As we’ve reached the quarter point of the 2022 NFL season (well closer to 1/3, uneven numbers make everything more complicated), most teams, good and bad are beginning to shape into their 2022 form, while others will not want their year to be defined by the season’s first month. As expected, the NFL’s trademark parity means a host new playoff and super bowl contenders have emerged, while former juggernauts look to regain the form of years past. Here’s a look at the top storylines so far this NFL season.
Flyin’ Eagles
How much parity does the NFL have? Well, last year’s Super Bowl participants both sit at 2-3, while the up-and-coming Philadelphia Eagles have taken the NFL season by storm, sitting at 5-0. Despite the media’s early skepticism of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles front office has continued to build around their young signal-caller after last season’s pleasant wild-card appearance. The addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown has added a physical element to the outside, as he is the perfect compliment to Devonta Smith’s more graceful approach. Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert have also played well, adding to the dynamism on offense. In turn, Jalen Hurts has continued to improve and is on a career-high pace across the board. He’ll never be Aaron Rodgers in the pocket, but his increasing comfort and efficiency under center only aids his electric abilities as a runner. Defensively, new additions James Bradberry and Haason Reddick have been lighting it up, while veterans Brandon Graham and Darius Slay continue to lead the way. The Eagles currently stand as one of the most complete teams in football, boasting a top-ten unit on either side of the ball.
Giant Killers
“You don’t draft a running back number two,” they said. Well, look whose laughing now? Probably still them, but nonetheless, Saquon Barkley’s re-emergence as a superstar running back has given the G-men a major spark on offense. The digs at Barkley’s lofty draft status were never a question of his talent, but having an offense built around a running back also means everything else has to go right in order to be successful, and right now they are for the Giants. Big Blue boasts a top ten pass defense and their blitz-heavy scheme — while not generating a ton of sacks or turnovers — has frustrated every quarterback not named Cooper Rush. Daniel Jones has also looked competent for longer stretches than usual, but Barkley is the straw that stirs the drink. The Giants have a relatively light remaining schedule and an unlikely postseason birth, can earn Saquon what was once thought to be an even more unlikely long-term deal with the Giants.
What a Rush
The Cowboys have got all their rushes in order. Their rushing attack has been piling up the yards as Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliot form one of the best running back tandems in the NFL. Their pass rush is dominant with Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence leading the way, and Cooper Rush has held the fort down in Dak Prescott’s absence. Now, if only they could hurry up and make their first super bowl in 27 years.
Broncos Country… let’s ride out this rough stretch
9 pro bowls, 8 playoff appearances, 2 Super Bowls and 1 win. Yet, Russel Wilson’s status as a superstar quarterback is in precarious stranding five weeks into the 2022 NFL season. Despite a talented supporting cast, the Broncos offense has not only failed to impress, but they’ve looked downright inept. So much so, that the media has begun to openly wonder if Wilson’s acquisition — and Nathaniel Hackett’s hire — was a huge misstep. The decline in production and regressing mobility all point to Wilson’s time as an elite quarterback coming to an end (if it hasn’t already). But that doesn’t necessarily mean doom for the 2022 Broncos. They currently possess a top five defense with difference makers all over the field. Randy Gregory –their other big offseason acquisition — was put on IR prior to their week 5 matchup against the Colts and his replacement Nik Bonnito had an impactful game in his stead. Pat Surtain II and Bradley Chubb are playing like all-pros, while pro bowl safety Justin Simmons is on his way back from IR. We mustn’t forget, the last Broncos championship team was formed out of a similar formula. Led by Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning’s carcass, Von Miller, Aqib Talib and the rest of the 2015 Broncos defense are responsible for one of the biggest carry jobs in modern football. This isn’t to say that WIlson, the offense and Hackett mustn’t improve, but that their demise has been greatly overblown.
Super Bowl Hangovers
Unsurprisingly, one of last year’s super bowl teams has regressed. Surprisingly, both of last year’s super bowl teams have regressed. Ironically, the star-studded conference champions share similar ailments. Each team’s offensive line has their #9 running for their life, with both outfits ranking in the bottom six in sack percentage. The Bengals 9% sack rate is a slight improvement from last year, while teams are getting to Matt Stafford at twice the rate of their super bowl winning season. The Bengals offensive line woes prevents them from fully exploiting their plethora of offensive weapons, while putting Joe Burrow — who is less than two years removed from a torn ACL — at risk. The Rams lack of protection leaves them with a Kupp-or-bust offense, with no discernible running game or secondary receiving threat to alleviate the pressure off their all-pro wideout. The signing of Allen Robinson has yet to pan out and the Rams seem to be hoping an Odell Beckham Jr. reunion can balance out the offense. Never mind that Beckham Jr. is coming off the third major knee injury in his career, and there is not certainty that he’ll return to his prior form. There’s always been a feeling that the Bengals super bowl run was an overachievement, and the Rams went all-in for last season. This NFL season may just be a case of the football gods balancing things out.
Jets Takeoff
In the NFL’s carousel of perennial losers (looking at you Lions, Jets, Jaguars, Texans and Browns), every so often one breaks away and offers their fanbase some reprieve from the relentless losing (see, 2009-2010 Jets and 2017 Jaguars). This time it’s the Jets turn to make fans worldwide wonder, “wait, they’re actually good?” Say what you may, but Gang Green has overcome injuries that would have cratered lesser teams. The loss of Zach Wilson for the season’s first 3 games combined with the comical number of injuries to the offensive line — particularly the tackle position — had many feeling like this was another rebuilding (code word for lost) season. One Joe Flacco throwback special and two encouraging Wilson performances later have the Jets looking like this year’s surprise team. Their youth movement (ahem, decade plus of losing) has landed them some of the most exiting young talent in the NFL. Sauce Gardner is a stud, Garrett Wilson looks electric and Breece Hall has the looks of a feature back. Much of the credit has to go to head coach Robert Saleh, whose had the difficult job of coaching this team out of their losing mentality. However, a tough schedule lies ahead and the playoffs are far from a lock. But, 3-2 is the closest the Jets have been to the playoffs in 6 years (All you had to do was beat Buffalo, Fitz!), so there’s cause for optimism.
Geno Smith, is that you?
Here’s a transcript of Seahawk fans over the first month of the NFL season.
“Geno Smith is good. I repeat, Geno Smith is good.”
“Huh, when did Geno Smith get good?”
“How good is he?”
“I don’t know but, Geno Smith is good. Oh, my god, I can’t believe Geno Smith is good.”
No but seriously, this is like when the 30-year-old middling MLB player starts having an MVP season out of nowhere.
Pack Lacking Punch
The most bizzare occurrence has taken place in the first month of the 2022 NFL season, Aaron Rodgers has looked like a… (cover your eyes Packer fans) game manager. Davante Adams trade to the Oakland Raiders has crippled the Packers passing attack more than even the front office might have foreseen. Trading Adams is bad enough, replacing him with… nobody is downright inexcusable. The buzz words around Green Bay at the moment are “patience” and “the young guys.” Rodgers, who will be 39 in December, has said all the right things, but the Packers are no strangers to internal drama, and how much longer will the current league MVP resign himself to pedestrian passing days?
The Unstoppable Force vs The Immovable Object
Week 6 brings about another installment of the NFL’s marquee matchup. The Bills and Chiefs will face each other for the fifth time in the Allen-Mahomes era. Only a few years into this rivalry and it already feels like one of the all-time greats, reminiscent of other great individual rivalries like Brady-Manning, Tyson- Holyfield and Hogan-Andre. Adding to the theatre of it all is that the road to the super bowl will most likely go through either Buffalo or Kansas City, making this matchup all the more salivating. Both teams have been rolling though the first quarter of the season sitting at 4-1, with one minor slip-up each (the Bills to the Dolphins and the Chiefs to the Colts). Moreover, while Allen has ascended to Mahomes level, he has yet to surmount his super bowl winning counterpart, with 2 of the 3 losses to Mahomes coming in the playoffs. This is a bigger game for the Bills, who have once again re-loaded for a championship run. Meanwhile, the Chiefs were more conservative with their handling of contracts. Yet, their offense has looked sharper than ever, relying less on explosive plays and more on efficiency. This clash of Titans will certainly play a role in deciding home field advantage in the playoffs and right now, it seems as though Josh Allen needs it more.