Buzz Break: 2022 Panini Absolute Football cards (blaster box)

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The box: 2022 Panini Absolute Football cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 11
Cards per box: 66
Base set completion: 
57 of 200 (29 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Najee Harris, Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, Deebo Samuel, Kyler Murray, Christian McCaffrey

Rookies (18) – Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, Drake London, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Danny Gray, Quay Walker, Trey McBride, Snoop Conner, Channing Tindall, Tyquan Thornton, Khalil Shakir, Calvin Austin III, Brian Asamoah II, Isaiah Likely, Cole Strange, Kyle Phillips, Rachaad White, Bryan Cook

Insert/short-print cards: 9 (all in gallery below with some base/rookies)
Green parallels (2) – Deebo Samuel, David Montgomery
Green rookie parallels (1) – Trent McDuffie
Red White Blue Kaleidoscope rookie parallels (1) – Devin Lloyd
By Storm (1) – Desmond Ridder
Draft Diamonds (1) – Russell Wilson
Introductions (1) – Malik Willis
Last Call (1) – Justin Tucker
Star Gazing (1) – Justin Herbert

Autographs/Memorabilia: 0

What’s Buzz-worthy: For a long time, this brand was one of my go-to boxes for NFL -- in its more-premium years where it was a multi-pack, hit-per-pack box made out of clear plastic to the years where these packs came in little pie boxes with a hit every time. In more recent years, the format moved toward all those hits in one box -- making the entry price higher -- and that meant that blasters perhaps got a bigger focus out of me for basics and then a hit ... or at least foilboarded Rookie Cards only found here with a nicer look than being just base. (Ripped a bunch in some recent years.) Fast forward to last year and I don't think I ripped anything at all -- too many flippers hoarding for Kaboom! cards and I wasn't paying a premium -- and then this year it's an easy one-and-done for me as this was a relatively dull (yet meaty) box with mostly base cards, plenty of rookies (from a dull crop though I did land three "names" here) and then a modest insert volume. All in all, just not my kind of box -- and I don't mind base cards if there's something more in store -- this time around. I think the design is crisper than some basic sets in recent years here for sure but that wasn't enough to excite me on this one this time. These boxes are the home of autos and mem -- how many times per case I don't know -- as well as Kaboom! and Explosive inserts but when it's more of the basics this one just felt a little flat to me. Check out the inclusions panel in the gallery -- there are a number of finds in this format -- but hit the hobby boxes if you want guaranteed hits and some added chase and more flash. If you want RCs then this one is one to do as long as you like foilboard. What could have helped out this box to a degree? Some kind of hit or "other" type of card that stands apart from the rest.

Product Grade: B
Box Grade: B+ (too much base, needs more variety ... though the rookies help)
Fun Grade: B (OK base star run but ultimately a dull box)

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