Young Quarterbacks Struggle, Old Guard Shines: NFL Week Two Recap
The second week of the NFL’s first 17-game regular season provided a chance at redemption for teams looking to avenge opening-week losses, another chapter in the MVP cases of the league’s top players, and stabilization to the storylines that had developed after week one.
One of the biggest takeaways from this second week was that the league is in a transitional period: the 15 QBs making starts for new teams in week one was an NFL record, and a majority of them struggled in week two. Let’s see more the NFL week two.
Young QBs Struggle
Zach Wilson of the New York Jets threw four interceptions by the time he had recorded four completions in a 25-6 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday; his rookie counterpart for New England, Mac Jones, went 22-30 for 186 yards but did not record a touchdown, leaving him at one on the season.
Meanwhile, Joe Burrow threw three interceptions on three straight attempts in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 20-17 loss to the Chicago Bears; Justin Herbert racked up 338 yards but threw two costly picks to the Dallas Cowboys en route to a 20-17 loss; and first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence only managed to go 14/33 for 118 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 23-13 home loss to the Denver Broncos.
One young quarterback that has outperformed his contemporaries is Kyler Murray, who totaled 431 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions on the way to a narrow 34-33 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. This brings Murray to 740 yards and nine total touchdowns on the season, which has him firmly in the MVP race as the captain of a 2-0 Arizona Cardinals team.
The Usual Suspects
Two former MVPs— Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes— squared off on Sunday night, and it was Jackson who recorded his first win over his AFC rival in four tries. Jackson made amends for his two first-half interceptions, one of which was a pick-six on the opening drive, with an unbelievable closing effort that included a game-ending fourth-down conversion, the decision of which to go for was the QBs decision. Jackson finished with 346 total yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Mahomes went for 343 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception through the air.
The only preseason MVP candidate not at the quarterback position, Derrick Henry, finally got out of the blocks in week two, scoring the Seattle Seahawks for 182 yards (160 of which were after contract) and three touchdowns. Henry joined the 2,000-yard single-season rushing club last season and is the best back in football at this juncture.
The final big takeaway from week two came from Raymond James Stadium, where the 44-year-old Tom Brady lit up the Atlanta Falcons defense to the tune of 276 yards and five touchdowns on the way to a 48-25 defeat of their division rivals. Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the defending Super Bowl champions and, although their defense has not looked the same, are off to an eerily hot start on offense. Two of Brady’s touchdowns went to his longtime favorite target, Rob Gronkowski, while another two went to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin caught the fifth.
These are the major storylines from week two in the NFL— more to come next week.
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