All it took was 9 video games within the 1 p.m. slate of Week 2 of the NFL season to get soccer actually rolling. The Dallas Cowboys pulled off an exciting 40-37 additional time victory over the New York Giants, a sport that took discover away from the late window due to Russell Wilson rekindling the fountain of youth.
The Cincinnati Bengals misplaced Joe Burrow however acquired a heroic efficiency from Jake Browning in aid, whereas the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions responded from Week 1 defeats in a giant method. The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks traveled two time zones and gained, and the New England Patriots earned their first win beneath Mike Vrabel.
There was loads of pleasure in the course of the early window of the Sunday slate, sufficient for Week 2 overreactions to dictate how the remainder of the month (or season) will go. Which overreactions have advantage and which of them are we really overreacting to?
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
McCarthy led the Vikings to a Week 1 comeback victory and was named the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week. That was basically fools gold after watching an abysmal “Sunday Evening Soccer” efficiency in opposition to the Falcons. McCarthy was 11 of 21 for 158 yards and two interceptions because the Vikings didn’t get an offensive landing within the loss.
On throws of 10+ air yards, McCarthy was 6 of 10 for 129 yards, however the two interceptions damage him. McCarthy nonetheless has simply two video games beneath his belt, however he is been dangerous for seven of eight quarters this season. Via two video games, McCarthy has accomplished 58.5% of his passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions (67.2 score). Take away the fourth quarter of the Week 1 comeback, and McCarthy is eighteen of 33 for 214 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions — a 36.7 score.
McCarthy simply hasn’t been good, nor environment friendly via two video games. This was all the time a piece in progress, however the horrific play is not going away. The protection McCarthy beat in Week 1 gave up 52 factors to the Lions on Sunday, and he struggled for 3 quarters in opposition to them too.
McCarthy must be higher. If he is not, the Vikings might find yourself lacking the playoffs. He is the important thing towards getting Minnesota there.
The Chiefs will miss the playoffs
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Onerous to consider this can be a dialog, however that is the fact when the Chiefs are 0-2 to start out a season (the primary time for the Chiefs since 2014). The final time the Chiefs began 0-2 beneath Andy Reid, they completed 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Kansas Metropolis has by no means misplaced three straight video games beneath Patrick Mahomes (together with postseason).
Beginning 0-2 for a season is not a great signal for the postseason, as simply 12.2% of groups since 1990 have made the postseaosn after an 0-2 begin. The proportion is not any higher beneath the 14-team format both, because it’s simply 12.2%.
Maybe it is simply the nice groups the Chiefs are enjoying, however Kansas Metropolis simply seems to be adequate to rally and make the playoffs. They’ve Andy Reid as head coach and Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, and are lacking Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The protection continues to be good and there is lots of expertise and management on either side of the ball.
The Chiefs will probably be tremendous, but it surely’s honest to ponder if they’ll shortly get better from this begin.
Passing yards don’t matter with Jalen Hurts
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
The Eagles gained their sixteenth straight sport which Hurts has began and completed, and Hurts has thrown for beneath 150 yards in six of them. Hurts simply wins, it doesn’t matter what the ultimate stat line is (15 of twenty-two, 101 yards, speeding landing).
The actual numbers that outline Hurts? 39 whole touchdowns to simply 4 turnovers throughout this 16-game stretch in video games which he stars and finishes, which is why the Eagles win video games. he’s not making errors and making the massive throws when he must. For instance, Hurts was 3 of 4 for 39 yards within the fourth quarter (105.8 score) and 6 of 8 for 59 yards on third down in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. These are the numbers that matter when defining Hurts, not what number of yards he throws in an arbitrary stat.
Compared, Patrick Mahomes was 3 of 6 for twenty-four yards on third down and 4 of 10 for 32 yards with an interception when pressured (9.2 score). Hurts is not shedding video games for his group — and he is managing the sport. Yards don’t matter for Hurts, wins do.
Colts are the very best group within the AFC South
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Two weeks into the season, the Colts have earned the appropriate to be the very best group on this division. The Colts could not transfer the ball a lot via the air within the second half in opposition to the Broncos, and nonetheless rallied to victory off the legs of Jonathan Taylor — who had 10 carries for 98 yards within the fourth quarter.
Daniel Jones threw for 316 yards and a landing, however that sport was gained off Taylor and the protection. Bo Nix was held to an interception and a 42.5 passer score within the remaining quarter, because the Broncos had miscues late (interception, missed area purpose) that value them a victory. Credit score to the Colts for stealing a win at house and never counting on Jones’ arm like they did in Week 1.
This group seems to be an entire unit, regardless of how the preseason went. Colts have the look of the very best group on this division via two weeks.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
The Cowboys proved they don’t seem to be a great soccer group. Good soccer groups do not enable the Giants to attain 37 factors and Russell Wilson to throw for 400-plus yards and three landing passes in regulation. There are lots of points with this Cowboys group, particularly on protection.
However Dallas has Brandon Aubrey, who could make a kick from seemingly any distance. Trailing 37-34, Aubrey hit a 64-yard area purpose with no time left to keep away from an embarrassing loss to the Giants — and Dallas solely wanted to go 21 yards to get into his vary.
Aubrey gained the sport with a 46-yard area purpose in additional time with no time left, capping a day through which he transformed 51-, 44-, 64- and 46-yard area targets within the win. The Cowboys lose that sport if not for Aubrey, that means they’d have been 0-2.
Dallas is not a great group, evidenced by a detailed victory over a not-good New York squad. However a win is a win due to Aubrey — who stands out as the most precious participant on this group.
The Russell Wilson benching discuss will finish
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Wilson had a profession day for the Giants, throwing for 450 yards and three touchdowns (123.1 score) because the Giants put up 37 factors. He was the primary Giants quarterback to throw for 450 passing yards in a sport since Eli Manning in 2013. Wilson was 12 of 20 for 331 yards and three touchdowns with one interception (123.1 score) on throws of 10-plus air yards.
Even in an unimaginable efficiency by Wilson, the Giants are 0-2. In additional time, Wilson completed 3 of 5 for 17 yards and an interception (26.7 score) — overshadowing his brilliance via the primary 4 quarters.
That is who Wilson is now. When he is on, he can win any group a soccer sport. When he is off, he is one of many worst quarterbacks within the sport. That is what the Giants should stay with whereas he begins.
The requires Jaxson Dart will stay, though they in all probability ought to maintain off for per week after Sunday’s efficiency.
Mac Jones would be the subsequent Kyle Shanahan QB to earn a giant contract
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Is it shocking that Jones delivered a giant efficiency filling in for Brock Purdy in his first begin with the 49ers? Jones went 26 of 39 passing for 279 yards and three landing passes (113.1 score) in San Francisco’s victory over New Orleans, because the 49ers put up 344 yards of offense.
On throws of 10-plus air yards, Jones went 8 of 14 for 151 yards and a landing (118.5 score). Jones appeared poised and had whole command of the offense, even when it was in opposition to the Saints.
Whereas Jones appeared good within the win, it is nonetheless too early to assert he’ll get a giant contract for being in Shanahan’s offensive scheme. There’s rather a lot that should occur for Jones to change into the following Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold — however this can be a promising begin.
Bengals can win video games if Joe Burrow misses time
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Burrow left the Bengals sport within the first half with a left toe damage, which gave the impression to be a doom-and-gloom state of affairs for the Bengals season. They gained anyway, due to Jake Browning main a 15-play, 92-yard successful drive with 3:42 left. Browning capped off the drive with a 1-yard landing run with 18 seconds to play.
This is the state of affairs: The Bengals have gained video games with Browning earlier than. When Burrow was injured two seasons in the past, Cincinnati went 4-3 in Browning’s seven begins whereas he accomplished 70.4% of his passes. On Sunday, Browning threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns within the second half, and he accomplished 9 of his 12 passes for 65 yards on the ultimate drive.
Is Browning nearly as good as Burrow? After all not, however he can lead this group for a number of weeks if want be.
And even higher information for the Bengals? They’re 2-0 and never off to a gradual begin for as soon as. That is a serious win.
Lions offense will probably be simply tremendous with out Ben Johnson
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
All one must do is take a look at the field rating to see what the Lions did within the second sport beneath new offensive coordinator John Morton. The Lions appeared just like the Lions the league has change into accustomed to, racking up 52 factors whereas totaling 511 yards and averaging 8.8 yards per play in a dominant victory over the Bears.
Jared Goff had as many incompletions (5) as landing passes, whereas Amon-Ra St. Brown appeared like his outdated self with three touchdowns. Jameson Williams additionally had a 44-yard landing, one thing that was typical within the Lions offense final 12 months.
Maybe the Lions simply bumped into an ideal storm with the Packers protection debuting Micah Parsons final week, however this was the Detroit group we have seen over the previous few years. A sigh of aid in Detroit.
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Browns should be inspired by what they noticed from Gabriel on Sunday, because the third-round rookie quarterback entered the sport within the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Ravens. Gabriel went 3 of three for 19 yards and a landing — an 8-yard go to Dylan Sampson — in his one possession.
Joe Flacco struggled with 199 yards passing on 45 makes an attempt, a paltry 4.4 yards per try. The Browns have scored simply 13.5 factors per sport in Flacco’s two begins, struggling to maneuver the ball constantly. Despite the fact that Gabriel performed effectively in his one possession, that is too small of a pattern measurement to make a change for the 0-2 Browns.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will not make a change but, and the Browns will not be in a rush to go to Gabriel. This modification in all probability will not be till Cleveland will get again from London (after Week 5).
