Ah yes, remember last week when I referenced the impending NFC power struggle on December 3 between the 49ers and Eagles potentially for home-field advantage? Well, the Browns and Jets did not care one bit about that game on Sunday. Each team handed the NFC powers their first loss of the season.

1. THE EAGLES OFFENSE SCORED 14 POINTS AGAINST THE JETS…WHICH IS A PROBLEM: The Jets picked up their first win ever against the Eagles on Sunday after 12 tries. However, it wasn’t against the Jets team many people thought the Eagles would run up against during the start of the season. No Aaron Rodgers (more on him in a moment) and most importantly, the Jets were missing their two starting cornerbacks. So, no Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed. AJ Brown ate (7-131) but DeVonta Smith dropped two critical passes and then, there was Jalen Hurts. Last season, Hurts only threw six interceptions. Through six games, he’s already thrown seven including three yesterday. His last pick yesterday ranked among the worst throws of his career. Needing to run the ball, throw it away, or do anything remotely positive, Hurts got picked by Tony Adams, who setup the game-winning score for the Jets.

2. THE 49ERS MUST STAY HEALTHY…AND HOPE THEY NEVER SEE JIM SCHWARTZ AGAIN: San Francisco rolled into Cleveland after leveling the Cowboys and ran into the NFL’s best defense. Cleveland held the Niners to just 215 yards of total offense. The 49ers’ lack of offense against the NFL’s top defense shouldn’t be a major concern yet. However, the number of injuries are another story. Running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a rib/oblique injury; offensive tackle Trent Williams played through an ankle injury; and wide receiver Deebo Samuel left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. As great as the 49ers have been, injuries played a key role in them not reaching the Super Bowl last season. Keeping their stars healthy is a huge must for them and especially quarterback Brock Purdy, who misfired without some of those key weapons.

3. THE SINGLE BEST UNIT IN THE AFC NORTH (AND MAYBE THE NFL?) IS THE BROWNS DEFENSE: I don’t like hearing the phrase “historical defense” in-season before things are given a chance to breathe but here we are. Fortunately, the Browns are starting to rightfully earn that tag. There is an SI.com article that outlines what the Browns accomplished through their first five games. In short, it’s….historical. The Browns have allowed 1,002 total yards through five games, which is the fewest allowed in 50 years. During a season where offense is underwhelming, the Browns have a chance to do some damage.

4. THE HOUSTON TEXANS ARE GOOD (?): Last week, the AFC finished 6-1 against the NFC. Among those wins included the Texans, who upended the Saints. Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud has dragged Houston out of the AFC doldrums for the moment. While they are not among the AFC’s upper crust, Houston is a clear and present danger in the AFC South considering Jacksonville’s up and down season; Tennessee’s woes; and Indy’s injury issues. Stroud looks the best out of the 2023 QB rookie class and Houston’s defense is ranked ninth in points allowed.

5. WE’RE GOING TO SEE AARON RODGERS AGAIN THIS SEASON: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still making his weekly appearances on the Pat McAfee Show. He is also starting to walk without crutches and was throwing pregame prior to Eagles-Jets. He still has an incredibly long road back to playing this season but he’s near the end of his storied career. I think he’ll exhaust every option to play again this season. My guess is we’ll see him again in January. I don’t know how but he is a determined dude.

AN ANGRY YOUNG MAN:

The Giants lost 14-9 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in one of the season’s oddest games of the season. The Giants couldn’t put the Bills away and eventually, the listless defending AFC East champions woke up by holding off the G-Men in a dramatic goalline stand late in the fourth quarter. Before halftime, the Giants inexplicably ran out of time trying to score. Running back Saquon Barkley failed to score from the Buffalo 1 as time ran out. Giants head coach Brian Daboll had a meltdown following the play and laid into quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Yes, this was poor execution but another issue to consider…why was Taylor in this position? TAKE THE POINTS.

TRACKING TAYLOR:

Unless you’ve been hiding a rock or have cut off contact with most of the human race, you’re aware that Taylor Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are dating, per TMZ. While Kelce spent quality time watch his brother at MetLife Stadium against the Jets on Sunday; and taking in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night in Philadelphia, he spent time with Swift at Saturday Night Live’s season premiere on Saturday. Both made cameos including Kelce hopping into a funny spoof of the NFL’s coverage of his relationship with Swift.

CREAMSICLE DELIGHT:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers donned their legendary creamsicle color uniforms in a loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Lions offensive linemen Penei Sewell asked his Tampa counterpart Tristan Wirfs for a jersey swap, which would have meant the latter parted with his new orange friend. Wirfs, sensing how special a Bucs throwback jersey is, politely declined but offered a regular one for Sewell. Smart move.

TYREEK FLIPPIN’ HILL:

Besides being one the lead candidate’s for NFL MVP through the first half of the season, Tyreek Hill is also a magician with the cell phone. Following another touchdown last Sunday against the Panthers, Hill entered the end zone and made a beeline to someone’s phone. He promptly took a video of himself doing a cartwheel. This is multitasking at the highest levels.

SUPERSTITION OR NARCISSISM:

Prior to 49ers kicker Jake Moody missing a 41-yard field goal that would have given San Francisco its sixth win of the season, a few Browns fans watched from home….and decided to try to blow the field goal wide left or right. One way or the other, it worked. This always cracks me up. Fans love to think they can influence the result by sitting somewhere or doing something specific. It’s definitely a tick narcissistic to think you’re influencing the outcome of a game. In related news, the Phillies are undefeated this postseason when I wear my burgundy zip-up throwback jacket.

MVP RACE POWER RANKINGS:

1. TYREEK HILL
2. CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY
3. BROCK PURDY
4. AJ BROWN
5. JOSH ALLEN

CALEB WILLIAMS POWER RANKINGS:

1. PATRIOTS
2. BRONCOS
3. GIANTS
4. BEARS
5. RAIDERS

OVERREACTIONARY POWER RANKINGS:

1. 49ERS
2. DOLPHINS
3. CHIEFS
4. EAGLES
5. LIONS

NEXT WEEK’S MAIN EVENT: When the Eagles reached the Super Bowl last season, their biggest detractors repeatedly mentioned their weak schedule. A season later, the Eagles are about to begin one of the most arduous runs in their recent history. It starts on Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins at home, which will mark the return of their brilliant kelly green jerseys. Meanwhile, the Eagles will need all the positive vibes over the next two months. Out of their next eight games, only one will be against a non-playoff team – next week against the Washington Commanders. That outing will be followed by games against the Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, Cowboys again, and the Seahawks.