#playoff-outlook

#playoff-outlook

The New York Islanders could be entering panic territory as the season approaches the end of October. The Isles got out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. But then, the wheels gradually came off. The Bruins scored three in the second to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. By the final buzzer, it was 5-2.

Two of their biggest stars linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle played a little more than a quarter together and that's how it will remain. Warner is out for the season with a broken and dislocated right ankle and Kittle is expected to return this week after missing five games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain. Defensive end Nick Bosa was lost with a torn ACL on Sept. 21.

It's still relatively early in the season, but at the moment, it appears as though the Patriots are back. Sunday's 25-19 win over the New Orleans Saints moved New England's record to 4-2. With a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2021 certainly seems doable. Here are 10 stats to illuminate why they are where they are at this point and where they could go from here:

It has been over a year since the last time the Philadelphia Eagles lost a football game that quarterback Jalen Hurts started and finished. The last loss Philly had where Hurts played the full game came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 29th, 2024. Since then, they are 20-1, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Washington Commanders, and Hurts only threw four passes in that game before leaving with an injury.