Chill Sports

I chose to study computer science in college in large part because the field is heavily built on two key aspects: math and logic. The two have always appealed to me; mathematics can be used to explain and/or predict even the most complicated of real-world problems, and logic can be used to form airtight, infallible arguments if executed properly. While others are born with talent in art, music, chemistry, biology, or any number of subjects, I’ve always had somewhat of a knack for boiling down complex ideas into their mathematical and logical explanations. Which is why the Minnesota Vikings’ 2022 season makes absolutely no damn sense to me. I’ve pored over the numbers. I’ve watched their games. I’ve consulted numerous sources. And still, I can’t wrap my head around why they just keep winning games. They’re not a bad team, per se, but they’re also… not very good? Yet, they sport a sterling 12-3 record, which ties them for second-best in the NFC and in the entire NFL. Minnesota kicker Gr...

Week 1 is officially in the books, and it was pure magic. We had two overtime games, some brilliant quarterback play from the game’s biggest stars, a handful of stunning upsets, and even a tie! It was the NFL we know and love; despite some horrendous kickers and some even worse head-coaching decisions, these past few days were extremely entertaining. Now that the dust has settled, what can we actually learn from the opening week of football? Week 1 storylines often quickly fall flat on their face, and breakout or underwhelming performances need to be taken with a heavy grain of salt -- just this time last year, we thought Aaron Rodgers was cooked, before he went on to win his second MVP award in as many years. Still, there are trends I saw on Sunday that seem likely to stick around. Let’s discuss three of the biggest things I learned from Week 1. To Blitz or Not To Blitz? It’s no secret that in today’s NFL, passing is king. There is still a place for run-heavy offenses, s...