When Dustin Hopkin's fourth field goal of Monday Night Football split the uprights, it marked the official end of Week 6. Thanks to last year's season expansion and remembering elementary school math (18/6=3), the regular season is now a third of the way finished.
It's bittersweet.
Bitter because it's a further reminder that our precious time on this planet is fleeting and finite, but sweet because it gives us a large enough sample size to provide a fair reflection on the season so far and predict what's to come!
In September, I published my 2022 NFL Preview. I gave some hot takes, picked playoff teams, postseason results, and award winners. All teams have played 5 to 6 games, so there's still plenty of season left. In 2018, the Colts started 1-5, finished at 10-6, and even won a playoff game. Technically, all 32 teams are still alive, but there have been plenty of pleasant surprises and disappointments to this point in the year. Let's take a look!
Biggest Surprises: New York via New Jersey Football Teams May Actually Be Good???
The New York Jets and Giants are the season's most shocking stories through six weeks. The Jets are 4-2, and the Giants are 5-1. When Robert Salah said he kept receipts, I thought he sounded like a fool, but it looks like he fooled around and fell in love with winning, as the Jets have already matched their 2021 win total in 11 fewer games. Sure, it took an all-time miracle/collapse to beat the Browns, but wins are wins. The Jets just went into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers (who we'll get to) convincingly to ruin Week 6's TML teaser of the week (it went 7-1...kill me).
Rookie Breece Hall has been a delight for gang green, with over 600 scrimmage yards in his young career. Sauce Gardner may be "HIM." Zach Wilson's only thrown one touchdown pass in three starts, but he's 3-0 since coming back from injury. I hate to give the Jets any credit, but they're a decent football team, at the very least. Pats Week 8 will be a major test. As for their port authority counterparts, the New York Football Giants are possibly the most surprising 5-1 team in NFL history. I thought they'd end up like 4-13. Brian Daboll already has Coach of the Year in the bag. He's changed the culture and gotten the most out of a subpar roster. Your local high school probably has more talented receivers, but the G-men's defense and Saquon's Renaissance have Big Blue right in the thick of the NFC BEAST. The Giants win ugly and grind it out, which is what it takes to win late in the season, and with a favorable stretch in their schedule, don't be surprised if the Giants have 8 or 9 wins on Thanksgiving. Before you get too excited in the NY/NJ area, remember that the 2009 Giants started 6-0 and missed the playoffs and the last time the Jets made the playoffs people were Dougie-ing. There's a LOT of football left.
Biggest Disappointments: Green Bay Packers are FRAUDS
Coming off of back-to-back losses as touchdown-plus favorites against the New Jersey teams, the Green Bay Packers sit at 3-3. I knew their offense would take a significant step back without Devante Adams, but what we're seeing in Wisconsin is more like you're accidentally in reverse when parking and end up running over the neighbor's dog.
If it weren't for the Patriots playing ultra-conservative in OT, the Packers could be 2-4, but they're currently a .500 team and a struggling one. This defense was supposed to be legit, and they've only forced four turnovers through six games (0-3 in games with zero turnovers). Their passing game is a mess. Rodgers hasn't been himself without a stud WR, but in his defense, his current crop of pass catchers sucks. This is an incredibly flawed offense that's in significant trouble. They have no identity. You'd think they'd utilize their loaded backfield more, but AJ Dillon has only one touchdown. With a HOFer at the helm, it's not too late, but unless the production substantially increases or they make a few trades, the Packers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018. I still have a feeling Odell ends up in GB, but who knows how effective he'll be coming off another torn ACL. I'm sure Rodgers would take his chances vs. these scrubs.
Biggest Surprises: Atlanta Falcons & Seattle Seahawks don't suck
There's still plenty of season left for the wheels to fall off, but through a month and a half, the Atlanta Falcons have a share of the lead in the NFC South at 3-3 and are 6-0 against the spread. If you're not a gambler, that might not mean much to you, but it means they're in games. Atlanta's averaging 24.3 PPG and have proven to be a tough out for any opponent. I fully expected the Falcons to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, but even with a reluctance to involve Kyle Pitts in the offense, things are going surprisingly well in the ATL (Braves choke job withstanding). Credit to silver spoon in his mouth Arthur Smith. These Falcons are frisky! It's nice to see Marcus Mariota playing alright.
You can say pretty much the same thing for the Seattle Seahawks. They're frisky despite pretty much everybody assuming they'd just roll over and die without Russell Wilson. Through six games Geno Smith has done an adequate job and provided the quote of the season. They're 3-3 and tied atop the NFC West. Injuries and a lack of talent may be their undoing, but Pete Carroll has impressed to this point, milking this much out of a subpar roster.
Biggest Disappointments: Baltimore Ravens close games like Byung-hyun Kim in the 2001 World Series
Did you know the Ravens are 3-9 in their last 12 games? It's almost impossible to believe, but it is true. They finished last season with a six-game losing streak and are just 3-3 in 2022. Did you also know the Ravens held a double-digit 2nd half lead in all three of their losses? Not to make excuses for my Patriots, but Baltimore could've easily lost that game too.
Why can't this team close out games? Has Harbaugh lost it? He's been in Baltimore since 2008; maybe the old song and dance have lost their luster? I still can't believe he went for it in a tie game against the Bills. A decision like that could lose the locker room. I had the Ravens bouncing back and winning the AFC North this season, but their defense and inability to seal the deal is a problem. At 3-3, they're still very much in the race, but as things stand, this is not a team built for playoff success. Luckily for the Ravens, they already beat the Bengals, so they currently hold that tie-breaker.
Biggest Disappointments: Russell Wilson is No Longer Elite
Through six games, Mr. Unlimited's offense is dead last in the NFL in scoring. The Broncos have scored just 91 points and only surpassed 20 points once in six games. 1/6 is never good. Russell Wilson is the quarterback, so he's the one to blame. It's easy and fun to gang up on Russ online, but his regression is more shocking than the end of Bad Sisters (I highly recommend...it's on AppleTV+). I don't know if it's the elevation or the fact he's turned into a one-read quarterback, but Russ is making the 2015 Broncos offense look like the Greatest Show on Turf.
Quick Takes Through 6 Weeks:
-I nearly included the Colts and Matt Ryan for disappointments, but at 3-2-1, I think they might be turning it around (at least, I hope so for the sake of my 6u future on them winning the AFC South). Jonathon Taylor is easily the biggest fantasy disappointment. -The Panthers have to trade Christian McCaffrey. It's over. Get all you can for him before he gets hurt again. -The Saints need to get Taysom Hill the ball more, but it'd be hilarious if he ended up as a top 5 fantasy "Tight End" with less than 10 receptions (he currently has 1 for 2 yards). -I was right about the Jaguars being decent (so far). -The League has to fix the Roughing the Passer problem. -Brandon Staley is a bottom 5 coach in the NFL. -If you vote for Herschel Walker, you're missing your brain. -The Eagles are super fun to watch, but they seem to do all their damage in one quarter and just hope to hang on. I think that will come back to haunt them in the playoffs. -Brady should just retire now and try to salvage his personal life. -The Bears orange helmets must be destroyed. Just because you can have an alternate helmet doesn't mean you have to. -The Chiefs may be 4-2, and Mahomes is still putting up massive numbers, but they clearly miss Tyreek. -Mike McDaniel was a cute story through three weeks, and sure the Tua injury affects things, but the Dolphins are done. -I don't have data to support it, but I feel like kickers miss more extra points on sudden change touchdowns like pick-6s because they aren't ready or expecting to kick. -Dan Campbell is a cool, likable dude, but he's not an NFL Head Coach -The Pete Davidson Taco Bell breakfast commercials fucking suck and are making me hate my favorite fast-food chain. -I think the Giants could make the playoffs, which is fucking bananas because they legit have mannequins for receivers. -The Bengals will be fine. -JC Jackson was a product of the Patriots system (congrats on the bag, though). -I don't know what "HIM" means or how one qualifies as "HIM," but that isn't stopping me from using it. I think it's like porn. You know it when you see it. -The Commanders is a bottom 5 team name in North American professional sports, and their helmets with the W on the front stink out loud. -The Bears skill position talent may be the worst I've ever seen in 20+ years of NFL fandom. -Nick Chubb is the best running back in the NFL. -Teams should always go for two in the 4th quarter if they score a touchdown to go up seven points. Go for the jugular and make it a two-score game. -This isn't a take, it's a stat nugget. There's only been 2 official blocked punts this year (the Packers blocked one vs the Jets but since it went like 7 yards it didn't register as one) and they've both been against the LA Rams. It's something to remember going forward, as special Teams are a third of the game.
1/3 of the Season Award Winners:
MVP: Josh Allen OPOY: Nick Chubb DPOY: Micah Parsons Comeback Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley OROY: Chris Olave DPOY: Sauce Gardner Coach of the Year: Brian Daboll
P.S.
Too Many Legs Teaser of the Week is live on my TikTok. I'm 0-6, -6U this season, but we're so close it's fucking stupid. Last four weeks the teaser's gone: 6-2, 6-2, 5-3-1, 7-1. We should have at least 2 wins by this point, but there's still 12 weeks to go. I'm saying we hit at least 4.
1 Comment
Daboll
10/18/2022 07:42:59 pm
thx dozo #HireDozo Leave a Reply. |
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