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  • Bills’ Josh Allen admits what most figured after loss to Falcons

    Bills’ Josh Allen admits what most figured after loss to Falcons


    The Buffalo Bills have never lost two consecutive games going into a bye week under head coach Sean McDermott.

    Until now.

    The team dropped their second loss of the 2025 NFL season on Monday Night Football to the Atlanta Falcons by a final score of 14-24, a week after losing to the New England Patriots.

    “It’s gonna eat at me the next two weeks,” Allen said after the game. “I mean, a lot of stuff to clean up.”

    The Bills continued to struggle on offense for the second week in a row, though there were some flashes of their big-play potential with Josh Allen under center. The Buffalo QB also threw two more interceptions, however, and was sacked multiple times.

    The team now heads into their bye week at 4-2 with more questions than answers.

    Allen and the Bills looked the part of contenders for another MVP and playoff run in their first several games, averaging 30+ points, executing, and protecting the football. The run and passing games were also successful in those contests, but have looked more sputtering and limited in their last two outings, aside from a career game by TE Dalton Kincaid against New England.

    “We had our opportunities to take advantage of and we didn’t,” Allen noted. “It sucks when you feel like two-thirds of your team (special teams and defense) are doing their job and you’re the team not to pull your weight. It sucks.”

    The Bills’ defense struggled as well, particularly in stopping the run, which has been a consistent issue year-to-year for McDermott and company. And a costly one at times, as was the case Monday night.

    Even still, the defense gave the offense several opportunities to get back in and win the game in the second half. But OC Joe Brady’s squad went three-and-out four times, two of which were with a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Buffalo’s O-line, known for its protection of Allen with the lowest pressure rate in the NFL (22.3%) entering Week 6, allowed pressure on 44.1% of his dropbacks (15 out of 34) against Atlanta, which is the highest pressure rate the QB has faced in a game since a 2024 NFL Week 5 loss to Houston.

    Allen forced the first of two interceptions at the end of the first half, and the second on the final drive of the game. The Bills didn’t use James Cook on the field in key situations as well, with three of their four three-and-outs coming without the RB1 carrying the ball or utilizing him similarly to how the Falcons use Bijan Robinson.

    “We’ve got to figure it out,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “We’ve got to dive deep into what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, making sure we’ve got the right people in the right positions, and then the execution at the end of the day, we’ve got to start from ground zero and work our way back up.”

    Allen has often mentioned ‘finding a way to win’ as he did postgame in this instance, but perhaps a different mindset might elevate him and the offense back to the elite level of play he achieved in Brian Daboll’s offense the season before the former OC became the head coach of the Giants.

    One in which Allen and the offense were dominant.

    The team will next look to adjust and bounce back against the Carolina Panthers coming out of their bye week, before taking on their AFC rival Kansas City Chiefs the week after that.



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  • Former Jets C Nick Mangold asks fans for kidney donation to address chronic disease

    Former Jets C Nick Mangold asks fans for kidney donation to address chronic disease


    Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold needs help from a fan or some other good Samaritan.

    The 41-year-old posted a statement on social media Tuesday revealing that he was diagnosed in 2006 with a genetic defect that led to a chronic kidney disease, leaving him in need of a kidney donation. He said a “rough summer” has left him on dialysis and that none of his family are able to donate.

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    The statement directs fans with type O blood to a webpage from Columbia’s surgery department and signal their interest, specifically citing his name and Jan. 13, 1984 birthdate.

    Mangold played his entire 11-year career with the Jets, earning seven Pro Bowl nods and a spot on the team’s ring of honor. Before that, he was an All-American at Ohio State and a freshman on the program’s 2002 national championship team. He remains a popular figure for both fanbases, and last played in the NFL in 2016.

    The full statement, addressed to both the Jets and Ohio State communities:

    To my NY Jets & Ohio State Buckeye communities,

    This isn’t an easy message to share, but I want to be open about what’s been happening with me and my health.

    In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m undergoing dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant. I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time.

    Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood. If you are willing to find out if you could be a match and donate a kidney to me please go to this site https://columbiasurgery.org/kidney-transplant and click the link to indicate I WANT TO DONATE MY KIDNEY. Use my full name, Nicholas Mangold, and my birthday, 1/13/1984. I am deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating.

    Most of all, I’m thankful for my family, who have been my rock every step of the way. This situation has reminded me how lucky I am to have such an amazing family, friends, and community behind me.

    While this has been a tough stretch, I’m staying positive and focused on the path ahead. I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon. I’ll see you all at MetLife Stadium & The Shoe very soon.

    With Gratitude, Nick Mangold



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  • Pick your England XI: Who should start for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the 2026 World Cup?

    Pick your England XI: Who should start for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the 2026 World Cup?


    England have qualified for the 2026 World Cup with victory over Latvia on Tuesday.

    The win continues Thomas Tuchel’s 100% record in competitive matches since starting his role as head coach in January.

    Who would feature in your first XI for next year’s tournament in North America, Canada and Mexico?

    Pick your starting line-up below and share it with your friends.



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  • Early Week 7 NFL bets to make right now: Are the Seahawks undervalued in the market?

    Early Week 7 NFL bets to make right now: Are the Seahawks undervalued in the market?


    Looking at the Week 7 odds, we are getting into slim pickings for obvious spots to attack early in the week. This is due to a combination of bye weeks reducing the volume of games available to bet; power rankings and model inputs having a larger data set, so pricing games becomes easier for the market; and the increasing number of critical injuries that leave player statuses unclear.

    All that said, here are the few spots I do think are worth attacking. The early-week best bets are now 7-0 the last 3 weeks after hitting Steelers moneyline as a decent-sized favorite and Bears moneyline as a decent-sized underdog. We take it, we move on and we look to continue to prioritize the process and beat the closing line above all else.

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    Los Angeles Rams (-3, 45) at Jacksonville Jaguars

    While this game is listed as a Rams at Jaguars, it is being played in London. The home-field edge may lean a little bit toward Jacksonville because it has both shorter travel to England and experience playing in London, going 6-5 in 11 games there.

    Having some familiarity with the travel, hotel, practice, media setup, locker room and playing conditions is a boost for the Jags. But this best bet is more about the total than the side advantage.

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    The Rams have already announced superstar WR Puka Nacua is going to be out with an ankle injury. Per reports, he is going to miss some time but was lucky enough to avoid a long-term injury. That takes away a large offensive weapon who is relied upon for third-down conversions, stretching the field deep and red-zone offense.

    These also are two stout run defenses. The Rams are Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 overall run defense. The Jaguars allow the eighth-fewest rushing yards and are fifth overall in run defense, according to analytics group SumerSports.

    These offenses are predicated on strong running games putting the passing offense in positive game scripts, non-obvious passing downs and play-action situations. If the run defenses remain strong, the amount of down-and-distance third downs likely increases and so does the punt rate. We have already seen this total dip from 46 down to 45, but knowing key numbers, I want to get this at 45 and certainly above 44 in the under direction.

    Best bet: Under 45 (-110)

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    MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: Mekhi Becton #73 of the Los Angeles Chargers drops back to block during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

    The Chargers could get some good news this week on the offensive line. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

    (Perry Knotts via Getty Images)

    Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5, 48.5)

    This is an early-week bet on understanding asymmetric injury risk. The Chargers and Colts are notably banged up, both sustaining cluster injuries. For the Chargers, it’s the offensive line; for the Colts, it’s the defensive backfield.

    Chargers T Rashawn Slater (out for season) will remain out, G Mekhi Becton (illness, concussion) missed multiple games but returned last week, and T Joe Alt (ankle sprain) and T Trey Pipkins (knee sprain) could return this week. Even getting one of them back is a boost to the Chargers offense.

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    The Colts defense is for sure going to be without Kenny Moore and likely Charvarius Ward. Without these players in coverage, Jacoby Brissett was able to lead the Cardinals to 27 points even while losing WR1 Marvin Harrison before halftime.

    I think this line might climb to Chargers -2.5. It is not getting to -3, but -1.5 feels like a basement price to buy early in the week when good news has a better chance of emerging on the Chargers side. Right now the BetMGM line is -1.5 (-110) with a ML at -125. If we factor in the value of line movement respective to certain numbers, the move onto and off the 1 is worth just under 7 cents, so right now laying the points and playing the -1.5 is the better bet. If you see a -120 vs a -1.5 (-110), I would opt for the moneyline play instead. I always pay for the insurance when it is fairly priced or offered at a slight discount – and that’s a life principle, not just a betting one.

    Bes bet: Chargers -1.5 (-110)

    Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 41)

    If there are two teams to pick on either end of the spectrum – one team I think is still a little underrated by the market and another that is a bit overrated – I am a buyer on the Seahawks and a seller on the Texans.

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    According to market-based power rankings, the Seattle Seahawks are the seventh-best team in the NFL, while the Houston Texans are 12th. I believe the Seahawks are knocking on the door of the top five with perhaps the most elite defense in the league (ranked seventh in market-rated defenses), and the Texans are outright below average and should be closer to 18th. If I make some manual adjustments to the market ratings, and then reduce the extremes of that because the Texans are coming off of a bye while the Seahawks are returning home from a crosscountry road trip, I think this line should be around -4.5/-5 for Seattle.

    The early market signals agree. This opened at Seahawks -3 (-105) and BetMGM and moved to -3.5 (-105), which is a 22 cent move on value. The moneyline shifted from -149 to -185 (Note: It should be more than 22 cents because it’s more about implied probability, and a shift between these numbers is a 5% move while the spread moved 4.5%, so it’s very relative).

    I still think Seahawks backers could be coming, and -3.5 (-105) won’t last. Give me the birds at home.

    Best bet: Seahawks -3.5 (-105), good to -110



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  • Titans part ways with o-line coach Bill Callahan a day after firing his son Brian

    Titans part ways with o-line coach Bill Callahan a day after firing his son Brian


    The Tennessee Titans are cutting ties with multiple members of the Callahan family. A day after firing Brian Callahan, the team announced it was parting ways with offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Brian’s father.

    Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy made that announcement Tuesday. McCoy said Bill’s departure was the only coaching change on the staff.

    The move doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise. Bill probably wasn’t too eager to stick around after the team fired his son Monday.

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    Bill, a long-time NFL coach, joined the Titans’ coaching staff shortly after the team hired Brian in 2024. Despite being under contract with the Cleveland Browns, Bill was allowed to leave the team to coach with his son.

    Bill has been a consistent presence in the NFL since the 1995 season. After starting his NFL coaching career as an offensive line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bill took over as the Oakland Raiders’ offensive coordinator.

    He was eventually promoted into a head-coaching role with the Raiders, leading the team to a 15-17 record before he was fired after the 2003 season. Bill then spent the next four seasons coaching Nebraska.

    He returned to the NFL in 2008, and has filled a variety of coaching roles with five teams since then. Bill briefly got another head-coaching opportunity in 2019, taking over in Washington after Jay Gruden was fired. Bill led the team to a 3-8 record down the stretch, and the franchise opted to go in a different direction in the offseason.

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    Given his knowledge and experience coaching offensive linemen, Bill, 69, could still hook on with another team and continue his coaching career. Brian will likely also get another opportunity, though he may have to take a coordinator job after going 4-19 with the Titans.

    Both men will likely have to wait until the offseason to find another opportunity.



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  • NFL rushing yardage leaders after 6 weeks


    Jonathan Taylor of the Colts continues to lead the pack when it comes rushing yardage after six weeks of the NFL season. A couple of NFL South RBs had big games that placed them in the top five. Bijan Robinson of the Falcons was brilliant on Monday Night Football in a win over the Buffalo Bills. Rico Dowdle got revenge against the Dallas Cowboys with a huge effort in Carolina’s win. The top 10:

    Rushing yards: 418

    9. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

    Rushing yards: 424

    Rushing yards: 439

    Rushing yards: 442

    Rushing yards: 470

    Rushing yards: 472

    4. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

    Rushing yards: 476

    3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

    Rushing yards: 484

    2. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

    Rushing yards: 537

    Rushing yards: 603



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  • How we graded the Week 6 loss

    How we graded the Week 6 loss


    The Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears faced off on Monday Night Football this week in a rematch of Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Last year, the Commanders took home the win after Daniels found Noah Brown in the end zone on a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass. This year, the ending was slightly different.

    After taking a 13-7 deficit into the locker room at halftime, the Commanders seemed to come alive in the second half, scoring 10 points in the third quarter while holding the Bears to three in that period. But the Bears simply wanted it more this year, and they took advantage of the Commanders’ turnovers to get it done, including Daniels’ fumble at the end of the game that led to the Bears’ game-winning field goal.

    Here’s how we graded each unit, including Daniels in the Week 6 loss.

    Offense: B-

    Three turnovers are what truly hurt this grade. The offense as a whole played relatively well, but seemed to be on the wrong side of everything. The effort was there; they racked up 329 yards of offense, and it was balanced: 205 yards through the air and 124 yards on the ground. We didn’t see as much of Jacory Croskey-Merritt as we would have liked. He did get 17 touches, but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry against one of the league’s bottom-10 run defenses. That’s a far cry from the 6.1 yards per carry he averaged through the first five weeks.

    Defense: C-

    The Commanders signed defensive end Drake Jackson on Tuesday, following a loss to the Bears marked by epically poor defensive play. Quarterback pressure was nonexistent; the Commanders ended with three sacks, five quarterback hits, and five hurries. Williams still managed to record 252 yards through the air. He spread the ball around, but the Commanders’ biggest thorn was D’Andre Swift. Swift had 14 carries for 108 rushing yards, and two receptions for an additional 67 yards and a touchdown. They recorded zero takeaways. We’ll cut them some slack because three turnovers put them in a horrible position.

    Special teams: A-

    This unit continues to be solid. Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey both had solid returns on Monday, and while the Commanders only punted the ball once, the Bears had five kick returns for 120 yards. Matt Gay missed one of his field goal attempts, both of which were over 50-yard attempts. The Commanders’ coverage units were on point with both blocking and tackling. Gay’s miss is the only knock here.

    Coaching: B

    Honestly, it’s hard to say what the coaching staff could have done better or differently against the Bears. The Commanders were prepared, they had a game plan, and they executed it relatively well. They don’t have those turnovers, and they win the game; that’s not on the coaching staff. At this level, every player knows that they have to secure the ball; it’s something they literally practice their entire football careers. The play calling was fine, and in-game adjustments were made, but they couldn’t get the slightest bit of luck to go their way last night. The only knock is OC Kliff Kingsbury using the pistol on third-and-1 on the play where Daniels fumbled in the rain. Why not line up under center with the jumbo package?

    Quarterback Jayden Daniels: B-

    Despite his turnovers, Daniels played very well on Monday. He outplayed Caleb Williams by far, but he still seems somewhat bothered by that knee. Perhaps it’s the brace that he dislikes wearing, but it’s still affecting his game somewhat. Not a lot, but there were a couple of situations where he might have handled it differently if he trusted his knee. The fumbles are a problem that has to be addressed. Daniels is typically very good at securing the ball, so Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury need to identify the issue so they can address it. Daniels carried the team at times, but the INT in the red zone (his first of the year) and the fumble were backbreakers.



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  • Possible EDGE rusher trade targets for the Eagles before the deadline

    Possible EDGE rusher trade targets for the Eagles before the deadline



    Might the Eagles explore trade options before the deadline to shore up the EDGE position?

    Every NFL team has areas for improvement. Football’s salary cap system and free agency often necessitate patching positional holes. That’s what the Philadelphia Eagles are experiencing. If not for their cap, Isaiah Rodgers and Josh Sweat might still be on the roster.

    The mass exodus we witnessed in March, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, didn’t surprise anyone. It was impossible to keep Sweat, Rodgers, Milton Williams, or Darius Slay because of what they would command in terms of salary. Still, each of their absences creates roster holes, and Howie Roseman and company have been trying to replace these guys ever since.

    We are near another essential date on pro football’s calendar, the NFL trade deadline. Following Za’Darius Smith’s retirement announcement, the spotlight cast on Philadelphia’s edge rushers shines brighter than it once did.

    If Roseman and his staff wish to execute a trade to bring in reinforcements or a game-changer, they have until November 4th to do so. Here are the best options they seem to have. Some, in all honesty, are better and/or more realistic options than others.

    Arden Key is eligible for free agency after this season. He turns 30 on May 3rd, which often serves as a scarlet letter for NFL stars. Edge rushers aren’t like running backs, though.

    The good ones can play well into their 30s and be productive. See Brandon Graham. Make no mistake. This guy here still has plenty of fuel in the tank, and he could be reinvigorated by the chance to play for a contender.

    Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals – $25,166,668 cap hit

    This seems the most unrealistic possibility, but you never know with Howie Roseman. We all watched Trey Hendrickson’s drama unfold during the offseason. Ultimately, he stayed with the Cincinnati Bengals and is being paid a small fortune during his contract season.

    As is the case with Key (and everyone else on this list), his addition would probably need an extension attached to it, and for a team that will eventually need to pay Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, and Jalen Carter, making that type of long-term investment makes this seem like a dream acquisition that could never happen.

    Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants – $9,980,648 2025 cap hit

    Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t really lived up to expectations, which is partially why the New York Giants added Brian Burns in free agency and Abdul Carter during the draft, but if he can ever live up to his potential, Thibodeaux is just as good as anyone the Birds already have on the roster, if not better.

    Would the Giants trade him in-division, though? That seems unlikely. That is, unless they’ve convinced themselves, after their Week 6 win over the Eagles, that they’re the top dogs in the NFC East and Philadelphia no longer poses a threat. That too seems unlikely, but the Giants are interesting because they have so many good edge rushers.

    This is the fourth year of his rookie deal. The Giants have exercised his fifth-year option, making him a $14,751,000 cap hit and a free agent to be in 2027.

    Jermaine Johnson II, New York Jets – $4,168,912 cap hit

    This one is interesting for obvious reasons. Joe Douglas drafted Jermaine Johnson while with the New York Jets, but he has returned to the Eagles as a senior personnel director. The Jets aren’t winning and may begin stocking picks for the future. The potential asking price for Johnson is uncertain, but he’s in his contract year with his fifth-year option already having been exercised. He will be paid $13,411,000 next season and is eligible for free agency in 2027.



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  • Time, channel, key details for NMSU football vs Liberty

    Time, channel, key details for NMSU football vs Liberty


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    Are you ready for some Tuesday night football?

    New Mexico State (3-2, 1-1 Conference USA) is traveling east to take on Liberty (2-4, 1-1) at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14. The Aggies will search for their first road win of the season and an end to their current three-game losing streak against the Flames.

    Liberty, tabbed by many as one of the favorites to win CUSA, has had an underwhelming season so far. An opening win against Maine was followed by four straight losses of 10 or more points. The Flames did put an end to their losing streak last Wednesday with a 19-8 win at UTEP, their first FBS win of the season. Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell is in his third season with the program, and is CUSA’s highest-paid coach at a nearly $6 million salary.

    NM State is coming off a 37-10 win over Sam Houston on Oct. 2, marking just the seventh time it’s had a record of 3-2 or better since 1975.

    Here’s everything you need to know for game day:

    New Mexico State (3-2, 1-1) at Liberty (2-4, 1-1)

    Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

    Kickoff time: Oct. 14, 5 p.m.

    Channel: CBS Sports Network (Commentators: Jordan Kent and Adam Breneman)

    Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ (Commentators: Adam Young and Cory Lucas)

    Pregame reading

    Things to know

    • The Aggies will be without center Kai Wheeler, cornerback Dakerric Hobbs and linebacker Tyler Martinez once again. Wheeler is still in concussion protocol, while Hobbs and Martinez are nursing injuries. Cornerback Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown and linebacker Tory Gethers will start in place of Hobbs and Martinez, respectively.
    • BJ Tolo will remain the starting center in Wheeler’s place after switching from right guard against Sam Houston. Florian Staehler and Mateo Rodriguez will retain their starting spots at left guard and right guard, respectively, after Staehler made his first start of the season against the Bearkats while Rodriguez moved over from left to right guard.
    • NM State will be up against one of CUSA’s best defenses so far this season, as the Flames rank second and third, respectively, among conference teams with 351 yards allowed per game and 20.7 points allowed per game.
    • The Aggies are looking for their seventh midweek conference win as members of CUSA. The six midweek wins they already have rank second in the conference since CUSA began its “Weekday CUSA” scheduling.
    • Most betting outlets put Liberty as a 10.5-point favorite, as of Monday afternoon.



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  • Minnesota Timberwolves 2025-26 season preview: Anthony Edwards MVP leap? It’s a must to win the West

    Minnesota Timberwolves 2025-26 season preview: Anthony Edwards MVP leap? It’s a must to win the West


    The 2025-26 NBA season is here! We’re rolling out our previews — examining the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and win projections for all 30 franchises — from the still-rebuilding teams to the true title contenders.

    2024-25 finish

    • Record: 49-33 (sixth in the West, lost to the Thunder in the Western Conference finals)

    Offseason moves

    • Subtractions: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luka Garza, Josh Minott

    (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

    Anthony Edwards finished seventh in MVP voting last season. (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

    The Big Question: Is Anthony Edwards prepared for an MVP leap?

    The Timberwolves have made consecutive conference finals appearances for the first time in franchise history, establishing themselves among the NBA’s power players. They are led by a 24-year-old Anthony Edwards, so they should not be going anywhere anytime soon, but the status quo is not good enough.

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    The goal for any team is to win the championship, and it should be no different in Minnesota, where they can boast that Edwards is a top-five player — exactly the kind of performer a team needs to win the title. He has finished top-seven in MVP voting and made the All-NBA second team each of the past two years.

    He is right there on the precipice.

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    Only, it has not been good enough. The Wolves eventually ran into teams led by better players, losing to Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks in 2024 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.

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    The Wolves need Edwards to be the best player on the floor in every series, and there is a real chance he could be. He averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game on 45/40/84 shooting splits last season, adding 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The game’s best are more efficient scorers or playmakers or both.

    The Wolves actually performed 0.6 points per 100 possessions better when Edwards was off the court last season, which should not happen for a great player. Edwards should be impacting the game on both ends of the floor in a way that elevates his teammates, which he did for the most part in the playoffs, as Minnesota was 5.1 points per 100 possessions better in the postseason when he was on the court.

    Edwards struggled at times with double teams last season, expressing his frustration publicly, and that is not what a winner needs from its best player, either. The Wolves need Edwards to have seen every coverage and have a solution each time, which comes with more seasoning. This is Year 6 for him.

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    Remember: Edwards is only 24, and it is not usually until around ages 26 or 27 that superstars come into their own as champions. LeBron James and Michael Jordan are prime examples. Same goes for Jayson Tatum and Gilgeous-Alexander. We can imagine how good Edwards could be in a couple of years.

    But the Timberwolves are prepared to win now. Their All-Defensive center, Rudy Gobert, is 33 years old. Their point guard, Mike Conley, is 37. Julius Randle, their inconsistent co-star, turns 31 in November. They feature a 25-year-old Jaden McDaniels, a 26-year-old Naz Reid and recent first-round picks Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer, but the core of this team is prepared to contend now.

    [Get more Timberwolves news: Minnesota team feed]

    It certainly is being paid that way.

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    How quickly Minnesota must pivot to a new plan depends on how quickly Edwards can establish himself as capable of being the best player in any series. If he is ready to make the leap this season, the Wolves have to be prepared to meet him at this moment. Is this the roster to do it? Do they need another piece?

    Do not act too soon, for sacrificing assets when Edwards is not prepared is a fool’s errand. One would like to see him take a step forward this season, but if he doesn’t make the full leap, will Gobert, Conley and Randle fall a step behind? If Edwards is not ready, it may be time to plan for two years from now, when he should be, and that could mean a culture shift toward the younger core — and veterans on the move.

    Best-case scenario

    Edwards makes the full leap, establishing himself as a serious MVP candidate. Randle’s inconsistency yields one of his better seasons. Gobert is Gobert. Conley is Conley. McDaniels rises along with Edwards. One of, if not all of, Dillingham, Shannon and Beringer show real promise as potential impact playoff guys, masking the departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker. And the Wolves are capable of winning the West.

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    If everything falls apart

    Edwards shows little signs of progress as a playmaker. Randle endures one of his tottering seasons. That in itself could be enough to drop the Timberwolves a tier below the West’s elite, especially as the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets have improved. It might be time to consider trading Gobert, if there are any takers, embracing Reid as the center of the future and building for the time when Edwards is ready.

    2025-26 schedule

    • Season opener: Oct. 22 at Portland

    Edwards has manned a team that has won 105 games over the past two seasons, and this year the Timberwolves will have another season of continuity between him and Randle. The young guys are good. The old guys are still good. Take the over. While you’re at it, maybe even take a long shot bet on Edwards as the MVP.

    More season previews

    East: Atlanta HawksBoston CelticsBrooklyn NetsCharlotte HornetsChicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit PistonsIndiana PacersMiami HeatMilwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ersToronto RaptorsWashington Wizards

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    West: Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • Los Angeles Clippers • Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix SunsPortland Trail BlazersSacramento KingsSan Antonio SpursUtah Jazz



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