Tuesday Morning Football: Week 2

NFL Week 2: Takeaways, Notes, & Questions Answered

Sep 21, 2021

From Lamar Jackson’s heroics, to game winning (and losing) field goal kicks, week two in the NFL gave us plenty to talk about.

My biggest takeaway from week 2? Tom Brady looks old.

Just kidding.

I’m not funny, I know.

Let’s move on.

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FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 2:

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens showed us something Sunday night.

With just a minute and thirty-two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Ravens rookie Odafe Oweh viciously ripped the football from Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s grip.

The ball was now loose – and Oweh jumped on it.

Suddenly, the Ravens are back in this game. And you can feel the confidence spewing from Jackson and the Ravens offense as they ran onto the field. A few plays later, the Ravens were then faced with a fourth-and-one with 1:05 left on the clock. Ravens coach John Harbaugh asked his quarterback if he wanted to go for it.

And the rest is history.

Lamar Jackson rushes for two yards to seal the win for the ravens

The Raiders are winning... and I’m slightly intrigued by it.

Let’s give Derek Carr his long-awaited due. Both Carr and John Gruden seem to be aligned and in sync to start the season. And it’s something we haven’t seen since Gruden took over. The Raiders have had their fair share of questionable moments over the past few years – most notably with their draft selections.

Gruden has done a nice job of coaching up his quad to start the year – and Carr has played amazingly well thus far.

Mac Jones has played well enough to give his team a chance to win.

Mac Jones has done exactly what Belichick and the patriots have asked him to do. Jones has clearly bought into the ‘Do Your Job’ mantra in New England.

And he’s clearly doing his.

Yet we’re left wondering why this Patriots offense continues to resemble last season’s lackluster unit.

One would assume that the additions of Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne would help improve this offensive unit. After watching this offense struggle against the Dolphins and the Jets, I am beginning to wonder if Josh McDaniels lack of creativity is part of the problem in New England.

The Carolina Panthers are better than we thought.

When the Panthers beat the Jets in week one, many shrugged it off as a win against a bad team. Over last week we’ve seen everyone praise Jameis Winston and this ‘new-look’ Saints offense. And the Panthers shut them down on Sunday – quite convincingly, too.

Matt Rhule deserves a lot of credit for the job he’s done building a solid program in culture down in Carolina. The hiring of OC Joe Brady still might be one of the more underrated coaching hires over the past few years in the league. DC Phil Snow has also done a remarkable job building this Panthers defense – and his name should be one to write down moving forward.

If Sam Darnold continues this style of play, Joe Brady will be an NFL head coach before his 33rd birthday.

Is Tom Brady striving to get Rob Gronkowski the all-time NFL touchdown receptions record?

Gronk has four touchdowns in the first two games – and Brady is noticeably feeding him the ball in the red-zone.

Now, this could just be a coincidence, but Gronk’s target share; and usage has jolted to start the season.

Brady threw 23 touchdown passes to the great Randy Moss back in 2017. Could we see Brady toss Gronk 24 this season?

TWO-MINUTE DRILL: Week 2 quick hitters

Aaron Rodgers doesn’t give a bleep what any of us think. That attitude might help his team in the long run, too.
The Houston Texans might play themselves out of a top-5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Urban Meyer may not last the season in Jacksonville. And none of us should be surprised.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski needs to get Nick Chubb more touches. Squeaking out a win against this Houston Texans team is not a major accomplishment.
Tom Brady has nine (yes, nine) touchdown passes in the first two games on the 2021 NFL season. (The entire Patriots offense has one)
Zach Wilson will be alright, Jets fans.
After a 7/114/1 game against the Vikings, Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore needs to be on your fantasy roster for the rest of the season.
Lamar Jackson should ask for a new contract – today.
If the Patriots continue to struggle offensively, the job security of OC Josh McDaniels should be questioned.
After the Bears 20-17 win over the Bengals, Matt Nagy declined to comment on who would be starting at quarterback in week 3. That’s progress, right?
If you think Justin Fields’ debut wasn’t good, go rewatch the game tape play-by-play.
Joe Judge’s time in New York could be short lived if the mistakes and losses continue to add up.

ASK ME ANYTHING: NFL WEEK 2

You can send me your questions via twitter @coreyalex or via email at corey@thedraftscout.com.

– How concerned should I be about my Colts?

It all depends on your expectations heading into the season. I personally have not been a huge believer of Carson Wentz, so I never believed the Indianapolis Colts were a Super Bowl caliber team. Maybe not even a playoff team.

– Should the Texans consider tanking for a QB?

I’m not sure. There may not be a quarterback even worth selecting first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. And I personally question whether there will be a guy worth taking in the top-five. If I’m Houston, I play this season out while evaluating the coaching and talent that I have.

– Aren’t you a Patriots fan? Why do you keep bashing the coaches? Belichick is the goat.

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, so of course I’m a fan of the Patriots. But, just like you, I’ve observed questionable decisions by coaching here in New England. We’re now a year removed from allowing the best quarterback in NFL history to walk away, and the questionable coaching is becoming more palpable.

I do not believe that Bill Belichick has abruptly become incompetent as an NFL head coach. I am however beginning to have questions on the coaches surrounding him – predominantly OC Josh McDaniels.

– Outside of Urban Meyer, other NFL coaches at risk of being fired during the 2021 season?

Matt Nagy.

4TH & LONG: Final Thoughts Heading Into Week 3

If the Cleveland Browns can correct a few coaching mishaps, and protect their franchise quarterback more efficiently, they can still win that division. That road will begin Sunday afternoon when the Browns face the Chicago Bears.
I know we’ve praised the Buccaneers defense, and deservedly so. But that secondary is beginning to concern me in a big way. We all knew the secondary wouldn’t be their strength as their front-seven is what’s truly dangerous to opposing offenses.
Obviously, it’s very early in the season – a lot can change and improve. Still worth noting as the season progresses.
Joe Burrow is one of my favorite players to watch. Yes, not just quarterbacks – one of my favorite players to watch in the entire league. I love watching a guy lead both by example and play on the field. Burrow has every single tool you could want in a franchise quarterback.
Will Cincinnati give Burrow the career he deserves? I can’t answer that right now, unfortunately.
Joe Judge has to get more out of this Giants team. The rebuild is coming to an end, and yet the results are the same as they were three seasons ago. This Giants front office spent money in free agency as well as addressing needs via the draft.
Both Daniel Jones and Joe Judge have a lot to prove this season. And things have not started off well in New York.