Kickoff weekend!
Setting Expectations First
Let me start by managing some expectations:
I’m by no means an expert when it comes to football. Don’t expect deep, tactical breakdowns here. What you will find, though, are some game results and my fresh take as someone who’s still learning. The time zones work against me (I’m six hours ahead of Eastern Time), I also left my zombie late-night lifestyle back in my teenage years, so I rarely watch games live.
So my football weekend actually kicked off Friday morning.
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
I was pumped for this one, and honestly, the game flew by. I’ve come to appreciate the Cowboys, especially as “America’s Team” back in the ’80s and ’90s (thanks to A Tale of Two Cities from NFL Films). They’re the richest franchise in the league, but my heart usually leans toward the underdogs — the grinders who win with mindset and grit.
The Eagles, on the other hand, were my first Super Bowl experience. They played so tough and convincing that night, you couldn’t help but respect them. Add in the Kelce documentary on Prime Video, and honestly, who doesn’t root for Jason Kelce and Philly after that? Plus, Eagles fans are famously passionate — contagiously so.
The Birds came in as favorites, but I thought the Cowboys played really well and earned some respect. Netflix even has a new series lined up on the Cowboys, so maybe I’ll get pulled in deeper later. But for this weekend? My FanScore goes to the Eagles.
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
By Saturday afternoon I was ready for more. You just can’t ignore the Chiefs. Travis Kelce — now engaged to the pop culture icon — and Patrick Mahomes, who’s basically redefined the QB position while racking up wins. Thanks to Quarterback (Netflix) and America’s Game (NFL Films), I’ve definitely developed a soft spot for Kansas City.
As for the Chargers, I didn’t know much — until this summer, when I got to stand in their locker room during a SoFi Stadium tour. That was surreal. They’re usually the underdog against the mighty Chiefs (okay, a little less “mighty” after losing the Super Bowl), but this time they pulled off the win. Still, it left me torn. I'm sticking to the Chiefs for my FanScore.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets (and RedZone)
Sunday was game day with my buddy Richard, who — like me — has recently become hooked on the sport. Perfect timing for both of us.
The plan was to dive into RedZone… but wow, that’s intense: coverage of eight games at once. We weren’t quite ready for that firehose of football.
After watching Enigma Rodgers (Netflix) and Hard Knocks with the Jets (HBO), I had become a real Aaron Rodgers fan. The way he was welcomed to New York during his first preseason game was electric. Fast forward two seasons and here he was facing the Steelers in the opener. Add Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, and I couldn’t resist. (Hard Knocks: AFC North also sold me on the Steelers vibe.)
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It was a nail-biter, but I loved Rodgers’ four touchdown passes and his cheeky post-game quote:
“I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets.”
This week’s FanScore: Steelers.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Hard Knocks and Season 2 of Quarterback turned me into a Lions fan. Dan Campbell’s fire and leadership are just awesome to watch. But with key staff departures this season, it feels like a tougher road. They ended up losing to the Packers — a bit of a letdown for me, even though I find Green Bay a fascinating franchise, too. Still my FanScore: Lions.
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
By Tuesday I finally had time for Ravens vs. Bills — Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen. Last year’s MVP vs. the one before him. Couldn’t ask for a better matchup.
I’ll admit I was slightly biased since the latest Hard Knocks is all about the Bills. And what a thriller this game was — down to the very last second. The resilience Buffalo showed was just incredible.
FanScore: Bills (and I think I’m on my way to becoming a Josh Allen fan).
Bonus Games
I watched a condensed version of the 49ers vs. Seahawks — FanScore goes to the Niners.
And I can’t skip mentioning the Vikings’ insane comeback against the Bears. I noticed, but can't decide between those two.
Plus, Bengals vs. Browns wasn’t exactly vintage “Joe Cool,” but I’m still counting myself as a fan.
👉 That wraps up my first “real” football weekend. I’m still learning, but I’m hooked.
