標籤: offense

Forget the wagon. The Buffalo Sabers are a freight train.

In Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup at TD Garden, the Sabers posted a dominant 6–1 victory over the Boston Bruins to take a 3–1 series lead.

Buffalo scored four goals in the first period to take an unassailable 4–0 lead and defeated Boston 19–5.

Peyton Krebs opened the scoring at 15:43 on an assist from Alex Tuch in his second match of the playoffs. Josh Doane and Zack Benson quickly followed, with Doane scoring his first goal – assisted by Ryan McLeod and Bowen Byram – and Benson capitalizing on a Doane feed.

Byram ended the first period barrage at 5:36 with his third goal of the playoffs, set up by Owen Power and Jack Quinn.

Boston came out strongly in the second period, defeating the Sabers 10–4, but Alex Lyon stood tall in net for Buffalo, turning away every chance to preserve the shutout for 40 minutes.

The Sabers took the lead on the Bruins in the third period, when Beck Malensteen and Tuch scored Buffalo’s fifth and sixth goals a little more than a minute apart to increase the lead to 6–0.

Lyon nearly recorded a shutout before Sean Kuraly scored with 40 seconds remaining to make the game 6–1.

Tempers boiled over with a barrage of penalties in the final minutes: minor deductions on Benson and Hampus Lindholm, a heated exchange between David Pastrnak and Krebs.

But Nikita Zadorov showed the least composure, charged with a game misconduct and receiving a five-minute penalty for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin.

Boston finished with 42 hits to Buffalo’s 23, but could not convert its physical advantage on offense.

Lyon earned first-star honors with 23 saves on 24 shots (.958 SV%). Byram and Tuch (each with a goal and an assist) were rounded out with three stars.

The Sabers and Bruins head back to Boston for Game 5, where Buffalo has a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

It’s been an eventful 2026 NFL offseason so far, and we’re still only a few weeks away from making some of the biggest moves. Many of the top NFL free agents are now off the board, but there are still some impactful starters and key contributors who could sign with clubs in the next few days.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at our NFL free agency predictions for the top offensive players heading into the weekend. We will make a defensive list on Saturday.

Kirk Cousins, quarterback: Las Vegas Raiders

One of the most common NFL comparisons for quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who will be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is Kirk Cousins. While this may not sound as appealing, let’s remember that Cousins ​​has a career 96.8 passer rating and is likely to reach 45,000 career passing yards with 300 passing touchdowns in 2026. That also fits the Las Vegas look. The Raiders want an experienced quarterback who can mentor Mendoza during his rookie season and serve as the starting quarterback temporarily. Cousins ​​could start the first few games while Mendoza gets a better feel for Clint Kubiak’s playbook and adjusts to playing under center, and then take over in October.

READ MORE: Fantasy football winners, losers from NFL free agency

Aaron Rodgers, QB: Pittsburgh Steelers

Everything the Pittsburgh Steelers have said publicly, combined with reports about the front office’s thinking, points to one thing: Aaron Rodgers is coming back for the 2026 NFL season. Even the Michael Pittman Jr. trade, acquiring a receiver who excels at creating quick separation and getting open early, hints at a plan to help a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. We don’t think Rodgers will sign until around June, but we strongly believe he will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026.

RELATED: Why the Pittsburgh Steelers made a mistake hiring Mike McCarthy

Stefon Diggs, wide receiver: Baltimore Ravens

The off-field concerns surrounding Stefon Diggs have a lot to do with how quiet his market is in NFL free agency. That said, he still put up 1,013 receiving yards on 85 receptions in his first full season last season after suffering an ACL tear. It will be a bit of a gamble for first-year head coach Jesse Minter, but the Baltimore Ravens have proven they are willing to take some non-medical risks. Diggs could be a complementary receiving threat to pair with Zay Flowers, giving Lamar Jackson a better receiving corps in his first year with new play-caller Declan Doyle.

Read more: The worst contracts from the first day of NFL free agency

Jaouan Jennings, wide receiver: Tennessee Titans

In previous NFL free agency predictions, we have seen Juwan Jennings landing with the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Commanders. However, Seattle has re-signed Rashid Shahid and Commanders general manager Adam Peters is focusing more on Brandon Aiyuk after he was released. This makes the Tennessee Titans the best fit for Jennings. The 6-foot-3 wideout offers a skill set that’s very different from free-agent signing Wan’Dale Robinson, as he can be a red-zone weapon whose size also makes him an effective target on third downs. The move will be about providing quarterback Cam Ward with a variety of pass-catching options in Brian Daboll’s offense. Plus, if Tennessee drafts Jeremiah Love, Jennings is a willing blocker.

Rasheed Walker, offensive tackle: Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have addressed right tackle (Tytus Howard), center (Elgton Jenkins) and guard (Zion Johnson and Teven Jenkins) this offseason. That still leaves a glaring hole at left tackle. Luckily for Cleveland, there isn’t much left on the market for Rasheed Walker. He has been the best offensive tackle available since the beginning of NFL free agency, but his contract demands remain an issue. We think he’ll sign a one-year deal worth over $20 million to play left tackle for Cleveland. This fills a need for the Browns, giving them flexibility heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, while also allowing Walker to test the market again next season.

David Njoku, tight end: Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles gave themselves a little more time to decide on Dallas Goedert’s future with the club, but parting still appears to be the most likely outcome. What became clear last season was that this offense needs more help at the last minute, so it should come through both the NFL Draft and free agency. After spending nine years in Cleveland, Njoku likely wants to play for a Super Bowl contender with a quarterback he trusts to get him the football. With a defense focused on stopping Saquon Barkley, Devonta Smith and AJ Brown, as well as the athleticism of Jalen Hurts, Njoku could get plenty of open looks in Philadelphia.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs did not reach the AFC Conference Championship for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback in 2018. The Chiefs also missed the playoffs, which was Kansas City’s first time since 2014. Now it’s time to get back on track.

The first day of the NFL’s free agency negotiating window opened on Monday. Within 30 minutes, the Chiefs had already made a big splash.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs have agreed to sign running back Kenneth Walker III. Tom Pelissero reports that Walker’s contract is expected to be three years and $45 million. This makes him the highest paid ‘free agent’ in NFL history. Saquon is the NFL’s highest-paid running back (at $20.6M per season, but he signed an extension).

The 25-year-old Walker is coming off the second 1,000-yard season of his career, notably having a big game (135 rushing yards) in Super Bowl LX to help the Seahawks escape with a victory. The 5-foot-9, 211-pound running back brings a big body to Kansas City’s backfield with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt entering free agency.

He finished the season with 1,027 rushing yards, 5 TDs and 31 receptions for 282 receiving yards. Walker then tallied another 313 rushing yards and 4 TDs plus 104 receiving yards in three playoff wins. Now, he’ll look to continue that success in Kansas City.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections ahead of NFL free agency

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Arizona Cardinals offense will get a new look in 2026 after firing Jonathan Gannon and hiring Mike LaFleur as head coach. However, after finishing 23rd in scoring, a change is a good thing in this regard.

One particular area where Arizona struggled mightily was with a rushing attack that finished with the second fewest yards. Yet, after season-ending injuries to James Conner, Jonavon Knight, and Trey Benson, their ground game did not receive much of a chance.

With the Cardinals entering a new regime, perhaps it’s time for a fresh start, too.

Recently, ESPN’s Rich Cimini suggested that the Cardinals could be a suitor for one of the top free agent running backs available, the Jets’ Breece Hall.

Connor is under contract through 2026, but it’s likely the Cardinals will move on from the 30-year-old after he was limited to just three games last season. Connor has a cap hit of $9.6 million for next season, but he is also a two-time Pro Bowler.

Still, Hall, who is also excellent as a pass-catcher, is six years younger, and he is more versatile for Coach LaFleur’s offense. If the price is right, Arizona, which is projected to have about $33 million in cap space, could use a portion of it on Hall.

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals linked to future Hall of Fame QB

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was an overall success for Adam Silver, the players, and their fans. The NBA also invited more than 200 content creators, which it described as “the broadest creator footprint ever,” welcoming a whole new set of problems into their world.

There was precedent for the participation of global creators. This year’s annual Super Bowl-week content recently aired. comedians like jimmy kimmel liveGuillermo Rodriguez has been connecting superstars to national audiences at NBA Finals media availability for years. However, with respect to media coverage in today’s digital age, the NBA needs to stop reacting to streamers and return to its roots as one of society’s most influential cultural forces.

The answer is to consider journalism and content creation as separate. Players will fear additional content-creation media availability in the same way they feared the introduction of in-game interviews on television. Historically, leagues have found ways to force players to make sacrifices to help grow audiences.

As print culture dies out in favor of video or online platforms with character limits, discussions about anything from sports to politics have become increasingly irrational. The convenience of instant messages is undeniable. But it cannot be separated from the context which is often lost in online posts. This is especially relevant to platforms like X, which limit characters and encourage contention.

The equation of journalistic work with content creation, whether entertaining or not, is dangerous for fans. The NBA led the way globally in responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although sports reporting is not as urgent as a public health issue, the league can again lead the way globally by setting an important standard. The NBA is grateful for the example it sets for its fans to work and lead in this unprecedented era of content and information.

The NBA has pitted creators against reporters, causing real harm to fans.

According to the league, creators were “deeply integrated” into All-Star Weekend, playing “active roles in All-Star events through on-court participation, broadcast roles and behind-the-scenes access.” They are real factors in terms of revenue generation for the development of sports and empowering teams and boosting the sports economy. But they don’t have the responsibility to their audiences that journalists do.

TikTokers are beholden to standards of accuracy or fairness, but not in the way an NBA beat reporter is. Content creators entertain audiences, which is a fundamental principle of the game itself. But they don’t investigate and share information with audiences the way journalists should.

Detroit Pistons reporter Omari Sankofa II was unable to ask questions of all three All-Star representatives from the Motor City. This was simply due to an easily preventable scheduling snafu in which the availability of Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham and JB Bickerstaff were planned simultaneously. When so many players and coaches have to field questions from so many media members, the overlap is understandable. But it’s important to recognize that fans suffer the most from that setup.

The league scheduled JB, Duren and Cade all during the same 10-minute availability window. Cade was in the interview room down the hall, not able to meet him in time. Guess they didn’t think any local Piston Beat writer would want to talk to those three

– Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) 14 February 2026

Reporters, especially local ones, have long been the best way for fans to follow their team during the season. Influencers and content creators are warmly welcome to join the conversation, providing both current and potential fans with an entertaining perspective on their favorite—or new favorite—athletes. But this cannot continue at the cost of silencing journalists.

Creators should be welcomed in the NBA world, but not at the expense of journalism

In some rare cases, those journalists are literally being muted. When the NBA announced its impressive plans, New York Knicks reporter James L. Edwards III shared an anecdote related to the NBA Cup. The reporter missed the opportunity to ask a legitimate final question because a content creator made a jersey for a Knicks player and asked him to sign it.

During the NBA Cup, we (the media) were trying to interview a player for our job and a content creator intervened, pulled a Knicks player’s jersey out of his pocket and asked him to sign it. He got the last question. https://t.co/16ZqmYvwne

– James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) 10 February 2026

While it may be tempting to call these journalists crazy and move on, the fact is that their job is to serve fans by investigating and sharing the truth. The league’s growing involvement with sportsbooks and prediction markets underscores the need for that kind of journalism.

While the cultural half-life of information is getting shorter, some data points are still much more important than others. But the NBA doesn’t have to choose between them. They should show creators how important they are by providing their media availability. Some hilarious content created over All-Star Weekend revealed that NBA stars are prone to doing all kinds of weird things. But making TikToks during a job interview doesn’t have to be one of them.