Will Cowboys win push trade rumors into reality? NFL Week 9 things to watch

Will Cowboys win push trade rumors into reality? NFL Week 9 things to watch Tyler Dragon, USA TODAYOctober 31, 2025 at 5:03 AM 0 Week 9 is upon us, and the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline is just days away. This week's slate of games could determine which teams are buyers and sellers with Tuesday's trade deadline on the horizon. Thirteen teams have earned at least five wins this season, the thirdmost through Week 8 since 1970, according to NFL Research.

- - Will Cowboys win push trade rumors into reality? NFL Week 9 things to watch

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAYOctober 31, 2025 at 5:03 AM

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Week 9 is upon us, and the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline is just days away.

This week's slate of games could determine which teams are buyers and sellers with Tuesday's trade deadline on the horizon.

Thirteen teams have earned at least five wins this season, the third-most through Week 8 since 1970, according to NFL Research. And there are no more winless clubs in the NFL after the New York Jets overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to notch their first victory of the season.

The 7-1 Indianapolis Colts hold the NFL's best record. While the 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers sit atop the NFC. Sixteen teams are currently above .500 entering this week.

With the trade deadline around the corner, USA TODAY Sports examines things to watch in Week 9:

Cowboys among teams to watch ahead of NFL trade deadline

It's going to be interesting to see how teams and players navigate the NFL's looming trade deadline.

There have already been multiple trades this week alone, and more are expected to come. Will results from Week 9 persuade teams to be buyers or sellers before Tuesday's deadline?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claimed last week's loss won't impact his team's decision-making process, but he went on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday and described the type of player the Cowboys would go after if a trade were to happen.

"One that loves football. Loves football. That seems trite. Why wouldn't they be out there playing? Some do more than others," Jones said, per the Cowboys official website. "And so you're looking for guys that just are from within, self-motivators, miserable when they don't play well and they exude that around their teammates. That's just a little thing called makeup right there. Now obviously you want to get a player that is in the top percentile of the kind of players that you'd like to go forward with. That has a price tag."

Colts' red-hot offense faces reeling Steelers defense

The 7-1 Colts are off to their best record since 2009. The Colts rank first in the NFL in total offense (385.3 yards per game), touchdowns (32) and points per game (33.8).

Daniel Jones is having a career renaissance in his first year in Indy. He ranks top five in the league in passing yards, but Jonathan Taylor is the engine to the Colts offense. He's on pace for the running back triple crown. Taylor leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,056), rushing yards (850), scrimmage touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12).

T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense have underperformed this season. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in total defense, has the NFL's worst pass defense and ranks 18th against the run.

makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" data-src=https://ift.tt/5QgmE7A class=caas-img data-headline="Best images of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

">Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" src=https://ift.tt/5QgmE7A class=caas-img>

1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

If the Steelers don't shore up their defense in a hurry, it's going to be a long game for Mike Tomlin's team at Acrisure Stadium.

"We make no excuses about how or why we fall short. Our job is to perform and perform at a high level and we haven't done that. I'm excited about getting back to it," Tomlin said this week. "Seven games or whatever doesn't make a season. We certainly got more in front of us and more opportunities to write our story, whether it's individuals, a component of our team, whether it's our team in general. I think that's our general mindset."

Patrick Mahomes 1-4 against Bills in regular season

The regular season hasn't been kind to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs against the Bills. Buffalo has won the past four regular-season meetings against Kansas City. Mahomes has a 1-4 regular season record against Josh Allen and company.

However, Mahomes is 4-0 against Buffalo in the postseason.

"Every single game comes down to like one play here or there that someone has to make, if that's offense, defense (or) whatever it is," Mahomes said of previous matchups against the Bills. "I think it comes down to players making plays in big moments and that's worked out for us in the playoffs and worked out for them in other times."

Mahomes enters Week 9 as a midseason MVP candidate. Mahomes' 17 touchdown passes are tied for first in the league and his 2,099 passing yards rank second.

Expert picks: NFL Week 9 picks straight up and against spread: Bills or Chiefs as rivalry rolls on?

The Bills and Chiefs both enter Sunday's marquee matchup with top-five offenses. Defensively, Buffalo and Kansas City rank second and third in pass defense, respectively.

The Chiefs have the NFL's No. 2 scoring defense. Buffalo ranks second in the NFL in both pass block and run block win rate, per ESPN.

While Mahomes and Allen will garner most of the headlines, whichever defense has the better performance could be the deciding factor.

J.J. McCarthy returns for Minnesota

Is McCarthy the answer in Minnesota? The sample size isn't large enough to accurately answer the question.

McCarthy has only played in two games since the Vikings drafted him in 2024 due to injuries. The second-year quarterback is expected to return this week from high right ankle sprain.

"I'm ready to go," McCarthy told reporters this week. "I feel like myself again. I feel like I have those mobility things that I was concerned about going into last week and the prior weeks. So yeah, ready to go."

1 / 59J.J. McCarthy: Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Michigan football national championMichigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy rushes in the second half against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 18, 2021.

The Vikings need McCarthy to stay healthy the remainder of the season to get a thorough evaluation of the QB, and because veteran Carson Wentz is out for the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury.

McCarthy has just a 58.5% completion percentage and averaged 150.5 passing yards per game, statistics well below the league average.

The Lions have won five consecutive games against their NFC North rival. Minnesota hasn't defeated Detroit since Sept. 25, 2022.

Jayden Daniels slated to be back under center

The Washington Commanders have lost three straight games and desperately need Daniels to return from a hamstring injury. Daniels has missed three starts this year due to knee and hamstring injuries. Washington is 1-2 without its star quarterback.

"I'm good. If I'm out there I'm not even thinking about it," Daniels said of his injuries this season. "If I was worried about something I wouldn't even be playing. If I'm out there on the field, I'm gonna be confident in myself and my abilities to go out there and execute and play football."

The Commanders won't have Terry McLaurin (quad) on Sunday.

Washington has struggled to defend the pass this year and ranks 26th in the league in pass defense. That doesn't bode well as the Commanders face a Seahawks team featuring wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba who tops the NFL with 819 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba tallied at least eight receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past three contests.

Since 2024, the Seahawks are 10-1 (.909 winning percentage) on the road under coach Mike Macdonald, the highest road winning percentage in the league, per NFL Research.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chiefs-Bills, NFL trade rumor implications in Week 9 things to watch

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Will Cowboys win push trade rumors into reality? NFL Week 9 things to watch

Will Cowboys win push trade rumors into reality? NFL Week 9 things to watch Tyler Dragon, USA TODAYOctober 31, 2025 a...

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Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the Wicked: For Good TV special (exc...

Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also appear in the twohour musical broadcast on NBC. Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the Wicked: For Good TV special (exclusive) Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also appear in the twohour musical broadcast on NBC. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines on October 22, 2025 9:01 a.

Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also appear in the two-hour musical broadcast on NBC.

Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the Wicked: For Good TV special (exclusive)

Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also appear in the two-hour musical broadcast on NBC.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

on October 22, 2025 9:01 a.m. ET

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'. Credit:

Griffin Nagel/NBC

It's time to try defying gravity — on TV!

NBC will soon premiere *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*, a two-hour TV special celebrating the music of *Wicked* — and * *has an exclusive first look at the Ozian extravaganza.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the Oscar-nominated stars behind Elphaba and Glinda, are headlining the special, in which they'll perform numerous songs from the films to an audience at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (The performance is not broadcast live, as it was filmed in L.A. last month.)

Cynthia Erivo in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

The special also features performances from Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), Jeff Goldblum (the Wizard), Ethan Slater (Boq), Marissa Bode (Nessarose), and Bowen Yang (Pfannee), all of whom are set to reprise their roles from the 2024 movie in the upcoming *Wicked: For Good*.

The performers will be accompanied by a 37-piece live orchestra led by Stephen Oremus, who served as the arranger and music director for the original 2003 Broadway production of *Wicked* and worked on the *Wicked: Part One* film. Christopher Scott, who choreographed the dance sequences in both *Wicked: Part One* and *Wicked: For Good*, will provide reimagined choreography for the special.

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night* will also premiere previously unseen footage of *Wicked: For Good*, including snippets from the two new songs that original composer Stephen Schwartz added for the second film, "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in the Bubble."

The special will also feature appearances from Schwartz, *Wicked: Part One *and *Wicked: For Good* filmmaker Jon M. Chu, and surprise guests who have yet to be revealed.

Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Julian Dakdouk/NBC

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*Wicked: Part One* was among the buzziest films of 2024, earning over $750 million worldwide and receiving a whopping 10 Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Actress for Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Grande. The film ultimately won two Academy Awards for Paul Tazewell's costume designs and Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales' production design.

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night* premieres on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nov. 6. The special will be available to stream on Peacock the following day, Nov. 7.

*Wicked: For Good* flies into theaters two weeks later on Nov. 21. The film adapts the second half of the Broadway show, featuring tunes like "No Good Deed" and "For Good." Colman Domingo was recently announced as the voice of the Cowardly Lion, who previously appeared as an unspeaking cub in *Wicked: Part One*. As for the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, you'll have to wait to watch *Wicked: For Good* — or look up the plot of the 22-year-old stage musical to figure out the casting for those two characters.****Check out more photos from *Wicked: One Wonderful Night* below.**

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Michelle Yeoh in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Cynthia Erivo in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Julian Dakdouk/NBC

Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, and Ethan Slater in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Cynthia Erivo in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Ralph Bavaro/NBC

Ariana Grande in 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

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Published: October 31, 2025 at 04:27AM on Source: COSMOPOLITE

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October 31, 2025

Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the Wicked: For Good TV special (exc...

Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang will also appear in the twohour musical broadcast on ...

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Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson’s Ex-Boxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism

Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson's ExBoxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism Jaideep R UnnithanOctober 31, 2025 at 2:30 AM 0 via IMAGO ©via IMAGO Though he's yet to score a home run, Dana White nonetheless appears to be touching one new base after another. The UFC honcho has been under relentless scrutiny over the proposed amendments to the Muhammad Ali Act. Backed by TKO, the parent company of the UFC, WWE, and now Zuffa Boxing, the revival act aims to establish a Unified Boxing Organization.

- - Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson's Ex-Boxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism

Jaideep R UnnithanOctober 31, 2025 at 2:30 AM

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via IMAGO ©via IMAGO

Though he's yet to score a home run, Dana White nonetheless appears to be touching one new base after another. The UFC honcho has been under relentless scrutiny over the proposed amendments to the Muhammad Ali Act. Backed by TKO, the parent company of the UFC, WWE, and now Zuffa Boxing, the revival act aims to establish a Unified Boxing Organization. With their own rankings, titles, and belts, much like how the UFC functions today, they would operate independently. However, the move has reportedly come under severe criticism.

In light of the UFC's $375 million antitrust settlement, many worry whether allowing a single entity to regulate fighters' careers monopolistically bodes well for the sport's future. Yet Dana White and TKO's initiative seem to have received some notable endorsements. The unanimous support it garnered from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is one prime example. Now, even a few figures from boxing's old guard appear enthusiastic about what White and his team are attempting to do for the sport.

Teddy Atlas joins Dana White's corner

Boxing Kingdom shared excerpts from comments made by Mike Tyson's former trainer, Teddy Atlas. Reflecting on how Dana White transformed the fate of MMA in such a short span, the Hall of Fame trainer reportedly said, "In a short period of time, Dana has taken MMA, and he has made the UFC into a huge brand. He gives the fans what they want, the best against the best."

White has done so much for the combat sports world. So Atlas felt he truly deserves a pat on the back. He added, "So, a guy like that. He's got my backing that he will do with boxing what he did with the UFC—make it good for the fans. He will make it good for the sport."

To set the record straight, this isn't the first time Teddy Atlas has voiced his support for Dana White. Months ago, during an interview for MMA Knockout, Atlas made it clear what White's presence could mean for boxing. "*I love Dana White. I love what he's done with the UFC…his no-nonsense approach. When you say rework it [the Ali Act], I don't know what that means, but I'll tell you what it means to Teddy… I want to see it get better,*" he said.

But it goes without saying. Even with the support of stalwarts like Teddy Atlas, doubts over White and TKO's intentions to introduce changes to boxing will continue to persist.

The Ali Revival Act: Amid skepticism, Dana White answers

Even those outside the boxing fold seem wary of how the proposed Ali revival act might affect athletes. Especially those who plan to cross over from MMA to boxing for bigger paydays. In light of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's rumored plans to switch to 16-ounce gloves, former fighter and now MMA insider Dan Hardy voiced a few concerns.

He said, "I feel like this is partly the reason why the Ali revival act is coming through, because it will allow perks, which takes away the temptation for the fighters to go somewhere else and make actual money." His, and many others', fears stem from White's past statements. The UFC president appeared dismissive about allowing UFC fighters to test their luck inside the boxing ring.

For his part, White has already clarified. Aside from the introduction of the UBO, nothing in the Ali Act will change. "Not one word is going to be changed. Not one thing. "There's just going to be an add-on to the Muhammad Ali Act," he stated on the 3 Knockdown Rule.

So, amid these uncertain times, earning the approval of one of boxing's most respected trainers marks a significant win for Dana White. The days ahead will likely reveal more developments on this front.

What's your take on Teddy Atlas's opinion and Dana White's boxing entry?

The post Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson's Ex-Boxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism appeared first on EssentiallySports.

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Published: October 31, 2025 at 04:27AM on Source: COSMOPOLITE

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byCosmopolite

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October 31, 2025

Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson’s Ex-Boxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism

Dana White Receives Major Backing From Mike Tyson's ExBoxing Coach Amid Ali Revival Act Criticism Jaideep R Un...

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