Vikings Move Up for J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings have the draft capital and need to find their quarterback of the future. In comes J.J. McCarthy who has shot up draft boards this offseason. Whether you think McCarthy is worthy of a top 5 pick doesn’t matter at this point. Its become clear that many NFL execs are enamored with his ability to run a pro-style offense. Head coach Kevin O’Connell knows how to run an offense and if he likes McCarthy the Vikings will go all in.

Minnesota also brought in Sam Darnold this offseason but I see him more as a backup who can mentor the young QB. The Vikings have weapons and a strong o-line that can protect McCarthy.

Michael Penix Jr. to the Seahawks

Another quarterback to keep an eye on in this year’s draft is Michael Penix Jr. Penix is starting to climb up draft boards with some having him as 5th quarterback taken. The Seahawks seem like a perfect destination for the former Washington QB.

Penix can learn behind Geno Smith and compete with Sam Howell who Seattle traded for this offseason. Although he is not known as a runner Penix is sneaky athletic and can escape pressure if needed.

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Commanders Trade Up for Caleb Williams

Early on in the offseason, it seemed like a lock the Chicago Bears would select Caleb Williams with the first pick. Fast forward to today and that is no longer a guarantee. As it stands quarterback Justin Fields is still on the Bears roster and hasn’t been traded. Most assume that is because nobody wants him but what if the Bears intend to keep him instead?

Yesterday, Chicago pulled off a surprising trade with the LA Chargers and received Keenan Allen for a 4th round pick. Allen is no longer in his prime but is still a top-level receiver in the league. Pairing him with DJ Moore gives the Bears something they have been lacking for years. Weapons.

Some would assume getting Allen is to help Caleb Williams but what if it’s for Fields instead? Fields has not had a great supporting cast since he was drafted. This move could put less pressure on Fields and allow him to stay in the pocket more as these two receivers will eventually get open. Keep in mind the Bears also signed running back De’Andre Swift in free agency. Swift is another weapon that Fields could utilize.

So what would it take for the Commanders to move up? Well with the trade yesterday the Bears now only have 4 picks in the upcoming draft. I believe Washington who just acquired an additional 3rd round pick for Sam Howell could offer the below package.

• Commanders get 1st overall pick —> Bears get 2nd overall pick, 36th pick, 67th pick and a 2025 1st round pick

That may seem like a lot to move up one spot but if Washington believes that Williams is their franchise QB of the future they have to pull the trigger.

Vikings Move Up and Draft Drake Maye

Earlier today the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a trade to swap draft picks with the Houston Texans. This gives Minnesota the 23rd pick in the upcoming draft. The Vikings now have two first-round picks at their disposal and I believe they will use them to move up for Drake Maye.

As it stands the Vikings are too far back to wait on a quarterback and with the departure of Kirk Cousins they need to address the position. I do realize the Vikings picked up Sam Darnold this week but I don’t think he is there to be the starter. Maye makes a lot of sense for this Vikings team who still have star Justin Jefferson and recently brought in ex-Packer Aaron Jones.

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Quarterbacks

Joe Flacco – (18.2% Owned)

Joe Flacco has officially become a viable fantasy option at the quarterback position. Yes, we are still in 2023 which makes that statement even more baffling but the stats speak for themselves. Flacco has finished no worse than QB13 in his three games with the Cleveland Browns. He is still very much a gunslinger which means there will be mistakes but the production will be there. If you have Trevor Lawrence and are worried about his concussion you should pick up Flacco as a safety option.

Running Backs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire – (36.5% Owned)

Fellow running back Jerick McKinnon may be getting the buzz this week but Edwards-Helaire is the better option going forward. Edwards-Helaire out-touched McKinnon 17 to 7 and had 101 total yards in Sunday’s win over the Patriots. If you’re stuck deciding between the two just remember that Edwards-Helaire can also be a threat in the passing game.

Wide Receivers

Curtis Samuel – (39.7% Owned)

Playing any wide receiver in the Commanders offense is risky at this point but Samuel has been the most consistent this season. He grabbed another 2 receiving touchdowns on Sunday on 9 targets for Washington. As of now, it looks like quarterback Sam Howell will finish the season as the starter (which is the right move). If that’s the case Howell has developed a nice chemistry with Samuel and I see that continuing.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry – (20.8% Owned)

There aren’t many options at the tight end position on the waiver wire but Henry is the best option if available. Henry has now finished back-to-back weeks inside the top 5 for tight ends including 3 receiving touchdowns in that span. He also has an excellent matchup this week with the Broncos who are giving up an average of 10.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends. If you’re thin at tight end go and grab Henry.

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Rookie Sensation

One of the biggest surprises from Sunday was the Houston Texans upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie C.J. Stroud once again led a game-winning drive to seal the 30-27 win for Houston. At this point in the season, it’s safe to say Stroud is the real deal and even deserves to be in the conversation for MVP.

The biggest takeaway from Stroud’s game is the lack of mistakes. Stroud has only 2 interceptions on the season which is remarkable for a rookie. He is second to only Sam Howell (more on him later) in passing yards with 2,626. It’s safe to say the Texans have their QB of the future.

Ravens with a Rare Collapse

Another surprising result from week 10 was the Baltimore Ravens blowing a 14-point lead at home to the Browns. The Ravens were cruising up 31-17 in the 4th quarter before the Browns came storming back. It was a shocking result for Baltimore who have been dominant at home thus far. Lamar Jackson had a rare off day with 2 interceptions including a crucial Greg Newsome interception that was returned for a touchdown. It’s not time to panic in Baltimore but let’s see how they bounce back from this.

NFC Contenders Taking Shape

The San Francisco 49ers got back their winning ways with an impressive 34-3 blowout of the Jaguars. San Francisco broke their 3-game losing streak with dominant defense and stellar play from Brock Purdy who had 3 passing touchdowns. Newly acquired DE Chase Young took no time to make his impact with several key pressures and half a sack.

Elsewhere the Dallas Cowboys once again dismantled the lowly New York Giants 49-17. We knew the Giants would struggle on offense but there is no excuse for their defense to give up that many points. Dak Prescott was impressive with 5 total touchdowns before getting pulled in the 4th quarter.

The game of the week was in Los Angeles where the Lions beat the Chargers 41-38. This game was an offensive masterpiece and Detroit showed they will be a problem come playoff time. The Lions are well on their way to their first-ever NFC North title while the Chargers dropped a critical game and have questions to answer on defense.

Sam Howell is the Real Deal

Washington may have finally found its franchise quarterback. We knew Sam Howell had potential but no one expected him to be this good. Howell now leads the NFL in passing yards and the former 5th round pick continues to come up big for the Commanders.

Howell once again led Washington down the field for a game-tying touchdown in Seattle. If it wasn’t for another late defensive collapse the game would’ve gone to Overtime. It hasn’t been perfect by any means for Howell who has now been sacked 47 times but you can’t ignore the poise he displays. Washington will likely clean house this offseason and will be a very attractive opening for a GM to take over. They have lots of draft capital, cap space and a potential star quarterback.

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For the most part, quarterbacks who have more pocket time are more successful but that’s not always the case. If an offense is designed to get the ball out quickly the pocket time will obviously be shorter than the average. With that said let’s take a look at the pocket time for quarterbacks so far and point out some interesting facts.

In the chart above I took out quarterbacks who played less than 7 games. This way we get a good sample size of games played and can focus in on starting quarterbacks. I also kept in sacks, hurries and knockdowns to analyze if a reduced pocket time led to more quarterback pressures. Finally, I kept in passer rating to see if more pocket time led to a better overall rating. Let’s now focus on the quarterbacks that stick out to me.

Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence

Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence headline the bottom of this list with the least amount of pocket time. These two quarterbacks have their teams at the top of the AFC despite the least amount of pocket time. How are they so successful? Well for one the Dolphins offense is built on motion, misdirection and getting the ball out quickly. These play designs are built perfectly for Tagovailoa who doesn’t have to sit back in the pocket and absorb pressure.

In the case of Trevor Lawrence he is one the best at getting the ball out quickly and to his playmakers. Like Tagovailoa the Jaguars run a lot of RPO plays but their ADOT (Average Depth of Target) for wide receivers is 6.9 yards which is towards the bottom of the league.

Sam Howell and Patrick Mahomes

Next, let’s look at sacks and the two quarterbacks who are at the top and bottom of this category. Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has been sacked a massive 41 times so far this season but how many of those sacks are on him? Howell has an average pocket time of 2.4 seconds which is towards the top of the league. The problem with Howell is he at times holds on to the ball too long looking for the big play.

In contrast, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has only been sacked 10 times this season and has the 2nd highest pocket time at 2.6 seconds. Does that mean the Chiefs offensive line is that much better? Not necessarily as Mahomes is the best in the NFL at pocket movement and buying time with his legs. It will be fascinating to watch how these pocket times change in the 2nd half of the season for these quarterbacks and the ones that make the playoffs.

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Quarterbacks

Sam Howell – (28.6% Owned)

We have recommended Sam Howell before and now you can start to see why he is a viable fantasy option. Howell was one of our fantasy football sleepers before the year started and he is trending up. He has finished in the top 10 for quarterbacks in the last two weeks and more importantly, has a 5 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio during that time. Sure Howell has to clean up the sacks but thankfully QB sacks don’t count in fantasy football.

Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliott – (41.6% Owned)

Is Ezekiel Elliott now a better option than Rhamondre Stevenson? It is sure trending that way as Stevenson has been disappointing so far this season. Meanwhile, Elliott scored his first touchdown of the season against the Raiders and had another 74-yard scamper called back due to a penalty. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elliott out-touches Stevenson in the coming weeks and is the feature back for the Patriots.

Elijah Mitchell – (27.2% Owned)

Mitchell is worth stashing as we wait to hear the injury status of Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is dealing with an oblique injury that may keep him out of action this week. If that happens I like Mitchell over Jordan Mason to carry the load for San Francisco. Mitchell is ahead on the depth chart and has filled in admirably for McCaffrey before.

Wide Receivers

Rashee Rice – (37.7% Owned)

Rashee Rice is worth stashing on your roster and has upside as the season goes on. Kansas City is without a true #1 receiver but signs are pointing to Rice settling into that role. The rookie had his highest receiving yards total last week with 72 yards. As Patrick Mahomes gets more comfortable with the young receiver he will start trusting him more. Rice is averaging around 4.6 targets per game and I expect that number to go up.

Tight Ends

Taysom Hill – (5.9% Owned)

It’s slim pickings at the tight end position this week but Hill is worth taking a flier on. Hill had his best output of the season on Sunday where he hauled in 7 receptions for 49 yards along with 2 rushing attempts. It will always be a risk starting Hill but if you take the chance he could reward you with a big week.

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Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Sam Howell (vs. Chi) – Howell bounced back from a rough outing against the Bills and almost led the Commanders to an overtime victory versus the Eagles. Next up is the lowly Chicago Bears who are in complete disarray. The Bears defense is allowing 22.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and they will be without DBs Eddie Jackson and Jaylon Johnson. Expect a big game from Howell and also the Commanders receivers.

Sit ‘Em

Trevor Lawrence (@ Buf) – Lawrence started to show signs of life in the week 4 victory against the Falcons but next up are the red-hot Bills. Even though this game will be in London it could be a long day for the Jaguars offense. The Buffalo defense is for real and they were able to keep the high-powered Dolphins offense in check last week. I do like Lawrence’s prospects for the rest of the season just not in this game.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Breece Hall (@ Den) – Hall has disappointed thus far but that will change Sunday when the Jets travel to Denver. According to reports Hall will no longer be on a snap count and this is the perfect game to unleash him. The Broncos defense has been dreadful against the run allowing an average of 38.0 fantasy points per game to running backs. Don’t forget about last year when Hall torched the Broncos for a 62-yard touchdown before he went down with an ACL injury.

Sit ‘Em

Kyren Williams (vs. Phi) – Williams has been a nice surprise this season but he will take a step back Sunday versus the Eagles. Williams is dealing with a hip injury that may hamper his effectiveness. He is also up against the vaunted Eagles d-line that is also tough to run against. Sit Williams but just for this week.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. Ind) – Pittman was quiet on Sunday versus the Rams. He had a season-low 5 targets and only 15 receiving yards. That will change when the Titans come to town in week 5. Pittman has yet to eclipse the 100-yard receiving mark but I believe this is the game he does it. The Titans defense is allowing an average of 26.2 fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season.

Sit ‘Em

George Pickens (vs. Bal) – What has happened to the Steelers offense? Pittsburgh laid another egg last Sunday when they were dominated by Houston. Up next is Baltimore who will be looking to add to the Steelers misery. Quarterback Kenny Pickett is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee but is still expected to play. Even when he was healthy Pittsburgh’s offense just looks off. It could be another long day for Pickett and Pickens.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Zach Ertz (vs. Cin) – Ertz had his second 10-target game in week 4 as the Cardinals continue to look his way. I can see Ertz grabbing his first touchdown of the season versus a struggling Bengals defense. Cincinnati is allowing an average of 10 fantasy points per game to tight ends thus far. Ertz should be a big part of the game plan again this week.

Sit ‘Em

Cole Kmet (@ Was) – It’s hard to start anyone on the Bears offense this week against Washington. Kmet had a huge game versus the Broncos in week 4 where he hauled in 2 touchdowns. The momentum won’t continue on Thursday night as Washington has allowed minimal production to opposing tight ends.

Start of the Week

Zay Flowers (@ Pit) – Despite decent production, Flowers has yet to find the end zone. That will change on Sunday versus the Steelers. The volume has been there for Flowers but he has yet to have a breakout game. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 31.3 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and just gave up 168 yards to the Texans Nico Collins. This is the week we see big returns for Flowers.

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The Commanders don’t want to be known as a .500 team, they want to be known as the team to beat the NFC East. Ron has had chances to pick up good players in the draft, particularly a talented young QB. He has failed to do that, instead he has went after free agents such as Alex Smith and Carson Wentz, who weren’t the answer. Then we picked up Sam Howell in the 2022 draft. Sam has showed flashes of hope and then flashes of mediocrity. We do have to remember he is a young quarterback with only four starts.

As of right now the Commanders are 2-1, but don’t be deceived by that winning record. They could of easily lost the first game, and then had to storm back from 21-3 to beat a bad Denver Broncos team. This team has the makeup of being another .500 team this year. They could surprise us this week and beat the Eagles, just like they did last year. But if we were to lose by another blowout, I think we should consider firing both coaches. They have too much talent on both sides of the ball to consistently be mediocre.

Why not fire Rivera and put Eric Bieniemy in charge to see what he can do? If you do that, Jack Del Rio, who has four 1st round draft picks on the defensive line, needs to go too. There’s no reason their defense should not be dominant, and one of the best in the league. In addition, now would be a good time because they have a new owner and they can have that fresh start and build for the future. Typically, coaches are fired based on there record for the year. In this case, depending on how the Commanders do against the Eagles, I believe now is the time.

The post Is it Time for Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio to be Fired? 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.

Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1 PM EST on CBS)

The best game of the NFL week 2 schedule is when the Chiefs go on the road to take on the Jaguars. It was a disappointing opening game for Kansas City as they struggled against the Detroit Lions at home.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes put up rather pedestrian numbers in week 1 but he was without Travis Kelce. Kelce and stud defensive tackle Chris Jones are set to return for the Chiefs in this one. Jones will be needed to help stop the rushing attack of Jacksonville led by Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie Tank Bigsby. Etienne and Bigsby each found the end zone in week 1 against the Colts.

On the outside, Calvin Ridley made a splash in his debut for the Jaguars. Ridley did not look rusty after his 1 year suspension as he hauled in 8 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Ridley will be a challenge for the Chiefs secondary all game long.

Baltimore Ravens (+3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1 PM EST on CBS)

Cincinnati would very much like to burn the tape of their week 1 performance against the rival Browns. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense could never find a rhythm as he was held to under 100 yards passing. It was the first time in his career that Burrow was held under the 100-yard passing mark. Burrow will look to get back on track versus the rival Ravens at home.

Meanwhile, the Ravens are coming off a dominating performance against the Houston Texans. Baltimore may have found its next star in rookie Zay Flowers. Flowers looked electric in his debut as he had 87 yards from scrimmage in week 1 including 9 receptions. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will be without J.K. Dobbins who is now out for the season. Expect another classic AFC North battle in this one.

Seattle Seahawks (+4.5) @ Detroit Lions (1 PM EST on FOX)

Jared Goff and the Lions looked like an NFC contender in their week 1 win at Kansas City. Their defense which struggled all last season looked completely different in the opener. If they can get this type of performance consistently from their defense the Lions will be a threat come playoff time.

Seattle on the other hand looked lackluster as they were beat at home in week 1 by the Rams. Geno Smith who was the Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 struggled with a Rams defense that lacks playmakers. It was troubling to see for a Seahawks team that was set to take the next step this year. Look for this one to be another high-scoring affair. The Seahawks won 48-45 when the two teams met last season.

San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) @ Los Angeles Rams (4:05 PM EST on FOX)

Before the season started this looked to be an easy win for the 49ers. Now they may have more of a battle on their hands when they visit LA. This game will be a classic example of whether week 1 was a fluke or not. If the Rams keep it close many will start to give them respect. The problem is they will be dealing with the elite 49ers defense who will put pressure on Matthew Stafford all day long.

Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua was the story of week 1 as he seemingly came out of nowhere. The Rams will need a repeat performance from Nacua who hauled in 10 receptions for 119 yards in his debut.

Washington Commanders (+3.5) @ Denver Broncos (4:25 PM EST on CBS)

Washington is looking to start 2-0 when they travel to the Mile High City on Sunday afternoon. The Commanders looked a bit shaky in their week 1 win against the Cardinals. Washington’s defense was dominant but the offense struggled at times. Quarterback Sam Howell had two costly turnovers but showed poised in leading Washington to a come-from-behind victory. Howell will need to be mistake-free on the road in Denver for Washington to have a chance.

The Broncos will be getting one of their best weapons back in Jerry Jeudy on Sunday. This is exactly what Russell Wilson and this offense needed as they look to bounce back from their week 1 loss. Wilson did have 2 touchdowns in the opener but the offense lacked explosiveness. They will need big plays to be able to beat the stingy Washington defense.

The post 5 Biggest Games of NFL Week 2 (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.