Random thoughts after Week 2 in the NFL

OK… here we are, week two in the books. Plenty happened this past weekend in the NFL, and I am not talking about the winners and the losers, I am talking about the plethora of injuries that occurred that affected a lot of major stars in the league.

Let’s start with the most significant:
•Saquon Barkley, RB NY Giants – Torn ACL – out for the season
•Nick Bosa, DL SF 49ers – possible torn ACL – out for the season
•Malik Hooker Indianapolis Colts Safety – Torn Achilles – out for the season
•Christian McCaffrey – RB Carolina Panthers – High ankle sprain – out 4-6 weeks
•Courtland Sutton – WR Denver Broncos – Torn ACL – out for the season
•Drew Lock – QB Denver Broncos – Strained Rotator cuff – out 3-5 weeks

This list is just a small sampling of the major injuries that occurred Sunday across the league. here were plenty of other injuries week two and it is a result, in my opinion of not enough preparation time for the season. There was a “virtual training camp” spent mostly on Zoom with coaches and players, going over playbooks, and schemes. Combine that with no preseason games which allow for “live” action and game speed, and players were going to vulnerable to injury. Just another sign of what the year 2020 has been like for all sports. This trend may continue, unfortunately, and I will hold my breath week to week hoping nothing serious happens to any other players.

Surprise of the week – Justin Herbert QB LA Chargers. After a sudden illness, Tyrod Taylor was scratched from the lineup, and Herbert was forced to make his first career NFL start against the defending world champs, Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert finished for 22/30 for 311 yards and a touchdown along with a running touchdown. Despite LA losing the game, that’s a pretty impressive first start for a rookie that didn’t know he was starting until after the coin toss.

Most impressive win of the week – Dallas defeating Atlanta after being down 20-0 after the first quarter and at one point were down 29-10 as well as the game progressed. Dallas fought back and ended up winning the game 40-39 at the buzzer with a last-minute FG by Greg Zuerlein, but that was not the most dramatic play of the game, instead after Dallas got within 2 points after Dak Prescott ran for a touchdown with 1:52 remaining in the 4th quarter to get the Cowboys within 2 points, a funny thing happened. the aforementioned Greg Zuerlein pulled off a remarkable onside kick that spun like a watermelon on its side and the front line of the Falcons return team decided to let it weave and wobble ten yards without falling on it, instead, the Cowboys fall on the ball and get possession on their own 46-yard line. 6 plays and 26 yards later, Zuerlein kicked a 46 yard FG to win the game at the buzzer. A lot of comparisons to the Falcons collapse in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago against New England when they gave up a 28-3 lead in the fourth quarter only to lose that game in OT.

Least impressive of the week – This goes to the Minnesota Vikings and their loss to the Indianapolis Colts 28-11. How far the mighty have fallen. The Vikings are now a dismal 0-2 to start the season with losses to the Packers and Colts to open the season. The most surprising of all was QB Kirk Cousins and his dismal performance Sunday. Cousins was 11/26 for 113 yards and 3 interceptions, a far cry of what we are used to seeing from Cousins in past years. The Vikings are tied with Detroit in the cellar of that division and do not seem to be able to get out of their own way.

I have a lot of thoughts and reactions to this past week in the NFL and will give some quick hits on the rest of what I am looking at:
•Minshew magic fell short in Nashville, but the jags seem to be a better team than we all thought the were… stay tuned.
•Tom Brady got his first win as a Buccaneer -he finally was able to hook up with Mike Evans and they looked strong against the Panthers.
•Big Ben looks completely recovered from his offseason elbow injury and has the Steelers back in the top of the AFC North, much to my chagrin
•Philadelphia as manhandled by the LA Rams and Carson Wentz has been revealed for the overrated QB that he is. Word to the wise for NFL Franchises… DO NOT draft a division II College QB with the #2 overall pick EVER. Wentz is not what the experts thought he was. That’s why ND State is in Division II of the NCAA, cause they can’t hang with the big boys
•The NY Jets lost to San Francisco 31-13, and that’s even after the 49er lost 1/4 of their starters to injury. Adam Gase will not be a Head Coach in the NFL much longer.
•Josh Allen, unlike Carson Wentz, is the real deal and he is one of the top players that will vie for NFL MVP this year. Shout out to my partner @jongolson and his Bills the way they have been playing. there is a new power in the AFC East, and it isn’t in Foxboro.
•Aaron Rogers is still Aaron Rogers…
•Chicago is 2-0 (what?)
•Arizona is impressive and that entire division is the best in the NFL. that race will go down to the last week of the season and I will enjoy watching Kyler Murray throw to DeAndre Hopkins and running all over the field providing some exciting football.
•Baltimore is still the best team in the AFC North and they picked up where they left off last week against the Browns by decidedly beating the Texans. Bill O’Brien is another guy that may not be a Head Coach in the NFL for long, let alone a GM. Who in their right minds trades DeAndre Hopkins for David Johnson?
•Russell Wilson is on an MVP pace with the Seahawks and he was clutch, but not as clutch as the defense was on that goal-line stand at the end of the game.

One final note… I purposely left the Browns for last. They beat the Bengals 35-30 on Thursday Night Football. I was impressed with Baker’s performance, he seemed more comfortable in the pocket and more confident in his receivers this week than he did last week in the debacle against the Ravens in week one. I am optimistic they will have a better season this year than last year, and I am hoping or improvement week to week. I am ignoring the haters that say it’s the same old browns and looking at improvement in the culture. the defense needs a lot of work, but there are a lot of injuries on the defense and I hope they get those players back soon.

Thanks for Reading

The Sport Nerd

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Thanks for keeping us all up to date on what is going on in the NFL. I am so very happy that the Chiefs won, always happy for a win. Sorry that so many players were hurt.

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I may not follow much on football at the moment except some of what we all talk about the Sports Nerds show, but always glad to see your posts, Scott! Keep it up! :)💖

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very nice writeup! I learned a lot from reading that and I feel like I follow sports very closely. Good job! How do you feel about Newton's performance thus far in NE?

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