Sports
Ben Arthur, Henry McKenna, Carmen Vitali, Greg Auman, Eric Williams, Ralph Vacchiano
It be simplest Week 2, but the NFL has confirmed all over again that you just under no circumstances know what’s going to occur on any given Sunday. Legal ingredient now we like got you lined. FOX Sports actions’ NFL consultants provide the splendid takeaways from every Sunday sport and what they mean for each team going forward.
Bengals: Joe Burrow must like identified better than to present the ball to Patrick Mahomes with two minutes and a deficit of fewer than three facets. I don’t care how smartly the Cincinnati Bengals protection played at some level of the old 58 minutes. I don’t care if Mahomes played one of the most worst video games of his career . Mahomes merely flips on a swap in those eventualities. Extra on that in a 2nd. But for Burrow, who had a 3-1 file towards Mahomes, I expected more. I expected him to pressure down the field and convert the pressure into facets. Instead, his final dropbacks had been an incompletion and a sack. The correct news is that Tee Higgins is help. The sinful news is that Ja’Marr Fling seems off (and the cause is horrible: his contract) and the Bengals are now 0-2. That’s going to be a robust gap to gain out of within the AFC North, the put the Ravens (also 0-2), Steelers and Browns are going to be scrapping for wins.
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes converted a fourth-and-16 to uncover. Yes, he and receiver Rashee Rice drew a penalty on the Bengals on the play. But it completely became a conversion on the alternative hand. That’s correct the procedure in which it goes with Mahomes, who may perhaps perhaps even be the splendid fourth-and-16 quarterback within the history of the game. It’s a silly ingredient to train, but there is no longer any quarterback — now no longer even Tom Brady — who I would pick to rework a fourth-and-16 over Mahomes. It wasn’t a fairly sport for the Chiefs offense. Their protection bailed them out within the clutch. But they’ve a quarterback who continuously does barely sufficient to eke out wins. This team became supposed to leer rather heaps of than closing 300 and sixty five days’s team, with the protection shedding some of its stars (most notably L’Jarius Snead) and the offense adding help (Hollywood Brown and novices Xavier Worthy and Kingsley Suamataia). But this team’s identification is primarily what it became closing 300 and sixty five days: uncover — in most cases as gruesome as skill. — Henry McKenna
Saints: Fresh Orleans’ secondary played with out corner Marshon Lattimore, practically about lost security Tyrann Mathieu at some level of the game, and soundless found a contrivance to retain the Cowboys to one landing in a 44-19 romp Sunday. Dak Prescott hadn’t thrown more than one interceptions in a dwelling sport since 2022, but the Saints got picks from Paulson Adebo and Mathieu to wait on the Cowboys from getting help right into a lopsided sport. It be one ingredient to retain Carolina’s offense in label in Week 1, but the Cowboys had been the NFL’s top-scoring offense in 2023, and to retain them to 19 facets speaks smartly for a system smartly Fresh Orleans can play when their protection is completely healthy.
Cowboys: Does Dallas stir over Dan Quinn this worthy? The defensive coordinator got his first uncover as the Washington Commanders’ head coach, the identical day the Cowboys protection allowed the Saints to ranking touchdowns on their first six drives on the manner to a 44-19 rout — in Arlington, no much less. The Saints offensive line became a quiz charge entering into, with rookie left maintain Taliese Fuaga questionable with a help injury, but the line saved the Cowboys’ stir go in take a look at. Dallas had one sack, Micah Parsons became restricted to correct three tackles, and the secondary got torched for a 70-yard landing and a dizzying 15.4 yards per strive from Derek Carr. Now they face the Ravens and Lamar Jackson in Week 3, so things are now no longer getting more straightforward. — Greg Auman
Tom Brady: ‘Tremendous impressed’ with Derek Carr, Saints vs. Cowboys 49ers: We thought the 49ers had been the NFL’s most complete team. But perhaps we had been lacking something. In opposition to the Vikings, we saw two weaknesses in San Francisco that we’re now no longer aware of seeing: The team’s stir protection regarded unimpressive, and the team’s stir-protection regarded even worse. Quarterback Brock Purdy took six sacks and threw an interception — he also a option of balls swatted arrive the line of scrimmage. His final stat line (28-for-36 for 319 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) doesn’t rather blow their personal horns how worthy he struggled to gain the ball downfield. On the flip aspect, the 49ers may perhaps perhaps perhaps no longer gain Sam Darnold off the field, in particular on third down. The Vikings had been 7 of 12 on third downs and 3 of 3 on their gotta-like-it pressure the put they scored a field purpose that do the game out of reach. Are the 49ers’ weaknesses in defending and maintaining the stir a one–sport mirage? Or are they a label of things to reach help?
Vikings: Darnold … doesn’t need his supporting solid? Minnesota had one the NFL’s simplest and most promising stir-catching groups in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. But gradual within the 2nd half of in Week 2, Darnold had none of them. He as a replacement had to throw to receiver Jalen Nailor and running help Aaron Jones. And likewise you’d mediate that would like Darnold falling apart, in particular towards the San Francisco protection. But he became elegant — correct, even. After Jefferson’s injury, Darnold became 6 for 7 for 64 yards. When Purdy and company started knocking on the door, Darnold remained still and extended the lead with a gradual field purpose. If Minnesota can gain a high quality uncover like this with out its stars, imagine what the Vikings can discontinue with them. They’re within the conversation to be the splendid team within the NFC alongside … the Saints? And the Buccaneers? Splendid like each person expected. — Henry McKenna
Buccaneers: Injury components correct wait on piling up for the Buccaneers. Now no longer simplest did they enter the game down correct maintain Luke Goedeke, defensive maintain Calijah Kancey and security Antoine Winfield Jr., but defensive maintain Vita Vea went down with a knee injury early within the third quarter. No matter the constant tension from the splendid aspect, quarterback Baker Mayfield made performs. Wide receiver Chris Godwin appears like help to his aged self. He had seven catches for 117 yards and a landing within the principle half of by myself. The Bucs secondary held its maintain too with more than one interceptions of Lions quarterback Jared Goff to end Detroit from entering into any valid rhythm. That, mixed with Mayfield’s improvisation abilities, showed correct how resilient this Bucs team is.
Baker Mayfield after Buccaneers’ uncover: ‘It be under no circumstances an particular person effort’ Lions: With Tampa Bay’s correct maintain out, Lions defensive discontinue Aidan Hutchinson pounced — actually. He performed with 4.5 sacks on the day, giving him 5.5 on the season, and it’s simplest Week 2. No matter Hutchinson’s field day and all of the accidents to Tampa Bay’s protection, the Lions offense may perhaps perhaps perhaps no longer gain the relaxation occurring a relentless foundation. Jared Goff became soundless muddling by some tension and Detroit became consistently stopped in need of scoring, going 1-for-7 within the pink zone. The Lions had over double the offensive yards. They’d 139 yards on the bottom. Statistically, Detroit must like had that sport but as a replacement, they’ve frustration as they plunge to 1-1 on the season as they gain ready to stir to Arizona and plan shut on the Cardinals subsequent week. — Carmen Vitali
Colts: After an explosive day passing the ball in Week 1, 2nd-300 and sixty five days QB Anthony Richardson showed he is soundless a work in growth. Richardson had a robust day on the road at Lambeau Subject, ending 17-of-34 passes for 204 yards, with one landing and three interceptions for a 41.8 passer ranking. After two landing passes of fifty-plus yards in closing week’s loss to the Houston Texans, Richardson’s longest completion towards Green Bay’s protection became to rookie Adonai Mitchell for 30 yards. Green Bay’s protection also restricted the dynamic Richardson to correct 37 speeding yards, with most of those approaching a 21-yard speed on the final pressure of the game. The Colts did gain a 103-yard speeding effort from workhorse running help Jonathan Taylor, but they need more constant play from Richardson after an 0-2 open.
Packers: Working help Josh Jacobs took over with quarterback Jordan Care for out resulting from a knee injury, displaying why the Packers signed him for huge money in free agency. Jacobs totaled 32 carries for 151 yards, phase of a 230-yard speeding effort for the game. Starting for Care for, Malik Willis did sufficient to prepare the game. Willis threw correct 14 situations for 122 yards and a ranking, while speeding for one more 41 yards. While the numbers by Willis weren’t mind-blowing, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur created a blueprint for Green Bay worthwhile with out Care for on hand — lean on a numerous speeding attack led by Jacobs and a scrappy protection. — Eric D. Williams
Packers QB Malik Willis on beating the Colts Giants: There’s so worthy center of attention on Daniel Jones and the Giants’ quarterback components, but it’s initiating to be sure that their protection goes to be a topic. They correct may perhaps perhaps now no longer gain off the field towards the Washington Commanders on Sunday and had been picked apart by their rookie QB, Jayden Daniels. The Commanders do up 425 yards and held the ball for 37:32. These are ridiculous totals. Yes, the Giants held them out of the discontinue zone, but Washington soundless got seven field targets for the 21-18 uncover. The bend-but-don’t-ruin nature of this protection has its merits, but it’ll be a catastrophe towards better teams and more seasoned quarterbacks. Their stir go is doing rather just a few getting shut, but now no longer ending the job. And their secondary has valid protection and tackling components. They barely gave their maintain offense a shot.
Commanders: Daniels has the game-manager ingredient down pat up to now, which is a extraordinarily correct step in his building. And it’s far a colossal ingredient for the Commanders on story of it turns out they like a fairly numerous offense. With Daniels making correct choices within the pocket (23 of 29, 226 yards, no interceptions) and continuously a menace to speed (10 carries, 44 yards) it opens up rather just a few things for numerous gamers. Brian Robinson had a immense sport with 17 carries for 133 yards. And Austin Ekeler showed why he may perhaps perhaps very smartly be an underrated weapon with 85 total yards. The sizable play soundless is now no longer there consistently for Washington and the Commanders opt on to discontinue better than seven field targets if they opt on to beat better teams than the Giants. But they racked up 425 yards of offense and each pressure they’d became sustained. Excluding for a kneel-down at the discontinue of the principle half of, every body of their seven drives lasted now no longer lower than eight performs and all but the game-worthwhile pressure at the discontinue lasted now no longer lower than four minutes. And all of them ended in facets within the 21-18 uncover. – Ralph Vacchiano
Commanders’ Jayden Daniels on worthwhile his first NFL sport Jets: In Sunday’s uncover, the Jets had been ready to lean on their running backs, Breece Corridor and Braelon Allen, who mixed for 3 touchdowns. Corridor, who had more than 100 scrimmage yards, hauled in a 26-yard landing on a wheel route. Allen, a 20-300 and sixty five days-aged fourth-round rookie out of Wisconsin, scored on the bottom and throughout the air. Even with the presence of Garrett Wilson, it sounds just like the Jets will opt on to lean on that backfield offensively this season. By two video games, they haven’t confirmed they’ll stretch the field vertically. The Jets leer like a protection-led team, but even that aspect of the ball appears like much less daunting than it did entering the 300 and sixty five days. Starting edge rusher Jermaine Johnson became carted off the field Sunday and became straight ruled out with an Achilles injury.
Titans: The Titans entered 2024 hoping Will Levis can blow their personal horns them that he may perhaps perhaps very smartly be their franchise quarterback, but it’s already been a roller-coaster by two weeks. Within the 2nd quarter Sunday, he made a horrendous resolution with Tennessee knocking on the discontinue zone at the Jets’ 7: attempting an underhanded, backward stir to running help Tyjae Spears as he became falling to the bottom. That grew to become right into a lost fumble for Levis. The play became all of the more amazing on story of it comes every week after he made a equally bone-headed resolution within the opener towards the Bears, which grew to become right into a pick-six. It be soundless very early, but this vogue of play from Levis all over a stout season will fabricate the resolution for the Titans to leer for a new quarterback within the offseason very easy. — Ben Arthur
Raiders: Gardner Minshew is considered as one of the most least-provocative starting quarterbacks within the league, but the manner he performed Sunday’s comeback uncover at the Ravens is outstanding. Down 10, sacked and going by 2nd-and-20, Minshew performed passes of 26 and 30 yards to space up a field purpose. Next pressure, one more 62 yards passing and a landing to tie the game, then one closing field purpose for a wild 26-23 comeback uncover over a Ravens team that made the AFC Championship Game a 300 and sixty five days ago. Minshew has talented targets in Davante Adams and rookie tight discontinue Brock Bowers, and if the Raiders can play like they did in Sunday’s uncover, they’re going to be competitive for a playoff utter within the AFC.
Ravens: With their penchant for running the ball consistently smartly, few NFL teams must be as correct at closing out a uncover as Baltimore. And yet the Ravens and Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry had a 10-level lead within the fourth quarter Sunday and found a contrivance to blow it. Take away a desperation final play, and the Ravens had 10 yards on 10 performs making an strive to shut out the uncover, unable to speed out the clock on their dwelling field. The Ravens had 27 carries for 151 yards; the Raiders had 27 total speeding yards. That’s exhausting to overcome, and yet Baltimore allowed Las Vegas to discontinue that. After falling correct in need of the Chiefs in Week 1, the 0-2 Ravens had an worthy more disconcerting develop. — Greg Auman
Steelers: If Russell Wilson can return from his injury and even be a decent sport manager, the Steelers are going to be a robust team to beat. That’s on story of their protection appears like after all, after all correct. They gave up correct 295 yards and two field targets to the Broncos on Sunday, one week after giving up 226 yards and 10 facets to the Falcons. No, neither opponent is the Chiefs. But the Steelers protection does like 5 turnovers and 4 sacks in two video games, and so they’re giving up an common of 76.5 speeding yards, even supposing both video games had been shut. They had been simplest shut on story of Justin Fields is doing nothing — 273 passing yards and one passing landing. The Steelers are 2-0 while they’re toughest competitors within the AFC North — the Ravens and Bengals — are 0-2. It’s all teed up for Wilson to reach help help and lead Pittsburgh to a division title.
Broncos: It’s going to be a long 300 and sixty five days in Denver. Sean Payton may perhaps perhaps even be doing the splendid ingredient by starting rookie Bo Nix at quarterback — in particular eager with his rather heaps of alternate solutions are Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson — and it could probably perhaps perhaps positively help Nix and the Broncos within the long speed. But there’s now no longer lots on this offense to support Nix out. The Broncos ran for 56 yards on Sunday — 25 of which came from Nix. He’s primarily accounted for 60 of their 155 speeding yards in two video games (38.7%). That’s now no longer purposeful for a rookie quarterback. He needs more from his receivers, too, like archaic Courtland Sutton (5 catches, 66 yards in two video games). No one thought the Broncos may perhaps perhaps perhaps be correct. And it helps that they’ve a somewhat gentle first-half of time desk. But they won’t secure many wins if they play like they did towards the Steelers, when no person seems capable of helping and Nix is left to strive to uncover on his maintain. — Ralph Vacchiano
Chargers: Letting Austin Ekeler stir in free agency wasn’t an effortless call, but J.Okay. Dobbins has been a star in his first two video games with Los Angeles. He rushed for 135 yards within the opener vs. the Raiders, and performed with 131 in Sunday’s uncover over the Panthers. That’s two of the three simplest video games of his 5-300 and sixty five days NFL career, bested simplest by a 160-yard sport within the 2020 finale with Baltimore. Dobbins has given Jim Harbaugh a fashionable ground sport to pair with Justin Herbert. He’d confirmed flashes in Baltimore, but became under no circumstances healthy long sufficient for sustained success. He can be hit on sizable performs — a 61-yard speed towards Las Vegas and a 43-yard ranking towards the Panthers.
Panthers: Are the Panthers primarily getting worse? After mustering 10 facets in a season-opening loss to the Saints, they’d correct three facets Sunday, with quarterback Bryce Young continuing to fight at unparalleled ranges. Young threw for 84 yards on 26 passes — barely 3 yards per strive — and Carolina went 1-for-12 on third downs, unable to sustain drives at any level. It be exhausting to imagine the Panthers worse than they had been in going 2-15 closing 300 and sixty five days, but they’ve now scored 10 facets or fewer in eight of their closing 10 video games. Fresh head coach Dave Canales knew it could probably perhaps perhaps be an uphill climb, but here is daunting. — Greg Auman
Browns: The Browns may perhaps perhaps perhaps need won, but they’re initiating to leer like they’ll even like a Deshaun Watson topic. Completely, eager with he is soundless taking half in on a $230 million, completely guaranteed contract, they expected more than correct the game manager they’ve considered the principle two weeks. Watson became better on this sport — 18 of 34, 186 yards and no interceptions — but he is now thrown for correct 355 yards on 46-of-seventy nine passing this season. That’s now no longer even 4.5 yards per stir strive. And he is simplest thrown one landing stir. He is healthy and he is got a valid running sport (125 yards towards the Jaguars) and a correct receiving duo with Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy. The Browns are 1-1, but they’re going to need worthy more from their painfully dear quarterback if they opt on to invent on closing season’s success.
Jaguars: Doug Pederson is supposed to be an offensive genius, but correct now his 0-2 team is an offensive mess. Out of doors of 1 66-yard stir from Trevor Lawrence to rookie Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars generated in most cases nothing on offense for the 2nd consecutive week. It became so frustrating, in actual fact, that at one level cameras caught Lawrence and Pederson arguing on the sidelines. Per chance that stemmed from the truth that the quarterback became underneath tension all sport long, getting sacked four situations — collectively with as soon as for a security. Also, for the 2nd straight week, Travis Etienne (13 carries, 52 yards) may perhaps perhaps perhaps no longer secure worthy room to speed. The Jaguars had been clearly lacking injured tight discontinue Evan Engram and so they haven’t rather found a replacement for the departed Calvin Ridley. But correct now, they do now no longer seem to love worthy of an offense in any recognize. — Ralph Vacchiano
Rams: Winless by the principle two video games with a league-high seven gamers on injured reserve, Sean McVay’s Rams already seem like circling the drain. Los Angeles had two of the team’s 5 projected offensive line starters lacking with left maintain Alaric Jackson serving the 2nd of his two-sport suspension and left Steven Avila on the injured reserve list with a knee injury that required surgical treatment. Predictably, the Rams struggled to present protection to Matthew Stafford, as he became sacked 5 situations. The Rams also lost star receiver Cooper Kupp to an ankle injury within the 2nd half of, and fellow receiver Puka Nacua stays out indefinitely with a knee injury. While the Rams must soundless gain Jackson help subsequent week, the duty doesn’t gain any more straightforward with the defending NFC West division champs within the San Francisco 49ers coming to SoFi Stadium in Week 3.
Cardinals: Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. did his simplest to dispel rumors of his early dying after a Week 1 dud that saw him total correct one secure for four yards. Harrison came out sizzling, totaling four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 5 targets within the principle quarter of his team’s runaway uncover over the Rams — the principle time the Cardinals defeated the Rams in Arizona since 2014. Primarily based on Next Gen Stats, Harrison’s max go became 20 mph, which became also an utter of topic after he’d reached a max go of correct 16.7 mph in Week 1. Base line, Harrison played just like the No. 4 total option on Sunday. He became centered a sport-high eight situations and performed with 32 yards after the secure. — Eric D. Williams
Seahawks: With the Seahawks off to a 2-0 open and leading the NFC West, quarterback Geno Smith has been the catalyst on offense for Seattle. The West Virginia product performed with a Week 2-high 327 passing yards in his team’s beyond traditional time uncover. Smith performed 75% of his passes to seven rather heaps of receivers for a 103.1 passer ranking. But more vital than the statistics, Smith appears like delighted in new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense. Smith became effective within the short passing sport towards Fresh England. Primarily based on Next Gen Stats, Smith performed 28 of 31 passes underneath 10 air yards for 201 yards.
Patriots: With quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggling to consistently manufacture explosive performs, may perhaps perhaps perhaps Fresh England rapidly turn to rookie quarterback Drake Maye? Brissett performed with correct 145 passing yards and simplest one stir of 20-plus yards in his team’s beyond traditional time loss to the Seahawks. The Patriots averaged correct 4.7 yards per play. “We positively opt on to open pushing the ball down the field,” Patriots head coach Jarod Mayo stated after the game. “We now opt on to push the ball down the field.” — Eric D. Williams
Jonathan Vilma & Kenny Albert ruin down Seahawks’ 23-20 OT uncover Texans: The Texans like a three-headed monster at huge receiver, but Nico Collins appears like like their No. 1 option. He’s logged more than 100 receiving yards in help-to-help video games to open the season, collectively with 135 yards and a landing on seven receptions in Sunday night’s uncover. Now no longer simplest has he perceived to just like the wait on of the addition of Stefon Diggs and the return of Tank Dell, but he also seems to love taken one more step forward after a career season in 2023. Collins has been shut to unstoppable on in-breaking routes in particular. It’s a reminder of the ridiculous abilities Houston has at the offensive talent positions — and the vary of strategies wherein they’ll beat you. Final week, it became running help Joe Mixon speeding for 159 yards. The Texans are a sound challenger to the Chiefs within the AFC on story of they’ve a complete offense.
Bears: The Bears are going to opt on to present protection to Caleb Williams better. He became sacked seven situations Sunday night, and the Texans registered 11 quarterback hits total. With its varied tension programs, Houston primarily gave Chicago’s future opponents a blueprint for a contrivance to gain dwelling on Williams. Now it’s up to play caller Shane Waldron and the comfort of the Bears’ offensive workers to identify how one can adjust, so its hopeful franchise quarterback doesn’t plan shut a beating. That’s a recipe for injury (and we know Chicago can’t just like the funds for that). Sadly for the Bears, the menace doesn’t gain any better subsequent week. The Colts, despite their speed protection woes to open the season, like one of the most deeper stir-go devices within the NFL. — Ben Arthur
The next writers contributed to this yarn: Ben Arthur ( @benyarthur ); Greg Auman ( @gregauman ); Henry McKenna ( @McKennAnalysis ); Eric D. Williams ( @eric_d_williams ); Ralph Vacchiano ( @RalphVacchiano ); Carmen Vitali ( @CarmieV )
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