Three-Point Stance: NFL Enjoys Memorable, Wild Weekend

Embed from Getty Images
Saturday and Sunday brought an intriguing mix of phenomenal NFL comebacks, collapses, and decisions that will change someone’s fortunes.

If you are sitting anywhere in the middle of the country, a large winter storm should blanket you for Christmas. This weekend, we saw a large number of flakes, bluster, and cold from NFL teams. Unlike other sports where you can take a game or two off, there are seventeen chances to make your team improve. Now, the question remains should you, consider the draft-related consequences?

Detroit Dan The Miracle Man

When Detroit hired Dan Campbell, many scoffed at the move. Campbell, a washout with the Miami Dolphins in 2015, found his stride in the Motor City. Loud, boisterous, and bordering on meathead were terms that many labeled the Detroit head coach. After a 3-13-1 where the Lions employed one of the worst statistical defenses in the league. People saw Jared Goff as the benefactor of excellent surrounding pieces in Los Angeles. Luckily, for the Lions’ faithful, Dan Campbell backs up his podium hijinks with not only sound strategy but intelligent assistants to organize this team. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, in his first season, took control of the offense. In using quick terms, and allowing shifting and tempo, some defenses begin to second-guess themselves. The Lions rank fifth in scoring and sit well in the top ten in other categories. Dan Campbell is changing hearts and minds. The NFL is strange.

Around Full Press Coverage

NFL OPINION: Morten Andersen: The Toughest Place To Kick? For Me, It Was This Place

NFL: NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Week 2

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs Stock Report: Week 2 2022

FULL PRESS BETS: NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Leapfrogs Josh Allen For Top Spot

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Fantasy Football Value Picks In Every Round

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 54: Chargers At Chiefs Preview

Who Wants To Win The NFC South?

Usually, with nine losses, teams begin to assess their respective rosters and see where they can improve. However, in the NFC South, the wayward stepbrother in the NFL, things will not progress smoothly. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit atop the division with a not-so-crisp 6-8 record. Tampa relies too much on Tom Brady to pull them through the fire. In fourteen games, the Bucs ran for at least a hundred yards only twice. Neither Leonard Fournette nor Rachaad White average four yards a carry. In fact, they look better as pass-catchers than pure rushers. None of this helps Tom Brady, who continues to stall out Father Time. Meanwhile, Carolina defies the odds by keeping games close. The Saints struggle to score. The Falcons’ starting quarterback for most of 2022, Marcus Mariota left the team due to his demotion. Basically, the entire division will stay a mess until the last week of the season. At best, the winner of this division will have at league eight losses.

Stop The Delusion

Hot on the heels of the improbable Raiders’ win against the Patriots, certain fans and media started discussing scenarios where Las Vegas make the 2022 NFL Playoffs. To say nothing of the unlikely nature of the win. Granted, as wins go, the Raiders befuddled the league. More importantly, the Patriots melted down. In all honesty, how many times would that happen again? Similarly, the Vegas offense fell asleep in the second half, needing a suspect touchdown catch ruling just to tie the game. Luck, plain and simple. A harmonic convergence of zero awareness, faulty cameras, and the worst lateral in NFL history broke right for the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, if this team is as good as some now proclaim it, go win out, and play four entire quarters.