Around the AFC
Another Tua scare. New season, same Buffalo domination over division rival Miami. The Bills rolled on Thursday night. The scary part, though, came in the second half when Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained another concussion. He’s had several in his pro career and the latest came when he tried to run through a Damar Hamlin tackle attempt. What’s next for the quarterback with a new five-year, $212.4 million contract extension? Hard to say, but his health certainly should take priority.
Deshaun’s mess. Well, Russell Wilson’s trade and extension in Denver will probably never be the worst in NFL history and the club has Deshaun Watson to thank for it. Watson struggled again in Week 1 and was named in yet another lawsuit related to sexual misconduct. His fully guaranteed contract through 2026 makes him nearly impossible to move on from, but they have to consider it anyway at some point, right?
Burrow vs. Mahomes. Doesn’t matter if it’s Week 2, Week 16 or the AFC Championship game: Joe Burrow vs. Patrick Mahomes is always must-see television. Burrow struggled in Week 1 while Mahomes was in his usual form right out of the gate. It’ll be no surprise if both are rolling this weekend.
Around the NFC
Bust already? Carolina QB Bryce Young threw a pick on the first play of the season and it didn’t get much better from there. The Panthers got blown out and the No. 1 overall pick from 2023 looked overmatched. It’s still early and Young is still young, but what happens if the Panthers make no meaningful progress this year? Given what Carolina paid to move up and given what No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud has done in Houston, this has all-time bust potential.
49ers/Vikings. Offenses across football struggled in Week 1, but San Francisco and Minnesota were among those that did not. Brock Purdy and the 49ers put 32 points on the Jets and his backup from 2023, Sam Darnold, threw for 208 yards, two TDs and a pick in his Vikings debut. The teams also have excellent receivers, rugged offensive lines and top-shelf play-callers. Should be a good one.
Is Kirk Cousins OK? The Atlanta quarterback struggled to move and the Falcons ran the ball out of pistol and threw it out of shotgun in their Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh. If that’s as much as they can do with Cousins at quarterback, it’s going to be tough sledding. Hopefully, he gets healthy and plays better as the season goes along. If not, could Michael Penix Jr.’s chance arrive earlier than anticipated?
Game of the Week
Tampa Bay at Detroit
No quarterback had a better Week 1 than Tampa’s Baker Mayfield, who threw for 289 yards and four TDs. Detroit, meanwhile, played in front of an electric home crowd and won in overtime. It sets up a Week 2 matchup between teams with playoff aspirations and chances to build on nice starts. It also pits a pair of No. 1 overall picks in Mayfield (2018) and Jared Goff (2016) who have found success and stability in the middle of their careers.
Lions 30, Buccaneers 27
Lock of the Week
Las Vegas at Baltimore
The Ravens came a toe short, quite literally, of forcing overtime or having a chance to win at Kansas City in Week 1. If there’s an 0-1 team with less to be concerned about than the Ravens, the list is short. Now in Week 2, they get a Raiders team that has to travel all the way across the country and is squarely in the midst of a transition. Get-right games are a rarity in the NFL, but this feels like one for Lamar Jackson (395 offensive yards in Week 1) and company, who are 9.5-point favorites.
Ravens 34, Raiders 17
Upset of the Week
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona
The Cardinals had Buffalo on the ropes early as big road underdogs in Week 1, but Josh Allen and company found a way late. The Rams looked good in Week 1 against Detroit but fell in overtime. A resurgent season from Arizona (-1) and quarterback Kyler Murray this year would be compelling, particularly given all the young talent on their roster, but the Rams are a little further along in their building process and are a good candidate for a bounce-back week.
Rams 24, Cardinals 23
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