Sports
The NFL’s Most Surprising Team Claims the Top Spot
Week 9 of the
NFL season begins in just a few hours, and there are still plenty of teams left who have full confidence they are Super Bowl contenders.
Many of the preseason favorites are living up to the hype, while there have been a few notable surprise teams evolving into juggernauts with each week.
As we near the halfway mark, GIVEMESPORT has put together a top 10 power ranking of the best teams in the NFL. Here are the squads that stood above the rest.
10
Seattle Seahawks
The
Seattle Seahawks are currently tied for first place in the NFC West with a 5-2 record, thanks to a revitalized offense under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Quarterback Sam Darnold has been an MVP contender this season and has formed one of the most explosive duos in the league alongside wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
On the defensive side, Mike Macdonald’s team has been stingy and is on pace to break their two-year playoff drought.
9
Denver Broncos
With a 6-2 record, the
Denver Broncos are currently leading the AFC West and are getting better each week under head coach Sean Payton. The defense has largely lived up to the hype, while Bo Nix is showing growth in his second season under center.
Denver is currently riding a five-game winning streak, which includes a marquee victory over the
Philadelphia Eagles. This team still looks like the dark-horse Super Bowl contender they were advertised to be going into the regular season.
8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still the cream of the crop in the NFC South and aiming to take that good-to-great step in the postseason. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has had to overcome numerous injuries on the roster and put together one of his best seasons yet.
The Buccaneers are the current best team in the league in the clutch, and as they return key contributors like Bucky Irving, Todd Bowles‘ squad is poised to be a NFC contender.
7
Los Angeles Rams
The
Los Angeles Rams are tied with the Seattle Seahawks at 5-2 in the NFC West, looking like the preseason contender they were hyped up to be.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads a dynamic offense, with elite skill players around him such as All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua and veteran wideout Davante Adams. Meanwhile, the defense is only allowing 16.7 points per game.
With a reasonable strength of schedule down the stretch, the Rams are the favorites to win their division and clinch a top seed in the NFC.
6
Detroit Lions
The
Detroit Lions likely won’t have the 15-2 record they did last year, but Jared Goff and company have fewer weaknesses to be concerned about, especially when their secondary is fully healthy.
Dan Campbell‘s squad has one of the most balanced offenses in the league and is coming off an impressive home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite their loaded division, the Lions still have a shot at clinching the NFC’s No. 1 seed for a second straight year.
5
Buffalo Bills
After years of dominance, the
Buffalo Bills finally have some formidable competition in the AFC East. The
New England Patriots currently sit at 6-2 overall and have the easiest schedule in the league to close out the season.
Meanwhile, Josh Allen and company are still having a solid year at 5-2 and a threat to everyone in the AFC. Nonetheless, Sean McDermott’s team needs to improve its rush defense if they want to get this franchise back to the Super Bowl.
4
Philadelphia Eagles
The defending champs are once again a juggernaut and last Sunday’s win over the
New York Giants was a huge step in the right direction.
Saquon Barkley has had a trying season by his lofty standards, but the star running back had his first 100+ yard rushing performance in the divisional win.
Jalen Hurts is putting together an MVP-caliber resume under center for a team that is going to face several NFC contenders in the next few weeks.
3
Green Bay Packers
The
Green Bay Packers are the current No. 1 seed in the NFC and one of the few teams with a top 10 scoring offense and defense. Matt LaFleur‘s squad has a unique combination of youth and playoff success, making this roster all the more dangerous.
In addition, Jordan Love is on pace for his best season yet under center, and should continue to improve with his top receiver, Jayden Reed, returning soon.
Even with their 5-1-1 start, the Packers have so much more room to grow, which is a scary reality for the rest of the NFC.
2
Kansas City Chiefs
The
Kansas City Chiefs might not be first in their division, but the three-time reigning AFC champs are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.
All-time great quarterbackPatrick Mahomes has had a phenomenal season under center and is now getting all of his weapons back at an ideal time. Meanwhile, the defense is still terrific under legendary coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Aside from the running game, Kansas City has very few weaknesses on their roster and are the likely favorites in the AFC once again. But there’s one team that deserves the benefit of the doubt over the NFL’s latest dynasty, at least for now.
1
Indianapolis Colts
We are giving the
Indianapolis Colts their due respect amid a dominant 7-1 start. The NFL’s most surprising team is led by an offense averaging 33.8, thanks to MVP frontrunner Jonathan Taylor and a resurgent Daniel Jones.
At the moment, Indianapolis is outscoring its opponents by 116 points, which is on pace to be the third-highest point differential of this century.
Maybe the Colts will come back down to earth eventually, but right now they hold the top spot as they look forward to a daunting part of the regular season slate.
Sports
Man Utd Plotting Move to Sign William Gomes After Ederson
Manchester United are plotting a move to sign another Brazilian ‘superstar’ after reaching a full agreement for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, according to CaughtOffside.
Man United have been tracking Ederson all summer and they have now finalised an agreement with the Serie A outfit to bring him to the Premier League, having already agreed personal terms on a four-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.
The Brazilian has been signed for under £40m having had only a year remaining on his deal with the Bergamo-based outfit, with a move set to be completed at the beginning of July.
The Red Devils are clearly wasting no time in their bid to strengthen Michael Carrick’s squad ahead of more fixtures for the team next season, after they sealed their return to Champions League football.
United have a primary focus on central midfield, with up to two more players expected to follow Ederson in if Manuel Ugarte joins Casemiro in leaving Old Trafford.
They will look at other positions on the pitch too, especially if certain players leave, with one of those expected to be on the wings should Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho depart the club.
Carrick currently has Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to choose from, but they could probably do with another option for the more congested fixture list.
Man United Considering Signing William Gomes
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are among many Premier League clubs considering making a summer move for Porto winger William Gomes.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are also keen on the Brazilian ‘superstar’, who has a €80m (£70m) release clause written into his contract with the Portuguese giants.
Porto have no intention of selling the 20-year-old and would demand a major offer before even considering entering exit talks.
One report in England claimed that United have already sent an official to Portugal to discuss a deal for the right-sided winger, but there has been no formal bid yet.
Gomes ended the 2025-26 season with eight goals and one assist in 28 league appearances for Porto.
Man United Also Eyeing Yan Diomande Move
According to Sky Sports, United are also one of the clubs monitoring another in-demand right-winger in RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.
The Ivory Coast international is another young player who enjoyed a breakthrough season for his club, scoring 13 goals and registering a further 10 assists despite being just 19 years of age.
Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain appear to be the frontrunners for the exciting forward’s signature as things stand, with the former said to be determined to land him before the World Cup kicks off on June 11.
Rated at £87m, the price tag could prove to be impossible for United to pay given the focus on rebuilding their midfield, but he is clearly a player with a huge future ahead of him in the game.
United are also said to be looking at Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to GIVEMESPORT sources, with Michael Carrick and Jason Wilcox both working with him before and being huge admirers of him.
Sports
Michael Jordan Named Only Player He Hated During NBA Career
Throughout the remarkable career of Michael Jordan, there were countless memorable moments, challenges, and triumphs. From off-court controversies and the global brand that turned the Jordan name into a worldwide phenomenon, to the extraordinary basketball ability that captivated fans everywhere.
What MJ also possessed was an unmatched competitive drive and an obsession with winning. He had little patience for anyone who stood in his way.
During his legendary 15-year run in the NBA, Jordan developed several fierce rivalries, and when asked who he disliked facing the most throughout his career, there were plenty of names he could have mentioned.
Michael Jordan’s Heated Rivalries During Career
The basketball icon shared a well-documented rivalry with Isiah Thomas, fuelled by his ongoing feud with the Detroit Pistons. Their numerous playoff encounters played a major role in shaping both Jordan’s rise and the Chicago Bulls’ championship journey.
One of the most famous moments came when Thomas declined to shake Jordan’s hand after a playoff defeat, and the relationship between the two never appeared to fully recover. Yet, Thomas was not the player Jordan ultimately selected.
Jordan’s list of rivals stretches back even further than his NBA days. One of his earliest competitors was fellow college star Patrick Ewing, who played for Georgetown before going on to enjoy a successful 17-year NBA career, spending most of it with the New York Knicks while averaging 21 points per game.
Jordan’s North Carolina Tar Heels often got the better of Georgetown, but Ewing’s team consistently provided a tough challenge, and the pair developed a competitive relationship over the years.
Michael Jordan’s Pick For Most Hated Opponent
Despite those notable rivalries and confrontations, Jordan had a different answer when discussing the opponent he came to dislike the most. That distinction went to Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miller.
“I don’t really dislike anyone in the league, but playing Reggie Miller drives me nuts. His game is all this flopping-type thing. He only weighs 185 pounds, so you have to be careful; don’t touch him, or it’s a foul. On offence, I use all of my 215 pounds and move him out, but he has his hands on you all the time. I just want to beat his hands off because it’s illegal. It irritates me.”
Miller was also regarded as one of the NBA’s premier trash talkers. Standing 6-foot-7 but weighing only 185 pounds, he knew he could never overpower Jordan physically. However, that approach wasn’t reserved solely for Jordan – Miller used similar tactics against opponents across the league.
While it earned him plenty of admiration, it also created its fair share of enemies. That was simply part of his style. He maximised every advantage available to compete at the highest level, including psychological warfare, and many respected him for it.
Michael Jordan, however, found it far less admirable.
Sports
Ibrahima Konate Reveals Impact of Diogo Jota’s Death
To put it simply, Liverpool had a very poor season in 2025/26. They finished fifth in the Premier League, having been the reigning champions, and failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals in any of the cup competitions.
As a result, head coach Arne Slot was sacked in May, and the club are looking to push forward and appoint Andoni Iraola as his replacement. However, there was one huge mitigating factor to consider when discarding the club’s disappointing campaign.
That was, of course, the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The Liverpool star was killed in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva on 3 July 2025. It sent shockwaves through the football community, and one of his teammates has now opened up on the impact it had on him.
Ibrahima Konate: ‘Diogo Jota’s Death Devastated Me’
Ibrahima Konate was a key player for the Reds in 2025/26, playing 51 games in total, only missing two Premier League games. However, his form was shaky at times, and he certainly wasn’t as consistent as he had been in the club’s title-winning campaign a year before.
It’s no surprise that his best football was not forthcoming after Jota’s death completely disrupted his summer, which should have been spent recuperating. He wasn’t the only Liverpool star to struggle either, and the Frenchman opened up on how hard it was to focus on sport after the tragic loss of his teammate. Speaking on France Inter radio station, via Daily Mail, Konate said:
“Even today it’s hard to believe. His locker was still there in the dressing room, and every day when I was going to training he was coming with us. I remember when I found out when I was in Los Angeles and I couldn’t believe it. It devastated me.
“I didn’t have any interest in anything else at that point. It was the last person anyone would have chosen this to happen to. He didn’t care about anything. He just wanted to be happy and to have a good time with his teammates and his family. He wasn’t interested in fame.
“He was my neighbour as well, so I shared a few more moments with him. It was something powerful that happened to all of us.”
Konate went on to discuss how hard it was to focus his mind on football, but felt that he owed it to Jota and his family, as well as the club’s fanbase. He added: “You go back to football because you have no choice.
“We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties. I think every fan was affected by this too, and I think all that we can do to help them is by winning games. We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There’s no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it.”
Konate Also Lost His Father During the Season
Making the season even more difficult on a personal level, the 27-year-old revealed that his father, Hamady Konate, had been struggling with his health at a similar time and then passed away in January. The French defender recalled:
“I’ve never spoken about it before, but it’s true that at the start of the season, my father was in hospital for several weeks. And actually, in my situation, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too.
“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. And this is the advice I’d give to everyone listening: when you’re feeling down or something’s going on, you need to talk to those around you. It can help you and do you good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.
“The doctors then told us he didn’t have long to live, but we didn’t know it would happen so quickly.”
He stayed available for the club for essentially the whole playing 36 times in the Premier League, only missing one game against Bournemouth on special leave for his father. Konate spoke about the toll it has taken on him, noting: TThere was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend. All of these tragic events happened so quickly and, as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened. But then I had the support of all these fans, who are exceptional at Liverpool.
“My teammates and especially my family, but I also had to learn how to get back on my feet on my own because the team needed me more than ever. And I told myself that it happens to everyone every day, and I know that my father would have wanted me to get back.”
Konate – who is now leaving Liverpool following the expiry of his contract, and looks set to join Real Madrid on a free – also spoke about how players should not be ‘ashamed’ to suffer from depression in football. He concluded: “Depression is personal; it’s deep inside you. When you’re depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that’s what’s hard, and we need to talk about it.”
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