Do Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth owe Lamar Jackson money? That wasn’t as much a football telecast as it was a Slobber Fest. Jackson now holds the record for Most Fawning Accolades Received in a Game by a Quarterback Who Threw Four Interceptions.
At 8-3, the Ravens are now the One Seed in the AFC. They play hard. They play defense. They run the rock. Jackson, when he’s not tossing quadraceptions, is the most exciting player in the NFL. So, I’ll join Mike and Cris in giving The Edgar Allans their props.
But I can’t see the Ravens in the SB. I don’t think that formula can hold up for three (or four) straight games against playoff competition.
So which teams are strong enough to bench press that AFC banner all the way to L.A.? The Bengals are. The Patriots are (the PATRIOTS are?).
The Chiefs still could be. The Colts can beat anybody (missed it by THIS MUCH yesterday).
And I wouldn’t throw dirt in the Titans’ faces just yet if they can get A.J. Brown back off IR. And get Julio Jones back off IR. And hold on long enough to get Derrick Henry back off IR. Yeah, ok, I know…
But I did think the Titans swung their short stick hard yesterday until the Pats broke it open late.
NFC? Looks to me like we could be heading toward déjà vu at Lambeau all over again. With the Bucs once again wearing the white jerseys.
Tampa Bay is finding just the right offensive balance (or ballast, with Fournette). And Green Bay’s defense has made a Quantum Lambeau Leap.
But I’ve about had it with Mason Crosby staring down his holder every time he yanks a FG. Not cool.
The Rams are broke. And I don’t think there’s enough time to fix them. Something is wrong…bad wrong…with Stafford.
Too many current issues with the Cowboys. But unlike the Rams, Dallas may still have a chance to get it back together.
Oh, then there’s that 9-2 team in the desert. You know, the one that had the bye yesterday. That cactus is prickly.
And it is not too late for the 49ers. They are once again healthy. And very resourceful.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts gets my Suffer in Silence Award. He threw what should have been the winning TD pass against the Giants…twice. Only to see the same receiver drop it…twice. I hope there are better days ahead for Jalen Reagor, who, to his credit, did man up in the postgame interview room.
I think I’ll go man up at the donut shop.
You know what they say in college football. “When the going gets tough, the tough head to Hollywood.” Say bye to the Missing Linc, Sooners.
