My NFL Week 2 Notebook

uploaded 9/16/19

1. Injuries are the one thing NFL teams can’t plan for with total confidence. The “next man up” mentality can work with some positions. But most teams can’t afford expensive QB contingency plans like Philadelphia had the last two years with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.

Pittsburgh has lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season and New Orleans will lose Drew Brees for the next six weeks. With all the notable roster changes, Roethlisberger was the one constant. It’ll be interesting to see how Mason Rudolph handles the reigns. Rudolph wasn’t a highly regarded prospect when he came out Oklahoma State. He got the dreaded “needs the right system” criticism from scouts. 

On the other hand,Teddy Bridgewater was highly regarded. He played well early in his career before a gruesome knee injury derailed him. Sean Payton’s system is perfect for him. He even  passed up a starting job with Miami to re-up as Brees’ backup. As important as Brees is to the Saints’ success, this should be a seamless transition. New Orleans is more balanced on offense, they have good weapons, and a favorable schedule. Brees is expected to return to the team after their week nine bye week.

2. The other thing teams can’t predict is the officiating. After a fairly innocuous opening week, the refs are back in the headlines and again, it’s the Saints as the victims of a bad call. The Saints probably would’ve lost the game to the Rams anyway, but Cameron Jordan’s not-a-fumble-recovery was a game changer. The more the NFL adds rules, the more confusing their sport becomes.

3. Their 27-9 loss to the Rams marked only the third time New Orleans didn’t score a touchdown in Sean Payton’s career (194 games.)

4. The Chargers are doing Charger things again. They had two touchdowns on two consecutive plays negated by penalties. And after getting past those miscues during that same drive, Austin Ekeler fumbled going into the end zone. Oh, and punter turned kicker Ty Long missed two field goal attempts. The Chargers are Sisyphus.

5. What in the world was Kirk Cousins doing on this play? (He threw into quadruple coverage earlier in the game too.) The Vikings should be contenders this season, but Cousins will be the reason they won’t unless he learns to value the football.

6. The Dolphins have been outscored 102-10 in two games at home. That’s the worst two game stretch at any time by a team in NFL history.

7. Miami QBs Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen have combined for 376 yards passing with one touchdown and six interceptions this season. Patrick Mahomes had 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter against Oakland.

8. The Titans/Colts game was delayed because a speaker caught fire after a pyrotechnics malfunction and social media did social media.  

9. But on the great side, Titans tackle and cancer survivor David Quessenberry scored his first career TD.

10. After only missing just seven kicks (XPs and FGs) all of last year, Adam Vinatieri has already missed five in two games.

11. I love that Jags coach Doug Marrone went for two at the end of the game, but I hated the play he called. Gardner Minshew II had momentum on his side. A pass-run option was the best bet against a Texans’ defense that had trouble with it all game. 

12. If the MVP is won in September (which it isn’t) Lamar Jackson is the leader in the clubhouse. He’s thrown for 596 yards with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. Granted, it was against Miami and Arizona, but they’re NFL teams, sorta.