N.F.L. Roundup

Cowboys Release Michael Sam From Practice Squad

By LYNN ZINSER and BEN SHPIGEL

LM Otero/Associated Press

Michael Sam was signed to Dallas's 10-man practice squad on Sept. 3. Sam was drafted in the seventh round by the Rams but was cut during training camp.

Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted by an N.F.L. team, spent seven weeks on the Cowboys’ practice squad after being released in training camp by the Rams.

Analysis

Stedman Bailey, second from right, racing toward a second-quarter touchdown on a punt-return fake that helped the Rams defeat the Seahawks on Sunday.

Seahawks Are Laboring With Targets on Their Backs

By CHASE STUART

Seattle, the N.F.L.'s defending champion, is in danger of missing the postseason after the Rams used two trick plays to win on Sunday.

N.F.L. Roundup

Le’Veon Bell became the first player in Pittsburgh's history to top 100 yards of total offense in each of the team’s first seven games.

Steelers Overcome Texans With 21 Points in 73 Seconds

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pittsburgh spotted Houston a 13-0 lead only to score 24 points in a frantic final 3 minutes 8 seconds of the first half.

Receiver Percy Harvin, right, working out for the first time with the Jets on Monday. “I’m moving forward,” he said. “I’m learning from those lessons” of the past.

Jets Welcome Percy Harvin’s Potential and Hope His Personality Will Fit In

By BEN SHPIGEL

Harvin, a former Seahawks wide receiver, arrived with baggage, but if he can live up to his vast potential, the Jets’ acquiring him will be a “coup,” General Manager John Idzik said.

The rookie running back Andre Williams, called upon to carry a bigger load, sputtered at key moments on Sunday.

Needing to Replenish, Giants Finally Catch a Break

By TOM PEDULLA

Members of the Giants could almost be heard exhaling as they looked forward to a bye week they hope will restore battered bodies and weary minds.

Washington quarterback Colt McCoy completed 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a score.

The Best of Week 7 in the N.F.L.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS and BENJAMIN HOFFMAN

The top performers and key injuries this week in the N.F.L.

Sports of The Times

Tony Romo was 17 of 23 for 279 yards, with one turnover.

In Dallas, Sidestepping Peril Off the Field, Too

By MICHAEL POWELL

Running back DeMarco Murray slipped out of trouble again and again in a win over the Giants, perhaps taking cues from Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner.

Roger Goodell speaking last month of NFL Now, a mobile service that streams personalized reports from around the league.

N.F.L. Stands by Its Push to Connect to Fans Digitally

By KEN BELSON

NFL Now, a mobile video service, provides game highlights, updates and news reports directly to fans and competes with TV and cable networks.

Cowboys 31, Giants 21

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) after DeMarco Murray’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers Catch Up to Giants as Cowboys Break Away

By BILL PENNINGTON

The Giants, embarrassed last week, showed a renewed sense of vitality and proficiency, but the Cowboys scored two second-half touchdowns to escape with a hard-earned victory.

N.F.L. Roundup

Peyton Manning tied and broke the career touchdown pass record Sunday night in Denver. He now has 510. Brett Favre had 508.

Peyton Manning Sets Career Touchdown Record in Denver Broncos Win

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Peyton Manning went into the showdown two touchdowns shy of Brett Favre’s record of 508 and threw four touchdown passes, giving him 510.

Jets Confirm Deal for Harvin

By BEN SHPIGEL

The Jets made their trade for Percy Harvin official, announcing that they had released the veteran receiver David Nelson to clear roster space.

More Pro Football News

Fantasy Football

Denard Robinson’s 5.5 yards per carry over the past two weeks rank fourth among all running backs who have played over 50 percent of their team’s snaps during that span.

Fantasy Football: Week 8 Waiver Wire Picks

By NICK RADUCANU

Running backs Denard Robinson, Tre Mason and Bryce Brown are the top pickups this week.

Graphic: Fantasy Football: 2014 Matchup Analysis, Wide Receiver (WR1)

This chart indicates what kind of fantasy matchup a team’s top receiver, or WR1, will have.

The chart shows the top 4 tiers of the defense/special teams rankings for Week 6. To view the charts for all positions, click here.

Graphic: Fantasy Football: Tiered Player Ranking Charts

By BORIS CHEN

Charts resulting from a statistical algorithm find natural tiers and clusters within fantasy football player ranking data.

Editors' Picks

The Brooklyn Bolts, who played Wednesday, are part of the Fall Experimental Football League.

Latest Fledgling League Gives Players Another Run at the N.F.L.

By MATT KRUPNICK

The Brooklyn Bolts are one of four teams in the Fall Experimental Football League, which hopes to avoid mistakes of past minor league football leagues by keeping costs down while avoiding serious injuries.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, and running back Rashad Jennings at their lockers, next to those of linebacker Jon Beason and safety Antrel Rolle.

In the Giants’ Locker Room, Leadership Sits All in a Row

By BILL PENNINGTON

Four side-by-side lockers in one corner of the Giants’ locker room have emerged as a distinct power corridor, a kind of leadership command center for a team with more than 20 new players.

TV Sports

Jon Gruden, at Browns camp last month, is in his sixth season with “Monday Night Football.”

As an Analyst, Jon Gruden Needs a Lot of Coaching

By RICHARD SANDOMIR

Gruden, in his sixth season with “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, had a head-scratching performance during the Jets-Bears game.

Heartsick City Imports Hope

By KEN BELSON

Johnny Manziel has spurred ticket and merchandise sales as well as hopes that the Browns may someday win a championship, something that hasn’t happened since 1964.

Jets’ Big-Time Receiver Nourished by Small-Town Roots 12:44 PMNYT Now
Giants Embarking on a New Path 1:52 PMNYT Now

Retro Report

Manning or Leaf? A Lesson in Intangibles

By CLYDE HABERMAN

The wildly divergent paths of the top two picks in the 1998 N.F.L. draft have become shorthand for the frustrating process of identifying character traits that lead to success.