The Way I See It – NFL Dog Day Afternoon

The Way I See It

In this Way I See It, a look back at an incredibly interesting day of NFL football that reminds us of Dog Day Afternoon. Not the plot of the movie, just the title. If you’re too young to get the reference, stop wallowing in ignorance and go watch that classic Al Pacino flick.

Dog Day Afternoon

The thing that bubbles to the top of my dome about the Week 6 Sunday games? The list of underdogs getting the dub:

• Buccaneers (18) at Steelers (20) – not only was this game an upset, it came with the added bonus of having Tom Brady lose his composure. I love watching Brady lose his composure. The only thing that makes me happier is reading the rumors that Brady couldn’t keep his soon-to-be ex-wife Gisele Bundchen sexually satisfied.
• Ravens (20) at Giants (24) – it’s been a while since I can cheer for my favorite NFL team, the NY Giants. To be honest, I don’t know that I want to let myself believe that this team may be on this rise. But one thing is for sure: this Giants team is learning how to win under coach Brian Daboll.
• 49ers (14) at Falcons (28) – Yes the 49ers were banged up on defense, but that doesn’t diminish the Falcons’ victory. Marcus Mariota had an efficient game, going 12-13 for 129 yards with 2 TDs, as well as 50 rushing yards and a TD on the ground. Suddenly, the Falcons are sitting at 3-3, tied with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South.
• Jets (27) at Packers (10) – Think the Packers regret not having any NFL WR1s on their team? After losing in London to the upstart Giants in Week 5, the Packers seemed like a team on a mission in Week 6. Just kidding! They looked listless and played with no sense of urgency. Unless Green Bay swings a trade for someone like Chase Claypool, it’s going to be a rough road to the playoffs.

Clash of the Titans

Witness the birth of a rivalry! The Bills and Chiefs seem destined to be mortal enemies for the next ten years. After getting bounced out of the post-season last year by the Chiefs in one of the most exciting games in NFL history, the Bills spent the off-season focused on just one thing: making the necessary adjustments to take down Kansas City.

Look no further than the signing of free agent LB Von Miller. Signed to specifically get after Patrick Mahomes, Miller recorded two sacks and was constantly getting pressure on the Chiefs’ QB. If the Bills end up winning it all this season, the addition of Miller will likely be viewed as one of the main keys to their success.

But let’s be honest: the reason Bills-Chiefs is becoming the NFL’s best rivalry is due to their young QBs, Josh Allen and Mahomes. Their consistently great play in general (and against each other), combined with their youth and long-term contracts allows fans to hope that this will be a 10 year rivalry that will be the basis of one of those NFL Films specials we love to watch in our retirement.

Cheese Sauce

What’s an example of good, harmless fun that the mainstream media tries to turn into an international incident on the level of the Cuban Missile Crisis? For your consideration, I give you the Green Bay Cheese Head Incident.

After the Jets had defeated the favored Packers at Lambeau Field, standout rookie CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was given one of those foam cheese wedges that passes for stylish apparel in Wisconsin by a traveling Jets fan. Gardner put the ridiculous hat on his head and soaked in the scene… until Packers WR Allen Lazard came up to him and knocked the silly chapeau off his head.

That’s it. No fisticuffs, no yelling, no threats of violence. Just one kid celebrating an upset victory and a veteran making sure the rookie knew that he was teetering on the edge of disrespect. My reaction watching the scene live was “Oh, how cute”; but according to some outlets, this incident has brought us one step closer to nuclear annihilation.

Just stop it.

Peas in a Pod

I’m not sure NFL fans have an appreciation of what’s going on in Miami. See, the Dolphins have this pair of WRs that are simply playing outstanding ball. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been unstoppable, each putting up some amazing numbers. Hill is slashing 50/701/2, Waddle 30/533/3 which puts them on pace for 140/1,960/6 and 84/1,492/8.

The amazing part with their performances is that it’s coming without benefit of a top-tier QB under center. Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater and Skyler Thompson are not exactly conjuring up memories of Dan Marino in Miami, which makes the performance of Hill and Waddle even more impressive. Certainly, they are making Miami fans forget the 1984 season of the “Marks Brothers” (Mark Clayton and Mark Duper) who caught a combined 144/2,695/26 during Marino’s incredible 5,000 yard season.

Again, as a reminder: HIll and Waddle are on pace to put up a combined 224/3,452/17. The TDs are a bit lacking compared to the Marks Bros. pace, but still… amazing. For my money, the best WR duo in the NFL.