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Anker521
Game Updates

This Anker 521 Portable Power Station Dips Below Prime Day Pricing, Likely a Clearance Move

by admin


Have you seen this guy on TikTok playing games in the most serene places imaginable? The Scenic Gamer travels all over playing games with iconic locations while he is set up in their real-life counterparts (or the closest thing he can find to it). He’s slaying The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker at the beach and Firewatch in the center of Yellowstone National Park — all on an old Toshiba CRT. Dude’s living the dream. But how’s he managing to power that TV and Nintendo GameCube without an outlet for miles? If you want to follow in his footsteps, you’ll need portable power station such as the Anker 521. The mini generator is normally listed at $200, but for a limited time you can get it for 20% off. That brings the price down by $40 so you only have to pay $160.

See at Amazon

The Anker 521 portable power station comes equipped with six different ports to supply you with all your power needs when out in the wild. Along the front of the unit, you’ll find two AC ports, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a car outlet. You can recharge or power up to six devices at once.

The power station is capable of fast, reliable charging. The Anker 521 can keep a 40W mini fridge running for over five hours. Keep a fan going for nearly six. Or recharge a 13Wh camera more than 15 times over. A 12Wh smartphone can be brought back from zero to 100% 16.5 times over. Power times can be extended further by using power-saving mode. Featured on the front of the power station is a LED display providing info on the power output and remaining battery life of the anker 521 itself.

Optional Solar Panel

Then when the power station itself needs a recharge, it can be brought back up to at least 80% in just two and a half hours when plugged into the adapter that’s packaged with it. If you’re taking the power station on an extended getaway in the outdoors, you can also recharge it via solar energy. As an optional add-on, you can bundle your Anker 521 with a 100W solar panel. It can be adjusted to four different angles so you can maximize the energy it’s able to take in based on the sun’s position overhead.

For a limited time, you can save 20% on the Anker 521, grabbing it for just $160. If you choose to bundle with the solar panel, it’s 30% off from $499 which brings it to just $350.

See at Amazon





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WNBA Power Rankings: Aces leapfrog Lynx as regular season wraps up
Esports

WNBA Power Rankings: Aces leapfrog Lynx as regular season wraps up

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  • Michael VoepelSep 9, 2025, 09:30 AM ET

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      Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

With only three days left in the regular season, we have arrived at the final edition of ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings for 2025.

The Minnesota Lynx already have wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage for as long as they are in the playoffs. They remain the championship favorite, as they have been for most of the season. But with the Power Rankings acting as a weekly barometer of how teams are performing right now, the Las Vegas Aces have jumped into the top spot of this final update — a move that would have seemed absurd to predict on Aug. 2, when Las Vegas lost at home to Minnesota by 53 points and fell to 14-14. But the Aces have gone on a 14-game winning streak since, making them the hottest team in the league heading into the postseason.

The Lynx won the first three matchups of the season against the Aces before Las Vegas beat Minnesota at home last Thursday. The teams also feature the two leading MVP candidates: Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

The Lynx have had less to play for since Aug. 30, when they clinched the league’s best record — though they have stressed that they have not gone into cruise control since they want to enter the playoffs competing at a high standard. The Aces, by contrast, are still trying to secure the No. 2 seed.

Both teams have championship hopes and will join six others when the playoffs tip off Sunday, while the five teams that don’t make it start looking ahead to 2026. But all 13 teams have had bright spots this season, so let’s look at the top highlight for each as we close out our weekly rankings.

Previous ranking: 2

Final three days: vs. CHI (Sept. 9), @ LA (Sept. 11)

The Aces have had one of the most dramatic in-season turnarounds in WNBA history, extending their win streak to 14 with victories over Minnesota and Chicago over the past week. The surge coincides with Jewell Loyd coming off the bench — a move many players of her stature would not have embraced, but she did. Las Vegas’ ability to work through its issues and stick together as a unit stands out.

Previous ranking: 1

Final three days: @ IND (Sept. 9), vs. GS (Sept. 11)

The Lynx, who lost to Las Vegas and defeated Golden State over the past week, are 6-4 in their past 10 games — in part because there has been less to play for as they secured a playoff berth and home-court advantage. Maintaining the same momentum when you know a loss (or even a series of losses) doesn’t come with consequences is harder than it sounds. Still, the Lynx have been the most consistent team all season, which keeps them in the driver’s seat for the championship.

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Napheesa Collier (20 points) Highlights vs. Golden State Valkyries

Napheesa Collier (20 points) Highlights vs. Golden State Valkyries, 09/06/2025

Previous ranking: 3

Final three days: @ CON (Sept. 10)

The Dream are still in the mix for the No. 2 seed with two wins over Los Angeles and another against Connecticut over the past week. A year after backing into the playoffs without enough offense to win a series, they have become a contender. Their ability to embrace new coach Karl Smesko’s system — an effort led by veteran guard Allisha Gray — has been one of the most impressive developments of this WNBA season.

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Previous ranking: 4

Final three days: vs. LA (Sept. 9), @ DAL (Sept. 11)

After opening the last week with wins over Indiana and Washington, Saturday’s loss at Connecticut dropped the Mercury from a second-place tie with Las Vegas and Atlanta. Now it looks likely they will get the No. 4 seed, which would mean a potential semifinal matchup against Minnesota. Still, being in the top four with a completely revamped roster in a new era of Mercury basketball following Diana Taurasi’s retirement and Brittney Griner’s departure is a big win for Phoenix.

Previous ranking: 6

Final three days: @ SEA (Sept. 9), @ MIN (Sept. 11)

The Valkyries beat New York and Dallas last week, with the latter game clinching a playoff spot and setting off a celebration at Ballhalla. They also gave Minnesota a run for its money Saturday before falling 78-72. Despite losing standout Kayla Thornton (knee) for the season after the All-Star Game, the Valkyries have gone 13-7 without her. Many contributors stand out in Golden State’s first season, but two potential award-winners — Natalie Nakase for Coach of the Year and guard Veronica Burton for Most Improved Player — are highlights.

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Veronica Burton nails it from behind the arc

Veronica Burton drills the trey, 09/06/2025

Previous ranking: 5

Final three days: vs. WAS (Sept. 9), @ CHI (Sept. 11)

The Liberty fell at Golden State then bounced back to defeat Seattle over the past week. The defending champions won’t have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, in part because injuries to starters Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have disrupted their consistency. They have won only four of their past 10 games but still seem likely to secure the No. 5 seed. The best part of their season could end up being the playoffs — if everyone is healthy.

Previous ranking: 7

Final three days: vs. MIN (Sept. 9)

The Fever fell to Phoenix last Tuesday, then announced Thursday that injured guard Caitlin Clark would not return this season. Out since July 15, Clark can now focus on returning healthy in 2026 — and the Fever followed up the news with two victories that secured their second consecutive playoff berth. Their best traits this season have been the resilience of their healthy core four — guards Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull and post players Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard — and how well they have adjusted to multiple replacement players.

Previous ranking: 8

Final three days: vs. GS (Sept. 9)

The Storm lost their one game of the past week to New York, which could have secured a playoff berth. They will now try to nail that down in their last game of the regular season on Tuesday. Struggles at home (9-12) and with closing out games have frustrated the Storm, but they probably saved their season by winning four of five consecutive games on the road between Aug. 19-28, righting themselves from a free fall coming out of the All-Star Game in which they lost nine of 12 games (including six in a row).

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Skylar Diggins drills the trey

Skylar Diggins drills the trey, 09/05/2025

Previous ranking: 9

Final three days: @ PHX (Sept. 9), vs. LV (Sept. 11)

The Sparks lost twice at Atlanta and then beat Dallas on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive. If they don’t make the postseason, they will look back on a very slow 5-13 start as too much to overcome. Cameron Brink — the 2024 No. 2 draft pick who returned July 29 from a knee injury that cut short her rookie season — has had impact defensively, but is not yet up to speed offensively. The best part of the season was when the Sparks’ top four players Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson and Azura Stevens were clicking.

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Previous ranking: 10

Final three days: vs. ATL (Sept. 10)

The Sun had arguably their best win of the season Saturday, beating playoff-bound Phoenix 87-84 in-between losses at Chicago and Atlanta. Having lost their coach and entire starting five from last season’s playoff team, reaching double-digit wins should be considered a plus. Six of their victories have come since Aug. 13, keeping them ahead of slumping Washington in these rankings despite the Mystics’ higher victory total. With uncertainty around the franchise’s long-term future — will the Sun stay in Connecticut? — the promise of rookies Leila Lacan, Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers is the best part of their present and near future.

Previous ranking: 11

Final three days: @ NY (Sept. 9)

The Mystics are 5-16 since the All-Star break and have lost nine in a row, including to Phoenix and Indiana this past week. Like Connecticut, they are in rebuilding mode with a new coach. Washington’s brightest spot this year is getting two rookies to build around, lottery picks Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, who were All-Stars.

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Kiki Iriafen scores and draws the foul

Kiki Iriafen scores and draws the foul

Previous ranking: 12

Final three days: @ LV (Sept. 9), vs. NY (Sept. 11)

The Sky defeated Connecticut, then lost to Indiana and Las Vegas — but on-court action was overshadowed by second-year player Angel Reese’s published remarks about the team needing to get “great” players. She subsequently apologized to her teammates and received a head-scratching half-game suspension. There seems to be friction between Reese and the Sky front office, which brings into question how that could affect 2026. The best part about this Sky season, frankly, is that it’s almost over. Now the organization must figure out how to move forward.

Previous ranking: 13

Final three days: vs. PHX (Sept. 11)

The Wings fell to Golden State and Los Angeles last week. Unless they beat Phoenix in the regular-season finale, they will end on an 11-game losing streak and have their second consecutive nine-win season. Like Chicago coach Tyler Marsh, Dallas’ Chris Koclanes waits to see if his tenure lasts longer than one season. There are two bright spots from the Wings’ season, though: Paige Bueckers is expected to be Rookie of the Year — and they might get another No. 1 pick in 2026.



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Bluetti Elite 100 V2 during our review
Product Reviews

Bluetti Elite 100 v2 portable power station review

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

1024Wh capacity from LiFePO4 batteries

1800W continuous output

2 x AC sockets, 2 x USB-A and 2 x USB-C

0-80% charge in 45minutes at 1200W

Multiple methods of charging

Fast 10ms response UPS with different modes of UPS

Bluetti has done it again releasing another one of their versatile portable power stations, this one aimed at being lighter, smaller and more agile than some of the older, bigger models from the past.

A more powerful inverter means that AC wattage has been pushed up allowing even more electronics to be run from the power station.

Bluetti Elite 100: Pricing

  • Bluetti Elite 100 v2 at Walmart for $499

At time of review, the Elite 100 is on retail on Bluetti’s US site for $499. On the Bluetti UK site, it’s sold for £499.

It’s also available via selected online retailers.

Bluetti Elite 100: Packaging

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

The Elite 100 arrived in an outer plain cardboard box, inside was another plain cardboard box but with printing indicating that this was an Elite 100 power station, it even had a handle to help in lifting out one box from another.

Also provided by Bluetti was not only the AC charging cable but the appropriate MC4 to XT60 cable to allow you to hook up a solar panel to the Elite 100 to charge it. The package included a grounding screw as well.

Bluetti Elite 100: The power station

Once out of the box, the Elite 100 measures 320 × 215 × 250mm or 12.6 x 8.5 x 9.8 inches (L x W x H) and weighing in at 11.5kg (or 25.3lbs). Compared to some of the previous models we have test from Bluetti and other brands, pretty small and light.

The Elite 100 has one large handle on the top at the back so was designed to be carried by one person only but it is light enough.

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

At the front is the usual affair, all output sockets are at the front, as are the control buttons, screen and DC input socket.

At the front of this UK model are the following sockets/plugs:

2 x UK Type G sockets outputting 230V at 50Hz AC pure sine wave

2 x USB-C sockets, 1 x 140W max and 1 x 100W max

2 x USB-A sockets, each able to output 15W

1 x Car cigarette socket

2 x DC barrel outputs at 12v 8A max

1 x DC/PV input

And of course, the control buttons and screen

On the right-hand side of the Elite 100 (from left to right) is the earth/ground screw hole, AC input and 20A circuit breaker.

Bluetti Elite 100: Charging

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

Switching on the Elite 100 the first time showed us a state of charge of 32%. We explored the charging methods that would be available to us, the simplest of which would be to charge it from the grid mains.

This is easily done by plugging the Elite 100 to the mains using the supplied AC cable which uses a common IEC C13/14 cable. On immediately detecting grid power the Elite 100 powered itself on and began charging at 1200W with a count down timer to inform us when it would be fully charged.

Other methods of charging include using solar panels, Bluetti have been kind enough to package in an MC4 to XT60 cable so that you could hook up a basic solar panel to the Elite 100. This is a nice touch as often power station manufactures sell this cable as an optional extra.

The XT60 is the only port, other than the AC input socket, to allow charging of the Elite 100. Through the XT60 you can charge the Elite 100 using the aforementioned solar panels or from a separately available alternator charger for charging from vehicles.

The XT60 can accept anywhere between 12 to 60V, up to 20A and 1000W of input.

Some would have preferred the DC input could have been placed on the side of the product for additional USB ports.

Bluetti Elite 100: Screen

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

Status screen is your typical affair that shows all the useful information that you will need at glance such as state of charge, input and output wattage. Output voltage and AC Hz, USB as well as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.

It the out and inputs only tell you a total of wattage, they are unable to break down what is PV or AC input or USB or AC outputs.

Bluetti Elite 100: AC and USB/DC

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

Putting the Elite 100 through its paces, using it to power a variety of high draw household devices such as a rice cooker, hair dryer, air fryer. The Elite 100 was able to power all of them separately and remained relatively quiet throughout. It couldn’t power a mini-induction cook top as that drew a sustained 2000W. The Elite 100 can do up to a 2700W but only for a short period.

I noted that the Elite 100 only has two AC Sockets which may be a limiting factor for some, whilst it is only two sockets, there is nothing that says you can’t use multiplug sockets with them. But you must keep in mind the power draw in wattage.

Using the USB is about as regular as it gets, it was able to charge a variety of phones, power banks, a Lenovo ThinkPad, MacBook Air laptops all at the same time with ease. However with the advent that nearly everything is moving to USB-C, why the need for USB-A?

Also on the front are the DC outports, these are the car cigarette socket and two DC barrel sockets. Useful for small electronic devices assuming you have the right cables.

The Elite 100 has a combined output power of 1800W continuous power.

Bluetti Elite 100: UPS

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

We recently reviewed a larger, more powerful power station the DJI Power 2000 where we tested its UPS capabilities and under 10ms response time. The response time is the time the power station detects grid outage and switches over to battery. Most other power stations have a response time of 20 to 30ms.

So, we were intrigued that the Elite 100 boasted a fast 10ms response time as well and decided to put this to the test. UPS mode is automatically activated when the Elite 100 is plugged into mains, AC is on and power drawn.

We again tested this by plugging in a typical home office setup, into the Elite 100 via multiplugs. The setup drew around 200W, we let the set up drain the Elite 100 for about two hours.

We then switched the mains on to charge the Elite 100 back to 100% which activated the UPS mode automatically

Once at 100%, we flicked the mains switch again whilst keeping an eye on the setup which showed no signs of power loss. The set up carried on as if there were no power outage, the Elite 100 drew power from the batteries and the UPS mode switched off.

It is here we add that in the app we noted that unlike the DJI model, the Elite 100 had several UPS modes where the UPS can be timed to only work certain times of day, prioritize PV power, state of charge or just as a standard UPS on standby or offline mode where the UPS only kicks in when power is noted to have gone down.

Bluetti Elite 100: The app

Bluetti have been in the power station market for a long time and so have had time to improve and refine their app. Searching and downloading it from the Google Play Store, loading it up and logging on for the first time was easy enough.

The app is more than just a battery management app in that it allowed us to see the local weather and a few other useful features not battery related as well as manage your account with Bluetti.

The “add device” allowed to locate and add the Elite 100 quickly and it was then added to our list of power stations.

On clicking on the battery your entered to a screen showing battery percentage, also showing incoming energy from either AC or DC/PV and outgoings for AC and DC.

The settings area is where Bluetti excel when compared to other brands in that it allows you to tweak certain settings, even if only the once such as the aforementioned UPS modes.

Bluetti Elite 100: Final verdict

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

Bluetti has been in the power station market for a long time bringing out newer models each year, refining and improving each time.

This small form factor battery is no different, it is ideal for those who want to get about and want a small, light-weight, portable yet powerful power station.

Some may find the capacity of the Elite 100 to be limiting, at only 1024Wh it can seem to drain quickly when high draw devices are used.

Also, some may find the lack of AC sockets cumbersome and as mentioned, it could have been better with solely USB-C sockets instead of the older USB-A.

Bluetti Elite 100 v2: Price Comparison



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Bluetti says it can reduce vanlife power installations to ‘30 minutes’
Gaming Gear

Bluetti says it can reduce vanlife power installations to ‘30 minutes’

by admin


It only took three years, but Bluetti is following EcoFlow’s lead with a fully integrated power system of its own to make vanlifers, off-grid cabins, and boats energy independent. The RVSolar System’s main advantage over bespoke systems is a relatively quick and easy installation, requiring just “30 minutes,” according to Bluetti’s announcement at IFA 2025.

While it’s undoubtedly faster than installing a fully bespoke solution from Victron Energy, for example, the last time I installed EcoFlow’s comparable system, it took closer to five hours — and that was after several hours of planning, measuring, and double-checking. Thirty minutes is just the time needed to screw everything together, so there’s still a hint of truth here.

Bluetti’s 48V RVSolar System is capable of 5,000W of max AC output or 1,360W DC. That’s plenty of power for everything from a roof-mounted air conditioner and induction cooktop to a 12V water pump and lighting system. It can be configured with a whopping 122kWh of Bluetti’s self-heated LFP batteries — enough for me to live and work off the grid for as long as 76 days, based upon the 1.6kWh average that I consume daily in my own van. As a bonus, Bluetti’s system also supports compatible third-party batteries, which is something EcoFlow can’t claim with its proprietary connectors.

Maxing out a system with batteries will be overkill for most since these systems are designed to be easily rechargeable when out in the sticks. Batteries connected to the system can be recharged from a number of sources, including solar panels (up to 3600W), shore-power hookup (up to 5000W), a diesel generator (up to 5000W), and your vehicle’s own alternator (up to 1200W).

The system is built around an RV5 Power Hub unit that houses all the devices, which typically have to be wired together separately in a bespoke installation. These include the DC-to-AC inverter to convert DC energy to AC power for the microwave or coffee machine, an MPPT solar charger to regulate solar panel input, a DC-DC charger to top up the batteries when the vehicle’s motor is running, and a DC converter to step down the voltage for 12V / 24V devices like lights, USB sockets, pumps, and modern A/C units.

The kit also comes with a smart distribution panel for 8 AC and 20 DC circuits, with remote control over four of those AC circuits and six DC. You also get a wired 10.1-inch control screen that can be installed at a central location in the vehicle for remote monitoring and circuit-level control — functionality that’s replicated in the Bluetti app.

The RVSolar System will be available globally on September 30th. Pricing information wasn’t available at the time of publication, but I’d expect it to be on par with Victron components, especially if it’s using third-party batteries.



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LG 37-inch Monitor
Gaming Gear

LG’s new 37-inch 4K screen claims productivity power but feels suspiciously like another oversized smart TV with webOS inside

by admin



  • At 7.4 kilograms, the LG 37U730SA-W is remarkably portable for its overall size
  • However it offers only a 60Hz refresh rate with 5ms response time
  • USB-C on the LG 37U730SA-W delivers 65W charging for business laptops

LG has announced the 37U730SA-W, a a new 36.5-inch display which seems to blur the line between a computer monitor and a smart television.

On paper, it presents itself as a large IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, which most would call the standard for a 4K monitor aimed at casual viewing and office use.

But at 7.4 kg, this is also a fairly portable monitor for its screen size, making repositioning or mounting relatively simple.


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Large and detailed screen

The screen covers about 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, supports over a billion colors, and produces 300 cd/m² peak brightness.

With a refresh rate locked at 60Hz and a response time of 5ms, this is not targeting high-end gaming – instead, the panel appears tuned for browsing, streaming, and general tasks.

Connectivity includes two HDMI ports and a USB-C interface which supplies up to 65W charging power – a level sufficient to keep many business laptops running while simultaneously recharging them through a single cable.

The monitor also features a headphone jack and dual 5W speakers, which appear serviceable for voice or light media playback rather than full entertainment setups.

LG has included several convenience features, such as the auto brightness sensor, which adapts screen intensity to ambient light.

The Flicker-Free operation and Eye Care mode attempt to minimize fatigue by reducing flicker and blue light.

Physically, the screen can tilt from -5° to +20°, swivel 20° left or right, and shift vertically by up to 110mm, with VESA mounting support adding flexibility for those who prefer an arm or wall bracket.

The device relies on webOS as an embedded operating system, raising questions about whether it is really a monitor designed for productivity or a television repurposed for the desk.

Rather than requiring a connected device, it comes with access to more than six hundred video-on-demand applications, ranging from YouTube to sports and live channels.

Wireless streaming is available through AirPlay 2 for Apple devices and Miracast for Android systems, positioning the display as a self-contained hub for both entertainment and office functions.

The LG 37U730SA-W is available to buy in Japan now, with a retail price of around $655.

Via The Guru of 3D

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What's so special about the original Hollow Knight? The intoxicating power of Team Cherry's invisible, insistent guiding hand
Game Reviews

What’s so special about the original Hollow Knight? The intoxicating power of Team Cherry’s invisible, insistent guiding hand

by admin


It’s not just locked doors, imposing bosses, and top-tier traversal. It’s a world, a sensation, a desperate and lonely feeling communicated through screen and pad. It’s chains and foliage obscuring the foreground, as imposingly huge bugs slink about in the background. The depth of parallax art and the grit of an impossible fight. The feeling of movement as you flap your wings or dash over pits or scramble up walls. The world is dying, but you feel alive and vital within it. From vanishingly small beginnings to power comparable to godhood, Hollow Knight isn’t just a good game: it’s one of the best ever made.

There’s been a wealth of incredible Metroidvania games from small dev teams over the past few generations – Axiom Verge, Guacamelee, Headlander, Ori and the Blind Forest to name just a few – but I don’t think any of them compare with Hollow Knight, really. Team Cherry’s 2017 debut is a masterpiece. And I am not using that word lightly. It represents a high tide for the genre that I think even surpasses the achievements of its progenitors, taking the foundational design philosophies of Metroid and Castlevania and sanding off all the rough edges to leave something elegant, perplexing and utterly moreish.

Here’s a bit of Silksong for you.Watch on YouTube

It all begins with its subtle tutorialisation. This is a Metroidvania, so the unwritten understanding is that you get power-ups, and they open up new areas. When you’re thrown into the world of Hallownest from the starting town of Dirtmouth with the vague instruction of ‘head on down’, you are instantly and subconsciously directed about where to go next: verdant green leaves tease the Green Path from the Forgotten Crossroads, and peculiar pink gems nod towards the Crystal Peak.

It’s the enticing greenery of the Path that typically grabs your attention first, though – the visual language of the game’s ‘second zone’ eating into the starting area in a small touch you’ll soon notice runs as a theme in the game. One screen in, and you’re barred; an armoured beetle-like thing impedes your progress. So you soldier on, going right instead of left, until you face your first boss and ingest your first upgrade, the Vengeful Spirit. In order to leave this area, an NPC instructs you to clear its temple, and what do you find at the exit? The very same armoured beetle, which you can now kill. Aha, you think, I know this guy.

So you backtrack, clear the doorway, and you’re on your way. That experience, a delicious example of early game not-quite-handholding that makes you feel like you’ve done all the work, sets a precedent. It’s easy, early on, to trick a player into thinking they’re smart for putting two and two together and coming out with four. But as the paths deviate, the 15 zones that make up Hallownest and its colonies begin to show themselves, and you start to gain a bit more independence, Team Cherry keeps finding ways to make you feel smart. It’s intoxicating, ego-boosting, and I even think at times it feels sublime. Really.

Image credit: Team Cherry / Eurogamer

You’re nudged along with barely perceptible cues that keep your brain itching whilst your fingers dance over the parabolic difficulty spikes in Hollow Knight’s combat. So many design decisions in this game are small, but mighty – fitting for a game about bugs, failing empires, and bitter godheads. Each area, be it the perpetually soggy City of Tears or the dusty dankness of the Ancient Basin, has its own specific colour. Colours are saturated, and props and set dressing is placed (with little repetition) to make each area feel distinct. In your head, you associate these areas with the map: left is green, right is pink, down is blue. It tugs at your cortex, so when you’re trying to navigate, you’ve always got an impression of what direction applies to what power.

But there’s more. The map itself hues its areas to match the world design, subconsciously gluing these colours to your spacial reasoning processes even more distinctly. Paired with more explicit progression cues – Silksong’s Hornet teasing you with which way to go by constantly dashing out of reach and out of view – Hollow Knight simultaneously baits you and makes you feel like you’re in control of your fate. It’s a dirty, delicious trick. And I cannot wait to see how this formula is expanded upon in the sequel.

Team Cherry’s approach to the map, too, cedes all power to the player. It’s not until you actually make it to the City of Tears that the game itself actually applies anything to your map – and even then, it’s a strange waypoint for a place we’ve already discovered. Otherwise, it’s all on you. You even need to choose between a power-up notch in your character screen and a marker to identify where you are on the map. Some may call this obtuse, or needlessly unhelpful, but I think it does wonders for the sense of place Hollow Knight dedicates so much effort to instilling in your head. You pull up the map a lot. Good. If you want to learn everything there is to know about Hallownest, you should know it inside out. The relationship between the knight and the world is a symbiotic relationship, technically and narratively, and all of these mechanics feed into that.

Image credit: Team Cherry

I think that’s where the real appeal of Hollow Knight lies. You have proper agency when it comes to progression and exploration – a sense of proper agency I have honestly only felt in the first Dark Souls in terms of ‘modern’ games. You’re let loose to discover your power on your terms, pluck at various locks and see which one comes undone, whilst also given the power to go and forge your own locks. You don’t even need to be a game design savant to understand the potential for sequence breaks (something Ori and the Blind Forest also understood very well), and by keeping a keen eye on the environment and the map, it feels like Team Cherry almost dares you to skip certain bosses or platforming challenges. The devs understand player ego, how to appeal to it, and how to challenge it. It makes the game’s difficulty more than just a combat or dexterity check, but an emotional one, too.

A lot of Metroidvania games also fall down when they design their critical paths: all too often, there will be one place you need to find and use your new power in order to progress. Some bits of Hollow Knight have four separate paths leading to the ‘next bit’ of the critical path. Chances are, you’ll happen upon one when casually exploring, or backtracking to farm currency or get a combat upgrade. The trail of breadcrumbs never runs out, and by letting you manually pin things to your map when resting at a bench, the sense of self-direction always feels natural and encouraged. The invisible hand of Team Cherry, it becomes clear from this first game alone, is one of the deftest in the business. And that insistent, impossibly light touch is so much of what makes Hollow Knight so special, so compelling, so intoxicating.

I’ve not even touched on the strength of the combat and the 160+ enemies here, or the build-crafting that’s integral to your journey through the game via pins and notches. I’ve not spoken about the game-changing spectral/dream mechanic you unlock about 50 percent of the way through, and how Team Cherry makes asset reuse into a genius portion of the game that anyone that’s played, say, Bravely Default would be agog over. I’ve not spoken about the subtle narrative craft that rivals FromSoft in its multi-layered complexity. I’ve not spoken about the music, the use of leitmotif, or how five twinkly piano notes can evoke such a distinct sense of loss, hopelessness, and desolation.

But that’s because it’s the design of Hollow Knight that sets it apart both from its contemporaries and its inspirations. Sure, the game wouldn’t be half as good if it didn’t have stellar combat or a surprisingly deep build-crafting system, but it’s in the irrepressible way the game keeps nudging you deeper, further down into its mystery that it truly shines. Hollow Knight is, indeed, a masterpiece, an exemplary manifestation of a developer understanding and leveraging player psychology. Is all this hype for Silksong really justified? Yes. And then some.



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WNBA Power Rankings: Best end-of-season scenarios for every team
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WNBA Power Rankings: Best end-of-season scenarios for every team

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  • Michael VoepelSep 2, 2025, 09:00 AM ET

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      Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

With 10 days left in the WNBA’s 2025 regular season, we already know the No. 1 seed — the Minnesota Lynx — and four of the five teams that won’t make the playoffs. But there are more important developments still to come.

Which teams will secure home-court advantage in the opening round as the 2-seed, the 3-seed and the 4-seed. And which opponents will they face? Can the Los Angeles Sparks climb into the playoff picture from the ninth position in the standings?

Every team has dealt with injuries over the course of the longest regular season in WNBA history, and we will soon learn how that impacts the postseason. For now, let’s forecast the best-case scenario for each team over the final stretch.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: @ LV (Sept. 4), @ GS (Sept. 6)

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

The Lynx beat Seattle, Connecticut and Dallas across the past week to secure home-court advantage for as long as they’re in the playoffs. While they could impact other teams’ positioning — especially Golden State, which they play twice — there isn’t much at stake in their last four games. So, their best case is historical: If the Lynx win out and finish 36-8, they will have an 81.8% winning rate for the regular season, the second best in franchise history behind 82.4% in 2016. And their 36 wins would be the most in WNBA history — 34 by Las Vegas in the 40-game season of 2023 is the record — though the four games added to this season’s schedule would have to be considered.

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Sept. 4), vs. CHI (Sept. 7)

The Aces tied a franchise record with their 12th straight victory on Wednesday, beating Atlanta for a 3-0 series sweep to give them the potential tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed. And they won the season series against Phoenix (3-1), as well, so the Aces also own that tiebreaker, if needed. With a full week to prepare for Minnesota on Thursday, the best case for Las Vegas is to win out to claim the No. 2 seed and establish a club-record winning streak.

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: vs. LA (Sept. 3), vs. LA (Sept. 5), vs. CON (Sept. 8)

Coming off a loss to Las Vegas and a triumph over Dallas, the Dream welcomed point guard Jordin Canada back from a hamstring injury in Monday’s victory at Connecticut. Best case, they win out and Las Vegas loses one of its final four games to give the Dream the No. 2 seed. Atlanta owns the potential tiebreaker over Phoenix with a 3-0 season series sweep.

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Jordin Canada spins in the air and gets the and-1 basket

Jordin Canada spins in the air and gets the and-1 basket

Previous ranking: 4

Next seven days: vs. IND (Sept. 2), @ WAS (Sept. 4), @ CON (Sept. 6)

The Mercury beat Los Angeles, Chicago and New York over the past week to win six of their past seven. Kahleah Copper has been limited to 23 games due to injuries, but she is playing well heading into the postseason, scoring 68 points in her last three games combined. The optimal outcome for Phoenix — which has played one game less than Atlanta and Las Vegas — is to win its last five while the Dream and the Aces each lose at least once to give the Mercury the No. 2 seed.

Previous ranking: 5

Next seven days: @ GS (Sept. 2), @ SEA (Sept. 5)

The Liberty beat Washington and lost to Phoenix over the past week, which fits how hard it has been for New York to sustain momentum since late July, when Breanna Stewart suffered a right knee bone bruise that would sideline her for 13 games. She’s back, but the Liberty still don’t look like defending champions. While they are technically in the running for the 2-seed, a more realistic best-case scenario is climbing into the top four, though it won’t be easy with three of their remaining four games on the road.

Previous ranking: 7

Next seven days: vs. NY (Sept. 2), vs. DAL (Sept. 4), vs. MIN (Sept. 6)

The Valkyries beat Washington and Indiana over the past week to finish 8-5 in August, with all five losses coming to teams currently in the top four. They are 7-3 over their past 10 and are closing in on a playoff spot, but the Valkyries still have to play Minnesota twice. Mathematically, the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds are attainable but not probable. A more likely best case is the 6-seed, which would be excellent for an expansion franchise that many predicted wouldn’t make the postseason.

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Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever, 08/31/2025

Previous ranking: 9

Next seven days: @ PHO (Sept. 2), vs. Chi (Sept. 5), @ WAS (Sept. 7)

The Fever are still in playoff position despite running from the injury monster all season. They got crucial victories over Seattle and Los Angeles before losing at Golden State during the past week. But they aren’t out of the woods yet; the Sparks could still catch them for the final playoff spot. The Fever could technically finish as high as No. 4, but it’s unlikely they will win their final four games and the teams directly ahead of them will fall apart. A realistic best case for Indiana is the No. 6 seed — and the return of Caitlin Clark for the postseason.

Previous ranking: 6

Next seven days: vs. NY (Sept. 5)

The Storm really haven’t handled prosperity well this season. After falling at Indiana before beating Minnesota and Chicago this past week, they lost a 17-point lead over Los Angeles on Monday to fall 91-85 at home. Seattle would have been closer to locking down a playoff position with a win; now it only has two games to do it. Best case, the Storm win both to finish .500 at home and enter the postseason with 24 victories.

Previous ranking: 8

Next seven days: @ ATL (Sept. 3), @ ATL (Sept. 5), vs. DAL (Sept. 7)

Los Angeles lost to Phoenix and Indiana then had to scramble to beat Washington over the past week. That set up Monday’s key game at Seattle, in which the Storm appeared to have the upper hand until going ice-cold. The Sparks’ 91-85 win keeps hope alive of ending their four-year playoff drought. They still have a lot of work to do with five games left, including three on the road. The Sparks have had one five-game winning streak (in July), but they must face Atlanta (twice), Phoenix and Las Vegas. The best case is winning four and hoping 23 victories will be enough to edge out Golden State, Indiana or Seattle.

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Cameron Brink with the and-1 bucket

Cameron Brink with the and-1 bucket

Previous ranking: 11

Next seven days: vs. PHO (Sept. 4), vs. IND (Sept. 7)

Over the past week, Connecticut beat Dallas before falling to Minnesota and Atlanta. Set to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 while facing uncertainty about whether the franchise will be sold, there isn’t a real best-case scenario for the Sun. But they did win five games in the second half of August — as many as they had won in the previous three months — and they could finish 11th while playing spoiler to Atlanta’s hopes for the No. 2 seed, as they still face the Dream twice.

Previous ranking: 10

Next seven days: vs. PHO (Sept. 4), vs. IND (Sept. 7)

The playoffs were still a possibility for the Mystics in mid-August, but all the air has left that balloon. Washington is out of the postseason, which isn’t surprising for a rebuilding team. The Mystics lost to New York, Golden State and Los Angeles over the past week, and they are on a seven-game skid. Best case, they end the losing streak in their last three games and Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

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Previous ranking: 12

Next seven days: vs. CON (Sept. 3), @ IND (Sept. 5), @ LV (Sept. 7)

The Sky fell to Phoenix and Seattle last week, and they will be out of the postseason for the second year in a row. Chicago is 2-17 since the All-Star break and has a lot to figure out for the future. Best case, the Sky avoid last place and perhaps impact the order of the top four seeds, as they still have games left against Las Vegas (twice) and New York.

Previous ranking: 13

Next seven days: @ GS (Sept. 4), @ LA (Sept. 7)

The Wings’ only victory since July 30 was a one-point decision at Indiana on Aug. 12. They are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, falling this past week to Connecticut, Atlanta and Minnesota. Best case, they will celebrate Paige Bueckers’ impending Rookie of the Year Award and hope to win the draft lottery for a second consecutive No. 1 pick.



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This 25,000mAh Power Bank with Triple 100W USB-C Ports Now Costs Peanuts on Amazon
Game Reviews

This 25,000mAh Power Bank with Triple 100W USB-C Ports Now Costs Peanuts on Amazon

by admin


Amazon decided to spice up this Tuesday with some quick fire flash sales, and one of them is honestly hard to ignore. Portable chargers usually mean something small for your phone, but this deal is on a proper laptop-grade power bank from Anker.

It comes with a gigantic 25,000mAh capacity and three 100W USB-C ports. The kicker? It’s dropped to $94 from $135, which is an all-time low at Amazon. Over 60% of the stock is already gone, so if this interests you, you should probably get it while it’s available.

See at Amazon

Airline-Approved

Most power banks are fine for topping off your phone a time or twice but the second you throw a MacBook (or even a Switch) into the mix, they fold over pretty easily. That is why this model is so coveted: You get three USB-C ports and each of them can do up to 100W of power. That means: you can really charge a laptop while out without keeping an eye on the battery draining otherwise.

With 25,000mAh available, you’re looking at multiple phone charges or good laptop support for hours. If you’re a travel bug, that means extended flights or train trips with no worry of the battery going below 5% when you need it the most. And since this monster is smart about replenishing itself, it doesn’t take forever to refuel. With its 100W input system, you can charge to 30% in 22 minutes. That’s long enough to throw it on the charger while brewing your morning coffee before a flight and be ready to roll. And yes, it’s airline-approved, under the 100Wh boundary, so safe in overhead bins.

Unlike most chunky power banks, this has two internal USB-C cables inside. One extends up to 2.3 feet but retracts neatly when not being used and the other is a shorter cable that doubles as a strap for carrying the unit around. Both are tested for durability so they won’t deteriorate from regular use. No more digging through your bag or praying you had remembered to grab the right cord. The cords are preattached, which is the kind of little win that makes life a tiny bit easier.

You can definitely have more than two or three devices: Four devices can be charged at the same time by this unit: the two inbuilt cables, the extra USB-C port, and one standard USB-A port. That would mean that you could be charging a MacBook, a phone, a pair of headphones and some other device at the same time.

Anker has already established a reputation that is conducive to faith in its chargers, and this one does not disappoint in any way: massive capacity, bidirectional fast charging, intelligent design, and the ability of actually keeping a laptop alive. For $94, it’s a take-and-go type of deal you’ll be sorry not to have woken up to. The only real catch? Stock isn’t going to hold out for long.

See at Amazon



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2025 NFL projections, power rankings, Super Bowl predictions
Esports

2025 NFL projections, power rankings, Super Bowl predictions

by admin


  • Mike ClayAug 31, 2025, 06:35 AM ET

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      Mike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is around the corner. What better way to raise (or temper) expectations than with a complete breakdown of predictions and projections?

Below is a guide of what to expect once the season kicks off Thursday — including power rankings of all 32 teams, a list of teams that will score the most points and defenses that will allow the fewest, and a look at the toughest and easiest schedules. We also make predictions for the playoffs and Super Bowl LX.

If you’re looking for even more in-depth content, check my rankings and assessments of the best and worst positional units across the league, as well as my 80-page projections PDF.

Jump ahead to …
Schedule: Easiest | Toughest
Offense projections: Best | Worst
Defense projections: Best | Worst
Power rankings | Super Bowl pick

Easiest schedule

The 49ers are coming off a last-place finish in the NFC West, but that set them up with the league’s easiest projected 2025 schedule. They do not play any of the league’s eight Super Bowl favorites, per ESPN Bet odds (Ravens, Lions, Eagles, Bills, Chiefs, Packers, Bengals, Commanders), and have many attractive matchups against underwhelming NFC South and AFC South teams.

San Francisco’s unique games are versus the Bears, Giants and Browns — the latter two are projected to finish in the bottom seven of the league, per ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Titans, Colts, Jaguars and Cardinals round out the top-five easiest schedules.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Toughest schedule

No surprise here, as the Lions are the defending champions of the tough NFC North. In addition to the six games against the Vikings, Packers and the improved Bears, the Lions will face NFC East and AFC North teams. Detroit’s trio of unique games is also about as hard as you can get: Buccaneers, Chiefs and Rams.

The good news for Detroit is that the rest of the division (and several No. 1-seed contenders) will also face a tough slate. The Eagles, Vikings, Giants and Browns round out the top-five toughest schedules.

Projected highest-scoring teams

The Bills haven’t led the NFL in scoring since 1990, but they’ve been close during the Josh Allen era, ranking no lower than sixth each of the past five seasons (top-three four times). This season, the reigning NFL MVP is set up with a solid (and perhaps improved) supporting cast, led by RB James Cook, WR Khalil Shakir, second-year WR Keon Coleman, TE Dalton Kincaid and newcomer WR Joshua Palmer.

2. Baltimore Ravens, 473 points
3. Philadelphia Eagles, 452 points

Projected lowest-scoring teams

The Browns were last in scoring in 2024 and haven’t finished better than 10th since 2007. They should be a strong bet to finish at or near the bottom in 2025, especially with so much uncertainty at quarterback (some mix of Joe Flacco, third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders). Additionally, the once-elite offensive line isn’t as good as years past, and there are no established needle-moving pass catchers behind WR Jerry Jeudy and TE David Njoku.

2. New Orleans Saints, 314 points
3. New York Giants, 332 points

Projected defenses to allow the fewest points

Though the Texans ranked in the middle of the pack in points allowed last season, their defense finished top five in sacks (49) and forced turnovers (29). They were also first in pass rush win rate (48.7%). Thirteen of the unit’s top 14 players who got the most snaps return this season, including standout edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, safety Jalen Pitre and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

2. Denver Broncos, 357 points
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 358 points

play

1:13

Why C.J. Stroud ‘feels great’ about new O-line

C.J. Stroud joins “First Take” to discuss how the Texans’ offensive line has improved as a unit to protect him better in the 2025 NFL season.

Projected defenses to allow the most points

The Cowboys allowed the second-most points last season, and that was with Micah Parsons for 13 games. Parsons was traded to Green Bay on Thursday for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Linebacker Eric Kendricks, nickel corner Jourdan Lewis and edge rusher Chauncey Golston are also gone.

Sprinkle in a few lingering injuries (including top linebacker DeMarvion Overshown), and the Cowboys have the shakiest defense in the league. Facing the Eagles and Commanders twice will only boost their points allowed.

2. Las Vegas Raiders, 428 points
3. Carolina Panthers, 427 points

Team-by-team rankings

Asterisks indicate my projected playoff teams.

This team has it all: an elite coach in John Harbaugh, perhaps the league’s best QB in two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, a terrific offensive supporting cast (led by RB Derrick Henry, WR Zay Flowers, TE Mark Andrews, OT Ronnie Stanley and C Tyler Linderbaum) and a terrific defense that returns 10 of its top 11 snap-getters from 2024 (including stars in S Kyle Hamilton, CB Marlon Humphrey, LB Roquan Smith and DT Nnamdi Madubuike). They also strengthened their secondary by signing cornerback Jaire Alexander.

We already discussed Buffalo’s stellar offensive outlook, but Sean McDermott’s defense deserves some love, as well. Led by edge rusher Greg Rousseau, corner Christian Benford, defensive tackle Ed Oliver and new edge rusher Joey Bosa, this should be a solid unit. The Bills are equipped for another run at a title.

Injuries decimated the Lions’ defense in 2024, which led to a quick playoff exit after a dominant 15-2 regular season. The departures of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, as well as new players on the interior offensive line, create notable uncertainties. But Detroit’s roster is still stacked with talent. I expect the Lions to contend for the top NFC seed again despite projecting them to have the toughest schedule.

The reigning Super Bowl champions took a hit on defense during the offseason, losing edge Brandon Graham, cornerback Darius Slay, edge Josh Sweat, defensive tackle Milton Williams and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But at its worst, this team is solid on paper because of its elite offense with RB Saquon Barkley, QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown. The Eagles have a legitimate shot to repeat.

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Perhaps the Chiefs are headed for some regression after they had so many close wins last season but suffered a shellacking against the Eagles for the title. But it’s hard to doubt a franchise that has reached five of the past six Super Bowls, including three in a row. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes appears to have more offensive support this season, even with wide receiver Rashee Rice being suspended for the first six games. Their strong defense also returns 13 of its top 15 snap-getters from 2024.

Tampa Bay has found its franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield and he’ll have one of the league’s top supporting casts, which now includes first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. The defense still has concerns at certain positions, but the unit can be good enough to give the Bucs a shot at their fifth consecutive division title and sixth straight trip to the postseason.

Sean Payton turned Denver into a playoff team last season, and he’ll have an even better squad on paper this season. A defense led by cornerback Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and defensive tackle Zach Allen is outstanding, and it added more playmakers in two former 49ers (LB Dre Greenlaw and S Talanoa Hufanga). Second-year QB Bo Nix will benefit from a terrific offensive line and skill-position upgrades like tight end Evan Engram.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s back injury could derail things, but the Rams have constructed one of their best rosters in several years. They struck gold with edge rusher Jared Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and we know they’re well-coached under Sean McVay. On offense, they replaced wide receiver Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams, who tied for 15th in ESPN’s open receiver score last season.

The Vikings remain elite in a lot of areas, including offensive line, pass catchers (led by WR Justin Jefferson) and defense (a unit that includes defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave). The big question, of course, is how well quarterback J.J. McCarthy plays after the 2024 first-round pick missed his rookie season because of a knee injury.

The Packers are solid on both sides of the ball, and the offense could be even better with improved targets, including first-round receiver Matthew Golden, and a fully healthy QB in Jordan Love. The blockbuster trade for edge rusher Micah Parsons revamps their defensive line and could be enough to cement Green Bay as a playoff contender.

Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels appears to be the real deal and can carry this team far, especially with more veterans on offense, such as left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The defense remains a major red flag, but defensive mastermind Dan Quinn could again coach it into a competent unit.

The Bengals have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years despite winning nine-plus games in four consecutive seasons. It’s hard to imagine a team that has quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (both in the top 10 of our top 100 players) missing the postseason again, but giant questions loom along the offensive line and defense.

The Bears are one of the league’s most fascinating teams. New coach/offensive mastermind Ben Johnson will look to get the most out of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who will have the benefit of a terrific young group of pass catchers and a much-improved offensive line. The defense is, at worst, solid and helps give Chicago a legit shot at the postseason.

play

2:00

Why Mina Kimes expects a big turnaround from Caleb Williams

Mina Kimes and Chris Canty discuss whether they expect a bigger turnaround from Caleb Williams or Bryce Young this NFL season.

Losing elite left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season is brutal, and the Chargers’ defense certainly has several concerning areas — the unit ranked in the bottom 10 at linebacker and cornerback in my positional group rankings. Still, the Justin Herbert-led offense looks good, and Jim Harbaugh’s record speaks for itself (55-25-1 in five seasons as an NFL head coach).

A T.J. Watt-led defense that added cornerback Jalen Ramsey this offseason is perhaps the league’s best on paper, but the big question is how much the team will get out of 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers couldn’t move the needle for a talented Jets roster last season, and this offensive supporting cast is below average. Mike Tomlin’s leadership should keep this team in the wild-card mix, though.

AFC sleeper alert! The Patriots are much better in nearly all areas compared with last season. After finishing with the fewest sacks in the NFL last season (28), the defense improved by signing DT Milton Williams, edge Harold Landry III, LB Robert Spillane and CB Carlton Davis III. Second-year QB Drake Maye will have wide receiver Stefon Diggs and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson as options. And Mike Vrabel replaced Jerod Mayo as head coach.

Houston remains the favorite in the AFC South, with an aforementioned terrific defense and a solid offense. There are some lingering offensive line concerns, as the unit could have four new starters this season, but third-year QB C.J. Stroud and standout wideout Nico Collins give this team a higher floor.

NFC sleeper alert! Jonathan Gannon’s defense is much improved after investing heavily up front. The Cardinals signed edge Josh Sweat, along with defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell in free agency. And in the draft, they took defensive tackle Walter Nolen III in the first round, though he will start the season on the reserve/PUP list because of a calf issue. The Kyler Murray-led offense could also be better if wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. makes a Year 2 leap.

As usual, Kyle Shanahan’s offense figures to be very good, but injuries at wide receiver are already piling up — the 49ers aren’t sure if Jauan Jennings will be available for Week 1. The big red flag here is a defense that had many notable departures, leaving the 49ers with big concerns at defensive tackle, corner and safety. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and new coordinator Robert Saleh will have their work cut out for them.

Quarterback aside, the Colts arguably have a top-10 roster. The defense looks pretty good (cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum were much-needed upgrades in the secondary), and the offense includes several difference-makers (RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Michael Pittman Jr., G Quenton Nelson, OT Braden Smith and first-round rookie TE Tyler Warren). If new starting QB Daniel Jones can give the team somewhat competent play, the Colts might surprise the league.

Mike McDonald’s defense looks to have the league’s best interior line, including Leonard Williams, second-year Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed. The offense is more of a wild card, as new quarterback Sam Darnold will need to sustain his improved play from 2024. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp and running back Kenneth Walker III will need to stay healthy, too.

Breaking News from Adam Schefter

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With Tua Tagovailoa under center, the Dolphins’ offense has a ton of upside, but it also struggled to make the most of receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle last season. The offensive line is concerning. The defense is even shakier, especially with all five secondary starters from 2024 gone and little done to replace them. There’s also uncertainty at edge rusher after Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips missed most of the past two seasons. This is a career-defining year for coach Mike McDaniel.

The Falcons’ defense finished with the second-fewest sacks last season (31), but there’s potential for a step forward if first-round edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are the real deal. The offense has a much brighter outlook, but second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. started only three games last season and threw an interception in each one. He has a good supporting cast, led by WR Drake London, RB Bijan Robinson and a quality line, but Penix will need a Year 2 leap for Atlanta to enter the playoff discussion.

Dallas’ offseason had more headlines than impact additions. A healthy Dak Prescott/CeeDee Lamb duo will be a big boost in the right direction, but an offensive line already battling injuries isn’t what it was a few years ago. The defense also has to figure out its identity without Micah Parsons on the edge.

The Giants have clear weak spots, but there’s potential for them to outperform this ranking. The defense is quietly very good on paper after the additions of cornerback Paulson Adebo, safety Jevon Holland and first-round edge rusher Abdul Carter to a group that already included DT Dexter Lawrence II, edge Brian Burns and LB Bobby Okereke. The offense, led by WR Malik Nabers, has questions along the line, but competent QB play from Russell Wilson or first-round pick Jaxson Dart can get this team into the wild-card discussion.

The Jets fumbled away a stacked roster last season, and the outlook doesn’t appear bright now. A defense that includes DT Quinnen Williams, edge Jermaine Johnson and CB Sauce Gardner should be above average, but an offense led by quarterback Justin Fields and unproven skill players beyond wide receiver Garrett Wilson figures to be very limited.

The Jaguars drafted one of the league’s most interesting players in Travis Hunter, but the rookie will be hard-pressed to make up for this roster’s voids at wide receiver and cornerback. Little (no pun intended, Walker Little) was done to address perhaps the league’s shakiest offensive line, which puts added pressure on quarterback Trevor Lawrence under new coach Liam Coen. The defense should be solid, with edge Josh Hines-Allen, LB Foyesade Oluokun and CB Tyson Campbell among the impact players.

The Titans are entering a new era with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at quarterback. Tennessee improved its offensive line, but growing pains are probable and the skill positions are still a work in progress. And besides the great defensive tackle duo of Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat, the defense doesn’t have much for opponents to fear.

Quarterback Bryce Young started to show some life late last season and another step forward will be the key to Carolina outproducing this ranking. He’ll have a better supporting cast after the team selected wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round. But the league’s worst scoring defense in 2024 could still be shaky — the return to health for star defensive tackle Derrick Brown will be a big help.

Perhaps Pete Carroll can coach this team out of the basement, but even with the additions of QB Geno Smith and RB Ashton Jeanty on offense and the presence of edge Maxx Crosby on an otherwise shaky defense, this roster has too many weak points. I had them ranked last at wide receiver and 30th overall in my positional group rankings.

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0:47

Dopp: Ashton Jeanty can be an anchor RB for fantasy managers

Daniel Dopp breaks down why Ashton Jeanty can be an anchor RB for fantasy managers.

The Browns’ defense took a giant step back last season and now looks like a bottom-10 unit on paper (even with edge rusher Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward). The offense is in flux and might not improve until Cleveland takes another flier on a franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft.

Derek Carr’s sudden retirement cemented this one, as Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough will have to step up at quarterback this season. If that’s not enough, the cornerback group might be shakiest in the NFL, and there are age and/or injury concerns with RB Alvin Kamara, LB Demario Davis, edge Cameron Jordan, WR Chris Olave and TE Taysom Hill.

Super Bowl LX prediction: Ravens over Lions

It’s no secret that the Ravens have yet to register a Super Bowl appearance during the Lamar Jackson era (or since 2012), but that could change this season. Baltimore has perhaps its best roster on paper since it defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, sitting at No. 1 in my overall positional group rankings.

The Lions were the best team in the NFL last season before being derailed by a ridiculous stretch of defensive injuries. Now (mostly) healthy, they have a good shot to fend off the defending champion Eagles in the NFC playoffs, reaching their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Offensive unit grade rankings

RankTeamQBRBWRTEOL1Ravens1097972Eagles81097103Chiefs1048964Bills1076775Bengals1049626Buccaneers779577Lions7108868Commanders838659Rams6795710Chargers778361149ers71048712Bears5588913Packers6866714Vikings4598915Cowboys6386616Dolphins6784317Falcons51065618Cardinals6748519Broncos5437920Patriots5657521Colts3966722Titans4554723Texans5466324Panthers4564525Seahawks4864426Raiders4839527Steelers4349428Giants4564328Jaguars4574230Jets3743531Saints2863532Browns24485*Units are graded on a 1-10 scale

Defensive unit grade rankings

RankTeamDTEdgeLBCBS1Steelers8106852Lions578793Broncos858784Giants896655Ravens656985Vikings896477Texans495968Seahawks964769Patriots7668510Jets6588511Colts9647512Packers3964913Bears5478714Eagles6398515Cardinals9534916Bills6668317Chiefs6478318Rams7724619Jaguars4784420Buccaneers5457521Chargers2744822Dolphins5772423Saints3772624Titans9335424Browns5754326Bengals5753426Commanders4310622849ers2774329Falcons4464530Cowboys6335531Panthers6426332Raiders38523*Units are graded on a 1-10 scale



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Anker Laptop Power Bank, 25,000mah Portable Charger
Game Reviews

Anker’s 25,000mAh Laptop Power Bank Drops Below Prime Day Pricing for Labor Day, Game Freely Without Outlets

by admin


Maybe someone challenged Anker to see just how much power and potential they could pack into a portable charger that’s only 6 inches long and weighs a scant 1.3 pounds. There’s really no other logical explanation for the Anker Laptop Power Bank, a 25,000mAh universally compatible behemoth with that can charge up to 4 devices at a time.

Could this be the best portable charging device of all? Four-device capabilty, two built-in cables including one that doubles as a carrying strap, able to charge an M3 MacBook Air from zero to 50% in just 21 minutes, and the winner of an iF Design Award and a Red Dot Design Award in 2025? Finding out for yourself has never been easier now that Amazon’s running a limited-time 30%-off deal that drops the Anker Laptop Power Bank to just $94.

See at Amazon

Charges Everything, Fast

The Anker Laptop Power Bank can charge four devices in total, and even with three devices connected for some juice — including a laptop — all three get up to 100W at the same time. Two of the three USB-C ports have dedicated built-in cables, thus eliminating that mad scramble to find one when you’re on the go or in a hurry. One of those built-in USB-C cables extends up to 2.3 feet and can retract back into the body of the Power Bank, while the other doubles as a carrying strap. That’s a lot of cable-bending, so it’s good that Anker has built both cables to endure over 20,000 bends and retractions.

It doesn’t matter which device you’re looking to charge — the Anker Laptop Power Bank works with Mac and Windows laptops, smartphones, tablets, and wireless earbuds and headphones from Apple, Samsung, Google, or any brand that’s USB-C compatible, and also Steam Decks and other handheld gaming consoles. The fourth port is USB-A, so older devices aren’t getting left out.

See It Work

The hi-res real-time display screen at the front of the Anker Laptop Power Bank gives you all the information you could possibly need, including the output and input wattage for all four ports, remaining charge time, and the temperature and health of the Laptop Power Bank itself. The Laptop Power Bank takes its own temperature and those of the devices it’s connected to 3 million times per day, basically eliminating any chance of an excessive-heat-related failure. It’s TSA approved, so it’s the ultimate travel accessory to keep all of your devices up and running.

There’s a very solid case to be made that the Anker Laptop Power Bank is indeed the very best portable charger on the market. The combination of compact size, power output, number of devices it can charge, built-in cables, and safety measures is unparalleled, and now during Amazon’s limited-time 30% off deal, so is the $94 price.

See at Amazon



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