Two weeks into the season, over half the league is either 2-0 or 0-2, so those teams and their fan bases can absolutely be put into one of those two categories. In some ways, this season has started upside down. Teams with legitimate playoff (and, in some cases, Superbowl) aspirations are sitting at 2-0, while others, where there wasn’t much hope, are sitting at 2-0.
The Chargers had some hope with new HC Jim Harbaugh at the helm, but they completely revamped their offense, and it has worked wonders so far. They aren’t only relying on the right arm of QB Justin Herbert, opting for a more balanced approach. The biggest recipient thus far has been RB JK Dobbins. He rushed for 131 YDs this week on 17 carries, averaging 7.7 YDs per rush. He now has back-to-back weeks with over 130 rushing yards. They are sitting at 2-0, and tied with the two-time defending champion Chiefs.
Speaking of the Chiefs, they are definitely winners this week, with a last-second win thanks to the foot of K Harrison Butker. But it took a last-second pass interference call to put them into FG range. They are maybe the luckiest 2-0 team in history…but when you’re good, you often make your own luck.
Other than the Bills and Texans, the rest of these 2-0 teams are all surprises. The Steelers, Seahawks, Vikings, Saints, and Buccaneers are all still vying for a perfect 20-0…I’m fairly certain they will all fall short.
There’s going to be a real QB controversy in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson was slated to start but missed opening week with a leg and back injury. Juston Fields managed to win in a sloppy game that the team didn’t even score a TD. He got the start again this week, and the team won again. It’s tough to take a QB out who’s on a two-game winning streak…and, in the first place, all by yourself.
Going cross country for a 1pm game isn’t easy for a West Coast team. That’s what the Seahawks did this week, making the journey to New England. It wasn’t always pretty, and it took OT, but the Seahawks prevailed. WRs DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba each caught for over 100 YDs. And QB Geno Smith was 33-44 and 327 passing YDs. They are in first place in the NFC West by themselves, with the San Fransisco 49ers losing to the Vikings.
Speaking of the Vikings, they had an impressive win this week over the 49ers. This is the second week in a row that Sam Darnold finds himself on my winner’s list. He passed for 268 YDs, completing 17-26 passes. He threw two TDs, one to WR Justin Jefferson that went for 96 YDs. In a division that has a rookie QB in Chicago, an injured QB in Green Bay, and a liability of an HC in Detroit, this division is up for grabs.
They are a little long in the tooth, but Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara can still get it done…although Carr didn’t have to do too much this week. This was the Kamara Show. Carr only needed 16 passes, completing 11 of them for 243 passing YDs and two TDs. Kamara had 180 total YDs and four TDs, three on the ground and one from Carr. Heading into this week, there was a question if their bid victory over the Panthers was a mirage…heading into Dallas and leaving with a 44-19 win proves that it was not.
In a division that seemed like the top three teams would all be racing towards a 9-8 record for the top spot, both the Saints and Bucs are sitting at 2-0. Both appear to be on their way to much better than a .500 record this season. They won a very impressive road game against the Lions in Detroit. QB Baker Mayfield only completed 12 passes, but seven of them were to WR Chris Godwin, who gained 117 passing YDs, as well as catching Mayfield’s only TD pass.
QB Gardner Minshew to QR Davante Adams and TE Brock Bowers: Minshew is definitely not the long-term solution for the Raiders, but he was able to lead the Raiders to their first win of the year on Sunday. He was 30-38 with 276 passing YDs and a TD. Adams and Bowers combined for 18 catches and 208 receiving YDs.
It was doom and gloom in Green Bay, with Jordan Love going down at the end of the game against the Eagles. Not much was expected until he came back. However, the resilient Packers were able to win their first game, mainly on the legs of RB Jacobs. It was definitely part of the team’s game plan. Jacobs had the lion’s share of rushes, getting the ball for 32 of the team’s 53 rushes, gaining 151 YDs. Willis only passed the ball 14 times, but he completed 12 of his passes with a TD.
QB Kyler Murray to WR Marvin Harrison Jr and RB James Conner: This was Harrison Jr’s coming out party. He and Murray connected four times for 130 YDs and two TDs. Overall, Murray completed 17 of 21 passes for 266 YDs and three TDs. Conner rushed for 122 YDs and a TD run.
On the losing side, it’s tough to see some of these teams sitting 0-2. Although some weren’t expected to be great, like the Titans, Broncos, Panthers, or Giants, some were and still are expected to be playoff contenders. The Rams, Colts, Jaguars, Ravens, and Bengals are all surprises at 0-2…although the Bengals seem to start 0-2 every season.
The Ravens had a tough draw on opening night against the Chiefs, but they were expected to bounce back this week. It was their home opener against a very beatable Raiders team. They lost 26-23.
The Rams lost an emotional week one game in Detroit and inexplicably had nothing in the tank this week, getting crushed by the Cardinals 41-10. Losing Puca Nacua shouldn’t have affected them this much. RB Kyren Williams only carried the ball 12 times for 25 rushing yards. And after tying his career high for receptions last week, WR Cooper Kupp only had four catches for 37 YDs.
The Colts lost a really tough game against the Texans 29-27 on the road in wk.1. And this week, they had to travel to Green Bay, which is a tough place to play, even with starting QB Jordan Love out. QB Anthony Richardson may have the biggest arm in the game, but he’s still just a thrower and not a fully developed QB…he’s not even a reliable game manager yet. He only completed 50% of his throws, 17-34, with three interceptions.
The Jaguars had an early lead in Miami against the Dolphins in wk.1, only to lose on a last-second FG. This week, they were at home against a Cleveland team who laid an egg at home in wk.1 against the Cowboys and laid an egg of their own, losing 18-13. QB Trevor Lawrence continues to be mediocre and far below what has been projected for him. He completed less than 50% of his passes, with only 14 completions on 30 attempts, for 220 YDs and no TDs.
This game was abysmal from just about every angle for the Cowboys. HC Mike McCarthy has to be feeling the pressure, and after a few more games like this, he’ll definitely be on the firing line…especially considering the money Jerry Jones just spent on Dak Prescott and Cee Dee Lamb. Losing 44-19 is unacceptable, especially at home in your home opener.
It’s hard to call the Niners losers without Christian McCaffrey playing, but they should have still won this game. It was on the road after a short week of practice, playing on MNF, but they still should have won. QB Brock Purdy threw for over 300 yards, and CMCs replacement Jordan Mason rushed for 100 yards. Deebo Samuel had 110 receiving yards, and TE George Kittle added 76 yards and a touchdown. Have I said they should have won this game?
In two weeks, the Panthers have only scored 13 pts. This is a bad team with an anemic offense and a subpar QB. I’m officially calling the time of death…wk.2 of the 2024-25 season. Young passed for under 100 yards yet again. He finally had a decent completion ratio, completing 18 out of 26 passes, but only because everything was short. He only managed 86 passing yards and had an interception. He’s undersized and doesn’t have a particularly strong arm.
The Texans are 2-0. The rest of the AFC South is 0-2. In just two weeks, the Texans have a two-game lead on the entire division, and it already feels like the division is theirs. They haven’t even played particularly well yet. When CJ Stroud starts to connect with the plethora of talent he has on offense, it could be historical.
In an earlier article, I wrote that the only thing about the Lions that I was skeptical about was their head coach, Campbell. I believed a decision that Campbell would make at some point would cost the team at least one game this year. In just two weeks, the team is 1-1, and the loss can be at least partially at Campbell’s feet.
After a turnover towards the end of the first half, the Lions were driving. On third down on the nine-yard line, the team was called for too many men on the field. Because Campbell seemingly ALWAYS goes for it, the offense stayed on the field to spike the ball and stop the clock. But the kicking team also went on the field.
The result was nearly 22 players on the field, causing the flag to be thrown. At the time of the stoppage of play, the clock was under 10 seconds. The Lions didn’t have a timeout, and by rule, a 10-second run-off occurred, which brought the first half to an end. The team did lose by 4 points, so theoretically, the FG wouldn’t have won the game. However, they would have entered halftime down 13-9 instead of 13-6, and who knows how the second half may have changed. It would have definitely changed the momentum and vibe of the two teams heading into the half. It’s only wk.2…how many more games will he cost the team?
