The second Sunday of the season introduced just a little extra drama than final week, with the Chiefs barely escaping the Bengals, the Raiders coming again to beat the Ravens in Baltimore, the Bucs holding off the Lions in Detroit, the Seahawks going to time beyond regulation to knock off the Patriots and go to 2-0, and the Jets getting their first win behind Aaron Rodgers, hanging on in Nashville. One recreation that wasn’t shut? The Saints, one week after blowing out the lowly Carolina Panthers, did the identical in Dallas to the high-flying Cowboys.
There goes Alvin Kamara for 57 yards!
📺: #NOvsDAL on FOX
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It’s nonetheless early, however we’re studying an increasing number of about how the 2024 season will play out. The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Dan Pompei share their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
Do you are taking Sunday’s survival in opposition to the Bengals (a scoop-six, a late fourth-and-16 move interference by a rookie DB) as a constructive signal that the Chiefs are resilient, or an indication that the defending champs have much more work to do than they’ve had in previous seasons?
Jones: You’re not at all times going to have the ability to win in blowouts. Generally, it’s a must to win gritty, and that’s precisely what the Chiefs did on Sunday. They overcame three turnovers (two Mahomes interceptions) and a 1-for-8 exhibiting on third down, and nonetheless managed to win in opposition to one of many hardest groups that they’ll face this season (and one they very nicely may meet once more within the playoffs). Three turnovers would have ruined loads of groups, however not Kansas Metropolis. The Chiefs by no means flinched. They maintained their poise and nonetheless managed to place collectively a balanced assault, which included 149 speeding yards (Isiah Pacheco led with 90 on 19 carries) and 151 passing yards from Mahomes. Do they nonetheless have work to do? Certain. Are they certainly resilient? Completely. Is there extra powerful sledding forward? You wager. However, they’re constructed for this.
Pompei: The Chiefs beat the group that could be their major risk within the AFC on a day when loads of issues didn’t go proper for them. That’s what nice groups do. Nice groups additionally reap the benefits of different groups’ errors. The Chiefs are beginning the season like an incredible group, which is how they ended final season. The problem for them goes to be addressing their points whereas sustaining their grit over the following 15 video games and past. The mix of Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Harrison Butker means they will have a great opportunity of profitable each shut recreation.
Nguyen: this recreation from the Bengals’ aspect: As a lot as 0-2 hurts, I assumed this was a constructive recreation for Cincinnati; it was a controversial move interference name away from beating the defending champions. Steve Spagnuolo is pretty much as good as any defensive coordinator at taking away an offense’s major risk. He centered on taking away Ja’Marr Chase, because the Chiefs held him to 35 yards. Spagnuolo was going to make the Bengals’ different receivers beat them and Cincinnati virtually pulled it off. I assumed they’d be doomed with out Tee Higgins, however Mike Gesicki had an enormous recreation, Jermaine Burton had an enormous catch, and second-year receiver Andrei Iosivas had two landing catches within the purple zone. This recreation reveals that the Bengals may have the instruments to reshape this offense and turn out to be a prime unit down the stretch.
Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks go to 2-0 on the identical day the Baltimore Ravens go to 0-2 after giving up 20 second-half factors to Gardner Minshew and the Raiders. Is that this a possible brain-drain state of affairs brewing in Baltimore?
Jones: The Ravens are lacking greater than Macdonald. This offseason, in addition they noticed defensive assistants Anthony Weaver (the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator) and Dennard Wilson (the Tennessee Titans’ DC) depart for jobs with different groups. Additionally they misplaced some key defensive playmakers, like Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney. So, this protection is unquestionably going via some rising pains below first-year coordinator Zach Orr, who was promoted from inside linebackers coach. The secondary is an space of concern, and on Sunday they gave up 9 catches and 110 yards and a landing to Davante Adams, and 9 catches and 98 yards to tight finish Brock Bowers.
The protection doesn’t deserve all the blame for this loss, nevertheless. The offense struggled on third downs, changing 3 of 11, Baltimore dedicated 11 penalties for 109 yards, and likewise noticed Justin Tucker miss an early subject purpose. The Ravens need to do some fine-tuning in a rush. They actually wanted to choose up a win right now, as a result of subsequent week they face the Cowboys on the highway, after which comes a date with the Buffalo Payments. Issues may get out of hand rapidly in the event that they’re not cautious.
Nguyen: The Ravens had been sure to take a step again, dropping a expertise on the offensive line, the protection (Queen, Clooney) and dropping Macdonald, who’s one of the best defensive play caller in soccer in my view. Nonetheless, this was a foul recreation for them to drop. Derrick Henry is having a tough time getting going as a result of he’s by no means been nimble sufficient to cope with penetration. When he will get downhill he’s harmful, which we noticed a glimpse of however, he may need loads of inefficient carries behind this line.
The Ravens had been in management for a lot of the recreation after which Davante Adams and Brock Bowers took over. The move interference name on Brandon Stephens in opposition to Adams was positively questionable however Baltimore shouldn’t have let it get shut. The Ravens at all times appear to determine issues out even when they begin gradual, they usually have the expertise to get again into the race, however beginning 0-2 is extraordinarily troublesome to return again from traditionally.
Pompei: There’s a motive Macdonald is a head coach now. He’s good. Certain, the Ravens miss him, particularly throughout this feeling-out stage of the season. As Mike identified, they misplaced greater than Macdonald, and it confirmed within the fourth quarter once they gave up 13 factors. The Ravens aren’t constructed to win when their protection softens — however that isn’t to say they received’t discover methods to play the sort of protection the Ravens are recognized for. That was an out-of-character recreation for Baltimore. The loss was about greater than their protection. Their offense additionally wasn’t as sharp as anticipated, particularly the offensive line.
GO DEEPER
5 takeaways from Raiders-Ravens: Minshew will get sizzling, Ravens fall to 0-2
Saints dominate in Dallas, Bucs win in Detroit … could I curiosity you within the NFC South bandwagon?
Pompei: Sure, chances are you’ll. It’s a greater division than it has been given credit score for. The Bucs had been a strong group one yr in the past, and the proof via two video games says they’re higher this yr. Seven years into his profession, Baker Mayfield actually is hitting his stride. And despite the fact that the Bucs don’t have all that they had when Tom Brady was there, Tampa nonetheless has the character of these groups — as evidenced by their highway upset of one among soccer’s greatest groups. And all credit score to the Saints, who had been a straightforward group to miss. The skeptics will say they’re taking part in just a little over their skis. They may have an opportunity to show they aren’t in opposition to one other NFC East powerhouse subsequent week, once they host the Eagles.
Jones: The Buccaneers performed the Lions powerful again in January’s NFC divisional spherical, so Tampa going to Detroit this weekend and coming away with a victory doesn’t shock me all that a lot. However I’m utterly surprised by what we noticed out of the Saints. Final week’s blowout win was spectacular, however all of us took that with a grain of salt as a result of it was the atrocious Carolina Panthers. However to go on the market and rating one other 44 factors in opposition to a Dallas protection that’s thought to be probably the greatest within the league, and to carry an excellent Cowboys offense to solely 19 factors? I positively didn’t anticipate this.
After final yr’s underwhelming exhibiting, I actually questioned if Derek Carr would even make it via the season because the Saints’ beginning quarterback. However new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has executed a masterful job of positioning Carr and all of his weapons for fulfillment. In the meantime, the Saints’ protection denied the Cowboys on all three journeys contained in the purple zone and recorded two takeaways. This was essentially the most full efficiency as we’ve seen via two weeks of the season.
Nguyen: The Buccaneers have a bodily entrance that might give any group bother (even regardless of Vita Vea’s damage), and Baker Mayfield is constant his bounce again this yr with the plethora of weapons he has (like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin). It was actually spectacular to enter Detroit and stress Goff the best way that they did. The Lions have struggled to move block the primary two video games of the season. The Saints, in the meantime, are one of many largest surprises of the season. The protection was anticipated to be stingy however the offensive line appeared prefer it might be one of many worst within the league — as an alternative, they’ve been maulers. New Orleans has rushed for 370 yards in two video games. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has this offense rolling. Derek Carr seems an ideal match on this quick-pass, play-action offense.
GO DEEPER
Key takeaways from Saints-Cowboys: How good is New Orleans’ offense?
Is a dud in Minnesota for a second straight yr motive for the 49ers to fret about this offense?
Nguyen: Brian Flores has a really distinctive protection that clearly gave Brock Purdy bother final season, and that was the case on Sunday. Fortunately for Purdy, they received’t need to play a protection like that each week. With all of their offseason drama and the absence of Christian McCaffrey, they had been sure to have a recreation like this. Brandon Aiyuk must be a much bigger a part of this offense however they’re bringing him alongside slowly. I don’t assume it’s one thing the 49ers have to fret about long run.
Jones: Offensive struggles from the 49ers are comprehensible. Pretty much as good as Jordan Mason is, he doesn’t convey the identical versatility that McCaffrey boasts. In the meantime, they didn’t have loads of follow time with all of their prime offensive gamers this preseason — it takes time to regain cohesion. Brian Flores is an excellent defensive coordinator, and he did a superb job of pressuring Brock Purdy and making issues troublesome for San Francisco.
Sure, Mason rushed for 100 yards and a landing, and Deebo Samuel had eight catches for 110 yards, and George Kittle had seven catches for 76 yards and a landing. However the 49ers had been 2-for-10 on third downs and turned the ball over twice. Kyle Shanahan is at all times going to have his gamers well-prepared, however this offense is lacking one of the dynamic playmakers within the league, so the highway goes to be tougher till McCaffrey returns.
Pompei: If the 49ers’ offense was hitting on all cylinders in Week 2, that might have been a shock. Between the coaching camp holdouts of Aiyuk and Trent Williams and the absence of McCaffrey, they’re allowed a bumpy starting. However with three of their subsequent 4 in opposition to NFC West rivals, they might want to determine it out quickly. Which will imply they want extra from their quarterback. Purdy wasn’t horrible Sunday, however he turned the ball over twice — as soon as with an interception and as soon as with a fumble — and was sacked six occasions. He wasn’t the rationale the 49ers misplaced, however he could have to be the rationale they win (or at the least one motive they win) within the short-term.
GO DEEPER
Vikings stun 49ers, enhance to 2-0 below Sam Darnold
Final week we talked about Caleb Williams’ struggles, what do you make of Jayden Daniels up to now, particularly after Sunday’s field-goal joyful day in opposition to the Giants?
Jones: I actually like what Kliff Kingsbury has executed to place Daniels for fulfillment via two weeks. He helps him get right into a rhythm by getting the ball out of his fingers rapidly and transferring the ball downfield in chunks. And Daniels has a superb really feel for realizing when to make use of his legs. He was very correct on Sunday, finishing 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and ran the ball 10 occasions for 44 yards. He took care of the ball as nicely.
I do know Terry McLaurin followers are an enormous anxious proper now as a result of the proficient large receiver had one other quiet day (six catches for simply 22 yards). However proper now, it’s about serving to Daniels discover a rhythm and ship the ball rapidly as he performs behind a shaky offensive line. Now, Washington must do a greater job of capitalizing within the purple zone. Daniels directed some very nice drives deep into Giants territory, however 5 false begin penalties within the purple zone actually hampered the Commanders’ efforts and compelled them to accept seven subject targets and rating no touchdowns.
Nguyen: Daniels didn’t play in addition to his numbers recommended final week — loads of his stats got here in rubbish time. This week, early on within the recreation, he appeared very tentative and hesitant within the pocket, like he didn’t know what he was however he would make the occasional play along with his legs. Like a typical Kingsbury offense, loads of Washington’s manufacturing got here from the choice recreation and screens. What’s encouraging is how resilient Daniels is. He took loads of hits however by no means wavered. He made some sturdy in-structure throws, together with a magnificence to Noah Brown in the midst of the sphere late within the recreation to win the sport.
Pompei: In fact the Commanders would somewhat see Daniels lead landing drives than subject purpose drives, however extra touchdowns are prone to come if he builds on his efficiency Sunday. Three issues stood out about Daniels Sunday: 1) He led a game-winning drive, with the Commanders going 65 yards on eight performs earlier than Austin Seibert’s 30-yard subject purpose put away the Giants; 2) He accomplished 79 p.c of his passes, that’s a mirrored image of accuracy, and it’s additionally a mirrored image of processing and determination making; and three) He ran for 44 yards, generally sensing when to drag the ball down. His working left Giants defenders uneasy. It was a really good second begin.
(Prime picture: Scott Winters / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)