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Good morning. Probably the most pessimistic group this previous offseason? Saints followers. The very best-scoring staff by way of two weeks? These Saints, who turned the primary staff for the reason that 2001 Colts to attain 30-plus within the first halves of each their first two video games.
Then once more, the 2001 Colts completed 6-10 as coach Jim Mora squawked, “Playoffs?!” So keep skeptical, New Orleans. At the moment:
📈 Trending 📉: Massive-name receivers present up
One other Sunday, come and gone. And whereas Tom Brady continues to enhance, I can’t say the identical for my fantasy staff(s). The inventory report after Week 2:
Week 2 risers 📈
The subsequent technology of receivers. Yesterday, No. 4 choose Marvin Harrison Jr. dismissed a depressing debut to hold 130 yards and two touchdowns on the Rams (all within the first half), and No. 6 choose Malik Nabers produced 127 yards and a landing towards Washington, although he couldn’t haul in an important fourth-down throw.
The present technology of receivers. DK Metcalf caught 10 passes for 129 yards and a TD within the Seahawks’ extra time street win towards the Patriots. In Baltimore, the Raiders upset the closely favored Ravens by feeding Davante Adams (9 catches, 110 yards and a TD).
Protection-led groups. The three groups with the fewest factors allowed — Chargers, Steelers and Vikings — are undefeated. In Los Angeles, there’s a shift occurring; they’re 2-0 for the primary time in 12 years. In Minnesota, it’s the fearlessness of Brian Flores and his new-look protection. Pittsburgh? The identical story as traditional.
My blood stress. The Bengals want one cease to beat the Chiefs, who’re out of discipline objective vary. They get stated cease. I obtain a “Sure, Bengals win,” sign from my mind. However wait. Yellow flag. Penalty on Cincinnati. Chiefs kick discipline objective. Bengals lose. Not less than there’s the constructive of the Bengals returning to type?
And a minimum of we noticed Cincy CB Cam Taylor-Britt do his greatest Odell Beckham Jr. impression:
Cam Taylor-Britt with an unbelievable one-handed INT 🤯
🎥 @NFLpic.twitter.com/P1iYk1XJ4M
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 15, 2024
Week 2 fallers 📉
Bryce Younger’s confidence, plus any remaining religion within the Panthers, who misplaced their first two video games by a mixed 60 factors. Followers in Charlotte coated their faces with baggage and booed all through. Their quarterback averted throwing downfield, but Dave Canales says they don’t have a QB subject. They’re not fooling anybody.
Wholesome Rams. One week after shedding Puka Nacua, who might be sidelined till Week 9, the 0-2 Rams misplaced one other star receiver. Cooper Kupp injured his ankle within the second quarter and was sporting a strolling boot as he left the locker room. For the Rams, it was an terrible day in Arizona.
Determination-making by Will Levis. I’ll let his coach clarify: “It was dumb. It was the identical actual factor he did final week, and he price us factors within the pink zone, and it’s what it’s. He’s a grownup, and he is aware of higher, and so I used to be actually irritated that he price us three factors … that we most likely wanted.” I don’t blame him (and the Jets received by a single landing):
The Chiefs. They need to be 0-2. Hear me out: They’ve received each video games on account of errors by their opposition within the remaining seconds. First, Lamar Jackson missed an open Zay Flowers and Isaiah Seemingly couldn’t get one foot in bounds. Subsequent, it was a (rightfully known as) move interference on fourth-and-16 in a recreation when the Kansas Metropolis protection bailed out its offense. They’ll’t hold getting away with this!
Nepotism feedback geared toward Klint Kubiak. The son of a profitable NFL head coach will get alternatives due to his dad. Undoubtably. However the 37-year-old Saints OC is an early 2025 head teaching candidate after his motion-heavy, play-action primarily based offense posted 91 factors in two video games. They scored six touchdowns on their first six drives towards the Cowboys. 🤯 Extra on that recreation right here.
Talking of Kubiak and people Saints, over to Dianna:
What Dianna’s Listening to: Jets needed ‘future Corridor of Famer’ Carr
Earlier than the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers within the spring of 2023, the staff’s best choice for a veteran QB was Derek Carr. Members of the group eagerly recruited the previous Raider, expressing their unwavering perception in his skills. At a dinner, head coach Robert Saleh instructed Carr that he noticed the quarterback as a future Corridor of Famer.
Whereas many doubted that assertion, Carr’s stellar efficiency thus far in 2024, together with Sunday towards Mike Zimmer’s formidable Cowboys protection, means that Saleh might need been on to one thing.
Because the first-year OC, Kubiak has injected a brand new stage of dynamism into the staff’s offense, paying homage to the high-powered Sean Payton-Drew Brees years. Pre-snap shifts and play-action passes saved Dallas defenders guessing all through the sport on Sunday.
Head coach Dennis Allen entered the season on the new seat, however below his management the Saints are off to the NFL’s greatest begin by way of two weeks.
Numbers: A handful of telling stats
I like stats. For one, they typically shock: Who leads the NFL in completion proportion and is tied for second within the NFL in passing yards? Raiders QB Gardner Minshew.
Three extra examples:
- Seven sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 16 pressures on Caleb Williams. All got here final evening, as we watched the rookie spend his Sunday night dodging the Texans’ unrelenting move rush. His 23.9 QBR is the NFL’s second-worst, forward of solely Bryce Younger. As Kevin Fishbain writes, it’s everyone’s fault (to an extent).
- Kickers are 35 of 39 on discipline targets of fifty yards or longer. As Mike Sando identified in his Choose Six column, a 90 p.c make price is an unbelievable 20 factors increased than season-long totals have been just lately. We’ll see both main regression, maybe as winter climate nears, or … kickers flourishing indefinitely?
- Because the NFL switched to 14-team playoffs, 32 groups have began 0-2. Solely two made the postseason. That’s unhealthy information for reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, whose Ravens blew a 10-point fourth quarter result in fall to 0-2. As Jeff Zrebiec explains, it was a team-wide collapse in Baltimore. It’s a minimum of as unhealthy for the Colts, who merely don’t appear to be contenders.
Tonight: Falcons-Eagles
At 8:15 p.m. ET tonight (ESPN), we’ll see a brand new WR2 in Philadelphia, as star receiver A.J. Brown will miss the sport with a hamstring damage. Control rookie WR Johnny Wilson, if he performs. You may comply with our stay updates right here. Two notes:
- Can Kirk Cousins flip it round? He’s 3-10 on Monday Evening Soccer, however these three wins got here in his final 4 appearances. Honestly, all that issues is his Achilles.
- As for Philly, they have to cease the Bijan Robinson-led run recreation. There’s precedent: The Steelers held Robinson to three.8 yards per carry in Week 1, and Atlanta couldn’t adapt.
Earlier than we go, can anybody clarify why this referee isn’t on a NFL roster?
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