New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan was taken to the locker room during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a right shoulder injury.The wideout suffered the ailment after making a catch late in the fourth quarter. He is questionable to return.The Patriots do have a bye week upcoming, so Hogan will have time to recover if the issue is significant.Hogan has taken on a larger role after injuries to the Patriots' wide receiver corps, catching 28 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns in five games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's Halloween weekend in the NFL and aside from some frightening sights on the field, there were some off the field as well.A Buffalo Bills fan and Oakland Raiders backer bonded over Elvis Presley.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)One Cincinnati Bengals fan looked like he was just brought back from the dead.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)More fan-bonding between Bengals and Indianapolis Colts supporters.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)A Houston Texans fan went with the Lucha Libre look.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)This Philadelphia Eagles fan's costume is self-explanatory.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Blues Brothers traveled to London, England to catch the Minnesota Vikings.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)New Orleans Saints fans seem to be dressed like this every week.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Drew Brees joined a very exclusive club Sunday during the New Orleans Saints' game against the Chicago Bears.The veteran pivot became just the third quarterback in NFL history to surpass 6,000 career completions, joining Peyton Manning (6,125) and Brett Favre (6,300), according to ESPN's Stats & Info.

Le'Veon Bell heard Joe Mixon when the rookie compared himself to the Pittsburgh Steelers running back.After the Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals met last week, Mixon complained about his workload and said he believes he can "do way more than (Bell) did."Bell didn't take too kindly to those words and responded on Twitter while watching the Bengals-Indianapolis Colts game Sunday afternoon.

Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller suffered a gruesome leg injury during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints and was carted to the locker room.Miller's leg bent completely out of shape while he tried to corral the ball in the end zone. The play was initially ruled a touchdown but was overturned upon review.Bears head coach John Fox told reporters postgame that Miller suffered a dislocated knee on the play and and was taken to a local hospital, according to NFL.com.Players and reporters were outraged that Miller's touchdown was overturned.

The proposed meeting between NFL owners and the Players Coalition scheduled for Monday is off, as the sides are going to reschedule the gathering, a source told Jim Trotter of ESPN.Among those invited to attend were Roger Goodell, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, and free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick.McNair came under fire over the weekend for his comments about the player's national anthem protests. He said, "We can't have the inmates running the prison," when discussing the protests, per Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. from ESPN the Magazine.The comment was met with anger by players, and the coalition released a statement expressing its feelings and invited McNair to talk about his quote.

Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck consulted specialists regarding his shoulder injury after experiencing pain following his return to practice a few weeks ago, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported on "FOX NFL Sunday," according to Nate Bouda of NFL Trade Rumors.The Colts shut Luck down Oct. 18 and he received a cortisone shot. The veteran pivot hasn't practiced in the two weeks since.If Indy can't determine why Luck is still experiencing pain 10 months after surgery, the club will have to shelve him for the rest of the season, Glazer reports.The 27-year-old was expected to return early in the season, but his rehabilitation has stretched much further into the campaign than anyone expected.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julius Peppers celebrated his new spot on the NFL's all-time sack list in style.The veteran Carolina Panthers defensive end entered the day a half-sack behind Chris Doleman with 150, and earned his 151st to move up to fourth overall with a strip sack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston.Peppers is bested by only Bruce Smith (200), Reggie White (198), and Kevin Greene (160).Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll emphatically denied the team is trying to trade tight end Jimmy Graham."We are not trading Jimmy Graham. That's total bulls---," Carroll told NFL Network's Michael Silver.The Seahawks were reportedly looking to move Graham in exchange for Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown.Related: Seahawks considering Jimmy Graham tradeSeattle acquired Graham in a 2015 trade with the New Orleans Saints in exchange for center Max Unger and a first-round pick, which was used on Stephone Anthony.Graham has caught 24 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in six games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FOX sideline reporter and "Good Morning Football" host Peter Schrager says his affiliation with the NFL got him kicked out of a cab while covering a game in Indianapolis recently.Schrager spoke about the incident Friday during an appearance on WFAN's "The Mike Francesa Show" on Friday."Cab driver picks me (up) and he says 'What do you do for a living?' and (I say) "Oh, I work in the NFL.' And he stops the car, turns around, and says 'You can get out of the car. The NFL is dead to me. The NFL, the fact that these guys take knees, I will never watch the NFL again,'" Schrager recalled. "It was the first time I had a real-life experience face to face with somebody who was that charged up about this issue. And I said 'Wow, that's crazy.'"The more you talk to fans who aren't on the two coasts, the more you aren't in blue-state territory, this is a real deal and it is affecting the bottom line. So the owners are seeing this."- With h/t to Awful AnnouncingCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We won't see Joe Thomas, the elite left tackle, again this season, but we have the next best thing: Joe Thomas, the hilarious tweeter.The longtime Cleveland Browns veteran spent Sunday morning tweeting about his team's game in London against the Minnesota Vikings, and he wasn't that impressed by Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon's driving touchdown celebration:

Contending teams have been contacting the Pittsburgh Steelers to try and trade for disgruntled wide receiver Martavis Bryant despite the team's insistence he won't be moved, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Though it's unclear if they're still interested, the New England Patriots were one of the teams who called Pittsburgh about Bryant before the draft, adds Rapoport.Bryant was demoted to the scout team and will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions amid his ongoing attempts to force his way out of Pittsburgh.The 25-year-old has been a major disappointment after returning from a yearlong suspension. He has struggled to re-establish his role in the Steelers' offense and has caught just 18 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown in seven games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dez Bryant and Josh Norman are set to renew their rivalry in Sunday's division battle between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.But rather than wait for their afternoon date, the foes took to Twitter to see if the other is up to the task.The rivalry appears to have dulled since the two featured in phone ads this summer.Their back-and-forth appears to be just an extension of their marketing campaign.

The Browns are 0-7, primarily due to to their lackluster offense, and Cleveland is reportedly looking for much-needed reinforcements ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.The Browns are looking to trade for a deep-ball threat and help at running back, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Only the Miami Dolphins have scored fewer points per game than Cleveland this season, and their lack of talent on offense is making it difficult to assess the capabilities of rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins called a report from CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, saying the team will look to cut ties with defender Ndamukong Suh after the season, "100 percent not true," Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.The team said the defensive tackle is still very much a part of their plans for at least next season.While Suh's individual statistics aren't eye-popping, he's had an impact in mentoring younger players, Jackson reports.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins may be without some key members of their offensive line for a big divisional showdown Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys.Starting left tackle Trent Williams won't play after suffering a knee injury in last week's Monday night game, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports.The team is also expecting to be without guard Brandon Scherff due to knee and back injuries, Mike Jones of USA Today reports.Starting center Spencer Long reportedly has been ruled out as well due to knee and quad injuries, Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post reports.The Redskins and Cowboys are both 3-3 and meet Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite a career 1-22 mark as Cleveland Browns' head coach, Hue Jackson's job appears to be safe."I'm told at this point Hue Jackson is safe, even (if there was) an ugly loss (today)," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Sunday on "NFL GameDay Kickoff" ahead of the Browns' game against the Minnesota Vikings in London, England.The Browns narrowly escaped an 0-16 season last year and were 0-7 entering Week 8 this campaign. The winds may change should the losing continue, however.Jackson has also alternated between quarterbacks DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan, and Cody Kessler in recent weeks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse language

The NFL's trade deadline is causing some teams to get extremely creative to help bolster their playoff chances.Teams have been asking the Detroit Lions over the past week about acquiring the rights to retired wide receiver Calvin Johnson in advance of Tuesday's deadline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Lions have been responding to interested teams by telling them to ask Johnson himself about his reaction to any potential move, but the receiver has been non-committal at best, according to Schefter.Johnson hasn't played since turning in a 1,214-yard, nine-touchdown 2015 season with Detroit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins may be prepared to cut ties with their biggest free-agent signing after this season.The team is reportedly ready to move on from defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, a source close to team owner Stephen Ross informed Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.The Dolphins made Suh one of the league's highest-paid players by giving him a six-year, $114-million contract in 2015. Yet, in the years since, Miami has ranked 25th and 29th in total defense.Suh is set to count $26 million and $28 million against the cap in the next two seasons, before a potential out in 2020, in which the Dolphins would incur a dead cap hit of just $4 million.The former three-time All-Pro has had seasons of six and five sacks with the Dolphins and has 2.5 sacks through seven games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron is being sought by several teams with positional needs, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Teams have been calling the Lions asking about acquiring the fourth-year tight end, who's under contract for 2018 at roughly $8.25 million, after the Lions picked up his fifth-year option in May.Drafted 10th overall by former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew in 2014, Ebron has caught 146 of 230 career targets for 1,598 total yards and eight touchdowns.He has caught 13 of 26 targets for 102 yards and one touchdown through six games in 2017, but his 7.8 yards per reception is a career low.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just two days away from the NFL's trade deadline, teams are reportedly looking to add some significant help at cornerback.At least two teams are talking to the Indianapolis Colts about Vontae Davis, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Davis has played four games this season, recording a combined 17 tackles with no sacks or interceptions and just one pass defended.The 29-year-old, who's spent the past six seasons with the Colts, has 22 career interceptions, recording four in a season on four occasions.Davis is in the final year of a four-year, $36-million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks have discussed trading tight end Jimmy Graham in order to improve their offensive line, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The talks have involved acquiring Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown, who returned from a holdout this week, Rapoport adds.The Seahawks and Texans play Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.The Seahawks landed Graham in 2015 by trading center Max Unger and a first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints.Graham is being discussed for cap reasons. He's in the final year of his contract and comes with a $10-million cap hit this season.Through six games, the veteran tight end has 24 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns.The team's offensive line is an area of concern, however. Starting left tackle George Fant suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the preseason, and the Seahawks have been playing sophomore Rees Odhiambo at the position.Brown is a three-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was one of 17 league owners involved in a Thursday conference call to discuss if there's anything the group could do to hijack commissioner Roger Goodell's pending contract extension, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.The extension is done, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, despite this group's efforts to negate it.The deal was originally reported as being close to done back in the summer. This group of 17 owners pushed hard against it."You don't get to have this many messes over the years like Roger has had and survive it," one owner said.However, the NFL needed 24 owners to approve Goodell's dismissal, making the group skeptical it could happen.Issues against Goodell range from the commissioner's performance, to NFL employees, to the Los Angeles situation highlighted by paltry attendance.One of the owners in favor of the extension, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, was met with resistance."Maybe Arthur (Blank, the head of the Compensation Committee) and that committee think they're on track," an owner said about Goodell's proposed extension. "But they have a lot more resistance than they counted on -- and maybe they don't know how the resistance is growing as we speak."The side favoring Goodell feels it would just be easier, if not better, to keep the status quo, with one owner not involved in the conference call saying, "I'd be very surprised about wanting to change Roger. I'd be shocked about that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate was expected to miss a few weeks of action due to a shoulder injury, but, after the team's Week 7 bye, he plans to play in Sunday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.It would be a positive development for a team that expected Tate to miss games.Tate remains listed as questionable for the spotlight game on Sunday Night Football.The No. 1 receiver leads the team with 36 catches, 363 yards and added two touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stefon Diggs will be back in the Minnesota Vikings' lineup Sunday, after a two-game absence.The team's No. 1 receiver is officially active for their Week 8 game against the Cleveland Browns in London, England.Diggs has been out since garnering just one catch in a Week 5 game against the Chicago Bears. He's been battling groin and ankle ailments.Without him, the Vikings have won their past two games, but should still benefit from having their most dangerous receiving threat back in the lineup in a matchup against a depleted Browns secondary, which will be without both Jason McCourty and Jabrill Peppers.Diggs makes his return a week before Minnesota's bye week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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 8.Standard

The fallout from Houston Texans owner Bob McNair's "inmates running the prison" comments continued Saturday, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Texans players are planning to protest prior to Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.A league source told Schefter the Texans held a players-only meeting Saturday, and could decide on a number of protest methods, including a team-wide kneel, peeling Texans decals off their helmets, or raising their fists.It's unknown what specific form of protest they agreed on.McNair's comments caused immediate backlash, with star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins reportedly taking a personal day because of the remarks. The owner met with players Saturday to express his regret for his choice of words, later releasing a statement apologizing for his actions.McNair, along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, were also invited by the Players Coalition to meet in Philadelphia on Monday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL trade deadline is approaching and there are some teams on the cusp of pulling the trigger.As the season is too young to distinguish which teams have a legitimate championship shot, there is some hesitancy to risk the future to acquire a player midseason.However, for these five organizations, a big win in Week 8 may give their respective front offices the necessary push to make a splash.Los Angeles ChargersCurrent Record: 3-4 | Week 8 Opponent: New England PatriotsAfter an 0-4 start, the Chargers' first season in Los Angeles looked over before it really got started, but following three straight wins, they can make a big statement on Sunday.A win over New England wouldn't just bring the Chargers to a .500 record and possibly put them second in the division, it would mean Los Angeles is a real threat for the postseason. With Philip Rivers' time to make a Super Bowl run ticking away, the Chargers could use some reinforcements.Upgrades at defensive back and offensive line should be at the top of their wish list as both units have suffered major injuries.Ideal trade target: Colts CB Vontae DavisNew Orleans SaintsCurrent Record: 4-2 | Week 8 Opponent: Chicago BearsSimilar to the Chargers, the Saints had to overcome an early-season losing streak. With four straight wins and a favorable schedule upcoming, the Saints could be poised to make one more solid run with Drew Brees at the helm.The Saints are certainly expected to beat Chicago. Despite winning their last two contests, the Bears have completed only 12 passes in that span - a trend that won't continue against Brees and an opportunistic defense.Surprisingly, the Saints secondary has held up well this season and will get tougher to beat when Delvin Breaux comes back. Looking at the front four, a solid pass rusher is still a position of need and, on the other side of the ball, New Orleans is always in the market for more explosive offensive pieces.Ideal trade target: Cardinals WR Larry FitzgeraldHouston TexansCurrent Record: 3-3 | Week 8 Opponent: Seattle SeahawksThe Texans have been on a roll, scoring at least 33 points in every game since Deshaun Watson's second career start. A win over the Seahawks and their talented defense on Sunday would give them the confidence to matchup with any team - especially in a wide-open AFC South - though the defense still needs a hand.With J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus done for the year and Brian Cushing serving a ten-game suspension, Houston's front seven is running low on playmakers.Ideal trade target: 49ers LB Aaron LynchDetroit LionsCurrent Record: 3-3 | Week 8 Opponent: Pittsburgh SteelersThe Lions looked like a competitor out of the gate, though a pair of losses to NFC South teams has slowed their momentum as injuries have piled up.Without Aaron Rodgers available for the Packers, the NFC North looks to be a race between the Lions and the Vikings, but Detroit needs to top the Steelers on Sunday night to keep up.Matthew Stafford could use another target or two to keep the chains moving. It just so happens that one of his former receivers is looking for a new team.Ideal trade target: Bills WR Anquan BoldinKansas City ChiefsCurrent Record: 5-2 | Week 8 Opponent: Denver BroncosThe Chiefs should already be looking to make moves for a run at the Lombardi Trophy, though they aren't a team that makes decisions without looking at all the information available.If they can move to 6-2 with another division win, they should feel fairly confident that mortgaging the future for the sake of short-term success may be worth it.The Chiefs could address their thin receiver corps with a piece like Fitzgerald, Boldin, or Martavis Bryant, but their weaknesses in the secondary have become more apparent recently and should be higher on the priority list.Ideal trade target: Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett announced Saturday in a since-deleted Instagram post that he's "pretty sure" he'll retire following the 2017 season.

After Houston Texans owner Bob McNair's comments about "inmates running the prison" caused an uproar throughout the NFL, the Players Coalition has invited McNair, commissioner Roger Goodell, and free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick to meet in Philadelphia on Monday.The coalition, which consists of about 40 players across the league who regularly discuss criminal justice reform issues and work with communities throughout the country, described the invitation as "an act of good faith" in a letter obtained by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Washington Redskins receiver Terrelle Pryor issued an apology via Instagram on Saturday after losing his starting job to Josh Doctson, and failing to make more than three catches in a game since Week 1.According to ESPN's John Keim, Pryor said he'd been dealing with "a lot of stress brought onto myself from loss of focus on the field...not personal life but at work reasons." The wideout added, "Ready to be the beast I know I am. Looking forward to Sunday."Pryor, a converted quarterback, saw only one snap in the first half of Monday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Jay Gruden said Pryor didn't get much playing time because he wanted to give Doctson a chance, who plays the same offensive role. Gruden will go with the "hot hand" this week against the Dallas Cowboys.In his first year with the Redskins, Pryor said he's had to adjust to sharing the workload, but he's ready to do what's necessary this season, according to his Instagram post:

The Washington Redskins placed Mason Foster on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder Friday, and the linebacker was unhappy with the decision.With a barrage of tweets sent Saturday morning, Foster expressed his appreciation toward his teammates and coaches, while discussing how the front office - without former general manager Scot McCloughan - hasn't lived up to his expectations.

Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown says that his team's owner, Bob McNair, has made controversial comments regarding players prior to his recent remarks about "inmates running the prison."Brown, who recently returned from a holdout, says that after Barack Obama was elected as President of the United States in 2008, McNair expressed to players that he did not share their excitement."He came to talk to the team," Brown told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, regarding the owner. "He was visibly upset about it. He said, 'I know a lot of y'all are happy right now, but it's not the outcome that some of us were looking for.' That was very shocking to me."Related: Bob McNair meets with Texans players, regrets word choiceBrown recounted after Los Angles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was ousted from his position over racists comments, McNair shared a rather troubling opinion with the Texans players."The message was more to be careful who you have private conversations with, because things that you think are confidential can spread like wildfire," Brown said. "In my mind, it would probably have been better if he said 'don't be a racist' instead of 'be a racist in private and make sure it doesn't get out.'"Brown says that since he began protesting during the national anthem last season, McNair hasn't had anything to say to him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More details continue to emerge from the exchange between Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the former broke the latter's collarbone.Barr delivered the likely season-ending blow to Rodgers during their Week 6 matchup, and Rodgers responded by delivering a string of expletives in Barr's direction.Rodgers explained to television host Conan O'Brien that Barr flipped him a middle finger and the "suck it" sign, prompting his response.Barr disputed that claim Saturday, and he did it all the way from London, where the Vikings are slated to take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

theScore's Michael McClymont breaks down five of the most important in-game matchups ahead of Week 8.Dez Bryant vs. Josh NormanNorman is expected to return Sunday after missing the Washington Redskins' past two games, and his timing couldn't be better. We probably shouldn't expect Norman to miss an opportunity to shadow Dallas Cowboys receiver Bryant.The two went toe-to-toe and insult-for-insult in their last meeting, a Thanksgiving Day shootout in 2016. Bryant led the Cowboys with five catches for 72 yards in a 31-26 victory. Afterward, the foes nearly came to blows at midfield and Norman kept the feud going this offseason, promising "bad blood."This year, the Redskins and Cowboys enter the matchup at 3-3, two games behind the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles. The game will likely tip in favor of whoever gains the upper hand outside the numbers.Deshaun Watson vs. Earl ThomasThe darling of the 2017 rookie class gets a major test in the Seahawks' vaunted defense at intimidating CenturyLink Field. Watson has taken full control of the Houston Texans' offense, but he hasn't seen an opposing secondary the likes of the Legion of Boom.The Seahawks are 10-2 at home against rookie quarterbacks since their stadium opened in 2002 and their last defeat came in 2011.Watson will have to use his full complement of weaponry, including his legs, to throw off the Seahawks' defensive line, and his guile to overcome veteran free safety Thomas.Hunter Henry/Antonio Gates vs. Patriots non-descript LBsThe Patriots' defense took a major hit when Dont'a Hightower was declared out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. The defense was finding its footing and now will have to face the league's eighth-ranked passing offense without its leader.As usual, Philip Rivers has been throwing the ball around the park all season, but, aside from Keenan Allen, his top targets have been backs and tight ends. That will be a problem for Kyle Van Noy, David Harris, and Elandon Roberts.Henry ranks third on the team with 21 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Franchise stalwart Gates is still involved as well, with 13 grabs for 119 yards and a score. Luckily for New England, it's expected to rain Sunday at Gillette Stadium.Garett Bolles vs. Justin HoustonThrough seven games, Houston leads the Chiefs with 5.5 sacks. Now he'll get to contend with a rookie left tackle.Bolles isn't any regular left tackle, however. The 20th pick in this year's draft has committed just three penalties and allowed 2.5 sacks in his six career starts. This may be his greatest challenge, though, as he hopes to help the Broncos cut into the Chiefs' one-and-a-half-game lead atop the AFC West division.The Broncos' offense has been held in check the last two weeks, and quarterback Trevor Siemian has come under fire. He'll need a clean pocket and time to throw to be able to keep up with the Chiefs' explosive offense.Matthew Stafford vs. Steelers frontHopefully, Stafford put his bye week to good use, resting his ailing ankle. Because he's in for a Sunday night date with a Pittsburgh Steelers team that ranks second in the league in defense and is tied for second in sacks.Cameron Heyward, rookie T.J. Watt, and Vince Williams each have four sacks and Anthony Chickillo follows with three.The Lions rank 26th in rushing, averaging just 84 yards on the ground per game. The Steelers know the manner in which their opponents prefer to attack, and it just may work in their favor.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' defense got stronger Friday with the acquisition of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, but that move failed to address the biggest issue facing the teamDareus - a former third overall pick and two-time Pro Bowler - joins a team ranked No. 2 in pass defense and No. 6 in total defense. The move is expected to improve a rush defense ranked second to last, while boosting the 4-3 Jaguars' playoff hopes.After all, the team is already 2-1 in the division and boasts a lethal running game, led by rookie Leonard Fournette.But for all the good the trade might do the Jags, it fails to address the elephant in the room.Jacksonville may have its sights set on returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, but it's likely that will depend heavily on the play of quarterback Blake Bortles.The Jaguars have alternated wins and losses all year, and it's probably not a coincidence that Bortles has averaged 34 pass attempts in their losses and just 23 in their wins.After a porous preseason, the team is asking its franchise quarterback to do less and is instead relying on Fournette and a fierce defense.The results have proven it's the appropriate course of action. But will it be sustainable?Inevitably, the opposition will force Bortles to win games with his arm. He threw for 330 yards with Fournette sidelined in last week's win over the Colts.However, even with that performance, Bortles has a clutch-weighted expected points added on plays with pass attempts of just 3.8, according to ESPN. Among starting quarterbacks, he ranks 26th, ahead of only Jay Cutler, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, Mike Glennon, Brian Hoyer, and DeShone Kizer. Of that collection of passers, three are having down years, two have been benched, and one is a rookie.As the Denver Broncos have learned, it's one thing to have a top-ranked defense and a reliable running game, but without consistent quarterback play, a playoff berth is far from a guarantee.While Jacksonville has morphed into #Sacksonville, leading the league with 33 sacks, Dareus could aid its trailing run defense. He's Pro Football Focus' 37th-ranked interior defender with three stops on 54 snaps on running plays. And if the defense rounds into a balanced unit capable of shutting down both forms of offense, the Jaguars will be a favorite to win the AFC South.But will they continue to trot out a muzzled Bortles at quarterback, even though he's committed seven turnovers in seven games? Or will they make a similarly bold move on the offensive side of the ball and promote backup Chad Henne or trade for a veteran like Eli Manning?That's the true matter that needs to be addressed in Jacksonville.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans won't waste any time deploying starting tackle Duane Brown.Brown ended his seven-week holdout Monday and has been officially activated to play in Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.With rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson under center helping to vault the Texans to third in the league in rushing, the team could benefit from having a three-time Pro Bowler protecting his blind side.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair met with his players Saturday morning, a day before their Week 8 game and a day after causing a controversy that infuriated the players.McNair apologized to the team for stating "we can't have the inmates running the prison" in relation to player protests during the national anthem. Equating players to prisoners caused his team to consider walking out from practice Friday and making a team demonstration Sunday."I know they were upset. I wanted to answer their questions. I told them if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't use that expression," McNair said, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.He later released a statement:

The Houston Texans will meet as a team Saturday to discuss whether to make a demonstration ahead of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, an offensive starter told Josina Anderson of ESPN.On the subject of player protests during the national anthem, team owner Bob McNair said "we can't have inmates running the prison" at league meetings, ESPN's Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. reported Friday.Texans players responded negatively to the comment. Star receiver DeAndre Hopkins reportedly didn't attend practice because of it and the rest of the team considered walking out as well.Related: Texans' Brown: Owner's comment 'disrespectful and ignorant'McNair has since apologized for the remark, stating he was, "using a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adrian Peterson got his wish. Martavis Bryant did not.Peterson was given the change of scenery he sought when the New Orleans Saints traded the running back to the Arizona Cardinals. As for Bryant, despite his wish to be moved if he's not included in the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense, management has vowed to hang on to its unhappy receiver.Though his plea didn't have the desired effect, there are other receivers who should follow his lead and demand a trade before the deadline on Oct. 31.Laquon TreadwellA superstar in college at Ole Miss, Treadwell rebounded from a gruesome leg injury in his sophomore year to return and post a 1,153-yard, 11-touchdown season in his draft year. The Vikings made him their first-round selection in 2016, and he went on to register just one catch in his rookie season.This year, he's gotten in four starts, but he has just 11 receptions for 121 yards. He's been passed on the depth chart by Adam Thielen, offseason addition Michael Floyd, and even Jarius Wright, despite Treadwell's ability to make catches like this.Head coach Mike Zimmer has said the youngster struggled learning at the pro level and understanding the subtleties of the sport. But, like Bryant, surely Treadwell would relish the opportunity to showcase his athletic ability on a team that would allow him more playing time.The 22-year-old has precious time before he's saddled with the dreaded bust label.Terrelle PryorReally, Pryor has no one to blame but himself.Signed to a one-year, $6-million deal to replace outgoing receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, Pryor has hauled in just 18 passes on 33 targets this season.He's had a number of notable drops as well.It's gotten to the point that oft-injured receiver Josh Doctson earned more snaps than Pryor did in a Week 7 Monday night matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.It's clear Pryor has been supplanted as the No. 1 receiver in the offense, and Jordan Reed's return to health means Pryor could be in for even less work.If he hopes to earn a job elsewhere next season, he needs to get a jump on rebuilding his resume. He needs out of D.C., fast.Larry FitzgeraldMuch of the Cardinals' season was tied to the performance and availability of veterans Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer. With Palmer on IR due to a broken arm and backup Drew Stanton unable to lead the team to a single point last week, hope has dried up in the desert.After all, the Cards are also without franchise back David Johnson.It's time for Fitzgerald to look out for himself. He's given the Cardinals 13-plus legendary seasons. Who's to hold it against him if he, quietly and gracefully, goes to team management and asks for an opportunity to play for a contender and chase the ever-elusive Super Bowl ring in what might be his final season?It'd be hard to see the future Hall of Famer in anything but Cardinals' red, but, for Fitzgerald, it'd be worth it to take one last crack at winning the Lombardi Trophy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams could run a play drawn up by Snoop Dogg in a future game.Rams head coach Sean McVay was shown the play, which Snoop calls "Fake 31, Fake 24 Z-Reverse," on Friday's episode of "The Rich Eisen Show" and seemed impressed, saying he may use it against the New York Giants in Week 9.Snoop coaches youth football and founded his own league, the Snoop Youth Football League. His son, Cordell Broadus, played wide receiver at UCLA before leaving the football program to pursue other interests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks this Sunday, but according to Richard Sherman, if NFL contracts were guaranteed, the AFC South club would most likely refuse to play after hearing owner Bob McNair's comments."Oh yeah, those guys would probably sit this game out," Sherman told Gregg Bell of the News Tribune.A story published by ESPN on Friday quoted McNair saying "we can't have the inmates running the prison" in a meeting regarding the player protests during the national anthem.The quote was met with strong resistance throughout the league and within the Texans locker room, where star wideout DeAndre Hopkins was a no-show at practice. Nine other teammates left the facility and ESPN reported the team considered a boycott of activities on Friday.McNair quickly issued an apology for the remark, but Sherman insists that shouldn't change how we view the Texans owner."Of course they have to sit back and apologize, because it's politically correct to apologize, but eventually you have to take people for their word and for who they are," Sherman said. "For most players, even when we apologize they still take what we said and judge us for it. So you should do the same with him."Sherman wasn't the only Seahawks player to speak out, as Bobby Wagner also voiced his support towards players on the Texans."It sucks for them. It sucks they have to deal with that," Wagner said. "I wouldn't want to play for a guy like that."While head coach Bill O'Brien expects the entire team to make the flight to Seattle on Saturday, ESPN's Sarah Barshop is reporting the Texans will do something before the contest, but are undecided on what at the current time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills traded two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced Friday.In return, the Bills received a 2018 sixth-round draft pick from the Jags, though it could escalate to a fifth-rounder depending on how he performs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The move reunites Dareus with Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. The two worked together when Marrone was at the helm of the Bills from 2013-14 - when Dareus made both his trips to the Pro Bowl.While he's long been hailed as one of the NFL's elite interior defensive linemen, Dareus also gave the Bills numerous off-field headaches over the years. Buffalo was rumored throughout the offseason to be seeking a trade partner to dump his cap-crushing contract on.

The upsets continued last week as the Chicago Bears thumped the Carolina Panthers in a dominant showing.There's a couple obvious selections on the board this week, with four games holding spreads of nine points or larger. Two of those contests are the picks for survivor pools in Week 8.Here they are:Team to pick if still aliveMinnesota VikingsThe Vikings head to London on a three-game winning streak, and with the Browns next up on the schedule, there's a strong chance that becomes four. The three games in England this season have been decided by an average of 30 points, and the discrepancy between these two teams would point to the trend continuing. Quarterback Case Keenum underwhelmed last week but running back Latavius Murray picked up the slack with a big day.Cleveland's defense should bother the Vikings' offense for a portion of this contest but it's tough to see the Browns' offense having any success against Minnesota's defense.Record: 10-3

The NFL hasn't decided whether to sanction Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso for his hit on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.A decision could be reached over the weekend.Alonso connected with Flacco's head, rendering the quarterback concussed. Although Alonso was penalized for unnecessary roughness, he was not ejected from the game.Related - Referees must be more willing to issue ejections for illegal hitsFlacco slid to surrender himself and Alonso flew in to deliver a crushing hit at the last possible second.Alonso defended his actions, saying there's no way he could've avoided the contact, stating Flacco slid too late.Baltimore defeated Miami 40-0.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins will not be dissuaded from his goal of eradicating racial inequality and police brutality, after Houston Texans owner Bob McNair made incendiary remarks comparing players to inmates.McNair compared players protesting during the national anthem to "inmates running the prison," causing a league-wide controversy.Jenkins has been at the forefront of social progress, visiting Congress twice to discuss various social and political issues in the community.The Eagles veteran spoke candidly about McNair's remarks and how it won't impede his goals moving forward, via ESPN's Tim McManus."From a player's perspective, I think we've done a great job of trying to work in a collaborative manner with the league to really come up with solutions, to move forward and create some real change, and I don't see that changing," Jenkins said. "Obviously his comments will represent him, but from a player's standpoint, we're focused on our goals, we feel like we still have an opportunity to move forward with whoever is interested in doing that, and so hopefully we can get that same type of commitment from those in league leadership.That's our goal. It's not to appease one another, it's not to change someone's personal opinion, it's just to get some actual work done and change done. That's what our focus is going to be."Jenkins called on players to reach a unified message and not be discouraged by McNair's comments."We've got players from all over with different opinions, but we've been able to keep that message the same on our end. Unfortunately, that hasn't been reciprocated," Jenkins said. "For us, we'll stay the course. We understand that there's a lot of personalities, a lot of different opinions in this, but that's the nature of what we're trying to get accomplished, is to try to work together and bring people together from different backgrounds and different mindsets to actually move forward to some change in our communities. Hopefully, all those who are interested in being involved get involved and move forward."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has taken the league by storm during his rookie year, but he remains a bit starstruck.Hunt, selected in the third round of the 2017 draft, leads the NFL with 717 rushing yards and has propelled the Chiefs to a 5-2 record thus far.Although Hunt is quickly forging a national profile for himself, he's still relatable to the common man. Hunt spoke to Daniel Rapaport of Sports Illustrated to discuss quarterback Alex Smith's breakout year, and one player he particularly admires."Marshawn Lynch," Hunt responded when asked which player he holds in the highest regard. "I got to talk to him before the game last week. Always looked up to him. That's Beast Mode."The Oakland Raiders running back was suspended for running onto the field and making contact with an official during that game.Hunt is one major component of the Chiefs' strong start, with Smith making headlines as well. The quarterback has forged his way into the MVP conversation, and the running back raved about his teammate."He is such a great leader. The whole team is behind Alex. Our defense is behind Alex. He can do it all; he can run, he can throw, he throws a great deep ball. And he has a great deal of confidence right now, and it shows."Hunt seems to be going about things the right way in his rookie year, demonstrating a certain humility as he looks to steer the Chiefs to a playoff bye in the second half of the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Gase was in a surly mood after the Miami Dolphins were throttled 40-0 by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, and the head coach placed the blame on his offense."I'm pissed, I'm tired of this. I'm tired of the offense being awful," Gase said Friday, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "Guys better need to get their heads right. Coaching staff needs to do a better job. Obviously, our players not knowing is a direct reflection of them."Gase made his name in the NFL as an offensive guru, but his club has been atrocious on that side of the football. Despite entering Thursday's game on a three-game winning streak, Miami has only scored more than 20 points in one game this season.The main problem identified by the second-year coach is the offense becoming too predictable."It definitely is. 100 percent," Gase admitted. "We are going to have to figure something out and what's best for us to do and how we want to approach it, or I guess I have to figure it out. I am done compromising with anybody. I will do what I think is best. Those that want to come on board, great, those that don't, we'll get rid of them."While Gase spread the blame around, for the most part, he singled out his running back group as a particular area of concern. Jay Ajayi has topped the 100-yard mark only twice this season, and the third-year rusher has averaged only 42 yards in the other games."We've got to stop trying to hit home runs all the time," Gase said. "How about take the four or five yards you're going to get? It comes down to everybody doing your job. If we start doing that, it might help. That's on the running back. Do your job. It's not hard."Miami is off until next Sunday night, when they should have quarterback Jay Cutler back under center versus the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced.Kuechly was listed as questionable on the team's injury report Friday.The star linebacker suffered a concussion during an Oct. 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and missed last Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears as a result. It was his third concussion in as many years.Kuechly, one of the NFL's premier linebackers, has recorded 46 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in six games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.