2018: Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 2

Favorite fact of Week 2: Think the NFL favors offenses? The cumulative passer rating for all quarterbacks in Week 2 was 102.6, a new record for a single week (Gil Brandt). The previous high was 94.8 (Week 10, 2010). 

Five Takeaways

5. Kickers’ woes

They’re the least athletic players on the field, yet arguably some of the most important.

A professional with ONE job… kick the ball through the uprights. And yet the difficulty of this ‘simple’ task continues to rise with each week for these so-called pro kickers.

Sunday was an atrocious display of failed field goal attempts, as there were 19 missed opportunities to put points on the board (2 shy of the all-time mark). A week after missing a FG and a shot to defeat the Steelers, Browns K Zane Gonzalez missed not one… not two… not three… but FOUR attempts (two extra points and two field goals), leading to a loss in New Orleans! Browns fans just can’t make this stuff up. A shame for a franchise trying to turn things around.

As if that wasn’t enough, Minnesota missed a golden opportunity to beat a division rival on the road when rookie K Daniel Carlson failed on all three of his attempts – two in overtime – resulting in a tie in Green Bay.

Honorable mention: Raiders Mike Nugent had an extra point blocked in the second quarter in a one-point loss to the Broncos.

It has me wondering (as if I were playing a video game, i.e. Madden)… should teams just start going for it on fourth down?

4. Trouble rising in the Burgh

Le’Veon Bell holding out. Antonio Brown unhappy, not showing up to Monday’s practice. The Pittsburgh Steelers are spiraling in the wrong direction through the first two weeks of the season. Drama aside, the lack of a defense is a big reason for the early struggles. In their last three games (including the playoff loss to the Jaguars), the Steelers are allowing a whopping 36 points and 385 yards per game to opposing offenses (in the 7 games since losing Ryan Shazier in the middle of last season, they’ve allowed 29 PPG and 361 YPG). It’s not a recipe built for success, having to lean on the offense to win a shootout every week. It’s still early, but with drama mounting and a locker room on the brink of instability, the Steelers could be on the wrong end of a disappointing season.

3. The sunshine state is shining.

The three teams residing in Florida are off to flourishing starts, going a combined 6-0. In the preseason, it was expected that the Jaguars would be a contender in the playoff picture. The Dolphins and Buccaneers? Not so much. In fact, the ESPN preseason power rankings had Miami pegged dead last and Tampa Bay 25^th (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24364276/nfl-power-rankings-32-surprise-players-watch-2018-preseason). 

The sunshine state is off to a surprising start (Fox sports). 

Forget about that! The Bucs’ Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading a resurgence in his 14^th season, throwing for over 400 yards and four scores in each of his first two starts – wins over New Orleans and the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles – while the Dolphins are leaning on efficient quarterback play (the return of Ryan Tannehill) and an opportunistic defense. Meanwhile, Jacksonville is picking up where it left off, fielding one of the league’s best defenses coupled with a promising offense.

Yes we’re only two weeks in, but it looks like the sunshine state is poised to prove the doubters wrong. Kudos to the panel of ‘experts’ that thought otherwise.

2. Pat Mahomes is this year’s Deshaun Watson… but better??

Last season, Texans rookie Deshaun Watson burst onto the scene when he accounted for 17 touchdowns (16 passing) during an incredible 4-week stretch -- before losing his season due to injury. This season, it looks like Mahomes is taking over that reign as the league’s most exciting newcomer (albeit in his second year) to watch. All he’s done in the first two weeks of the season is throw for 10 touchdowns (and no interceptions) – the only quarterback to do that since the 1970 merger (NFLResearch) - in road wins over the Chargers and Steelers. Behind an offense loaded with playmakers, the Chiefs offense is must-watch television with Mahomes under center. Here’s to Andy Reid hoping he will be the signal caller to finally take KC over the top.

Mahomes is the youngest player in NFL history to throw six TDs in a game (Washington Post).

Fun Fact: Alex Smith threw 26 touchdown passes last season for the Chiefs. With three more TD tosses, Mahomes will already be halfway to that mark.

1. The LA Rams are the team to beat

Last season, the LA Rams led the league in scoring (29.9 PPG) but had a defense that ranked 19^th (12^th in scoring defense). This season, the offense is still humming (33.5 PPG). But it’s the defense, with all of its new acquisitions that’s looking like it may be the best unit in the league (allowing just 6.5 PPG). Couple that with their explosive offense (not to mention great special teams) and the Rams are the team to beat, period. If they stay healthy, there’s no reason the NFC title shouldn’t go through them. And remember, this is a team that had a taste of the postseason a year ago. That experience should go a long way in driving them to bigger heights come January.