Any Team Can Win

We are through five weeks of the NFL season, and so far, we've seen many close games, surprising outcomes, and plenty of reminders that any team can win at any time. Yes, even the Jets still have a chance this season!

So far this year, we’ve seen 17 games have a go-ahead score in the final minute of regulation, which is the most through the first five weeks since 1970. Plus, in Week 5, there were six double-digit comebacks, the most in one week since 2013.

With the Saints and Titans getting their first win on Sunday, every team in the NFL, besides the Jets, has at least one win this season, and week five consisted of eight matchups that finished with a team winning within one score:

• The Jaguars beat the Chiefs 31-28.

  
  

• The Patriots topped the Bills 23-20.

  
  

• The Titans managed to pull out a 22-21 win over the Cardinals.

  
  

• The Buccaneers stole one from the Seahawks, 38-35.

  
  

• The Broncos snagged a 21-17 win over the Eagles.

  
  

• The Panthers squeaked out a 27-24 win over the Dolphins.

  
  

• The Vikings drove down the field to beat the Browns 21-17 in London.

  
  

• The 49ers beat their division rival, the Rams, 26-23

  
  

Every NFL team has a chance to win, and regardless of how flawed a team previously looked or discredited some teams may have been earlier this season, they can still find a way to win. The Panthers and Texans have proven that.

Even last year’s struggling teams with losing records, such as the Colts, Patriots, 49ers, and Jaguars, have been given new life this season and are off to a great start.

The NFL has structured its league to allow every team an opportunity to win and turn things around. Even if not every team fully takes advantage of this, the NFL aims for the entire league to be competitive and for each team to have a chance to win.

The NFL's system of giving every team a chance to win parallels God's design for everyone in this world to have an opportunity to “win” and be saved.

According to 1 Timothy 2:4-6 (NLT), He “…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) tells us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 

Jesus died and rose again so that everyone (through Him) would have the opportunity to live. He desires that everyone know Him and choose to surrender to Him.

We all have a “chance to win” through Jesus by placing our faith in Him, and regardless of how flawed we may be or how much others discredit us, victory is still attainable for everyone.

There is hope that anyone can experience that victory because He made it available to all of us. Anyone can turn their life around when they turn toward Jesus and find new life in Him.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Today, as teams across the league prepare for their next game, knowing “any team can win any game” and no team is too far out of it, let’s remember that Jesus came for everyone and anyone, and nobody is too far gone.

We shouldn’t give up on anyone who doesn’t know Jesus yet because victory is still possible, and hope is always there.

Let’s be encouraged by these powerful words from Titus 2:11-14 (NLT): “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.

“We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

“He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for saving someone as flawed as me, for my victory in Jesus, and for the life You’ve given me both now and for eternity. Please show me the people You want me to share Your hope and victory with. Everyone indeed needs You, and You’ve made it possible for anyone to know You, so please help me remember that. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.