The biggest storylines to watch this NFL season

The biggest storylines to watch this NFL season

The 2025 NFL season is finally here, and as always there is no shortage of storylines to watch. Can the Philadelphia Eagles repeat as Super Bowl champions or is this finally the year Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen take their teams all the way? What impact will Micah Parsons have on the Green Bay Packers' chances? Could Aaron Rodgers actually be a difference-maker for the Pittsburgh Steelers? All of that will soon be answered. Here's how NBC News' sports staff sees the season playing out. Greif: Remember the San Francisco 49ers? They went from a trendy pick to make their second consecutive Super Bowl last season to a 6-11 record while being devastated by injuries to starters such as running back Christian McCaffrey, key offensive lineman Trent Williams and nearly everyone capable of catching passes. The reason to believe San Francisco has a chance as a contender, even in a conference boasting the defending champion Eagles, rests on the fact that the team is healthier now and that key players aren't the only familiar faces returning. Robert Salah, who was the defensive coordinator during San Francisco's run to the Super Bowl in 2020, is back to man his previous post. San Francisco will also play what is projected to be one of the league's easiest schedules. That doesn't mean the 49ers' roster is back to where it was during their trips to multiple Super Bowls. To pay quarterback Brock Purdy $181 million guaranteed as part of an extension that could reach $265 million, they had to prune the rest of their depth chart. Deebo Samuel, once a top playmaker, is gone, as are key defenders Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. Nadkarni:The Las Vegas Raiders underwent a significant makeover this offseason, and it was a much-needed one for a team that's made the playoffs only once in the last eight seasons. Former Super Bowl champ Pete Carroll is now the head coach, and Geno Smith should provide both a major upgrade and stability at quarterback. That could very well be enough for the Raiders to go from 4-13 to a postseason appearance. Carroll made the playoffs in his first season with both the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, and at 73 he is one of the most experienced football minds in the world. Combining his exuberance with Smith's competence, Las Vegas is in line for a serious turnaround. While the Raiders may not be Super Bowl material — and will have to contend with playing in a stacked division — the new faces should bring a much more professional approach to Sun City. Nadkarni:Though they have an incredible coaching staff and elite talent at important positions, it's hard for me to see the Minnesota Vikings having another season close to 14 wins. The Vikings will be turning over quarterback duties to J.J. McCarthy, their first-round pick in 2024 who missed his rookie campaign because of injury. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has proved he can make the most with seemingly any signal caller. But McCarthy is both unproven and inexperienced, which is a tough combination for a player who is stepping into a situation in which the expectations will be very high. McCarthy could be very good and Minnesota would still have a tough time winning 14 games again. Combining the uncertainty at quarterback with the gauntlet that is the NFC North, the Vikings seem due to fall back on some level. Greif: Kansas City. Picking the Chiefs is an invitation to end up with proverbial egg on one's face. I don't feel great about doing this. But after they went 9-0 in one-score games in 2023 and 10-0 last season, I'm betting against their one-score mastery being so sustainable again in 2025. This isn't a prediction they will miss the playoffs; even in a division filled with accomplished coaches in Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll and Sean Payton, Kansas City can still win the AFC West if it can manage without receiver Rashee Rice as he serves his six-game suspension to begin the season. My concern is more about how the Chiefs will stack up against the top of the AFC. With Baltimore and Buffalo finally trying to prove this can be their year to make the Super Bowl, we shouldn't pencil in Kansas City just yet. Greif: I'm not picking Micah Parsons in Green Bay or Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh because they're obvious, just as I'm not going with the one-man, two-way threat in Jacksonville's Travis Hunter because he's a rookie. For this exercise, I'm watching Mekhi Becton with the Los Angeles Chargers. If the Chargers are ever going to contend, they will need to protect quarterback Justin Herbert and develop a running game that's better than the one a season ago, which ranked in the NFL's bottom 10 in yards per carry. The massive Becton, who is back after missing several weeks of training camp, is vital to both, and even more so since key offensive lineman Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason. Nadkarni:If we're talking strictly football and not podcasts, I have to admit I'm interested to see what we get from Aaron Rodgers this season. Has Rodgers really lost what made him great? Or did he just need to get away from the stink of the New York Jets? Rodgers will have both an elite wide receiver (D.K. Metcalf) and one of the league's most respected coaches (Mike Tomlin) with the Steelers this year, which should take a little weight off his shoulders. Also, with Rodgers basically admitting this upcoming season will be his last ride, I imagine he will do everything in his power to avoid going out with a whimper. And frankly, even if time has caught up to Rodgers and this turns out to be a disaster, at the very least, whatever happens in Pittsburgh will be fascinating to watch. Greif: Ravens over Packers Lamar Jackson gets over the hump with Baltimore, which gets to the Super Bowl by beating Buffalo for the AFC title. With Jordan Love healthy all season and a pass rush energized by Micah Parsons, Green Bay takes over the NFC North and beats Philadelphia in the NFC championship game. Nadkarni: Lions over Bills Perhaps it's the romantic in me, but I think we get a matchup of two long-suffering fan bases in the Super Bowl. The Lions and the Bills have both been two of the better teams in the NFL of late, yet neither has made it to the championship round. Their multiple years of success are impressive in their own way, even if the finishes have ultimately come up short. Detroit is still one of the better teams in a relatively open NFC, and Buffalo was literally inches from finally knocking off the Chiefs last season. This is the year both franchises finally exorcise their demons and break through. Only one can win, though, and I believe Dan Campbell's gambling ways would pay off richly on the game's biggest stage.

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

The biggest storylines to watch this NFL season

The biggest storylines to watch this NFL season The 2025 NFL season is finally here, and as always there is no shortage of storylines to wat...

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Chiefs trek to Brazil with eye on extending dominance of Chargers

Chiefs trek to Brazil with eye on extending dominance of Chargers

Bold is the theme on defense for the Kansas City Chiefs as the 2025 season begins in a rare Week 1 setting -- and with a division rival waiting -- as Friday night lights and the NFL come to South America. The Chiefs beat Jim Harbaugh and the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers twice last season on the way to 15 wins and the top seed in the conference, falling short in a three-peat bid with a Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February. This week, the Chiefs begin a march they hope ends with another shot at the Lombardi Trophy on foreign soil in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Being a first-time visitor to the country, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones views Week 1 as a celebration of Kansas City's success -- and a big test. Primarily of the Chiefs' readiness, but also of Jones' tourist acumen. He said he's bringing two TVs -- a new LG model that can be checked -- and a serious appetite with fingers crossed he's permitted to sample plenty of the culinary options. "I think it's sweet we get to play internationally first game of the season," Jones said. "That's a challenge for us as a team. Division rivalry. We also get a chance to test where we're at." If Jones is fixated on feijoada, then the Chargers would be glad to serve a Week 1 upset and end a seven-game losing streak to the Chiefs. The Chargers featured one of the NFL's best defenses last year in Harbaugh's first season as their head coach, then invested in multiple running backs in the offseason to further his preferred old-school approach. After signing Najee Harris in free agency, the Chargers used a first-round pick to select Omarion Hampton. Known for his speed, Hampton wowed Harbaugh with his vision and ability to pick through traffic in the preseason. Harris missed training camp and preseason due to a July 4 eye injury, but Harbaugh said after Wednesday's walk-through in Brazil that Harris will play. "He says he's ready, and he looks ready to go," Harbaugh said. Harbaugh has zero concerns with his backfield in general. He said he believes Justin Herbert's biggest weakness lies in coaches and teammates failing to reach the quarterback's level. "Everything he does -- conditioning, everything -- it's too easy (for him). You have to try to pull him back," Harbaugh said. "It's clear and obvious, all of us have to pick it up to get on his level." Herbert had 23 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first season under Harbaugh. The Chiefs surrendered two total TD passes and sacked him five times in their two 2024 meetings. Five weeks after reporting to training camp, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said he can sense energy on the rise for a "quote-unquote real game." Spagnuolo gave new cornerback Kristian Fulton, a free-agent addition from the Chargers who practiced daily against Ladd McConkey last year, the floor at the first defensive meeting of the week to stress the importance of knowing McConkey's whereabouts and how he impacts the Los Angeles game plan. "The first slide I put up last week said, 'All 22 need to be aware of where 15 is,'" Spagnuolo said of placing McConkey on the top of the scouting report this week. "I asked the guys if (they) knew what we mean. It meant all 22 eyeballs. Every one of them, the D-line included, need to know where he is. We feel that strongly. That's going to be a major, major focus." McConkey had 1,346 yards and 91 receptions between the regular season and playoffs last season to set team records. He'll be Herbert's lead target even with Keenan Allen back in the fold after one season in Chicago. Allen owns the Chargers' franchise marks with 904 receptions and 10,530 yards in the uniform. With Rashee Rice suspended for six weeks by the NFL, the pecking order at wide receiver is not as clear for the Chiefs. Xavier Worthy, a first-round pick in 2024, developed into the No. 1 option for Patrick Mahomes in 2024 with the speed to get deep. Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and rookie fourth-round pick Jalen Royals are the other options for Kansas City, along with tight end Travis Kelce. Reid said Brown (foot, ankle) was able to "do everything" in practice on Tuesday while Royals (knee) remained out. No NFL team has matched Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' level in the past decade. Kansas City has won nine AFC West titles in a row and played in the Super Bowl five of the past six seasons. Their 19-17 win over the Chargers on Dec. 8 clinched the division title last season. In 12 career games against the Chargers, Mahomes has 3,270 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He's only thrown more TD passes against one opponent: the Raiders (33). His last loss to the Chargers came in 2021: A 30-24 defeat with three TDs and two interceptions. "We have a lot of motivation going into this season," said Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis. "Prove some people right -- prove some people wrong. Fired up and super excited to get this thing started and prove what we got and prove what we are made of." --Field Level Media

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

Chiefs trek to Brazil with eye on extending dominance of Chargers

Chiefs trek to Brazil with eye on extending dominance of Chargers Bold is the theme on defense for the Kansas City Chiefs as the 2025 season...

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'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released

'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released

Through tears, a group of women who say they were victimized by Jeffrey Epstein shared their stories on Capitol Hill as they called on lawmakers to support the release of records that the Department of Justice has so far withheld from Congress. "This is not a hoax. It's not going to go away," said Marina Lacerda, a central witness in Epstein's 2019 indictmentwho spoke with ABC News. Anouska De Georgiou, the first survivor of Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell to step to the podium, said the victims are coming together to have their voices be heard. MORE: 'We need the Epstein files to be out': Central witness in Epstein case speaks publicly for 1st time "The days of sweeping this under the rug are over. We the survivors say 'no more,'" she said. "I'm no longer weak, I am no longer powerless and I'm no longer alone. And with your vote, neither will the next generation," she said. "President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us, because we need it now, and this country needs it now." Trump was asked about the press conference pushing for transparency on the Epstein files at the White House on Wednesday. He continued to insist it was a "Epstein hoax" distracting from his administration's success. "This is a Democrat hoax that never ends," Trump claimed. Survivor after survivor, however, implored lawmakers to back a bipartisan push from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to compel the Justice Department to publicly release the Epstein files. "Mr. President, Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican -- not that that matters, because this is not political -- however, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma," survivor Haley Robson said when asked by ABC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Jay O'Brien about Trump's comments calling the matter a "hoax." At times growing emotional, some survivors also detailed the abuse they said they suffered at the hands of Epstein, some saying the abuse happened when they were teenagers. "I had never been more scared in my life than I was that first time that he hurt me," Jena-Lisa Jones recounted. She said she first met Epstein when she was 14 years old. "I know that I was just a little kid but sometimes I still feel that it was my fault this happened," she added through tears. "It's time for us to see behind the curtain. Why was Jeffrey Epstein so protected? Who is still being protected? And who protected them all, so the world can understand how Jeffrey was able to abuse so many of us for so long," said Courtney Wild, an Epstein survivor. So far, four Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition -- a procedural tool to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote. Those signers include Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. If all 212 Democrats sign the petition, only two Republicans are needed to reach the 218 needed to compel a vote on the House floor. "I hope my colleagues are watching this press conference. I want them to think, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter?" Massie said. "Today we stand with survivors, we stand against big money, we stand to protect America's children. That is really what this is about," Khanna said on Wednesday. MORE: House Oversight chair issues subpoenas for Epstein files, depositions with Clintons Attorney Bradley Edwards, who has represented more than 200 Epstein survivors, said the push should "pass with flying colors." "While we have seen the documents, you haven't, and when you see the documents, you're going to be appalled," Edwards said at the press conference. House Republican leadership, however, is opposed to the Massie and Khanna effort -- as is the White House. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not support Massie's discharge petition during a closed conference meeting Wednesday morning, according to multiple sources. "It does not adequately protect the innocent victims, and that is a critical component," Johnson said on Tuesday of the discharge petition. MORE: Johnson says GOP is committed to transparency and justice on Epstein Johnson instead argued the ongoing investigation by the House Oversight Committee, which has subpoenaed records from the Justice Department and the Epstein estate, is the better path because committee investigators will pour over the files and redact any identifying or otherwise confidential information. The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday evening released tens of thousands of pages related to Epstein, much of which was already publicly known. "To the American people -- don't let this fool you," Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said after the release. "After careful review, Oversight Democrats have found that 97% of the documents received from the Department of Justice were already public. There is no mention of any client list or anything that improves transparency or justice for victims." Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody a month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury on sex trafficking and other charges. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for aiding and participating in Epstein's trafficking of underage girls, which involved a scheme to recruit young women and girls for massages of Epstein that turned sexual.

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released

'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released Through tears, a group of women who say they were vict...

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Trump calls Epstein files 'irrelevant' as Massie petition picks up steam

Trump calls Epstein files 'irrelevant' as Massie petition picks up steam

President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast the Jeffrey Epstein controversy as "irrelevant" amid an effort on Capitol Hill to force a vote to release all files related to the deceased sex offender. "This is a Democrat hoax that never ends," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the push for more transparency in the Epstein matter. "From what I understand, I could check, but from what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given," the president said. "But it's really a Democrat hoax because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president." MORE: 'This is not a hoax': Epstein survivors speak out demanding files be released The comments came as agroup of survivorsjoined House members in a push to compel the Justice Department to release records so far withheld from Congress. ABC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Jay O'Brien asked the victims for their reaction to Trump's characterization that it is a "hoax." One survivor, Haley Robson, said it felt like "being gutted from the inside out." "Mr. President Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican -- not that that matters because this is not political -- however, I cordially invite you to meet me in the Capitol in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma," she responded. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna's effort to force a vote on the files has led to a showdown with House Republican leadership and the White House. Massie's discharge petition had 206 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. It needs 218 to compel a vote on the House floor. So far, four Republicans have signed on to the Massie and Khanna discharge petition -- a procedural tool to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote. Those signers include Massie, Reps. Nancy Mace, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. If all 212 Democrats sign the petition, only two more Republicans are needed. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to not support Massie's discharge petition during a closed conference meeting Wednesday morning, according to multiple sources. Johnson instead argued the ongoing investigation by the House Oversight Committee is the better path forward. The House on Wednesday adopted a resolution by a vote of 212-208-1 that instructs the Oversight Committee to continue its Epstein investigation that began weeks ago. The measure was Johnson's preferred vote on the Epstein controversy. Massie has called it a "placebo." Johnson said he spoke to Trump about the Epstein files on Tuesday night, and Trump instructed him to "get it out there" and "put it all out there." "This is going to be an ongoing effort. It will be bipartisan, which is great and the Oversight Committee's effort, this is really important to point out, goes further than the discharge petition," Johnson argued. "It requests more information than the discharge even encompasses. For example, the Epstein estate documents, which is a treasure trove of information not referenced in the discharge. And it has the force of law because we have subpoena authorities." Johnson said that Massie's discharge petition is "irrelevant and unnecessary." The speaker said he believed the Oversight panel will "uncover things that have never been uncovered before." When asked by ABC News about the Epstein survivors who said on Wednesday they don't feel enough is being done, Johnson said he believed they were being "misled" by Republican members who Johnson accused of "politicizing" the Epstein issue. "I think they have been misled, and I look forward to meeting with them at the earliest opportunity, because I'll share with them what I shared with the ladies who were here yesterday. We are 100% focused on this. We will follow the truth wherever it leads, and we'll do it as quickly as possible," Johnson said. MORE: Tens of thousands of Epstein-related records from DOJ released, Oversight Committee says The House Oversight Committee released tens of thousands of pages related to Epstein on Tuesday night, but much of the information released was already publicly available. "Less than 1% of these files have been released," Khanna said at Wednesday's news conference. "We are demanding today, on the discharge petition, that all of the files be released." Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and child sex trafficking. He died in custody a month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide by hanging.

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

Trump calls Epstein files 'irrelevant' as Massie petition picks up steam

Trump calls Epstein files 'irrelevant' as Massie petition picks up steam President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast the Jeffrey Epstei...

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Roy Jones Jr. given the 1988 Olympic gold medal by the boxer who got the controversial win over him

Roy Jones Jr. given the 1988 Olympic gold medal by the boxer who got the controversial win over him

Roy Jones Jr. has the gold medal from the 1988 Olympics — thanks to a gift from the South Korean fighter who defeated him in the controversial boxing match. Park Si-hun traveled to Jones' ranch in Pensacola, Florida, two years ago and gave the Hall of Famer the medal that Jones seemed to have earned in a bout most observers outside of the judges believed he dominated. The news was revealed Wednesday in a video posted onJones' YouTube page. Jones went to his gym on May 30, 2023, believing it was for an on-camera interview. Instead, he found Park in the ring and both fighters' families there. "I had the gold medal, but I wanted to give it back to you. It belongs to you," Park said through his son, who translated. Park was awarded a 3-2 decision in the light middleweight title bout in Seoul, South Korea, lifting the stunned Jones into the air in the ring after the result was announced. He has said the criticism he received and the depression he feltsometimes led to suicidal urges. The International Olympic Committee in 1997 concluded it had found no evidence to support bribery allegations against the judges who voted in favor of Park. The U.S. Olympic Committee had called for an investigation in 1996 after documents belonging to East Germany's Stasi secret police revealed reports of judges being paid to vote for South Korean boxers. Despite not winning gold, Jones was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for the best boxer in the Games. He went on to win titles in four weight classes from middleweight to heavyweight and went 66-9 as a pro. Park retired from boxing after the Olympics but later became a coach. ___ AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

Roy Jones Jr. given the 1988 Olympic gold medal by the boxer who got the controversial win over him

Roy Jones Jr. given the 1988 Olympic gold medal by the boxer who got the controversial win over him Roy Jones Jr. has the gold medal from th...

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Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Cowboys by double digits to kick off the NFL season

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Cowboys by double digits to kick off the NFL season

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles face their bitter divisional rival in the NFL season opener on Thursday night in a matchup that's lost a little luster. Why? Micah Parsons won't be there chasing Jalen Hurts, pursuing Saquon Barkley and making life difficult for left tackle Jordan Mailata. The Dallas Cowboys traded the two-time All-Pro pass rusher to the Green Bay Packers last week following a contract dispute. Dak Prescott returns for the Cowboys and George Pickens joins CeeDee Lamb to give them another playmaking wide receiver. But how will the Cowboys stop Philadelphia's dynamic offense without Parsons? Jerry Jones got his run-stuffer in the trade with Green Bay. Maybe Kenny Clark helps limit Barkley to under 200 yards rushing. If there's no pressure on Hurts, he can pick apart the defense throwing to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. The Eagles are 8 1/2-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Pro Picks likes the champs even though Prescott is 9-4 vs. Philadelphia. EAGLES: 31-20 Cincinnati at Cleveland Line: Bengals minus 5 1/2 Joe Burrow and the Bengals need to start better than they have in the past. He's 8-11-1 in Weeks 1-4. The Browns are turning to Joe Flacco while Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders wait in the wings. They should be in the mix for the No. 1 pick next season. Best Bet: BENGALS: 27-16 Las Vegas at New England Line: Patriots minus 2 1/2 Mike Vrabel's Patriots face Pete Carroll's Raiders as both teams debut new head coaches. Drake Maye has a new playmaker in Stefon Diggs. QB Geno Smith and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty join TE Brock Bowers to instantly upgrade Las Vegas' offense. UPSET SPECIAL: RAIDERS: 23-20 Kansas City vs. Los Angeles Chargers, in Brazil Line:Chiefsminus 3 Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have something to prove after a 17-win season ending with a lopsided loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. The Chargers drafted running back Omarion Hampton in the first round to take pressure off Justin Herbert. They were 9-0 when they had more than 100 yards rushing last season. The Chiefs had the eighth-best run defense, giving up 101.8 yards per game. CHIEFS: 26-20 Arizona at New Orleans Line: Cardinals minus 6 1/2 Kyler Murray has one winning season as Arizona's starting QB, but the Cardinals have a chance to compete in the NFC West after an 8-9 season. They were 11-6 against the spread. The rebuilding Saints under rookie coach Kellen Moore are starting a rebuild. CARDINALS: 23-17 Carolina at Jacksonville Line: Jaguars minus 3 1/2 The Liam Coen era begins in Jacksonville. Can he unlock Trevor Lawrence's potential? Bryce Young and the Panthers finished up strong last season. They're aiming to take another step forward. The matchup features the NFL's two worst defenses in 2024. JAGUARS: 27-20 Tampa Bay at Atlanta Line: Buccaneers minus 2 1/2 Baker Mayfield and the four-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers couldn't beat the Falcons last season so they've got something to prove. Michael Penix Jr. watched from the sideline as Kirk Cousins threw for 785 yards and eight TDs vs. Tampa Bay. The Falcons will feature Bijan Robinson but the Buccaneers were fourth against the run. BUCCANEERS: 26-23 New York Giants at Washington Line: Commanders minus 6 Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are building off a surprise, impressive run to the NFC championship game. It wasn't a fluke. Russell Wilson makes his debut with the Giants, whose strength is their defensive line. COMMANDERS: 23-20 Pittsburgh at New York Jets Line: Steelers minus 3 Aaron Rodgers faces his former team and the new coach, Aaron Glenn, who didn't want him. Justin Fields faces his former team that let him walk away in free agency. STEELERS: 20-19 Miami at Indianapolis Line: Colts minus 1 Daniel Jones makes his first start for the Colts, who have lost 10 of their past 11 season openers. Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins aim to bounce back from a losing season. He could look for Tyreek Hill often against a defense that was 26th against the pass. DOLPHINS: 24-17 San Francisco at Seattle Line: 49ers minus 2 1/2 Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers are healthier and motivated after a disastrous season. They're still missing key players and lost several defensive starters. Sam Darnold takes over for the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs despite winning 10 games. 49ERS: 23-20 Tennessee at Denver Line: Broncos minus 8 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward makes his first career start for the rebuilding Titans. They're facing a tough defense and a balanced offense led by Bo Nix. BRONCOS: 27-13 Houston at Los Angeles Rams Line: Rams minus 3 C.J. Stroud and the Texans are underdogs in a matchup of 2024 division winners. Matthew Stafford dealt with a back injury in the preseason and has to face a fierce defense in the opener. TEXANS: 23-21 Detroit at Green Bay Line: Packers minus 2 1/2 The 15-win Lions are underdogs in the opener after a disappointing end to the best season in franchise history. Their dynamic offense is back together minus offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left to coach the Bears. Parsons elevated the Packers to Super Bowl contenders. After sitting out the preseason in Dallas, he has to be careful not to overdo it in his first game. PACKERS: 24-23 Baltimore at Buffalo Line: Ravens minus 1 1/2 Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are looking to avenge a playoff loss in Buffalo in a matchup that should have playoff ramifications from a home-field advantage standpoint. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Bills have won 10 straight home games. Both teams have failed to dethrone the Chiefs in recent years and neither will be satisfied with anything less than a Super Bowl. BILLS: 26-23 Minnesota at Chicago Line: Vikings minus 1 1/2 There's excitement in Chicago surrounding Johnson taking over the Bears. Can he develop Caleb Williams as he did Jared Goff? J.J. McCarthy makes his first career start for the talented Vikings, who are coming off a 14-win season. Vikings 24-20 ___ 2024 Record: Overall: Straight up: 202-83. Against spread: 151-129-5. Prime-time: Straight up: 44-14. Against spread: 31-26-1. Best Bet: Straight up: 12-7. Against spread: 11-8. Upset Special: Straight up: 11-9. Against spread: 11-9. ___ Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks,head here. ___ AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Cowboys by double digits to kick off the NFL season

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Cowboys by double digits to kick off the NFL season The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles fa...

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House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center

House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution to censureRep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., and remove her from a committee that overseesimmigrationand national security as she faces federal charges stemming from a visit to an immigration detention facility. The House voted 215-207 to table the measure, a sign that some were uncomfortable moving forward with censure while McIver's case is still pending in the courts. A trial in her case has been scheduled for November. Democratic lawmakers unanimously voted to table the resolution, which was sponsored by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La. Five Republicans joined them and two others voted present. As the resolution was being read, some Democrats were incensed. "Liar," some shouted; "Shame," yelled one Democratic lawmaker. Many Republicans streamed out of the chamber before the vote concluded. Democrats cheered and hugged at the final tally's reading. "The censure attempt against me has failed. Rightfully so. It was a baseless, partisan effort to shut me up," McIver wrote on social media after the vote. "I was not elected to play political games — I was elected to serve. I won't back down. Not now. Not ever." Republicans sought to punish McIver for a confrontation with federal law enforcement during acongressional visitto a newimmigration detention facilityin Newark, N.J. McIver has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing her of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside the facility. The censure resolution recounted how McIver is alleged to have interfered with Homeland Security Investigations officials' ability to arrest an unauthorized visitor. It said she is alleged to have slammed her forearm into the body and forcibly grabbed an HSI officer. The resolution also said body camera and other video evidence supported the allegations made in the federal indictment. The measure said such actions did not reflect credibly on the House and that her continued service on the House Homeland Security Committee was a significant conflict of interest. The committee's portfolio includes oversight of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which operates the detention center that McIver tried to enter. The effort had the backing of GOP leadership. Some Republicans expressed dismay with the outcome. "We have a member of Congress who assaulted an ICE officer. I don't even know what we're doing anymore," said Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. Donalds said he did not know why some Republicans broke ranks to back the motion to table the censure resolution. Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the McIver vote was "a breath of fresh air in such a toxic environment." McIverwon a special electionlast year after Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died in office. She won a full two-year term in November. McIver was joined by two other New Jersey Democrats, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, during a visit to a privately owned 1,000-bed facility that ICE is using as a detention center. Newark's mayor, Democrat Ras Baraka, was arrested after officials determined he was not authorized to enter. That charge was later dropped.Baraka is suingover what he said was a malicious prosecution. Parts of the confrontation can be seen on a nearly two-minute video clip from the visit released by the Department of Homeland Security. The video shows McIver on the facility side of a chain-link fence just before Baraka's arrest on the street side of the fence, where other people had been protesting. She and uniformed officials are seen going through a fence gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video then shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point, her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform with the word "Police" on it. McIverwas indictedon three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in prison. Higgins said he would not have moved forward with the resolution if McIver had withdrawn from the Homeland Security panel pending a resolution of the federal charges against her. He said it was a conflict for her to serve on a panel with oversight authority over the agencies at the center of her criminal investigation. "We didn't expect it to fail. We knew it would be close, but it's quite disappointing," Higgins said. The House has censuredmembers on 28 occasionsbefore, but the punishment has increasingly been delivered on a partisan basis in recent years. Democrats retaliated just hours before the McIver vote with the introduction of a censure resolution against Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who has been accused by a beauty pageant titleholder ofthreatening to release intimate videosand private images of her after she ended their romantic relationship, according to a report filed with law enforcement. Mills has denied the allegations. Mills is also facing an ethics investigation into whether he violated campaign finance laws or held federal contracts while in office. Democratic efforts to put the spotlight on Mills seemed to serve as a warning to Republicans that they were prepared to undertake similar censure resolutions in response to the targeting of McIver. "There are colleagues on the other side of the aisle that have very serious charges against them, and we don't want to have to unpack that for the American people," Clarke said. ___

byMario Satorik

in

September 03, 2025

House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center

House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution ...

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