Born to flex

The GIST: We’re more than halfway through the NFL season, and after ten weeks of exhilarating plot twists, this year’s standings remain as tight and confusing as ever. Is any team good? Let’s get into it (and more) below.

🏆 Is this the most parity the NFL has ever seen?: It feels like it. Typically, there’s a clear delineation between the good teams and the bad teams by this point in the season — but this year, the NFL chose chaos. Case in point: Reigning MVP quarterback (QB) Josh Allen struggled in his Buffalo Bills’ 30–13 loss to the Miami Dolphins yesterday. These fish aren’t so hapless, after all.

• But that’s not all: The Houston Texans, who’ve struggled offensively for much of the season, put up 26 points in the fourth quarter without starting QB CJ Stroud, earning a 36–29 comeback win over a Jacksonville Jaguars team with playoff aspirations.

• The NY Jets won back-to-back games (a bonafide miracle), the New England Patriots proved that they’re title contenders by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the league-best Indianapolis Colts scraped by the three-win Atlanta Falcons. Any given Sunday, right?

👀 Are the divisional races just as chaotic?: Without question. The perennial powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs (who are on a bye this week) wouldn’t make the playoffs if the season ended today, every team in the NFC North has a shot at a postseason berth, and the Baltimore Ravens are back in contention for the AFC North crown after a 1-5 start. All to say, it’s utter pandemonium.

The GIST: The NWSL served up peak playoff anarchy this weekend, with a whole lot of extra time, a record-breaking expansion announcement, and enough adrenaline to last until next weekend’s semifinals. See how your playoff bracket’s holding up, then relive the thrilling quarter-final action with us.

🦇 No. 8 Gotham FC stun No. 1 Kansas City Current: Gotham’s Decision Day freefall helped them orchestrate the weekend’s biggest upset as the Bats punched their third straight semifinal ticket with yesterday’s 2–1 win over the Current. KC entered the match as the most dominant top seed in NWSL history but were notably without their top scorer, Temwa Chawinga.

• And this one came down to the wire: 96th-minute heroics from Current defender Ellie Wheeler forced extra time, setting the stage for Gotham forward Katie Stengel to bury the bar-down game-winner. The drama.

✨ No. 2 Washington Spirit escape late onslaught from No. 7 Racing Louisville: The injury-riddled Spirit dominated Saturday’s tilt…until a second-half stoppage time goal from Louisville forward Kayla Fischer forced extra time and eventually penalty kicks. Luckily for Washington, the best shootout goalie in NWSL history tends their net — and Aubrey Kingsbury did Aubrey Kingsbury things to earn the win.

🌹 No. 3 Portland Thorns blank No. 6 San Diego Wave in 1–0 win: Finding the back of the net was a tall task for both teams all afternoon — it took until extra time for the game’s first and only goal to be scored, a beauty off the head of Thorns forward Reilyn Turner, with 20-year-old phenom Olivia Moultrie tallying the assist.

💜 No. 4 Orlando Pride top No. 5 Seattle Reign FC 2–0: The only quarter-final completed in regulation, the defending champ Pride authored an emotional win to clinch their second straight semifinal berth. The highlight? Pride forward Luana’s insurance goal, her first since recovering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year. A true inspiration.

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