Sports

Two games into the 2024 NFL season, there’s been some necessary reshuffling with the QB rankings.

The initial rankings were essentially a composite look at the way key evaluators viewed the 32 starting quarterbacks. Now, there’s more to balance.

There are several key considerations when sorting out the rankings, and they’re not all weighted equally. First, how does the QB’s career resume stack up? How high is his ceiling vs. how low is his floor? Someone like Patrick Mahomes, of course, can afford a bad performance or a substandard stretch and maintain his perch atop the rankings.

Second, how has he played through two weeks relative to that career resume? Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (more on him later) is off to an outstanding start, but there’s enough reason to believe this isn’t a fluke because he’s played at a near-MVP level before.

Third, how are the circumstances around him, whether it’s the QB’s health or the health and talent around him with the offensive line and skill players? Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford has taken the biggest fall from the top 10, partly because he hasn’t played great but mostly because his team has been decimated by injuries.

Fourth, in some cases when it’s a really close call, which QB would the majority of teams take if they had the choice?

Again, these factors can be weighted differently with certain players. Rookies and veterans with lower floors have more to prove. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who are both surprisingly 0-2, have gotten the benefit of the doubt that they’ll be fine sooner than later.

Now, to the most impressive riser of the young season:

Hail Murray

Murray jumped 10 spots this week, by far the biggest move from any QB early in the season. He produced a perfect passer rating Sunday against the Rams, a team many around the league believed would be in the playoffs this season, and Murray had the Cardinals close to pulling off a major upset in Buffalo in the opener.

In today’s @AZCardinals victory, Kyler Murray (@K1) became the 2nd player in @NFL history with 250+ passing yards, 50+ rushing yards and a 158.3 passer rating – the highest attainable mark – in a single game.

He joins Ken Anderson, who accomplished the feat on Nov. 3, 1974. pic.twitter.com/R4riWfygVd

— NFL345 (@NFL345) September 15, 2024

The No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft has been outstanding through two games, completing 73.1 percent of his passes for 428 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 122.9 rating. He’s also rushed for 116 yards.

Murray was decent last season when he returned from a torn ACL. Now fully healthy with an entire offseason in Drew Petzing’s highly regarded offense, Murray might be on the verge of the best season of his career. And remember, he was in the MVP conversation at times in 2020 and 2021.

Murray does have a history of starting strong and fading down the stretch, but there’s reason to believe this is more sustainable. Former head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense had been criticized by rival executives for stalling due to a lack of evolution as the season progressed. Murray’s play suffered as a result. A growing number of injuries also impacted him late in seasons, so that’s certainly still going to be a concern.

Before the season, numerous coaches and executives raved about Petzing’s scheme in 2023. It’s one of the key reasons the Cardinals were selected in the preseason as the team most likely to overachieve in a poll by The Athletic. Many predicted Petzing would get head coaching interviews this offseason.

The Cardinals are better this season. The level of Murray’s play will determine just how much of a threat they could be in potentially contending for a playoff spot.

Darnold too low?

Sam Darnold could lay claim to the biggest gripe in the rankings.

The 27-year-old has completed 72 percent of his passes for 476 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 111.8 passer rating in a pair of wins. He also just disposed of the 49ers, which is something his former team failed to do with Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON 97 YARD TUDDY!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0PJs9mheCK

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell runs a QB-friendly offense, and wide receiver Justin Jefferson makes everyone around him better at their jobs — 20.4 percent of Darnold’s passing yards this season occurred on one throw to Jefferson on Sunday, after all. Darnold appears to be set up for success more than any other point in his career, and it wouldn’t be too difficult to argue Darnold is off to a better start than some of the quarterbacks who are ranked ahead of him.

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So why the low ranking? It’s still too small of a sample for a QB who has shown flashes like this at various points in his career, notably during a solid 3-0 start with the Panthers in 2021 before it all came crashing down.

If Darnold sustains this pace, he’ll move up the rankings.

Budget ballers

How about the NFC South?

Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr are off to outstanding starts for their undefeated teams, potentially setting the scene for an epic Week 6 collision in New Orleans that could shape the division race the rest of the way.

The Saints aggressively pursued Carr in 2023 after Plans A-Z in the post-Drew Brees era fell flat, while the Bucs added Mayfield during the same offseason without any guarantees he’d be a starter. Mayfield delivered a strong first season in Tampa to earn a long-coveted contract, yet Carr struggled much of the year before lighting it up the past couple of weeks.

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And they’re both doing it on deals worth less than $40 million annually. Carr is tied for the 17th-biggest QB deal at $37.5 million per year, while Mayfield ranks 19th at $33.3 million.

The Saints have unique cap management philosophies, but Carr’s deal has undoubtedly aided their defensive investments. Mayfield’s deal allowed the Bucs to keep a number of homegrown stars, none more valuable than wideout Mike Evans.

It’s the type of approach that plenty of teams would love to execute with quarterback contracts exploding around the league — nine are now on the books for more than $50 million per year. Pair a savvy quarterback with the right offensive coordinator/play caller, build up the rest of the roster and hope that depth is enough to overcome the more vaunted QB dragons in the playoffs.

Mayfield looks even more comfortable with Liam Coen at offensive coordinator. Carr, meanwhile, looks like a completely different player with OC Klint Kubiak, leading an astounding 15 consecutive scoring drives to open the season.

Trouble in Jacksonville?

This was supposed to be the season Trevor Lawrence established himself as a top-10 quarterback. Maybe that still happens, but it’s going to require a 180-degree turnaround.

If you recall, we pointed out a distinct line in the rankings at the start of the season. Of the quarterbacks ranked Nos. 19-32 in the initial rankings, all but Anthony Richardson changed teams, head coaches or offensive coordinators/play-callers. There was so much uncharted territory in the bottom 14.

Lawrence now ranks No. 18. The Jaguars look disjointed on offense, continuing to make mistakes and failing to find consistency with the protection and run game. Lawrence has looked hesitant, perhaps unable to find confidence amid the team’s overall issues. Then again, franchise quarterbacks are expected to instill confidence among the chaos.

A SWARMING SAFETY FOR ALEX WRIGHT 🙏#CLEvsJAX on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/XvJhBYz6eW

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 15, 2024

The Jaguars have lost two games by a total of eight points. The defense gave up 20 to the Dolphins and 18 to the Browns. There isn’t a soul in Jacksonville who wouldn’t expect their $55 million quarterback to deliver a pair of wins to complement that type of defensive effort.

Then again, they’d be 1-1 if Travis Etienne doesn’t fumble at the goal line in Miami. Or if Lawrence was able to deliver in the fourth quarter against the Browns the way he did so many times in 2022, the narrative is completely different.

That’s too many “ifs.” Instead, the Jaguars are winless and preparing for road trips to Buffalo and Houston. They’re on the brink of a worst-case scenario if they can’t pull off at least one upset before the schedule settles a bit.

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Bryce to the bench

A half day after another impressive C.J. Stroud performance on the national stage, the Panthers decided to bench Bryce Young. The dichotomy is striking between the top two picks of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The circumstances in Carolina weren’t conducive to success for any quarterback. It’s not like selecting Stroud at No. 1 would have solved the Panthers’ issues on the offensive line or receiver, or anywhere on defense.

It does, however, reinforce the opinion the Panthers shouldn’t have traded so much capital to move up for Young, who was an imperfect prospect. Young was mostly viewed as the best QB prospect, though some teams did indeed prefer Stroud and even Anthony Richardson. But that doesn’t mean Young was a sure thing. If you’re going to trade two first-round picks — one of which became the No. 1 overall pick (Caleb Williams) in 2024 — two second-round picks and a No. 1 receiver, you better know you’re getting a franchise quarterback.

The Panthers still can’t be sure that’s what they have in Young, but the overall roster construction is more to blame than anything. Young is hardly the only reason the Panthers have been outscored, 108-13, over their last four games.

Now, the Panthers have an even more complicated situation on their hands. Young has looked completely out of sorts through two games, and he’s playing with minimal confidence, which should be expected with so much chaos around him. That confidence isn’t going to magically reappear after such a public benching.

Bryce Young Benched. Why?…Film Dont Lie.

He’s struggling with seeing the field & his footwork is NOT where it should be. There are plays wide open.

All 22 QB Breakdown: Bryce Young pic.twitter.com/g8aXfqMou6

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) September 16, 2024

With 15 games to go, it’s impossible to guess where the Panthers go from here. And with owner David Tepper’s unpredictable nature, who knows who’ll even be making the QB decisions after the season? General manager Dan Morgan, who was the assistant GM and had a prominent voice in the collaborative approach to the Young draft selection, is going to have to answer to Tepper. Morgan is the most powerful figure still standing after Tepper cleaned house following the 2023 season.

Coach Dave Canales, who was hired to revive Young, saw enough of the QB after two games. Canales’ predecessor, Frank Reich, was fired last season after 11 games. These aren’t encouraging timelines from a big-picture standpoint.

One league executive called the Panthers’ situation a “disaster.” Another said the Panthers committed the cardinal sin of trading up in the draft for an “outlier” of a prospect, hoping everything would come together rather than finding ways to accentuate Young’s better qualities.

At this point, though, what’s done is done. The pick was made. The assets are gone. And Young is on the bench. If they can’t find a way out of this hole, the Panthers are earlier in the rebuild than anyone would have imagined even two weeks ago.

It’s Tua’s decision

The public’s calls for Tua Tagovailoa to retire are rooted in good intentions. The Dolphins quarterback has now suffered three unsettling concussions on a national stage, and we’re all much better educated on the brain injury’s long-term effects than ever before.

But let’s just give Tagovailoa the grace to make a decision that he feels is in his own best interest. He’s got his medical team. The Dolphins have given him the proper resources. He’s in good care, relative to the circumstances.

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It’s almost too easy to watch from afar and form the opinion that the 26-year-old should prioritize his long-term health. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that opinion.

It’s more difficult, though, to put yourself in Tagovailoa’s position and consider everything else that’s gotten him to this point. He worked to get himself on the map in Hawaii, earning a scholarship from Nick Saban at Alabama. He bided his time behind Jalen Hurts, delivered a comeback victory in the national championship, worked to become a first-round pick, overcame a host of injuries and tuned out a ton of criticism and distractions to land a four-year, $212.4 million contract. He’s already overcome more adversity than most starting quarterbacks, and it’s got to be gut-wrenching to consider leaving it all behind.

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The point is this has to be an emotionally draining decision for Tagovailoa. If he continues playing, we should at least try to see it from his perspective.

(Photo of Kyler Murray: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Wittenberg University, a Division III school located in Springfield, Ohio, has canceled all athletic events through Sunday because of security concerns on campus, it said Tuesday. The university did not specify the concerns but said the threats were “ongoing.”

The university also announced all classes will be remote for the remainder of the week.

On Saturday, Wittenberg canceled all school events for Sunday, including all scheduled athletic events. After reviewing new threats Monday, the school decided to continue with the precautions as it works with law enforcement.

“After receiving new threats on Monday, Sept. 16, and in the context of ongoing threats of violence on our campus and in the Springfield community, Wittenberg will go fully remote for the rest of the week (Monday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 22). The University is taking each threat seriously, and Wittenberg Police are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate any and all threats made toward our campus, employees, and students,” the school said in a statement.

Security concerns began last week after the presidential debate, when former President Donald Trump repeated a baseless rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield abducted and ate household pets.

On Monday, two elementary schools were evacuated because of bomb threats. The New York Times reported there have been 33 bomb threats targeting city schools since Trump’s accusations. Springfield City Hall and two hospitals have also been threatened, per The Times.

On Monday, DeWine said he was sending state police to the city to reassure Springfield citizens that they were safe.

“We must take every threat seriously, but children deserve to be in school, and parents deserve to know that their kids are safe,” the governor said. “The added security will help ease some of the fears caused by these hoaxes.”

Wittenberg had multiple teams slated to compete in events between Tuesday and Sunday, including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s tennis, field hockey, women’s volleyball, football and men’s and women’s golf.

“We recognize that this may be disruptive to the previously planned athletic contests and all participants, but we ask for understanding during this difficult time for our University and our extended community of Springfield,” a spokesperson for Wittenberg Athletics said in a statement released to The Athletic later Tuesday.

Unfortunately, all Wittenberg intercollegiate athletics events through Sunday, Sept. 22, have been canceled due to ongoing security concerns on campus.

— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) September 17, 2024

Due to the large number of students choosing to go home for their remote classwork, the athletic staff at Wittenberg said they will work with student athletes to create individual training plans until sports are cleared for return.

Additionally, the school will attempt to reschedule any games missed due to security concerns.

“Our coaching staff is also currently researching other opportunities to replace the games Wittenberg will miss this week, including alternative playing options and even scrimmages,” per the statement.

For Wittenberg’s women’s cross country team, the cancellations will see the back-to-back conference champions miss the All-Ohio Championship events scheduled for Friday.

(Photo: Luke Sharrett / Getty Images)

All these years later, Bjorn Borg is getting another chance to make a proper exit.

It didn’t go great the last time around. For those not familiar with one of the more notorious tennis walk-offs, after Borg lost in the U.S. Open final against John McEnroe in 1981 – his third consecutive loss to McEnroe in a Slam final – he grabbed his bag, headed for the tunnel, barely stopped in the locker room as he grabbed his car keys, then headed to the parking lot and drove off, leaving everyone a bit baffled during the trophy ceremony as to why the finalist was not there.

And that was basically it, other than two very abbreviated comeback attempts. The 11-time Grand Slam winner never played another Grand Slam match. He was essentially done. In January 1983, at the age of 26, he retired from tennis.

Borg after losing the 1981 U.S. Open final to McEnroe (Getty Images)

He made brief (and unsuccessful) attempts at comebacks in the early 1990s, but for decades Borg was pretty much off the tennis grid. And then, finally, there he was on the sidelines once again seven years ago, coaching Team Europe in the Laver Cup, Roger Federer’s attempt to create a tennis version of the Ryder Cup. McEnroe coached Team World, which was kind of perfect.

Borg and McEnroe are stepping away from their Laver Cup roles after this year. Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah will replace them. With his final Laver Cup gig approaching this weekend in Berlin (September 20-22), Borg was motivated to grant a rare interview about his post-tennis life, the development of his son, Leo, into a pro, and what the hobnobbing with the best players of this era has meant to him.

“So beautiful,” he said during a phone interview last month while he was on vacation in Ibiza, which is about as Borg as it gets, right?

This interview has been edited for length and quality.

The Athletic: So many great players from your era became coaches, but you never really did, except for the Laver Cup. Why?

Borg: I never had an interest. All the travel. Sweden even asked me to be the Davis Cup captain. I said no. That was not my thing either. To be the coach of Team Europe though, I thought that was a big responsibility. And my friend Roger Federer asked me. It’s a special event in any year.

Borg and Federer in the Team Europe dressing room at the 2022 Laver Cup (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

The Athletic: Why did you quit playing so young? Were you unhappy? I ask because nowadays there are a lot of unhappy players who stop at a young age and in retrospect, you sort of seem like maybe you were the canary in the coal mine.

Borg: I was very happy as a player, but the motivation was not there. If you don’t have the motivation to practice and compete every day, you can’t focus on what you do and what you need to do. I was happy, but I had no motivation and no focus. When I came back briefly, that was a different story.

I’m writing a book. I’m going to tell everyone all about it next year.

The Athletic: What have you learned about how tennis has changed from being around the players during the Laver Cup?

Borg: We have two dinners during the week and it is the most special time. We do it to get the team bonded. They ask me about what the tour was like when I was playing and how I went about my life and we tell each other the stories of our lives. And I listen to what they tell me and really what I learn is they are not too different from me. They are tennis players. What we did is kind of the same thing as what they do.

The Athletic: But the world has changed, hasn’t it?

Borg: They hit the ball harder. It’s much more grueling to play the way they do. There is also the TV aspect to it. They are big stars. Tennis has become one of the biggest sports in the world and they have a big responsibility. They have to inspire people and promote the sport. It’s different than if you are a star in football. You don’t have to promote your sport. But if we talk about their fame, then they must be doing a great job. They all understand that no one player is bigger than the sport itself.

(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

The Athletic: From what they tell you during those Laver Cup dinners, what do you think is the biggest difference between their lives and yours?

Borg: They have the big teams around them and these people are doing an incredible job. I did OK, even if I stopped too early, but I never had that big team of people to go around the world with that makes you feel so supported.

I was the first one who really traveled with a coach. Today everyone has a coach and a physio and all these other people. Tennis, it’s such a demanding sport. It’s really tough because you are basically out there by yourself. So you really need that.

The Athletic: Is that what you look forward to with being the coach of Team Europe, to help provide that support?

Borg: I’m going to have great players in Berlin. I want to win. It’s my last year. I lost the last two years. I want to win again, but I don’t know, Team World is very good. John McEnroe and I are good friends, but he wants to win, too. We have always enjoyed being competitive. We were such big rivals and when he is coaching we are still very competitive. To see him now is so special. We keep in contact, but to see him is something else.

The Athletic: Did it bother you the way he behaved on the court?

Borg: When we played, he was always OK. Looking back, he never did much with me. We respected each other too much, I think, both on and off the court.

Borg after beating McEnroe in five sets in the 1980 Wimbledon final (Steve Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)

The Athletic: What modern player reminds you of you?

Borg: I grew up on clay. Nadal grew up on clay. He’s the one. To see him play on clay courts, it’s so fantastic. He’s unbelievable. I can relate to how he knows how to move players around the court.

The Athletic: Chris Evert says she was scared to talk to you when you were a player because you were this silent star, but now when she sees you, you are very chatty. Have you changed?

Borg: Chris is a very good friend. We started something together. We were two big stars. We lifted tennis to a different level. I’m very happy and proud to have done that. Then the ones that came after us lifted it more. Federer, Nadal, Novak, the Williams sisters. But we were there at the beginning.

The Athletic: Your son Leo is trying to break through on the pro tour. Do you coach him?

Borg: I support him, but I do not coach him. He knows he can come to me whenever he wants. He has a whole team around him. He lives in Stockholm. I live in Stockholm. He comes by. We talk.

(Adam Ihse/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)

The Athletic: Is it harder to play a match or watch him play?

Borg: Ask any parent. You get more nervous watching your child play. I follow his matches. He feels a lot of pressure. He is my son. He is starting to perform much better, I think. I do love to watch him, though. It’s just hard because, as a parent, you have no control. When you are on the court, you have some control. In some ways, it’s easier to be on the couch watching on television. It’s much worse watching in person.

The Athletic: It seems like Christian and Casper Ruud have a good coach-player thing going and he doesn’t look very nervous. Are you sure you don’t want to give it a shot?

Borg: The Ruuds are my good friends. Trust me, Christian gets nervous, too.

(Top photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

He’s Lionel Messi’s boss. He’s also one of the most recognisable sports figures on the planet.

So, when David Beckham strode through the car park outside St Andrew’s shortly before Birmingham City vs Wrexham kicked off, it was perhaps understandable that the heads of supporters also making their way into the stadium should turn so fast that some seemed in danger of suffering a whiplash injury.

Monday nights in England’s self-styled Second City are not supposed to involve a flying visit from the former England captain. Nor, it should be said, is a fixture in English football’s third tier where you’d expect to see someone with Beckham’s global profile.

But that’s the reality in an age when celebrity ownership has come to what Pele used to call “the beautiful game”.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over National League side Wrexham in February 2021 set the ball rolling on a trend that has since seen Hollywood comedy giant Will Ferrell get involved at Leeds United and former NFL star JJ Watt become a part-owner at Burnley.

Then there’s Tom Brady at Birmingham, who is arguably the greatest NFL player ever. He took a minority shareholding in the former Premier League club a little over a year ago.

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney (left) and Birmingham co-owner Tom Brady chat before Monday’s game (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

He is believed to be a step or two removed from day-to-day operations, as you’d expect with someone who has an extensive business portfolio in the U.S., never mind a new job with Fox Sports as a pundit commentating on the NFL.

But Brady’s influence is still keenly felt, not least in terms of player nutrition and recovery, with Alex Guerrero, a long-time ally of the seven-time Super Bowl champion, having a significant input as an advisor to Birmingham.

His pulling power also remains pretty impressive, judging by Beckham’s surprise visit to St Andrew’s. Along with wife Victoria, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has struck up a close friendship with Brady.

They have been photographed together countless times, including a family meal out at a Miami pizzeria with their kids. Beckham has also taken to social media in the past to have a laugh with the legendary quarterback, who set up home in Florida following his retirement.

Brady and David Beckham in the stands at St Andrew’s (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

In many ways, the Brady-Beckham friendship is a natural alliance. Both remain iconic figures after spending years at the top of their respective sports, winning every club honour there was to win.

The pair have also moved into sports ownership since hanging up their boots, with Beckham joining Jose Mas and Jorge Mas at the helm of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Messi, considered by many to be among the greatest football players of all time, is on the club’s roster and leading the push to give the game a firm foothold in the USA.

Just last month, the injured Argentinian World Cup winner joined both Brady and Beckham in the stands in Fort Lauderdale as Miami took on Cincinnati.

The trio were all smiles as they chatted before kick-off, Beckham enjoying himself judging by the photo he posted later on Instagram with the caption: “The Greatest — doesn’t get any better”.

A 2-0 victory for Miami will no doubt have helped the mood on an afternoon when Brady was presented with his own Inter Miami jersey at half-time by his good friend.

Monday saw Brady return that favour via an invite to join him in the directors’ box at Birmingham after earlier spending time in an executive box with Gary Neville, Beckham’s former United team-mate and his best man when he married Victoria. The trio were joined by Beckham’s son Romeo.

As with that home win for Miami in August, there was plenty for the pair to celebrate as two goals from Jay Stansfield and a thumping finish by Tomoki Iwata clinched a deserved 3-1 win in the battle of celebrity owners.

Brady was an animated figure throughout, as you’d perhaps expect from someone attending only their third home game after taking in last season’s visits of Leeds United and Rotherham United.

All three goals brought the 47-year-old to his feet, as did the two sets of players confronting each other late on after tempers had boiled over following a clash between Krystian Bielik and Paul Mullin.

Wrexham’s Mullin gets to grips with Birmingham’s Bielik (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

This was actually the second time Beckham had watched Wrexham live. He attended the 2022 FA Trophy final against Bromley at Wembley as a guest of Reynolds, the Welsh club’s co-owner alongside McElhenney.

He joined the Deadpool star, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator McElhenney, and actor Ferrell in an executive box at the national stadium but, like Monday night in Birmingham, there was to be no Hollywood ending for Wrexham, who lost that final.

As for Brady, however, he may well see his friend Beckham as something of a lucky charm after watching Birmingham lay down a clear marker in the League One promotion race. Expect another St Andrew’s invite to be winging its way to Beckham Towers before very long.

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(Top photo: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the stadium clock approached seven minutes until game time, nobody could be within 25 feet of the flame when Ohio State unveiled its new pyrotechnics machine.

In the press box at the top of Ohio Stadium, Ericka Hoon and Caleb Clark focused on the flame, communicating with staff on the field to make sure nobody was in harm’s way. When cheerleaders took their spots, their flags were too close. They had to be moved.

Then the countdown for Ohio State’s game-day operations staff began. Three. Two. One. The team’s intro video rolled, and the Buckeyes gathered in the tunnel. Smoke began filling up around them, and a crowd of more than 100,000 rose in anticipation.

But just as Ohio State was ready to run out, a few Western Michigan coaches ran by to get to their bench. When the video ended, the Buckeyes ran out and only small flames went off. The large flame stayed dormant, an anticlimactic letdown to those who spent much of the week preparing for the new introduction. It’ll have to wait until this Saturday’s game against Marshall.

Every game provides a new challenge at the fifth-largest football stadium in the world.

A graduate of Ohio State, Hoon has worked in the athletic department since 2007. She’s now the associate athletic director for event management, which means she’s in charge of game-day operations at the 102,780-seat venue alongside people like Clark, the associate athletic director for marketing and live events.

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The Buckeyes have more than 1,000 concession workers, a few hundred workers in merchandise, around 1,100 ushers, more than a few hundred Ohio State athletics staff and a couple hundred police and safety officers on hand in and around the stadium. Everybody has a job to do to make sure the game goes on safely for the tens of thousands of people in attendance.

The flame not going off may have been disappointing, but it was an operational success. The pyrotechnics supervisor, who doesn’t work for Ohio State, stopping the flame felt like a win to Hoon. If there’s one thing Ohio State’s operations team needs on game day, it’s trust that everybody involved will make the right choice in a tough situation.

“I lean on him and his expertise on what should or shouldn’t happen,” Hoon said. “I’m grateful he saw the situation and knew it wouldn’t be safe.  … It shows our relationship with some folks that they know have the power and ability to make a decision — especially when safety is factoring into it.”

Ohio State beat WMU in front of a crowd of 102,665. (Adam Cairns / USA Today)

At 5:09 p.m., 20 minutes before gates opened, Hoon grabbed her radio and a paper off the wall. The paper included the names of every gate manager in the stadium. Fans would soon be entering, and it was time for roll call.

She called down to every manager and asked if they were “gray card ready.”

The gray cards are a way for gate managers to know exactly how many staff and security they are required to have on site before they open their gate. Every gate is different, so if the manager replied to Hoon and said yes, they were good to open their gates at 5:30. If they said no, that meant the team had to fill in who was missing.

Ohio State has been doing roll calls for only a few years. In the past, gate managers would reply by listing everybody who was there and then Hoon would have to do the math and give them the OK to open. The gray cards simplify the process.

“We were having challenges with getting some of our security staff deployed in time,” Hoon said. “Instead of me trying to follow on a sheet, if they can open their gates I give them all a sheet to understand what they have and what is going on.”

Operations work is a lot of logistical coordination. But it’s also about being creative.

Early this season, Ohio State is dealing with changes to the team’s traditional walk to the stadium. The Buckeyes previously stayed across the street at the Blackwell Hotel and had an easy walk alongside coaches’ families. Now, the team is staying at a hotel in downtown Columbus. It must be dropped off by buses near the stadium and walk from there, meaning the operations staff had to work through ways to get families alongside them.

After the walk ends and Ohio State players first take the field for warmups, fans begin to file into the stadium and find their seats. In the depths of the stadium, the “100 minute meeting” begins. It’s held in the visiting team’s press conference room, and it’s crucial to making sure the football game goes off without a problem.

The Sept. 7 meeting, led by Hoon, featured a representative from multiple departments that had a hand in making sure the prime-time game against Western Michigan ran smoothly. There were people from the Big Ten Network, a referee, another member of the referee association, somebody from the NCAA replay committee, a WMU athletics staffer, multiple people from Ohio State’s event staff and more.

After everybody introduced themselves, Hoon ran through a quick list of last-minute plans. She informed everybody that Ohio State would enter the field first and leave first at halftime. Everybody agreed. Even though Ohio State is the home team, no detail can be assumed. The planning is essential to minimize the chances of any on–field altercations.

Hoon then said kickoff could be pushed back 5 minutes if the Maryland–Michigan State game went long.

Communication is the key to putting on a game at Ohio State. Hoon may be the ringleader, but she’s just one person in a large machine that is Ohio State’s athletics operations.

“You can’t do it alone,” she said.

Hoon attributes that atmosphere to former athletic director Gene Smith, who was the first AD Hoon worked for. Smith was known for being personable and trustworthy, which trickled down to the entire department.

“His leadership for so long is empowering people and letting them be the decision-maker,” Hoon said. “You’re the expert in your area, you’re going to know best so make the decision. If you’re willing to live with that, help us understand the why and we will support you. That’s a small piece of empowering people, while still having a good time.”

Ohio Stadium has grown from its original 1922 capacity of 66,210. (Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)

Long before the Ohio Stadium press box fills up with reporters and communication staff, the command post on the far side of the box buzzes.

There are six large screens in the room. One has a live update on tickets, one has an updated weather radar and forecast, one has a live feed of highway traffic and two are focused on cameras around campus.

Those two monitors have multiple internet tabs open, with each tab showing views from 12 to 16 cameras around Ohio Stadium and the surrounding buildings and parking garages. The operations staff can watch traffic, tailgates, parking garages and every entrance of the stadium. They can also zoom in and out and get a live look at anything they want.

If something goes wrong, they can make a quick call to get it addressed.

Just below the TVs, on a few desks along the wall, are four monitors with students in front of them. They are the dispatchers, a key part of the process. Their job is to answer the numerous radios in front of them, take in information and log it, allowing security or other staff to take care of any concerns.

The dispatch process is done in conjunction with the Schottenstein Center basketball arena next door. The arena is less than 20 percent the size but holds far more events than the football stadium, meaning it has an experienced staff. Ohio Stadium utilizes them to help train interns who work football games.

Saturday’s work takes concentration from everybody involved. The ushers around the stadium have radios that go directly to the dispatchers so they can address them with any questions they have. From there, anything that is radioed goes into the system and is labeled as a color. Red means the request was filed, yellow means somebody was dispatched to the problem and green means a worker is on scene.

The questions are wide-ranging. Wheelchair requests were a big part of the job, with operations staff coordinating exactly which gate and seat they needed to go to. At one point before the game, an usher also relayed a question about where a fan could find cotton candy. Twice, there were calls about a child who lost their parent at the game, and the command center was able to help by locating the seats. Each time the parent was found soon after the call came in.

The command center is relatively calm once the game begins. There’s not much stressful yelling going on; in fact, staffers are often joking around. They even have a weekly contest seeing who can guess closest to the actual ticket number each week.

It keeps stress levels relatively low. Even when something goes wrong, there’s a tight-knit feeling, down to the interns in the room helping out.

Hoon wants people to learn, ask questions and find solutions. There were times where she stepped out of the room to take care of something else and others on her staff handled calls like when Western Michigan’s cheerleading bus went the wrong way and had to be directed through traffic to an alternate gate. Or something a little bit larger like reorganizing one of the traffic patterns at halftime as fans were leaving a 35-0 blowout early and the staff didn’t want cars and fans to be crossing the same area.

GO DEEPER

Controversy, mystery and lore: How the Big House at Michigan embodies college football

Many fans still stayed until the end of the 56-0 win. After the game, the operations staff’s job isn’t over. The staff helped people get into the stadium safely, and now they had to get them home, monitoring the flow of traffic out. A change made in the last decade was to turn the lights on at all of the surrounding sports fields so fans had more light when walking back to their cars.

Every week Hoon goes home with a list of things they can improve or make easier for the following week, or sometimes the next season if it’s a big idea. One of those things during Ohio State’s idle week was working on ways to get the pyrotechnics flame off without a hitch this Saturday.

Once crowds have dispersed, the staff splits up and goes to the home and visiting team locker rooms to make sure teams get on the bus and out of the stadium safely. Then they leave the stadium through the rotunda and take a family selfie in front of the new statue of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

It’s a ritual to mark the end of another game before a new week comes and they prepare to do it all again.

“That’s the moment when everybody can smile,” Hoon said.

(Top photo: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)

Uh oh, Brock Purdy. Your detractors are lining up.

The fellowship of Purdy Truthers can smell the validation. They prayed for times like these. Their contention this whole time is that you, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, have been all hype, that you didn’t belong in the company of the game’s elite. They’ve been saying you’re only, well, you, because of the superstars around you. They’ve been eager to relegate you to a lesser tier, put you in line well behind Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and ’em.

Oh, you better know they are watching and waiting. And hoping. For your downfall.

They’re sitting up in their seats, Brock. Rubbing their hands together greedily, salivating after you couldn’t outduel your former backup Sunday in Minnesota. Their eyes, filled with gleeful anticipation, are fixed on you, No. 13. Waiting to see how you respond to the mounting adversity of this season.

Christian McCaffrey is already on injured reserve. Your offensive line is struggling in pass protection, even the legend Trent Williams, who missed all of training camp in a contract holdout. Brandon Aiyuk, who also missed all of camp, estimated he was at about 85 percent.

Now Deebo Samuel is out.

“Yeah, always when you lose real good players, it’s always tough,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But it happens all over the league, and it’s a huge part of this league and a huge part of this game. We’ve got to deal with it.”

Let’s keep it real, Purdy. You haven’t been the same without Samuel. The 49ers with you at quarterback are 0-3 in meaningful games in which Deebo doesn’t take at least half the offensive snaps. Your offense has averaged 17 points per game in those games.

The Purdy Truthers haven’t let that go. A trip to the Super Bowl, MVP-caliber stats, and consistent vouching from the superstars around you — nothing has curbed the criticism.

They’re calling you a trust-fund quarterback, a silver-spoon signal caller. They’re still saying your football career began in field-goal range and you don’t know about the struggle. They’re saying you can’t do what the likes of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen can do — put a team on your shoulders, be the reason your team wins and not just facilitate a loaded roster, overcome the holes in the lineup.

This is about as close as you’ve been to that scenario. Even with the revelation that Jordan Mason has been as RB1, a lineup without McCaffrey and Samuel definitely lowers the fear factor in the defense. Which tends to ratchet up their confidence, and the aggressiveness. Especially considering how vulnerable you’ve been the first couple of weeks to turnovers. You’ve only got two in the first two weeks, but enough near-interceptions to make a defense hungry.

You can shut them up now, though Brock. OK, maybe not shut them up. Beating the 0-2 Los Angeles Rams and winning at home over the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals won’t quiet the mob. But certainly, losing any of those games will increase the fever pitch.

It doesn’t matter how many dimes you throw. Or how big your numbers get. They’ll still see every time you make a questionable throw, or look a little lost, or miss a target. And the defense is getting better at figuring out how to give you problems.

It looked as if the Vikings, in the game we won’t speak about, picked up on a few tendencies the Baltimore Ravens introduced last Christmas. Anticipate and jump on the timing routes and bring pressure from random places — all designed to get you hurried and frantic, which is when you’re most prone to mistakes.

“No, I think that’s what the point of the scheme is,” Shanahan explained. “It’s to have six guys up on the line and come from everywhere. … It’s just a lot of pressure on a quarterback throughout a game. That’s what their scheme is. They’re going to make you think whether you’re hot every play, and if you’re not, then you’ve got to find the open zones. There are a lot of open zones, but it’s tough the way they slow you down. … (Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores) does a really good job of mixing it up, and that is the challenge for a quarterback. It makes it really tough to get into a rhythm.”

The Vikings’ aggressive defense kept Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense in check Sunday. (Adam Bettcher / Getty Images)

When you told Flores his “scheme is crazy” after the game, the Purdy Truthers didn’t see that as a young QB who appreciated being challenged. They didn’t see it as game recognizing game, that it was a sign you’d dive into the film to learn from it. Nah, they saw it as some kind of confession you were overwhelmed.

That’s why you can’t lay an egg these next few weeks. Well, you can. Because Super Bowls aren’t won in September. Sure, it would put the 49ers in a tough spot, maybe even cost you a home game in the NFC Championship, should you make it. But your squad is perfectly capable of rallying late and peaking at the right time.

So you can’t lay an egg because you can’t give the detractors more fodder. Truth be told, you have a legion fighting for you on the interwebs. Plenty are rocking with you Brock, and they need you to shut everybody up.

You’ve still got George Kittle. You’ve still got Mason and the power running game. You’ve still got Aiyuk, who is due for a big game.

“There were a number of times he had a real good chance to get the ball,” Shanahan said of Aiyuk, “and a couple times protections broke down on two of them. One time someone busted a route and just got in the same way, so they covered it up. But he had a chance to get about four big passes and other factors happened. It’s a team game. There are 11 guys out there that are involved in getting someone the ball. He did have some opportunities where he should have, but not everything went right.”

You’ve got enough to win. You’ve got enough to lead your team through this rough patch. This was always in the cards. Getting back to the Super Bowl is a daunting task. And NFL teams are like crabs in a bucket. This was always going to be hard.

Yet necessary. This is the hardship they said you can’t handle. This is the cape they believe is too heavy for your shoulders. They don’t believe you’re one of them ones, Brock.

You better show ’em.

GO DEEPER

Nothing easy for Brock Purdy as Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers offense try to find their feet

(Top photo of Brock Purdy during Sunday’s game against the Vikings: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)

The Kansas City Royals are good for baseball, and not just because they’re a small market team vying for a postseason spot or because Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the game’s brightest young stars. 

No, the Royals are good for baseball because they’re a shining example of what every organization in professional baseball should be doing: trying. 

The Royals, you may recall, spent nearly $110 million on free agents this winter. The moves were well-received, but didn’t exactly make national headlines. They didn’t spend a half-billion dollars on two players like the Texas Rangers did before 2022. They didn’t win the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. 

The Royals, who lost 106 games last year, wanted to get better quickly. They recognized that player development and amateur scouting weren’t going to be enough, so they supplemented the roster in free agency, aggressively adding more than a half-dozen players. Now, with a winning season already in hand, they’re on the precipice of clinching a postseason berth, perhaps as early as this week. 

Revolutionary? Hardly. Rare? In today’s game, very. 

“Sometimes you need that slap upside the head, right?” Royals owner John Sherman, who greenlit the expenditures, asked reporters this spring. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we cannot tolerate something like that again for our fans.”

Every owner can afford an offseason like the Royals had. They were aggressive without being foolish, and added again at the trade deadline and during the past month via the waiver wire. And yet, few have done it. 

While MLB has added measures to try to help combat the sport’s tanking epidemic, getting teams to consistently try, front offices to assume risk and owners to open their wallets has been another problem altogether. 

J.J. Picollo, the Royals’ executive vice president and general manager, has made his operation stand out from that of other teams. (Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)

Witt’s otherworldly season (he will easily clear 10 fWAR) would make him a shoo-in for American League MVP if not for the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. It also comes after a spring in which Sherman OK’ed an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension for the Royals young star, which could be worth as much as $377 million over 14 years when it’s all done. It’s the most lucrative deal in franchise history. 

Again, if Kansas City — one of the smallest markets in baseball — can do it, why can’t everyone else? 

As other teams downsize departments and chop personnel — last week alone, a half-dozen teams made cuts to scouting and player development, according to league sources, or “restructured” in the nonstop efficiency-speak of front offices — the Royals have added infrastructure. In the two years since executive vice president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo took the reins, Kansas City reimagined all three scouting departments with new leaders, modernized the organization and changed the culture. The Royals have emphasized data, adding six new people to the research and development team, including a new director. They’ve folded that in by hiring people with traditional baseball resumes, but open minds. 

Picollo, who was internally promoted when Dayton Moore was fired, hasn’t hesitated to hire outsiders, even those he has no previous relationship with, like manager Matt Quatraro. Quatraro, like Picollo, has been widely credited for steering the turnaround, and for bringing a curious mind and willingness to innovate. These aren’t two hotshot young Ivy League grads leading the charge; both men played minor league baseball and are in their 50s.  

Perhaps the new market efficiency is doing things just a little differently, for zigging when others are zagging, even if it’s not always new territory. These Royals, for all their successful efforts to modernize, are also masters of the basics. 

Only the San Diego Padres lineup has a lower strikeout rate, and Kansas City also ranks among the league’s best defenses, further elevating a solid pitching staff. 

From Day 1 of last offseason, the Royals targeted pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, not because they were the best players available (they weren’t) or because either guy had wipeout stuff (neither pitcher has had a 200-strikeout season to date) but because they fit certain tenets. Lugo was an All-Star this year who could get some Cy Young Award consideration, despite a rare rough outing on Monday, while Wacha has gone 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 71-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio since the beginning of July. 

At 52-45 at the start of the second half, Picollo and company didn’t wait to see which route the team would take, like so many other clubs who weren’t leading their division did. Instead, they again moved quickly, unafraid to double down after some of their offseason relief options didn’t pan out. Kansas City acquired Hunter Harvey from Washington two weeks ahead of the deadline, and also added Oakland’s Lucas Erceg along with swingman Michael Lorenzen and infielder Paul DeJong. 

When first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino went down, Picollo added three players on waivers to fill the void: Yuli Gurriel, Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman. The cost was cash. The payoff was immediate. The Royals had targeted Pham and Grossman at the deadline but weren’t able to secure either. The group could have helped several clubs ahead of Kansas City in the waiver order. No one else jumped.  

Not every move the Royals made has worked out. But, like their lineup, the Royals front office has a pretty low whiff rate. And as they attempt to chase down the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild-card spot, Kansas City’s model has proven to be a good one. 

It’s good for the city, which hasn’t had a playoff team since the 2015 World Series champions. It’s even better for baseball. 

(Top photo of Bobby Witt Jr. celebrating a win with teammates: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)

It’s Week 3 of the NFL Power Rankings, and Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan speaks for all of us.

What the (heck) are you doing, National Football League?

In Week 2 action, the Vikings beat the 49ers, the Raiders beat the Ravens, the Buccaneers beat the Lions, Malik Willis and the Packers beat the Colts. The can’t-be-stopped New Orleans Saints obliterated the Cowboys.

And that was just the early window on Sunday.

Six underdogs got an outright win. The Ravens, Bengals and Rams are 0-2, and only two 0-2 teams have made the playoffs in the last five years. Four teams that missed the playoffs last season are 2-0 (Chargers, Vikings, Saints, Seahawks). It’s chaos.

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We asked around for volunteers to set the order this week, but there were no takers so we’ll try to sort it out.

Last week: 1

Sunday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 26-25

Kansas City offensive tackle Wanya Morris has more touchdown catches than Travis Kelce this season. Morris caught a 1-yard scoring pass as an eligible lineman on Sunday, and he is only three catches behind Kelce for the season, meaning the Chiefs are undefeated and still haven’t even activated one of their best offensive weapons. If the Chiefs win in either of the next two weeks, Patrick Mahomes will become the first quarterback in NFL history to win 77 of his first 100 starts. He’s tied with Tom Brady and Roger Staubach at 76.

Up next: at Falcons, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

NFL Week 2 takeaways: What Chiefs’ latest survival shows, Ravens problems, Saints thriving

Last week: 3

Thursday: Beat Miami Dolphins 31-10

Week 1 was the Josh Allen Show — four touchdowns and 279 combined passing and rushing yards. In Week 2, Allen contributed just 141 combined yards and one touchdown, and the Bills still won going away. The defense held the Dolphins to 4.7 yards per play and forced three turnovers. If Buffalo is more than just the Josh Allen Show, it might be a real contender.

Up next: vs. Jaguars, Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET

3. New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 44-19

If BetMGM had offered action on which team would score the fourth-most points in NFL history in its first two games of the season, not one person on the planet would have picked the Saints. But here we are. New Orleans’ 91 points in the first two weeks are the most by any team since 2015. Alvin Kamara scored four touchdowns and is now the fourth player of the Super Bowl era to have multiple games with more than 150 yards of offense and four scores in a game.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

What are the chances Sam Darnold’s Vikings resurgence is real? Sando’s Pick Six

Last week: 4

Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 19-13

The Texans have played the Colts and Bears, so maybe their defensive stats shouldn’t be lauded yet, but if Houston does have a forceful defense to go along with C.J. Stroud, the hype might be real. Four Texans had multiple quarterback hits Sunday, and Houston leads the league in sack rate (13.8 percent), according to TruMedia. It is ninth in defensive success rate (63.3 percent).

Up next: at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Chris Godwin and the Bucs stunned the Lions in Detroit. (Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Detroit Lions 20-16

Tampa Bay had 12 fewer first downs and 247 fewer yards than Detroit. Quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Bucs in rushing, and it took only 34 yards to do that. Chris Godwin (117 receiving yards) was 54 percent of the offense, and still Tampa Bay is undefeated. The biggest reason for this win was the defense. The Lions were in the red zone seven times and scored only one touchdown. The Buccaneers’ 14.3 percent defensive red zone efficiency rate was the second best in a game with seven or more red zone possessions since 2000.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

6. Detroit Lions (1-1)

Last week: 5

Sunday: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-16

Detroit had 463 yards of offense and held Tampa Bay to 216. Aidan Hutchinson had 4 1/2 sacks by himself, the second most of any player in a game since 2021 (behind Khalil Mack’s six last season against the Raiders). Maybe having Jared Goff throw the ball 55 times was the problem. The Lions quarterback had the second-most attempts of any player in a game since 2022, threw two interceptions and finished with a 61.7 passer rating.

Up next: at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

It’s too early to worry about Lions offense, but this group feels off compared to a year ago

7. Minnesota Vikings (2-0)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 23-17

Only Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson have had at least 30 100-yard receiving games in the first five seasons of their career. Jefferson had 133 on Sunday on the strength of a 97-yard touchdown catch, but he left the game with what he called a “little” thigh bruise. Quarterback Sam Darnold is hoping it’s not serious. In another attempt to fulfill the promise that got him drafted No. 3 overall in 2018, Darnold is off to a good start. He’s fifth in the NFL in passer rating (111.8) and ninth in passing yards (476), according to TruMedia.

Up next: vs. Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

We’re really about to put an active player in Canton.@JJettas2

📺: @NFLonCBs pic.twitter.com/cephalTst9

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024

8. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

Last week: 2

Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 23-17

Brock Purdy had 319 passing yards; Deebo Samuel had 110 receiving yards; Jordan Mason had 100 rushing yards. Even with Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve with calf and Achilles injuries, those look like winning numbers for the Niners, especially against the Sam Darnold-led Vikings. Instead, San Francisco lost for the seventh straight time in Minnesota. Steve Young quarterbacked the last 49ers team to win there (1992).

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

9. Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 26-3

The Chargers are 2-0 for the first time since 2012, and J.K. Dobbins leads the NFL in rushing. Dobbins had 131 against the Panthers and has 266 for the season. Jim Harbaugh has been true to his word since returning to the NFL, leaning on his offensive line and run game. Only the Saints and Steelers have a higher run percentage than the Chargers (59.7 percent) so far, and the Packers are the only team with more rushing yards per game than their 197.5.

Up next: at Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Chargers’ evolution under Jim Harbaugh shines in blowout of Panthers

10. Seattle Seahawks (2-0)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 23-20

DK Metcalf (10 catches, 129 yards) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (12 catches, 117 yards) were the only teammates to top 100 yards receiving this week, and they were the first Seattle teammates ever to have 10-plus catches and 100-plus yards in the same game. Last week, Kenneth Walker III led the way with 100 rushing yards, but Walker is out for now with an oblique injury. Pretty good balance in Seattle, where Geno Smith threw for 327 yards on Sunday.

Up next: vs. Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

DK Metcalf WIDE OPEN for a 56-yard TD!

📺: #SEAvsNE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/nLjzMeiUub

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

11. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

Last week: 6

Monday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 22-21

It’s a game of inches, right? If Saquon Barkley hadn’t dropped Jalen Hurts’ swing pass with 1:46 remaining, the Eagles would be 2-0. But now they have to try to shake off a painful loss before visiting a red-hot Saints team in New Orleans. They helped the Falcons stay in the game Monday night by committing nine penalties and let Kirk Cousins pick them apart on the decisive drive. On the plus side, Hurts looked like his old self, rushing 13 times for 85 yards and a touchdown in addition to 183 passing yards.

Up next: at Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

12. Green Bay Packers (1-1)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Beat Indianapolis Colts 16-10

The Packers became the first NFL team to reach 800 wins on Sunday. They did it with a game plan that would have looked familiar in 1921 when Green Bay joined the league. With Malik Willis filling in at quarterback, the Packers ran the ball on 53 of their 67 snaps. They had 237 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 261. Only six teams had more rushing yards than that in a game last season. Josh Jacobs had 81 yards in the first quarter and finished with 151.

Up next: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

How the Packers without Jordan Love, embracing a ‘who cares’ mentality, bulldozed the Colts

13. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Last week: 7

Sunday: Lost to New Orleans Saints 44-19

The roller-coaster ride of being a Cowboys fan never ends, does it? One week after getting Dak Prescott’s deal done and beating Cleveland by 16 points, Dallas rushed for 68 yards and never led against the Saints. If there’s a bright spot, maybe it’s that CeeDee Lamb got going with four catches for 90 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown that briefly gave Dallas life. If you’re not looking for bright spots, Saints fans had a full-on parade outside AT&T Stadium after the game.

Up next: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Saints fans are literally having a parade outside of AT&T Stadium right now after beating Dallas pic.twitter.com/2JC9Sidf35

— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) September 15, 2024

14. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Rams 41-10

Kyler Murray became the second player in NFL history with 250 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and a perfect passer rating in a game. He finished 17-for-21 for 266 yards and three touchdowns and became the third Cardinal with a perfect passer rating since 1960. Plus, Marvin Harrison Jr. came to life after a disappointing Week 1. The rookie wide receiver had four catches for 130 yards, all in the first quarter. After the game, he noted all four of Murray’s incompletions were targeted at him, so there’s room for more.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

THE MURRAY MAGIC IS STRONG TODAY 🪄 pic.twitter.com/FYDZCoSRNH

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)

Last week: 13

Sunday: Beat Denver Broncos 13-6

Pittsburgh has one touchdown and eight Chris Boswell field goals this season. It’s been enough for a 2-0 record and a perch atop the AFC North. Justin Fields has passed for only 273 yards, but he hasn’t turned the ball over. That’s been enough because the defense hasn’t allowed either opponent to top 90 yards rushing. No Steeler had 40 receiving yards against the Broncos. Mike Tomlin probably slept great.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 20

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 24-17

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been great, but he’s healthy and he’s been good enough so far. Through two weeks, Rodgers is 24th in the league in passing yards (343). His off-target percentage (13.7 percent) is the ninth worst in the league and would stand as the worst in his career if this holds all season. Rookie running back Braelon Allen (20 years, 239 days) became the youngest player of the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown Sunday, and he had two.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Aaron Rodgers powered a gutty first Jets win — it came at a great cost

17. Baltimore Ravens (0-2)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders 26-23

The Ravens, who were up 23-13 entering the fourth quarter, had 11 penalties for 109 yards. Zay Flowers had seven catches for 91 yards but only one of those catches (for 8 yards) came in the second half. Lamar Jackson, the reigning MVP, has a passer rating of 86.5 through the first two games. Deshaun Watson is the only starter in the AFC North below that.

Up next: at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

18. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 26-25

The Bengals have wide receiver issues. Tee Higgins still isn’t playing because of a hamstring injury, and Ja’Marr Chase is 41st in the league in receiving yards (97). Chase got heated at the end of Sunday’s game after thinking he was on the wrong end of a hip-drop tackle. On the plus side, the award for stat line of the day goes to wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, who had two catches for 7 yards and two touchdowns, including the toe-tap catch of the day.

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

.@joeyb to @AndreiIosivas for 6 🙌

📺: #CINvsKC on CBS/@paramountplus pic.twitter.com/NokwiGTJ4k

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 15, 2024

19. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Last week: 28

Monday: Beat Philadelphia Eagles 22-21

That’s what the Falcons pictured when they signed Kirk Cousins to that massive contract. Down by six points to the Eagles with a minute and a half to go, Cousins quickly and efficiently moved the Falcons down the field and hit Drake London for the winning touchdown. The stunning upset on “Monday Night Football” gives Atlanta life ahead of a visit from the champion Chiefs on Sunday. The running game, behind Bijan Robinson, was cooking against Philadelphia, racking up 152 yards on 28 carries and the defense gave Cousins and company a chance.

Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

20. Miami Dolphins (1-1)

Last week: 8

Thursday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 31-10

The football part of the Dolphins’ discussion feels trivial after Tua Tagovailoa suffered another scary concussion on Thursday night, but the season does continue. Miami, which plans to go with backup Skylar Thompson at quarterback at least until there’s more clarity on Tagovailoa’s status, signed Tyler “Snoop” Huntley off the Ravens practice squad Monday as another option. Look for a heavy dose of De’Von Achane, who had 96 rushing yards and 69 receiving yards against the Bills, as long as he’s healthy.

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

21. New England Patriots (1-1)

Last week: 15

Sunday: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 23-20

Antonio Gibson popped back up on the NFL’s radar with 96 yards on 11 carries. That’s the good news. The bad news is New England’s wide receivers combined for three catches for 19 yards (two catches and 12 yards for rookie Ja’Lynn Polk and one catch and 7 yards for K.J. Osborn). Until the Patriots find some pass catchers, maybe it’s best to leave rookie quarterback Drake Maye on the bench.

Up next: at New York Jets, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

22. Las Vegas Raiders (1-1)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 26-23

Davante Adams had 86 receiving yards in the fourth quarter and rookie tight end Brock Bowers added 31 as the Raiders erased a 10-point deficit. Bowers finished with nine catches for 98 yards overall, and he’s now the first tight end in NFL history with at least five catches and 50 yards in his first two games. Worth watching: Pass rusher Maxx Crosby still hasn’t missed a defensive snap. He’s tied for fourth in the league with five quarterback hits.

Up next: vs. Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Inspired by doubters, Maxx Crosby leads Raiders defense in resilient win over Ravens

Will Anderson Jr. and the Texans manhandled Caleb Williams. (Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)

23. Chicago Bears (1-1)

Last week: 16

Sunday: Lost to Houston Texans 19-13

People are starting to worry about No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, right? Especially his family. The Texans sacked Williams seven times Sunday and hit him 11 more times. It made his debut last week (two sacks and four hits against the Titans) feel like a vacation. Williams’ 53 passer rating (30th in the NFL) isn’t as big a concern as his health going forward behind this offensive line. The Panthers are the only team with fewer yards than the Bears’ 353 through two weeks.

Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

24. Indianapolis Colts (0-2)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 20-16

Maybe the Anthony Richardson-for-MVP talk can take a week off now. The Colts’ second-year quarterback, who entered the season with unrealistic expectations, had a passer rating of 41.8 Sunday thanks to three interceptions and a 50 percent completion percentage. Jonathan Taylor had 103 yards on the ground. The Colts averaged more yards per play than the Packers (6.4 to 5.7), but they were 2-for-7 on third down. (And all those interceptions.) Indianapolis has given up 473 rushing yards in two games.

Up next: vs. Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

25. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 18-13

The Browns won despite 13 penalties. They now “lead” the league with 24 penalties and have lost more expected points to penalties (5.88) than anyone in the league. Luckily, they were playing the Jaguars on Sunday. Deshaun Watson’s 4.5 yards per attempt rank 30th in the league, and he has twice as many interceptions (two) as passing touchdowns (one).

Up next: vs. New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

26. Los Angeles Rams (0-2)

Last week: 19

Sunday: Lost to Arizona Cardinals 41-10

It’s a testament to the reverence Sean McVay commands around the league that pretty much everyone thought the Rams would keep rolling with a battered offensive line and no Puka Nacua. Reality hit Sunday in Arizona and now Cooper Kupp will miss “an extended period of time” with an ankle injury. The Rams have the second-worst point differential in the league after two weeks (minus-37). The Rams were 2-for-11 on third down, rushed for 53 yards and they have to play the 49ers and Packers in the next three weeks.

Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Rodrigue: ‘Humbling’ day for Rams featured too few answers, not enough physicality

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Cleveland Browns 18-13

The Jaguars have lost seven of their last eight games. The only team they’ve beaten in that stretch is Carolina. This is how bad it’s gotten: Trevor Lawrence went to the postgame interview podium and said, “We suck right now.” And the team’s official site posted the clip on social media. Lawrence is not wrong, but still. His completion percentage (51) ranks 30th in the league and Jacksonville’s 1.43 points per drive ranks 25th.

Up next: at Buffalo Bills, Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET

“We gotta figure it out.” pic.twitter.com/xspO437KJW

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 15, 2024

28. Tennessee Titans (0-2)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to New York Jets 24-17

First-year head coach Brian Callahan had the sideline clip of the day when he was caught asking quarterback Will Levis, “What the (heck) are you doing?” Callahan admitted it after the game and added, “It’s dumb … he’s a grownup and he knows better.” Titans fans get Callahan’s point. Levis has made two confounding, game-losing mistakes in two weeks. Sunday, it was fumbling in the red zone while trying to throw a backward pass while hovering in the air completely horizontally.

Up next: vs. Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Washington Commanders (1-1)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Beat New York Giants 21-18

Austin Seibert, a fifth-round pick by the Browns in 2019, had attempted four NFL field goals in the last two seasons before Sunday. He was sitting at home last week before the Commanders cut kicker Cade York after a shaky Week 1 and signed Seibert. Sunday, Seibert set the franchise record with seven field goals on seven attempts. The Commanders had eight possessions. Seven ended with field goals. One was a kneel-down to end the first half.

Up next: at Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

30. Denver Broncos (0-2)

Last week: 27

Sunday: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6

It’s possible Bo Nix isn’t as good as Patrick Mahomes no matter what Sean Payton thinks. Payton put a lot of pressure on his rookie quarterback by comparing him to Mahomes after the draft, and Nix is collapsing under that weight thus far. His passer rating (51) ranks 31st in the league and yet he has thrown the ball 77 times, more than all but two quarterbacks. Only the Giants and Panthers have scored fewer points than Denver (13) this year.

Up next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Broncos offense has regressed since releasing Russell Wilson. Can Sean Payton fix it?

31. New York Giants (0-2)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Lost to Washington Commanders 21-18

Malik Nabers (21 years, 49 days) is now the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 catches, 100 yards and a touchdown in a game. He was targeted on 18 of New York’s 28 passing attempts and finished with 10 catches for 127 yards. That’s enough of the good news. New York became the second team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, allow none and lose in regulation, according to NFL Research. Things are bleak for the Giants, who were bitten Sunday by Brian Daboll’s decision to try to play kicker Graham Gano despite an injury.

Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. Carolina Panthers (0-2)

Last week: 31

Sunday: Lost to Chargers 26-3

You can’t say we didn’t try to keep Carolina out of the last spot on this list. The Panthers are just making it impossible now. Two games into the season, Carolina already has a minus-60 point differential. Quarterback Bryce Young has played only 19 NFL games, and his career as a starter may already be over. Carolina will be turning to veteran backup Andy Dalton starting now. It’s an understandable move. Young was off target on an NFL-worst 19.6 percent of his passes through two games, and it wasn’t much better when he was throwing it near his pass catchers. His 44.1 passer rating is the worst in the league.

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

(Top photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)

Every contending team has star players, but they also have those special players who often fly under the radar yet are indispensable to a team’s success during a playoff run. These players have intangibles that aren’t always seen by the public, and with the focus mostly on stars, they often get overlooked, particularly outside their local market. It’s time to give them the national recognition they deserve. As I’ve done for the past three seasons, I touched base with front-office executives and managers across MLB to hear their thoughts on these key players. So, who is the most underrated, yet indispensable player on each of the viable postseason contenders?

(Teams are ordered by their postseason seeding entering Tuesday, including those outside each league’s six-team playoff field.) 

American League

1. New York Yankees: Austin Wells, C

Austin Wells got off to a slow start to the season, batting .196 in March/April and .213 in May. However, he kept improving over the next three months, batting .238 in June, .277 in July and .325 in August. (His average has dipped in September.) He went from hitting at the bottom of the Yankees’ lineup to the middle of the order in the cleanup spot, behind Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. After hitting only three home runs through June, Wells’ power arrived in July and August when he belted nine of his 13 homers on the season. The rookie quickly became the Yankees’ third-best position player after Judge and Soto. He’s had an even greater impact on defense, ranking in the 95th percentile in fielding run value among all major-league catchers, according to Statcast. He is in the 97th percentile in pitch framing and also has garnered above-average marks in blocking and caught stealing rate. Wells is no longer under the radar, but he’s certainly become indispensable for the Yankees.

Manager Aaron Boone: “Wells has been a star player for us on both sides of the ball. He’s a middle-of-the-order impact bat, calls a great game and is solid defensively. He’s been a game-changer for this team with all he brings to the park every day.”

2. Cleveland Guardians: Set-up relievers Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin and Cade Smith

Hunter Gaddis is tied for second in the majors with 72 appearances. (Ken Blaze / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

It’s hard to single out just one indispensable player for the Guardians because their entire set-up-reliever room has made such a difference this season. Their bullpen leads the majors in ERA (2.65) and batting average against (.202). In Emmanuel Clase (0.66 ERA, 46 saves in 49 opportunities), the Guardians have the game’s best closer. But their three set-up relievers have been almost as dominant. Hunter Gaddis has a 1.44 ERA in 72 appearances, Tim Herrin has a 1.96 ERA in 69 games and Cade Smith has a 2.00 ERA in 71 outings. Indispensable.

President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti: “Our setup guys — Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith and Tim Herrin — have been invaluable. Hard to pick just one of them because they’ve all been instrumental in our success.”

3. Houston Astros: Mauricio Dubón, INF/OF

The Astros’ roster depth has been challenged this year due to injuries and underperformance at first base and in the outfield. However, the versatile Mauricio Dubón has helped fill the void, playing all four infield positions and all three outfield positions for Houston. He’s batted .269 with 23 doubles, 44 runs scored and 45 RBIs in 127 games and 391 plate appearances. Dubón ranks in the 84th percentile in fielding run value, in the 82nd percentile in arm strength and in the 94th percentile in range (outs above average).

General manager Dana Brown: “Mauricio can do so many things on the baseball field! … He plays multiple positions extremely well, has good speed, provides clutch hits, brings high energy to the park and is loved by his teammates.”

4. Baltimore Orioles: Albert Suárez, RHP

The Orioles have dealt with significant injuries in their rotation this year, including season-ending elbow injuries to Kyle Bradish and John Means as well as losing Grayson Rodriguez, who has been out since early August with lat discomfort. They bolstered their rotation at the trade deadline by acquiring Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers, but ultimately Albert Suárez, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2017, has stepped up and been their second-best starting pitcher behind Corbin Burnes. Suárez has gone 8-5 with a 3.39 ERA in 21 starts and eight relief appearances. He was especially a difference-maker in August, when he went 2-0 with a 1.97 ERA over six appearances (five starts).

GM Mike Elias: “Our pro scouting department quietly signed him out of the KBO last fall and our minor-league pitching coaches helped him add velocity. Along with Corbin Burnes, he has held our pitching staff together and, in my opinion, should win Comeback Player of the Year.”

5. Kansas City Royals: Lucas Erceg, RHP

Lucas Erceg has converted eight of 10 save opportunities for the Royals. (Peter Aiken / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

The Royals’ trade-deadline acquisition of Lucas Erceg was significant because it gave them the impact closer they desperately needed. At the time of the trade, Erceg had posted a 3.68 ERA in 38 appearances for Oakland with three saves. After the July 30 trade, Erceg has logged a 3.10 ERA and 1.15 FIP in 19 games with eight saves, 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and 0.9 walks per nine. Opposing batters are hitting .224 against his four-seam fastball, which averages nearly 99 mph, and .135 against his wipeout slider.

GM J.J. Picollo: “Lucas taking over the high-leverage role in our pen has allowed others to have defined roles. He has shown that he can face the heart of a lineup in crucial situations and get the job done. Don’t know where we’d be without him.”

6. Minnesota Twins: Pablo López, RHP

The Twins have stumbled down the stretch to such an extent that no one stands out as an under-the-radar indispensable player. Over the last 30 days, no one in their rotation outside of Pablo López has posted an ERA under 5.00 and their bats haven’t done nearly enough either. But the Twins are still hanging on to the final wild-card spot, thanks in no small part to López’s dominance over the past month. In his last six starts, López is 4-0 with a 1.11 ERA and 38 strikeouts and eight walks. I know he’s not under the radar, but because his recent stretch has been so important for the Twins, he deserves to be highlighted here.

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey: “Pablo López has been huge for us. His work ethic, leadership, and the way he handles himself every day make him the guy everyone looks up to. He sets the tone for our staff on the mound and with so many young starters who we need down the stretch, he’s the one they look to and the glue that keeps that group together.”

7. Detroit Tigers: Zach McKinstry, INF/OF

The Tigers traded Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline, not realizing they would be in the middle of the wild-card race in mid-September. They were five games below .500 (52-57) at the beginning of August and now are five games over (78-73) and sit 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the third wild card. One of the Tigers’ surprise contributors has been Zach McKinstry, who has played second base, shortstop, third base, designated hitter and all three outfield positions for them this year. Since Aug. 1, he’s posted an .830 OPS while giving Detroit strong defense and base running (eight steals in eight attempts in that span). He ranks in the 88th percentile in defensive range and in the 79th percentile in sprint speed.

GM Jeff Greenberg: “Zach made some adjustments in the second half and has played an important role for us, especially over these last six weeks. He’s provided impact at the plate, on the bases with his running, and defensively at multiple positions across the infield and outfield. His versatility can be a real factor on any given day.”

8. Seattle Mariners: Collin Snider, RHP

Collin Snider has been dominant for the Mariners as a set-up reliever, posting a 1.45 ERA and 1.098 WHIP in 38 appearances. He has 41 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Early in his career, Snider was a sinker/slider pitcher looking to find consistency, but he shifted to more of a sweeper/slider/four-seamer menu and refined his approach. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, around 90 mph with his cutter, and in the low 80s with his sweeper. That combination has enhanced his ability to miss bats as well as his overall consistency. Opponents are hitting .149 against the four-seamer and .237 against the sweeper.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto: “I’m not sure anyone outside of our team recognizes how big Collin Snider has been for us. We’ve been hit hard with injuries all year long and we really needed someone to step up. He’s done more than that.”

9. Boston Red Sox: Justin Slaten, RHP

Justin Slaten has been a key part of the Red Sox bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA, a 2.76 FIP and 0.994 WHIP over 40 appearances. He’s averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings and walked 1.6 per nine. He ranks in the 89th percentile in fastball run value and in the 79th percentile in overall pitching run value. Opposing batters are hitting .128 against his four-seamer with no extra-base hits. He ranks in the 97th percentile in chase rate and in the 95th percentile in barrel percentage. He has allowed only two earned runs in 11 appearances since July 5.

Manager Alex Cora: “Justin is an absolute strike-throwing machine with stuff. He induces weak contact and gets left-handed hitters out. He has been invaluable to our club down the stretch.”

National League

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Matt Strahm, LHP

Matt Strahm has played a key role in a strong Phillies bullpen. (Eric Hartline / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

At 32, Matt Strahm has authored his best year, logging a 2.06 ERA and 0.794 WHIP in a career-high 60 appearances. He’s struck out 69 and walked only 11 in 56 2/3 innings. His fastball run value ranks in the 93rd percentile and his overall pitching run value is in the 90th percentile. Opposing batters are hitting .169 against his four-seamer and .129 against his slider. Strahm has reverse splits as right-handed batters are hitting just .133 against him while left-handed hitters are hitting .246 against him. He’s been money down the stretch: Over his last 15 appearances, Strahm has a 1.23 ERA and 0.61 WHIP.

GM Sam Fuld: “Strahm is that guy for us. I know he was an All-Star, so maybe he doesn’t quite meet the (under-the-radar) criteria, but I feel like he’s an underappreciated player who can get lefties and righties out in any situation. He competes and wants the ball.”

2. Los Angeles Dodgers: Tommy Edman, CF

The Dodgers acquired Tommy Edman from the Cardinals in a three-team deal at the trade deadline, and after taking awhile to adjust to his new surroundings, he seems to be hitting his stride. Over his last 14 games, Edman has been arguably their best hitter, slashing .315/.362/.648 with five home runs, 12 RBIs and two steals. Since coming over from St. Louis, he’s played 18 games in center field and nine games at shortstop for the Dodgers. His versatility and ability to steal bases have really lengthened their lineup down the stretch.

GM Brandon Gomes: “Edman has the ability to seamlessly bounce back and forth between center field and shortstop and play those positions at an incredibly high level as well as adding another element of speed and bat-to-ball (skills) to complement our lineup. (It’s) been integral to our recent success.”

3. Milwaukee Brewers: Brice Turang, 2B

Brice Turang is one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball, ranking in the 89th percentile in range and in the 74th percentile in fielding run value. He’s hit a respectable .261 but also grinds at-bats and works the count. He has been dominant on the basepaths, stealing 44 bags in 50 attempts and taking the extra base when possible. He frequently makes highlight plays and his positive energy is felt on and off the field for Milwaukee.

GM Matt Arnold: “Brice has been such a dynamic force for us defensively, and also provides a competitive at-bat, working deep counts each time, with game-changing speed on the basepaths.”

4. San Diego Padres: Donovan Solano, INF

Donovan Solano has played 86 games for San Diego this year, including 31 at third base, 13 at first base, 27 at designated hitter and even a game at second base. On the season, he’s slashed .287/.343/.406 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 32 RBIs. He has tremendous instincts and is a great teammate and leader coming off the bench for the Padres.

Manager Mike Shildt: “Solano is a pro’s pro. Always takes a quality at-bat, has a very high baseball IQ and is a class act on and off the field.”

5. Arizona Diamondbacks: Jake McCarthy, CF

With elite speed, Jake McCarthy is a major threat on the basepaths. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Jake McCarthy has developed into one of the best athletic center fielders in the National League this year, slashing .288/.354/.412 in 453 plate appearances with 12 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts. He ranks in the 87th percentile in batting run value, in the 97th percentile in base-running run value and in the 79th percentile in fielding run value. His sprint speed is in the 97th percentile and his defensive range is in the 90th percentile. McCarthy, who is in his fourth season in the majors, takes away doubles in the gaps and singles in front of him defensively and puts constant pressure on opponents with his base running.

GM Mike Hazen: “Jake has taken over center field for us and played really well defensively along with creating a lot of offense for us in different ways with his speed and athleticism.”

6. New York Mets: Mark Vientos, 3B

Mark Vientos has been a key cog in the Mets’ lineup and one of their most consistent hitters. He batted .291/.347/.549 in the first half with 12 home runs and has hit .250/.309/.495 in the second half with 12 bombs. On the season, he has a 140 OPS+. He ranks in the 86th percentile in batting run value and in the 92nd percentile in barrel percentage. Vientos has crushed fastballs (.333 batting average against) and changeups (.382) while struggling against breaking balls (.172). His defense has improved considerably since spring training.

Manager Carlos Mendoza: “Proud of him; he had to work really hard. He has been solid overall on both sides, offensively and defensively. He continues to make adjustments, and he is a big reason why we are in this position as a team.”

7. Atlanta Braves: Raisel Iglesias, RHP

The Braves’ offense has absorbed tough blows this season, losing Ronald Acuña Jr. for the season and Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley for extensive time, which has made it even more crucial that they finish off opponents in close games. Enter closer Raisel Iglesias. He’s made a huge difference in those games and is one of the main reasons Atlanta is still in the race. Iglesias has converted 31 of 34 save opportunities with a 1.87 ERA and 0.718 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting .150 against his changeup, .161 against his four-seamer, .158 against his slider and .143 against his sinker. He ranks in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate and barrel percentage and in the 99th percentile in chase rate.

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos: “Raisel has been the anchor of our bullpen this season. He has had numerous multi-inning high-leverage appearances in addition to being a consummate professional and elite teammate.”

(Top image: Tommy Edman: Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images; Albert Suárez: Nick Wass / Associated Press)