The Playbook

Real Madrid won 3-0 at Valencia on 7 November, with Kylian Mbappé on the scoresheet, according to The Guardian. The Guardian wrote that José Mourinho's Madrid largely dominated at Mestalla against a Valencia side down to 10 men, and that Federico Valverde opened the scoring. Real Madrid are second in La Liga on 30 points after 12 games. Real Madrid won 3-0 at Racing Santander on 1 November, and The Guardian reported that Mbappé scored a penalty in that game. Away from the pitch, BBC Sport reported that the tennis great Rafael Nadal is set to join Real Madrid's board of directors. BBC Sport's gossip column also linked Real Madrid with the Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, which remains talk rather than a bid. Next, Celta Vigo visit the Santiago Bernabéu in La Liga next weekend.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Real Madrid's defence is the strongest base for a season-long chase. They have conceded 10 league goals this season, joint fewest in La Liga, and their goal difference of +21 keeps them three points off the top even though they have scored fewer than the leaders. Their season record is 10 wins, no draws and two defeats. A back line that concedes that rarely turns narrow games into wins, and narrow games are where title races are usually settled between November and May.

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Juventus drew 2-2 at Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday 8 November. Juventus are seventh in Serie A on 18 points after 11 games, with five wins, three draws and three defeats. Juventus have scored 15 league goals and conceded 12, a goal difference of +3. Randal Kolo Muani has four goals and four assists in 15 appearances across all competitions for Juventus. Juventus beat Napoli 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium on 1 November. Juventus are six points behind fourth. Venezia visit the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 22 November, with kick-off at 6:30 am ET. A side that has scored 15 league goals this season has its attack to answer for, and a home game is the first chance to answer it.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Juventus will struggle to close the gap to the top four on current scoring. They are six points behind fourth place with a goal difference of +3, and a side with 15 league goals this season has little spare margin.

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Barcelona came from behind to win 2-1 at Atlético Madrid on 8 November, with Fermín López scoring twice, according to BBC Sport and The Guardian. The Guardian reported that Barcelona trailed to a Giuliano Simeone goal before Fermín López scored either side of half-time. The Guardian also wrote that the win held the doubts at bay for Hansi Flick's side after a difficult fortnight. Barcelona lead La Liga on 33 points after 12 games, three points clear at the top. Fermín López has 8 goals and 7 assists this season across La Liga and the Champions League. Away from the pitch, The Guardian reported that supporters will soon be able to deposit their ashes at the Memorial FC Barcelona, part of the Camp Nou upgrade. Barcelona's next match is Villarreal at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday 22 November, a home game for the league leaders.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Barcelona's attack is strong enough to carry a title race over a full season. They have scored 48 league goals this season, the most in La Liga, and their goal difference of +35 is the best in the division. Their season record of 11 wins, no draws and one defeat is the return on that scoring. Barcelona have conceded 13 league goals this season, so the defence has been good enough not to waste the attack's work, and a side that scores this freely can afford an off night at the back that a lower-scoring rival cannot.

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Chelsea lost 1-0 at Sunderland on Sunday 8 November, with Le Fée's penalty deciding the match, according to The Guardian. Chelsea are fifth on 16 points. BBC Sport reports that the club has warned staff to be careful about revealing team news through Fantasy Premier League after João Pedro's injury appeared to have been inadvertently disclosed through team selections. Morgan Rogers leads the scoring with six goals and four assists in all competitions, Cole Palmer has five goals and João Pedro has five. Chelsea have scored 19 league goals this season. Chelsea have conceded 16 league goals this season. Chelsea's league record is five wins, one draw and four defeats, and Pedro Neto has four goals in all competitions. The next fixture is Chelsea v Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 21 November, 10:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Chelsea's scoring is spread widely enough that losing João Pedro would be a dent and not a collapse. Four players have four goals or more in all competitions: Morgan Rogers has six, Cole Palmer and João Pedro have five each, and Pedro Neto has four. A team with four scorers at that level is not hostage to one forward's fitness.

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Brentford lost 2-0 at Brighton on Sunday 8 November after Igor Thiago was shown a straight red card, BBC Sport reports. Brentford were down to ten men for the defeat. Brentford are 8th in the Premier League on 14 points. Their league record is three wins, five draws and two losses, with 16 scored and 11 conceded, a goal difference of plus five. Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at home on Saturday 31 October. Keith Andrews, the Brentford manager, spoke to BBC Sport after the Brighton game. Brentford have drawn five of their ten league games, which is what holds their points total down. Igor Thiago has four goals and two assists in all competitions. Brentford host Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday 23 November at 3:00 pm ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

The scoring at Brentford is shared and thin at the top. Igor Thiago has four goals and two assists in 13 appearances in all competitions, and that is the highest goal total in the squad.

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Manchester City lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday 7 November. City are third on 21 points. The Guardian reports that after three straight defeats, manager Enzo Maresca says he will use the international break to reassess. BBC Sport has also run a piece assessing the reasons for the decline in form. Erling Haaland has 14 goals in all competitions, and Rayan Cherki has seven goals and three assists. Manchester City have conceded 13 league goals this season. Phil Foden has four goals and four assists in all competitions. City's league record is seven wins, no draws and three defeats. The next fixture is Manchester City v Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 21 November, 7:30 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Erling Haaland accounts for a great deal of Manchester City's attack, and the season totals show how large the share is. Haaland has 14 goals in all competitions, which is double the seven of Rayan Cherki, the next best. A side whose second scorer is on half the total of its first is leaning heavily on one finisher.

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Crystal Palace sacked manager Pierre Sage after 16 games in charge, BBC Sport and Sky Sports report. The sacking came days after a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool at Selhurst Park on Sunday 8 November. Palace are 20th in the Premier League on 7 points. Their league record is two wins, one draw and seven losses, with 10 scored and 24 conceded, a goal difference of minus 14. The Guardian wrote that Sage's failure to fix defensive flaws leaves Palace seeking a new solution. Daichi Kamada has four goals and three assists in all competitions. Palace have won two of their ten league games. Jørgen Strand Larsen and Yéremy Pino each have four goals in all competitions. Palace go to Coventry on Saturday 21 November at 10:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Crystal Palace's attack is good enough for a new manager to build on. Palace's scoring is not the reason they are bottom of the table.

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Rodrigo Muniz rescued a late point as Fulham drew 1-1 with Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on Saturday 7 November, according to The Guardian. Fulham are 15th on 10 points. The Guardian adds that questions over whether Álvaro Arbeloa has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League remain unanswered. Fulham drew 1-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday 31 October, with BBC Sport reporting that goalkeeper Zion Suzuki's second-half mistake gifted the point. Fulham's league record is two wins, four draws and four defeats, and Muniz leads the scoring with three goals in all competitions. Josh King has two goals and two assists in all competitions, and César Palacios, Oscar Bobb and Gonzalo García have two goals each. The next fixture is Manchester City v Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 21 November, 7:30 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Scoring is Fulham's season-long ceiling, and the league total is the evidence. Fulham have scored 10 league goals this season, and no Fulham player has more than three goals in all competitions. A side with no clear finisher struggles to win, and Fulham's season record is two wins, four draws and four defeats.

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The LA Galaxy's season ended with a 2-1 defeat at Real Salt Lake at America First Field on Decision Day, the final regular-season game. The Galaxy finished 11th in the Western Conference on 44 points, with 11 wins, 11 draws and 12 defeats from 34 games. Ninth place, the last playoff spot, finished on 45 points, which means the Galaxy missed the postseason by a single point. The goal difference of -7 came from 50 scored and 57 conceded, and the defensive column is the one to fix. LA Galaxy 4-1 Austin FC on 31 October was the last win and showed how good a night can be. The 2027 season opens at home to St. Louis CITY SC in February, and the winter will decide whether the Galaxy get back to the line they missed.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Arsenal's lead has been built without a prolific scorer, and the season-long question is whether a shared attack can carry a title defence. Arsenal have scored 15 league goals this season, a modest total for the leaders. Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka have four goals each in all competitions, the most on the team.

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Inter Miami drew 3-3 with Charlotte FC at Nu Stadium on Decision Day, the final regular-season game. Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference on 60 points. The season record was 16 wins, 12 draws and six defeats, with 80 goals scored, the most in the East, and 59 conceded for a goal difference of +21. Miami now open the Eastern Conference playoffs in Round One against Columbus Crew at Nu Stadium, with the first game on Saturday 21 November at 6:00 pm ET. The attack is the reason this is a home series. New England Revolution 1-2 Inter Miami on 31 October was the last win. The 59 goals conceded are the risk Miami carry into the knockout stage, and it is the one weakness a home crowd cannot fix.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Over 34 games, a side that drew 12 times is only partly built for knockout soccer: a goal difference of +21 says Miami are strong, but those draws show games they could not close. In the regular season a draw still earned a point, while a playoff series gives no credit for a game left level.

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Hull City lost 1-0 at Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday 7 November, a narrow defeat. Hull are 13th on 11 points. Hull's league record is two wins, five draws and three defeats, which describes a side that is hard to beat and rarely wins. Mohamed Belloumi leads the scoring with three goals and two assists in all competitions, and Oliver McBurnie has two goals and two assists. Hull have scored 11 league goals and conceded 11 this season, a level goal difference. Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, both defenders, have one goal each in all competitions, so the scoring comes from more than the forwards. The next fixture is Hull City v Brighton & Hove Albion at the MKM Stadium on Sunday 22 November, 9:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Hull's goals come from a spread of players and not from one scorer, and the spread is also the limit of the attack. Mohamed Belloumi leads with three goals and two assists in all competitions. Oliver McBurnie has two goals and two assists, and Kieran Dowell has one goal. Belloumi and McBurnie have two assists each, so the two forwards create as well as finish. No Hull player has reached four goals, so the scoring has no obvious finisher to carry a bad run. A side with one forward on six goals would read very differently.

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Liverpool won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Sunday 8 November, and Andoni Iraola's side go into the international break with a result to show for it. Liverpool are fourth on 18 points. Sky Sports reports that an independent panel has ruled Jurrien Timber's pull on Alexander Isak's shirt in the 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on 1 November should have been a penalty. BBC Sport reports that goalkeeper Alisson Becker wants to sign a new contract and stay beyond the end of the season, when his current deal expires. Isak has eight goals and one assist in all competitions, and Cody Gakpo has six assists. The next fixture is Liverpool v Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday 22 November, 11:30 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Liverpool's goals are spread widely enough to sustain a top-four place, and the evidence is in the scoring list. Alexander Isak carries the scoring with eight goals and one assist in all competitions, but Alexis Mac Allister has five goals and one assist, so the attack does not depend on one man. A team that relies on a single scorer is exposed to a bad month, and Liverpool are not in that position.

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Noah Okafor scored the only goal as Leeds United beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday 7 November, according to The Guardian. Leeds are ninth on 14 points. The Guardian's match report also notes that Jayden Bogle did well to escape a red card. Leeds' league record is three wins, five draws and two defeats, and the defence has conceded eight league goals this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the scoring with four goals and one assist in all competitions, and Okafor has two goals and one assist. James Justin and Jayden Bogle, both defenders, have two goals each in all competitions, and Leeds' goal difference is plus two. The next fixture is Chelsea v Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 21 November, 10:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Leeds cannot often score enough to turn draws into wins, and the season totals say so. Leeds have scored 10 league goals this season, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's four goals in all competitions are the most on the team. A side with 10 league goals cannot expect to win many of its matches.

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THE ANALYST’S DESK

Inter are a co-favourite for the Serie A title, not the sole one. Their record of nine wins, one draw and one defeat in 11 games is the strongest argument, and a goal difference of +15 supports it. A side with that record belongs in any conversation about the title.

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Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 3-1 at the City Ground on Saturday 7 November, with Liam Delap scoring twice, The Guardian reports. Forest are 16th in the Premier League on 9 points. Their league record is two wins, three draws and five losses, with nine scored and 13 conceded. Forest lost 2-0 at Brentford on Saturday 31 October. Forest drew 1-1 at Ipswich on Friday 23 October. Delap has three goals in all competitions. Dan Ndoye has two goals in all competitions. Morgan Gibbs-White has one goal and three assists in all competitions. Forest have drawn three of their ten league games. Forest's goal difference in the league is minus four. Forest go to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday 21 November at 10:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Forest's season depends on scoring, and nine league goals this season leaves Nottingham Forest no margin. Forest have conceded 13, a goal difference of minus four, and a side that scores this rarely cannot afford to give much away.

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Paris Saint-Germain beat Troyes 1-0 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday 7 November. PSG are first in Ligue 1 on 23 points after ten games, with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Their goal difference of +12 is the best in the division, built on 22 goals scored and only ten against. Paris Saint-Germain have won each of their last three league games. Ferran Torres has seven goals and one assist in 14 appearances across all competitions for PSG. PSG are two points clear at the top going into the international break. The next league game is at Nice on Saturday 21 November at the Allianz Riviera, with kick-off at 11:15 am ET. The league record says more about this side than a 1-0 scoreline does, and the table backs the reading: control, not a close call.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Paris Saint-Germain have built the most complete record in Ligue 1. Their 22 league goals are the joint-highest total in the division, their goal difference of +12 is the best, and they have lost only once in the league this season. Few sides can claim both the attack and the defence at the top of the same table, and PSG can.

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Manchester United's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday 8 November has left a club with a managerial vacancy and a lot to fix. United are 18th on 8 points. The Guardian reports that Michael Carrick has been sacked and that Mauricio Pochettino has agreed the framework of a deal, though he is expected to lead the United States in their Nations League games first, so no appointment has been announced. Bruno Fernandes has six goals and two assists in all competitions, and he is the most productive attacker in a side whose league record is one win, five draws and four defeats. United have conceded 19 league goals this season, and the defence is the first job for whoever takes over. The next fixture is Liverpool v Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday 22 November, 11:30 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Manchester United's season-long question is whether an attack that scores can turn draws into wins. United's league record is one win, five draws and four defeats, so half of their ten league games have ended level. United have scored 14 league goals this season, which is mid-table output. The goals are there, but only one league win has come from them.

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Bayern Munich won 2-1 at Mainz on Saturday 7 November at the MEWA ARENA. Bayern are top of the Bundesliga on 21 points after nine games, with six wins, three draws and no defeats. Harry Kane has signed a new contract that runs until 2029, BBC Sport reports. Kane has 10 goals and 11 assists in 14 appearances across all competitions. BBC Sport also reports that head coach Vincent Kompany is back at training and on the road to recovery after his collapse. Bayern have scored 29 league goals and conceded nine, a goal difference of +20. Bayern's next game is at home to FC Cologne at the Allianz Arena on Friday 20 November, with kick-off at 2:30 pm ET. Keeping Kane to 2029 is the biggest piece of Bayern business this autumn, and the league record shows a side that has not lost.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Bayern's edge at the top of the Bundesliga rests on goal difference, not on points. Bayern have 21 points after nine games, and one other club has the same total. Goal difference is where Bayern pull away: Bayern's stands at +20, the best in the division.

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AC Milan won 2-1 at Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday 8 November. Milan are fourth in Serie A on 24 points after 11 games, with seven wins, three draws and one defeat. Milan are five points off first place in Serie A. The Guardian described the victory over Inter in the derby on 31 October as a tactical win for Ruben Amorim. Alphadjo Cissè has eight goals in 13 appearances across all competitions for Milan. Milan have scored 23 league goals and conceded 13. Frosinone visit San Siro after the international break on Sunday 22 November, with kick-off at 12:00 pm ET. Milan's league record supports them as contenders, even if they are not yet the favourites for the Serie A title.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Milan's defence is good enough to hold a top-four place. They have conceded 13 league goals this season, and a goal difference of +10 is the kind of record that top-four sides carry through a season.

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Brighton beat Brentford 2-0 at home on Sunday 8 November. Brighton are second on 22 points. Brighton won 1-0 at Manchester City on Saturday 31 October. Brighton's season totals read 26 goals scored and 7 conceded, a goal difference of plus 19, from a league record of seven wins, one draw and two defeats. Pascal Gross has five goals and four assists in all competitions, and Georginio Rutter has four assists. Charalambos Kostoulas and Jack Hinshelwood have four goals each. Maxim De Cuyper, a defender, has three goals and three assists in all competitions, so the scoring is shared across the side. The next fixture is Hull City v Brighton at the MKM Stadium on Sunday 22 November, 9:00 am ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Brighton's attack does not depend on any one player, and the scoring list is the proof. Five players have between three and five goals in all competitions: Pascal Gross has five, Charalambos Kostoulas and Jack Hinshelwood have four each, and Georginio Rutter and Maxim De Cuyper have three each. A defence can mark one finisher, but it cannot mark five.

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Seattle Sounders FC beat LAFC 2-1 at Lumen Field on Decision Day, the final regular-season game. Seattle finished eighth in the Western Conference on 46 points. The season record was 12 wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats from 34 games. The win earned Seattle a home Wild Card against Real Salt Lake at Lumen Field, with the date and time not yet confirmed. Seattle lost 5-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps on 1 November, a reminder of how quickly the form can turn. The Sounders scored 44 and conceded 46 over the season, a goal difference of -2, which is why the home game matters so much. Seattle go into the Wild Card as a side that is only just in, and Lumen Field is the edge they hold.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Over 34 games, the Sounders are a playoff-calibre side only just: a goal difference of -2 and as many defeats as wins make them a Wild Card side, no more. Eighth in the West on 46 points is a place earned, but the season-long record does not say the team is better than the places around it.

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Toronto FC's season ended with a 4-1 defeat at Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Decision Day, the final regular-season game. Toronto finished 12th in the Eastern Conference on 39 points, with nine wins, 12 draws and 13 defeats from 34 games. Ninth place, the last playoff spot, finished on 46 points, so Toronto missed the postseason by seven points. The record behind the finish was lopsided at the back, with 52 goals scored and 67 conceded for a goal difference of -15. Atlanta United beat Toronto 3-1 on 1 November, a defeat that showed the same weakness. The 2027 season opens with a trip to Atlanta United in February, and Toronto will have the winter to decide what a better defence looks like.

Thierno Barry scored twice as Everton came from behind to beat Coventry 3-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday 6 November, BBC Sport reports. Barry also scored the winner in a 1-0 win at Newcastle on Monday 2 November. Everton are 6th in the Premier League on 16 points. Their league record is four wins, four draws and two losses, with 12 scored and 10 conceded. Barry has 10 goals and three assists in all competitions. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is next on three goals and two assists in all competitions. Everton have drawn four of their ten league games. Everton have lost two of their ten league games. Everton go to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday 23 November at 3:00 pm ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Everton's defence is the real reason they sit in the top six. Everton have conceded 10 league goals this season, with four draws in the record, and that is a defensive base a side can build a season on.

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Bayer Leverkusen won 2-1 at FC Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday 8 November. The win followed a 4-2 home defeat by VfB Stuttgart on 31 October. Leverkusen are fifth in the Bundesliga on 16 points after nine games, with five wins, one draw and three defeats. Leverkusen have scored 20 league goals and conceded 17. Patrik Schick has 12 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions for Leverkusen. Ibrahim Maza has four goals and four assists in 14 appearances across all competitions. Leverkusen host SC Paderborn 07 at the BayArena on Saturday 21 November, with kick-off at 9:30 am ET. The derby win is a stop, not a cure, because 17 league goals conceded this season is the number Leverkusen still have to bring down before the season can settle.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Leverkusen are within reach of a top-four place but not yet there. Leverkusen are fifth on 16 points after nine games, and they sit two points short of the top four. A goal difference of +3 is a thin base for a season-long push, and the defence is the reason. Nine league games is a short sample, so the top-four question has plenty of time to change either way.

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Seattle beat Arizona 17-3 at home on Sunday 8 November to reach 5-4, and Ernest Jones IV had seven tackles. Next is Sunday 15 November at the Las Vegas Raiders, and Sam Darnold (quadriceps) will not play. He is expected to return in Week 12 at San Francisco after a Week 11 bye. Drew Lock (right elbow/oblique) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, and tackle Charles Cross (ankle) is listed as doubtful after a limited practice. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 1,036 receiving yards, Cooper Kupp has 238 and Emanuel Wilson has 403 rushing yards, and all three are listed as active. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams (shoulder) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, and linebacker Derick Hall (back) did not participate either.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Seattle's points margin says the Seahawks are better than a 5-4 record suggests. The team has scored 202 points and allowed 162 through nine games, a differential of plus 40, which is a better mark than a one-game-over record implies. Seattle has won five of nine. Nine games is a long enough sample that the margin is a better guide than the record. The 162 points allowed is the defensive half of that margin.

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Kansas City beat the Jets 35-12 at Arrowhead on Sunday 8 November to reach 6-2, and the pass rush did much of the damage: Chris Jones and George Karlaftis each recorded two sacks. Nick Bolton added 12 tackles and a forced fumble, and Drue Tranquill had 13 tackles. Next is Sunday 15 November at Atlanta. Coach Andy Reid said tackle Jaylon Moore (ankle) is considered day-to-day. Patrick Mahomes (right elbow/knee) and Xavier Worthy (hamstring) were both full participants in Wednesday's practice, and L'Jarius Sneed (knee) is on injured reserve after being placed there on Saturday. Kenneth Walker III leads the ground game with 872 rushing yards, and Travis Kelce has 482 receiving yards, and both lead the Chiefs at their positions.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Dallas is better than its 4-5 record, but only slightly. The Cowboys have scored 246 points and allowed 236 this season, a differential of +10. A margin of that size is the one a team near .500 produces, so the record reads as fair rather than unlucky.

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Jacksonville won 33-10 at Baltimore on Thursday 5 November to reach 6-2, and The Guardian called it the Jaguars' fifth win in six games. Trevor Lawrence threw for 242 yards and a touchdown, according to The Guardian. The Jaguars also added defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the Saints for a conditional sixth-round pick, and CBS Sports' stock report said they went all-in at the trade deadline. Next is Sunday 15 November at the Tennessee Titans. Bhayshul Tuten (ankle/foot) did not practice Thursday and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hand) was limited, so the backfield is worth watching. Parker Washington has 493 receiving yards and Lawrence has 1,932 passing yards this season, which gives Jacksonville a clear passing core on the road at Nissan Stadium.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Jacksonville's defense is the best part of the 6-2 record. The Jaguars have allowed 121 points through eight games and scored 229, a differential of plus 108, and the points-allowed total is the smaller figure by a wide margin. Six wins in eight games, with a margin that large, says the record is earned rather than lucky. A differential of plus 108 through eight games is a large number by any standard. The 121 points allowed is the lowest figure on either side of Jacksonville's ledger.

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Philadelphia lost 19-11 at home to the Giants on Sunday 8 November to fall to 2-7, and now has a bye this weekend. The passing game was thin in that game: Darius Cooper caught two of eight targets for 25 yards, and Elijah Moore caught one of two targets for minus-3 yards. Dallas Goedert caught five of six targets for 50 yards against the Giants. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had 11 tackles and a forced fumble on defense. Next is the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday 22 November, and Arnold Ebiketie stays with the Eagles after his reported trade to the Bengals fell through. Jalen Hurts has 933 passing yards and Tanner McKee has 638. Saquon Barkley has 296 rushing yards, and Makai Lemon leads the receivers with 312 yards.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Philadelphia is far from being competitive over a full season. The Eagles have scored 148 points and allowed 221 through nine games, a differential of minus 73, and their record is 2-7. A margin of that size is not the product of one bad afternoon, and a bye cannot close it alone. The record and the margin agree about where the team stands. Nine games is a large enough sample that the margin reflects the team rather than a stretch of bad luck.

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The Miami Dolphins lost 19-9 at home to the Detroit Lions on Sunday 8 November and stand at 1-7. Kyle McCord will step in as the starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game at Indianapolis after Miami placed Malik Willis on injured reserve. The Dolphins hope Willis will return this year but have not ruled out season-ending surgery. Defensive tackle Zach Sieler was placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks recorded 12 tackles in the Lions loss, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had 10. Ollie Gordon II leads Miami with 463 rushing yards and Malik Washington has 350 receiving yards. The Dolphins visit the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday 15 November, with the kickoff time still to be confirmed.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Miami's offense is a bigger problem than its defense. The Dolphins have scored 126 points and allowed 200 this season, a differential of -74. The points scored are the number that sets the ceiling on every game, and the record is 1-7.

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The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 45-27 on Sunday 8 November to reach 6-3. Jordan Love has thrown for 2,618 yards this season, and CBS Sports calls him the 2026 midseason MVP. Christian Watson has 879 receiving yards and Matthew Golden has 783. Running back Josh Jacobs has finger surgery on Friday, and the Packers will have a better sense of his recovery timetable afterward. Linebacker Zaire Franklin is doubtful with a shin injury after he did not practice Thursday. The Packers beat the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on 29 October in the game before the Patriots. Kaleb Johnson leads the team with 172 rushing yards. Next is the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday 15 November, with the kickoff time still to be confirmed.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Green Bay's 6-3 record is better than its scoring margin. The Packers have scored 216 points and allowed 191 this season, a differential of +25. A margin of that size belongs to a good team, but it is thinner than the six wins would suggest.

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Buffalo reached 7-1 on Monday night with a 23-6 win at Minnesota, and The Guardian noted the Bills matched their best start since 1993. Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass with 44 seconds left before half-time, James Cook rushed 31 times for 107 yards and a late score, and linebackers Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams each came away with an interception. Next is Sunday 15 November at the New York Jets, with a 1:00 pm ET kickoff at MetLife Stadium. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday, and tackle Dion Dawkins (ribs) was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough, so the final injury report is worth a look before kickoff. Cook comes in with 814 rushing yards on the season, and Kincaid leads the receivers with 429 yards.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Buffalo's 7-1 record is backed by its scoring margin, though the margin is thinner than the record. The Bills have scored 256 points and allowed 187 through eight games, a differential of plus 69. A margin of that size is a real cushion, yet it is thinner than the record suggests, and the 33-30 win over the Raiders on 18 October is a reminder of how tight some of those wins were. Buffalo has lost once in eight games, and the record and the margin point the same way. Eight games is a small sample, so the margin is the better guide to the team than the single loss.

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Next: New York Giants vs Jacksonville Jaguars  |  2026-11-22  |  NFL

The metrics that define this season

The Playbook

San Francisco beat the Raiders 38-17 at home on Sunday 8 November to reach 7-1, and added receiver Keenan Allen from the Colts for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Linebacker Jaden Dugger returned an interception for a touchdown in the win, and Fred Warner forced a fumble and recovered one. Next is Sunday 15 November at Dallas, with a 4:25 pm ET kickoff. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Mike Evans is "real close" to returning from Achilles tendinitis and would probably play Sunday if it were a playoff game. Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) and tackle Trent Williams (shoulder) were both limited in practice on Thursday. George Kittle leads the team's receivers with 483 yards, and Evans has 420 despite the time he has missed.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

San Francisco's defense is a strong part of the 7-1 record, though not the only part. The 49ers have allowed 156 points through eight games and scored 235, a differential of plus 79. The points-allowed total is small enough to carry a team through a poor offensive afternoon, and the margin shows both units are contributing. Seven wins in eight games is the record, and the margin says the team has earned most of it. Defense and offense each own a share of the 156 points allowed and 235 scored.

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The Baltimore Ravens lost 33-10 at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday 5 November and stand at 4-5. Head coach Jesse Minter said, "I expect (Brissett) to be our starter" for Monday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Guardian reported that quarterback Jacoby Brissett was heading to Baltimore from the Arizona Cardinals amid a quarterback injury crisis. Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve and scheduled for thumb surgery, and he has told teammates he plans to return later this season. The Ravens also acquired center Ryan Neuzil from the Atlanta Falcons. Derrick Henry leads the team with 689 rushing yards and Zay Flowers has 614 receiving yards. The Ravens host the Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday 16 November.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Baltimore's season-long problem is the defense more than the quarterback injuries. The Ravens have scored 189 points and allowed 236 this season, a differential of -47. The points against are the bigger number, and they sit behind a 4-5 record that the offense alone did not produce.

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The Minnesota Vikings lost 23-6 at home to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, 9 November, and stand at 6-2. The Guardian reported that Carson Wentz completed eight of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions in the game. The Vikings then reacquired Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2027 third-round pick, according to The Guardian. Kyler Murray is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury, and coach Kevin O'Connell said Murray remains week-to-week. Justin Jefferson has 393 receiving yards and Aaron Jones Sr. has 474 rushing yards, while T.J. Hockenson has 328 receiving yards. The Vikings visit the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday 15 November, with the kickoff time still to be confirmed.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Minnesota's 6-2 record is built almost entirely on defense. The Vikings have allowed 116 points this season against 146 scored, a differential of +30. The points allowed are the base on which the record stands, and the scoring side is modest for a team with six wins.

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The Mets are in the offseason after a 74-88 season that left them out of the postseason, and CBS Sports reports they will meet with Tarik Skubal as the GM meetings open. Their finale was a 6-4 loss at Washington on Sunday 27 September. Nolan McLean posted a 3.16 ERA and struck out 194 batters, and he is the base of the rotation. Juan Soto hit 27 home runs. Bo Bichette drove in 78 runs. David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, said he expects Tylor Megill to be ready for the start of spring training after elbow trouble. Soto and Bichette are the offensive anchors. There is no game until next season, and the Mets' winter starts with the chase for an ace.

The Nationals are in the offseason after a 77-85 season that left them out of the postseason, closing with a 6-4 home win over the Mets on Sunday 27 September. The Nationals won two of their final three games, all at home against the Mets. CJ Abrams hit 33 home runs and drove in 106 runs, and James Wood hit 30 home runs. Cade Cavalli posted a 3.02 ERA and struck out 200 batters, the strongest line in the rotation. Daylen Lile drove in 89 runs, so the lineup runs deeper than its shortstop. Drew Millas, the catcher, was due for surgery on a fractured left index finger. There is no game until next season, and Washington's winter is about building around Abrams and Cavalli.

The Toronto Raptors lost 123-112 at Philadelphia on Thursday, with Scottie Barnes (groin) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness) both out. Toronto is 5-7 and has lost three straight. Barnes leads the team at 23.5 points a game. Kawhi Leonard (knee) is also out, though head coach Darko Rajakovic said Wednesday that Leonard is doing individual on-court work and progressing well. Barnes's availability for Sunday has not been reported. Jackson-Davis is listed day-to-day, and Nate Bittle, a centre, is also listed out. With Barnes missing, RJ Barrett's 20.5 points a game and Immanuel Quickley's 16.7 make them Toronto's top available scorers, and Jamal Shead leads the team with 6.9 assists a game. The New York Knicks visit Scotiabank Arena on Sunday at 6 pm ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Toronto's season will be run by its guards as much as by its stars, and Jamal Shead is the clearest case. Shead leads the Raptors with 6.9 assists a game, ahead of Immanuel Quickley at 5.6 and Scottie Barnes at 5.1. A 5-7 record and a .417 win rate after twelve games do not yet separate a play-in team from a lottery team, and the way Toronto shares the ball is one of the season-long figures that will decide which of the two the Raptors become.

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Next: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks  |  Fri 13 Nov 2026  |  NBA

The metrics that define this season

The Playbook

The Warriors lost 115-108 at Houston on Wednesday and lost Stephen Curry to an oblique tear, and they visit San Antonio tonight at 9:30 pm ET at Frost Bank Center with an 8-4 record. CBS Sports reports that Curry will miss at least two weeks. Curry averages 27.8 points per game, the most on the team. The Guardian reports that Marcus Smart of the Rockets was ejected for punching Charles Bassey, and CBS Sports reports that Smart will likely face a suspension. Bassey is probable for tonight's game with left toe soreness. Kristaps Porzingis has stepped away from basketball, and Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are still recovering from knee injuries. Brandon Williams, a guard, is out with a hamstring injury. Golden State has to find its scoring elsewhere in San Antonio.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Colorado's scoring is deep enough to carry a season of injuries, and the evidence is the spread of its scoring list. Artturi Lehkonen leads the team with 14 goals. Nathan MacKinnon has 10 goals and 20 assists, and Martin Necas has 10 goals and 24 points. The five leading scorers are all at 19 points or better.

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The Boston Bruins lost 5-2 at home to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, and they stand at 13-5-1 with 27 points from 19 games. Thursday's loss followed two Boston wins. The Bruins beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 at home on Sunday. Boston won 6-2 at Pittsburgh on Thursday 5 November. James Hagens, a centre, is on injured reserve with a back injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks, according to head coach Marco Sturm. David Pastrnak leads the team with 8 goals, and Elias Lindholm has 7. Morgan Geekie and JJ Peterka have 5 goals each. The Minnesota Wild visit TD Garden on Saturday at 7 pm ET. One home defeat does not dent a start this strong, but the open question is who plays down the middle while Hagens is out.

The Vancouver Canucks lost 3-1 at home to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday 9 November, and they sit at 3-16-1 with 7 points from 20 games. Thatcher Demko, the goaltender, is on injured reserve with a hip injury, and co-president of hockey operations Henrik Sedin said he hopes Demko will be ready to return before Christmas. Filip Chytil, a centre, is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, and defenceman Tom Willander is day-to-day. Jake DeBrusk has 5 goals, and Filip Hronek has 12 assists. Elias Pettersson leads the team in scoring, with 4 goals and 16 assists. Brock Boeser and Jonathan Lekkerimaki have 7 goals each, and Vancouver needs goals from them. The New York Rangers visit Rogers Arena tonight at 9 pm ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

A record of 3-16-1 is the record of a team facing a long climb, and the road back from 7 points in 20 games runs through the whole season. Three wins in 20 games leaves very little margin, and every remaining month asks the Canucks to win at a rate they have not shown so far this season.

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The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Thursday at an alternate site, with Seattle the designated home side, for a third straight win. Carolina is 15-3-2 with 32 points from 20 games. Sebastian Aho has 12 goals, and Logan Stankoven has 11. Andrei Svechnikov has 9 goals, and Nikolaj Ehlers has 12 assists. The Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 9-2 at home on Saturday 7 November. Jordan Staal, a centre, is on injured reserve. Aho has 28 points, and Jackson Blake has 15 assists. The Hurricanes meet the Kraken again on Saturday at Veikkaus Arena, this time as the designated home team, at 1 pm ET. Carolina beat Seattle by three goals on Thursday and goes into Saturday's rematch with the better of the first meeting.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Twenty points from 18 games is a borderline playoff pace, and the record hides a better points total than the eight wins suggest. New York is 8-6-4, and the four overtime and shootout losses each earned a point. A team with eight wins and 20 points has been closer to its opponents than its win total shows.

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Toronto lost 5-2 at home to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, a third straight home defeat for the Maple Leafs. Morgan Rielly, a defenceman, is listed out, and centre Colton Sissons is on injured reserve. Defencemen Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are also on injured reserve, so three blue-liners are missing. The Leafs stand at 8-11-2, with 18 points from 21 games. CBS Sports wrote in its power rankings that Sergei Bobrovsky has not settled in to his new surroundings in Toronto. Auston Matthews has 12 goals, William Nylander has 11 and Jack Roslovic has 9. Kirill Marchenko, a right winger, is on injured reserve, and Miles Wood, a left winger, is on long-term injured reserve. The Edmonton Oilers visit Scotiabank Arena on Saturday at 7 pm ET.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Toronto's season leans on two scorers, and an 8-11-2 team with 18 points from 21 games needs more than two to climb back into the race. Auston Matthews has 12 goals and 29 points. William Nylander has 11 goals and 22 points. Matthews and Nylander lead a club whose record sits below .500.

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THE ANALYST’S DESK

Edmonton can keep winning with Frederik Andersen out, because its scoring covers for the crease. Connor McDavid has 49 points. Leon Draisaitl has 18 goals, and Evan Bouchard has 33 points. A team with those three can win games on offence while its goaltending is sorted out.

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THE ANALYST’S DESK

Twenty games in, the Rangers' 11-8-1 record is a fair reading of a team that is good enough to hold its place and not yet good enough to run away from it. The question for the season is whether that start can last without Igor Shesterkin, and the answer depends more on the defence than on the forwards.

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THE ANALYST’S DESK

The Sharks' ceiling this season is a climb, not a playoff push. An 8-11-2 record after 21 games leaves the club with a lot of ground to make up, and the scoring core is young enough that improvement is more likely to arrive over time than all at once.

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Lando Norris won the Brazilian Grand Prix on 8 November from pole, his third win of the season, Motorsport reported, and Oscar Piastri finished sixth. Norris had finished fifth at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November, so the win in Brazil is a sharp turn for McLaren. Norris showed a dominant level of performance in Sao Paulo, according to Motorsport. Andrea Stella said McLaren want to finally make peace with Las Vegas, historically a difficult race for the team, Motorsport reported. McLaren will want to carry the Brazil form to a circuit that has not suited them. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is next, on Saturday 21 November at 11 pm ET in Las Vegas, and McLaren arrive there with a winner and something to prove.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

McLaren's Brazil win has not yet reversed their autumn, because one race does not make a trend. Norris was fifth at both the United States Grand Prix and the Mexico City Grand Prix before he won in Brazil, and the season-long question is whether the car has moved forward or simply had a good day.

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Max Verstappen charged from 21st on the grid to finish second at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 8 November, Motorsport reported, and Isack Hadjar took third for a Red Bull double podium. Lando Norris won the race. Motorsport reported that Verstappen's drive beat Red Bull's own simulation tools, and that it was his third year in a row of comeback drives in Sao Paulo. Verstappen also won the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November. Nikola Tsolov, 19, has been named reserve driver for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls for the 2027 season after missing out on a full-time seat, according to Motorsport. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is next, on Saturday 21 November at 11 pm ET in Las Vegas, and Red Bull arrive there with both cars coming off the podium.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Max Verstappen is still the larger part of Red Bull's season, though Brazil gave Isack Hadjar a podium of his own. Across the last three races Verstappen has been on the podium every time, and Hadjar has done it once. Verstappen's average finish across the three races is second place, and Hadjar's is sixth.

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Mercedes hold both world titles, and Brackley spent the week celebrating them. The team sealed its ninth constructors' championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 8 November, with George Russell fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth, according to Motorsport. Lando Norris won the race. The constructors' title is Mercedes' first since 2021, when its run of eight in a row ended, Motorsport reported. Antonelli became Formula 1's youngest world drivers' champion a week before Brazil. Antonelli arrived at the Brackley factory this week with his hair dyed green, white and red, the colours of the Italian flag, keeping a promise he had made, Motorsport reported. Mercedes posted a video of the moment on social media on Wednesday. The next race is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday 21 November at 11 pm ET in Las Vegas, where Mercedes arrive as champions.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Mercedes' title run was carried mostly by Kimi Antonelli across the last three races, though George Russell finished ahead of him in Brazil. The verdict from the recent classifications is that one driver carried the weight and the other is only now catching up. Antonelli has a win and a third place among those three races, and Russell's best finish is fourth.

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Ferrari left the Brazilian Grand Prix on 8 November with Charles Leclerc eighth and Lewis Hamilton ninth, and Hamilton took it hardest. Hamilton told fans on Instagram that he was devastated after a charge from the back of the grid ended with a spin in the closing laps, Motorsport reported. Hamilton had started the Brazilian Grand Prix from 20th on the grid after an engine penalty, according to Motorsport. Lando Norris won the race at Interlagos. Ferrari also arrive at the next round with the clash between Hamilton and Leclerc at the Mexico City Grand Prix still drawing comment from rivals, Motorsport reported. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is next, on Saturday 21 November at 11 pm ET in Las Vegas, and Ferrari need both cars to finish clear of each other and clear of trouble there.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Ferrari's autumn has been mixed rather than broken, because a Ferrari car finished second at two of the last three races before both cars slipped to eighth and ninth in Brazil. The sample is three races, so the honest reading is a team capable of the podium that has not yet shown it can stay there. Ferrari's two drivers have taken turns at the front, and then both dropped away together at Interlagos.

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Shuri Sakuma won the TOTO Japan Classic on 8 November at 20 under, the LPGA's most recent completed event. The LPGA Tour has moved on to The Annika, which is still being played this week, and Nelly Korda is back in action after a long break. ESPN reported that Korda opened with a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Thursday at The Annika. One round is a start and not a result, and The Annika has three rounds left. Readers following Korda will have the rest of the week to judge whether her return is more than one good Thursday. The CME Group Tour Championship, the season's finale, follows from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November, with coverage on CNBC, NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

The LPGA's autumn swing has rewarded low scoring, and each of the last three winners finished 17 under or better. The verdict for the finale is that the winner will again have to go deep.

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Blades Brown, 19, won the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico on 8 November at 23 under. BBC Sport reported that Brown's World Wide Technology Championship title made him the youngest PGA Tour champion in 95 years, and that Brown beat Ben James. The PGA Tour has moved straight on to the Austin Championship, which is in progress this week in Austin, and its leaderboard will take shape over the weekend. The RSM Classic follows from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November on ESPN+ and Golf Channel. Ewen Ferguson believes he is capable of competing for a place on the PGA Tour and has set his sights on 2027 after putting an injury-hit spell behind him, BBC Sport reported. The World Wide Technology Championship made Brown the tour's youngest champion in nearly a century.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

The PGA Tour's fall swing has rewarded low scoring, and each of the last three winners finished 16 under or better. The question for the rest of the fall is whether that pattern holds at the Austin Championship and The RSM Classic.

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The 2026 UCI WorldTour season is over, with all 36 races run. Jarno Widar won the closing Tour of Guangxi, which ran from 13 to 18 October. Paul Seixas won Il Lombardia on 10 October. Enric Mas won the Vuelta a España, which ended on 13 September, the biggest stage-race result of the season's final months. The closing weeks of the WorldTour belonged to Seixas and Widar, the winners of the last two races on the calendar. Mas, the Vuelta champion, also finished second at Il Lombardia, so the established names were never far away. The WorldTour Report will return to the racing when the 2027 calendar is set, and readers will watch whether Seixas and Widar carry their form into next year's stage races.

THE ANALYST’S DESK

Main events in the UFC's recent cards have ended well short of the scheduled distance, and the verdict for UFC 334 is that the pattern favours an early finish. None of the main events in the last three cards went the full five rounds.

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