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Terry Lyons

NFL Week 17 Previews | 4pm Games

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New York Giants (2-13) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Giants -1.5, Total 40.5

Losing this game has all kinds of value, with the chance to take the lead in the chase for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft in play. Neither coach wants to discuss that treasure or a 14th loss to echo conversations underscoring the failures it took to get here. Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart is doing his best to showcase enough potential to enter the offseason as the incumbent starter. The game between teams with matching 2-13 records is just the third in NFL history where both are at least 11 games under .500, and the first such matchup since 1991. Dart did not have a pass attempt until under two minutes remained in the first half of a 16-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week but was sacked five times while completing 7 of 13 pass attempts for just 33 yards. Three starting offensive linemen, including left tackle Andrew Thomas, were idle early in the week due to injuries. The Raiders nearly broke free from their doldrums last Sunday after taking a third-quarter lead on the road against the Houston Texans, only to fall 23-21. Last year’s 4-13 record allowed Las Vegas to select running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall draft pick, and he continued to show his promise against the Texans with a 60-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and a 51-yard TD run late in the game.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-4)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -1.5, Total 44.5

The Bills are one game behind the Patriots in the AFC East race with two games left and need to prove to themselves that they can stop the run. Cold temperatures, a chance of precipitation and a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley are all in the forecast for the Week 17 clash at Highmark Stadium, where Buffalo is 6-1 this season. Barkley has rushed for 332 yards with three touchdowns in the last three games to top the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. The Eagles are averaging 4.9 yards per carry during that span, which included an overtime road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a shutout of the Las Vegas Raiders and a 29-18 road win last weekend against the Washington Commanders. The Bills have won four straight games to keep the pressure on the Patriots despite their struggles against the run. Buffalo ranks 30th in rushing defense (144.3 yards per game) and allows a whopping 5.4 yards per carry — second-most in the NFL to the New York Giants (5.5). Nobody has allowed as many touchdowns on the ground (24) as the Bills. After allowing a season-high 246 rushing yards (and four TDs) in a Week 15 win at New England, Buffalo surrendered 160 yards on the ground in a 23-20 escape at Cleveland last weekend.

-Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL

So, This is Christmas

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A Collection of Memorable Christmas Columns

By TERRY LYONS , (With a Little Help from My Friends)

BOSTON – Merry Christmas ‘25 to all who celebrate the day. To others, this columnist wishes you sincere best wishes and joy for 2026 with peace during the holiday(s) you celebrate and for the entire year ahead.

In what has now been classified as a full-fledged tradition, here’s my annual salute to Christmas morning and the twinkle of a young boy’s eyes written by my great friend, Shelby Strother:

Longtime readers of my column and previous TL Blog will remember the reprint of this column by Shelby Strother of the Detroit News. It’s a keeper and really hits home as I remember trading the basketballs, baseballs and footballs in for a typewriter and a Mylec Air Flow hockey stick. The column, along with dozens of others, is included in Saddlebags, a collection of Shelby’s favorites and his best from a career that spanned from Satellite Beach, Florida / Florida Today to the Denver Post to the Detroit News.

I’ve read this column at least a thousand times and enjoy it the same each and every time I read it. Here’s hoping you do too.

After all, “Sometimes the gift is simply the freedom to imagine. There may be no greater one.”

Each Christmas Day Contains the Past, Present and Future

By SHELBY STROTHER

It did not matter that the wind-chill was life threatening. It was Christmas morning, and a bright sun stabbed the frozen land. And children were playing.

The decision over which to play with – the official World Cup soccer ball or the Turbo Football – never materialized. With all the snow, a soccer match was out of the question. So spirals of pink and black performed in the most sincere imitations of Rodney Peete and Joe Montana floated back and forth in the yard.

What a nice sight.

The Annual Second Chance is near – it’s called New Year’s Eve. It is the window of opportunity where the hopes and fears of all the year (not to mention the mistakes) can be erased.

But Christmas Day is a time of reinforcement and the essence of tomorrow. And children playing with toys are the finest examples of what that tomorrow looks like.

I look out the window. I’ve been in that yard. All youngsters have. Sports become such a part of childhood. Santa is aware of all of this, naturally.

This particular day is exquisite, I think to myself. I take personal inventory, not only of blessings and personal satisfaction, but of the presents of Christmas past. Still the kid, I suppose.

I got my first basketball when I was six. I made my first basket a year later. There was a tetherball set; I must have been eight. And a football helmet when I was ten. A Carl Furillo model baseball mitt at eleven. There were tennis rackets and fishing poles and boxing gloves and shrimp nets and a Mickey Mantle 32-inch Little League bat and one time, even a badminton set.

Every Christmas, I’d play out my dreams and my mind would fly over the rainbow, imagining my propulsion. Of course, I would become a major-leaguer, an All-Star, an all-time great, a Hall of Famer. We all would. My vision extended well beyond the day.

My athletic ability, alas, never kept stride. It was not the worst realization I would ever make.

But I have noticed a direct correlation between Christmas gifts and sporting dreams. The dreams are for the young. So are the gifts. Usually, the two disappear in unison. The rare few who project into greatness discover they do not need imagination to make those lofty flights of fantasy. Hope is not the co-pilot. Expectation is.

It must be a wonderful view.

I was thinking about all of this when another memory nudged me. My 17th Christmas I got a typewriter.

It was about the same time that I’d maneuvered my fantasy a few extra miles. I’d received a baseball scholarship to pitch at a small school in Florida. There were other opportunities, other colleges available. But none that would allow my athletic vision to continue.

I had expected a Christmas of more games in the yard. More dreams to celebrate. I got a typewriter instead.

“What am I going to do with a typewriter?” I asked.

My mother said I’d need it for college. But she also said, “Sometimes you get too old to play games. But you never get too old that you can’t use your imagination.”

Sometimes Christmas is taken for granted. Almost always, in fact. I think Christmas music, and I hear bells. I turn on the radio and I hear someone named Elmo and Patsy lamenting their grandmother’s head-on collision with a reindeer. I think of the meaning of Christmas, and I think of the most special birthday in the history of the world. But I turn on the TV and there are all these claymation raisins doing Doo-Wop homages to the joys of buying machines wherein a microchip can seize command of entire generations.

Christmas (will soon) be gone, 364 days to go. But children still play. They chase the wonderful image of themselves as they would like to be seen. Christmas is their favorite arena. But they settle for lesser stadia.

But remember this – the present is sometimes confused with the package it comes wrapped in. Sometimes the gift is simply the freedom to imagine. There may be no greater one.

It was a great typewriter. I still play with it.

– A column by Shelby Strother

*This column is, by far, my favorite column of all-time. Here’s to the late Shelby Strother, his great wife, Kim, and a Merry Christmas to all.

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Background and Editorial Note: For those of you who did not know Shelby Strother, I pass these little tidbits along:

He was a very good friend. I’ve lost a mother, a father and an older brother. I’ve agonized and felt helpless as we’ve all watched close relatives and friends of the family pass away, but Shelby was the first good friend in my life who went and got cancer and then died. Sadly, as the years pass, many others have fallen to cancer and now to this terrible COVID-19 disease. One of my best friends in life, my goalkeeper, Bob Rose, passed away from Prostate cancer few years ago and our dear friend, Mike Shalin, fellow transplanted New Yorker in Boston, sportswriter and official MLB scorekeeper at Fenway Park,passed away from brain cancer just five years ago. The bottom line – CANCER SUCKS.

Back to Shelby… I can remember when we attended the 1991 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, NC. That Sunday night, he said that he didn’t feel well and was going to bed early. Shelby and I always got together on the Sunday night of the NBA All-Star Weekend, as the event was finally in the rearview mirror and we could relax. That was Feb. 10, 1991. The next month was a bad dream, each minute of every day for a solid month. Shelby died in the suburbs of Detroit on March 3, 1991, leaving his wife, Kim and two great little guys, Tommy and Kenny (the latter joined Shelby in heaven a few years back but that is a terrible fact of life to be told another day). Shelby grew up in the great State of Florida and loved it. I met him when he was a writer for the Denver Post. He went on to be a sports columnist for the Detroit News, but when big news – not sporting – was breaking and the News needed a writer, they sent Shelby. When the Berlin Wall was coming down, off went Shelby. … I could go on.

Then, there’s Boston’s Joe Fitzgerald, a columnist I knew from the Celtics’ glory days but did not know very well which is my loss. Joe wrote for the Boston Herald which was the Herald-American at one point and probably a multi-merger publication over the years, going up against the mighty Boston Globe.

Joe could crank a column with the best of them, and was well-liked in New England as he was an old school newspaperman and wrote like it.

Here’s a couple examples, the first a favorite of my friend and business partner, John Caron, he of West End Johnnies.

By JOE FITZGERALD, Boston Herald

Larry Bird, out of a Celtics uniform since 1992, left a ton of memories at this address, but none more poignant than a Christmas memory he shared with several hundred Boston school kids, repeated here this morning because, quite frankly, sports could use a dose of reality.

“What kills me about Christmas,” he said, “is that while it’s a time of excitement for some people, it’s a time that makes other people sad, like kids who just can’t have the things they see their friends getting. A lot of people – and I know people like this – can’t wait for Christmas to be gone.

“You know how they say it was the Grinch who stole Christmas? It wasn’t the Grinch at all. It was the rich people. They’re the ones who’ve stolen it, buying everything they can for their kids and not worrying about other kids who are going to end up feeling left out. They’ve taken Christmas the wrong way. I mean, it’s supposed to be a time for letting people know how you feel about them, isn’t it?

“That’s why, next to family, the most important thing in my life today are the old friends I have back home, the guys I went to school with, the guys who look at me and don’t see money, or the cars, or even the Celtics. They couldn’t care less about all of that. They live in a different world, the world I came from, where old buddies are still buddies ‘cuz they know what’s important, and it sure ain’t money.

“I look at my little brother today, and when I see him wanting Reeboks, or Champion shirts, it bothers me because kids don’t realize fads and fashions aren’t what determine how good you are, or how important you are.

“Whenever I’m out speaking to a bunch of kids, maybe doing a playground clinic, I always look for that one who stands off by himself, whose clothes don’t look too good. I’ll go out of my way to make a big deal over him because I used to be that kid.

“We got mostly clothes at our house every Christmas, ‘cuz that’s what we needed. I can remember my friends getting bicycles, and thinking how I’d buy the best bike in town if only I had the money. But that just wasn’t possible. Still, my Mom did a good job. Christmas was a big thing around our house. There was always a pile of five or six gifts for all of us; as soon as you opened one, you went right to the next one. It was chaos, and even though we knew it wasn’t going to be a lot, we appreciated how tough it was for our folks to get us what they did.

“So I’ll tell you what we did one year. We knew there’d be no toys that year because the funds just weren’t there. My older brother got the rest of us together and said, ‘Let’s do something special for Mom and Dad before we open our presents. Let’s just tell ’em we love ’em and see how they react, OK? I’ll do the speaking.’

“You’ve got to understand, ‘love’ wasn’t a word we threw around much in our family, so just hearing it said that way was new to me.

“Anyway, we’re all sitting around the tree and my brother stands up. He says, ‘Mom, Dad;  We want to say something to you tonight. We want to tell you we appreciate all you do for us, giving us things we know you had to work overtime to get. And, we just want to tell you we love you.’

“Well, I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Gee, that’s a pretty strong statement,’ when I saw tears coming from my mother’s eyes – and my Dad, he just sat there so proud. You could tell it really hit a chord.

“So look, if you guys want to do something really special this Christmas, tell your parents you love ’em, OK? Tell ’em thanks for all their hard work.

“That’s all I really came here to tell you. Thanks for listening. Good luck to every one of you, and Merry Christmas.”

– Larry Bird

Then, there’s this 2017 column a story I read for the first time this Christmas Eve ’25:

By JOE FITZGERALD

BOSTON – (Boston Herald | December 23, 2017) – If you’ve ever wondered whether God has a sense of humor, especially in these stridently secular times, consider the ever-present Christmas wreath which continues to be welcomed in places — condos, public classrooms, municipal properties — where most other symbols of Christ’s birth have been regrettably banned by neurotic secularists.

But wreaths, they tell us, are OK.

Why? Because they bear no bothersome reminders of what the holiday is all about. They’re pretty ornaments, that’s all.

You might even say they’re politically correct, if you’re that desperate for attention.

Though truth be told, there was never much thought given to it here until a column fell into this writer’s lap in 1999, three weeks before Christmas, the morning after six Worcester firefighters perished while trying to knock down a warehouse inferno.

Sometimes, in a job like this, you simply get to hold the pen, which is exactly what happened when a call was made to Our Lady of the Rosary, the church where weary firefighters had gathered for breaks throughout the night.

Father Bill Sanders happened to pick up the phone and said he was sorry not to have the information the caller was seeking.

“Father, while I have you,” the caller went on, “perhaps you can help me figure out something I saw this morning. I watched a firefighter draping black bunting over wreaths that adorned his station’s three bays. I know there was a column in that poignant scene, but I can’t find it. Can you?”

Sanders paused a moment, then asked, “Do you know why we use wreaths at Christmas?”

The writer had to admit he’d never given it much thought.

“Well, they’re in the form of a circle,” Sanders noted. “No beginning. No end. And we make them out of evergreens: ever green, always alive. When you put it all together, isn’t that the message of Christmas, that God sent His only son so that we would not perish but have everlasting life?”

But this insightful priest was far from done.

“Tell me,” he went on, “did that firefighter remove the wreaths before hanging the bunting, or did he cover those wreaths with the bunting?”

He was told the wreaths were not removed.

“Then here’s what I think your column might be,” he continued. “Behind all the sorrow and grief this world may throw at us, and behind all the heartache represented by that bunting, the hope and promise of Christmas remains. I think that’s your column, Joe.”

Indeed it was, and it continues to be shared.

So the next time you see a festive wreath, think of what it represents and remember what it has to say.

Who knows, you might even hear it whisper, “Merry Christmas!”

Wouldn’t that be something?

Parting Words & Music

A tribute to John Lennon:

“So this is Christmas and what have you done?
Another year over, a new one just begun.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy new year,
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong,
(War is over if you want it)
For the rich and the poor ones,
The road is so long.
(War is over now)

And so happy Christmas for black and for whites,
(War is over if you want it)
For the yellow and red ones,
Let’s stop all the fight.
(War is over now)

A very merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done?
(War is over if you want it)
Another year over,
A new one just begun.
(War is over if you want it)

And so this is Christmas,
We hope you have fun
(War is over if you want it)
The near and the dear one,
The old and the young
(War is over now)

A very merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year,
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

War is over
If you want it
War is over now”

Happy Christmas!

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a weekly (every weekend) collection of Sports Notes and News written by Terry Lyons. The posting of each notebook harkens back to the days when you’d walk over to the city newsstand on Saturday night around 10pm to pick-up a copy of the Sunday papers. Inside, just waiting, was a sports-filled compilation of interesting notes, quotes and quips in a column that always sold a few newspapers. Here, I make an attempt at continuing that tradition – via the magic of e-mail.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk.

Fleet to Play Garden

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BOSTON – The Boston Fleet announced that the women’s pro ice hockey team will play a game at TD Garden in Boston for the first time. The PWHL club will host the Montreal Victoire on April 11 at the home of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics.

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“Hosting a Fleet game at TD Garden is an exciting milestone for our organization,” Fleet business operations director Laura Marie Davey said. “Playing at such an iconic venue presents an incredible opportunity to showcase the PWHL on one of the biggest stages in sports and to connect with fans from across Greater Boston.”

TD Garden has a capacity for nearly 18,000 spectators for ice hockey, nearly three times more than the Fleet’s home at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.

“We’re honored to welcome the PWHL’s Boston Fleet to TD Garden for their first game this April,” said Glen Thornborough, president of TD Garden and COO of the Boston Bruins.

“TD Garden is built to give world-class athletes and fans a world-class stage, and we’re proud to bring the PWHL onto a platform that delivers the full NHL-level experience they deserve. The growth of women’s sports is inspiring, and adding more premier women’s events to our calendar is something we’re energized to champion.”

TD Garden also hosted the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun for games in each of the past two summers, with both games selling out.

–Field Level Media

NFL on NBC Sunday Night Football

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Denver Broncos (9-2) at Washington Commanders (3-8)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Broncos -5.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: The all-time series is knotted 8-8 when counting Washington’s win in Super Bowl XXII. The teams have alternated wins and losses in the past eight meetings, with the Commanders prevailing 35-33 in 2023.

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The Broncos and Commanders are each coming out of their bye week but are pointed in distinctly opposite directions. Denver has won eight straight and most recently defeated division rival and AFC champion Kansas City 22-19. Washington has had the bottom fall out with six losses in a row, including 16-13 in overtime to the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago in Madrid. Broncos coach Sean Payton pointed out one of his team’s few deficiencies was discipline; they’ve committed a league-high 93 penalties for 883 yards, and they’re minus-3 in turnover ratio, with only nine takeaways. Denver’s third-ranked defense has carried it while Bo Nix has been hot and cold. After Nix was held to 173 and 150 yards in low-scoring wins over Houston and Las Vegas, he amassed 295 yards in the Chiefs win. Nix might be licking his chops against a Commanders defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed and 28th in scoring. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels (non-throwing elbow) returned to practice Wednesday, although Marcus Mariota is expected to make his sixth start Sunday. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin/knee) also returned Wednesday and practiced fully on Thursday. Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral) was a full participant at Thursday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

No Go, Joe

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CINCINNATI – (Wire Service Report) –  Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow will not play for the Bengals on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to multiple reports on Saturday. Burrow, who had surgery for turf toe on Sept. 19, practiced with the team the past three days, and coach Zac Taylor said he had a decision to make about the veteran’s readiness for the visiting Patriots (9-2).

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Now, the Bengals (3-7) are shifting gears, hoping he will be able to play against the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL’s primetime game on Thanksgiving.

Instead, veteran Joe Flacco, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, will start his sixth straight game. He sustained the injury in the Oct. 26 loss to the New York Jets.

Burrow played the first two games of the regular season and landed on injured reserve on Sept. 16.

“Everything is moving in a great position,” Taylor said Friday. “Now we just have to make a decision. You play a game Sunday, you play a game Thursday, you got to factor in all that stuff. He has tried to put himself in a position to be ready to go.”

The Bengals started his 21-day window for practice availability on Nov. 10, but Burrow would need to be added to the active roster by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday to be eligible for Sunday’s game versus New England.

Burrow, 28, has played in 71 career games and has a 40-30-1 record. In his sixth NFL season, Burrow has completed 68.5% of his passes for 19,190 yards with 142 touchdowns and 46 interceptions.

He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and has twice been named Comeback Player of the Year after his return from serious injuries that ended his 2020 and 2023 seasons.

–Field Level Media

 

From the Vault:

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A Memory of an Old Friend

Note: Reprinted from a Digital Sports Desk column of November 18, 2019

By TERRY LYON(S)

There’s a very special bond shared with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon that only the letter “s” could separate. He had a highly demanding job as lead sports columnist in a sports-loving city where the games frequently ended just as his deadline approached. In Philadelphia, no sportsman wore glass slippers, so … somehow, through sheer talent … Bill Lyon endured and excelled, an hour and a half before the clock struck midnight. Just as many a writer with a west coast, pacific time zone deadline would be sitting down to craft a game story or sidebar, Lyon would be packing up for the night, computer tucked away in his bag slung over his shoulder with his work already placed in a column, flush-left, adorning the front page of the sports section or maybe A-1 of the newspaper, if the game just concluded was as worthy as his prose.

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Bill Lyon was a gentleman and a professional. He covered sports in Philadelphia and his job placed him in press boxes and locker rooms all across America. He wrote about the Phillies and baseball, the Eagles in football, the Flyers in ice hockey, but the bond shared revolved around the Philadelphia 76ers and NBA basketball. Bill rode shotgun alongside the Inquirer’s beat writers for 76ers basketball. From Hall of Famer Bill Livingston to the eccentric style of the late George Shirk to the solid reporting of Frank Lawlor or Joe Juliano, and nowadays Keith Pompey. Bill marched side-by-side at the broad sheet Inquirer with the great Bob Ford, as Lyon cranked out columns, on tight deadlines, with an upbeat approach and depth that few could even imagine, nevermind dream up and publish in 20 or 25 minutes.

During his tenure, he covered Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Moses Malone of the Sixers, although Lyon’s personality was undoubtedly more Maurice Cheeks than Darryl Dawkins. As the seasons changed, he covered Steve Carlton or Mike Schmidt of the Phillies, Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb of the Eagles, Rick Tocchet and Eric Lindros of the Flyers, prize fights, golf tournaments and maybe an Olympics or ten, but it was adjacent to NBA hardwood where we met and spoke quite often.

You see, long before the days of electronic mail, voicemail or iPhone 11s, Motorola Razors, Blackberries or any other type of mobile, voice-mail enabled devices, Bill Lyon was the recipient of hundreds upon hundreds of my hotel messages. Back in the day, they say with a degree of reminiscence and disdain at the same time, hotel phone operators took a pen and a pad of pink, pre-printed message slips and wrote down the name and phone number of a caller who used a telephone with a hard line and dialed the main number seeking out a guest. In our case, we frequently stayed at the same NBA media headquarters hotel and Lyon would appear on the operator’s screen before Lyons, and thus the problem.

Bill and I formed a bond in 1981 or so, and we made a pact, written in stone and not on a pink message slip. That pact was to diligently and without judgement, frustration or fatigue, with neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor first flights out, nor late nights at the hospitality room stay our bond to swiftly deliver the message or voice mail to one another during our appointed round. The ratio of Lyons to Lyon messages was probably, oh, roughly 100-3. Bill would either call, or sometimes it was easier to just walk them over. From the Los Angeles Airport Marriott to Boston’s Copley Place, the Lyon-to-Lyons message center was more reliable than a Maytag, more efficient than a GM factory and stronger than U.S. Steel. We traveled the land, undaunted by incompetent hotel operators and mixed up messages.

He marveled at the number of media credential requests, or later, of the sheer volume of international media seeking NBA information.

Likewise, his editors or occasionally his wife, Ethel, might cross telephone lines into the land of Lyons rather than Lyon. The mishaps were usually met with good-natured laughs and a promise to pass a message along or even better. As the Lyon-Lyons tandem learned over the years, we’d compare notes before a “Game 1” and then be able to say, oh no, he’s in Room 404, let me see if I can transfer your call.

It was a special bond.

Yesterday, Jim Nantz of CBS Sports informed me and the rest of the world of Bill Lyon’s passing and, at the same time, he reminded me a fantastic and wonderful bond had officially and irreversibly ended.

That made me quite sad.

Rest In Peace, old pal. You’ve got a smooth operator now.

NFL’s Tagliabue, Dead at 84

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CHEVY CHASE – (Wire Service Report) – Paul Tagliabue, who served as the NFL’s commissioner for 17 seasons, died Sunday morning at the age of 84. Per Tagliabue’s family, the apparent cause of death was heart failure complicated by Parkinson’s disease. He passed away at his home in Maryland.

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Tagliabue replaced Pete Rozelle as the NFL’s commissioner in 1989. He was succeeded by current commissioner Roger Goodell in 2006.

Under Tagliabue’s watch, the league signed what was then the largest television contract for the NFL, enjoyed 17 seasons of labor peace, and expanded to 32 teams after adding the Carolina Panthers (1995), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995), the reborn Cleveland Browns (1999) and Houston Texans (2002).

Tagliabue, who also ushered in an era of state-of-the-art stadiums, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2020.

“All of us in the NFL are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Tagliabue, whose principled leadership and vision put the NFL on the path to unparalleled success,” Goodell said.

“Throughout his decades-long leadership on behalf of the NFL, first as outside counsel and then during a powerful 17-year tenure as commissioner, Paul served with integrity, passion and an unwavering conviction to do what was best for the league.

“Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL. He viewed every challenge and opportunity through the lens of what was best for the greater good, a principle he inherited from Pete Rozelle and passed on to me.”

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 also came to pass during Tagliabue’s time as commissioner. He canceled the weekend’s NFL games in the aftermath of Sept. 11, and ensured the Saints would return to New Orleans after being dispatched to San Antonio during the 2005 season.

A native of New Jersey who captained the basketball team at Georgetown in college, Tagliabue is survived by his wife, Chandler, son Drew and daughter Emily.

–Field Level Media

NBA Abu Dhabi Games ’25

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Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Play First of Two Games in UAE

ABU DHABI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As the sun sets over Yas Island, the Etihad Arena is set to pulse with basketball energy today, October 2, 2025, hosting the kickoff of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games presented by ADQ. In a marquee preseason clash that tips-off the 2025-26 NBA campaign on an international stage, the Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) face the New York Knicks (0-0) at 12:01pm ET (8:01 pm local time). This is more than just an exhibition – it’s a global showcase blending two storied franchises with championship pedigree of long ago; the two-time NBA champion Knicks and the three-time champion 76ers.

(Broadcast live on NBA TV, the game carries a Vegas line favoring New York by 6.5 points, with an over/under of 217.5, hinting at a high-scoring affair under the UAE lights.)

“It’s good,” said Embiid, when asked about the importance of playing oversees. “I think the way the game is growing, it’s always a good thing to go overseas to showcase the talent that the whole league has. I’ve been fortunate to be part of some of these games, whether it’s London or even with Team USA last summer. It’s always good.”

Setting the Scene: A Desert Duel with Playoff Implications

For the fourth straight year, the NBA brings its flair to the Arabian Gulf, transforming the state-of-the-art Etihad Arena—home to everything from concerts to UFC—into a hoops haven. This doubleheader (with Game 2 slated for October 4) isn’t just about rust-busting; it’s a tune-up for two Atlantic Division rivals eyeing deep Eastern Conference runs. Last season’s Knicks, fresh off acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns, notched a franchise-record 50 wins but fell short in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the 76ers endured a nightmare 24-58 campaign marred by injuries, missing the postseason entirely—a stark contrast to their championship aspirations. With both squads healthy and hungry, expect fireworks that could foreshadow their regular-season battles.

Off the court, the NBA’s commitment to growth shines through: Players from both teams, including 76ers forward Paul George, recently hosted youth clinics in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing community ties in this burgeoning basketball market. Knicks president Leon Rose called it “an exciting moment” to tip off the season abroad, while 76ers managing partner Josh Harris highlighted the chance to “connect with new fans in a dynamic region.”

Key Storylines: Stars, Health, and Revenge

  1. Embiid’s Redemption Arc vs. Towns’ Dominance: Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP and seven-time All-Star, enters this matchup with a short but optimistic approach for playing time, coming after a frustrating 2024-25 sidelined by injuries. Paired with new addition Paul George (nine-time All-Star) and rising guard Tyrese Maxey (2024 All-Star), Philly’s “Big Three” could finally gel—if Embiid stays upright. On the flip side, Towns—making his return to Abu Dhabi after suiting up here with the Timberwolves in 2023—brings elite scoring and rebounding to a Knicks frontcourt that’s already Knicks tough. Watch for a battle in the paint: Embiid’s post mastery against Towns’ mid-range finesse.
  2. Backcourt Brilliance: Brunson and Maxey Light It Up: Jalen Brunson, the reigning Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year, torched Philly for 30+ points in last year’s playoff meetings. Teamed with Mikal Bridges (2022 All-Defensive First Team), New York’s guards aim for a third straight 50-win season. Maxey, exploding into stardom last year, will counter with his blistering speed—Philly desperately needs his consistency to offset their depth issues.
  3. Injury Ghosts and Preseason Priorities: Health looms large. Philly’s collapse last season was injury-riddled; expect coach Nick Nurse to manage minutes carefully. The Knicks, bolstered by Bridges’ two-way play, prioritize chemistry-building. Andre Drummond could see run off the bench for the Sixers, adding rebounding grit.

Prediction: Knicks Edge a Thriller, 112-106
In this exotic opener, the Knicks’ cohesion and defensive edge should prevail, but don’t sleep on Philly’s star power sparking a statement win. Either way, it’s prime viewing for global fans—expect highlight-reel dunks, trash-talk, and a taste of what’s to come in the East. Game on from the desert!

Sox Beat Tigers: Will They Be Back?

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers sealing the Tigers’ fate as the No. 6 seed in the American League Postseason while the Sox will hold the No. 5 and play at the Bronx against their longtime rival, the New York Yankees. The Toronto Blue Jays took the American League East title.

Boston now plays New York on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Wednesday, Oct 1 and, if necessary, Thursday, October 2. The winner of the Boston vs. New York wild card will face the No. 1 seed Blue Jays.

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To close out the season today, Boston spot starter José De León pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings in his first outing in two years. Red Sox DH Masataka Yoshida and second baseman David Hamilton homered to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 victory. The Tigers’ loss gave the AL Central title to the Cleveland Guardians.

After each team wrapped up a playoff berth during the final series of the regular season – the Red Sox on Friday and the Tigers on Saturday – they both sent out lineups for the regular-season finale that allowed some regulars to rest. That included Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman.

De León, called up from Triple-A so the Red Sox could line up their starters for the AL Wild Card series, allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks. He struck out eight. Greg Weissert pitched the ninth for his fourth save. Detroit starter Chris Paddock suffered his 12th loss against five victories on the 2025 season.

Detroit lost 13 of their final 16 and 22 of their last 31 regular season games to allow Cleveland to grab the Central title. Coincidentally, Detroit will travel to Cleveland for their best-of-three game Wild Card series, with the winner to play the Seattle Mariners.

 

 

NFL Week 4: Previews

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Minnesota Vikings (2-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (in Dublin)

Odds: Vikings -2.5, Total 40.5

Series Rewind: Sunday is the first leg of an international double-dip for the Vikings. Minnesota plays the Browns in London next week. The Vikings are 4-0 in international games, most wins without a loss among NFL clubs.

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Minnesota is making the two-city tour of Europe and the AFC North starting with the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Dublin. Head coach Kevin O’Connell raised a glass to backup Carson Wentz for his play as the fill-in starter for J.J. McCarthy last week and handed Wentz a second start. McCarthy is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and Wentz — starting for his sixth team in the past six seasons — is backed by a strong running game and high-performing defense that produced two touchdowns last week to bury the Bengals. Pittsburgh’s vaunted defense did enough to get a win at New England last week but hasn’t discovered its usual game-changing footing in the early portion of the schedule. Minnesota continues to shuffle the offensive line with left guard Blake Brandel breaking into the front five, making for a third different alignment in four games. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has preferred RB Jaylen Warren in the passing game. He’s the leader on the roster with 11 receptions for 142 and has 43 carries for a team-best 132 yards. While Rodgers said this week he’s excited to be at the home of beer brand Guinness, he’ll get brain tests from Vikings coordinator Brian Flores. Rodgers has had plenty of big games in 29 starts and 30 total appearances against the Vikings in his career. Rodgers has 7,401 passing yards, 63 TDs (59 passes), 11 interceptions and a 105.4 passer rating all-time facing the Vikings.

Cleveland Browns (1-2) at Detroit Lions (2-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Lions -9.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Lions QB Jared Goff is tied for the NFL lead with a passer rating of 100-plus in 22 games since 2023.

The Lions have ratcheted up the offense with 90 points and 937 yards while winning the past two weeks. They put up 224 rushing yards — including a career-high 151 from David Montgomery — in Monday’s 38-30 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The sledding will be tougher against the Browns, who lead the league in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) and total defense (204.3). Of course, Myles Garrett (four sacks) promises to keep Goff on his toes. Goff has completed a league-best 77.9 percent of his passes and is tied for second with seven passing touchdowns. Lions star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown is tied for the league lead with four scoring receptions. Cleveland’s offense isn’t scaring anyone with Joe Flacco being an underwhelming starter. The 40-year-old is undefeated in three career starts against the Lions. But he has thrown four interceptions this season and the Browns rank 30th in scoring offense (15.3). Protecting Flacco will be a big need against a Lions defense that racked up seven sacks against Ravens elusive star Lamar Jackson. Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins flashed some skills with 94 yards and a score in last week’s 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Carolina Panthers (1-2) vs. New England Patriots (1-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Patriots -5.5, Total 43.5

Series Rewind: This will mark the ninth meeting with the all-time series split 4-4. The Patriots won the most important game in the series, defeating Carolina on Adam Vinatieri’s last-second field goal for a 32-29 Lombardi-clincher in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.

Carolina enters this road trip to New England with some confidence coming off a 30-0 shutout of Atlanta for its first win of the season and first shutout since 2020. Bryce Young had only a rushing TD last week, but also delivered his first turnover-free game of the season after throwing three picks and fumbling twice in the first two games. WR Tetairoa McMillan is still looking for his first TD, but he does lead all rookies in receiving yards (216). He didn’t practice Wednesday with a calf injury and was limited Thursday. Patriots QB Drake Maye, who grew up in the Charlotte area, will face his hometown team for the first time this week. He has five TD passes to two interceptions with a 101.3 passer rating and is also tied for the team lead with 87 rushing yards. New England’s defense has held its first three opponents to 181 rushing yards (second fewest in the league) and could get a boost this week with All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez trending toward possibly making his season debut vs. Carolina.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Eagles -3.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: In their past 25 games, including the playoffs, the Eagles are 0-2 against the Buccaneers and 21-2 against the rest of the league.

The only NFL matchup of unbeaten teams this week is an early battle for NFC supremacy. The cardiac Bucs are the first team in the Super Bowl era to open a season with game-winning scores in three straight games in the final minute of regulation. The swashbuckling Baker Mayfield made the Eagles walk the plank in their last visit to the Pirate Ship in Week 4 last season, throwing for 347 yards and with three TDs (two passing, one rushing) in a 33-16 win. The Eagles were without top receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown in that loss. In this game, Mayfield will be without star wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) on Sunday but slot receiver Chris Godwin, out since last October with a nasty ankle injury, is expected to be available. The Eagles pulled off their own stunner last weekend, rallying from 19 down in the second half to beat the Rams. Off to a slow start, Saquon Barkley needs 173 scrimmage yards to hit 10,000 for his career. Philadelphia’s passing game has been lightly used and produced an average of just 146.7 yards through three games.

Washington Commanders (2-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Commanders -1.5, Total 45.5

Series Rewind: After losing six consecutive games to Atlanta from 2006-18, the pigskin pendulum has swung in Washington’s favor with four straight wins in the 2020s.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn returns to Atlanta, where he compiled a 43-42 record from 2015-20 as head coach. It’s worth noting that the Falcons are 34-48 since firing Quinn after their 0-5 start in 2020. He will face a languid Atlanta offense that was blanked 30-0 by Carolina last weekend and has scored three or fewer points in eight of 12 quarters so far. Only two of seven trips to the red zone have resulted in a touchdown. Michael Penix got benched for Kirk Cousins against the Panthers but Penix has played well at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where he looks for his third straight home game of 295-plus passing yards with at least one passing and one rushing TD. The Commanders are going back to ex-Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels (knee) ruled out and set to miss a second consecutive game with a knee injury. Mariota (5-8 as the Falcons’ starter in 2022) will join Quinn on the Atlanta reunion tour. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is out with a quad injury.

New Orleans Saints (0-3) at Buffalo Bills (3-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Bills -15.5, Total 48.5

Series Rewind: Winless in nine career starts, Saints QB Spencer Rattler is the only quarterback with 25-plus completions in every game this season.

Kellen Moore heads to Buffalo still chasing his first win as a head coach but New Orleans is facing a tall order. The biggest underdog on the board this week at more than two touchdowns, the Saints will face a Bills team still without injured DT Ed Oliver and LB Matt Milano. Rattler completed more than 70 percent of his passes in each of the past two games and hasn’t hampered the Saints with decision-making. But New Orleans is missing the big-play elements to throw punches with heavy-hitting Buffalo. WR Chris Olave’s 10 receptions went for 57 yards last week at Seattle. The Bills lead the NFL in total offense and rushing yards, and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen is looking to extend Buffalo’s home winning streak to 14 games. Allen hasn’t thrown an interception in 11 of his past 12 starts and has been content in the pocket with teams altering their approach to slow down RB James Cook. Cook is one of four NFL players with at least 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.

Tennessee Titans (0-3) at Houston Texans (0-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Odds: Texans -7.5, Total 38.5

Series Rewind: Tennessee has won three of its past four games at Houston. Rookie quarterbacks are 2-7 against Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree takes over play-calling duties for the Titans, who are struggling to sustain drives and protect No. 1 pick Cam Ward. He’s ready for Sunday but was limited by a lower-leg injury to begin the week. Houston’s defense has teeth and a pass rush capable of collapsing the Titans’ offensive line, which will again be without starting OT J.C. Latham (hip). The Titans have averaged just 3.6 yards per play, worst in the NFL, putting Ward in third-and-long situations and in harm’s way too often. The Texans changed offensive coordinators and have yet to leave the runway in 2025. C.J. Stroud has two touchdowns and three interceptions, and Houston ranks 28th or lower in the NFL in yards per game, points per game and third-down percentage. Offensive line changes are not working out. LT Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Commanders and Stroud has not had time to plant and throw in critical passing situations, muting the big-play ability of WR Nico Collins. Collins and Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed became a more compelling watch this week when Sneed asked “Who?” in response to a reporter’s question about contending with the wideout. Stroud has a 105.6 passer rating on attempts intended for Collins in 2025. His rating is 65.8 when targeting any other player.

Chicago Bears (1-2) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Series Rewind: The Bears beat the Raiders 30-12 in 2023, their last meeting, and have wins in three of the past four matchups.

A faster start to the game is a vital part of the plan for the Bears, who scored a 31-14 win — the first of the Ben Johnson era — last week and play four of their next five games on the road. This week they visit the Raiders, who also are 1-2 under new coach Pete Carroll. In the first three games with Johnson at the helm, Chicago has scored 28 first-quarter points, tied for tops in the league and one more than they managed in 17 games last season. Caleb Williams passed for 298 yards and four touchdowns last week. Williams spread the ball — and scoring passes — to receivers Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet while compiling a career-best passer rating of 142.6. Las Vegas rarely blitzes but has a streak of 38 consecutive games with a QB sack. Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu leads the team with three, but Johnson especially is concerned about end Maxx Crosby, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Las Vegas gained 354 yards while leaning into a special connection between quarterback Geno Smith and receiver Tre Tucker. Smith completed 19 of 29 passes for 289 yards and three scores, all to Tucker, who gained 145 yards on eight receptions. Smith has passed for 831 yards through three games, second in the NFL, while throwing for four touchdowns against four interceptions. Las Vegas is aiming to shore up its running game. Rookie Ashton Jeanty was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of 17 carries against Washington. Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers is planning to play while nursing an ailing knee.

Indianapolis Colts (3-0) vs. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Odds: Rams -3.5, Total 49.5

Series Rewind: Indianapolis leads the all-time series 23-21-2 but has lost the past four games against the Rams, last beating them when they were still in St. Louis in 2009.

Almost unrecognizable in his ability to function and even flourish in the face of pass-rush pressure, Indianapolis QB Daniel Jones has kept things rolling for the Colts’ high-powered offense. He’s third in the league in passing yards (816) and the offense ranks second in total offense (418.7 yards/game) and scoring offense (34.3 points/game). Jones is the only QB in the league with 225-plus yards, a touchdown pass and no interceptions in each of the first three games this season. He’s supplemented by Jonathan Taylor, who leads the league in rushing yards (338). This game appeared likely to be a battle of 3-0 teams before Los Angeles blew a 19-point lead last week at Philadelphia. The Rams defense, tied for the league lead with 12 sacks and fifth in total defense (268.3) allowed three second-half touchdown passes. WR Puka Nacua leads the league in catches (29) and receiving yards (333) early this season.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: 49ers -3.5, Total 46.5

Series Rewind: San Francisco leads the all-time series 5-2, and has won the past five games and each of its two home games vs. Jacksonville.

San Francisco is just one of six unbeaten teams left, but enters this game battered and bruised. Starting QB Brock Purdy (left shoulder, toe) and his backup, Mac Jones (knee) were limited in practice. Jones said he’ll be ready to play while Purdy gave a less definitive answer but his mobility was improved. Whoever starts could have a somewhat limited pool of skill-position players available. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remain out while receivers Jauan Jennings and Jordan Watkins have not practiced this week and Ricky Pearsall has been limited. Jacksonville’s defense has held opposing offenses without a touchdown until the fourth quarter in two of its first three games this season. Arik Armstead (1.5 sacks) will be facing his former team for the first time after spending his first nine seasons in San Francisco. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis recorded his second pick of the season last week and leads the league with six pass breakups.

Baltimore Ravens (1-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Odds: Ravens -2.5, Total 48.5

Series Rewind: The Chiefs have won five of the past six meetings in the series.

The loser of these two AFC powerhouse teams will be saddled with a 1-3 record so playoff-type intensity could be unleashed. The Chiefs have struggled to score — they are tied for 21st in scoring offense at 20 points per game — while Baltimore can score but can’t seem to stop anyone. The Ravens average a league-high 37 points per game but rank 31st in scoring defense (32.0 points per outing) and last in total defense (415.0 yards). In Monday’s 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, Baltimore allowed a stunning 224 yards on the ground. Patrick Mahomes leads Kansas City with 125 rushing yards so there shouldn’t be a repeat. Mahomes would like to get points earlier against the Ravens as slow starts have been an issue this season. The 22-9 win over the New York Giants last weekend represents Kansas City’s best point total of the season. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has thrown a league-high nine touchdown passes, is first with a 141.8 passer rating and hasn’t been intercepted. Ravens star running back Derrick Henry is fourth in the NFL with 242 rushing yards but his three fumbles (two lost) have tarnished his solid start.

Green Bay Packers (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (1-2)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Packers -6.5, Total 47.5

Series Rewind: Green Bay has never lost at AT&T Stadium. The Packers have won seven of the past eight meetings.

You might have heard the Packers are coming to Dallas and bringing an old friend to visit the Cowboys. Micah Parsons, the NFL leader in pass-rush pressures and the only player in the league with eight-plus pressures in multiple games this season, has a new crew and it includes the league leader in sacks (Rashan Gary, 4.5). Green Bay gives up 16 fewer points per game than the Cowboys (30.7) and arrives angry after laying an egg — much gentler terms than Parsons used — at Cleveland in a 13-10 loss last week. Dak Prescott is playing at a high level but Dallas went scoreless in the second half of both losses. CeeDee Lamb (ankle) won’t play this week and the Cowboys are down key personnel on the offensive line. The shuffled starting 11 on offense features George Pickens as the No. 1 wide receiver; TE Jake Ferguson (13 catches last week) will have a bigger share of the play-call sheet this week, according to coach Brian Schottenheimer. Dallas’ best weapon has been the ground game with a rejuvenated Javonte Williams averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Jordan Love is also behind a modified blocking scheme because of injuries. Against a Dallas front adding Jadeveon Clowney, Love figures to let it fly after the Cowboys’ pass defense was roasted by the Giants and Bears.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) vs. Denver Broncos (1-2)

Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Broncos -7.5, Total 43.5

Series Rewind: It’s their fourth meeting on “Monday Night Football,” with the Bengals winning in 2004 and 2014 and the Broncos victorious in Week 16 of their Super Bowl season in 2015.

It’s a rematch of last season’s Week 17 thriller, when Broncos QB Bo Nix tied it with a 25-yard TD to Marvin Mims Jr. with eight seconds left in regulation, only to fall 30-24 on Joe Burrow’s short TD pass to Tee Higgins with 1:07 left in overtime. This time, Burrow-less Cincinnati limps into Denver still smarting from the most lopsided loss in franchise history: 48-10 last weekend at Minnesota. Despite their winning record, the Bengals have been outscored 91-58 and have more turnovers (eight) than touchdowns (seven). They’ll need a whopper from Ja’Marr Chase, who has 43 catches for 585 yards and five TDs in four appearances on “MNF.” Nix is 6-0 with a 102.6 rating in his last six home starts for the Broncos. J.K. Dobbins has rushed 33 times for 294 yards (8.9 average) and four TDs against the Bengals while going 4-0 in his career.

New York Jets (0-3) at Miami Dolphins (0-3)

Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Dolphins -2.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Miami is 4-1 in the past five games against the Jets, who claimed a 32-20 win in the 2024 regular-season finale.

The loser will be looking at an 0-4 start and the knowledge it is OK to start focusing on 2026 draft preparations. Miami badly needs to win this contest or coach Mike McDaniel will see the heat pick up. The Dolphins have allowed more than 30 points in each of their three games, and the offensive precision has dipped. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown five touchdown passes but has been picked off four times. Tyreek Hill is averaging 13.2 yards per catch but has just 198 receiving yards. Linebacker Bradley Chubb always goes all-out and has three of the team’s six sacks. The Jets might be going with Tyrod Taylor for the second straight week after fellow quarterback Justin Fields sustained a concussion in Week 2. Taylor helped New York overcome a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit last week before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked it off with a 29-27 victory. Receiver Garrett Wilson (229 on 21 catches) is the only Jet with more than 80 yards or in double digits in receptions. Putting LB Quincy Williams (shoulder) on injured reserve is a blow for the Jets’ defense.

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