Guide to every Week 2 NFL game: Picks, matchup nuggets, more
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The Week 2 NFL schedule for the 2021 season is stacked with great matchups, and we got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game, a bold prediction for each matchup and, of course, final score picks.
Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big statistic to know for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game projection. ESPN researcher Kyle Soppe hands out helpful fantasy football and betting nuggets, as well. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.
Let’s get into the full Week 2 slate, including a meeting between Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson on Sunday night, a battle between two AFC East rookie QBs and Patrick Peterson‘s return to Arizona. It all culminates with a Monday Night Football matchup between the Lions and the Packers on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup:
BUF-MIA | LAR-IND | NO-CAR
SF-PHI | LV-PIT | HOU-CLE
NE-NYJ | DEN-JAX | CIN-CHI
MIN-ARI | ATL-TB | DAL-LAC
TEN-SEA | KC-BAL | DET-GB
Thursday: WSH 30, NYG 29
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 67.3 | Spread: BUF -3.0 (47.5)
What to watch for: The Dolphins have yet to solve Josh Allen over the course of his career. In six career games, Allen is 5-1 against Miami with 1,552 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Bold prediction: Allen will throw at least three touchdown passes, and the Bills’ offense will get back on track. For whatever reason, Allen has had the most career success against the Dolphins. He has thrown for at least three TD passes in four of six games against Miami and has averaged 8.7 yards per attempt in those six games. Miami’s defense, especially the secondary, could cause issues for the Bills, but the Dolphins won’t be able to replicate the Steelers’ pass rush. — Alaina Getzenberg
Stat to know: Since last season’s Week 2 game at Miami, Allen’s QBR is 78, which ranks third behind Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Allen also has thrown more touchdown passes in 16 starts (36) than he did in 28 starts (32) before that game.
What to know for fantasy: Wideout Stefon Diggs had 15.9 fantasy points — nine catches for 69 yards — in the Bills’ Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh. Now, he’ll line up against Miami corner Xavien Howard, who allowed just 23 yards on four targets as the nearest defender last week, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Dolphins have covered five of the past seven meetings with Buffalo that did not occur in Week 17. Read more.
Getzenberg’s pick: Bills 31, Dolphins 24
Louis-Jacques’ pick: Bills 28, Dolphins 24
FPI prediction: BUF, 50.2% (by an average of 0.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: After Bills’ sloppy mistakes led to season-opening loss, what’s the message? ‘Don’t panic’ … Tagovailoa already clicking with receiver Waddle
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 64.3 | Spread: LAR -3.5 (48)
What to watch for: Aaron Donald vs. Quenton Nelson. It’s the NFL’s best interior defensive lineman against the league’s best guard. Nelson, an All-Pro in each of his first three seasons in the league, will have his hands full — and might need help, at times — against Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. “Every team schemes for a player like Aaron Donald,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “You can’t scheme for him on every play because he’s not at the same spot every play. … He moves around. We have to be able to make some in-game adjustments.” — Mike Wells
Bold prediction: Quarterback Matthew Stafford will throw for more than 300 yards and four touchdown passes in a dominant offensive performance. Stafford is coming off a huge Week 1 performance that saw him pass for 321 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions, in a 20-point win over the Bears. The Colts’ secondary proved suspect in Week 1, allowing the Seahawks to pass for four touchdowns. Watch for Rams coach Sean McVay to dial up the passing game once again on Sunday. — Lindsey Thiry
Stat to know: Stafford hasn’t started a season 2-0 since 2017. If he tallies at least 317 passing yards against the Colts, he will have the most passing yards through the first two games of a season in his career.
What to know for fantasy: Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has a touchdown — or the fantasy equivalent of a touchdown (six points) — as a pass-catcher in each of his past seven games. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Rams are 19-13 on the road since the McVay era began in 2017. Read more.
Thiry’s pick: Rams 32, Colts 17
Wells’ pick: Rams 27, Colts 17
FPI prediction: LAR, 55.5% (by an average of 2.1 points)
Matchup must-reads: Ramsey leads entertaining cast of characters in Rams’ secondary … Wentz won’t have a chance if Colts’ O-line doesn’t protect him better … Stafford throws for 3 TDs as his big-play ability is on display in winning Rams debut
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 59.9 | Spread: NO -3.0 (44.5)
What to watch for: Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold was sacked only once but hit seven times by an average Jets defensive front. Now, he has to go up against a strong Saints front that sacked Aaron Rodgers twice, hit him seven times and forced three interceptions. Darnold himself said Saints DE Cameron Jordan can “wreck a game.” How well Darnold handles duress will be key for Carolina keeping pace. — David Newton
Bold prediction: Cornerback Bradley Roby will have an interception in his Saints debut after arriving in a trade from Houston last week. The Saints’ defense has taken the next-man-up mentality to the next level early this season, dominating despite several key players missing from last season. And they might need to do it again, with top CB Marshon Lattimore now dealing with a thumb injury. New Orleans’ secondary will be tested by Carolina’s dynamic receivers, which will be a key to this matchup. — Mike Triplett
Stat to know: Jameis Winston looks to lead the Saints to their first 2-0 start since 2013. In 10 career starts vs Panthers, he has a Total QBR of 40.
What to know for fantasy: Alvin Kamara has scored north of 19 fantasy points in five straight games against the Panthers, tallying at least 20 touches of multiple touchdowns in each of those contests. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Saints covered every game last season that went under the total (six), making them the only team in the league to do so. In Week 1, they covered easily, and the under once again cashed. Read more.
Triplett’s pick: Saints 23, Panthers 19
Newton’s pick: Saints 30, Panthers 17
FPI prediction: NO, 60% (by an average of 3.7 points)
Matchup must-reads: Saints’ defense delivering on vow to be team’s identity without Brees … How McCaffery ‘opens up all of the possibilities’ of the Panthers’ offense … Lattimore among key Saints dealing with injuries … Reddick: Panthers’ D ‘put league on notice’ with six sacks
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 54.6 | Spread: SF -3.0 (49.5)
What to watch for: This matchup is all about the explosive plays. Philadelphia’s defense did not allow a single pass play of 20 or more yards in Week 1 against the Falcons, while the Niners’ offense was third in explosive pass plays against the Lions with five. Eagles corner Darius Slay likened 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel to a faster Anquan Boldin and said the key to success against such a dynamic offense is to read its keys and stay disciplined. — Tim McManus
Bold prediction: 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell will go over 100 rushing yards for the second straight week to begin his rookie season. The sixth-round pick was a relative unknown a week ago, then he set a record for rushing yards (104) by a Niner in his debut, against the Lions. The Eagles should be a bit better slowing the run than Detroit was, but this is a defense that looks vulnerable at the second level, which could make them susceptible to Mitchell’s one-cut-and-go ability. — Nick Wagoner
1:56
Field Yates and Mike Clay examine the fantasy outlook for 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell in Week 2.
Stat to know: Samuel had a career-high 189 receiving yards in Week 1. If he tallies 100 yards against the Eagles, he would have the most receiving yards in the first two games of the season by a 49ers player in team history.
What to know for fantasy: From 2017 to 2020, the 49ers ranked fourth in running back fantasy points. Coach Kyle Shanahan manages a running back fantasy factory and will have to work more magic with Raheem Mostert out for the foreseeable future. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Jimmy Garoppolo is 8-4 against the spread in regular-season road starts since 2019. Read more.
Wagoner’s pick: 49ers 30, Eagles 24
McManus’ pick: Eagles 27, 49ers 26
FPI prediction: SF, 52.8% (by an average of 1.1 points)
Matchup must-reads: Without Mostert, Lance could be eventual key to 49ers’ run game … Hurts’ statement game offers Eagles hope: ‘He’s the leader’ … Losing Verrett would make 49ers’ rise substantially more difficult … Hurts’ jersey sales surge 500% after Eagles’ Week 1 win
1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 49.8 | Spread: PIT -6.0 (47)
What to watch for: The Steelers confused Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense with their defensive versatility, moving safety Minkah Fitzpatrick all around the field. Look for them to weaponize versatility again with guys such as Fitzpatrick, Cam Sutton, Tre Norwood. And keep an eye on outside linebackers Melvin Ingram III, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith trying to minimize tight end Darren Waller — a player who certainly has their attention after 19 targets a week ago. — Brooke Pryor
Bold prediction: Maxx Crosby and Watt will repeat their respective opening-week performances and both get two more sacks apiece. The Raiders’ and Steelers’ offensive lines are works in progress, but Crosby is coming off AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, while the ink on Watt’s four-year, $112 million extension is still wet. Oh, to be a young pass-rusher in this game. — Paul Gutierrez
Stat to know: The past four meetings between these teams were decided by exactly three points. There has only been two series in NFL history featuring five straight games decided by exactly three points. Also, keep an eye on Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger; he needs three passing touchdowns to become the eighth NFL player with 400 passing touchdowns.
What to know for fantasy: Steelers wideout Chase Claypool‘s ceiling captures headlines, but after Week 1, he has now failed to score more than 10 fantasy points in five of his past seven games. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Steelers have had just one losing ATS season at home since 2010 (3-5 ATS at home in 2017). Read more.
Gutierrez’s pick: Steelers 31, Raiders 23
Pryor’s pick: Steelers 24, Raiders 17
FPI prediction: PIT, 64.5% (by an average of 5.4 points)
Matchup must-reads: Raiders’ Crosby not resting on Monday night laurels heading to Pittsburgh … Steelers’ Watt caps ‘heck of a week’ by helping lead upset win over Bills … Second-half utilization of wide receivers allows Carr, Raiders to find rhythm … … Carr rallies Raiders past Ravens in wild OT win: ‘Hope this is a sign of things to come’
1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 45.8 | Spread: CLE -12.5 (48)
What to watch for: How will Houston quarterback Tyrod Taylor perform in his return to Cleveland? Baker Mayfield, who took over for Taylor as a rookie during the 2018 season, praised Taylor for his leadership and mentorship this week. Taylor would probably love nothing more than to show Mayfield another thing or two on Sunday. — Jake Trotter
Bold prediction: The Browns hold the Texans to fewer than 50 rushing yards. Taking out Taylor’s four carries for 40 yards, Houston ran for 120 yards on 37 carries in Week 1 (3.2 yards per carry) against Jacksonville. But it’s hard to see the game playing out the same way, and if the Texans are playing from behind for most of the tilt, it’s easy to see how Cleveland’s front seven dominates Houston’s backs. — Sarah Barshop
1:30
Stephania Bell analyzes why Odell Beckham Jr. has yet to return to the field after making significant progress in the offseason.
Stat to know: The Browns did not lose consecutive games at all last season. And they haven’t started 0-2 in a season since 2017. On the flipside, the Texans only won consecutive games once last season, and they have not started a season 2-0 since 2016.
What to know for fantasy: Including the playoffs, Kareem Hunt has scored five times in his past five games. (He scored 13 times in his first 24 games with the Browns.) See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Baker Mayfield is just 4-8 ATS over his past 12 starts. Fantasy managers should take note, however, if you think the Browns will cover this week; in those four games, Mayfield has completed 73.9% of his passes for an average of 289 yards. Read more.
Barshop’s pick: Browns 27, Texans 17
Trotter’s pick: Browns 34, Texans 17
FPI prediction: CLE, 79.3% (by an average of 11.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Texans show blueprint for 2021 success, but not everything is perfect … What did QBs Taylor, Mayfield get out of their year together in Cleveland? … How Mayfield remade his body after a disappointing 2019 … No setback, but Browns rule out OBJ vs. Texans
1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 38.7 | Spread: NE -6.0 (43)
What to watch for: Here come the rookie quarterbacks. Zach Wilson and Mac Jones, coming off encouraging openers, meet for the first time in what should be a long personal rivalry. This is a new feel for the Jets-Patriots series, which was dominated by a veteran quarterback (Tom Brady) for two decades. The Jets have cycled through a handful of rookies over the years, but Jones is the Patriots’ first rookie starter since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. It’s the first time in the 62-year history of the rivalry that rookie QBs are starting against each other. — Rich Cimini
Bold prediction: The Patriots will make running back J.J. Taylor active as a result of rookie Rhamondre Stevenson‘s struggles in the season opener, and Taylor’s presence as a complement to Damien Harris and James White will be key against a Jets defense that blitzed 41.7% of the time in the opening week — the fifth-highest total in the NFL. Also, Jones will throw multiple touchdown passes and continue to refuse to keep the footballs when teammates attempt to hand them to him. — Mike Reiss
Stat to know: The last time a rookie quarterback beat the Patriots was … Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa last season in Week 15. The Patriots, however, were 9-0 in nine previous such games.
What to know for fantasy: Corey Davis was WR16 for an extended stretch last season (Weeks 8 to 15), and he showed out last week with 26.7 points against the Panthers. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The over cashed in both Patriots-Jets games last season after being a winning ticket just once in the four seasons prior. Read more.
Reiss’ pick: Patriots 30, Jets 17
Cimini’s pick: Patriots 22, Jets 17
FPI prediction: NE, 64.8% (by an average of 5.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Will Belichick reduce Harris’ workload after fumble? … Jets get help with WRs Crowder, Cole returning … Jets LT Becton to miss at least 4-6 weeks after dislocating knee cap … Jets’ protection issues could be pain in neck for QB Wilson
1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 34.3 | Spread: DEN -6.0 (45.5)
What to watch for: The Jaguars’ offensive tackles struggled last season, with Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor combining to allow 27 sacks, per ESPN Stats & Information research. The duo got off to a solid start against Houston, but this week will be significantly harder. Even if Bradley Chubb doesn’t play or is limited, Von Miller will be hard to handle. Expect the Jaguars to keep tight end Chris Manhertz in to help the tackles. — Mike DiRocco
Bold prediction: The Broncos’ defense will have six combined sacks and turnovers. Denver won’t load up on the blitzes against Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and while the Broncos certainly see Lawrence’s obvious talents, he will face of a variety of four-man pressures backed by a variety of coverage looks from Vic Fangio’s defense. And if the Broncos keep the Jaguars in difficult down-and-distance situations, Lawrence could have a tough time finding room to work. — Jeff Legwold
Stat to know: Jacksonville, dating back to last season, is on the verge of losing 17 straight games, which would be tied for the fourth-longest losing streak since the merger in 1970. The Jags have allowed at least 20 points in each game of the skid.
What to know for fantasy: Jacksonville running back James Robinson scored at least 10 fantasy points in every game last season as an unknown resource. He let managers down with just 8.4 points in Week 1, and he faces a Broncos team this week that held Saquon Barkley to 26 yards on 10 carries last weekend. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Teddy Bridgewater is 22-3 ATS on the road as a starter, but one of his rare loss against the spread came in Week 2 of last season at Tampa Bay, when he played for the Panthers. Read more.
Legwold’s pick: Broncos 30, Jaguars 16
DiRocco’s pick: Broncos 27, Jaguars 13
FPI prediction: DEN, 62.7% (by an average of 4.7 points)
Matchup must-reads: Shirt on or shirt off, elite-version Miller has returned … Opening loss to Texans shows pass rush still a problem for Jaguars … Broncos place CB Darby, WR Jeudy on IR … … Bridgewater makes the first impression Broncos hoped to see
1 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 32.5 | Spread: CHI -2.5 (45)
What to watch for: Justin Fields is always the center of attention. The Bears rookie quarterback played five snaps and scored a rushing touchdown in Chicago’s Week 1 loss to the Rams. What will Fields do for an encore? The entire city of Chicago is on edge over the Bears. Veteran starter Andy Dalton — formerly of the Bengals — will need to play exceptionally well to hold onto the job. Even that might not be enough to fend off Fields. — Jeff Dickerson
Bold prediction: The Bengals will have two wide receivers with at least 75 receiving yards, and look for the Cincinnati to attack the right sideline. Chicago surrendered four completions for 138 yards and a touchdown down the right sideline against the Rams, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. — Ben Baby
Stat to know: The Bengals have the NFL’s worst road record of 3-20-1 (.146) since 2018. Quarterback Joe Burrow is looking for the first road win of his career; he is 0-5-1 with a Total QBR of 45 in six career road starts.
What to know for fantasy: Think the Bears, a three-point favorite, will win this game? In Chicago’s final three wins of 2020, David Montgomery averaged 146 total yards per game on his way to 24.6 fantasy points per game. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Chicago quarterback Andy Dalton is 10-19 ATS in his past 29 starts. Read more.
Baby’s pick: Bengals 28, Bears 24
Dickerson’s pick: Bears 21, Bengals 20
FPI prediction: CHI, 54.2% (by an average of 1.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: How Burrow’s expectations for himself, Bengals are creating success … Bears offer small glimpse of Fields’ potential … Higgins to swap number: ‘I’m not Ochocinco 2.0’
4:05 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 58.4 | Spread: ARI -3.5 (50.5)
What to watch for: Sure, all eyes will be on Kyler Murray just because of his unpredictability and excitement levels. But the most important aspect to watch on Sunday is how the Cardinals’ front seven pressures the Vikings’ offensive line and whether it can get to Kirk Cousins, who threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns last week. If the Cards’ defense plays like it did in Tennessee, and Chandler Jones goes for another few sacks, then Minnesota’s offense will be stuck in the mud, much like the Titans’ was. — Josh Weinfuss
Bold prediction: Jones and J.J. Watt will each tally two sacks. Penalties won’t plague Minnesota’s offense like they did in Week 1; that responsibility belongs to the Cardinals’ defensive front, which will wreak havoc against the Vikings’ struggling O-line. Unlike the Titans, Minnesota will attempt to help its tackles against Jones, but it won’t be enough. — Courtney Cronin
Stat to know: Murray threw for a career-high four touchdown passes in Week 1 versus the Titans, with three of those coming on third down. He is the first Cardinals player with four pass touchdowns and a rushing score in a game since 1962 (Charley Johnson).
What to know for fantasy: Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has seen an end zone target in nine straight games. (He has nine touchdowns over that run.) See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Unders are 10-2-1 in Arizona games played in the first month of the season since 2018. Read more.
Cronin’s pick: Cardinals 30, Vikings 17
Weinfuss’ pick: Cardinals 34, Vikings 17
FPI prediction: ARI, 61.1% (by an average of 4.1 points)
Matchup must-reads: Have the Vikings finally found their No. 3 receiver? … Watt done ‘tiptoeing’ around his training … Jones: Contract will come as sacks pile up … A healthy Murray makes Cardinals a contender
4:05 p.m. ET | FOX
Matchup rating: 50.6 | Spread: TB -12.5 (52)
What to watch for: It’s rare that a team manages to come away with a victory being minus-three in the turnover margin, but the Buccaneers did just that against the Cowboys in Week 1. Cutting down on those mistakes against Atlanta will be key. On the other side of things, how long will Falcons coach Arthur Smith stick with the run against the league’s top-ranked run defense over the past two years? Especially since the Cowboys didn’t need it last week after getting chunk plays through the air against a Tampa Bay secondary that had issues tackling. The Bucs also will be without starting cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. — Jenna Laine
Bold prediction: Matt Ryan will have a 300-yard, three-touchdown day against Tampa Bay — but it still results in a loss. The Falcons will find a way to get on track offensively; Ryan had 621 yards and five touchdowns in two games against the Buccaneers last season. But Tom Brady will have a 300-yard day of his own to counteract Atlanta’s offensive discovery and send the Falcons to 0-2. — Michael Rothstein
Stat to know: Brady has a career record of 8-0 against the Falcons — including a win in Super Bowl LI. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Brady looks to become the sixth QB to go 9-0 or better against a single team since starts were first tracked in 1950.
Injuries: Falcons | Buccaneers
What to know for fantasy: Playoffs included, wideout Antonio Brown has run more than 25 routes eight times in his Buccaneers career, including last week with 36 routes. Tampa has won five of those games, and AB has found the end zone in all five. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Weeks 8 and 9 last season were the last time Tampa Bay failed to cover consecutive games (playoffs included). Read more.
Rothstein’s pick: Buccaneers 35, Falcons 24
Laine’s pick: Buccaneers 34, Falcons 21
FPI prediction: TB, 78.1% (by an average of 11.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: Ryan: Super Bowl loss has ‘no bearing’ on game vs. Brady, Buccaneers … Bucs RB Jones to start despite Week 1 benching … Patterson — now clearly a running back — finds a role in Atlanta’s offense … Brady trolling Falcons ahead of Week 2 matchup?
4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 61.9 | Spread: WSH -3.5 (40.5)
What to watch for: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will be looking for Austin Ekeler through the air this week after the running back didn’t have a catch in Week 1. Los Angeles coach Brandon Staley has said the team needs to work Ekeler into the passing game. On the other side, the Cowboys need a big day from their offense to avoid an 0-2 start. — Shelley Smith
Bold prediction: Dak Prescott will not throw for 400 yards. Not bold enough? In the past four games that he has started and finished, he has thrown for at least 403 yards. He is the first player in league history with four 400-yard games in a five-game span. He has eight 400-yard passing games since 2016, most in the NFL. But the Cowboys are just 1-3 in those four games and know that is not a long-term formula for success. Maybe he throws for just 399 yards instead. — Todd Archer
Stat to know: The Cowboys are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2010; the only time they have started 0-2 with both games on the road was in 1989. And while the Chargers have won the past three games versus Dallas, they are 0-3 against Mike McCarthy-led teams.
What to know for fantasy: The Cowboys are a three-point underdog, so Prescott managers have their opponent right where they want them. In his past three losses, Prescott is averaging 57.7 passes and 30.7 fantasy points per game. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Chargers covered their final two home games of 2020 after failing to cover seven of their previous nine games at their place. Read more.
Archer’s pick: Chargers 27, Cowboys 23
Smith’s pick: Chargers 34, Cowboys 23
FPI prediction: LAC, 50.2% (by an average of 0.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: Elliott shows versatility, but Cowboys need better run game … Chargers’ Williams looking to step up in contract year … Cowboys defensive end Lawrence will miss 6-8 weeks with broken foot, sources say … Clutch keep-away drive allows Chargers rare drama-free victory … Cowboys’ McCarthy: ‘A challenge’ when O-line is in flux again
4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 56.5 | Spread: SEA -6.0 (54)
What to watch for: Seattle’s defense must be licking its chops after watching the Titans allow six sacks in their blowout loss to Arizona in Week 1. The Seahawks got to Carson Wentz early and often in their opener. Now, their pass-rushers will have the added advantage of the crowd noise at Lumen Field, which could be as loud as ever with fans in attendance for the first time in a regular-season game since December 2019. — Brady Henderson
Bold prediction: The Titans will score a touchdown on their first drive. That’s saying a lot considering how Tennessee only gained a total of four yards on their first four drives last week. The Seahawks are playing in their 2021 home opener at Lumen Field, where they only allowed opposing offenses to score a touchdown on the opening drive twice last season. — Turron Davenport
Stat to know: The Titans have allowed more than 35 points in their past three regular-season games. And with Russell Wilson putting on a four-touchdown performance in Week 1, it is entirely possible that Titans streak continues. Wilson followed up the 2020 opener with five passing touchdowns in consecutive games.
What to know for fantasy: In the Titans’ past five losses (playoffs included), Derrick Henry has touched the ball 100 times but has not scored once. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Titans have failed to cover three straight regular-season games twice in the past calendar year (includes an active streak). Read more.
Davenport’s pick: Seahawks 28, Titans 24
Henderson’s pick: Seahawks 30, Titans 24.
FPI prediction: SEA, 70.5% (by an average of 7.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Titans’ Hooker to IR after injuring foot in opener … Taylor, Seahawks pass rush show that they’re as good as advertised … ‘It is a wake-up call for us’: Titans’ offensive line can’t keep getting outmuscled … Already ‘cooking’: Seahawks’ Wilson-Waldron partnership gets off to fast start
8:20 p.m. ET | NBC
Matchup rating: 84.8 | Spread: KC -3.5 (54.5)
What to watch for: Patrick Mahomes has diced up the Ravens’ defense in three meetings, with the Chiefs averaging 31.3 points per game. Baltimore’s defense looked vulnerable Monday night, when it allowed 33 points in Las Vegas. But the Ravens have never given up more than 30 points in each of their first two games of a season. — Jamison Hensley
Bold prediction: Mahomes will complete six throws of at least 20 yards. Those plays are always there for him against a Ravens team that blitzes a lot but leaves itself vulnerable to big throws. He has 16 such plays in three career starts against the Ravens, who come into this game with a depleted secondary. — Adam Teicher
1:30
Stephen A. Smith sounds off on Lamar Jackson’s comments about the Ravens’ matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 2.
Stat to know: Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have the two highest Total QBRs among quarterbacks to appear in 10-plus prime-time games since the metric began in 2006. Mahomes has an eight-game winning streak in prime-time contests, the longest active streak of any quarterback. Jackson is 0-3 in his career versus the Chiefs, largely due to accuracy issues, failing to complete 55% of his passes in any of those three matchups.
What to know for fantasy: Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill has 310.6 fantasy points over his past 12 games (playoffs included). How good is that? Texas wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had 287.8 points in 16 games last season. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: Mahomes is 8-3 ATS for his career in September. Read more.
Teicher’s pick: Chiefs 30, Ravens 20
Hensley’s pick: Chiefs 27, Ravens 24
FPI prediction: KC, 55.7% (by an average of 2.1 points)
Matchup must-reads: A promise to his father: Why Orlando Brown left the Ravens for the Chiefs … Ravens promote veteran RB Freeman to active roster … Chiefs, Mahomes know it can’t be just Hill and Kelce … Jackson says he’s not dwelling on past losses as Ravens prepare to face Mahomes, Chiefs
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN
Matchup rating: 37.6 | Spread: GB -11.0 (48)
What to watch for: How will the Lions try to defend Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense? The Saints blitzed him just twice and focused their efforts on taking away Davante Adams & Co. Will that serve as a blueprint for future opponents? What the Lions do — and how well they do it — might help determine what kind of coverages Rodgers sees throughout the season. — Rob Demovsky
Bold prediction: The Lions will pull off their first upset of the Dan Campbell and Jared Goff era. Yes, the odds of this happening are slim, but I’ll pick Detroit to win at Lambeau Field against a vulnerable Green Bay team. Detroit’s running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams will give the Packers problems, since most teams in the NFC North aren’t used to facing a Lions team with a solid ground game. — Eric Woodyard
Stat to know: The Packers’ offense was bad in Week 1, but maybe there’s a silver lining. In two games following a 25-point loss under coach Matt Lafleur, Rodgers has thrown four touchdown passes in each.
What to know for fantasy: Rodgers had no touchdown passes and two interceptions Week 1 at the Saint. He has never had back-to-back games with zero passing TDs as a starter. See Week 2 rankings.
Betting nugget: The over hit in all three divisional games at Lambeau last season (1-4 in the other five regular-season games Green Bay hosted). Read more.
Woodyard’s pick: Lions 21, Packers 17
Demovsky’s pick: Packers 23, Lions 17
FPI prediction: GB, 67.4% (by an average of 6.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: … Don’t call it a blueprint (yet), but Saints showed how to give Rodgers fits … Goff earns admirers in comeback attempt vs. 49ers … Lions CB Okudah out for year with ruptured Achilles
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Sports
Witness in 2006 Miami murder case found alive
Published
3 hours agoon
September 19, 2025By
admin
Florida prosecutors have repeatedly told a court that a key witness in their murder case against a former Miami Hurricanes football player accused in the 2006 killing of teammate Bryan Pata was dead.
However, with the long-delayed murder trial of Rashaun Jones only weeks from its scheduled start in Miami, ESPN reporters knocked on an apartment door in Louisville, Kentucky, recently and found the witness, Paul Conner, alive.
Conner told ESPN that he wasn’t aware anyone from Miami was looking for him and said he rarely leaves his apartment.
Prosecutors told Florida 11th Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda as recently as July that Conner was dead. A spokesperson for the state attorney’s office, Ed Griffith, told ESPN on Thursday that police relied on a public database that “seemed to indicate” Conner was deceased and that police asked officers in Louisville to knock on Conner’s door. He offered no documents of such a visit nor details of when an officer visited or what happened.
Griffith also pressed a reporter for the address ESPN visited — the same address that was listed on the database report Griffith cited. The lead detective in the case, Juan Segovia, also texted an ESPN reporter asking for Conner’s contact information.
It’s unclear how the revelation about Conner will affect the trial, currently set to start Oct. 6. “Is there an impact of that on the case? I would have to say yes, potentially,” Griffith said.
Jones’ attorney, Sara Alvarez, said ESPN’s finding raises further questions about the state’s case.
“I’m not shocked, but appalled,” she said by telephone Thursday. “This is a bigger issue. This is just blatant lies. Bald-faced lies.
“It’s a shame and it’s disgusting that you would be willing to send a man to prison for the rest of his life without any evidence and then not be honest about what evidence exists and doesn’t exist.”
In a conversation with an ESPN reporter and in questioning by police, Jones has said he did not kill Pata. He has pleaded not guilty.
Conner, a retired University of Miami writing instructor, once lived in the apartment complex where Pata, a likely high draft pick in the 2007 NFL draft, was shot once in the head in November 2006.
Conner contacted police soon after the shooting, saying he heard a “pop” and saw someone “jogging” away from the parking lot entrance near where Pata was shot. Conner picked Jones out of a photo lineup.
Some 13 years later, Conner was reinterviewed in 2020 and again picked Jones out of a lineup, according to Jones’ arrest warrant. And Conner recounted what he saw at a 2022 bond hearing and in a 2023 deposition with attorneys.
Conner, now 81, told ESPN in his Aug. 25 interview that he now doesn’t recall what happened in Miami, and he seemed unfamiliar with his prior statements.
“I’m getting up in years,” he said. “My memory comes and goes. How long ago was this court case?”
With Jones’ trial date looming, Miami assistant state attorney Cristina Diamond told Miranda in a July 17 hearing that officials believed Conner to be dead after multiple failed attempts to contact him and a third-party commercial database indicating he was deceased. Miranda accepted the efforts to find Conner and ruled to allow his prior testimony from the hearing and deposition to be used at trial. Jones’ attorneys had initially objected on grounds of their inability to cross-examine his statements but conceded to accept the state’s evidence during that hearing.
ESPN’s interview with Conner was actually the second confirmation that he was alive. After a reporter contacted Conner’s last known employer, a former colleague asked Louisville police to conduct a welfare check. On July 22, Conner answered and confirmed his identity, according to police bodycam images reviewed by ESPN.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s inability to find Conner is the latest in a long string of official missteps that have dramatically prolonged the case and frustrated Pata’s still-grieving family. According to information obtained by ESPN through a lawsuit against Miami-Dade Police and other interviews and records, Jones was among the first suspects considered by police, but they didn’t arrest him until 2021, nine months after ESPN first published its findings. Jones, now 40, has remained in custody for the past four years amid court delays and changes in attorneys on both sides.
In March 2022, Miranda agreed to grant Jones an $850,000 bail and allow him out, pending trial; however, Jones has not paid the amount — typically 10%, or $85,000 — needed for release, sources told ESPN.
That bond hearing included in-person testimony from Conner. Police had no eyewitness to the shooting, so Conner was a key element to a case that relies heavily on testimony from friends and teammates that Jones and Pata fought verbally and physically before the killing and that Jones possessed a gun similar to the one likely used to kill Pata (although police never recovered the weapon).
Conner told the court he was walking to the Colony Apartment Complex, where he and Pata lived, just before 7 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2006. He was near the parking lot entrance when he heard a “loud bang.” About 15 to 20 seconds later, Conner testified, he came “face-to-face” with a man walking at a brisk pace. “He smiled at me. He had a clean set of white teeth,” Conner said. “I described him to the forensic artist.”
On the photo lineup from which Conner picked out Jones’ photo, Conner had put his signature, date and the phrase “90 percent,” and a defense attorney asked him what that meant.
“One of the detectives asked me, how sure I was that that was the defendant. And I answered 90%,” he said.
The attorney later asks, “So, if I understand you correctly, there is a 10% error in your calculation of whether or not this person is the person that you saw on that night?” to which Conner responds, “It could have been.”
The defense attorney also noted that when Conner, several years later, picked Jones out of a lineup, Jones’ picture was in the same location on a page as the first time — the top middle photo.
In building their case against Jones, prosecutors also have cited Jones’ actions that night, including his failure to attend a mandatory team meeting called after the shooting and efforts to borrow money to leave the area. They also cite cell phone records they say contradict where Jones told officers he had been.
According to a state motion filed July 8 to request the use of Conner’s prior testimony, Det. Segovia said he had been in touch with the FBI and local police in Ohio, where Conner last worked at the University of Toledo. Segovia said he learned that Conner had moved to Kentucky.
Segovia then reached out to the Louisville Police Department, and according to the motion, “contact was made with the leasing office of that address, and they indicated that Mr. Conner did not live there.” Records show prosecutors were planning to subpoena a homicide detective from Louisville. No such officer has testified in the case.
ESPN requested records from the Louisville Police Department and connected with a spokesperson multiple times to inquire about any efforts made to locate Conner and any efforts by the officer who had been subpoenaed to testify. The spokesperson there said there were no records of any officer going to Conner’s address until the welfare check requested by the university colleague and ESPN’s inquiries. Conner said he has lived at his Louisville address for about a couple of years. A family member said they knew of no reason the leasing office would say Conner didn’t live there. A call to the leasing office was not returned.
ESPN made multiple requests to police and the Miami-Dade State Attorney for records of their efforts to find Conner. After initially claiming they had no documents, they eventually provided an email exchange in which Segovia wrote that he left 15 voicemail messages with Conner since May. Segovia added that he also sent emails to an address that officers had used with him previously. They also provided a copy of a June 6 letter addressed to Conner at his Louisville address that asked him to contact their office.
During ESPN’s visit, Conner allowed a reporter to review his phone. There were dozens of unanswered calls, and he appeared unfamiliar with how to check his voicemail. Several calls came from Miami-area phone numbers, including at least one that matched a phone number for Segovia. At a prior hearing, prosecutors said they had been aware Conner struggled with “technology” and had been difficult to reach.
Miami-Dade officials and the judge did not have a death certificate, mortuary record, obituary or any other official record of death, but instead relied on a commercial third-party information provider. Such companies often provide factual background information, but their terms of use disclose that information might contain errors, and they do not guarantee accuracy.
Conner’s cousin Steve Fahey, who said he was familiar with Conner’s prior role in the case, said he sees Conner frequently. He told ESPN in a phone interview that Conner has struggled lately with memory issues. He said Conner never mentioned anyone from Miami trying to reach him, and Fahey said no one from Miami tried to contact him, either.
Miami-Dade officials noted they spoke to a “distant cousin” of Conner’s who they said was unaware of Conner’s whereabouts, but they did not name the individual.
Alvarez, Jones’ attorney, said she should be able to question Conner in front of a jury about what she said were contradictions in details he gave police at various times. Whether Conner testifies, Alvarez said she plans to question Segovia about what she calls lies and misrepresentations of evidence.
Among other issues affecting the case recently, police told the court this summer that they had lost Pata’s student judicial records from the University of Miami. Pata had been involved in — although sometimes as just a bystander — a few misdemeanor-level altercations, according to the records, which ESPN acquired years ago through a public records request.
During a July 9 hearing, Jones’ attorney asked for a copy of an unredacted “lead sheet,” which was a four-page document with all the leads officers were looking into and a list of 39 individuals. The Miami-Dade Police Department used the lead sheet in the public records litigation with ESPN to assert the case was still active.
But during the hearing, the two main detectives who had worked the case said they didn’t know where the lead sheet was, and Segovia said it likely was discarded.
Florida law governs what documents agencies may destroy and which must be kept. Part of the statute applies to “summary information on … suspects or accomplices in crimes” and says records in that category must be retained “until obsolete, superseded, or administrative value is lost.”
Officials have not provided a reason as to why Jones wasn’t arrested until 2021, other than to say the case got a “fresh set of eyes” after Segovia was assigned as lead detective in 2020. That was around the time ESPN sued the Miami-Dade Police Department over the redacted investigative file. The last dated entry in the police report before the arrest was from 2010.
In a deposition last year, Segovia testified that police did not uncover any new evidence in the ensuing years that gave them probable cause to arrest Jones in 2021. “It was there all along,” Segovia said, but in 2007, the state attorney did not believe the case was strong enough to make an arrest.
In testimony during the records lawsuit hearings, law enforcement officials argued that they had a prime suspect and that there could be an arrest “in the foreseeable future,” which they said justified that the case was still active and its records not subject to disclosure; under Florida law, records from closed or adjudicated cases are subject to release.
In a pretrial hearing July 11, ASA Diamond offered a plea agreement to Jones of 18 years with credit for time served, but Jones — who attended the hearing via video conference — and his attorney rejected the offer.
In Florida, a conviction for second-degree murder could carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
ESPN’s original investigation into the case revealed a multitude of leads that police pursued, including a dispute Pata had over stolen car wheels, an angry ex-girlfriend, a nightclub fight involving possible gang members and two alleged jailhouse confessions. Nothing came of the tips.
The investigation also found multiple inconsistencies in police statements, leads that weren’t pursued to the end and people connected to Pata who were never interviewed.
Pata’s family members have, over the years, expressed frustration and disappointment in what they see as a lack of interest and effort by police.
Leading up to the trial, Edwin Pata, Bryan’s brother, said they were ready to finally see Jones on trial.
“It’s good that we’re actually going to put it behind us,” he said. “It’s constantly on our minds … we just got to be ready for it and know what to expect and be able to handle it.”
ESPN producers Scott Frankel and Gus Navarro contributed to this report.
Sports
MLB Power Rankings: Top playoff contenders on the move ahead of October
Published
4 hours agoon
September 18, 2025By
admin
It’s official. Three teams have clinched playoff spots, meaning there are nine left to fill with 11 days remaining in the 2025 regular season.
For the second consecutive year, the Brewers clinched the season’s first postseason spot. They were followed by the Phillies, who first clinched a berth and won the National League East title for the second straight year the following night, and then the Cubs.
Now, we wait to see who’s next.
It’s just a matter of time before additional clubs lock up berths — such as the Blue Jays and Dodgers — but others still have a lot to play for. In the past week, we’ve seen the Mariners go on a run that has vaulted them back into first place in the division, while the Mets suffered a losing streak that almost dropped them out of the playoff picture entirely.
Some of these playoff races will go down to the final days of the season. Get ready for some exciting baseball!
Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, Bradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Week 24 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Record: 93-59
Previous ranking: 1
The Brewers were the first team to clinch a postseason slot this season, but they have no time to rest on their laurels. Topping the remaining to-do list is the quest to hold off the Phillies for the NL’s top seed, which could be key if the teams meet in the NLCS given how dominant they’ve both been at home. If Milwaukee does that, it’ll also tick off its other major remaining items: breaking the franchise mark for wins in a season (96, set in 2011 and tied in 2018) and clinching the NL Central title over the pesky Cubs. — Doolittle
Record: 91-62
Previous ranking: 2
The Phillies clinched their second straight NL East title with a 10-inning win at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Kyle Schwarber hit his 53rd home run and Harrison Bader stole third base in the 10th, setting up the go-ahead sacrifice fly. That led to a raucous postgame celebration. Bryce Harper drank apple juice while his teammates had some stronger refreshments. Then they rallied for another dramatic win on Tuesday as backup catcher Rafael Marchan hit a two-out, three-run home run in the ninth following an intentional walk to Bryson Stott. The Phillies look ready for October. — Schoenfield
Record: 89-63
Previous ranking: 5
Toronto’s chances of winning the American League East stand at an overwhelming 95.6%, per FanGraphs, leaving manager John Schneider to deliberate over how to arrange his playoff rotation. Kevin Gausman seems to be the most logical choice to start in Game 1, and after that, Schneider has a wealth of options: Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Eric Lauer and now rookie Trey Yesavage, who was dominant in his MLB debut on Monday. Other teams should be jealous of the Jays’ depth. — Olney
Record: 85-67
Previous ranking: 3
It’s easy to focus on what Shohei Ohtani is doing in the regular season and what role he might fill in the playoffs. But the Dodgers have the serious business of winning the NL West again to still take care of. The stakes are huge. Barring collapses elsewhere in the circuit, the winner of the West is going to be a 3-seed and the second-place team is going to be No. 5. Thus the Dodgers will either get to host the struggling Mets (probably), or they’ll find themselves playing the first round at Wrigley Field against a hungry Cubs team that has been playing well. — Doolittle
Record: 88-64
Previous ranking: 7
The Cubs aren’t out of the NL Central race just yet, but even if that pursuit comes up short, they are in solid position to be the league’s top wild card — and secured a playoff berth Wednesday with a win over Pittsburgh. The offense has been ticking up a little over the past couple of weeks, though the improvement hasn’t included first-half standout Pete Crow-Armstrong. He has been better than he was in August, but given his .446 OPS that month, the bar was low. Overall, his second-half OPS sits at .625. When the Cubs were roiling the scoreboard earlier this season, it was PCA leading the charge. North Siders would feel a lot better about the coming postseason if he is able to heat up over the last few days of the season. — Doolittle
Record: 85-67
Previous ranking: 4
The Tigers’ rotation struggles behind Tarik Skubal have been a little surprising, given the veterans on the roster. But that doesn’t mean manager A.J. Hinch will be without weapons in the playoffs. “You know how A.J. is — he’s going to mix and match from game to game,” said one evaluator. And the Tigers have developed or acquired a lot of bullpen options, including Troy Melton, Jose Urquidy (who pitched 1⅓ innings Sunday) and, they hope, Kyle Finnegan and Paul Sewald, who are working their way back from injury and are expected back soon. — Olney
Record: 85-67
Previous ranking: 6
Jose Caballero had started six consecutive games at shortstop for the Yankees before Anthony Volpe started Tuesday’s game, notching two hits. It appears there is effectively an open competition at the position: Whoever plays better will play. With Volpe eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, and with prospect George Lombard climbing (and thriving) through the farm system, it’s unclear who the Yankees’ shortstop will be in 2026. — Olney
Record: 83-69
Previous ranking: 12
You may have heard that Cal Raleigh is having quite the season. He hit his 55th and 56th home runs in the same game Tuesday, passing Mickey Mantle for the most home runs in a season by a switch-hitter and tying Ken Griffey Jr.’s club record with No. 56. Suddenly, Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62 home runs is back in play if Raleigh can mount a furious finish.
Oh, and the win in Kansas City, which has been a house of horrors for Seattle in recent seasons, was also the Mariners’ 10th in a row. Dominic Canzone went 5-for-5 with three home runs in the same game, becoming the fourth player in 2025 to reach those totals and just the 45th player to do it in the majors since 1901. (No player has done it twice.) The only other Mariner to do it was Mickey Brantley in 1987. (Mike Cameron didn’t have five hits in his four-homer game.) — Schoenfield
Record: 83-69
Previous ranking: 9
Will the Padres’ vaunted bullpen hold up over the stretch run and into the playoffs? Their rotation has been hit or miss for a month now, which only increases the load for a stacked bullpen fortified by the trade deadline acquisition of Mason Miller. Miller has been phenomenal as a Padre and it’s a good thing, since Jason Adam went down with an injury, Jeremiah Estrada has had a rough month in the gopher ball department and Adrian Morejon has struggled in September. Can the unit that so many viewed as the Padres’ October trump card regain its menace? — Doolittle
Record: 83-69
Previous ranking: 8
When the Red Sox took the first three games of a four-game series against the Yankees in late August, New York manager Aaron Boone was asked how Boston had improved during the season. “Roman Anthony is pretty good,” he replied, noting the difference the lefty-hitting rookie made. Since Anthony has been out of the lineup with an oblique injury, Boston is now feeling his absence in a significant way. In 35 games before he got hurt, he had a .326 average, and the Red Sox were 22-13. Since his injury, the Red Sox have gone 5-7, averaging less than 4.0 runs per game. — Olney
Record: 84-69
Previous ranking: 10
Just when you thought the injury list couldn’t get any longer for the Astros, Yordan Alvarez sprained his ankle while scoring a run in Monday’s win over the Rangers and will miss significant time. Alvarez had returned three weeks ago after missing 100 games with a broken bone in his hand. Rookie Zach Cole, playing just his fourth MLB game, replaced Alvarez in the lineup and hit the go-ahead home run, then added an RBI single. The Astros beat the Rangers again Tuesday as they held on for a 6-5 win after leading 6-0. Houston’s crucial week of AL West action will continue when the Mariners come to town for the battle for first place. — Schoenfield
Record: 79-74
Previous ranking: 13
The Rangers got to within two games of first place in the division after winning the first two games against the Mets over the weekend to extend their winning streak to six in a row. It looked like the seventh consecutive win was in reach after the Rangers scored twice to force extra innings in Sunday’s game, but they couldn’t score in the top of the 10th and rookie Luis Curvelo served up the walk-off home run to Pete Alonso. Two losses to the Astros followed and the Rangers fell behind Cleveland in the wild-card standings. They might have to go 6-0 on this upcoming homestand against the Marlins and Twins to even have a chance at the postseason. — Schoenfield
Record: 78-74
Previous ranking: 11
The wild, topsy-turvy, frustrating, unpredictable year continues for the Mets as they desperately try to hang on to the final wild card. They lost eight in a row before Pete Alonso perhaps rescued the season with his 10th-inning walk-off home run to beat the Rangers on Sunday. An eight-run outburst against Padres starter Michael King followed in New York’s next game. If the Mets are to hang on, the rookie starting pitcher trio of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat will play a huge role. McLean continues to take over as the rotation ace while Sproat’s second career start was a beauty — six scoreless innings against the Rangers. — Schoenfield
Record: 80-71
Previous ranking: 15
You really can’t apply logic to what’s going on with the Guardians these days, but here’s what’s left on the table for them as they try to press Boston for the last wild-card berth in the AL: four games in a weekend series in Minnesota, including a doubleheader Saturday, followed by six home games next week against the Tigers and Rangers. Keep in mind that Detroit is likely to be focused on preparing its rotation for the postseason, so Cleveland won’t see a full dose of Tarik Skubal, in all likelihood. — Olney
Record: 77-76
Previous ranking: 19
Arizona’s playoff odds dropped precariously close to zero near the end of August. Given the Diamondbacks’ deadline-related activity, which included trading a corner infield combo (Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez) who combined for 47 homers and 146 RBIs before being dealt, that was no surprise. What’s happened since is Arizona has climbed back to the outer perimeter of the wild-card race. How? The sagging Mets, a red-hot offense and the amazing Geraldo Perdomo, for whom you can make a solid case as the NL’s No. 2 pick on the MVP ballot behind Shohei Ohtani. — Doolittle
Record: 76-76
Previous ranking: 14
A tough series at Arizona probably sapped the Giants’ second-wind playoff chase, though all is not yet technically lost. But even if the postseason is out, Giants fans can focus on powerhouse Bryce Eldridge, summoned in mid-September for his big league debut. Eldridge began the season at Double-A and later moved up to Triple-A, where his results were a mixed bag. But the Giants had a need at first base and so took a chance that Eldridge — listed at 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds — is ready to make some McCovey Cove splashes at age 20. — Doolittle
Record: 76-76
Previous ranking: 17
For now, Reds fans can continue to fixate on the wild-card standings. That’s more to the largesse of the Mets — who stubbornly refuse to put a hammerlock on the NL’s 6-seed — than anything Cincinnati has done. But the standings are what they are, and if the Reds catch fire, they might yet play some October baseball in Terry Francona’s first season managing the club. Their remaining schedule is tough, though: four home games against the Cubs, a possible breather against Pittsburgh, then three games in Milwaukee, owner of baseball’s best record. — Doolittle
Record: 76-76
Previous ranking: 16
Though their chances of making the playoffs are all but zero, the Royals are still playing meaningful baseball, which is surprising given the volume of injuries they have sustained with their rotation this year. But here they are. Meanwhile, Salvador Perez has reached a couple of major benchmarks, mashing his 300th career homer (he’s now at 302) and notching his 1,000th career RBI (now 1,008). As former teammate Eric Hosmer wrote on Twitter: “HOFer on and off [the field]. If you disagree meet me in the octagon.” — Olney
Record: 74-78
Previous ranking: 18
Barring a binge of wins down the stretch, the Rays are not going to reach the playoffs this year, but they have a superstar in the making in third baseman Junior Caminero, who will likely get some top-10 MVP votes. Since the All-Star break, Caminero has clubbed 21 homers with 48 RBIs and an 0.919 OPS in 55 games. — Olney
Record: 74-79
Previous ranking: 20
To be frank, the Cardinals haven’t given their fans many reasons to remain engaged until the end of the season. Their playoff chances are spent and, as they play out the string, the September call-ups don’t involve elite prospects. Maybe the focus will be on the rumor mill with an eye toward what will happen when this ho-hum campaign finally draws to a close. We know that baseball operations chief John Mozeliak will be handing the baton to Chaim Bloom. What other changes may be in store? — Doolittle
Record: 71-81
Previous ranking: 23
What more can Nick Kurtz do in his rookie season? How about blasting a titanic 493-foot grand slam Saturday that soared over the batter’s eye in center field at Sutter Health Park. It was the longest home run in the majors this season, the longest by an A’s hitter in the Statcast era (since 2015) and the longest grand slam in the Statcast era. Kurtz has slowed down a bit in September, but his OPS continues to hover just above 1.000, trailing only Aaron Judge and neck and neck with Shohei Ohtani. — Schoenfield
Record: 72-80
Previous ranking: 21
Baltimore was eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, a quiet ending to a season that began with such lofty expectations, following seasons of 101 and 91 wins in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The Orioles’ greatest challenge this winter will be to build a pitching staff behind Trevor Rogers with the likes of Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells and perhaps Grayson Rodriguez. They have a number of arbitration-eligible players, but not a single starter or reliever under contract for 2026, 2027 or beyond. Money talks. — Olney
Record: 70-83
Previous ranking: 22
Matt Olson homered in four straight games and has been red-hot in September, hitting well over .300 with an OPS over 1.200. He quietly has had a terrific season, leading the NL in doubles (tied with Freddie Freeman), and he has a chance to get to both 100 runs and 100 RBIs for the third time in his career. His 6.2 WAR is fourth among NL position players. No, it’s not 2023, when he led the NL in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage, but he has a good case as the best first baseman in the majors in 2025. — Schoenfield
Record: 72-80
Previous ranking: 24
One thing to look forward to in 2026: Sandy Alcantara has looked much more like the pitcher he was before his Tommy John surgery, with a 3.09 ERA over his past 10 starts and 2.48 over his past six. While his 5.53 season ERA is still high, his OPS allowed is 0.712, not much higher than it was in 2023 (0.693). No, those aren’t anything close to his Cy Young numbers of 2022, but hopefully he can provide a stabilizing force next season to a rotation that has struggled overall with injuries and inconsistency and ranks 28th in ERA. — Schoenfield
Record: 66-86
Previous ranking: 26
By season’s end, Byron Buxton is likely to surpass career highs in plate appearances, hits, home runs and RBIs, among other categories. For years, he has been viewed through the prism of potential — what he might accomplish if not for the many injuries he has incurred in his career. Buxton has mostly stayed on the field this year and has likely set himself up for some top-10 votes on the AL MVP ballot. — Olney
Record: 69-83
Previous ranking: 25
The Angels’ woes continue as Seattle’s four-game sweep put them into last place behind the A’s. While they won’t reach last year’s franchise record 99 losses, they’ve locked in a 10th straight losing season. On the bright side, Jo Adell continues to mash home runs and is up to 36 on the season, although his overall value remains just 1.5 WAR due to a low OBP and subpar defensive metrics. (It hasn’t helped that the Angels have played him regularly in center field, a position he shouldn’t be playing.) Still, it’s been a nice season for the former top prospect, who entered 2025 with a career OPS+ of 79 spread across five seasons. — Schoenfield
Record: 65-88
Previous ranking: 27
Can Paul Skenes get his ERA back under 2.00 before the end of the season? His last outing (three runs and seven hits allowed over 3⅔ innings) was his poorest of the season, raising his ERA to 2.03. Pirates manager Don Kelly said that the outing would be Skenes’ last home start, and it’s up in the air whether he’ll get one or two more turns since Kelly has been using a six-man rotation. Let’s hope it’s two because Skenes Day is really all Pirates fans have to look forward to at this point. If he gets back under 2.00, he would become just the fifth pitcher to finish with a 1-something ERA over at least 100 innings in each of his first two seasons. — Doolittle
Record: 57-96
Previous ranking: 29
It’s possible — but unlikely — that the White Sox will avoid 100 losses; they would have to win six of their final 10 games in order to make that happen. Either way, it’s been a season of laying foundational pieces, none more important than shortstop Colson Montgomery, who hit 18 homers in his first 61 games in the majors (and counting). One of the challenges for the 23-year-old lefty-hitting shortstop is going to be performing better against left-handed pitching — he’s 11-for-62 (.177) against lefties with four walks. — Olney
Record: 62-91
Previous ranking: 28
The Nationals are going to need a complete overhaul in the offseason as they inch closer to 100 losses. Even James Wood and MacKenzie Gore have struggled in the second half. With 209 strikeouts, Wood has a shot to break Mark Reynolds’ MLB record of 223 set in 2009. The rotation ERA has increased from 4.77 in the first half to 5.92 in the second as Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker have seen their season ERAs creep closer to 6.00. Parker has an 8.26 ERA since the beginning of August and has allowed at least one home run in nine consecutive starts. Irvin has a 7.78 ERA since late June. They shouldn’t be in the rotation, but the Nationals don’t have any other options. — Schoenfield
Record: 41-111
Previous ranking: 30
What should Rockies fans watch the rest of the way? The one-word answer: Broncos. But that’s too easy. So here’s this: One thing that is remarkable about this team is that it has drawn nearly 30,000 fans per game this season. That works out to around 55,000 per win in the overall standings. During their first two seasons in MLB, playing at Mile High Stadium, the expansion Rockies drew around 63,000 fans per win. If the Rockies can lose out while drawing an average of 45,000 fans during their remaining home games, they can just eke over the 60,000 fans-per-win mark for the first time since those expansion years. Then we can all rejoice. — Doolittle
Sports
MLB playoff tracker: Cubs clinch their spot — who can secure postseason play next?
Published
4 hours agoon
September 18, 2025By
admin
A number of teams are starting to shift their focus to October as the final month of the 2025 MLB regular season continues.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have both clinched postseason berths, with the Brewers gunning for the NL Central title. The Philadelphia Phillies have also locked up their division title, and the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays are pretty much playoff locks with leads in their divisions, as well.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and playoffs begin: Where do current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to each day leading up to October? Who will be the next team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like?
We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings
Who’s in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot for a second consecutive year on Saturday with a Mets’ loss to Texas.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched a spot in October on Sunday with the Giants’ loss to the Dodgers. On Monday with a win over the Dodgers, they clinched the NL East title for the second straight year.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs clinched their spot in the postseason on Wednesday with a win over the Pirates. It’s their first playoff appearance in a full-length season since 2018.
Who can clinch a playoff spot next?
The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers have the chance to clinch their playoff spots this week. The Tigers, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres all have at least a 99% chance of making the postseason, as well.
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Red Sox at (3) Astros, (5) Mariners at (4) Yankees
ALDS: Red Sox/Astros vs. (2) Tigers, Mariners/Yankees vs. (1) Blue Jays
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Dodgers, (5) Padres at (4) Cubs
NLDS: Mets/Dodgers vs. (2) Phillies, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers
Breaking down the AL race
The Blue Jays and Tigers enter the homestretch battling for the AL’s No. 1 seed, with Detroit all but a lock for the AL Central crown. While Toronto sits atop the AL East, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are duking it out for wild-card seeding. And the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are attempting to separate themselves from each other in a two-team AL West race. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians remain within striking distance for the final wild-card spot.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
The Brewers were the first MLB team to seal its spot in October, and the Phillies — who then sealed an NL East title — clinched next. A group of contenders have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the New York Mets clinging to a lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds for the final playoff spot, and there is plenty of intrigue in the NL West as the Dodgers attempt to fend off the Padres for the division crown.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Game of the day
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*
NLCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*
* If necessary
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