NFL’s Week 2 winners, losers
The Week 2 slate in the NFL did not disappoint.
Several teams poised to be contenders pulled through and stayed perfect. The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like, so far, there’s no hangover from last February. The Los Angeles Rams pulled out a hardfought victory against the Colts.
But some teams that many had predicted would be contenders were facing an 0-2 hole early in the season and gutted out victories. The Baltimore Ravens thrilled with their comeback win against the defending AFC champion Chiefs, and the Dallas Cowboys went on the road and beat an upstart Chargers squad.
Individually, some players are already on record-setting pace and no one has been more impressive than Tom Brady.
Here are the winners and losers from Week 2 in the NFL.
Winners
Tom Brady’s dominance of NFL records: It’s getting harder and harder to not place Tom Brady as the G.O.A.T. What Brady is doing for the Buccaneers, at 44 years old, is one of the most remarkable accomplishments in modern sports.
In Tampa Bay’s 48-25 stomping of the Falcons, Brady completed 24 of 36 passes for 276 yards and five touchdowns. It marked Brady’s fourth consecutive game, dating back to last season, with at least four passing touchdowns, tying him for the second-longest streak in NFL history with former Dolphin Dan Marino. Former rival and friend Peyton Manning is the lone passer with a streak of five games.
Brady now has thrown for an NFLmost nine passing touchdowns this season. Suddenly, the NFL’s single-season passing touchdown record of 55, set by Manning in 2013, could very feasibly fall.
Considering that NFL regular seasons are now 17 games, Brady is on pace to throw for 76 touchdowns.
Baltimore Ravens: Credit the Ravens for sticking through a tough opponent, credit a squad beset by injuries and credit coach John Harbaugh for trusting his franchise quarterback to seal the comefrom-behind victory against one of the powers of the AFC. The Ravens toppled the defending AFC champion Chiefs, 3635, in a thriller.
Baltimore showed that it has an outfit that can challenge the Chiefs in the AFC, if certain things break right. It did require a massive forced fumble and recovery from rookie edge rusher Odafe Oweh, but when Lamar Jackson can take over games with his legs and when the Ravens can maul the Chiefs’ defensive front in run blocking, Baltimore could be a tough out – even with their terrible luck with injuries.
Baltimore ran for 251 yards, Jackson having a game-high 107 with three total touchdowns, and dominated the clock in the second half.
Derek Carr: Arguably the biggest surprise of the NFL season so far is the 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders. The record is notable, but what makes it most impressive is the teams the Raiders have taken down: the Ravens in the opener and the Steelers, 26-17, on Sunday. And while the Vegas defense has been huge so far this season, Carr is the player pushing the team forward.
Through two games, Carr leads the NFL with 817 passing yards.
Losers
Taunting: This has nothing to do with the officials making the calls. They’re merely doing what’s asked of them, to enforce the “points of emphasis” the NFL’s competition committee resolved to push through this season – basically that any time a player flexes on an opponent after a play, it will result in a taunting penalty.
Week 2 saw several. Texans tight end Jordan Akins was flagged for spinning the ball on the ground after a first down against the Browns. Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed for flexing as he walked away from Titans receiver AJ Brown when he broke up a pass in the fourth quarter. Rams tight end Jared Cook had a taunting penalty for spinning the ball after a touchdown, but that one wasn’t applied because a questionable holding wiped out the score, anyway.
This does nothing but weaken the product the NFL is trying to market to millions. Energy translates on the TV screen. And when it’s missing, the intensity dips. Not only do fans want to see emotion, they don’t want to see close games have their results determined by judgment calls of the officials who will certainly be feeling pressure to do what is asked of them.
Too many missing Saints: Perhaps it was because they were down eight coaches as COVID-19 swept through the team’s front office. Perhaps it was because of the rash of injuries on defense. But the Saints’ 26-7 dud against the Panthers showed that, while this team may be capable of greatness on some weeks, it will need less adversity to become consistent.
This was the worst offensive performance of coach Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans.
Late-game Seahawks: Again, the Seattle Seahawks fumbled away a lategame scenario that looked to be a sure victory. Seattle allowed the Titans to score 14 unanswered points in the final 13 minutes of regulation in their eventual 33-30 loss in overtime.
It wasn’t just that the Seahawks imploded, it was how. They scored a touchdown on a 68-yard bomb to receiver Freddie Swain. They missed the extra point. Two plays later, Titans running back Derrick Henry put it within one score on a 60-yard touchdown rush. Then, the Seahawks had two chances to milk the clock down, but gave the ball back before the Titans tied the game just before the end of regulation.
Colts in the red zone: The Indianapolis Colts lost their game against the Los Angeles Rams by three points. That’s what makes the team’s performance inside the red zone all the more frustrating for Indy fans. The Colts converted just one of four trips inside the 20 into a touchdown.
The Jets QB situation: This was about as ugly as it can get for a quarterback. Jets rookie passer Zach Wilson unraveled in a 25-6 loss against the Patriots. And with that, New England coach Bill Belichick haunted another rookie quarterback.
Wilson threw four interceptions, including two on the very first two attempts of the day. He finished the day 19of-33 passing for 210 yards with no touchdowns and the four picks.