Hi everyone, the top 12 has returned to bring debate and joy to everyone’s life. So what is the topic we shall debate about tonight? How about the top 12 storylines of the 2023 NFL Season. Yes what was the most talked about stories of the year. I think my list is pretty good. Let’s let all of you decide how does that sound? Thanks again everyone and have a great day!!
12. Is Jordan Love the 3rd straight Packer great?
There was some reluctance from the football world on Jordan Love. Especially after underwhelming performances against the Lions and Raiders early in the season. But we all learned really quickly that the Packers new Quarterbacks and after Jordan Love finished with an 18-1 TD-Int ratio the last 7 games of the regular season. Just maybe he can be at least in the zip code moving forward as their hippee weirdo former great QB. Enjoy the traffic and high taxes in Jersey there Aaron.
11. Cowboys win the East, this their big chance?
The Cowboys are the biggest brand in America. We all know that with their 8 primetime games a year and them being a daily major topic in every national sports talk show in America. Huge ratings=more advertising dollars from sponsors, so more Cowboys more $$. With a young Packers team in round 1 and likely either the inexperienced Lions or a very meh Bucs/Eagles coming to Dallas in Round 2 this is the boys best chance in a quarter century to get back to the NFC Championship game at a minimum. Don’t blow it Dak.
10. The surging Buffalo Bills
The Bills after a devastating OT loss to the Eagles in Week 12 went into their bye Week at 6-6 even though they had a plus 97 point differntial. It’s been wild since the bye week for the Buffalo helmets but they won 5 in a row down the stretch to win their 4th consecutive division title. They got some breaks along the way. Toney offside, Cowboys no showing, Shakir being down instead scoring a TD that would have been worse weirdly, the Pats being bad and sloppy and a game changing punt return, maybe the Bills time
9. Russell Wilson/Sean Peyton saga
Russell Wilson might not be washed, but he clearly is not the Quarterback he used to be. The Broncos started 1-5 and even though they would go on a 5 game winning streak midseason, a blowout loss to the Lions in Week 15 had Sean Peyton blowing up on the sidelines to Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson clearly is not a system quarterback and actually performs the best being a magician. It will be an interesting offseason for Russ and the Donkey but it’s safe to say sometime mid March, Russell Wilson services will be available
8. Lamar Jackson’s 2nd MVP Campaign
Lamar Jackson put up way more monster stats in 2019 when he won his first MVP award. But anyone who watched this season will agree that this dual version of Lamar is way more dangerous. He’s become sensational from the pocket as well as being as terrifying as any Quarterback in the history of the game with his legs. The smart thing about Lamar now compared to the past is he gets down instead of taking shots which did get him banged up the last three years. Ravens are clearly the team to beat in the entire NFL.
7. Baker better than Brady?
There is a little bit of hyperbole here when I state that but Baker Mayfield did with much of the same team and a slightly tougher schedule (they did have a first place schedule and played Eagles, Niners and Bills when nobody else in their division played those teams) and he won one more than Tom last year, won the division like Tom, had three more TD passes than Tom, almost a full yard more per attempt than Tom, and only one more pick than Tom a slightly higher passer rating, sure Tom was 45 last year but #facts!
6. C.J Stroud Rookie run
So Will Levis was very rookie like with highs and lows (most of his lows is just that he’s a little different). Anthony Richardson showed some massive upside but missed most of year and already has serious durability issues. Bryce Young, albeit in a terrible situation in Carolina was just brutally terrible and of course his size is a huge concern to many. C.J Stroud on the other hand is already a star, had one of the best rookie years ever, and lead a team that won 11 games the previous 3 years to 10 wins and a division title, dude can ball.
5. Jets circus
Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum, yup that’s me playing the circus music in the background. The Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers, whom was 90 percent retired before a darkness retreat. Aaron Rodgers tears his achilles four plays into the season. Then after a thrilling victory over the Bills that night the following happens. Zach Wilson predictably sucks, Robert Saleh is dying his beard like a 40 something suffering a midlife crisis. Rodgers trys to defy science saying he’s returning then he’s not, Jets go 7-10 again, oof.
4. Is this the end of Bill Belichick
As of this writing Bill Belichick is still the coach of the New England Patriots. With big time coaches like Vrabel and Carroll (sort of) being shown the door. Is Billy B and his 24 year tenure, 9 super bowl appearances and 6 super bowl victories the next coach to go. Yes we know he is only 49-58 in his Patriots career in games not started by Tom Brady but you cannot say that the rings were all because of Tommy boy. I’m willing to give Tom a 68-32 percent edge. But Bill Belichick’s genius as a big reason for the dynasty. See what next. Well as I finished this column, Bill Belichick is out in New England, answers to questions.
3. Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift Love Affair
I know Drew I know, what does this have to do with football. Well this doesn’t directly affect the Kansas City Chiefs on the field (even though many say that Kelce’s slight decline and the Chiefs only going 11-6 through a bumpy season may affect them after all). But what it does do is open up football to entire different demographic. Yes I am talking about the Swifites, or Taylor Swift fanatics. Strange to say it but Taylor Swift is 50 times more popular worldwide then Patrick Mahomes. So a lot of people, I don’t but they do, #morefacts.
2. Flacco Renessaince
Yes everyone, Joe Flacco (who wasn’t a regular NFL starter for five years) came in late in the year and led the resurgent Browns to a 4-1 record and scored after losing his first start the following, 31, 20, 36 and 37. The Browns were one on the most underwhelming offenses in the league in terms of scoring and yards per play and Joey football let the Browns to almost 30 a game in his five starts. The funny part was him destroying the Jets (whom he played on just last season and needed a QB desperately) to clinch the playoffs.
1.Lions clinch the North
The Detroit Lions went 0-16 in 2008. They went 1-15 in 2001. They went 3-14 just two years ago. They were the laughing stock of football for all of this century and really with the exception the 1990s (or the Barry Sanders Era) had one of the worst records in all of football every decade dating back to the 1950s. However, in 2023 there was hype in Detroit after a strong finish to last season. Well they won in Arrowhead on opening night and carried it to a 12-5 record and will host their first playoff game in 30 years on Sunday night. Ford Field will be an absolute cite to see. Their opponent is.. no frigging way. 12 year Lions starting QB, Matthew Stafford and his Rams squad who won the super bowl the first year after leaving the Motor City. This is not hyperbole, this may be the most awesome wild card weekend matchup I can remember, literally ever. I can’t wait neither can you. Thanks for reading and watching everyone. Enjoy the playoffs, I know I will.