ClutchPoints
If you listen to people who get paid a lot of money, Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears are a legitimate Super Bowl threat. Also, the Denver Broncos seem to qualify. And while there is nothing inherently wrong with those takes, the NFL should stand for the National Fluid League. Just wait. It will change.
Think about what we’ve heard recently. Last week, the Rams were going to blow through to the Super Bowl. Then they got chopped by the Panthers.
Just two weeks ago, the Eagles were on their way to a repeat because their defense looked so awesome. Now, “experts” are claiming they might not even win the NFC East.
And weren’t the Colts everybody’s Super Bowl darlings just a few weeks ago? But who can guarantee they win the AFC South right now?
If you swallow the recency bias, you’ll have your wagon hitched to Brian Schottenheimer’s Dallas Cowboys. They’ve won three in a row. Their offense is unstoppable. Their defense magically became the best in the world — hyperbole noted for effect — almost overnight. Who can beat the Cowboys?
But when the Eagles beat up the Lions by a score of 16-9, didn’t people say the same things about their defense? And what happened? They got absolutely embarrassed by the Cowboys, unable to hold a 21-0 lead. Then the Bears rushed for 281 yards on 41 carries.
Wait. Did you say 287 yards? Let’s put that in perspective. The worst run defense in the NFL belongs to the New York Giants. They average giving up 157 yards per game. Yep. One hundred and fifty-seven. The Eagles just got torched for 287.
So let’s write the Eagles off, right?
And what about Sean McVay’s Rams? Everybody wanted to gush over the Rams’ defense after they picked off Sam Darnold four times and then stonewalled Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.
But what happened next? They couldn’t stop Bryce Young when it mattered. Yes, Bryce Young. What happened to the Rams’ defense all of a sudden?
Furthermore, let’s look at the Broncos. Some would say they have the best defense in the NFL. So what happened Sunday night against the Commanders? They allowed a backup quarterback to throw for almost 300 yards.
And if Nik Bonitto didn’t make a clutch and athletic play, the Broncos would have lost. Jeremy McNichols was wide open and would have walked into the end zone for the game-winning 2-point conversion.
The Broncos generated almost no pressure against a suspect Commanders offensive line. Sure, the Commanders chucked a bunch of short passes. But the Broncos weren’t able to clamp down on those passes and force the Commanders to do something different. And it should have cost them the game.
They are the Cowboys and Texans. Houston has won four in a row and is 7-2 since a 0-3 start. And they’ve won games despite...
