Tiger Woods' recovery from knee surgery has taken a step forward.

During an interview with Good Morning America's Michael Strahan earlier this week, Woods revealed that he had been cleared for "full practice" after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last month to repair minor cartilage damage in his left knee.

“I got the clearance last week to start full practice, and so I played nine holes the other day,” Woods told Strahan, who joined Woods at Liberty National for the Nexus Cup, Woods' new golf event that supports his foundation. “It’s sore, yeah, but now I can start lifting and getting my muscle back and getting my weight up."

Woods announced the news of his surgery – the fifth knee procedure of his career – via Twitter on Aug. 27, adding that he expected to make a "full recovery" and compete in next month's Zozo Championship. Woods remains on track to play in the Oct 24–27 event in Japan, as well as a new skins tournament the Monday before alongside Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama.

According to Golf Digest, Woods didn't hit any full shots during the Nexus Cup, but he did look "spry." Woods also beat Strahan in a putting contest, which was shown in the GMA video.

LA Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains the league's highest paid player, with an annual base salary and guaranteed compensation of $7.2 million, after the MLS Players Association announced revised salary numbers for the 2019 season.

The revised figures released on Friday reflect teams' activity during the league's summer transfer window.

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The top five is rounded out by Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley ($6m base, $6.5m total), TFC striker Jozy Altidore ($4.9m base, $6.3m total), LAFC forward Carlos Vela ($4.5m base, $6.3m total) and Chicago midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger ($5.6m base and total).

Giovani dos Santos, who had previously ranked second, is no longer on the list following the buyout of his contract by the LA Galaxy and subsequent move to Liga MX side Club America.

D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney, who will leave the club after the season to take a player-coach role at Derby County, has a total compensation of $3.5 million.

Among players who arrived during the summer, the New England Revolution's Gustavo Bou was the highest paid player, with a base salary and guaranteed compensation of $2.1 million. He's followed by Montreal Impact midfielder Bojan Krkic ($1.23m base, $1.53m total), Portland Timbers striker Brian Fernandez ($1.2m base, $1.27m total), LA Galaxy midfielder Cristian Pavon ($1.2 base and total) and Toronto FC defender Omar Gonzalez ($918,000 base, $1.19m total).

The average base salary fell a bit to $371,538 from compared to the June mark of $376,174. The same was true for the average guaranteed compensation figure which fell to $411,996 from the June figure of $417,643.

In a sign of the disparity in player salaries, the median base salary is $163,750, while the median guaranteed compensation is $179,498.

Based solely on the guaranteed compensation numbers, Toronto is the team with the highest payroll at $24.3 million, followed by the LA Galaxy ($19.6m), the Chicago Fire ($17.1m), LAFC ($13.8m) and the Seattle Sounders ($13.7m).

The Vancouver Whitecaps had the league's lowest payroll at $8.1m followed by the Colorado Rapids (8.6m), the New York Red Bulls ($8.7m), the Houston Dynamo ($8.7m) and FC Dallas ($8.8m).

If you drive west around Madrid, the city's very own wacky racetrack, the M30, still takes you underneath the main stand at the stadium that was Atletico Madrid's home for 50 years. The rest of it, though, has almost gone. Walls have been torn down, cables ripped out, a digger standing on the rubble of the old place where the pitch used to be. The bar that celebrated the double has gone, shutters down, and so has Resino's place.

Soon they will start on the main stand, too, where the sign is already rusting and windows have gone, and then there will be nothing. It is a sorry sight but it is progress, or so they say, and most are pretty happy with their new stadium, over 20 kilometres away on the other side of the city.

Everything feels different now, including Atlético themselves, which means that the derby does, too. Especially this year. This, after all, the game that they liked to portray as the people against the power. It wasn't entirely true, of course, but it was an attractive story, one that gave them a moral dimension -- this game means more -- and there was something in it. On the Madrid Monopoly board, the road that the Bernabéu stands on, the Paseo de la Castellana, is dark blue: their Park Lane. Atlético's stadium doesn't have a street on the board; it stood at the end of Melancholic's Way, which was appropriate then and, walking around the ruins of the old stadium, even more appropriate now.

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Today, though, it is Atlético's stadium, a new arena with 64,000 seats that has just hosted the biggest game in club football, a place that Liverpool fans consider partly their own, having beaten Spurs in the European Cup final there. It's not where Atletico fans wanted it to be, right out by the airport, but it is impressive. And this summer Atlético Madrid's manager Diego Simeone told La Nación: "We're no longer the people's team; we have an extraordinary stadium and next year we will have a training ground at the level the club deserves."

On one level, that is something to celebrate, of course, but there was also a sense of loss, a reluctance to let go of what they were, to be too much like the rest, and especially like their rivals: The response to that comment showed how far Atlético fans embraced that identity, built over years. Simeone stepped back a little, but only a little. "We have a wonderful stadium and we signed Joao Felix for €126 million, so economically we're not the people's team," he said, "but socially, morally and emotionally we are, because we still draw on our roots and that doesn't change, however much the club grows economically."

On Saturday, the derby comes and while Atlético long ended the days when Real Madrid's fans could hold up a mock advert asking for "a worthy rival for a decent derby," this time more than any other time is when they most embrace that difference. One of the many things that Atlético expressed for years, and still do, was not being Real Madrid. Beating Madrid is another matter. For 25 games, Atlético couldn't defeat them and then one day in the Copa del Rey final at the Bernabéu, it changed (except in Europe), and boy, do they have decent derbies these days.

This is first vs. third, after all: two teams who are genuine candidates to win the league. Atlético have finished above Real for two years in a row. And they have spent too this time. A lot.

Here are the subplots and currents running under the season's first Madrid derby.

The "people's team" finally splash the cash

This summer, Atlético spent more than they ever had before: €244m. That's just €54m below what Real Madrid spent. As Simeone suggested, a team that spends €126m on Joao Felix can't really play the pauper card. They splashed almost €100m on defenders alone and they even bought Marcos Llorente from Real for €30m, although as it turns out, he's not played much so far.

Atlético's spending was driven by the departure of players who left, some of whom they were powerless to stop: Rodri, Lucas Hernandez and Antoine Griezmann all departed after their new clubs unilaterally paid the buy-out clause, three players alone raising €270m, most of which was reinvested. Most, but not all. Atlético actually made a €44m profit. Well, €44,000,300 now.

The Spanish Federation has just fined Barcelona for their approach to Griezmann. It cost them €300. As Marca handily pointed out, you could get fined more than twice that for urinating in the street.

The derby's new British connection

No, not Gareth Bale (although him, too). Kieran Trippier has become an unexpected hero at Atlético, pressed very high and very wide, with so much of their play passing through him. The full-backs are vital for the team to function, allowing the midfield to turn inside, leaving them with the wing to themselves.

Left-back Renan Lodi is an attacking threat with his speed and willingness to run beyond people; on the other side, Trippier is more about the passing and delivery, usually from a little further back. He's more likely to sneak in behind players than run beyond them. He takes no risks, rarely loses the ball and plays the right pass almost every time: prepared to come back inside with a simple ball if the cross is not on.

No one in the Atlético team has put as many balls into the box as Trippier -- he's way, way ahead of the rest -- and they look for him early and often, playing long diagonal passes to seek him out. If he goes, he relies heavily on Koke to cover and combine: There's a neat partnership developing there. Koke's work, responsibility and positioning is fundamental. Watch how often Trippier is further forward than the captain.

(All that said, Santiago Arias played well enough in Mallorca to pose the question of whether Trippier, resting on Wednesday to be fit for this, is quite the guaranteed starter he appeared to be.)

The new, improved Atlético?

Griezmann, Rodri and Lucas all left, but they weren't the only ones. Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez and Juanfran all brought their Atlético careers to an end. Half of their starting XI went; Atlético had to start again. It's true that Saúl, Koke and Jan Oblak are still there, while they managed to keep Alvaro Morata too, but this wasn't just changing players; it was changing play.

First things first here: Despite the enthusiasm, this probably is a slightly weaker team than it was. But it is strong, and certainly stronger than many feared as players started to depart, and it's exciting, too. It's also different. As Koke put it in an interview with AS: "There's been a huge change. We want to play a bit more, play a bit better, change a bit. Maybe you can see it in the way that we have a bit more possession." That's part of the question: How soon will it all fit into place, how committed will they be to this idea, which appears to break a little with who they were, how well will it work?

So far, they're optimistic, but cautiously so. There's definitely a shift: Before Mallorca, they had conceded two goals a game for three straight games, which is not like them.

Speaking of Koke... how about Casemiro?

Casemiro. That is all. Madrid need him to impose himself on the game, possibly more than they need anyone else right now.

Who will be Atletico's 11th man?

Ten of Saturday's starting XI seems reasonably clear although the make-up and order of the middle shifts sometimes: Saul, Koke, Thomas Partey in midfield, maybe even Hector Herrera. The question is the 11th man. Angel Correa, Vitolo, Lemar? Or maybe even an extra central midfielder?

And where does Joao Felix line up? He starts, for sure, but he's played right, left and middle, sometimes in the same game.

As for Madrid, their lineup seems pretty clear, with Nacho likely filling in for Ferland Mendy and Marcelo (who's back in training) at left-back: Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Nacho, James Rodriguez, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Bale, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard.

Luka Modric is back, too. It's not impossible, though unlikely, that he immediately returns to the team.

Madrid look different while staying the same

On the day that Madrid played their first home game of the season, there was only one player who hadn't been at the club back in 2014 -- and that was the goalkeeper. So much for the French revolution. So much for "there will be changes."

Zidane hadn't got all the players he wanted -- Paul Pogba, basically -- and didn't want all the players they could get him. It was tempting at that point to say, though, that the best thing that could happen to him was that he didn't get what he wanted: James and Bale, two footballers who weren't in his plans, suddenly appeared as his signings. Neither was happy, neither felt entirely wanted, but both look set to play key parts and determined to make a point. James is running like he's never done before.

While there's little cover in midfield, there have been some changes, too: Hazard is fit now, while both Vinicius and Rodrygo scored in midweek. The latter took his goal superbly. He'd only been on the pitch 94 seconds of his debut. Vinicius is unlikely to start on Saturday -- it will be Bale, Benzema and Hazard up front -- but he may play a part. Rodrygo wasn't named in the squad.

It's too early to be completely convinced, and there's no great tactical shift or dazzling displays, but slowly things seem to be falling into place. Including them:For the first time in two years and four months, Real stand alone at the top. And even if this had happened a week ago, after the disaster in Paris, that's no reason for Atlético to be optimistic.

Koke knows this. "People give them up for dead and that's a big lie," he said.

The Jose Mourinho effect?

Zidane complained about a "lack of intensity" after Madrid were destroyed by PSG in the Champions League. It's too often a catch-all explanation for everything, a cliche that doesn't really explain anything while avoiding deeper questions and proper analysis, but there's a kernel of truth in it.

The Real boss was under pressure and the talk was of Mourinho. And suddenly, there it was in Seville: the intensity Zidane demanded. Time to do the "tongue in cheek" emoji here, but was that threat all it took? Magic. Lads, Mourinho might come: time to pull our fingers out!

There is a broader question, though, raised by Jorge Valdano: Madrid fought in Seville, taking their defensive responsibilities very seriously, aware of the pressure they were under and the threat from an opponent who had beaten them four years running. Can they always do that? Should they, in fact?

"They can't do what they did today consistently," said Valdano. "Bale, Hazard and James have to go forward, not back."

Courtois, Morata face their old friends

Outside the Metropolitano, there is a plaque for every player who has played at least 100 games for Atlético. That means that there is a plaque for Courtois. Last time he came, it was scratched, covered in rubbish, mud and the lid from a tin of biscuits with a picture of a stag on it: a sign of infidelity. There were also loads of cuddly toy rats; fans even threw some at him during the game.

He's not the only one in the two squads but he may be the only one on the pitch in the end: Atlético didn't get James Rodríguez, even though at that point in the summer they, and he, wanted it to happen. Marcos Llorente, signed from Madrid for €30m, has not played a major role and probably won't start. Morata is suspended after he came on in Mallorca and was sent off again eight minutes later, having picked up two yellow cards in barely 60 seconds following a confrontation with Xisco Campos and Salva Sevilla.

They're still arguing now over what was said. Sevilla says he called Morata a "daddy's boy." Morata won't say what he heard, but that it was far worse. Atlético have appealed, but don't expect it to succeed.

Could Diego Costa contribute?

Six months later, Diego Costa scored for Atlético in Mallorca. "Forwards need goals; they live by them," Diego Simeone said. "This is very good for him, and very good for the team."

He's scored six times in four games against Madrid since returning to Atlético, which sounds amazing, but handle those figures with care: They were scored in the European Super Cup last summer and in this summer's 7-3 win in preseason. In La Liga, it's been 1-1 and 0-0 and he hasn't scored.

Oh, and he has a friend waiting for him: "I want to play against Costa," said Hazard, his former teammate at Chelsea.

Watch out for Benzema

Almost 10 years later, he has become a goalscorer. He always was, of course, just not quite like this. After a decade facilitating things for Cristiano Ronaldo, a brilliant player if not a No. 9 as such, he has now taken responsibility for himself. He's top scorer in Spain and one of the league's outstanding players so far. He started to get a lot of goals consistently last season, particularly after Zidane's return.

The truth was that few of them were truly important, the season was over and the doubts remained, but now they matter. His five include the winner in Seville. Mind you, he's never been about goals and maybe still shouldn't be: His best moment remains that bit of skill in the derby at the Calderón in the Champions League. On the spot where he produced that bit of magic, there's just dust and broken concrete now. He'll miss it, too.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When the New England Patriots decide to go for it on fourth down, or attempt a two-point conversion, how much does head coach Bill Belichick rely on analytics?

"Less than zero," Belichick said Friday morning.

Belichick, who is preparing his 3-0 team for a road game against the 3-0 Buffalo Bills on Sunday, was asked the question in the aftermath of a notable decision by Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson on Thursday night. Pederson elected to go for a two-point conversion with 9:12 remaining in the third quarter. The attempt failed, with the Eagles going ahead 27-20 en route to a 34-27 victory over Green Bay.

Also, last Sunday, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh elected to go for a two-point conversion three times in a 33-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens also converted three of four chances on fourth down.

Belichick was asked, then, if his decisions are based on his gut.

"I'm not saying it's a gut thing. It's an individual analysis based on the things that are pertinent to that game and that situation," he said. "I don't really care what happened in 1973 and what those teams did or didn't do. I don't really think that matters in this game -- or '83 or '90, pick out whatever you want."

Belichick then smiled and said, "It's not really my thing. And I like math, too, by the way."

The Patriots rely on analytics for other parts of their football operation, such as technology, scouting and contracts. Ernie Adams, one of Belichick's longtime confidants, serves as the team's football research director.

On Friday, Belichick's thoughts on in-game analytics were sparked by a question on older players, such as Bills running back Frank Gore, 36, continuing to have success in the NFL. Belichick was asked whether his view of players and their age has changed due to advances in conditioning, exercise science and nutrition.

"It's a really good question," he said. "Personally, I just try to take everything based on what I see, and not try to maybe read too much into other numbers and so forth. As you know, analytics is not really my thing. I don't know if there's any set formula or model for what it is today or what it was some other year. I'm sure you could go to some analytics person and they'd be able to give you a great numerical answer on that."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't willing to shut the door on the possibility of cornerback Jalen Ramsey playing Sunday just yet.

Ramsey hasn't been with the team since Wednesday because he was in Nashville for the birth of his second daughter, but the team listed him as questionable for the game at Denver. In addition to the personal leave, Ramsey also is dealing with a lower back issue.

"First of all, congratulations to Jalen and his family on the birth of his second daughter," coach Doug Marrone said Friday. "Both mom and baby are healthy, and obviously that's important. We've been in communication and we'll just see [if Ramsey will be available to play], and if anything comes up I'll make sure you're aware of it."

Ramsey has not missed a game since the team drafted him fifth overall in 2016. Marrone is hopeful that the streak continues.

"It's not something to joke around with, but obviously when you say your level of hope [is that Ramsey will return to play], you're hoping that every player is going to play from injury," Marrone said. "When he gets back, we'll see how he's doing."

If Ramsey does not play, his replacement would be second-year player Tre Herndon, who made the team as an undrafted rookie last season.

"'If we don't have Jalen, we still have to go out there and it is what it is," nickelback D.J. Hayden said. "We still got to go out there and we still have a game to win. So I feel 100% confident [in] anybody we got on our team and on this defense and still feel like we're going to go out there and not skip a beat."

It has been an eventful two weeks for Ramsey, who asked the team to trade him after being chastised by Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin following the Jaguars' 13-12 loss at Houston on Sept. 15. Ramsey got into a sideline shouting match with Marrone after Marrone refused Ramsey's request to challenge a completion to DeAndre Hopkins.

Ramsey played against Tennessee on Sept. 19 but did not practice Monday because of an illness. He also missed Wednesday's practice with a back injury, which created its own drama. Three hours after Marrone said he didn't know when Ramsey suffered the injury, the team released a statement saying Ramsey did report back soreness to the team's medical staff during the fourth quarter of the Titans game.

After Ramsey sat out Wednesday, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that it was considered unlikely that Ramsey would play Sunday. Earlier Wednesday, Marrone said he thought the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback would be able to play against the Broncos "if he has the ability to play."

On Wednesday night, the team announced that Ramsey would return to his hometown for the impending birth of his second child and released a statement from Marrone that Ramsey "will return to the team when he's ready."

The Week 4 NFL slate is stacked with great matchups. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the keys to every game, a bold prediction for each matchup and final score predictions.

Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information research provides a stat to know, and the Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game projection. ESPN Fantasy's Kyle Soppe and ESPN Chalk's Mackenzie Kraemer hand out helpful nuggets as well. It's all here to help get you ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.

Let's get into the full Week 4 schedule, starting with two matchups of undefeated teams.

Jump to a matchup:
KC-DET | NE-BUF | TEN-ATL
CLE-BAL | CAR-HOU | OAK-IND
LAC-MIA | WSH-NYG | TB-LAR
SEA-ARI | MIN-CHI | JAX-DEN
DAL-NO | CIN-PIT

Thursday: PHI 34, GB 27
Bye: NYJ, SF

Chiefs (3-0) at Lions (2-0-1)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 81.4 | Spread: KC -6.5 (54.5)

What to watch for: Patrick Mahomes hasn't played in a dome as a pro, and playing indoors at Ford Field should make Kansas City's offense somehow more dangerous. If Lions cornerbacks Darius Slay and Rashaan Melvin are not at full strength, Mahomes and the Chiefs could be extra special on Sunday. -- Michael Rothstein

Bold prediction: Travis Kelce will catch a couple of touchdown passes. Kelce has only one this season, and Detroit has done a nice job of defending tight ends, giving up only seven completions. But the Lions have also given up 93 yards on those passes, and they haven't faced a tight end with Kelce's ability. -- Adam Teicher

Stat to know: According to ESPN's coverage analysis using NFL Next Gen Stats research, Mahomes is averaging 12.5 yards per attempt with six passing touchdowns when facing zone coverage this season, both of which are the best in the NFL. But the Lions have used man coverage on 68% of their snaps this season, the third most of any team this season.

What to know for fantasy: Mahomes had the greatest fantasy season ever by a quarterback last season. But if he scores 28.5 points Sunday, he will actually be ahead of where he was through four games in 2018. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Matthew Stafford is 9-16 against the spread (ATS) in his career as a home underdog. Read more.

Teicher's pick: Chiefs 33, Lions 24
Rothstein's pick: Chiefs 38, Lions 27
FPI prediction: KC, 70.2% (by an average of 7.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Lions' Diggs: Mahomes could 'break every record' ... Why WR Jones' reemergence means good things for the Lions' offense ... Hardman gives Chiefs another speedy toy for Mahomes ... In facing Kelce, Lions can learn from containing Ertz

Patriots (3-0) at Bills (3-0)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 73.5 | Spread: NE -7.5 (42.5)

What to watch for: Josh Allen has yet to turn in four quarters of mistake-free football this season, but he'll need to against the Patriots. A large part of his game is his ability to improvise. Whether he'll be able to make smart improvisational decisions against an opportunistic New England defense will determine how successful the Bills' offense will be Sunday. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Bold prediction: Sony Michel will lead the way on offense for New England, as the Patriots' running game will find its groove after three outings in which the attack has trended more toward the pass. Michel, who has totaled only 108 rushing yards over three games, will top the 100-yard mark in a close contest that will be decided in the fourth quarter. -- Mike Reiss

Stat to know: New England has won 17 consecutive games against first- or second-year starting quarterbacks. And the Patriots' man defense could spell trouble for Allen. According to ESPN coverage metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats data, the Patriots use man coverage at the second-highest rate in the league (68%), and Allen averages just 6.6 yards per attempt versus man, compared with 8.0 yards per attempt versus zone.

What to know for fantasy: Tom Brady has failed to score more than 15.6 fantasy points in each of his past four games against the Bills. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Last season, New England was 1-5 outright as a single-digit road favorite, including 0-3 outright when favored by 6-9 points on the road. Read more.

Reiss' pick: Patriots 20, Bills 17
Louis-Jacques' pick: Patriots 21, Bills 13
FPI prediction: NE, 75.3% (by an average of 9.5 points)

Matchup must-reads: Belichick's expanded oversight boosts Patriots' D ... Allen's knack for extending plays a blessing and curse for Bills ... Patriots holding on during roller-coaster ride at wide receiver

Titans (1-2) at Falcons (1-2)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 69.1 | Spread: ATL -4 (46)

What to watch for: How the Falcons' receivers perform against the Tennessee secondary will be key. If Jacksonville's Gardner Minshew was able to connect downfield on the Titans, surely Matt Ryan can do the same. Keep an eye on Calvin Ridley, who vowed not to let a hip injury hold him back. He had only one target last weekend, and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wants to get him more involved. -- Vaughn McClure

Bold prediction: Outside linebacker Harold Landry will have two sacks. He has been relatively quiet, having posted only one sack through three games, but he'll get home against the Falcons with Ryan waiting for the deep routes to develop with his receivers. -- Turron Davenport

Stat to know: Julio Jones has a receiving touchdown in seven consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. A.J. Green (nine in 2012), Antonio Brown (eight in 2018) and Wes Welker (eight in 2012 and '13) are the only players with eight-game streaks over the past 10 seasons.

What to know for fantasy: Since Week 13 of last season, Derrick Henry has run for 11 touchdowns. No other player has more than seven. And over that stretch, only Christian McCaffrey has more fantasy points among running backs. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Atlanta has failed to cover in 12 consecutive games against AFC opponents, including the Week 3 loss against Indianapolis. The Falcons are 5-21 ATS in their past 26 games against AFC opponents, including 4-14 ATS under Dan Quinn. Read more.

Davenport's pick: Falcons 28, Titans 20
McClure's pick: Falcons 31, Titans 17
FPI prediction: ATL, 54% (by an average of 1.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Who's to blame for NFL-high 17 sacks on Mariota? ... DB Allen: Falcons' defense needs discipline, not Superman

Browns (1-2) at Ravens (2-1)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 55.9 | Spread: BAL -6.5 (45)

What to watch for: The Ravens' offensive line could have problems against the Browns' pass rush, which is the best Baltimore has played this season "by a long way," according to coach John Harbaugh. Lamar Jackson is averaging 99 yards rushing per game in his five regular-season starts at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, but how will the pass rush affect that part of his game? -- Jamison Hensley

Bold prediction: Two of Baker Mayfield's former Oklahoma teammates, Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews, score touchdowns as Jackson prevails in a shootout of former Heisman Trophy-winning QBs. -- Jake Trotter

Stat to know: The Ravens have blitzed on 47% of opposing QB dropbacks this season, the highest mark in the NFL. And they boast the NFL's fourth-best pass rush win rate, beating blocks within 2.5 seconds 58% of the time, per NFL Next Gen Stats research.

What to know for fantasy: Nick Chubb has the chance to join Todd Gurley as the only players since 2009 to have at least 17 carries and three receptions in each of their teams' first four games of a season (Gurley did it in 2018). See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Last season, Baltimore failed to cover in all five divisional games in which it was the favorite, including both tries against Cleveland. Read more.

Trotter's pick: Ravens 31, Browns 27
Hensley's pick: Ravens 28, Browns 27
FPI prediction: BAL, 72.7% (by an average of 8.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Jackson reaching historic heights (just don't bring it up) ... Saban, Parcells, car sales? Inside Kitchens' road map to Cleveland ... Earl Thomas says Ravens got tired of Browns hype

Panthers (1-2) at Texans (2-1)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 54.7 | Spread: HOU -4 (47.5)

What to watch for: The Texans haven't allowed a player to rush for more than 100 yards since Week 17 of the 2017 season, the third-longest active streak in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Can Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who has more than 100 rushing yards in two of three games this season, break that streak? -- Sarah Barshop

Bold prediction: Carolina quarterback Kyle Allen will follow his four-touchdown pass performance against Arizona with three against Houston, which has given up only five touchdown passes in three games. He'll also top 250 yards passing against a defense that is stingy against the run. -- David Newton

Stat to know: The Panthers' defense is using zone coverage on 72% of its snaps in 2019, the second-highest rate in the NFL. And the unit is giving up a league-low 4.6 yards per play this season in that coverage, per ESPN's coverage metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats data.

What to know for fantasy: Allen has made two starts in his NFL career, resulting in seven total touchdowns and a pair of top-7 fantasy finishes at the position. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Allen seeks to be the second quarterback in the Super Bowl era to begin his career 3-0 despite being an underdog in each game. Patrick Mahomes is the other. Read more.

Newton's pick: Texans 24, Panthers 21
Barshop's pick: Texans 24, Panthers 16
FPI prediction: HOU, 75.4% (by an average of 9.5 points)

Matchup must-reads: Three NFL players from a tiny town of 300? Meet the Bassfield Boys ... Too soon for Kyle Allen to challenge Cam Newton like 'Play 60' kid ... Watt on sacks: 'I knew it was just a matter of time' ... Olsen reestablishing himself as a top tight end

Raiders (1-2) at Colts (2-1)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 45.5 | Spread: IND -6.5 (45.5)

What to watch for: The Colts had eight sacks in their first two games of the season, but as pass-rusher Justin Houston noted, Atlanta's Matt Ryan did a good job of getting a rid of the ball quickly to cause the Colts to go sackless in Week 3. Don't be surprised if Derek Carr and the Raiders try to do the same thing Sunday. -- Mike Wells

Bold prediction: The Raiders will ride rookie running back Josh Jacobs, whose touches have fallen from 24 to 12 to 10 in three games, to establish the run game early and set up the play-action passing game. -- Paul Gutierrez

Stat to know: Carr quietly has the third-highest completion percentage (73.5%) in the NFL this season, but he is also averaging just 7.1 yards per attempt (20th in NFL) and 6.4 air yards per attempt (31st).

What to know for fantasy: Oakland's Darren Waller ranks second in the NFL, across all positions, with 26 catches this season, and he is facing a Colts team that has given up more tight-end receptions than any other team since the beginning of last season (121). See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Jacoby Brissett will be the favorite as the starter for sixth time in 21 career starts. He is 4-1 both straight up and against the spread as a favorite in his career. Read more.

Gutierrez's pick: Raiders 21, Colts 20
Wells' pick: Colts 27, Raiders 16
FPI prediction: IND, 75.1% (by an average of 9.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Reich's 'funky' playcalling gives Colts players confidence ... Gruden defends Carr: AB's exit affected offense

Chargers (1-2) at Dolphins (0-3)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 14.5 | Spread: LAC -15 (43.5)

What to watch for: Keenan Allen probably will rack up huge receiving yards in this one. He had 183 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches last weekend against the Texans, and now he has to be licking his chops facing the Dolphins' banged-up secondary. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Allen eclipse 200 yards. -- Cameron Wolfe

Bold prediction: Chargers running back Austin Ekeler goes for more than 100 rushing yards for the first time as a pro. The Dolphins are giving up a league-worst 208 rushing yards per game. Melvin Gordon's holdout is over, but Sunday's game will be Ekeler's opportunity to put up big numbers against a lackluster Miami run defense. -- Eric D. Williams

Stat to know: The Dolphins are trying to avoid becoming the third team to lose four consecutive games by 25-plus points in same season. It hasn't been done since the 1954 Redskins.

What to know for fantasy: Ekeler is RB3 for the season, and his 77.8 points are 3.2 more than Gordon has ever scored through the Chargers' first three games of a season. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Miami is the first team since the 1970 merger to be a home underdog of at least 14 points twice before the end of September. Read more.

Williams' pick: Chargers 27, Dolphins 17
Wolfe's pick: Chargers 34, Dolphins 13
FPI prediction: LAC, 86.2% (by an average of 15.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Gordon's return should help Chargers in time ... Wins? Not so much, yet. Aggression? Rosen will bring it for Dolphins ... Are the Dolphins really doing this? How they could tank and win ... All hail the NFL's coolest jersey: Chargers embrace powder blues

Redskins (0-3) at Giants (1-2)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 10.0 | Spread: NYG -2.5 (49)

What to watch for: Landon Collins makes his return to New Jersey to face his former team for the first time. He has been vocally critical of Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and the way his situation was handled, even calling him a "liar." Don't think for a second Collins won't want to stick it to his former team with a huge performance. -- Jordan Raanan

Bold prediction: Daniel Jones' mobility will be a problem for Washington's defense. He will buy enough time to throw for 250 yards and two touchdown passes in his first home start. But Redskins quarterback Case Keenum will top him with 275 yards and three scores. -- John Keim

Stat to know: The Redskins have given up more than 30 points in three consecutive games, and four straight would tie the team's single-season record, set in 1954. Meanwhile, the Giants are 8-3 with a plus-65 point differential (241-176) in their past 11 home games against Washington.

What to know for fantasy: Jones was QB2 in Week 3 and now faces a Redskins defense that has allowed all three opposing quarterbacks this season to complete over 70% of their passes and throw for three scores. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Over the past two seasons, the Giants are 1-7-1 ATS at home. Since 2017, New York is 1-3 outright as a home favorite (0-3-1 ATS). Read more.

Keim's pick: Giants 28, Redskins 27
Raanan's pick: Giants 28, Redskins 22
FPI prediction: NYG, 55.3% (by an average of 1.9 points)

Matchup must-reads: Jones on Danny Dimes: 'There could be worse nicknames' ... Redskins backup QB Haskins patiently awaits chance ... Giants make right move: Here's where Jones' mobility mattered

Buccaneers (1-2) at Rams (3-0)

4:05 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 56.9 | Spread: LAR -9 (49.5)

What to watch for: The Rams are well aware that their offense has performed below standard. They'll attempt to get on track against the Bucs, though that could prove difficult against a Todd Bowles defense that ranks third against the run, giving up only 69.7 rushing yards per game. -- Lindsey Thiry

Bold prediction: Ronald Jones will notch his first career 100-yard rushing performance. He is coming off an 80-yard performance last weekend against the Giants in which he averaged 5.7 yards per carry. The Rams surrendered 128 rushing yards to Christian McCaffrey and 96 to Nick Chubb, so it's not as far-fetched as it sounds. -- Jenna Laine

Stat to know: Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston leads the NFL with 10 completions into tight windows (less than one yard of separation) this season, and his 187 passing yards on such throws are the second most, according to NFL Next Gen Stats research.

What to know for fantasy: Since the beginning of last season, Los Angeles' Jared Goff is averaging 83.5% more points per game at home than on the road. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Los Angeles is 7-1 ATS in its past eight games, including 3-0 this season. The team's only non-cover came in the Super Bowl. Read more.

Laine's pick: Rams 30, Buccaneers 14
Thiry's pick: Rams 28, Buccaneers 13
FPI prediction: LAR, 80.7% (by an average of 12.0 points)

Matchup must-reads: Goff's security blanket: Rams receiver Cooper Kupp ... NFL sack leader Barrett becomes Bucs' unexpected star ... Bucs focused on finishing to avoid another giant letdown vs. Rams ... McVay: Gurley not on load management program

Seahawks (2-1) at Cardinals (0-2-1)

4:05 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 31.5 | Spread: SEA -5 (48)

What to watch for: Larry Fitzgerald hasn't had a 100-yard game against Seattle since 2017, but that could change Sunday. Fitzgerald has gotten off to his best start (18 receptions, 253 yards, two touchdowns) through three games since 2015, and it's one of the best stretches to start a season in his career. He needs five catches Sunday to move into second on the NFL's all-time receptions list. -- Josh Weinfuss

Bold prediction: Quinton Jefferson, who has been Seattle's best defensive lineman this season, will have pair of sacks. Kyler Murray has been sacked more times (16) than all but one quarterback, despite facing blitzes on only 24.2% of his dropbacks, which is 18th most among QBs, according to ESPN charting. -- Brady Henderson

Stat to know: Murray has 137 pass attempts through his first three career games, the most by any player since the 1970 merger. Mike Glennon's 181 attempts is the most through a player's first four games.

What to know for fantasy: Seattle's Chris Carson has lost more fumbles this season (three) than all of 2018 (two), but he is one of only two backs with a 20-plus-yard rush in all three games (Dalvin Cook is the other). See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Over the past two seasons, Arizona is 5-0 ATS when it is an underdog of 3-7 points. Read more.

Henderson's pick: Seahawks 26, Cardinals 21
Weinfuss' pick: Seahawks 28, Cardinals 17
FPI prediction: SEA, 60.5% (by an average of 3.8 points)

Matchup must-reads: How baseball helped mold QBs like Murray and Wilson ... Seahawks 'believe in' RB Carson despite fumbles

Vikings (2-1) at Bears (2-1)

4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 79.0 | Spread: CHI -2.5 (38)

What to watch for: With a pair of sometimes-suspect quarterbacks -- Minnesota's Kirk Cousins and Chicago's Mitchell Trubisky -- the game probably hinges on which defense does a better job stopping the run. The Bears have allowed only one 100-yard rusher in regulation over their past 37 regular-season games. That player was a Viking: Latavius Murray in Week 17 of the 2017 season. -- Jeff Dickerson

Bold prediction: Dalvin Cook, the league's leading rusher, won't crack 100 yards rushing for the first time this season but will cross the century mark in yards from scrimmage with an increased role in the passing game. Minnesota's game plan will be predicated on short passes and screens, and we'll see Cook get his first receiving touchdown of the season. -- Courtney Cronin

Stat to know: Cook is the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 110-plus yards and a touchdown in each of his team's first three games of a season. The other four? All Hall of Famers (Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, Emmitt Smith and Curtis Martin).

What to know for fantasy: Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs has caught only six passes this season, but he did haul in 21 passes against these Bears last season. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Regarding Chicago, teams coming off victories on Monday Night Football have failed to cover seven consecutive games and are 12-20-1 ATS since 2017. Read more.

Cronin's pick: Vikings 20, Bears 17
Dickerson's pick: Vikings 16, Bears 12
FPI prediction: MIN, 52.2% (by an average of 0.8 points)

Matchup must-reads: Vikings, Cousins brace for impact with Mack ... A TD threat with each touch: Inside Vikings RB Cook's roaring start ... Bears going with 1936 throwback uniforms against the Vikings

Jaguars (1-2) at Broncos (0-3)

4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 38.7 | Spread: DEN -3 (38)

What to watch for: The Broncos are the only team to still not have a sack -- and the only team to still not have forced a turnover -- this season. The Jaguars, meanwhile, were tied for the league lead in sacks after three games, and Denver's Joe Flacco is one of only six quarterbacks who have been sacked more than 10 times in three games. -- Jeff Legwold

Bold prediction: The Jaguars will intercept Flacco at least twice. Flacco has struggled against Jacksonville overall (five touchdowns and seven interceptions, along with a 3-3 record), but it's particularly true in the past two meetings: no TD passes, four INTs and just 242 yards. The Jaguars' pass rush got cranked up last weekend (nine sacks) and might be even better than the unit Flacco played in 2017. -- Mike DiRocco

Stat to know: Jacksonville quarterback Gardner Minshew has 65 completions through 88 career pass attempts. Per Elias Sports Bureau research, he needs only six completions in his first 12 attempts in Week 4 to set the NFL record for most through 100 pass attempts.

What to know for fantasy: Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay scored twice in Week 3, but he has yet to gain even 10 yards on any of his 45 carries this season. See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Regarding Denver, since 2015, teams that are 0-3 are 12-2 ATS in their fourth game when playing a team that has won a game that season. Read more.

DiRocco's pick: Jaguars 17, Broncos 14
Legwold's pick: Broncos 21, Jaguars 17
FPI prediction: DEN, 59% (by an average of 3.2 points)

Matchup must-reads: Why Jaguars have leverage with Jalen Ramsey, and how that could change ... Fault for Flacco sacks falls on more than just Broncos' O-line ... Doug Marrone: O-line not 'giving Leonard a chance' ... Callahan's injury forcing changes in Broncos secondary

Cowboys (3-0) at Saints (2-1)

8:20 p.m. ET | NBC
Matchup rating: 78.5 | Spread: DAL -2.5 (47)

What to watch for: Last weekend, Teddy Bridgewater proved the Saints can win without Drew Brees by relying heavily on Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. But the Cowboys' defense proved last season that it has the talent to shut down those guys. Dallas is the only team to keep them both at 72 yards or fewer since Kamara's first game in 2017. The Saints must find a way to create some big plays this time. -- Mike Triplett

Bold prediction: Dak Prescott will be sacked more than two times. Why is that bold? Prescott has been sacked only twice this season. But in their past five home games dating to last season, the Saints have put up 19 sacks, including six of Houston's Deshaun Watson. -- Todd Archer

Stat to know: Prescott leads the NFL in Total QBR this season at 90.4 and ranks second in passing touchdowns with nine (behind Patrick Mahomes). The only other Cowboys quarterback with nine passing TDs through three games is Don Meredith, in 1966. Prescott is completing an NFL-best 75% of his passes, up from 68% last season, thanks in part to seeing pressure on just 18% of his dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen Stats research.

What to know for fantasy: So far this season, 60.1% of Kamara's points have come as a pass-catcher (65.2% in Week 3, the first game under Bridgewater). See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Bridgewater is 13-2 ATS in his career as an underdog, the best ATS mark by any quarterback with at least 10 starts as an underdog in the Super Bowl era. Read more.

Archer's pick: Cowboys 30, Saints 28
Triplett's pick: Cowboys 24, Saints 20
FPI prediction: NO, 55.0% (by an average of 1.8 points)

Matchup must-reads: Can Saints, Cowboys win before big paydays force roster cuts? ... Kellen Moore's path to Cowboys coordinator mirrors Jason Garrett's ... Pollard, Elliott give defenses even more to think about

Bengals (0-3) at Steelers (0-3)

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ESPN App
Matchup rating: 23.7 | Spread: PIT -3.5 (43.5)

What to watch for: Pittsburgh's offense failed to capitalize on the defense's five takeaways in Week 3. But now the Bengals are in a three-way tie with the 49ers and Dolphins for last place in the league with eight turnovers through the first three weeks. The Steelers will have another opportunity to make more defensive plays Monday, but it'll be up to the offense and quarterback Mason Rudolph to get more than a handful of points out of them. -- Brooke Pryor

Bold prediction: Pittsburgh will not give up a sack. The Bengals' pass rush has been hot and cold this season, and the Steelers have given up only four sacks this season, tied for seventh fewest in the NFL and the best of any AFC team. -- Ben Baby

Stat to know: The Steelers' James Conner is averaging 32.3 rushing yards per game this season after averaging almost 75 last season. Over the past two seasons, the Steelers are 1-7 when Conner rushes for 60 yards or fewer and 7-0-1 when he rushes for more than that.

What to know for fantasy: Andy Dalton ranks second in passing yards this season (978), and the Steelers have given up the second-most passing yards (908). See Week 4 rankings.

Betting nugget: Mike Tomlin is 17-6 ATS in his career against Cincinnati, though Ben Roethlisberger started all of those games. Read more.

Baby's pick: Bengals 17, Steelers 14
Pryor's pick: Steelers 17, Bengals 14
FPI prediction: PIT, 65.1% (by an average of 5.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Conner, Steelers' running game struggling to help ailing offense .. Bengals projected to have top-five pick in 2020 draft

NEW YORK -- Kevin Durant reiterated Friday that he does not expect to play this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals last June.

Durant told ESPN that he is progressing and has not experienced any setback in his rehab.

"I'm just strengthening my body," Durant said at the Nets' media day. "Not doing too much on the basketball court."

Nets coach Kenny Atkinson called incorporating Durant into the team a "wonderful challenge," even though he won't play.

Fellow Nets newcomer Kyrie Irving said he is encouraging Durant to take his time returning to the court.

"There isn't going to be any pressure from any of us at any time, and I will make sure of that," Irving said.

"I have been in the same position of being the guy that's injured on the team and everyone looking at you like, 'Are you going to come back anytime soon? If you come back then this is going to be our championship-caliber team. If you were playing, then this would happen.'"

Durant said this season his job is to get healthy and "be a teammate."

"I'm not going to do anything extra," he said. "Just do what I usually do. Work hard in my rehab, hopefully that sends a great message out. If anyone has a question on anything, whether in practice or a game, I know the game pretty well, so I can answer those questions quickly and honestly as I can and just try to approach it as an everyday manner and then try to take it a day at a time. I'm just going to be myself."

NEW YORK -- Kyrie Irving arrived at the Brooklyn Nets' media day ready to accept accountability.

It was no secret that Irving, who signed with the Nets over the summer, had a rocky parting with the Boston Celtics. At the beginning of last season, the All-Star point guard told Boston fans that he was planning to re-sign with the franchise. He meant it at the time, he explained on Friday. But things changed. His grandfather died in late October and basketball became less important to Irving.

"Basketball and the joy I had from it was sucked away from me," Irving said at media day. "There was a facial expression that I carried around with me throughout the year. Didn't allow anyone to get close to me in that instance, and it really bothered me. I didn't take the necessary steps to get counseling or get therapy to deal with somebody that close to me dying. I've never dealt with anything like that."

Things began to spiral, the locker room became fractured and Irving was unpredictable. The Milwaukee Bucks bounced the Celtics in the second round of the 2019 playoffs; by that time, Irving seemed to have already distanced himself from his teammates.

"I responded in ways that are uncharacteristic," he said.

That distant and moody Irving was not the same guy who showed up to the dais for his news conference on Friday. Instead, he seemed reflective.

"A lot of the battles I thought I could battle through in the [Boston] team environment, I just wasn't ready for," Irving said. "And I failed those guys, in the sense that I didn't give them everything I could have during that season. ... In terms of me being a leader in that environment and bringing everyone together, I failed."

He is ready, he said, to snuff out the memory of turbulent days in Boston. He learned from that, he said, and now is ready to move on. He has come to Brooklyn, he said, with a "fresh mindset" -- a mindset geared toward "honesty."

By Irving's account, he spoke with Brooklyn's front office early on in free agency and expressed his "interest was very high." Irving said he told Nets representatives that he was aiming to bring other All-Star talent with him. That came to fruition, as Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan both ended up signing with the Nets.

"It was really easy to see what these guys brought to the table," Durant, who is expected to miss the season because of an Achilles tendon injury, said of his decision to join Brooklyn. "It was pretty easy to figure out what kind of organization this place is."

Durant went on to say that Irving is his best friend. The two of them expect to have a natural chemistry on the court. But Irving said firmly that he will never be pushing Durant to rush his rehab.

"We all know K was not ready to play," Irving said of Durant's return for the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2019 Finals. "We all know that, whether people want to admit it or not. He was out 31 days and we put him on a national stage in the Finals to end up selling a product that came before the person, Kevin. Now, I'm here to protect that. And I'm going to be the protector of that all throughout the year and not allowing anyone to infiltrate that circle."

HOUSTON -- Russell Westbrook offered something of a warning to the rest of the NBA regarding his reunion with new Houston Rockets teammate James Harden.

"It's going to be scary, that's all I can tell you," Westbrook said during Rockets media day Friday. "It's going to be scary -- not for us."

Seven years have passed since Westbrook and Harden last played together with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. Harden and Westbrook, who have been friends since their childhoods in Los Angeles, have developed into perennial All-Star guards, and both have won an NBA MVP award.

But neither superstar has made it back to the NBA Finals since the Thunder's 2012 loss to the Heat.

They pushed to reunite with the Rockets, who traded Chris Paul and a package of first-round picks to acquire Westbrook from the Thunder, in large part due to their desire to finally win a championship.

"We've accomplished a lot of individual accolades," said Harden, who led the league in scoring the past two seasons after Westbrook did so during his 2016-17 MVP season. "Now it's time to accomplish something together that we haven't accomplished before."

Some questioned the pairing of two of the league's most ball-dominant players, as Harden has elevated from a Sixth Man of the Year to perennial MVP candidate since he last played with Westbrook. Harden acknowledged that they would have to "figure it out" regarding ball distribution and how the playmakers will complement each other offensively, but it's not a concern for him because of their friendship and mutual desire to win.

"If Russ got it going and Russ is having one of those games that we've all seen before, guess what I'm going to do: sit back and watch the show, and vice versa," Harden said. "It's just a part of basketball. So you can't sit up here and say, 'Oh, Russ is going to have the ball for the first half and I'm going to have the ball the second half.' No, things happen through the course of the game that you just flow with and go with.

"All of us in this locker room and this front office has one goal, and that's to win it. However that happens, it's going to happen, and we're just going to figure it out."

The process of figuring it out could be limited in the preseason by Westbrook's availability as he continues to recover from the arthroscopic knee surgery he had after the Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said Westbrook was only recently cleared for 5-on-5 work. The Rockets intend to proceed cautiously with Westbrook, who is likely to sit out some practices and preseason games.

"I feel like I'm in a good place," Westbrook said of his health. "I'll be ready to go on opening night."

The Rockets are optimistic that Westbrook, one of the game's premier penetrators, will greatly benefit by playing in D'Antoni's wide-open offensive system while being surrounded by the kind of perimeter shooters that recent Thunder teams have lacked.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey noted that guards historically have had career years playing for D'Antoni, then chuckled when he added that it would be difficult for Westbrook considering his previous production. Houston also anticipates that Westbrook, the best rebounding guard in the league, will provide a turbo boost for a team that ranked 27th in pace last season.

"James Harden is, like, the best half-court player I've ever seen, honestly," Morey said. "And then Russell is maybe the best transition player, one of the best of all time, as well. If you put those things together, which I think we have a chance to do, now you've got something really special. We'll see how it all works out, but I think it could be really special."

D'Antoni plans to stagger the minutes of his star guards, as he did with Harden and Paul. He expects Westbrook to rest about 16 minutes per game and Harden about 13 per game, so they might play together for only about a quarter and a half.

That will include crunch time, with D'Antoni citing the last five minutes of games as the "most important thing" the Rockets need to figure out about the Harden-Westbrook dynamic. But D'Antoni emphasized that he will not ask Westbrook to drastically alter his playing style.

"It'll work itself out. You try not to overcoach it," D'Antoni said. "We need Russell to be Russell. We don't want to change him. He's an MVP. That's who we need. We need his bravura to be Russell. That's good enough."

Skeptics of the fit focus on how Westbrook, a career 30.8% 3-point shooter, will impact the Rockets' offensive spacing when he is playing off the ball. Westbrook waved away those worries by saying that he impacts the game in many ways.

"I don't have to have the ball to impact the game," said Westbrook, who has averaged triple-doubles in each of the past three seasons. "I don't have to score, I don't have to do anything. I can defend, I can rebound, I can pass, I can lead. Our main goal, main focus, is to win. I can go be scoreless, and if we win, that's the best thing that ever happened. That's all I cared about, and that's all I ever cared about.

"When it comes to me and James playing together, who's going to have the ball, who's not going to have the ball, it really doesn't matter. I don't have to prove I can score 30 points. I've done that before. I don't have to prove to average 10 assists. I've done that before. I don't have to prove to get 10, 11 rebounds. I've done that before. My goal is to win a championship, so whatever it takes to do that, that's what I'm going to do."

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge had the top-selling jersey in Major League Baseball for the third consecutive season.

The New York Yankees slugger beat out Bryce Harper, according to results released Friday by MLB.

Judge maintained the top spot despite missing more than a third of the season. The 2017 American League Rookie of the Year entered Friday batting .272 with 26 home runs for the AL East champions.

Harper set a uniform sales record for any athlete in a 24-hour window after signing a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in February. Since Opening Day, he has ranked second in sales behind Judge, followed by National League MVP contender Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers had the fifth-most popular jersey. He didn't crack the top 20 last season.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels ranked ninth, a two-spot improvement from 2018.

Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez finished fourth and was joined in the top 20 by teammates Anthony Rizzo (10) and Kris Bryant (16). The Houston Astros also placed three players that high: Jose Altuve (8), Alex Bregman (13) and George Springer (20).

NL Rookie of the Year front-runner Pete Alonso of the New York Mets ranked 14th, and teammate Jacob deGrom was 19th.

Manny Machado, who signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres in February, did not crack the top 20.