Week 2 within the NFL wasn’t quick on drama. The Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders upset two Tremendous Bowl favorites within the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, and there have been loads of disappointing quarterback performances.
Listed below are some knee-jerk reactions from the second week of the NFL season:
The Bryce Younger experiment must be over
It’s not amusing. The incompletions, sacks and simply basic hard-to-watch soccer is not entertaining prefer it was throughout Younger’s rookie season because the Panthers imploded earlier than everybody’s eyes. Head coach Dave Canales was introduced in as a result of he was an aggressive offensive-minded coach who might assist reinvent Younger and construct him up right into a top-tier passer.
However by means of two video games, Younger has truly regressed. In Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Chargers, he accomplished practically 70% of his 26 cross makes an attempt, however he solely had 84 yards passing to point out for it. Regardless of Carolina revamping its receiving corps with former Pittsburgh Steeler wideout Diontae Johnson and 2024 first-round decide Xavier Legette, Younger hasn’t thrown a landing this season and he’s been picked off 3 times.
His offensive line nonetheless struggles to offer him a constantly clear pocket, and even when he has one, his receivers wrestle to create separation and get open or Younger will get completely satisfied toes and makes some questionable choices. It’s solely been 18 video games, however it might be time to tug the plug on the Younger experiment and begin over once more with what is going to possible be the No. 1 total decide subsequent yr.
Tua Tagovailoa must do some critical soul-searching
The play from Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Payments during which Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion within the final three years was exhausting to look at, as have been the 2 performs that took him out throughout the 2022 season. One has to marvel at this level if Tagovailoa might use an excellent heart-to-heart from former Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck, who handled related concussion points earlier than retiring early on the age of 29.
Many have been calling for Tagovailoa to retire after Thursday’s sport, and rightfully so. In some unspecified time in the future, his high quality of life after soccer must be put first, and if he can’t clearly prioritize something apart from soccer proper now, somebody must step in and do it for him. Tagovailoa is a gamer, a competitor, and he’s going to try to play till his physique received’t let him anymore.
Nobody desires to see him take one other hit to the top just like the one he took on Thursday, and maybe one of the best factor for the 26-year-old QB could be to take the remainder of the season off, spend time together with his household and reevaluate issues within the offseason.
The Buccaneers are for actual, and the remainder of the NFL must take discover
After giving the Detroit Lions all they may deal with within the playoffs in January (they misplaced 31-23), Tampa Bay convincingly received the rematch on Sunday. Given how the Bucs have seemed of their final 4 video games relationship again to the postseason once they rocked the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 within the wild-card spherical, it’s time for the remainder of the NFL to offer them their due.
Winners of eight of their final 10 video games relationship again to final season, the Bucs have a legit case for being one of many high three or 4 groups within the NFC, and it’s time that individuals begin placing respect on quarterback Baker Mayfield’s identify. By two video games this yr, he’s thrown for 571 yards, 5 touchdowns and only one interception with a 129.1 passer ranking. The times of the Bucs being a straightforward win are over.
The Anthony Richardson hype was a bit untimely
There’s no denying, Richardson had a robust season debut (212 yards passing, two touchdowns, 56 yards dashing, one landing) final week in opposition to the Houston Texans. However in a really winnable Week 2 matchup in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, who began inexperienced backup Malik Willis, Richardson was arguably the rationale Indianapolis misplaced.
He threw three interceptions, fumbled twice and performed like he was nonetheless a rookie (to be honest he performed simply 4 video games as a rookie in 2023.) With Jonathan Taylor dashing for over 100 yards and the protection limiting Inexperienced Bay to only 122 yards passing, the Colts ought to have come away with a win. Sunday’s sport simply proved that lots of people jumped on the Richardson hype prepare means too early.
The 49ers are paying for Brandon Aiyuk’s offseason mood tantrum
Sure, not having All-Professional working again and reigning NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Christian McCaffrey possible performed into the 49ers’ 23-17 loss to the Vikings on Saturday, however so did the truth that begin receiver Brandon Aiyuk was primarily invisible for the second straight week.
After signing his four-year, $120M contract extension every week earlier than the common season began, Aiyuk has been a non-factor in each of the 49ers’ first two video games. He had two receptions for 28 yards within the season opener and 4 catches for 43 yards in opposition to the Vikings.
Had he not thrown a tantrum throughout the offseason and signed his contract extension when it was provided weeks earlier, he might’ve taken some reps with the 49ers first-team offense and never wanted to shake off the rust everybody clearly sees he has.
J.Okay. Dobbins is the steal of the offseason
It seems all Dobbins wanted was a change of surroundings for him to begin reaching his potential. OK, which may be a bit facetious, however one can’t assist however see the stark distinction in what he’s turn out to be in Los Angeles in comparison with his injury-marred tenure in Baltimore.
The 25-year-old working again ran for over 130 yards for the second straight week and scored his second dashing landing, matching the second-most of his profession again in 2022. Dobbins has thrived within the Chargers’ lead again function, and head coach Jim Harbaugh (a Michigan alum) satirically is aware of precisely the right way to get probably the most out of Dobbins, an Ohio State alum.
At this price, a 1,000-yard dashing season isn’t solely doable, however it looks as if a digital certainty for Dobbins, who’s one of many NFL’s main rushers heading into Week 3.
The NFL nonetheless has some explaining to do on behalf of its officers
Two video games, two controversial last-minute wins for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. After followers voiced their frustration on social media in regards to the officiating within the Chiefs’ season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens final week, nothing modified of their Week 2 matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kansas Metropolis gave the impression to be the beneficiary of a number of questionable calls on Sunday, together with a controversial fourth-down defensive cross interference penalty on the Chiefs’ remaining drive that stored the drive going and allowed them to kick the successful discipline aim as time expired. The conspiracy theories are going to begin working rampant if the identical factor occurs subsequent week in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
