While I know that some football fans lament the fact that the league week kicks off on Thursdays now, I for one, welcome it. Because it means that I don’t have to wait as long as I used to in order to get my football fix and having it open up on a Thursday, also means that the week is dominated by my favorite sport. Which in turn allows for me to constantly talk about football and ponder upon what could happen in the forthcoming week with all of my friends and all of you football fans out there, on a more consistent basis.
 
And really, this is just that happy time of year where football is life and it brings me endless joy that we are a few hours away from kickoff yet again. Yet while I’m as giddy as can be today over the fact that Week 4 is about to get underway, I made mention of the fact that there are stories to discuss, which means it is high time I quit daydreaming about the sport, so that we can examine the top storylines hanging over this weekend’s games and preview some of the most fascinating games to watch this weekend.
 
Will the Kansas City Chiefs go 4-0?
This is an important question to ask simply because, the Lions have some serious fight in them. Which let’s be honest, their record doesn’t quite reflect that, but seeing some of their games over the past three weeks on Redzone has made it clear that this team is full of scrappy players who don’t quit, and they might give the Chiefs a run for their money. Because Detroit has a lot to prove right now, especially after last year’s ho-hum season, and beating Kansas City would get the football world buzzing about their potential. But dropping the Chiefs is no easy task, especially with Patrick Mahomes at the helm of this team and really, if they can neutralize him, the answer to this question is no. But I get a feeling the answer to this question will instead be a resounding yes, because KC is playing for keeps and I fully expect them to roll over the Lions on their way to 4-0.
 
Will Dwayne Haskins see the field this weekend?
Let’s not mince words here, the Washington Redskins are a terrible team through and through. Their defense is soft, and their offense is a joke with Case Keenum at the helm, and while I know the franchise would prefer to see their 1st round quarterback ride the pine and learn everything he can about professional football, it’s only a matter of time before Keenum is benched for poor performance, or he’s forced to leave the game due to injury and one just gets the feeling that this weekend’s game might feature the moment when Haskins gets his chance. Especially when one considers that Keenum is battling an ankle injury. But taking into account the incompetency of Washington’s front office, don’t be surprised if they insert Colt McCoy if there’s a problem with Case. Either way, I just hope the kid gets his due sooner rather than later because he is likely the only hope the franchise has right now to excite its fan base and potentially win some games, so why not give the kid a shot?
 
Will the Denver Broncos finally win a game?
I don’t think any football fan out there expected the Denver Broncos to be 0-3 to start off the 2019 campaign, but here we are, and everyone is wondering if Sunday will be the day when this franchise finally nets a win and it is possible. Because Jacksonville isn’t exactly doing all that much better than Denver, but really two key things need to happen in order for Denver to secure that all-important first win of the season. First and foremost, the defense has to bring their A game. That means Bradley Chubb and Von Miller have to get to the quarterback and the secondary has to force some turnovers and the other important key element to this game, is that the offense has to put up some points. And while those things seem like no brainers to say the least, Denver hasn’t done a good job executing either of those elements thus far. So, it’s either get back to basics this weekend for Denver, or the free fall will continue. 

Normally there would be little to be excited about with New England heading to Buffalo for a game since they dominate there, and often. But Buffalo is a different team this year, and they’re filled with genuine grit and determination and we’ve watched them pull off thrilling comebacks or hang with teams over the past few weeks and that means they should give the Patriots a worthy opponent for the first time this season. But of course, the bigger question when it comes to this game, is whether or not they can beat the Pats, and it’s quite possible that they can, provided of course the defense follows the Brady Edict. Which means that if they can hit and disrupt #12’s timing, they have a fair shot at the upset. But if they play zone and back down in the slightest, then expect New England to walk away with another win. Either way, this should be a good one to watch, regardless of the result. 

This game caught my eye, simply because there’s a fair chance it might feature a powerhouse defensive showing. Because the Minnesota defense has been stingy and stout this year and the same goes for Chicago. But the Monsters of the Midway have taken their role in stopping offenses a bit further, since they’ve been terrorizing quarterbacks. Which means, it’s up to the QB’s to find weaknesses and holes within these iron clad defenses and that is what will make for some interesting football. Because Kirk Cousins and Mitch Trubisky are flashy quarterbacks that tend to struggle with complex defenses, so whichever one of these two gents are able to see through the respective disguise in front of them, should lead their team to victory. But there is also the chance that neither will accomplish anything, and it will simply come down to which D helps accumulate the most points for their team by way of turnovers. 

​I always love a good quarterback duel and this game is shaping up to provide us with one of those. Because Teddy Bridgewater did a fine job of leading New Orleans to victory last week by turning in a solid performance under center, and you know he’s energized and hungry to show the football world that he can still play a high level, and beating the Cowboys would help that cause. And of course, on the other side of the field, there’s Dak Prescott who is playing lights out football right now and having a blast while doing it. Which means this game is likely going to be filled to the brim with big plays through the air and a few touchdowns as well. As to who wins this game, well I haven’t a clue there because both squads are solid on offense and defense, so instead of worrying about the final result, I think I’ll just sit back and enjoy the ride. 

I think it is safe to say at this point, that the 100th season of the NFL is going to be a memorable one, and for proof, look no further than this past weekend’s slate of games. Because this was a weekend of football filled to the brim with incredible surprises and stunning matchups, the kind that saw new heroes rise to the occasion and old standbys fall to the wayside and really, with this many incredible moments and stories on the docket, it’s best we waste zero time today and get right down to discussing what we learned from Week 3 in the NFL.
 
Marcus Mariota continues to be a disappointment.
When a franchise drafts a quarterback at number two overall, some high expectations fall upon that new player’s shoulders. Because that means the player in question is more or less a franchise quarterback, one that needs to grow quickly and lead the franchise to glory and well, efficiency and glory is where the Titans should be when it comes to Marcus Mariota since they selected him at #2 in 2015. But sadly, thus far #8 has been quite the disappointment and Thursday Night’s game reinforced that fact. Because once again, Marcus was unremarkable and did little to get his team a victory and that’s just the same old story year in and year out with him and at this point, I honestly don’t know what it is going to take to get Marcus to move to the next level, but the Titans need to figure it out and quick. Because the clock is ticking and if they can’t get him to the next level, it’s back to the drawing board in the draft and that will easily set the franchise back a couple of years.
 
New year, same old Denver Broncos.
For the past few years, all we and Broncos Country hear about is how the team needs a solid veteran QB to take the reins, and how a new coach is the answer to all their ails and well, despite the changes that General Manager John Elway has made to those positions, the team just isn’t progressing in the slightest, in fact, they’re taking a step backwards. Because the offense is mediocre at best yet again and Joe Flacco made some seriously dumb throws on Sunday, the kind you expect from a 7th round rookie, and the defense suddenly cannot generate a pass rush or turnovers. Which means its sadly business as usual in the Mile High City and at this point, I haven’t a clue when this team is going to get its head out of the clouds and play some quality football.
 
The Kansas City Chiefs are scary good.
Normally when teams make it deep into the playoffs and lose, you see them take a brief step back because of the sting that comes with getting so close to the big game, only to be sent home. But the Kansas City Chiefs are apparently going to forgo that proverbial licking of the wounds, because they are coming out of the gate hot right now. For week in and week out, Patrick Mahomes is lighting up the scoreboard with touchdown after touchdown, and the defense is doing just enough to keep them in games and it’s quite incredible to watch them play to be honest, and at this point, the sky is the limit for KC and really the only way to beat them is to outscore them. And when one considers the fact that #15 can send the pigskin into the endzone with a flick of his wrist, best of luck to any team who thinks they can outscore this savvy gunslinger.
 
Daniel Jones gave the New York Giants the spark they were hoping for.
Sometimes it really is amazing what a change at quarterback can do for a team and Daniel Jones reinforced that fact on Sunday. Because the Giants were a different team with him on the field, and his mobility helped keep the offense alive and energize all of his teammates with hope and oddly enough, the kid was pretty sound skill wise as well. Because he did a wonderful job in reading the defense and protecting the ball during this game and his on-field results speak to all of that and really, this is quite the redemption moment for #8, since so many of us questioned this draft pick back in April. But it would seem the Giants made the right call and if Daniel continues to grow and produce like he did Sunday, New York is looking at one hell of a ride in 2019 and marked success in the future.
 
Kyle Allen made quite the splash for the Panthers.
There were a lot of young quarterbacks who played the hero on Sunday, and of the many young guns who impressed the football world on Sunday, one performance that caught my eye was Kyle Allen’s. Because this undrafted QB, who had some ho-hum starts late last year, put it all together in this game, completing 73% of his passes and dropping four touchdowns in a thriller against the Arizona Cardinals and really, his performance here speaks volumes to the fact that Carolina is indeed loaded with talent and that they need a healthy and competent quarterback to properly utilize that talent. And I hate to say it, but if #7 continues to play like this while Cam Newton works to heal, there’s a chance that there might be a permanent change at quarterback since winning is everything in this league and so far, Kyle Allen is a winner.  

I’ve always loved Week 3 in the NFL, simply because this is the time of the year where we see some extra effort come to the field. For there are a lot of teams that are desperate to prove their worth, and they turn on the proverbial juice in order to show the football world that they can ball and that their season isn’t over yet. Plus, this is also when we see some undefeated teams go head to head in epic fashion as they work to keep their win streak going. Either way, we are going to be in for quite the treat this weekend and here are the top games and the top stories from the field that we here at NTG are going to be keeping our eyes upon when it comes to this week’s matchups.
 
How many points are the Dolphins going to lose by this week?
The Miami Dolphins are a team devoid of talent, and their lack of skills and leadership aren’t going to improve their chances against the Cowboys this week. But to complicate matters further, Dallas is playing some lights out football right now, and that means that Miami is likely going to get blown out again, the question is, by how many points? Oddly enough, the answer to that question lies with them. For if they actually bother to show some effort this week and make an attempt to play some defense, they might limit the damage that the Dallas offense can inflict. But, if it is business as usual in Miami, then expect another fifty points to get dropped on the Dolphins as the Cowboys cruise to 3-0 on the season.
 
Will the Denver Broncos win their first game in Green Bay?
Make no mistake about it, the 2019 Denver Broncos have been a disappointment thus far. They simply were supposed to be better than they are right now, and their lackluster new-look defense and anemic offense have put them in a must-win situation when they take the field in Green Bay on Sunday. But can they win a game against a resurgent Packer squad that should best them in every phase of the game? The answer is a resounding, maybe, provided two key things happen. First and foremost, the Broncos have to find the end zone and put some points on the board and second to that, the defense has to generate a pass rush. If they can accomplish those two things, they have a chance at the upset, but if they play like they have the last two weeks, expect this Denver squad to go 0-3.
 
How will the Saints and Steelers fare without their star quarterbacks?
Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger are quite frankly, legends on the field for their respective teams, since they’ve performed wonders in game and brought home the Lombardi Trophy at least once each for their home towns, and now for the first time in a very long time, both New Orleans and Pittsburgh will play a game without their quarterbacking heroes and well, can they win without their top tier stars? It’s possible, but it won’t be easy. Because both teams are facing off against some tough squads, the kind that will give backup quarterbacks, fits, and really, it’s these backups that are the keys to potential road wins. For if Teddy Bridgewater and Mason Rudolph can command the offense and play turnover free football, these two cities can breathe a sigh of relief. But if they’re quickly flustered and falter on the field, it might be a long season in the Big Easy and Steeltown. 

You have to love those early games that are in essence a clash of the titans and this is definitely one of those games. Because it features two offenses that are dropping points on their opponents left and right, all courtesy of a pair of young quarterbacks that are taking the league by storm and honestly, I am expecting this one to be a shootout. Because Patrick Mahomes reads a defense well and will exploit any holes that Baltimore gives him and on the flip side of that coin, Lamar Jackson has been showing off his arm strength and accuracy in the first two weeks of the season and he will challenge the soft KC secondary with his abilities. As to who wins this one, I haven’t a clue. Because a good old-fashioned shootout can go on and on, meaning that the winner of this game might be decided by a single play, or a single mistake.

Let’s be honest, this is a game that has everyone’s attention for one reason and one reason alone; QB Daniel Jones. For this is it, his first career start in the NFL and the start of a new era for New York Giants Football and we’re all curious as to whether or not this young man is going to live up to the hype surrounding him as the savior of the franchise and well, it’s 50/50 that he’ll do something spectacular in this game. Because rookies are rookies, and only a handful come in à la Baker Mayfield and save the day. So really, what to watch from Jones in this game is how he handles pressure and adversity and if we see him stay cool and collect, and learn as the game goes on, then eventually he may do exactly what New York hoped for when they drafted him and bring the Giants back to glory. But I won’t lie, it would also be awesome to see him just come out and drop three touchdowns on the Tampa Bay defense on the way to his first victory. 

​This game has my attention simply because the quarterbacks in this game have quite a lot to prove when they take the field on Sunday. Cam Newton for instance, needs to prove that he’s healthy, and the first step in showing us that, is being able to play in the first place since he’s been out of practice all week. And if he takes the field on Sunday, he has to show everyone he can make all the throws or more questions about his health and his playing time will arise. And if by chance he’s out, well his understudy for this game needs to show the football world that they can play, or Carolina is in trouble. As for Arizona, well Kyler Murray needs to have a complete game, one that shows us what he is truly capable of at the pro level, since he’s been slow to turn on the juice in his first two starts and well, it should be interesting to see which quarterback takes control of this particular matchup. 

​Normally, Week 2 in the NFL is a tad anti-climactic in nature. Because the comfort of football washes over us and everything we see on the field feels oddly routine. That’s not a bad thing by any means, it just means the sheen of Kickoff Weekend has worn off and we’re comfortable with just immersing ourselves in football and soaking up everything that it has to offer. But this weekend’s slate of games felt different and special in their own right. For these matchups offered up all kinds of twists and unexpected turns, the kind that have us buzzing this fine Tuesday as we reflect upon everything we learned and experienced from another wild weekend of football.
 
The Panthers need to bench Cam Newton.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I’m about to just tear into Cam Newton and pose all kinds of questions about his leadership and ability and so on and that’s just not the case in the slightest. While I, and so many others have taken issue with Cam’s attitude and decisions on the field in the past, my thought process when it comes to sitting him down is grounded in far different logic. Because the bottom line, is that it’s obvious that Cam is severely injured right now. He’s just not throwing the ball right; he doesn’t look physically comfortable on the field and he needs to be benched so that he can heal both his mind and his body. Because it cannot be easy for a guy that boasts the nickname ‘Superman’ to know that he cannot physically perform at this moment, and while the Panthers will likely head off any discussion of this kind by sticking to the usual lines about how they’re competing for a title and blah, blah, blah, you won’t compete in the slightest if your franchise QB cannot make a simple ten yard throw. So please, Carolina, sit #1 down and let him heal, you’ll be glad you did in the long run.
 
The Miami Dolphins need to fire Brian Flores.
So, I totally get the fact that the Dolphins are in full-on rebuild mode in Miami, since they continue to clear their roster of top-tier talent in the hopes of reshaping it in the draft, next year. But I have some concerns about who is going to prepare and teach this influx of new talent come 2020. Because the Dolphins have been outscored 102-10 in just two weeks of football, and they look listless and hopeless on the field, and they can barely execute a play and that… comes down to coaching. And while I understand Brian Flores is new to the game and hails from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, that’s honestly a tree that has borne little fruit in the NFL and seeing a team get beatdown like this two weeks in a row, means that they are not being coached right, and they are spiraling out of control and if ownership is serious about revamping the team from top to bottom in order to compete for the Lombardi Trophy, they need to fire Brian and bring in the right person to lead this team.
 
The Denver Broncos need to bench LT Garret Bolles.
While I fully understand that the Denver Broncos are thin at offensive tackle, a problem further compounded by RT Ju’wan James’ injury, they have a serious problem on the left side of the line that they need to deal with ASAP. Because Garret Bolles is continuing to make the same mistakes he’s made over the first two years of his career in Denver, despite having the best OL coach in the league at his disposal and well, I think that means the best course of action to solve this little quandary is to sit Bolles down. I mean look, the guy just isn’t getting it, and the fact that he says he ‘disagrees’ with some of these holding calls is outrageous to say the least. But the bigger question at hand, is how Denver pulls off such a feat when there really isn’t anyone to bolster the line. Which means, at this point, the Broncos either need to shuffle the line and let Mike Munchak work wonders or initiate a trade and bring someone in that can play at that position. Either way, this has to happen and quick because the longer #72 stays out there, the more he believes he won’t be held accountable to his job and worse, he’ll keep getting holding calls on crucial drives, costing his team yards and potentially points.
 
The Eli Manning era ends with a whimper.
There was a time when Eli Manning was the toast of the football town. For his magical throws managed to bring the New England Patriots to their knees in two Super Bowls, and his time with Odell Beckham Jr. led to some phenomenal highlight reels. But eventually, the game passes you by and after spending the last couple of years struggling to string together some success at the QB position, the New York Giants announced today that Daniel Jones will be the starter in New York going forward and well, while this is not exactly an unexpected move, it really does signal the end of an incredible era in the most bittersweet way imaginable. For Eli was the face of the franchise for fifteen years, and a hero in the Big Apple, and now we enter the twilight phase of his career, wherein he will have to decide if he wants to play for another team like his brother did, or walk away from a game he contributed so much to and it should be interesting to see what comes next for #10.
 
Lamar Jackson can ball.
Last year, I was admittedly quite harsh in my criticism of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, simply because his rookie year was an up and down affair that made me question whether or not he would be able to play at the pro level, especially when one considers that he loved to run first and throw second. But clearly, he spent the offseason working on his craft and his game because he’s been stellar through the first two weeks. He’s completed 71.9% of his passes, thrown for 596 yards and 7 touchdowns with no interceptions, and that’s darn impressive when all is said and done. So, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for questioning Lamar and his skills, because he clearly has made great strides and knows how to balance the run and pass nicely now and I wish him nothing but continued success in Baltimore.

You know, there really is a sense of comfort and routine that comes with the return of the NFL regular season. Because our favorite sport is back on the air, and we have football to look forward to three times a week, something that motivates a great many of us to plan our schedules around prime time matchups and gamedays. Plus, we have something extra to talk about at work and in our spare time because this is a sport that consumes us in a special way and well, I’m just happy that football is back and that there are storylines and stats to pour over. And with that in mind, it’s best I pull my head out of the clouds and get down to discussing some of the storylines surrounding this week’s games since Thursday Night Football kicks off in a few hours.
 
Will the Miami Dolphins rebound on Sunday?
Make no mistake about it, the Dolphins embarrassed themselves last Sunday when they found themselves outmatched and outcoached on the field by the Baltimore Ravens. Which, quite frankly begs the question as to whether or not they will stand tall against the New England Patriots this week and rebound beautifully after that kind of ugly loss and well, I think the answer to that question is a resounding no. Because this is a team that is light on talent, light on hope and there are players looking to get the hell out of town since the perception surrounding the team is that they are going to tank to get a talent infusion in the draft in the offseason and also, they’re just not that good. That means, I fully expect them to get trounced on Sunday when Tom Brady and his mighty Pats take the field.
 
Where do the Jacksonville Jaguars go from here offensively?
Jacksonville has indeed made some big strides over the years when it comes to adding talent to this team. Because despite their little temper tantrums on field, they do feature a solid tailback and a mighty defense. The only thing they’ve been missing for ages is a decent quarterback and it seemed for a fleeting moment that such a problem was solved with the addition of Nick Foles in the offseason. But now, he’s on injured reserve and a rookie is at the helm and while the team traded for QB Josh Dobbs, let’s be honest, that’s just not enough to quelch concerns about this team’s ability to put up points. Because if the Steelers were happy to let Dobbs go, that says a lot, plus rookies always have a learning curve, and without a clear plan in place at quarterback, it may be a long season ahead. Because I honestly have no idea where they go from here with an untested rookie and an unwanted backup at quarterback.
 
Will Trevor Siemian guide the Jets to a much-needed victory?
It’s obvious that the New York Jets were stunned at how their game against the Bills ended in week one and that makes sense to me. Because they had that game in hand and were playing well until Buffalo smacked them in the mouth and took control. And while it would be easy to say that New York is ready to rebound and exact revenge on Cleveland on Monday Night, there is a big roadblock in the way of making that happen. For QB Sam Darnold is out with mono, meaning that it falls to Trevor Siemian to save the day and that… is scary. Because during his tenure in Denver, when the pressure was on and the game was on his shoulders, Trevor struggled mightily. So, if the D can limit the damage Mayfield’s crew can create, Trevor should be fine. But if this one turns into a shootout, expect the Jets to go 0-2. 

Normally a game that features two 0-1 teams wouldn’t be worth highlighting in this article but this one, is special. Because this ugly matchup happens to have a pair of quarterbacks who are under a great deal of scrutiny since everyone is starting to wonder if Jameis Winston is a huge first round bust and Cam Newton isn’t quite the same after his surgery, prompting football fans to ponder upon whether or not his skills are in decline. Which means this game is all about these two quarterbacks working to prove the critics wrong, and it should be interesting to see if this duo rise to the occasion or give into the frustration and sadly, that particular decision will dictate whether or not we get to enjoy a quality game or an outright stinker. 

This one has my attention, simply due to the fact that it could be quite the shootout when all is said and done. Because Derek Carr was electric in week one against the Broncos, and that Raiders defense was stout and they’re hosting a Chiefs team that was equally as dynamic on offense since Patrick Mahomes let it fly early and often against the Jaguars. So, if #15 for the Chiefs can do what he did in week one, and if Mister Carr exploit the porous KC secondary, this one could result in touchdown after stunning touchdown and really, the key to this one, is defense. So, whichever D can generate a healthy pass rush, and disrupt the passing game will be the heroes of the night as they help their team walk away with an important divisional victory. 

​I truly love games that feature teams with something to prove and this one has plenty of that. For on the Chicago side you’ve got a quarterback in Mitch Trubisky who needs to prove to the football world that his struggles in week one were related to rust and not a lack of skill or understanding of the playbook. And as for the Broncos, well they need to prove to the football world that Vic Fangio was indeed the right man for the job and that his coaching staff is making strides after all since they looked unprepared and lost in their contest against the Raiders. But truly, the big story that will make this one so fascinating in its own right is the fact that Fangio is going up against his old squad, and that always makes for an entertaining game. But in the end, this one will come down to coaching and execution and the first team to find their rhythm, is likely the one to secure the win. 

​You know, I have to admit, that this might be one of the wildest opening weekends to an NFL season that I’ve ever seen. Because I can’t think of the last time, I’ve seen that kind of drama surrounding a player mere hours before Sunday’s slate of games, nor can I remember the last time I saw a team get that kind of beatdown in their first game of the year. If anything, it just speaks to the fact that anything can happen in the NFL, and it often does, which means it is high time we dive into all of the important storylines that popped up over the past few days and discuss what we learned from our favorite teams.
 
The NFL needs to do something about the sloppy play we witnessed here and there this weekend.
One of the reasons that I fell in love with NFL football, is the sheer fact that it demands perfection out of its players. Every play, every down, every game, it is all about perfection or outright failure and there’s something quite powerful about that. But over the past couple of years, I’ve started to notice that perfection isn’t quite at the top of the league’s mind anymore and this weekend hammered that point home. Because I saw a lot of dropped balls, blocked punts and rusty play and that’s just something that shouldn’t be present in a sport this popular and this big. Which means that the league needs to do something quickly to address the quality of the product because missed kicks for the second year in the row is just embarrassing to see and I don’t know if it is negotiating more practices in the next CBA, or require that starters play a certain number of quarters in the preseason in order to shake the rust off, but something needs to be done. Because you don’t see this kind of sloppy play in tune-up college games and I don’t get how it’s acceptable in professional football.
 
We are likely at the bare beginning of the Antonio Brown saga.
First things first when it comes to this topic, kudos to the Oakland Raiders. Because it’s obvious that AB wanted nothing to do with this franchise and rather than let the madness continue, they freed themselves of it. But while his release and subsequent signing with the Patriots should signal the end of this mess, I fear this is just the beginning. Because while Antonio is a gifted receiver, it’s inherently clear now that his talent has gone to his head and he believes he is bigger than a team and bigger than the game and well, that’s not something that the New England Patriots tolerate in the slightest. And I honestly wonder how long before the honeymoon is over in Foxboro and AB is displeased once again and uses more of his garbage tactics to try and force the team to bend to his will like others have before them and that is going to be ugly to say the least. Granted, nothing could come of this and he could be on cloud nine catching passes from Tom Brady, but a scorpion always stings and it’s just a matter of time before AB unleashes his special brand of egotistical fury, again.
 
The Miami Dolphins are a bad football team.
It’s a forgone conclusion that when a new coach takes over for a particular franchise that some housecleaning is going to be in order when it comes to the roster. Because the new coach has a vision in mind for the team, one that a particular style of player will help bring to fruition. But after seeing the Miami Dolphins get 59 points dropped on them in a single game and seeing all three phases of the team fail miserably in their jobs, I am at a loss for what exactly Brian Flores’ vision is for his new team. Because all the roster moves he made should elicit positive results on the field, but this team is actually worse than it was under Adam Gase, and that’s just terrifying for football fans everywhere. Because this current squad is downright awful and lost on the field and that’s on the coaching staff through and through. So, here’s to hoping that the Dolphins figure out how to jell together as a team and quickly because they are barreling toward a disastrous season, the kind that might bring about another coaching change and another roster purge.
 
Doug Marrone needs to get his players under control.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been quite the entertaining team to watch over the past few years, since they’ve managed to impress us all with a newfound commitment to winning. But while it’s been great to watch them get within a game of the Super Bowl, I am starting to notice an alarming trend when it comes to this team in that, their players are easily unhinged and outright undisciplined at times. Because here and there, I’ve seen their players get into fights on the field and subsequently find themselves ejected and that happened yet again during Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Because Myles Jack felt the need to take a swing at Chiefs player and was tossed because of it and then felt the need to throw a temper tantrum as Jaguars employees dragged him off the field and well, I guess the question that needs to be posed to Head Coach Doug Marrone is, when is enough, enough? This keeps happening on a yearly basis and that’s because that kind of hot-headed attitude is allowed to persist, despite the fact that it’s embarrassing the franchise and well, the bottom line is that Coach Marrone needs to get his players under control, as soon as possible before this outright gets worse.
 
The Cleveland Browns are STILL a work in progress.
Make no mistake about it, the Browns made some serious splashes in the offseason, the kind that definitely excited the football world when it comes to their future. They got rid of an awful coach, installed one that can cater the system to the franchise’s dynamic quarterback, and they went out and got some incredible role players on both sides of the ball. And some of us, myself included, got caught up in the hype, in large part due to the fact that it would be amazing to see this team do more than lose all the damn time. But the high expectations we all set for this team came crashing down on Sunday since the Titans made Baker Mayfield look like a rookie and the Browns defense found themselves in a tough and exhausted position and well, all this does is hammer home a fine lesson in that, the Browns still have a long way to go, and they still have a young QB with a lot to learn and while they may eventually wow us on the field, in the here and the now, there will be some ugly growing pains for all of us to witness as they work their way toward football glory.  

September is truly a magical time for just about everyone out there. For the leaves begin to change, the temperature begins to drop, and that chill in the morning air means that fall and winter are right around the corner, along with the wonderful holiday season. But for football fans, September is more than a change of the seasons, it is a sacred time. For this is when 32 teams take the field for seventeen weeks in total, to try and achieve moments of perfection, making opening weekend a truly special event and thankfully, that wonderful time is upon us once again. For today signals the beginning of the 2019 NFL Regular Season, the 100th that the league has enjoyed, meaning that incredible games await us for months to come and well, it’s time we look ahead to the incredible storylines and matchups that await us.
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Is this the year that Father Time finds Tom Brady?
Okay, I know this sounds like a supremely negative way to start off our weekly summary of the NFL, but this is a question that needs to be asked. Because despite the wonders that Tom has achieved over the course of his illustrious and controversial career in the league, no man can play forever, despite their desire to do otherwise and as we’ve seen time and time again, at some point his body will give out and his ability to play at a high level will diminish. But is this year the year when that happens? Honestly, it’s hard to say but when the Patriots take the field against the Steelers on Sunday, this is something that will be on the minds of every football fan out there because like it or not, we are in the twilight of Tom’s time in the NFL and how he throws the ball this week and every week after, will help us to understand exactly how much football he has left in him.
 
Kyler Murray needs to come out and impress in his first NFL game.
I know the mantra surrounding rookies always involves patience and understanding, since they’ve never played an NFL game before in their life. But let’s be honest, the pressure to win and win early is hanging heavy over the Arizona Cardinals and their new quarterback, Kyler Murray. Because the franchise basically blew up their team and coaching staff in order to make room for Murray and to make him successful and well, what he exhibited in preseason was a tad disappointing to say the least since he struggled with the rhythm of the game and executing something as simple as a snap count. So really, it is on the kid to show the football world that moving mountains to get him drafted to Arizona was worth the team’s while and I do hope he’s up to the task, or the Kingsbury/Murray honeymoon with the fans will come to an end rather quickly.
 
What will the Raiders do with Antonio Brown?
A funny thing happened on the way to publishing this article in that, I had written a whole different blurb on Antonio Brown and his role on Monday Night and then just like that, I had to delete all of it. Because this morning, AB and Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock got into a little altercation (as reported by Adam Schefter), the kind that may lead to Brown being suspended from the team and well, at this point, I guess the overriding question on all of our minds is; what on earth are the Raiders going to do with #84 long term? Because they paid him a king’s ransom to get him to… cause nothing but trouble since his arrival and this is just the icing on a diva-themed cake. So, at this point, do they suspend him? Do they cut their losses and eat whatever money they’ll have to eat? Time will tell of course, but in the here and the now, it’s obvious they got the raw end of the deal with Pittsburgh and I’m fairly certain we can expect plenty more drama from AB before (and after) this mess gets resolved.  

The first game of the 100th season of the NFL should be a magnificent showdown to say the least. Because you cannot go wrong with a matchup that features two of the league’s original teams and I’m expecting this to be one hell of a game. For a healthy Aaron Rodgers is always fun to watch, especially when one considers that he’s executing a new QB friendly playbook, courtesy of a new head coach. But while I think we’re all expecting Rodgers to accomplish some wonders on the field, the Chicago Bears may have something to say about that. Because their talented defense is hungry to avenge a playoff loss, and that offense is eager to prove their worth, meaning this is going to be a knockdown, drag it out fight, the kind that only the NFC North can produce and I cannot wait to watch every single second of it. 

Sure, there are some fascinating storylines surrounding the Tennessee Titans and their quest to return to glory, but let’s be honest, it’s the Browns that have us excited to watch this game. Which is something I never expected to say in this column, but here we are, and rightfully so. Because the Browns collected more weapons for Baker Mayfield to work with this offseason, such as prolific receiver Odell Beckham Jr., along with a new head coach that will likely cater to Mayfield’s strengths and well, that makes this game a must watch. Because if the Browns come out swinging and walk away with a decisive win, the buzz surrounding them will be huge and honestly, I hope that’s the case. Because the good fans of Cleveland deserve a little hope and a little joy after what they’ve been through and honestly, I think this new roster is going to surprise a lot of football fans when all is said and done. 

​Okay, I know what you’re thinking. We’ve already talked about this game. Well, we only kinda, sorta did. We talked about AB and his ego, and while the Diva of Divas’ silly moment will be a storyline hanging over this game, the real draw is the Denver Broncos. After all, this is a team that’s seen some tough times following their victory in Super Bowl 50, and it was another offseason full of turmoil in the Mile High City as GM John Elway jettisoned another coach and sent another QB packing before remaking the roster yet again and really, everyone is wondering if Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco are the answers to all of Denver problems. Which means that the buzz surrounding the Broncos will become either supremely negative or positive depending on how this game goes and it should be fascinating to see how this new look squad performs on the field come Monday Night.