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The Rams continue to tell the NFL world that they’re all-in on winning the Super Bowl. Just over two months after trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles on Monday acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster deal. The Rams gave up ascending edge rusher Jared Verse and premium draft capital in the trade — a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round selection and a 2029 third-rounder. With Garrett in the fold, how does the Rams’ defense stack up with the NFL’s best? Here’s my ranking of the league’s top five units in descending order: Key additions: OLB Jonathan Greenard (trade), CB Riq Woolen (FA), OLB Arnold Ebiketie (FA)Key losses: OLB Jaelan Phillips (FA), LB Nakobe Dean (FA), S Reed Blankenship (FA) Losing Jaelan Phillips in free agency was a big loss for the Eagles, but they shouldn’t lose a step in the pass rush after trading for Jonathan Greenard in April. Before a down year in 2025, the former Pro Bowler had back-to-back seasons of 12 sacks. The signing of ex-Seahawk Riq Woolen on a one-year deal represents a low risk, potentially high reward boost to what’s already a strong secondary. If edge rusher Jalen Carter is healthy, playcaller Vic Fango has one of the truly elite defenses in the NFL. Key additions: DT Tyler Oyedim (draft)Key losses: DL John Franklin-Myers (FA), S P.J. Locke (FA) The Broncos last season had the NFL’s best pass rush, the No. 2 total defense and ranked third in points allowed. John Franklin-Myers’ departure in free agency is significant, but Denver still has the core of its defense and drafted defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, a third-round pick who could suffice as a Franklin-Myers replacement. Denver has had a top-three defense in back-to-back seasons under DC Vance Joseph. Key additions: DE Myles Garrett (trade), CB Trent McDuffie (trade), CB Jaylen Watson (FA)Key losses: OLB Jared Verse (trade), CB Cobie Durant (FA) With Garrett in the picture, the Rams now have the league’s most tantalizing defense. Los Angeles could be truly dominant in stopping the pass — it has added two All-Pro talents in Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie — while still being great against the run (the Rams ranked 12th in run defense last season). But could having such an elite offense — especially through the air — keep Chris Shula’s defense on the field longer than expected? Despite leading the league in scoring last season, the Rams were 14th in average time per drive (2:53). Key additions: DE Dante Fowler Jr. (FA), S Bud Clark (draft), CB Julian Neal (draft)Key losses: S Coby Bryant (FA), DE Boye Mafe (FA), CB Riq Woolen (FA) The Seahawks return 10 full-time starters from their No. 1 ranked scoring defense that led the way to the franchise’s Super Bowl LX victory, but their depth losses aren’t insignificant. If rookie defensive backs Bud Clark (second round) and Julian Neal (third round) play a big role early, Mike Macdonald’s defense may not lose a step. Key additions: S Reed Blankenship (FA), DL Logan Hall (FA), DT Kayden McDonald (draft)Key loss: DT Tim Settle (FA) The Seahawks last season barely edged the Texans as the league’s top-scoring defense (Seattle at 17.2 PPG allowed, Houston at 17.4 PPG allowed). So with the losses the Seahawks have suffered this offseason, the Texans — who also return 10 starters — are in the top spot by default. Not to mention, an already feared Houston defense added a high-quality veteran safety in Reed Blankenship via free agency and landed Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in the second round of the draft.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Los Angeles Rams once again showed a willingness to go for broke in the franchise’s chase for another Super Bowl. In one of the biggest trades in NFL history, the Rams landed future Hall of Fame edge rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns for two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. The Rams securing the all-time single-season sack leader and last year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year shows that they remain intently focused on building a roster that can not only make the Super Bowl, but win it all. It’s reminiscent of their move to acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2021, when they shipped Jared Goff and two first-round picks to the Detroit Lions. The Rams won the Super Bowl in the same year they made the Stafford trade, capturing the Lombardi Trophy at their home stadium. And where will this year’s Super Bowl be played? SoFi Stadium. So, will history repeat itself again for the Rams? With Garrett now headed to L.A., here are three takeaways from the massive deal: The Texas native demanded a trade during the offseason last year, but when the Browns offered him a rich extension, he picked the money over winning. Garrett signed a four-year contract extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, earning $40 million annually. Garrett went on to have his best season as a pro, breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23 sacks and totaling 33 tackles for loss. Still, Garrett’s heroic performance didn’t have an impact on his team’s record, as the Browns finished 5-12 and fired head coach Kevin Stefanski at the end of the season. This offseason seemed to have fizzled Garrett’s situation in Cleveland. After the Browns moved on from Stefanski, they didn’t hire who he wanted to be their next head coach, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Instead, they hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Schwartz opted to leave the organization. As the offseason progressed, Garrett’s unhappiness in Cleveland became apparent. Monken said he still hadn’t met Garrett yet when he spoke with reporters in late May, and the star edge rusher wasn’t present for the team’s voluntary workouts. During Garrett’s time away, the Browns restructured his contract, allowing them to spread out his cap hit over two seasons after June 1. That paved the way for a trade. Garrett had a no-trade clause in his contract, giving him some power in picking his next location. His new home is one he’ll have some familiarity with, as Garrett’s girlfriend, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, is a Southern California native. So, the trade to Los Angeles brings him closer to his offseason lifestyle. Los Angeles already gave up a first-round pick this offseason in a trade for versatile, All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed his teammate, former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson, to improve the team’s weak spot defensively in the secondary. Those moves came after Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks successfully moved the ball through the air with relative ease in their NFC Championship Game victory over the Rams en route to winning the Super Bowl. Now, Los Angeles has one of the best defensive fronts in football to help ease the burden of its revamped secondary. Verse was a good player and L.A’s most talented pass rusher. However, Verse had trouble finishing in critical moments of the game, logging just 12 sacks over his first two seasons. And the Rams still have plenty of talent in the defensive trenches outside of Garrett. Byron Young was more productive in getting after the quarterback last year than Verse, recording 12 sacks to earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2025. The interior of the line is formidable, with defensive tackles Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford, but the Rams now have their first elite closer on the edge since Von Miller, who was instrumental in helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2021. Leading tackler inside linebacker Nate Landman signed an extension this past season and returns, along with versatile safeties Kam Curl and Quentin Lake. Add McDuffie and Watson to the mix, and the Rams have elite players at all three levels of their defense, something they couldn’t claim when they fell two wins short of the Lombardi Trophy last year. The Browns’ roster will take an immediate hit for 2026, but they’re now well-positioned to build for the future. They moved on from a high-maintenance player in Garrett, who showed up late for meetings routinely and was arrested a handful of times for speeding. He could have been an issue for a franchise attempting to establish a new culture with Monken, if he wasn’t already with his absences from the team’s offseason program. While Verse isn’t the pass rusher Garrett has been, he also fits their timeline more than the two-time Defensive Player of the Year did. He joins a Cleveland squad that had several productive rookies last season, including Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwessinger and defensive tackle Mason Graham. More importantly, the Browns now have extra draft capital that could allow them to make a move in next year’s talent-rich QB class. They now have two first-round picks in 2027, giving them 11 picks total. The Browns have a two-man competition at quarterback this season in Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, but it’s clear that they’re looking toward next year. “It’s all about winning a Super Bowl in L.A,” a longtime NFL scout told me when asked about the trade. “The Browns get rid of an eventual pain in the ass, if he isn’t one already.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Odell Beckham Jr. is going back to his first professional home. The wide receiver has agreed to a deal with the New York Giants, according to multiple reports. The terms of Beckham’s deal with New York are unknown, but he visited the Giants on Monday. New York also reportedly agreed to terms on a contract with wide receiver Braxton Berrios earlier in the day. Beckham’s return to the Giants had been months in the making. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Beckham for a season with the Ravens, told reporters at the owners meeting in March that the team was open to signing Beckham. In those comments, Harbaugh also shared that he and Beckham had remained in contact even after the wide receiver left Baltimore at the end of the 2023 season. A few weeks later, Beckham had a workout with the Giants and underwent a physical for the team. While a deal didn’t culminate then, it was apparent that New York’s interest in reuniting with Beckham was real. This past week created an urgency for the Giants to add at wide receiver. Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski tore his Achilles during New York’s organized team activities (OTAs) session on Friday, thinning the Giants’ depth at the position. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers is returning from an ACL tear that ended his second season early, and Darius Slayton is rehabbing from a core injury. New York also lost productive wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency this offseason, but signed veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. The Giants used a third-round pick on Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields as well. Beckham, 33, didn’t play in the NFL in the 2025 season, remaining unsigned for the entire year following a stint with the Miami Dolphins, as he was also suspended six games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. However, he had expressed an interest in playing again multiple times this offseason. Beckham emerged as one of the NFL’s top receivers during his Giants tenure. After being taken by New York with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Beckham quickly set Giants and NFL records. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, logging 1,305 receiving yards and making his memorable one-handed grab that season. He also tied Lance Alworth for the NFL record for the fewest games needed to reach 4,000 career receiving yards, as he had at least 1,300 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons. But Beckham’s dominance never translated into consistent success for the Giants. They reached the postseason only once in his five-year tenure with the team, causing New York to trade Beckham to the Cleveland Browns in 2019 as part of a rebuild. Now, Beckham will join another rebuilding Giants squad that is hoping to get back into the postseason for the first time in four years.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Last week, Phillies phenom Cristopher Sánchez completed a flawless May with his fifth scoreless outing of the month, increasing his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 44.2 consecutive innings. But Sánchez isn’t the only pitcher enjoying an incredible start to the 2026 season. Jacob Misiorowski wrapped up a similarly extraordinary May with the Brewers (0.23 ERA). Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani allowed one run over six hitless innings last Wednesday and actually saw his miniscule season ERA (0.86) rise in the process. Also last week, second-year Reds right-hander Chase Burns fired his eighth straight start of two runs or fewer, and Braves veteran lefty Chris Sale recorded his eighth straight start allowing two earned runs or fewer. Clearly, Pirates star Paul Skenes will have a lot of competition this year in what should be a thrilling National League Cy Young race the rest of the way. In this week’s Power Rankings, we take a look at every team’s best starting pitcher to this point of the season. Until Chase Dollander returns from injury, it might be best to skip this one. Tomoyuki Sugano has been the most consistent of the group with a 4.01 ERA over 11 starts. With Tarik Skubal down, Casey Mize has become the de facto ace. He has a 1.45 ERA over his past seven starts, but he can’t fix a Detroit offense that ranks 29th in runs scored. Michael Wacha leads Royals starters in ERA, strikeouts and wins, but that hasn’t been enough for a Kansas City team that has lost 16 of its last 19 games. José Soriano saw his ERA rise from 0.84 to 2.65 in May, but he still deserves recognition here. Keep an eye on Reid Detmers, though. His ERA starts with a 4, but he leads the team in strikeouts, and a week ago he fanned 14 in a start against the Rangers. Landen Roupp is the only Giants starter with an ERA under 4.00. His consistent production has been important for a San Francisco starting rotation that ranks 28th in ERA. Offseason additions Ranger Suárez (3.38 ERA) and Sonny Gray (3.06) have both pitched well, but the lowest ERAs in the Boston rotation belong to 24-year-old Connelly Early (2.95) and 23-year-old Payton Tolle (2.61). Among all MLB starters who’ve thrown at least 40 innings this year, Tolle ranks sixth in WHIP and fourth in opponents’ batting average. With much of the attention this year on Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, it’s Max Meyer who has been the best starter in the Marlins’ rotation. Even after surrendering six runs to the Mets over the weekend, Meyer is 5-0 on the year with a 2.97 ERA that is by far the best mark among Miami starters. He won’t get the same attention as other starters while pitching for the middling Twins, but Joe Ryan ranks in the top 10 among all qualified MLB starters in WHIP, opponents’ average and fWAR and has a 1.97 ERA over his past six starts. Someone needed to step up with all the injuries in the Astros’ rotation, and Spencer Arrighetti answered the call. He’s 7-1 with a 1.34 ERA in eight starts. Until he fractured his fibula last month, Clay Holmes had been the one consistent piece of the volatile Mets rotation. They need at least one of Nolan McLean (4.21 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (3.55) to go on a run quickly. The A’s are trending the wrong way, but it has been a career year for 2020 second-round pick J.T. Ginn, who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on May 18 in Anaheim and leads A’s starters with a 2.87 ERA. Even after a few May clunkers that made Jacob deGrom’s ERA climb to 3.77, he is still the best pitcher in the Rangers’ rotation. But keep an eye on MacKenzie Gore, who has lowered his ERA from 5.18 to 3.96 over his past four starts. Orioles fans would probably hope the answer here would be Shane Baz, who just signed a $68 million extension, or Trevor Rogers. But it’s Kyle Bradish who has started the most games and has the most strikeouts and lowest ERA of anyone in the Baltimore rotation. Baz, however, has started to pick up some steam. Dylan Cease is currently on the shelf, but his hamstring injury appears minor. That’s a big relief as the Blue Jays try to claw their way into contention. Cease has lived up to the expectations of an ace after receiving a $210 million deal in Toronto, ranking first among qualified AL starters in strikeout rate. The Cease-Kevin Gausman duo atop the Toronto rotation is one of the best in the league. Chase Burns (7-1, 1.96 ERA) is one of just five qualified MLB starters with an ERA under 2.00. His work has been especially vital in a Reds starting rotation that has a 4.54 ERA as a group. The Nationals are one of the stories of the season. They just picked up impressive series wins against the Guardians and Padres, and former first-round pick Cade Cavalli is finding his form. Since April 18, he ranks eighth in the majors in strikeouts. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff figured to be an issue this year, but veterans Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1, 2.31 ERA) and Mike Soroka (7-2, 3.25) are lifting the rotation. Even if the underlying numbers suggest regression ahead, Rodriguez currently ranks in the top 10 among qualified MLB starters in ERA. That’s a significant turnaround after he logged an ERA over 5.00 in each of his first two seasons in Arizona. The fact that you could make an argument for Braxton Ashcraft here says something both about Ashcraft’s season and Paul Skenes’ year so far, but the answer is still Skenes. His 2.89 ERA is about a run worse than either of his past two seasons, but his expected ERA is the best of his career, his walk rate is the lowest of his career, and his underlying numbers are all exceptional. Injuries have ravaged this rotation — Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele and Cade Horton are all on the injured list — which helps explain Chicago starters’ 4.71 ERA. Ben Brown only joined the rotation in May, but since then he has been the star of the group with a 1.73 ERA over his last five starts. The Cubs desperately need Shota Imanaga to get back on track. Starting pitching isn’t the reason the Cardinals have stayed competitive in what is surprisingly the best division in baseball, but the group has been better than expected. Michael McGreevy’s expected ERA (5.63) is about double his actual ERA (2.98), but he’s the lone member of the rotation with an ERA under 4.00. Losing Munetaka Murakami to a hamstring strain hurts, but it’s not just power that has gotten the South Siders to this point. They’ve won 15 of their last 21 games with the help of a rotation that now ranks 11th in ERA. That group is led by Davis Martin, who has allowed one or no runs in eight of his past 10 starts. As Cristopher Sánchez continues to rack up scoreless outings, he’s now the NL Cy Young favorite. The Phillies southpaw just wrapped up a month of May in which he totaled 45 strikeouts and three walks without allowing a run over 39 innings, and he leads the majors in ERA and fWAR. That’s more like it. The Mariners have now won six straight games after sweeping the A’s and Diamondbacks, which was enough to move them to the top of the lowly AL West. Any one of Bryan Woo (3.44 ERA), George Kirby (3.77), Logan Gilbert (3.69) or Emerson Hancock (2.78) could claim the title as team ace this year, but it’s worth singling out Hancock’s consistent contributions to this point, especially as the team struggled early in the year. He has allowed three runs or fewer in all but one of his 11 starts and has the lowest ERA of the group. The Guardians’ momentum slowed last week with series losses to the Nationals and Red Sox, but their pitching still has them atop the AL Central. The Cleveland rotation ranks sixth in ERA led by rookie Parker Messick (6-1, 2.21 ERA), who could get both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young consideration. The regression appears to be starting now for a Padres team that has stayed well above .500 despite what is now a negative run differential. Michael King leads the San Diego rotation in every major category and will continue to be a critical piece for a team lacking pitching depth. It has been a remarkable year for 35-year-old veteran Nick Martinez, who has done far more than just solidify his role as an MLB starter. Martinez ranks third among all qualified MLB starters in ERA (1.62) and has not allowed more than two runs in any of his 11 outings this year. Cam Schlittler, the American League Cy Young favorite, leads the AL in both ERA (1.50) and WHIP (0.85). He has allowed three runs or fewer in every start and two runs or fewer in each of his past eight starts. Over six starts in May, Jacob Misiorowski allowed just one run and struck out 57, the most by any pitcher in any calendar month in franchise history. He leads all qualified starters in strikeouts (108), WHIP (0.79) and opponents’ average (.150). No other pitcher has 100 strikeouts. Among qualified starters, Cristopher Sánchez has the lowest ERA in MLB (1.47). But lower the minimum to 50 innings, and Shohei Ohtani’s mark (0.82) is about half of that. Ohtani won’t end up with the same number of innings as other top pitching contenders in his first full season on the mound in three years, but he looks like a potential Cy Young winner every time he takes the ball. The Braves have two of the top 10 qualified starters in ERA in Chris Sale (2.01) and Bryce Elder (2.50). At age 37, Sale remains one of the best pitchers in the game and should be in the Cy Young conversation as long as he stays healthy. Among all qualified MLB starters, Sale ranks seventh in ERA and fifth in both WHIP and opponents’ batting average. He’s also throwing harder this year than he did last year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Editor’s note: This story was published before the Los Angeles Rams reportedly agreed to a deal with the Cleveland Browns for edge rusher Myles Garrett, giving up edge rusher Jared Verse, a first-round pick, a second-round pick and a third-round pick. Everything can change in one offseason in the NFL. Just take a look at what happened last year. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots went head-to-head in Super Bowl LX after missing the playoffs in 2024. In fact, they were two of six teams (Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers) to make the postseason in 2025 after failing to make the playoffs the year prior. That was just the latest sign of the year-to-year parity we see in the NFL, which the league takes great pride in. While two non-playoff teams from the prior meeting in the Super Bowl isn’t the norm, seeing a handful of new teams make the postseason each year certainly is. The NFL has an unbelievable streak of 36 seasons in which at least four teams that missed the playoffs the year prior make the postseason the next year. So, who could make up that group in 2026? Let’s rank the 18 teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 who have the best chances to make the postseason in 2026, with odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds to make playoffs: +1500 It’s not just that the Arizona Cardinals went 3-14 last year and are moving forward with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, but they also play in the toughest division in the NFL. The other three teams in the NFC West made the postseason in 2025, and all three appear to be in strong shape to make it to the playoffs again in 2026. The Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are all in the top eight or so in most power rankings. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is exciting and new coach Mike LaFleur can start to move Arizona in the right direction, but if that amounts to more than six or seven wins this year, they’ll be one of the better turnaround stories in the league as they aren’t favored in the early point spreads in any of their 17 games. Odds to make playoffs: +1100 The Miami Dolphins went 7-10 last season, but much of the past year has been shedding big contracts — wide receiver Tyreek Hill, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb — to where there’s clear expectations of a major step back as they rebrand with a new quarterback (Malik Willis), new head coach (Jeff Hafley) and new general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan). No team has more 2027 salary cap space than the Dolphins do, and they’ll look like it in 2026 as they set themselves up for a high draft pick and rebounding from there. On top of that, the Dolphins have the second-toughest strength of schedule this season. Odds to make playoffs: +550 There’s excitement around rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but he’ll go from a 16-0 perfect season at Indiana to maybe winning a third of his games this first year with the Las Vegas Raiders. New coach Klint Kubiak also has Kirk Cousins, so he doesn’t have to go to Mendoza immediately, but a No. 1 overall pick is a huge investment that you want to see on the field fairly quickly. They’ll improve from a league-worst 14.2 points per game in 2025, but even if you add a touchdown to every score from last season, that doesn’t get you to .500. Odds to make playoffs: +800 After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Jets underwent significant roster changes this offseason. They’ve got eight new starters on defense for Aaron Glenn’s second season as head coach, seeking to improve a unit that finished 31st in points allowed last season. Moving into the middle third of the league in that stat would be a vast improvement. But with Geno Smith as the starting quarterback, it’s hard to see a significant improvement from last season’s record. Getting wide receiver Garrett Wilson healthy for a full season and seeing what rookie pass catchers Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper add to the offense are all good things, though. Odds to make playoffs: +450 The offensive line is completely revamped, but realistically, who’s the quarterback, and can he throw more than the 16 touchdowns the Cleveland Browns managed in 2025? Can new head coach Todd Monken get more out of the offense to match what could be a top-10 defense? Even with uncertainty in the division, they’ll do well to finish third, which would require either the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a big step back with their first-year head coach, or another quarterback injury in Cincinnati or Baltimore. Odds to make playoffs: +325 Last season wasn’t a good one for the Tennessee Titans. They finished in the bottom five in scoring offense and defense en route to a 3-14 record. On top of that, new head coach Robert Saleh will have at least six new starters on defense, with rookie receiver Carnell Tate potentially helping quarterback Cam Ward make a jump in his second season. The Titans had nine double-digit losses last season, matching the most in the NFL, so there’s much ground to make up to get the franchise back to .500, let alone playoff contention. Odds to make playoffs: +240 The Atlanta Falcons tied for the best record in the NFC South last year, going 8-9 in as close a division as you’ll find from top to bottom. Yet, the oddsmakers have them on the outside looking in for what would be a ninth straight year of missing the playoffs. Can head coach Kevin Stefanski take the offense to another level with Tagovailoa or Michael Penix at quarterback? Can the defense continue its progress under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich? The division is wide-open, but that’s probably the easiest sell for why the Falcons could end their postseason drought. Odds to make playoffs: +260 How much better can John Harbaugh make the New York Giants in 2026? Add in a healthy Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers on offense, rookie edge rusher Arvell Reese on defense, and the NFC East has four teams all in flux. How much will they miss star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence up front? Who knows, but they got a top-10 pick to beef their offensive line when they traded Lawrence, using the selection on Miami (Fla.)’s Francis Mauigoa. The final three-week stretch is a tough one. They travel to face the Detroit Lions on the Monday after Christmas and hit the road again to take on the Dallas Cowboys the following week. They’ll leave those matchups with the hopes of having something to play for when they finish the regular season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Odds to make playoffs: +175 Last season didn’t start well for the New Orleans Saints, but they closed strong. They were 2-10 before winning four of their last five, although two of those wins came against the Jets and Titans. Still, was that late surge a sign of how the Saints can rally around quarterback Tyler Shough? Head coach Kellen Moore got valuable additions to his offense in running back Travis Etienne and rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, suggesting that they’re buying into Shough entering Year 2. But can their defense improve without linebacker Demario Davis in the middle? A last-place schedule hooks them up with games against the Raiders and Cardinals, as the Saints have the second-easiest strength of schedule in 2026. Facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice in the final four weeks could be very pivotal. Odds to make playoffs: +170 If the Minnesota Vikings had found ways to put up more points last season, they would’ve made the postseason for a second straight year. They had a top-10 defense with coordinator Brian Flores, going 7-2 in games where they scored 20 points or more. That suggests if the offense can get back to 2024 levels, they could be a surprise team in the NFC North. However, big questions loom. Will Kyler Murray prove to be a bargain on a league minimum prove-it deal? Can rookie defensive tackle Caleb Banks show he wasn’t a first-round reach and offset the loss of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard? Can wide receiver Jauan Jennings find himself again as a potent 1-2-3 with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Odds to make playoffs: +140 Just like the Vikings, a few big questions linger for the Indianapolis Colts entering 2026. The first that must be answered is when Daniel Jones will be healthy and back, and whether he comes close to the 8-2 start he had with the Indianapolis Colts last year? Without many notable additions, can head coach Shane Steichen keep up with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, who both look like solid bets to return to the playoffs? The Colts lost their final seven games last season, but five were one-score games as 44-year-old Philip Rivers came out of retirement to quarterback them down the stretch. So their hopes are built around Jones staying healthy and the defense being much better, especially with cornerback Sauce Gardner getting healthy, too. Odds to make playoffs: +225 The optimism of a bounce-back year starts with a healthy Jayden Daniels, but the bigger deal might be a defense with seven new starters, including first-round pick Sonny Styles. They won five games in 2025, with two coming against the Giants and one against Eagles backups. Can the defensive overhaul get them back to the excitement of 2024, when they went 12-5 and won two playoff games? Dan Quinn needs two first-time coordinators — David Blough on offense, Daronte Jones on defense — to figure things out quickly. Odds to make playoffs: +100 Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys’ offense had another productive season in 2025. However, the defense was so bad last year, giving up a league-high 30 points a game. So, Christian Parker takes over on that side of the ball, becoming Dallas’ defensive coordinator with what looks to be six new starters, including promising rookie safety Caleb Downs. Even with their sluggish defense a year ago, the Cowboys were 6-5-1 after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, but then lost four of five to finish the season. Their success may hinge on a new secondary with Downs and safety Jalen Thompson leading the way. December looks daunting with trips to Seattle and Los Angeles before hosting the Jaguars, so the Cowboys might need to have a strong record through the first three months of the season. Odds to make playoffs: -155 The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense has been enough of a liability to negate a prolific passing game with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, keeping them out of the playoffs three years in a row. Zac Taylor likely won’t survive as the head coach with a fourth year like that. So, can big swings for Lawrence and edge rusher Boye Mafe get the Bengals to at least an average defense? Over the last two years, the Bengals have had four games in which they scored 38-plus points and lost — the rest of the NFL combined has had five such games. They’re favored to win 15 of their games, which is the second-most in the NFL, and have the third-easiest schedule based on their opponents’ combined winning percentage from last season. Odds to make playoffs: +125 It took a collapse in the second half of the season for the Buccaneers to even appear on this list. The Bucs were 6-2 last year before going on a nosedive, losing seven of eight games and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The offense was scuttled by injuries along the offensive line and at receiver down the stretch. While they should enter the year healthier (running back Bucky Irving is expected to be ready for training camp), this is a team that lost two franchise icons in receiver Mike Evans (signed with 49ers) and linebacker Lavonte David (retired), so finding new leadership will be a must. There’s excitement surrounding rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain, who wasn’t expected to fall to them at No. 15 and highlights a tougher, new-look defensive front. Odds to make playoffs: -235 Patrick Mahomes as an underdog? That’s what we have as the Kansas City Chiefs look to rebound from a 6-11 season, with Mahomes working to return from a torn ACL. He’s not the only Super Bowl MVP in the backfield now, either, as the team signed running back Kenneth Walker from Seattle. They lost Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the secondary, so first-round cornerback Mansoor Delane becomes a crucial piece. Eric Bieniemy is back as offensive coordinator. Can the Chiefs get back to the juggernaut they were just two years ago? Odds to make playoffs: -220 The Detroit Lions lost both coordinators from 2024 last year and took a step back, losing four of six to finish the year and missing the playoffs. There are big changes on the offensive line, with Penei Sewell flipping from right to left tackle. They also have newcomers in center Cade Mays and rookie right tackle Blake Miller. The schedule closes with a nasty stretch, with three division games on the road in the final four weeks of the season. If they don’t stockpile wins early, they’ll need a very strong finish in cold conditions to stay in contention. Luckily for the Lions, they have a last-place schedule this year, though, giving them the sixth-easiest schedule in 2026. Odds to make playoffs: -340 Those odds have an implied probability of 77% that the Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs, with a first-time head coach in Jesse Minter and a 30-year-old first-time play-caller in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Last year’s Ravens opened 1-5 amid a ton of injuries and couldn’t dig themselves out of that hole, costing Harbaugh his job. Getting defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike back is huge for the defense, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson doesn’t hurt either. They close with four straight division games, including both Steelers games, so the AFC North will be decided in that stretch, as the Ravens have the ninth-easiest schedule this year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Canadian winger Marcelo Flores will miss this summer’s World Cup after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee, head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed on Sunday. The 22-year-old Georgetown, Ontario native—who plays club football for Mexico’s Tigres UANL—was forced off in tears during the 77th minute of Saturday’s Concacaf Champions Cup penalty kick shootout loss to Toluca. Marsch expressed heartbreak for the young midfielder, noting that Flores remains in good spirits and has been invited to join the squad post-surgery. “Obviously, we’re devastated for him,” Marsch said in a press conference. “Our hearts are with him. He’s in good spirits. He’s already focused on moving forward and getting himself healthy for the future.” Vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio echoed the sentiment, stating the team is motivated to play for their sidelined teammate. “Obviously there’s a couple players that have been through that injury and we kind of knew that it could possibly be what it is,” Eustáquio said. “He was very important for us, as a person as well as a player.” Flores’ injury adds to a growing casualty list for Canada. While captain Alphonso Davies is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is unlikely for the June 12 opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina, he is expected to play later in the tournament. Under tournament rules, Marsch has until 24 hours before Canada’s first match to name Flores’ replacement, a decision he plans to evaluate after Monday’s friendly against Uzbekistan.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte) – It’s clear who the standout players were on Sunday, when the USA beat Senegal 3-2. Christian Pulisic had an assist before ending his six-month scoring drought with a great finish. Here’s how I rate the key players from the Americans’ first World Cup tune-up against Senegal. Man of the match. Pulisic looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. He got the Americans on the board with a great assist for Dest before taking his goal really well by going around the goalkeeper. Balogun was the USA’s second-best player on the field after Pulisic. He looked a constant threat in the box and got his goal to reward his hard work. For me, he’s the Americans’ clear starting striker at the World Cup. Dest made a great run for his goal to open the scoring and showed great energy in his role on the right wing. As I mentioned before, I really liked his partnership with Freeman. He’ll provide quality and attacking flair for the Americans this summer. Pepi worked hard and got his assist on Pulisic’s goal. He was involved in both of the Americans’ first-half goals and showed good movement in the process. He can still be cleaner in the box around the goal, though. Freeman looked really comfortable on the right side of the defense next to Mark McKenzie, with whom I thought he had good chemistry. Also, importantly, he provided good balance and support for Sergiño Dest as he worked on the right wing. Turner conceded the goal but was otherwise fine. Facing a one-on-one situation against a player like Sadio Mané, I wouldn’t expect him to make that save. Adams did his job during the first half – solid and reliable in midfield. I thought McKenzie slotted in well in the middle of the back three in the first half. He played well alongside Freeman and passed well out of the back. Tillman, who played the second half, had a goal that was called out for a foul by Balogun in the box. He also won possession and would have had an assist early in the half if Balogun wasn’t offside. Solid performance in the second half from Trusty. McKennie played the second half of this one. He’ll be an impact player and starter for this team come the World Cup. They’re getting him ready for the tournament here. You can see Reyna’s quality on the pitch, but there’s also clearly more to be unlocked. He started next to Pepi and Pulisic in attack. You know what you’re going to get from Tim Ream, who played the first 45 minutes. Weah will play a role this summer on the wing for the Americans. He gives them a different threat in attack with his pace. Scally played at right back in the second half. Berhalter filled in for Weston McKennie in midfield and was fine, playing the most minutes of any American on Sunday. Robinson gave the ball away, leading to Mané’s first goal. The chemistry between him and Pulisic on the left will be important for this team moving forward. Roldan played the second half and will provide depth in midfield this summer. Arfsten came in at halftime in place of Robinson and will be the backup left back this summer. Robinson played the second half next to Trusty in defense. He did well after his mistake on Senegal’s second goal. Brady played the second half, while Matt Freese, who is competing with Turner for the starting spot, did not see the field. Zendejas only played 14 minutes on Sunday, so his grade is incomplete.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Detroit — Alex Palou did it again. But he did it in a little different way. Palou, who typically masters pitting later than the rest of the field and then burying them with fresher tires and already having a lead, pitted earlier than the other leaders and used that strategy to his advantage Sunday in winning the Detroit Grand Prix. After Palou pitted, a caution came out, putting his top challengers outside the top five. Kyle Kirkwood, the defending race winner, rallied to second. But he had nothing for Palou, who won for the fourth time in eight races this season, including his third on a street course. “Last year or the past couple years, we were not that strong on street courses,” Palou said in his post-race news conference. “And this year we’ve been able to win at three street courses. It just feels incredible.” Here are my takeaways: 1. McLaughlin And Power Upset Over Tangle Scott McLaughlin and Will Power tangled in the race, which resulted in Power having too much damage to continue and ruining McLaughlin’s day. Power was in no mood to talk, as he delivered an expletive toward the FOX cameras after he got out of his car. McLaughlin was frustrated as well. “We were side-by-side at [Turn] 3 and I got, like, a little sideways — which made me press him to the wall a lot more aggressively than I wanted,” McLaughlin told me and other reporters after the race. “I don’t know whether he’s pissed off because of that. I’m not sure. But then after that, he got me. And I was pretty happy with it. “I was like, ‘Still good, good result, right now he’s faster than me on restarts, I’ll let him have it.’ And then … I was just going to go the outside, and he just kept turning in and just basically gave me no option. Just turned into the side of me and drove me into the right-side fence and another fence.” McLaughlin and Power were teammates for several years at Team Penske. “I have so much respect for Will Power,” McLaughlin said. “He’s been my teammate for so many years and helped me so much. And we’ll talk about it. “I regard him as a guy with a lot of respect. But today I just felt like he gave me no option, and I really didn’t want to see that happen for either of us.” 2. Kirkwood Questions Yellows After the Indy Grand Prix, where INDYCAR officials were criticized for Alexander Rossi sitting on the frontstretch without the caution being thrown in hopes of finishing a green-flag pit cycle before issuing a full-course caution, INDYCAR began a new policy not to let green-flag pit cycles influence a full-course caution. That philosophy appeared to bite Kirkwood, who still had to make his final pit stop when the caution came out and Palou had already pitted. And then another yellow came out when Kirkwood was challenging Palou, a caution he felt was a quick trigger. “This is what happens when you guys rip into them, to be honest,” Kirkwood said in his post-race news conference. “It was disappointing to see. Two yellows out caught me out fighting for the lead where we almost … went to make a pass on him. “Yellow comes out right when I have a run on him. I was pretty disappointed with it. But I understand their position. You guys all called for yellows, so they’re going to throw yellows.” 3. Palou’s Strategy Works When things are going well, it’s hard to have things not go your way. Just ask Palou, who pitted at the optimal time. If he was on the other strategy, though, he was still likely in a better position already, having used his two sets of soft tires. He pulled away from Kirkwood at the end with Kirkwood on the soft tires and Palou on the hard tires, which are more consistent even though they are slightly slower at the start of a run. No matter the strategy, Palou was just happy to come back after losing a few spots in the opening stint after starting from the pole. “It didn’t really feel like we were leading that much,” Palou said. “I know that we were leading, but man, it was a lot of work.” 4. Rough Racing The race featured contact between several drivers and Santino Ferrucci, Alexander Rossi and Kyffin Simpson were among those who had penalties for avoidable contact. Is that just the nature of the tight Detroit circuit? Or are drivers feeling the pressure? “The cars are too strong, frankly,” said Graham Rahal, who finished third, in his post-race news conference. “Now the cars are very durable. You can hit things quite hard, and they don’t really break that much. “Then the second thing is people know here that you just have to be a bulldog. The thing is the guys that keep doing it. And I’m not going to name names but some of them have a lot of experience. And it hasn’t worked out for them once. So I’m not really sure why they keep making the moves of desperation that they do.” 4 ½: What’s Next The INDYCAR drivers head to World Wide Technology Raceway (commonly known by its previous name, Gateway) for a race on the 1.25-mile asphalt oval across the river from St. Louis. The race is the second of four on small ovals this year, with one already at Phoenix and then a doubleheader at The Milwaukee Mile later this year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM (Charlotte, N.C.) — As the ball rolled into the net, you could see the relief and weight lifted off Christian Pulisic’s shoulders. The USA’s star forward had a goal — breaking a befuddling scoring drought that stretched to December — along with an assist, and Folarin Balogun netted the game-winner as the Stars and Stripes topped African powerhouse Senegal in Sunday’s pre-World Cup exhibition. A good result in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 for the U.S. against a quality side that will also be at the 48-team tournament. Only one more test left before the real thing kicks off for the USA in its World Cup opener on June 12. Here are my takeaways from Sunday’s victory: 1. Christian Pulisic Snaps Drought In Style So much of the discourse surrounding the American squad in the buildup to this World Cup has been about Pulisic’s career-worst goalless streak, which had extended to more than 20 games for club and country by the time the Stars and Stripes’ headliner arrived stateside last week to prepare for the biggest summer of his life. All along, Pulisic insisted he wasn’t concerned. “There’s difficult times, and then sometimes one will bounce off your knee and go in, and then it seems like everything goes in after that,” Pulisic said again on Saturday before the squad flew to Charlotte for Sunday’s contest. “That’s just the way things work, and I feel pretty confident.” It showed against Senegal. It took less than six minutes for Hershey, Pennsylvania’s favorite son, who set up Sergiño Dest’s opener. Just 13 minutes later, Pulisic doubled the USA’s advantage himself when he took a pass from Ricardo Pepi, rounded visiting keeper Mory Diaw and coolly slotted the ball into Diaw’s vacated net. Not only was it the 27-year-old attacker’s first tally since he scored for AC Milan last December — it was his first for the national team since late 2024. 2. USA Gets Much-Needed Win … All last week, the U.S. players oscillated between saying how important winning at least one of their final two pre-World Cup exhibitions and noting, correctly, that the only results that actually matter are the ones in the main event. But winning is always good. And for a squad that let its fans down by getting outscored, 7-2, in a pair of March losses to European powers Belgium and Portugal, it certainly doesn’t hurt. “Winning is contagious,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. It’s also a habit. The U.S. can take a ton of confidence from their performance on Sunday in a game that wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggests (see below). The U.S. attack was sharp. And it could’ve scored more; Balogun had an apparent goal called back for offside before his eventual game-winner, and Malik Tillman had one ruled out as well. 3. … But Defensive Questions Persist Up 2-0 with just two minutes of the opening 45 remaining, the home side was cruising. That changed in a heartbeat after Antonee “Jedi” Robinson was dispossessed in midfield, sending the Lions of Teranga roaring toward Matt Turner’s goal. Habib Diarra then made a perfect pass to former Liverpool star Sadio Mané, Senegal’s skipper and all-time top scorer, who only needed one touch to deposit the ball past Turner and inside the far post. It was a disappointing strike to give up at that point in the match. More disappointing was the guests’ second. Diarra was at the heart of it again, with center back Miles Robinson unaware that the Sunderland man was lurking behind him. Robinson’s error left goalkeeper Chris Brady, who came on for Turner at halftime to make his first international appearance, with a tough decision to make. He chose poorly, rushing out and getting caught in no-man’s land as Mané pulled his team level. 4. Is This Close To Pochettino’s Best Lineup? During a roundtable with a small group of reporters at U.S. Soccer’s training facility outside of Atlanta last week, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager revealed that he’s had an idea what his starting lineup since “before March.” How many of those players began Sunday’s encounter? By my count, it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of six: Pulisic, Dest, Jedi, Tyler Adams, Alex Freeman and captain Tim Ream. Matt Freese is almost certainly still the No. 1 heading into the final preparation match next week. If healthy, Balogun and midfielder Weston McKennie are lineup locks. Versatile players like Tim Weah and Malik Tillman could be in the mix, too. As expected, Pochettino made wholesale changes at halftime; per FIFA rules, the teams agreed beforehand to use up to 11 subs apiece. The U.S. coach took full advantage, switching out 10 players at the break, with midfielder Sebastian Berhalter the only holdover. Forward Alex Zendejas entered for Berhalter with about a quarter-hour remaining. The plan was clearly to give as many players as many minutes as possible. I’m guessing that the XI we see next week in Chicago will be a lot closer to the group that is on the field when the Americans’ World Cup campaign begins against Paraguay on June 12. 4 ½. Mighty Germany Awaits In USA’s Final Tuneup Before it can carry the momentum of Sunday’s victory into the World Cup itself, the U.S. will face the four-time World Cup champs in Chicago in its high-profile send-off. The 10th-ranked Germans are never an easy out, but there’s no reason the Americans can’t pull off the upset in what would count as this generation’s long-awaited “signature” win. After all, they’ve upset Die Mannachaft four times in a dozen meetings all-time. Win the next one, and U.S. players and supporters will enter the planet’s biggest sporting event knowing that they can beat anyone.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez was injured by a ball thrown from the bleachers Sunday, sustaining a bruise to his right wrist that forced him to leave the game against the Baltimore Orioles. The culprit wasn’t a malicious fan. Rather, the ball was tossed by a youngster who merely wanted to play a game of catch. The mishap occurred in the sixth inning of Baltimore’s 9-5 victory. During a stoppage in play, Sánchez glanced up at the fans in the right field bleachers. Not long after that, the ball soared from the stands and plunked his wrist. “I wasn’t trying to play catch right there,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “I just looked at them, and they thought maybe that I want them to throw the ball. It was a complete misunderstanding.” Sanchez was wearing a bandage on his wrist after the game, but X-rays were negative and he seemed confident the injury wouldn’t keep him out of the lineup. “It hurts a little bit, but thank God it’s nothing bad or a fracture,” he said. “I’ll be all right.” A statement from an Orioles spokesperson said the club has “identified the fan and removed them from the ballpark while we conduct a thorough investigation.” Toronto manager John Schneider shook his head but smiled when asked to explain what happened. “Yeah, you never know what you’re going to see at the ballpark,” he said. “He was kind of talking to a, I think it was a 12-year-old kid … in a playful manner, like almost let’s play catch. I think the kid took it literally.” Schneider added, “I’m sure the kid feels bad. I’m assuming there’s no ill intent there, I think it was just a misunderstanding and bad timing.” It’s certainly not something the Orioles condone. “That’s something that I know we’re looking into,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt or fans throwing the ball on the field or anything like that.” Sánchez never saw it coming, but he will learn from the experience. “Big surprise, of course,” he said. “I never imagined that was going to happen, but it happened. Just turn the page and keep going.” Reporting by the Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports