Through five weeks of the 2022 season, the San Francisco 49ers have the best defense in the NFL.
The Niners have given up just 4.01 yards per play so far this year, the fewest in the league, while only they and the Dallas Cowboys have conceded fewer than 20 points in every game.
San Francisco's points totals allowed in 2022 – 19, 7, 11, 9, 15 – tell a tale of dominance, with Christian McCaffrey's rushing touchdown against the 49ers only the second the defense has conceded since giving up three in a rainstorm in their season opener to the Chicago Bears.
The 49ers' average of 12.2 points allowed is tied with that of the Buffalo Bills for the league's best. They have given up just 12 points in the first half, while no other team has conceded fewer than 35.
No defense has allowed fewer explosive plays of 10 yards or more than the 49ers (45), and San Francisco have forced a league-leading 44 negative plays from opposing offenses.
The Niners have given up four yards or more on only 42.9 per cent of first downs, the best ratio in the NFL, and they have allowed a conversion on just 30 per cent of the third-down attempts they have faced. The Tennessee Titans (27.1) and New Orleans Saints (29.9) are the only two defenses who can claim to have fared better in that regard.
Simply put, the 49ers' defense is dominating in every facet. The Niners do not give up explosive plays with regularity, excel at putting opponents behind the eight-ball by creating negative plays and limiting yardage on first down, and have little difficulty getting off the field on third down.
DeMeco Ryans' defense was already among the NFL's elite last year, but what has catapulted it to championship-calibre unit that has the potential to be the foundation of a deep San Francisco playoff run?
The perennial star of the show for the 49er defense is the front, which is teeming with depth at edge rusher and boasts several players who can thrive rushing from that position and from the interior.No team has registered more quarterback sacks than San Francisco (21) and the 49ers' 91 pressures trail only the Cowboys (95) and Philadelphia Eagles (92).
The athleticism of linebacker Fred Warner, who displays extraordinary precision in zone coverage and can run with wide receivers downfield, is also critical to San Francisco's defensive success.
Talanoa Hufanga's breakout second season has deservedly attracted substantial attention, the former fifth-round pick quickly becoming a walking highlight reel at the safety position, recording five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, one sack and two interceptions, including a game-clinching pick-six against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.
Hufanga has demanded attention with his enthralling hard-hitting and all-action brand of football, but just as crucial to the Niners and deserving of similar acclaim has been the play of cornerback Charvarius 'Mooney' Ward.
The 49ers' big-ticket free-agent acquisition in the offseason, San Francisco gave Ward a three-year, $40.5million contract with a view to him becoming the missing piece for a frequently maligned cornerback group.
Ward has unquestionably delivered to this point with his performances, combined with the emergence of Hufanga, helping transform the 49ers' secondary from an area of concern to a clear strength.
Arguably no 49er defender has done more to prevent big plays than Ward, who has been burnt – which is when a receiver wins his matchup on a play where he is targeted – on 10 of his 29 targets for a burn rate of 34.5 per cent. That is the fifth-best among corners targeted at least 20 times.
His big play rate, which tracks burns for 20 yards-plus or burns for touchdowns, of 18 per cent is 13th for his position. When wideouts have got in a position to catch the ball when going against his coverage, they have frequently seen it knocked away from them. Trevon Diggs (nine) is the sole defender to have produced more pass breakups than Ward's eight.
Through his strength in coverage and his proficiency for making plays on the ball, Ward has given the 49ers a lockdown corner they can rely on who offers a defense defined by its diversity even more flexibility.
Indeed, Ward's ability to consistently shut down wide receivers in man coverage is an asset to the Niners when they want to be more aggressive on defense, with San Francisco thriving through such an approach in the 24-9 beatdown of the Rams, in which they blitzed Matthew Stafford and an injury-hit Los Angeles offensive line on 30.4 per cent of dropbacks and were rewarded with seven sacks and 21 pressures.
Ward has also elevated the play of those around him in the cornerback room. Fellow starter Emmanuel Moseley has the third-best burn rate (31.8 per cent) among cornerbacks and nickel Deommodore Lenoir has given up a big play on 15 per cent of his targets, a rate bettered by just four corners.
The 49ers will now have to do some reshuffling in the secondary, however, after Moseley saw his season ended by a torn ACL suffered in Sunday's 37-15 rout of the Carolina Panthers.
Moseley's injury will mean either Lenoir shifting to the outside or one of Jason Verrett, Ambry Thomas or rookie Samuel Womack taking over at the spot across from Ward.
Without Moseley, the opposite side of the field to Ward may be viewed as a potential vulnerability in a defense that has presented none this campaign.
But San Francisco's defensive backfield is better equipped to deal with a serious injury than it was a year ago. The 49ers' misfortune may have robbed them of the top-tier starting cornerback duo Ward and Moseley looked like becoming, but their astute investment in the former has ensured the Niners' secondary is now one opposing offenses have significantly less hope of succeeding against.
Seeds Ana Bogdan and Marta Kostyuk crashed out of the Transylvania Open in the first round.
Home hope Bogdan, seeded third in Cluj-Napoca, was beaten in straight sets by Jule Niemeier, who showed the quality that helped her reach the last eight of Wimbledon in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win.
Ukrainian Kostyuk, meanwhile, lost in three sets to Jasmine Paolini.
The sixth seed took a tight first set but Paolini broke Kostyuk five times thereafter en route to a 5-7 6-3 6-4 triumph.
Eighth seed Anna Bondar enjoyed a better day, prevailing 6-4 6-2 over Elina Avanesyan, while there were also wins for Dayana Yastremska, Anna Blinkova and Ysaline Bonaventure.
Thiago Silva says his story is "already done" at Milan but the Chelsea defender suggested he could return to his former club as a coach ahead of the pair's Champions League clash.
The Premier League side and Serie A champions will meet at San Siro just under a week on from their reverse encounter at Stamford Bridge, where the Brazil international played his part in a 3-0 win for the Blues.
Silva previously spent three seasons between 2009 and 2012 with the Rossoneri, winning a Scudetto, before making the move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he cemented himself as one of European football's best centre-backs.
Champions League glory since a switch to Chelsea has vindicated the veteran's move away from PSG, and Silva has now revealed that a failed chance to return to Milan before heading to Stamford Bridge has closed the book on his time there.
"My passage [in Milan] is already done," he stated. "My story is already written. The opportunity to come here came before [I joined] Chelsea, but it didn't happen."
With that said, Silva acknowledged he could return once hanging up his boots, adding: "I don't think I can return to Milan [as a player]. [But] in the future, as a coach? Maybe.
"I am very happy, very excited to be back [in San Siro]. Everything I have been through with this great club, it comes to mind. [During the game] it will be even more so."
Having penned a one-year extension in January to take him through the end of the 2022-23 campaign, questions over Silva's long-term future at Stamford Bridge are starting to rear their head again.
Boss Graham Potter, who has been effusive in his praise of Silva's comradeship within the squad, says the choice to stay is in the defender's hands, though the latter was hesitant to set a timetable on any commitment.
"It is probably not the right time to talk about contracts," he added. "What I can tell you is, for me, it is important to continue playing at the highest level and help the team achieve the highest possible results.
"The time will come to talk, and it could be time before or after the [Qatar 2022] World Cup. I need to decide my contract for my family arrangements and it is not easy. We will see what will happen."
Tyson Fury's promoter Frank Warren revealed the 'Gypsy King' is set to face Derek Chisora for a third time in December after talks over a bout with Anthony Joshua broke down.
Fury U-turned on a decision to retire following April's win over Dillian Whyte and appeared set to meet Joshua after offering him the chance for a WBC heavyweight championship fight last month.
Warren said that fight was "90 per cent" finalised in mid-September, but talks have since broken down, with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn declaring he would not "play a game" with Fury last week.
With Oleksandr Usyk prepared to wait until 2023 for his next fight, Fury now appears set for a trilogy bout with Chisora, whom he defeated in July 2011 and November 2014.
Asked about the breakdown in talks with Joshua's camp, Warren told iFL TV: "Obviously that caused a big problem, it went on for three or four weeks and we've been struggling to get an opponent.
"We've got the highest-ranked opponent now, which is Derek Chisora. That's where we'll be going and that will be on December 3.
"What it's all about is, Tyson will have had one fight in one year, and we were expecting the fight in December would be Usyk, but Usyk wasn't available.
"Now that looks like – I hope – going on at some time in February, so Tyson wants a fight before then and wants to get out, that's where we're at. If he fights Chisora and comes through that, then he's got the big one.
"Tyson's head and shoulders above them all anyway. Derek might give him more of a fight than Anthony Joshua – I'm not being disrespectful, I just think he [AJ] is more vulnerable."
While the fight is yet to be formally agreed, Fury has long desired another meeting with Chisora, saying in August: "I'd always said I'd fight Derek Chisora at the end of my career, and here we are, breaking all records again, setting precedents."
Dominic Thiem produced a dominant display to cruise past Joao Sousa in the duo's first-round clash at the Gijon Open, only dropping two games for just the second time in his career.
The 2020 US Open winner did not face a single break point in his one-sided 6-2 6-0 victory on Monday, reaching the last 16 after 62 minutes.
It is just the second time in the Austrian's career he has lost as few as two games in a completed ATP-level match, having previously done so against Jaroslav Pospisil in 2013 (in a 6-1 6-1 win).
"Especially with the forehand, it was really good for basically the first time [since my injury]," Thiem said afterwards. "I'm very happy about it. This way is right, the direction is right."
Meanwhile, Argentina's Sebastian Baez was forced to retire when a set down to France's Constant Lestienne, and fifth seed Tommy Paul eased past 16-year-old home hope Martin Landaluce in straight sets.
Only one seed was in action at the Firenze Open on Monday, with Aslan Karatsev advancing courtesy of a walkover following an injury to Tallon Griekspoor.
Thiago Silva is a "joy" to coach, says Chelsea boss Graham Potter, as the Brazil captain eyes a return to action against former club Milan in the Champions League this week.
The experienced defender missed the Blues' Premier League clash with Wolves on Saturday after suffering from a cold, but was on press duty at San Siro ahead of Tuesday's encounter.
Silva spent three years at Milan between 2009 and 2012, where he was a Serie A winner, before going on to achieve domestic success with Paris Saint-Germain and European glory with Chelsea.
Potter declared the 38-year-old's return from a brief absence was a major boost, hailing him as a model professional on and off the pitch.
"Thiago was [fine] when we played Milan [last Wednesday], but he just got a little worse as the week went on," Potter stated on Silva's earlier absence. "It made no sense to play him again.
"But he has recovered well, and he's been incredibly impressive on and off the pitch.
"As a leader, he's a top professional, and a top person. He's been a joy to work with."
Potter will be without N'Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech for Tuesday's encounter, however, with the former battling a hamstring injury and the latter feeling under the weather.
"It is not ideal, and certainly disappointing for both him and for us," Potter said of Kante's condition.
"So we have to wait and see the extent and then go from there. Hakim has a sore throat and that is why he has not travelled."
Stefano Pioli is adamant Milan possess the quality to compete with Chelsea in Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash at San Siro.
While the Rossoneri are going well on the domestic front, sitting three points behind Serie A leaders Napoli after Saturday's 2-0 win over Juventus, they have struggled on the European stage this term.
Milan suffered their heaviest Champions League group-stage defeat when they lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, leaving them third in Group E after three games.
The Italian giants have also lost four of their last five games at home to English teams in the Champions League (W1), and are winless in their last five European meetings with Chelsea (D3 L2).
However, Pioli is confident they can test the Blues this time around, saying: "It is the identity and the quality with which you play the game that can make the difference.
"Tomorrow we face a team that just over a year ago won the Champions League, which has strengthened itself, which has international level players, so it is clear that our level will have to be high if we want to compete and try to win the game.
"I believe that my players have the qualities to stay at that level, as long as we can play a game of attention, determination, trying to be as precise as possible because, in addition to their qualities, Chelsea have been able to make the most of our mistakes.
"The fact that we played against them only a week ago helps us, in the sense that we were able to analyse the game well. I expect an improvement in dynamism, in personality."
Graham Potter is yet to lose a game as Chelsea head coach since replacing Thomas Tuchel last month, recording three wins and one draw with the Blues, but Pioli hopes Milan's home advantage could prove decisive.
"It seems to me that at this moment they, with the new coach, have found certain positions on the pitch that are giving them very good results," Pioli added.
"I don't think there is a warmer stadium than ours right now. We have fans who really push and support us and we feel it. Of course, I hope to be able to bring this to the pitch."
Pep Guardiola credited Erling Haaland for his rapid adaptation to Manchester City's style of play, claiming the Norwegian has become more involved in their build-up in recent weeks.
Haaland has scored 20 goals in just 13 appearances for City since his move from Borussia Dortmund, including five in three Champions League outings.
The Norwegian hit a brace in a 5-0 home victory over Copenhagen in the competition last week and will likely play a central role when City look to confirm their place in the knockout stages by winning Tuesday's return fixture in Denmark.
Speaking on the eve of that game, Guardiola compared Haaland's recent displays to his first few outings with City, hailing the 22-year-old for improving his all-round contribution.
Asked how Haaland had adapted to City's style, Guardiola said: "If this happened, it works so far. Of course, we adapt a little bit, he adapts… we got to know each other on and off the pitch.
"But he settled perfectly and quickly because he's a nice guy, he understands things quickly. We know we have an incredible threat with him, and at the same time he knows what he has to do. When this happens, situations come easily.
"He's absolutely one of the best, no doubt about that. I had many strikers, they were all very, very good and Erling is one of them. The numbers speak for themselves.
"At an early age, how many goals he has in the Champions League, in Norway, Austria, Germany and now England… I speak a lot about him, but sometimes I should not say anything and just look at the numbers, it would be enough.
"Against Bournemouth [in August], I remember he was not involved much in the game, now he's much, much more involved, not just to score the goals.
"We know when he arrives in the final third or the box, he has a special instinct to know where the ball is going to finish and put it in the net. That's why he's an exceptional striker."
Haaland has scored a remarkable 28 goals in 22 Champions League games during his career. His next goal in the competition will see him equal the tallies of David Trezeguet (in 58 appearances) and Patrick Kluivert (71 appearances).
The striker will be one of few elite players to get a prolonged break during the middle of the season, with Norway having failed to qualify for the World Cup.
However, Guardiola says the tournament will not influence any decision to rest Haaland in the future, adding: "No, I don't think about selection thinking about the World Cup.
"The national trainers will decide how to handle the players when they get there. They don't think about us, we don't think about them.
"[On Tuesday], I'm going to decide the selection. I have to speak with the players, the doctors and physios, and decide what's best. We'll see."
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expects goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to return from injury in time for Sunday's Clasico clash with Barcelona.
Madrid ruled Courtois out for an undetermined period at the start of the month when they revealed he was suffering from sciatica.
That came shortly after the most recent international window, meaning Courtois has not played for Madrid since the 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid on September 18.
He has missed three games in all competitions and will also be absent when Madrid go to Warsaw to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.
But crucially, Ancelotti's first-choice goalkeeper is predicted to be ready for Sunday's top-of-the-table duel with Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Courtois is much better," Ancelotti said on Monday.
"The plan is for him to start training on Thursday and be ready for Sunday. We have spoken with him and he is much better."
While Courtois will not feature in Poland, Karim Benzema is set to start.
The Frenchman was out for three weeks after sustaining a thigh injury in the Champions League win over Celtic last month before returning in the 1-1 draw with Osasuna on October 2.
Ancelotti acknowledged prior to the 1-0 weekend win over Getafe that Benzema was "a bit tired" and proceeded to leave him out for the short trip, but he will be back on Tuesday.
"Karim is fine and it's clear that tomorrow he starts, with [Toni] Kroos and [Ferland] Mendy, who are fresh and are going to play," Ancelotti said.
But Vinicius Junior, who has started all of Madrid's 12 games in all competitions this season, could be due a rest.
"Vini is one of the players that I have to evaluate because he has played everything before this trip. We have to evaluate him."
Red Bull have reacted with "surprise and disappointment" after the FIA found the team to be in breach of Formula One's budget cap regulations for the 2021 season.
One day after Max Verstappen claimed his second world title at the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA announced Red Bull were guilty of a "minor" breach of the rules in his first championship-winning campaign.
Monday's FIA ruling was not accompanied by any punishment for the team, with the governing body stating they are "determining the appropriate course of action".
Although Red Bull – who currently hold a 165-point lead over Ferrari at the top of the constructors' standings – are unlikely to face serious sanctions, the team remain confident in their submitted financial reports.
A statement released by Red Bull read: "We note the findings by the FIA of 'minor overspend breaches of the financial regulations' with surprise and disappointment.
"Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit, so we need to carefully review the FIA's findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount.
"Despite the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA, which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was bullish in response to accusations Red Bull had overspent last month, declaring the team were "absolutely confident" they had not fallen foul of the regulations.
Fellow constructor Aston Martin, who were also thought to have breached the cap, were found to have merely made a "procedural" error in their reports.
Lionel Messi will miss Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Benfica on Tuesday, but head coach Christophe Galtier expects the forward to return for next weekend's game with Marseille.
The Argentina international missed out on his side's ill-tempered Ligue 1 match with Reims over the weekend with a calf injury, and was forced to watch from the sidelines as they played out a goalless draw.
Hopes that the 35-year-old might return in time for the crucial European clash with their Portuguese visitors have been dashed now, too, with Messi set to miss out again.
But while Galtier confirmed he would be an expected absentee, he suggested that the attacker is close to a return to action, and could well feature in Le Classique on October 16.
"Messi felt discomfort in his calf during the first game against Benfica," he stated. "He thought he could take part in tomorrow's game, but in the end, he would be limited.
"He is better, but he still has an unpleasant feeling. He preferred to abstain. We will watch his recovery, but it is very likely that he will be present against Marseille."
Galtier acknowledged losing Messi is a blow, with the Argentinian having rediscovered his form after a difficult first season with PSG following his exit from Barcelona, having scored five goals and added seven assists in Ligue 1 this term.
"We know the importance of Leo to our game, his form and the connection he can have with the other players," Galtier added. "We cannot be happy with his absence.
"But we will have to find other solutions and other connections where we can bring danger to the Benfica defence."
Red Bull have been found to be in breach of Formula One's budget cap regulations for the 2021 campaign, the FIA has confirmed.
However, no punishment has yet been handed down to the constructor for their offense, with the governing body stating they are "currently determining the appropriate course of action".
A day after Max Verstappen took his second drivers' championship crown at an incident-strewn Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA revealed the Dutchman's team broke financial regulations during his first title-winning season last year.
The 25-year-old is unlikely to face serious sanctions, though, with the breach under five per cent, meaning it is considered "minor" and is likely to carry less severe penalties.
Fellow constructor Aston Martin, also thought to have potentially breached the cap, have been found to have merely made only a "procedural" mistake in their financial report.
"The FIA Cost Cap Administration is currently determining the appropriate course of action to be taken under the Financial Regulations with respect to Aston Martin and Red Bull," said a statement on Monday.
"Further information will be communicated in compliance with the regulations."
Calls from Ferrari and Mercedes for Red Bull to face harsh sanctions if found in breach are only likely to increase over the close of the season, presenting F1 with more off-track drama after last year's denouement.
The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule on Monday, one day after a 37-15 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers dropped the team to 1-4 this season.
Carolina hired Rhule in January 2020 after he led Baylor University to an 11-3 record in 2019 and earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honours.
The Panthers signed Rhule to a seven-year contract worth a guaranteed $62million, but the team went 5-11 in 2020 and 5-12 last year before opening with four losses in their first five games this season.
That 11-27 record is the fifth-worst in the NFL since the beginning of the 2020 campaign.
Defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Steve Wilks has been named Carolina's interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Wilks went 3-13 in 2018 with the Arizona Cardinals in his only previous head coaching experience in the NFL.
Defending Super Bowl champions the Los Angeles Rams will host the Panthers in Wilks' first game at the helm with Carolina facing problems at quarterback.
Starting QB Baker Mayfield has confirmed he will undergo an MRI after injuring his left ankle in the 49ers loss.
With 2021 starter Sam Darnold still on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain, P.J. Walker would presumably start at quarterback should Mayfield be forced to miss the Week 6 game.
Jalen Hurts felt he let the Philadelphia Eagles down on Sunday despite helping them maintain their unbeaten start to the season against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Eagles improved to 5-0 on Sunday with a 20-17 win in Arizona as Cardinals kicker Matt Ammendola hit a game-tying field goal attempt wide right, wasting the opportunity to send the contest to overtime.
Hurts, though, was disappointed he gave the Cardinals the chance to force an extra period with a kick, having thrown an incomplete pass to Quez Watkins on third down from the Arizona five-yard line with the score tied at 17-17, leaving the Eagles to settle for a field goal at the end of a 17-play drive that lasted nearly eight minutes.
For Hurts, it was a significant blemish on a game in which he was otherwise very accurate. Hurts completed 72 per cent of his passes and, per Stats Perform data, delivered an accurate, well-thrown ball on 91.2 per cent of his attempts. He also rushed for the Eagles' only two touchdowns.
"As a competitor when you have the ball in your hands at the end of the game, you want to take advantage of it and not give the opposition the opportunity to win the game, tie the game, whatever it is," said Hurts.
"I don't look at anybody else but myself. I look in the mirror and I look at myself and I ask myself, 'What could I have done more to not put the team in this position toward the end of the game? How could I have gotten us in the end zone?'
"What could I have done more to put us in a better position? I feel like in many ways, I feel like I let them down.
"Just with opportunities we didn't take advantage of and the ball touching my hands every play. Those are the mixed emotions I have.
"The worst feeling is when we walked off the field, when I walked off the field even toward the end of the game, we kicked a field goal.
"[Eagles kicker Cameron] Dicker made a great play and put this team in a great position, but there's nothing that I can do.
"I can't control what their kicker does. He missed it. Our kicker made ours. I can't control that, but I can control what we do in the second quarter, in the first quarter, when I have the ball in my hands. I can do that.
"I don't like putting the team in the position where their kicker has the opportunity to tie or win the game, or our defense is on the field.
"If I can control it, I want to take advantage of that. That’s just my competitive nature with it."
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