All the things was arrange for the Payments and Dolphins to placed on a present. Every group had their respective struggles on protection, together with a pair of explosive offenses to duke it out to realize the early AFC East lead.
However just one group confirmed up for that present, with the Payments accumulating a 31-10 victory to get to 2-0 on the season. The Payments dominated the turnover battle, marched the ball down the sector in a succinct method and put the sport seemingly out of attain earlier than the fourth quarter even started.
What stood out from the victory? Listed below are a number of observations from the Payments’ second victory in simply 5 days.
Joe Brady switches it up in a giant approach in Week 2
The primary recreation of the season is all the time an attention-grabbing one to trace to see what an offense desires to open up with, significantly one with as many choices because the Payments have. That Week 1 recreation plan closely relied on 12 personnel, using Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox on the sector concurrently at a excessive fee. Particularly, within the second half towards the Cardinals, the Payments have been in 12 personnel for over 40 % of their snaps. Nevertheless, it’s simply as essential to see how sticky that Week 1 utilization is and the way the group might pivot within the following recreation.
In Week 2 towards the Dolphins, offensive coordinator Joe Brady ripped 12 personnel out of the sport plan for nearly the whole first half — a whole tendency breaker from how the Payments operated solely 5 days earlier than. Each one of many Payments’ first 24 offensive snaps, penalty performs included, stored the offense out of 12 personnel. The Payments first used Kincaid and Knox on the identical play after they kneeled the ball to get to halftime, however that was the extent of it early on. Maybe it caught the Dolphins barely off guard as a result of it wasn’t what they have been anticipating, or possibly it simply made the Dolphins put together for one thing that finally wasn’t a giant a part of the Payments’ offensive recreation plan till they have been effectively forward. Both approach, the lesson to be taught is that the Payments’ core philosophy is just not rooted in 12 personnel. As an alternative, they use it as a matchup-specific device — simply as they did underneath Brady when he took over in 2023, solely utilizing it on 14.8 % of offensive performs when Kincaid and Knox have been wholesome. Both approach, the flexibility to start the season is spectacular.
The offensive line has been a giant optimistic by means of the primary two weeks
Over their first two video games, the Payments have averaged 32.5 factors, which signifies that they’re clearly doing one thing proper. After all, Allen has performed a big position — extra particularly in Week 1 than towards the Dolphins. However the best way the Payments’ offensive line has begun the 2024 season is spectacular, to the purpose that it’s one in every of their most vital strengths by means of two weeks. One in every of their main points within the Week 1 recreation towards the Cardinals was a handful of pre-snap penalties. However they’ve been large within the precise act of blocking, whether or not within the run recreation or defending Allen.
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Left deal with Dion Dawkins and proper deal with Spencer Brown every picked up proper the place they left off in 2023 with a powerful begin and left guard David Edwards has slot in properly, too. Then, on Thursday, they as soon as once more dominated the road of scrimmage, however this time, they nearly wholly took the pre-snap penalties out of the combo. They have been solely whistled as soon as for a false begin towards the Dolphins. Second-year proper guard O’Cyrus Torrence, who had a handful of penalties towards the Cardinals, went and not using a violation. The Payments additionally stored Allen clear all recreation towards the Dolphins, stopping him from doubtlessly re-injuring his left hand. In spite of everything their investments within the offensive line, the Payments have a rock-solid beginning 5 by means of the primary two video games.
Curtis Samuel once more a distant fourth on the WR depth chart
With the Payments drifting into 11 personnel for nearly the whole first half, it was a greater probability to see the plan for his or her whole room. All 5 receivers have been left off the damage report within the follow week main up, and none of them sustained an damage throughout that first half. The outcomes confirmed a transparent pecking order with rookie Keon Coleman and third-year participant Khalil Shakir approach out forward and veteran Mack Hollins because the clear third. Most surprisingly, Curtis Samuel, to whom the group gave a reasonably sizable offseason contract in free company, was a distant fourth regardless of all of the three-receiver units.
Shakir took all 26 first-half snaps, Coleman had 23, Hollins had 20 and Samuel had solely seven. Two of these seven snaps for Samuel have been on performs that the Payments went and not using a normal operating again, making Samuel the fourth receiver on the sector. When McDermott was requested about Samuel’s low involvement in Week 1 and if it had something to do with the turf toe damage the receiver had in the summertime, McDermott didn’t actually give any credence to it and as a substitute mentioned it was concerning the stream of the sport. The Payments’ 12 personnel utilization gave Samuel a slight cross from Week 1. However after Thursday, all early indications present somebody in additional of a gadgety Isaiah McKenzie position than a excessive snap share versatile receiver.
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Tyler Bass’ upward trajectory will get undercut by a nasty miss
The Payments needed to be optimistic about how kicker Tyler Bass dealt with the start of his season. He transformed on all six of his Week 1 possibilities, put one other 4 extra-point tries on the board towards the Dolphins, and even hit his first 40-plus try of the common season. As the sport was nearing its finish, with the Payments up three touchdowns, they gave Bass as low-pressure a scenario as they may have for his longest try of the younger season. This one was from 45 yards, and simply might have been a jumping-off level for the remainder of the season in any case of his summer season struggles.
The consequence was not what the Payments have been hoping for, to say the least. The kicker missed it badly to the left, not even close to the uprights. It was the kind of miss that, regardless of all his makes to start the 12 months, continues to deliver up the inevitable questions on what occurs in tight video games when the Payments want a giant kick with the sport on the road from that distance and even farther away. Luckily for Bass, the miss didn’t value the group something. However it’s simply one other instance of his up-and-down August, which has seeped into September.
Cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram exploded for 2 interceptions, together with a pick-six. (Jasen Vinlove / Imagn Pictures)
Large image: What to make of the Payments’ fast begin
The Payments might do no flawed towards the Dolphins. Allen was environment friendly, prevented turnover-worthy performs solely but once more, and made some large performs when the group wanted him to. Operating again James Prepare dinner was decisive, explosive and confirmed his full arsenal of expertise as a runner, pass-catcher and even a purpose line again in a three-touchdown day. And full marks to the protection, who, regardless of yet one more debilitating blow to their beginning lineup after they misplaced center linebacker Terrel Bernard within the first quarter to a pectoral damage, plugged Baylon Spector into the lineup and simply stored on going. After all, the Dolphins had moments with operating again De’Von Achane and extensive receiver Tyreek Hill. They’re too speedy of an offense to go with out some large performs. However the extra important level is that the Payments took every thing head-on and dominated the Dolphins, full cease.
Even with a pair of difficult opponents of their approach by means of the primary two video games, the Payments have been mightily spectacular over their final six quarters of motion. It’s nonetheless too early to say whether or not the Payments are forward of schedule primarily based on how they barely scaled again a few of their roster within the offseason. Pretty much as good of a fame because the Dolphins have for his or her offensive firepower, they aren’t as spectacular as a number of the different AFC foes the Payments can be up towards this 12 months. They nonetheless have personnel points they’ll want to beat within the coming weeks, too. Regardless, you need to give the Payments an excessive quantity of credit score to undergo as many modifications and accidents as they’ve and have one of many extra spectacular begins to the NFL season. It’s too early to label them a legit Tremendous Bowl contender simply but, however they’re displaying some encouraging indicators, and that’s all you possibly can ask for from a group that went by means of as a lot of an offseason transition as they did in 2024.
Payments MVP: CB Ja’Marcus Ingram — With respect to Prepare dinner’s three-touchdown night, this could be essentially the most memorable recreation of Ingram’s profession. He had two interceptions, one in every of which returned for a landing to slam the door shut on the Dolphins. It’s a heck of a narrative for the College at Buffalo product.
Payments LVP: Accidents, once more — Add Bernard to the listing of essential defensive accidents suffered inside one month. The offense has remained primarily unscathed by the damage bug that has taken maintain of the Payments’ protection, however the Payments might have to go into Week 3 with out the trio of Matt Milano, Taron Johnson and now Bernard.
Up Subsequent: The Payments get the subsequent two weekends off from recreation motion and can subsequent battle the 0-1 Jacksonville Jaguars at residence on Monday, Sept. 23.
(High picture of James Prepare dinner and Josh Allen: Sam Navarro / Imagn Pictures)
