Here are the 4 things that I’m cooking on after NFL Week 1.
5 Things I Can’t Stop Thinking About
Josh Allen
First game on the road, versus the best defense in the league, with a new coach, and a new WR1 - Josh looks like his in mid-season form. Rushing TD, throwing darts all around the field, inexplicable cannon arm punt that somehow doesn’t get intercepted. We got the whole JA17 experience. Will the defense hold up long enough to give Buffalo a chance come playoff time - idk. Imthekindaguythat likes watching greatness in its prime, and what we saw from him was peak of his powers special. We’ll talk about games like this in 20 years when he’s long since been retired, but for now, enjoy it while you still can.
2. Ben Johnson & Caleb Williams
Ben Johnson is a psycho. and a genius. and maybe the best offensive playcaller we’ve ever seen.
Johnson hand picked Chicago - hand picked his QB in Caleb Williams and is now reaping the reward of that decision. There are so many stats we can pour over from this win over Carolina. Caleb Williams speed, hit 20MPH 2x on his rushing TD’s - he’s got 7 of the 10 fastest QB runs btw. 59 points is the second highest scoring output in a season opener. 6 rushing touchdowns tied the most for any season opener in league history.
1920 Detroit Heralds — 6
1920 Rock Island Independents — 6
1922 Canton Bulldogs — 6
2026 Chicago Bears — 6
Or that Colston Loveland is forever enshrined in the Tony Snell Cross Sport Wind Sprint Award HOF with his 0/0/0 performance after running a route on 93% of Caleb Williams’ drop backs.
I think the Bears are the best team in the loaded NFC North. Their defense is an issue no doubt. I just think that all the other teams in the division have more glaring weaknesses that will keep them firmly behind dabears.
Lamar Jackson and Declan Doyle
Lamar had a vintage Lamar game. Torched the Colts every which way en route to a dominant victory - lost WR1 Zay Flowers after a 150yd 1td half. Lost WR2 Jakobi Lane to a broken wrist after a TD score. Big Dog ate with 144/3 but I want to focus on QB and playcaller for a second.
We haven’t seen Lamar’s true ceiling. Yes, he’s one of 11 players all-time to win 2 MVP’s. That should show you exactly what kind of specimen Jackson is. Greg Roman and Todd Monken were his 2 OC’s in his MVP seasons - they are names you know because of the longevity in which they have conned the league into long and seemingly successful careers with offenses that were putting a Ferrari into palmetto rush hour traffic at 5pm.
Doyle has shipped the Ferrari to the autobahn and is going to let it rip.
Some interesting stats & notes I’ve seen on the Ravens and Lamar.
Highest rate of under center snaps + under center drop backs in Lamar’s career
creative play calling with moving the pocket for Lamar to work better on intermediate throws with time
multi faceted run game scheme using TE’s and FB’s in motion
play action to open up the passing game, naked bootlegs, fake reverse RB screen.
How bad the LA Chargers were
What I saw from the Chargers was incomprehensible. This was the year of the BOLT. Another year under Harbaugh, new OC in Mike McDaniel that orchestrated one of the best offenses in football a few years ago. A matured Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey primed to break out. Omarion Hampton looks like a world beater in the backfield.
And you lose to the ARIZONA CARDINALS. at home. looking terrible in the process.
I know it’s one game. small sample size y todo esa mierda. but I think I’m ready to announce something I can’t come back from. It’s a now or never year for Justin.
I was just getting comfortable on the Justin Herbert MVP island, prime beach front real estate. no one around so I grabbed a few parcels of land in the form of a parlay of Herbert MVP + LAC to make it to the Super Bowl. All preseason I was constructing a house, pool with a swim up bar, the works! All to await the party that will ensue in February.
What I didn’t do was check the weather patterns of Justin Herbert MVP Island. I’m smack dab in the middle of not only the Bermuda triangle but hurricane grand central station. Every hurricane season, my tiny island is battered and destroyed. Only for fewer and fewer people to come back and rebuild after it’s done. no wonder why the beach was so empty.
The Arizona Cardinals beat them 26-14 in a game that wasn’t particularly close. If Herbert can’t show us this season that he’s got a deep playoff run in him. I fear that we can move on from him as a serious contender in the AFC.
ONE TAKE I’LL PROBABLY REGRET.
I mentioned on LeBatard Show on Tuesday during my Top 5 that I think the Bills are Super Bowl favorites. They sit at +950 which is good for 3rd shortest odds in the NFL. I think offensively Josh is going to take them as far as his legs will go.
It will always be a matter of the defense. The Bills let up 31 points to the Houston Texans. For reference they scored over 30 SIX times in the last 2 seasons combined.
They’re young but have a few interesting pieces - let’s see how this unit looks in January.
📈 NFL STOCK MARKET 📉
BUYING 📈
I have been secretly buying massive amounts of stock in the New Orleans Saints. I had to throw the SEC off the scent by opening multiple shell corporations based overseas to continue to build my Saints portfolio.
Were all my shares worth pennies at halftime of week 1 - yes. In the first half Shough went 10/23 for 85 yards, 2 INT’s and a lost fumble.
"Buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own."
I bought the dip at halftime.
in the final 6 possessions for the Saints - Shough went 25/33 for 325 yards with 3 touchdowns and no turnovers while leading the Saints to 30 points and nearly defeating the Lions on the road.
even though they lost I feel confident in Shough and Kellen Moore + the skill position guys in NOLA.
TONY RECOMMENDS: BUY 📈📈📈📈📈
SELLING 📉
The New York Football Giants.
I had little to no stock in the GMEN to start the season. Best 2 offensive weapons post surgery. A QB who has a timeshare in the blue tent and a coaching staff I felt was past their prime.
Then comes SNF and a week 1 elixir in the form of the Dallas Cowboys defense that looked so bad I was actually getting angry that they couldn’t stop the hot dog vendor from rushing for 9 yards and getting a first.
Jaxson Dart looked amazing. Skattebo looked tough, decisive and fluid. Isaiah Likely was prime Gronk. The defensive line is their best individual unit. The play calling wasn’t terrible considering Matt Nagy is in the booth.
It’s the perfect time to sell high on a ticking time bomb in NYC.
Dart, Skattebo, Nabers. If those were the 3 guys that my franchises hopes are hinged on - I’d be worried. No way they can all stay healthy for 17 games.
The Giants are fools gold.
TONY RECOMMENDS: SELL HIGH 📉📉📉📉📉
A QB THOUGHT.
I know you’ve heard this a lot from me already - but really - keep an eye on Trevor Lawrence and the frisky Jags. TLaw and Liam Coen are doing something special.
That’s it for this week. We’re going to continue to add stuff to the running tally of HOF throughout the season.
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JBTN.
-10DAY