Tag: saints

Note: I apologize for not putting out yesterdays’ Week in Review, it has just been a busy few days for me and I unfortunately didn’t find the time to finish it. However, I did get the idea to change up the format of it slightly. Rather than give a complete rundown of everything that happened in every game, from now on, I’ll just give my thoughts and biggest takeaways from each game. It will make the article an easier read, and it’s much better content than simply giving a play-by-play of the game. If you have any thoughts or comments, I’d love to hear them.

Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season was just as exciting as its predecessor, with several more fantastic games with heart-stopping finishes and a plethora of incredible performances by some of the league’s best players. Again, it has only been 2 weeks, so I’m trying to keep overreactions to a minimum, but we are definitely starting to get a good idea about what so many teams are capable of. Let’s stack up the teams 1-32 for the second time this season:

1 – Buccaneers (2-0)

Yes, the Bucs are still the best team in football, but they are certainly not without some concerns through two weeks. I have now seen two offenses, albeit good ones, move the ball at will against this defense that is supposed to be impenetrable. Moreover, those two offenses didn’t have nearly as good of games against their other opponents so far this season. Atlanta scored just 6 on the Eagles, but they were giving Tampa fits for a large part of Sundays game. And the stacked Cowboys offense that almost beat the Buccaneers put up just 20 on the Chargers this week. I have zero doubts whatsoever that this problem will solve itself, but even if it doesn’t, the Bucs are playing so well offensively that it doesn’t even matter. Tom Brady is playing like an MVP right now, tossing 5 touchdowns on Sunday to bring his total to 9 touchdowns in his first 2 games. Even if you can move the ball on this team, good luck stopping them when #12 has the ball.

2 – Rams (2-0) 1

Don’t let Sunday’s final score fool you. The Rams really were the better team for the majority of the game against the Colts. One of the weirdest special teams gaffes I have ever seen put Indy right back in it, but it only took 2 minutes for the Rams to regain the lead. One late FG later and an unfortunate injury to Colts QB Carson Wentz and LA was 2-0. Now, I know it wasn’t the prettiest win, but the Rams won this game due to their explosive-when-necessary offense and their lockdown defense. Their special teams is usually good enough to complete that trifecta, but not this week. That being said, it’s still a very good formula that has this team in a great position early in the season. This Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers will tell us just how good of a position that is.

3 – Chiefs (1-1) 1

I understand that the Chiefs lost on Sunday, but quite frankly, I just don’t care too much. However, I still have a massive problem with this team. Their offense looked absolutely sensational despite a lacking running game, but their defense was just dreadful. It doesn’t matter how good Patrick Mahomes is, he can’t win every shootout (especially if he throws bad interceptions like the one he had in the 3rd quarter, the first in September of his career) if his defense gives up 481 yards. The Ravens running game simply gashed this team all night long, and Lamar Jackson had whatever he wanted on every zone read he ran. I’d honestly say the Chiefs beat themselves more than the Ravens did. Between a bad pick, an incompetent defensive performance, a blown 11 point 4th quarter lead, and an inopportune fumble by RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC couldn’t get out of their own way. And still, if not for that fumble, they would have won the game. This team will be just fine. Spare me your overreactions.

4 – Browns (1-1)

It took a short while, but once this team got going on Sunday, there was no slowing them down. The only moment of concern for me was when QB Baker Mayfield hurt himself trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception. Luckily, he was able to shake it off and come back in to help lead his team to victory. It was another special showing from this ground attack, racking up 156 yards rushing, highlighted by 95 yards and a score on just 11 carries from Nick Chubb. It was also a breakout game of sorts for rookie Demetric Felton, who was the team’s leading receiver with 2 catches for 51 yards and a very nifty TD. Felton will need to continue to show out as Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham are dealing with injury problems. In my eyes, this team could beat you with no WRs at all. As long as that offensive line is doing their thing, not many teams can stop them.

5 – Cardinals (2-0) 1

While I expected a lot more out of Arizona’s defense on Sunday, their offense was jaw-dropping levels of electric, and that’s all I needed to see. Kyler Murray is still playing like an MVP candidate with 400 yards and 3 touchdowns on 81% completion, and everyone is getting involved on that side of the ball. This week’s breakout star was rookie WR Rondale Moore, who had a whopping 114 yards and a long TD on 7 catches. Murray was virtually flawless outside of 2 bad looking INTs, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It wasn’t the best day for the defense which feasted in Week 1, but I’ll give credit where it’s due to the Vikings for putting up a great fight. The Cards would have a 1 in the loss column if Minnesota kickers weren’t cursed, but as it stands, they are one of the unbeatens. This team has an insane amount of potential. We’ll see if it’s realized.

6 – 49ers (2-0) 2

Sunday’s game was anything but pretty, but the Niners still did their job and got a convincing win. There was nothing really of note, other than the continuing trend of injuries. This week, it was the RBs that got decimated, as Elijah Mitchell banged up his shoulder and Trey Sermon suffered a concussion on a whopping hit on his first professional carry. Other than that, it was a solid day at the office. San Francisco went on long drives thanks to an efficient offense, and dominated time of possession. The defense also had a much better outing than Week 1. It might take a short while, but this team will figure out its moving parts and be a real contender in the long run.

7 – Raiders (2-0) 2

I’d say the Raiders have been the most impressive team in the NFL through 2 weeks. And I don’t think they’re getting the respect they deserve. Derek Carr had another spectacular game against a very good Steelers defense, throwing for 382 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. The defense also did its thing once again, clutching up when necessary to help seal the win. I just really like what this team has going on all across the board. I don’t know if this success will have any longevity, especially in a very tough division, but there is nothing to not like about Vegas. Once RB Josh Jacobs gets healthy, this will be one of the most dynamic offenses in football. It’s already the best passing offense through Week 2. How long will it last? Only time will tell.

8 – Bills (1-1) 2

Buffalo bounced back in a huge way on Sunday, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt, considering the Dolphins were playing a backup QB for almost the entire game. Moreover, it wasn’t exactly the prettiest offensive showing. Josh Allen had just 179 yards and 2 TDs as well as a pick on just 52% completion. I know I said the Dolphins defense was good, but those aren’t very good numbers. I think I’ll have a better idea about this team after seeing how they perform against an apparently porous Washington defense this weekend. Until then, this is the highest I can put the Bills.

9 – Ravens (1-1) 4

I acknowledge that Baltimore had one of the best wins of the young season on Sunday night, but as I keep saying, I refuse to overreact to things. The Ravens did not deserve to win that game, but they definitely did what they had to do to come out on top. They exploited the Chiefs run defense all game long, and the gutsiest call of the year thus far, Lamar Jackson’s 4th down run, put the game on ice. It was Lamar’s night, as he had 346 total yards and 3 total touchdowns, including 107 and 2 scores on the ground. He more than atoned for two very ugly first quarter INTs. Even still, I saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense tear this defense into pieces for the whole game, and if it wasn’t for a late fumble, the Ravens would have lost this game. I also don’t think that the entire offense can be on Lamar for the whole year, considering the thin RB room .I can be impressed with what I saw and also acknowledge the truth. This was a good win for a team that needed it, but they have to show me more down the road for them to be bumped up.

10 – Seahawks (1-1) 5

I have no idea what happened to this team last week. They had everything, and I mean everything go their way from start to finish. They were spoon-fed a win, but took the spoon and threw it in the trash. Russell Wilson continued to do incredible things throwing the football, leading Seattle to a 14 point 4th quarter lead, just for it to evaporate in their hands. They could have lost the game in regulation if it wasn’t for a very poor overturned touchdown. And in overtime, they got away with what should have been the game-losing safety, and still lost. It just boggles my mind. This defense, which looked promising in Week 1, was torn apart by Derrick Henry and the Titans offense, which did approximately nothing last week. It didn’t matter how good their own offense was because the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. This is the Seattle I expected to see in November, not Week 2. It could be a long season.

11 – Broncos (2-0) 1

Has there been a team more generally solid than the Broncos so far this season? I know they have played two very bad teams, but this team hasn’t pulled their punches, and has just played very good football. Denver currently leads the NFL in yardage differential, and they absolutely deserve to be 2-0. Teddy Bridgewater has been very efficient at QB, making no mistakes and doing his thing. Teddy had a whopping 328 yards and 2 TDs on 76% completion. It helped that WR Courtland Sutton had a career day, catching 9 passes for 159 yards. The defense has also been very good, especially in the secondary. The injury to DE Bradley Chubb is a concern, but this roster is deep enough to make up for it. I want to see this team play a real contender before jumping to any conclusions, but I have really liked what I have seen from Denver so far in 2021.

12 – Packers (1-1) 5

After a “convincing” MNF win, the media would have you believe that the Pack are back. Yes, it was a nice win, but was it really? I saw the Lions move the ball up and down on this defense with ease in the first half. I saw Jared Goff dotting up this supposedly good secondary to the tune of a 17-14 halftime lead. If the weather held up, maybe the Lions would have been more secure with the ball in the second half and it would have been a closer game. I recognize that the Packers offense was nothing short of awesome, as Aaron Rodgers returned to form with 4 touchdowns with RB Aaron Jones accounting for 4 scores of his own. But that shouldn’t come as a shock considering how bad this Lions defense is. So, what I saw from Green Bay was just as much, if not less of what I expected. They have to continue to prove to me that they are as good as they say.

13 – Cowboys (1-1) 5

Did the Cowboys win on Sunday, or did the Chargers beat themselves? You can be the judge, but I know where I stand. Dallas definitely played a nice enough game, but they did not deserve to win. I will admit that I was impressed with their defensive performance. They had 2 nice INTs, and their pass rush was good enough to make Justin Herbert visibly uncomfortable. Offensively, I wasn’t sure what to make of them though. Dak Prescott was fairly average by his standards, but he got a huge boost from backup RB Tony Pollard, who might have honestly won himself the starting gig. Pollard ran for 109 yards and a score on 13 carries as the Chargers had no intention of stopping him. Extremely poor clock management almost took this game to OT, but K Greg Zuerlein nailed a 56-yarder at the horn to walk it off. The game should not have even gotten to that point, but I’ll get into that below with the Bolts.

14 – Chargers (1-1) 7

The Chargers are this week’s biggest losers, and for good reason. This team just cannot get out of their own way. It has been the story for their entire existence, and it is the story today. The offense was fine; Justin Herbert threw for 338 yards and a touchdown, and despite two INTs, they still had every opportunity to win it. So, why didn’t they? Penalties. A disgusting amount of them. LA was penalized 12 times on Sunday for 99 yards, and 2 of those penalties negated touchdowns. They were also both questionable calls, but even still, you can’t get called for 12 flags and win a game. This team is the most penalized one in all of football through 2 weeks. Penalties are the sign of poor coaching, so first-year man Brandon Staley better get his guys together. This team is too talented to lose games like that.

15 – Saints (1-1) 4

No team had a bigger dropoff in terms of their performance from Week 1 to Week 2 than the Saints, and I honestly don’t know who or what to blame. But New Orleans’ performance on Sunday was arguably the worst offensive showing of the year thus far. This team amassed a pitiful 128 total yards with only 48 on the ground despite having Alvin Kamara in the backfield. 2 interceptions from Jameis Winston didn’t help either. The worst part of the game might have been the 11 penalties committed for 115 yards. As I said above, you just cannot do that, especially if you have as much talent as the Saints do. The defense was equally bad, giving up 383 total yards and allowing the Panthers to have the ball for 38:32. It was simply an inexplicable performance on both sides of the football, and one that makes no sense after last week’s thrashing of the Packers in which they were so dominant. Up next is a tough New England team, and trying to predict how they’ll fare is essentially a coinflip.

16 – Patriots (1-1) 1

I like this team, but they have just been so boring to start the season. Yes, they should be 2-0, but they haven’t exactly played the best teams. They should have beat Miami, and the Jets are the definition of abysmal. So, what to make of the Patriots? As of right now, I’m not too sure. They’re a solid team all around with a very good defense, but against truly elite teams, I’m not sure if they’ll be up to the task. Only time will tell in that regard, but for now, this is the only place I can put the Pats: the middle of the pack.

17 – Titans (1-1) 5

As I mentioned above, the Titans had no business winning this game. Everything was going against them. Their secondary was being torn apart all game long. WR Julio Jones had an incredible TD grab called back despite getting both feet down in bounds. Seattle had every answer for a comeback attempt. But this team did not give up, and all thanks have to go to Derrick Henry. The star RB was truly a King on Sunday, and I believe his 60 yard touchdown in the 4th quarter is the reason this team won. It was the perfect answer to a long Seattle touchdown, and got the Titans right back in the game with plenty of time left to tie it up. With 29 seconds left, that’s just what he did, and the offense did what it had to do to win the game in OT. It was a monster day on the statsheet, as Ryan Tannehill threw for 347 yards, 128 of which going to Julio Jones. But the star was King Henry, who had an incredible 182 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 35 carries. Henry also added 55 yards on 6 catches. It was not a perfect performance by any means, but this is what the Titans identity is. They have the ability to win shootouts if their opposing defense isn’t good enough to stop them. I’m not the biggest fan of that formula, but when it’s on full display like this, it’s pretty awesome to watch.

18 – Steelers (1-1) 2

This team is the definition of meh. All of the problems that have been abundantly apparent dating back to last year are still crystal clear, and while the defense has been able to bail the offense out in the past, that might not be the case anymore. The Steelers had a measly 39 yards on the ground, and the defense was torn apart by the Raiders prolific passing attack. Moreover, injuries to star DE T.J. Watt and CB Joe Haden are major causes for concern. This defense is the only thing that makes this team capable of winning games, and if it’s banged up, then it could be rough sledding. I just don’t have any faith in this team to do anything substantial.

19 – Panthers (2-0) 3

Carolina had one of the more dominant wins of Week 2, but again, I’m trying not to overreact too much. I recognize that this team still has a lot of moving parts, but they’re slowly being figured out, and the end result has looked really good thus far. The offense has been great with Sam Darnold at QB, and that young defense has been making play after play. I want to give this team a little more respect, but I need to see them put together more elite performances against the better teams on their schedule before I do so. That being said, I am continuing to love what I see from the Panthers.

20 – Dolphins (1-1) 6

I’m just gonna be frank here: the Dolphins should have already moved on from Tua Tagovailoa. 2020’s #5 overall pick has done nothing of note in his young career, and now, he’s injured again. This one looked serious, as he had to be carted off after taking a monster hit early in the game. The diagnosis is fractured ribs, so now the team will be led by Jacoby Brissett for a bit. Yikes. It’s a QB-driven league, and the Dolphins are too talented to be held back by a lack of talent at that position. Just admit you made a mistake and remedy it. That is, if it’s not too late.

21 – Washington (1-1) 1

Washington had one of the wilder wins of Week 2, but it wasn’t a very sharp or convincing one. Once again, the “vaunted” defense was exposed and gashed all game long. Daniel Jones was tearing it up, both throwing the ball and running it, which is a statement that should never be said in any context. Still, the offense looked good enough to win the game entirely thanks to the play of Taylor Heinicke. The backup QB looked really good in just his 3rd career start, throwing for 336 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a majestic throw the back of the endzone to take the lead late in the 4th quarter. After a late defensive stop, he did throw a bad interception that should have lost the game, but I blame that more on the coaching than him. You need to run the ball in that scenario. What is this, Pop Warner? Heinicke also tended to miss his targets a little high, but his WRs were able to make plays all game long to make up for that. Terry McLaurin had another special showing, catching 11 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. It was nice to see this offense with some juice, but I still have 2 major problems with this team. Firstly, the defense has not been playing even close to the level that is expected of them. Secondly, the kicking game is a problem. Dustin Hopkins missed the game winner, but was bailed out by an offsides call, and while he made the retry, he barely made it. These are very, very important aspects to the game that need to be sured up if this team wants to go where they think they can.

22 – Colts (0-2) 3

I almost feel bad for this team. I feel like they should be so, so much better than they actually are. I’m not even sure what’s holding them back. Is it poor offensive play? Maybe. They didn’t have the best Week 1, but on Sunday, they did move the ball nicely against a very good Rams defense. Is it a bad defense? Perhaps. It’s a usually solid group that hasn’t played up to their potential this season. Now, QB Carson Wentz has sprains in both of his ankles (don’t ask me how that happens), and even if he ends up playing in the coming weeks, he won’t be nearly as effective. The Colts have the benefit of playing in a dreadful division, which is their only saving grace at this point. I think they can figure it out, but I’m starting to have my doubts.

23 – Eagles (1-1) 2

That was not great, Philly. But, in your defense, it could have been a lot worse. I honestly think the Eagles put up a good fight on Sunday, at least offensively. They outgained the 49ers by 22 yards, didn’t turn the ball over once, and Jalen Hurts had himself a very nice game. But, this defense was gashed on very long drives, and it ended up being the team’s downfall. Trust me, my expectations for this team are not high by any stretch, but based on last week’s defensive performance, I thought they’d at least be slightly better than they were. In any case, what I saw from the Eagles this week was just what I expected. They’re a talented young squad, but they simply aren’t ready to beat good teams.

24 – Vikings (0-2) 1

This is another team I feel really bad for. The Vikings really have no business being 0-2. This team should be 2-0 if it wasn’t for their own mistakes. It was Dalvin Cook’s OT fumble (which could have easily been ruled down) and Greg Joseph’s missed FG on Sunday that have dug this team’s winless hole. Still, I like what I’ve seen from this team. It was another prolific offensive showing, as Kirk Cousins threw for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns and Dalvin Cook ran for a massive 131 yards on 22 carries. But the tale as old as time stood true once again, as the defense couldn’t stop the Cardinals in any capacity. Even though they put up 419 yards of their own, Minnesota gave up 474 yards of offense and lost the time of possession battle. Even forcing 2 turnovers wasn’t enough to help them win. I just feel like this is going to be the story of the season for the Vikings, and it’s just unfortunate to watch.

25 – Bears (1-1) 1

This team is still not very good, but there’s officially promise in Chicago: Justin Fields will be the starting QB for this Sunday’s game against the Browns. Fields was thrusted into action this week after Andy Dalton got hurt, and didn’t look great, but did what he had to do to lead his team to victory. Now, he’ll get a full week of practice with the starters and a playbook that is hopefully tailored to him. The Bears have stated that Dalton will be the starter once he’s healthy again, but Justin has a golden opportunity to shut that down if he performs well in these next few weeks. I’m really hoping he does just that.

26 – Bengals (1-1) 2

That was uglier than a Skyline chili bowl. I haven’t the slightest idea what happened to this team from last week to this one, but what I saw on Sunday was exactly what I expected out of them heading into the season. They struggled to move the ball thanks to a poor performance from their offensive line, and their subpar defense forgot to show up, even against a backup QB. The worst part of the game was QB Joe Burrow, who threw 3 interceptions on 3 consecutive passes in the 4th quarter, one of which being returned for a touchdown. It was just a 7-point game when he threw the first pick, but when it was all said and done, it was a 17-point deficit. Cincy did have a late comeback attempt, but it was all for not. It was a vintage Bengals performance, and I’m expecting to see plenty more during the rest of the season.

27 – Giants (0-2)

Man. This team is really something else. Don’t get me wrong, their offense looked plenty good on Thursday night, even with a dreadful offensive line. But their defense was torn apart once again, this time by a backup QB in his 3rd ever professional start. Moreover, this team beat themselves on Thursday. They were gifted a victory and were delighted to find a gift receipt in the box. DT Dexter Lawrence’s offsides on the missed game-winning FG attempt gave Washington another shot, and they didn’t miss it the second time. Even when the Giants are in a perfect position to do something good, they find a way to screw it up. I better get used to saying that for the next 16 weeks.

28 – Lions (0-2)

Detroit is a very bad football team, but I think there have been some bright spots early in the season. For one, they have certainly been competitive. They’ve given the 49ers and Packers fits thanks to a feisty attitude and an unwillingness to go down easy. Their offense has been a pleasant surprise, as Jared Goff hasn’t played bad in his first two games with the team. RB D’Andre Swift has been their best player, and it’s largely thanks to rather good offensive line play. So, unlike many other really bad teams, there are things to build around in Detroit. The only question is whether or not that building will take place.

29 – Texans (1-1)

Things are simply getting worse in Houston. QB Tyrod Taylor, who looked very servicable in starting action, suffered a hamstring injury on a TD run on Sunday, and is now on IR. Now, the Texans turn to the 3rd QB on the roster, rookie Davis Mills out of Stanford. Mills didn’t exactly look promising in game action on Sunday, and on a short week, his first start this Thursday might not be pretty. The QB situation was already bad enough. Maybe this is the football gods’ way of punishing the Texans for the Deshaun Watson situation.

30 – Falcons (0-2) 1

The Falcons still did not look great on Sunday, but at the very least, they delivered on the one thing I knew they’d be good for. Their talented offense finally decided to show up, and they were able to make the game interesting for a while. The defense still couldn’t stop a nosebleed, but they had every answer for Tampa on the other side of the ball. That ran out very quickly in the 4th quarter, though, as Matt Ryan threw two pick 6s in less than 4 minutes to seal the loss. But, maybe against some poor defenses, this team can do enough to win a few games, just as I expected.

31 – Jets (0-2) 1

Bad. Horrible. Awful. Atrocious. Abysmal. Abhorrent. Other synonyms. What else can be said about this team. The decision to draft Zach Wilson is continuing to look like the mistake of all mistakes, as the rookie threw 4 interceptions on Sunday, 3 of which came in his first 5 passing attempts. Their defense was a non-factor as well. I simply don’t understand how you can allow yourself to be so bad. This team genuinely might not win a game this season.

32 – Jaguars (0-2)

It’s still extremely rough sledding in Jacksonville with approximately no upsides. Trevor Lawrence looked poor in his second career start, throwing for just 118 yards and a touchdown to go along with 2 INTs on just 42% completion. He now has just as many picks as Zach Wilson through two games. The rest of the offense accounted for absolutely nothing, and their defense was torn apart by the Broncos from start to finish. I’m honestly not sure if we’ll see any performances as bad as this one from the Jags this season, but it wouldn’t surprise me. This is just pitiful.

All stats taken from ESPN.

After only one week of football, we’ve learned quite a lot about so many teams in the league. It’s hard to gauge how a team will do or how good or bad they truly are after just one game, but the show must go on. Ranking the league after Week 1 is a volatile task, so don’t expect many of these teams to remain where they are at on this week’s list, and don’t get too mad at me if you vehemently disagree with something. It’s only Week 1. It’s bound to change eventually. With that being said, let’s stack up the teams 1-32 for the first time this season:

1 – Buccaneers (1-0)

Just get used to this. While the Buccaneers didn’t play their best game on opening night against Dallas, they were pretty damn close. A few drops, sloppy turnovers, and mistakes kept the Cowboys in the game much longer than necessary, but Brady and co. did exactly what they needed to do to emerge victorious. It was honestly one of the best performances I’ve seen from Brady in a long time, and if he can play like that all year, he could put together an MVP campaign. All of Tampa’s issues from last Thursday will work themselves out over the course of the season, and they will be fine. This is still very much the best team in football, and they either have to fall apart or someone has to knock them off the pedestal for them to have a different spot on this list.

2 – Chiefs (1-0)

It took a patented Patrick Mahomes comeback to get the W on Sunday, but the Chiefs still looked pretty good. I’ll give them a pass for struggling, as they were playing one of the NFL’s best teams that matches up better than almost anybody else against them. And still, they did what they had to do late to get to 1-0. This remains the most unstoppable offense in football, and while I think their defense could use some help, they will win most of their games as long as they have Mahomes under center. It also helped having the electric Arrowhead crowd behind them once again.

3 – Rams (1-0)

As I said before, the Matthew Stafford era in LA could not have gotten off to a better start. The shiny new QB threw for a career-best 156.1 passer rating on Sunday night, and this team looked like it had a new energy that I’ve never seen them have before. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, and their defense looks just as sharp as ever. I always thought this was the team in the NFC best suited to knock off the Buccaneers, and Week 1 definitely reinforced that. Playing in the NFC West is extremely tough, but I really do think this will be a top 2 team in the conference for this entire season.

4 – Browns (0-1)

Despite the loss on Sunday, Cleveland impressed me more than almost any other team this week. They ran circles around Kansas City all game long, Baker Mayfield looked very sharp throwing the football (with the exception of an errant INT to lose the game), and if it wasn’t for a dropped snap on a punt, they probably would have won. It’s impossible to stop those inevitable Mahomes-Hill linkups, but other than that, I thought this defense looked very sharp. This was the most difficult opening test they could have had, and they won’t face an offense that good for the rest of the season, so I have no doubts about that side of the ball in Cleveland. I still really, really like this roster, and in an apparently weak division, the Browns’ dreams may not be too far out of reach.

5 – Seahawks (1-0)

September Russell Wilson is back in a huge way, and it was quite a treat to watch. The 10th-year QB was diming all game long in Indy against a very good defense, making every throw look easy. The rest of his offense showed up in a huge way too, especially WR Tyler Lockett, who made 2 great touchdown catches. The defense, which was a rather big question mark, shut down a solid Colts offense, which is a very good sign in an extremely talented division. I don’t want to be fooled once again by how dominant this team is early in the season, but I have to give credit where credit is due at the moment. I’ll just try not to drink too much of the Kool-Aid.

6 – Cardinals (1-0)

Simply put, the Cardinals had one of the most impressive wins of Week 1. Going all the way out east to take on a Titans team who was favored in the game and has plenty of playoff hopes and expectations of their own, Arizona absolutely steamrolled their way to a 38-13 victory. QB Kyler Murray put on one of the performances of the week with 5 total touchdowns (4 passing and 1 rushing), including some incredible throws all over the field. The revamped defense shut down one of last year’s most potent offenses, including the reigning OPOY, RB Derrick Henry. You need to be elite on both sides of the ball to contend not only in this division, but in this conference. If the Cards’ opener was any indication, they might have what it takes to do just that.

7 – Chargers (1-0)

I spent all of last season waiting for this team to realize their potential. After a fantastic offseason, I think they’re finally ready to do so. Not only was Justin Herbert sensational throwing the football, but his revamped offensive line did a perfect job protecting him from arguably the best defensive line in football. First-round pick LT Rashawn Slater didn’t allow Washington DE Chase Young, a DPOY hopeful, to do a single thing in Sunday’s game. And while it was hard for the offense to move the ball consistently on that great defense, they always stepped up and made the plays to secure a victory, to the tune of 14/18 3rd down conversions. That’s the mark of any good team. This is a playoff team as long as they stay out of their own way. Sadly, I don’t put anything past the Chargers in that regard.

8 – 49ers (1-0)

The 49ers would probably be higher on this list if they actually closed things out on Sunday in Detroit, but even still, this team looked very good in Week 1. Yes, they were playing one of the worst teams in the NFL, but they didn’t pull any punches and bulldozed the Lions all game long in every facet. The passing game was on fire, in large part thanks to a great game from WR Deebo Samuel. Despite a season-ending injury for RB Raheem Mostert, the running game was moving along seamlessly thanks to an impressive debut from RB Elijah Mitchell. And of course this outstanding defensive unit was back on full display after last year’s injury fiasco. It’s no secret that this is one of the NFL’s best rosters. If they can stay healthy, and not blow massive leads late in games, they will be one of the biggest contenders in the NFC.

9 – Raiders (1-0)

I was thoroughly impressed with the Raiders on Monday night. It took them a while to get going, but once they did, they seemingly couldn’t be stopped. QB Derek Carr had himself quite the night against a Ravens defense that is no joke, throwing for 435 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the winner in OT. He was succinct and clutch, and I loved seeing that out of him. He was forcing the ball to TE Darren Waller quite a lot, but it ended up working out in the long run, so who am I to judge? The question with this team is seemingly always the defense, but they stepped up when it mattered most, forcing a fumble in OT to set up their offense to win it. I seriously doubt that Vegas can keep this up long-term, but if they can, then this is a serious playoff contender. They have to prove it to me first.

10 – Bills (0-1)

Buffalo got a boatload of bad breaks on Sunday. They were better than the Steelers in every single statistical category, but a single punt block touchdown ruined their afternoon. That’s not saying that they didn’t struggle, though. Last year’s offense made everything look so easy, but against a stout Pittsburgh defense, they had a rough time. However, I know that they won’t be facing many front 7s that good this season as the schedule is very easy, and I know that this team will be just fine. It was a very difficult first game, but the Bills will rebound. At least, they better hope so, because they invested quite a lot of money in Josh Allen. They cannot afford to let that go to waste.

11 – Saints (1-0)

New Orleans likely had the statement win of Week 1, and it still makes no sense to me. After being displaced and the game being relocated, not to mention all of the offseason questions and concerns, this team showed up and showed out against one of last year’s premier teams. Jameis Winston looked like a new man in his first start at QB for the Saints, and this defense looked just as sharp as ever. It helped that the Packers looked like they didn’t even want to be there, and that Aaron Rodgers played one of the worst games I have ever seen from him. But I don’t want to take anything away from the Saints. They played a hell of a football game, and vastly exceeded my expectations. Perhaps I underestimated them a bit too much.

12 – Broncos (1-0)

Before you say anything, I will acknowledge that I have this team a bit high. But I am never without my reasons. I always said that the Broncos have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but were severely lacking at QB. They reminded me a lot of my own team. But, starting Teddy Bridgewater under center is already proving to be a great move. Teddy looked great on Sunday simply by being who he is: a solid QB who doesn’t make mistakes and always puts his team in position to win. The rest of the offense did their job, and the defense made light work of the admittedly lethargic Giants offense. The injury to WR Jerry Juedy, an ankle sprain that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks, does concern me a bit, but this team has plenty of other talented pass catchers that will help lighten the load for Teddy. This is definitely a dark horse in the AFC Wild Card race. And yes, that pun was intended.

13 – Ravens (0-1)

I’d like to think I’m being a bit harsh to the Ravens, but everything is going wrong for this team right now. All of the injuries in the last few weeks seemed to really affect this team. Yes, RB Ty’Son Williams looked pretty good, and Latavius Murray even scored a touchdown, but much of this running game still relies on Lamar Jackson adlibbing and making plays by himself. The weight is still entirely on his shoulders, and if he has to carry both the passing and running attack, he will fall apart fast. It seemingly already got to him, as his fumble in OT lost Baltimore the game. Not to mention, their defense, which is supposed to be perhaps their strongest suit, did not look very sharp. This team just has some problems I can’t get over, and they’re going to have to show me a lot more to work their way back up.

14 – Dolphins (1-0)

The only thing separating the Dolphins and the Patriots is the single point that separated them on Sunday afternoon. I liked what I saw from the Dolphins, but I honestly don’t know if they were the better team in that game. A late fumble handed them the win, but I won’t discount the rest of the game entirely. The defense looked very solid, as always, and the offense looked nice as well. It was always going to be rough sledding against a great Pats defense, but the offense did their thing. QB Tua Tagovailoa didn’t look bad at all, and you can already feel the presence of rookie WR Jaylen Waddle. This is definitely a winning formula in Miami: let your defense do its job and simply score more points than the other team. I’m just not sure how sustainable it is in such a good division and conference.

15 – Patriots (0-1)

Like I said above, I do think the Patriots were the better team in Foxboro on Sunday. The main reason for that was the play of QB Mac Jones in his NFL debut. He did everything he had to do, made no mistakes, and looked very comfortable for a kid making his first professional start against a very good defense. New England would have won this game if Damien Harris didn’t fumble the ball deep in Dolphins territory, and despite the end result being an L, I really liked what I saw from this team. They’re essentially just the cold weather Dolphins, but I certainly like Mac more than Tua right now. The Patriots will be very interesting to monitor in the playoff race, and I think they’ll be right in the thick of things all year long.

16 – Steelers (1-0)

I really don’t care that this team won on Sunday. Outside of their great defense, they barely showed me anything of note for me to care about. Offensively, this looked like the exact same boring, uninspired unit from 2020. They could not move the ball because they could not run the ball. Najee Harris looked like a nonfactor in his debut at RB, even against a fairly average Bills front. When they did move the ball, they were able to cash in and score, which is all that mattered because their defense is that good. I will admit, that touchdown catch by Diontae Johnson was quite nice. A lucky break on a punt block won this team the game, and that’s all there is to it. That will probably be the luckiest break they get all season. Yes, their defense is good enough to win them a lot of games, but the offense cannot be this lethargic. At least Miami and New England have competent offenses. Competent is the last word I would use to describe this Steelers offense.

17 – Packers (0-1)

This will likely be the lowest the Packers are all season, and it hurts me to put them this low, but they deserve it after that absolutely shamelessly bad performance on Sunday. I really just have no words to describe what I saw. The defense, which isn’t bad by any means, got absolutely carved up by a team starting only one WR who was drafted with a QB known for being a turnover machine. 5 touchdowns and 0 turnovers was the story of the game in that regard. Most importantly, it was the most pathetic showing I have ever seen from Aaron Rodgers, who looked like he literally did not want to be there. We know he doesn’t really want to be there, but I thought at the very least that things had settled down in that regard, and he was going to give Green Bay his all in 2021. I suppose that might not be the case. He made horrible throw after horrible throw, and finished with the worst passer rating of any QB in Week 1, even with all of the talent on that offense. I fully expect this team to be ok, and it helps that they’re playing the Lions this week, but I can see this whole thing falling off a cliff very, very soon. I, for one, love the conspiracy theory that Rodgers only came back to sabotage this team. That would genuinely be the funniest thing in sports history.

18 – Cowboys (0-1)

I will admit, I was very impressed with the Cowboys on opening night, despite losing the game. But, I’m also aware that they were handed so many chances thanks to several key mistakes by the Buccaneers. Those mistakes are what kept them in the game, and if Tampa had played even a little bit tighter, it would have been a double digit victory. I still think this defense is very suspect, as they got absolutely worked by Tom Brady all night long, although they made some nice plays here and there. But my biggest problem lies in the lack of balance on offense. Coming off several leg surgeries and a nagging shoulder problem, this team cannot ask Dak Prescott to throw the ball 60 times a game while giving Ezekiel Elliott 11 carries. It simply won’t work. Granted, they won’t face many, if any, defenses as good as Tampa Bay’s this season, but they need to figure that side of the ball out. The aerial attack is great, but it cannot be the only great thing about this team if they want to go very far.

19 – Colts (0-1)

2021 has started with a bit of a whimper for the Colts, but I want to give them a bit of a pass. For one, QB Carson Wentz came back from his foot injury extremely quickly, and still might not be 100%. His offensive line is still dealing with a plethora of issues, which is also affecting the run game. And this team just happened to be going up against a stellar early-season Seahawks team. I think Indy will be alright, but their brightest spots were rather dim, and that might be a cause for concern. As I said before, the run game never got going, and their defense got sliced up all game long. Those two things are their bread and butter, and if they stumble as much as they did in Week 1, this team won’t go far.

20 – Washington (0-1)

Do I have to talk about this team? Ok, fine. I’ll start with the elephant in the room: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is now out for 6-8 weeks with a hip subluxation. Now, the keys are being handed to Taylor Heinicke, who is certainly a solid backup and played well in relief of Fitz on Sunday. But we all know he isn’t exactly the guy to lead a team to success. And success is all this team had in mind for this season. That seems to have already fizzled out, because I have no more hope for this team in 2021, even after just one game. Heinicke better prove me wrong, and I’m really hoping he does. On the topic of the defense, I think that one average to below average game doesn’t define this unit. Many of the 3rd down struggles were less on them and more due to the excellence of Justin Herbert, and the lack of a pass rush was a testament to the Chargers’ great offensive line. This Thursday’s game against the Giants better prove that, as that offense is dreadful, and their offensive line is a complete joke. If this defense doesn’t bounce back in a big way, then I will officially have no idea what to make of them. Why, why, why do I ever put faith in this team?

21 – Eagles (1-0)

Philly was one of the pleasant surprises of Week 1. Their offensive performance really blew me away, but I will also recognize that they were playing one of the worst teams and defenses in football. In any case, QB Jalen Hurts was delivering some dimes left and right, and that really impressed me. A lot of people, myself included, have doubted his ability to be an effective passer in this league. If he continues to play like he did on Sunday, those doubts will be put to sleep with swiftness. The Eagles defense also looked very sharp, holding the Falcons to just 6 points. But again, the Falcons are just a dreadful team. I think the next few weeks will tell us a lot more about this team, but if they keep this up, they can certainly make things interesting in the NFC East.

22 – Titans (0-1)

Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans for putting on one of the most pathetic performances of Week 1. A team of this caliber with this amount of talent and all the expectations of the world simply cannot lay such a dud. There were 0 positives to take away from this team’s 25-point loss. Their offense, which is supposed to be one of the league’s best, did absolutely nothing. Even Derrick Henry, last year’s OPOY, couldn’t get anything going. And the Titans defense, which I have always acknowledged as a joke of a unit, got absolutely embarrassed by an elite Cardinals offense. I can already see what Tennessee is going to be this season: an average to above average team who will beat down lesser teams and get destroyed by better ones. It’s not just their defense’s fault. If their offense shows any sign of struggling, it’s all over. And that is not a winning formula.

23 – Panthers (1-0)

I feel like the Panthers should have disposed of the Jets much easier than they actually did on Sunday, but they still put together a generally solid performance. QB Sam Darnold looked sharp in his debut, and the return of RB Christian McCaffrey gave this offense the instant spark that it was missing for so much of last season. I think that the Panthers defense was also very solid, and I think it’s a very underrated unit. There isn’t a lot to talk about with this team, but they won’t be playing the Jets every week. Their next few games will tell us a lot about who they really are, so I’ll wait for those before jumping to any conclusions.

24 – Bengals (1-0)

The Bengals got the biggest “feel-good” win of Week 1, and it isn’t really close. Everyone was ecstatic to see QB Joe Burrow back on the field, and against all odds, he looked great. Despite the gruesome nature of last year’s injury and this team’s unwillingness to give him any protection, Burrow still showed out on Sunday, lighting up the scoreboard. The debut of WR Jamarr Chase, the team’s first-round pick, was a very exciting one, and that connection will be just as fun as it was at LSU just 2 years ago. Cincinnati’s defense also did a nice job of containing a rather potent Vikings offense, especially on the ground. It was a very solid win for a team that needed it, and while the Bengals won’t be all that this season, I’m happy to see them with a lot of promise.

25 – Vikings (0-1)

I never got the hype around this team, and I was proven right in a big way on Sunday. There were virtually no bright spots for the Vikings in Cincy. I’d say the only good thing was Kirk Cousins (that’s how you know it’s bad). Kirk looked solid throwing the football, especially to Adam Thielen, and led a nice 2 minute drill drive to tie the game and send it to overtime. Other than that… I got nothing. Dalvin Cook was stuffed all game long, and their defense let the Bengals have their way all game long. The window could not be closing faster on this team. It might be time to make some phone calls.

26 – Bears (0-1)

There are only three words that come to mind with the Bears: start Justin Fields. It is the only option. I talked about it yesterday, so I won’t get too into it, but it’s just the right move. Andy Dalton is not the guy for this team. They desperately need the spark that Fields provides. We saw a glimmer of it on Sunday night and it was honestly great. Why Matt Nagy refuses to have that spark for all 60 minutes is just beyond me. And until they make the right decision, I refuse to care about this team whatsoever.

27 – Giants (0-1)

I knew the Giants were bad, but I held out hope that their talented roster would at least make this team slightly below average. But… no. This team is still rather depressing to watch. Usually the fault lies with QB Daniel Jones, but it wasn’t entirely his fault at all. This defense was shockingly bad, allowing the Broncos to have whatever they wanted all game long. On the other side, the offense was lethargic, and outside of a single big pass play, they did nothing of note. Saquon Barkley was a complete non-factor in his first game back, and it’s honestly just sad to see. If Week 1 is an accurate reflection of how teams will perform this season, the Giants might actually be the worst team in the NFC East.

28 – Lions (0-1)

This team is definitely nothing short of atrocious, but I did love the fight they showed late on Sunday. Why it took them 58 minutes and a 24-point deficit to find that fight is a question best left unanswered, but it’s enough to keep them relatively high this week. But, don’t get it twisted. The Lions are a very, very bad team who got a couple of lucky breaks and made things somewhat interesting in a blowout. I’m expecting them to just get blown out normally from here on out.

29 – Texans (1-0)

By all accounts, this team has no business being in any spot other than 32nd. But, they absolutely embarrassed the Jaguars on Sunday. So, although this is likely the worst team in football, I’m bumping them up a few spots for this week. QB Tyrod Taylor looked pretty good in his Texans debut, and their defense was making life hell for Trevor Lawrence, forcing 3 INTs. I think a large part of all this is the incompetence of the Jaguars, but I’ll be nice. Congrats on the win, Houston. You won’t see many more this year.

30 – Jets (0-1)

I guess there are two semi-positive takeaways from Week 1 with the Jets: Zach Wilson and the defense weren’t terrible. It took a while for the rookie QB to get going, but late in the game, he made some nice plays to make the score look respectable. Defensively, it wasn’t a great game, but only giving up 19 points to an offense as talented as Carolina’s has to mean something right? Maybe. Who knows. All I do know is that this team is still extremely bad, but at least they’ll be competitive.

31 – Falcons (0-1)

What a joke. The Falcons deserve everything bad that is going to happen to them this season. This was a painfully bad team last year and they somehow got worse. It showed in a very, very big way on Sunday. All I can do is sit back and laugh. Poor Matt Ryan.

32 – Jaguars (0-1)

I have no words. I’m trying so hard to find them and I just can’t. I understand this is a very volatile experiment with even more volatile variables, but that was the worst possible start they could have asked for. I don’t even think we overestimated this team’s abilities. I think they were just yet to show us how pathetic they truly can be. I don’t even know if Urban Meyer will make it to the end of the season at this point. Perhaps he’s already looking at homes in southern California. At least Trevor Lawrence is accumulating his stats. What a nightmare.

All stats taken from ESPN.