Where Things Stand: 2023 NFL Edition Part 1
Can you believe it’s been five years since the first Where Things Stand article came out?
Neither can I! The first WTS series I wrote is the on-permanent-hiatus MLB edition back in 2019 (maybe someday it will return). The NFL Edition only exists thanks to my love for baseball.
Yet, here we are!! I am back! Our forever editor Brandon Lewis is back! Senior Associate Paul returns along with the newly promoted Associate Randy and returning Interns Mindy, Jason and Zack, as well as our newest intern; Allison.
We still might need one more intern this season because Year 5 is going to be a big one.
Oh, but wait! You’re wondering why Jason is still an intern?
Funny you should ask. We were going through all of the requirements to officially complete his internship. At the very end, there was one box that for some reason we couldn’t check off.
Brandon and I went to his internship coordinators and advocated for him to receive the credit, but they were actually really stubborn despite what was affirmed to them. It’s the only thing he needs to complete his course requirements. We struck a compromise with those coordinators, so he only has to report to WTS HQ and make sure EVERY BOX is marked off this year.
I do feel bad for him, but at least I was able to convince those misers to not force Jason to have to take any other courses this year.
I’m also assigning everyone roles again heading into the new season.
Paul and Mindy: They’re in charge of video coordination and the protection of the time machine, the crystal ball and our other projects.
Zack and Allison will be responsible for delivering us the videos from Paul and Mindy while Randy and Jason will head up stats collections and other tidbits, with assistance from Mindy.
Brandon and I told Mindy that she didn’t need to keep an eye on Jason this year with the Time Machine, and we have enough folks to cover everything. To our surprise, it isn’t Jason who she’s worried about.
After what Intern Zack pulled last year with accessing the crystal ball, she’ll at least have a second desk close by him in the office to make sure he doesn’t try anything funny, as she’ll be very busy on video coordination most of the time.
It’s weird how Jason is one of the people I can trust now along with Mindy, Paul and Randy. Allison is new, so she’s exempt from that list of trust. I wonder how former-Intern Diann is doing?
Speaking of other projects, with the success of our “secret project” at the end of last season, we debated making it public. Though after a good discussion and due to the nature of its capabilities, the completed project has been locked in a vault inside of a laser grid vault inside of several other deadly vaults (good luck guessing what those vaults contain). We literally spared no expense and Fort Knox’d the place. While we feel more comfortable with the time machine and crystal ball, this device could bring an end to humanity as we know it.
Outside of myself, I will not tell you who else knows of the device’s location because if you-know-who wants the time machine, they’ll do anything to get their hands on this project. It must be used with extreme caution. At least our next project isn’t as destructive as the one before it.
For our regulars, another hearty thank you for coming back for the ride this year. Hopefully the humor, snark and analysis is on point and to your satisfaction. For the newest readers, you’re going to want to review prior seasons as narratives are a big part of what we do. If you click on the hyperlinks to the Part 4’s for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, they’ll have each of those season’s four parts linked in the prologue.
As for the material that will be discussed in each of these editions, Part 1 will continue covering Weeks 1–4, Part 2 covering Weeks 5–9, Part 3 Weeks 10–13 and Part 4 Weeks 14–18.
If you missed Part 4 last year, we had to amend the Mulligan rules to be one per conference. I can’t always pick the NFC.
As we now finally embark on the fifth year’s opening WTS edition, we have teams to shred and destroy, several narratives to reinforce, Mulligan Teams to identify for the end of the year and Fitzradamus striking again…
Okay, and MAYBE some apologies owed. Emphasis on maybe.
For our first stop, it’s AFC East terminal!
DISCLAIMER: The views in WTS are mine and mine alone, with some exaggeration and hyperbole here and there.
*Note: All team page hyperlinks are to ESPN.
AFC East
Buffalo: 3–1
Miami: 3–1
Patriots: 1–3
NY Jets: 1–3
State of the AFC East
Buffalo: While this may come back to bite me, it doesn’t appear Bills Mafia will build a ‘Buffalo Invitational Division’ like the fallen evil empire so easily.
Something still feels off with the Bills to me. Damar Hamlin fortunately recovered and is playing football, though that could be a cause. Even the Stefon Diggs “drama” from the offseason I never really bought into because something didn’t seem right (and Diggs addressed it on the Pat McAfee show at some point).
Still, this should be a fun race to the end in the AFC East between the Bills and Dolphins (and I wrote this prior to the Week 4 matchup). Let’s hope Josh Allen can actually start playing a little better because that is cause for concern.
Wait… he’s on the Madden Cover, isn’t he?
Oh boy.
Addendum: Tre’Davious White falls as another victim in the Battle of Achilles (tendons), which the Ravens and Jets started Week 1 when J.K. Dobbins went down for Baltimore, and Aaron Rodgers was lost four plays into the Jets’ season (more on them later).
Miami: It was a bit hard for me to get a read on the Dolphins coming into 2023 given Tua’s head traumas last year, but damn, does he look like a franchise quarterback… When he’s not playing Buffalo.
That reminds me, I have a victory lap to take here from 2020 Part 3. Here’s part of that excerpt:
“I feel vindicated by what I said in Part 1. Tua absolutely balled out against the Cardinals and did enough against the Chargers. He has shown why I would have considered him for my №1 overall pick, albeit with some standard rookie struggles. He’s going to become a fully established star over the next few years, calling it now.”
Fitzradamus strikes again, ladies and gentlemen! Tua helped lead the charge to putting 70 points up on Denver in Week 3. Those people had families! The Dolphins went and absolutely slaughtered their victims with no regard for human life.
Just as I have slaughtered most of my victims in my Pick 3 Fantasy football league getting to use my team selection to pick Tua, Tyreek Hill (acknowledging offseason hornets nest, but waiting for final resolution) and Jaylen Waddle.
Now don’t go screwing things up. Yes, Stephen Ross, I’m talking to you. I will more than gladly break out the old moniker if I need to.
That reminds me, Intern Zack, get me the best video of that Tua no-look pass from Week 3, or whatever houdini act he pulled, and the De’Von Archane run that broke Denver’s spirits.
New England: It was Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 at 9:31 a.m., and I was trying to wrap my head around Bill Belichick keeping Mac Jones as the only quarterback on the roster following roster cut-down day.
Yes, Patriots fans. 2022 pick Bailey Zappe and rookie Malik Cunningham were both cut, but Zappe was brought back after a short stint without a team. They also brought in Will Grier.
And honestly, the Patriots feel toothless. Tom Brady is long gone, and New England doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of men any longer.
The Hoodie is a genius but even great minds can dull over time. He’s hit on a couple of draft picks of late but even I doubt he can keep this up much longer. I feel a shift in the tide, and I wonder if Pats fans feel it as well. Could this be Belichick’s final ride?
New York: New York, your savior has arrived!
Aaron Rodgers chose to continue playing by stating his intention to play for the Jets! This will be different from Brett Favre, as he will lead you to the Super Bowl! It will be nothing but wins every week, including the Bye Week!!
Reality is far more cruel. Only four snaps into his first game as a Jet, Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles tendon.
This will be far different from Favre’s Jets tenure because Brett actually played! As much as I want to snark on the Jets, I invested a third round pick into Rodgers in a two QB fantasy league (you’re welcome, Mitch from that league!), and I am in utter shock losing two key players to the Battle of Achilles (tendons) in Week 1.
Zach Wilson, I hope you managed to learn enough in your time as QB2. You win the prize of being the starting quarterback again!
… You didn’t learn from your mistakes, did you? Do I need to break out the moniker again?
No, that would be too cruel… for now.
Though to ease Jets fans’ pain, here’s the game winning punt return touchdown in overtime against the Bills.
Intern Allison, please retrieve ‘MNF Walkoff’ from File 8.
AFC North
Baltimore: 3–1
Pittsburgh: 2–2
Cleveland: 2–2
Cincinnati: 1–3
State of the AFC North:
Baltimore: Remember me mentioning the Battle of Achilles (tendons) with Aaron Rodgers?
JK Dobbins falls into that same category. For the third straight year, Baltimore has been plagued by injuries!
Seriously?! What god did you guys piss off??
That doesn’t matter though because Lamar Jackson FINALLY got his multiple Brinks trucks. The Ravens caved, but he didn’t get the fully guaranteed deal like a certain someone did.
I have been both critical of Lamar and explained my reasons for criticism in the past. I still have him on the top end of Tier 2 for quarterbacks, but he’s going to be the first one to jump into Tier 1 if he can actually do what he needs to do. Throw, run and not wobble the throws like ducks.
A 3–1 start to the current campaign helps Lamar’s cause. We’ll revisit this discussion later.
Pittsburgh: We are never going to get rid of you, are we?
Somehow, someway, you are always going to find a way to a .500 or better record. Even with Kenny Pickett! PICKETT!
It’s not like I hate the guy, but he doesn’t spark the disgust and fear like ol’ Big Ben did. If there’s one thing I want in this world, it’s for the Guardians and Browns to finally win world titles in the next five years and for the Steelers to suck for a really, REALLY long time.
You thought I was done. HELL. NO.
I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE HAS TO SAY! Minkah Fitzpatrick played a dirty hit on Nick Chubb, and I will never be convinced otherwise. It’s the Steeler Way, after all: Injure your opponents until they can’t do sh*t!
I held you in such high regard, Minkah. I’m utterly disappointed.
I hope Karma bites you in the ass real hard. Not by physical injury, but certainly team performance.
Cleveland: Losing Nick Chubb against the Steelers hurt. It felt like I was at a funeral when I was driving back home from downtown Cleveland on I-71 when I heard Chris Rose and Nathan Zegura talking.
And when you hear Zegura sound as physically sick as he did, you know something horrible happened.
Yet, in Week 3, Deshaun Watson finally played up to his contract and looked like a franchise caliber quarterback against the Titans.
Only for this mysterious shoulder case happening prior to Week 4 sidelining him until after the Bye Week.
I need results, and the results haven’t been bountiful to justify the means of acquisition. Keep proving it. Remember Cleveland, this is all business now. You do what you did to Cincinnati and Tennessee, and everyone will be much happier.
Just stop blocking people on Twitter, Watson. It is not a good look.
Now, let’s talk about the Browns defense and actually not shred them for once.
Holy Jim Schwartz! What the heck is this unit?!
You’ve got Myles Garrett practicing his crossover and then making multiple players go in motion versus Tennessee to cause a delay of game. I have never seen a Browns unit like this and now I’m mad Joe Woods had such a long leash.
Please be the 1985 Chicago defense but with a 2023 twist.
Cincinnati: Hey, Ja’Marr Chase! Have you ever heard the fable of “The Browns is the Browns” from the Book of Juju?
How did the “Cleveland is Cleveland” bit work out for ya?! If you have the confidence to back it up, then you can take your shredding like a man because those so-called “Elves” certainly kicked your Tiger asses. That includes brand new big money man Joe Burrow.
I was ready to talk you and the Bengals up and give my two uncles from the one side of the family an ego boost, but no! You had to open your mouth and double down! Man, you seem like a totally different dude from when I covered you at the 2021 NFL Draft.
You barely squeaked by the Rams, and Joe Burrow has a bad calf. I’m honestly not going to be shocked if he’s lost to the Battle of Achilles (tendons) before long.
Let’s revisit these comments after Week 18, shall we?!
AFC South
Indianapolis: 2–2
Houston: 2–2
Jacksonville: 2–2
Tennessee: 2–2
State of the AFC South:
Indianapolis: This is your yearly reminder that Ryan Grigson and Jim Irsay ruined Andrew Luck’s career, though with his Thursday Night Football appearance like his namesake Twitter meme, he’s enjoying life to the fullest.
PAUL!! Get me the video!! File 12!
Anyway, I can’t even blame Grigson for the whole Jonathan Taylor fiasco. This all falls directly at Irsay’s feet.
Is this really the Dolts way of trying to cook Anthony Richardson alive? Taylor is still a good player, but you know what else annoys me?
Irsay’s blatant justification to try and throw running backs under the bus on Twitter. You don’t want to pay them? Fine, but don’t say it out loud because I’ll be one to bet you’re not going to be a popular free agent destination any time soon.
You didn’t even follow my advice from last year!
“The answer is to move up three spots with Chicago to either secure your Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud. You have some of the infrastructure you would have needed to win with Andrew Luck as your quarterback. A veteran will not fix your woes.
Most importantly, you can’t count on sitting pretty and letting someone else steal your preferred QB. This year’s №4 pick, your second rounder this year and a first rounder in 2024 for the №1 and either their third or fourth rounder this year and a seventh in 2024.
Be aggressive and get the guy who could be your savior for two decades. If you don’t deal with Chicago, then this next team (who is about to be eviscerated) will make your lives miserable for 20 years.”
While Richardson is interesting, I’m not bought in. Stroud has looked a heckuva lot better than Young or Richardson in my mind.
I can’t wait to see how this all backfires.
Houston: Holy… you actually pulled a ‘Draft Day’ and got C.J. Stroud AND Will Anderson.
I mean, okay. Wow! I’m actually impressed.
To have the balls that Nick Caserio did, I couldn’t imagine being able to do that myself. Let’s see if that upcoming first round pick and whatever the final bounty from the Browns’ pick haul gives you and re-evaluate in 2025.
Hold on, C.J. Stroud beat Pittsburgh?!
RANDY! Get me a suitable GIF here! Stroud is a hero!
Jacksonville: “OH MY GOD THE JAGUARS ARE BACK!! AND THEY’LL BE EVEN BETTER NEXT SEASON WITH A THIRD YEAR LEAP FROM LAWRENCE!!
CELEBRATE, JACKSONVILLE!!
You have the quarterback! You have the running back and some decent wideouts. You have talent, the most important factor of all!!”
Maybe I was a bit premature on this take.
After the first game, Jacksonville has looked sluggish at best. Calvin Ridley has had two huge games and two duds while the Jags are trying to get out of the mud.
I have five years of narratives to go back to, Jacksonville. I can bring the moniker back at any time. You know what I’m talking about!
Here’s your ultimatum: Make the playoffs or else it comes back.
Tennessee: It’s sad, really.
The Titans are a shell of themselves. That window shut really fast and now look at them.
I honestly feel a little heartbroken. While I wanted to stick with the moniker from the end of last year, I couldn’t convey my seriousness otherwise.
God, I miss the days of perpetual 9–7 records.
AFC West
Kansas City: 3–1
LA Chargers: 2–2
Las Vegas: 1–3
Denver: 1–3
State of the AFC West:
Kansas City: I don’t know whether to be impressed by Travis Kelce getting the interest of Taylor Swift or if it’s reached a level of annoyance after only a mere week or two.
This is not a shot at either Swift or Kelce, but rather the media (and I work in sports media)! Seriously, I get it’s juicy, though let’s not make this a soap opera.
On the contract front, we have Chris Jones getting a sweetened up one-year deal, and Patrick Mahomes’ historic extension now pays him over $210 million fully guaranteed through 2026 to bring him back up to the top of the quarterback pay pile.
Though there is something I’m concerned about with Mahomes. He’s not supposed to throw interceptions in September.
He threw two picks in September. That’s a rarity. He threw two more against the Jets on Oct. 1, so basically four picks in September if we want to stretch it.
If I’m the rest of the AFC, I would be looking into the Detroit, Jacksonville and Jets games to figure out what might work in stopping Mahomes going forward.
LA Chargers: “If anything gets Brandon Staley fired, it’s playing his starters the entire way through their contest against Denver, and Mike Williams going down with an injury.
A quarter or a half, sure, but that’s a big impact injury to a playmaker you need to make a run in January.”
Poor Mike Williams. That ACL tear bites after the end of last year.
And then there’s Brandon Staley. Nothing has been fixed on defense, supposedly his specialty. Khalil Mack’s six-sack day notwithstanding.
He is quickly approaching Hack O’Brien territory and Denver’s former Hack who slunk off to reunite with Aaron Rodgers.
May the ax be swift and merciful at the end of the season (or Week 9. Someone’s getting fired soon!).
Though can I mention how cool it is that Austin Ekeler is such a big fantasy football dude? He didn’t even get to draft himself (which feels rude), but he knows fantasy owners need him back on the field.
It looks like Week 6 is when all Ekeler owners will get their wish.
I almost forgot one detail. It looks like Dean Spanos did fork over the Brinks trucks after all.
“Enjoy trying to ink Justin Herbert to that extension this offseason! I am waiting to see if Dean Spanos has the cash to afford such a move.”
We can only pray that Herbert doesn’t go through the same torture as Philip Rivers.
Las Vegas: You’re an irrelevant mess because Josh McDaniels can’t learn to adapt. Not to mention whatever is happening with the since-released Chandler Jones.
You’ve also got Davante Adams wanting out. I’m not surprised.
Take this one time mercy card and get out! I’ll have more words for you next time if you haven’t shaped up.
ASSOCIATE PAUL!! Break out the Raiders’ moniker list! We have options to sort through.
Denver: “Unfortunately for the Walton Family, money can’t buy you everything, and by everything, I mean Sean Payton.”
Apparently money can buy you Sean Payton and everything else (except wins)!
That doesn’t mean we’re going to look away from one tiny, little, glaring detail that will encapsulate your season even if Payton and Russell Wilson lead this team to the playoffs.
70 points.
Intern Jason, you know what happens when people don’t do what they need to do, right?!
…
Yes, that means get me the videos! Congrats, Bronc-lows! You blew it!
__________________
I have multiple NFC East punching bags. Fortunately for editor Brandon Lewis, Philly isn’t one of them.
I have been rewarded for my patience! TIME FOR SHREDDING!!!
__________________
NFC East
Philly: 4–0
Dallas: 3–1
Washington: 2–2
NY Giants: 1–3
State of the NFC East:
Philadelphia: You know, Brandon, I was reminiscing about the days of the Fleagles recently.
How far these Eagles have come, not to mention agonizingly close to a second Super Bowl.
Also, Intern Zack really made himself look like a fool. It wasn’t a disappointing January for the Eagles at all!
“Anyway, go either win the Super Bowl or at least don’t go out with a whimper. If what Intern Zack said last time is any indication, it might be a disappointing January.”
I do think the tush push needs to go unless defenses can do the same. Irregardless of that, De’Andre Swift is making Detroit look a little foolish.
As long as you have Jalen Hurts, you should be fine. Though for my sake, please throw Dallas Goedert the ball more often! I want touchdowns!
Dallas: You really lost to Arizona. Really?!
And here I was going to praise you for actually looking like a team.
Mindy, get me the blowtorch. It’s time to let it burn! Not the team, but the franchise. I think this deserves Bronc-lows punishment but on a smaller scale
I will give you credit for crushing the souls of New Englanders in Week 4. A quick pat on the back is all you get.
Now leave my headquarters before I change my mind!
HOLD UP!!! My past self reminded me to come back and do more here! You’ll see what he meant when you move along here in a bit.
You really traded a fourth round draft pick for Trey Lance?! Seriously?!?!
Unless he suddenly Wally Pips Dak Prescott like Dak did to Tony Romo, I really feel that Jerry Jones has lost his damn mind!
Mindy, I’m ready to use the blowtorch!
Washington: WE ARE FINALLY RID OF DAN SNYDER!!! IT’S CELEBRATION TIME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!
Break out the Kool-Aid! Break out the music!!
Washington!! Today, we have a belated party to the future of not having Daniel Snyder being in the NFL anymore!
~Whew! Got a little tipsy there, but that was fun!~
And on that note, there is a disturbance in the force. I have my eyes on you, Josh Harris.
The moment I heard the former team name start slipping out of your mouth, I knew something was off. You may be a hopeful messiah to this fanbase, but this little bread trail is adding up.
Don’t even think about it! As Kylo Ren once said:
You have been warned.
NY Giants: “Not only do you have to deal with the headache of extending or franchising the former №2 overall pick, but now you have to make your choice with Daniel Jones.
You want my honest assessment? Move on. While I’m sure Jones is well-liked, I keep getting Blake Bortles vibes from that dude.
Similar ascents as draft prospects, surprise Top 6 selections and had their best year under first-year head coaches (interim tag not applying to Doug Marrone).
Be wary, Giants.”
It might be too early to declare a Fitzradamus here, but the performance from Daniel ‘I am Blake Bortles 2.0’ Jones has mirrored… Blake Bortles.
You had one week against the Cardinals and beyond that, Jones has been terrible.
This is honestly hilarious, and I know Brandon can agree.
Hell, my fraud meter was going off back in 2022 Part 3!
“My fraud meter is going off, and I don’t think you wanna know what happens if it proves to be true.
It’s been a nice season but look at the standings progression up above! What looks off to you?
A big drop off from Week 9 to now. Going 1–2–1 is not the way you’ll avoid an absolute shredding (despite Brian Daboll currently being competent).
You really, really don’t want to know what happens if you’re exposed as frauds. Make the playoffs or else!”
You get five more weeks and then I decide if the fraud meter was correct. You don’t want to know what the “Or else!” statement meant.
NFC North
Detroit: 3–1
Green Bay: 2–2
Minnesota: 1–3
Chicago: 0–4
State of the NFC North:
Detroit: I’m so proud of you, Detroit!
You beat the Chiefs for opening night and crushed the souls of Lambeau Field to smithereens.
Now, you are atop of the NFC North at the end of the first edition! It’s like watching a child grow up in front of your very eyes.
THE CLEVELAND AND DETROIT SUPER BOWL CAMPAIGN CAN COMMENCE IN EARNEST!! GIVE ME THE BATTLE OF THE GREAT LAKES!!!
We need the best video we have on tap, Mindy! These guys deserve it!
OPEN FILE DETROIT!
Green Bay: This is a new feeling for ya, right Packers fans?!
Utter humiliation by Detroit, and no refball could save you like in prior years. They dominated you, plain and simple.
Jordan Love hasn’t looked terrible, but he’s not the third straight franchise quarterback you’ve had to span another generation. Not yet at least.
This is a situation worth monitoring.
Minnesota: Oh my god! ~It’s like the Vikings could really use a running back who’d rushed for 1,100 yards or more the past four seasons and totaled 221 receptions for nearly 1,800 yards since entering the league!~
Oh yeah. They HAD that running back in Dalvin Cook before cutting him!
You guys blew the game to Tampa Bay and Alexander Mattison hasn’t done crap! Through the first two games, he’s had 19 total carries for 62 total yards. He’s added a total of six catches for… 21 yards against the Bucs and Eagles. You even traded for Cam Akers!
While not all teams that eschewed paying top running backs this offseason will suffer, the Vikings losing two games they could or should have won without Cook is an indictment. Justin Jefferson can only do so much with new sidekick Jordan Addison.
This isn’t on ‘You blew it!’ levels yet but give it time, and we’ll get there.
Scratch that, you blew the Chargers game.
Chicago: Where do I even start? How do you explain everything that has gone down?
I’m at a loss here. I wrote that before you blew a 28–7 lead to the Bronc-lows. THE BRONC-LOWS!!
I love Justin Fields, but this organization is making me furious.
Time to break out a new moniker for this team. Everyone, say hello to ‘De Bums’!
NFC South
Tampa Bay: 3–1
Atlanta: 2–2
New Orleans: 2–2
Carolina: 0–4
State of the NFC South:
Tampa Bay: I want Baker Mayfield back in Brown and Orange.
Yet, at the same time, I’m happy for him. He’s got a chance to start over and while the hot start is impressive, we’ll see if it lasts. My hope is it does. The dude is only taking over for Tom Brady, after all. Brady is finally retired FOR GOOD.
Looking back, the NFL 100 Super Bowl commercial where Mayfield held onto Brady’s Super Bowl rings made it seem like destiny the 2018 №1 overall pick would take over for Brady.
Look, I will always have a soft spot for Baker Mayfield. Only a few exceptions in this world would change that.
Wait a minute! We have a time machine! SOMEONE GET THE FUELING STARTED!!!
Atlanta: So, the Fall Down Cons have a .500 or better record so far, eh?! It doesn’t mean the moniker is done.
There have been too many failures. I need assurance you are done with your ways of choking.
If you make the playoffs with a convincing record that isn’t fueled by flukes, I’ll consider removing the moniker. I feel the longer it has stuck, the better you have been since hitting rock bottom.
Remember, failures breed success. Success can breed more success. As long as it doesn’t go to your head, you may come out even stronger than before.
New Orleans: “I like the Saints. They at least found some consistency at the end of the last decade, but this is the point where you choose a path:
- Go all-in for a high draft pick via trade to get a young signal caller to pair with Chris Olave
- Blow the whole thing up
Either route is not an easy one. Resources, the wherewithal and so much more are difficult to come by. At least you serve as a cautionary tale for franchises who think they can avoid cap hell.”
The Saints chose to toe the line by signing Derek Carr and NOT blowing the whole thing up. The NFL salary cap really is a myth.
Anywho, I don’t know if a -14 point differential is really a success with a 2–2 record and the Saints’ level of talent.
If you want my honest assessment, blow it up. This team is going to rot in hell the rest of this decade if you don’t tank for a quarterback. You’re treading water and look where that got the Bronc-lows. A fall from grace.
Prove me wrong!
Carolina: I should be able to easily shred an 0–4 football team, but it feels so hard.
I mean, Bryce Young has looked good and also had some rookie moments.
We’ll revisit Carolina in Part 2. I need some more tape to look over.
NFC West
San Fran: 4–0
Seattle: 3–1
LA Rams: 2–2
Arizona: 1–3
State of the NFC West:
San Francisco: Nick Bosa got his Brinks truck and then some. Richest non-quarterback contract in league history.
I would be thanking Brock Purdy right now for being the final pick of the 2022 draft as part of the reason for your handsome reward.
Does anyone remember when Christian McCaffery was cooked? Me neither. That’s why running backs deserve to be paid!
I don’t have much more to write on you after extending both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Keep chugging along, and I’ll be extolling your praises in Part 2.
Wait a minute, I forgot something…
FUTURE ME!! GO RE-WRITE THE COWBOYS NARRATIVE!! We’re doing a time loop!!
Seattle: Doesn’t Geno Smith know not to interrupt a referee when they’re talking to America? It’s so rude!
Allison! Drop it into File America!
That little forced joke aside, that was a funny moment.
I’m not blown away, but we’ll see if Geno Smith is the god of false hope or if he’s your medium-term answer.
Speaking of answers over a longer term, Pete Carroll is 72 years old. Someone may want to remind Seahawks brass of that and begin lining up his successor.
LA Rams: “I also have the weird feeling Sean McVay may take his early retirement very shortly.
…
The Lombardi is still shiny though. Stan Kroenke can have his year, but next season will not be so kind. The clock is ticking, Mr. Kroenke!”
Well, Cam Akers is gone, Sean McVay is still the head coach and Puka Nucua is the next big thing in Hollywood.
It’s a shame it could come at the expense of Cooper Kupp.
Still, Puka walked it off in Week 4 with an overtime touchdown. Can someone put that video into File 87, please?
I’m letting you off easy right now, Rams. The shiny Lombardi still exists, but it won’t save you much longer.
Arizona: You bested the Cowboys, so that earns you some kudos.
It doesn’t get much better after that. Jonathan Gannon is an interesting coach. He’s somewhat like Dan Campbell with how his men play the entire game and don’t give up.
Whether Kyler Murray is part of the future if Gannon can bring the stability they lost with Bruce Arains’ departure remains to be seen.
Color me intrigued, Cardinals. I’ve got my eyes on you.
Part 1 of Year Five is in the books! What a way to start off the campaign!
As for the remaining schedule, I’m going to play it a little loose here. Part 2 will come out on Thursday, Nov. 9.
I want to put the final two parts down into stone, but let’s not rush things. My schedule can be quite hectic late in the year, as running this operation is a big task.
Until next time, keep enjoying football! That is, unless you’re a Chicago fan. You don’t even have Cubs postseason baseball to turn to and distract from this nightmare.
Sean Fitzgerald is an award-winning journalist, writer, sports reporter, voiceover talent and podcaster. Follow him on Twitter @fitzonsportsbsr for insights, articles and occasional livestreams, as well as bi-weekly columns here on medium.com.
