All articles tagged with #defense
Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon allies are pushing Sean Parnell for Army Secretary, sidelining rivals Marc Andersen and Derrick Anderson; Parnell’s combat background helps, but his lack of Pentagon experience and past controversies could complicate confirmation amid ongoing leadership shakeups in the Pentagon.
Russia is preparing final tests of a new ballistic missile with a range up to 800 km that could feature maneuverability or terminal end‑game capabilities, potentially complicating Ukraine’s air defenses; analysts say such traits would require more sophisticated interceptors and could signal a shift in Moscow’s missile program, with live‑fire testing possibly aimed at western Ukraine.
The Jets opened their season with a 23-10 win over the Titans, and while the offense impressed, the defense stole the show by swarming ball carriers, limiting big plays (the Titans had no play longer than 14 yards), forcing longer drives, and holding Cam Ward uncomfortable all day with no interceptions, as Tennessee totaled 49 plays and 4-for-12 on third down over a 21-minute possession.
The Jets defeated the Titans 23-10 on the road, powered by a dominant defensive line and a punishing offensive line that helped New York rack up 152 rushing yards and control nearly 40 minutes of possession. Geno Smith was efficient (19-of-24 for 215 yards) and the offense benefited from a sharp pass game and a key 31-yard connection to Garrett Wilson; rookie Kenyon Sadiq scored and chipped in three catches for 21 yards, while Mason Taylor struggled with negative receiving yards and a costly penalty. David Bailey recorded a sack (credited when Cam Ward stepped out of bounds) along with Will McDonald and Kingsley Enagbare also adding sacks. Kicker Jason Sanders briefly flailed with a 54-yard miss but bounced back to hit two 50+-yarders. The Titans were hampered by coaching miscues and penalties, and Jets coach Aaron Glenn earned a crucial win that could steady his job security, even as owner Woody Johnson’s criticisms of Saleh were noted.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink publicly confirmed that the Space Force has on-orbit space-control weapons and highlighted progress toward space-based interceptors, the first AMTI satellites for global aerial surveillance, and accelerated drone programs (Massed Modular Aircraft and Collaborative Combat Aircraft), signaling a faster development pace for space capabilities with limited specifics on the weapons themselves.
The Bengals outlasted the Buccaneers 33-27 in Week 1, thanks to a hungry defense that generated pressure and turnovers, including four fumbles and four sacks, while Joe Burrow shakes off preseason rust and the offense distributes targets more evenly beyond Ja’Marr Chase, signaling a more balanced, traditional attack.
The Carolina Panthers fell 59-37 to the Chicago Bears in Week 1, the highest-scoring opener in NFL history. Jaelan Phillips called the performance embarrassing but framed it as a critical moment to fix issues under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, with new additions like Phillips and Devin Lloyd expected to lift a unit that must show urgency and find solutions under coach Dave Canales.
The Dolphins’ 27-13 season-opening loss to the Raiders exposed significant issues: a vulnerable offensive line and tepid pass rush, a defensive unit lacking clear long-term building blocks, and a quarterback in Malik Willis who showed flashes but didn’t prove he’s the franchise guy. Penalties, special-teams miscues, and stalled five-half drives amplified the problems, underscoring a draft-and-develop approach and raising questions whether Willis is the chosen path or if Miami will need to target a quarterback in 2027 while building the roster through multiple drafts.
The Bengals opened the season with a stifling, revamped defense that forced four Tampa Bay fumbles (three by Baker Mayfield), highlighted by a strip-sack TD and another takeaway, and closed out a 33-27 win with clock-killing drives from the offense.
Anthropic’s new 154-page report details how Claude AI has been misused by Iran-linked actors, Houthis, China, and Russia to aid targeting, missile guidance, electronic warfare, and autonomous drones—including efforts to track US naval movements and draft weapons specifications. Despite safeguards and account bans, the report notes that misuse can be difficult to block, fueling debates over guardrails and ethics and prompting the Pentagon to scale back Claude use for classified work. The findings underscore a rapidly expanding AI-enabled military capability landscape, raising proliferation concerns and signaling a likely escalation in future conflicts.
North Carolina rolled to a 35-3 win over FCS opponent East Tennessee State, showing a stout defense that has allowed just 6.5 points per game through two contests and flashes of offensive efficiency. Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 244 yards with two touchdowns, while receivers like Jelani Thurman and C.J. Sadler contributed, signaling depth but also lingering inconsistencies and decision-making issues. Special-teams hiccups and penalties crept in, and with a trip to Clemson looming, UNC faces a quick test to shore up its offense while riding the defense’s strong start.
The Los Angeles Rams opened the 2026 season with a disappointing defensive showing against the 49ers in Australia, as Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve for at least four games, leaving the pass rush thin with Aaron Donald’s status for next week unclear. The defense recorded zero sacks and allowed multiple Brock Purdy TD passes and 174 rushing yards, prompting questions about whether the unit can rebound until Garrett—and eventually Donald—return ahead of Week 2 against the Giants.
With 1:23 left in the fourth quarter, Ohio State led Texas 23-17, but Texas faced first-and-goal at the 1. Day said he considered letting Texas score to get the ball back, but chose to play defense. OSU forced stops on first and second down, but Texas scored on a third-down play with 25 seconds left, sealing the win, and Ohio State's late drive ran out of time; Day defended trusting the defense, even as it cost the offense a chance to win.
Virginia Tech's defense shut down Old Dominion, forcing turnovers and keeping the Monarchs from sustaining drives, highlighted by Tyson Flowers' scoop-and-score and a late ball-management stand by Keon Wylie, signaling a gritty, do-it-again mindset as the Hokies move to 2-0.
The Astros are weighing moving Carlos Correa to second base when he returns from left-ankle surgery, a plan that could pair him with Jeremy Peña at short and Isaac Paredes at third while Yordan Alvarez is in left, or place Correa at third with Peña at short and Altuve at second when Alvarez serves as the designated hitter. Correa has not played second professionally, but the team believes his baseball IQ could make him viable there; Altuve’s struggles at second are part of the consideration. A late-season trial, including live BP and a potential Triple-A rehab assignment if healthy, is being eyed in Seattle and Sacramento.