Nerd Rage: How to Speedrun a Draft Bust

Image Credit: Bob Donnan/USA Today Sports

Did Bryce Young just become the biggest bust in NFL history?

That’s the inevitable question coming out of the sports world on Monday, when the Carolina Panthers elected to bench the former first overall pick in favor of Andy Dalton for the team’s upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

To be fair and even somewhat blunt, the move itself is far from shocking in a vacuum. Young not only doesn’t look like he’s improved after a disastrous rookie campaign, but it appears he’s somehow regressed just two games in. His first pass being an overthrow directly into the arms of New Orleans Saints safety Will Harris was merely a prelude to the nightmare that was about to unfold. Young has thrown for only 245 yards in two games with a 0-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His one touchdown (and the only one the Panthers have scored thus far) was a scramble in garbage time against the Saints…and he had to recover his own fumble to do it. Even the basic eye test does Young no favors: he has no confidence in his ability to drive the ball downfield, he looks skittish in the pocket and makes ill-advised decisions under pressure, and he looks afraid to even move around in the backfield. It’s how you get games like the one he had against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday: 84 passing yards on 26(!!!) passing attempts.

First-year coach Dave Canales tried to quash any unrest and claim confidence that Young was the guy, but it was ultimately too hard to justify the position. It may be hard to bench a top overall pick so early into his career, but anything’s on the table with professional micromanager David Tepper as owner. When pressed about Tepper’s involvement on the decision to bench Young, Canales tried to deflect as the Panthers placed the responsibility at his and GM Dan Morgan’s feet, but anyone who’s followed this organization since the hedge fund manager took over in 2018 would be shocked if he didn’t have his own say in the matter.

The optimist might argue that benching Young now was the right decision. The argument would go that a stable veteran like Dalton would gives Canales and his staff a better picture of where the Panthers are currently at, and it’s still early enough in the year that Young can reset and return to the lineup when ready. Here’s my problem with that line of thinking: how can they be so sure that Young’s confidence will ever return? His press conference after the Chargers game was chilling: his body language and vague answers looked and sounded like those of a broken human being. Now the head coach that was brought in to revitalize your career has essentially turned his back on you after two games? The supposed franchise savior has just seen his career disintegrate into dust before his own eyes, and the clock on his stint in Carolina may already be ticking down.

To make matters even worse, take a look back at the trade that brought Young to Carolina. To acquire him, the Panthers traded top receiver D.J. Moore, their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks, San Francisco’s 2023 second-round pick, and their own second-round pick in 2025 to the Chicago Bears. Moore has emerged as the focal point of Chicago’s passing game. The 2023 picks were used on Darnell Wright (one of the only consistent performers on Chicago’s offensive line) and Tyrique Stevenson (a starting cornerback in one of the NFL’s more underrated secondaries). The 2024 pick turned into the first overall selection, allowing the Bears to draft ballyhooed USC product Caleb Williams. With how this season is going for Carolina, that second-round pick next year is looking like pick 33, which the Bears could package into securing a first-round pick anyway. That would have been a lot had the Panthers drafted eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, but a quarterback who’s on the bench after just 18 games and two victories? It’s looking like the kind of trade that sets a franchise back years.

Despite all of this, would you like to know the worst part about all of this? Young may go down as the biggest bust in NFL history, and it isn’t even his fault. Sure, his poor play thus far hasn’t helped his case, but think about the company he keeps in that discussion. The likes of Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, and Zach Wilson all had maturity issues that plagued their developments, and their floors turned out much lower than even the most pessimistic of expectations. With Young, on the other hand, his team hasn’t given up on him yet, and no one hears anything about him off-field that might lead to conclusions about character concerns. That’s not even considering the team in front of him. The Panthers tried to put some resources into helping Young out, but it doesn’t change that the collection of skill players is on the low end of the NFL hierarchy and the defense has taken two steps back. When the best player remaining is lost for the season in Week 1 and your top cornerback was just burned by maligned receiver Quentin Johnston for two touchdowns the very next game, no one can be surprised when even NFL analysts are calling your roster one of the worst ever assembled.

When it comes to all the factors that led to this moment, one has to only look at the constant variable in all of them: Tepper.

It has only been seven years into his tenure as Panthers owner, and he has already filled the void Dan Snyder left behind as the worst in the league. Look how the on-field product has devolved into what we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks. Counting interim coaches and holdover Ron Rivera, Carolina has already worked through seven head coaches under Tepper’s watch. The only hires that have been made in that time were Matt Rhule (college coach who didn’t pan out at the professional level) and Frank Reich (didn’t even make it out of his first season despite an all-star coaching staff that failed to coexist). It may be odd to say that Canales is already on the hot seat at the beginning of his six-year deal, but Tepper is also the same owner who fired Rhule midway through a seven-year contract and would still be paying him the buyout if it weren’t for Nebraska hiring him. Canales wasn’t just mentioned for the Carolina gig for his exemplary work in reviving the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield over the past couple years; it was also because he was one of the only candidates who would even remotely consider accepting the job. Signing on with the Panthers meant having to deal with an owner known for his impatience and meddling in team affairs, and Canales had to be at least acutely aware of these risks.

The quarterback situation hasn’t gotten much better, either. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were just there, Cam Newton came back briefly for little reason other than getting butts in seats, 2022 third-round pick Matt Corral didn’t even get a chance, and Teddy Bridgewater ended up being a free-agent bust. Now Young becomes the latest casualty as the revolving door continues to spin with no end in sight? It’s easy to say that Stroud or Williams could have been the answer but, with the way the Panthers are right now, Patrick Mahomes would struggle to win games with this group. It’s also important to know that Mayfield and Darnold have thrown for a combined 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions since leaving the Panthers, and both are currently the starting quarterbacks of 2-0 squads in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, respectively. If the Panthers get their choice of quarterbacks in 2025, what reason is there right now to think any of them have a shot to turn the tide?

That would be enough to establish Tepper as a terrible owner in the eyes of the NFL world, but his off-field exploits haven’t been stellar, either. A decision to cancel development on a practice site in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the Panthers was received so well that the city sued the team and mudslinging has continued on both sides. A game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville saw Tepper pour drinks on opposing fans from his skybox. Tepper engaged in a feud with a Charlotte restaurant putting up a sign asking for Tepper to allow the coach and GM to make their drafting decisions, and the restaurant was all too happy to point out the owner’s poor decision-making practices.

Going back to Young, how could he or anyone possibly succeed in this environment? When a team has an owner that fancies himself a football genius and lords over his staff at every opportunity, management that has no choice but to cater to said owner’s every whim, and a coaching staff that rarely gets the chance to implement their vision before they get canned, what other outcome but failure is there? Young still has time to turn things around, but it’s hard to imagine that he will come even close to fulfilling a fraction of his potential so long as he stays in Carolina. There are options open to him if player and team decide it is in their mutual interest to part ways. Miami could use a backup plan if Tua Tagovailoa misses extended time with his recent concussion. The Los Angeles Rams could use him as an understudy for Matthew Stafford and see if Sean McVay can utilize him. The next opponent in the Raiders aren’t set at the quarterback position and could decide to bring Young in as a way to not force a decision and build up the rest of their roster. For Young, these spots represent a much-needed fresh start, and a change in scenery might be a better reset than rotting away on the Panthers bench if Dalton makes them look even semi-competitive,

Meanwhile, for the Panthers, it’s hard to tell if this is rock bottom or if there is somehow deeper to dig. Bryce Young has become a lose-lose proposition for them. If he stays, it’s unclear if he will ever develop properly and odds are he will become replaceable quickly; if the Panthers trade him, the team will likely have traded away a significant part of their future for what will likely amount to a late-round pick. The trade already has to be considered one of the worst in NFL history, and it will only rise up that pantheon if the Bears become a force within the next few years. To make matters worse, they’re the ones that will be stuck with Tepper and the rest of the dreck he’s assembled, meaning their situation will almost certainly get worse before it gets better.

I believe Carlito Keyes said it best: “This, my friend, is hell.”

Tua Time To Say Goodbye?

It’s hard walking away from what’s been your life’s work. Being without one of the few constants that life has provided is certainly a daunting endeavor. However, what happens when one of the things you love most in this world doesn’t love you back? What if it’s actively robbing you of living life to its fullest extent, taking away from everything else that matters? What if the only choice is either deciding to walk away on your own power, or not having the choice at all?

Such is the crossroads where Tua Tagovailoa stands now.

On Thursday night, the Miami Dolphins quarterback was trying to galvanize his team to a comeback against the Buffalo Bills. Midway through the third quarter, Tagovailoa attempted to scramble and drive his team down the field. Instead of sliding, he tried to truck through Bills safety Damar Hamlin to fight for more yards. Instead, Tagovailoa’s head collided with Hamlin’s body and he fell to the turf.

What happened next was a scene that was disturbingly familiar: Tagovailoa laid out on the field, unable to stand, his arms locked in a fencing response. It was the second time fans had seen him in this position, after his head hit hard against the ground after taking a sack against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. That one was considered his second concussion in the span of a week when he went into the NFL’s concussion protocol during their previous game (ironically, against Buffalo).

For those of you doing the math, this recent scare is Tagovailoa’s third concussion, at least, in as many seasons. With players, analysts, and fans alike already wondering if he would retire after the multiple concussions in 2022, those same conversations have not only returned: they’ve been kicked into overdrive.

Tagovailoa even admitted during that off-season that he contemplated retirement after the 2022 season after conversations with his family. He would ultimately return to football, taking jiujitsu and judo training to soften his landings and stay away from another concussion. It would pay off for Tagovailoa, as he remained healthy and played a full season for the first time in his NFL career in 2023. He would also be rewarded this past off-season with a massive extension, signing a four-year, $212.1 million deal in July.

Therein lies the tricky part of the equation. In his new contract, Tagovailoa received just over $167 million in guarantees, with $124 million left to be paid during the deal. If Tagovailoa opts to retire despite being medically cleared to return to the field, he will forego that money. If he is medically forced to retire, however, he will be entitled to those guarantees. Going back to the point from the start of this article, Tagovailoa may not have the choice available to him.

Even in the event he is medically cleared to return to play later this season, is there really a guarantee Tagovailoa will come back? Sure, it’s hard to walk away with nine figures on the table and a whole career still ahead, but there are some things you can’t simply clip a price tag on. By returning to the game, Tagovailoa will be putting his body at massive risk, and another big hit could result in irreparable, life-altering consequences for the star quarterback.

A study from just last year noted that, out of a group of contact sport athletes who passed away before the age of 30, 40% of them had their brains diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Even though CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem, the signs of it are visible during life. CTE can cause confusion, balance issues, memory loss and, in severe cases, dementia and depression. With Tagovailoa’s alarming history of concussions, the possibility of CTE or similar disorders brought on by repeated concussions, as well as their impact on his overall quality of life, has to be considered.

If not out of concern for his own well-being, that of Tagovailoa’s family has to be considered. He is a husband and a father of two young children, and he must weigh the risks of continuing his career with his family life. In this respect, I think of the recent tragedy involving Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. While the circumstances between the two are somewhat different, it paints a chilling picture all the same. Johnny left behind two young children and, as his wife revealed during the brothers’ funeral, a third will never get to know life with their father. Matthew also had an unborn child on the way. Those families now must endure an existence no one should wish on their worst enemy: incomplete, hollow, every milestone a painful reminder of who should be celebrating with them. Tua Tagovailoa and his family don’t deserve that happening to them; no one does.

The choice, ultimately, is Tagovailoa’s and his alone. If he does play, he will be welcomed back by his teammates and fans, hoping for his continued success at the highest level of competition. That said, there will always exist the fear that the next hit could be the last one, bringing Tagovailoa’s plans for the future to a sudden, screeching halt. There would be no shame in choosing to walk away now; Tagovailoa has shown success at the University of Alabama and for the Dolphins, and the money he has already made will ensure his family is set for life. If he does choose that path, though, I only hope that he’s the one who makes that decision, and life doesn’t make it for him.

From the Watchtower: NFL Week 1

There’s nothing like Week 1 of the NFL season. Some people are patting themselves on the back for their bold predictions, while others are already trying to sweep theirs under the rug. Some preseason narratives were given legitimacy, while others ended up being shattered immediately.

The truth is, Week 1 somehow causes more hot takes than the offseason. Sure, it’s always important to come away with a strong first impression, but how much expectation can a team seriously have from one game? It is an exercise in futility, but one this article will seek to do anyway.

For this new segment, each team will be given one takeaway from the game they played. It can be a reason for excitement, cause for concern, or somewhere in between. The point is that the discussions here will provide things to look at for each team as the early part of the NFL season progresses. A few of these predictions will likely be proven wrong, but your friendly neighborhood writer has a bit of a masochistic streak in him, so why not? Let’s get on with the madness.

Green Bay Packers 10, Chicago Bears 3

Green Bay: Despite an underwhelming but somewhat expected performance against a strong Bears defense, Aaron Rodgers had to be smiling from the sideline. The new-look defense had an impressive showing on Thursday night, and some of the best contributions came from new faces. Preston and Za’Darius Smith combined for half of the Packers’ total sacks, while former Bear Adrian Amos caught a clutch interception that helped seal the deal. A mulligan can be called for Rodgers, Matt LaFleur, and crew this one time, but results will have to show up sooner rather than later.

Chicago: Rex Grossman is not the ideal quarterback to be compared to, but Mitch Trubisky is getting dangerously close to that mark. Trotting out Mike Davis in place of the more effective David Montgomery was also a mistake, but Trubisky never found his footing. The inconsistency is starting to annoy Bears fans to the point where the struggles of the last decade are starting to rear their ugly heads again. The fact Trubisky was drafted before Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson is looking like more of a sore spot every week.

Tennessee Titans 43, Cleveland Browns 13

Tennessee: So maybe my prediction on the Titans underrated them just a bit. The cast of characters that contributed to this surprising upset were many. Derrick Henry (19-84-1) continued impressing as the heart of the offense. Delanie Walker (5-55-2) had a better-than-anticipated return from injury. A.J. Brown (3-100) made an impression as a deep threat. Cameron Wake (2.5 sacks, 1 safety) looks to be aging like a fine wine. Kevin Byard, Logan Ryan, and Malcolm Butler iced the game with three fourth quarter interceptions, with Butler getting a pick six. It’s just one week, but in a division as weak as the AFC South, strong performances like this could go a long way.

Cleveland: Cleveland fans get their first taste of expectations in a while, and what is their optimism rewarded with? Booing their team off the field after the first half and a fourth-quarter implosion. Anything that could go wrong truly did go wrong for the Browns. Costly penalties on both sides of the ball, Austin Seibert missing a PAT, Greg Robinson’s ejection further exacerbating the poor offensive line. The hype train hasn’t been derailed just yet, but the road turned out to be a lot rockier than anticipated.

Baltimore Ravens 59, Miami Dolphins 10

Baltimore: Who would have guessed Lamar Jackson would be the current front-runner for MVP in Week 1? Sure, he likely won’t win the award at the end of the season, and this performance was against a tanking Miami team, but it takes a serious detractor to take away from a game like this. Jackson did all of his damage as a passer, showing off an instant rapport with first-round rookie Marquise Brown for two deep touchdowns and going back to a reliable weapon in Mark Andrews. The Ravens even inserted Robert Griffin III onto the field when the game was out of reach, only for him to have a perfect completion percentage and throw a touchdown to Andrews for the final score of the game. Not bad for a running back, indeed.

Miami: A season that was already expected to be long just went longer. Apparently, the “revolt” for Laremy Tunsil’s trade was a catastrophic meltdown. Allowing 390 yards and 42 points in a game is bad enough, but in just one half? And now players are clamoring to get out of Miami as soon as possible, not content with wasting away in a tank. At least they’re not going to take this out on Brian Flores. Bill Belichick would struggle with a team like this.

Minnesota Vikings 28, Atlanta Falcons 12

Minnesota: Old-time football fans had to appreciate the Vikings on Sunday. The game could be summarized in the first couple of minutes. A sack on the first play. A blocked punt. Dalvin Cook looking rejuvenated. Kirk Cousins throwing a dime to Adam Thielen. The final score does not indicate the dominant performance the Vikings had. A similar performance of Green Bay could see Minnesota as the surprising top dog of the NFC North at this juncture of the season. Should be fun.

Atlanta: Nothing went right for the Falcons. Devonta Freeman struggled against the Vikings as there was no room to run. Julio Jones’s touchdown salvaged an otherwise awful game. An offensive line that still looked leaky lost Chris Lindstrom to IR. The defense looking okay, but nowhere close to good enough to stop the Vikings. The Falcons were seen as a potential dark horse to claim a playoff spot, but this may be quite the setback.

Buffalo Bills 17, New York Jets 16

Buffalo: Give the Bills some credit for showing resilience in the face of adversity. Josh Allen struggled in the first half, coughing up two fumbles and throwing two interceptions, including a pick 6 to C.J. Mosley. However, in the second half, the light turned on. Allen salvaged a rough game with two touchdowns to put the Bills up late. Devin Singletary also played a good role in the comeback, with most of his production coming in the second half. A weird game to watch, but for Bills Mafia, a win is a win.

New York Jets: If there was ever a need for proof to determine which free agent would be most important to the success of this team, this game gave it. Le’Veon Bell did well in his first game in green, but Mosley was the heart and soul of the defense. After an injury took him down in the third quarter, here is what the ensuing drives for the Bills led to: field goal, touchdown, touchdown. The offensive line and the recently waived Kaare Vedvik deserve some blame, but Mosley’s injury may have been the catalyst for the tough loss.

Philadelphia Eagles 32, Washington Redskins 27

Philadelphia: It only looks right to see DeSean Jackson back in an Eagles uniform. It also looks right to see him burn through coverage like the Roadrunner from Looney Tunes. Two 50+ yard touchdowns and over 150 yards total on the day. Those reports about Jackson and Carson Wentz working well together looked to be true. If that’s the case, the rest of the league may be dealing with a serious problem.

Washington: It was only for a week, but the Case Keenum who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game two years ago took the field. He actually enjoyed a better stat line than the more-ballyhooed Wentz. It wasn’t enough to give Washington the victory, but that can be blamed of a defensive collapse. Jonathan Allen’s injury, Derrius Guice’s ineffectiveness, and Trent Williams’s defection did not help matters. At least it can be worse?

Los Angeles Rams 30, Carolina Panthers 27

Los Angeles Rams: For the Rams, this win was far from the tone-setter they wanted to have. Jared Goff, coming fresh off of his new contract extension, looked rusty and struggled before a late touchdown. Todd Gurley looked fine, but it’s clear that Sean McVay was concerned, resorting to Malcolm Brown spelling the All-Pro running back for two touchdowns. Aaron Donald had a slow start to his season, and the rest of the defense was not exactly stellar either. With a game against a Saints team hungry for revenge on the docket for next week, these kinks will have to be ironed out quickly.

Carolina: Christian McCaffrey is looking like Norv Turner’s new version of LaDainian Tomlinson more by the day. The all-purpose running back was easily one of the best players on Sunday, amassing a total of 209 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Where the problem lies is with Cam Newton, not necessarily with his playing ability or even his fashion sense, but the toll he’s taking on his body. Taking three sacks is not a good thing for a quarterback who’s shoulder may still not be 100 percent. Just saying.

Kansas City Chiefs 40, Jacksonville Jaguars 26

Kansas City: Jacksonville was the only team that held Mahomes without a touchdown pass last season. This time, it took Mahomes all of 98 seconds to rectify that. The Duval heat never seemed to bother the reigning MVP, as he matched his yardage total from last year’s matchup in just the first half. The loss of Tyreek Hill will sting a bit, but it’s no big deal. Sammy Watkins caught all three of Mahomes’s touchdown passes. Travis Kelce was solid as usual. LeSean McCoy looked like he stepped through a time machine. If Mahomes is looking to repeat as MVP, he made a strong case with this first game.

Jacksonville: There are a few things that can be pointed out, but one in particular stands out. After Nick Foles went down with a broken clavicle, Jaguars fans could be forgiven for abandoning all hope. Sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew was coming in and…actually looked good. It wasn’t enough to beat the Chiefs, but Minshew had a nice game for someone drafted in Day 3. 275 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception is not a stat line to sneeze at. Trading for Josh Dobbs earlier this week did make sense, but Minshew should be given another chance to make sure this was not a lucky break. The glass case is still covering the panic button…for now.

Los Angeles Chargers 30, Indianapolis Colts 27 (OT)

Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Gordon’s holdout looked like a mistake on paper, and the paper has apparently transcended into reality. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson did fine work, but Ekeler in particular looked every bit like a workhorse. He posted 154 total yards and three touchdowns, including the overtime winner. What looked like a concern in the offseason looked like nothing of the sort. Gordon has claimed he will be back with the Chargers sometime in November. If he wants to prove he’s worth as much money as he wants, he may want to come back a bit earlier.

Indianapolis: In all fairness, the Colts should have won this game. Jacoby Brissett looked capable of holding down the starting role, T.Y. Hilton looked like the underappreciated star he is, Marlon Mack had a career day on the ground, and names like Malik Hooker and Kemoko Turay look like new defensive stars. So who takes the blame for this loss? The fingers point at an unexpected source: Adam Vinatieri. The usually reliable elder statesman had arguably his worst outing, missing two field goals and an extra point. When a CFL import pulling double duty has a better day, there is a problem. Next week’s game may be critical for Vinatieri if he wants to stick, and that is a weird thing to type out.

Seattle Seahawks 21, Cincinnati Bengals 20

Seattle: It was a game to forget for the Seattle offense, who was bailed out by a defense that had its own share of issues. Russell Wilson’s two touchdowns saved his game, and Chris Carson was inconsistent, coming through in clutch situations but struggling elsewhere. D.K. Metcalf showed his big play ability early, so that’s at least a nice sign. Other than that, there was little to speak of. A game that should have been an easy win at home turned into a nail-biter. Not a performance to be proud of, if I’m being honest.

Cincinnati: The Bengals once again pull the Charlie Brown impression of the hard-luck loser. They beat Seattle’s offensive output by almost 200 yards and placed above the Seahawks in almost every metric…except the one total that counts. Career days from Andy Dalton and John Ross were cast asunder, and new coach Zac Taylor looked alright in defeat. Three points in the second half will not cut it, though. “It’s the Hard Knock Life” is blaring loud in Paul Brown Stadium once again.

Dallas Cowboys 35, New York Giants 17

Dallas: All may be right in Jerry World for now, but the ringmaster may be sweating due to not paying one of his star attractions. It’s still a mystery about how much money Dak Prescott wants, but he got one step closer to getting his desired price. Throwing four touchdowns to different targets and landing 100 yard days for Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup meant Ezekiel Elliott got to take it easy. As with the Ravens, the Cowboys did face a weak defense, but it was nice to see some explosiveness from an offense that had a bit of intrigue. Expect a dogfight with Philadelphia for the NFC East crown.

New York Giants: Pat Shurmur, what are you doing? Saquon Barkley is the engine of the Giants’ offense, and eleven carries is all he gets? Eli Manning should not be throwing 44 passes in this day and age, even in a blowout. Under-utilization is a crime a few teams know all too well, but to do it to a team’s best player is laughable. The hot seat just cranked up a few degrees for that. Wake me up when Daniel Jones steps in.

Detroit Lions 27, Arizona Cardinals 27 (OT)

Detroit: Well, this is awkward. Just when the Lions thought they had it made, and then they took their foot off the gas. This is when Matt Patricia learned a valuable lesson: playing not to lose usually means you lose. The hopes and dreams of Lions fans ended up dying as the Cardinals put up 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Unlike the Chargers, however, the Lions were unable to get themselves out and settled for the tie. It feels like a loss for Detroit, which needed a win here to get some momentum going in order to be competitive. At least T.J. Hockenson looked legitimate?

Arizona: Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury went from looking like duds on opening week to stars. Murray salvaged a tough debut with an incredible fourth quarter, throwing two touchdowns to David Johnson and the ageless wonder Larry Fitzgerald. There was a chance to end the game in overtime by intercepting a pass from Matthew Stafford, but the defender couldn’t hold on to the ball. That was it, but for the Cardinals, they’ll take what they can get. There’s the metaphor about a tie and kissing your sister, but it was probably a less awkward deal this time around. Accidental kiss on a high school crush, maybe?

San Francisco 49ers 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17

San Francisco: It had to be a little concerning for Niners fans to watch Jimmy Garoppolo’s up-and-down performance. Jimmy G let go of a pick-six that gave Tampa the lead before helping to get it back with a touchdown. He has the defense to thank for the victory, as the D paved the way with three sacks, four turnovers, and two pick-sixes. For context, the 49ers now have half of their turnover output and exceeded their interception total from last year in just one game. Sounds like a confidence booster.

Tampa Bay: Could the Bucs be looking at the QBs for next year’s draft? Jameis Winston, someone who was touted to be a nice fit for Bruce Arians’s offense, proceeded to lay an egg with three interceptions. Two of them went for pick-sixes to keep Tampa out of reach. It’s one thing to not help in a victory effort, but costing your team a game is worrying at this stage of the game. This is Winston’s last shot to prove himself as a franchise quarterback, and this game did not help his case.

New England Patriots 33, Pittsburgh Steelers 3

New England: That sound you heard Sunday night was the collective gulp of every NFL fan outside of Boston. The Patriots looked close to unstoppable against Pittsburgh in every aspect of play. Tom Brady seems to have Father Time held up, the offense is filled with playmakers, Dante Scarnecchia is still the best offensive line coach in the league, and the defense didn’t even allow much in garbage time. Even if Antonio Brown doesn’t play a game with New England, this team is already looking like it’s on the warpath. Just give Tom Brady a gauntlet for his rings already.

Pittsburgh: There’s no sugarcoating this one. Antonio Brown’s replacement has yet to be found, and Donte Moncrief seems to be the one name I’m willing to drop from the discussion. James Conner struggled to get anything going out of the backfield. JuJu Smith-Schuster struggled before getting a bit of garbage time production. The Steelers have once again become the personal whipping boy of a Patriots team that has dominated this matchup in the recent past.

New Orleans Saints 30, Houston Texans 28

New Orleans: The Saints found themselves down at the half by eleven after a slow start, including an officiating gaffe that left the Saints with little time to work with in their final drive. If the Saints had lost this game, the referees would probably be run out of town and it would be yet another game breaker for a team that has had its fair share of those recently. Thankfully, it never had to come to that. Drew Brees came alive in the second half, throwing two touchdown passes and using his surgical precision to get the Saints in field goal range with their final drive of the game. This time, Wil Lutz did not miss. Such a slow start will be punished by the Rams, who would love to repeat last year’s NFC Championship Game result, except in a lot more convincing fashion.

Houston: Win, lose, or draw, Deshaun Watson’s performance in Houston’s final drive of the game was a star-making moment. Down six with 50 seconds to go and no timeouts remaining, Watson needed a miracle to put the Texans back on top. It took him all of two long passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills to do it. The PAT was aided by a roughing the kicker penalty, but Watson did more than enough to help his team win. Unfortunately, he was not helped by an offensive line that still looked leaky and J.J. Watt not showing up on the stat sheet for the first time in his career. The Texans are still the used car salesman of the league, but Monday’s pitch was a bit more convincing.

Oakland Raiders 24, Denver Broncos 16

Oakland: This has to feel like a wave of relief for the Raiders. After months of making the headlines for their soap opera-esque offseason, the team finally got to be noticed for their football in the final home opener in Oakland. Derek Carr looked nice. Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller both had solid games. Josh Jacobs became the first running back since LaDainian Tomlinson to notch 100 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. The offensive line held Denver’s vaunted pass rush in check. The defense came through in multiple situations, getting three sacks and holding the Broncos out of the end zone until garbage time. It was unexpected, but the Raiders needed something after the whole Antonio Brown saga.

Denver: Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco’s debuts in Denver were both underwhelming. Fangio’s defense did nothing against a Raiders team that just lost its best player and was projected to do next to nothing. Flacco looked like the same quarterback that lost his starting spot to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb never got anything going. Phillip Lindsay was outproduced by Royce Freeman. Courtland Sutton and Emmanuel Sanders did alright, but only caught one garbage-time touchdown. It was all a matter of too little, too late for the Broncos, who suddenly have questions to answer. The cries for Drew Lock just got a bit louder.

2019 NFL Predictions

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we made it. Several months without football finally come to an end tomorrow with the Bears and the Packers on Thursday Night Football. The 2019 NFL season is 24 hours away from officially being underway.

Of course, the offseason and preseason has provided plenty of drama. Key players getting injured or retiring, positional battles being fought all across the league, and debates about who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. Soon, the season will show who will be vindicated, and who will be disappointed.

In this segment, every team from every division will be ranked with a small description of how their season should go. Then it becomes a matter of who will go through the playoffs to the Super Bowl. Consider this the receipt for my predictions. Feel free to laugh if/when these go horribly awry.

AFC East

New England Patriots (predicted record: 14-2): Love them or hate them, no one can bet against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. This statement will not change until further notice.
Buffalo Bills (8-8): One of the more underrated teams in the league, to be honest. They have the defense to be competitive, but all eyes will be on Josh Allen and his development.
New York Jets (6-10): The Jets made a lot of noise in the offseason, signing guys like Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley. That said, that does not overshadow Adam Gase being a not-so-inspiring coaching hire, Bell’s potential rust, the lack of a true number 1 receiver, and the offensive line and defense being works in progress. Better luck next time.
Miami Dolphins (3-13): The Laremy Tunsil trade basically confirmed the Dolphins plan on tanking the season. The real intrigue will be who is traded next and who they draft in April. Decisions, decisions.

AFC North

Cleveland Browns (11-5): A revamped offense led by a cavalcade of young talent to pair with an overall solid defense. The Browns are selling themselves as a competitor, and it is easy to buy in.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Will losing the off-field antics of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown be equal to losing their on-field production? On the flip side, here’s to hoping Devin Bush can be the field-stretching linebacker the Steelers have lacked since Ryan Shazier.
Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Losing C.J. Mosley, Eric Weddle, and Terrell Suggs will hurt, but the defense is still stout and looking for young stars to break out. The plan on offense is obviously to have Lamar Jackson pass more, but this is still a run-first scheme. If the offense stays as dynamic as when Lamar first started, there is a chance to get back in the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-13): The wheels had to fall off this dilapidated bus at some point. With the Bengals finally ready to embrace a much-needed culture change, this seems to be the year that it finally happens.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts (9-7): This will probably be the boldest prediction on this. Sure, losing a franchise quarterback like Andrew Luck hurts, but the team amassed by GM Chris Ballard should embrace the “sum is better than its parts” philosophy. Don’t be shocked if somehow the Colts eke into the playoffs.
Houston Texans (7-9): The Texans opened the Columbus Blue Jackets’ playbook of desperation, trading Jadeveon Clowney for scraps while massively overpaying for Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills. This team is still Watson, Hopkins, Watt, and few others. The used car salesman of the NFL is hard at work.
Tennessee Titans (6-10): A good defense will probably be wasted under a tepid offense. Marcus Mariota is on his last chance, the receiving game isn’t exactly a strength, and a declining offensive line will be without its top player for a little while. Yikes.
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): The Super Bowl window closed pretty tight last year. Nick Foles’s track record outside of Philadelphia isn’t pretty, the offense is a work in progress, and the addition of Josh Allen has been balanced out by the disgruntlement of Yannick Ngakoue and the season-long departure of Telvin Smith. These guys just can’t have nice things…

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): Once again, wunderkind Patrick Mahomes and the offense will be tasked with carrying this team to the promised land. The Chiefs are an okay defense away from being a serious Super Bowl contender. Will Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu help lead them there?
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): The most cursed team in the NFL besides the Browns has been struck by the football gods once more, with Derwin James and Russell Okung likely going to miss time and Melvin Gordon likely playing his last down as a Charger. That said, the team is still deep enough to go on a decent run, and the promising play of rookies like Jerry Tillery and Nasir Adderley should help ease the pain.
Denver Broncos (6-10): See the Titans. Expect Drew Lock to finally take over at the end of the season to see where he’s at. John Elway’s job could depend on Lock’s development.
Oakland Raiders (5-11): With the drama-laden offseason finally done, the Raiders can focus on football. With the stacked divison, however, the Raiders’ final season in Oakland looks to be forgettable at best. Who knows if Derek Carr will be joining the team in Vegas?

Playoff Seeding: 1. New England Patriots 2. Kansas City Chiefs 3. Cleveland Browns 4. Indianapolis Colts 5. Pittsburgh Steelers 6. Los Angeles Chargers

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5): The Eagles’ season is on the shoulders of Carson Wentz. If he plays like the MVP candidate in 2017, they are a dark horse for the Super Bowl. If he seems to have lost a step or gets injured again, it could be a disappointing year. No team may be as volatile.
Dallas Cowboys (10-6): Well, at least the Zeke situation is all over and dealt with. Now it’s a matter of getting to Dak and Amari, but who knows how much money they will command? At least the outlook for this season is alright, and it may be enough to have Jason Garrett stick around for another year. Praise be upon the immortal clap.
Washington Redskins (5-11): Trent Williams’s holdout has killed any optimism about this team. Case Keenum will be thrown to the wolves until Dwayne Haskins comes in after the team is eliminated from playoff contention. Seems to be a way of life around there.
New York Giants (4-12): At least Daniel Jones is starting to gain the trust of Giants fans. It’s a far cry from the reactions when he was first drafted. He’s probably in the same boat as Haskins and Lock are, but at least Jones will have Saquon Barkley to hand the ball off to. Small consolation.

NFC North

Chicago Bears (12-4): If there was a present-day team that would justify the mantra “defense wins championships,” this is it. Mitch Trubisky should develop further and David Montgomery has the look of a solid running back at this level, but the star of the show in the Windy City will be Khalil Mack and the new Monsters of the Midway.
Green Bay Packers (12-4): So this ranking might be a bit generous, but Aaron Rodgers needs to be given at least some semblance of faith. The defense looks revamped after a surprising offseason splurge, Aaron Jones will be given a full season as the workhorse back, and the young receivers behind Davante Adams now have a full season under their belts. All we need is an anecdote from AR-12 telling fans to be confident in the team and the ritual will be complete.
Minnesota Vikings (9-7): No one will be fooled by the Vikings as Super Bowl contenders this time around, but there are still things to build off of. If the defense returns to form, depth players emerge at the skill positions, and the offensive line proves it can stop something, they could steal a playoff spot.
Detroit Lions (4-12): Trying to emulate the Patriots is not a very good idea. No one is being fooled. This is the omega of a cutthroat division, usually a sign of getting a high draft pick. Matt Stafford may be playing for his job security.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (12-4): After two straight heartbreaking playoff losses, the Saints need to make good on the championship window. Father Time can take down Drew Brees at any moment, and the defense can be improved upon. At least Michael Thomas got his well-deserved extension, so kudos to them for getting the important details out of the way.
Atlanta Falcons (9-7): It’s easy to forget that the Falcons were the walking infirmary of last season. With its defensive playmakers healthy at last, a return to form should be expected. The only problem is the NFC may be too loaded for a spot in the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10): Jameis Winston is on his last shot. If he can’t gel in a Bruce Arians offense, he probably isn’t going to develop into an NFL starter. Unfortunately, the running game, offensive line, and defense won’t exactly do him many favors.
Carolina Panthers (6-10): Cam Newton’s shoulder is key to how the Panthers will do. If the arm strength isn’t coming back, there may be serious issues for the team to address. This is the only team to expect to give a call to Colin Kaepernick. Just thinking out loud on that one.

AFC West

Los Angeles Rams (12-4): Jared Goff’s extension should keep the window open for quite a while. Aaron Donald’s extension will also help matters. The only real question is whether Todd Gurley will ever be one hundred percent again. They didn’t draft a running back in the third round for no reason.
Seattle Seahawks (9-7): With Russell Wilson in tow for the foreseeable future, the Seahawks are now working to re-establish themselves in the league’s upper echelon. Grabbing Jadeveon Clowney and extending Bobby Wagner should help. Now, how to recreate the Legion of Boom?
San Francisco 49ers (7-9): Early season reports of Jimmy Garoppolo struggling and John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan not being on the same page were concerning, but it seems those have started to lose steam. Here is hoping the offense only loses Jerick McKinnon and the defensive line can hide a back seven with some concerns.
Arizona Cardinals (3-13): Another year of Larry Fitzgerald being wasted saddens everyone. The Cardinals are now trying to find their identity once again, and are hoping the long-term recruitment of Kyler Murray by Kliff Kingsbury helps them find it. The top pick is a real possibility once again.

Playoff seeding: 1. Los Angeles Rams 2. Chicago Bears 3. New Orleans Saints 4. Philadelphia Eagles 5. Green Bay Packers 6. Dallas Cowboys

Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round: (A5) Steelers def. (A4) Colts, (A6) Chargers def. (A3) Browns, (N5) Packers def. (N4) Eagles, (N3) Saints def. (N6) Cowboys

Divisional Round: (A1) Patriots def. (A6) Chargers, (A2) Chiefs def. (A5) Steelers, (N1) Rams def. (N5) Packers, (N3) Saints def. (N2) Bears

Divisonal Championship: (A1) Patriots def. (A2) Chiefs, (N3) Saints def. (N1) Rams

Super Bowl: Saints def. Patriots.

Good luck to the teams and their fans. Enjoy another roller coaster season.