The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Week 2 is in the books so you know what that means: a brand new The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Washington 30, Giants 29
I mean what can you say? Since the Giants WR took that famous boat photo they are 18-46, not saying it was bad luck but I mean the data would suggest that it's bad luck is all. As for WTF, they are making lemonade with potatoes.
Good:
Taylor Heinicke is making the best of his shot as the starter in Washington, he threw for 336 yards and 2 TDs, but what impresses me is that in his first start he throws an INT which leads the Giants taking the lead with 2:00 minutes left in the game and this kid stays calm, cool and collected and drives down the field to set up Dustin Hopkins 43 yard game-winning field goal, this kids deserves the starting position.
The only good thing about the Giants was Graham Gano 5/5 in field goals and 2/2 in extra points so at least they have a split kicker and I mean that is something to be happy about.
Bad:
Yes, Washington won but they still had a lot of issues. Defensively they could not stop the Giants one big breakdown was letting Slayton behind the secondary and if it wasn't for him letting it go we would see a much different result. They cannot break down like that, especially against better teams.
The Giants lost Nick Gates in the first quarter, we do not know how bad his injury is or how long he will be out. The question now is how will they replace him and try their best to solidify the OL and protect Daniel Jones.
Ugly:
What was not ugly about this game by the Giants, Slayton bounced a TD pass of his hands, penalties on the field goal that would have won them the game, and on the TD run by Daniel Jones. The Giants had 11 penalties for 81 yards and all 11 that is way too many especially when some were the difference between being 1-1 and 0-2.
Overall:
Washington needs to consider Heinicke as a real option as the starter for them. He's not perfect but he has the support of the locker room and as long he has that they can win games. As for the Giants I mean just rebuild from the front office down to the maintenance people and hope that in a few years they can be good again.
Bengals 17, Bears 20
Last week's performance by Burrow might have been a one-time thing after this game or maybe the Bears defense is wanting to win some games.
Good:
Bears defense is coming together, they only allowed a total of 162 yards and the picks were plenty Alec Ogletree, Jaylon Johnson, and Roquan Smith all picked off the Bengals QB, now this does not mean they are a top 5 defense but it does mean they are heading in the right direction.
Burrow is starting to flow with his other receivers, shown by the TD pass to Tee Higgins the more he plays with them the more he will start to find his rhythm with them.
Bad:
We are not sure what happened to Andy Dalton, he left at the half and did come back to the sideline and stayed there but with him hurt the question arises, is Justin Fields ready to start? He did not do bad 6 for 13 passing for 60 yards with 31 yards rushing on 10 attempts, which is not bad but is he ready to start? I am not sure about that.
This was bad offensively for the Bangles, Burrow, seemed like a shadow of himself from last week. I am wondering what could have happened if nothing changed but the opponent.
Ugly:
3 INT for Burrow 19 of 30 for 207 yards, what happened? The Bengals need to figure out the issues with Burrow because if they want to make the playoffs and win in the postseason they cannot have one good one bad game, especially by your QB.
Overall:
Chicago's biggest question right now is how long is Dalton going to be out, if at all. Once that question is answered they will be able to move forward making a plan on who will start next week. The Bengals need to figure out this Jekyll and Hyde performance or they won't see the postseason again.
Texans 21, Browns 31
I guess the Texans are good or the Browns underestimated them or both.
Good:
Others have stepped up for Cleveland now that OBJ and Landry are both out, this is good news because that shows debt and they want to win. I do question if those two receivers can be replaced by the backups but at least they have people they can trust
The Texans are growing in confidence, they are playing like a team that is going to win the division with no worry, shoot one can say that they can even make the playoffs.
Bad:
Defense struggles, yes they have rookies starting but it was way too close for comfort. If they do not step up and play strong and hard The Chiefs will run circles around the Browns.
Taylor is hurt and now R David Mills is at the helm, he played great once he was able to settle in and find his groove. Mills did struggle both in this game and in preseason so that begs the question: with a short week can they win with him? Who can say?
Ugly:
Taylor is hurt and they have to start a rookie that struggled. Let's just hope the defense can step up and help them out.
Overall:
Texans are playing well but with the injury to Taylor can they keep it up? Who knows? The Browns defense is struggling due to all the rookies they are starting. Can they figure it out and step up to the challenge?
Rams 27, Colts 24
Wentz is back to his old ways but The Rams are all there.
Good:
Everything in The Rams goes through the defense and they are being as dominant as they have been in the past, as long as the Rams D keep playing the way they are the offense can open up and have some real fun with the playbook.
Wentz is keeping Colt's drives alive but how long can he do that? Not long in my opinion. But at least he's trying to make something happen.
Bad:
The Rams offense did sputter a bit and special teams were questionable at best. The good thing is that it's nothing that cannot be fixed with time and effort.
Canson Wentz is once again hurt but why is he hurt? Because he is taking hits he should not if his receivers do not open up they will have another QB retire early.
Ugly:
Wentz's health is the question here if he keeps getting hit like he has he is going to have an early retirement.
Overall:
The Rams are contenders with Stafford. The Colts are good but the health of their QB is in big question.
Bills 35, Dolphins 0
DAMN!!!!
Good:
The Bills were 100% on all cylinders.
The Miami defense was the only good thing because they did all they could to stop Josh Allen and The Bills but like I have said before you can be the number 1 defense in the country but if you are on the field for what is half the game you will get so tired you cannot stop the other team.
Bad:
As good as Josh Allen played he was so inconsistent after the 1st quarter that I am honestly a little concerned, when it came to passes for 35 yards Allen was 1 for 5 and an INT. For Allen to take a real step in the MVP race he needs to be more accurate in the deep passes or he can say goodbye to the MVP award.
The Miami offense could not get anything going and Tua was pressured way too much and it has shown how out of everything that could be wrong for them the OL is the issue. If they cannot fix it then Tua might as well just lay down every down because that is where he will be the whole time.
Ugly:
Tua left the game with an apparent rib injury early in the game, with Tua Miami was not the best but they had life and gave hope that they could win but with him hurt there was little hope and no air in the offense. If Tua has to miss significant time then expect Miami to be in the L bracket till his return.
Overall:
Not a bad game for The Bills but we still have a lot more season to go. In the end, it all depends on Tua and how long he will miss best case 3-4 weeks, worse out for the season.
Patriots 25, Jets 16
Bill just does not like letting young QBs win in his stadium, I mean dang!!!!
Good:
Mac Jones is playing like a pro with no INT and even with the lack of OL protection. Defensively really made a statement with 4 INT which helps Jones and the run game.
They only lost this bad to a future first-ballot Hall of Fame coach so I mean at least it wasn't to like Hue Jackson.
Bad:
Jones is not throwing it downfield which is not a bad thing but it is also not a good thing. This could be due to the fact they have a bad OL or because Jones is not a deep passer, the luck for Jones is that Trent Browns might be back next week so this could help open up the playbook for Jones.
Wilson had 4 INTs in the game. The question here is can he bounce back from a game like that and be the leader he needs to be for his team so they can win games.
Ugly:
Rookie HC Robert Saleh understands that in the game of football there will be adversity but now can they overcome it and make something happen.
Overall:
Jones is playing well, and the defense is smooth. I do not see them making the playoffs but they are heading in the right direction. The Jets are not progressing in the right direction and if they don't fix these issues we will see just another Jets season on fire.
49ers 17, Eagles 11
An interesting game overall.
Good:
Like Nick Wagoner said of the 49ers game today “the 49ers are already showing that they can win in vastly different ways” and I cannot agree more. They are playing just amazing and if people are not careful they will sleep on them and we can see them in the playoffs once again.
Even though they lost they still look good, not amazing or even as they looked in the first game but they did look good and the defense was better than expected.
Bad:
The offense needs to wake up early in the game and not let off the gas the defense cannot bail them out always. Against better teams doing this would dig themselves into a huge hole they might not be able to get out of.
Like every teen (to include me) that said I know everything about everything and I can do it all on my own then was put in their place by an older person in the best way possible, and the Eagles were just that. This simply showed that the Eagles need to grow up and find the adult 2017 version themselves to come back. They missed simple plays and when in the Red Zone they came out with zero points that cannot keep going or they will not win any games.
Ugly:
Another RB is down for the 49ers, I am not sure if they can overcome this injury since the RB is a huge part of the offense but only time can tell us if they really can overcome it.
Overall:
The 49ers are a great team even this early in the season but time will tell how good they can be. The Eagles have some growing up to do before we can say they are heading in the right direction.
Raiders 26, Steelers 17
The Raiders are on FIRE!!!!
Good:
The Raiders on a short week have made it happen, and with an OL that is held up together with glue and duct tape. Derek Carr has brought this team together and showed how well they can play.
It was hard to find something good in the Steelers game but I was able to find one Matt Canada can do some magical things with the Steelers offense when they are not sputtering out.
Bad:
The Raiders need to help the OL, it seems like they lose a lineman every quarter (and they only played 8 real quarters) if they do not figure out how to salvage the OL, I am not sure how they will be able to keep on winning.
When the defense is good the offense can do everything in the playbook but when the defense is less than dominant then the offense cannot do anything, if this is not fixed soon then The Steelers need to fix their shortcoming and make sure they do not need a strong game from the defense to be as good as they can be.
Ugly:
If The Steelers defense cannot overcome injuries especially from their star defense TJ Watt then say goodbye to the postseason because right now the offense cannot do anything.
Overall:
The Raiders are the real deal so long as the OL is fixed. The Steelers are defense-dependent that is obvious and if they cannot change it I do not see the postseason in their future.
Saints 7, Panthers 26
What happened to The Saints? And The Panthers are well damn!!!
Good:
When I was told that The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers I thought that was horrible and they would lose a lot of games, now I am eating my words and Sam Darnold finally looks like a top draft pick and that is all due to the great coaching of Matt Rhule and having actual weapons to play with and check down to.
They scored points in a game that they should have been blown out, and they played save, smart football considering how many people were missing from the team (9 starters and 8 assistant coaches)
Bad:
David Newton from ESPN asked a very good question “How much of Carolina's 2-0 start has to do with playing a bad Jets team and undermanned Saints team?” and I am asking the same thing. The Jets have a rookie QB with a rookie HC and zero weapons on both offense or defense, and The Saints were hit so hard by Covid-19 that their rookie backup QB was in charge of substitutions during the game, I mean sure that is a factor but I believe Darnold’s playing and improved coaching and weapons are the reason they are 2-0 at least 70% of the reason.
The Saint's debt issues showed in the game this week, with 9 starters out due to injuries or suspensions, how could it have not? If they do not fix the depth issues then Jameis will be under a lot of pressure which will lead to him trying to force the ball in areas he shouldn't and causing INTs that do not need to happen.
Ugly:
COVID AND HURRICANE IDA SUCK!!! Simple as that. Had Covid and displacement due to Hurricane Ida had not happened this would have been a much different, much closer game.
Overall:
The Panthers are good, not great but good. The Saints will bounce back, it just won't be as fast as we expect.
Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
The broncos are figuring things out, can we say maybe they have their QB?
Good:
Teddy and the Broncos are molding very well, not perfect but well. What is helping is the Defense and how good they are playing, they are setting the offense in the right places.
Last week the Jaguars had penalties for lining up incorrectly or they had to use time-outs to save them, today they fix that so that is good.
Bad:
Even as good as Teddy and the offense is playing, some moments had us questioning if they are as good as they seem, as long as they do not allow the small mistakes to turn into big mistakes they should be fine.
Josh Lambo is 0 and 2 and it does not look like he is going to get better, and to add insult to injury Trevor Lawrence has zero help at the skill position, and in the defensive side of the ball is no different they cant get takeaways so Lawrence doesn't have to go up and down the field every single time.
Ugly:
The Jags offense is at best a Mountain West Team right now if they do not fix it it is going to be a long season for Lawrence.
Overall:
I trust Teddy as the Broncos QB moving forward. One player cannot fix all your problems and the Jags thought Lawrence could do that but they have too many other issues.
Vikings 33, Cardinals 34
Baby Yoda may be small but he is dangerous.
Good:
The Cardinal's offense right now can carry the team with its explosiveness and dominance, so long as they keep that not only will they win the division but are real threats in the NFC.
The Vikings were able to mount a comeback which is good and it shows they can put up numbers to be able to win games.
Bad:
The Cardinals defense is questionable at best they went from a record sack game to let the Vikings put up 33 points, now this is only 2 games so it does not signify the whole season but it does bring into question can the defense bail out the offense if they cannot keep playing as dominant as they are thus far.
The Vikings defense allowed so many big plays that it was a miracle that they did not put more points up, when it came to deep passes Murray was 6 of 7 for 200, I might as well be in The Vikings secondary trying to stop the pass I mean that is how bad they looked. This is a huge problem and if it is not fixed soon 0-2 is the least of their worries.
Ugly:
The Vikings failed with every chance they had to beat The Cardinals simply put someone is going to get fired soon the question is who?
Overall:
I am confident with The Cardinal's offense in that they can stay dominant and will be the reason they stay in the hunt in the NFC. Vikings are 0-2 and it is not looking better to replace that 0 with a 1.
Falcons 48, Buccaneers 25
A typical trap game that turns into a Red Zone Clinic.
Good:
TB12 threw 5TDs with Mike Edwards adding 2 pick-sixes, Tampa bouncing back after almost losing to the Cowboys, and made Atlanta remember what TB12 did to them in the Super Bowl.
When comparing this week's games vs last week's games simply put there were more positives in this week's games than last week. Atlanta was smoother in offense and made small plays in defense, yes nothing worth bragging about but hey even small wins vs TB12 mean a lot in the long run.
Bad:
As good as the Bucs are they have a fatal weakness and that is once they have the lead they tend to fall asleep once the lead is big enough and it showed vs Atlanta when they let a 28-10 lead turn to 28-25, yes they are good on both sides of the ball but I am not sure if they can keep coming back or allowing opponents to come back and get that close again.
Atlanta lost CB AJ Terrel and it is yet to be known if he will miss any major time, now we question how will they respond to him being out, they cannot replace him but they can fill in the whole but the best they have in TJ Green a converted Safety from CB while in camp if Terrell has to miss major time then Atlanta defense will be worse than they are now.
Ugly:
Tampa needs to stop letting their foot off the gas and keep letting leads go, they are facing much better opponents soon, and keeping leads will be even more important.
Overall:
Tampa is still Tampa and will be in the postseason the question is what seed will they be at the end of the season. Atlanta has positives that they can build on moving forward.
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS?!!!!!!!!!!!! Good game Chargers!!!
Good:
Balance is key for the Cowboys they ran the ball 31 times and passed for 27 times, if they keep doing this they can keep winning. Greg the leg came through with a clutch 56-yard field goal to win the game and saved his job after the horrible game he had vs Tampa.
Justine Herbert keeps impressing everyone, even myself. I was not excited about the Chargers picking in the draft and thought it was not a fit and from his rookie season to now boy was I wrong he is the future of the Chargers.
Bad:
As good as they played in the first half is as bad as they played in the second half, for them to keep winning and make the postseason they need to play constantly otherwise they will not be able to keep the good feeling of winning going. Mike McCarthy also needs to do better at time management. I do not care if you have Adam Vinitery if you can get your kicker closer for a game-winning field goal why wouldn't you? Had Greg not saved him, Mike would be in the hot seat and still could be.
The Chargers need to improve the red-zone offense they were in the end zone too many times and came out with few points, even with Herbert completing 31 of 41 and Ekeler catching and running for a total of 115 yards they could not come up with points, if they do not change this they will not win games simple as that.
Ugly:
12 penalties for 99 yards is horrible simple as that and two of those flags resulted in TDs being called back, this simply cannot happen and they will lose a lot of games if this keeps going.
Overall:
Cowboys have found the balance they need. The question is will they keep it? Too many Chargers penalties and turnovers lost the game for The Chargers simply as that.
Titans 33, Seahawks 30
King Henry carried the team on his back and carried the hawk's defense too.
Good:
Julio and Tannehill are starting to click, that is what we wanted and why they brought him in. It is not perfect by any means but at least they are heading in the right direction.
Even with the loose Russell Wilson is a top 10 QB and carried that offense the whole game and as long he keeps playing like that he will be good.
Bad:
Defensively the Titans gave up 3 50+ yards, to be back to the AFC Championship they cannot have that, and they need to fix it fast because Henry will not always be able to carry the team as he did now.
The Seahawks’ CB will be the death of the team. They just let Julio and Brown go up and down the field like kids in a candy store and don't even get me started on the 60 yard TD Henry had. If they cannot figure it out then games will slip away.
Ugly:
Both teams' CB played horrible making mistakes that should have never happened and will be something to keep our eye on and could be the reason one if not both teams do not make the postseason.
Overall:
The balance between Julio and Henry is the key to the Titans making it back to the AFC Championship. Wilson is the reason the game stayed as close as he made the plays with the trust of his receivers and legs.
Chiefs 35, Ravens 36
This is a match I am personally excited to see for the next 10 years, simple as that.
Good:
As long as Lamar is on the field the Ravens have a chance at anything. I was not worried about the Ravens after the Monday night loss to the Raiders but I did get worried after his 2 INTs, even then he came back and won the game to finally beat his kryptonite.
The Chiefs were still the Chiefs and are still the team to beat in the AFC and any team that can score 30 points easily is someone we can never count out.
Bad:
The Ravens defense had little to non pass defense, which I do not think they can fix not because they do not have the players or coaching but because they are missing the Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters he was the one that took care of the secondary and made sure that no big plays were given up and without him, I do not see this getting any better.
The Chiefs defense has issues in all aspects and like The Ravens, I do not see how they can fix it simply because they cannot stop the run and the pass defense is no better now unlike The Ravens they can fix the issues but it will take time.
Ugly:
Nothing ugly here just beautiful football
Overall:
The Ravens are coming for everyone this year. Do not count The Chiefs out.
Packers 35, Lions 17
Still not convinced with Rodgers.
Good:
The Packers looked like we know they should especially with Aarons Jones 3 TD catch day, making him the first Packers RB to do it since Andy Uram did it in 1942 vs the Chicago Cardinals (yes you heard it right, it's been that long since they had an RB catch 3 TDs in one game).
We now see what The Lions can be when they are in control and can move and play the way we wanted them to, especially having a lead at half vs The Packers and with Jared Goff playing almost perfect in the first half it gives everyone some serious hopes to what The Lions can do.
Bad:
Did the packers have come back and are the packers that have made back-to-back NFC Championship games or are it just they played a team that is just trying to stay afloat and try to win? I mean they had the Packers on their heels the whole first half so I am still not buying that we overreacted on Rogers and The Packers more like now we have seen two faces and we have to see who shows up vs stronger teams.
The Lions did what The Lions always do and hurt themselves on both offense and defense. On Offense, they had an interception and fumble and on defense they allowed The Packers to score on their first 3 second-half possessions and when they needed a stop they could not get it, for The Lions to finally stop being a joke they will need to learn how to get ahead and not stay ahead.
Ugly:
I mean nothing ugly here more like we saw it coming.
Overall:
The Packers are still The Packers but will they be as dominant as they were Monday night or will they play as bad as they did in week 1 that is yet to be seen. The Lions have a lot to like about Monday’s loss but only time will tell if they can learn from it and start winning.
Good:
Bears defense is coming together, they only allowed a total of 162 yards and the picks were plenty Alec Ogletree, Jaylon Johnson, and Roquan Smith all picked off the Bengals QB, now this does not mean they are a top 5 defense but it does mean they are heading in the right direction.
Burrow is starting to flow with his other receivers, shown by the TD pass to Tee Higgins the more he plays with them the more he will start to find his rhythm with them.
Bad:
We are not sure what happened to Andy Dalton, he left at the half and did come back to the sideline and stayed there but with him hurt the question arises, is Justin Fields ready to start? He did not do bad 6 for 13 passing for 60 yards with 31 yards rushing on 10 attempts, which is not bad but is he ready to start? I am not sure about that.
This was bad offensively for the Bangles, Burrow, seemed like a shadow of himself from last week. I am wondering what could have happened if nothing changed but the opponent.
Ugly:
3 INT for Burrow 19 of 30 for 207 yards, what happened? The Bengals need to figure out the issues with Burrow because if they want to make the playoffs and win in the postseason they cannot have one good one bad game, especially by your QB.
Overall:
Chicago's biggest question right now is how long is Dalton going to be out, if at all. Once that question is answered they will be able to move forward making a plan on who will start next week. The Bengals need to figure out this Jekyll and Hyde performance or they won't see the postseason again.
Texans 21, Browns 31
I guess the Texans are good or the Browns underestimated them or both.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238038
Good:
Others have stepped up for Cleveland now that OBJ and Landry are both out, this is good news because that shows debt and they want to win. I do question if those two receivers can be replaced by the backups but at least they have people they can trust
The Texans are growing in confidence, they are playing like a team that is going to win the division with no worry, shoot one can say that they can even make the playoffs.
Bad:
Defense struggles, yes they have rookies starting but it was way too close for comfort. If they do not step up and play strong and hard The Chiefs will run circles around the Browns.
Taylor is hurt and now R David Mills is at the helm, he played great once he was able to settle in and find his groove. Mills did struggle both in this game and in preseason so that begs the question: with a short week can they win with him? Who can say?
Ugly:
Taylor is hurt and they have to start a rookie that struggled. Let's just hope the defense can step up and help them out.
Overall:
Texans are playing well but with the injury to Taylor can they keep it up? Who knows? The Browns defense is struggling due to all the rookies they are starting. Can they figure it out and step up to the challenge?
Rams 27, Colts 24
Wentz is back to his old ways but The Rams are all there.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238180
Good:
Everything in The Rams goes through the defense and they are being as dominant as they have been in the past, as long as the Rams D keep playing the way they are the offense can open up and have some real fun with the playbook.
Wentz is keeping Colt's drives alive but how long can he do that? Not long in my opinion. But at least he's trying to make something happen.
Bad:
The Rams offense did sputter a bit and special teams were questionable at best. The good thing is that it's nothing that cannot be fixed with time and effort.
Canson Wentz is once again hurt but why is he hurt? Because he is taking hits he should not if his receivers do not open up they will have another QB retire early.
Ugly:
Wentz's health is the question here if he keeps getting hit like he has he is going to have an early retirement.
Overall:
The Rams are contenders with Stafford. The Colts are good but the health of their QB is in big question.
Bills 35, Dolphins 0
DAMN!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238302
Good:
The Bills were 100% on all cylinders.
The Miami defense was the only good thing because they did all they could to stop Josh Allen and The Bills but like I have said before you can be the number 1 defense in the country but if you are on the field for what is half the game you will get so tired you cannot stop the other team.
Bad:
As good as Josh Allen played he was so inconsistent after the 1st quarter that I am honestly a little concerned, when it came to passes for 35 yards Allen was 1 for 5 and an INT. For Allen to take a real step in the MVP race he needs to be more accurate in the deep passes or he can say goodbye to the MVP award.
The Miami offense could not get anything going and Tua was pressured way too much and it has shown how out of everything that could be wrong for them the OL is the issue. If they cannot fix it then Tua might as well just lay down every down because that is where he will be the whole time.
Ugly:
Tua left the game with an apparent rib injury early in the game, with Tua Miami was not the best but they had life and gave hope that they could win but with him hurt there was little hope and no air in the offense. If Tua has to miss significant time then expect Miami to be in the L bracket till his return.
Overall:
Not a bad game for The Bills but we still have a lot more season to go. In the end, it all depends on Tua and how long he will miss best case 3-4 weeks, worse out for the season.
Patriots 25, Jets 16
Bill just does not like letting young QBs win in his stadium, I mean dang!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237952
Good:
Mac Jones is playing like a pro with no INT and even with the lack of OL protection. Defensively really made a statement with 4 INT which helps Jones and the run game.
They only lost this bad to a future first-ballot Hall of Fame coach so I mean at least it wasn't to like Hue Jackson.
Bad:
Jones is not throwing it downfield which is not a bad thing but it is also not a good thing. This could be due to the fact they have a bad OL or because Jones is not a deep passer, the luck for Jones is that Trent Browns might be back next week so this could help open up the playbook for Jones.
Wilson had 4 INTs in the game. The question here is can he bounce back from a game like that and be the leader he needs to be for his team so they can win games.
Ugly:
Rookie HC Robert Saleh understands that in the game of football there will be adversity but now can they overcome it and make something happen.
Overall:
Jones is playing well, and the defense is smooth. I do not see them making the playoffs but they are heading in the right direction. The Jets are not progressing in the right direction and if they don't fix these issues we will see just another Jets season on fire.
49ers 17, Eagles 11
An interesting game overall.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237585
Good:
Like Nick Wagoner said of the 49ers game today “the 49ers are already showing that they can win in vastly different ways” and I cannot agree more. They are playing just amazing and if people are not careful they will sleep on them and we can see them in the playoffs once again.
Even though they lost they still look good, not amazing or even as they looked in the first game but they did look good and the defense was better than expected.
Bad:
The offense needs to wake up early in the game and not let off the gas the defense cannot bail them out always. Against better teams doing this would dig themselves into a huge hole they might not be able to get out of.
Like every teen (to include me) that said I know everything about everything and I can do it all on my own then was put in their place by an older person in the best way possible, and the Eagles were just that. This simply showed that the Eagles need to grow up and find the adult 2017 version themselves to come back. They missed simple plays and when in the Red Zone they came out with zero points that cannot keep going or they will not win any games.
Ugly:
Another RB is down for the 49ers, I am not sure if they can overcome this injury since the RB is a huge part of the offense but only time can tell us if they really can overcome it.
Overall:
The 49ers are a great team even this early in the season but time will tell how good they can be. The Eagles have some growing up to do before we can say they are heading in the right direction.
Raiders 26, Steelers 17
The Raiders are on FIRE!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238102
Good:
The Raiders on a short week have made it happen, and with an OL that is held up together with glue and duct tape. Derek Carr has brought this team together and showed how well they can play.
It was hard to find something good in the Steelers game but I was able to find one Matt Canada can do some magical things with the Steelers offense when they are not sputtering out.
Bad:
The Raiders need to help the OL, it seems like they lose a lineman every quarter (and they only played 8 real quarters) if they do not figure out how to salvage the OL, I am not sure how they will be able to keep on winning.
When the defense is good the offense can do everything in the playbook but when the defense is less than dominant then the offense cannot do anything, if this is not fixed soon then The Steelers need to fix their shortcoming and make sure they do not need a strong game from the defense to be as good as they can be.
Ugly:
If The Steeler's defense cannot overcome injuries especially from their star defense TJ Watt then say goodbye to the postseason because right now the offense cannot do anything.
Overall:
The Raiders are the real deal so long as the OL is fixed. The Steelers are defense-dependent that is obvious and if they cannot change it I do not see the postseason in their future.
Saints 7, Panthers 26
What happened to The Saints? And The Panthers are well damn!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237862
Good:
When I was told that The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers I thought that was horrible and they would lose a lot of games, now I am eating my words and Sam Darnold finally looks like a top draft pick and that is all due to the great coaching of Matt Rhule and having actual weapons to play with and check down to.
They scored points in a game that they should have been blown out, and they played save, smart football considering how many people were missing from the team (9 starters and 8 assistant coaches)
Bad:
David Newton from ESPN asked a very good question “How much of Carolina's 2-0 start has to do with playing a bad Jets team and undermanned Saints team?” and I am asking the same thing. The Jets have a rookie QB with a rookie HC and zero weapons on both offense or defense, and The Saints were hit so hard by Covid-19 that their rookie backup QB was in charge of substitutions during the game, I mean sure that is a factor but I believe Darnold’s playing and improved coaching and weapons are the reason they are 2-0 at least 70% of the reason.
The Saint's debt issues showed in the game this week, with 9 starters out due to injuries or suspensions, how could it have not? If they do not fix the depth issues then Jameis will be under a lot of pressure which will lead to him trying to force the ball in areas he shouldn't and causing INTs that do not need to happen.
Ugly:
COVID AND HURRICANE IDA SUCK!!! Simple as that. Had Covid and displacement due to Hurricane Ida had not happened this would have been a much different, much closer game.
Overall:
The Panthers are good, not great but good. The Saints will bounce back, it just won't be as fast as we expect.
Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
The broncos are figuring things out, can we say maybe they have their QB?
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238202
Good:
Teddy and the Broncos are molding very well, not perfect but well. What is helping is the Defense and how good they are playing, they are setting the offense in the right places.
Last week the Jaguars had penalties for lining up incorrectly or they had to use time-outs to save them, today they fix that so that is good.
Bad:
Even as good as Teddy and the offense is playing, some moments had us questioning if they are as good as they seem, as long as they do not allow the small mistakes to turn into big mistakes they should be fine.
Josh Lambo is 0 and 2 and it does not look like he is going to get better, and to add insult to injury Trevor Lawrence has zero help at the skill position, and in the defensive side of the ball is no different they cant get takeaways so Lawrence doesn't have to go up and down the field every single time.
Ugly:
The Jags offense is at best a Mountain West Team right now if they do not fix it it is going to be a long season for Lawrence.
Overall:
I trust Teddy as the Broncos QB moving forward. One player cannot fix all your problems and the Jags thought Lawrence could do that but they have too many other issues.
Vikings 33, Cardinals 34
Baby Yoda may be small but he is dangerous.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240221
Good:
The Cardinal's offense right now can carry the team with its explosiveness and dominance, so long as they keep that not only will they win the division but are real threats in the NFC.
The Vikings were able to mount a comeback which is good and it shows they can put up numbers to be able to win games.
Bad:
The Cardinals defense is questionable at best they went from a record sack game to let the Vikings put up 33 points, now this is only 2 games so it does not signify the whole season but it does bring into question can the defense bail out the offense if they cannot keep playing as dominant as they are thus far.
The Vikings defense allowed so many big plays that it was a miracle that they did not put more points up, when it came to deep passes Murray was 6 of 7 for 200, I might as well be in The Vikings secondary trying to stop the pass I mean that is how bad they looked. This is a huge problem and if it is not fixed soon 0-2 is the least of their worries.
Ugly:
The Vikings failed with every chance they had to beat The Cardinals simply put someone is going to get fired soon the question is who?
Overall:
I am confident with The Cardinal's offense in that they can stay dominant and will be the reason they stay in the hunt in the NFC. Vikings are 0-2 and it is not looking better to replace that 0 with a 1.
Falcons 48, Buccaneers 25
A typical trap game that turns into a Red Zone Clinic.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32239889
Good:
TB12 threw 5TDs with Mike Edwards adding 2 pick-sixes, Tampa bouncing back after almost losing to the Cowboys, and made Atlanta remember what TB12 did to them in the Super Bowl.
When comparing this week's games vs last week's games simply put there were more positives in this week's games than last week. Atlanta was smoother in offense and made small plays in defense, yes nothing worth bragging about but hey even small wins vs TB12 mean a lot in the long run.
Bad:
As good as the Bucs are they have a fatal weakness and that is once they have the lead they tend to fall asleep once the lead is big enough and it showed vs Atlanta when they let a 28-10 lead turn to 28-25, yes they are good on both sides of the ball but I am not sure if they can keep coming back or allowing opponents to come back and get that close again.
Atlanta lost CB AJ Terrel and it is yet to be known if he will miss any major time, now we question how will they respond to him being out, they cannot replace him but they can fill in the whole but the best they have in TJ Green a converted Safety from CB while in camp if Terrell has to miss major time then Atlanta defense will be worse than they are now.
Ugly:
Tampa needs to stop letting their foot off the gas and keep letting leads go, they are facing much better opponents soon, and keeping leads will be even more important.
Overall:
Tampa is still Tampa and will be in the postseason the question is what seed will they be at the end of the season. Atlanta has positives that they can build on moving forward.
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS?!!!!!!!!!!!! Good game Chargers!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240007
Good:
Balance is key for the Cowboys they ran the ball 31 times and passed for 27 times, if they keep doing this they can keep winning. Greg the leg came through with a clutch 56-yard field goal to win the game and saved his job after the horrible game he had vs Tampa.
Justine Herbert keeps impressing everyone, even myself. I was not excited about the Chargers picking in the draft and thought it was not a fit and from his rookie season to now boy was I wrong he is the future of the Chargers.
.
Bad:
As good as they played in the first half is as bad as they played in the second half, for them to keep winning and make the postseason they need to play constantly otherwise they will not be able to keep the good feeling of winning going. Mike McCarthy also needs to do better at time management. I do not care if you have Adam Vinitery if you can get your kicker closer for a game-winning field goal why wouldn't you? Had Greg not saved him, Mike would be in the hot seat and still could be.
The Chargers need to improve the red-zone offense they were in the end zone too many times and came out with few points, even with Herbert completing 31 of 41 and Ekeler catching and running for a total of 115 yards they could not come up with points, if they do not change this they will not win games simple as that.
Ugly:
12 penalties for 99 yards is horrible simple as that and two of those flags resulted in TDs being called back, this simply cannot happen and they will lose a lot of games if this keeps going.
Overall:
Cowboys have found the balance they need. The question is will they keep it? Too many Chargers penalties and turnovers lost the game for The Chargers simply as that.
Titans 33, Seahawks 30
King Henry carried the team on his back and carried the hawk's defense too.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240126
Good:
Julio and Tannehill are starting to click, that is what we wanted and why they brought him in. It is not perfect by any means but at least they are heading in the right direction.
Even with the loose Russell Wilson is a top 10 QB and carried that offense the whole game and as long he keeps playing like that he will be good.
Bad:
Defensively the Titans gave up 3 50+ yards, to be back to the AFC Championship they cannot have that, and they need to fix it fast because Henry will not always be able to carry the team as he did now.
The Seahawks’ CB will be the death of the team. They just let Julio and Brown go up and down the field like kids in a candy store and don't even get me started on the 60 yard TD Henry had. If they cannot figure it out then games will slip away.
Ugly:
Both teams' CB played horrible making mistakes that should have never happened and will be something to keep our eye on and could be the reason one if not both teams do not make the postseason.
Overall:
The balance between Julio and Henry is the key to the Titans making it back to the AFC Championship. Wilson is the reason the game stayed as close as he made the plays with the trust of his receivers and legs.
Chiefs 35, Ravens 36
This is a match I am personally excited to see for the next 10 years, simple as that.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32241607
Good:
As long as Lamar is on the field the Ravens have a chance at anything. I was not worried about the Ravens after the Monday night loss to the Raiders but I did get worried after his 2 INTs, even then he came back and won the game to finally beat his kryptonite.
The Chiefs were still the Chiefs and are still the team to beat in the AFC and any team that can score 30 points easily is someone we can never count out.
Bad:
The Ravens defense had little to non pass defense, which I do not think they can fix not because they do not have the players or coaching but because they are missing the Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters he was the one that took care of the secondary and made sure that no big plays were given up and without him, I do not see this getting any better.
The Chiefs defense has issues in all aspects and like The Ravens, I do not see how they can fix it simply because they cannot stop the run and the pass defense is no better now unlike The Ravens they can fix the issues but it will take time.
Ugly:
Nothing ugly here just beautiful football
Overall:
The Ravens are coming for everyone this year. Do not count The Chiefs out.
Packers 35, Lions 17
Still not convinced with Rodgers.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32247077
Good:
The Packers looked like we know they should especially with Aarons Jones 3 TD catch day, making him the first Packers RB to do it since Andy Uram did it in 1942 vs the Chicago Cardinals (yes you heard it right, it's been that long since they had an RB catch 3 TDs in one game).
We now see what The Lions can be when they are in control and can move and play the way we wanted them to, especially having a lead at half vs The Packers and with Jared Goff playing almost perfect in the first half it gives everyone some serious hopes to what The Lions can do.
Bad:
Did the packers have come back and are the packers that have made back-to-back NFC Championship games or are it just they played a team that is just trying to stay afloat and try to win? I mean they had the Packers on their heels the whole first half so I am still not buying that we overreacted on Rogers and The Packers more like now we have seen two faces and we have to see who shows up vs stronger teams.
The Lions did what The Lions always do and hurt themselves on both offense and defense. On Offense, they had an interception and fumble and on defense they allowed The Packers to score on their first 3 second-half possessions and when they needed a stop they could not get it, for The Lions to finally stop being a joke they will need to learn how to get ahead and not stay ahead.
Ugly:
I mean nothing ugly here more like we saw it coming.
Overall:
The Packers are still The Packers but will they be as dominant as they were Monday night or will they play as bad as they did in week 1 that is yet to be seen. The Lions have a lot to like about Monday’s loss but only time will tell if they can learn from it and start winning.
Good:
Bears defense is coming together, they only allowed a total of 162 yards and the picks were plenty Alec Ogletree, Jaylon Johnson, and Roquan Smith all picked off the Bengals QB, now this does not mean they are a top 5 defense but it does mean they are heading in the right direction.
Burrow is starting to flow with his other receivers, shown by the TD pass to Tee Higgins the more he plays with them the more he will start to find his rhythm with them.
Bad:
We are not sure what happened to Andy Dalton, he left at the half and did come back to the sideline and stayed there but with him hurt the question arises, is Justin Fields ready to start? He did not do bad 6 for 13 passing for 60 yards with 31 yards rushing on 10 attempts, which is not bad but is he ready to start? I am not sure about that.
This was bad offensively for the Bangles, Burrow, seemed like a shadow of himself from last week. I am wondering what could have happened if nothing changed but the opponent.
Ugly:
3 INT for Burrow 19 of 30 for 207 yards, what happened? The Bengals need to figure out the issues with Burrow because if they want to make the playoffs and win in the postseason they cannot have one good one bad game, especially by your QB.
Overall:
Chicago's biggest question right now is how long is Dalton going to be out, if at all. Once that question is answered they will be able to move forward making a plan on who will start next week. The Bengals need to figure out this Jekyll and Hyde performance or they won't see the postseason again.
Texans 21, Browns 31
I guess the Texans are good or the Browns underestimated them or both.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238038
Good:
Others have stepped up for Cleveland now that OBJ and Landry are both out, this is good news because that shows debt and they want to win. I do question if those two receivers can be replaced by the backups but at least they have people they can trust
The Texans are growing in confidence, they are playing like a team that is going to win the division with no worry, shoot one can say that they can even make the playoffs.
Bad:
Defense struggles, yes they have rookies starting but it was way too close for comfort. If they do not step up and play strong and hard The Chiefs will run circles around the Browns.
Taylor is hurt and now R David Mills is at the helm, he played great once he was able to settle in and find his groove. Mills did struggle both in this game and in preseason so that begs the question: with a short week can they win with him? Who can say?
Ugly:
Taylor is hurt and they have to start a rookie that struggled. Let's just hope the defense can step up and help them out.
Overall:
Texans are playing well but with the injury to Taylor can they keep it up? Who knows? The Browns defense is struggling due to all the rookies they are starting. Can they figure it out and step up to the challenge?
Rams 27, Colts 24
Wentz is back to his old ways but The Rams are all there.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238180
Good:
Everything in The Rams goes through the defense and they are being as dominant as they have been in the past, as long as the Rams D keep playing the way they are the offense can open up and have some real fun with the playbook.
Wentz is keeping Colt's drives alive but how long can he do that? Not long in my opinion. But at least he's trying to make something happen.
Bad:
The Rams offense did sputter a bit and special teams were questionable at best. The good thing is that it's nothing that cannot be fixed with time and effort.
Canson Wentz is once again hurt but why is he hurt? Because he is taking hits he should not if his receivers do not open up they will have another QB retire early.
Ugly:
Wentz's health is the question here if he keeps getting hit like he has he is going to have an early retirement.
Overall:
The Rams are contenders with Stafford. The Colts are good but the health of their QB is in big question.
Bills 35, Dolphins 0
DAMN!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238302
Good:
The Bills were 100% on all cylinders.
The Miami defense was the only good thing because they did all they could to stop Josh Allen and The Bills but like I have said before you can be the number 1 defense in the country but if you are on the field for what is half the game you will get so tired you cannot stop the other team.
Bad:
As good as Josh Allen played he was so inconsistent after the 1st quarter that I am honestly a little concerned, when it came to passes for 35 yards Allen was 1 for 5 and an INT. For Allen to take a real step in the MVP race he needs to be more accurate in the deep passes or he can say goodbye to the MVP award.
The Miami offense could not get anything going and Tua was pressured way too much and it has shown how out of everything that could be wrong for them the OL is the issue. If they cannot fix it then Tua might as well just lay down every down because that is where he will be the whole time.
Ugly:
Tua left the game with an apparent rib injury early in the game, with Tua Miami was not the best but they had life and gave hope that they could win but with him hurt there was little hope and no air in the offense. If Tua has to miss significant time then expect Miami to be in the L bracket till his return.
Overall:
Not a bad game for The Bills but we still have a lot more season to go. In the end, it all depends on Tua and how long he will miss best case 3-4 weeks, worse out for the season.
Patriots 25, Jets 16
Bill just does not like letting young QBs win in his stadium, I mean dang!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237952
Good:
Mac Jones is playing like a pro with no INT and even with the lack of OL protection. Defensively really made a statement with 4 INT which helps Jones and the run game.
They only lost this bad to a future first-ballot Hall of Fame coach so I mean at least it wasn't to like Hue Jackson.
Bad:
Jones is not throwing it downfield which is not a bad thing but it is also not a good thing. This could be due to the fact they have a bad OL or because Jones is not a deep passer, the luck for Jones is that Trent Browns might be back next week so this could help open up the playbook for Jones.
Wilson had 4 INTs in the game. The question here is can he bounce back from a game like that and be the leader he needs to be for his team so they can win games.
Ugly:
Rookie HC Robert Saleh understands that in the game of football there will be adversity but now can they overcome it and make something happen.
Overall:
Jones is playing well, and the defense is smooth. I do not see them making the playoffs but they are heading in the right direction. The Jets are not progressing in the right direction and if they don't fix these issues we will see just another Jets season on fire.
49ers 17, Eagles 11
An interesting game overall.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237585
Good:
Like Nick Wagoner said of the 49ers game today “the 49ers are already showing that they can win in vastly different ways” and I cannot agree more. They are playing just amazing and if people are not careful they will sleep on them and we can see them in the playoffs once again.
Even though they lost they still look good, not amazing or even as they looked in the first game but they did look good and the defense was better than expected.
Bad:
The offense needs to wake up early in the game and not let off the gas the defense cannot bail them out always. Against better teams doing this would dig themselves into a huge hole they might not be able to get out of.
Like every teen (to include me) that said I know everything about everything and I can do it all on my own then was put in their place by an older person in the best way possible, and the Eagles were just that. This simply showed that the Eagles need to grow up and find the adult 2017 version themselves to come back. They missed simple plays and when in the Red Zone they came out with zero points that cannot keep going or they will not win any games.
Ugly:
Another RB is down for the 49ers, I am not sure if they can overcome this injury since the RB is a huge part of the offense but only time can tell us if they really can overcome it.
Overall:
The 49ers are a great team even this early in the season but time will tell how good they can be. The Eagles have some growing up to do before we can say they are heading in the right direction.
Raiders 26, Steelers 17
The Raiders are on FIRE!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238102
Good:
The Raiders on a short week have made it happen, and with an OL that is held up together with glue and duct tape. Derek Carr has brought this team together and showed how well they can play.
It was hard to find something good in the Steelers game but I was able to find one Matt Canada can do some magical things with the Steelers offense when they are not sputtering out.
Bad:
The Raiders need to help the OL, it seems like they lose a lineman every quarter (and they only played 8 real quarters) if they do not figure out how to salvage the OL, I am not sure how they will be able to keep on winning.
When the defense is good the offense can do everything in the playbook but when the defense is less than dominant then the offense cannot do anything, if this is not fixed soon then The Steelers need to fix their shortcoming and make sure they do not need a strong game from the defense to be as good as they can be.
Ugly:
If The Steeler's defense cannot overcome injuries especially from their star defense TJ Watt then say goodbye to the postseason because right now the offense cannot do anything.
Overall:
The Raiders are the real deal so long as the OL is fixed. The Steelers are defense-dependent that is obvious and if they cannot change it I do not see the postseason in their future.
Saints 7, Panthers 26
What happened to The Saints? And The Panthers are well damn!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237862
Good:
When I was told that The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers I thought that was horrible and they would lose a lot of games, now I am eating my words and Sam Darnold finally looks like a top draft pick and that is all due to the great coaching of Matt Rhule and having actual weapons to play with and check down to.
They scored points in a game that they should have been blown out, and they played save, smart football considering how many people were missing from the team (9 starters and 8 assistant coaches)
Bad:
David Newton from ESPN asked a very good question “How much of Carolina's 2-0 start has to do with playing a bad Jets team and undermanned Saints team?” and I am asking the same thing. The Jets have a rookie QB with a rookie HC and zero weapons on both offense or defense, and The Saints were hit so hard by Covid-19 that their rookie backup QB was in charge of substitutions during the game, I mean sure that is a factor but I believe Darnold’s playing and improved coaching and weapons are the reason they are 2-0 at least 70% of the reason.
The Saint's debt issues showed in the game this week, with 9 starters out due to injuries or suspensions, how could it have not? If they do not fix the depth issues then Jameis will be under a lot of pressure which will lead to him trying to force the ball in areas he shouldn't and causing INTs that do not need to happen.
Ugly:
COVID AND HURRICANE IDA SUCK!!! Simple as that. Had Covid and displacement due to Hurricane Ida had not happened this would have been a much different, much closer game.
Overall:
The Panthers are good, not great but good. The Saints will bounce back, it just won't be as fast as we expect.
Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
The broncos are figuring things out, can we say maybe they have their QB?
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238202
Good:
Teddy and the Broncos are molding very well, not perfect but well. What is helping is the Defense and how good they are playing, they are setting the offense in the right places.
Last week the Jaguars had penalties for lining up incorrectly or they had to use time-outs to save them, today they fix that so that is good.
Bad:
Even as good as Teddy and the offense is playing, some moments had us questioning if they are as good as they seem, as long as they do not allow the small mistakes to turn into big mistakes they should be fine.
Josh Lambo is 0 and 2 and it does not look like he is going to get better, and to add insult to injury Trevor Lawrence has zero help at the skill position, and in the defensive side of the ball is no different they cant get takeaways so Lawrence doesn't have to go up and down the field every single time.
Ugly:
The Jags offense is at best a Mountain West Team right now if they do not fix it it is going to be a long season for Lawrence.
Overall:
I trust Teddy as the Broncos QB moving forward. One player cannot fix all your problems and the Jags thought Lawrence could do that but they have too many other issues.
Vikings 33, Cardinals 34
Baby Yoda may be small but he is dangerous.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240221
Good:
The Cardinal's offense right now can carry the team with its explosiveness and dominance, so long as they keep that not only will they win the division but are real threats in the NFC.
The Vikings were able to mount a comeback which is good and it shows they can put up numbers to be able to win games.
Bad:
The Cardinals defense is questionable at best they went from a record sack game to let the Vikings put up 33 points, now this is only 2 games so it does not signify the whole season but it does bring into question can the defense bail out the offense if they cannot keep playing as dominant as they are thus far.
The Vikings defense allowed so many big plays that it was a miracle that they did not put more points up, when it came to deep passes Murray was 6 of 7 for 200, I might as well be in The Vikings secondary trying to stop the pass I mean that is how bad they looked. This is a huge problem and if it is not fixed soon 0-2 is the least of their worries.
Ugly:
The Vikings failed with every chance they had to beat The Cardinals simply put someone is going to get fired soon the question is who?
Overall:
I am confident with The Cardinal's offense in that they can stay dominant and will be the reason they stay in the hunt in the NFC. Vikings are 0-2 and it is not looking better to replace that 0 with a 1.
Falcons 48, Buccaneers 25
A typical trap game that turns into a Red Zone Clinic.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32239889
Good:
TB12 threw 5TDs with Mike Edwards adding 2 pick-sixes, Tampa bouncing back after almost losing to the Cowboys, and made Atlanta remember what TB12 did to them in the Super Bowl.
When comparing this week's games vs last week's games simply put there were more positives in this week's games than last week. Atlanta was smoother in offense and made small plays in defense, yes nothing worth bragging about but hey even small wins vs TB12 mean a lot in the long run.
Bad:
As good as the Bucs are they have a fatal weakness and that is once they have the lead they tend to fall asleep once the lead is big enough and it showed vs Atlanta when they let a 28-10 lead turn to 28-25, yes they are good on both sides of the ball but I am not sure if they can keep coming back or allowing opponents to come back and get that close again.
Atlanta lost CB AJ Terrel and it is yet to be known if he will miss any major time, now we question how will they respond to him being out, they cannot replace him but they can fill in the whole but the best they have in TJ Green a converted Safety from CB while in camp if Terrell has to miss major time then Atlanta defense will be worse than they are now.
Ugly:
Tampa needs to stop letting their foot off the gas and keep letting leads go, they are facing much better opponents soon, and keeping leads will be even more important.
Overall:
Tampa is still Tampa and will be in the postseason the question is what seed will they be at the end of the season. Atlanta has positives that they can build on moving forward.
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS?!!!!!!!!!!!! Good game Chargers!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240007
Good:
Balance is key for the Cowboys they ran the ball 31 times and passed for 27 times, if they keep doing this they can keep winning. Greg the leg came through with a clutch 56-yard field goal to win the game and saved his job after the horrible game he had vs Tampa.
Justine Herbert keeps impressing everyone, even myself. I was not excited about the Chargers picking in the draft and thought it was not a fit and from his rookie season to now boy was I wrong he is the future of the Chargers.
.
Bad:
As good as they played in the first half is as bad as they played in the second half, for them to keep winning and make the postseason they need to play constantly otherwise they will not be able to keep the good feeling of winning going. Mike McCarthy also needs to do better at time management. I do not care if you have Adam Vinitery if you can get your kicker closer for a game-winning field goal why wouldn't you? Had Greg not saved him, Mike would be in the hot seat and still could be.
The Chargers need to improve the red-zone offense they were in the end zone too many times and came out with few points, even with Herbert completing 31 of 41 and Ekeler catching and running for a total of 115 yards they could not come up with points, if they do not change this they will not win games simple as that.
Ugly:
12 penalties for 99 yards is horrible simple as that and two of those flags resulted in TDs being called back, this simply cannot happen and they will lose a lot of games if this keeps going.
Overall:
Cowboys have found the balance they need. The question is will they keep it? Too many Chargers penalties and turnovers lost the game for The Chargers simply as that.
Titans 33, Seahawks 30
King Henry carried the team on his back and carried the hawk's defense too.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240126
Good:
Julio and Tannehill are starting to click, that is what we wanted and why they brought him in. It is not perfect by any means but at least they are heading in the right direction.
Even with the loose Russell Wilson is a top 10 QB and carried that offense the whole game and as long he keeps playing like that he will be good.
Bad:
Defensively the Titans gave up 3 50+ yards, to be back to the AFC Championship they cannot have that, and they need to fix it fast because Henry will not always be able to carry the team as he did now.
The Seahawks’ CB will be the death of the team. They just let Julio and Brown go up and down the field like kids in a candy store and don't even get me started on the 60 yard TD Henry had. If they cannot figure it out then games will slip away.
Ugly:
Both teams' CB played horrible making mistakes that should have never happened and will be something to keep our eye on and could be the reason one if not both teams do not make the postseason.
Overall:
The balance between Julio and Henry is the key to the Titans making it back to the AFC Championship. Wilson is the reason the game stayed as close as he made the plays with the trust of his receivers and legs.
Chiefs 35, Ravens 36
This is a match I am personally excited to see for the next 10 years, simple as that.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32241607
Good:
As long as Lamar is on the field the Ravens have a chance at anything. I was not worried about the Ravens after the Monday night loss to the Raiders but I did get worried after his 2 INTs, even then he came back and won the game to finally beat his kryptonite.
The Chiefs were still the Chiefs and are still the team to beat in the AFC and any team that can score 30 points easily is someone we can never count out.
Bad:
The Ravens defense had little to non pass defense, which I do not think they can fix not because they do not have the players or coaching but because they are missing the Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters he was the one that took care of the secondary and made sure that no big plays were given up and without him, I do not see this getting any better.
The Chiefs defense has issues in all aspects and like The Ravens, I do not see how they can fix it simply because they cannot stop the run and the pass defense is no better now unlike The Ravens they can fix the issues but it will take time.
Ugly:
Nothing ugly here just beautiful football
Overall:
The Ravens are coming for everyone this year. Do not count The Chiefs out.
Packers 35, Lions 17
Still not convinced with Rodgers.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32247077
Good:
The Packers looked like we know they should especially with Aarons Jones 3 TD catch day, making him the first Packers RB to do it since Andy Uram did it in 1942 vs the Chicago Cardinals (yes you heard it right, it's been that long since they had an RB catch 3 TDs in one game).
We now see what The Lions can be when they are in control and can move and play the way we wanted them to, especially having a lead at half vs The Packers and with Jared Goff playing almost perfect in the first half it gives everyone some serious hopes to what The Lions can do.
Bad:
Did the packers have come back and are the packers that have made back-to-back NFC Championship games or are it just they played a team that is just trying to stay afloat and try to win? I mean they had the Packers on their heels the whole first half so I am still not buying that we overreacted on Rogers and The Packers more like now we have seen two faces and we have to see who shows up vs stronger teams.
The Lions did what The Lions always do and hurt themselves on both offense and defense. On Offense, they had an interception and fumble and on defense they allowed The Packers to score on their first 3 second-half possessions and when they needed a stop they could not get it, for The Lions to finally stop being a joke they will need to learn how to get ahead and not stay ahead.
Ugly:
I mean nothing ugly here more like we saw it coming.
Overall:
The Packers are still The Packers but will they be as dominant as they were Monday night or will they play as bad as they did in week 1 that is yet to be seen. The Lions have a lot to like about Monday’s loss but only time will tell if they can learn from it and start winning.
Bengals 17, Bears 20
Last week's performance by Burrow might have been a one-time thing after this game or maybe the Bears defense is wanting to win some games.
Good:
Bears defense is coming together, they only allowed a total of 162 yards and the picks were plenty Alec Ogletree, Jaylon Johnson, and Roquan Smith all picked off the Bengals QB, now this does not mean they are a top 5 defense but it does mean they are heading in the right direction.
Burrow is starting to flow with his other receivers, shown by the TD pass to Tee Higgins the more he plays with them the more he will start to find his rhythm with them.
Bad:
We are not sure what happened to Andy Dalton, he left at the half and did come back to the sideline and stayed there but with him hurt the question arises, is Justin Fields ready to start? He did not do bad 6 for 13 passing for 60 yards with 31 yards rushing on 10 attempts, which is not bad but is he ready to start? I am not sure about that.
This was bad offensively for the Bangles, Burrow, seemed like a shadow of himself from last week. I am wondering what could have happened if nothing changed but the opponent.
Ugly:
3 INT for Burrow 19 of 30 for 207 yards, what happened? The Bengals need to figure out the issues with Burrow because if they want to make the playoffs and win in the postseason they cannot have one good one bad game, especially by your QB.
Overall:
Chicago's biggest question right now is how long is Dalton going to be out, if at all. Once that question is answered they will be able to move forward making a plan on who will start next week. The Bengals need to figure out this Jekyll and Hyde performance or they won't see the postseason again.
Texans 21, Browns 31
I guess the Texans are good or the Browns underestimated them or both.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238038
Good:
Others have stepped up for Cleveland now that OBJ and Landry are both out, this is good news because that shows debt and they want to win. I do question if those two receivers can be replaced by the backups but at least they have people they can trust
The Texans are growing in confidence, they are playing like a team that is going to win the division with no worry, shoot one can say that they can even make the playoffs.
Bad:
Defense struggles, yes they have rookies starting but it was way too close for comfort. If they do not step up and play strong and hard The Chiefs will run circles around the Browns.
Taylor is hurt and now R David Mills is at the helm, he played great once he was able to settle in and find his groove. Mills did struggle both in this game and in preseason so that begs the question: with a short week can they win with him? Who can say?
Ugly:
Taylor is hurt and they have to start a rookie that struggled. Let's just hope the defense can step up and help them out.
Overall:
Texans are playing well but with the injury to Taylor can they keep it up? Who knows? The Browns defense is struggling due to all the rookies they are starting. Can they figure it out and step up to the challenge?
Rams 27, Colts 24
Wentz is back to his old ways but The Rams are all there.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238180
Good:
Everything in The Rams goes through the defense and they are being as dominant as they have been in the past, as long as the Rams D keep playing the way they are the offense can open up and have some real fun with the playbook.
Wentz is keeping Colt's drives alive but how long can he do that? Not long in my opinion. But at least he's trying to make something happen.
Bad:
The Rams offense did sputter a bit and special teams were questionable at best. The good thing is that it's nothing that cannot be fixed with time and effort.
Canson Wentz is once again hurt but why is he hurt? Because he is taking hits he should not if his receivers do not open up they will have another QB retire early.
Ugly:
Wentz's health is the question here if he keeps getting hit like he has he is going to have an early retirement.
Overall:
The Rams are contenders with Stafford. The Colts are good but the health of their QB is in big question.
Bills 35, Dolphins 0
DAMN!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238302
Good:
The Bills were 100% on all cylinders.
The Miami defense was the only good thing because they did all they could to stop Josh Allen and The Bills but like I have said before you can be the number 1 defense in the country but if you are on the field for what is half the game you will get so tired you cannot stop the other team.
Bad:
As good as Josh Allen played he was so inconsistent after the 1st quarter that I am honestly a little concerned, when it came to passes for 35 yards Allen was 1 for 5 and an INT. For Allen to take a real step in the MVP race he needs to be more accurate in the deep passes or he can say goodbye to the MVP award.
The Miami offense could not get anything going and Tua was pressured way too much and it has shown how out of everything that could be wrong for them the OL is the issue. If they cannot fix it then Tua might as well just lay down every down because that is where he will be the whole time.
Ugly:
Tua left the game with an apparent rib injury early in the game, with Tua Miami was not the best but they had life and gave hope that they could win but with him hurt there was little hope and no air in the offense. If Tua has to miss significant time then expect Miami to be in the L bracket till his return.
Overall:
Not a bad game for The Bills but we still have a lot more season to go. In the end, it all depends on Tua and how long he will miss best case 3-4 weeks, worse out for the season.
Patriots 25, Jets 16
Bill just does not like letting young QBs win in his stadium, I mean dang!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237952
Good:
Mac Jones is playing like a pro with no INT and even with the lack of OL protection. Defensively really made a statement with 4 INT which helps Jones and the run game.
They only lost this bad to a future first-ballot Hall of Fame coach so I mean at least it wasn't to like Hue Jackson.
Bad:
Jones is not throwing it downfield which is not a bad thing but it is also not a good thing. This could be due to the fact they have a bad OL or because Jones is not a deep passer, the luck for Jones is that Trent Browns might be back next week so this could help open up the playbook for Jones.
Wilson had 4 INTs in the game. The question here is can he bounce back from a game like that and be the leader he needs to be for his team so they can win games.
Ugly:
Rookie HC Robert Saleh understands that in the game of football there will be adversity but now can they overcome it and make something happen.
Overall:
Jones is playing well, and the defense is smooth. I do not see them making the playoffs but they are heading in the right direction. The Jets are not progressing in the right direction and if they don't fix these issues we will see just another Jets season on fire.
49ers 17, Eagles 11
An interesting game overall.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237585
Good:
Like Nick Wagoner said of the 49ers game today “the 49ers are already showing that they can win in vastly different ways” and I cannot agree more. They are playing just amazing and if people are not careful they will sleep on them and we can see them in the playoffs once again.
Even though they lost they still look good, not amazing or even as they looked in the first game but they did look good and the defense was better than expected.
Bad:
The offense needs to wake up early in the game and not let off the gas the defense cannot bail them out always. Against better teams doing this would dig themselves into a huge hole they might not be able to get out of.
Like every teen (to include me) that said I know everything about everything and I can do it all on my own then was put in their place by an older person in the best way possible, and the Eagles were just that. This simply showed that the Eagles need to grow up and find the adult 2017 version themselves to come back. They missed simple plays and when in the Red Zone they came out with zero points that cannot keep going or they will not win any games.
Ugly:
Another RB is down for the 49ers, I am not sure if they can overcome this injury since the RB is a huge part of the offense but only time can tell us if they really can overcome it.
Overall:
The 49ers are a great team even this early in the season but time will tell how good they can be. The Eagles have some growing up to do before we can say they are heading in the right direction.
Raiders 26, Steelers 17
The Raiders are on FIRE!!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238102
Good:
The Raiders on a short week have made it happen, and with an OL that is held up together with glue and duct tape. Derek Carr has brought this team together and showed how well they can play.
It was hard to find something good in the Steelers game but I was able to find one Matt Canada can do some magical things with the Steelers offense when they are not sputtering out.
Bad:
The Raiders need to help the OL, it seems like they lose a lineman every quarter (and they only played 8 real quarters) if they do not figure out how to salvage the OL, I am not sure how they will be able to keep on winning.
When the defense is good the offense can do everything in the playbook but when the defense is less than dominant then the offense cannot do anything, if this is not fixed soon then The Steelers need to fix their shortcoming and make sure they do not need a strong game from the defense to be as good as they can be.
Ugly:
If The Steeler's defense cannot overcome injuries especially from their star defense TJ Watt then say goodbye to the postseason because right now the offense cannot do anything.
Overall:
The Raiders are the real deal so long as the OL is fixed. The Steelers are defense-dependent that is obvious and if they cannot change it I do not see the postseason in their future.
Saints 7, Panthers 26
What happened to The Saints? And The Panthers are well damn!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32237862
Good:
When I was told that The Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers I thought that was horrible and they would lose a lot of games, now I am eating my words and Sam Darnold finally looks like a top draft pick and that is all due to the great coaching of Matt Rhule and having actual weapons to play with and check down to.
They scored points in a game that they should have been blown out, and they played save, smart football considering how many people were missing from the team (9 starters and 8 assistant coaches)
Bad:
David Newton from ESPN asked a very good question “How much of Carolina's 2-0 start has to do with playing a bad Jets team and undermanned Saints team?” and I am asking the same thing. The Jets have a rookie QB with a rookie HC and zero weapons on both offense or defense, and The Saints were hit so hard by Covid-19 that their rookie backup QB was in charge of substitutions during the game, I mean sure that is a factor but I believe Darnold’s playing and improved coaching and weapons are the reason they are 2-0 at least 70% of the reason.
The Saint's debt issues showed in the game this week, with 9 starters out due to injuries or suspensions, how could it have not? If they do not fix the depth issues then Jameis will be under a lot of pressure which will lead to him trying to force the ball in areas he shouldn't and causing INTs that do not need to happen.
Ugly:
COVID AND HURRICANE IDA SUCK!!! Simple as that. Had Covid and displacement due to Hurricane Ida had not happened this would have been a much different, much closer game.
Overall:
The Panthers are good, not great but good. The Saints will bounce back, it just won't be as fast as we expect.
Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
The broncos are figuring things out, can we say maybe they have their QB?
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32238202
Good:
Teddy and the Broncos are molding very well, not perfect but well. What is helping is the Defense and how good they are playing, they are setting the offense in the right places.
Last week the Jaguars had penalties for lining up incorrectly or they had to use time-outs to save them, today they fix that so that is good.
Bad:
Even as good as Teddy and the offense is playing, some moments had us questioning if they are as good as they seem, as long as they do not allow the small mistakes to turn into big mistakes they should be fine.
Josh Lambo is 0 and 2 and it does not look like he is going to get better, and to add insult to injury Trevor Lawrence has zero help at the skill position, and in the defensive side of the ball is no different they cant get takeaways so Lawrence doesn't have to go up and down the field every single time.
Ugly:
The Jags offense is at best a Mountain West Team right now if they do not fix it it is going to be a long season for Lawrence.
Overall:
I trust Teddy as the Broncos QB moving forward. One player cannot fix all your problems and the Jags thought Lawrence could do that but they have too many other issues.
Vikings 33, Cardinals 34
Baby Yoda may be small but he is dangerous.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240221
Good:
The Cardinal's offense right now can carry the team with its explosiveness and dominance, so long as they keep that not only will they win the division but are real threats in the NFC.
The Vikings were able to mount a comeback which is good and it shows they can put up numbers to be able to win games.
Bad:
The Cardinals defense is questionable at best they went from a record sack game to let the Vikings put up 33 points, now this is only 2 games so it does not signify the whole season but it does bring into question can the defense bail out the offense if they cannot keep playing as dominant as they are thus far.
The Vikings defense allowed so many big plays that it was a miracle that they did not put more points up, when it came to deep passes Murray was 6 of 7 for 200, I might as well be in The Vikings secondary trying to stop the pass I mean that is how bad they looked. This is a huge problem and if it is not fixed soon 0-2 is the least of their worries.
Ugly:
The Vikings failed with every chance they had to beat The Cardinals simply put someone is going to get fired soon the question is who?
Overall:
I am confident with The Cardinal's offense in that they can stay dominant and will be the reason they stay in the hunt in the NFC. Vikings are 0-2 and it is not looking better to replace that 0 with a 1.
Falcons 48, Buccaneers 25
A typical trap game that turns into a Red Zone Clinic.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32239889
Good:
TB12 threw 5TDs with Mike Edwards adding 2 pick-sixes, Tampa bouncing back after almost losing to the Cowboys, and made Atlanta remember what TB12 did to them in the Super Bowl.
When comparing this week's games vs last week's games simply put there were more positives in this week's games than last week. Atlanta was smoother in offense and made small plays in defense, yes nothing worth bragging about but hey even small wins vs TB12 mean a lot in the long run.
Bad:
As good as the Bucs are they have a fatal weakness and that is once they have the lead they tend to fall asleep once the lead is big enough and it showed vs Atlanta when they let a 28-10 lead turn to 28-25, yes they are good on both sides of the ball but I am not sure if they can keep coming back or allowing opponents to come back and get that close again.
Atlanta lost CB AJ Terrel and it is yet to be known if he will miss any major time, now we question how will they respond to him being out, they cannot replace him but they can fill in the whole but the best they have in TJ Green a converted Safety from CB while in camp if Terrell has to miss major time then Atlanta defense will be worse than they are now.
Ugly:
Tampa needs to stop letting their foot off the gas and keep letting leads go, they are facing much better opponents soon, and keeping leads will be even more important.
Overall:
Tampa is still Tampa and will be in the postseason the question is what seed will they be at the end of the season. Atlanta has positives that they can build on moving forward.
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS?!!!!!!!!!!!! Good game Chargers!!!
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240007
Good:
Balance is key for the Cowboys they ran the ball 31 times and passed for 27 times, if they keep doing this they can keep winning. Greg the leg came through with a clutch 56-yard field goal to win the game and saved his job after the horrible game he had vs Tampa.
Justine Herbert keeps impressing everyone, even myself. I was not excited about the Chargers picking in the draft and thought it was not a fit and from his rookie season to now boy was I wrong he is the future of the Chargers.
.
Bad:
As good as they played in the first half is as bad as they played in the second half, for them to keep winning and make the postseason they need to play constantly otherwise they will not be able to keep the good feeling of winning going. Mike McCarthy also needs to do better at time management. I do not care if you have Adam Vinitery if you can get your kicker closer for a game-winning field goal why wouldn't you? Had Greg not saved him, Mike would be in the hot seat and still could be.
The Chargers need to improve the red-zone offense they were in the end zone too many times and came out with few points, even with Herbert completing 31 of 41 and Ekeler catching and running for a total of 115 yards they could not come up with points, if they do not change this they will not win games simple as that.
Ugly:
12 penalties for 99 yards is horrible simple as that and two of those flags resulted in TDs being called back, this simply cannot happen and they will lose a lot of games if this keeps going.
Overall:
Cowboys have found the balance they need. The question is will they keep it? Too many Chargers penalties and turnovers lost the game for The Chargers simply as that.
Titans 33, Seahawks 30
King Henry carried the team on his back and carried the hawk's defense too.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32240126
Good:
Julio and Tannehill are starting to click, that is what we wanted and why they brought him in. It is not perfect by any means but at least they are heading in the right direction.
Even with the loose Russell Wilson is a top 10 QB and carried that offense the whole game and as long he keeps playing like that he will be good.
Bad:
Defensively the Titans gave up 3 50+ yards, to be back to the AFC Championship they cannot have that, and they need to fix it fast because Henry will not always be able to carry the team as he did now.
The Seahawks’ CB will be the death of the team. They just let Julio and Brown go up and down the field like kids in a candy store and don't even get me started on the 60 yard TD Henry had. If they cannot figure it out then games will slip away.
Ugly:
Both teams' CB played horrible making mistakes that should have never happened and will be something to keep our eye on and could be the reason one if not both teams do not make the postseason.
Overall:
The balance between Julio and Henry is the key to the Titans making it back to the AFC Championship. Wilson is the reason the game stayed as close as he made the plays with the trust of his receivers and legs.
Chiefs 35, Ravens 36
This is a match I am personally excited to see for the next 10 years, simple as that.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32241607
Good:
As long as Lamar is on the field the Ravens have a chance at anything. I was not worried about the Ravens after the Monday night loss to the Raiders but I did get worried after his 2 INTs, even then he came back and won the game to finally beat his kryptonite.
The Chiefs were still the Chiefs and are still the team to beat in the AFC and any team that can score 30 points easily is someone we can never count out.
Bad:
The Ravens defense had little to non pass defense, which I do not think they can fix not because they do not have the players or coaching but because they are missing the Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters he was the one that took care of the secondary and made sure that no big plays were given up and without him, I do not see this getting any better.
The Chiefs defense has issues in all aspects and like The Ravens, I do not see how they can fix it simply because they cannot stop the run and the pass defense is no better now unlike The Ravens they can fix the issues but it will take time.
Ugly:
Nothing ugly here just beautiful football
Overall:
The Ravens are coming for everyone this year. Do not count The Chiefs out.
Packers 35, Lions 17
Still not convinced with Rodgers.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32247077
Good:
The Packers looked like we know they should especially with Aarons Jones 3 TD catch day, making him the first Packers RB to do it since Andy Uram did it in 1942 vs the Chicago Cardinals (yes you heard it right, it's been that long since they had an RB catch 3 TDs in one game).
We now see what The Lions can be when they are in control and can move and play the way we wanted them to, especially having a lead at half vs The Packers and with Jared Goff playing almost perfect in the first half it gives everyone some serious hopes to what The Lions can do.
Bad:
Did the packers have come back and are the packers that have made back-to-back NFC Championship games or are it just they played a team that is just trying to stay afloat and try to win? I mean they had the Packers on their heels the whole first half so I am still not buying that we overreacted on Rogers and The Packers more like now we have seen two faces and we have to see who shows up vs stronger teams.
The Lions did what The Lions always do and hurt themselves on both offense and defense. On Offense, they had an interception and fumble and on defense they allowed The Packers to score on their first 3 second-half possessions and when they needed a stop they could not get it, for The Lions to finally stop being a joke they will need to learn how to get ahead and not stay ahead.
Ugly:
I mean nothing ugly here more like we saw it coming.
Overall:
The Packers are still The Packers but will they be as dominant as they were Monday night or will they play as bad as they did in week 1 that is yet to be seen. The Lions have a lot to like about Monday’s loss but only time will tell if they can learn from it and start winning.