Week 2

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-0) vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0)

Thursday September 11 @ 8:15 PM E.T. on Amazon Prime

The second week of the NFL season begins with a potential playoff preview as the Washington Commanders head out to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. Both teams are coming off of dominant victories, yet one was able to beat up an archaic Giants offense while the other got to dismantle the Detroit Lions on both sides of the ball. Even then, it is only week one, so we are going to get a chance to see what these two teams are truly made of now that the jitters are out of the way.

Washington did not look overly impressive against New York, but they still did more than enough to win. Their defense did not allow a single touchdown against Russell Wilson, but the Packers offense is definitely more dynamic and efficient. For Green Bay to have success moving the ball down the field, they need to establish the running game a lot sooner than they did last week. In the first half, Josh Jacobs was held to just eight yards on six carries, but finished the game with sixty-six yards and a touchdown. Once they can run the ball, then the passing attack can open up in different directions, which means Jordan Love will have another strong performance. At the same time, they cannot turn the ball over at any point on Thursday night because one little slip-up can allow Jayden Daniels to swing the entire momentum and open up the flood gates.

This matchup between the Commanders offense and a Packers defense engineered by Micah Parsons is going to be must-see television. One of the biggest reasons why Green Bay is favored to win by nearly four points is because if they can shut down Detroit for nearly four quarters, then who is to say that they will not be able to do the same against Washington? They held Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to just forty-four rushing yards combined, but the Commanders were able to total 200 against the Giants, so it will be hard to neutralize that side of the ball two weeks in a row. One thing that Washington struggled with last week was their consistency to throw the football, and on a short week, this is something that will be under close examination. The biggest reason why, in my opinion, is because of Daniels’ wrist situation. Head coach Dan Quinn says this should be of zero concern, but why put him on the injury report if he knows it is much ado about nothing? 

FINAL LOCK: I am rolling with the Packers to handle their business at home on a short week and pick up right where they left on Sunday. This will not be as big of a blowout as it was against Detroit because Jayden Daniels is a lot scarier to prepare against than Jared Goff, but this is the first true test for the Washington Commanders and on a primetime stage, we are going to see if things will be just as good as they were last year or if we will experience a bit of a sophomore slump moving forward.

FINAL SCORE: GB 27-24

THE 1:00 SLATE:

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-0) vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0)

On the surface, this might look like an easy win for the Cincinnati Bengals, but then you realize that they barely escaped the Cleveland Browns to finally win a week one matchup. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot to prove themselves as they blew out an inferior Panthers team, but will have to show that they are here to play against a Joe Burrow led offense and a defense powered by Trey Hendrickson. One team is treating this like a business trip and the other is hoping to spoil the negotiations before it is too late. 

For the Bengals offense, the gameplan is simple: do not screw this up. The Panthers turned it over three times against the Jaguars defense and it was the biggest reason why the final score of that game was 26-10. On paper, Cincinnati should hang up 35 points and total well over 400 yards because Jacksonville has been atrocious on the defensive side since 2018. Josh Hines-Allen or Travon Walker might not be as dominant as Myles Garrett, but these are two edge rushers that can wreak havoc and create chances for their teammates to create takeaways, so a turnover-free afternoon should be more than enough to keep the Bengals ahead.

It says a lot when the Cincinnati defense was the biggest reason why they won last week, but this week will present a legitimate test as Jaguars head coach Liam Coen hopes for his offense to have an efficient performance themselves. After trading away Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles, they made it clear that Travis Etienne and LeQuint Allen will be running the show in the backfield, but this passing attack will be the biggest reason why Jacksonville will compete their tails off on Sunday. Travis Hunter had a decent performance in his rookie debut and we all know what Brian Thomas Jr. can do on the regular, so this Bengals secondary is going to have their hands full for much of the afternoon. They forced two interceptions against Joe Flacco last week, so Jacksonville also knows that one turnover might be the difference in this game as well.

FINAL LOCK: When these teams played each other two years ago, backup quarterback Jake Browning put the Bengals on his back in a Monday night thriller with a 34-31 victory, with CJ Beathard taking the reins late in the fourth quarter and in overtime after Trevor Lawrence suffered a sprained ankle. Now that both quarterbacks take the field for the third time since the 2019 National Championship, it is time for Burrow to show why he is the better quarterback in this matchup and take this game over. For that, I am picking the Bengals to take care of business and hopefully not get in their own way like they have done in the past.

FINAL SCORE: CIN 30-27

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1) vs. DALLAS COWBOYS (0-1)

It has been nine years since the New York Giants last beat the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott is 15-2 against this team in his career, and although both teams are entering this game off a loss, it appears that this streak might continue for another week. 

The Cowboys absolutely felt like they could have pulled off a major upset against the defending Super Bowl champions last Thursday night, but they did not. After a very impressive first half, they failed to score in the second due to a lost fumble in the red zone and four costly drops by CeeDee Lamb that would have given Dallas a real shot of winning. Now that they are a week removed from that heartbreaking loss, they can use this week as a way to take their anger out on an inferior division rival. Prescott is going up against a legitimate pass rush that got to Jayden Daniels a few times last Sunday, but if he controls the clock and keeps the Giants defense on the field for a long time, then he can wear them out and control the flow of the game on his terms.

If there is one thing I can be sure of in this game, it is that the Cowboys defense is going to set the tone from start to finish. It will look different without Daron Bland for a while with a foot injury, but the rest of the group will be fine. That Giants offense under Russell Wilson looked so dilapidated and worn out that Brian Daboll was initially noncommittal on making him this week’s starter. However, Wilson is going to be given another chance, but the fans in New York have already seen enough. He lost his biggest strengths as a quarterback and any sort of cache that he might have had left. They could not even score a touchdown against the Commanders last week, so while Dallas might not have Micah Parsons anymore, this is still a defense that can beat up a few bad teams in this league.

FINAL LOCK: I am picking the Cowboys to win at home and I do not believe this is going to be close. This is not going to boost their playoff chances by any means necessary because this is a game they should win handily, but unless New York turns back the clock to 1986 and starts wrecking their opponent in every which way, then I do not see an upset taking place.

FINAL SCORE: DAL 31-13

CHICAGO BEARS (0-1) vs. DETROIT LIONS (0-1)

Bears head coach Ben Johnson might not admit this publicly, but we all know that this is the game he circled on his calendar and for good reason. They will be traveling out to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions, the team where Johnson thrived as a coordinator and quickly emerged as one of the best offensive minds in the sport. Amon-Ra St. Brown made it clear that everybody in Ford Field is going to boo Johnson, which is normally what happens when one of your more iconic faces leaves to join a division rival, so Chicago might have a little extra motivation to pull off an unexpected upset. Looking at this matchup right now, it is not impossible to say that it is a strong possibility, especially with what happened last week.

The Lions offense got absolutely punked last Sunday by the Green Bay Packers on the road. They could not run the ball, Jared Goff got sacked four times and turned the ball over, and their only touchdown did not occur until their last drive of the game. This week, they are going up against a Dennis Allen defense that shut down JJ McCarthy for three quarters, but had no answers for him in the fourth. The way for Detroit to bounce back on track is for their offense to rekindle their magic and prove that last week’s game was just a bad day. It starts with Goff and it continues all the way to offensive coordinator Johnnie Morton and head coach Dan Campbell because this is supposed to be their biggest strength as a football team.

After an explosive and strong start to the game against Minnesota last week, the Chicago Bears offense ran out of commission and looked pedestrian for the rest of the night, only scoring three points before a late desperation touchdown on their final possession. The Lions normally have one of the strongest run defenses in the league, so while Johnson wants to have an incredibly balanced approach to this game, he knows that Caleb Williams is going to be the biggest X factor. He came very close to pulling off an upset in Detroit last year on Thanksgiving, but the former head coach Matt Eberflus completely blew it with some of the worst clock management humanly possible, and Chicago lost by only three points. If Williams blossoms, then the Lions are getting humiliated once again. If not, then the fanbase in the Windy City might have to create the same quarterback shirt that the Browns have been showing off for years on end.

FINAL LOCK: There is no question that this is a game that will be decided in the final minutes because the apprentice is hoping to take down the master. This is going to come down to which quarterback can make the least amount of mistakes and put their teams in position to win, and while both Goff and Williams leave some serious doubts, I trust the former a little bit more to make sure this offense does not get shut down for the second week in a row.

FINAL SCORE: DET 27-20

LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-0) vs. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)

This is another game where it does not look competitive on paper, but it has to be played anyways. One team is coming off an ugly loss, while the other barely escaped with a win at home, so the hope is that things will be a lot closer than expected. However, the Rams are just as legitimate of a playoff contender as the Denver Broncos, so the Titans will really have to play at their best for them to have any chance of actually pulling off an upset.

One way to get started is by scoring a touchdown! That would be nice! Cam Ward did not look great in his debut with a 43% completion rate and just 112 passing yards, but a lot of quarterbacks would have done just as poorly with that atrocious of an offensive line and a mediocre receiving group at best. Despite Bo Nix doing everything he could to try to lose the game, the Titans offense could never take advantage. They let up six sacks against the team that led the league in that category last year and all twelve of their points came from four made field goals by Joey Slye, so this group proved that they have a long way to go this season. Another thing that Tennessee needs to clean up this week is penalties. They got flagged thirteen times for 131 yards and there was a fair split amongst all three units, so while the defense might not deserve too much blame for this defeat, they do have to keep their composure if they want to slow down a Rams offense that only scored fourteen points last week.

Despite beating the Texans 14-9 on Sunday, the Rams proved that they had a long list of things they needed to correct throughout the season. Fortunately, the defense led the way from start to finish, keeping CJ Stroud out of the end zone in the first half and shutting him down in the second. Despite the many opportunities that Houston was given to jump back in front, including a lost fumble from Davis Allen with a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Rams defense forced a huge turnover of their own that all but sealed the day. Matthew Stafford did not look too bad in his season debut, given the fact that he was dealing with a lingering back injury for all of training camp. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams held a lot of the load in the passing game, with Kyren Williams balancing things out in the backfield, but a few sacks allowed the Texans to hang around. For Los Angeles to win this game, their offense needs to be more balanced and methodical because this Titans defense proved that it can be scary if they are not on the field for too long. 

FINAL LOCK: Having said all of this, I believe that the Rams will win convincingly on the road against a Titans team that is still going through the motions. LA has the better head coach, their offense is more dynamic, and their defense has a better sense of discipline and awareness. This should be viewed as a get right game for that football team and unless Cam Ward decides to have the game of his life, then I just do not see Tennessee winning this football game.

FINAL SCORE: LA 27-13

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-1) vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-1)

Despite the Miami Dolphins getting absolutely crushed by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, nobody should be panicking too much about that loss. Yes, 33-8 was the final score, but now they get to head back home and play the New England Patriots. If anybody knows anything about these two teams facing off against each other in the sunshine state, then they remember that the Patriots almost always struggle and lose to their division rival. It does not matter how good or bad either of those teams are because it is the ultimate trap game for New England. AJ Feeley, Joey Harrington, Ryan Tannehill, and Jay Cutler can surely attest.

Mike McDaniel knows that if the Dolphins somehow lose this game, then his team is in serious trouble moving forward. Tua Tagovailoa is coming off one of the worst performances of his career as he finished last Sunday afternoon with three turnovers and 114 passing yards, not scoring a touchdown until garbage time. However, if there is any week for him to bounce back, it is this one against the team he has not lost to in his entire career as a starting quarterback. The biggest thing that Miami’s offense needs to do this week is to connect on a few deep shots down the field. Tyreek Hill has not had a play over thirty yards since week one of last year and Jaylen Waddle is one of the fastest receivers in the league, so there is no excuse for this passing game to look lethargic against a Patriots secondary that will most likely be without their top corner Christian Gonzalez. Even then, that is not the only concern the Dolphins have entering week two.

New England led the first half against the Raiders 10-7, but when they returned to the field to begin the third quarter, their offense just went absolutely nowhere. Before the final drive, they could only muster up thirty-nine total yards and just completely gave up on the running game, while an early interception on the first possession swung the entire momentum around to the other side. If they cannot have a decent day against a Dolphins defense that got torched by Daniel Jones, then the Patriots do not deserve to win whatsoever. 

FINAL LOCK: The Miami Dolphins might be an organization in a weird limbo right now, but I have a strong feeling that they will bounce back this week. As much as I would like to see that curse end for the Patriots, I will believe it when I see it myself. 

FINAL SCORE: MIA 31-17

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (1-0) vs. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1)

Just like last week’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, I really do not know what to expect for the San Francisco 49ers because their offense is seriously banged up. They just placed George Kittle on IR with a hamstring injury, Jauan Jennings is questionable because of a shoulder issue, and it was recently announced that Brock Purdy will miss two to five weeks with turf toe. That means the quarterback matchup in the Superdome will be between Mac Jones and Spencer Rattler, the one we have all been wanting to watch for so long! 

The 49ers might have beaten the Seahawks 17-13 last Sunday, but they were very sloppy in getting that win. Then again, you look back and wonder how much of a role the injuries had. After all, Christian McCaffrey was being limited in practice because of a supposed calf injury, but looked promising in his return with over 140 yards from scrimmage. However, entering this game against the Saints, he is going to need to carry this offense to victory. Their assistant head coach from last year, Brandon Staley, is in charge of this New Orleans defense that actually looked pretty decent against Kyler Murray the week before. They let up a couple early touchdowns, yes, but five sacks and only twenty points allowed should be nothing to sneeze at for San Francisco. This offense is already limited enough as it is, so all Jones has to do is not screw up and that will be the bare minimum of getting a win on the road.

With Brock Purdy out, this 49ers defense is going to have to carry this team from start to finish, and they should have a strong chance of succeeding against New Orleans. Last week, Spencer Rattler was just okay. He was not terrible, he did not play great by any means, he was just average. Considering that he was expected to get blown out by Arizona, this is honestly impressive, especially since they only lost by seven points. However, the biggest reason why they lost was because of red zone struggles and their inability to close the deal. What appeared to be a game-tying touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson on the final drive turned into an incomplete pass, but on the next deciding play, New Orleans turned it over on downs and allowed the Cardinals to escape with the victory. Rattler has yet to win an NFL game in his career and there is honestly a 45% chance that happens since the 49ers will be without a huge chunk of their offensive talent, but Robert Saleh has just as strong of a defensive mind as Jonathan Gannon. He will know just exactly what to take away, and if Rattler cannot overcome those struggles, then this is going to be a long afternoon.

FINAL LOCK: This is not going to be a blowout, and in fact, I can see this one going either way. However, there are two reasons why I am leaning towards the 49ers. The first is that their defense has more starpower, but the second and most important is due to coaching. Kyle Shanahan is still an offensive whiz that can put his players in the best positions to be successful, and while Kellen Moore has a chance to get his first win as a head coach on Sunday, he is still a rookie in this business. Once again, as long as Mac Jones does not put the ball in harm’s way, then I think San Francisco can squeak by with a victory. They cannot blame Jake Moody anymore if they lose because he got cut.

FINAL SCORE: SF 20-17

BUFFALO BILLS (1-0) vs. NEW YORK JETS (0-1)

Who would have expected that the Bills and Jets would be a part of two of the highest scoring games so far this year? With Josh Allen, it is not too surprising since he is that great, but he did overcome a fifteen point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Baltimore Ravens 41-40, but Justin Fields looked really impressive against a respected Steelers defense. Although New York lost 34-32, the fanbase has legitimate hope that they have not felt for a long time, but they have a huge test arriving at MetLife Stadium this upcoming Sunday.

There is nothing that needs to be said about Josh Allen that has not been said before. He was absolutely sensational, and while there were some bumps along the road, there is no way that the Bills beat the Ravens without him. He scored four touchdowns and threw for 395 yards, capped off with a game winning drive to complete the comeback. Their defense definitely had a hard time stopping Lamar Jackson or Derrick Henry, but they took over the fourth quarter by forcing two needed three-and-outs and a fumble that turned everything around. Having said all of that, the Bills Mafia should be a little bit concerned that this upcoming game against the Jets is going to be closer than they anticipate.

The biggest reason why the Jets offense was able to have that much success against the Steelers was their ability to run the football. Thanks to Breece Hall and Justin Fields, New York totaled over 180 yards on the ground, but what gets lost in the shadows was that their passing game really centered around one man: Garrett Wilson. If it were not for a fumble on the kickoff, there is a very strong chance that the Jets pull off a huge upset and win the game. Even then, their offense had two chances to close the deal and put it away, but they stalled out both times. There is no question that this team has a chance of beating the Bills at home, but not if their defense continues to play the way it did last week. If they let Aaron Rodgers throw four touchdown passes, what do we think is going to happen when they play Josh Allen? It might have taken a sixty yard field goal for Pittsburgh to go ahead, but the defense is why Aaron Glenn got hired as the head coach in the first place, and it got torched for most of the afternoon.

FINAL LOCK: This game is going to be a huge test for both sides. If the Jets offense continues to click the way it did against Pittsburgh, then that means Josh Allen is going to need to have a heroic performance for Buffalo to win. It is going to come down to which defense will play with the most poise and intensity, so Sean McDermott and Aaron Glenn are going to be put to the test.

FINAL SCORE: BUF 27-13 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-1) vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-0)

The Steelers and Seahawks have given us a lot of close games over the years. Russell Wilson threw five touchdowns in the same game that Markus Wheaton totaled over 200 yards in 2015. Mason Rudolph made his first NFL appearance in a close 28-26 loss and there were some Pittsburgh fans that thought he should be the next successor. Two years later, Geno Smith and Ben Roethlisberger went toe-to-toe in a Sunday night overtime thriller that was decided by TJ Watt and Chris Boswell in a 23-20 victory. Finally in 2023, Rudolph got Pittsburgh into the playoffs by beating Seattle on the road 30-23! To make a long story short, this next meeting between these two teams is going to have another tight finish, with Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold as the main headliners. 

Rodgers looked awesome in his debut with the black and gold, throwing for over 220 yards with four touchdown passes, capping it off with a game-winning drive as Chris Boswell drilled a sixty yard field goal down the uprights to win 34-32. However, this Seahawks defense presents themselves as a bigger challenge than the Jets as of right now. Brock Purdy did lead a go-ahead scoring drive of his own to win the game last Sunday, but he was not perfect as he only scored seventeen points and threw two interceptions. Fortunately, Rodgers is a quarterback that normally knows how to take care of the football, so all he really has to do is make sure he does not get hit too many times. Seattle only sacked Purdy once but they pressured him seventeen times, while Pittsburgh let up four quarterback takedowns, so this game is going to be based on who wins the trenches.

While the Seahawks defense can do their very best to lead the team to victory, they need Sam Darnold to have a better performance than he did against San Francisco. He only totaled 150 passing yards and a majority of them went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, scored just thirteen points that included three in the second half, and lost a fumble on a strip sack when he had a chance to win the game. Certainly, that is not good enough to win and their offensive struggles were the biggest reason why they lost on Sunday. Whenever Jake Moody missed a field goal or Brock Purdy would turn the ball over, Seattle could not capitalize on any of their chances. This offense needs to produce and it better happen soon because if Darnold is the guy they believe him to be, then he should do everything he can to make sure they do not start the year 0-2.

FINAL LOCK: In the end, it really comes down to which quarterback do you trust the most when they play at their best. Last year, Darnold got the best of Rodgers in London, but things should be different now that the latter has the home field advantage. It will be surprising if this somehow turns into another high scoring affair, but if that is the case, then whoever has the ball last might win.

FINAL SCORE: PIT 23-20

CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1) vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-1)

All I have to say is this: the Ravens better not lose this game. After blowing yet another double digit lead in the fourth quarter, this has to be the week where they bounce back against a Browns team that does not have a clear or promising vision right now. They were close to beating the Bengals, sure, but they once again got in their own way and lost in heartbreaking fashion per usual. On the surface, Baltimore should blow this division rival out of the water, but I am scared that we might get a closer game.

When Derrick Henry gashed the Bills defense to go ahead 40-25, that felt like it should have been the dagger. Yet, it was not. The missed extra point by Tyler Loop was one thing, but everything else that happened afterwards was just unprecedented. The Bills made it a one-score game with an easy touchdown drive, then Henry coughed up the ball to give Buffalo a chance to even the score, the Ravens offense went three-and-out on their final possession, and finally Josh Allen carved up the secondary to set up the walkoff field goal. The reason why nobody can be 100 percent confident that this team should be the favorites to win the AFC is because of games like this. I do not care how great Myles Garrett is or how well that Cleveland defense performed in the second half against Joe Burrow. If you are anybody on that Ravens offense, they need to bounce back and not take their foot off the gas, or else Lamar’s predecessor is going to make his return to M&T Bank Stadium sweet with a taste of vengeance. 

Joe Flacco does not deserve too much of the blame for the loss last week. He did throw two interceptions, but both of them were caused by drops from the wide receivers. More importantly, if their first-year kicker Andre Szmyt does not miss an extra point or a chip shot field goal, the Browns might have pulled off a huge upset at home to start the season. Entering this week against the Ravens, something tells me that their offense might have a promising performance. If Jameis Winston could do it last year, who is to say that Flacco cannot do the same? After all, that Baltimore secondary looked like swiss cheese with holes galore against Josh Allen on Sunday night. However, for that to truly become reality, Cleveland cannot afford to make any mistakes or else the doors are going to be blown wide open.

FINAL LOCK: I am going to give the Ravens a chance at returning to respectability and legitimacy, but if they are 0-2 for a second consecutive year, then this just proves that they learned nothing from their past failures. The Browns might be a team stuck in the mud with a very bleak future ahead, but they are capable of pulling off at least one or two upsets a season. Baltimore better make sure they do not self destruct in their home building or else there will be so much scrutiny heading towards their way.

FINAL SCORE: BAL 27-17 

THE 4:05/4:25 SLATE:

DENVER BRONCOS (1-0) vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-0)

Before the season started, I anticipated this being a blowout. Now, it can really go either way based on how both teams performed last week. The Denver Broncos barely escaped a home win against the Titans while the Indianapolis Colts carved up the Dolphins 33-8, so somebody is going to stay undefeated and we will all be somewhat disappointed with the other.

Let’s start with the Broncos, whose defense came to play but the offense just looked really suspect. Bo Nix completed twenty-five out of forty passes, yet only totaled 175 yards. He turned the ball over three times and had just one touchdown pass, which was his only good throw of the entire game. He turned it over three times and the special teams muffed a punt, yet Denver still won 20-12 because the defense did not allow a touchdown through sixty minutes. Now Nix is going to be under a bigger spotlight against a Colts defense that completely shut down one of the fastest offenses in the league, so the last thing he can do is turn the ball over, or else Daniel Jones is going to pick up right where he left off.

It is still really early, so I will not put too much stock into this performance, but Daniel Jones is on track to be the next Sam Darnold or Geno Smith if he continues to play this efficiently. What I mean by that is he can revitalize his career as a starting quarterback. The Colts offense scored on every single possession on Sunday, but that does not mean he is going to repeat exactly what he did against a stronger Broncos defense. One of two things will happen. Either Jones is going to get exposed and revert to what he was when he was on the Giants, or he will play well enough to keep Indianapolis undefeated, which will thrust him into the conversation for Comeback Player of the Year!

FINAL LOCK: Anything is possible in the National Football League, but for now, I am going to stick to my original pick and say the Broncos will win. The only way this turns into a lopsided affair is if their defense has another hellacious performance, but for that to happen, Nix has to play a lot better than he did last Sunday.

FINAL SCORE: DEN 27-13

CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1) vs. ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-0)

The Panthers have always been a weird challenge for the Arizona Cardinals over the last decade, winning seven of their last eight matchups since the Wild Card round in January of 2015. Just last season, Bryce Young outplayed Kyler Murray in an overtime December finish that eliminated Arizona from playoff contention, so this is not expected to be a rout by any means necessary. The only way that it could is if Young plays exactly the way he did on Sunday: absolutely pathetic.

Entering the opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, I was hoping that Young would have a promising performance, but the worst case scenario happened. He ended up reverting to what he looked like before he got benched for Andy Dalton, turning the ball over three times and not throwing a touchdown pass until it was garbage time. The defense did not do themselves any favors by letting up a couple early scores, but they kept Trevor Lawrence out of the end zone for the second half and picked him off once, so they at least put forth a better effort. Now that Carolina has to travel to the desert state, it is going to require a near-flawless day for them to pull off the upset, especially on the offensive side. If the Saints can keep it close, so should the Panthers.

From the Cardinals perspective, they were able to get a win on the road, but they let their opponent hang around for way too long. Kyler Murray did not have a clean pocket as he got sacked five times, the offense could only score three points after halftime, and it took a last-second breakup on a potential tying touchdown pass for this team to survive. They have to clean up their mistakes quickly and play more efficiently in their home opener because while the Panthers have their flaws, they are still an opportunistic team that has the pieces to win in close fashion.

FINAL LOCK: I have been jostling back and forth with this game just because of the history between these two teams, but if Carolina looks exactly the way they did last week, then the Cardinals are going to win by twenty-five points. I think that because this is in Arizona, then the home team should be a couple steps ahead of their opponent. Both sides made a lot of changes with their defenses, so I can honestly see this as a low scoring game, but I do not trust that the Panthers can contain Kyler Murray forever if that is the case.

FINAL SCORE: ARI 20-17

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0) vs. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1)

Just eight months after getting their hearts ripped out in Super Bowl 59, the Kansas City Chiefs welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Arrowhead Stadium for a bitter rematch. The Philly fans might be ecstatic because they believe their team can beat Patrick Mahomes up exactly the way they did in February, but the Chiefs are seething at the fact that many believe that their dynastic run is over. We all know that both quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will take the spotlight, but this game is sheerly going to come down to which team wants the win more. 

The Eagles are 1-0 to start the season after beating their archrival Dallas Cowboys, which is a good mark to have as the defending Super Bowl champions. However, they are not going to get away with dead-ball penalties and a one-dimensional offensive gameplan against Kansas City. Yes, they lost the following day to the Chargers in Brazil, but Patrick Mahomes is not the quarterback opponents do not want to have a chance to win the football game. Philadelphia has the youngest defensive unit in the league, so they must keep their composure or else Mahomes is going to tear this group psychologically. 

For Philly’s offense, what they need to do is very simple: open up the passing game. AJ Brown only got one target and DeVonta Smith caught just three passes, so after seeing what Justin Herbert did to Steve Spagnuolo’s defense last week, this has to be a big game for Jalen Hurts. Obviously, they are not going to take Saquon Barkley out of the fold, but this team is going to go as their offense takes them. If this turns into a high-scoring affair, which is something I do not oppose, then Hurts better make sure that he is the one getting the ball last in the final minutes.

FINAL LOCK: While Philadelphia completely bested Kansas City in the biggest stage last year, they proved last week that they have a completely different football team. Sometimes that is a good thing, but it is not necessarily that way against other foes. It is not the offenses that I am worried about, but the defenses. Vic Fangio and Steve Spagnuolo are exceptional coordinators, yet they appeared really vulnerable to start the season. Just like the Super Bowl rematch in 2023, this game is going to come down to which defense can step up in the bigger moments. Knowing that the Chiefs are in Arrowhead Stadium, there is no way that Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are going to allow this team to start the season 0-2 in their house.

FINAL SCORE: KC 27-24