The holidays are arrived!
It’s a joyous season, a time for fellowship and celebration. As a result, I’m emphasising the positive in today’s Schein Nine!
I’m impressed with Shane Steichen’s first season as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Joe Flacco in charge of a playoff contender? What year is it? Is there any team in sports that is more entertaining to watch these days than the healthy 49ers with Kyle Shanahan at the helm? And that’s only the beginning of my gridiron delight.
I, like many others, am a sucker for an underdog narrative. With that in mind, here are nine players, coaches, and teams I’m hoping for as the 2023 NFL regular season nears its end.
This is a fantastic story. Jake Browning is authentic and wonderful, with a hint to Seinfeld. Seriously!
At first, I was sceptical. Browning, a four-year starter at the University of Washington, seems like a fine lower-level backup, but not someone you’d want under centre for more than a few minutes. Welp, the 27-year-old has proven me wrong four years after being undrafted. It’s… refreshing to see this backup quarterback light up the league! Pulsating! Jake Browning here! His overall game command is exceptional, as indicated by his 73.6 percent completion percentage. His clutch play when the game is on the line is spectacular (SEE: two fourth-quarter comebacks and two game-winning drives in his first four starts). I assumed Cincinnati’s season had ended.
Consider me obsessed. Baker Mayfield has a new home, and it’s fantastic. I’m an Associated Press award voter, and the former first-round choice is currently my favourite for Comeback Player of the Year. After a strong start, the Buccaneers faltered in the middle of the season, but Baker refused to let them die. Tampa Bay is currently on a three-game winning streak, and Mayfield is the first visiting quarterback to ever earn a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field. Unbelievable. And he isn’t the only Buccaneer to cheer for…
Mike Evans is still doing what he does best: racking up 1,000-yard seasons. The dude has now began his career with 10 consecutive wins! And, to be honest, he appears to be as dominant as ever at the age of 30. Not
The Rams’ revival is easily explained by Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp being healthy – and innately dominant. But Williams’ presence in the backfield elevates this offence to new heights.
Williams, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2022, had his rookie season cut short by injuries. And, despite dealing with further problems in Year 2, he’s had a significant impact in the 10 games he’s played. According to NFL Research, Williams is one of three players this season who have averaged 100 or more scrimmage yards and scored at least ten touchdowns. What about the other two? Tyreek Hill and Christian McCaffrey are teammates. It’s not a bad company to keep!
This summer, Los Angeles coach Sean McVay appeared on my SiriusXM radio show, “Schein on Sports,” and waxed poetic about his team.
Lock, Drew! On Monday Night Football, he ran 92 yards in 84 seconds to defeat the reigning NFC champions! You have to enjoy sports!
That game-winning drive, in which Lock connected with DK Metcalf on three highlight-reel plays and then tossed an absolute dime to freshman Jaxson Smith-Njigba, is what dreams are made of. Seattle entered the contest with a four-game losing streak. The Eagles led the Seahawks by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, having outplayed them for the majority of the night. However, Lock and company dominated the last quarter 10-0 to secure a MUCH-needed victory. Now that Geno Smith has returned to the fold, I’m glad Lock got his chance. The emotional postgame interview was breathtaking.
Everything in Houston has changed because of my guy. Back in May, I urged everyone to jump on the DeMeco Ryans bandwagon because I thought it was a great hire. What an impressive first season as a head coach. Nobody expected anything from the 2023 Texans, but here they are, 8-6 and in the hunt for a playoff spot.
With Tank Dell gone for the season, C.J. Stroud in concussion protocol, and Nico Collins nursing a calf ailment, the injury bug is doing everything it can to ruin the enjoyment. That’s only on the offensive end of the field! Houston is also suffering with a slew of injuries on defence. Despite this, Ryans has just rallied his troops for an incredible victory at Tennessee with Case.
The Adam Schein Super Bowl has returned! In Las Vegas, Bills vs. 49ers? Please sign me up!
So, Buffalo is a little different than the other underdogs on this list. With Josh Allen at the head, this club has been a powerhouse for several years. However, the first ten weeks of this season did not go as planned. With devastating injuries on defence and inconsistency on offence, the Bills were 5-5 just over a month ago, and many saw them as an afterthought. Buffalo began to gel a little before the Week 13 bye, but this team appears to be on the rise since the break. The Bills outlasted the Chiefs in Week 14 before being panned.
Personally, I’m sceptical that Pierce will be named permanent head coach. After all, we’ve already seen this Raiders film with Rich Bisaccia. But gosh, I’d love to see AP lead the Silver and Black in 2024 and beyond. Pierce was a player and leader for the Giants who I liked. He’s extremely intelligent and tough, two attributes that his Raiders display on the pitch today.
With a record of 6-8, Las Vegas is a long shot to make the playoffs. But, given how this team has performed under Pierce’s leadership, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders pick up another game or two down the line. Do not rule them out of the game in Kansas City on Monday.
We live in a world where every development necessitates a quick and decisive response. And DeVito has already heard it all in his little stint in the NFL spotlight…
This person stinks! … This man is fantastic! … He’s costing us a draft pick! He is the saviour!
Everything has been said about “Tommy Cutlets.” And he is a player I’ve been following and admiring for a long time, dating back to his high school days at Don Bosco in New Jersey and his first college visit at my alma university, Syracuse. I never expected this, but it’s been a lot of fun! It’s the NFL equivalent of “Linsanity.” What a hoot he’s been! DeVito is always grateful to his coaches and teammates. And his enchantment, particularly against Green Bay,
We live in a world where every change needs an immediate and determined response. And DeVito has already heard it all during his brief appearance in the NFL spotlight…
This individual stinks! This man is incredible! … He just cost us a draft pick! He is the Messiah!
Everything has already been said about “Tommy Cutlets.” And he’s a player I’ve long admired, dating back to his high school days at Don Bosco in New Jersey and his initial college visit to my alma mater, Syracuse. This was not something I expected, but it has been a lot of fun! It’s the NFL’s version of “Linsanity.” What a character he’s been! DeVito is constantly appreciative of his coaches and teammates. And, in particular, his enchantment
