It’s April 27th,, and I’m currently at work proctoring an ACT exam for the students that I regularly teach. Their heads are glued into the exams with a nervousness that shows as their eyes dart from answer to answer. Yet, despite this nervousness, in the back of all their minds is an important thought: how will this affect my future? 

It's a defining Saturday—a day of reckoning not only for my students, absorbed in the decisive moments that will shape their future, but also for the Chicago Bears, who last week stood at a moment in time where the entire franchise could change. 

In the focused silence of this exam room, I see an echo of the Bears' past season—weeks marked by hopes of evolution and dominance yet mired in the marsh of outdated tactics and underperformance. Just as my students grapple with questions that will mild their academic futures, the Bears' recent choices in the 2024 NFL Draft have been a test of strategy and foresight, leaving fans yearning for a revolution in the team's circumstances.

How did we reach this point in time? Let's revisit the day of December 31st, 2023. On The Carolina Panthers lost 26-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, plummeting to a god awful 2-14 record, which secured them the No. 1 pick. Due to a trade that delivered the Panthers the young quarterback, Bryce Young, the #1 pick in the 2024 draft belonged to Chicago and the Bears found themselves with the chance to make a potentially franchise altering decision. 

The choice was between “a rock and a hard place”: you stick with starter Justin Fields, whose playmaking and passing abilities were starting to develop into the player that fans had been dreaming of or you reset the “quarterback clock” by potentially acquiring Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams out of the University of Southern California. 

Such decisions, fraught with the need for change, divided the fanbase, media, and outsiders alike. Some, including myself, believed that Fields was on the cusp of being “a guy”. The desire that fans had envisioned upon him when he was drafted to the Bears. Yet, others contended that too much time had elapsed, and a fresh face was needed to lead the team.

Now, let’s fast forward to March 16th, 2024. On this day, Chicago Bears have embraced a new chapter. Justin Fields, who was once considered the cornerstone of this franchise, has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a movie that signaled that the Bears were ready for a new start. It’s a shift that feels familiar, akin to the nervous anticipation my students face with their ACTs—where they face a mixture of apprehension and the weight of potentially promising future. 

The Bears history since the lauded 1985 Super Bowl winning season has been a tumultuous one, often falling short of fans (sometimes unreasonably) high expectations. To cope with this knowledge, some fans have elected to remain paranoid of the possibility of future disaster as the errors of the Bears past envelop their minds. 

On the opposite end of the coping spectrum, there's a faction of the fanbase that see a franchise reborn, unburdened by the echoes of past failures and disappointments. I find myself in the middle, not oblivious to the errors of the past but filled with a reasonable hope of a bright future.

This hope has come not in the belief that every player will be a star but in the decisions made by Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles. His tenure, while not perfect, has been marked by patient and strategic decisions—from bolstering the defense with talents like Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker to savvy acquisitions in DJ Moore, Montez Sweat, and Keenan Allen.

This bolstering culminated on April 25th, 2024 with the drafting #1 pick Caleb Williams and the selection of the 9th pick in Rome Odunze out of the University of Washington. Calculated moves such as these paint a portrait of an organization not just dreaming of greatness, but laying its groundwork. This moment in time leads me to following question for fans of the navy & orange: When do we let go of the fear of past failures and embrace the potential of a new era? 

The Bears, reflective of my students' earnest approach to taking the ACT, have approached the future with determination and thorough preparation. The only action left for both of them is to await the results with a hopeful anticipation.

A new quarterback is drafted by a charter franchise of the National Football League. He’s the newest hope in town and fans are hopeful that, finally, the luck of their hometown team is about to change. A year later, as the young quarterback goes through the ups and downs of adjusting to the professional level of play, fans are filled with angst. Some are ready to move on from the young QB and look towards the next draft. Others are urging patience as the young QB grows from these experiences, while some are ignoring the struggles with a certainty that he will be “just fine”. Does any of this ring a bell? It should because it’s been the fans of most NFL franchises over the last three decades. Fans have clamored for the new year’s upcoming draft with the hope that a new quarterback will turn the franchise around. It worked for several franchises: notably the Patriots and Packers (the Pats who drafted Tom Brady and started a dynasty, while the packers moved on from Brett Favre and continued success with Aaron Rodgers).

In this instance, however, these are Chicago Bears fans. A franchise that is not used to exceptional QB play and who do not have a recent history of outstanding players at the quarterback position. So, where are Bears fans now? They find themselves in familiar territory as they wait in anxiety for the young quarterback they selected in the draft to blossom into a star. They’ve grown tired of hoping that their team catches up with the rest of the league and have found themselves at a crossroad: Do they move on from the young QB or do they hold out hope? They’re afraid of failing and for good reason; every (recent) QB they have drafted has been a letdown. Talking about QBs directly with Bears fans is the beginning of a depressing conversation. So we’ll try something different. Let’s play a game: Quarterback 1 has started in twelve NFL games, has thrown 196 completions to 330 attempts. He’s thrown for 2193 passing yards, with an even 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 248 rushing yards and ran for 2 touchdowns. Quarterback 2 has also started in twelve NFL games, has thrown for 2061 passing yards on 174 completions to 298 attempts. He’s thrown for 9 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. While also rushing for 468 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Both quarterbacks are facing the question of what they can do in the NFL while also adjusting to the prospect of a new head coach and a new offensive scheme. QB1 has the hopefulness of fans and despite average stats, very few (of the vocal fans) are calling for him to be replaced, even if they aren’t quite sure what to make of him yet. His team has only won 5 games since he’s been drafted but without enough talent around him, it’s hard to judge him just yet, so the fans still have hope in him. QB2, however, is facing calls to be replaced. Since he has been drafted the team has only won 7 games, yet his stats are comparable to the first QB mentioned. He’s thrown the ball less times than the first QB but has more touchdowns (more INTs as well) and has put up yards in both rushing and passing that are similar to the first QB. So, why are there calls for QB2 to be replaced? If you haven’t guessed by now, QB1 mentioned is Mitchell Trubisky during his first season (totaling 12 starts) and QB2 is Justin Fields and his first season and first two games of his second season (totaling 12 starts). Both QBs came into their second year with new coaches and new offenses. Both QBs have achieved similar stats and have been a part of a similar number of wins. So, again, why are there calls for QB2 to be replaced? Before jumping the gun, there are some legitimate reasons for the calls. Some fans are simply afraid of having another young QB fail to live up to their expectations. They’ve lived in the shadow of an anachronistic offense and meandering quarterback for most of their adult lives as fans. They’re afraid that this cycle of player angst will never end. That’s a rational fear to have and you won’t hear a rebuttal from me. So what else is left? I’ll tell you the answer: privilege.

Three years ago today, Mitchell Trubisky torched the Buccaneers for 6 TDs in a 48-10 win for the #Bears.

What I would give to relive this game again… pic.twitter.com/W89JT1Zr85

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) September 30, 2021

.@justnfields magic 🪄

📺: #SFvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/amaGgbiPm7

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 11, 2022

Before you click away in anger, continue reading. This isn’t a history or ethics lesson on white privilege in everyday society. This is simply a lesson in pro sports privilege. Particularly, white QB vs black QB privilege. In a league that is made up of a majority of people of color (71%) the quarterback position has been dominated by white men. White men at QB are the standard. Those who succeed at the position are noted for their “pocket presence” and ability to “move the ball down field. Their athleticism is not the prime point of focus, it’s their mental and arm strength. Its become such a norm that you expect teams to draft a young white quarterback while black athletes are expected to play a skill position to utilize their talent. Black quarterbacks who are athletic are referred to as “dual-threat” or “mobile” while their counterparts who can be very mobile themselves are not. White QBs are lifted up for their ability to “diagnose” a situation while black QBs are praised for their speed but criticized for failing to “read the field” properly (sometimes warranted, often unwarranted). Justin Fields, unfortunately, has found himself in this same position. His athleticism is unquestioned, people know that he can move outside the pocket, but every other aspect of his game is questioned. The former Ohio State Buckeye, who placed 7th in Heisman voting with notable wins over powerhouse Clemson, was even questioned about his work ethic and love for the game. Despite this, his own former Head Coach at Ohio State, Ryan Day, stated that Justin Fields work ethic was “off the charts”[1]. So, how did we get to this position? Its racism that fuels unconscious biases. Do not be mistaken, these biases don’t stop at white people solely, for these same biases can be found in people of color. Unfortunately, these biases prevent people from taking in the entirety of a young players career. It makes them so certain of the potential and talent of young black QBs while abandoning this same certainty for their white counterparts. This reality will probably always be prevalent in the football zeitgeist. We must, however, do our parts in shedding these biases and allowing young players like Justin Fields, to prove themselves on the field and field alone. If it works out? Great. If it does not? Then you move on but not before each player is given their fair due. Justin Fields is only 12 games in, not even a full season, so sit back and let his game speak for itself.

[1] Phil Harrison, Ryan Day responds to criticism of Justin Fields' work ethic, https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/2021/04/02/ryan-day-responds-to-criticism-of-justin-fields-work-ethic/

Thank God the NFL is back.

You know that feeling when your life isn’t whole unless you’re spending an entire day wasting away on your couch with a six-pack and a bucket of spicy Popeyes chicken? That’s the feeling I get on Sundays. It is the purest feeling in the world.

The next 17 Sundays, and the following month-and-a-half after that, are the greatest of times. Of course, when the Bears lose (pathetically most days) they are the worst of times, but somebody’s team is in the L column this week. Not mine though. Y’all be easy.

(Times listed are for Sunday unless specified)

CREAM OF THE CROP

1) Buffalo Bills (1-0)
Week 1: W at LA Rams 31-10
This Week: vs. Titans (MNF 7:15 ET | ESPN)

The entire city of Buffalo invaded ring night in Inglewood and tore through the defending champs. Josh Allen played like an MVP favorite, Von Miller terrorized his former team and his front seven followed his lead. Ball security needs to improve after a turnover-filled opening night, but the Bills look every bit like the paper champions they were crowned over the summer.

2) Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Week 1: W at Cardinals 44-21
This Week: vs. LA Chargers (TNF 8:15 ET | Amazon Prime)

Patrick Mahomes’ ‘Fuck You’ tour began in Arizona, hitting nine different receivers for 360 yards and five touchdowns. KC welcomes the rival Chargers to Arrowhead for the first Thursday Night game on Amazon Prime. Make sure your streaming device is able to catch up with the amount of speed we’re gonna see this Thursday.

TOM BRADY 48-YARD DIME TO JULIO JONES 🔥

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/C250SJiZgD

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2022

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Week 1: W at Cowboys 19-3
This Week: at Saints (1:00 PM | FOX)

Blah Blah Tom Brady. Blah Blah 45. Blah Blah Gisele.

We can focus on the GOAT doing what he always does to the Cowboys, OR we can talk about this defense! Todd Bowles impressively shut down a depleted Cowboys offense, putting the clamps on Dallas after a field goal on the opening drive. How about 86 total yards from Julio Jones too? He’s not dead yet, as his lone year in Tennessee had it out to believe.

4) Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Bills 31-10
This Week: vs. Falcons (4:05 ET | FOX)

The champs got rocked in the mouth on ring night by a team they hope to see again in February. You can excuse them for this one loss on an emotion-filled night. Jalen Ramsey must be better in coverage. Matthew Stafford must do a better job protecting the football. He also has to develop a rapport with his newly-paid WR Allen Robinson, who himself can’t afford to go missing like he did last year in Chicago.

Not much I would change about Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, though. They’ll be fine.

NEXT IN LINE

avoiding the pressure and setting to throw a 25 yard strike downfield. and the eyes never drop. pic.twitter.com/K9Azyl7NFb

— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) September 13, 2022

5) Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. Raiders 24-19
This Week: at Chiefs (TNF 8:15 ET | Amazon Prime)

Justin Herbert is becoming more brilliant by the minute. Khalil Mack was a force in his first game as a Charger, with three of LA’s six sacks. The Chargers have a chance to grab two early wins in this AFC West Gauntlet. It’d be nice to have Keenan Allen and new CB J.C. Jackson available; they missed Sunday’s game.

6) Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Steelers 23-20
This Week: at Cowboys (4:25 ET | CBS)

The Bengals had chance after chance to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday, only to lose at the end of overtime. Joe Burrow won’t have too many five-turnover games, and at some point the team has to find a long snapper. The offensive line is still bad though, allowing seven sacks Sunday. They won’t have an easier job with Micah Parsons and the Cowboys Sunday.

7) Green Bay Packers (0-1)
Week 1: L at Vikings 23-7
This Week: vs. Bears (SNF 8:20 ET | NBC)

Another team I’m going to excuse for getting schmacked on Sunday. For the second year in a row, the Packers got destroyed on the road on week one while not being able to score 10 points. Last season ended in the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a second-straight MVP for Aaron Rodgers. Davante Adams isn’t here anymore though, and Green Bay looks as mortal as they’ve ever been with Chicago rolling into Lambeau Sunday night. We’ll find out just how different these Packers are from last year’s bunch.

LAMAR CANNOT BE STOPPED 💰

(via @Ravens) pic.twitter.com/bMB1pG27Jr

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 11, 2022

8) Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Week 1: W at NY Jets 24-9
This Week: vs. Dolphins (1:00 PM ET | CBS)

Defense looked very solid as it contained Joe Flacco and the Jets. Health is important for Baltimore’s success this season. No Ronnie Stanley, J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards really stunted the Ravens’ run game - their bread and butter. Still, Baltimore has Super Bowl potential if it all comes together.

9) Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Week 1: W at Detroit 38-35
This Week: vs. Vikings (MNF 8:30 ET | ABC)

Jalen Hurts temporarily shut down any talk Sunday, as the Eagles offense exploded for 455 yards. A.J. Brown set a team record for receiving yards in his debut (155), and Miles Sanders found the endzone for the first time since 2020. Jonathan Gannon’s defense, however, was gnashed by Deandre Swift. Philly got a lot of Super Bowl hype in the preseason. The defense can’t lax like it did Sunday if it expects to meet those lofty expectations.

PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

10) Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. Packers 23-7
This Week: at Eagles (MNF 8:30 ET | ABC)

Holy. Shit. Justin Jefferson may end the season as the best wide receiver in the game. He and Kirk Cousins connected on nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay. New HC Kevin O’Connell may have unlocked something with this offense. Monday night’s massive matchup in Philly is as must-watch as it gets with these two explosive offenses on display.

11) New Orleans Saints (1-0)
Week 1: W at Falcons 27-26
This Week: vs. Buccaneers (1:00 ET | FOX)

Jameis Winston put the Saints on his back, hitting returning WR Michael Thomas for two touchdowns and setting up kicker Wil Lutz for the game-winner in Atlanta. Was the slow start alarming? Maybe. They’ll need to play all four quarters against the GOAT and Tampa Bay.

12) Miami Dolphins (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. Patriots 20-7
This Week: at Ravens (1:00 PM | CBS)

Not bad for a debut. Tua Tagovailoa and his new WR Tyreek Hill linked eight times for 94 yards. Second-year WR Jaylen Waddle also found the endzone. HC Mike McDaniel’s first game in Miami was a success, and it’s lovely to get your first dub over Bill Belichick. Next up: John Harbaugh and a tough Ravens defense.

13) San Francisco 49ers (0-1)
Week 1: L at Bears 19-10
This Week: vs. Seahawks (4:05 ET | FOX)

Trey Lance was inconsistent and the Niners were way too undisciplined Sunday, blurring the lines between ‘Did the Bears win this game?’ and ‘Did the 49ers lose it?’

Answer: Both

I wouldn’t worry too much, though. San Francisco looked like the NFC-runner ups they were with Jimmy G under center last year. We’ll wait and see what happens when the 1-0 Seahawks come to Santa Clara.

ON THE BUBBLE

This is filthy by Davante Adams. pic.twitter.com/6XvQDWlJnV

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 11, 2022

14) Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
Week 1: L at LA Chargers 24-19
This Week: vs. Cardinals (4:25 ET | CBS)

Well, Davante Adams was nice.

His Raiders debut ended with 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. However, a brutal game from Derek Carr stopped any chance of a Raiders win in Inglewood. The offensive line allowed six sacks (three from Khalil Mack). Give them time to settle in, but it wasn’t a good start to Josh McDaniels’ Raiders tenure.

15) Indianapolis Colts (0-0-1)
Week 1: Tie at Texans 20-20
This Week: at Jaguars (1:00 ET | CBS)

Congratulations, Indy! For the first time in forever, you didn’t lose on opening week!

Sure, a tie is like kissing your sister. But you’re in the AFC South! Emphasis on SOUTH. Embrace not being a loser out of the gates for once in a change!

The Colts finally woke up from their sleepy 20-3 start and will themselves back into the game, but not enough to win. Matt Ryan looked more in rhythm as the game progressed, and the club gained a league-high 517 yards on offense. Silver linings, right?

16) Denver Broncos (0-1)
Week 1: L at Seahawks 17-16
This Week: vs. Texans (4:25 ET| CBS)

My partner (still feels weird to say that) saw the real me for the first time this weekend. It was our first NFL football week together as a couple, and she saw a side of me that she had never seen before…

The side that can be so utterly dumbfounded that he cannot function.

That’s how I felt watching Nathaniel Hackett’s clock management in the final minute of Monday night’s loss at Seattle. I don’t need to belabor what everyone else has said in the aftermath of that game. It’s fucking indefensible.

The Broncos must be more disciplined, on the field AND on the sidelines. Russ can’t save everyone. Ask Pete Carroll.

17) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Week 1: W at Bengals 23-20
This Week: vs. Patriots (1:00 ET | CBS)

Pittsburgh were gifted a road win over the Bengals, but at a cost. T.J. Watt will miss significant time, and RB Najee Harris is banged up, although he says he will play against New England this week. How long will they stick with Mitchell Trubisky at QB? Beats me, but 267 yards of offense won’t cut it in Pittsburgh. It damn sure didn’t in Chicago.

THEY’RE ALRIGHT BUT THEY’RE NOT REAL

18) Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Week 1: L vs Chiefs 44-21
This Week: at Raiders (4:25 ET | CBS)

Throw out the gameplan for Sunday’s game. Burn it underneath the desert sun, actually. The defense got shredded by Kansas City, and Arizona’s offense looked lost at times. With Deandre Hopkins suspended for a good chunk of the season, Kliff Kingsbury needs to stabilize this crew if he wants to keep his job.

.@Browns @AmariCooper9 is a “router” and schooled 2 young CB’s. His big days in Cleveland are coming. Timing comes with Time….but his route running will win week in week out. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/7jrdcaRHNe

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 14, 2022

19) Cleveland Browns (1-0)
Week 1: W at Panthers 26-24
This Week: vs. NY Jets (1:00 ET | CBS)

The Browns were conservative as hell in their narrow win over Baker and Carolina. They have to be until Deshaun Watson is allowed back in the building. It’s good to have Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as your running backs, then (187 combined rushing yards). Rookie kicker Cade York notched Cleveland their first opening day victory since 2004! Fuck, the Browns are a symbol of futility in America.

20) Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Giants 21-20
This Week: at Bills (MNF 7:15 ET | ESPN)

Bad news is you lost to the Giants on a two-point conversion. Worst news is Harold Landry is likely done for the season with a torn ACL.

The good news is the AFC South is terrible. The Titans have to hope that Ryan Tannehill develops a rapport with somebody (anybody) on his receiving corps, and Derrick Henry’s decline doesn’t start now. Buffalo will be on fire this Monday night. Will Tennessee be able to weather the storm of Bills Mafia and avoid an 0-2 start?

21) New England Patriots (0-1)
Week 1: L at Dolphins 20-7
This Week: at Steelers (1:00 ET | CBS)

Why is Matt Patricia calling the offense?

Why? There must be someone with a pulse that can do a better job here.

The offense looked horrible without Josh McDaniels, gaining only 271 total yards. On top of that, QB Mac Jones may have suffered a back injury. New England had a nice season in 2021, but this may be the year where everything comes crashing down.

.@dallascowboys @MicahhParsons11 was the only player to get near Brady all night; and when TB12 wasn’t throwing it they were usually running away from #11 Good Red Zone defense; a couple of deep passes defensed and an INT. Everything else was kinda BLAH! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/SIQHhXKYPm

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 14, 2022

22) Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Buccaneers 19-3
This Week: vs. LA Chargers (4:25 ET | CBS)

It’s DEFCON 5 at Jerry World.

Dak Prescott may be out anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks (depending on who makes the decision). The offensive line is so beat up, they’re about to trot out 40-year-old Jason Peters against Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and the LA Chargers. This season may be wasted for Dallas before they ever had a shot at competing, and that’s the worst news Mike McCarthy could hear.

23) Washington Commanders (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. Jaguars 28-22
This Week: at Lions (1:00 ET | FOX)

Carson Wentz is still Carson Wentz, with two late interceptions that almost crippled the Commanders. But rookie Jahan Dotson emerged with two touchdowns, including the game winner. Antonio Gibson totaled 130 yards against the Jags run defense. The defense is still Washington’s achilles heel though, as Chase Young works to get back on the field.

LOOKING UP

24) Chicago Bears (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. 49ers 19-10
This Week: at Packers (SNF 8:20 ET | NBC)

Matt Eberflus’ second-half adjustments were the difference in his head coaching debut against the 49ers. Still, the Bears looked lifeless on offense for most of the ballgame. Justin Fields needs to look at the tape and know when to throw the football. Luke Getsy needs to scheme plays to utilize his talents more. Still, there were some things to like about the offensive improvement of this team.

Defensively, the Bears look re-energized. Sunday proves a tall task with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in primetime, but these Bears don’t look afraid of Green Bay anymore.

25) New York Giants (1-0)
Week 1: W at Titans 21-20
This Week: vs. Panthers (1:00 ET | FOX)

Brian Daboll stunned the Titans on a 2-point conversion to win his debut in New York. The biggest takeaway: Saquon Barkley is back. 194 total yards from Saquon in a dominant performance Sunday. The Giants picked up a big morale win heading into a very winnable game against Carolina. If any team could challenge the Eagles for the division title, it may very well be the Giants.

Man I miss DeAndre Swift in Athens pic.twitter.com/besJaTkOj4

— Trey 7 (@Trey2Trigger) September 11, 2022

26) Detroit Lions (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Eagles 38-35
This Week: vs. Commanders (1:00 ET | FOX)

Detroit put up nice garbage time stats to make their loss to Philly look close. But kudos to Deandre Swift for a strong game on the ground (144 rushing yards, 9.6 yards per carry). Detroit’s defense is piss poor, but their offense (455 yards total) is going to be able to hang with some teams this season.

27) Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Week 1: W vs. Broncos 17-16
This Week: at 49ers (4:05 ET | FOX)

Geno Smith had his redemption game Monday night, throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. If he can manage a game as efficiently as he did against Denver, Seattle’s offense will be better than advertised. Still, the Broncos fumbled this game away (literally), and better teams won’t trip over themselves against the Seahawks.

NO CHANCE IN HELL

28) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
Week 1: L at Commanders 28-22
This Week: vs. Colts (1:00 ET | CBS)

It’s a very low bar to be better than Urban Meyer’s Jags, but Doug Pedersen will make it work. Trevor Lawrence can’t throw back-breaking interceptions like he did Sunday in Washington. No. 1 pick Travon Walker looked really good in his debut.

BAKER MAYFIELD 75-YARD TD PASS TO ROBBIE ANDERSON 😱

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/HXBYYDWS6X

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 11, 2022

29. Carolina Panthers (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Browns 26-24
This Week: at NY Giants (1:00 ET | FOX)

A lot of people were high on Carolina coming into the season.

Did Week 1 kill those hopes yet?

Baker almost efforted a comeback to mask a putrid open for the Panthers. The defense couldn’t stop the Browns from marching down the field. If Christian McCaffrey was healthy, we didn’t see him enough (14 touches). Carolina is a complete mystery, but with more stench than sweetness.

30. Houston Texans (0-0-1)
Week 1: Tie vs. Colts 20-20
This Week: at Denver (4:25 ET | CBS)

Lovie Smith’s boys looked great… until they didn’t. But at least they didn’t lose! Now the Texans share a tie for first place in the division after one week. Hooray! Davis Mills could only muster 12 yards of offense in the fourth while their defense blew their early lead. Boo!

31. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Saints 27-26
This Week: at LA Rams (4:05 ET | FOX)

Marcus Mariota looked great, Cordarrelle Patterson looked like his 2021-self, and the Falcons defense held New Orleans in check… until they let a 26-10 lead collapse in the second half. Two key fumbles by Mariota gave the Saints a chance, and the Falcons are in the doldrums of the NFC rather than riding high after a Week 1 win. Them’s the breaks.

32. New York Jets (0-1)
Week 1: L vs. Ravens 24-9
This Week: at Browns (1:00 ET | CBS)

The Jets are 22-60 since the start of the 2017 season. Zach Wilson won’t be back until (at least) Week 4. Same Ol’ Sorry Ass Jets. At least there will be Postseason baseball in Queens and the Bronx!

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Entering the 2022 NFL season, no team has more “dark-horse Super Bowl contender vibes” than the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni exceeded expectations with a surprise run in his debut season in 2021. Reliant on a run-heavy offense anchored by Jalen Hurts, Philly overcame a shaky defense to clinch the final NFC Wild Card spot, making a return to the postseason a few years ahead of schedule.

Of course, losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady, their true arch nemesis (sorry Dallas) is never easy for Eagles fans. But this 31-15 loss in the wild-card round eight months ago left a sour taste in the mouths of many in Philly for a different reason.

Jalen Hurts and the offense had completely unraveled.

The Eagles’ first ten possessions of the game went like this:

Punt
Punt
Punt
Turnover on Downs
Interception
End of Half
Punt
Interception
Punt
Punt

Not until the fourth quarter were the Eagles able to find the endzone. By then, the offseason quarterback carousel had started to take shape in the minds of Birds fans.

Before a blockbuster trade to Denver, reports suggest GM Howie Roseman made an offer to the Seattle Seahawks for QB Russell Wilson, who declined to waive his no-trade clause to head to Philly. In the end, the team chose to stick with the third-year QB and build the rest of the roster around Hurts for the upcoming season.

"Any time you get content, you get your butt kicked,” Sirianni said on the Eagles Insider Podcast. “I don't know that we ever feel that we have a position that is 'good enough.' I feel like we're a better football team, I feel we're a better culture than the team that ended last year.”

Roseman got to work, shuffling around two of his three first-round picks and ending up with wide receiver A.J. Brown (on top of an extra 1st from New Orleans in 2023 and 2nd in 2024). Paired with 2021 first-rounder Devonta Smith (64 rec, 916 yds, 5 TD, 61.5 catch %, per NFL) and Tight End Dallas Goedert (56 rec, 840 yds, 4 TD, 73.7% catch %), Philly boasts a strong 1-2 punch at the wide receiver position.

“They’re as good as any pair that’s in the league right now, and if I look at Eagles history, they’re potentially as good” as any pair, said Eagles radio analyst and former WR Mike Quick to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “When you haven’t done it, you have to say ‘potentially.’ But they bring a tremendous skill set to the game, and they’re different.”

Roseman also brought in WR Zach Pascal, familiar with Sirianni from their days with the Colts. Once the receiving core was in tact, Howie fiinally shipped out the dead weight of TE J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and WR Jalen Reagor, who now joins the Vikings. Roseman did not shy away from admitting fault for drafting Reagor instead of his new teammate, Justin Jefferson.

"I think a lot of the message there is, we just have to take the best players at all times,” Sirianni told Angelo Cataldi of 94.1 WIP. “We don't have to worry so much about fit or what we have on the team. You go back to that moment, we had two tight ends who were really good in the middle of the field, Greg Ward was coming off of a really good year in the slot. We were looking for a specific role as opposed to just grading the players. That's on me, one hundred percent. At the end of the day, I'm responsible for all of that. But I also promise you one thing, if I make a mistake, I'm going to do everything in my power to make it up.”

That mentality went into stabilizing the Eagles’ most effective position group in its offensive line. In the second round, the Eagles targeted Nebraska center Cam Jurgens.

Hand-picked by incumbent C Jason Kelce to succeed the Philly legend upon retirement, the Eagles brass are high on Jurgens as the future anchor of an offensive line that features proven veterans in Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and a solid second-year guard in Landon Dickerson.

"I've seen him be like a sponge around Jason," said Sirianni.

“Cam’s come in and done a really good job,” Jalen Hurts said. “He has so much ability. So much ability. He can run, he’s very smart, and I know he’s early on in it being a rookie, but he’s shown so much.

Where the Eagles stand out, though, is on defense. Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon received plenty of heat for his conservative style of play last season. The Eagles had the second-fewest sacks last season (29), and blitzed on just 16.4% of snaps (per Pro Football Reference), the second-lowest percentage in the league.

Drastic changes defensively were necessary if the Eagles were poised to take the next leap. Roseman inked Camden native, linebacker Haason Reddick. He transitioned to outside linebacker and began putting up double digit sack numbers in Arizona (12.5 in 2020) and Carolina (11 in 2021). Reddick factors in as Philly’s pass-rushing Sam LB.

“The greatest research tool, in my opinion, when we acquired him was his brain,” Gannon told the Inquirer. “We had a good talk, sat down with him, and said, ‘Hey, what are you comfortable with, what are you not, what spots do you want to be in, and what don’t you? Here’s how we see you fitting into the scheme. Here is our vision for you, of how we’re going to deploy you and how we’re going to use you. Are you comfortable with that? Are you not?’ And we’re still figuring that out. …

“Haason is so smart. Just because I want to do something, if he doesn’t want to do it, we’re not going to do it, or if it’s not the best thing for the team, we’re not going to do that.”

The Eagles continued revamping their linebacker corps with another local talent in Emmaus, PA LB Kyzir White, who signed a one-year deal coming off a career-high 144 tackles with the Los Angeles Chargers.

"I can't wait to get it going to really find out what we're all about on defense," White said. "I'm excited. I think we have a lot of good pieces in a great scheme and we're coming together.

Na Jordan Davis is real pic.twitter.com/HiqHTVPUfj

— Rich Bussey (@Rich_Bussey) August 7, 2022

Roseman added two more pieces in the draft when he walked away with a couple of Georgia standouts fresh off a National Championship: first-round Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis and ILB Nakobe Dean.

Davis, a potential successor to DT Fletcher Cox, is a 6-foot-6, 340-lb behemoth. His 4.78 40 at the Combine is the fastest time for any player over 330 pounds at the Combine since 2006. Davis made headlines early in camp when he bulldozed Jurgens during one-on-one drills.

"It's hard to stop a big train when it's moving,” said Cox.

Dean, the 2021 Butkus Award winner on one of the greatest CFB defenses in modern history, has the luxury of plugging and playing in year one, spelling guys on third down and gaining valuable reps when injuries arise. Dean will be expected to contribute to a front seven that has the potential to be the best in the league.

"He's very smart, he’s tough, and he's very physical," said Gannon. "Happy with where he’s at."

Their secondary is no slouch, either. A longtime liability, Philly fielded a top-15 secondary in 2021, per Pro Football Focus. Cornerback Darius Slay put together his fourth pro-bowl season, earning a PFF grade of 83.9, fourth-best among NFL corners.

Slay and slot CB Avonte Maddox are joined by former Giants CB James Bradberry, who has at least three interceptions in each of the last three seasons, along with double-digit pass break ups each year since entering the league in 2016.

However, Bradberry is coming off an up-and-down season in the Meadowlands. He surrendered career highs in yards (848) and touchdowns (8), but his missed tackle percentage (21.7%, or slightly more than one missed tackle for every five tackles made) is alarming. Bradberry will get his fair share of targets opposite Slay. He will be counted on to keep big plays from happening on his side of the field.

Absent a top safety heading into final cut day, Roseman made one final big trade, acquiring safety/slot CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson from New Orleans. While not the best safety on the market (PFF graded him outside the top-50 CBs the past two seasons), he is a pest and brings a lot of big-play energy to the secondary. Just ask Javon Wims (whose hand might still be broken from punching C.J. in the helmet in 2020) and Michael Thomas (who swung on his own teammate and got suspended).

"He's a guy that loves ball,” Goedert said. “He's a chippy dude. I think I've had a few conversations with him on the field, but I like playing against people like that. I'm glad he's on our team. He's going to be a good fit for us and I'm excited to watch him be chippy against other teams now."

At the end of the day, this train will only go as far as its conductor.

Hurts put up favorable numbers in 2021, completing 61.3% of his passes for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He proved he’s a dual threat at the position as well, leading the league’s No. 1 rushing offense with 784 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Eagles’ ground game led the league with 159.7 yards per game, and finished second in rushing attempts.

But context is key. A number of games where Hurts accumulated strong numbers were against poor defenses or in garbage time. Running back Miles Sanders (12 games, 754 yds, 5.5 YPC) was not heavily utilized early in the season. Sanders also missed five games, forcing Sirianni to plug in Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell and Jordan Howard. Decision making was also a problem for Hurts, who was sharply criticized for bailing on plays before they had an opportunity to develop.

Hurts will make his 20th-career regular season start this Sunday when the Eagles travel to Detroit to face the Lions. With a full season and a playoff game under his belt, Hurts knows exactly what he must improve on if Philly is going to reach its Super Bowl goals.

"Just an overall understanding of what I'm supposed to do, doing my job and doing my job at a high level," Hurts said. "Knowing what's right and knowing what's wrong. I've always had a very high standard for myself, so I'm taking that mentality that I've always had and just soaking up everything, growing, chasing growth every day, and I think that's allowed me to grow as a quarterback."

Early returns this summer have been promising. Hurts looks more patient in the pocket. "Just him going through his reads, his progressions, I feel like the ball's got a little more zip on it,” said Goedert in June. “He's getting it out a little bit quicker. You see kind of a 1-2-3 throw. He doesn't have as many hitches. He's seeing the game faster, which is really promising."

"I thought he was great," Sirianni said via after the Eagles final preseason game in Cleveland. "He made plays in the pocket when he needed to make plays in the pocket and when he needed to escape, he escaped. I think it's interesting; I think it's also to be known that leaving the pocket isn't just something that you see when the protection breaks down. I think that people think like, oh, we left the pocket early, and the protection was good. Well, sometimes nobody is open. And sometimes the defense calls a good play and it's not a good look in the coverage.

"So, it's not as easy to say that the protection broke down, so he left, because that's obvious. I think the thing that is not as obvious is, again, what I said, somebody slipped on a route out or the defense played a good coverage and there wasn't anybody open and he's trying to create with a scramble. I thought he did a great job of that. I thought he played a good football game, first drive, and we'll just look to build on that."

And the roster Howie Roseman constructed to elevate his QB? They know the task at hand as well.

“I’m ready to go to war with him,” A.J. Brown told the Inquirer. “This upcoming Sunday, I’m excited for the season. We definitely put in a lot of work this offseason, this camp. We’re in a good place, and we’re ready to go.”