Welcome back to Scoop City! James Palmer and The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini are breaking down the midseason stretch of the NFL heading into Week 9 — including which teams are surging, who’s slipping, and what’s still to come at the trade deadline.
As the NFL trade deadline nears, Palmer and Russini dive into the biggest questions around the league, including why big-name players like A.J. Brown and Chris Olave aren't likely to move, which front offices are actually taking calls, and how Week 9 results could change a team's outlook.
James and Dianna also take a closer look at the Vikings' quarterback situation with J.J. McCarthy returning under center this week against the Lions. What does Carson Wentz’s season-ending surgery mean for McCarthy and Minnesota's chances of making the playoffs?
Then, it’s time for some Scoop Superlatives: their midseason awards, high-school yearbook style. From \"Most Unexpected Glow-Up\" and \"Best Couple\" to \"Most Popular,\" James and Dianna dole out their picks at the season's halfway mark.
Finally, Chris Branch, author of The Pulse newsletter, drops in with two questions fans are debating this week: Should NFL overtimes end in a tie or continue until there’s a winner? And is it more likely the Ravens clinch a playoff berth in 2025 or John Harbaugh is fired after 18 seasons at the helm in Baltimore?
Don’t miss this episode of Scoop City — your insider pass to the NFL.