NFL Takeaways: Week 2
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In week 1, we thought we learned a whole lot about some of these football teams.
In week 2, we unlearned a whole lot of it!
Let’s dive in.
Packers defeat Commanders 27-18
The Packers might very well be the best team in the NFC, but the Commanders offense through two weeks does not look like it did a year ago.
It’s still early, but as I said in the preseason, sophomore slumps exist for a reason.
Bengals defeat Jaguars 31-27
A big win for the Bengals, who got the victory despite losing Joe Burrow for the next three months, but some really concerning stuff from the Jags here.
I didn’t love Liam Coen publicly yelling at Trevor Lawrence (for a throw that wasn’t even really that bad).
I didn’t love Trevor Lawrence publicly waving him off like an annoyed teenager.
I didn’t love Brian Thomas Jr. seemingly being afraid of the ball and getting hit.
It might be nothing, but I didn’t love it.
Cowboys defeat Giants 40-37
If Russell Wilson plays like that and the Giants still lose?
Yeesh. It’s going to be a long season…
Lions defeat Bears 52-21
This was a statement game from the Lions.
I don’t think they have ill will towards Ben Johnson for taking a head coaching job, but there was lots of talk all offseason about if the offense would be the same simply because they lost their play caller.
They had a point to prove, and boy did they prove it.
This looked like the Lions of last year. It’s as if Ben Johnson never left.
Seahawks defeat Steelers 31-17
The Steelers led 14-7 at halftime thanks to two bad turnovers from Sam Darnold.
In the second half, Darnold played a lot better, took care of the ball, and the Seahawks pulled away.
This defense is fantastic.
It’s up to the offense to find ways to get wins.
Rams defeat Titans 33-19
This game was simply one team that’s way more talented than the other team.
The Titans held their own and had the lead at halftime, but the Rams are just the better team.
They woke up, outscored the Titans 23-6 in the second half, and got an easy win.
Patriots defeat Dolphins 33-27
The Dolphins offense looked better overall, but Tua still missed open receivers, and the defense played horribly once again.
Things just aren’t good in South Florida right now.
49ers defeat Saints 26-21
Is anyone surprised?
We know Mac Jones is an accurate QB, and we know that Kyle Shanahan runs an offense making it easy on QBs. All you need to do is make the right decision and be accurate, and you’ll be fine.
So is anyone shocked Mac Jones went 26/39 for almost 300 yards and 3 TDs?
I’m sure as hell not.
Bills defeat Jets 30-10
This is my fault.
Last week, I said I was officially interested in the Jets and Justin Fields for their performance against the Steelers.
And they rewarded my interest in them with no discipline on defense, a pathetic performance from Fields, and an absolute blowout at home.
I’m not crazy enough to think they were going to beat the Bills, but I thought they’d be interesting.
They weren’t.
I’ll learn from this mistake going forward.
Ravens defeat Browns 41-17
In the third quarter, the Browns caught a wacky deflected pass for a touchdown to make the game 20-10, and myself, and I think a lot of other Raven’s fans, were thinking to themselves “Oh no. Not again.”
So I know it’s only the Browns, but it was crucial for the Ravens to finish the game on a 21-7 run in the 4th quarter and run away with an easy win.
It was a necessity.
Colts defeat Broncos 29-28
I did not like Shane Steichen’s late game strategy for the Colts potential game winning field goal at all.
It was a very far kick for a kicker who had only taken 9 career kicks, and it led to a horribly missed kick.
I guess the Broncos also thought it was dumb and decided to be good guys and give them another opportunity, because a foolish leverage penalty gave the Colts another 15 yards and another chance at a game winning field goal which they drilled.
Good guy Broncos!
Cardinals defeat Panthers 27-22
The Panthers clawed their way back from down 27-9 in the 4th quarter, got the onside kick with just under 2 minutes remaining, and even got an extra 5 yards from an offsides penalty by Arizona.
And despite that, they put together one of the worst final drives I can remember seeing in a long time.
It was just a total disaster, and the hope for a Panthers revival season seem to be fading a bit.
Eagles defeat Chiefs 20-17
I believe two things.
I believe that the Tush Push is fine.
It’s a football play, and the Eagles are truly the only team who can run it as well as they do so it’s basically automatic, so it seems foolish to ban something just because one team is significantly better at it than anyone else.
I also believe that it is incredibly boring television.
The Eagles are good. They’re 2-0. That’s all that matters, and that’s all they care about.
But boy oh boy, I do not like watching them play football.
Falcons defeat Vikings 22-6
Last week, J.J. McCarthy played a terrible game, before having an insane 4th quarter to lead the charge and get the win.
Sunday night, J.J. McCarthy played a terrible game. Full stop.
He’s young, so we’ll see what he ends up being.
But 7 of his 8 quarters in the NFL have been really bad, and that’s something to keep an eye on.
Buccaneers defeat Texans 20-19
On the one hand, it’s encouraging that the Bucs haven’t played their best ball and are still 2-0.
On the other hand, is that just who the Bucs are?
I feel many times it feels they’re a really rock solid team but just get in their own way.
One thing is for sure though.
Baker Mayfield is a baller.
Chargers defeat Raiders 20-9
First of all, there is no reason for the NFL to have two Monday Night games.
Secondly, there is no reason for one of those games to START at 10 P.M. That is pure lunacy.
As for the game itself, the Raiders looked very, very sloppy.
Geno Smith was terrible throwing the ball deep which, despite what many think, is not the norm.
Ashton Jeanty isn’t running the ball well, and had a bad pass blocking rep.
I know there’d be some growing pains with a new regime, but this was more than that.
It felt very icky.
