Few things are more synonymous with fall than American football. Sure, everyone loves crunching leaves, sipping warm drinks, wearing sweaters, and apple picking. Above all of these autumn activities sits football, drawing the eyes of millions across the nation on Saturdays and Sundays for five months of the year. And if you’re not sold yet, maybe this will. Of the 100 most-watched events in 2022, NFL games held 82 of these spots, including 19 of the top 20. Its Saturday counterpart, college football, added five of these broadcasts, while one-off events eventually settled into their positions (think Kentucky Derby, The Academy Awards, and the World Cup).
Bentley’s own started the season 0-2 with one-point losses to West Chester University and New Haven. Led by senior running back Vinnie Holmes from Mansfield, Massachusetts, Bentley earned its first win of the season 43-10 over Post University. Holmes rushed for 260 yards, the most in a game since 2002. The Falcons head into conference play with a 1-2 record and look to keep pace with the NE-10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which projected them to finish third in the conference.
The start of the Patriots’ season is one of unfamiliarity to most of Bentley’s students. The last 0-2 start was in 2001, far before any of us were on campus. While the Pats did win the Super Bowl despite this slow start, we should not expect the same results this season. Mac Jones is far closer to the bottom of the quarterback barrel than he is to seven-time champion Tom Brady, who was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame during halftime of the Week One game. Facing the super-bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles, Jones surprised many with his 300-yard and three-touchdown performance against one of the league’s best defenses. His only blemish came in the first quarter after throwing a pick-six. Driving to win the game, rookie wide receiver only Kayshon Boutte landed one foot inbounds on fourth and 11, allowing Jalen Hurts and the Eagles to run out the clock for their first victory of the season. In Week 2, the Patriots hosted the high-flying Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football. The game once again came down to the wire, with the Patriots failing to convert on a fourth down while driving. Tyreek Hill added another touchdown after his stellar Week One stat line, but it was Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert who stole the show with 121 rushing yards and a pair of scores. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is now 5-0 against Bill Belichick in his career. The Patriots can look to Week Three as a get-right game as they face the Zach Wilson-led Jets. They have not lost to their division “rival” since late 2015, and I imagine such a streak will continue. Week 4 will be a much tougher test when the Patriots travel to Dallas to face the league’s number-one defense through two weeks.
Finally, in Chestnut Hill, the Eagles sit at 1-2 on the year. Boston College eked out a win against one of the top division two schools, Holy Cross, 31-28. It was Week Three that drew eyes to the tranquil Boston suburb when third-ranked Florida State traveled up the East Coast from Tallahassee. The Seminoles are favorites in the ACC and are playoff hopefuls before realignment and expansion arrive next season. FSU, favored by 25.5 points, led by as many as 21 points and entered the fourth quarter up by 15. The Eagles scored 13 in the fourth but ultimately fell short. This was the school’s signature “Red Bandana Game,” which honors BC graduate Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter who lost his life on 9/11 after saving 18 lives during the attacks. Looking ahead, Boston College continues to compete for bowl eligibility, while Florida State has some heavier hardware on its mind, though it is games like these they cannot afford to lose in this season’s competitive playoff race.
Hozzászólások