NFL Weekly Recap: Week 2

Quarterback injuries shift the balance of power in both conferences; the Packers’ defensive renovations paying early dividends; and did Harbaugh and the Ravens pull a fast one on the League?

Game of the Week: Atlanta Falcons hang on to 24-20 win over Philadelphia Eagles

For the second week to start the season, our Game of the Week came on Sunday Night Football (well done NFL schedulers). As mentioned in the Weekly Pick’ems, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones would need to take over for the Falcons to pull this one out – and on their final drive, they did just that. Just before the two-minute warning, the Falcons trailed by three points, facing a 4th-and-3. They called a play that Jones has broken for big yardage in the past. The Eagles defense, meanwhile, looked mystified as Ryan zipped a quick screen pass to Jones, while 6’5, 305 lb Tackle Jake Matthews sprinted out directly towards their nickel corner – who did his best to stay alive. From there, it took one cut and Jones was doing his Olympic-style-40-yard dash to the finish line, leaving two Eagles DB’s in his dust. With a four-point lead and enough time for a drive, the Falcons defense needed to hold off Carson Wentz and the explosive Eagles offense.

After Jones and the Falcons retook the lead on the big screen pass, the Eagles had two minutes to drive the field and score a game-winning touchdown. Just three plays after having converted a 4th-and-14 on a wild 43-yard pass to Nelson Agholor, the Eagles needed to convert another 4th-and-9 to stay alive. Inside the red-zone with 30 seconds remaining, Wentz found Zach Ertz over the middle who turned upfield to reach for the marker – but was dragged back by Falcons CB Isaiah Oliver, sealing the victory for ATL in dramatic fashion!It was a tale of two halves for Wentz, who looked like a body-double had filled in for him in the first half. In fact, it was career-worst first half in terms of QB-rating – as Wentz was picked off twice, and could have had several more if not for some drops by the Falcons defenders. He looked unsure and indecisive, as if the little QB “clock” in his head wasn’t ticking. Certainly, losing two of his top receivers – Alson Jeffery and Desean Jackson – to injury in the first quarter didn’t help. In any case, aesthetically, it was the worst we’ve seen from Wentz at the professional level.

In the second half, Wentz and the Eagles flipped a switch – like most great players and teams can do – roaring back to a potential early-season road victory. Wentz made several key plays including one for the highlight-reel, in which he masterfully avoided the initial pass rush, stepped up into the pocket and kept his eyes downfield. While in the middle of being tackled from behind, Wentz somehow released a pass just millimeters before his knee hit the ground, converting on a critical 3rd-and-9 in Falcons territory. He finished the drive with a quarterback sneak and the Eagles took their first lead of the game, 20-17.

It was a tale of two halves for Wentz, who looked like a body-double had filled in for him for the first 30 minutes of the game. In fact, it was career-worst first half in terms of QB-rating – as Wentz was picked off twice, and could have had several more if not for some drops by the Falcons defenders. He looked unsure and indecisive, as if the little QB “clock” in his head wasn’t ticking. Certainly, losing two of his top receivers – Alson Jeffery and Desean Jackson – to injury in the first quarter didn’t help, nor did the Eagles’ receivers dropping balls. In any case, aesthetically, it was the worst we’ve seen from Wentz at the professional level.

Runner-Up Game of the Week: Seahawks survive 28-26 over Steelers

Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson showed the unbreakable trust they have in each other, on a 4th-and-1 with exactly two minutes left in the game. The same trust that can sometimes get them in trouble (like deciding to pass on the one-yard line in the Super Bowl, for example). This time, it paid off, as it has so many times in the past. The Seahawks, leading 28-26, could have easily decided to kick a 50-yard field goal to go up by five points. That would have forced Pittsburgh to score a touchdown in a two-minute drill with a backup quarterback. But that’s not how Carroll and Wilson roll. Like two sharks in a pod, when they see an opportunity to stick the knife in and end the game, they’re going for it. If they convert, game over. If they fail, the Steelers have excellent field position and could win the game with a field goal.

Singleback, one receiver, all the big boys in up front. Wilson hands off to RB Chris Carson, the Hawks’ line gets a good push, and they pick up two yards. Game over. The best part about the play was its simplicity. Nothing fancy, nothing cute, just who’s bigger and badder. That’s when the Seahawks are at their best; when they’re not trying to outsmart everyone else, and just playing sound, fundamental, physical football. The Seahawks would do well to revive that message, instead of trying to pretend like they’re the New England Patriots. What got them to back-to-back Super Bowls not too long ago wasn’t being savvier than the next team, it was about punching the next team in the mouth and seeing how they much like it. Most did not.

At the start of this game, it was the Seahawks getting punched in the mouth, as Wilson was sacked three times within the first ten minutes of play. The offense couldn’t get much going until Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury – changing the dynamics of the game. A turnover by Pittsburgh to start the second half shifted momentum to Seattle, who slowly asserted themselves in the third quarter. By the fourth, fatigue set in, and the Steelers defense couldn’t keep up with Wilson’s late-game scrambling.

Steelers backup QB Mason Rudolph played a solid game in relief, finishing with two touchdowns and a pick. His mobility and improvisation seemed to spark the Steelers’ offense that scored 16 points in the second half. Rudolph brought Pittsburgh back to within two points, but wouldn’t get another chance as his defense let the Seahawks bleed out over five minutes on the clock to end the game. For the time being, Rudolph looks to be a competent replacement until Big Ben’s return next season.

Biggest Upset Win: Lions stun favored Chargers, 13-10

Trailing by three inside field goal range, the 14-year veteran Philip Rivers committed a cardinal sin. Facing a 3rd-and-19 with a minute to go in the 4th quarter, the Chargers would have been wise to run the ball or call a high percentage screenplay. Alas, Rivers and the Chargers would let greed overcome reason, and throw caution to the wind. Rivers dropped back and without hesitation flung a pass into double coverage towards one of the league’s best ballhawk corners, Darius Slay, who promptly made the interception in his own endzone. The intended target, Keenan Allen, had no chance as Slay was in position the whole way, something Rivers should have recognized.

Perhaps the reason Rivers felt like he needed to go for it all was because, throughout this game, the kicking on both sides was absolutely horrendous. The Chargers Ty Long missed two makeable field goals, and the Lions Matt Prater missed a field goal and an extra-point. The Chargers’ missed kicks were morale-killers Still, it was an imprudent decision by Rivers that essentially handed the win over to a team that was, at times, asking to be beaten in this game.

Neither offense had a great day, each turning the ball over twice. Lions QB Matthew Stafford struggled, throwing two interceptions in the third quarter. Luckily for him, the Chargers failed to score on either takeaway – fumbling away possession on one, and a missed field goal on the other. Stafford made up for his transgressions by throwing a dart to Kenny Golladay on the game-winning touchdown midway through the 4th quarter. Slay and the defense would take care of the rest.

What We Learned…

I. Quarterback injuries are piling up, claiming two of the league’s elites this week. Roethlisberger is out for the year, while Drew Brees will miss 4-6 weeks with an injured thumb. Perhaps returning just in time to swoop in and save the Saints’ season (assuming they’ll need it). Moreso in the Eastern Conference, these injuries have massive implications on the balance of power in the league. One of the league’s top contenders has been severely handicapped for a month or more, possibly the season if Brees struggles to play with the injured thumb. Roethlisberger’s injury could open the door for Cleveland or a sleeper team to slip into the playoffs, shaking things up. Let’s hope we don’t see too many more injuries to our beloved maestros.

II. The Packers defense is legit, y’all. It’s going to be rough sledding for the NFC if this holds up. They may not be lighting up the scoreboard, but this year the Packers are basically saying, “Hey, were gona keep this game close, and come crunch time, we’ve got one of the best to ever do it leading our offense. How about you?” Staying healthy will be the most important thing for GB, as they’re not the deepest of teams on defense. We’ve seen that the starters can compete with the heavyweights of the NFC, and if all goes well, Green Bay could be looking at a 2006 Saints-like turnaround this season.

III. Did Jon Harbaugh and the Ravens pull a fast one on the league by feigning how they planned to use Lamar Jackson for a whole year? It certainly appears that way. It’s not as if Jackson wasn’t a solid passer before, having thrown 69 touchdowns in college. Sure, accuracy was never his most noticeable quality, as he finished with a 57% completion rate in college, and 58% percent his rookie season. But the way the Ravens used Jackson was as if they thought they had Jamarcus Russell back there, with no other option but to run RPO’s and gimmicks with him.

Now, through two weeks, Jackson is completing an elite-level 71% of his passes, and averaging closer to 10 rushing attempts per game, as opposed to 17 per start last season. Harbaugh definitely has the support of his organization and the savvy it would take to play the long-game, and pull off a far-sighted move like this. If Jackson takes over the league this season with his arm, it will be one of the best jukes from a head coach we’ve seen in recent times.