Where Things Stand: 2022 NFL Edition Part 2
If the Thursday Night Football games aren’t going to kill me, the roughing the passer penalties will.
We’ll be diving into those topics here in Part 2 of WTS: 2022 NFL Edition and more.
I thought Part 1 was a doozy! Part 2 might actually take the cake.
That’s what everyone here at WTS HQ is scarfing down on now at the behest of Associate Paul. We hired one more intern to fill in for the rest of this season, intern Diann. Paul wanted all of me, editor Brandon Lewis, Diann and the other fellow interns Jason, Randy, Mindy and Zack to have a midseason celebration.
Why, I don’t know, but who am I to deny cake as long as it’s not all chocolate? Then again, I might have drank too much Kool-Aid again after a certain someone did a certain thing… again.
Speaking of an expanded staff, it’s time to divy up some roles for Paul and the interns.
While Brandon is our editor (obviously), Paul and Randy are in charge of video coordination, as well as protecting our three most important things: The time machine, the crystal ball and our secret project.
Interns Diann and Zack are in charge of delivering us the videos from the others while Mindy and Jason are looking up stats and news when either Brandon or I are away, along with everyone else pitching in on other areas.
I also assigned Mindy with Jason because as much as he’s back in my good graces, I still don’t trust him around the time machine (Yes, my trust issues still exist from him blowing up the first one). Mindy, Paul and Randy also happen to be voices of reason for me.
I don’t have a mulligan favorite just yet, but there are teams to shred, and we can’t keep you waiting any longer.
I have run out of transition lines to move along to the AFC East.
*Note: All team page hyperlinks are to ESPN.
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AFC East
Buffalo: 3–1 | Part 2: 6–2
NY Jets: 2–2 | Part 2: 6–3
Miami: 3–1 | Part 2: 6–3
Patriots: 1–3 | Part 2: 5–4
State of the AFC East
Buffalo: I’ve been missing out on the Josh Allen experience in fantasy football until this year, and I love it! Please don’t let him be injured too badly.
With one more division title this season, we can officially sweep away the New England Invitational Division into the dustbin forever.
These guys are so good. They and Kansas City just needed running backs at the trade deadline (a la Kareem Hunt or David Montgomery), and you couldn’t stop them.
I mean, Nyheim Hines is alright. He can catch passes, but I was thinking of bigger name.
And Gabriel Davis putting up a 2–160–2 statline in the first half of Week 5? Could we have a Stefon Diggs replacement on the cheap?!
Intern Diann, you’re up! Associate Paul has the video in File 3.
Let’s be real here: The NFL MVP award is Josh Allen’s to lose. Sorry Brandon, Jalen Hurts is a good candidate. The problem is Allen has been an absolute wrecking ball.
Wait, what happened versus the Jets?!
New York: Timeout! Something’s wrong!
The Jets have a winning record, and they beat Buffalo. I’ve sang the praises of Robert Saleh before, but 6–3 heading into Week 10? Where the heck did this come from?! Zach Wilson has not looked like the quarterback I thought he’d be (yet) while this team wins games they shouldn’t.
Are they actually, dare I say, contenders?
Oh wait, Breece Hall is out for the year. James Robinson is now Michael Carter’s new best friend for the remainder of the season.
Intern Zack, go to File 2 for the clip. Let’s appreciate Hall’s final big play of the year on this magnificent run.
Miami: To kill off the LOLphins and bring back the respectable name or not? That is the question.
Miami lost the games Tua was out and rattled off three straight wins upon his return.
They’re above .500 at the midway point, and it’s been because of Tua when he’s not on a medical cart. If these performances don’t validate my 2020 self, I don’t know what will.
I would say it’s a shame you gave up your first-round pick from the Trey Lance deal, leaving you with none because Stephen Ross wanted Tom Brady, but Bradley Chubb was, and is worth a first round pick. Thank you cards may be addressed to San Francisco.
This doesn’t absolve Stephen Ross of anything, but you’re tentatively the Dolphins again. IF you have one more franchise screw-up this season or ahead of next year, you will be the LOLphins through 2023.
New England: I want to declare the Patriots as dead. The problem is their head coach is one of the best to ever do it, and they continually make pundits look silly.
Though a quarterback controversy between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe was yet another item I didn’t have on my WTS bingo card.
And said controversy is over now that Mac Jones has taken the reins again. We want to officially kill off the New England Invitational Division! Lose Patriots! Lose!
The more we root against them after that 1–3 start, they win four of five to end the midway point above .500.
ASSOCIATE PAUL! Get out the other secret project that isn’t THE secret project. Yes, I mean it. The one we dare not talk about except for now. We may have finally found a use for it, and there is a test subject for the experiment.
AFC North
Baltimore: 2–2 | Part 2: 6–3
Cincinnati: 2–2 | Part 2: 5–4
Cleveland: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–5
Pittsburgh: 1–3 | Part 2: 2–6
State of the AFC North:
Baltimore: You may be above .500, though things have been very shaky. How much longer do we have before the Ravens explode for a 14-game winning streak?
Not happening this year?
Good. Because Lamar Jackson has not moved the needle to get back in the top tier of NFL quarterbacks after his hot start to the season.
He’s not been helped with a pass catching corps. that outside of Mark Andrews, has had major question marks.
When Devin Duvernay is a top option, that’s not a good sign. It is also not a good sign you’re going to need to cuff Lamar with a franchise tag in March.
In a way, Cleveland screwed Baltimore with the NFL quarterback market. Let’s see if the same takes place with the North’s current second-place team.
Cincinnati: The Bengals managed to rebound until the unthinkable happened: Ja’Marr Chase being sidelined for at least four-to-six weeks with a hip injury.
He is literally your offensive axis, and how Joe Burrow manages to play without his favorite toy will be a defining narrative of his career.
Is this reaction a little over the top? Not really. This offense lacked punch before Chase arrived. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd now need to have the best stretches of football in their lives to prevent an epic collapse.
Cleveland: The way this team keeps losing is almost laughable at this point. I know they beat the Bengals into a bloody pulp, but I nearly wrote a separate column on this mess before deciding against it. The win was a nice little bonus before the Bye Week.
Heck, I’m unsure if I felt the gut punch (explained in WTS Part 1 and 2021 Part 4) from the Chargers game. I do work a part-time gig on Sundays, and I had something I really had to pay attention to that took precedence over trying to track the game near the end between some mini breaks. With all of my focus elsewhere, I couldn’t tell what happened.
It happened again against New England early enough that I just accepted the loss, and the same thing happened around halftime with Baltimore.
I have also calmed down from my tirade about the offside call the fans thought the Browns got screwed out of before finding that a Browns lineman did jump on the other side.
The Cleveland Football Team should have been 6–0 and 7–1. If Joe Woods actually found a way to stop opposing offenses before Monday Night Football against Joe Burrow, this wouldn’t be a recurring segment!
Let me get something else out of the way before I continue on my diatribe: Some of the coaching staff I give a lot of props to for what they’ve handled, and the same goes to factions of the front office and the PR staff on hand. I wanted to lump Andrew Berry in here, but I’m processing through how to actually view him.
Heck, I’m not taking a victory lap on my old article regarding Kevin Stefanski this year because he could be gone, barring a 6–0 showing when the suspended one comes back (Sidebar: Pulled over for speeding).
Speaking of coaches, I wish the fake Adam Schefter post (which was later deleted) about Callie Brownson being promoted to defensive coordinator were true. For those who don’t know, I’ve actually spoken with Brownson before, and I believe the current chief of staff and assistant wide receivers coach could be a NFL head coach one day. She has gained added responsibilities over her three years in Cleveland.
Back to the topic at hand, I really want to blast some of these clowns into the stratosphere here in Cleveland. We’re going to rip off the band aid, IV needle and duct tape in Part 4 of WTS in January. It’s honestly sad at this point on how I’ve fallen back to my 2015–17 self in terms of apathy with this club, yet they remain so tantalizingly talented compared to those squads!
Let me make one more thing clear: My issues are with the team product, ownership, Joe Woods, Mike Prieffer and a certain player in exile. The rest of the folks; nearly all are spared.
The quiet rage I was harboring in Part 1 of WTS turned into a manageable acceptance of the circumstances. If anything, I’ve been laughing because this is what the team deserved. It’s funny how quick the apathy set in.
All of this is well-deserved karma for a Cleveland team that has turned into total screwballs again. The Guardians and the Cavaliers are actual, competent organizations who deserve all of the sellouts in the world and not the Clown show.
It’s as I’ve said before;
“At this point, trying to ask, “Why do you keep doing this to me?” is akin to asking, “Why do I keep getting drunk?” and not realizing it’s a problem with Alcoholism.”
At least in my case, I don’t need the booze to properly deal with the pain.
Pittsburgh: If the Browns were any good, I’d go ahead and rub salt in the wound.
I will enjoy your likely fall and a losing season while whittling away a piece of wood in my rocking chair.
Hold on… Kenny Pickett calling out the organization for not studying enough as a group on offense?
Okay, it’s so tempting to-
YOU GOT A SECOND ROUND PICK FOR CHASE CLAYPOOL?!
Oy vey! This year’s trade deadline was absurd!
AFC South
Tennessee: 2–2 | Part 2: 5–3
Indianapolis: 1–2–1 | Part 2: 3–5–1
Jacksonville: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–6
Houston: 0–3–1 | Part 2: 1–6–1
State of the AFC South:
Tennessee: What the heck happened to Tennessee the last few weeks?
Why are they winning? They don’t have an A.J. Brown. They have King Henry, but that’s it.
And… Derrick Henry ruined my perfect fantasy season running roughshod over Houston. The Titans followed that up by losing to Kansas City.
*Goes to private office and grabs Kool-Aid*
Ladies and gentlemen, we may have our first mulligan candidate!
Indianapolis: Andrew Luck.
Longtime readers know where I’m going with this.
I hope ruining your golden goose has been worth the middling futility for Jim Irsay and former General Manager Ryan Grigson being able to sleep at night.
Sam Ehlinger?!
Oh my god, you all are screwed. With Jonathan Taylor battling injuries and Matt Ryan a total shell of himself, you have the guy who declared Texas was back as your quarterback.
This is absolutely deserved, hilarious and no one should feel sorry for you. Luck was the answer! You had him and then destroyed him. Do you know how hard it is to get a surefire guy like Luck who turns around a hapless season without Peyton Manning and delivers you three straight playoff berths?
Very hard as many teams come to find out. There’s countless stories from teammates or coaches in the industry who described how good and different he was from any other rookie.
Congratulations, Dolts. You’ve earned this moniker.
OH! We’re not done! Say goodbye to Frank Reich!! It’s unfortunate for the dude to have a constantly revolving door at quarterback, and I’ll bet he lands somewhere else.
The replacement is… Jeff Saturday?
Huh. I’m interested to see where this goes. It’ll either be Dan Campbell fun or Rob Chudzinski tragedy (I didn’t hear a ton of complaints about Chud, but man that guy got it rough).
Jacksonville: I now wish I overruled Brandon Lewis with the joke I originally had with the Jaguars about setting the bar too high in Part 1.
Five losses in a row and I was correct.
One thing I’ll give them credit for wasn’t utilizing James Robinson correctly. It was feeding the rock to Travis Ettiene and flipping Robinson for draft capital.
Urban Meyer actually left Jacksonville a present under the tree after all. That’s the irony in all of this. If not for him, you do not have Ettiene.
Hold up. Trent Baalke went out and acquired Calvin Ridley from Atlanta.
The intrigue level is now at 6.5 out of 10.
Houston: Meh. This was expected.
I’m not wasting page space on you this time. Keep losing for CJ Stroud or Bryce Young, Houston. There’s at least Dameon Pierce as a potential franchise running back.
Moving along.
AFC West
Kansas City: 3–1 | Part 2: 6–2
LA Chargers: 2–2 | Part 2: 5–3
Denver: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–5
Las Vegas: 1–3 | Part 2: 2–6
State of the AFC West:
Kansas City: After all of the kick and punt return touchdowns, Mecole Hardman added his first rushing score?
In the chaos of this football season, Andy Reid teams coming off a bye-week continued their excellence and therefore secured their stay atop the AFC West.
There’s really not much to say about the Chiefs. They’re near where I expected them to be.
LA Chargers: Even with Kennan Allen looking like a shell of himself with these recent spate of injuries and Mike Williams out, Joshua Palmer and the seemingly reliable Austin Ekeler stepped up to carry the Chargers to a victory in Week 9.
However, something feels off. That rib injury Justin Herbert sustained feels like it’s holding this team back more than it should. Maybe I’m way off on my read of the situation here, but something tells me there will be offseason turmoil for the team that should still be in San Diego.
It may involve a Son of Ohio in Brandon Staley being given marching orders. If Sean Payton is available, expect Dean Spanos to try and shred the label of dysfunctional franchise and bring in a potential proven winner.
Denver: Do I hear ANOTHER head coach firing?!
No? Dammit.
Look, Hackthaniel Hackett is running this damn team into the ground. He’s a retread and should be fired by now!
John Elway, do not use the Russell Wilson or Javonte Williams injuries as a pretext to keep the Hack in charge. You had fans leaving before overtime against the Dolts. THE DOLTS!!
Zack, get the video please.
Ken Dorsey isn’t quite ready in my eyes to become a head coach, and Leslie Frazier isn’t going to be a huge difference maker as much as he could be a stabilizer.
You know who would be the guy to fix your problems if not for what you did in past coaching cycles? Brian Flores.
Denver, I introduce you to your hell for management doing the wrong thing (except the Walton family, who came in AFTER that whole debacle).
I almost forgot to mention Payton is your other potential solution. Him or Flores, boys. Pick one!
Las Vegas: Why do I get the feeling Josh McDaniels will get through this season and get fired in Week 5 of next season?
It feels eerily similar to the few details I remember when he was the head coach in Denver, and the following note from this year’s Part 1:
“X’s and O’s are his specialty according to Tyler Polumbus on Twitter. We’ll see if he can climb out of this muck.”
Davante Adams has been solid, but the team has fallen apart. Perhaps in hindsight, retaining Rich Bisaccia would have yielded better results. I’m currently not going to go shred-mode on Vegas, but they do make it awfully tempting.
I’ll find a reason in one of the next two editions.
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Where are my multiple NFC East punching bags?! Washington is the only easy target.
Editor Brandon Lewis shall handle Philly’s main narrative while I try to find ways to stop this ‘NFC East being a good division’ crisis. I’m assuming he’s over the moon with them.
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NFC East
Philly: 4–0 | Part 2: 8–0
Dallas: 3–1 | Part 2: 6–2
NY Giants: 3–1 | Part 2: 6–2
Washington: 1–3 | Part 2: 4–5
State of the NFC East:
Philadelphia: And you would be right Sean! Here’s what I wrote in my annual NFL Midseason Report Card
“Entering Week 10, the Eagles are the only undefeated team in the NFL at 8–0. Third-year signal caller Jalen Hurts has taken a huge leap in the passing game this season. General Manager Howie Roseman made some key additions on both sides of the ball in free agency and the draft in A.J. Brown, Kizer White, James Bradberry, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jordan Davis (albeit hurt right now) and most recently Robert Quinn that has the makings of a really good football team with a plethora of talent. Take the young talent the team possesses and mix it with veteran leadership in Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox, all who were on the Super Bowl LII team, and you have yourselves a Super Bowl contender.”
I expected my Eagles to finish the 2022 regular season 12–5 and easily win the NFC East. I expected a big leap from Hurts with the addition of Brown, and I expected a solid defensive turnaround, but I never expected this. This team plays just like their head coach: Dawg mentality!
They want to impose their will and prove themselves every single week. The mix of youth and veterans on this team has created a bond in the locker room. The Eagles play for each other, and they are the best team in football going into Week 10. Every road game is a “business trip” to QB1, and they’re taking care of business, both on the road and at the Linc.
Nick Siranni had maybe the worst opening press conference in history (Ok, maybe next to Dan Campbell), but unlike his 2021 new head coach class mate, he’s producing results on the field. Just like Doug Pederson, I had my doubts on Sirianni, but he’s won me and the city of Philadelphia over.
I’m not going to make postseason predictions yet, but I like my team’s chances come January.
Excellent insight as always, my friend.
Dallas: Dak Prescott is the quarterback. Case closed.
No more Cooper Rush talk. No more excuses for Mike McCarthy to turn to.
Win now or lose your job. My gut instinct tells me good ‘ole Mr. Jones is running out of patience, and he’ll somehow blame his head coach for the lost production of Amari Cooper for a paltry fifth-round draft pick.
The world wants to see Dallas burn to the ground during the homestretch. We need an NFC East punching bag!!
NY Giants: There’s still so much I want to know. How does this franchise quickly get out of the doldrums?
Are we in for a second half collapse or will Big Blue’s surprising season in contention for the NFC East continue? As long as this formula continues, they could take a spot in the middling NFC.
Washington: The Washington Commanders story about Dan Snyder ran by ESPN is disturbing.
The man is so paranoid that he’s essentially looking to see if any shadow near him is holding a dagger to stab him in the back.
Perhaps a winning football team would have quieted some of the storm, but fortunately for the world, that has not materialized. We get to dissect Snyder and his operation that has failed to yield results for years.
Wait… it’s a miracle. DAN SNYDER IS OPEN TO SELLING THE TEAM!!!
Washington fans, brace yourselves. This will be a heckuva ride! And maybe not for all the right reasons.
NFC North
Minnesota: 3–1 | Part 2: 7–1
Green Bay: 3–1 | Part 2: 3–6
Chicago: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–6
Detroit: 1–3 | Part 2: 2–6
State of the NFC North:
Minnesota: “Wait, you’re in first place? Alright interns, Associate Paul and Brandon, place your bets on how long this lasts.”
We all lost, but technically Mindy and Jason tied since they picked Week 8 for the change of the division lead.
Meanwhile, I can hear the screams of joy coming from our good friend and colleague Quentin Griffin as Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman cannot screw this up. They have unlocked 2017 mode. Potential NFC Championship loss to Philadelphia may or may not be included.
A purple wave in the Super Bowl might be a real possibility barring a Dalvin Cook or Justin Jefferson injury.
Green Bay: I can’t believe it. Green Bay lost five in a row and somehow is on the mulligan list?
You have Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Run the rock!
Aaron Rodgers, time to take away some of your autonomy. If you want the Lombardi, I suggest you check your ego and relax. You have talent (except for the wideouts) and should utilize it to win, whatever form it may be.
Dare I say Jordan Love?
Chicago: ~OH MY GOD! You finally learned how to unlock cheat code mode Justin Fields in Week 9! It’s about damn time!!~
Intern Mindy dug up this ESPN article following Fields’ fantastic day on the ground.
Yet somehow, I have little faith in the Bears.
Watch them suddenly go 8–9 to wrap up the year.
Detroit: I said I wanted to buy the Lions stock with their high-flying offense last time. I never said I would.
Trading T.J. Hockenson within the division was a head scratcher. Yes, he got you some value but Hockenson to Minnesota?
That’s a move that seems potentially geared toward tormenting Detroit for years. I want to get inside the minds of their front office.
NFC South
Tampa Bay: 2–2 | Part 2: 4–5
Atlanta: 2–2 | Part 2: 4–5
New Orleans: 1–3 | Part 2: 3–6
Carolina: 1–3 | Part 2: 2–7
State of the NFC South:
Tampa Bay: “Tom Brady’s retirement was short lived. Though perhaps he should’ve stayed that way this time?”
Oh my goodness. We are finally living in a world where-
Tom Brady led another game winning drive in less than a minute. One can dream, right?
You know, I’ve been a little more Tom Brady friendly since he went to Tampa Bay. The dude has been balling out still, and it’s not entirely on him. I know the loss of Ryan Jensen has complicated matters, but there’s two other things that I believe have held this team back.
The first are the running backs. Leonard Fournette has been a shell of himself, and Rachaad White hasn’t gained much traction either. You need to run the rock more often and not throw the ball 45 times per game.
The other reason I believe Tampa Bay has struggled: Todd Bowles. I liked the dude as a head coach with the Jets. The problem is, fairly or not, the offensive struggles and not capitalizing on the talent he has. Whether Tom Brady’s very public divorce had any effect on the offense, we will never truly know.
Still, this division is a shell of what it was even two years ago. If Tampa Bay loses it, it’s squarely on the entire team.
Oh, and I nearly forgot that this is now roughing the passer. Get that weak stuff out of here! We may as well be playing flag football.
Atlanta: What the hell is going on here?!
How did the Fall Down Cons find their way into first place after the Bucs loss to the Ravens?!
No, that doesn’t absolve you of your failures.
Yes, I’m happy Cordalle Patterson is back in the lineup.
And no, Fall Down Cons stays. This division, as said with the Bucs, is terrible.
New Orleans: I’m not even sure what to say about the Saints. Michael Thomas is done for the year, Jarvis Landry’s body has turned brittle, and the league can still suspend or sideline Alvin Kamara any time it wants.
The drop off in talent isn’t just because of losing Sean Payton. The all-in pushes from the last few years and the salary cap purgatory they seem to be mired in dating back to the days of JAIRUS FREAKING BYRD will not let this franchise go.
Yes, we’ve learned the cap can be manipulated, though it’s time to nuke the current core and actually rebuild. Give Dennis Allen some time, but this is going to be a long-term overhaul.
Carolina: Matt Rhule was the first to go in the NFL coaching carousel.
Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Matt Rhule. The list goes on outside of Pete Carroll being a Super Bowl winner in Seattle of horrible decisions to hire college coaches without any or some professional experience.
I have no clue how long this era of football will set the Panthers back, but it’ll be for a while.
On the plus side, Baker Mayfield looked rejuvenated in a second half blowout in Week 9. Cleveland fans have a vested interest if they want the conditional fourth rounder to convey.
NFC West
Seattle: 2–2 | Part 2: 6–3
San Fran: 2–2 | Part 2: 4–4
LA Rams: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–5
Arizona: 2–2 | Part 2: 3–6
State of the NFC West:
Seattle: “Okay, I didn’t expect the second win, albeit it was against the Lions. There was no defense played in that game. What I WAS going to say if not for Seattle ruining the narrative would have been: “Your one win with Geno Smith was a fluke from Freddie Kitchens emulator Nathaniel Hackett.”
You still have Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Go finish 5–12 and collect your first high first-round pick since the Jamal Adams trade.
Still shocking to see Russell Wilson traded, and some believing he’s kinda washed in that organization, but perhaps they aren’t wrong.”
What the ****?
Why are you above .500? How are you above .500?!
Geno FREAKING Smith is looking more and more like his Mountaineer days at West Virginia, and Seattle is winning.
Then again, Kenneth Walker III is quickly vaulting himself into Top 5 running back status. The dude is a beast!
Intern Randy, please feed through a Walker touchdown run. Thanks!
We are in the apocalypse folks. Both New Jersey (York) teams and Seattle are actually in contention.
This is a Ryan Fitzpatrick situation, and I’m calling it now!
San Francisco: “However, the 49ers kept Jimmy G and restructured his contract for a contingency.
A contingency just like this one.
One that would be very hard to predict without help…
*Insert Now it all makes sense gif*
Kyle Shannahan and John Lynch must have somehow stolen my crystal ball from WTS HQ and figured out that keeping Jimmy G would save them and deliver a Super Bowl!
BRANDON!! Check for any unauthorized access to the crystal ball! When in doubt, check the batteries!! If it’s intern Jason screwing up like he did with the time machine a few years ago, we’re sending him back to the 1980s to make more money for a new HQ. It will be a strictly business trip for him if proven.”
Good news! Brandon, Intern Randy and I were able to verify Intern Jason did not tamper with the crystal ball. He’s off the hook for the 49ers incredible foresight.
Yes, I still have trust issues, but Jason can be reliable.
One thing no one could have predicted was San Francisco opening the floodgates to a memorable NFL trade deadline.
Christian McCaffery.
The trifecta for the first time since 2005. Intern Diann, please open File 16.
The 49ers have gone all-in on the Rams mantra of eschewing draft picks for established talent. Now it’s on Kyle Shanahan to get over the hump after getting to two of the last three NFC Championships.
It’s the final hurrah for the San Francisco version of Jimmy G. We’ll still have Deebo Samuel being a highlight reel, George Kittle wrecking people, and whoever else I’m forgetting on the defense not named Nick Bosa.
LA Rams: General Manager Les Snead really hates his draft picks if he was willing to give up more to get CMC.
However, there’s bigger fish to fry. Matthew Stafford looks cooked, and the offensive line has been subpar to average at best this season. It’d be a lot better if *somebody* still had their draft picks!
Yes, a Super Bowl is usually worth it, though not when the repeat campaign is this pathetic.
The bill has come due, and the Rams have to pay up.
Arizona: If not Denver, please let Kliff Kingsbury be the next coach to go!
He has absolutely been abysmal after falling to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers last season. According to Intern Mindy, the Cards have gone 7–12 since that game, excluding the postseason. While DeAndre Hopkins has provided a jolt, it’s not enough.
If Kingsbury isn’t out the door by mid-January, I’ll be very disappointed.
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Whatever it is, it’s always the middle editions that are the hardest to write for WTS. The end caps are the easy ones.
Many thanks goes to Brandon once again. Without him, I’d have never been able to continue elevating this series year after year.
I may move Part 3 to the Friday after Week 13, but we shall see. This edition was a bit rushed for my own tastes, but I’m far more satisfied than I was with 2021’s Part 2 and Part 3.
In the meantime, stay warm, stay safe, and I’ll see you all… when the next column comes out in a few weeks. I sometimes forget WTS isn’t my only solo writing piece these days.
As for WTS, December 8 at noon ET. Save the date!
Sean Fitzgerald is an award-winning journalist, writer, sports reporter, voice over talent and co-host of The Weekenders Podcast with Mitch Spinell. Follow him on Twitter @fitzonsportsbsr for insights, articles and occasional livestreams, as well as bi-weekly columns here on medium.com.
