Winner: Arizona Cardinals
It’s at all times satisfying to see shaky NFL narratives confirmed false shortly after they bubble up, particularly when it considerations a first-round draft choose. The knives had been out for Arizona’s rookie extensive receiver Marvin Harrison Jr fafter his one-catch debut in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in week one. Some assessments had been unkind to say the least: “shockingly sluggish and unsure” was one of many extra mild ones on social media. However some grace for a tough debut was due contemplating how a fierce Payments protection restricted his impression. On Sunday, he put in a redo for the report books as he torched the LA Rams with two touchdowns and 130 yards within the opening quarter, greater than his father gained in any quarter in his Corridor of Fame profession. The spotlight was a 60-yard rating wherein Harrison’s uncooked pace turned tight protection right into a yawning runway. Rams security Kamren Curl remains to be asking for instructions to the closest finish zone.
Loser: Baltimore Ravens
Isaiah Probably can’t catch a break. Per week after a toenail out of bounds dominated out a landing and the possibility of upsetting the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the shoulder of Jack Jones arrived to disrupt Probably’s gorgeous sideline catch. The Las Vegas cornerback’s impolite arrival upset a play that will have given Justin Tucker a makeable subject objective to tie the sport with one second remaining. After dropping two winnable video games, the Ravens at the moment are scratching their heads at 0-2. There is no such thing as a disgrace in dropping to Patrick Mahomes and none, on paper, to the Raiders both. The added context of John Harbaugh’s crew turning a 10-point closing quarter lead right into a 26-23 defeat, a well-known development for a crew who usually wrestle to place opponents away, is the place issues flip bitter for the Ravens. For the reason that begin of the 2022 season Baltimore have blown a double-figure lead seven occasions. Positive, Maxx Crosby helped bulldoze the Raiders again into rivalry, however killer errors, comparable to Brandon Stephens’ go interference giving Las Vegas a gimme landing, imply a tricky journey to Dallas now seems to be like a should win with the Payments and Bengals ready within the wings.
Winner: kickers
Is it simply me or are kickers having fun with a sizzling streak, wrapped in a golden age, inside an apex? In every single place you look 50-yard bombs are thundering by way of the uprights. The numbers are unbelievable: as of Sunday, 136 subject targets had been comprised of 146 makes an attempt at a 93% success price. Final season the success price was 89% over the opening two weeks and 86% throughout the season as an entire – the second-highest hit price after 2013’s 86.5% (the common season success price since 2013 is 84%.)
The numbers solely get you to this point although. The Commanders introduced in Austin Siebert after Cade York’s two misses in week one. First-day jitters? Nope. The brand new child scored each level of Washington’s 21-18 win over the New York Giants, with seven subject targets. Veteran Chris Boswell did one thing related for Pittsburgh, with six from six in week one. The NFL’s elite ft have gone from making 80% of whole subject targets in only one season final century to now forming a military of Justin Tucker clones (though Baltimore’s traditionally correct boot is one in every of solely three kickers to have missed twice this season). Harrison Butker’s game-winning 51-yarder for the Chiefs in opposition to the Bengals neatly tied a double bow on issues. His kick hit the protection web so excessive up it appeared as if it might need challenged Tucker’s 66-yard NFL report. How a lot better can these kickers get?
Loser: Anthony Richardson
Would the Colts have been higher off protecting Gardner Minshew? It feels incorrect to counsel so, contemplating the upside of Anthony Richardson’s ridiculous arm – the overhead view of his 60-yard rating final week must be seen to be believed. However his former backup did have some success final season because the Colts simply missed out on the playoffs, a situation that feels unlikely underneath the prevailing wind in 2024, with the Colts at 0-2. On Sunday Richardson’s excessive stakes fashion delivered the entire danger and not one of the reward with three interceptions in an embarrassing loss to the Packers, who had been led by backup Malik Willis. Whereas QB suitability is at all times going to be questioned after such a defeat, the larger concern for the Colts is how a lot strain their flimsy protection is placing on Richardson. Behind the restricted capability of Willis, Inexperienced Bay’s plan was at all times going to be to run the ball. Loads. But Indy laid right down to such an extent they allowed 164 speeding yards in a single quarter and 261 in whole, lacking 16 tackles within the course of. And this after they gifted 213 speeding yards to the Texans within the first week of the season. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s run protection regressed regardless of figuring out what Inexperienced Bay would do. The Packers simply hogged the ball, chewing up an immense 40 minutes of possession to Indy’s 20, the precise energy-sapping cut up as in opposition to Houston. Richardson or every other quarterback will fail if the protection continues to skew video games so wildly away from the Colts’ management.
Winner: defensive disciples
New Orleans and Minnesota got intimidating defensive assignments on Sunday. The Saints needed to cease a Cowboys crew on a 16-game regular-season dwelling profitable streak, whereas the Vikings had a go to from Kyle Shanahan’s mighty 49ers. Each groups had been enormous underdogs. Each had been pushed to gorgeous wins by way of defensive may. Whereas Derek Carr pitched an MVP innings on one facet of the ball, his defensive counterparts pulled their weight with three sacks and two interceptions. Dak Prescott appeared shot to items as he got here again with nothing from three journeys to the pink zone. The Saints’ most spectacular flip was cornerback Kool-Assist McKinstry holding CeeDee Lamb to 90 yards on 4 catches. The rookie is proving a greater than succesful understudy to Marshon Lattimore.
The Vikings have their very own star in defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He wrote the right script to disrupt Brock Purdy and the 49ers. Flores’s inventive blitz schemes generated seven QB pressures and 6 sacks. Credit score should additionally go to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah whose acquisition of free-agent linebackers Blake Cashman, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel has added chunk this season. They every had one sack whereas Cashman additionally deflected three passes. Purdy’s sincere post-game reward of Flores says all of it: “Your scheme is loopy.”
