One massive comeback stands above rest
1. The AFC is supposedly the NFL’s power conference, correct? Entering Monday, the AFC had two 2-0 teams (Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins) … while the NFC had six, the New Orleans Saints primed to make it seven Monday. The Cleveland Browns could give the AFC a trio of 2-0s, but still not what most envisioned for the conference awash in superstar quarterbacks.
2. Whether it be the New York Jets’ Week 1 win over the Buffalo Bills on “MNF” (trip on the game-winning punt return in overtime?), the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday (Detroit DE Aidan Hutchinson held onto game-winning TD pass, yes, in overtime?), or the Washington Commanders defeating the Denver Broncos (WR Courtland Sutton interfered with on the two-point attempt that would have forced overtime?), surely doesn’t appear the refs are going to throw a flag in such a high-leverage situation … especially if it’s not Super Bowl 57.
3. Same story, different uniform? After being sacked a league-high 55 times in 2022, Broncos QB Russell Wilson went down seven times Sunday. He was never sacked fewer than 30 times in Seattle and has been bagged at least 40 times in every year entering 2023 save two. Still, Wilson almost pulled off one of his best moments of quarterbacking wizardry after nearly getting Denver into a fifth period after connecting with Brandon Johnson on a 50-yard Hail Mary TD at the end of regulation.
4. On the flip side, credit the Commanders for crafting their first 2-0 start in a dozen years after surmounting an 18-point second-quarter deficit.
5. For the second consecutive season, the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2. Didn’t stop them from winning the AFC North in 2022.
6. The New England Patriots are 0-2 for the first time since ’01, ending a 22year streak of avoiding the oh-fer that was the longest since the 1970 merger.
7. The New York Giants started their season by being outscored 60-0 through six quarters. Impressive. In the Super Bowl era (since 1966), only the 1978 Baltimore Colts, who gave up 86 straight points to start the season, surrendered more before finally getting on the board. But those Colts also began 0-2. These Giants fought back from a 28-7 thirdquarter deficit at Arizona to beat the Cardinals 31-28 and salvage a 1-1 start.
8. New York, New York – the city so nice they named it twice. Or, in the Dallas Cowboys’ case, the city they embarrassed in successive weeks, following up their 40-0 whitewashing of the Giants by thumping the Aaron Rodgersless Jets 30-10 on Sunday.
9. Yet, like the cross-state Jets, the Giants may be experiencing their first victory at great cost. Star RB Saquon Barkley (92 total yards, 2 TDs) injuring an ankle late in Sunday’s comeback.
10. After cutting through the Jets like a scythe, Cowboys LB Micah Parsons (2 sacks, 4 QB hits) is probably your early front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
11. The 1999 – and John Elway-less – Broncos were the last defending Super Bowl champion to start 0-2. The Kansas City Chiefs kept that streak intact by surviving the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9, thanks to the returns of TE Travis Kelce (TD) and DT Chris Jones (1 ½ sacks).
12. And how about reigning league and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes? On his 28th birthday, the Chiefs superstar passed for 305 yards and two TDs. It was his 42nd 300-yard game, most by any player in his first nine seasons after he surpassed Dan Marino and Matt Ryan. It should be noted, Mahomes is in his seventh season and made all of one appearance in his rookie year (2017).
13. Speaking of rookies, how about Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua? His 15 receptions (for 147 yards) were a freshman record. Cooper who?
14. Any surprise the Lions got burglarized – and trolled – in their house 37-31 to Seattle after their fans bought into the blue ski mask schtick endorsed by feisty DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson?
15. The Bills whipped the Las Vegas Raiders 38-10 to even both teams’ records to 1-1. After a rough week off the field, the Bills showed what a dangerous team they can be on it, five different players – none of them named Josh Allen or Stefon Diggs – scoring TDs.
16. Allen played a clean game (274 yards, 3 TDs passing), breaking a sixgame streak (including playoffs) in which he committed at least one turnover in each.
17. Raiders RB Josh Jacobs rushed for minus-2 yards, the lowest total by a reigning rushing champ in the SB era. He did catch five passes for 51 yards.
18. Still, Sunday was a reminder – Jacobs’ inability to contribute anything toward a winning effort, plus Barkley’s injury – that there’s ample evidence why it’s so risky to shell out big bucks for one gifted running back.
19. Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love has thrown for three TDs in each of his first two starts this season, better than his legendary predecessors (Brett Favre and Rodgers).
20. However, Love couldn’t guide the Pack to a 2-0 start on the road … something that’s never happened in the franchise’s 103-season history.
21. How horrible are the Bears? The team that earned the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft (and later traded it) are 0-2 with two double-digit losses, including Sunday at Tampa Bay. Their defensive coordinator missed the game for mysterious reasons, and QB Justin Fields (4 turnovers this season, sacked 6 times by the Bucs) appears to be regressing despite dealing for WR DJ Moore and the money the team spent in free agency.
22. Once the winningest franchise in NFL history, the Bears have surrendered that distinction to the hated Packers. Chicago is now riding a 12-game losing streak, worst in its 104-season history.
23. No wins in sight for the Bears, but the Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime – breaking an eight-game skid that began last Thanksgiving weekend.
24. Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers have won 12 straight in the regular season after dropping the Rams 30-23.
25. After collectively going 0-5 in Week 1, first-year head coaches headed into Monday 1-8. The Indianapolis Colts’ Shane Steichen got off the schneid … but had to beat fellow rookie DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans) to do it.
26. A week after getting fined for an illegal hit that concussed Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers – he didn’t play in Week 2 – veteran Denver S Kareem Jackson was ejected for an even worse shot on Washington TE Logan Thomas, who hung onto the ball for a 4-yard TD reception.
27. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts has multiple rushing TDs in 10 career games (including playoffs).
28. Four teams (Giants, Falcons, Commanders and Titans) came back to win while overcoming double-digit holes Sunday.
29. How about Titans P Ryan Stonehouse? His five bombs averaged 61.2 yards in Sunday’s win.
30. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, how about New England’s special teams? DB Brenden Schooler’s block of a Miami field goal attempt was fresh, creative thing of beauty.
31. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, how about New England nearly getting in position to tie its game with a fourth-down lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange?
32. Let’s end on a high note by extending a virtual bro hug to Texans WR John Metchie III, who made his long awaited NFL debut. A second-round pick out of Alabama in 2022, Metchie missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia and didn’t play last week due to a hamstring issue. But he caught a 17-yard pass to finally get on the board after overcoming so much adversity. Props.