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It’s not every day Scotland are booed off after winning a match which puts them to within two games of automatic qualification for a World Cup, but such are the level of expectation set by Clarke’s team.

While the Scots weren’t shooting the lights out in attack, they also allowed Belarus to be comfortable for large parts of the game. The fact they had 10 shots more than Scotland is a huge cause for concern.

“At half-time the manager came in but he was absolutely furious with us,” said defender Scott McKenna.

“We didn’t win any first balls, didn’t win any second balls either. Belarus probably looked more dangerous than us over the 90 minutes.”

Despite the fury, self-reflection and pain, Scotland are still in a strong position. An away game in Athens against a Greece team who can no longer catch them, and then a Hampden showdown against Denmark next month lies in wait.

Everyone from the Scotland camp who spoke acknowledged what they’ve produced over the past week will not get the job done, but there is a belief that they have it in them to find solutions. Somehow.

“We’ve had some great moments, and some quite disappointing moments,” said Clarke. “What we are is quite resilient, we can come back from a down.

“I’m confident in this group of players, that when it comes to the crunch we’ll be ready.”

When the Dallas Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a contract worth $60 million per season, Jerry Jones had a vision.

“We got the structure of the team in a place that gives us a shot to compete for the championship,” Jones said in September of 2024. “We’re going to be able to get players around him that give us a chance to compete for a Super Bowl.”

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Prescott is living up to his end of Jones’ proclamation. Jones and the Cowboys have not.

The Cowboys look like the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals, with a quarterback giving an MVP level performance and everyone else letting him down. The Cowboys defense, which has been bad all season, couldn’t stop the Panthers on Sunday and they drove down for a game-winning field goal as time expired to win 30-27. The Cowboys scored 27 points and lost. A few weeks ago they scored 40 points and tied the Green Bay Packers. If you want to blame Prescott for Dallas’ 2-3-1 record, you’re misguided.

Prescott threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns Sunday with a 124.8 passer rating. He couldn’t get a touchdown in the fourth quarter on Sunday when the Cowboys drove deep downfield trailing by three, and couldn’t move the ball at all with a chance to take the lead late. But Prescott, who is still without top receiver CeeDee Lamb, played well enough to win. He needs some help. He’s been a popular topic as a potential MVP, but his teammates aren’t going to help him get any of those votes.

There have only been two NFL MVPs from non-playoff teams. Johnny Unitas won in 1967, when the Colts didn’t make the playoffs despite an 11-1-2 record. O.J. Simpson won in 1973 with his iconic 2,003-yard season. Even winning MVP from a wild card is rare. The last time a non-division winner won MVP was Adrian Peterson in 2012, and the last time it happened for a quarterback was Peyton Manning in 2008.

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Basically, if the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs Prescott has about no shot to win MVP, and it’s not a great chance if the Cowboys don’t win the NFC East. And Prescott can only do so much. The Cowboys haven’t put a playoff team around him, much less one that could win a Super Bowl.

It has been easy to take shots at Jones for trading Micah Parsons and then watching his defense fall apart without the star pass rusher. They’re easy shots because they’re spot on. The Cowboys moved further away from being a Super Bowl contender with that trade. Prescott is playing as well as any quarterback in the league this season, especially when considering he’s doing it without Lamb, and it hasn’t even resulted in a winning record after six games.

Maybe the Cowboys can make some improvements at the trade deadline and get some of those players that Jones promised they’d get to compete for a Super Bowl. Maybe there’s a pass rusher available. Maybe someone like Parsons. That would help out Prescott, and some help for him is long overdue.

Here are the winners and losers from Week 6 of the NFL season:

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WINNERS

Drake Maye: You know Maye has arrived as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks when he has 261 yards and three touchdowns, and it seems like he could have done even more.

The Patriots won 25-19 on Sunday at the New Orleans Saints, but they were hanging on at the end. The Patriots had a tough time putting the game away. But the Patriots held on and are 4-2 after a bad loss to the Raiders to start the season.

Maye is one of the breakout stars of the early season. In his second season he looks like he’ll be a future MVP candidate. He threw three touchdowns Sunday and it wasn’t even his best. The Patriots have a bright future with him.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defense: The Steelers defense had a rough start to the season. Dominating the Cleveland Browns with rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback doesn’t mean they’re back, but it’s a second straight positive performance.

The Steelers’ win over the Browns was rarely in doubt. Cleveland couldn’t consistently move the ball. The Steelers weren’t much better on offense for the first half, but Aaron Rodgers warmed up in the second half with a pair of touchdown passes and Pittsburgh pulled away for the 23-9 win. Cleveland didn’t score a touchdown. Before last week’s bye, the Steelers defense played much better against the Minnesota Vikings, who have their own offensive challenges. But if the Steelers defense can keep improving, it might be enough for them to win a disappointing AFC North.

Indianapolis Colts, barely: Every team has flat spots on the schedule. It’s a long season.

Sunday was one for the Colts. They were facing the Cardinals, who were starting Jacoby Brissett in place of an injured Kyler Murray, and they needed everything just to squeak out a win at home. Jonathan Taylor scored with less than five minutes remaining to give Indianapolis the lead and then the defense got a fourth down stop deep in their territory to seal the 31-27 win.

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The Colts are 5-1. Sunday was their first truly poor performance this season, but it was still a win. They have to show going forward that it was just a letdown spot in a long season.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: The Seattle Seahawks have a star at receiver.

Smith-Njigba was the best player on the field in the Seahawks’ impressive 20-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were 4-1 coming in. Smith-Njigba had 162 yards and a touchdown, continuing his hot start to the season. The biggest play of the game came when the Jaguars put in cornerback Greg Newsome II, who was just acquired in a trade with the Browns this week, for his first play with the team and Smith-Njigba torched him for a 61-yard touchdown.

The Seahawks are 4-2 and in contention for the NFC West. Sam Darnold is playing well. The defense has improved. And a big reason the Seahawks are winning is their emerging superstar wideout.

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LOSERS

Miami Dolphins: Even when things look good for the Dolphins, they go bad.

Tua Tagovailoa hit Darren Waller for a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to go against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. It looked like a big moment for Tagovailoa and another cool chapter to Waller’s comeback story. But the Dolphins can’t stay out of their own way. They allowed a long kickoff return. Then Dolphins defensive end Jaelan Phillips couldn’t drag down Justin Herbert for a sack, Herbert stayed up and found Ladd McConkey, then Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. whiffed on McConkey in the open field. McConkey gained 42 yards, which is all the Chargers needed to set up a field goal to win 29-27.

The Dolphins defense again let down, allowing Kimani Vidal — the Chargers’ third option at running back who had 173 rushing yards coming into Sunday — to rush for 124 yards. Miami can’t stop the run. The Dolphins defense and special teams couldn’t finish after the offense did its part to take a lead with less than a minute to go. The Dolphins are 1-5 and it doesn’t look like it will get much better.

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Lamar Jackson: The Los Angeles Rams didn’t even play that well on Sunday. They didn’t need to.

The Ravens have plenty of injuries including to their two-time MVP quarterback, and it’s worth wondering what Jackson will be coming back to. The Ravens had another uncompetitive loss on Sunday as the Rams slowly pulled away in the second half to win 17-3. Tyler Huntley gave the Ravens a bit of a boost off the bench, replacing Cooper Rush, but it wasn’t enough. The Ravens are 1-5, which is one of the more stunning developments of the NFL season. The Steelers are 4-1 in the AFC North after a fairly easy win over the Browns. The division race isn’t over but the Ravens are far behind.

The Ravens get a bye and they’ll get healthier. Jackson presumably will return from a hamstring injury and the Ravens can start to make a run, though the defense will need to show some improvement for that to happen. The 1970 Bengals, 2015 Chiefs and 2018 Colts are the only teams to make the playoffs after a 1-5 start. Baltimore has very little margin for error left, and it’s only mid-October. Jackson might need to be a superhero just to get the Ravens into the playoffs at all.

Aaron Glenn: The New York Jets are 0-6 and perhaps the NFL’s most unwatchable team. And the coaching isn’t helping either.

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Glenn shouldn’t be considered a bad hire yet, but there are warning signs. A 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London was beyond ugly, and the end of first half management was a fiasco. The Jets got the ball with 3:22 left, trailing 10-6, with a situation most NFL teams covet: They could score at the end of the half, then get the ball to start the second half. And the Jets were practically content to let the half run out. There was no urgency. On the NFL Network broadcast, Kurt Warner and Rich Eisen couldn’t believe it. The half ended at the Jets’ 47-yard line, with New York letting the clock run out. That mattered in what ended up being a two-point loss. Receiver Garrett Wilson was agitated and said something to Glenn as the team headed back to the locker room.

The Jets might not have been able to get in field-goal range anyway. Justin Fields threw for 45 yards and was sacked nine times in a hideous performance that could get him benched. The Jets had 82 yards total, with a stunning -10 net passing yards. That’s not all on Glenn. But there are no signs of life from the Jets.

Cooper Rush is out. Tyler Huntley is in.

Down 17-3 and in need of an offensive spark, the Ravens have switched quarterbacks early in the fourth quarter.

Rush was 11-of-19 for 72 yards with an interception.

Huntley has appeared in 20 career games with nine starts for Baltimore over the course of his career. Huntley was even a Pro Bowler for the Ravens in 2022.

We’ll see if he makes a difference as Baltimore has one quarter before a Week 7 bye.

The Green Bay Packers are welcoming the struggling Cincinnati Bengals to Lambeau Field for a Week 6 showdown. Can Matt LaFleur’s team come out of the bye week and get a win for the first time since Sept. 11?

CBS will broadcast the game live from Lambeau Field, with Kevin Harlan, former NFL quarterback Trent Green on the call and Melanie Collins reporting from the sidelines.

Follow along with Packers Wire for live updates and highlights from Week 6:

Live score: Packers 0, Bengals 0

Live updates and highlights coming soon!

Hungary’s 2–0 victory over Armenia may not have been flawless, but it offered yet another example of why Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is fast becoming one of the most influential figures in European football. At just 24, he captains his national team with an authority beyond his years, driving them to second place in their World Cup qualifying group.

Szoboszlai Leads By Example In Key Qualifier

Wearing the armband once more, Szoboszlai set the tempo on and off the ball. He was candid after the match when speaking to M4 Sport, acknowledging Hungary’s slow start. “We talked about being patient, we would have chances, and we did have chances. It didn’t work out in the first half, but we managed to score goals in the second.”

What stood out was his tactical intelligence, as he broke down his role within an evolving front structure. “I had to pay attention to the fact that if Daniel Lukacs and Zsombor Gruber went somewhere, I had to move to the other position. The three of us played together like this for the first time, but we complemented each other quite well.”

That honesty mirrors the maturity that Liverpool supporters have already come to expect from their No.8. His leadership is no longer just anecdotal, it is tangible. Club staff rate him as a £100 million asset for a reason.

Liverpool Duo Driving Hungary’s Momentum

Szoboszlai was rated 6/10 by Nemzeti Sport, with praise for how his passing rhythm and pressing intensity sharpened after the interval, helping dismantle Armenia’s low block. His influence went beyond individual moments, steering Hungary’s overall direction.

On the left flank, Milos Kerkez provided further encouragement for Liverpool fans. “More active after the break, fighting for corners,” read the verdict, after an opening period where “the energetic play seen in the Premier League was missing.” His aggressive overlapping mirrored how Arne Slot has deployed him at Anfield, with Szoboszlai drifting centrally to create overloads.

Form Building Ahead Of Liverpool Return

These international minutes are more than routine duty, they are strategic development. With Arne Slot demanding fluid midfield rotations and high-tempo combinations, Szoboszlai and Kerkez are sharpening their understanding in real-time competition.

Neil Mellor recently praised Szoboszlai’s performance against Chelsea, even in defeat, and this latest outing only strengthens that case. Confidence, responsibility and execution are aligning at the right moment.

When he returns to Liverpool, he will not just be in rhythm, he will be carrying momentum. Hungary benefit from his leadership today, but Liverpool will reap the long-term rewards.

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Quintrevion Wisner has his best game of the season against Oklahoma

On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns looked like a different team. After an embarrassing loss the week before against Florida, the Longhorns were firing on all cylinders in the Red River Shootout. While a lot of players made an impact, a healthy Quintrevion Wisner was a human highlight reel out of the backfield, sparking the offense in a 23-6 win. 

On 22 carries, the Glenn Heights native recorded a season high 94 yards. The Longhorns’ star running back averaged 4.3 yards per carry while being a featured back. However, that was not the only way he made his presence felt at the Cotton Bowl. 

The talented junior also hauled in five passes for 34 yards. He finished the afternoon tied with Ryan Wingo for the team lead in receptions. As the Longhorns won their first conference game of the year, Wisner finished third on the team in receiving yards behind only Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr. 

For the Longhorns, the play of Wisner was a welcome sign. Last year, he was the team’s best running back, setting career highs in yards and carries. Injuries had limited him through the first month of the season, but against Oklahoma, Wisner showed how good he can be when healthy. As Texas looks to bounce back from a slow start, it will need Wisner to stay healthy and help balance out the offense. 

With five games in the books, Wisner now ranks second on the team in rushing yards with 185. He trails only Arch Manning, who shows how bad the running game has been. As long as Wisner stays healthy, he should be able to claim the top spot as soon as next week. 

While the Longhorns still have a few issues to fix, having Wisner back in top form would be a significant plus for the offense. He can change the course of a game with his legs and take pressure off Manning. Wisner will get to build on his success next week when Texas faces Kentucky. 

Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.

Competition for the player is increasing from all clubs.

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While Bayern Munich’s management remains unsure of the future of their French defender, Dayot Upamecane, the German club is now considering strengthening its defensive line. Press reports have revealed that the German club’s management is strongly considering signing Nottingham Forest defender Murillo.

see also: 2026 World Cup qualifiers / DR Congo vs Sudan: When and where to watch the match live?

The rumour mill is churning from Germany, where the giants of Bayern Munich are reportedly setting their sights on a new defensive pillar. According to a report from Bild, the Bavarian club is considering a move to fortify its back line with the signature of Nottingham Forest’s standout, Murillo.

The 23-year-old Brazilian defender, whose future at the English club is secured by a contract running until 2029, has firmly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting defensive prospects. It is his composed and confident displays for the “Tricky Trees” that have created a buzz far beyond England’s borders, attracting a constellation of European elite.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 05: A fan is escorted out after a pitch invasion before the TIM Cup match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio San Paolo on April 5, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

A notorious Italian pitch invader, Mario Ferri, struck again during the World Cup qualifier between Italy and Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday evening, entering the field of play with a message of support for the people of Palestine: ‘Free Gaza’. 

Ferri, nicknamed Il Falco (‘The Falcon’) entered the field of play during Italy’s 3-1 win away against Estonia on Saturday evening, wearing his usual blue superman t-shirt with a message on the front and back that read: ‘Free Gaza’. 

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 38-year-old, who originally comes from Pescara, was briefly taken to hospital after his stunt on Saturday to check over a deep cut on his hand. 

Who is Estonia-Italy pitch invader Marco Ferri? 

Ferri has invaded the pitch during several previous high-profile matches over the last 20 years, beginning in Italy and later expanding across the globe. 

He famously entered the pitch on numerous occasions during the 2000s, demanding the inclusion of Antonio Cassano in Italy’s 2010 World Cup squad, a stunt that proved to be unsuccessful. 

He also invaded the pitch during the FIFA Club World Cup final between Inter and Mazembe in Abu Dhabi with the words ‘free Sakineh’, in reference to Sahineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who had, at that time, been sentenced to death by stoning. 

Ferri also made it onto the pitch during the 2011 Champions League final, and successfully placed a Milan scarf around the neck of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

He also made an appearance at the 2014 World Cup, displaying the message ‘Save Favelas Children’ during the group-stage match between Belgium and the USA in Salvador, Brazil. 

His most famous stunt came during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he made it onto the pitch during the group stage match between Portugal and Uruguay with a t-shirt displaying the messages ‘Save Ukraine’ and ‘Respect for Iranian Women’, while holding an LBTGQ+ flag. 

Ferri, in recent years, has focussed on his activism. Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ferri rented a hire car, drove from Pescara to Poland and claimed to have helped over 60 individuals flee to safety.