Ezekiel Elliott, fresh off a Second Circuit-ordered stay of his suspension which allows him to play in Week 9, emphasized Friday that he intends to fight the NFL until the end in order to clear his name of domestic violence allegations, according to David Helman of the Cowboys' official site.Asked if he would accept the ban, Elliott said: "No. I mean, this is bigger than a suspension, it's bigger than football. It's them trying to make me something I'm not. I'm not an abuser. That's not who I am. This is my name, this is my reputation. This is something I'm going to have to live with beyond football. So every day is worth fighting for."The Second Circuit's decision only ensures Elliott will be eligible to play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.The NFL confirmed Friday that Elliott's suspension will be enforced for the playoffs if his latest appeal attempt delays the ban. In the league's suspension letter to Elliott, they stated he would be sidelined for "six (6) regular-season games.""I think they're going to have to do whatever they said in the papers," said Elliott, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Elliott was accused of multiple domestic violence incidents by ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson. He wasn't charged, but the NFL decided to punish him in August for violating the league's personal conduct policy after a yearlong investigation, leading to a legal battle that's been ongoing ever since.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As expected, the Minnesota Vikings had no problem handling the Cleveland Browns last week to improve these survivor pool picks to 11-3 on the campaign.It's probably a safe bet that there aren't many people left in your survivor pool, and another strong week or two of picks will likely lead to victory.Here's who to target this week.Team to pick if still alivePhiladelphia EaglesIt feels weird that the team with the NFL's best record has yet to appear as the survivor pool pick, but here we are in Week 9. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, with the visiting team opting to start Brock Osweiler at quarterback. The last time the 26-year-old saw serious action was last season with the Houston Texans, throwing for 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Since the Eagles own the league's best rushing defense, it will be on Osweiler to beat them through the air. Nothing he's shown in the past two years suggests that could happen.Record: 11-3

Seattle Seahawks star safety Earl Thomas will be a game-time decision for Sunday's tilt against the Washington Redskins, head coach Pete Carroll announced Friday on 97.3 KIRO Radio.Thomas injured his hamstring during an attempt to chase down Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins late in the fourth quarter of their Week 8 matchup."It's been a hard week for him, not able to do much," Carroll said. "I don't know if he'll make any turn here day of the game. We'll kind of give him all the way up to that."Carroll added that Bradley McDougald will get the starting nod if Thomas is unable to play.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Michael McClymont and Jack Browne predict the outcome of every remaining regular-season game to reveal what the end-of-year playoff picture could look like.AFCSeedTeamCurrent RecordEnd Record1Pittsburgh Steelers6-213-32New England Patriots6-213-33Kansas City Chiefs6-212-44Jacksonville Jaguars4-310-65Los Angeles Chargers3-59-76Tennessee Titans4-39-7On the strength of their head-to-head Week 15 meeting with the Patriots -which, thankfully for the Steelers, will be played at Heinz Field - Pittsburgh earns the tiebreaker and the top seed in the AFC.Despite their strong start, the Chiefs settle for the third seed. Meanwhile, in the AFC South, the Jaguars beat the Titans in the last week of the season to win the division.In a stunner, the Chargers, who began the year 0-4, lose just two games in the back half of the season to steal a wild-card spot.Just missed outSeedTeamCurrent RecordEnd Record7Baltimore Ravens4-48-88Buffalo Bills5-38-89Oakland Raiders3-57-9Inconsistency mars the seasons of the Ravens and Raiders, who just miss out on the postseason, while the Bills are predictably undone by a late-season swoon. Losses to the Saints, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Patriots (twice) ensure the league's longest playoff drought continues.NFCSeedTeamCurrent RecordEnd Record1Seattle Seahawks5-213-32Philadelphia Eagles7-113-33Minnesota Vikings6-212-44New Orleans Saints5-211-55Los Angeles Rams5-210-66Atlanta Falcons4-39-7The fight for the No. 1 seed is a two-team battle for the rest of the season, but the Seahawks' win over the Eagles in a mouth-watering Week 13 matchup seals home-field advantage for Russell Wilson and Co.The Vikings easily clinch the NFC North thanks to a Teddy Bridgewater-inspired four-win streak to end the season. The quarterback's return provides a much-needed feel-good story.Meanwhile, the Saints hold off the Falcons, ending their three-year stint without a playoff appearance in impressive fashion - but not as impressive as the Rams, who make their first postseason appearance since 2004.Just missed outSeedTeamCurrent RecordEnd Record7Dallas Cowboys4-39-78Carolina Panthers5-39-79Detroit Lions3-49-7Ezekiel Elliott is set to play in Week 9, but in all likelihood, the running back misses nearly all of the rest of the regular season. Dak Prescott keeps Dallas in it, but can't quite get the Cowboys to 10 wins. In the NFC South, the Panthers sputter after the Kelvin Benjamin trade and have to sit at home while their two divisional rivals play in January.Fittingly, the Packers pull out a surprise win in Week 17 to rob Detroit of a playoff spot. This NFL season may be strange, but the Lions are still the Lions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In one step, the blink of an eye, Deshaun Watson's season ended.The star rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans suffered a torn ACL at practice on Thursday, and on Friday, he relayed a message about how he already misses football.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair are among the team owners and league officials that will be deposed as part of Colin Kaepernick's collusion case against the NFL, a league source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Jones, Kraft, McNair, and any other deponents will have to make available any cell phone records and emails relating to the quarterback.Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL's team owners in mid-October. His case stems from the fact that he remains a free agent but has watched multiple other, arguably inferior quarterback options get signed.Kaepernick began protesting racial injustice and police brutality against people of color by kneeling during the national anthem last season. Since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March, he has garnered little more than a cursory sniff from prospective clubs.Kraft, McNair, and Jones in particular have been vocal in their stance against any demonstrations during the national anthem.Other owners and officials are expected to be deposed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every week, theScore's football editors will take a deep dive into the rating changes from the Madden 18 video game, looking at the most notable risers and fallers based on the previous week's action.RisersMatthew Stafford, QB, Lions84 overall ➔ 85 overallStafford couldn't get a win or a touchdown last Sunday night against the Steelers, but its tough to blame him. He threw for 423 yards and avoided turning the ball over as his offensive line and running backs did little to help their ninth-year quarterback.Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, Texans80 overall ➔ 83 overallDespite his team giving up 41 points, Clowney had a field day against the Seahawks' porous offensive line. He notched his fourth sack of the season and added two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit as the Texans held Seattle's running backs to 3 total rushing yards.Kenny Vaccaro, S, Saints77 overall ➔ 80 overallAs the Saints' defense dominated the Bears in their fifth straight win, Vaccaro led his team in tackles with nine, two of them for a loss, and added half a sack, one pass deflection, and one quarterback hit in arguably the former first-round pick's best game ever.JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers76 overall ➔ 77 overallSmith-Schuster got his wish and had his Madden speed rating bumped up to 89 after his 97-yard touchdown catch against the Lions. His 193-yard outing earned him Rookie Player of the Week honors as well.Alex Collins, RB, Ravens71 overall ➔ 74 overallCollins looked like a stud against the Dolphins last Thursday night, regularly bursting through the line and breaking tackles as he racked up 113 rushing yards on 18 attempts with 30 receiving yards on a pair of catches.FallersDerek Carr, QB, Raiders85 overall ➔ 84 overallCarr struggled to follow up his sensational performance against the Chiefs last Sunday as his team fell 34-14 to the Bills. The fourth-year pro tossed a pair of interceptions to match his season total a year ago at six picks through seven games.Duane Brown, LT, Seahawks86 overall ➔ 81 overallDespite having the team trade for him Monday, Brown didn't play too well for the Texans against the Seahawks on Sunday in his first game since returning from a contract holdout. Now that he's joining one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, his Madden rating seems to have taken a hit.James Harrison, OLB, Steelers82 overall ➔ 79 overallFather Time always wins. With rookie T.J. Watt playing 89 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps Sunday night, the torch appears to have been passed, as Harrison didn't get on the field for a single play.Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks81 overall ➔ 78 overallThe Seahawks' running backs were just plain terrible in Sunday's win over the Texans, and Rawls led the way. The 24-year-old rushed six times for a total of -1 yard. Doesn't get much worse than that.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Ezekiel Elliott's case is delayed to the point when the suspension would cover playoff games, the Dallas Cowboys' running back would still be required to serve the ban, an NFL spokesman confirmed Friday:

Tom Savage is back under center for the Houston Texans, but the move comes under the worst possible circumstances.Star rookie Deshaun Watson tore his ACL in a non-contact drill at Thursday's practice. With him sidelined, Savage will have to reassume a role he lost midway through the first game of the season.It was then that Savage was replaced by Watson, and the team hasn't looked back since. But now they'll have to."I'm just going to state the obvious, there's things he can do that I can't do," Savage said of Watson, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Watson led the team to a 3-3 record in six starts and lumped himself into the NFL MVP and Rookie of the Year conversations.Savage added he didn't want to regain the starting job under these circumstances, but promises to be ready to perform."Not too many guys get a second shot," he added.He also had a message for Watson, whom he got to watch for the past eight weeks."I just told him, 'I got your back no matter what and I'm gonna do whatever I can to help out.' You can't really replace Deshaun Watson. The kid's been playing absolute lights out. But that's not my job, my job is to help this team win," he said, per Mark Berman from Fox 26 Houston.Savage takes over a team at 3-4, and one game behind both the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South standings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Normally genial Thomas Davis is in a foul mood.The Carolina Panthers linebacker was fined $48,620 by the NFL for what was deemed a helmet-to-helmet hit he delivered to Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Adam Humphries last week.Davis, a former Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner, vented his frustration with the fine on Instagram, signing off by stating "if this (hit) was illegal then it's time for me to retire."

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the 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.StartMarcus Mariota, QB, Titansvs. RavensMariota has produced just one 20-point fantasy week in standard-scoring leagues, throwing multiple touchdowns in only once - oddly, it came against the Seattle Seahawks. The return of wide receiver Corey Davis bodes well, as Mariota will finally have a receiver capable of piling up yards after the catch.Fearless prediction: 297 yards passing, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott will be eligible to play in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs after the Second Circuit granted him an administrative stay of his six-game suspension Friday.

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.Week 8 record: 4-9

Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito certainly wants no part of Thursday Night Football.Following a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets, the three-time Pro Bowler sounded off on the concept of Thursday games."These Thursday night games, they suck. They throw a wrench in our schedule. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to do this. As physical as this game is, as much work and preparation that goes into this, to force us to play games on four-day weeks, it's completely unfair and bulls—. The league makes money off it, and that's all they care about anyway," Incognito said via ESPN's Mike Rodak.Although many players have sounded off on Thursday games, some would argue that the Bills weren't at a competitive disadvantage, with both teams entering the game with equal rest.The Bills resume their season against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 12.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday wasn't kind to fantasy football owners who thought they found a gem in Deshaun Watson or were waiting for Andrew Luck to return to the field, as both were shut down for the season.Related:

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth 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.Standard

The San Francisco 49ers placed wide receiver Pierre Garcon on injured reserve due to a season-ending neck injury, general manager John Lynch confirmed Thursday.Garcon suffered the injury during Sunday's loss with the Philadelphia Eagles after colliding with a staff member on the sidelines.The 31-year-old recorded 40 catches for 500 yards and no touchdowns this season.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. penned a letter to Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday, after the rookie standout tore his ACL in practice.Beckham's own season came to a halt when he fractured his ankle during a Week 5 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.Watson, who was in the thick of the MVP race prior to his injury, is expected to miss the rest of the season.Here's what Beckham wrote to Watson, via ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt showed his support for rookie Deshaun Watson after the quarterback reportedly tore his ACL in practice Thursday.

Deshaun Watson received a pep talk from his old coach Thursday.The Houston Texans rookie had his season cut short after suffering a torn ACL in practice, but Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney believes Watson will be back to his old self once recovered."I talked to Deshaun late this afternoon and we are disappointed," Swinney said, according to Austin Knoblauch of NFL Network. "But he is a person who has had some setbacks in his life and always comes back stronger. Since he went through the rehab (for a torn ACL) before, he knows what it takes. All he did after the injury in 2014 was come back and lead us to the National Championship game twice and, of course, we won it last year. He started all 30 games the last two years here. I have no doubt he will come back from this. He has the resolve. His work ethic and drive are incredible."Watson has taken the NFL world by storm this year with his incredible play, something Swinney saw firsthand with the Tigers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is inactive for Thursday's game against the New York Jets.Benjamin was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.John Miller, Conor McDermott, Charles Clay, Seantrel Henderson, E.J. Gaines and Brandon Tate are also inactive for the Bills.Morris Claiborne, Christian Hackenberg, Terrence Brooks, Derrick Jones, Lawrence Thomas, Obum Gwachan, Brandon Shell are inactive for the Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amid a season littered with prolonged legal battles, horrific injuries, the NFL being used as a prop in Donald Trump's culture war, and a litany of insipid games, Houston Texans rookie Deshaun Watson rose above everything to become the story of the year.In a fashion befitting of the most dreary season on record, Watson's season came to an abrupt end Thursday when he tore his ACL on a non-contact injury during practice. Halloween season has come to an end, but Watson's arc is the most unnerving of all this fall.Watson was one of the most decorated prospects of the last decade. He entered Clemson as a five-star prospect, then submitted one of the best collegiate careers in recent memory, culminating in an upset of Alabama in last year's national title game. In hindsight, it seemed patently ridiculous that Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes were selected before him, until the Texans traded up to the No. 12 spot to find their elusive quarterback of the future.The 22-year-old didn't begin the 2017 season as the starter, as Texans head coach Bill O'Brien inexplicably gave Tom Savage the nod for Week 1. Watson remained undeterred, however, and when he scampered in for a 49-yard touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, a star was born. Watson's 19 passing touchdowns put him in a share of the lead alongside Carson Wentz, leading some to believe he was a lock for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, to say nothing of his ascending MVP bid. As the NFL becomes an inherently tragic league, it is cruel fate that its newest star falls victim to a devastating injury in the infancy of his career.Watson provided the Texans with an offensive identity that it lacked since their inception. With the rookie under center, Watson elevated DeAndre Hopkins to his grandest heights and turned Will Fuller into one of the league's most terrifying downfield threats, spelling a previously overmatched run game. In a division where Marcus Mariota and Blake Bortles have struggled and with Andrew Luck out for the year, the Texans were given every opportunity to seize. It's eminently possible that the Texans win the AFC South, but no one will look at them as a sleeper Super Bowl contender as they did with Watson aboard.It's a crushing blow for fans of the NFL, Texans fans, and most importantly, Watson himself. The quarterback has excelled at every juncture of his career, and now faces his greatest test. The best story of the 2017 season came with a shocking, horrific twist that rivals the best of M. Night Shyamalan's early work. How Watson responds will ultimately paint the next chapter of this captivating novella.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any Dallas Cowboys fans hoping to see DeMarco Murray return to the franchise may be sorely disappointed.Some felt the Cowboys may try to acquire the Tennessee Titans running back before the trade deadline due to Ezekiel Elliott's suspension, but Murray says a reunion isn't in the cards."That was all speculation by social media fans and obviously, people talking about the whole Dallas deal," Murray said, according to Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. "I'm happy here. They're happy to have me here. I've been fortunate to be a part of the Titans organizations for the last two years and I see myself retiring here and being an asset here moving forward."Murray enjoyed tremendous success with the Cowboys, including rushing for more than 1,800 yards in 2014. The 29-year-old has been splitting carries with Derrick Henry this season, but doesn't appear to want out."That's been circulating every year since I left there," Murray said. "The chances of me going back there is probably closer to Roger Staubach coming back and playing for them."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans will sign quarterback Matt McGloin, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.The signing comes on the heels of rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson tearing his ACL on Thursday.McGloin may be familiar with the Texans' offense, playing under head coach Bill O'Brien during their shared tenures at Penn State.It's likely Tom Savage will take over as the team's starting quarterback. Savage started Week 1 but was pulled in favor of Watson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Romo has drawn plenty of praise in his new role as an analyst with CBS Sports, particularly for his ability to predict plays before they happen.Former teammate Dak Prescott thinks Romo has done an "excellent" job so far, but hopes he leaves his crystal ball at home for Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs."Hopefully he doesn't call out and guess too many of our plays," Prescott told John Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "He'll still be very familiar with them. Hopefully he can stay away from that this week."Prescott doesn't mind Romo being critical of his performance, though."I kind of expect him to be," Prescott said. "I hope he is."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No one wanted to hear the news that came out of Houston Texans practice on Thursday.After reports that rookie phenom Deshaun Watson tore his ACL and will be out for the season, it didn't take long for NFL players to reach out to the Texans star and wish him a quick recovery. One of those players was Teddy Bridgewater, who suffered his own season-ending injury in a 2016 practice.

Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending ACL tear in practice Thursday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Watson, who was the leading Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, was hurt on a non-contact play, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.He underwent on-site tests to confirm what the team had feared, and will undergo surgery with the expectation of returning for the 2018 campaign, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.The Texans officially added Watson, who was named Offensive Player of the Month earlier in the day, to the injury report with a knee injury and a limited designation.With 19 touchdowns and 1,699 yards so far this year, Watson was on pace to break the rookie record for passing scores set by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson at 26.The rookie passer suffered a torn ACL at the end of his freshman year at Clemson in 2014 against South Carolina, finishing the game before undergoing surgery. The latest injury occurred on the opposite knee to the one he injured in college, reports Rapoport.Tom Savage is expected to take over as the Texans' starting quarterback.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA has asked the Second Circuit, which is currently deciding on Ezekiel Elliott's suspension appeal, for a "brief administrative stay" to allow the Dallas Cowboys running back to play this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The man who turned in JuJu Smith-Schuster's bicycle after it was stolen last week hopes Antonio Brown comes through with the free Pittsburgh Steelers tickets he promised as a reward.DJ, as the man goes by, told KDKA-TV's John Shumway that he bought the bike for $200 and knew nothing about the reward when he turned it over to police.Related: Antonio Brown offers free tickets for return of Smith-Schuster's stolen bike"The police came back to me and said there was a reward, and I said that's not why I returned it, but when I heard it was tickets to a Steelers game, I was like, I wanted them tickets 'cause I've never been to a Steelers game in my life," DJ said.With no word back from Brown, DJ asked KDKA for help. The Steelers are currently on bye, but the team was able to get in contact with Brown, who vowed to send DJ to a game before the end of the season. Smith-Schuster said he also plans to reimburse DJ the $200 he paid to the bike thief.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since Chris Carson went down with a broken leg, the Seattle Seahawks haven't been able to mine anything out of their remaining running backs.Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, J.D. McKissic, and C.J. Prosise have all had their turn, but the Seahawks are settling on one for their Week 9 matchup against the Washington Redskins."Going to see a lot of Eddie this week," head coach Pete Carroll said of Lacy, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.We're going to start with Eddie and let him go a little bit and see where it goes from there," added offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.The Seahawks currently own the league's 21st-ranked rushing attack, but much of those yards come from Carson and quarterback Russell Wilson, the team's second-leading rusher.Player Att Yds Yds/Att TDCarson492084.20Wilson361945.41Lacy421082.60Rawls30592.00McKissic13544.21Prosise8202.50Carroll believes it's high time the team settles on one rusher. Lacy will be that man Sunday."I don't feel like we have been in a rhythm," Carroll said. "I think I've held them back a little bit by spreading it around quite a bit and trying to figure that out. So as we zero in (on) the second half, hopefully we are going to make some headway."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One pizza chain recently pointed to NFL protests during the national anthem as a reason for its declining sales. And the rest of the industry struck back on Thursday.A number of pizza chains responded to Papa John's founder John Schnatter's claim that "the NFL has hurt us" with some rather hurtful tweets.

We're at the unofficial halfway mark of the 2017 NFL season and after eight weeks of action, much of what we believed to be true has been dispelled.Here are five things we've learned so far this season:Offseason champions are regular-season disappointmentsThe darlings of the offseason couldn't translate all of that good juju into regular-season success.The New York Giants were hailed as potential Super Bowl contenders after adding Brandon Marshall, but the season fell apart almost as soon as it started. The Giants are lucky to already have a victory heading into Week 9.The Oakland Raiders were said to have added the missing piece to a championship-caliber club when they brought Marshawn Lynch out of retirement. The opposite is true, as the Raiders occupy the space at the bottom of the AFC West standings. They already have more losses than they did all of last season.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been just as disappointing as the other two teams. After loading up on targets (DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin), the Bucs still can't run the ball or get it into the hands of Jackson consistently. They'll need another five-game winning streak just to get back into it.We should have listened to Dabo SwinneyIn hindsight, the league should have known from the start that Deshaun Watson would be a stud.The Houston Texans quarterback threw the most touchdown passes by a rookie in one month in NFL history when he exploded with 16 in October.Watson has proven to be everything the Texans asked for in a quarterback, and everything Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage weren't. Although, that shouldn't be a surprise, considering that, as a collegiate, he eviscerated Alabama's defense in back-to-back national championship games.Nonetheless, he was the third quarterback taken in this year's draft, despite his college coach's declaration he should go first overall.Dabo was right about the likely Rookie of the Year.Former outposts are hot destinationsSearching for a possible playoff destination? Might I interest you in a trip to Buffalo, Jacksonville, or Los Angeles?Kelvin Benjamin, Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye, and Sammy Watkins have all relocated to these spots.The Bills, Jaguars, and Rams are in the thick of the playoff races in their respective divisions.The Bills, who seem to always start off hot, are a half-game back of the New England Patriots in the AFC East. Their early success could make for two juicy December matchups with the Pats.The Jaguars own the league's best pass defense and rushing offense, as well as a share of the lead in the AFC South.The Rams are tied for first in the NFC West on the backs of their superior point differential.Safe to say this would be tough to envision before the season started.Don't ignore your offensive lineOffensive linemen are used to being forgotten. They're often the least appreciated group on a football team.A number of teams tried to go it this season without addressing glaring holes on their offensive fronts. Each of them have discovered after half a season that it was a poor decision.The Seahawks hoped George Fant could make the conversion from basketball power forward to left tackle in 20 months. That experiment was shelved when Fant suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. The Hawks then moved 2016 third-round pick Rees Odhiambo over from the other side of the line. The returns have been disappointing.Seattle had but one touchdown from a running back before trading for Texans All-Pro left tackle Duane Brown on Tuesday.It's never too late to atone for your mistakes.The Giants and Cincinnati Bengals should heed that advice, as they own two of the bottom-six running games and also have only registered one score from a running back this season.Draft success doesn't correlate to immediate improvementThe Browns and 49ers were both applauded for their work at the 2017 NFL Draft. Their shrewd moves and picks have not led to better performances on the field, however.The two franchises combined to have three wins last season. Halfway through this season, they're both flirting with winless campaigns.It appears it was unwise to rush to call them improved clubs as they both appear to have even worse rosters than the ones they fielded last season.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts put franchise quarterback Andrew Luck on IR on Thursday and announced he won't practice or play for the rest of the season.Luck recently suffered a setback in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery."I wish I was better and 100 percent this season, but that's not the case," Luck said. "I know I'll be better from this. I know I'll be a better quarterback, teammate, person, and player from this, and I'm excited for the future."Luck was initially expected to just miss the first week of the season, but instead was shelved for the first quarter of the year. He returned to practice at the beginning of October, only to complain of pain in his throwing shoulder. He was shut down Oct. 18 as he sought remedies for his ailment.He sought the advice of specialists in recent weeks and was ruled out from returning to practice.General manager Chris Ballard said Monday on 1070 The Fan on that the cortisone shots Luck received for his shoulder soreness didn't work as intended."Andrew's exhausted every avenue to try to get ready and get back and play, and that was our hope, also," Ballard said.Luck will instead miss the entire 2017 season. He last played Jan. 1, 2017, in Week 17 of the 2016 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The Atlanta Falcons could do with some familiarity

Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters rewarded a young fan with two new pairs of sneakers after witnessing the boy's good behavior at a Kansas City mall.Twelve-year-old ZaMarion Coffie was browsing a shoe store with his mother, Larissa Coffie, on Saturday when he showed her a pair of $200 Air Jordan Retro 5s he wanted, according to Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. Larissa told ZaMarion to put them back because they had to leave, and after he did as she asked, Peters approached them and offered to buy the shoes.Larissa wrote about the encounter on Facebook, not knowing at the time that the man was Peters.In an email to the Star, she said Peters "appreciated the fact (ZaMarion) was respectful to his mom and did as he was told."

Every month for the remainder of the 2017 season, theScore's Dane Belbeck and Mitch Sanderson will project the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft using the current standings to predict the order. Strength of schedule will be used as the first tiebreaker and theScore's weekly power rankings will be used as the second.Picks

AFCThe Houston Texans' Deshaun Watson became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win a Player of the Month award. On Thursday, he was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Month for his breakout performance in October. In four games, Watson completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,171 yards and just five interceptions, and his 16 passing touchdowns are the most by a rookie QB in one month. He added 145 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown while keeping the Texans in the thick of the AFC South race.Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde took the AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors after leading the league with four interceptions in October. He added 22 total tackles in helping Buffalo go 3-1 in the month.Rookie Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was nearly perfect in October. The seventh-round draft pick went 18-for-19 on field-goal attempts, registering the most successful kicks in one month by a rookie and picking up the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award.NFCCarson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles picked up his first-ever NFC Offensive Player of the Month award after he led the NFC East leaders to a 5-0 record in October. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,247 yards and 14 touchdown passes against just three interceptions. He also had a remarkable eight passes of more than 25 yards and a passer rating of 110.4 in the month.Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen kept his impressive sack streak going through October and, as a result, was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month. Griffen recorded six sacks in five games, continuing a string in which he's registered a sack in every game this season. He also shared the lead for forced fumbles in the month (2) and came in second in tackles (18).Greg Zuerlein was on the money in October. The Los Angeles Rams kicker missed just one kick in four games, nailing 14 field goals and nine extra points. Zuerlein is currently the league leader in points scored with 84 and he's the NFC Offensive Special Teams Player of the Month.RookiesWatson, the Texans' first-round draft pick, was also named Offensive Rookie of the Month.New Orleans Saints corner Marshon Lattimore took the defensive rookie award. The 11th overall draft choice recorded his first two career interceptions along with five passes defensed and 11 tackles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's hoping the AFC East squads in this week's Thursday Night Football contest put up a better fight than the one in last week's game, as the Miami Dolphins were blown off the field 40-0 by the Baltimore Ravens.The Buffalo Bills look to continue their winning ways when they head south to face the New York Jets in a rematch of their Week 1 game that saw the Bills emerge with the 21-12 win.The Jets have lost three in a row, while Buffalo has won four of its last five games, so this one should be a no-brainer, right?Not so fast.The wager: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (+3.5)The Bills and Jets played a fairly even contest in Week 1 with a Mike Tolbert touchdown in the fourth quarter providing the nine-point win for Buffalo. It was by far the worst game of the season for quarterback Josh McCown, and the veteran pivot has actually been a pleasant surprise for the Jets since.Buffalo thrives off turnovers and have forced at least three in each of the last four games. That's an astonishing stat and one that is going to be very difficult to maintain. The Bills lack of offense needs the turnovers to be successful but the Jets have only lost the ball three times in a game once this season.Look for a very tight contest on Thursday with field goals deciding the outcome. Buffalo gets a close road win but the Jets keep it within the number. Bills 21, Jets 20Thursday picks record: 6-2Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alfred Morris will be the man tasked with keeping the Dallas Cowboys' ground game churning while Ezekiel Elliott serves his six-game suspension.Due to Elliott's standing as one of football's best players, some have questioned if Morris, along with Darren McFadden and Rod Smith, is up to the challenge."These questions, I chuckle at them, but at the same time it's very insulting because we're pros," Alfred Morris said, according to David Helman of the team's website. "Nothing changes at all for me, other than all these cameras in my face."Morris has been used sparingly this season, racking up 105 yards on 13 carries. Meanwhile, McFadden has yet to play a snap and Smith has run the ball just 10 times.However, both Morris and McFadden know what it's like to be a lead rusher. Morris had four straight 200-carry seasons with the Washington Redskins, while McFadden rushed for over 1,000 yards for Dallas in 2015."It's no pressure. I mean, I've done this before," Morris said. "I came out as a rookie and I've done this before. I've done it my first few years - over 1,000 yards. I was productive."Morris and Co. will get their first chance to prove they can handle Elliott's workload Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was almost foreboding for AJ McCarron that the NFL trade deadline fell on Halloween.On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback learned he was being traded to the Cleveland Browns, and then an hour later, as his entire family dressed in their Halloween costumes, he was told the trade didn't go through."With the trade and all that, you've got my mother bouncing around in a dolphin suit, the dogs are going crazy, (1-year-old son) Tripp's pissed he's wearing a tutu. I'm lost like everyone else," McCarron said to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.It turned out the trade was not accepted because the Browns failed to send in the appropriate documents to the league office before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.As a result, McCarron remains a member of a team that he knows had tried to trade him."I'm not angry. I'm not upset. It feels good to be wanted," McCarron said. "Today I'm going to thank (Bengals president Mike Brown) personally. I really appreciate that of him. He's been an unbelievable owner in my experience here."Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis acknowledged that the failed trade makes for an odd scenario."It's not a good situation," he said at his Wednesday press conference."AJ is a very valuable member of this team," Lewis said. "I told him that (Tuesday) after (the trade deadline). Frankly, I was relieved that I don't have to go through those gymnastics of the next steps. He's a great kid. True team player. He's a leader - a leader on this football team. And that's why we feel like he's such a valuable asset."McCarron will be back in the Bengals' stripes for their next game Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick's lawyer, Mark Geragos, believes the free-agent quarterback won't be looking for work much longer."I think within the next 10 days somebody will sign him," Geragos said in a Tuesday appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show," according to Scott Gleeson of USA TODAY Sports. "I think somebody's going to sign him. I think the NFL has to come to their senses, and realize every day that goes by just proves the collusion case even more."Based on Geragos' timeline, he expects Kaepernick to be signed by Nov. 10.Geragos is representing the veteran pivot in his collusion lawsuit against the NFL and team owners.Kaepernick filed the grievance Oct. 15 after failing to land with a team since opting out of his deal with the San Francisco 49ers in March. He protested during the national anthem all season in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the first half of the season in the books, theScore's NFL editors examine which players are deserving of first-team All-Pro status thus far.Quarterback Tom Brady, PatriotsCarson Wentz and Alex Smith have legitimate cases, but Brady is playing as good as they are, at age 40. The veteran is also shouldering more responsibility with Julian Edelman out for the year and the defense struggling.Running backKareem Hunt, ChiefsHunt is the surprise of the year, taking the league by storm since opening night against the Patriots and never looking back. At this rate, he could be the second consecutive rookie to win the rushing title.Le'Veon Bell, SteelersBell is the NFL's best all-around back and the Steelers are adamant on using him as the centerpiece of the offense. There is no way to contain him.Wide receiver Antonio Brown, SteelersBrown continues to astound. The pass-catcher is on pace to become the first player in NFL history with five-straight 100-catch seasons, and he's done it with a declining Ben Roethlisberger.DeAndre Hopkins, TexansHopkins may have been wrong about who should've been the Texans' Week 1 starter, but he's certainly reaping the rewards of Deshaun Watson's emergence. The wideout is third in receiving yards and is tied for first in receiving touchdowns.Tight end Zach Ertz, EaglesErtz is more than just a red-zone dynamo, giving Carson Wentz a perfect safety valve as the duo rise to stardom this season.Offensive tackle Joe Thomas, BrownsThomas may be out for the season due to an arm injury, but the longtime Cleveland Browns left tackle more than earned his place on this list during the first seven games.Lane Johnson, EaglesJohnson has been the key man on the Eagles' offensive line this season, and will be even more important going forward after left tackle Jason Peters tore his ACL and MCL.Center Alex Mack, FalconsUntil proven otherwise, Mack is the standard at center, facilitating a robust run game with his pre-snap reads.Guard David DeCastro, SteelersBrown and Bell get all the plaudits, but their impressive production wouldn't be possible without the Steelers' standout offensive line. DeCasto has developed into one of the league's best all-around guards, and has been a monster in the run game this season.Zack Martin, CowboysThe Cowboys offensive line hasn't played at their usual dominant level this season, mostly due to changes at left guard and right tackle. Despite this, Martin's play hasn't dropped off one bit. He remains a special player.Defensive end Everson Griffen, VikingsGriffen continues to refine his rare combination of size, speed, and power, and has been impossible to guard this fall.

Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman will be patient in determining if Teddy Bridgewater will be able to play this season.Although many want Bridgewater to return to the field as soon as possible, the team won't make their decision to activate him on whether he's able to start."All we're concerned about is where he is this week," Spielman said to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I know we're evaluating him in practice every day. And then we'll have to make a decision coming up next week -- not if he's going to start or not start, but if he's going to come up to the 53. That's the next step. And then, from there, the coaches will determine the rest of the way."Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury prior to the 2016 season and has fervently worked his way back into shape.The Vikings are on their bye week, and will continue to start Case Keenum if neither Bridgewater nor Sam Bradford are ready to go in Week 10."I would say that right now we're just focused on what we saw the first week he was out there and where he's at as far as after today's practice," he said. "We'll continue to evaluate that. We'll come back and have him practice on Monday and see where everything is at. I know Sam [Bradford] is trying like heck to get himself back as quickly as he can, too. All those decisions will be made coming up next week. It will be a decision we make after speaking with his doctor, our medical staff, myself and coach Zim and then we'll go from there."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns reinforced their status as a national punchline Tuesday, and predictably, their ownership wasn't too happy about it.Ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, the Browns reportedly reached a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire quarterback AJ McCarron. However, the Browns filed the paperwork to the NFL just past the 4 p.m. ET deadline, nullifying the transaction.Browns co-owner Dee Haslam, who shares the team with her husband, Jimmy, reportedly blasted the team's front office for failing to complete the trade, a source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.The Browns are reportedly arguing that they filed their paperwork in time, insisting the Bengals failed to send a document that had been signed by both clubs. Numerous other teams told Florio that both the Browns and Bengals should've operated independently in filing the paperwork.Irrespective of the reason for the trade falling through, the Haslam family is furious, and for good reason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was conditionally reinstated by the NFL on Wednesday. Whether you should rush to add him to your fantasy lineup is a questionable proposition at best.Gordon, who recently completed a 90-day rehab stint, is ineligible to play until Week 13. The 26-year-old should only be added if you're confident that your team will be in the playoffs and if you have a deep bench or an open roster spot. Even if that's the case, Gordon could prove to be an untenable option as he hasn't played since the 2015 season.

The NFL announced Wednesday it has reinstated suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon on a conditional basis.Gordon will be allowed to start practicing with the Browns on Nov. 20, and can be placed on the active roster Nov. 27th at the earliest. He'll be eligible to play the final five weeks of the season.The 26-year-old hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2014 due to the numerous failed drug tests that led to his suspension and prevented him from obtaining reinstatement over the last three years."As emphasized at today's meeting, everyone - including Josh's teammates and coaches, the Browns' ownership and organization, the Program professionals and all of us at the league office - want him to have every opportunity to resume his career and to be successful in the NFL," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Whether that happens, however, at the end of the day will depend on Josh. His commitment to sobriety and to reaching his goals in football and beyond will determine his success. It ultimately is up to Josh."Gordon quickly became one of the game's top receivers from 2012-14, and hauled in 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in only 14 games during his banner campaign in 2013.It's unclear, though, whether the Browns will welcome the man known as "Flash" back into the fold with open arms. The team was reportedly shopping his rights ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, and has long been frustrated with his off-field sagas."We respect and commend Josh for taking the steps necessary to have the opportunity to return to the league," Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown stated. "Josh will be in our building in the coming days and we look forward to having him back and sitting with him to discuss his future on our team."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy has high aspirations for his mixed martial arts career.In an interview with TMZ Sports, Hardy, who's set to make his amateur MMA debut Saturday at Rise of a Warrior 21 in Fort Pierce, Fla., said he hopes to eventually compete for the UFC heavyweight title."I want to be the champion of everything that I can be - the world champion, the best heavyweight fighter in the world," he said. "I definitely would like to be in the UFC and be able to obtain UFC 'gold,' get the belt, and have my first opportunity to walk around with that."The 29-year-old last played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In wake of his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Jay Ajayi rebuffed the notion Wednesday he carried a bad attitude while a member of the Miami Dolphins."Those are the criticisms that are out there. I can only speak on how I view myself. I view myself as a 'team guy,'" Ajayi told reporters during his first press conference as an Eagle, according to Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. "I'm excited to be here. I'm an Eagle. I'm excited for this opportunity. That stuff, at the end of the day, is in the past. I woke up today as a Philadelphia Eagle. I'm very excited about that."Ajayi was ushered out of Miami at Tuesday's trade deadline, long after his relationship with Dolphins coach Adam Gase reportedly went downhill.Gase previously criticized Miami's running backs for trying to hit too many "home runs" instead of sticking to the plays as they were designed.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The halfway point of the NFL season is here and it’s a good time to reflect on the best and worst bets after the first eight weeks’ worth of action on the gridiron.Best ATS teamsBuffalo Bills (5-1-1 ATS)Big Cat and PFT remind us every week that nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. Coincidentally, no one covers the spread like the Bills either. Buffalo is 5-1-1 against the spread and has won outright as an underdog three times already this year.Philadelphia Eagles (6-2 ATS)When they’re not standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona, the Eagles are taking it to the limit in the NFC East. Philly is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS with wins over the Panthers, Chargers and Redskins. The Eagles are averaging 29 points per game and lead in the league in point differential at + 76.Kansas City Chiefs (6-2 ATS)The Chiefs traded up in the first round of the draft last spring to select a guy they thought would be replacing Alex Smith under center. Smith responded by playing the best half season of his pro career.Smith has shed the moniker of Captain Checkdown with 2181 passing yards and a league-high 8.42 yards per passing attempt.Kansas City upset the Patriots at Gillette Stadium as an 8-point underdog on the Thursday season kickoff game and clipped the Eagles 27-20 in Week 2. The Chiefs are 6-2 straight up and against the spread heading into this weekend’s game against the Cowboys.Worst ATS TeamArizona Cardinals (1-6 ATS)Zona’s season was probably toast the minute David Johnson’s wrist exploded Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. The Cardinals stand at 3-4 SU, 1-6 ATS and are fresh off a 33-0 shutout loss to the Rams.Arizona heads into the second half of the season with a 33-year-old career backup at quarterback (Drew Stanton), a 34-year-old as its leading receiver (Larry Fitzgerald) and a 32-year-old who’s been dumped by two teams in less than a year (Adrian Peterson) as its No. 1 running back.Best Over TeamHouston Texans (Over 5-2)The Chiefs are actually the best over team through eight weeks (Over is 6-2 in their games), but we already talked about them in the best ATS teams section.The Texans metamorphosis needs to be discussed here. Houston’s identity used to be about its elite defense and borderline unwatchable offense. The script has been flipped ever since Deshaun Watson became the starting quarterback. The Texans are averaging 34.6 points per game since rookie took over and they’re giving up 30 points per game over their last five games.The over is 5-0 in Houston’s last five games and 5-2 on the season.Best Under TeamPittsburgh Steelers (Under 1-7)The Steelers scored an average of 2.8 touchdowns per game in 2016 and this year they’re finding the end zone only twice (2.0) a game. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had 29 TD passes in 14 games last season and has only 10 (with nine interceptions) through eight games this year.The defense in Pittsburgh is rock solid helping the Steelers finish under the total in seven of their eight contests.Season Win Total ReviewVegas and offshore sportsbooks do us the courtesy of setting over/under lines on each NFL team’s season wins total for the upcoming season. Everyone pounces on these lines and bets them for some early NFL action.No Surprises HereThe Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers were both pegged with 4.5 season win totals and both find teams are still in search of their first win of the campaign.Did Not See That ComingThe Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills have surprised a lot of casual and dedicated NFL bettors this year. The Rams are one victory formation away from surpassing their 5.5 season win total while the Bills are keeping pace with the Patriots in the AFC East and need just two more wins to top their preseason projection according to Vegas.Should Have Seen That ComingThe 2016 Oakland Raiders were extremely fortunate to reach 12 wins on the season. Covers wrote a few articles saying the bubble was bound to burst on this overachieving side in the 2017 campaign, but the Raiders were one of the most popular offseason Super Bowl bets and people were gladly backing the Silver and Black to go over their 9.5 season win total.Oakland is dead last in the AFC West and has fewer wins than the New York Jets after the first eight weeks of the season. Yikes.Season Long TrendsUnderdogs are barking this season despite the recent hot streak for chalk. Teams getting points were 53-35-1 against the spread after Week 6, but faves struck back in big way going 18-8-2 ATS over the last two weeks. Underdogs are still 61-53-3 ATS (53.5% win rate) on the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys are set to weather a six-game suspension for star running back Ezekiel Elliott, but quarterback Dak Prescott expects the team's offense to keep producing."I mean, my expectations for this team are high regardless of who is at running back, who is at receiver, who is at offensive line," Prescott said to ESPN's Todd Archer. "My expectation is that I know these guys in this locker room, the guys I go to work with each and every day. I know their potential. I know what they and we can do together. My expectations don't change."Elliott's suspension was reinstated Monday by Judge Katherine Failla of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.At 4-3, the Cowboys are struggling to keep pace with the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles (7-1), but Prescott told Elliott not to worry as their team continues its playoff push without him."Just telling him we got his back, supporting him, and he had a couple of words for me," Prescott added. "I was just letting him know we support him. He obviously feels bad with the ruling coming down, but just letting him know I've got his back; this team's got his back. He was just telling me 'Just go play ball.'"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.