Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart celebrate on Sunday night. | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The New York Giants (1-0) won by eight points on Sunday night, beating the Dallas Cowboys, 28-20. In reality, though, the Giants put a beating on the Cowboys, dominating them physically. The crowd was electric. The Giants played the way head coach John Harbaugh envisioned. They took advantage of the good vibes and the preparation that came out of the summer. They mostly did what they wanted to do on offense. Defensively, they controlled one of the NFLs best offenses. How big was the victory for Harbaugh?Its funny, its number one. Its number one because its the one right now. My dad always says that. Hell say this in the car on the way home, hell say, John, youve never had a better win than that, Harbaugh said. He says it every time and Im going to tell you, I think this time it might be true. But this was really special because these guys, these players, these guys whove had belief from the beginning, who dont bat an eye, who just try to do the right thing every single day. Who try to be on point, and even when theyre not on point, theyre willing to bounce back and make it right. Maybe theres a mistake, maybe theres a false start, but we come back the next play and we find a way to make a play and erase the mistake and make it right and make it better. Buying into that kind of a mindset just in practice and then seeing it happen in the game, thats what as a coach you feel so good about.Lets get to the Kudos and Willies. Kudos to Giants fans I cannot remember the last time the atmosphere in MetLife Stadium was as raucous as it was on Sunday night. There were loud boos when the Cowboys came on the field before the game, ovations for Malik Nabers and Odell Beckham, some Lets go Giants chants, and a constant buzz.This was an awesome environment for the home team. It hinted at the possibilities of what things can be like if the Giants are actually good. It was more than I expected in all honesty, Harbaugh said. It was incredible. The stadium was unbelievable. It was everything that you would think, but it was more than I thought. It was really something. I want us to play well enough that we can create that atmosphere every single week here going forward throughout the season. Thats up to us. Thats our job as coaches and players to create a football team good enough to deserve that type of a stadium every time we play.John Harbaugh The Giants paid off Harbaughs strenuous training canp with an impressive victory. There were good vibes entering the game, wildly enthusiastic fans in the stands, and the Giants cashed in with a massive victory.A number of players credited the Giants tough training camp with how ready they were to play on Sunday night. Co-owner John Mara gave a game ball to Harbaugh after the victory.#Giants owner John Mara gave HC John Harbaugh a game ball after his first win with the organization.I was overconfident. I really was. And I was right! https://t.co/9XK0FvQyFnpic.twitter.com/OkX2rbqrrm Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2026Harbaugh celebrated by giving his parents a game ball.The Harbaughs celebrate the victory!John Harbaugh gave his father a game ball from Western Kentucky's 2002 championship pic.twitter.com/yjOnbPdjsO SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) September 14, 2026Isaiah Likely Likely caught eight passes in eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers are impressive. His contribution was even more impressive. All summer, we saw Dart lean on Likely in gotta have it situations. That carried through on Sunday night.Leading 28-20 and trying to close out the victory, Dart found Likely for first downs on third-and-9 and third-and-3 to allow the Giants an opportunity to run the clock out. Likely ended up catching four passes for first downs. In the red zone, Likely was the first option, catching two short TD passes.Malik Nabers God told Nabers to play against the Cowboys. He did. And, he played exceptionally well. Nabers ended up with six catches on nine targets for 69 yardsNo matter what the coverage is, no matter who they put on him, you have all the confidence in the world that hes going to make a play, quarterback Jaxson Dart said of Nabers.How did Nabers know he would be able to take a hit on Sunday night after not playing since tearing his ACL in Week 4 of last season? Harbaugh apparently tried to tackle him, thats how.Giants WR Malik Nabers tells me John Harbaugh tackled him during walk through Everybody was worried if I could tackle. Actually Coach Harbaugh tackled meMe: He tackled you himself?Yeah, he wanted to see if I could take a tackle.Me: Did you go down?Nah I pic.twitter.com/acHfshAc6e Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) September 14, 2026Recovering their own fumbles The Giants fumbled four times, and that could have dramatically changed the outcome of the game. Fortunately for them, the only one they lost was a Tyrone Tracy fumble in the red zone. They managed to get on top of the other three fumbles.Devin Singletary In training camp, Harbaugh said Singletary was one of the most consistent players he had been around. Singletary doesnt do anything spectacular, he simply contributes. He had just six carries for 16 yards on Sunday, but added four catches for 22 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown catch to put the Giants up by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter.Jaxson Dart The second-year quarterback was outstanding against the Cowboys. He completed 23 of 29 passes (79.3%), for 230 yards, and three touchdowns. He ran 11 times for 54 yards. He got down or out of bounds when he needed to. He made big throws when the Giants needed them. He played the way a franchise quarterback is supposed to play.Cam Skattebo The Giants human battering ram of a running back helped the Giants grind down the Cowboys by running 18 times for 81 yards, 4.5 yards per carry. The Giants ran for 165 yards total on 37 attempts, 4.5 per rush.Matt Nagy (and the offensive staff) Maybe the way the Giants offense performed on Sunday, always seeming to be a step ahead of the Dallas defense, will quiet those who arent sure about Nagys ability to coordinate the Giants offense.The Skattebo touchdown run was a beautifully-designed play where Skattebo had no Dallas defenders within 10 yards of him. One of the two Likely touchdowns was a gorgeous play where Likely seemed to appear out of thin air with everyone else going away from him. Giants wide receivers were running wide open all night. The Giants ran the ball when they wanted to, and how they wanted to. They passed the ball efficiently, and Dart had to make few tight-window throws.The Giants finished with 394 total yards, 150 more than the supposedly offensive superior Cowboys. They dominated Dallas physically, holding the ball for 36:40 compared to 23:20 for the Cowboys.Third-down offense Whether it was throwing the ball to Likely, running the tush push, Dart running the ball, Skattebo hammering into the line, it didnt matter. The Giants went an audacious nine of 11 on third-down conversions.Run defense The offense wasnt the only group dominating the Cowboys physically. The Giants allowed just 69 rushing yards on 18 carries, 3.8 yards per attempt. Who needs that Dexter guy?Jevon Holland Holland had a sliding interception that set up a Giants touchdown in the second quarter.Wet Willies to Tyrone Tracy After fumbling away a scoring opportunity in the red zone on just his second carry of the game in the second quarter, Tracy did not play again on offense. He was on the kickoff return team after Deonte Banks suffered cramping, but thats it.Veteran running back Najee Harris was inactive Sunday. I have to think Tracy and Harris will be changing places for the foreseeable future.Dru Phillips Phillips was called for three defensive pass interference penalties. Even though I believe a couple were questionable, they were called. You just cant commit that many DPIs, especiallu when they are spot fouls.Paulson Adebo Adebos first snap came on third-and-12 at the Giants 17-yard line after Deonte Banks had hobbled off the field. Adebo gave up an easy 15-yard completion to the 2-yard line. He also gave up a 10-yard completion to Jonathan Mingo that didnt seem competitive.Jon Runyan Jr. As much as fans complain about center John Michael Schmitz, and even though he just got a two-year, $22 million contract extension, Runyan might be the weak link on the offensive line. His 37.6 score in the preliminary Pro Football Focus grades was the worst on the offense. He gave up three pressures in 34 pass-blocking snaps.

[Getty Images]An athlete's Hyrox performance has sparked debate after completing a race in Beijing despite soiling herself midway through the event.Footage of the woman competing in the indoor fitness competition despite her soiled legs has gone viral, with some people raising concerns around hygiene and others saluting her resolve to push through. Some also criticised race organisers for letting her to continue.Hyrox said they launched a "major cleanup operation" after the event on Saturday, including by sanitising equipment and replacing sections of the carpet.The German fitness company acknowledged the "legitimate concerns" but urged people not to direct their frustration at the athlete herself.The company did not reveal the woman's identity, but it was revealed online and she subsequently received threats of violence."There is no place in our community for threats of violence or encouragement to harm an athlete," Hyrox said in a statement early on Monday."Any person identified as engaging in this behaviour whether through comments, direct messages or social media will be permanently banned from all Hyrox events," it said.Some participants in the same event had demanded an apology and a refund, arguing that they were forced to come into contact with contaminated equipment, Chinese media reported.In each Hyrox race, participants alternate between running a kilometre and doing fitness exercises, such as the sled push, burpee jumps, indoor rowing, and lunges while carrying a sandbag.The competition has exploded in popularity since it was founded in 2017 in Hamburg, Germany, and is now held across the world.Some have questioned why those officiating the competition in Beijing did not intervene when the athlete soiled herself, given that Hyrox penalises acts including spitting and littering."From a basic health and sanitation standpoint, the athlete should have been stopped immediately, and any contaminated areas should have been closed off and properly cleaned before other athletes were allowed through," Erica Dodge, a US-based nurse, wrote in a comment on Instagram.Joe Ho, who also took part in the Hyrox Beijing competition over the weekend, has criticised Hyrox's response to the issue and called on the organisation to "take responsibility when its own procedures fail"."If the organisation accepts that something went wrong, why not offer affected participants refunds, credits, or some meaningful form of compensation?" he wrote.Others in the fitness community have pointed out that this is not unheard of for endurance athletes.One comment on Facebook, whose author noted that marathoners have similar experiences, while another wrote: "They've trained too long and too hard to give up just like that."In 2005, British marathoner Paula Radcliffe famously stopped at the 22-mile mark during the London Marathon to relieve herself by the side of the road in full view of cameras and then went on to win the race.Earlier this year, Chinese marathoner Li Meizhen made headlines after crossing the finish line at the Hengshui Lake Marathon with menstrual blood on her legs.

Alexander Zverev has finally landed his first US Open title, six years after losing in the 2020 final [Getty Images]Alexander Zverev used his greater experience to beat home hope Ben Shelton in the US Open final and quiet a partisan crowd hoping to laud a rare American men's champion.German top seed Zverev lifted a heavy burden by winning his first major title at this year's French Open and has quickly added another with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory over Shelton in New York.At the start of the season, there were question marks over whether 29-year-old Zverev would ever win one of the sport's most prestigious prizes.Now he is celebrating becoming a multiple Grand Slam singles champion, having seen the path to glory partially cleared by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.Sinner and Alcaraz swept the board between them at the majors in 2024 and 2025 - and Zverev has taken full advantage against the rest of the field in their absences.Big-hitting Shelton, 23, has long been identified as a player who can win the biggest titles, but ultimately came up short in his first Grand Slam final against a rejuvenated Zverev.Eighth seed Shelton was aiming to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003, but losing serve in the first game of the match set the tone as Zverev controlled the opening two sets.The momentum shifted in the third set, however, as Shelton finally started applying serious pressure on Zverev's serve.Taking his third break opportunity provided encouragement to the 24,000 home fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but starting the fourth set with a poor service game allowed Zverev to reassert his authority and extinguish American dreams.Zverev did not initially know he had secured victory when Shelton hit a return long on championship point, only breaking out into a broad and slightly surprised smile after his team pointed out the score to him.Zverev turns US Open tears into triumphAll About US Open: Zverev claims second Grand Slam titleZverev uses Grand Slam-winning experience to see off SheltonZverev will stay as world number two following his US Open triumph but has closed the gap on Sinner at the top of the rankings [Getty Images]Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.But injuries to his biggest rivals - Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open - opened the door for Zverev.A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton's weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: "We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months."I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through."I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before."Positives for Shelton - but work still to doShelton will rise to a career-high fourth in the world when the latest ATP rankings come out on Monday [Getty Images]Despite the bitter disappointment of losing Sunday's showpiece, Shelton will take pride from his run to a first major final, as well as further belief he can win a Grand Slam title.Shelton came into the tournament with confidence after winning the Canadian Open last month, but also with a point to prove after an underwhelming season at the Grand Slams.A chastening first-round exit at Wimbledon against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen was described by Shelton as "one of the toughest losses" of his career, acting as a wake-up call going into the North American hard court swing.He has bounced back superbly to come close to ending America's 23-year wait for somebody to finally follow in Roddick's footsteps.Shelton did not have an easy route to the final, needing to overcome a series of big-hitting opponents which included three former top-10 players as well as seven-time major champion Alcaraz.Shelton had never beaten a top-three opponent until powering past Alcaraz - who was playing in his first tournament for almost five months - in an epic quarter-final which ended at 3:34am.However, he could not double that tally against world number two Zverev.Shelton's recent success has been a product of developing his defensive skills and improving his weaker backhand, but not being able to execute his damaging forehand in crucial moments against Zverev proved costly.It was a reminder of the work the American number one still has to do at the highest level against the very best opponents."I'm excited with the progress that I feel that I've made, but this one stings 100%," said Shelton."I made too many errors when I had the ball there on my strings."Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Alexander Zverev is the second German man to win the US Open in the Open era after Boris Becker [Getty Images]As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title.Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set.This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev's way.But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June.Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory.After firing down another unstoppable serve to win the match, Zverev returned to the baseline ready to start the next point - only to be told by his team the match was over."In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all," Zverev said."It's funny - tennis teachers always tell you to just play the next point and forget about the score."At that moment I forgot about the score and it helped me."As the realisation sunk in, the 29-year-old broke into a broad and slightly surprised smile before raising his arms above his head.It was a direct contrast to his defeat by Thiem in 2020, where a tearful Zverev said during the trophy presentation: "I wish one day I can bring the trophy home."Now, his wish has come true."We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we've won two in three months," said Zverev."2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before."Zverev's parents were not there for his previous final at Flushing Meadows, but his father and coach Alexander senior was on the sidelines this time.As well as paying tribute to his father, Zverev also thanked his mother for her support following his type 1 diabetes diagnosis as a child."When doctors tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'," Zverev said."My mother is the most important and strongest person I know."Zverev caps transformational year with US Open triumphAll About US Open: Zverev claims second Grand Slam title'He was in a trance-like state'World number two Zverev has enjoyed his best year on the Tour, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon alongside his French Open and US Open successes.He has been aided by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who swept the majors in the past two seasons, but a strengthened mentality and dedication to fitness has also helped."There is no-one as fit as Zverev, he is right up there," former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on BBC Radio 5 Live."You can argue about Alcaraz and Sinner, and Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal] when they were in their prime physically, but Zverev is right up there as one of the best athletes to play the sport."Zverev was taken to five sets in his first two matches, with both finishing in the early hours of the New York morning.He was two points from defeat in the first round, but rallied, played his way into form and did not drop a set from the third round until the final.Faced with a partisan crowd against Shelton, Zverev did not buckle. He kept his emotions deliberately in check and, even though he lost the third set, never loosened his grip on the match."I'm so admiring of his strength of character and the zen-like state he's been in since the very beginning of the match," said former British number one Annabel Croft. "The most extraordinary thing - and I don't think I've ever witnessed it - was that he didn't realise he had won."It was so bizarre, but it was like he was in a trance-like state while he was playing."Alexander Zverev is now a two-time Grand Slam champion [Getty Images]His serve - one of the best on the ATP Tour - was key against Shelton.He won 39 of 42 points behind his first serve in the first two sets and did not face a break point until the middle of the third.Shelton broke at the end of the third set to extend the match but the American made little impact in return games from then on, winning only four of 20 receiving points in set fourVictory means he will now have the world number one ranking in his sights - he trails Sinner by 1,810 points with two Masters 1000 events and the season-ending ATP Tour finals to come.But Zverev is a polarising figure in tennis.In October 2023, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros (392,000) for bodily harm against his ex-partner, with whom he shares a child.Zverev denied the claims and lodged an objection against the order. A trial in May 2024 was discontinued after a week and there was a separate settlement between Zverev and his ex-girlfriend.At the time, the court told BBC Sport: "The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence."Zverev was also accused in October 2020 of physical violence and controlling behaviour by another former girlfriend. He maintained his innocence from the start and there were no legal proceedings.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

PHILADELPHIA The reports stacked like cars piling up in Sunday traffic on Interstate 95 en route to Lincoln Financial Field. More than ever, the willingness of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to adapt as a signal-caller and detach from his comfort zone has been under the microscope.One dispatch chronicled Hurts' involvement in an underwhelming "four verts" play-call that resulted in Philadelphia's drama-infested 2025 campaign ending with an anticlimactic whimper during the wild-card round of the playoffs versus the San Francisco 49ers. That April 1 report from ESPN also detailed how, on a much larger scale, Hurts had resisted certain creative modifications that would have diversified the Eagles' offensive scheme.For much of last season, beleaguered play-caller Kevin Patullo bore the brunt of criticism regarding the shortcomings of a star-studded yet stuttering Eagles offense. But in the court of public opinion, Hurts wasn't absolved of blame.He rolled with the punches this offseason. This Sunday, in a 24-22 season-opening victory over the Washington Commanders, he finally got to throw his own haymakers with a new offensive coordinator in place, the makings of an explosive attack on display and a nascent narrative sprouting amid the honeymoon of that QB-OC marriage.Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over. He, first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and the unit altogether had to work some kinks out the same was true for Jayden Daniels and a similarly madeover Commanders offense now coordinated by their young former NFL backup QB-turned-OC, David Blough however, Philadelphia's play in the other two phases of the game allowed its offense to grow through its pains.There were stretches where Mannion's offense didn't look pretty. The run game was paltry far too often, actually, with the Commanders mounting 10 tackles for loss. That said, Hurts' three-touchdown performance, Barkley ripping off a 42-yard run (when he had only four runs of 20-plus yards all last season) and the rise of wideout Dontayvion Wicks are all reasons for optimism, particularly following a 2025 season that was full of head-scratching, mostly stale offense."I know how the media is and how Philly is and we like to overreact a little bit, but it's not a finished product," Barkley said. "We're going to keep working. We'll keep trusting Sean, we'll keep trusting the system. We'll find ways to just continue to get better."Besides, when it mattered most, the explosives popped, including a 22-yard Hurts scramble on third-and-18 that preceded a 43-yard catch-and-run touchdown by tight end Dallas Goedert in the fourth quarter. The Eagles emerged victorious from an NFC East battle that slogged at times but ultimately thrilled in the final frame, as defensive tackle Moro Ojomo stymied Washington's potential game-tying 2-point conversion attempt with 61 seconds left.It usually takes at least a few weeks for the identity of an overhauled offense to crystallize in the NFL. The proof of concept is in place for Mannion, though. Hurts illustrated the blueprint."I think it just says a lot about his ability to adapt," Eagles right guard Tyler Steen said afterward. "Whenever the challenge is presented to him, he always takes it full-on. I think he just showed that today."Operating in a Mannion system that pulls from the teachings of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 28-year-old dual threat QB auspiciously navigated a paradigm shift that deviates from several of his reported preferences.The 34-year-old Mannion has concocted an offense that leans on under-center play and pre-snap motion, plus pure-progression passing, which calls for the quarterback to move through a series of predetermined routes, where timing is integral, namely on throws over the middle. Hurts has been criticized for his perceived reluctance to target that zone in the past, and his ability to effectively function outside his wheelhouse has been questioned by some.Yet, against the Commanders in Week 1, he made an array of game-changing plays that countered his doubters. His 64-yard second-quarter dime to Wicks began with Hurts under center. And both of his scoring strikes to Goedert were over the middle."Down the middle touchdowns are f***ing awesome," Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata told Yahoo Sports in the locker room postgame. "People saying that J can't read or throw down the middle of the field boom, does that s***."Mannion won his first chess match: 'Sean did a hell of a job with going to those things that he seen'Mannion spent nine seasons in the league as a reserve quarterback after starring at Oregon State. A 2015 third-round draft pick, he appeared in 14 games during that near-decade span. What he lacked in playing time, he gained in knowledge, absorbing concepts from a bevy of today's NFL head coaches, like McVay, Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin Stefanski of the Atlanta Falcons and Klint Kubiak of the Las Vegas Raiders while he played for the Rams and then bopped between the Vikings and Seattle Seahawks from 2019-23.Mannion is a third-year NFL assistant, having previously studied under another head coach known for his offensive chops, Matt LaFleur, as a Green Bay Packers staffer the past two seasons.He's also Hurts' seventh play-caller in seven pro seasons. There had been five before him in the Nick Sirianni era alone. Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore were such big hits that they landed head-coaching jobs. Brian Johnson and Patullo didn't pan out. Sirianni himself actually commanded the offense for a chunk of his first go-around at the helm before he handed off play-calling duties to Steichen.Stability could go a long way for Hurts. That, of course, requires Mannion to do his part. Although he has a learning curve, too, he came out of his first regular-season game with a win, a milestone Hurts characterized at the podium as "a big-time deal."Chunk plays made the difference in a duel with another first-time NFL coordinator, Washington's Daronte Jones, who deployed Brian Flores' inspired disguises in Sunday's chess match."Those ones where we hit explosives, whether it was a pass, whether it was a Jalen scramble, whether it was a Saquon [Barkley] run, we ended up scoring on those drives," Sirianni said."So you can see how important that is to the flow of the game and scoring points."Hurts ignited the crowd with his deep shot to Wicks in the first half. It precipitated from a 13-personnel look. What a ball from Jalen Hurts, off play-action with a nice pocket. Dropped it over Mike Sainristil and into the hands of Dontayvion Wickspic.twitter.com/odHDY88Xiw Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) September 13, 2026The Eagles had three tight ends on the field, seemingly signaling the ground attack after Barkley gained 6 yards on a wide-zone run the play prior, a run scheme that Mannion ushered in this offseason as well. Hurts was once again under center, except this time he faked the handoff and unleashed a pretty spiral.He dropped a perfectly placed pass over Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil and into the hands of Wicks, the start of the former Packers receiver's 2-catch, 73-yard, 1-touchdown coming out party in South Philly."It's a really good feeling when the d-line is playing it one way and expecting outside zone and then we run play-action," Steen said. "It makes it easier for us to pass block because they're playing that run. So I think just continuing to build off each play and build off drives and the whole game itself, I think it's going to be big for us."Wicks' scoring grab came two drives after he took the top off the defense. Mannion picked a play that sent Wicks in motion, from right to left. Sainristil followed him, but Wicks had inside leverage and left him in the dust as he broke out toward the corner of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown that was made possible by a fadeaway toss from Hurts.The Eagles used a noticeably high volume of pre-snap motion Sunday a season removed from deploying it on the second-fewest snaps of any team in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Wicks explained that the movement can give offensive players like him, in addition to an OC such as Mannion, a "tell," often unveiling a defense's coverage.When asked if he could feel Mannion targeting mismatches throughout the game, Wicks said, "Yeah.""I mean, that's the biggest thing," he continued. "You see it, go at it. So I think Sean did a hell of a job with going to those things that he [saw], that he [saw] was going to come open."

Logan Webb (61) tosses a new ball as Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) rounds the bases on Manny Machado's (13) two-run home run in the second inning as the San Francisco Giants payed the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Franciisco, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Youve watched baseball long enough to know an inherent truth: stars cannot save you. This is not football, where having one of the best quarterbacks alive can gift you a .500 season as the starting point. Its certainly not basketball, where having one of best players is synonymous with having one of the best teams. You watched Barry Bonds break the single-season home record for a team that still missed the playoffs. You watched Tim Lincecum win a Cy Young on a team that finished 18 games below .500. And if you thinks this is just a San Francisco Giants thing, well, its not. The Los Angeles Angels employed Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for six straight seasons, and won exactly zero postseason games. While Ohtani has left and found greener pastures, Trout has put together one of the greatest careers in MLB history and, more than 17 years since the day he heard his name called at the draft, is still in desperate search of his first playoff win. Not a series win; a game. Nine measly innings. So yes. Stars very much cannot save you. But an absence of stars will kill you, swiftly and emphatically. This is a newts and salamanders situation: not all stars play for good teams, but all good teams have stars. Plural. The Giants entered the season with two stars, one on each side of the ball: Logan Webb and Rafael Devers. And while those two were far from the only reason that the season started as sideways as a 2004 Paul Giamatti film, you can at least draw something of a line connecting the teams record after six weeks (14-23) to Webbs ERA (5.06) and Devers OPS (.593). Those two eventually course-corrected to varying levels. Webb mixed enough good in with the bad to make his third-straight All-Star appearance, while Devers turned the calendar in a hurry and, since the start of May, has been third in both OPS and wRC+, behind only presumptive MVPs Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez. The Giants, of course, did no such course correcting, reminding us once again of todays lesson: stars cannot save you. We spent much of the summer watching Devers smash home run after home run and remembering that lesson. But occasionally that aforementioned corollary an absence of stars will kill you would rear its head. On Sunday, in a 6-4 loss that resulted in a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, the Giants were reminded of that corollary. It was a starless Sunday at Oracle Park, unless you were one of the fans sitting in the bleachers watching the first Sunday of the NFL season, instead. The Giants found themselves emphatically starless. Webb was pitching, yes, but just two starts removed from the worst outing of his career, and leaking oil in a big way. He didnt look himself. He didnt look the part of an ace or a star. And Devers? Shortly before the game began, the Giants announced that he had been placed on the 60-Day Injured List with a core muscle injury, ending his season. One star who, for now, is not a star. One star who, for now, is not healthy. Its a good recipe for a forgettable baseball loss. As if to hammer home this point, the Peacock broadcast displayed the Giants nine-player lineup next to the team they played for when the season began. Just two of the players (Jung Hoo Lee and Christian Koss) were on the Giants. Just one other (Brett Harris) was on a different teams MLB roster. Despite that, just two (Bryce Eldridge and Drew Gilbert) began the season for the Giants AAA affiliate. Two more (Shay Whitcomb and Andrew Knizner) were on different teams AAA affiliates. And finally, two more (Jonah Cox and the debuting Scott Bandura) had opened the season for San Franciscos AA team.Just for good measure, the Giants turned to three players off of their bench: one more (Osleivis Basabe) who started the year in AAA, and two more who began the season down in AA (Drew Cavanaugh and Turner Hill). When Webbs night was over, he was replaced by Matt Wilkinson, whose first appearance of the season was his AA debut. He handed things over to the third and final pitcher, Trent Harris, who began the season in AAA. A distinct lack of stars, especially when it became apparent that Webb was all too hittable on this night. He loaded the bases before recording an out, ceding back-to-back singles to open the game, and following them up with an uncompetitive double. An unproductive out was only temporary respite before Jackson Merrill smacked a two-run double. It was not just a first inning thing, as weve sometimes seen from Webb. A Samad Taylor leadoff single and steal put the Giants leader in trouble immediately to start the second, and Taylor would later score on a single by Fernando Tatis Jr., who would later score on a home run by Manny Machado. And with that, it was clear what kind of a night it would be. Webb would mostly settle in after that, but the damage was done. Hed give up just one more rally, when Ethan Salas cracked a triple (his first career hit) in the fourth inning, and scored on another Tatis single. If youre looking for a silver lining, Webbs strikeouts returned for this game, as he whiffed seven batters, while walking just one. But its hard to search too hard for a silver lining given the eight hits and six runs in five innings. Really, the silver lining came from what happened after Webb left: Wilkinson allowed just one hit in three shutout innings, while Harris pitched a perfect ninth.The offense, tasked with undoing a large early deficit without Devers, tried, but fell short. Knizner made it clear that there would be fight, when he blasted a two-run homer in the second inning to give the team life.View LinkBut an opportunity was squandered in the fourth, when Eldridge led off with a single and Cox followed with his greatest weapon: the bunt single. Bandura, in just his second career at-bat, struck out, before Whitcomb blooped a single to load the bases. The situational opportunities still haunt the Giants, though, as Knizner hit a fly ball that wasnt deep enough to score Eldridge, before the inning ended on a Harris fly ball. They would chip away an inning later, though. San Diego turned to a lefty reliever for the fifth inning, and Koss led off with a single and a stolen base, before Gilbert worked an impressive same-handed walk. A double steal put the Giants in position for a big inning, but they could only get one run out of it, after Lee had an unproductive out and Eldridge ground into an RBI fielders choice.View LinkThey chipped away an inning later, and this time it was in memory-making fashion: Bandura, who became the franchise record-setting 67th player to appear in a game for the Giants this year, led off the inning with a single, his first career hit, which he celebrated by taking second on an error. He would later score the first run of his career, when Koss brought him home with a clutch two-out single. View LinkBut just as the Giants have grown accustomed to poor situational hitting, theyve grown accustomed to bizarre plays on the field, and Koss had a new one for us: with Koss at first and Cavanaugh at second, Basabe ground into what figured to be an inning-ending out. Xander Bogaerts, however, tried to get the out the short way, and threw to second too late. Koss, not anticipating this, ran right through the bag; rather than an infield single, the Padres had Koss and then, after pivoting 90 degrees, Cavanaugh in an easy backyard pickle. Once the shenanigans arrive, you know the game is over. And it was. The Giants tried again in the eighth, when Bandura drew a leadoff walk and Hill worked a two-out walk. They tried again in the ninth, when Eldridge bopped a two-out single, and Cox worked 10 pitches out of Yuki Matsui. But on the 10th, he struck out swinging, and the game was over. All credit to the kids. Theyre fun. And theyre making memories. But its hard to win without stars.

Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesLions news: Key O-Lineman gets murky injury update from Dan Campbell after Week 1 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Detroit Lions opened the 2026 season with a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, but the win came with a concerning injury to starting left guard Christian Mahogany.Mahogany, 25, started on Sunday after entering training camp in competition with Ben Bartch for the left guard position. The third-year offensive lineman from Boston College was injured during Detroits second offensive possession while running downfield to block on a running back Jahmyr Gibbs run. Mahogany fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed at his left knee.He remained on the field for several minutes before walking off under his own power. After being evaluated on the sideline, he was taken to the locker room and initially listed as questionable to return with a knee injury. He was ultimately ruled out during the second half.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Following the game, head coach Dan Campbell provided a murky update on Mahogany, saying the Lions received some initial good news on the 25-year-old but that he is still not out of the woods yet, while indicating that the injury could be more of a hip ailment than a knee ailment.The timing is particularly important because Detroit faces the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 17, giving Mahogany only a short turnaround after Sundays injury.If Mahogany cannot play, Bartch would be the next option at left guard. Bartch replaced Mahogany against New Orleans and played the rest of the game. He had split first-team practice repetitions with Mahogany last week after missing part of training camp while recovering from Lisfranc surgery.Bartch also had a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that pushed the Lions back from inside the Saints 5-yard line. Detroit settled for a field goal on that possession before New Orleans rallied to tie the game.The Lions are already dealing with another offensive-line absence. Starting center Cade Mays is on injured reserve with a broken wrist and is expected to miss at least the first four games. Mays can become eligible to return for Detroits Oct. 11 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Juice Scruggs started at center against the Saints after moving from guard following Mays injury.Mahogany also missed six games last season after suffering a fractured fibula in the Lions Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Related: Why was Saints crucial strip-sack TD overturned? The rule sounds just as dumb as it lookedRelated: Lions Dan Campbell still not worried about defense despite letting Tyler Shough go off in Week 1

Photo by G Fiume/Getty ImagesStefon Diggs picked up an unnecessary penalty for celebrating his fourth quarter touchdown in a narrow Washington Commanders loss and his QB had something to say about it.The Washington Commanders lost 24-22 against the Philadelphia Eagles to start their 2026-27 NFL campaign. The close game could have gone either way, but was decided by some fine margins.Nearly a third of the games points came in the fourth quarter as Washington tried to make a comeback. However, one Stefon Diggs error cost them at a crucial juncture.Diggs poor choice of celebration after a touchdown was something that quarterback Jayden Daniels addressed after the game ended.Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesJayden Daniels says he should we gotta be smarter about Stefon Diggs celebration issueThe star WR hugged the post in celebration after his touchdown. The resulting 15-yard penalty in the fourth quarter stopped the Commanders from trying a two-point conversion which could have tied the game.The teams quarterback is their leader, and they have a responsibility to keep everyone locked in to the game and the situation. Diggs shouldnt need that, though, as a 32-year-old experienced professional.But thats the point Daniels made to the media afterwards while still managing to call out Diggs.Weve just gotta be smarter, Daniels said. You know, we gotta know situations. Situational football. Thats on me for reiterating that in the huddle.So we just gotta be smarter. Theres a time and place for everything like celebrations.Despite being just 25 years old, Daniels has a very mature head on his shoulders, and his take showcases that perfectly.Diggs has had issues when it comes to making the mature decisions over the course of his career, but perhaps having a quarterback with the cool temperament of Daniels will be good moving forward.Read more:Stefon Diggs gesture after first touchdown on Commanders might have cost them win over EaglesStephen Curry at Quarterback Former NFL player gives huge praise to Caleb Williams after win vs PanthersGive the defense credit Deshaun Watson speaks on his performance in opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen speaks with General Manager Chris Ballard before the first day of training camp practice Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana.The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2026 season hoping to build on their 89 finish from 2025. Instead, a 4123 loss to the Baltimore Ravens has raised fresh questions about head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard.James Boyd Warns Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard After Ravens RoutAfter Sundays collapse, The Athletics James Boyd argued that the Colts looked nowhere near their better days and fell short of the progress they hoped to make from last season.So far, the sequel is off to a nightmarish start, and neither Ballard nor Steichen should feel safe after being at the helm of such an embarrassing showing, Boyd wrote.Steichen himself did not shy away from what went wrong in the game where Baltimore piled up 506 yards against Indianapolis. But he refused to treat one afternoon as a verdict on the entire campaign.Theres so much football [in front of us], Steichen said in the postgame. Its one game. Like, this could happen Week 6. It just happened to happen Week 1.We dont want it to happen again. Were going to look at the tape; were going to be honest with each other and hold each other accountable.While Boyd agreed with the Colts head coach, he sees a bigger issue than one ugly loss. He feels the loss has made the Colts margin for error much smaller.PREDICT THE NFL SEASON:PFNs Free NFL Playoff PredictorSteichen was adamant that one game wont define the Colts season. Hes right, though only to a degree, he added.Neither he nor Ballard has earned the benefit of the doubt. Not after what took place Sunday. Not after the constant letdowns during both of their tenures.Too many of these losses have encapsulated this era of Colts football, and a few more may require Irsay-Gordon to reevaluate just how high her own sense of urgency is regarding the trust shes given Ballard and Steichen. Its early, but their seats are already heating up.Against the Ravens, the Colts had a good start. Jonathan Taylor opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving Indianapolis an early lead.SET YOUR LINEUPS:PFNs Free Fantasy Start/Sit OptimizerHowever, Baltimore settled in and controlled the rest of the first half.Lamar Jackson responded with a 5-yard rushing score before Derrick Henry powered into the end zone from four yards out.Then Jackson delivered another big play. He found Zay Flowers over the middle and used a sharp sidearm throw around a defender. Flowers did the rest, bursting through the secondary for a 54-yard touchdown.Soon after, Henry extended Baltimores advantage with a 32-yard touchdown run, following blocks from Rashod Bateman and Chris Moore. From there, the Colts never pulled within 14 points.IMPROVE YOUR TEAM:PFNs Free Fantasy Trade CalculatorBaltimore took a 31-13 lead into halftime after Tyler Loop connected from a career-long 57-yard field goal. Henry added his third touchdown on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.The Ravens defense largely kept the Colts from finding a rhythm after their opening possession.Baltimore forced two turnovers and limited Indianapolis to just 23 combined yards across its next four possessions.Now the Colts and Steichen will have a chance to bounce back when they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, September 20, at 8:20 PM ET at Arrowhead Stadium.This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

German giants ready to ruin Man Uniteds transfer plans for the next Jude Bellingham1Manchester United completed their midfield revamp over the course of the summer, but it seems INEOS are not too happy with their current contingent.Carlos Baleba remains injured, while Andrey Santos has not been given too many opportunities. This explains why they want more, with the Red Devils being linked with a move for Borussia Dortmunds Felix Nmecha as early as January.Incidentally, United could have landed one more midfielder but a deal for Louis Page failed to materialise on deadline day.United plan to go back in for the Leicester City wonderkid, but more and more teams are entering the race, making it far from easy.Borussia Dortmund enter the race for Louis PageAccording to TEAMtalk, Dortmund are also eyeing the next Jude Bellingham and given their track record with young English talents, the 18-year-old could potentially opt to move to Signal Iduna Park instead.The 20-time English league champions remain confident that they are in pole position and even sent scouts to watch him recently.The likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle United and Sunderland are also checking on Louis Page consistently.Borussia Dortmund have joined the growing chase for Leicester City wonderkid Louis Page and sent scouts to watch the teenager in action at the weekend, TEAMtalk understands.Uniteds job made harder due to the number of teams in the frayPage was one of the standout performers as Leicester secured a thrilling 4-3 victory away to Stockport County, creating two goals in an impressive display at Edgeley Park. Manchester United took advantage of Pages appearance in Greater Manchester, with TEAMtalk confirming that the Old Trafford club had people in attendance to watch the highly-rated youngster.United came close to securing a deal for Page during the summer transfer window and remain confident they are in pole position for his signature. The youngster remains a major target for the club, who believe the groundwork done earlier this year puts them in a strong position for when Leicester decide to allow him to leave.Dortmunds interest will come as little surprise given their outstanding reputation for identifying and developing elite young talent, and there is a particularly strong link between the German club and the Bellingham name.TEAMtalk can confirm that Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle United and Sunderland were also in attendance at Stockport, with all five clubs continuing to check on Pages development. That adds to the growing interest surrounding the teenager, who has already attracted attention from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.INEOS also need to strengthen the backlineGiven the increased attention of the England Under-19 international, it remains to be seen if the Foxes hike his asking price.INEOS also need to focus on upgrading the defence, with United struggling badly so far this season, failing to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League.Lewis Hall remains the top target, but Newcastle have reportedly agreed a contract extension, which might jeopardise Uniteds chances.

Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesRaiders news: Kirk Cousins gushes over Ashton Jeanty's dominance vs. Dolphins appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Las Vegas Raiders were the Week 1 winners over the Miami Dolphins. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins made his debut under center, and he helped the team take this win. But the main focal point of this victory was running back Ashton Jeanty.Jeanty was a force the entire game against Miami. He affected the game both on the ground and through the air. He was the leading receiver and leading rusher for the Raiders on Sunday. It led Vegas to a 27-13 win to open the year.After the game, Cousins could not contain his pride and excitement over the performance given by Jeanty.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Hes very natural in the pass game. Runs hard. Hes a great player, great talent. Great pick by this team. Looking forward to using him. Gotta keep him healthy this year, the Raiders quarterback told NFL on FOX on Sunday.Jeanty found the endzone twice, both in the passing game. He caught six passes for 45 yards. On the ground, he racked up 102 yards on 23 carries. He helped Las Vegas keep some distance between them and the Dolphins on the scoreboard.Cousinss debut with Las Vegas was a bit rocky, even with the win. He tossed three touchdown passes against the Dolphins defense. However, Miamis defense also picked off the veteran quarterback twice.Still, the Raiders won this one, and thats a ton of momentum heading into the future. Vegas will look to continue their early season winning ways on September 20 when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers on the road.Related: Watch Raiders Kirk Cousins find Ashton Jeanty for 300th career passing TDRelated: Raiders rumors: Brock Bowers on track for ludicrous injury recovery after knee surgery

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesKnicks news: Jose Alvarado gets NY sports hero treatment at Cowboys-Giants clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.If it werent for the New York Knicks, the city of New York would be in shambles from a sporting point of view. Their football situation, in particular, looked bleak. After all, the New York Giants and New York Jets combined for just seven wins out of 34 games last season.But with the new NFL season being upon us, hope is renewed for the people of New York if the Knicks can break their 53-year championship drought, why cant their football teams shock the world in similar fashion as well?On Sunday, the Giants kicked off their 2026 season with a 28-20 win over division rival Dallas Cowboys at home. During this game at MetLife Stadium, a hero during the Knicks title run, Jose Alvarado, was in attendance. As one would expect, Alvarado got quite the warm reception from the fans in attendance with the Knicks guard hyping up the crowd when he was introduced.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)JOSE CHAMPION ALVARADO IN THE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/Fxq25EdWrR Rebecca (@RebeccaChasen) September 14, 2026The spirits remain high in New York city, and the Knicks have certainly rallied a city thats been crying out for success in sports. Of course, the New York Liberty did win the WNBA championship in 2024, so its not like the city has been in a long title-winning drought. But this is the Big Apple, where expectations are high, year-in, year-out.Alvarado played a huge role in the Knicks comeback victory in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. He was on the court for the final few minutes of that contest, igniting a spark that spurred New York to a historic comeback victory from 29 points down.The 28-year-old guard from Puerto Rico endeared himself to the Knicks fanbase rather quickly, and hes expected to provide a boost off the bench this year once more while backing up the King of New York himself, Jalen Brunson.The Knicks acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls which cost them Guerschon Yabusele and two second-round picks. Alvarado is currently in the final year of his contract.Related: Knicks star Jalen Brunson and Ben Stiller catch Frances Tiafoe vs. Ben Shelton match