The EastCoaster

By: John Cardillo 

Now that we have all had an excellent summer, we can put the summer to bed because the fall is finally upon us. What do you think about during the fall? Apple picking? Yes, but not my cup of tea. Wine tasting for those of age?  Yes, but you can only do that once in a blue moon. Then there is the famous sport of football. Who doesn’t love football? We can watch it three days a week and it is the most fun thing to do on Sundays. So, let’s get to it. 

Who are the most surprising teams out of the gate? 

 My first team is the Detroit Lions. They have a 5 and 1 record after six games. Their defense has played really well, their offense is playing excellent, and Jameson Williams, their star receiver from Alabama, is back to make a real impact as the season wears on. I think the Lions are here to stay. Yes, The Lions. Watch out for them!

The second team that is surprising me is the Houston Texans. After getting the number two pick in the draft this year, quarterback. C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ offense has played very well. Stroud has thrown for multiple 300-yard games in the small start to his young career. His quarterback rating is off the charts and he just threw his first interception last week. This might be the steal of the draft if he turns out to be the quarterback that the Texans have yearned so long for. They are 3 and 3. Their defense is very good, just as good as the Lions, so far.  There might be some hiccups for this young team, but this is a team to watch out for. Could they be playoff-bound? Maybe… Check back with me later in the year.

The third team I would say that has been a surprise is the Pittsburgh Steelers, believe it or not.  I had the Steelers really taking a step back this year, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin has proven me wrong so far. This team plays tough football. Their offense hasn’t been that good, but the defense behind T.J. Watt has been clicking and making plays. Now I expect the Steelers to be competitive as usual. Will they win a Super Bowl? No. Are the playoffs out of the question?  Absolutely not.  Keep an eye out for them.

Who are the most disappointing teams out of the gate? 

This one should be no surprise. The New England Patriots. I know all of you Massachusetts sports fans might not want to hear this, but this season, they are not that good. As a matter of fact, they have been terrible through the first six games this year. They are 1 and 5 and they are a Randall Cobb drop in the end zone against the Jets from being 0 and 6. They have zero playmakers on offense. The offense is…putrid. As much as I dislike Mac Jones, I can’t put all of the blame on him. Plus, they have not even entered into the meat of their schedule yet. I do not see them winning more than five games this season. Is this the year Bill Belichick gets the exit out of town? We will see. If this keeps up, my money says yes.

My second most disappointing team is the Denver Broncos.  This one surprises me. Sean Payton, the head coach, who has been successful everywhere he has gone, has been awful with the Broncos. Now, maybe it’s the personnel he has. He has a bad run defense, which teams are taking advantage of. They allowed 70 points to Miami. I know they are good, but 70 points?   Putting no defense out there, you may do better. The main problem I have with Denver is their offense. Is Russell Wilson finished? He is certainly playing like it. He has been awful. Denver has good receivers, too good, and they are not being used properly. Payton has to find a way to get the ball to Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Maybe it wasn’t Nathaniel Hackett’s doing after all. Maybe Denver is this bad. Denver will be in contention for the number one pick if this keeps up.

My final team that has been a disappointment is the Chicago Bears.  They spent money in the off-season to bolster the defense. Their offense has been nothing short of offensive. They are not a solid football team and now Justin Fields, their quarterback, may be hurt. He has been disappointing as well. Justin, word of advice, run with the ball. That’s where you are at your best. You are not a pocket passer. They also traded Chase Claypool to the Dolphins. The Bears are not going to be good the rest of the year. They won’t be able to win many games and I see this season imploding if it has not already.   

     In closing, these are my surprises and my disappointments for the first six weeks of the season. Check back, later in the year for more football talk.