Brown needs another big day
Key items of interest as Week 2 rolls on in the NFL …
Who’s hot: Antonio Brown. Just like last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ big- play receiver has opened the season with a bang. Without his 11 catches for 182 yards, Pittsburgh probably would not have won its opener at the Cleveland Browns. With running back Le’Veon Bell just getting back to action, it’s paramount for the Brown to be on his A game as the Minnesota Vikings bring their well- balanced defense to Heinz Field. An X factor: Minnesota’s best cornerback, Xavier Rhodes, is nursing a hip injury.
Pressure’s on: Sean Payton. The New Orleans Saints coach has bigger problems than finding snaps for Adrian Peterson. Slow starts to the season have become a bad habit for the Saints, who are flirting with 0- 2 again as the New England Patriots visit. The Saints started 0- 3 last season, 0- 3 in 2015 and 0- 2 in 2014 and finished 7- 9 each time.
Next man up: Jacoby Brissett. The second- year quarterback, two weeks after his arrival from New England in a trade, will make his first Indianapolis Colts start against the Arizona Cardinals. Who knows how long Brissett will be in the lineup, given the mystery surrounding Andrew Luck’s ailing shoulder? In any event, he’s a better option than Scott Tolzien. In relief last week, Brissett — working off a limited set of plays — got the Colts into the end zone in three plays against the Los Angeles Rams.
Rookie watch: DeShone Kizer. It’s just Week 2 of his rookie season, but the second- round pick from Notre Dame might be the long- term answer the Browns have been seeking at quarterback. He benefits from being aligned with one of the most creative minds in the league in coach Hue Jackson, who will design scheme wrinkles to protect his quarterback and keep his psyche intact as he experiences the growing pains of transitioning to the NFL. Stomach for an upset: Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers. They’re calling Buffalo “Carolina North” with new Bills coach Sean McDermott and new general manager Brandon Beane coming from the Panthers. We’ll see whether McDermott, the former Carolina defensive coordinator, can utilize any insider knowledge in exploiting the Panthers defense and derailing Cam Newton after Carolina’s ho- hum opening win at the San Francisco 49ers. The reunion subplot playing out all across the NFL in Week 2. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Rams coach Sean McVay plays against Washington. Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Glennon goes to Tampa. Tennessee Titans coach Mike Mularkey goes back to Jacksonville.
Stat’s the fact: The three rookies who rushed for 100 yards in their NFL debuts in Week 1 — the Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette and Vikings’ Dalvin Cook — have a shot at achieving a feat not done since 2005. Cadillac Williams was the last rookie to rush for 100 yards in each of his first two NFL games. The last time two rookies began their careers with back- to- back 100yard games was 1979, with Ottis Anderson and William Andrews.