Big-name injuries, a pyrrhic victory and another Atlanta meltdown for the ages — all in an incredible NFL Week 2 recap.
2020 NFL Week 2 Recap
1/16
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 21: Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates a touchdown with Derek Carr #4 during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Saints 24
Raiders 34
The Raiders may indeed get destroyed multiple times at Allegiant Stadium just like the original Death Star but on opening night in Las Vegas, the Silver and Black pulled off what might be the upset of the week. Derek Carr — with a lot of help from Landover, Maryland, native Darren Waller — outplaying Drew Brees on the the 50th anniversary of Monday Night Football? Didn’t see that coming.
Meanwhile, New Orleans has some soul searching to do. Forget about the blown 10-point lead — the 10 penalties for 129 yards and the inability to get the passing game going without Michael Thomas is problematic. On a short week to prepare for the historically hot Packers, the Saints may be looking at a 1-2 start to what is supposed to be a super season.
2/16
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 20: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball against Ja’Whaun Bentley #51 of the New England Patriots in the first quarter at CenturyLink Field on September 20, 2020 in Seattle, Washington.
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Patriots 30
Seahawks 35
This was the oldest head coaching matchup in NFL history (between 68-year-old Bill Belichick and the seemingly much younger 69-year-old Pete Carroll), but it was close enough to give even a young man some grey hair.
It wasn’t exactly Super Bowl XLIX, but Cam Newton was stopped at the goal line to give Russell Wilson his sixth win in eight career games against Newton, and a reasonably compelling closing argument in his case for the best quarterback.
Of course, all of it is rendered trivial because of the tragedy that led to James White being inactive. Condolences to the White family.
3/16
Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram (21) carries the ball for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Houston.
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Ravens 33
Texans 16
Baltimore has won 14 consecutive regular-season games and gone 13 straight regular season games without trailing in the second half.
If the Ravens keep both streaks intact after facing the Chiefs next week, they’re everything I said they are.
4/16
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals scrambles with the football past defensive end Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Washington Football Team 30-15.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Washington 15
Cardinals 30
Ron Rivera was right to be anxious about Kyler Murray. Three total touchdowns and 353 total yards all on his own, while Washington again dug themselves a deep hole (down 20-0 at halftime). Consider this the first of several reminders that the rebuilding effort in Ashburn will not be instant.
5/16
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers rushes the ball past nose tackle Derrick Nnadi #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Chiefs 23
Chargers 20 (OT)
The injury bug blitzed through the NFL so bad this week, Tyrod Taylor got hurt before Sunday’s game even started. No matter what coach Anthony Lynn said during his postgame press conference, if Justin Herbert is capable of going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in his first game as a pro, he should remain the starter.
6/16
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 20: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field after sustaining an injury during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 20, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
49ers 31
Jets 13
On a day filled with brutal injuries, San Francisco had the most pyrrhic victory of them all. Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas all left with injuries after playing on terrible MetLife Stadium turf that brings back memories of the old Veterans Stadium in Philly.
Bosa is feared done for the season with a torn ACL. (Washington fans will be stunned to know Jordan Reed wasn’t among them but scored two touchdowns.) The 49ers’ victory was the most costly win since Thanos.
7/16
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Defensive end Josh Sweat #94 of the Philadelphia Eagles chases after quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at Lincoln Financial Field on September 20, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Rams 37
Eagles 19
This game served as a reminder of why we don’t grade drafts until years down the line.
After the 2017 season, it was widely believed the second pick in the 2016 NFL draft (Carson Wentz) was better than the top pick (Jared Goff). On Sunday, Wentz played like No. 2 — to the point that he was booed in a fanless stadium (the most Philly thing ever, really).
The Eagles are in real trouble, while the Rams look capable of making the NFC West really interesting.
8/16
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 20: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Panthers 17
Bucs 31
A week after earning a historic yet awful distinction, Tom Brady went to another level and did just enough to improve to 4-0 in his career after a Week 1 loss.
Brady’s history also includes struggles in Denver, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares Sunday since the Broncos…
9/16
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers forces a fumble after hitting Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Broncos 21
Steelers 26
…lost their young quarterback, Drew Lock, to a shoulder injury that will sideline him for 2-6 weeks. Jeff Driskel almost led an improbable comeback in Pittsburgh against a strong Steeler defense but Denver has that “competitive-but-not-good-enough-to-actually-win-close-games” kind of vibe.
10/16
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) congratulates Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) after Diggs scored a touchdown, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Bills 31
Dolphins 28
Josh Allen set career highs with 417 yards and four touchdown passes. He became the first Buffalo quarterback to post consecutive 300-yard passing games since Drew Bledsoe in 2002. If Allen can post another big game against Aaron Donald next week — and get the ball to Stefon Diggs with Jalen Ramsey covering him — it might be time to get on the Bills bandwagon.
11/16
Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) tips a ball away from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and it is intercepted by Indianapolis Colts safety Khari Willis (37) during an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Indianapolis.
(AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Vikings 11
Colts 28
Speaking of Diggs, he individually (eight catches for 153 yards and a touchdown) outgained his entire former team Sunday, as the 0-2 Vikings generated just 95 yards through the air in Indianapolis.
Remember how I said in my NFL Preview that Minnesota looks good on paper but will find a way to lose? Well, it’s going to be a long season in Minnesota.
12/16
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 20: Chandon Sullivan #39 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Lions 21
Packers 42
As Green Bay had its first fanless Lambeau Leap, Detroit made NFL history by becoming the first team to blow double-digit leads in four consecutive games. The Lions owe Jim Caldwell an apology.
The Lions fired Jim Caldwell for going 9-7.
Matt Patricia took over and is now 9-24-1.— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 20, 2020
13/16
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 20: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans throws a pass in the first half during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Jaguars 30
Titans 33
Look, I don’t want to read too much into a win over Jacksonville but Ryan Tannehill looks really good. His progression from what he was in Miami to what he’s done in Tennessee is an unexplained phenomenon on par with Atlanta’s breathtaking ability to lose games they’ve seemingly already won. Speaking of which…
Falcons 39
Cowboys 40
This might be worse than 28-3.
Since 1933, Atlanta is the first team in 441 games to score 39 points with no turnovers and lose the game. That’s right. The Falcons invented yet another way to lose in an improbable and damn near impossible fashion. It’s actually kind of impressive.
So was this: Dak Prescott is the first player in NFL history to throw for 400 yards and rush for 3 touchdowns in a game, leading Dallas to 16 points in the final five minutes to give Mike McCarthy his first win and basically saving his job since owner Jerry Jones would probably weigh firing him for an 0-2 start.
15/16
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 20: David Montgomery #32 of the Chicago Bears flips in the air after being hit by Austin Johnson #98 of the New York Giants of the New York Giants at Soldier Field on September 20, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Giants 13
Bears 17
Chicago has to be the worst 2-0 team in the league. Detroit rookie running back D’Andre Swift literally let the game-winning touchdown slip through his fingers and then the Bears nearly choke away a 17-point lead even though the Giants’ best player (Saquon Barkley) left the game early with an injury. The only appropriate result for Chicago’s game in Atlanta next week is a tie after both teams fumble at the end of every overtime possession.
16/16
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 17, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Bengals 30
Browns 35
While a meeting between football wastelands isn’t exactly the ideal way to celebrate the NFL’s 100th birthday, Cleveland-Cincinnati ended up being a thrilling shootout between the No. 1 overall picks from two of the last three NFL Drafts. Baker Mayfield got the win, but Joe Burrow impressed by setting a single-game rookie record with 37 completions on a whopping 61 attempts. If the Bengals ever put a team around him, this dude has the tools to win.
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