1. On any given Sunday, any team in the NFL can win. (Except the Jets, apparently.) Of course, it helps that the formerly winless Saints and Titans got to play two fellow sub-.500 teams last weekend. But
sometimes, that’s all you need to look like a real NFL squad. Still, it’s pretty hilarious that the Titans needed this play and this play to beat a very suspect Cardinals. Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good. (Because they’re not good.) While we’re on the subject of luck…Trevor Lawrence being able to fall down twice, get up, and still have time to scramble for a game-winning touchdown is hilarious.
2. Jalen Hurts throws for 280 yards, and the Eagles lose their first game of the season. If I’m the Eagles, I’m apologizing in advance to A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith because we’re running the ball 60 times next game to get that W. Show me how well y’all can block, and I’ll throw you a bone in the red zone to get the TD numbers up. In all seriousness, the Eagles’ ability to consistently win in a way that flies in the face of common NFL theory is inspiring.
3. That Drake Maye performance in primetime to take down the Buffalo Bills is what “The Guy” looks like. Layering throws 20 yards down the field. Shrugging defenders off to complete passes like the reigning MVP he was playing against. It was all there, and it’s been there for most of this year. Please, let him and Caleb Williams have 15 years’ worth of battles for the top spot in the league.
4. Tyquan Thornton being the best deep-threat receiver on the Kansas City Chiefs is pure cinema. He’s basically like if a faster version of Marquez Valdes-Scantling could catch the ball. Count on Andy Reid to find a way to make that guy useful when Bill Belichick couldn’t. Speaking of which…time to retire, my guy. You were cooked four seasons ago.
5. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are looking like top-5 QBs in the league. Just like we all knew they would, and exactly the way they drew it up. Not every QB is capable of that sort of redemption story (*sighs in Justin Fields*), but it sure is fun seeing that it’s possible for guys to flourish once they escape poverty franchises. Organizations fail young QBs more than the QBs fail the players.
6. All I want is to see Rasheed Shaheed with a QB like Patrick Mahomes and seeing what kinds of numbers he would put up. Because every time I look up, this guy is busting out a 70-yard TD with some bum slinging him the ball. Free my guy.
7. Mac Jones being 3-0 as a starting quarterback with Kyle Shanahan could’ve been the storyline in 2021 if the higher-ups in San Francisco didn’t sucker themselves into taking Trey Lance instead. Sometimes, fate is inevitable.
8. I still think Carson Wentz ain’t it when it’s all said and done. But that was a gutsy game-winning drive to win in London. And before you say “they only beat the Browns,” just remember that the Packers didn’t—a fact I’m going to enjoy as long as I can. Also…thank goodness Dillon Gabriel played well and postponed the inevitable Shedeur Sanders conversation away for another week. Though the miming was awesome in an awkwardly chaotic way.
9. Once again, Emari Demarcado: stop holding the football out when you’re crossing the goal line after a long touchdown. You never end up on that highlight reel for a good reason. But also, there’s no reason for Jonathan Gannon to be hitting grown men for making mistakes. Not that you should be doing it to high school and college kids, either.
10. A great announcer really can make or break a sports-watching experience. In a landscape where it’s fashionable to complain about broadcasters, let’s give thanks for the boundless enthusiasm of Eric Collins, who went viral for his first NFL game call. It’s a kids’ game. Enjoy it!
