As for this week’s headlines, injuries are at the top of everyone’s mind. There were some surprising inactives and unfortunate injuries that we are monitoring closely heading into week 2. Let’s take a look at those in more detail.

Christian McCaffrey – McCaffrey was a surprise inactive on Monday Night Football against the Jets. We knew he was dealing with a calf injury in training camp but it appears to be more serious than we thought. It looks like his week 2 status is also in danger which is not good news. For now, we have him ranked but that will change once we get more updates.

Jordan Love – Another injury to watch is Love who injured his knee late in the Friday night loss to the Eagles. The video did not look good but the Packers received encouraging news in that it’s just an MCL sprain. Love has not been officially ruled out yet but it’s hard to see him playing this week.

The post 2024-25 Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Penix is a phenomenal prospect and definitely worthy to go first round. Penix has the rocket arm and athleticism to justify taking him top 10.

An underrated part of the pick is letting Penix sit behind Cousins for a year or two the figure things out as a backup. Penix could learn a lot from a veteran QB in Kirk Cousins and could no doubt change a lot of minds coming into Atlanta.

The Middle

The only problem with taking Penix this early is the other candidates on the board. Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Rome Odunze were all on the board but instead you get the most important position a couple of picks earlier. Importantly, the projected spot for Penix was late first round maybe even late second. Nevertheless, the Falcons got their guy and are ready to roll.

The Bad

Kirk Cousins doesn’t seem to be to happy with the pick. The Falcons called Cousins earlier in the week and informed him they’d be taking a quarterback in the later rounds. Naturally, Cousins was shocked when Penix was taken at eighth. Cousins was “stunned at the news” per ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

This probably isn’t the greatest sign considering the organization just paid Cousins 100 million guaranteed to come play quarterback for them. This could play out like another Jordan Love situation where Atlanta keeps Penix in their back pocket for years. 

Overall, I think the good trumps the bad by a small margin and gives the Atlanta’s fanbase something to look forward to. The question now remains: Will Kirk Cousins stay healthy? 

The post Was the Penix Pick the Right Choice? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens -9.5 (4:30 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

This Houston Texans team continues to impress led by C.J. Stroud. Stroud once again had a near perfect performance against the Cleveland Browns in a blowout win. Going into the game the Browns had the #1 ranked defense in the league but had no answers for the Texans offense. Up next will be a much tougher test in Baltimore with a fresh Ravens team looking to start its Super Bowl run.

The Ravens are stacked on both sides of the ball and quarterback Lamar Jackson is putting up MVP numbers this season. Lamar finally has some legit threats on the outside including stud rookie receiver Zay Flowers. Jackson and the Ravens offense will look to control the clock and keep the Texans offense off the field.

In the end, the Ravens will be too much to handle for Houston putting an end to its Cinderella run. The future is bright for the Texans who have a star head coach and a legit quarterback to build around.

Game Pick: Ravens 31 – Texans 17

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers -9.5 (8:15 PM EST on FOX)

In the Saturday nightcap, the Packers will look for another upset against the best in the NFC. San Francisco has looked the part of a potential champion all year and show no signs of slowing down. The 49ers will be rested and mostly healthy except for Dre Greenlaw who is questionable for the game.

Green Bay was the most impressive team last weekend and it’s hard not to be in awe with what Jordan Love is doing. Love is running this offense to perfection with great accuracy and pocket movement. The Packers will need another big game from Aaron Jones as balance will be a key against this 49ers defense.

I see the Packers continuing their momentum and hanging with the 49ers for most of the game. San Francisco will pull away late but this will be closer than most expect.

Game Pick: 49ers 27 – Packers 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions -6.5 (3:00 PM EST on NBC)

Another surprise result from Wild Card weekend was Tampa Bay dominating the Eagles. I did pick the Bucs to win but was impressed at how well they looked and how bad the Eagles played. The Eagles looked like they already checked out and had issues tackling all night long. Up next for Tampa Bay will be the Lions at home and don’t expect the same tackling issues for the Lions defense.

In Detroit, everything is coming together. Their offense is one of the best in the league led by OC Ben Johnson and on defense, they are night and day better than they were last season. The Lions will need a better 2nd half performance than last week as they barely held on to get by the Rams.

Baker Mayfield looks to have found a home in Tampa Bay and I expect him to sign a long-term deal with the Bucs this offseason. Mayfield and the Bucs will keep it close for the first 3 quarters but Detroit will be too much to handle at home.

Game Pick: Lions 28 – Bucs 17

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills -3 (6:30 PM EST on CBS)

The best game in the Divisional round will be in Buffalo. Josh Allen and the Bills will look to finally get past Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs and they get them at home. This will be Mahomes first road playoff game which just shows how dominant the Chiefs have been lately.

Buffalo has finally found its form and continued its run with a 31 – 17 win against the Steelers last weekend. The Bills have now won 6 straight games and are one of the hottest teams in the league. What has been the winning formula for Buffalo? The ground game. The Bills are relying more on James Cook and running the ball which is putting less on Josh Allen’s shoulders.

This has been a strange year for the Chiefs who for the first time are relying more on their defense. Kansas City’s offense is just not as explosive as years past and it’s clear they miss former OC Eric Bieniemy. The Chiefs will need to break out of their offensive funk to have a chance in Buffalo.

In the end, I see Buffalo moving on as they prove to be too much at home for the Chiefs. This game will be a huge confidence boost for the Bills as they look to continue their run.

Game Pick: Bills 27 – Chiefs 24

The post Divisional Round Playoff Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans +2.5 (Saturday 4:30 PM EST on NBC)

Our first matchup of the weekend features two teams that many of us didn’t think would be here. The Browns have shuffled through 5 starting quarterbacks this season yet managed to finish an impressive 11-6. That is in large part due to their dominating defense which finished #1 in total team defense allowing just 270.2 yards per game.

The Texans meanwhile are playing with house money and are led by their star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud continues his strong rookie campaign where threw for 4000+ yards, 23 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. The lack of turnovers was the most glaring stat as Stroud plays with the poise of a seasoned vet.

This game will come down to the wire and will be low-scoring. Expect Stroud to do just enough to pull off the upset at home and continue the Texans surprising season.

Game Pick: Texans 21 – Browns 14

Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 (Saturday 8:00 PM EST on Peacock)

Next up on Saturday night, we have a banged-up Dolphins team taking on the Chiefs in chilly Arrowhead. The weather will absolutely play a part in this matchup as temperatures as expected to be in the single digits come kickoff. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are somewhat flying under the radar but you can’t count out Andy Reid and Mahomes in the playoffs.

Miami has been struggling lately as they come in losers of 2 straight. The Dolphins offense has come back down to earth a bit and is hoping star receiver Jaylen Waddle can return as he has been missed.

It’s hard to see the Dolphins coming out victorious in this one. Miami hasn’t been a good cold-weather team as Tua Tagovailoa has struggled in these types of games. Mahomes and the Chiefs move on setting up an intriguing Divisional round matchup.

Game Pick: Chiefs 24- Dolphins 16

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills -10 (Sunday 1:00 PM EST on CBS/Paramount+)

Our first Sunday game features the red-hot Bills vs. the Steelers. The Bills wrapped up the AFC East title last week in Miami and are starting to look dangerous. This will also be a cold weather game with temperatures expected to be in the low 20s.

Pittsburgh is a heavy underdog in this matchup and rightfully so. They will be without their defensive star T.J. Watt who went down last week with a knee injury. Quarterback Mason Rudolph is set to start and he will have his hands full with this Buffalo defense.

This is a tough matchup for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. They certainly weren’t expected to be here but just don’t have enough firepower to hang with the Bills. Look for a late backdoor cover for the Steelers in this one.

Game Pick: Bills 27 – Steelers 20

Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys -7.5 (Sunday 4:30 PM EST on FOX)

The first NFC matchup of the weekend will be in Dallas where the NFC East champions take on the surprising Packers. Dallas has been dominant at home where they posted a perfect 8-0 record. Most of those games haven’t been close with the exception of the Lions game that featured the controversial 2-point conversion.

Jordan Love and the Packers will be playing with nothing to lose as they were expected to have a down year in Love’s first year under center. It has been anything but that and Love has shown he can be the quarterback of the future in Green Bay.

The playoff atmosphere is different and with the lights on I think the Cowboys come out flat. They will eventually find their groove but expect the Packers to hang around until the end.

Game Pick: Cowboys 31 – Packers 24

Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions -3 (Sunday 8:00 PM EST on NBC)

In the Sunday nightcap, we have the Matthew Stafford Bowl in Detroit. To me, this is the best game of the weekend with so many storylines to explore. Along with Stafford coming back to Detroit you also have Jared Goff looking for revenge against the team that gave up on him.

You have to be impressed with what Dan Campbell did for the Lions this season. Not only did they capture their first-ever NFC North title but they have turned this once lowly franchise into one of the best teams in the league. The Lions also feature one of the most coveted head coaching candidates in Ben Johnson. Johnson is the next great offensive mind and it looks like this is the year he becomes a head coach.

The Rams come into Detroit with confidence as they are winners of 4 straight. They are led by impressive rookie Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams who both look to be late-round steals. While I do think the Rams will hang around for most of the game Detroit will be too much at home in this one.

Game Pick: Lions 28 – Rams 21

Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Bucs +3 (Monday 8:15 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

Finally, we end Wild Card weekend with a Monday night showdown in Tampa Bay. The Eagles, who were once favorites to win the NFC come in losing 5 of their last 6 games. They have key injuries on both sides of the ball but their defense has let this team down all year.

The Bucs are another one of the surprising teams to make the playoffs. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Tampa but they were able to sneak into the playoffs thanks to the lowly NFC South. They now get a home playoff game and will look to avenge a week 3 loss against the Eagles.

This game comes down to who is the healthier team and right now that’s Tampa Bay. A.J. Brown has a knee injury and is not practicing while quarterback Jalen Hurts has a sprained middle finger on his throwing hand. Philadelphia is reeling and this game will put an end to a season that had so much promise.

Game Pick: Bucs 24 – Eagles 14

The post Wild Card Weekend Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Clear Super Bowl Favorite

The San Francisco 49ers separated themselves as Super Bowl favorites after an impressive win at Philly. This team is now fully healthy and put the NFC on notice with an dominant offensive performance. After a tough start and back-to-back punts, Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense reeled off 6 straight touchdowns. To put it simply the Eagles had no answers on defense as they were gashed time and again by Deebo Samuel.

It’s not time to panic yet for the Eagles as they are still in line for the #1 seed but they need to fix their secondary issues. Also, keep in mind Philadelphia was coming off an emotional overtime victory against the Bills. You could see as the game went on the Eagles had tired legs. Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet again in the NFC Championship game and this time it could be out West instead of in Philly.

Teams Making a Playoff Push

Several teams are making a push for the playoffs as potential wild cards. You have to be impressed by what Jordan Love is doing in Green Bay. After a slow start to the season Love and the Packers offense is really coming alive. The Packers had an signature win at home on Sunday night vs. the defending Super Bowl champs. Love once again shined as he threw for 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. If the Packers keep this up they will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

In the AFC, the Houston Texans continued their surprising season with a statement win vs. the Broncos. Denver was one of the hottest teams in the NFL but Houston’s defense was able to stifle Russell Wilson with a game-sealing interception. These two teams are poised to make the playoffs and could be dangerous come playoff time. For the Broncos you really have to be impressed with their defensive turnaround.

The post NFL Playoff Picture Week 14 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jordan Love (@ Den) – The last time we saw Jordan Love he threw 3 interceptions against the Raiders. It was a rough outing for Love but up next he faces the lowly Broncos defense. The Broncos are allowing an average of 21.5 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and the Packers are coming off a bye. For the most part, Love has had a solid debut season in Green Bay and he is a viable fantasy option with his rushing ability. I expect Love to finish with 2 passing touchdowns and over 30+ rushing yards in this one.

Sit ‘Em

Trevor Lawrence (@ NO) – As of now it looks like Lawrence will suit up tonight against the Saints. He is dealing with a minor knee injury but it’s not expected to be serious. Even if completely healthy the Saints have mostly shut down opposing quarterbacks allowing an average of 14.1 fantasy points per game to them. If Lawrence does play I expect the Jaguars to lean heavily on Travis Etienne in this one. I would also be hesitant to start any Jaguars pass catchers tonight.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (@ NYG) – Robinson has yet to break the 100+ rushing mark in a game but that could change on Sunday. Robinson will go up against a Giants defense that as a team is giving up 147.5 rushing yards per game. Really the only thing holding Robinson back is the pass-heavy play calling by Eric Bieniemy. This is the week to lean in on the run as wind could be a factor in this game.

Sit ‘Em

Raheem Mostert (@ Phi) – Sit a skill player on the Dolphins offense? It sounds crazy but Miami is set to face the Eagles defense that has been stout against the run. The Eagles are allowing an average of just 9.4 fantasy points to opposing running backs thus far. It will also be a chilly Sunday night game in Philly which favors the Eagles at home. This will be a good measuring stick game for the Dolphins on the road. I will be watching closely to see how well their offense performs in these conditions.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Drake London (@ TB) – Drake London started the season slowly but is starting to heat up. He had 9 receptions on 12 targets for 125 receiving yards last week vs. the Commanders. London has had 21 targets in the last two games as the Falcons are looking to get him more involved in the passing game. Up next is Tampa Bay who have struggled to contain #1 receivers this season. I see London getting his 3rd touchdown of the season in this one.

Sit ‘Em

George Pickens (@ LAR) – Last time we saw him Pickens scored the go-ahead touchdown in week 5 vs. the Ravens. He finished with 130 receiving yards in that game and 23.6 fantasy points. Up next is the Rams defense who have been solid against opposing wide receivers so far this season. On top of that, it looks like Diontae Johnson is set to return from IR which will take some of the targets away from Pickens.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Michael Mayer (@ Chi) – It took some time but Michael Mayer finally showed off his potential in week 6. Mayer finished with 6 catches and 75 receiving yards on 6 targets against the Patriots. Up next he gets the Bears defense who have struggled stopping opposing tight ends this season. If you are thin at tight end, Mayer is worth starting and he is still just 12.8% rostered in leagues.

Sit ‘Em

Hunter Henry (vs. Buf) – Henry had a strong start to the season but has been non-existent in his last two games. He is also dealing with an ankle injury that will limit his mobility. The matchup isn’t great either as the Patriots will face the Bills at home on Sunday. Sit Henry until he regains his early-season form.

Start of the Week

Aaron Jones (@ Den) – Despite dealing with a hamstring injury that has him limited in practice, Jones is set for a big day on Sunday. The Packers are coming off a bye which should help in Jones’s recovery. He is also facing the Broncos rush defense whom have been abysmal at stopping opposing running backs. As usual, be sure to monitor his injury but if he is good to go Jones should go off in week 7.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 7 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Brock Purdy (vs. NYG) – Purdy has yet to break the 20+ fantasy point mark but I see that changing on Thursday night. The visiting New York Giants are struggling defensively and just gave 28 points to a tanking Cardinals team. Even if Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t play Purdy should still be able to move the ball with ease. This one has all the makings of a blowout.

Sit ‘Em

Jordan Love (vs. NO) – Love has been impressive in his first two starts for Green Bay but he is in for a tough afternoon against the Saints defense. Even at home, the Packers will find it hard to move the ball against New Orleans who have yet to give up 20 points in a game. Green Bay may also be missing Aaron Jones and Christian Watson who has yet to make his 2023 debut.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Buf) – There are no longer questions about who the lead-back in Washington is. Robinson Jr. has solidified his role as the main man for the Commanders thus far. He has also looked impressive in the passing game which is driving up his value. Robinson Jr. has averaged 20 touches per game through the first 2 weeks and I expect him to get around that this week against Buffalo. Washington will look to be more balanced on offense to limit the pressures on Sam Howell.

Sit ‘Em

Najee Harris (@ LV) – Unfortunately It’s now time to sit Harris. Harris has been a huge disappointment, to say the least through the first 2 weeks of the season. He has yet to eclipse the 5-point mark in half-ppr and only has 19 total touches thus far. Jaylen Warren has been the more explosive back and I like his upside better against the weak Raiders run defense.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Deebo Samuel (vs. NYG) – Samuel looks to be in line for more targets as Brandon Aiyuk’s status is in doubt for Thursday night. Samuel has had 16 targets through the first 2 games but has yet to have a breakout performance. I could see that happening tonight against the Giants. Lock in Samuel as a must-start if Aiyuk is out.

Sit ‘Em

Chris Godwin (vs. Phi) – Godwin has a tough matchup this week at home versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. The Eagles secondary will be missing Avonte Maddox but don’t expect Godwin to benefit. It could be a tough day for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense as they deal with the Eagles stout front seven. I am fading Godwin this week until I see better production.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Jake Ferguson (@ Ari) – Ferguson has a great matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals as he will look to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks. Ferguson leads the league with 7 red zone targets which is encouraging going forward. Don’t expect gaudy numbers for Ferguson but I see him grabbing another touchdown on Sunday.

Sit ‘Em

Pat Freiermuth (@ LV) – Freiermuth has been one of the big disappointments in 2023 thus far. It’s hard to put the blame on him though as Kenny Pickett has struggled mightily. Even with a decent matchup ahead, it’s hard to trust Freiermuth to produce. Sit him until the Steelers passing game starts to show some life.

Start of the Week

Raheem Mostert (vs. Den) – There were questions before the season on how big of a role Mostert would get in the Miami Dolphins offense. It’s still early but Mostert has been lead-back for Miami and is showing no signs of slowing down. Mostert is averaging 15.5% touches per game and is currently the RB9 on the season. Coming to town are the Denver Broncos who were gashed by Brian Robinson last week. Robinson had big-time success in the screen-game and I expect Miami to do the same.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 3 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

The post NFL Game Recaps Week 2 (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills

Raiders eked out a good win in Denver but will place way stiffer test in Buffalo. Look for Josh Allen to bounce back with a huge day just like last year after he had a rough game. The Buffalo D will force a few turnovers in this game and Allen will throw for over 300 yards.

PREDICTION: Buffalo 40 Las Vegas 24

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

Just like Buffalo Cincinnati is coming off a bad loss. Expect them to bounce back the problem is there facing a very good Baltimore defense. This will be a close fairly high scoring game with the Bengals eking out the close win.

PREDICTION: Bengals 34 Ravens 31

Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars

What will the Chiefs look like with Kelce and Chris Jones back? Well way more formidable. Jacksonville will put up a fight but KC is too good to go 0-2. Take the Chiefs in this one.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 28 Jaguars 24

LA Chargers at Tennessee Titans

We got the high flying Chargers playing against the well coached Titans. The Chargers put up 34 pts last week and the Titans struggled. The Titans need Henry and Ryan Tannehill to play better this week but it won’t be easy. I don’t think the Titans can put up enough points to stay with the Chargers. Their only hope is to force turnovers. Also it will be interesting to see if Austin Ekeler will be playing this week, as he is a game changer when playing.

PREDICTION: Chargers 28 Titans 20

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

I like Atlanta in this one at home. Green Bay did look sharp in their first game but look for them to come down to Earth in this game. I think Jordan Love will struggle, and Desmond Ridder will play efficiently

PREDICTION: Atlanta 21 Green Bay 17

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

Detroit is coming off a huge win in KC. There defense comes to play each game, they just need their offense to keep up. Detroit will need to lock up DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and with their pass rush should make this difficult for the Seahawks. With that said, Seattle will play well in this game and win by 3.

PREDICTION: Seattle 17 Detroit 14

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Battle of the rookie Qb’s! CJ Stroud struggled in his first game for a rookie but to no surprise. Houston will have a tough time handling the Colts this weekend who have a stout running game. Look for the Colts D to take over in this one.

PREDICTION: Colts 21 Houston 17

Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Bucanneers

The Justin Fields led Bears stroll into Tampa Bay coming off a loss to the Packers. Tampa Bay is coming off a big win against the Vikings in Minnesota. What Baker Mayfield will we see? If he can manage the game and Tampa’s D can stay dominant they should win. This will be a close one with the Bears winning.

PREDICTION: Bears 24 Tampa 23

NY Giants Giants at Arizona Cardinals

The Giants laid a big egg against Dallas last week. Luckily they face the Cardinals this week who looked tough in Week 1 but are still a bad team. The Giants need to run Saquon Barkley, mix in some Darren Waller and have Daniel Jones play well against a decent Arizona defense.

PREDICTION: Giants 24 Arizona 10

Washington Commanders at Denver Broncos

Washington didn’t look the best in Week 1 against a weak Arizona team. Denver almost won at home and looked efficient at times but had issues also. It’s always tough to play in Denver but I think Washington does enough to get this win. Look for Sam Howell to be more efficient in his third game starting for Washington.

PREDICTION: Washington 21 Broncos 13

San Francisco 49ers at LA Rams

For all the doubters who doubted Brock Purdy in year 2 he looked mighty sharp in Week 1. Along with the tough defense 49ers will give many teams trouble this year. This will include the Kuppless Rams this week. Look for SF’s offense to have a big day!

PREDICTION: 49ers 24 Rams 7

New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys

These two teams have very good defenses and one of these teams offenses is way more superior. Look for Dallas to win big riding their defense against the Jets. Zach Wilson is not the answer and the Jets will struggle with him as their leader.

PREDICTION: Dallas 27 Jets 13

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

This will be a good one as the red hot dolphins play the well coached Patriots. The Pats will look to rebound this week but it won’t be easy. I believe Bill Belichick will have a plan for Tua Tagovailoa and the Patriots will make life difficult for them. I like the Patriots in this one.

PREDICTION: Patriots 24 Dolphins 20

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

These two NFC south rivals face off in Carolina. I gauge teams on the proficiency of their QB and the Saints have a far more experiences and skilled QB in Derek Carr. Bryce Young will struggle against a Saints pass rush led by Cameron Jordan.

PREDICTION: Saints 31 Carolina 17

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Is Cleveland for real? Are the Steelers the weakest team in the division? The answer to both of those questions is NO. Yes Deshaun Watson is back and the Browns looked good, but the Steelers will slow them down this week. Pittsburgh is always a tough place to play. Look for Najee Harris to have a big game along with Pickett.

PREDICTION: Steelers 19 Browns 14

The post 2023-24 Week 2 NFL Game Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals will struggle this year: OVERREACTION. We know the Bengals will be there in the AFC championship game. With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase they will be hard to beat, and this team has big game experience.

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are legit after a definitive victory against the Giants: LEGIT. Did anybody see that Cowboys D? Dak Prescott didn’t play the greatest, but that was ok. He’ll get better along with that feisty Cowboys D.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs will struggle after losing Eric Bieniemy: OVERREACTION. Yes Bieniemy was a very good offensive coordinator. But they Chiefs still have Mahomes, Kelce, Chris Jones and other key players. They will battle to play in the AFC championship game.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers won’t skip a beat with Aaron Rodgers gone. OVERREACTION. Jordan Love played a great game and they won, but don’t expect that the rest of the season. They will struggle and probably finish around .500.

Detroit Lions: The Lions are a serious contender in the NFC. LEGIT. When you have Dan Campbell at the helm and a stingy D with Aidan Hutchinson, your in good shape. Jared Goff looked poised leading the offense, and expect to see the same throughout the whole season.

The post NFL Week 1 Overreactions appeared first on Pro Football Mania.