With Week One starting last night, 2022 looks to be one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory.

Last night, the Buffalo Bills humbled the Los Angeles Rams. And by humbled, shredding their defense like pulled pork. With that said, the rest of the NFL slate looks rather wild. Now, if you look at some of the media that hype up contenders and the ones they dismiss, there isn’t that great of a difference. On balance, the NFL actually does has parity. Unlike other sports, teams appear bunched together before their season starts.

The Green Bay Packers possess a top-three quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Additionally, they boast an elite running back duo in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Meanwhile, the defense will attack opposing quarterbacks and shut down anything vertical. So, what is the problem? Nothing really. Green Bay can and should make a deep run. However, after a decade-plus of being on the outside of the Super Bowl, how much more time do they have? Furthermore, how much blame does Matt LaFleur receive? First, special teams killed the Packers all of 2021. As a result, Rich Bisaccia takes the helm as the special teams coach. In that division, facing those teams, there’s no way that a twelve-win season does not occur, barring injury. Any team that ranks in the top ten in most offensive and defensive categories for the past two years should not stumble early in the playoffs.

With autumn approaching, and the weather turning colder, another fall rite of passage occurs. You will hear fans of the Dallas Cowboys loudly proclaim this is their year. Let’s keep it real, for as much talent Dallas can put on the field, something feels off about this incarnation of the Cowboys. Look no further than Mike McCarthy. Since the Packers won the Super Bowl after the 2010 season, McCarty owns a 5-8 playoff record. Of those eight losses, three of them saw his team bounced in the first round. With Sean Payton potentially willing to return, McCarthy must win, and win in the postseason, in order to keep his job. Sunday night gives the Cowboys a chance, in front of a national television audience to start off hot. However, Tampa Bay isn’t going to lay down. Dem Boys need dem wins.

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For years, whether it was the abrupt press conferences or atrocious play, Baker Mayfield looked like a villain. Browns fans and media types thought he was a disgrace to their franchise. Calm down, this franchise went winless, wasting Joe Thomas’ entire career with subpar play and coaching. Yet, they demonized Mayfield as the source of their failures. In two days, Mayfield takes the field as a Carolina Panther. That franchise endured a hellish post-Cam Newton existence. Not to mention, Matt Rhule, who seems like he possesses the lone skill of finessing a huge contract from ownership. Mayfield will hear cheers in his debut.

If you listen to any critic of Bill Belichick, you will hear the same tired, utterly unimaginative takes. First, the thought that he has never won anything, not even a playoff game. Folks that write coaching epitaphs need to spend time looking at film. Drift back to 1994, Belichick’s Browns finish 11-5 and won a playoff game. Vinny Testaverde threw more picks than touchdowns. Belichick’s defense held offenses to 12.8 points a game. Fast forward to today, Brady is gone. The Patriots rolled the dice with Mac Jones. Granted, the Patriots struggle during his rookie season. However, after a 10-7 bounce-back season, Belichick looks like he is slowly building back. Despite blowing out seventy candles on his cake last April, the drive to coach still exists. Any Patriots team will always be a tough out with him on the sidelines.

For the entirety of my four dozen years on this Earth, people brag about the Cowboys/Eagles, Bears/Packers, Browns/Competence as the most contentious rivalry. While that may be true, this Sunday features a rivalry that spans decades and remains razor-thin. By holding a 54-52 edge in wins, the Falcons can brag about that stat. Believe me, they will. No two teams like needling and exchanging barbs more than these two. From endless jousting on social media to endless trolling in public, they each keep the petty ready. 2,042 passed since the Patriots completed the greatest Super Bowl comeback versus Atlanta. Saints fans will beat that expired equine into a paste before they let that collapse go. Meanwhile, the Falcons often answer.

This article first appeared on Full Press Coverage and was syndicated with permission.

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