The Philadelphia Eagles lost 38-21 to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, their fifth straight defeat. The loss drops the reigning NFC East champions to 2-5 and further from the playoff picture. Injuries are a major reason for the slide. The Eagles have not lost five straight games since 2016, and the defence has allowed at least 375 yards in each loss. Their next game is against the Commanders next Sunday night.
All four NFC North teams have winning records going into Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season, a first for any division. The undefeated Minnesota Vikings lead at 5-0 and are positioned to be the No. 2 seed as division champions. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions would take the three NFC wild-card spots. Analysts say the schedule will get much tougher over the final 12 weeks, and the Vikings and Bears are predicted to finish 12-5, with the Lions and Packers at 10-7.
Sporting News staff have made their predictions for the 2026-27 NBA season. Most of the experts pick the San Antonio Spurs to win the championship, with Victor Wembanyama named Most Valuable Player. Others favour the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Minnesota Timberwolves. Cameron Boozer of the Grizzlies is the most common pick for Rookie of the Year. Predictions for the Eastern Conference vary, with the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors all tipped to come out on top.
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The NFC East could become the first division since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to go winless in back-to-back weeks when all teams played. The Cowboys lost 23-13 to the Packers on Sunday night, and the Commanders are underdogs against the 49ers on Monday night. The Giants still lead the division by 1.5 games. The Eagles and Cowboys meet on Monday Night Football in Week 7, and the winner could be well placed in the division.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia predicts the team will improve, make the playoffs, and win a first-round series in the 2026-27 season. He believes the Suns, led by superstar Devin Booker, are an ascending young team that will continue to get better. Last season, the Suns won 45 games and made the playoffs through the play-in tournament, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a four-game sweep.
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham says people still do not give his team enough credit. He made the comments after practice, pointing to the team's lack of hype in the offseason despite winning 60 games last season. Betting odds suggest Detroit is viewed below several other Eastern Conference contenders. Rivals have strengthened, with the New York Knicks keeping their roster and the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers adding star players. Detroit would need to repeat its success to silence doubters.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been ruled out indefinitely after a superficial blood clot, a blow to a team with a 2-3 start. Reports say he may miss several weeks. Backup Tanner McKee has starting experience, and rookie Cole Payton could also compete for the role. The Eagles play in a weakened NFC East and have a favourable schedule before a Week 10 bye. Analysts argue the team can still make the playoffs.
The Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams both have strengths and weaknesses that will decide whether they reach Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles. The Bills rely on quarterback Josh Allen, who is playing at a high level, and running back James Cook, who leads the league in rushing. Their pass defence and turnover count are major concerns. The Rams have strong passing and pass defence, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, but they have committed more turnovers than they have forced. Injuries to key defenders are also a worry.
Officials ruled Seattle receiver Cooper Kupp short of the first-down marker on a fourth-and-10 in the final minute of the fourth quarter. Kupp appeared to get the ball past the line, but the ruling was that the ball was over the out-of-bounds line before it reached the marker. Replay did not provide convincing evidence to overturn the call on the field, so it stood. The Seahawks turned the ball over on downs and lost 32-29 at home to the San Francisco 49ers, a result that could hurt their NFC West chances.
UC Capitals coach Paul Goriss says American point guard Meg McConnell fits the club's needs after she arrived from the Bendigo Spirit. Jade Melbourne has left Canberra for the Victorian goldfields team after six years with the club. The Caps have kept three players from last season and added the rest of their 10-player roster. McConnell, who starred at Duquesne University and played in the WNBA, says she hopes to help the team reach a top-five playoff spot. The two clubs meet at the AIS Arena on 17 October in round one of the 2026-27 WNBL season.
The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the only NFL team to reach the playoffs after losing their first four games. The team, coached in its first year by Bobby Ross, won its first game in Week 5 against the Seahawks. San Diego went on to win 11 of its next 12 games and clinched a playoff spot with a Week 17 victory. The team also won a postseason game before losing in the divisional round. Two years later, the Chargers reached the Super Bowl with players who emerged during that season.
The Atlanta Falcons have won nine of their last 13 prime-time games since the 2024 season began. Their record in non-prime-time games over the same period is 9-16. The team has not reached the NFL playoffs since 2017. Running back Bijan Robinson averages 145.5 scrimmage yards per game in prime-time matchups, the most of any NFL running back in history with at least five such games. Robinson says he approaches prime-time and afternoon games the same way.