1. At first, I admit I found myself getting irritated at fans wondering if Ben Johnson could win with Justin Fields and Mitchell Trubisky after what he’s done in back-to-back weeks with Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent in Chicago Bears wins. On second thought, though: screw it. So I’m asking you all: would Johnson get a win with: A. Fields, B. Trubisky, C. both, or D. neither against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4? Given the state of that team, I’m tempted to go with C. But in practical terms—as much
as it pains me—I’m going B. Fields never beat the Packers when he was here. Trubisky did. And even though Fields is way more talented and explosive, Trubisky is the more likely to just do what Johnson says and get it over with. (I’d take Trubisky over Bagent, personally.)
2. I already have a major problem with fans getting too personal with athletes at sporting events. (Just because you paid for a seat does not mean you have carte blanche to be an idiot.) But what is with these officials lately? Now, on one hand, I get the refs needing to maintain some boundaries, because players can’t be just saying and doing anything to officials out there. But we didn’t come here to watch refs cuss out the players over incidental contact or disagreeing with calls. This ain’t the ‘80s and ‘90s NBA!
3. I hate that injury for Tyquan Thornton, a guy I covered when I was in New England. The former second-round pick was four games into the best season he’s ever had as a pro and was going off on the Las Vegas Raiders when he dislocated his ankle late in the game. Now, his season is probably just about over. Some will think mainly about the excitement of the Kansas City Chiefs possibly bringing back Tyreek Hill to fill the void. But here’s hoping Thornton makes a recovery as fast as he is. You hate to see guys like that, whom Patrick Mahomes called “one of the best teammates he’s ever had,” go down.
4. The running back is BACK, baby. Especially if you play for the Atlanta Falcons and your name is B. Robinson, apparently. Between the two running backs named B. Robinson in their backfield (Bijan and Brian), the Falcons got a video game-like 207 rushing yards and five touchdowns, including a 59-yard scamper from Bijan that made the Saints defense look like it was moving in slow motion. Whichever B. Robinson you got for your fantasy team, congratulations. You really ate with that.
5. I just want to point out that some people I know balked at the idea of Tetairoa McMillan, who just put up 192 yards and two TDs on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions, being a better NFL prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft than Rome Odunze was in 2024. Not that this has any bearing on the Bears, of course. (Still plenty happy with the Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III picks, thanks very much.) It’s just a reminder that: 1. everyone makes mistakes, and 2. sometimes, it’s best not to overthink it. Ballers ball.
6. I’m going to ignore the fact that my praying on Deshaun Watson’s downfall in Cleveland isn’t going very well—damn you, Todd Monken—and shout out the hilarity of Mike McCarthy’s and Aaron Rodgers’ second marriage breaking down in public on Thursday Night Football. McCarthy mouthing “f— a—“ under his breath after Rodgers (kind of rightfully) screams at him to call a play before the play clock winds down is all of us.
7. Last year, the Patriots used their first game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park as a statement game to the rest of the NFL en route to making a Super Bowl. This year, it was a get-right game for an offense that hasn’t done much right. The real Drake Maye finally re-emerged (269 yards passing, three TDs) and redeemed himself in the clutch, throwing a touchdown to Efton Chism (who made an insane grab, by the way) in about the same spot he tossed his game-losing pick against Seattle in Week 1. The vibes still aren’t quite right with this squad. With that being said, though, they’re still right in the mix at 2-2. You’ll take that, all things considered.
8. It might’ve just been one highlight against a guy who doesn’t tackle for a living, but Lord did Jacksonville cornerback Travis Hunter snatch Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins’ ankles on that interception return. Might’ve taken his soul right along with it. That move alone is why he still gets offensive snaps despite playing full-time as a cornerback these days. Don’t be surprised when he gets a touch next week after that highlight makes the rounds.
9. Sometimes, you just have to call it what it is: Justin Herbert stinks right now. Maybe it’s just growing pains under Mike McDaniel. Maybe it’s the inevitable Jim Harbaugh clock running its course—he’s never lasted more than four seasons anywhere as a head coach in the NFL. Or maybe he was always closer to this level of breakdown than we thought. But, in short, this is why it hurts so much when you pay the wrong guy. Because this version of Herbert is simply not getting you anywhere but last place in the division and fired.
10. Let’s just be real clear about this: the backlash to Carlie Gordon-Irsay being on the sidelines of Colts games and trying to learn about the team she owns is dumb. Really dumb. And it’s even worse listening to really dumb people talk about it. I mean…if you were going to run a billion-dollar business (which almost none of us will), you don’t think you’d want to learn as much as possible about how that business works as you can and why people do the things they do? And to those who say, “Not even Jerry Jones would do that!”—you know what Jerry Jones would do? Hire Brian Schottenheimer because football runs in his blood, or whatever. Bears fans complain about the McCaskeys not understanding football and not knowing how to fire football people all the time. Now, you have an owner—a woman, at that, which makes the trolls even more rabid—who actually gives enough of a damn to do things a different way, and it’s weird? Okay. Y’all got it. Guess we like our owners stupid then. Good to know.
