If the NFL season ended today, well ... let's just say it would have been an awfully short and unfulfilling year.

Not a single team has clinched a 2019 playoff spot, and not one has been eliminated. The postseason is so far away that the Miami Dolphins (0-6) could still theoretically overtake the New England Patriots (8-0) and win the AFC East. At the rough midpoint of the regular season, however, we can see the playoff race beginning to form.

Turn away if you wish, but the rest of us can feel the gravity. With one game left in Week 8, let's take our first look at the NFL's playoff standings and how it is shaping up.

AFC

1. New England Patriots (8-0)

After winning their first eight games by a combined differential of 189 points -- the most in the NFL -- the Patriots are the heavy favorites to win the AFC East and obviously have the best chance at securing home-field advantage for the playoffs. They can thank in part the NFL's easiest first-half schedule; their opponents have an NFL-low .250 winning percentage. But it's worth noting that their schedule is about to get more difficult. Three of their next five games are away from Gillette Stadium, and all five opponents currently have records of .500 or better. There is no reason to think the Patriots are on the brink of collapse, but their own urgency in upgrading personnel -- most recently by acquiring receiver Mohamed Sanu -- serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed.

2. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

Kudos to the Colts for surging into this position despite the surprise retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck this summer. Not only are they in the playoff mix, but they've given themselves a leg up in the AFC South -- with victories over the Texans and Titans -- and also in a conference tiebreaker after beating the Chiefs earlier this month. Their upcoming schedule sets up well, with games against the Steelers (2-4) and Dolphins (0-8), followed by three consecutive division games. If they stay hot, the Colts could lock up the AFC South by the beginning of December.

3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens' strong start has been augmented by playing in arguably the worst division in football. The rest of the AFC North is a combined 4-17, and every team is at least two games under .500. At this rate, the Ravens could probably finish the season 4-5 and still reach the playoffs via the division title. They don't want it to come to that, of course, and their Week 7 performance in Seattle suggests they'll be a major player in the AFC during the second half of the season. But they have almost as much cushion as the Patriots entering November.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)

The Chiefs have been surprisingly competitive since Patrick Mahomes' knee injury. Backup Matt Moore finished off a victory over the Broncos and kept the Chiefs competitive in a Week 8 loss to the Packers. Mahomes could return as early as Week 9, and fortunately for the Chiefs, there really hasn't been another AFC West team showing signs of competing for a playoff spot. The closest might be the 3-4 Raiders, whom the Chiefs defeated in Week 2.

5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)

The Bills have played the way many thought they would this season, powered by a strong defense. They have mostly survived with a below-average offense, though. So when their defense encountered a bad matchup, as it did Sunday in a 31-13 loss to the Eagles, they couldn't count on their offense to make up the difference. The Bills are averaging 18.1 offensive points per game, No. 24 in the NFL. Tellingly, they're the only team with a winning record ranked in the bottom half of offensive scoring. Can that formula hold up in a wild-card race?

6. Houston Texans (5-3)

As long as quarterback Deshaun Watson remains on the field, the Texans always will have a chance. He is one of a handful of NFL players who can genuinely carry a team to victory, as he did Sunday with a seemingly impossible escape from the Raiders' pass rush on the Texans' winning touchdown. Houston is a playoff team as long as Watson is healthy. But the Texans are in for an unexpected fight with the Colts for the division title, and they have once again lost defensive lineman J.J. Watt to a season-ending injury.

Next four

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
8. Tennessee Titans (4-4)
9. Oakland Raiders (3-4)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (7-0)

When the season began, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) projected the 49ers to win 8.9 games -- for the entire season. They are already 78% of the way there through eight weeks. And they've taken some steps toward showing that they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. In their past three games, the 49ers have defeated the Rams, Redskins and Panthers by a combined score of 80-20. But the big remaining question is how they'll fare against the Seahawks, whom they face in Weeks 10 and 17. Those two games could decide the NFC West title.

2. New Orleans Saints (7-1)

The Saints are again in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs even though backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has started more games (five) than starter Drew Brees (three). But with Brees back in the lineup, and tailback Alvin Kamara expected to return after the upcoming bye, the Saints appear primed for another deep run into the playoffs. Their first eight games have comprised the second-most difficult schedule in the NFL, according to FPI, but their remaining schedule ranks No. 16.

3. Green Bay Packers (7-1)

The Packers have hit their stride with a midseason run through the AFC West. They crushed the Raiders in Week 7, outlasted the Chiefs in Week 8 and will play at the Chargers in Week 9. They have a two-game division lead over the Vikings (6-2), courtesy a Week 2 victory at Lambeau Field, but a Week 16 date at U.S. Bank Stadium stands as the game that possibly decides the NFC North championship.

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)

The NFC East race has quickly become a two-way battle between the Cowboys and Eagles, and the Cowboys gained an early leg up with a Week 7 victory over the Eagles. The Cowboys also have an early advantage in the division record tiebreaker with a 3-0 record; the Eagles are 1-1. If we're lucky, the teams will play a de facto NFC East championship game in Week 16 at the Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field. But the Cowboys have a more difficult remaining schedule, according to FPI. The strength of their upcoming opponents ranks No. 13 in the NFL, and the Eagles' remaining slate ranks No. 30.

5. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

The Seahawks are holding their own in a division that includes the undefeated 49ers and the defending NFC champion Rams. We'll find out just how good they are starting in Week 10, when they begin a run that includes the 49ers, Eagles, Vikings, Rams and Panthers in succession. If they make it through that stretch in good shape, a Week 17 game against the 49ers at CenturyLink Field looms large.

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

The Vikings put themselves in an early NFC North hole by losing in Green Bay and Chicago in the first four weeks of the season. But after that point, quarterback Kirk Cousins has led the NFL with a 137.1 passer rating. The good news for the Vikings is that all three of their remaining divisional games are at home. The bad news: They have trips to Kansas City, Dallas and Seattle for three of their next four games.

Next four

7. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
8. Carolina Panthers (4-3)
9. Detroit Lions (3-3-1)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)

The Eagles pulled off a big win over the Bills, and the Titans, Colts and Chargers won close games. And the Saints' offense soared in Drew Brees' return.

All that and more in Week 8's biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.

Jump to a matchup:
GB-KC | TB-TEN | LAC-CHI
ARI-NO | DEN-IND | SEA-ATL
PHI-BUF | CIN-LAR | NYG-DET
NYJ-JAX | CAR-SF | CLE-NE
OAK-HOU | WSH-MIN

Green Bay Packers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 24

Aaron Rodgers probably said it best after the Packers' win over the Chiefs. "I think the way we're winning is interesting," Rodgers said, marveling at running back Aaron Jones' receiving stats (seven catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns). They haven't lost in the four games without receiver Davante Adams, whose turf toe injury could be finally healed in time for next Sunday at the Chargers. "It hasn't been the prettiest the entire time," Rodgers said. "There's been some pretty moments, though." Jones' day against the Chiefs was one of them. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: at L.A. Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Chiefs have reason for hope next week against the Vikings if they have to play again without QB Patrick Mahomes. Matt Moore played better than the Chiefs had a right to expect against the Packers, considering he joined them after the preseason and received no practice time with the starters while serving as the backup. He should only improve with another week of practice and as the Chiefs better understand his strengths and weaknesses. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Minnesota (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Tennessee Titans 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23

The Titans have found ways to win close games the past two weeks. Coach Mike Vrabel took Bucs coach Bruce Arians' "no risk it, no biscuit" mantra to another level by calling for a fake field goal when the Titans had a four-point lead with 3:45 remaining. It was a highly questionable decision, but Tennessee's defense bailed him out. The Titans are converting turnovers into points, too, scoring 14 of them against the Bucs. The marriage of an efficient offense (three touchdown passes from Ryan Tannehill), bend-but-don't-break defense and solid special teams play has the Titans winning. If they can hit in all three areas and win the turnover margin, they're tough to beat. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The chatter about whether Jameis Winston is the Buccaneers' future at quarterback won't die down after a two-interception performance. Arians was adamant those picks weren't on his QB but the result of a poor performance from his receivers. The Bucs nearly won anyway, but an early whistle by the officials cost them a late touchdown. On a fake field goal attempt by the Titans, linebacker Devin White stripped Titans punter Brett Kern of the ball, and safety Andrew Adams scooped it up and scored what would have been a touchdown had it not been for the officials calling the play dead. "The inadvertent whistle was a huge, huge play. You pick up a fumble and run it in for a touchdown to win the game, is not good," Arians said. -- Jenna Laine

Next game: at Seattle (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Los Angeles Chargers 17, Chicago Bears 16

Joey Bosa and the defense came up big in a game the Chargers needed. The Ohio State product was dominant, finishing with seven combined tackles, including four for a loss, and two sacks. With that effort, Bosa became the first Charger since Kevin Burnett in 2010 to post back-to-back games with two-plus sacks. "It's very unselfish of him to play the run more than going after the passer," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said about Bosa. "It says a lot about him as a person and a teammate. He's been all over the place. I can't say enough good things about him." After snapping a three-game losing streak, the Chargers will attempt to keep the momentum going at home next week against the Packers. -- Eric D. Williams

Next game: vs. Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Coach Matt Nagy wants consistency on offense. Nagy lauded rookie third-round pick David Montgomery, who rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 27 carries on Sunday, but also lamented the fact Chicago went 1-for-5 in the red zone in the Bears' crushing loss. "That can't happen," Nagy said. The dilemma facing Nagy is there are few options at his disposal to fix the offense, which is almost entirely healthy. Outside of benching quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, there are few moves Nagy can make. -- Jeff Dickerson

Next game: at Philadelphia (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

New Orleans Saints 31, Arizona Cardinals 9

The Saints are only going to get better. They would have been thrilled to start this season 7-1, even before quarterback Drew Brees missed five games because of a thumb injury and running back Alvin Kamara missed two because of ankle and knee injuries. They should have all their key players healthy after the Week 9 bye. And they're firing on all cylinders after the offense exploded in the second half of a victory over Arizona. It will obviously be "Super Bowl or bust" from here on out. -- Mike Triplett

Next game: vs. Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 10)

The Cardinals are heading into a short week down running backs. Chase Edmonds injured his hamstring Sunday, and coach Kliff Kingsbury said he's "definitely concerned" about Edmonds' availability for Thursday night. If Edmonds can't play, Arizona could be without its top two running backs, as it's expected David Johnson, who missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury, won't play Thursday, either. That means the Cardinals will be left playing Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris, both of whom signed Wednesday. -- Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. San Francisco (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Indianapolis Colts 15, Denver Broncos 13

The Colts haven't slowed down minus quarterback Andrew Luck. A complete effort the entire season has the Colts leading the AFC South, and none of their next three opponents has a winning record. Adam Vinatieri made up for two missed kicks earlier Sunday with his 29th game-winning field goal of his career with 22 seconds remaining. The Colts are 14-3 in their past 17 regular-season games going back to last season. -- Mike Wells

Next game: at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The offense isn't getting it done. After Denver's sixth loss of the season, third loss in the game's final 22 seconds and seventh game of failing to score more than 16 points, it's clear the Broncos' offense bears most of the responsibility for Denver's 2-6 start. As running back Phillip Lindsay said: "Our defense is doing its job.'' Sunday was the latest example of the Broncos failing to close out a game. First-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will take the heat for this one, after the Broncos had multiple chances to put the game away in the final minutes. Broncos players said they would prefer to go out swinging and would like to see a little more risk-taking. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Cleveland (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Seattle Seahawks 27, Atlanta Falcons 20

The Seahawks' win over the Falcons was similar to their first half of the season in this sense: The result was more encouraging than the way it came about. They gave up 460 passing yards to backup Matt Schaub and let the 1-7 Falcons make a game of it after the Seahawks had jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead. Four of the Seahawks' wins this year have come by a combined eight points. Only one of their wins was against a team that entered Week 8 with a winning record. We don't know how good the Seahawks are, but they'll take a 6-2 record, including 4-0 on the road, into Week 9. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Tampa Bay (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The first half was more miscommunication issues and lack of tackling that has plagued the Falcons during their 1-7 start. Allowing Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalf to break wide open for two goal-line touchdown receptions was inexcusable and indicative of the kind of blatant mistakes the Falcons have made all season on defense, even with Dan Quinn as the defensive coordinator. Those two plays were part of the reason the Falcons trailed 24-0 at halftime. You can't have those type of mental breakdowns eight games in when you're preaching about fixing those problems. Now the Falcons have next week's bye to think about all that's gone wrong. -- Vaughn McClure

Next game: at New Orleans (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 10)

Philadelphia Eagles 31, Buffalo Bills 13

The Eagles responded to a tumultuous couple of weeks. Those included a pair of blowout losses, criticism from anonymous teammates and former cornerback Orlando Scandrick teeing off on his former club. Safety Malcolm Jenkins was asked if he was interested in seeing how the Eagles would respond. "I'm not interested to see," he said after practice Friday. "I know we will respond." The Eagles did in a win over the Bills that will calm some nerves inside the organization and out. A loss in Buffalo, and the wheels could have come off this season. But the Eagles rose to the occasion, and return home for a key three-game stretch against the Bears, Patriots and Seahawks. -- Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Chicago (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Bills laid an egg in their best opportunity to beat a quality opponent since a Week 4 loss to the Patriots. More upsetting than the loss was how the Eagles were able to win: Running the ball straight up the middle. Buffalo allowed 218 rushing yards Sunday, marking just the fifth time the Bills have allowed 200-plus rushing yards under coach Sean McDermott. "I'm concerned any time a team can run the ball like that on our football team," McDermott said. It'll be on mind as the Bills prepare for Washington in Week 9.-- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Washington (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Los Angeles Rams 24, Cincinnati Bengals 10

Nearly a year after Cooper Kupp underwent season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, the Rams' third-year receiver has proven he's better than ever. Kupp caught seven passes for a career-high 220 yards and a touchdown at Wembley Stadium in London. The Rams improved to 5-3, winning back-to-back games on a 10-day road trip, and they return to L.A. for a bye week. Next up is trip to the Eastern time zone to play the Steelers in Week 10. -- Lindsey Thiry

Next game: at Pittsburgh (4:25 p.m. ET, Nov. 10)

Cincinnati's defense has been problematic all season. The Bengals couldn't stop the Rams' passing attack when the game was in question. Cincinnati allowed a season-high 372 passing yards, with most of that coming in the first three quarters. The Rams averaged 8.3 yards per play. While Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is more worried about points than yards, the amount the Bengals conceded should be troubling. It's worth noting this unit struggled last season before Anarumo was hired. Anarumo won't be absolved of all blame, but the roster should undergo serious evaluations after another rough outing. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Baltimore (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 10)

Detroit Lions 31, New York Giants 26

The Lions have something to build on. They found a pass rush and did decent job against Giants running back Saquon Barkley, and Matthew Stafford had his best game of the year. It wasn't a complete performance, but it was necessary after three consecutive losses. Coach Matt Patricia said he felt his players played "tough" and was happy with how the Lions handled in-game adjustments. Considering where Detroit has been, that's progress. -- Michael Rothstein

Next game: at Oakland (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Daniel Jones made progress and showed signs he's a franchise QB. He went 28-of-41 passing for 322 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The Giants lost, but Jones' growth and development is what this season is all about. Tight end Evan Engram noted Jones has become more "vocal," and receiver Golden Tate said the constant communication (texts and conversations on and off the field) is a noticeable positive. Coach Pat Shurmur said, "He battles throughout the game. All the things that we see all the time. He was in it all the way to the end to win it. He's a gritty, tough young man that has a bright future." The Giants (2-6) need that right now. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Dallas (8:15 p.m. ET, Nov. 4)

Jacksonville Jaguars 29, New York Jets 15

Gardner Minshew II is making a bid to remain the starter once Nick Foles returns. The possibility of Jacksonville being above .500 at its bye seemed remote at best the moment Foles suffered a broken collarbone in the season opener. What Minshew has done since -- 1,976 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions -- has to at least make the coaching staff think about keeping him on the field, especially if he plays well next week in London. Foles returned to practice last week and has another week of practice before he becomes eligible to return to the active roster. Since the Jaguars have a bye after the Houston game, Foles is on track to return for the Nov. 17 game at Indianapolis, though that timeline could get pushed back if the Jaguars think Foles needs additional time. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Houston (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Jets' offense is broken, and it's affecting Sam Darnold's development. That's a scary proposition for the franchise, which has pinned its future to him. The second-year quarterback has seven interceptions over the past two weeks. Darnold and coach Adam Gase face the winless Dolphins next week. If Gase can't beat his old team, the "Fire Gase" crowd will be screaming. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Miami (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

San Francisco 49ers 51, Carolina Panthers 13

The 49ers should be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender. Any lingering doubt about their legitimacy is buried under the pile of points they hung on the Panthers in Sunday's win. The Niners have had their share of skeptics pointing to the schedule and recent struggles as reasons why their undefeated start could be no more than a mirage. But the evidence continues to mount as these Niners not only win but do so in convincing fashion. Moving forward, any remaining doubters must do so at their own peril. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Arizona (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)

The conversation in the locker room was keeping Sunday's loss from turning into what a 52-21 loss to Pittsburgh did in 2018. The Panthers lost seven straight following a 6-2 start after that one, but players insisted they learned from the loss to the Steelers and can avoid the pitfalls. How the Panthers (4-3) respond in a home game against Tennessee will determine whether they are the playoff-caliber team they appeared to be during a four-game winning streak. They looked nothing like that against the Niners. -- David Newton

Next game: vs. Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

New England Patriots 27, Cleveland Browns 13

This game had coach Bill Belichick's fingerprints all over it. It was his 300th win as a head coach (regular season and playoffs), as he joined Don Shula (347) and George Halas (324) as the only coaches to reach the mark. The win had a familiar look to the others that have helped the Patriots get out to an 8-0 start: The defense set the tone with three turnovers in the first quarter, and the offense complemented the unit by not turning the ball over while continuing to manage a challenging personnel situation in which new pieces are being integrated weekly. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Baltimore (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Bad News Browns struck again, inconceivably turning the ball over on three consecutive plays in the first quarter. What's more, Cleveland, already the league leader in penalties coming into the weekend, became the first team to commit 13 or more penalties in two different games this year. The schedule softens significantly beginning next Sunday in Denver for the Browns, who have only two games left against teams with winning records. Though the opportunity is there for Cleveland to surge down the stretch, it's becoming increasingly difficult to envision that happening for a team seemingly hell-bent on self-destruction. -- Jake Trotter

Next game: at Denver (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Houston Texans 27, Oakland Raiders 24

Houston is going to have to figure out how to replace defensive end J.J. Watt. The Texans lost the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the rest of the season because of a pectoral injury. Watt had four sacks this season, but according to ESPN's pass rush win rate powered by NFL Next Gen Stats, Watt created the first pressure on 62 pass rushes, easily the most in the NFL. No other player had more than 49 first pressures created. Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus is now the only proven pass-rusher Houston has for the second half of the season. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: at Jacksonville (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Raiders cannot beat themselves the way they did Sunday. Not if they fancy themselves a legitimate playoff contender and have ideas about rattling off victories on their upcoming three-game homestand against the Lions, Chargers and Bengals. But 100 yards in penalties and the defense's inability to get off the field in the second half at Houston -- Oakland's offense had three possessions total in the third and fourth quarters -- were the self-inflicted wounds that had the Raiders on the wrong end of a loss that dropped them to 3-4. "There's about three or four plays in a game that really determine the outcome," rookie defensive end Maxx Crosby said. "We've got to finish ... when we have the quarterback wrapped up at the end of the game, when we have running backs wrapped up and we're getting penalties -- like my personal foul, it can't happen." -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Detroit (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Minnesota Vikings 19, Washington Redskins 9

The Vikings clawed their way back from an up-and-down start. They squashed the frustrations on offense with a shift in playcalling, and quarterback Kirk Cousins has been the catalyst for success these past four weeks. If Minnesota can clean up penalties and drops, and keep the balance between the league's leading rusher Dalvin Cook and receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, this offense will be at its best in the second half. "We're just a work in progress," Diggs said. "Things are going good, but there was a point where things weren't good, and the house was burning down and everybody was panicking, so at this point, we're taking it one minute at a time, one day at a time." -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Kansas City (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Dwayne Haskins isn't yet ready to lead the Redskins. Sure, they haven't done well finishing drives under Case Keenum, and Haskins has entered two games on the road with his team trailing. But he also hasn't helped himself with certain throws. He's seeing things for the first time live -- a few reps in practice won't change that, but it's a way to feel comfortable -- and he needs time, something the Redskins have said since the draft. But they also do want to win, which means Keenum will return to the lineup when healthy. Washington plays the Jets after the bye week, and that could be when Haskins gets the nod for good. -- John Keim

Next game: at Buffalo (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

LOS ANGELES -- There were less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter Sunday, and the Los Angeles Lakers were up by 16 over the Charlotte Hornets when Frank Vogel subbed Dwight Howard out, signaling the end of his night.

As Howard made his way to the bench with a smile plastered to his face after a nearly perfect night -- he shot 8-for-8 from the field and had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and a plus-minus of plus-23 in 23 minutes off the bench -- the Staples Center crowd let him hear it.

The warm standing ovation for Howard near the end of the Lakers' 120-101 win was far different than the derisive boos he became accustomed to as a visitor in the building as he cycled through five teams in six years before re-signing this summer for a second stint in L.A.

"I'm grateful," Howard said. "I think myself and the fans have been through a lot together. But just to be back here, man, it means a lot. I just take it all in, every second, every moment on the court. It's valuable. Hopefully the fans enjoy when we go out there and put everything on the line. I just try to bring that energy and that effort and that intensity every night -- and have fun doing it."

Howard was signed as part of a contingency plan after DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn ACL in August. The Lakers also considered Joakim Noah and Mo Speights to fill the role. But Howard won the job with a major caveat: His contract would not be fully guaranteed until Jan. 7. If he didn't click with the team early, the Lakers could easily cut bait and open the roster spot again.

Howard's first impression in his second time around as a Laker, however, is making his place on the team seem secure.

"That's why we brought him here," LeBron James said. "While everyone else was writing him off, we felt like we could give him a great opportunity, and we believed in him. We believed his word, and he's making the most of it, and we're truly excited to have him here right now."

For the second straight game, Vogel limited starting center JaVale McGee's role in trying to get his team going. The upstart Hornets led by as many as nine points in the first quarter before Howard saw some action, replacing McGee. On Friday, it was Anthony Davis shifting from the 4 to the 5 and McGee sitting the entire second half.

McGee said Howard "did a great job" and accepted the lineup shuffle in stride.

"It's a winning mindset," McGee said. "I feel like being selfish and worrying about certain aspects of things is a losing mindset. And I'm not a loser, so I don't plan on having that mindset."

Although McGee called his early season rebounding "atrocious" after he grabbed 10 through the first three games, the combination of Howard and McGee has shown enough promise that a full-time shift to Davis at the 5 could be unnecessary.

"They kind of keep me at the 4," Davis said. "The way those guys have been playing, I don't think it probably will change anytime soon."

What has changed is Howard's standing in the league since he played for the Lakers in 2012-13 and he, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol were expected to lift the team back to a championship level before they fell on their faces.

"He was a star in his role tonight, and that's what we're asking him to be," said Vogel, who added that Howard made a case to become the starting center with that game. "Not the superstar he was the first time around, but to be a role player and to be a star in the role, and tonight he was."

Despite being 33 and having had multiple back surgeries, Howard brought his familiar brand of playful jokes and frenetic energy to the Lakers, as well as flashes of the skills that made him one of the best big men in the game for a decade.

"He dunks like that in practice every day like he's 21 again," Alex Caruso said.

For a player who was limited to nine games last season because of a lumbar microdiscotemy, that's saying something.

"You don't want to take anything for granted," Howard said. "Surgeries. Missing games. Being out for seasons and stuff like that. Every moment that you have on the court is very valuable. Before I even had an opportunity to come to the Lakers, I just kept telling myself, 'Wherever I'm at, whoever I'm playing for, when I step on the court, give 110 percent. Whether it's for two minutes, 30 seconds, 15 minutes, just do whatever you can to help that team win.'

"I end up coming back to the best team, the best city in the world, so I'm very thankful."

CHIBA, Japan – Although Tiger Woods cruised to a three-stroke triumph for a record 82^nd PGA Tour victory Monday at the Zozo Championship, it was not flawless. At least not to Woods.

Leading by two strokes as he approached the 17^th green he glanced to the group ahead to see what Hideki Matsuyama, who was alone in second place, was doing.

“I probably misread the situation because what happened was Hideki hit his ball on [No. 18]. He hit a fairway wood off the tee and didn't like it, so looked like he hit some kind of spinner to the right,” Woods explained following his final-round 67.

After watching Matsuyama play his next shot from the fairway, Woods assumed the Japanese player made birdie at the par-5 closing hole and that he needed to make par at the last to win by a shot.

“I was looking across to nine and I couldn't read the numbers [on the leaderboard], it was too far away,” said Woods, who birdied the final hole for a 19-under total. “End up winning by three, which was a little bit to my surprise.”

Woods re-started his final round Monday on the 12^th hole with a bogey to cut his lead to two strokes, but Matsuyama failed to hole a short birdie putt at No. 14 that would have narrowed the lead to just a shot.

CHIBA, Japan – It took a few decades, but Tiger Woods finally squared his match against Sam Snead.

On Monday at the Zozo Championship, Woods finished his weather-delayed week with a birdie at the 72^nd hole for a three-stroke victory over Hideki Matsuyama. It was his 82^nd triumph on the PGA Tour and matched Snead on the all-time victory list.

It was also some redemption for Woods who once played in an outing with Snead in 1982 when Tiger was 6 years old. Although he played just two holes with Snead, Woods vividly remembered the outcome.

“I remember hitting the ball into a little creek and playing it out of the water and making bogey,” Woods said with a laugh. “I bogeyed the last and he went par-par. The only time I ever got a chance to play with Sam Snead, I was 2-down through two.”

Snead was 52 when he won the 1965 Greensboro event to set the victory record and Woods, 43, was asked if he can imagine himself still competing at 52 years old.

“I hope that's the case,” Woods said. “If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but certainly the future looks brighter than it has and hopefully I can be as consistent as he was well into my 40s and early 50s.”

Here are the complete purse and FedExCup breakdowns for the Zozo Championship, where Tiger Woods won his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour title. For the record, Woods has now earned over $120,000,000 in official PGA Tour earnings.

Tiger Woods won a PGA Tour record-tying 82nd tournament at the Zozo Championship. Here's a look inside his bag.

DRIVER: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 60 TX shaft

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M5 (13 degrees),  M3 2017 (19 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX shafts

IRONS: TaylorMade P-7TW (3-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts

PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS

BALL: Bridgestone Tour B XS

CHIBA, Japan – It was a statement victory for a player who needed to make a statement. But was it enough?

“I think I certainly, as a player, got the captain's attention,” Tiger Woods laughed when asked if his victory at the Zozo Championship assured he would be a captain’s pick for this year’s Presidents Cup.

Woods, this year’s U.S. captain, had been playfully aloof all week when asked about his potential picks and whether his performance at Narashino Country Club was enough to warrant a pick.

The U.S picks will be announced on Nov. 7 which makes next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions the final event for potential picks to impress the captain. Woods is not playing next week but seems certain to pick himself following his 82^nd PGA Tour victory this week.

The bigger question for Woods will be his remaining three picks. Gary Woodland, who finished 10^th on the final U.S. points list, posted back-to-back top-10 finishes the last two weeks and was paired with Woods for the final two rounds in Japan.

“We talked about it. We joked with each other that we both needed a pick so we're out here trying to impress Tiger,” said Woodland, who finished fifth at the Zozo Championship. “I think Tiger's got a good grasp on what he wants to do. I had a great year earlier in the year and I played well the last two weeks, so hopefully that's enough.”

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