NFL Round-Up: Did Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary Predict a Kamala Harris Win?

From 1937 to 2000, a win by Washington’s NFL team in the final home game before a presidential election predicted an incumbent party win, while a loss forecasted a shift in power. This trend held true in 17 consecutive elections. Though the pattern fizzled post-2000, let’s entertain the possibility that this season’s best NFL play so far hints at a Kamala Harris victory because, well, wow! (And yes, tying this into the election is how I’m justifying writing an NFL post).

The day’s best game featured a Washington Commanders team (6-2) finally relevant after years in the shadows (now that racist thumb Daniel Snyder is out), squaring off against a Chicago Bears squad (4-3) also experiencing a fun revival. Leading the charge are Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, the number two and one draft picks, respectively, and likely the NFL’s future stars. Together, they’re a blast to watch.

Less entertaining? Last year’s fourth pick, Anthony Richardson. The Colts quarterback even pulled himself out of a play yesterday because he was … tired. On a third down, no less. Rooting for him is tough as a Colts fan; while Richardson’s running game is stellar, his passing game needs work (10 completions out of 32 attempts yesterday!). He can’t hit the side of a barn. It’s time the Colts bring in old-man Joe Flacco, at least until the season slips out of reach.

While the Colts/Texans game didn’t make the highlight reels, the season’s best story remains the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets, who, shockingly, lost to the worst team in the NFL, the New England Patriots. The Pats, on a six-game losing streak and with head coach Jerod Mayo rumored to be on thin ice, pulled off an upset despite their quarterback’s injury. The Jets, now in a five-game slide, may struggle to win even five games this season despite big-name additions like Davante Adams because they’re missing one critical component: a solid quarterback.

As for the Cowboys? Despite a sliver of affection for Dak Prescott, Dallas’s dismal 3-4 record brings a little joy (suck it, Jerry Jones!). They lost to a San Francisco 49ers team hobbling with injuries, although Ricky Pearsall made an impressive return after being shot in the chest during the offseason. Tight end George Kittle led the way on National Tight End Day, something that was mentioned maybe 4,389 times during NFL games yesterday (and tight ends did have a historically great day).

Another major storyline from yesterday? Baker Mayfield is one of the most fun quarterbacks to watch, but without his top targets Chris Godwin and Mike Evans (both out with injuries), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to a decent Atlanta Falcons team, now favored to win a weak division. Ugh, Kirk Cousins. Meanwhile, Detroit’s feel-good season continues, though heartbreak likely awaits because it’s Detroit.

On a less thrilling note, I still despise the Browns for signing Deshaun Watson, but watching Jameis Winston take down the usually indomitable Ravens was a blast (and let’s not overlook Nick Chubb’s inspiring comeback from last year’s injury—a knee, as doctors called it, “shredded to smithereens”). The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, remain unbeaten but are perhaps, ironically, the most beatable they’ve been in years. Their schedule from here on out is bizarrely weak, with only a few games against teams in the same league as the Chiefs (the Bills on November 17th, and the Steelers and Texans late in the season).

Lastly, Tua Tagovailoa made his return yesterday to the Miami Dolphins after a four-game absence following what feels like his 198th concussion in the past three years. Though the Dolphins lost to the Cardinals, Tua’s slide to avoid a tackle was a a move that sent the Miami crowd into a frenzy!