The matchup between Watson and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes pitted two of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks against each other and it made for an exciting matchup featuring — you guessed it — some big throws and big carries. But ultimately Watson and company came away with a 31-24 win at Arrowhead Stadium. Thanks, in part, to 21 unanswered points from the Texans in the second quarter. Watson continued to roll and helped put Houston ahead for good with a short one-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth....

Here is a look at Week 8’s Bullet Points from Omnisport’s data-driven Stats Perform colleagues. (If you like what’s served up see here, check out @StatsbySTATS each Sunday on Twitter.) THURSDAY (All Times Eastern) Redskins (1-6) at Vikings (5-2), 8:20 p.m. (NFL) The Redskins are allowing 134. 4 rush yards per game, second most in the NFC behind only the Lions (148. 9). The Vikings are running the ball on 52....

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has Newton listed on its props board for 40.5 rushing yards, and we’re taking the OVER. While the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and 49ers’ Collin Kaepernick have their own differences and similarities to Newton, it’s worth noting that both of those quarterbacks rushed for over 40.5 yards in each of their matchups against the Cardinals this season. Newton did not run as frequently as he did in years past (partially due to injuries), but he’s averaged 61....

Bitcoin and NFTs have value despite their apparent detachment from the real world simply because someone is willing to buy them. But an NFT is bound by intellectual property law and doesn’t float above what some see as mundane market concerns. “People think traditional law doesn’t apply to the blockchain, but that is not the case,” Anita K. Sharma, an entertainment attorney and managing partner of Sharma Law in Brooklyn, New York, told Newsweek....

The New York Post reported late Tuesday the NHL is coordinating a sale of the franchise to billionaire William Foley, who would move it to Las Vegas in time for the 2016-17 season. MORE: BOG puts NHL on expansion course | Pronger traded to Coyotes days before Hall election NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in a word, called the report “garbage.” “The Post was told the story was completely untrue,” Bettman told Fox Sports Arizona less than an hour after the report surfaced....

The NHL started handing out its 2019-20 awards on Sept. 6, although we knew a few winners beforehand: Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak co-won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy with 48 goals during the regular season. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who later added the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award to his trophy case, won the Art Ross Trophy with an NHL-best 110 points. The Bruins goalie tandem of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak snagged the 2020 William M....

After the Oilers made their expected selection of Connor McDavid at No. 1 on Friday night, the Sabres selected Eichel at No. 2. MORE: Follow the NHL Draft live | Jack Eichel stats, info, highlights Eichel was the best player in college hockey last year, leading the Terriers to the Frozen Four and winning the Hobey Baker Award . The 18-year-old was just the second freshman to win the award in its 35-year history, joining 1993 winner Paul Kariya....

Drafted by the New York Rangers in 1984, Kjell Samuelsson appeared in 813 NHL games with the Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Lightning, registering 186 points and 1,225 penalty minutes over his 14-year career. Now his youngest son, Mattias, hopes to follow in dad’s footsteps. The six-foot-three, 217-pounder – a defenseman, like his father – is expected to hear his name called late in the first round or early in the second round at next week’s NHL Draft in Dallas....

And they got a stud winger in Kaapo Kakko after the Devils took United States National Team Development Program player Jack Hughes at No. 1. There was a debate as to whether Kakko had actually passed up Hughes as the top prospect in the draft as the winger had a wonderful second half of the season and scored five goals in his first two games at the IIHF World Championships in May....

With most junior leagues around North America underway, draft season is officially upon us. Diehards will be treated to plenty of storylines over the course of the next nine months — and there is certainly no shortage of them. Just like there is no shortage of talent in the 2022 NHL Draft class. FCHockey breaks down the 10 prospects you’ll want to keep tabs on throughout the season (in alphabetical order)....

All of this was on top of the stress of living, let alone playing hockey, in the global pandemic. But we’re here. The opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft is now quickly approaching and is set for June 23. 2021 NHL DRAFT: FCHockey’s full 300-player ranking In the scouting world, it’s been difficult at times to adjust. From losing the majority of in-person views at rinks to not being able to see some NHL Draft eligibles at all or only getting a few games in of others....

Not to be the sappy one, but every player that was called was a winner. Every family that had their son’s name called was filled with winners and every organization that was able to improve their club with their draft pick was also, you guessed it, a winner. But there were certain teams and players that stood out during Day 1, there were some clubs and prospects that didn’t do as well....

We’ve already seen some players sign extensions ahead of their 2023 free agency. The Avalanche and Nathan MacKinnon agreed to a monster eight-year, $100.8 million deal that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The Senators extended two of their young players in Josh Norris and Tim Stutzle, as well as the Blues with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. But there are still plenty of names out there who are heading into the 2022-23 season on the final year of their contract....

Folks, the bracket is set. We’ve got some doozies in both the Eastern and Western Conference tournaments, too. The Sporting News NHL crew has full series breakdowns for all eight first-round tangles, so make sure you check those out and get ready for the opening round, which begins Wednesday night. I, for one, am legitimately stoked for a first round that’s chock full of intriguing stories. One that’s come up frequently in discussion with friends is, “Can Vegas win the Stanley Cup?...

As of the All-Star break, three of the four division winners from 2016-17 (Canadiens, Blackhawks and Ducks) sat outside the Stanley Cup playoff picture. They’ve been replaced by the Lightning, Jets and Golden Knights, respectively — none of whom made the postseason a year ago. The latter had yet to exist as a franchise. MORE: Stanley Cup betting odds There’s some year-over-year turnover every season, to be sure. But effects of the salary cap have never been more prevalent, causing the balance of power to shift slightly....

Backstrom left midway through the third period during the Capitals 6-3 Game 5 victory on Saturday and did not return. It was later announced that the 30-year-old sustained an upper-body injury and that no further updates were available. Alex Ovechkin fully expected his teammate to be on the ice Monday night despite Backstrom’s absence from the morning skate. “I think he’s in. We’ll see.” However, the injury to Backstrom’s hand proved to be too much to bear....

It’s difficult to contend two years in a row, and, as Nashville learned through first-hand experience, a lengthy playoff run requires consistent excellence that few teams are capable of producing. It requires a lot of luck, too, as no matter how much talent a club has, it is always at the mercy of bounces and injuries. Indeed, returning to the Final, and bringing a championship parade to Broadway, will be an uphill battle....

With 16:27 left in the first overtime period, Marchand was matched up with Cam Atkinson as the two awaited a faceoff. As the two stood to watch Patrice Bergeron and Matt Duchene fight for the puck, Marchand could be seen stomping on the ice. After the puck wasn’t dropped, Atkinson could be seen looking at his stick in frustration. That’s because Marchand appeared to break Atkinson’s stick on the play....

The Jets’ captain hadn’t scored since March 14, but on Friday night Wheeler finally got himself back on the scoresheet with Winnipeg’s opening goal in a 4-3 Game 2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. It was also Wheeler’s first point of the playoffs; the 32-year-old had no goals or assists in 17:03 of ice time in Game 1, a 2-1 St. Louis victory on Wednesday. MORE: NHL playoff scores, TV schedule, live updates...