Other than the Carolina Panthers, I have not spent much time talking NFL football. The season is nearly two-thirds over and there have been numerous surprises.
Two of them came just this past week and it came at the quarterback position. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona’s backup quarterback, set an NFL record by completing 47 passes in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Bryce Young of the Panthers threw for a Panthers record, 448 yards in a 30-27 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. Young threw three touchdown passes and was not intercepted. He did this against a Falcons pass defense that had allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL. This is the same Bryce Young that threw for just 124 yards on 25 pass attempts just a few weeks ago in a terrible 17-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Bryce Young
Sticking at the quarterback position, the Chicago Bears are 7-3, behind second year quarterback Caleb WIlliams and first year head coach Ben Johnson. Williams has made amazing strides as a starting quarterback. He was sacked 68 times last season, tied for third-most in NFL history. This season, Williams ranks seventh in the league in being sacked. Hence, the Bears are now a winning team.
Let me close with questions I have about the remainder of the season. They will be answered in time. I just don’t how they will be answered.
Will the Kansas City Chiefs make the playoffs? They are struggling and losing games they used to win. If the playoffs started this week, they would be left out.
Will Joe Burrow ever stay healthy? The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback gets hurt every season and this leads to the Bengals missing out on making the playoffs.
Are the New England Patriots going to be the top seed in the AFC playoffs? Patriots fans spend little time thinking about Bill Belichick anymore.
Will the Philadelphia Eagles repeat as Super Bowl winners? Some weeks they look unbeatable, some weeks they struggle to get a first down.
Can the Carolina Panthers play consistent football? It seems like they win a game and follow it up with a loss. Playoffs are possible if they could just put together a modest winning streak.
