The four-time champion and Lelisa Desisa will be tough to beat as they defend their crowns in the Big Apple

After the super-fast times in Chicago and Vienna last month, it is now the turn of the TCS New York City Marathon.

Unlike the women’s world record by Brigid Kosgei at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the sub-two-hour marathon by Eliud Kipchoge at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, there will be no records or all-time best times on a New York course that is not renowned for being fast.

But the line-ups are sure to produce a great day of racing with Mary Keitany and Lelisa Desisa defending their titles on Sunday (November 3).

Keitany, the third fastest woman of all time with 2:17:01, is going for her fifth win in New York City and faces Boston Marathon winner Worknesh Degefa and Tokyo winner Ruti Aga, both of Ethiopia.

Last year Keitany won by more than three minutes with a sub-67 minute second half.

“New York has become a second home to me,” says Keitany, “and every year I circle the TCS New York City Marathon
on my calendar as a date to look forward to.

“I’m very excited to return on November 3 to race for my fifth New York City Marathon title on my favourite course in the world.”

Half-marathon world record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya, Vienna Marathon winner Nancy Kiprop, 40, of Kenya and American Des Linden, who won Boston in horrendous weather in 2018, are also due to run.

Linden is joined by Sara Hall and Kellyn Taylor as the home hopes.

It remains to be seen how fresh men’s champion Desisa is this weekend as the Ethiopian won the world title in Doha a month ago.

Racing in the heat of Qatar in a midnight marathon, he sprinted to gold in 2:10:40.

He will need to be at his best because he faces Geoffrey Kamworor, the 2017 New York City winner and multiple world cross-country and world half-marathon champion.

Shura Kitata, who was runner-up last year behind Desisa and ahead of Kamworor, is also entered. The 2018 fourth-placer and 2016 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Tamirat Tola returns, too.

The home nation hopes in the men’s race are led by Jared Ward, who was sixth here 12 months ago and eighth in Boston in April, plus Abdi Abdirahman.

Britain’s Andy Vernon also makes his marathon debut after an attempt to run London earlier this year was scuppered by injury.

He is now back to fitness but was only eighth at the Simplyhealth Great South Run over 10 miles earlier this month.

Daniel Romanchuk defends his title in the men’s wheelchair race and faces Switzerland’s Marcel Hug, South African Ernst van Dyk and Britain’s David Weir.

In the women’s wheelchair race Tatyana McFadden chases a record sixth career title in New York, although she is up against defending and two-time champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland.

Defending champion Elina Svitolina maintained her 100% record at the WTA Finals in China with a hard-fought win over American alternate Sofia Kenin.

Svitolina took her sixth match point to win 7-5 7-6 (12-10) in after Kenin had a chance to serve out each set.

The Ukrainian was already assured of a semi-final spot and plays Swiss seventh seed Belinda Bencic on Saturday.

Kenin, 20, replaced the injured Bianca Andreescu on Thursday and had no chance of progressing to the last four.

After also earning straight-set wins over Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep and second seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, Svitolina had to show her fighting qualities to edge past Kenin in just over two hours.

Later on Friday, Wimbledon champion Halep plays Pliskova, with the winner securing a place in the other semi-final against Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty.

The winners meet in the final in Shenzhen on Sunday at 11:30 GMT.

Departing Wales coach Warren Gatland says it would break his heart if Wales regressed following his departure.

Gatland signed off his 12-year tenure in charge of Wales with a 40-17 defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup bronze-medal match in Tokyo.

Since he took over at the end of 2007, Wales have won three Grand Slams and reached two World Cup semi-finals.

"After what we've done and achieved, it would break my heart if Wales went back into the doldrums," said Gatland.

Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac will take over from Gatland, who said he had already dealt with the emotions of his final game in charge with the majority of his backroom staff also leaving.

"It was about the players," said Gatland.

"Shaun Edwards spoke to the group and so did Robin McBryde. Alan Phillips had a few words as well. There wasn't a lot to be said.

"We spoke about the opportunity to go out and play a good side. We spoke about how disappointing it was that we weren't in the final.

"But to play the All Blacks, at least that was a game that you could look forward to.

"I've already gone through that process of knowing it was my last game and not trying to get too emotional about it.

"I came to the realisation a while ago. I'd prepared myself for it.

"I've got to start thinking about the next challenges in life.

"For what we've achieved in the last 12 years we feel like we've put some respect back into Wales as an international team."

Gatland hopes the success he and his team have enjoyed will lay a solid foundation for Pivac.

"The new coaches come in and I hope they can continue to build," said Gatland.

"It's been good for [backs coach] Stephen Jones to be out here and see how things are run.

"There's an opportunity for the new group to come in and build on what we've created and to improve on it.

"It's difficult. I know how tough it is to win Six Nations and you can't be too greedy and expect to win it every year.

"But it's about going out and performing well in Six Nations and to hopefully get a few Six Nations titles along the way.

"Then we have to be as competitive as we possibly can be against the other top nations and we feel we have done that."

Although Gatland played down the emotion of Friday's match in Tokyo, the 56-year-old admitted he would miss the attitude of the squad.

"They're a great bunch of men to work with," said Gatland.

"They've been exemplary in the way they've conducted themselves since we've been in Japan.

"They never complain about how hard they train and work. If you ask them to run through a brick wall, they'll ask 'what do you want me to do when I get to the other side?'

"For such a small playing nation, we have to really push ourselves hard because we don't have the same number of players and depth of players.

"You've just got to wring the sponge as dry as you possibly can because that's the way we've performed and got results in the past."

Jurgen Klopp has said there is no resolution in sight regarding Liverpool's fixture pile-up after they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties against Arsenal on Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal with Aston Villa, but their progression to the last eight has caused a problem.

Klopp's men will face three Premier League fixtures, including the first Merseyside derby of the season, in December before travelling to Qatar to take part in the Club World Cup. They'll play two fixtures should they reach the final, with the first on Dec. 18. They then return to England to face Leicester City on Dec. 26.

The Carabao Cup quarterfinals are due to take place while Liverpool are in Qatar while a Premier League tie with West Ham will also need to be rearranged, leaving the Reds facing a fixture pile-up, leading to a suggestion from Klopp the club could forfeit the tie against Villa.

"If they don't find a place for us -- an appropriate place -- not 3 a.m. on Christmas Day, then we don't play it," Klopp said in his postmatch news conference after the win against Arsenal.

Ahead of a trip to Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, Klopp said: "It's obvious that it's too much, absolutely obvious. Everybody involved in the game will tell you. But let's have a look how they deal with it.

- Watch replay of Liverpool-Arsenal thriller on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Watch Carabao Cup games replays on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

"We can't go there [Qatar] with 11 players to play two games and the rest play Aston Villa in England. It doesn't work like that. We will make a decision but not yet. We discussed it. We have to. No final decision. If we did play while in Qatar it would be two different teams.

"We wonder why the best players in the world cannot perform as good as they can for as long as they want.

"People say: 'have a bigger squad.' In the moment, it's an imbalance between squad numbers and the amount of breaks they need.

"Two weeks off a year is not enough."

Klopp, meanwhile, is yet to decide whether or not to risk Fabinho against Villa with the Brazilian one yellow card away from suspension. A booking this weekend would mean that the midfielder is suspended for Manchester City's visit to Anfield next weekend.

"I don't know yet [if he will rest Fabinho]. We will see. Do I say 'no challenges at all?' That's not possible against Aston Villa. The player knows it, I know it. I haven't made a final decision.

Former fast bowler Courtney Walsh is part of a new interim management appointed for the West Indies women's team. Walsh will be assistant to Gus Logie, who has been head coach since last month. Cricket West Indies (CWI) is still looking for a for a full-time head coach.

The interim management also includes former Guyanese batsman Rayon Griffith, who was an assistant coach with the West Indies men at the 2019 World Cup and during the subsequent home series against India. He was also with runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors at the CPL.

"We've had some of the best minds and coaches in the region working with the players. Courtney and Rayon have been working really hard with the ladies at training and we are hoping to see the results on the field," Logie said.

CWI's director of cricket Jimmy Adams was also pleased with the composition of the team's technical support unit. "I am confident that our entire support staff, under Gus' leadership and direction, is capable of driving our women's cricket forward whilst we begin the search for a permanent head coach," he said. "Gus has been involved with the program for the past two years and both Rayon and Courtney bring with them a strong working knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the elite level."

Walsh was most recently the bowling coach of the Bangladesh men's team and has also served as a West Indies selector in the past.

"My function is to focus a lot more on the bowlers and the cricket in general to get the ladies together," Walsh said. "I'm just happy to be able to work with Gus - we haven't had a chance to be on the same team since we were players and we just want the women to play the type of cricket we know they can play.

"The ladies have been very warm and receptive and listened to what I've got to say. They are not afraid of trying and implementing what I've been telling them. I think one of the advantages I have, is that I was involved in women's cricket before as a selector and I was part of a couple of their training camps, so they know me and they've seen me around. They know I want the best for them and they appreciate that, so for me it's a plus coming back into the fold of the women's team now."

CWI also named Evril Betty Lewis as the team's interim manager, who will lead the new team management along with Logie, according to a board release.

The Week 9 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 provides a stat to know for each game, 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 9 schedule, including a showdown between the Vikings' run game and the Chiefs' passing attack.

Jump to a matchup:
MIN-KC | CHI-PHI | IND-PIT
TEN-CAR | WSH-BUF | NYJ-MIA
TB-SEA | DET-OAK | GB-LAC
CLE-DEN | NE-BAL | DAL-NYG
JAX-HOU

Thursday: SF 28, ARI 25
Bye: ATL, CIN, LAR, NO

Jaguars (4-4) at Texans (5-3), London

Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET | NFL Network
Matchup rating: 63.1 | Spread: HOU -1 (46)

What to watch for: How do the Texans cope without defensive end J.J. Watt? Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II was sacked four times when the teams played in Houston in September. Jacksonville has allowed 18 sacks this season, which ranks 17th in the NFL. -- Sarah Barshop

Bold prediction: The Jaguars will hold running back Carlos Hyde to less than 40 yards rushing. After giving up 176 yards and two touchdowns rushing to Christian McCaffrey in Week 5, the Jaguars have shut down Alvin Kamara (31 yards), Joe Mixon (2 yards) and Le'Veon Bell (23 yards). -- Mike DiRocco

Stat to know: Houston's DeAndre Hopkins has at least five receptions in 11 straight games dating back to last season, the second-longest active streak in the NFL (Michael Thomas, 13).

What to know for fantasy: Leonard Fournette leads the NFL in touches (198) and owns the longest active streak of games with at least 75 total yards (eight in a row). See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Favorites are 16-10 against the spread (ATS) all time in London games (2-1 this season). Read more.

DiRocco's pick: Texans 17, Jaguars 14
Barshop's pick: Texans 24, Jaguars 17
FPI prediction: HOU, 67.9% (by an average of 6.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Replacing J.J. Watt won't be a one-man option for Texans ... Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew? Jaguars' quarterback decision looms

Vikings (6-2) at Chiefs (5-3)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 89.7 | Spread: No line

What to watch for: Dalvin Cook leads the NFL in rushing, and the Chiefs have allowed more yards on the ground than all but two other teams, both of which are winless. So, Kansas City faces a big challenge, and likely without any of its regular starting defensive linemen. Quarterback Matt Moore was impressive in his Chiefs starting debut last week, but the Vikings, who are fifth in the league in total defense, are an upgrade in competition. -- Adam Teicher

Bold prediction: Minnesota will tie its previous best effort against the run recorded on Dec. 31, 2017, when it held the Bears to 30 rushing yards. Andy Reid has been able to hide the weakness of his running game for some time now, but that ends this week against a stout Vikings defense. -- Courtney Cronin

Stat to know: The Chiefs rank among the NFL leaders in points per game (fourth at 28.3), yards per game (fifth at 392.5) and passing yards per game (second at 309.5).

What to know for fantasy: Since 2016, Stefon Diggs' average fantasy points per game drops by nearly 25% when playing outside the NFC North. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Minnesota is 2-8-1 both ATS and straight up in Kirk Cousins' starts against teams that entered with winning records, including 0-6-1 on the road (both ATS and SU). Read more.

Cronin's pick: Vikings 28, Chiefs 26
Teicher's pick: Vikings 27, Chiefs 24
FPI prediction: MIN, 52.5% (by an average of 0.9 points)

Matchup must-reads: Vikings' secondary gets boost now and chance to plan for future ... For $500, Hank Stram made Chiefs' Super Bowl IV victory 'iconic' ... Chiefs running the ball with much less success in 2019

Bears (3-4) at Eagles (4-4)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 60.1 | Spread: PHI -5 (42)

What to watch for: Rookie Andre Dillard will make his this third NFL start at left tackle. Star edge rusher Khalil Mack moves all over the formation and is likely to spend a good amount of time on Dillard's side. Whether the Eagles' offense can function at a high level will depend largely on whether Dillard can rise to the occasion. -- Tim McManus

Bold prediction: Jordan Howard rushes for 100-plus yards against his old team. Chicago ranks sixth in net rushing yards allowed per game (86.0). However, the Bears' run defense is nowhere near as good without defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (injured reserve/elbow), whose absence is felt every week. -- Jeff Dickerson

Stat to know: Carson Wentz has 11 straight games of throwing at least one passing touchdown (tied for the longest active streak in NFL with Russell Wilson).

What to know for fantasy: David Montgomery scored 2.5 more fantasy points last week than he did in his three games prior. But now he takes on the sixth-best defense against fantasy running backs this season. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Philadelphia is 2-8 ATS as a home favorite over the past two seasons, including 0-5 ATS when favored by five or fewer points. Read more.

Dickerson's pick: Eagles 17, Bears 15
McManus' pick: Eagles 26, Bears 17
FPI prediction: PHI, 62.2% (by an average of 4.2 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bears to stick with struggling Mitchell Trubisky, won't swap to Chase Daniel ... Inside the players-only meeting that might have saved Eagles' season

Colts (5-2) at Steelers (3-4)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 49.2 | Spread: IND -1 (42)

What to watch for: The Colts rank toward the bottom of the league in rushing defense. Even if Benny Snell Jr. and James Conner don't play, Pittsburgh's run game led by Jaylen Samuels and aided by fullback Roosevelt Nix should be strong enough to keep the game close. -- Brooke Pryor

Bold prediction: The Colts will record multiple sacks despite the Steelers having given up an NFL-low seven sacks this season, with two of those against Miami in Week 8. The Colts have a total of 10 sacks during their three-game winning streak, and defensive end Justin Houston has four in that time. -- Mike Wells

Stat to know: Mason Rudolph has a 6.6 QBR in the red zone this season, second worst in the NFL. In all, the Steelers have scored a touchdown on just 41.2% of their red zone drives, fifth worst in the NFL.

What to know for fantasy: Marlon Mack has at least 20 touches in three straight games. But tread lightly, as the Steelers have yet to allow a single running back amass even 90 yards or 14 fantasy points. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Indianapolis has covered six straight games when the line has been has been from -3 to +3, and it has won seven straight games outright (6-0-1 ATS). It is 3-0 ATS and SU in that spot this season. Read more.

Wells' pick: Colts 24, Steelers 13
Pryor's pick: Colts 21, Steelers 17
FPI prediction: IND, 50.2% (by an average of 0.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Going into Detail: Peyton Manning on Brissett's look-off to Nelson

Titans (4-4) at Panthers (4-3)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 41.5 | Spread: CAR -3.5 (42.5)

What to watch for: Will we see composure and poise from Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen after he lost some of the calmness that was a strength while throwing three picks last week against the 49ers? The Titans have a physical, aggressive defense that will try to do to Allen what the 49ers did. -- David Newton

Bold prediction: Derrick Henry will finish with more rushing yards than Christian McCaffrey. The Panthers' run defense is allowing 135.1 yards per game, and Henry is coming off a career-high 4.7 yards per attempt against a Bucs defense that was tops in the league in allowing only 2.8 yards per attempt. -- Turron Davenport

Stat to know: The Titans are tied for third in red zone efficiency this season (66.7%), which would be their second-best number in the past 15 seasons.

What to know for fantasy: From Week 8 of last season through Week 8 of this season, McCaffrey has as many games with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown (five) as any other two running backs combined. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: As an underdog of at least three points, Tennessee is 8-2 ATS and 7-3 outright under Mike Vrabel. Read more.

Davenport's pick: Panthers 20, Titans 17
Newton's pick: Panthers 27, Titans 17
FPI prediction: CAR, 51.1% (by an average of 0.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Two drives show how Ryan Tannehill has jump-started Titans' offense ... Addison away from Panthers after brother's death

Redskins (1-7) at Bills (5-2)

1 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 17.4 | Spread: BUF -9.5 (37)

What to watch for: Since Bill Callahan took over as interim coach in Week 6, Washington quietly ranks 10th in the league in rushing yards and eighth in yards per attempt. After the Eagles steamrollered the Bills on the ground last week (218 yards, three touchdowns), Washington likely will look to implement a similar game plan. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Bold prediction: Frank Gore will outrush Adrian Peterson in a battle of future Hall of Fame running backs. Gore will rush for 75 yards and a touchdown; Peterson will have a solid first half, but Washington's inability to convert on third-down passes and extend drives will hold him to 65 yards. -- John Keim

Stat to know: The Redskins have gone nine straight quarters without scoring a touchdown, the longest active streak in the NFL and second longest in the 2019 season (Miami, 10).

What to know for fantasy: The Bills' D/ST has reached double figures four times this season (tied for the third most), while the Redskins have allowed opposing D/STs to score double-digit fantasy points five times (tied for the second most). See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Washington played last Thursday. Since 2014, teams coming off a Thursday game and that are road underdogs of at least seven points are 15-5-1 ATS. Since 2001, those teams are 33-17-1 ATS. Read more.

Keim's pick: Bills 20, Redskins 9
Louis-Jacques' pick: Bills 21, Washington 6
FPI prediction: BUF, 68.7% (by an average of 6.6 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bills' Andre Roberts bets on himself, carves niche as return man ... Bills know they must fix run defense after being ravaged by Eagles ... Trent Williams: Lack of reaction to cancer scare to blame for Redskins rift

Jets (1-6) at Dolphins (0-7)

1 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 0.2 | Spread: NYJ -3 (42.5)

What to watch for: This is a matchup between the NFL's two worst offenses in terms of yardage and points per game. Expect points to be at a premium. It could come down to the quarterbacks: Sam Darnold vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has a 51.5 QBR as compared to Darnold's 33.6 thus far this season. -- Cameron Wolfe

Bold prediction: Le'Veon Bell's long-awaited breakout game will happen against the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense. We're not talking monster numbers here (remember, the Jets' offensive line is terrible), but he will exceed his season high (70 yards). -- Rich Cimini

Stat to know: Per Elias Sports Bureau research, this is the first game in NFL history in which both teams enter with a minus-100 point differential or worse and are both fewer than eight games into the season.

What to know for fantasy: Exclude the game against the ghostly Patriots and Darnold's 16-game pace this season would be a 69.9% completion percentage, 3,899 passing yards and 27 touchdown passes. It's not great, but it's better than you think and worth a look against the fourth-most friendly defense to fantasy quarterbacks. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: In the Super Bowl era, teams with records of 1-5 or worse are 4-18 ATS and 7-15 SU as road favorites. Since 2015, teams that are 1-4 or worse and are listed as road favorites are 0-8 ATS. Read more.

Cimini's pick: Jets 11, Dolphins 9
Wolfe's pick: Dolphins 17, Jets 16
FPI prediction: NYJ, 57.9% (by an average of 2.7 points)

Matchup must-reads: Jets' trade deadline like 'Seinfeld,' except the nothing is something ... Jets' Le'Veon Bell clears air with Adam Gase over usage: 'I was angry' ... Rams trade CB Aqib Talib, pick to Dolphins

Buccaneers (2-5) at Seahawks (6-2)

4:05 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 56.7 | Spread: SEA -5 (52.5)

What to watch for: Will Russell Wilson have to carry the Seahawks' offense? They'll want to run the ball, like always, but might have trouble doing so against a Bucs defense that has allowed a league-low 68.6 rushing yards per game. -- Brady Henderson

Bold prediction: A bold prediction would be calling an upset, despite Bruce Arians' 4-1 record in Seattle against Pete Carroll. But this Bucs team lacks what his Cardinals squads had: the ability to pile on points early and close out games on defense. -- Jenna Laine

Stat to know: Jameis Winston has 15 turnovers through seven games this season, already his most through eight games in any season of his career. The last players with more turnovers through their teams' first eight games were Eli Manning (17) and Geno Smith (16) in 2013.

What to know for fantasy: Last week, Mike Evans joined Charlie Hennigan (1961) as the only receivers to post multiple 40-point fantasy games in their teams' first seven games of a given season. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Seattle is 0-5 ATS in its past five home games (0-4 this season). Read more.

Laine's pick: Seahawks 28, Buccaneers 26
Henderson's pick: Seahawks 29, Buccaneers 22
FPI prediction: SEA, 64.8% (by an average of 5.2 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bucs' Bruce Arians returns to football 'home' away from home ... Seahawks lean on tackle king Bobby Wagner, linebackers more than ever

Lions (3-3-1) at Raiders (3-4)

4:05 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 40.5 | Spread: OAK -2.5 (50.5)

What to watch for: With the Lions having the 26th-ranked run defense in the league, and the Raiders countering with the 30th-ranked pass defense, expect a lot of offense in this contest. The Raiders should ride Josh Jacobs early and often, while Matthew Stafford has to be excited at the thought of carving up Oakland's secondary. -- Paul Gutierrez

Bold prediction: Stafford will post his third consecutive 300-yard game, going three straight for the first time since the final three regular-season games of the 2011 season. He also will throw at least three touchdowns for the third straight week. -- Michael Rothstein

Stat to know: Detroit's Kenny Golladay has three games with 100 receiving yards this season (including last week), equaling his total for all of last season. And the Raiders have allowed five 100-yard pass-catchers this season (tied for the fifth most in the NFL).

What to know for fantasy: Tyrell Williams has scored five times on his 20 receptions this season (25% of his receptions). All other Raiders have scored on 5% of their receptions. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Matt Patricia is 5-0 ATS on the road against teams that entered with losing records. Read more.

Rothstein's pick: Lions 28, Raiders 23
Gutierrez's pick: Raiders 31, Lions 30
FPI prediction: OAK, 56.5% (by an average of 2.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Not traded, Darius Slay now wouldn't mind being with Lions his whole career ... Raiders prepping for another 'Dre Day should Rodney Hudson be out

Packers (7-1) at Chargers (3-5)

4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 72.1 | Spread: GB -3.5 (48)

What to watch for: If the Chargers can figure out how to stop Aaron Jones, hold up in coverage and make Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable by sending just four pass-rushers up front, they could make things interesting. That's a lot on the to-do list, though. -- Eric D. Williams

Bold prediction: This is going to feel like a home game for the Packers. If you thought they had a lot of fans in L.A. last year at the Coliseum against the Rams, wait until you see all the Cheeseheads this Sunday. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said: "We don't play the fans; we play the Packers." -- Rob Demovsky

Stat to know: The Chargers are the first team in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966) with four straight games of under 40 rushing yards.

What to know for fantasy: Over the past two weeks, Packers running backs have more fantasy points as pass-catchers (77.5) than Patriots (75.9) or Vikings (69.9) wide receivers. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Los Angeles is 8-1-2 ATS in the Lynn era as a regular-season underdog of less than seven points. Read more.

Demovsky's pick: Packers 38, Chargers 13
Williams' pick: Packers 28, Chargers 24
FPI prediction: GB, 56.9% (by an average of 2.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Hunter Henry producing in his return to the Chargers' offense ... Chargers' Anthony Lynn defends timing of Ken Whisenhunt firing ... The evolution of the Hail Mary: How Aaron Rodgers and others have perfected the throw

Browns (2-5) at Broncos (2-6)

4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 31.5 | Spread: CLE -3.5 (39)

What to watch for: Quarterback Brandon Allen will take his first regular-season snap on Sunday, 42 months after being selected in the sixth round of the 2016 draft by the Jaguars, and he'll do it against Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is tied for the league lead in sacks with 10. Allen faces an uphill battle playing behind a line that surrendered 26 sacks with Joe Flacco under center. -- Jeff Legwold

Bold prediction: Odell Beckham Jr. will double his touchdown total on the season, with two scoring grabs at Mile High. -- Jake Trotter

Stat to know: The Browns have played the second-toughest schedule so far this season, according to FPI, but they have the second-easiest remaining slate.

What to know for fantasy: Nick Chubb quietly has a run of at least 37 yards in four straight games. A fifth straight would tie him with Steven Jackson for the second most since 2001. (Adrian Peterson sits atop the list with six straight games in 2012.) See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Quarterbacks making their first career starts are 8-0 ATS this season (4-3-1 outright). Read more.

Trotter's pick: Browns 20, Broncos 10
Legwold's pick: Browns 17, Broncos 13
FPI prediction: DEN, 59.8% (by an average of 3.4 points)

Matchup must-reads: Browns' season reaches the breaking point ... Meet Brandon Allen, the Broncos' sixth starting QB since 2017 ... Admittedly frustrated, Von Miller wants to be part of a better Broncos future

Patriots (8-0) at Ravens (5-2)

8:20 p.m. ET | NBC
Matchup rating: 94.1 | Spread: NE -3 (45)

What to watch for: Lamar Jackson has produced an NFL-best 262 scramble yards this season -- 88 more than anyone else -- by sidestepping and sprinting past tacklers. Meanwhile, the Patriots have allowed the second-most yards per rush on scrambles in the past 10 years. -- Jamison Hensley

Bold prediction: Ben Watson will catch a touchdown pass from Tom Brady. The Patriots have struggled to run consistently, so the odds are greater that the offense will once again need to rely more on the passing game. -- Mike Reiss

Stat to know: Mark Ingram II has seven rushing touchdowns this season, the fourth most in the NFL. And over the past five seasons, his 37 rushing scores trail only Todd Gurley II (52).

What to know for fantasy: The Patriots' D/ST has scored at least 23 points four times this season. The other 31 D/STs in the league? Four such games. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Over the past 10 seasons, New England is 31-13-2 ATS in prime-time games. But over the past six seasons, Baltimore is 11-4 ATS in prime time. Read more.

Reiss' pick: Ravens 20, Patriots 17
Hensley's pick: Ravens 27, Patriots 17
FPI prediction: NE, 62.3% (by an average of 4.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bets pouring in on Patriots to finish unbeaten ... Patriots add kicker Nick Folk to replace Mike Nugent ... The NFL's ultimate cheat code: A Lamar Jackson scramble

Cowboys (4-3) at Giants (2-6)

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ESPN App
Matchup rating: 42.9 | Spread: DAL -7 (48)

What to watch for: Dak Prescott and the Cowboys bring the NFL's No. 1 offense (437.9 yards per game) to Monday Night Football. That could spell trouble for a Giants defense, which ranks 25th against the pass. Prescott has thrown 13 touchdowns passes and no interceptions in his past five games against the Giants. -- Jordan Raanan

Bold prediction: The Cowboys will hold Saquon Barkley to less than 100 rushing yards. Barkley has two 100-yard outings in three games against the Cowboys, but he has needed runs of 68 and 59 yards to reach 109 and 120 yards in those. The Cowboys' run defense has only been OK, but it is as healthy and as confident as it has been all season. -- Todd Archer

Stat to know: The Cowboys have done most of their damage this season using 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE and 3 WRs). They are averaging an NFL-high 7.5 yards per play out of that package, with 18 offensive touchdowns. Only the Chiefs have scored more touchdowns using 11 personnel this season (20).

What to know for fantasy: The Cowboys have won five straight over the Giants, and Prescott is a big reason why, averaging 310 passing yards and 25.1 fantasy points per game. See Week 9 rankings.

Betting nugget: Over the past three seasons, Dallas is 13-2 outright and ATS in division games, including covering seven straight. It has covered all five meetings against New York in that span. Read more.

Archer's pick: Cowboys 27, Giants 17
Raanan's pick: Cowboys 34, Giants 26
FPI prediction: DAL, 80.7% (by an average of 11.7 points)

Matchup must-reads: Even without Jamal Adams, Cowboys show they're all-in ... Giants' Jabrill Peppers: Don't blame Pat Shurmur -- blame the players

Ten days in, here are our first 10 things of the season:

1. Holy KAT

I've written many times that Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to be the most versatile scoring big man ever and only the second (after the Tall Baller from the G) to put up a 50-40-90 shooting season -- he has come close twice, falling short only on the 90 part -- but even I did not expect Towns to go full-on Drogon from all over the floor.

Towns is taking his usual portion of shots from the restricted area and has exchanged essentially all his midrangers for 3s. That is a good trade when you can do this:

I mean ... what? That is a 7-footer flicking up a step-back with the dexterity and quick release of a guard. Towns is 5-of-8 on pull-up 3s, after canning just 10 all last season.

Most of his treys are catch-and-shoots that come in the flow, and Towns -- with a big assist from Ryan Saunders' spread system -- is discovering more ways to hunt them. One favorite:

Towns didn't invent that tactic, but he can weaponize it to an unprecedented level. It's a classic screen-the-screener set that would typically proceed into Towns dipping down for a pick-and-roll with Josh Okogie. But when Towns sees that first screen wallop his guy, he aborts and moonwalks into an easy 3.

Towns hasn't abandoned posting up, and he shouldn't; he inflicts heavy damage as an inside-out hub. Towns and Anthony Davis are tied for the league lead in post touches, per Second Spectrum data, and the Wolves have scored about 1.25 points per possession whenever Towns shoots from the post or kicks to a teammate who fires right away -- a mark that would have ranked third among all players last season.

But he isn't hijacking the offense and meandering to the block. Towns is arriving in the post organically by sprinting the floor or sealing guys under the rim after setting screens.

He also is passing from the block more often, and the reads are easier -- and the rotations longer for defenses -- with Saunders playing four perimeter players around Towns. That setup also has exploded Towns' pump-and-go game; if he beats his man on the perimeter, Towns can outrace help defenders scrambling from the arc to the rim.

He has tightened up some on defense too, even if Joel Embiid would never concede it. Opponents are getting to the basket less often with Towns on the floor and shooting only 37.5% on attempts from the restricted area when Towns is nearby. That number will come up. Towns still can be slow rotating into help position. His agility and speed have never translated the same way on defense.

But Towns is trying harder, and Saunders has simplified the scheme so Towns mostly sits back in the paint. He should grow into an average defender. Combine that with all-world offense and you get a no-brainer top-10 player -- and potentially a top-five-level superstar.

2. Trae Young, reject

Young is mastering crueler methods of exploiting all the attention he draws beyond the arc:

In dissecting pick-and-roll defense against long-range gunners, we tend to focus on the big guy guarding the screener. He has to scurry out of his comfort zone! Is he agile enough to trap and recover? We perhaps overlook the mental and physical strain on Young's defender. That guy feels the oncoming pick. He hears the footsteps. He knows if he runs into that screen, if he is even a beat late slithering over it, Young is going to unleash something bad. So he naturally girds himself before that pick arrives. He leans. Maybe he opens his hips.

Young senses that anxiety and preys on it by faking toward screens and then bolting the other way. He is rejecting about nine picks per 100 possessions, double his rate from last season, per Second Spectrum, and defenders are falling for the gambit over and over. Only Lou Williams, master of the right-to-left crossover fade, veered away from more screens before Young injured his ankle on Tuesday.

Atlanta has scored about 1.7 points per possession anytime Young rejects a pick, per Second Spectrum. Young zipping away from a screen has basically been the most profitable recurring play in the league so far. Atlanta has scored 110 points per 100 possessions with Young on the floor, and a Washington Generals-esque 92 when he sits, per NBA.com data. Yowza.

Young already had one anti-trap device: crouching low, splitting defenders and beelining into a 5-on-3. Mix in this reject trickery and Young is going to have defenses paralyzed with uncertainty.

From there, Young can start manipulating instead of reacting. He can scan the floor, then digest which four or five passing options might emerge depending on his plan of attack and choose one. He is a world-class passer with either hand.

It won't look pretty every night. That is the nature of a high-variance 3-point game. Philly's size smothered Young on Monday. He is averaging five turnovers per game, and he needs to make himself more of a moving threat when others have the ball.

But if Young maintains this -- and returns soon -- he will probably be an All-Star and keep Atlanta in the playoff race.

3. Kendrick Nunn's hesitation dribble

Yeah, he missed, but oh, baby. John Collins -- improved on defense so far this season -- is still looking for Nunn.

You want it righty -- that is, Nunn's "weak" hand? Sure.

(Sorry, John.)

What a monster run on the margins for the Heat: Josh Richardson in the second round -- a very good player who netted Miami a great one in Jimmy Butler; Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo at the back of the lottery; Duncan Robinson, Derrick Jones Jr. and Chris Silva on two-way deals; and now Nunn, plucked from the G-League at the end of last season -- and leading the Heat in scoring.

This is what it takes to craft a sunny future, despite coughing up three future first-round picks in get-rich-now trades; striking out in post-Heatles free agency until the Butler deal; and lavishing fifth-starter types with eight-figure deals. All of that describes a franchise in peril. The Heat are no longer in peril. They are good now, lurking anew as a free-agent destination.

They have not missed James Johnson or Dion Waiters. (Most of the buildings on Waiters Island are boarded up. Bill Simmons is hoarding canned food in his bomb shelter.) With Nunn and Herro as rotation mainstays -- plus more minutes than expected for Meyers Leonard -- the Heat have more shooting and versatility than even they anticipated. Goran Dragic looks reinvigorated in a reserve role. Even if Waiters never steps on the floor again for Miami, the Heat have enough perimeter talent to play heavy minutes with Justise Winslow as a point-power forward -- a look they haven't had to explore much yet.

If they stay healthy, the Heat should stick in the race for the No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the East.

Several teams are kicking themselves about Nunn -- not only the Warriors, who waived him out of camp a year ago and had him in the G-League. Others brought Nunn in for group workouts and chose other (worse) players, or tried to entice him with promises of a training camp deal this season. Miami went another route -- a multiyear, nonguaranteed minimum -- and snagged him.

4. Hello, Otto Porter Jr.?

Porter was never the most, umm, forceful player, but he has been almost ethereal over Chicago's disappointing 1-4 start against an angel food cake schedule. The Bulls appear to be monitoring Porter's minutes for reasons that are a little unclear, and Porter has been an afterthought on the floor -- sluggish and unassertive with the ball, unremarkable on defense. He is averaging nine points per game on 14-of-44 shooting and has barely grabbed any rebounds -- one of the prime offenders for a team that has been pathetic on the glass.

Porter averaged almost 18 points per game after the Bulls acquired him from Washington last season, and he burst out of his 3-and-D box. He doubled his pick-and-roll volume and thrived under a heavier scoring burden.

That version of Porter was probably unsustainable, especially with Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. hungering for expanded roles. Porter jacked a ton of midrangers -- he was in the 100th percentile in long 2-point attempts after the trade, per Cleaning The Glass data -- and there is a low production ceiling on those shots.

But the Bulls urgently need Porter to be a functional 3-and-D guy who attacks scrambled defenses off the bounce. He is the only true small forward in Chicago's rotation; Jim Boylen's go-to bench unit features three point guards. The problems in Chicago go well beyond Porter, but the Bulls' postseason dreams will die fast unless he finds his game.

5. RJ Barrett, conducting like a vet

Barrett has been New York's best all-around player. This sort of ballhandling craft from a rookie non-point guard is super rare:

Barrett pinning Semi Ojeleye on his back and freezing the Boston defense, waiting for them to move first so he can counterpunch, is on its own an advanced NBA tactic. The look-away toward Julius Randle on the right wing to free Bobby Portis is veteran puppet master stuff.

Barrett's advanced pick-and-roll numbers are average, but average is a home run considering the spacing limitations of New York's starting five. Against Barrett-Mitchell Robinson pick-and-rolls, defenses ignore Randle and Elfrid Payton to clog every driving and passing lane:

Barrett has squeezed out points anyway by whipping smart passes and bulldozing smaller defenders. It took four games, but the Knicks found a way to make Barrett's life easier: use Portis as a spot-up threat and have the other big -- Randle or Robinson -- screen and dive.

Barrett is a solid rebounder, and he has held his own on defense. Skeptics worry Barrett's early shooting -- 42% from deep on decent volume -- isn't real, and if they're right, Barrett's projected peak gets a little murky. If Barrett develops into a good 3-point shooter, the Knicks might have a star.

The Knicks so needed something close to a sure thing in their young core. Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina have struggled. Kevin Knox II is a question mark, which is fine at this stage. Robinson is good already, and he has a chance to be a very impactful player -- but not an on-ball fulcrum on offense.

It's very early, but Barrett looks like he has a chance to be that.

6. Kawhi Leonard, running this

It was a major debate within the league -- a franchise-defining one for some teams -- when Leonard was on the trade block, coming off a mysterious leg injury: What if he's only 90% of his old self?

Leonard's two-way devastation of the 2017 playoffs, pre-Zaza, should have had teams contemplating the flip side: If he gets healthy, could he be even better?

Leonard isn't the same soul-snatching force on defense anymore, at least not until go time, but he has become a full-blown superstar in the most traditional sense on offense. He has run 44 pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions with the Clippers, up from about 22 last season. The Clippers have scored about 1.16 points per possession when Leonard shoots out of the pick-and-roll or passes to a teammate who launches within two dribbles, per Second Spectrum. That number would have led all high-volume ballhandlers last season.

He already has developed chemistry with two very different dance partners in Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell. Zubac is more laborious, and so Leonard navigates with zigzaggy, start-and-stop patience until Zubac rumbles free:

Harrell can zip to the rim or mirror Leonard's pitter-pat. Harrell also is a master at re-screening at different angles, and Leonard is learning to bob and weave behind him -- and use the threat of a handoff to slice backdoor:

Leonard is dishing 6.2 dimes per game, almost double his single-season career high, and that comes after a one-assist performance against his old buddies in San Antonio Thursday. He has assisted on 42% of the Clippers' buckets while on the floor -- a Point God-level number. Leonard is demolishing concerns about the Clips' overall ballhandling.

This all signals extreme danger for the rest of the league when Paul George returns. George is overtaxed as a primary option, about right as a co-alpha dog, and unfair as a clear-cut No. 2.

7. The on-court shot clock graphic

To my well-intentioned colleagues and friends at TNT: Can we not?

Did anyone ask for a ticking shot clock graphic above the foul line? We can already see the shot clock in two places: above the backboard and in its tidy little corner below the score line. That second spot is perfect: It's unintrusive, but you know it's there if you want it.

The new TNT graphic is rendered in a faded white until the clock ticks to five, at which point it flips into a blaring red. The white version is just noticeable enough to be annoying. The red version is so loud, you no longer notice anything else.

A compromise: Do something more dramatic with the little shot clock in the corner within the last five seconds. Right now, the red background behind the digits starts blinking from light to dark, but the contrast isn't enough to catch your eye.

8. Rui and Bertans!

The League Pass Rankings reverse jinx lives! The Wiz -- dead last in that annual column -- are kinda ... fun? They are especially so with Rui Hachimura and Davis Bertans manning the forward spots. (Side note: This kind of look, pairing two tweeners who lean more toward the nominal power forward designation, seems to be en vogue this season.)

Hachimura is a whirling dervish who is somehow both chaotic and balanced at once. He can overpower wings in the post, and he looks comfy stepping into old-school long 2s. Those are unsexy shots, but they bode well for Hachimura stretching to 3-point range.

Bertans is one of the best shooters alive, and Scott Brooks is running nifty tandem set pieces for Bertans and Moritz Wagner. (I can't believe that sentence is a true thing.) This double pick has been killing teams, since both Bertans and Wagner are threats to chuck:

Overplay the Bertans curl and he'll bust it to the rim:

The Wizards have scored 126 points per 100 possessions (not a typo!) with Hachimura and Bertans on the floor, though their 159-158 game of NBA Jam against Houston on Wednesday inflated those numbers. (Warning: Don't look up the defensive figure; your mobile device might combust.)

Washington isn't good, but they're feisty and entertaining.

9. OG Anunoby, driving

Most of the praise for Anunoby's early-season work has focused on his stellar defense, but this is the stuff that excites me:

Anunoby is attacking off the catch with new decisiveness and ferocity -- a must for any secondary perimeter option. He has blown by defenders on more than 53% of his drives, almost double his rate from last season. And Toronto is getting buckets out of it: 1.17 points per possession anytime Anunoby shoots out of a drive or passes to a teammate who fires right away -- a mark that would have nearly topped the league last season, per Second Spectrum.

The defending champion Raptors are as advertised: savvy, ultra-confident, totally comfortable in their own skin, and a damned pain to play against. Anunoby as a competent scorer, shooter and drive-and-kick fiend changes their future. Even if all three of Toronto's over-30 veterans -- Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka -- are gone by next season, the younger core of Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet is a plug-and-play roster for any free agent superstar. (Siakam is blossoming into a superstar now, a good bet to hit the trifecta of All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive.)

10. Trey Lyles, vanishing

So, this is going to be a problem if it persists:

When Lyles first cracked Utah's rotation as a rookie, he showed flashes of potential as a stretchy, playmaking power forward who could switch across almost every position on defense.

Lyles has since whiplashed between hunting shots too greedily and (right now in San Antonio) turning down wide-open looks. He has used only 8% of San Antonio's possessions, a rate usually associated with shot-phobic bruisers -- Dennis Rodman, Michael Cage, Joel Anthony types. Lyles never grew into that canny multi-positional defender.

The 3-1 Spurs have been fine with Lyles on the floor, but they can't start this passive version of him against elite competition in April and May. He is a placeholder. The Spurs don't want to start big, with Jakob Poeltl next to LaMarcus Aldridge. They appear to prefer Rudy Gay as a bench scorer. DeMarre Carroll is out of the rotation. They sloughed away Bertans to fit Marcus Morris Sr., but Morris is in New York.

The Spurs are a good team with two major lineup questions: Who starts next to Aldridge? And how often can/should they play all three of Derrick White, DeMar DeRozan, and Dejounte Murray? (The answer might be "more than they are now" despite some potential shooting issues. The more interesting big-picture question is how often they might play Murray, White, and Bryn Forbes -- or another young guy -- with two frontcourt guys who aren't DeRozan. Small-ball groups with all of them -- and DeRozan at power forward -- may not survive heavy minutes on defense.) Murray is absolutely wrecking stuff on defense.

11. Matisse Thybulle, what?

Sorry, I couldn't resist an 11th thing.

Holy hell. I wish we could have seen Kevin Huerter's face the moment he realized Thybulle had apparated back into his airspace. I imagine he resembled a character in a slasher movie who turns a corner and comes face-to-face with the killer.

Thybulle did not get credit for a block on that play, but something happened to Huerter's shot.

I have no idea if Thybulle will be ready to play in crunch time as a rookie in the playoffs, or develop an average 3-point shot. But he is already special on defense. I can't remember the last rookie wing to move with such liquid grace and speed. Maybe Kawhi? Thybulle is barely logging 20 minutes per game, and he leads the league in both steals and deflections.

Philly's size and defense -- No. 2 in the league behind Utah -- are absurd. What are you even supposed to do against a lineup of Thybulle, Josh Richardson, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Al Horford -- one of the Sixers' go-to lineups when Joel Embiid rests?

Kyle Edmund has been named as the fifth member of the Great Britain squad for this month's Davis Cup finals.

The former British number one, who has dropped to 75th in the world, secured his place after some encouraging performances at the Paris Masters.

The final spot was left open after Andy Murray, Dan Evans, Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski were initially selected.

"While Kyle has had a tough few months, he showed in Paris what he is capable of producing," captain Leon Smith said.

Britain face the Netherlands and Kazakhstan in the group stage of the inaugural 18-team finals format on 20 and 21 November.

Edmund, 24, had lost eight matches in a row before beating Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis and Argentine 14th seed Diego Schwartzman in the French capital this week.

On Thursday, the 2018 Australian Open semi-finalist pushed world number one Novak Djokovic in a tight first set before fading to lose their third-round match.

That was enough for Edmund, who helped Britain win the Davis Cup in 2015, to be selected ahead of British number two Cameron Norrie, who is ranked 18 places higher.

"It's been a difficult decision to make as Cam Norrie has had a very good year on tour," Smith added.

"It's a strong position for our team to be in when we have such high-quality players vying for selection."

Britain were given a wildcard for the revamped event, which sees 18 nations compete across six groups in Madrid.

The group winners - as well as the two second-placed teams with the best records - progress to the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and final taking place on 23 and 24 November.

Matches will consist of two singles and one doubles rubbers, all played over three sets on a hard court at the Caja Magica.

The 25-year, £2.15bn revamp of the Davis Cup is funded by an investment group led by Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique's Kosmos company.

An emotional Steven Hansen said it was a "privilege" to lead New Zealand after they beat Wales 40-17 in his final game to claim third place at the World Cup.

Hansen, who led the All Blacks to victory at the 2015 World Cup, said it was important to "honour the jersey" after the semi-final loss to England.

"It was a tough game for both sides so congratulations to Wales too," he said.

"We have played good footy all the way through, but you have one bad day and you're out. That's knockout footy."

Hansen ends a 15-year association with the All Blacks, having joined the set-up as assistant to predecessor Graham Henry in 2004.

The 60-year-old took over from Henry in December 2011, just weeks after the All Blacks won the World Cup on home soil, and has since achieved an 87% win ratio.

He has also won six Rugby Championship titles and four Coach of the Year awards, and the departing coach paid tribute to his players and the supporters as he left his post.

"It was important to honour the fans and put that one last week behind us," he said. "I'm really proud of the boys."

'Immensely proud'

On a poignant day for the All Blacks, the three-time world champions also said goodbye to stalwart and captain Kieran Read.

The powerful number eight, who has won 126 caps as well as two world titles, said it was "awesome to pull on the jersey" in his final game.

"I'm immensely proud to see a crowd like this," the 34-year-old said. "The guys appreciate what it means to be an All Black, I love it.

"This jersey means a lot, it's been part of my life for a long time. You try and leave it in a better place than you found it - that was my aim and hopefully I've done it."

Read still intends to play professional rugby and he will join Japanese club Toyota Verblitz on a one-year deal after the tournament.

He added: "Japan have been great hosts and we thank you for your support."