Twenty lessons learned from an up-and-down Week 2
The 20 things we learned from Week 2 of the NFL season:
1. Week 2 means it’s time to roll out those ubiquitous statistics about the chances of making the playoffs after starting 0-2. Sorry to the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers, but your odds are now about 12%. Not good.
2. On the other hand, going 2-0 doesn’t necessarily help that much. Since realignment in 2002, 108 of the 180 playoff teams – a full 60% – were 1-1 or 0-2 after two weeks. Don’t celebrate too hard Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders.
3. Joe Thomas’ Iron Man streak continues as the Browns’ left tackle started his 162nd consecutive game – as much as a baseball season – and went over 10,000 consecutive snaps played. He’s never missed one since being drafted in 2007.
4. Panthers tight end Greg Olsen’s own Iron Man streak is about to end. He hasn’t missed a game since 2007, his rookie year, but went limping off the field in the first half with what turned out to be a broken right foot.
5. It’s pretty clear Bears coach John Fox has little interest in playing rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky at this point. Chicago looked hopelessly bad on offense against Tampa Bay, and even though Mike Glennon completed 31 of 45 passes for 301 yards – good numbers on paper – more than half of his yardage (166) came on the final three drives when Chicago trailed 29-0. He also threw two interceptions (one for a picksix) and coughed up a fumble.
6. On Thursday night, the Bengals became first team since 1939 to open with two home games and failed to score TD in either of them. It’s no coincidence offensive coordinator Ken Zampese has already been fired.
7. With DeShone Kizer forced out of the Browns’ game against the Ravens in the second quarter due to a migraine, second-year pro Kevin Hogan came in and became the eighth different Cleveland quarterback to throw a touchdown since the start of 2015. Hogan quickly came back to earth, however, throwing an interception and finishing 5-for-11 for 118 yards. Maybe there’s a reason the former Stanford QB got cut by the Chiefs last year after they drafted him in the fifth round.
8. The Ravens defense has now snagged eight interceptions this season from six different players. Rookie linebacker Tyus Bowser, a second-round draft pick out of Houston, was the newest player to get in on the action, recording both his first career sack and interception on Sunday. Lardarius Webb and Brandon Carr both got their second interceptions of the season.
9. According to Arizona Cardinals sideline reporter Paul Calvisi, Bruce Arians was asked at halftime in Indianapolis why Arizona’s offense wasn’t clicking. His response was short and to the point: “Quarterback.” Following a rough Week 1 performance, it was fair to worry about Carson Palmer. But the Cardinals showed some signs of life in the second half, coming from behind for a 16-13 overtime victory. Palmer finished with 332 passing yards on 19-of-36 attempts with a touchdown and interception. 10. Phil Dawson’s 30-yard field goal for Arizona in overtime was the 14th game-winner of his career, and it came after he missed a 42-yarder at the end of regulation. He and Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri remain the only players in the NFL who were active in the 1990s.
11. The good news for Carolina is a 2-0 start. The bad news is Cam Newton missed a lot of practice time this preseason after his shoulder surgery, and it shows. He’s still trying to find a rhythm, as the Panthers could only muster three field goals against the Bills. Newton admitted after the game he missed some “layups.”
12. The Saints are 0-2 for the fourth straight season. With that awful defense, maybe it’s time to bring the paper bags back to the Superdome.
13. The Kareem Hunt hype train isn’t slowing down. Following his 17-carry, 148-yard rushing debut against New England, the Chiefs’ rookie running back came back with another solid game, rushing for 81 yards on 13 carries. He scored two touchdowns, including the knockout blow of the Philadelphia Eagles with 2:14 left, finishing off a drive where he got four straight touches in the red zone.
14. Leonard Fournette, on the other hand, didn’t have as much luck backing up the 100-yard rushing effort in his rookie debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fournette finished with just 40 yards on 14 carries against the Tennessee Titans, a box score reminiscent of his college games against Alabama.
15. Atlanta opened the roof at its $1.5 billion dollar Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Falcons’ home opener Sunday night. That’s quite an achievement given the construction difficulties and delays the architects encountered due to the complexity of the roof, which has eight retractable panels that are supposed to move in unison. The first seven events in the stadium all took place with the roof closed.
16. Things weren’t quite as exciting at 27,000-seat StubHub Center, the temporary soccer venue in Los Angeles where the Chargers are currently playing. Before the game, an airplane dragged a banner near the stadium that read: “Worst owner in sports? Dean Spanos, pay your rent!”
17. On a day of several coaching reunion games – including Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano and Hue Jackson/ John Harbaugh – Andy Reid ran his career record to 8-3 against former assistants. This time Philly’s Doug Pederson, who was on Reid’s staff in Kansas City, came out on the losing end.
18. Bill Belichick said the Patriots had “communication issues” with their headsets at the Superdome. To which every NFL coach and coordinator who’s ever played at New England cackled and said, “About time.” Gillette Stadium is infamous for problems that only seem to affect the headsets of the Patriots’ opponents. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin complained when their radios went out after the 2015 season opener and said that was “always the case” when they played at Foxborough. Coaches have said it does occur at other stadiums, but why ruin a good conspiracy theory?
19. What a superb moment in Los Angeles, as Antonio Gates caught his 112th career touchdown pass with 8:18 remaining in the third quarter, setting an NFL record for tight ends. Gates is now sixth overall in touchdown receptions after passing Tony Gonzalez.
20. This was the second three-touchdown day of Michael Crabtree’s career and second consecutive season he’s done it for Oakland. He also did it October 2 last year against the Ravens.
(USA Today/TNS)