Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter confirmed Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the starting quarterback following Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers.Fitzpatrick completed 24 of 40 passes for 243 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 42-28 defeat. The journeyman quarterback will continue to start over Jameis Winston, who was benched after a four-interception performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.The 35-year-old is in the middle of one of his best seasons to date, throwing 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions in six games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite conceding a third straight decision Sunday, head coach John Harbaugh doesn't anticipate the Baltimore Ravens making any major changes over their bye week."I don't see that," Harbaugh responded when asked about the possibility a shakeup to either player personnel or the coaching staff, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "The biggest thing we need to do is get healthy."The Ravens' struggles snowballed further with a 23-16 loss at home to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. After beginning the season 4-2, Baltimore has lost three consecutive games and sit third in the AFC North entering the bye.Reports surfaced before the game that Harbaugh, who's in his 11th season with the Ravens, could be on the hot seat."There's a lot of football left to be played," he cautioned, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.Among the issues plaguing the Ravens lately is their offense. Including Sunday, they've scored fewer than 24 points in five straight contests."I've never been someone worried about losing a job," Harbaugh said. "I feel very good about the way this team has been coached for last 11 years."Since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season, the Ravens have missed the playoffs four times in five years. They will face the Cincinnati Bengals coming out of their bye in Week 11.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Week 9 NFL slate rolls on Sunday with three games in the late-afternoon window, followed by a prime-time matchup between the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Will Bernanke, the lead analyst at CG Analytics in Las Vegas, offers some betting nuggets for the four games.Houston Texans at Denver BroncosTwo teams heading in opposite directions meet when the Houston Texans travel to take on the Denver Broncos. Houston has reeled off five straight wins, while the Broncos come limping in after losing five of their last six games. The Broncos are holding steady as 1/1.5-point favorites in most shops, and the total has ticked up from 46 to 46.5."Surprisingly low handle on this game, but there's currently 62 percent of Houston money," said Bernanke. "The total is pretty even. We're gonna need Denver here slightly, as bettors are taking the red-hot team."Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle SeahawksThe Los Angeles Chargers come into Week 9 on a roll following four straight wins after starting the season 1-2. Los Angeles recently took down the Tennessee Titans in London, narrowly winning 20-19 and failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites.The Chargers are slight 'dogs on Sunday when they travel to CenturyLink Field to face the Seahawks, a team that's 4-1 over its last five games."55 percent of the spread money is on the Chargers - nothing crazy," said Bernanke. "Accounting for the moneyline handle, about 59 percent of all cash is on L.A."Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans SaintsThe undefeated Los Angeles Rams look to keep their record intact while taking on a New Orleans Saints team that hasn't lost since Week 1. The line on this game has swung and crossed zero multiple times throughout the week, but Los Angeles is currently the short road favorite."We took some respected money - a low five-figure wager - on the Rams earlier in the week when they were 'dogs," said Bernanke.The total hit as high as 59.5, but has since fallen to 56.5 in most spots."A lot of under money," added Bernanke. "Which is surprising with these two teams."Green Bay Packers at New England PatriotsThe public was all over the Packers when they were getting more than a touchdown against the Rams last weekend during a 29-27 loss. Now bettors are mostly going back to the Green Bay well in Week 9 when the Packers face the New England Patriots, with the AFC East leaders sitting as five-point home favorites."88 percent of the moneyline cash is on Green Bay, as is 56 percent of the spread money," Bernanke said. "There's some money on the under, but the Green Bay moneyline is what a lot of people are hitting."Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions were close to signing pending free-agent wide receiver Golden Tate to a contract extension before trading him to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The extension would have been a long-term deal for Tate, who said he felt an agreement was close, Rapoport adds.Tate spent the past five years with the Lions after signing a five-year, $31-million contract ahead of the 2014 season. He recorded 4,741 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns for Detroit on 416 catches.The Eagles sent a third-round pick to the Lions in exchange for the former Pro Bowler.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams were apparently intent on upgrading their pass rush.The Rams made multiple inquiries about the availability of Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney after failing to land Khalil Mack, but were rebuffed by Houston, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Los Angeles also pursued Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes, but Buffalo wasn't interested in moving their top pass rusher. Ultimately, the Rams acquired Dante Fowler Jr. in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.Clowney is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but will likely receive either a big-money long-term extension or the franchise tag before hitting the open market.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver A.J. Green is scheduled to visit a foot specialist this week regarding his toe injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Green, who's expected to miss "some games" with the injury, will find out if his ailment will require surgery. He sustained the toe injury during Cincinnati's Week 8 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Losing Green for any period of time would be devastating for the playoff-hopeful Bengals. The star pass-catcher is on pace to put up his seventh 1,000-yard season in eight years and a career-high in touchdowns after scoring six times in eight games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than a year after backing out of a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is believed to be open to head coaching opportunities, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.McDaniels infamously spurned the Colts this past offseason. After the team had announced him as the new head coach, he elected to return to his same position with the Patriots.The 42-year-old was first hired by the Patriots as a personnel assistant in 2001. He served as head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2009 to 2010, and was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the St. Louis Rams in 2011, before returning to the Patriots as OC and QBs coach in 2012.He is a five-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots but owns a record of just 11-17 as head coach.It was reported in September that McDaniels was given a record contract to return as coordinator with the Patriots after backing out of the deal with the Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is facing mounting pressure within the organization after losing two straight games in what is considered a "playoffs-or-bust season," sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 4-4 Ravens, who have not made the playoffs since 2014, currently sit third in the AFC North and play a crucial game against the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.A midseason coaching change isn't expected, added Rapoport, but Baltimore's higher-ups haven't ruled it out after mulling Harbaugh's future at the end of last season.It isn't just the Ravens' record that has Harbaugh on the hot set. The team is also reportedly frustrated with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson's lack of development.Baltimore lost to the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers over the last two weeks, though the two NFC South teams have combined 11-3 record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are concerned about the availability of tight end Rob Gronkowski and rookie running back Sony Michel for Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gronkowski has been dealing with a back injury and Michel's attempting to return from a knee injury. Both players are officially listed as questionable and will be tested pregame.After missing the Patriots' Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears, Gronkowski returned against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 to catch three of eight targets for 43 yards. The four-time All-Pro has just one touchdown this season while catching 29 passes for 448 yards.Michel missed last week's game after suffering the knee injury early in the game against the Bears. The No. 31 pick in April's draft has 95 carries for 422 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, adding four receptions for 31 yards through six games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons didn't make a major move ahead of this past Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, but they did receive interest from multiple teams wanting to acquire pass-rusher Vic Beasley, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.However, the Falcons remain committed to Beasley, Rapoport adds. The 26-year-old was the No. 8 pick in the 2015 draft and led the league with 15.5 sacks while being named an All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl in 2016, but he's regressed over the past season and a half, recording just six sacks and starting 14 of 21 games played.Beasley remains under contract for the remainder of this season and for 2019 after the Falcons picked up the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. He'll carry a cap hit of just under $13 million next season.The Falcons hold a record of 3-4 entering Week 9 and sit third in the NFC South, while battling through the losses of top defenders Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, and Ricardo Allen.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday night's college football game between Duke and Miami played at Hard Rock Stadium amid heavy rain has created concerns over the field conditions for Sunday's game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, league sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter."The field is horrendous," said one league source at the stadium on Saturday. "It's a complete s---show."Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe concerns are based on the field not draining and the grass being poor, a source added."Heard it here first," another league source said Saturday night. "The NFL is going to be in the news for the Jets-Dolphins game field playing conditions."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 9.You can also listen to the Week 9 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard

It appears Nick Mullens did enough in his Thursday Night Football debut to get a prolonged look at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers' offense.Head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't expected to make an announcement until he gets the opportunity to speak to his players early next week, but it would be a major surprise if Mullens isn't named the starter for Week 10 and beyond, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Mullens, 23, completed 16 of 22 passing attempts for 262 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in his first NFL start against the Oakland Raiders.He led the 49ers to their first victory since Week 2 while replacing the injured C.J. Beathard, who had been filling in for Jimmy Garoppolo after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 3.The 49ers will play host to the New York Giants on Monday night of Week 10.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers star running back Melvin Gordon will play Sunday versus the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gordon missed Week 7's contest against the Tennessee Titans with a hamstring injury and had the Week 8 bye to recover. He was listed as questionable on the Chargers' injury report this week.Gordon is the league's 12th-leading rusher with 466 yards and a 5.1 yards-per-carry average in six games played this season.The Chargers struggled to run the ball without him in the lineup last week. Backup Austin Ekeler led the way on the ground with 42 yards on 12 carries.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears pass-rusher extraordinaire Khalil Mack is unlikely to play in Sunday's game versus the Buffalo Bills due to a sprained ankle, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Mack missed the Bears' Week 8 contest against the New York Jets. His availability for Week 9 will be determined after pregame workouts, according to Schefter.Mack has five sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception, and a touchdown in his six games played with the Bears this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs is not expected to play in Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions due to a rib injury, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Diggs was listed as questionable throughout the week.Without Diggs in the lineup, the Vikings would need to lean even more on Adam Thielen, who tied an NFL record last week by recording an eighth consecutive 100-yard receiving game to start the season.The Minnesota offense might benefit from the return of running back Dalvin Cook on Sunday, though he's expected to be on a snap count.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have released veteran defensive end Bruce Irvin, league sources told Vic Tafur of The Athletic.Irvin played just nine snaps Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders reportedly shopped him before the trade deadline in hopes of acquiring a late-round draft pick.Irvin, who turned 31 years old on Thursday, signed a four-year, $37-million contract with the Raiders in 2016 after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He notched 18 sacks across 40 games with Oakland, including three in eight contests this year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals released veteran quarterback Sam Bradford on Saturday.Bradford started the first three games of the season but had been inactive for every game since Week 4, as he was owed $300,000 in bonuses for each contest in which he was a member of the 46-man roster. Between his signing bonus, base salary, and incentives, Bradford earned about $13.5 million from the Cardinals this season.The 30-year-old was benched by Arizona after three games for rookie Josh Rosen. He signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals in the offseason after a two-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings.Bradford will now go on waivers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The former No. 1 overall pick carries a $20-million salary for next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Derek Anderson has been officially ruled out for the team's Week 9 game against the Chicago Bears with a concussion, the team announced.With Anderson out, the Bills will go back to Week 1 starter Nathan Peterman, head coach Sean McDermott said Friday.Anderson started Buffalo's Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots but was knocked out of the game with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter after taking a sack.McDermott said Tuesday that rookie Josh Allen is "making good progress," but is still considered week to week with an elbow injury.Peterman was named the Bills' starting quarterback prior to Week 1 but was quickly benched in favor of Allen. He's completed 40.6 percent of his passes this season, throwing one touchdown and four interceptions.Rookie linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was also ruled out with a concussion for the team's Week 9 tilt.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week, we take a look at five last-minute additions for your fantasy team heading into NFL Sunday.Kapri Bibbs, RB, Redskinsvs. FalconsPatrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyBibbs is expected to slot into Chris Thompson's role as the Redskins' third-down and pass-catching back in a very intriguing matchup against the Falcons. The fifth-year rusher enjoyed a solid game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, rushing for 13 yards and adding four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown as the change of pace to workhorse Adrian Peterson.Only three teams allow more average fantasy points to running backs in half-point-per-reception formats than the Falcons. Atlanta also ranks 23rd by Football Outsiders' DVOA metric against running backs in the passing game, allowing averages of 10.4 targets and 70.2 receiving yards, both league worsts.Brandon Powell, WR, Lionsat VikingsLeon Halip / Getty Images Sport / GettyPowell has been booked by the Detroit Free Press as the likely candidate to replace the traded Golden Tate in the Lions' three-receiver sets alongside Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay.The rookie led the Lions in both receptions and receiving yards in the preseason, though he's appeared in just one regular-season game as a punt returner.Jones and Golladay are likely to pick up the majority of Tate's vacated 10 targets per game, but Powell becomes a sneaky option with the two more experienced players commanding the defense's attention.Devontae Booker, RB, Broncosvs. TexansChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyBooker had his best game of the season in Week 8 while filling in for Royce Freeman as the complement to Phillip Lindsay. The former fourth-round pick rushed nine times for 78 yards and caught all four of his targets for another 23 yards in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.Freeman's in jeopardy of missing a second consecutive game due to an ankle injury, and Booker's strong performance last week should eliminate any motivation to push the rookie back into game action.Rookie receiver Courtland Sutton is expected to replace the production lost by the trade of Demaryius Thomas at Tuesday's deadline, but the Broncos could attempt to balance out an offensive attack passing on 60.7 percent of plays while getting Sutton adjusted to his role as a No. 2 receiver.Chris Herndon, TE, Jetsat DolphinsAl Bello / Getty Images Sport / GettyHerndon has scored a touchdown in three consecutive weeks, operating as Sam Darnold's top red-zone target with receivers Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson hobbled by injuries. He's caught all four of his targets inside the opponents' 20-yard line this season, collecting three scores.With Enunwa and Anderson both at risk of missing yet another contest, Herndon could be a top option at the thin tight end position for at least another week.He'll face a Dolphins team allowing 7.2 targets per game to tight ends. Two of the top four tight ends in fantasy in Zach Ertz and Eric Ebron are on bye this week, and George Kittle played on Thursday night. Herndon enters Week 9 ranked 19th in fantasy points at the position, but he's poised for another big jump.Tim Patrick, WR, Broncosvs. TexansMatthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyAs Sutton moves into the Broncos' No. 2 receiver role, Patrick will get the chance to act as the No. 3 with rookie DaeSean Hamilton ruled out with a knee injury.Patrick, a second-year undrafted free agent in 2017, caught the first touchdown of his career against the Chiefs last week. Sutton received no fewer than three targets in every game this season as quarterback Case Keenum's third option. There'll be enough work for a modest fantasy contribution from Patrick with few other options in the passing game.The Texans' defense has been slightly worse against the pass than the run through eight weeks. Though Booker would have an easier path to touches, Patrick could provide some late-game value if the Texans can build an early lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady can hit yet another career milestone on Sunday when the New England Patriots host the Green Bay Packers, as the 41-year-old enters the meeting just three rushing yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark for his career.He credits his longevity for getting him this far and says he's hoping to surpass the milestone in the marquee Week 9 matchup."I've kind of inched along there for a long time. It really hasn't been a part of my game. But I'm getting close. I've been at it for a long time. Hopefully we can get it this week. Hopefully we can get more than that," Brady said, according to NBC Sports Boston.The future Hall of Famer has amassed 997 rushing yards over 261 games during his career, scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground, predominantly via goal-line QB sneaks. He's had three 100-yard rushing seasons.Sunday's opponent, Aaron Rodgers, conceded the Greatest of All Time debate to Brady this week based on Brady's five championship victories. Rodgers, however, has been the superior rusher over his career, entering Sunday's meeting with 2,786 yards and 25 touchdowns over 156 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley bypassing a walk-in touchdown to go down inside the 5-yard line and keep last Sunday's game under the total was one of those losses that's tough to brush off. Eighteen backdoor touchdown wins in a row would only heal a quarter of the stomach ulcers that formed that afternoon.The lesson, as always: Have a short memory, ladies and gentlemen. Here are Week 9's top betting plays. Be sure to shop around for the best numbers available.New York Jets at Miami DolphinsWager: Jets +3I'll continue to fade the Miami Dolphins' defense when they host the New York Jets for the second matchup of the regular season.The unit seemed to be Miami's strength after holding the Titans, Raiders, and these Jets to 20 points or fewer in the each of the first three weeks. Then, the Dolphins started playing competent offenses (or non-rookie quarterbacks) and allowed 27 points or more in the next five.In the last three games, they reached a whole new level of bad: The Dolphins allowed the most yards per play (7.5) and highest opposing quarterback rating (143.9) over that span.On the offensive side, Brock Osweiler hasn't been awful in his three starts, but what might hurt him this week is his skill corps' lack of depth. Albert Wilson remains out and Kenny Stills has been hampered by a groin injury. The Jets' defense arguably presents the toughest test for the backup-turned-starter, since New York's 86.1 opposing QB passing rating is sixth in the NFL.After a Week 2 loss in which the Jets outgained the Dolphins by more than 100 yards and were snakebitten by turnovers, we're banking on another thumbs-up performance from Sam Darnold against a below-average defense.Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle SeahawksWager: Chargers' team total over 23.5Over the rest of the season, good luck finding a better price on a team total for an offense that's tied for first in adjusted yards per play.Green Bay Packers at New England PatriotsWager: Patriots -5The public loved Aaron Rodgers and the Packers getting more than a touchdown last week against the Rams, as they do this Sunday when Green Bay heads to Foxboro to take on New England. This time, we're fading the Packers against one of the hottest teams in the NFL.Green Bay held the Rams to 5.5 yards per play while sacking Jared Goff five times. The Packers threw the kitchen sink at their opponent defensively and still came out with a loss. For their second straight road game, they're taking a long trip to the other side of the continent and one of the toughest places to play.Extra PointsLos Angeles Rams at New Orleans SaintsRecommended Pick: Over 58It takes a lot of guts to go back to the well seven days after Gurley put a dagger into the hearts of over bettors. But with Rams receiver Cooper Kupp on track to return from injury, the Saints scoring at a torrid pace, and both offenses playing in a dome, we expect another barrage of points from two of the league's highest-powered offenses.Houston Texans at Denver BroncosRecommended Pick: Broncos -1The 3-5 Broncos came oh-so-close to flipping that record in narrow losses against the Chiefs and Rams, two of the top teams in the NFL. Houston, on the other hand, is riding a five-game win streak, though two wins came in overtime and another pair over inferior competitors Buffalo and Miami. We'll take a shot on Denver breaking through in Week 10.Top plays: 16-6-1 (72.7 percent)Overall record: 26-12-1 (68.4 percent)Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson seems to have a new theory behind what led to his exit.Jackson was fired on Monday, posting a cumulative 3-36-1 record with the club through three seasons. Cleveland also dismissed offensive coordinator Todd Haley.Less than a week after being removed as head coach, Jackson blamed his dismissal on the handling of Baker Mayfield."I think when you stop and look at it, it's truly, really about Baker Mayfield," Jackson said on ESPN's First Take. "I think they want to do everything they can to put him in the situation ... I mean, you got the first pick in the draft - who I think is going to be a franchise quarterback, who's going to be a sensational player - and he's not playing as well."So again, here is the perfect storm to move forward and move on."Mayfield's rookie season has been volatile, but he has shown glimpses of future stardom, completing 58.3 percent of his passes for 1,471 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions since taking over as the starter."I think we played a traditional style of football," Jackson said. "And that's OK. There's nothing wrong with that. But again, the question that was asked of me is, 'What would you do with Baker?'"I think that's where I think the rubber meets the road. You have to do everything you can to make him successful. And if you're going to do that, then you go back and do the things that made you draft him as the first pick in the draft."Although Mayfield has exhibited typical rookie struggles, there's no easy excuse for Jackson's dismal tenure. He noted that his dismissal ultimately came down to the lack of success on the field."Bottom line, let's just be clear, we didn't win enough," Jackson said. "At the end of the day, when you look at it, we didn't win enough games. No matter how you cut it, regardless of what they said or how they said it, you gotta win enough games."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Seattle Seahawks with a hamstring injury.Gordon practiced in full Friday for the first time this week. He missed the Chargers' Week 7 win over the Tennessee Titans in London as the team wanted to be cautious with its starting tailback and had a Week 8 bye.When asked if the former Pro Bowl ball carrier will play Sunday, head coach Anthony Lynn said, "We'll see. I don't want to speak for Melvin, but if he's feeling well I know he wants to play," according to ESPN's Eric WIlliams.Gordon is in the midst of a productive campaign, totaling 466 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in six games.If Gordon is unable to suit up in Seattle, Austin Ekeler would take over starting duties.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeSean McCoy remained a member of the Bills through the NFL's trade deadline despite rumors of a potential move, and the veteran running back is apparently far from done in Buffalo."We like what he brings, to the point we'll have him back in 2019," said Bills general manager Brandon Beane, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He'll definitely be a part of that."The 30-year-old McCoy, like the entire Bills offense, has performed far below expectations this season. He's run for 257 yards on 75 carries (3.4 YPC) and zero touchdowns in seven appearances and has yet to crack the 100-yard rushing mark in a game.McCoy will carry a cap hit of $9.05 million next season, which figures to be the third-highest mark among running backs league-wide, according to Spotrac.While some teams might balk at the prospect of paying a declining 30-plus back top dollar, Buffalo has a serious lack of offensive playmakers on the roster, and will likely need McCoy to help Josh Allen through his second NFL season in 2019.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins star left tackle Trent Williams is expected to miss "about a month" following thumb surgery, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.Williams went under the knife to repair a dislocated thumb earlier this week and has already been ruled out for Week 9.The No. 4 overall pick in 2010 is among the top offensive linemen in the NFL, earning a Pro Bowl berth in each of his last six seasons.Veteran Ty Nsekhe will fill in for Williams at left tackle during his absence.Washington's next four games come against the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 9 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 9 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartRyan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buccaneersat PanthersMichael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyFitzpatrick is back in the start column despite the risk that comes with using a Buccaneers quarterback in fantasy. The veteran passer was a star through the first three weeks in offensive coordinator Todd Monken's system, posting the most fantasy points of any NFL player, regardless of position. After nearly pulling off an improbable second-half comeback against the Bengals last week, Fitzpatrick gets a Panthers defense that's allowed at least two touchdown passes in every game since Week 1. With a projected total of 55 points, you can prepare the fireworks for Sunday.Boone's projection: 326 passing yards, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

San Francisco 49ers third-string quarterback Nick Mullens was the star of the show Thursday night, lighting up the hapless Oakland Raiders in his first career start and propelling his team to a dominant 34-3 win.Mullens put up record-setting numbers, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns on 22 attempts for a near-perfect passer rating of 151.9, the highest mark for a debuting quarterback since 1990.Kyle Shanahan was the mastermind behind Mullens' huge night, and the 49ers head coach wasn't surprised the bright lights of prime time had no effect on the 2017 undrafted free agent."You never know until you see someone," Shanahan said about Mullens, according to NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch. "He didn't surprise us in terms of, the game's not too big for Nick. He's very poised. He is always locked in. The guys, they respect him. He earned a lot of respect in the preseason, them watching him play. Both years, last year and this year."The way he handles himself in practice each week. He didn't really know for sure whether he was going to start today, until today, and just the way he handled the two days of long walkthroughs and stuff."He's a machine in there and I was happy for him."Despite the performance, Shanahan didn't say if he will continue with Mullens as the starter. C.J. Beathard - who started the previous five games - was forced to act as the backup as he dealt with wrist and thumb injuries that made him unable to properly grip the football."We'll consider it," Shanahan said. "Definitely not thinking about that right now, but our whole team played very well. Nick definitely did. ... It's good to get a win today and hopefully it can lead to some others."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook appears set to return to the field Sunday, but he won't be rushed into regular playing time.The Vikings plan to play Cook versus the Detroit Lions on a limited snap count, sources told Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune.The second-year rusher has battled a hamstring injury for most of the season and suffered a setback last month. He's been limited to three appearances this year.Cook was expected to remain sidelined through Minnesota's bye week, but said he felt great and was seen on the practice field Friday. He added that he won't have a complete idea of how his hamstring will respond until he sees game action.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a look at the key tactical matchups that will go a long way toward determining the outcomes of three Week 9 contests.Rams' defense vs. Saints' offenseCan the Saints' O-line fend off Dante Fowler and Aaron Donald?The Los Angeles Rams made a plethora of moves this offseason in the pursuit of a deep playoff run. The majority of their significant additions came on defense, where Marcus Peters, Ndamukong Suh, and Aqib Talib were brought in to play alongside an already talented unit led by Donald.But injuries have stopped the Rams' defense from being as stellar as the organization hoped it would be. While it ranks among the top-10 teams in scoring defense, giving up an average of just 19.4 points per game, it needed a boost to a pass rush that had notched just 17 sacks on the season - ranking it squarely in the middle of the pack.Enter Fowler. The former first-round pick found himself on the outs in Jacksonville after the Jaguars drafted Taven Bryan in the spring.Making matters tougher on opposing passers is the thought of pairing Fowler on the outside with a player such as Donald (highlighted), who can do things like this on the inside:But as everyone knows, getting after Drew Brees is a stiff challenge. Brees remains the second-quickest passer in the league, getting the football out of his hands an average of 2.55 seconds after the snap. We've also seen Brees' ability to extend plays - and drives - with strength and athleticism, traits that played a big role in the Saints' comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens.The matchup between this talented Rams defense and Brees and Co. is a fascinating one, and whether Fowler can contribute quickly enough is an enthralling subplot.Chargers' defense vs. Seahawks' offenseWill Russell Wilson punish the Chargers' secondary?Don't look now, but the Seattle Seahawks are surging.After starting the season 0-2, the Seahawks have improved to 4-3, with their one blemish coming at the hands of the Rams. As you might expect, a big reason for Seattle's recent success has been the play of Wilson. He has been nearly perfect during this stretch, throwing 11 touchdowns with just one interception, while completing 79 of 113 passes (69.9 percent) for 1,032 yards.Schematically, the Seahawks have been effective when running play-action passing plays. Against the Oakland Raiders a few weeks ago in London, the Seahawks turned to a play-action design working off a split-zone blocking scheme, and got Wilson outside the pocket to his right for a quick and easy throw to pick up a first down:In their most recent game against the Detroit Lions, the Seahawks got into the end zone on a throw from Wilson to Tyler Lockett on a similar design. Of note is how the Seahawks design the play to ensure Wilson gets to the outside cleanly, using a wide receiver as an extra blocker to help secure the edge for the quarterback:This is the challenge facing the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend. While the Chargers have enjoyed a great start to 2018, mobile quarterbacks have given them a bit of trouble - most recently, Marcus Mariota two weeks ago in London.Packers' defense vs. Patriots' offenseCan the Packers' beleaguered D tame Tom Brady at Foxboro?It's easy to fall into the trap and term this game a showdown between Aaron Rodgers and Brady, but the true matchup is between a diverse New England Patriots offense and an athletic Green Bay Packers defense.Prior to last week's hiccup against the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots' offense was on a roll. In the four previous games, it had scored 38, 38, 43, and 38 points, respectively. A reason for this recent outburst was the play of running back James White, who is a matchup nightmare out of the backfield as a receiver. White caught four touchdown passes during that four-week stretch, including two against the Chicago Bears. What makes him so dangerous is his ability in open space, particularly when matched up against linebackers. That helped White (highlighted) get into the end zone on this play against Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd:It also helped him convert a pivotal third down for New England last week when he was able to beat Bills outside linebacker Julian Stanford:However, White might not see as many favorable matchups Sunday night. On a recent episode of the "Locked On Patriots" podcast, "Locked on Packers" host Peter Bukowski outlined how the Packers have been relying on more dime or dollar packages on defense, aligning with six or seven defensive backs. Here is a look at how that works in the Green Bay defense:Here, the Packers come out with a 3-2-6 dime defense, putting safety Jermaine Whitehead down in a linebacker's alignment. The coverage downfield is great and Rams quarterback Jared Goff has nowhere to go with the football, forcing him to throw it away.These packages dare an offense to run the ball and look to equalize the footing in the passing game. The Patriots' offense thrives on getting favorable matchups in the passing game for players like White and Rob Gronkowski. The Packers, and their dime and dollar defensive schemes, might flip that script. What remains to be seen, however, is how the recent trade of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix changes Green Bay's defensive plans, if at all.Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Terrell Owens is standing by his decision to skip his NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier this year."No regrets at all," Owens said, according to The Associated Press' Josh Dubow.The former receiver said he was upset that it took three years for him to be inducted and felt that voters took his off-field issues into account instead of solely focusing on his play."If anybody knows who Terrell Owens is outside the media portrayal of me throughout the course of my career, they know what I did. I stand by what I did. ... When they tried to bring other things outside my body of work and my accomplishments, that was an issue for me. My stats spoke loudly. They spoke for themselves."The six-time Pro Bowler received his Hall of Fame ring at a halftime ceremony in San Francisco during Thursday night's game between the 49ers and the Oakland Raiders."This is awesome," Owens said before the game while wearing his Hall of Fame jacket. "This is an opportunity to give something to the fans. Ever since I left in 2003 and went on and did some great things, but this is where it started, my first eight years of my career."In his eight seasons in San Francisco, Owens had 557 receptions for 8,052 yards and 77 touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a breakdown of four significant mismatches in Week 9:Titans DL Jurrell Casey vs Cowboys LG Connor WilliamsBecause he plays in a small market, Jurrell Casey doesn’t get the respect he deserves. But he's certainly an elite defensive lineman in the NFL, and he’s the biggest reason the Titans have allowed the third-fewest points per game. Casey has 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks so far this season while making life difficult for opposing offensive lines.At 6-foot-1, 305 pounds with powerful hands and a strong lower body, Casey's solid at the point of attack. It’s a lot easier for him to displace offensive linemen than vice versa. He's also surprisingly quick and agile for a man his size, giving him the ability to blow by blockers who are sitting on his power.The Titans love to move Casey around the formation in search of mismatches, but don’t be surprised if he's given a more consistent home against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 - specifically against rookie left guard Connor Williams, who's gone through ups and downs this season.Those downs have largely come against powerful defensive tackles, as Williams lacks the play strength to anchor or displace in one-on-one situations. Here’s an example:Here, Williams is matched up with Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed in pass protection. Reed doesn’t do anything special. He simply walks Williams into Dak Prescott's face with a bull rush before easily creating separation, disengaging from the block, and making the tackle.Notice how Williams' elbows are flared, which inhibits his ability to create the necessary torque to anchor against Reed's bull rush. This, combined with Williams' wide hand placement, would be a recipe for disaster against a defender as strong and nuanced as Casey.This mismatch will extend to the running game, too, as Casey could be nearly unblockable when matched up with Williams.Against powerful defensive tackles, Williams has a tendency to lunge to mitigate the difference in play strength. This would be a huge mistake against Casey, as he's fantastic at taking advantage of lunging offensive linemen. Here’s an example:On this play, Casey's aligned over the left guard. Once the ball is snapped, the guard aggressively lunges to initiate contact, but it doesn't work, as Casey effortlessly crosses his matchup's face before executing a well-timed and well-placed arm-over move to get into the backfield for the stop.The Titans would be wise to match up Casey on Williams as much as possible Monday night, as he has the ability to consistently disrupt the Cowboys' offense. Don’t be surprised if Casey puts together one of his best performances of the season.Chiefs LB Dee Ford vs. Browns LT Desmond HarrisonAfter dominating the Broncos' offensive tackles on his way to three sacks last week, Dee Ford’s reward is facing rookie left tackle Desmond Harrison, who's been struggling to replace future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas in Cleveland.Ford isn’t the most well-rounded edge defender, but he has one of the best trump cards in the NFL - his speed rush. Ford, who ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at his pro day in 2014, is able to blow by offensive tackles with regularity. He utilizes his explosiveness to stress their set, improved hand technique to clear contact, and a surprisingly nimble lower body to make tight turns around the edge.Here’s a great example:Here, Ford's in a wide-9 technique opposite All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Staley. Watch how Staley’s pass set is immediately stressed by Ford’s burst off the line, forcing him to turn and attempt to push the rusher past the quarterback’s drop.Unfortunately for Staley, it doesn’t work, as Ford uses a well-executed cross-chop with his inside hand to knock down the desperate attempt to latch on. With Staley’s strike defeated, Ford’s footwork and lower-body pliability take over as he wraps around the edge and flattens to the quarterback for the sack.Expect this to happen against Harrison, who struggles to handle speedier rushers off the edge. Three sacks will be tough to top, but don’t be surprised if Ford reaches double digits for the season with a couple of them on Sunday.Lions' interior DL vs. Vikings' interior OLDespite trading Golden Tate, the Detroit Lions are still in the thick of the NFC playoff race, just one game out of first place in the NFC North.This weekend, the Lions have a crucial matchup against the division rival Minnesota Vikings, and they'll need to take advantage of their mismatches - the biggest of which should come in the trenches.With the addition of Damon "Snacks" Harrison, the Lions now possess one of the NFL's best interior defensive line combinations. Harrison is the best run-stopping defensive tackle in football (with some pass-rushing ability, too) while A'Shawn Robinson has also dominated against the run in his third pro season. Here, you see both of them doing their thing:Additionally, Da'Shawn Hand has been one of the best rookies in football through the first half of the season, giving Detroit much-needed pass-rushing ability from the interior.The Lions' dominant trio will be pitted against one of the worst interior offensive lines in football, which has been a sore spot for an otherwise productive Vikings offense. Second-year center Pat Elflein hasn't taken the next step after his rookie year while guards Mike Remmers and Tom Compton have struggled mightily throughout 2018.Harrison and Robinson should have their way against the ground game, meaning the Vikings will have a tough time running inside the box.In the passing game, Hand should make his presence felt, as his active hands and raw power will be too much for Remmers and Compton to handle.Ultimately, if the Lions want to win this game, all three players will have to dominate.Texans LB Jadeveon Clowney vs. Broncos LT Garett BollesGarett Bolles has struggled mightily in his second NFL season, giving up too much pressure in pass protection while getting beat too much in the running game. There have even been suggestions he could be benched in the coming weeks.Unfortunately for Bolles, it doesn’t get any easier this week, as he'll likely be pitted against Jadeveon Clowney for most of Sunday's game.At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Clowney's one of the biggest size-speed freaks in the NFL. He has an electric get-off, powerful hands, and deliberate footwork that he combines to batter and bludgeon opposing offensive linemen.Earlier in his career, Clowney wasn't the most skilled pass-rusher, instead relying on his freakish athletic traits to be productive. Now, he's significantly improved his hand techniques, which deepens his pass-rush repertoire. He's an aggressive rusher who employs a variety of swats, forklifts, and clubs to trim a tight arc to the quarterback.Here’s an example of Clowney’s improved hand use:On this play, Clowney's lined up in a four-point stance with a wide alignment over the left tackle. After the ball is snapped, he explodes upfield and looks to use a powerful cross chop to defeat the tackle’s hands.However, Clowney misses with his initial cross chop. In the past, this would have essentially ended his rush, but instead, Clowney sequences the missed cross chop with a sneaky forklift move, as he places his outside hand on the tackle's outside wrist and pushes it toward the ground, effectively breaking the tackle's grip and giving Clowney the ability to beat the block around the edge.Don’t be surprised if Clowney comes home with a couple of sacks and a handful of stops Sunday as the Texans go into the tough Denver environment and get a victory.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr isn't giving up on his team.After suffering a 34-3 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers and third-string quarterback Nick Mullens, who took his first NFL snaps Thursday, Carr called on himself and his teammates to keep fighting."Who really wants to turn this thing around? Who really wants to do the hard things that no one wants to do? It's easy to say, 'I'd rather do it somewhere else.' That's easy," Carr said, according to NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch."I think we figure that out, and going forward we find out who's a Raider, honestly. I love this place, and I'm not going anywhere. So I'm in for the long haul, and I want to see the men step up and say, 'I want to do that too.'"The 27-year-old threw for 171 yards and was sacked seven times in Thursday's game. He was replaced in the fourth quarter by backup quarterback AJ McCarron.The 1-7 Raiders rank 28th in the league in points scored per game this season and 31st in points allowed per game. The 252 points Oakland has surrendered is the second most in franchise history through eight games, according to NFL Research.Carr, however, wants to see his team push forward and give everything it has."I think just that dog inside of you. When things suck, just to still fight," he said. "I know that I've got some guys I want to put in the foxhole with me, and there's a lot of 'em. So going forward, when I look at each man in the eye - I tell them before each game, 'you're going to get everything I have.' I tell them that every time - so I want to make sure when I look in everybody's eyes going forward that's the same thing."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Gruden hasn't lost confidence in his master plan, even after watching the Oakland Raiders hit rock bottom Thursday with a 34-3 trouncing at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers."I know it's not looking pretty right now," Gruden said postgame. "I've heard a lot of negativity over the last six or seven months, and rightfully so, but we're gonna build a championship football team here."Gruden, who's in the first season of a monstrous 10-year deal with the Raiders, saw Oakland sink to 1-7 with the loss to the rival 49ers, who improved to 2-7 with the win.The Raiders looked helpless against San Fransisco and third-string quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns while posting a 151.9 quarterback rating in his NFL debut."I know there were some big plays," Gruden conceded. "I thought the guys fought until the end."The Raiders and New York Giants are the only teams that have yet to win two games this year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller was ruled out of Thursday Night Football versus the San Francisco 49ers after suffering a knee injury earlier in the game, the team announced.The rookie struggled to combat the 49ers' pass rush before he was forced to exit the contest. Left guard Kelechi Osemele replaced Miller at tackle.The Raiders selected Miller with the 15th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The UCLA product was the first player drafted by Jon Gruden since the coach returned to the sidelines following a nine-year stint in the broadcast booth.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Raiders may be sitting in the AFC's basement, having won just one game in Jon Gruden's first eight weeks back in Oakland, but the head coach insists his team is still a prime destination.In an interview with FOX Sports' Howie Long, which is set to air during the Raiders' Thursday night game against the San Francisco 49ers, Gruden said he's received a lot of interest from players looking to join his team."I got a cell phone just like you and everybody else, and I get a lot of phone calls from people who are dying to come and play here," said Gruden. "To have salary cap space, and to have a chance to talk to the people that you really want to wear the silver and black ... that's exciting."While Gruden didn't mention any players specifically, he potentially could receive a less positive call from the league office, which may view his comments as tampering.Per NFL policy: "Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another club's player to that player's agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of the Anti-Tampering Policy."Potential tampering issues aside, Gruden will need every cent of the Raiders' projected $123 million in cap space to rebuild the roster after the likes of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper were sent packing under his regime.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hue Jackson admitted Thursday he and Todd Haley didn't always see eye to eye, but the former Cleveland Browns head coach doesn't believe he and his former offensive coordinator suffered from "discord.""I didn't perceive it (that way)," Jackson told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I think you can disagree with people and not have it be discord. Discord to me is a strong word. It means there's always infighting. That's a pretty hot word."I know there was disagreements and rightfully so. Who doesn't disagree? But I think the term internal discord was a little much."Jackson and Haley were both dismissed Monday, with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam citing "internal discord" as one of the primary reasons for their terminations. Of course, the Browns' stagnant offense and modest numbers of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield were also factors.Related: Jackson says he wanted Browns to draft Wentz in 2016Jackson served as the Browns' offensive play-caller for his first two seasons, but conceded those duties - at the request of his superiors - to an incoming Haley at the beginning of Year 3."What I didn't and couldn't predict was that our offensive production would turn out the way it did - especially considering us leading the league in turnovers on defense," he said. "We all knew that trending down with a rookie future franchise QB on board was not an option. I do believe that having the opportunity to finish it out would've been best."Jackson finished his tenure in Cleveland with a 3-36-1 record. There were reports he unsuccessfully tried to reclaim play-calling duties from Haley, and said he felt his firing was premature."We had a lot of football left, were 2-5-1 with a rookie QB, left tackle, already played Pittsburgh twice, beat Baltimore, and could have easily been 3-4-1 if the first down isn't taken back (in Oakland)," he noted. "The fact that we played four overtime games says that we were a better football team."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his first public comments since being fired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Hue Jackson said he wanted to draft Carson Wentz second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, but was met with resistance from the front office."Oh my gosh, yes. Did I like Carson Wentz? Hell yes," Jackson told Mary Kay Kabot of Cleveland.com. "He did something that no other quarterback did. I give them three minutes to memorize the book and put on the (white) board. He put it all on the board in two minutes and 48 seconds. I've never had a guy do that ever in my coaching career."Jackson was axed by the Browns on Monday, midway through his third season, after compiling an atrocious record of 3-36-1. He was hailed as an offensive wizard when he took the Browns job on the heels of a coordinator stint with the Cincinnati Bengals, but his success there never materialized with the Browns."But the plan was never to take a quarterback that year," he said. "It was all about trading back to get picks. If you're doing that you've got to pick the right players.''The Browns had another chance to draft a franchise quarterback in 2017, but passed on Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson before grabbing DeShone Kizer in the second round."I like Patrick and Deshaun a lot," said Jackson. "I got to know them both. Pat and I had really good relationship. I loved his skill set. I loved his ability to throw the ball around and all of that. I built a good rapport with him. I had them ranked very close to each other.''Cleveland wound up picking defensive end Myles Garrett first overall in 2017. The Browns finally pulled the trigger on a quarterback in 2018, selecting Baker Mayfield with another No. 1 overall pick.Jackson noted that he believes Mayfield will develop into a "sensational" player, albeit under the tutelage of a different coach.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson officially announced his intentions to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, ending his time with the Sooners.Anderson was ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury on Sept. 9 versus UCLA."I thoroughly enjoyed these past four years in Norman and I am proud to have worn the crimson and cream," Anderson said in a statement. "The bonds I formed with my teammates, coaches, and friends are special to me and being selected captain this season was truly an honor."The redshirt junior had one year of eligibility remaining, but decided to test the NFL waters instead.Anderson battled various injuries during his time at Oklahoma, but was a productive player when on the field. He rushed for 1,161 yards and 18 total touchdowns in 2017 while earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jameis Winston believes he will rise once more - and hopes it'll be with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - following his demotion to second-string quarterback."I know I'm going to be working my tail off to be ready when my time comes again," Winston told Eduardo Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. "Right now, that's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna make sure I'm preparing every single week, being a great teammate that I can be, being the great quarterback that I can be, and that's all."Winston was pulled from the Bucs' Week 8 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals after throwing four interceptions. He won't get his job back in Week 9. Instead, Tampa will start Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback when it faces the Carolina Panthers."It's a setback," Winston said of his benching. "But it's a minor setback for a major comeback. It just tells you that you've got to continue to get better. I've never been in this situation before, so I have to learn from it and I have to grow from it. I have no choice."Winston has flashed plenty of talent since entering the NFL as the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, but turnovers have plagued him each year. He's committed 71 turnovers in 48 career games, and has 21 multi-turnover games since 2015.Winston, who said he wants to return to the Bucs next season, is under contract through the 2019 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers will be starting Nick Mullens at quarterback versus the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football, the team announced.C.J. Beathard, who's battling a wrist injury, will be active, but will serve as Mullens' backup with his injury affecting his grip on the football, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 49ers waived ​​​​​​third-string pivot ​Tom Savage earlier Thursday, causing speculation that Beathard had a chance to start.Mullens is a second-year undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss., and has yet to throw an NFL pass. He completed 72.1 percent of his passes over four preseason contests, tossing one touchdown and three interceptions while adding another two scores on the ground.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is rarely predictable, and the 2018 season has been no different. A number of fascinating trends have emerged in an exciting campaign to date. Here are eight shocking stats from the first half of the NFL season that will make you look twice.Mahomes threw a TD on 9.1 percent of his passesPeter Aiken / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn Patrick Mahomes' first full campaign as a starter, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback owns the highest scoring rate since Peyton Manning threw a touchdown on 9.9 percent of his passes in 2004. Mahomes leads the league with an absurd 26 passing touchdowns on 285 attempts.Todd Gurley > 6 entire offenses?The Los Angeles Rams' star running back is arguably the league's most productive offensive player. This season, he's accumulated 15 touchdowns, which is more than six entire offenses - the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Buffalo Bills are the unlucky qualifiers here. Gurley's 800 rushing yards also exceed more than 15 teams' totals.League's WRs have more passing TDs than Bills QBsBrett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyEmmanuel Sanders, Danny Amendola, Odell Beckham Jr., and Albert Wilson have each thrown a touchdown pass in 2018. Bills quarterbacks Josh Allen, Nathan Peterman, and Derek Anderson, meanwhile, have combined to throw for three scores.Joe Flacco rushed for as many 1st downs as LeSean McCoyStreeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Baltimore Ravens quarterback isn't known for game-breaking speed or incredible athleticism, but somehow, both players have 10 rushing attempts that earned their teams a first down.The Bills running back has more career carries that earned a first down (513) than Flacco has career rushing attempts (345).Colts' O-line goes from 32nd to 2ndWho would have thought Indianapolis' offensive line would be one of its major strengths after a tumultuous 2017? Under new head coach Frank Reich, however, the team's blocking unit has excelled in pass protection.The Colts' line surrendered just 10 sacks in eight games, tied for second-fewest in the NFL, and none in the last three contests. The unit allowed 56 sacks last season, the most in the league. Unheralded free-agent addition Mark Glowinski has yet to give up a sack, while rookies Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith have surrendered just three between them.David Johnson's 1 explosive runChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Cardinals running back has been one of the biggest disappointments this season - especially for fantasy football owners.Though he's had to endure inefficient quarterback play and poor run blocking, Johnson has just one rush of 20-plus yards. During the first half of his breakout 2016 campaign, he averaged nearly one per game. Making matters worse, Johnson's been targeted just twice in the red zone since Week 2. Arizona must find a way to give its star rusher more touches in order to lighten rookie signal-caller Josh Rosen's load.Raiders recorded about 1/2 as many pressures as next-worst teamDo the Oakland Raiders miss Khalil Mack or something? Their defense has accumulated just 56 total pressures through eight weeks, by far the lowest mark in the NFL. Rookie defensive end Arden Key leads the way with 16.The Detroit Lions, a spot above the Raiders at 31st, have 100 total pressures. Oakland's pass-rush issues are a primary factor in the team allowing 31.1 points per game (second-most in the league).To match Hue Jackson's winning percentage, Bill Belichick would have to lose 867 straight gamesFor the New England Patriots head coach to match Jackson's lowly career winning percentage, he'd have to lose 867 more games. That's almost 55 straight 0-16 seasons. At the helm of the Patriots and Cleveland Browns, Belichick's gone 256-120 for a .681 mark.Jackson, recently fired by the Browns, is 11-44-1 over his coaching career, which translates to a .205 winning percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Super Bowl baby boom has hit Philadelphia.Nearly nine months after the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, nurses in the baby unit at one Philadelphia hospital have been told to "expect a surge of deliveries," according to CBS Philly.Ali Gorman of ABC 6 Action News also spoke to one Eagles fan who admitted that had the team lost the Super Bowl, his daughter probably wouldn't have been conceived.A commercial released by the NFL in 2016 seems to support the Super Bowl baby boom theory. The spot, which aired during Super Bowl 50, featured children and adults who were born nine months after their parents' favorite team won the big game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a look at the team totals for all 26 teams playing in Week 9, along with our picks and confidence level on a scale of one to five stars:Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ersRaiders' team total: 21.5 pointsOakland can score when games call for shootouts. Otherwise, this is still an offense that is averaging just 19.7 points per game, masked by a couple of inflated scores.Pick: Under (-120)

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving suffered a high-ankle sprain during practice on Thursday, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Irving required a cart to leave the field, but X-Rays came back negative, added Rapoport. The 25-year-old will undergo further testing.The fourth-year pro was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, the second ban of his career. He then missed Dallas' fifth game due to personal issues before playing in the team's last two contests, racking up three tackles and one sack.Irving was expected to push his way back into the starting lineup after the Cowboys' bye, but it appears Antwaun Woods and Tyrone Crawford will remain atop the depth chart in his absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale isn't exactly relieved his team doesn't have to go against Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell this Sunday."There are a lot of stats (since 2015) that the Steelers are actually better without him," Martindale said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "That might be why he's riding a jet ski down in Miami right now."Bell has yet to report to the Steelers this season and continues to protest his franchise tag.Martindale isn't preparing for a surprise appearance from the running back."What if Terry Bradshaw wants to come back and Lynn Swann? Oh s---," the defensive coordinator said.Since 2015, with Bell in the backfield, the Steelers have averaged 23.9 points per game, and 29 without him. Also, the Pittsburgh offense averages 413.3 yards per game without Bell compared to 369.9 with him.The Steelers have turned to running back James Conner in Bell's absence. Conner has 599 rushing yards, 323 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns through seven games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 9.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.You can also listen to the Week 9 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.Standard

Need a cheat sheet or some help spotting situational edges with a new week of NFL action fast approaching? We've got you covered.Here are five spots to look at as you do your homework for Week 9.Matthew Stafford and the Lions' offense have struggled in MinnesotaThe Detroit Lions makes a Sunday trek to take on the Vikings in Minnesota, where Stafford has struggled scoring points in recent memory. The Lions are 5-1 to the team total under in their last six games as visitors against the Vikings. The outlier from that sample was in 2016 when an overtime touchdown gave Detroit a 22-16 win, ultimately surpassing the team total of 19.5. Stafford and the Lions are averaging 17.6 points over their last six games in Minnesota, with the team total for Week 9 currently listed at 21.5 (per Bet365).Tampa Bay on the road equals pointsYou can always expect a boatload of points in games involving Tampa Bay, but a Buccaneers defense that is last in the league in scoring defense and No. 31 in yards per play allowed has been especially awful away from home this season. In four games on the road for Tampa in 2018, the first-half over, full-game over, and opponents' team total over are all a perfect 4-0.Opponents are averaging a whopping 39.7 points in Tampa Bay's four road games this season, while the Bucs are averaging 30.2 points in those contests. While three of those opponents rank in the top half of the league in yards per play (New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears) and the other is the No. 10 scoring team in the league (Cincinnati Bengals), it doesn't get any easier in Week 9 against a Carolina Panthers unit scoring an average of 29 points at home.If you like the Steelers, consider them on the moneylineIf you're keen on the Pittsburgh Steelers getting the win against the Ravens at Baltimore in Week 9, you might be better served to take a look at the moneyline (+125). The Steelers are the hottest road team in the NFL as of late, winning 15 of 16 straight up, dating back to 2016. They've also taken the last three outright when getting points.Fade the Falcons' offense on the roadAn Atlanta Falcons offense that has thrived in the dome with Matt Ryan leading the charge has been a completely different unit away from home, especially under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.Since the beginning of the 2017 season, Atlanta is 8-2 to the team total under, averaging just 20.3 points per game. At home during that same span (13 games), the Falcons are posting 26.2 points on average. On Sunday, they face a Washington Redskins defense that ranks fifth in scoring defense (19.1 points allowed per game) and has held opponents to 18 points per contest at home this season.Play the Patriots as the line moves against themAn opening spread of New England -6.5 versus the Green Bay Packers has since moved to 5.5 in most shops. The Action Network mentioned earlier this week that when a line moves a point against Tom Brady and the Patriots, New England has covered 67.2 percent of those situations - a sample that covers roughly 70 games. Since starting the season 1-2, the Pats have reeled off five straight wins and four against the spread, the lone loss coming by a half-point in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens believes it's time the New York Giants make a change at quarterback."Odell (Beckham) can't perform because (Eli Manning) is not performing. So, they should basically replace the quarterback," Owens told TMZ Sports."I mean, if it was anybody else, any other quarterback, he would have already been replaced. So, at this point, give someone else an opportunity."The Giants rank 28th in the league in points per game with 18.8 and are 20th with 353.2 total yards per game.Manning has been pressured on 126 of his drop-backs this season, which is the third most among all quarterbacks, according to Jordan Reid of Inside the Pylon. Owens, however, isn't buying that the offensive line is the biggest problem."You have special players that are behind those not-so-great lines that can make something out of nothing," he said. "Eli's not one of those types of quarterbacks. He needs protection."Through eight starts, Manning has completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 2377 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. He ranks 20th in the league with a quarterback rating of 90.9.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard is "truly 50-50" to play in Thursday's game with the Oakland Raiders due to a wrist injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Beathard is struggling to grip a football due to the injury, according to Schefter, and has been listed as questionable by the 49ers. If he can't play, second-year passer and former undrafted free agent Nick Mullens will start.Mullens completed 72.1 percent of his passes over four preseason contests earlier this year, tossing one touchdown and three interceptions while adding another two scores on the ground.Former Houston Texans passer Tom Savage is the only other QB on the 49ers' roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.