5 Lessons is a weekly column by Deivis Chiodini, covering important points that the NFL round brought us. It is always on the air on Monday mornings, providing a quick and clear opinion. Click here and check the column index!
Calm sea does not make a good sailor
There is no such thing as an easy game in the NFL and that’s why it’s so exciting. The worst team in the league can beat a favorite in any round: this week the Kansas City Chiefs had to go into overtime to beat the Houston Texans. On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins, flirting with defeat. In Florida, the Cincinnati Bengals had to seek a 17-point deficit against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not even the Philadelphia Eagles, the team with the best campaign, escaped: they had to play until the last snap against the Chicago Bears.
What do these teams have in common? All are favorites for the title (along with the San Francisco 49ers???????? Week 15 was just another proof that in the NFL you will suffer to win and creating calluses makes the difference: nobody sails in a calm sea towards the Super Bowl.
The barge will be big in Arizona
Without an injured Kyler Murray, the Arizona Cardinals lost to the Denver Broncos, who also didn’t have Russell Wilson???????? With just 4 wins and no mathematical chance of qualifying, Arizona should see a revamp begin. Steve Keim, general manager of the franchise, is on medical leave, but it seems that he should not return to office. Kliff Kinsgsbury also has his days numbered and a few more veterans should say goodbye to the team in 2023: the boat will be big on the sides of Arizona.
Gaining mass doesn’t make you throw strong
The New England Patriots lost with one of the most bizarre plays of recent times: trying to pass laterals, he ended up launching to Chandler Jones, who took the ball to the end zone, giving the victory to the Las Vegas Raiders. Asking why Mac Jones didn’t release a Hail Marysince the ball was in the 45 line of defense, Bill Belichick replied: “I couldn’t throw that far”.
Ahead of the season, Mac Jones appeared muscular and many said this would help him throw the ball further, making the offense more vertical. Apparently, there isn’t much of a relationship: contrasting Belichick’s speech, Aaron Rodgers – who is no Mr. Muscles – threw his famous play against the Detroit Lions from behind their 40-yard line.
Mac Jones did not launch the Hail Mary and even took a stiff arm from Chandler Jones, who took the ball for the Raiders’ winning touchdown
Justin Herbert is decisive
One of the biggest fallacies in the current NFL is to say that Justin Herbert is “popcorn and shakes”, because his team has not made it to the playoffs: since he entered the league he is third in decisive drives and second in turnovers in the last period. The truth is that this Los Angeles Chargers was only alive in 2021 and is alive in 2022 due to the talent of the number 10 shirt, as seen in the victory campaign over the Tennessee Titans, when he managed to position the team for the winning field goal even with just 44 seconds on the clock.
Everything Ryan did good will be forgotten
Barring an unlikely turn at this point in his career, Matt Ryan will be a quarterback who will often be cited after retirement as a loser. Being on the losing side in the biggest comeback in history – the Indianapolis Colts managed to lose after beating the Minnesota Vikings 33-0 – and in the biggest Super Bowl is sure to affect his legacy enormously.
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Too bad, since Ryan was much more than that: 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2016 MVP, one of the Atlanta Falcons’ greatest players, Ryan deserved better. Unfortunately, it will be on his account forever and there’s nothing you can do about it: history is written.
To know more:
???? Like: If Seattle doesn’t make the playoffs, it’s not Geno Smith’s fault
Without Garoppolo, the season seemed to go downhill – with Purdy there is hope at least
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