NFL Week 2 Takeaways
1. The AFC West is going to be an all-out war. Seriously, is there a better division in football? The Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders are all 2-0 and all three appear as though they have the potential to be play well into January. The Chiefs thoroughly dominated New England on their turf before impressively beating the Eagles on Sunday. The Broncos have Trevor Siemian playing at a level that I wasn’t sure he would ever be able to reach. With their dominant defense, all Denver needs is their offense to just be above average. If they can muster that, Vance Joseph’s squad has the chance to be frightening. And then there’s the Raiders who obliterated the Jets 45-20 on Sunday afternoon. Yes, Oakland played the Jets, but Derek Carr and the offense was humming. Marshawn Lynch has really added a punch to their offense that they were lacking last season.
2. The Buccaneers looked really, really, really good. After not playing in Week 1 due to Hurricane Irma, Jameis Winston and company shined against the Bears. They won 29-7 and to be frank, the game was not even that close. I picked the Buccaneers to make the Super Bowl and after Sunday, I am feeling pretty good about my pick.
3. It’s early but there were a pair of cataclysmic injuries. The Ravens lost All-Pro right guard Marshal Yanda to a right ankle fracture. That is a stifling blow to a Baltimore offense that looked so good these first two weeks. Then, there was the Panthers and their loss of Pro-Bowl tight-end Greg Olsen. Olsen, broke his foot, and is expected to miss somewhere between 6-8 weeks. Cam Newton, who has struggled these first two weeks despite his team being 2-0, needs his security blanket Greg Olsen back in the fold as soon as possible.
4. Joe Thomas is incredible. On Sunday, Thomas amassed 10,000 consecutive snaps. He hasn’t missed a single play since he entered the NFL back in 2007. The offensive tackle has played for the Browns so he hasn’t gotten the publicity that other top-tier lineman have received, but Thomas will someday be enshrined in Canton. And this accomplishment might be even more impressive than that.
5. The Jaguars are well, the Jaguars. After toying with the Texans in Week 1 to the tune of 10 sacks, the Jaguars got trounced by the Titans in Week 2. Marcus Mariota and Tennessee handed it to Jacksonville, pounding them 37-16. Just when I wanted to hop aboard the Jaguars bandwagon, they let me down. But that is precisely what they have been doing for the better part of the last decade, so I should have known better.
6. Tom Brady and the Patriots are just fine. There was so much panic and worry after their Week 1 performance. Well, Brady and Belichick put that to sleep. TB12 threw for 447 yards and three touchdowns. Their defense is still a concern, especially with the loss of Dont’a Hightower, but I think they can outscore just about anybody.
7. Jay Cutler didn’t miss a beat. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Cutler after his brief retirement, but he looked good in Los Angeles throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown. Miami has one of the most underrated rosters in all of football so if Jay Cutler can play to this level week in and week out, I don’t think it is far-fetched to think that the Dolphins can make the playoffs.
8. It might be time to panic in Seattle. The Seahawks scored just nine points against Green Bay in Week 1, then followed that up with a just twelve in Week 2 against a porous 49er defense. What makes Seattle’s Week 1 performance even more concerning is that it was proven that the Packers defense isn’t even all that great. Green Bay surrendered 34 points to the Falcons on Sunday night. The Legion of Boom still exists with Seattle’s secondary, but their offense, especially their offensive line, might limit the heights that Pete Carroll’s team can reach this season.
9. The Falcons are once again the favorites in the NFC. Their Week 1 performance against the Bears was a bit shaky, but a win is a win in the NFL. They followed that up with a convincing victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the christening of their new stadium Sunday night. Julio Jones has a case as the best wide receiver in football and Matt Ryan isn’t too shabby either. Atlanta made the Super Bowl last year, and really, they should have won it. This year they should be expected to make it once again.
10. The Giants are in trouble. After starting 0-2, the G-men have road games the next two weeks against the Eagles and then the Buccaneers. With that slate, they could be staring 0-4 down the barrel. Odell Beckham Jr. made his triumphant return Monday night, but didn’t look like himself. The Giant offense needs a spark. Badly. Their defense can keep them in games, but sooner or later Eli has to put some points on the board. It might be too late.
