NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Week 2)

The NFL’s 103rd season kicked off with a bang. In Week 1, there were plenty of nail-biters. There were three contests decided by one point, a pair of overtime contests and a few upsets along the way.

So here we go again. And this time around, Week 2 concludes with a Monday night doubleheader as the Titans visit Orchard Park and the Vikings travel to Philadelphia.

Thursday, Sept. 15

L.A. Chargers (1-0) at Kansas City (1-0): A season ago, Khalil Mack was still a member of the Bears. He played in the team’s first seven games and totaled six sacks before being lost for the rest of the season. Earlier this year, he was dealt to the Chargers. In last week’s win over the Raiders, he totaled three sacks, four QB hits and a forced fumble.

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Sunday, Sept. 18

Miami (1-0) at Baltimore (1-0): As head coach of the Ravens, John Harbaugh is 8-2 vs. Dolphins dating back to 2008 – his first season with the franchise. Last week, Baltimore snapped a six-game losing streak dating back to 2021 in beating the Jets. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are 9-1 in their last 10 contests after opening 1-7 a year ago.

N.Y. Jets (0-1) at Cleveland (1-0): The year was 1993 and the head coach was Bill Belichick. That was the last season the Browns began a season with two straight victories. Last week, the Browns faced former teammate Baker Mayfield. This Sunday, Cleveland renews acquaintance with one-time division rival Joe Flacco (Ravens).

Washington (1-0) at Detroit (0-1): Commanders’ quarterback Carson Wentz had quite the debut a week ago as Washington rallied to beat the Jaguars. He threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns but was also picked off twice. In 86 regular-season contests with three teams, Wentz has thrown 144 TD passes and committed 87 turnovers.

Indianapolis (0-0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1): For the second straight Sunday, the Colts look to end a losing streak that has plagued them for far too long. The team still hasn’t won a season opener since 2013 after tying the Texans at Houston. This week, the Colts look to beat the Jaguars on the road (1 game at London) for the first time since 2014.

Tampa Bay (1-0) at New Orleans (1-0): The Saints have prevailed in six straight regular-season encounters dating back to 2019. But the Buccaneers came away with a 30-20 victory in the 2020 NFC Divisional Playoffs at New Orleans. Current Saints’ quarterback Jameis Winston has been on both sides of this rivalry the past three years.

Carolina (0-1) at N.Y. Giants (1-0): It’s been a rough stretch for Matt Rhule’s club, which a year ago won its first three games. The Panthers are now a disturbing 2-13 in their last 15 contests. Now the club heads north to face a Giants’ team that rallied to stun the Titans at Nashville. Brian Daboll’s Giants seek their first 2-0 since 2016.

New England (0-1) at Pittsburgh (1-0): Including three playoff meetings – all clashes in the AFC Championship Game – Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick owns a 12-4 record vs. the Steelers dating back to 2001. The last time the Pats lost their first two games was 2001. But New England rebounded to stun the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Atlanta (0-1) at L.A. Rams (0-1): Did the Falcons find a pass rush last week vs. the Saints. In the team’s 27-26 loss, Atlanta racked up four sacks of Jameis Winston. That’s certainly progress as a year ago, Atlanta totaled an NFL-low 18 QB traps in 17 contests. Last week, the Bills sacked Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford seven times.

Seattle (1-0) at San Francisco (0-1): Seahawks’ head coach Pete Carroll and his team has had its way with their rivals from the Bay Area. Last season, Seattle finished 7-10 but swept Kyle Shanahan’s playoff-bound team. Dating back to his club’s victory in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, Carroll owns a gaudy 15-2 record vs. the Niners.

Cincinnati (0-1) at Dallas (0-1): Zac Taylor’s fell in overtime a week ago and now looks to avoid a 0-2 start. The Cowboys won’t have quarterback Dak Prescott. But under Taylor, the Bengals have had their issues against the other conference. Dating back to 2019 and including Super Bowl LVI, Taylor’s club is 2-11-1 vs. NFC teams.

Houston (0-0-1) at Denver (0-1): Last Sunday, the Texans squandered a 20-3 third-quarter lead and wound up selling for a 20-all tie with the rival Indianapolis Colts. The franchise first took the field in 2002 and entered this season having played in 321 regular-season contests (139-182 record). But this was the Texans’ first-ever tie.

Arizona (0-1) at Las Vegas (0-1): Kliff Kingsbury’s club has picked up from where it left off last season. In 2021, the Cardinals were the last team to lose a game (7-0). But the team dropped six of its final 10 games, were rolled by the Rams in the playoffs and fell to the Chiefs last Sunday. It adds up to a 4-8 overall record in their last 12 outings.

Chicago (1-0) at Green Bay (0-1): The Bears have had a rough go of it as of late in this fabled rivalry. You would have to go all the way back to 2007 when the “Monsters of the Midway” last swept their divisional adversaries. Including a loss in the 2010 NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field, the Bears are 5-24 vs. Green Bay since 2008.

Monday, Sept. 19

Tennessee (0-1) at Buffalo (1-0): The Titans have had their way with Buffalo’s defense the past two years. On a Tuesday night at Nashville in 2020, Tennessee rolled to a 42-16 win as the offense scored six touchdowns. Last year on Monday night at Tennessee, Derrick Henry ran for 143 yards and three TDs in a thrilling 34-31 victory.

Minnesota (1-0) at Philadelphia (1-0): Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson (184) and new Eagles’ wideout A.J. Brown (155) finished with the top receiving performances in terms of yards in Week 1. Will Minnesota pressure Jalen Hurts like they did Aaron Rodgers? The Purple Gang racked up four sacks in the win over the Packers.

Jefferson vs. Brown: More REC yards in Week 2? - Powered By PickUp