Dan Campbell joked about how he looked at the stats before handing out the game balls from Sunday’s 47-9 win in Dallas, then proceeded to announce that Jared Goff was getting one of them. Just as Campbell was about to end his postgame speech, Goff flipped things on his head coach and gave Campbell the game ball.
That is an indication of a team that knows who they are, what they are and what they’re fighting for. That can be a very difficult thing for opposing teams to combat.
Look at what they did with Dan Skipper. Having him report as an eligible receiver on the first offensive snap of this game after what happened last season against Dallas was a message to both the Cowboys and referees. That’s another indication of how much this team is playing for each other.
It’s a wonderful thing to see.
When you have a team that’s in lock-step with their coach, it’s a powerful thing. That’s what the Patriots had, in a very different way, under Bill Belichick. Same thing with the Chiefs and Andy Reid; they know that they’re in this together. Same thing with John Harbaugh and the Ravens.
To me — the Chiefs, the Lions and the Ravens — those three teams have an identity. Those three teams have a culture. Everyone else is trying to get that culture.
They know they’re going to find ways to win games. The Lions know they can beat you on the ground and they can beat you through their air.
And, they are the living embodiment of their head coach.
Nick Sirianni has a lot of growing up to do
You’re at home against a team that is in all sorts of disarray, and you have to squeak by? Then, after the game, Sirianni goes up and starts chirping with fans?
To quote Ricky Watters, I would ask Sirianni: “For who? For what?”
What did you gain by doing this? Did you feel better in the moment by yapping at a fan after a four-point win against a horrible team? If that’s what you need to make yourself feel better, you’ve got bigger problems, bud.
When it comes to handling himself like a professional, this guy has got some real maturity issues.
Caleb Williams is evolving
For Bears fans, after what they’ve been through, this is what you want. You’re seeing the maturation of a young quarterback before your very eyes.
These last couple performances haven’t been against great teams, but look at what happened in that first game. Against Tennessee, who wasn’t a good team, the Bears had to struggle to win without an offensive touchdown. Williams is improving.
It’s only three games, but you have to like where this is headed.
Leaves aren’t the only thing changing with the season
You get everybody’s best shot in September because nobody knows they’re bad yet. Middle of October, realization comes to hit you in the face.
Look at the Saints. Coming off the first two weeks, everyone is thinking about the Super Bowl. Yet here they are, having lost four straight games, along with Derek Carr.
Suddenly, it’s hard to replicate that passion you had in Weeks 1 and 2 when you’re 2-4 when Weeks 7, 8 and 9 hit.
October is the great leveling-off period.
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