“We agreed to disagree”: Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer makes stance clear after Trevon Diggs speaks out on Week 4 benching

Last week, the Dallas Cowboys made the surprising decision to bench Trevon Diggs for their clash against the Green Bay Packers.

The game proved to be an intense battle, ultimately ending in a 40-40 overtime tie. Both teams had multiple opportunities to secure the win, making it a closely contested matchup that could have easily gone in either direction.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-https-x-com-jonmachota-status-19741552172108350

Cowboys are down at least 3 offensive linemen, and maybe 4, against Jets

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys will be without at least three starters on their offensive line, and possibly four, when they visit the New York Jets.

Left tackle Tyler Guyton is in the concussion protocol and was ruled out of Sunday’s game, sidelining him along with center Cooper Beebe (foot) and rookie right guard Tyler Booker (high ankle sprain). Standout left guard Tyler Smith is questionable with a knee injury, having not practiced all week. The only healthy starter remaining on the line is right tackle Terence Steele.

Nate Thomas will start in Guyton’s place. This will be the first career start for the second-year player, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. Brock Hoffman will start in place of Beebe, who is on injured reserve and will miss the third of at least four games. Booker will be out for the second week in a row. T.J. Bass replaced Booker in last week’s 40-40 tie with Green Bay. If Smith can’t play, Bass may move to left guard, with either Trevor Keegan or Hakeem Adeniji likely filling the fifth starting spot on the line.

In addition to the offensive line injuries, the Cowboys will be without receiver and kick returner KaVontae Turpin, who has been ruled out with a foot injury. No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb will miss his second game due to a high ankle sprain.

Dallas will also be without a fifth starter on defense—safety Malik Hooker, who injured a toe against the Packers. It appears Hooker will miss multiple games.

Running back Miles Sanders is questionable with knee and ankle injuries, opening the door for rookie Jaydon Blue to be active for the first time.

___
AP NFL: Copyright.
https://wtop.com/nfl/2025/10/cowboys-are-down-at-least-3-offensive-linemen-and-maybe-4-against-jets/

“Plain and simple”: Kay Adams reveals “only key” for Matthew Stafford’s Rams to defeat 49ers on TNF

Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are set to face the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.

As they prepare for this crucial matchup, the Rams aim to improve their record to 4-1 in Week 5.

Fans can expect an exciting game as both teams battle for victory under the Thursday night lights.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-plain-simple-kay-adams-reveals-only-key-matthew-stafford-s-rams-defeat-49ers-tnf

Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight vs the Rams? 49ers RB’s status revealed for Week 5 TNF

The Los Angeles Rams’ rushing defense is preparing for a significant challenge in Week 5.

They will face off against the San Francisco 49ers’ dynamic running back, Christian McCaffrey.

Containing McCaffrey will be crucial for the Rams as they aim to limit the 49ers’ ground game and control the pace of the matchup.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/is-christian-mccaffrey-playing-tonight-vs-rams-49ers-rb-s-status-revealed-week-5-tnf

Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight vs the Rams? 49ers RB’s status revealed for Week 5 TNF

The Los Angeles Rams’ rushing defense is preparing to face a significant challenge in Week 5.

They will need to contain the San Francisco 49ers’ standout running back, Christian McCaffrey, who is known for his versatile and dynamic playing style.

Containing McCaffrey will be crucial for the Rams as they aim to limit the 49ers’ offensive production on the ground. Fans can expect an intense matchup as both teams battle for control.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/is-christian-mccaffrey-playing-tonight-vs-rams-49ers-rb-s-status-revealed-week-5-tnf

Everton vs West Ham: Player Ratings – Keane and Garner impress in another missed opportunity

**Everton Held to 1-1 Draw by West Ham at Hill Dickinson Stadium**

*29/09/2025* – Everton had to settle for a point after another missed opportunity, drawing 1-1 with a struggling West Ham side at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Jarrod Bowen became the first opposition player to score at the new ground, cancelling out Michael Keane’s brilliant first-half header.

Despite picking up a point, the Toffees are likely to feel disappointed after failing to capitalise on another unsettled opponent, following similar missed chances against Aston Villa and Wolves recently. Everton have not collected all three points in a month but still maintain their place in the top half of the league table after the draw against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

Both Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye were kept relatively quiet by the Hammers, and the lack of threat from the hosts’ number nine was evident once again. Forwards Beto and Thierno Barry often stood out for the wrong reasons, bringing little to the table offensively once Everton’s wingers were effectively neutralized.

### Player Ratings: Everton 1-1 West Ham

**Jordan Pickford: 7**
The scoreline could have been worse if not for Pickford’s decisive interventions. He prevented disaster when Jake O’Brien miscued a header back to goal, which was barely recovered by Pickford. He also rushed off his line to clear danger from Cryscencio Summerville inside the box. Had little chance with Jarrod Bowen’s goal, which took a massive deflection.

**Jake O’Brien: 4**
One of Everton’s poorest performers, O’Brien struggled throughout. He gave the ball away dangerously close to goal, saved only by Pickford’s quick reactions. Defensively, he had a torrid time tracking Summerville and Malick Diouf, often losing his mark—West Ham’s goal came from his flank. He did make a couple of important interceptions late on.

**James Tarkowski: 6**
Delivered a fantastic cross to Beto in the first half that almost led to a goal. However, he was outpaced by Diouf leading to Bowen’s equaliser and failed to prevent the vital cross. Known for his defensive composure, Tarkowski’s rash foul earned him a booking but otherwise, he was solid at the back.

**Michael Keane: 8**
A standout performer who scored a powerful dipping header to put Everton ahead. He also cleared a threatening cross but couldn’t prevent Bowen’s follow-up shot due to a deflection. Keane led the backline efficiently, limiting West Ham’s chances throughout.

**Vitalii Mykolenko: 6**
A solid display overall, though he could have done better to prevent Bowen’s shooting opportunity. Mykolenko also contributed going forward, delivering a beautiful ball in the first half.

**James Garner: 8**
Garner’s industry was evident all game, highlighted by a delicious cross that led to Keane’s goal. He was involved in some of Everton’s best phases, providing threat with his powerful shooting and delivering a key save off Areola late in the game.

**Idrissa Gueye: 5**
Made an awful pass back to Tarkowski which led to a booking. Recovered possession on a few occasions but failed to make a significant impact, especially in the second half.

**Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7**
A positive showing, involved in some of Everton’s best attempts, particularly after halftime. Unfortunately, a late booking for a clean tackle means he will miss the next match against Crystal Palace.

**Iliman Ndiaye: 5** (replaced by Tyler Dibling, 81′)
Had a quiet, ineffective game, looking boxed in on the right flank. The opposition defenders kept him well under control. The substitution for Dibling came too late to change the game’s dynamic.

**Beto: 4** (replaced by Thierno Barry, 69′)
Could have done better with Tarkowski’s excellent first-half cross but failed to generate power on his header. His performance in front of goal was anonymous, raising concerns about Everton’s struggles in the striker role. Neither Beto nor Barry appear to be the solution upfront.

**Jack Grealish: 6**
Had a quieter game than usual. Showed glimpses of talent but was consistently stifled by Kyle Walker-Peters and Soungoutou Magassa’s physical challenges, forcing him to drop deeper with limited influence in the attacking third.

### Substitutions

**Thierno Barry: 5**
Like the striker he replaced, Barry had little impact and received minimal service.

**Tyler Dibling: 6**
Entered the match with just under 10 minutes remaining and showed a few intelligent moves cutting in from the right flank, but it was not enough to influence the outcome.

Everton will look back at this match as a missed opportunity to build momentum, especially against an inconsistent West Ham side. Improving the attacking output and capitalising on chances remain key if the Toffees want to climb higher in the league table.

*Note: The above content is based on initial match observations and fan reviews. Comments remain the responsibility of the poster.*

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http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/24-25/news/46737.html

Jaguars’ Coen and 49ers’ Saleh clash over sign-stealing accusations

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The pregame tiff between San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Jacksonville coach Liam Coen over accusations of legal sign stealing by the Jaguars spilled over into the postgame.

Coen could be seen yelling at Saleh as he was being held back by offensive lineman Robert Hainsey following Jacksonville’s 26-21 win over San Francisco on Sunday.

“No big deal,” Coen said. “I’m just going to keep that between us right now. That’s it.”

It seemed like a bigger deal than that, as the two coaches were yelling at each other while walking off the field.

Saleh had called Coen’s staff elite when it comes to stealing defensive signals in a legal fashion. Coen brushed aside those remarks when asked during the week and wouldn’t talk about it with the media after the game.

But his players saw what had happened and used it as motivation on Sunday.

“You use everything you can,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. “If you’re going to give me free fuel, you take it. That’s something that you always do. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to go play the game. That stuff doesn’t really matter. You take care of business and execute and find a way to win the game, which we did today. So it feels great.”

Saleh said on Thursday that many coaches who worked under Sean McVay on the Rams or Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota are skilled at stealing signs. Coen spent four seasons on McVay’s staff in Los Angeles while Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski spent the past three seasons working for O’Connell on the Vikings.

“They’ve got legally, a really advanced signal-stealing type system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation,” Saleh said. “They do a great job with it. So, we’ve got to be great with our signals and we’ve got to be great with our communication to combat some of the tells that we might give on the field. They’re almost elite in that regard.”

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said he believed Saleh was trying to compliment the Jaguars staff but that the use of a loaded phrase like “sign stealing” took away from that. Shanahan said he didn’t see the postgame interaction but doesn’t believe the whole kerfuffle means that much.

“I tried to clear it up (this week). I didn’t see what happened, so I’m not sure,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think (Coen) should be that sensitive about it. But it is what it is. I don’t worry about it.”

Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who spent four seasons playing under Saleh in San Francisco, said he believes it’s not a major issue.

“I know coaches get competitive,” he said. “They’re two great coaches and obviously both fiery. I don’t really know what that was about.”

___

AP NFL
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/nfl/2025/09/28/jaguars-coen-and-49ers-saleh-clash-over-sign-stealing-accusations

Steelers survive late Vikings comeback to claim historic win in Dublin

It has been 27 years since the Pittsburgh Steelers played a pre-season game in Croke Park against the Chicago Bears. Back in 1997, Kerry were the All-Ireland Football champions under Paidi O Sé, and Clare were the All-Ireland Hurling champions, captained by the great Anthony Daly.

All these years later, there was certainly a lot of yellow around GAA HQ on Sunday, but instead of the green and yellow of Kerry, it was the iconic black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over 30,000 fans travelled from the United States to see the first-ever regular-season NFL game to take place in Ireland, all part of the NFL’s mission to grow the game internationally.

This year is bigger than ever, with games in Brazil, three games in London, as well as matches in Berlin and Madrid.

The Steelers’ opponents in Dublin were the Minnesota Vikings, who came into the game with the same record as Pittsburgh—two wins and one loss. Despite losing their young quarterback JJ McCarthy to injury two weeks ago, veteran Carson Wentz stepped in last week, leading the team to a win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

### Game Overview

The game started poorly for the Steelers as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked on the very first play. After a quick three-and-out, the Vikings began to march down the field. Things took a complicated turn when the Steelers appeared to score a touchdown off a fumble recovery. However, the referees ruled the player out of bounds when he fumbled, allowing the Vikings to retain possession. They managed only a field goal, leaving the score 3-0 in favor of Minnesota.

The Steelers responded sharply with a great drive led by Rodgers, ending in a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Kenneth Gainwell.

### Terrible Towels Take Over

The Vikings couldn’t mount a response, and once again Rodgers took the field. He found his best receiver, DK Metcalf, who broke free down the middle for a spectacular 30-yard touchdown run, sending the Steelers fans into a frenzy.

Whether at Acrisure Stadium or Croke Park, the sight of the yellow “Terrible Towels” is enough to unnerve opposing teams. That pressure soon told as Wentz was constantly hounded by the Steelers’ defense, forcing him into a tipped pass that was intercepted by safety DeShon Elliott.

### Celebrity Sightings and Unique Fans

During stoppages—a hallmark of American sports—several celebrities appeared on the big screen, including Steelers superfan and Kerry footballer Paudie Clifford. Connacht and Ireland rugby player Bundee Aki participated in the official coin toss, and legendary Hollywood actor Bill Murray was even spotted in the crowd.

Fans also showed their enthusiasm with unique outfits: one Steelers fan dressed in black armor like a Roman centurion, while a Vikings supporter wore a Mandalorian helmet with Baby Yoda perched on his shoulder.

### Steely Defence and Croke Park Atmosphere

As the first half wore on, the game slowed down with just a Vikings field goal to note, making the halftime score 14-6 to the Steelers.

The sun began to break through the clouds as the second half started, illuminating the beautiful Croke Park field. Fans on Hill 16 were able to soak up the rays from the famed terrace, which was converted into a seating-only section for the game—a clear indication of how far the GAA has come to accommodate an event of this magnitude.

While the State contributed €10 million to help host the game, the expected economic benefit is estimated to reach close to €65 million.

### A Game in the Making for Years

This game did not happen overnight—it has been years in the making. The Steelers were founded by Art Rooney back in 1933, who traced his roots back to Newry in Co Down. With the team still under the stewardship of Art Rooney Jr. and Art Rooney II, it is clear why this game was so important to the franchise.

As the second half progressed, the Rooney brothers must have been pleased with their team’s performance. The Steelers’ defense began to dominate. Midway through the third quarter, star pass rusher T.J. Watt intercepted a pass, setting up the offense in prime position. Kenneth Gainwell capitalized with another touchdown, widening the lead to 21-6.

During one of the many breaks in play, the stadium announcer revealed attendance was close to 75,000—not quite an All-Ireland final day, but still an impressive crowd.

The Steelers continued to control the clock and added a field goal, extending their lead to 24-6 with just over ten minutes remaining.

### Vikings Rally Late

The Vikings fought back, scoring a late touchdown by running back Zavier Scott, followed by a successful two-point conversion with seven minutes to go.

With three minutes remaining, the game burst to life again when Wentz connected with Jordan Addison for an electrifying 81-yard gain. Now just yards from the goal line, the Vikings went for it on fourth down, converting with a short pass to Jalen Nailor, narrowing the score to 24-21.

Despite their efforts, the Vikings could not tie the score, and the Steelers ran out the clock for the victory.

### Final Thoughts

What seemed like a potential blowout transformed into a highly competitive game. Overall, Dublin and Croke Park were excellent hosts. The city centre buzzed with excitement, and Merrion Square was transformed into a Steelers’ tailgate for the weekend. Families enjoyed activities such as trying out field goal kicking and target practice.

There are areas to improve, though. Some food stalls ran out of items by halftime, and the “loaded” nachos served seemed to have only a small squeeze of cheese. These minor kinks can certainly be ironed out for future events.

For its first NFL game, Croke Park proved to be the perfect cauldron for American football—a thrilling showcase of sport and culture coming together on Irish soil.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/steelers-survive-late-vikings-comeback-to-win-in-dublin-1812133.html

Buccaneers news: Chase McLaughlin’s 65-yarder a silver lining from awful half vs. Eagles

As the third quarter of their Week 4 clash gets underway, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have largely struggled against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. At the moment, the Eagles hold a 24-6 lead, as the Buccaneers’ offense has been kept in check for the most part. However, a pair of field goals from veteran kicker Chase McLaughlin have put the Bucs on the board.

Most notable was McLaughlin’s 65-yard field goal as the first half ended. The sports site enthusiastically reported, *“Chase McLaughlin DRILLS the 65-yard FG”* — the second-longest field goal in NFL history!

McLaughlin’s 65-yarder surpassed former Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant’s 62-yard make against the Eagles back in 2006, making it the longest field goal in franchise history. With Tampa Bay’s offense sputtering for most of the first half, the kick provided a much-needed jolt of life to the unit.

However, that momentum might have already worn off. Following an excellent punt return by Kam Johnson, the Bucs turned the ball over on downs, halting any potential drive.

The question remains: can McLaughlin’s strong leg keep the Buccaneers in this high-stakes clash, or will it not be enough against a potent Eagles offense? Fans will be watching closely as the second half unfolds.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-chase-mclaughlins-historic-65-yarder-silver-lining-from-awful-half-vs-eagles

No. 1 Ohio State opens Big Ten play with road win at Washington

The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes traveled out west on Saturday and secured their first road win of the 2025 season, defeating the Washington Huskies 24-6 at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

In a nationally televised game on Channel 7, quarterback Julian Sayin completed 22 of 28 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes also rushed for 149 yards. Ohio State’s defense proved tough on third down, holding the Huskies to just one conversion on 11 third-down attempts.

With the victory, Ohio State improves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten.

After a scoreless first quarter, Washington took an early 3-0 lead with a 28-yard field goal by Grady Gross to begin the second quarter. The Huskies’ lead was short-lived, as Ohio State responded before halftime. Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive and giving the Buckeyes a 7-3 halftime lead.

The Buckeyes took the second-half kickoff and engineered a 75-yard drive over 14 plays. CJ Donaldson, Jr. finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 14-3. The teams then exchanged field goals, with OSU holding a 17-6 advantage.

After stopping the Huskies on a fourth-down attempt, Ohio State took over at their own 44-yard line with 8:44 remaining. Sayin threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Donaldson, increasing the lead to 24-6. This score capped an eight-play, 44-yard drive.

Bo Jackson led the Buckeyes on the ground with 80 yards rushing, while Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State’s next game is scheduled for October 4, when they will host Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. in Columbus.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/no-1-ohio-state-opens-005718436.html

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