Part 2 of the Giant-Sized Walkthrough Annual rounds up the usual suspects among the AFC contenders, sizes up would-be challengers like the Broncos and Texans, and sighs in exasperation at the Colts.
"Travis Kelce was mummified this offseason but still walks the earth at the behest of Anubis, the God of Death, who wants Taylor Swift tickets." That sentence alone is worth being a subscriber
So I was listening to a prominent football podcast the other week, a show that can safely be called in the Herbert Hive. And the subject of the show was "who's the 6th best quarterback in the NFL?" Because they have decided, you see, that Herbert is fifth, and they really don't want to talk about it any more. They went on the waive away his four INT playoff game, with one of the hosts even saying "the fact that he was so aggressive almost made me respect the performance more".
Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts was laughingly dismissed, essentially with the idea that he had one good game in the Super Bowl and was otherwise shaky all season, including the rest of the playoffs, and we shouldn't let that one game change the narrative on him (TBF I suppose that's consistent with their Herbert position).
Here's what I want to know: when these guys talk about Jalen Hurts, why do they only focus on his limitations and ignore his strengths? Why, when they talk about Justin Herbert (and, to a lesser extent, Trevor Lawrence), do they only talk about his talents and waive away his flaws? I am not going to say that Jalen Hurts has more arm talent than Justin Herbert; one JH is a throw maker, and the other is not. But one of them has been to the playoffs every year he's been a starter; has appeared in two Super Bowl, winning one and being the best player on the field in the other (save for one unfortunate play); and beaten all of the Big Four quarterbacks head to head. The other has struggled to even make the playoffs; is 0-2 in playoff games, including being on the wrong end of a historic meltdown, and threw four interceptions in the other.
My point is that it's disingenuous to pretend like Jalen Hurts is still just this limited quarterback being carried by his teammates. He's been too successful for too long now to just keep dismissing him. Maybe he's not ahead of Justin Herbert in the mythical QB rankings, but he's also never played as poorly in a big game as Herbert did against the Texans last year. Anyway, just had to get that off my chest in what I know is a safe space.
As a Cowboys fan I put Hurts in top 6-8. All I know is he makes plays. Sometimes simple ones, sometimes ones you think "anyone" could make and just often enough (2-3 per game) a "shake your head and say nice play" type play.
Teams don't win as much as the Eagles do with crappy QB play. The nerds who think Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert are better at NFL QB play that Jalen Hurts should be ignored.
Yes, he's been in a near-perfect situation. Best OL in the game; elite playmakers at WR, very good TE and a run game that makes life easy. Lots of QBs given those cards have ended up broke.
I’m a regular listener of that podcast. Their Herbert and Geno schtick (Trevor too, but to a lesser extent) has reached the point of bad parody. With that episode – “Who is the 6th best QB in the NFL?” – they literally jumped the shark. I'd like to get Mike T's opinion though he's probably loath to be critical of a former colleague. And FWIW, Hurts is comfortably a top 10 QB, and he has a good case for #5, ahead of Herbert.
I think Hurts is fantastic, but -- am I wrong, or has his passing game not developed much since he's been in the league? (Better than going ass-backwards like T-Law)
As a Cowboys fan, here's what Hurts excels at more than most NFL QBs: Situational Football. Maybe he's not going to dazzle with pinpoint 50 yard seam route lasers to a WR book-ended by 2 DBs, but he will make the play that is there to be made when it's nut-cutting time. I hate it. But it's true. Alas.
Oh, I would disagree, I think he's developed quite a bit since he's been in the league. He's not a finished product by any means (Mike did a good job laying out his flaws in yesterday's article) but he's still young with a lot of football ahead of him.
Also made the Super Bowl without Barkley and came within an iffy call of winning that one too. Has won 70% of his 75 games played. Finished 2nd in MVP voting in 2022.
Anyone thinking he just hands off hasn't really paid attention.
The boy band will be called Pick Six, The Last Place Boys, or 5-n-12. Instead of those Swedish songwriters who write #1 hits in their sleep, these guys will be working with their nonunion Norwegian equivalents
Snark levels are just about optimal, always makes for an enjoyable read, while not being at all short on real, accurate details about each team. One nitpick, while JJ Watt may have gotten paid, the Steelers paid TJ watt (again), and nobody had their mouth removed or was thrown inside a TV show for that.
I wish I could argue against the description of my Dolphins, but...sigh. We Fins fans are now entering an all-too familiar area: year 4 of a HC's reign, which has for two decades now signalled the end of that reign. There's nothing that suggests that 2025 will be any different for McDaniel than 2022 was for Brian Flores (fired in January), 2019 was for Adam Gase (fired in January), 2015 for Joe Philbin (fired mid-season), 2011 for Tony Sparano (RIP, and fired mid-season), and before that it gets even sadder. Overseeing most of it? Boss Ross for 15 years and Chris Grier for 10. Until both of those guys leave, I have no hope of ever seeing my team ascend beyond "fun until November."
I think the Bills and their fanbase probably could use a quality hypnotist. I am personally 100% onboard with another team beating the Chiefs in the playoffs. Whatever it takes.
I am sorry to say that I almost completely agree with you on the Pats review. Only thing you got wrong: Pats drafted Henderson in the 2nd so that they had someone competent to swap in when they bench Stevenson for fumbling. I'll be surprised if Stevenson is still the starter by Week 7 or so...
The AFC animation follies: Brown family member Blackburn as Cruella DeVil; Joe Burrow and the Batmobile; Mahomes as Bugs vs. the Gas House Gorillas*; Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones hold a competition for The Joker's amusement; Brady as Jafar...
*- On this one I have to disagree; it should be Mahomes/Bugs vs. Elmer (Bills) and Daffy (Ravens)..."and now for some wrest and wrelaxation..."
"Travis Kelce was mummified this offseason but still walks the earth at the behest of Anubis, the God of Death, who wants Taylor Swift tickets." That sentence alone is worth being a subscriber
Ehhhhhh like it. Need more
So I was listening to a prominent football podcast the other week, a show that can safely be called in the Herbert Hive. And the subject of the show was "who's the 6th best quarterback in the NFL?" Because they have decided, you see, that Herbert is fifth, and they really don't want to talk about it any more. They went on the waive away his four INT playoff game, with one of the hosts even saying "the fact that he was so aggressive almost made me respect the performance more".
Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts was laughingly dismissed, essentially with the idea that he had one good game in the Super Bowl and was otherwise shaky all season, including the rest of the playoffs, and we shouldn't let that one game change the narrative on him (TBF I suppose that's consistent with their Herbert position).
Here's what I want to know: when these guys talk about Jalen Hurts, why do they only focus on his limitations and ignore his strengths? Why, when they talk about Justin Herbert (and, to a lesser extent, Trevor Lawrence), do they only talk about his talents and waive away his flaws? I am not going to say that Jalen Hurts has more arm talent than Justin Herbert; one JH is a throw maker, and the other is not. But one of them has been to the playoffs every year he's been a starter; has appeared in two Super Bowl, winning one and being the best player on the field in the other (save for one unfortunate play); and beaten all of the Big Four quarterbacks head to head. The other has struggled to even make the playoffs; is 0-2 in playoff games, including being on the wrong end of a historic meltdown, and threw four interceptions in the other.
My point is that it's disingenuous to pretend like Jalen Hurts is still just this limited quarterback being carried by his teammates. He's been too successful for too long now to just keep dismissing him. Maybe he's not ahead of Justin Herbert in the mythical QB rankings, but he's also never played as poorly in a big game as Herbert did against the Texans last year. Anyway, just had to get that off my chest in what I know is a safe space.
As a Cowboys fan I put Hurts in top 6-8. All I know is he makes plays. Sometimes simple ones, sometimes ones you think "anyone" could make and just often enough (2-3 per game) a "shake your head and say nice play" type play.
Teams don't win as much as the Eagles do with crappy QB play. The nerds who think Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert are better at NFL QB play that Jalen Hurts should be ignored.
Yes, he's been in a near-perfect situation. Best OL in the game; elite playmakers at WR, very good TE and a run game that makes life easy. Lots of QBs given those cards have ended up broke.
Sorry. Any QB dealt that hand males a go of it. Just how much of a go is at question.
Well he's got two SB appearances, a SB win and overall win pct of 69% so I'd say he's far surpassing "making a go of it" - which is the point.
I’m a regular listener of that podcast. Their Herbert and Geno schtick (Trevor too, but to a lesser extent) has reached the point of bad parody. With that episode – “Who is the 6th best QB in the NFL?” – they literally jumped the shark. I'd like to get Mike T's opinion though he's probably loath to be critical of a former colleague. And FWIW, Hurts is comfortably a top 10 QB, and he has a good case for #5, ahead of Herbert.
I like them for the most part, but they have some real blind spots (like anything that happened in the NFL before 2010 or so).
LOL. Like my 20ish YO kids!
Well, Herbie is tall and handsome. So there. And Lawrence's hair is enough to make him a perennial top 10 qb
Are you implying JALEN HURTS isn’t handsome?!
My gay football friends pretty much have Hurts as the 1 seed.
Herbie, late-covid era, before he cut his hair -- MVP
I think Hurts is fantastic, but -- am I wrong, or has his passing game not developed much since he's been in the league? (Better than going ass-backwards like T-Law)
As a Cowboys fan, here's what Hurts excels at more than most NFL QBs: Situational Football. Maybe he's not going to dazzle with pinpoint 50 yard seam route lasers to a WR book-ended by 2 DBs, but he will make the play that is there to be made when it's nut-cutting time. I hate it. But it's true. Alas.
Oh, I would disagree, I think he's developed quite a bit since he's been in the league. He's not a finished product by any means (Mike did a good job laying out his flaws in yesterday's article) but he's still young with a lot of football ahead of him.
Got to the Super Bowl when Saquon came on board. What did Hurts add outside of handing off to a back who could read superior blocking?
Also made the Super Bowl without Barkley and came within an iffy call of winning that one too. Has won 70% of his 75 games played. Finished 2nd in MVP voting in 2022.
Anyone thinking he just hands off hasn't really paid attention.
The boy band will be called Pick Six, The Last Place Boys, or 5-n-12. Instead of those Swedish songwriters who write #1 hits in their sleep, these guys will be working with their nonunion Norwegian equivalents
It’s a really odd feeling going into a season and having actual expectations for the Denver Broncos. Been at least 10 years now.
So your grandpa was a pinochle guy, not a bocce guy. Because Borgonzi and grandpa references together makes me think of bocce immediately.
Snark levels are just about optimal, always makes for an enjoyable read, while not being at all short on real, accurate details about each team. One nitpick, while JJ Watt may have gotten paid, the Steelers paid TJ watt (again), and nobody had their mouth removed or was thrown inside a TV show for that.
MT - you mixed up your Dolphins LTs and eras. Armstead retired from the Dolphins, while the Texans traded Tunsil to the Commandos.
Great, hilarious preview, as always.
I wish I could argue against the description of my Dolphins, but...sigh. We Fins fans are now entering an all-too familiar area: year 4 of a HC's reign, which has for two decades now signalled the end of that reign. There's nothing that suggests that 2025 will be any different for McDaniel than 2022 was for Brian Flores (fired in January), 2019 was for Adam Gase (fired in January), 2015 for Joe Philbin (fired mid-season), 2011 for Tony Sparano (RIP, and fired mid-season), and before that it gets even sadder. Overseeing most of it? Boss Ross for 15 years and Chris Grier for 10. Until both of those guys leave, I have no hope of ever seeing my team ascend beyond "fun until November."
I can't see or hear the name Mike Borgonzi and not think of Inglorious Basterds:
"Borgonzi? Do I have that right?"
"Si, um...correcto"
"Again?"
"Borgaaaahnzi"
I think the Bills and their fanbase probably could use a quality hypnotist. I am personally 100% onboard with another team beating the Chiefs in the playoffs. Whatever it takes.
Also, Storm Duck.
I am sorry to say that I almost completely agree with you on the Pats review. Only thing you got wrong: Pats drafted Henderson in the 2nd so that they had someone competent to swap in when they bench Stevenson for fumbling. I'll be surprised if Stevenson is still the starter by Week 7 or so...
Sigh. Mr. Tanier, your description of the state of the Indianapolis Colts is exactly on point.
Fandom is all about irrationality, ain’t it?
I’m going to SerlingFest in Binghamton, NY this September, 19th to the 21st.
I'm confused. From all previous posts I've understood Herbert to be the West Coast version of Trevor Lawrence, except for heightend hype.
The AFC animation follies: Brown family member Blackburn as Cruella DeVil; Joe Burrow and the Batmobile; Mahomes as Bugs vs. the Gas House Gorillas*; Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones hold a competition for The Joker's amusement; Brady as Jafar...
*- On this one I have to disagree; it should be Mahomes/Bugs vs. Elmer (Bills) and Daffy (Ravens)..."and now for some wrest and wrelaxation..."