#NFL2021 - Week 2
Welcome to the Week in Review. 15 yards for taunting.
(Thursday Night) Giants 29, WTF 30
If the Jags hadn't already filled the position, the Giants might be considered the heirs to Cleveland's "X gonna X" throne. Because lets be fair: Losing the game on a re-kick because you were offside is totally something the Browns would've done in the past.¹
Taylor "The Tom Brady of Gardner Minshews" Heinicke bounced back from throwing a killer INT deep in WFT territory (which NYG cashed in for a go-ahead FG), leading the team down the field on the next drive to set up the winning kick(s). And he got to do it with his mom, stepdad, aunt and uncle in the house.
Not that that final offsides was the only time WTF shot themselves in the foot with mistakes or missed opportunities: The missed pass to Darius Slayton, the holding call that turned Daniel "Tick Tock, sir" Jones' 58-yard TD run into a 23-yard FG and settling for FGs in general². It all adds up to the G-Mens' fifth-straight 0-2 start (and seventh since their Super Bowl XLVI win).
Though this was game where neither team has covered themselves in glory. The defense that was supposed to be the Ex-Skins' strength has yet to make itself known. The Giants gashed them all night on read option plays (something that does not bode well with Josh Allen, Jameis Winston, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott all looming on the schedule).
I am curious to see how Heinicke will perform vs. teams that don't suck.
- Or like the Jags would also do right now.
- A Jason Garrett offense that bogs down in scoring range? The hell you say?
Saints 7, Panthers 26
Side note: Draft Swingandamiss Marcus Davenport is on IR, eligible to return in Week 5. Who wants to make bets that find that he's "not ready" to return by then?
The Saints were the talk of Week 1, putting the boots to Aaron "In full Cutler Mode" Rodgers and the Packers. A lot of people put money and Fantasy Football cred into them repeating the act vs. the Panthers (and their unsettling "Mixed Reality" giant panther)
None of that (save the panther) carried over to Week 2.
Sam Darnold continues his Jim Plunkett Memorial Redemption Tour, throwing for 305 and 2 TDs. Run CMC added 137 scrimmage yards and a score on 30 touches. And the Panther D utterly shut down the Saints offense. Rapey McCrablegs fell back to Earth HARD: 111 yards passing with 2 INTs. Alvin Kamara got shut down even harder (8 carries, 5 yards). Of course now you're going to have people wondering which Saints team is the "real" Saints - this or week 1.
Because nuance is dead and "Column A/Column B" is never an option in these situations.
Bengals 17, Bears 20
So who had "Week 2" and "Knee Injury" in the "When and why Andy Dalton gets replaced" pool?
Though all Da Bears really needed was for Justin "The Next Next NEXT Great Bears QB" Fields to not shit the bed¹. The Bears defense used four straight Bungle turnovers (which included Roquan Smith's first career TD on a Pick 6) to turn the game from 7-3 to 20-3. Though an ill-timed INT by Fields late in the fourth threatened to flip it right back.
Really, if not for the Red Rifle's injury and Fields getting his first real stretch at The Man, Joe Burrow's second-half meltdown (3INTs on three straight passes. Not "possessions": passes) would be the big story. Joe Mixon also followed up last week's big game with a relative dud (20-69).
And yes, Burrow got pummeled again. (4 sacks, 9 hits)
- 6/13 for 60, 1 INT for a half is a relatively clean bed.
Texans 21, Browns 31
Welp... That was inevitable.
The Texans were hanging in with the favored Browns, right up until Tyrod Taylor (inevitably?) got hurt and Deshaun Watson rookie Davis Mills came off the bench. And almost immediately threw an INT.
Not that the Browns were able to really take advantage, as Baker "he's no Bernie" Mayfield played through an arm injury and Jarvis "He's no ODB¹" Landry hurt his MCL on the Browns' second offensive play.
If the Texans' next game were Sunday or Monday, Taylor probably stood a good chance of playing. Unfortunately for them, they have the Thursday Night game. Which means three days of "Will they activate Deshaun Watson?
No. Not if they have ANY option on the roster, they won't. (ETA: Confirmed)
Rams 27, Colts 24
The story coming out of this game wasn't Darrell Henderson continuing to solidify his place as the Rams' RB1, nor was it Matt Stafford showing he's still got plenty in the tank (at least through two weeks). No, it was Carson Wentz getting injured. Again.
Wentz injured his right ankle late in the game. And later examination showed his left ankle showed damage as well. He's currently listed as "Questionable" for the Titans on Sunday. Jacob Eason (seond year out of Washington) came in in relief and continued the Colts' proud tradition of atrocious backup QB play (2-5 for 25, 1 INT)
Broncos 23, Jaguars 13
Bills 35, Dolphins 0
The Bills dealt with their disappointing Week 1 performance with their traditional treatment: Beating the blowholes off the Dolphins. Knocking Tua Tangyvanilla out of the game after the second series (ribs) helped with that.
Jacoby "The Colts Should've Held On To Me" Brisett is the nominal starter, pending Tua's recovery. Frankly, I think that might be better for the team in the short term. (As you can guess, I am NOT Team Tua)
Patriots 25, Jets 6
I am reluctant to pass judgement on a young QB when his supporting cast is as (as Bomani Jones would say) booty¹ as the J-E-T-S-Nothing's-Changed.
But when one throw four INTs on consecutive possessions, one must take note. Especially when your opposite number (Mac Jones) puts up similar stats without the horrible turnovers.
Not much to say past that. Moving on.
- Seriously, that box score is one solid block of "Who the hell is that?"
Niners 17, Eagles 11
The more I see Jalen Hurts, the more he looks like Atlanta-era Mike Vick. By that I mean he has four go-to moves Screen pass, dump off to the TE, heave it as far as he can, and run. That's not a compliment. The coaching staff isn't doing many favors by calling so many deep shots. I know the rules favor the vertical game, but it does you no good if your QB can't make the connections.
Joe Montana became the GOAT of his generation by working the short and middle game. Just sayin'.
Raiders 26, Steelers 17
Dear Yinzers;
The Raiders are coming off a short week, traveling coast-to-coast to your stadium. And they handled you. Yes, they did most of their damage after TJ Watt went out with an injury. But last I checked, Watt didn't play offense, running back in particular.
This is indicative of a pattern of these last few years: Mostly that you guys have leaned on Rapelisberger ever since you dumped Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The men who were your best offensive players of the last decade. The people you've tried to replace them with (Ju-Ju, James Conner) have been flashes in the pan at best. And it feels like all those offensive moves were made to appease an increasingly ineffective Big Ben.
TL;DR: If this isn't Big Ben's last year in Pittsburgh, people need to be fired, en mass.
Vikings 33, Bucs 48
I will not heap praise on Tampa. I will not say good things about Tom Brady.
Cowboys 20, Chargers 17
Dallas is already in mid-season form. By that I mean "Mid-2020", with a Raven-like spate of injuries (Michael Gallop, Marshawn Lattimore, DeMarcus Lawrence, Donovan Wilson), COVID casualties (regain Zach Martin, lose Randy Gregory) and suspensions (La'el Collins out four weeks for multiple missed drug tests¹). They should be alright, (sing along, kids) as long as Dak Prescott stays healthy! Establishing the run game should help, but at this moment Zeke seems to be of more use in the passing game² (both blocking and being a dump-off target).
Will these personnel losses cost them vs. San Diego Los Angeles?
Almost.
The lack of beef up front, paired with the 'Boys moving Micah Parsons to the edge for much of the game to make up for the loss of Gregory and Lawrence, left Dallas vulnerable over the middle. And the Chargers took advantage time and time gain. And then shot themselves in the foot almost as many times. This defense won't remind anyone of the Ravens or Rams, but when they get healthy, they should be a solid bunch.
Meanwhile, Dallas used a strong rushing attack (Zeke and Tony Pollard combined for 180 yards) to negate Joey Bosa and the Charger pass rush.
But then was that final sequence leading to the winning kick:
The sequence: After Tony Pollard took the ball down to the Charger 38. Rather than run another play or spike the ball or call time out, the Cowboys simply let the clock run. They finally called time out with 00:04 on the clock. Leaving Legatron to try from 56, not a gimmie at the best of times, but he came through.
Mike McCarthy had an explanation: The clock he was watching ":went off the board" And the clock OC Kellen Moore was watching was blocked by a TV camera.
Because there are only two clocks in the entire goddamned stadium, yes? Like you don't know the general situation, even if you don't know the specifics.
That man is going to cost us more than one game directly this year.
And the Cheeseheads laugh...
- Which counts as a failed drug test, per the CBA. Meaning a repeat or an actual failed test means a year's suspension.
- I'm convinced that if Zeke played 30 years ago, he'd have been converted to FB, and he would've fit right in with the Mike Alstotts, Larry Centers and Tommy Vardells of the era.
Titans 33, Seahawks 30 (OT)
It took one and three-quarter games, but Derrick Henry finally showed up.
After going 13-35 in the first half, the defending rushing champion exploded for 147 and 3 TDs in the second half plus. He also added a career-high six catches for 55 yards, because why the hell not?
The Seahawks seemed to run out of gas late. Two late three-and-outs and a missed PAT opened the door for the Titans to take the game to OT.
Sometimes, you just get got.
Fun fact: Henry tied Barry Sanders for the third-most games with at least 150 yards and 2TDs , trailing Ladanian Tomlinson (12) and Jim Brown (13).
(Sunday Night) Chiefs 35, Ravens 36
Clyde Edwards-Helaire picked a bad time for his first career fumble.
His fourth-quarter fumble killed what looked to be a game-winning drive for the Chiefs and allowed the Ravens to hang on for the win.
But everyone wants to talk about a play after that: The Ravens going for it on their own 43, rathr than punt and give the Chiefs one last chance. All I know is if they got stuffed, John Harbaugh would've never lived that down, if he lived to 100. But as it played out, RB8's post-game quote is what will live on.
"He (Harbaugh) asked if we wanted to go for it, I said, `Hell yeah.'"
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