bukie

DVOA updated for all week 1 games: https://ftnfantasy.com/week-1-dvoa-san-franciscos-big-victory First time since DVOA came out that every 1-0 team rated above every 0-1 team (effectively meaning every winner was deserved and was the better team). DAVE (rankings including preseason projections) still has the Rams and Texans high, though.

Thursday, September 17 Away Home Time (CDT) Network Location Lions Bills 7:15 PM Prime Video Highmark Stadium Sunday, September 20 Away Home Time (CDT) Network Location Packers Jets 12:00 PM FOX MetLife Stadium Browns Buccaneers 12:00 PM CBS Raymond James Stadium Steelers Patriots 12:00 PM CBS Gillette Stadium Eagles Titans 12:00 PM FOX Nissan Stadium Bengals Texans 12:00 PM CBS Reliant Stadium Panthers Falcons 12:00 PM FOX Mercedes-Benz Stadium Vikings Bears 12:00 PM FOX Soldier Field Saints Ravens 12:00 PM CBS M&T Bank Stadium Jaguars Broncos 3:05 PM CBS Empower Field at Mile High Raiders Chargers 3:05 PM CBS SoFi Stadium Seahawks Cardinals 3:25 PM FOX State Farm Stadium Dolphins 49ers 3:25 PM FOX Levi's Stadium Commanders Cowboys 3:25 PM FOX AT&T Stadium Colts Chiefs 7:20 PM NBC/Peacock Arrowhead Stadium Monday, September 21 Away Home Time (CDT) Network Location Giants Rams 7:15 PM ABC/ESPN SoFi Stadium

PCA up to 10.1 fWAR, which is as good as any Mike Trout season in his career.

PCA is the 19th player to get a 37-37 season. It is the 7th season with at least 42 HR and 37 SB.

The Bears scored 59 points in week 1 and weren't even the most efficient offense of the week (the Giants, who somehow ground the game to a crawl that featured only 6 possessions per team)

NFC teams ranked after week 1 by DVOA (there's still an AFC game left so those are still up in the air): 1. 49ers 2. Bears 3. Seahawks 4. Giants 5. Cardinals 6. Lions 7. Vikings 8. Eagles 9. Bucs 10. Cowboys 11. Commanders 12. Packers 13. Saints 14. Panthers 15. Falcons 16. Rams

Murderer's Throw

Shout out to Colston Loveland, who played almost every snap, got 2 targets and 0 catches, but was blocking on every play.

For the true college football nuts, here's an updated SP+ ranking for every college football team...all 772 of them: Yes, there is a game this week between the 3rd ranked NCAA D2 team (Grand Valley State) and the lowest ranked NAIA team (Judson), and the predicted line is 94 points.

The Bears 6 rushing TDs was tied for an opening day NFL record with 3 other teams: the 1920 Detroit Heralds, 1920 Rock Island Independents and the 1922 Canton Bulldogs.

This was only the 3rd game since Caleb was drafted that the Bears won by 20+ points. First one on the road. EDIT: Over the entire Justin Fields era, the Bears only won one game by over 20 points.

Ben Johnson locker room speech game is in midseason form:

Sometimes a top 40 NFL QB like Carson Wentz just can't be stopped, nothing the Packers could do.

The Arizona Cardinals, not the worst team in the NFL.

On the flip side, it was supposed to be a much improved defense, and the Bears scored 59 offensive points with 8(!) touchdowns.

The Shawon-o-meter is arguably the best example of how empty a stat batting average is.

One more look at Pete's fWAR: He's currently up to 9.9 fWAR, which is the 14th highest fWAR in a season since the turn of the century, and just behind 2001 Sosa for best Cub season since the turn of the century. The only players above him are prime Barry Bonds, prime Mike Trout, prime Aaron Judge, and one season each from Bobby Witt Jr, Mookie Betts, and A-Rod. It's also higher than any single combined batting and pitching season from Ohtani ever.

There is a subset of people (including in this thread actually) that think Ohtani can just flip a switch and be the best player in history, throw 50 innings of no hit ball, hit 30 HR and steal 30 bases like it's nothing. These people have not seen Ohtani play at all since the all star break. Ohtani doesn't deserve the MVP this year just because he lapped the field last year. There's no roll over. My hot take is that at this point, NL MVP is the easiest unanimous choice of any of the 6 major awards.

Sagarin updated his ratings, with a special note...

PCA has achieved the 25th 35-35 season in MLB history. He has achieved the 9th season with at least 41 HR and 35 SB. EDIT: Other such seasons: - Ohtani '24 54-59 - Soriano '06 46-41 - Soto '25 43-38 - A-Rod '98 42-46 - Bonds '96 42-40 - Canseco '88 42-40 - Acuna '23 41-73 - Acuna '19 41-37

Oh, I didn't realize this series was in Wrigley, the walls look different.

PCA also now leads MLB in runs scored with 105.

PCA is up to 9.5 fWAR offensively. The entire Colorado Rockies offense has been worth 8.3 fWAR offensively.

With tonight's SB, PCA has the 38th 33-33 season in MLB history. He has the 25th season with at least 39 HR and at least 33 SB.

In case anyone wanted to know more about Caleb Williams, here's a fun interview: