Sports
NFL Week 5: How low can Patriots-Dolphins go?
Sep 30, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins punter Jake Bailey (16) punts against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images If sportsbooks offer the option to bet on punts over points in Week 5, action would be hot and heavy in a pair of NFL games where touchdowns are far from expected.
AFC East rivals huddle in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday with the Dolphins (1-3) and Patriots (1-3) drawing heavy action betting the under, which is set at 35.5. If that number sounds preposterously low, it’s because 35.5 is tied for the lowest total this season with another Week 5 game, Raiders at Broncos.
After the Dolphins finished second in the NFL in scoring at 29.2 per game last season, not many expected Miami’s scoring machine to be muted to this extent.
But it’s possible Miami will utilize a third starting quarterback in five games with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), Skylar Thompson (ribs) and Tyler Huntley (96 passing yards Monday vs. Tennessee) not looking like the right answer for head coach Mike McDaniel.
Miami is the NFL’s only team with an 0-4 record against the spread.
As of Wednesday morning, BetMGM counted 75 percent of bets and 82 percent of money on the under (35.5) in Patriots-Dolphins. There’s more action on the over in Raiders-Broncos.
Taking the over on the Dolphins is 1-3 this season, missing by an average of 7.6 points. Miami’s once high-octane offense has four touchdowns in four games and ranks 32nd in the NFL in scoring.
New England is No. 31 — 52 total points to Miami’s 45 — and also has four total TDs in four games.
Miami snapped a streak of 10 quarters without a touchdown on Huntley’s TD run in the fourth quarter on Monday.
The Patriots have one touchdown in the past eight quarters, losses to the 49ers and Jets, in which New England had 16 total points.
In what sets up as a rock fight on Sunday, the names to know aren’t Jacoby Brissett and Huntley. But Bryce Baringer and Jake Bailey.
Baringer has punted 20 times for the Patriots and averages 51.7 yards per attempt. Bailey is at 47.6 yards per punt with only one trickling into the end zone. Baringer has 13 downed inside the 20 and at least three in all four games this season, assuring the Dolphins a long field to work with on multiple possessions.
Barring a big surprise, Sunday sets up as punter appreciation day and prime viewing for under plays.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves activate OF Ronald Acuna Jr. from injured list
Jul 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) during batting practice before a game against the New York Mets at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves reinstated star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener against the host New York Mets.
The five-time All-Star is batting .251 with seven homers, 22 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 53 games during an injury-plagued campaign.
Acuna, 28, has not played with the Braves since June 9 due to a left hamstring strain, the same injury that kept him out for more than two weeks in May.
The 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is a career .287 hitter with 193 homers, 481 RBIs and 220 steals in 870 games since making his debut with Atlanta in 2018.
The Braves optioned outfielder Brewer Hicklen, 30, to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. He batted .368 (7-for-19) with four doubles and three RBIs in eight games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nashville SC acquire Senegalese M Famara Camara
Sep 18, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; General view of the MLS PRO logo on the side of a match ball in the match between Nashville SC and Chicago Fire at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Casey Gower-Imagn Images Nashville SC acquired midfielder Famara Camara from Norwegian side Ranheim Fotball on Monday.
The 21-year-old Senegal native is signed through June 2029 with an option through June 2030. He will occupy an international roster slot.
Camara recorded one goal and two assists in 39 appearances across all competitions with Ranheim from 2025-26.
Locking down the midfield for the long haul ?? pic.twitter.com/n1rsC6J2Ab
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 27, 2026
“Famara is a talented midfielder who has the ability to impact games on both sides of the ball,” Nashville president of soccer operations and general manager Mike Jacobs said. “He will join a talented midfield corps here in Nashville and complement that group really well.”
Midway through the season, Nashville (12-2-3) leads the MLS Supporters’ Shield race with 39 points.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: NBA to max out LeBron James, 76ers' national TV games
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Fans itching to watch LeBron James play in his new Philadelphia uniform should get plenty of opportunities this season as the 76ers are expected to get the NBA’s maximum of 34 national game telecasts/streams, Front Office Sports reported Monday.
That would more than double the 14 national games the Sixers were featured in last season, when the team led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey finished in a disappointing seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 45-37.
Now that the 41-year-old James has signed a two-year, $8 million contract to play in Philly, viewers can expect to see him featured prominently during tentpole league events like opening week and Christmas Day’s five-game slate.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on July 16 he was awaiting James’ decision before finalizing the schedule for the telecasts/streams across Disney’s ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports/Peacock, and Amazon’s Prime Video. The league receives input from these partners before making the final schedule.
Four teams received the maximum 34 national games last season: the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, who play in the league’s biggest market; the Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 2 market; the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder; and four-time champion Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.
–Field Level Media
Braves activate OF Ronald Acuna Jr. from injured list
Nashville SC acquire Senegalese M Famara Camara
