helmet off, revealing a face that wore a look of frustration. He didn’t take his normal spot on the bench, this time sitting on the end of it to the right of true freshman Trey Owens, his backup for the night and the third-string quarterback when Ewers is healthy. He slid down to his usual seat when Owens got up moments later.

Manning seemed to limit how animated he got in reaction to good and bad plays all night. (Daniel Dunn / Imagn Images)

Third quarter, 11:04 left

Manning’s first drive of the second half showed the quarterback’s looser side re-emerge. After true freshman Jerrick Gibson ran for a 2-yard touchdown to cap a scoring drive, Manning did another fist pump, congratulated a few other teammates and then jogged toward the sideline.

Gibson sprinted to catch up with Manning and invited him to do an elaborate, choreographed handshake. Manning, with a smile, obliged. The two slapped hands three times, then pulled their right arms back away from each other and transitioned to a dance.

“Jerrick’s my guy, we have a good relationship,” Manning said afterward. “I don’t know if y’all know him, but he’s one of the nicest guys on the team. Treats everyone the same. So, yeah, we have a little handshake.”

Third quarter, 8:20 left

Sarkisian said after the game that one of the requests he made of Ewers was to “keep it light” for Manning. Knowing the quarterback may endure some nerves making his starting debut, Ewers followed through.

Before Manning’s eighth series, Manning and Ewers took a seat next to each other and chatted for a few minutes. Ewers had an earpiece in all night to hear all the play calls and otherwise be available to Manning for help or encouragement on the sideline.

“When Arch keeps it light, he’s really, really good,” Sarkisian said. “We try not to let him get too, too focused. So that was Quinn’s role tonight, to keep it light with him and let him relax a little bit.”

Manning said Ewers was “super good” to him all week long and mentioned they have a strong relationship.

After chatting with Ewers, Manning threw warmup passes with Owens.

Despite the efforts to relax Manning, the ensuing drive turned out to be one of his roughest series of the night. He dropped a snap, picked it up, scrambled to his left and then launched a risky pass downfield that fell incomplete on second-and-5.

On third-and-5, Manning couldn’t find an open receiver downfield and opted for a check down to the right side to Blue. But Manning threw it too far in front of Blue, and instead of a conversion, the Longhorns settled for a punt.

Manning froze and stared at the spot he threw the ball. When he got to the sideline, he snatched his helmet off with a little more force than usual. His cheeks inflated with a deep breath of frustration as he sat back down on the bench.

Fourth quarter, 14:56 left

On Manning’s final series of the night, the Longhorns found the end zone for the sixth time. He got into a rhythm on the drive, completing 4 of 5 passes to get the Longhorns in the red zone. Blue finished it off with a 7-yard scoring run.

As Blue crossed the goal line and the scoreboard turned to 43-3, Manning raised his arms skyward, signaling the touchdown. He approached the pile to congratulate Blue and others, then found himself in between right guard DJ Campbell and a ULM defender who were jawing with each other after the score.

Manning appeared to play peacemaker, and officials got involved to keep things from escalating. With that, Manning’s night was done as he gave way to Owens.

It was a night of highs and lows. Manning finished 15 of 29 passing for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Sarkisian said afterward that he’d like the completion percentage to be higher but that the result is understandable because the game plan called for more deep passes based on how ULM’s defense played the Longhorns.

But Sarkisian liked the way Manning bounced back from mistakes.

“I don’t think the Arch we saw today, in dealing with some of those negative plays, was the same guy we saw a year ago at this time,” Sarkisian said. “So he has grown a ton, and that takes a lot of maturity to get that done.”

The most surprising thing to Manning in his first start? The length of the game — a reminder of how new to this he still is.

“The games feel long when you’re in there for the majority of it,” he said. “They’re a lot longer than high school.”

Following Archie’s advice from last winter, Arch kept it short and sweet, answering 14 questions in fewer than five minutes.

When asked what lessons he’d take from this game, Manning went back to his miscues.

“Just to continue to try and take what’s there and not to force anything,” Manning said. “The shots will come with Sark’s offense, so just try to move the ball forward every play and one play at a time.”

When the game ended and Smokey the Cannon had gone off and “The Eyes of Texas” had played, the Longhorns moved toward the team tunnel. Manning was stopped at the 5-yard line, where he posed for a photo with a fan. Then, flanked by a police officer and a team staffer, he headed off the field.

Fans at the field-level suites and along the aisles of the first deck straddling the tunnel called his name and reached their hands out, hoping to get high fives. Pat Green’s “I like Texas” played on the stadium speakers.

And everything will be just right down here in Texas
Man, there ain’t no doubt
Just listen to me ’cause I know what I’m talkin’ about.

(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)