NFL Soap Box

1. Tuesday, June 21, 2022 CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S ONLY LOCAL NFL PUBLICATION GridironGoose@msn.com
HOT & NOT WIDE RECEIVERS IN 2022
AJ BROWN, DEVONTA SMITH, PHI
The Eagles suddenly have one of the NFL’s most dangerous duos of deep-threat receivers in Brown and Smith. This season, both
wideouts will face 4 top-10 pass defenses, only 1 of which ranked in the top-6, namely 3rd-ranked Chicago. Two of those four games
are at home against the #9 Steelers and #10 Packers. All three aforementioned games are ones the Eagles should win. The remaining
4th matchup is against the #7 Cardinals on the road, which Philly will probably lose. In 2021, both Brown and Smith faced three top-10
pass defenses. Brown, who sat out 4 games with a myriad of injuries while with Tennessee, posted just one 100-yard game and 2
touchdowns, whereas Smith had no 100-yard performances, plus 2 TDs in those matchups.
CEEDEE LAMB, MICHAEL GALLOP, DAL
The potential is through the roof with wideouts Lamb and Gallop, that is if the Cowboys can stop shooting themselves in the foot, which,
until further notice, will likely continue as is. Both receivers will face just two top-10 pass defenses, #3 Chicago at home and #10 Green
Bay on the road. 4 times Lamb squared off against top-10 pass defenses, last year, netting just one 100-yard game, plus 2 touchdowns
all coming in the same game against the Patriots. That meant that Lamb was pretty much kept in check in the 3 remaining games.
Gallop missed 9 games with a calf strain injury, and in the 8 games he did play, he managed just one 100-yard performance along with
2 TDs, one being versus #7 Arizona. Gallop is recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in last year’s season finale against the Eagles.
COURTLAND SUTTON, JERRY JEUDY, DEN
Sutton and Jeudy are coming off disappointing seasons, after much pre-season hype turned out to be much to do about nothing.
However, a lot of that malignment should be accredited to the lack of protection to then-QBs Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Luck. Sutton
and Jeudy are former-early round draft picks who have had small spurts of greatness. In 2021, Sutton squared off against just 2 top-10
pass defenses, recording one 100-yard game and 1 TD in the process. Jeudy had neither as he sat out injured in both of those
respective games. This year, both will compete against just three top-10 pass defenses, namely #3 Carolina on the road and #6 San
Fran and #7 Arizona at home. All three matchups are winnable, especially with Russell Wilson behind center, but for that to happen
both Broncos receivers will need to put up stronger, more consistent numbers to capitalize on whatever opportunities come their way.
TYREEK HILL, JAYLEN WADDLE, MIA
As gifted as Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are, the path they must take this season will be a difficult one. 9 of their games are
versus top-10 pass defenses, including 5 of the top-6. They include #1 Buffalo and #4 New England, twice, plus numbers 3, 5, and 6,
specifically Chicago, Cleveland, and San Francisco, respectively. #9 Pittsburgh and #10 Green Bay round out our list. Last year, Hill
battled top-10 pass defense a total of 6 times. As a Chief, in Hill’s first game, he racked up 100 receiving yards, along with 1 TD against
the Browns. But in his last 5 matchups, he was held to under-100 yards and scored zero touchdowns. Meanwhile, Waddle posted one
game with 100-receiving yards and a pair of TDs in 5 games versus top-10 pass defenses. Drafting both wideouts for your fantasy
squad are wise but proceed with caution as it may very well come down to a week-by-week start ‘em sit ‘em situation.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON, ADAM THIELEN, MIN
There is always an exception to every rule. This scenario is one of them. As grim as things look on paper for Jefferson and Thielen,
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2. (Continued from front page)
both receivers should have a great season. Last year Jefferson battled top-10 pass defenses in 8 games, whereas Thielen suited up in
5. Both wideouts combined for just three 100-yard performances in those contests. Yet, that didn’t stop them from reaching the end
zone as Jefferson amassed 7 TDs. Thielen had 5. This season, they will compete in 7 games versus top-10 pass defenses, including
each of the top-3, namely #1 Buffalo on the road, and #2 New England and #3 Chicago on the road. Their remaining top-10 pass
defensive opponents include, again, ‘Da Bearz, and #7 Cardinals at home, and of course, the #10 Packers, twice. If the Vikings can get
away with 5 wins in those 7 tough games, they’ll be darn lucky. Unfortunately, much of that luck depends on their QB Kurt Cousins.
2022 GAMES VS. TOP-10 OPPONENTS
MOST IMPROVED- OPPONENT RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS ALLOWED WITH FEWEST PASSING TDS ALLOWED
TEAM 2021 2020 DIFF. NFL TEAM H A T
Tennessee Titans 24 (7t) 36 (31) -12 Denver Broncos 1 1 2
Buffalo Bills 12 (1) 23 (9t) -11 Jacksonville Jaguars 1 1 2
Dallas Cowboys 24 (7t) 34 (27t) -10 Indianapolis Colts 1 2 3
Jacksonville Jaguars 24 (7t) 34 (27t) -10 Philadelphia Eagles 2 1 3
New Orleans Saints 20 (3) 28 (16t) -8 Cleveland Browns 2 2 4
Detroit Lions 31 (26t) 38 (32) -7 Dallas Cowboys 2 2 4
Cincinnati Bengals 26 (13t) 32 (26) -6 Houston Texans 2 2 4
New York Jets 28 (20t) 34 (27t) -6 Kansas City Chiefs 2 2 4
Atlanta Falcons 31 (26t) 34 (27t) -3 Los Angeles Chargers 1 3 4
Houston Texans 27 (16t) 30 (23t) -3 New Orleans Saints 1 3 4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26 (13t) 29 (20t) -3 San Francisco 49ers 1 3 4
Carolina Panthers 26 (13t) 28 (16t) -2 Tennessee Titans 1 3 4
Cleveland Browns 29 (22t) 31 (25) -2 Buffalo Bills 3 2 5
Kansas City Chiefs 27 (16t) 29 (20t) -2 Carolina Panthers 4 1 5
Los Angeles Chargers 27 (16t) 29 (20t) -2 Green Bay Packers 2 3 5
Minnesota Vikings 29 (22t) 30 (23t) -1 Las Vegas Raiders 3 2 5
New England Patriots 21 (4) 22 (5t) -1 New England Patriots 2 3 5
Los Angeles Rams 17 (2) 17 (1) Even New York Giants 3 2 5
San Francisco 49ers 25 (12) 25 (13) Even Seattle Seahawks 3 2 5
Denver Broncos 22 (5) 21 (2t) +1 Arizona Cardinals 3 3 6
Las Vegas Raiders 29 (22t) 28 (16t) +1 Chicago Bears 4 2 6
Philadelphia Eagles 28 (20t) 27 (15) +1 Cincinnati Bengals 3 3 6
Seattle Seahawks 24 (7t) 23 (9t) +1 Washington Commanders 3 3 6
Miami Dolphins 23 (6) 21 (2t) +2 Atlanta Falcons 5 2 7
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 (7t) 22 (5t) +2 Baltimore Ravens 4 3 7
Chicago Bears 31 (26t) 28 (16t) +3 Los Angeles Rams 4 3 7
Arizona Cardinals 30 (25) 26 (14) +4 Pittsburgh Steelers 3 4 7
New York Giants 27 (16t) 22 (5t) +5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 4 7
Green Bay Packers 31 (26t) 23 (9t) +8 Detroit Lions 4 4 8
Indianapolis Colts 32 (31) 24 (12) +8 Miami Dolphins 4 4 8
Baltimore Ravens 31 (26t) 22 (5t) +9 Minnesota Vikings 3 5 8
Washington Commanders 34 (32) 21 (2t) +13 New York Jets 3 5 8
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3. 2022-23 NFL STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE- (OPPONENTS’ 2021 W-L-T) 2022-23 NFL FAVORITES TO WIN SBLVII
Miami Dolphins 134 155 0 .464 Buffalo Bills +650
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 135 154 0 .467 Tampa Bay Buccaneers +750
Philadelphia Eagles 135 153 1 .469 Kansas City Chiefs +900
Atlanta Falcons 136 152 1 .472 Green Bay Packers +1100
Buffalo Bills 136 152 1 .472 Los Angeles Rams +1100
Tennessee Titans 136 152 1 .472 San Francisco 49ers +1400
Green Bay Packers 137 149 3 .479 Cleveland Browns +1800
Cincinnati Bengals 135 151 3 .472 Dallas Cowboys +1600
New England Patriots 139 150 0 .481 Denver Broncos +1600
Los Angeles Rams 139 149 1 .483 Los Angeles Chargers +1600
Denver Broncos 139 148 2 .484 Baltimore Ravens +2000
Dallas Cowboys 141 148 0 .488 Cincinnati Bengals +2000
Arizona Cardinals 141 147 1 .490 Arizona Cardinals +2500
Indianapolis Colts 143 146 0 .495 Indianapolis Colts +2500
Houston Texans 144 145 0 .498 Tennessee Titans +3000
San Francisco 49ers 144 144 1 .500 New Orleans Saints +3000
Minnesota Vikings 145 141 3 .507 Las Vegas Raiders +3500
Carolina Panthers 147 142 0 .509 New England Patriots +3500
Las Vegas Raiders 147 141 1 .510 Minnesota Vikings +4000
Los Angeles Chargers 147 141 1 .510 Philadelphia Eagles +4000
Jacksonville Jaguars 148 141 0 .512 Miami Dolphins +5000
New York Jets 148 141 0 .512 Washington Commanders +5000
New Orleans Saints 148 141 0 .512 Pittsburgh Steelers +6600
Cleveland Browns 147 139 3 .514 Chicago Bears +8000
Seattle Seahawks 149 138 2 .519 Seattle Seahawks +8000
Pittsburgh Steelers 150 138 1 .521 Atlanta Falcons +10000
Chicago Bears 150 136 3 .524 Carolina Panthers +10000
Detroit Lions 152 136 1 .528 Jacksonville Jaguars +10000
Washington Commanders 153 136 0 .529 New York Giants +10000
Baltimore Ravens 152 134 3 .531 Detroit Lions +15000
New York Giants 155 134 0 .536 York Jets +15000
Kansas City Chiefs 155 133 1 .538 Houston Texans +25000
NFL IMPORTANT DATES
2022-2023 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE IMPORTANT DATES
AUGUST 4--- Hall of Fame Game, Jacksonville vs. Las Vegas, Canton, Ohio.
AUGUST 11-14, 16- First Preseason Weekend.
AUGUST 16- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 85 players on the Active/Inactive List.
AUGUST 18-22- Second Preseason Weekend.
AUGUST 23- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 80 players on the Active/Inactive List.
AUGUST 25-28- Third Preseason Weekend.
AUGUST 30- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List.
SEPTEMBER 8, 11-12- Regular Season Week 1.
JANUARY 14-16- Wild Card Playoffs
JANUARY 21-22- Division Round Playoffs
JANUARY 29- AFC-NFC Conference Championships
FEBRUARY 12- Super Bowl LVII, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.

4. TOP 20 QUARTERBACKS
1 Josh Allen BUF
2 Lamar Jackson BAL
3 Justin Herbert LAC
4 Tom Brady TB
5 Patrick Mahomes KC
6 Russell Wilson DEN
7 Kyler Murray ARI
8 Deshaun Watson CLE
9 Dak Prescott DAL
10 Joe Burrow CIN
11 Jalen Hurts PHI
12 Matthew Stafford LAR
13 Kirk Cousins MIN
14 Derek Carr LV
15 Aaron Rodgers GB
16 Trey Lance SF
17 Tua Tagovailoa MIA
18 Justin Fields CHI
19 Trevor Lawrence JAC
20 Ryan Tannehill TEN
21 Jameis Winston NO
22 Mitchell Trubisky PIT
23 Marcus Mariota ATL
24 Matt Ryan IND
25 Carson Wentz WAS
26 Mac Jones NE
27 Davis Mills HOU
28 Daniel Jones NYG
29 Jared Goff DET
30 Zach Wilson NYJ
TOP 20 RUNNING BACKS
1 Jonathan Taylor IND
2 Derrick Henry TEN
3 Austin Ekeler LAC
4 Najee Harris PIT
5 Christian McCaffrey CAR
6 Joe Mixon CIN
7 Dalvin Cook MIN
8 Alvin Kamara NO
9 D'Andre Swift DET
10 Javonte Williams DEN
11 Nick Chubb CLE
12 Antonio Gibson WAS
13 David Montgomery CHI
14 Aaron Jones GB
15 Leonard Fournette TB
16 Josh Jacobs LV
17 Saquon Barkley NYG
18 James Conner ARI
19 Cam Akers LAR
20 Elijah Mitchell SF
21 Damien Harris NE
22 Devin Singletary BUF
23 Michael Carter NYJ
24 Ezekiel Elliott DAL
25 J.K. Dobbins BAL
26 Travis Etienne JAC
27 Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
28 Rashaad Penny SEA
29 Miles Sanders PHI
30 A.J. Dillon GB
TOP 20 WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Cooper Kupp LAR
2 Justin Jefferson MIN
3 Ja'Marr Chase CIN
4 Davante Adams LV
5 Stefon Diggs BUF
6 CeeDee Lamb DAL
7 Tyreek Hill MIA
8 Deebo Samuel SF
9 A.J. Brown TEN
10 Keenan Allen LAC
11 Mike Evans TB
12 Tee Higgins CIN
13 Chris Godwin TB
14 Diontae Johnson PIT
15 DeAndre Hopkins ARI
16 Terry McLaurin WAS
17 Michael Thomas NO
18 D.J. Moore CAR
19 Jaylen Waddle MIA
20 DK Metcalf SEA
21 Brandin Cooks HOU
22 Amari Cooper CLE
23 Jerry Jeudy DEN
24 Courtland Sutton DEN
25 Elijah Moore NYJ
26 Adam Thielen MIN
27 Michael Pittman IND
28 Allen Robinson LAR
29 Tyler Lockett SEA
30 Darnell Mooney CHI
NFL NETWORK TO BROADCAST THE POLYNESIAN BOWL
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today that the Polynesian Bowl, presented by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame,
will be broadcast live in primetime on NFL Network Friday, January 20, 2023, at 9:00 PM ET (4:00 PM HT). The game is played at
Kūnuiākea Stadium on the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus. Polynesians represent less than half of 1% of the U.S.
population yet continue to make an outsized impact on the NFL. About 70 Polynesian players are currently on NFL rosters such as
DeForest Buckner, Talanoa Hufanga, Marcus Mariota, Jordan Mailata, Jordan Poyer, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Penei Sewell, Ronnie
Stanley, Tua Tagovailoa, Vita Vea and Zach Wilson. Legends Junior Seau, Kevin Mawae and Troy Polamalu have been enshrined into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Polynesian Bowl is a premier all-star game played annually in Honolulu, Hawaii that features 100 of
the nation's top ranked high school seniors of Polynesian and non-Polynesian ancestry alike – many whom have gone on to play in the
NFL. The game has become the most sought-after all-star football invitation – a rapid rise from its inaugural game in 2017. This past
January, top ranked 2022 player Travis Hunter participated in the game and was named Offensive MVP.
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