NFL
By Monte Perez
The NFL expanded its playoff format to14 teams in 2020. Since then, 18 teams have started 0-2. None of them had made the postseason. If that holds true, the Raiders, Bengals, Titans, Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons will all miss out on the playoffs. New York Fans… for the 1st time since September 27, 2009, The Mets, Yankees, Jets, and Giants all won a game on the same day.
5 Things We Learned About Week 2 In The NFL
5) Is the Matt Rhule experiment over in Carolina?
The Panthers signed Rhule to a 7-year $60 million contract. He has compiled a record of 10-25 as their head coach. His offense looks out of sync, his team looks unorganized and uninspired. Baker Mayfield has 380 passing yards in 2 games and is completing 53% of his passes. That is ranked 30th in the NFL behind Trey Lance and Justin Fields, two young quarterbacks. Christian McCaffrey has 135 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards in two games. It will only get worse for this team. Rhule is losing the locker room.
4) Can someone explain what is going on in Denver?
The Denver Broncos started the season, 1-1 but they have looked dysfunctional on offense in both games. Russell Wilson is completing 58% of his passes and has been sacked 5 times in two games. First-year head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, looks lost on the sidelines. He has apologized after each game about clock management, getting plays into his quarterback on time, and burning timeouts. What are the Broncos going to do when they play the teams in their division.
3) What happened to the elite running backs in the NFL?
In 2 games:
- Alvin Kamara has 11 carries for 58 yards.
- Derek Henry has 34 carries for 107 yards.
- Ezekiel Elliott has 25 carries for 105 yards.
- Dalvin Cook has 26 carries for 107 yards.
- Christian McCaffrey has 25 carries for 135 yards.
- Joe Mixon 46 carries 137 yards.
Fantasy football owners are scrambling around to find an elite running back not named Nick Chubb.
2) Is there a quarterback controversy in New York and Dallas?
Joe Flacco threw for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Jets to a come-from-behind victory over the Cleveland Browns,31-30. Cooper Rush was 19-31 for 235 yards and a touchdown pass to lead the Cowboys to their upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. If these two quarterbacks keep winning and playing well, will their head coaches go to Zach Wilson or Dak Prescott when they get healthy.
1) The Dolphins and Eagles have the best WR combo in the NFL:
The NFL has become a vertical passing league and two of the best combinations in football are dominating. Against the Ravens, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both had 11 catches, 2 touchdowns each, and combined for 361 receiving yards in their 42-38 victory. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are going to cause so many match-up problems in the NFC. The Eagles are a run-first offense but both players should have over 85 catches and 20 touchdowns combined. No one wants to play the Dolphins or Eagles.
NFL Power Rankings
#5 Tampa Bay Bucs
#4 Miami Dolphins
#3 Philadelphia Eagles
#2 Buffalo Bills
#1 Kansas City Chiefs
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