The NFL season began on Thursday with Kansas City's surprising rout of New England, but if we're being honest the real beginning of the NFL is the first full Sunday slate of games.
One key to the NFL's dominant position on the American sports landscape is the ability to make every team feel like it has a chance. The league also has found a way to ensure plenty of games come down to the final possession.
With that as a backdrop, the very first bit of Sunday action I saw this weekend came with the Bears trailing by six and threatening to score the game-winning touchdown (and extra point) against the defending NFC champion Falcons.
Maybe the Bears will pull the upset, I thought. Maybe they can't be dismissed in the NFC North?
Then first-and-goal turned into three incompletions and a fourth-down sack. There are still things you can count on in the unpredictable NFL.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
