NFL Week 2 expert roundtable: warding off the dreaded 0-2 delivery, new coaches and upset picks - The Athletic

regardless of the fireworks of otherworldly quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (oh, man — that move) and a dinged-up Justin Herbert (oh, man — his flow!), Thursday night's Chargers-Chiefs tilt changed into determined in significant half by the Kansas metropolis protection. Early within the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson intercepted a inaccurate Herbert aim-line toss and returned it ninety nine yards for the go-ahead touchdown, and the Chiefs held on for a 27-24 win.

Are the Chiefs the team to beat once more within the AFC? Will Herbert, who suffered an obvious rib harm on a tough however felony fourth-quarter hit, be suit satisfactory to play in Week three and beyond? We'll find out within the coming days.

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however there's a whole lot greater to Week 2 nevertheless to return. What are the main storylines worth following? Who most needs a win? The Athletic's Greg Auman, Nick Baumgardner and Mike Sando dish on what they'll be watching Sunday and Monday.

What storyline are you most excited to peer unfold this weekend?

Auman: Chargers-Chiefs lined up as the most beneficial and probably most critical game of the week, but of the weekend matchups, I'm curious to peer which crew can emerge because the surprise 2-0 opener. Seattle and Chicago are both street underdogs with the aid of greater than a landing, and there's handiest so an awful lot to say about Washington beating the Jaguars and Lions. but when the Giants can take care of the Panthers at home in the Gettleman Bowl, they'll have some buzz constructing, chiefly facing a Dak-less Cowboys crew in Week 3 and the Bears in Week four.

Baumgardner: Vikings-Eagles on Monday night seems like a likely early season heavy hitter. The Eagles' roster is stacked right now, and Jalen Hurts was below handle and in a position to do loads of harm along with his ft last week versus a fired up Detroit membership. The Vikings' offensive debut under Kevin O'Connell turned into amazing and appears like an ideal healthy for most of the roster that's already there. These two groups obviously have a lot of fantastic momentum constructing early in their rooms, as each left Week 1 with loads of self belief. Colts-Jaguars is additionally a sneaky one. The Colts moved the ball closing week, however Matt Ryan is new and nonetheless ironing out his timing. If Indianapolis starts 0-1-1 right here in any case this? Ugh.

Sando: Denver and Indianapolis acquired veteran quarterbacks to get them over the top, handiest to have their groups go winless in Week 1 despite dealing with what were perceived to be rebuilding opponents in Seattle and Houston, respectively. I are looking to see what outcomes Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan convey in Week 2 as each once more face underwhelming opponents. Indy ought to stare down its demons in Jacksonville, the place the Jaguars ended the Colts' 2021 season. imagine Jim Irsay's reaction if Indy loses this online game! Wilson is home in opposition t the Texans. The Broncos are going to roll to an easy victory, appropriate? imagine in the event that they stumble.

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groups with new head coaches went 6-three-1 in Week 1. Which of the six victorious coaches do you see relocating to 2-0 this weekend?

Auman: Todd Bowles and Dennis Allen face every different, and other than that there may not be one other winner. Mike McDaniel's Dolphins are at Baltimore, Matt Eberflus' Bears are at eco-friendly Bay and Kevin O'Connell's Vikings are at Philadelphia, in order that seems like three losses. Brian Daboll is at domestic in opposition t Carolina — each teams overcame massive holes in Week 1, however I think Saquon Barkley's strong displaying is decent reason behind optimism there. I suppose Tampa Bay will win at New Orleans (even if they've misplaced seven in a row within the common season to the Saints), but I'm greater confident that the Giants can get to 2-0 towards a lesser Panthers team.

Baumgardner: Todd Bowles and the Bucs over Dennis Allen's Saints appears like a good choice. i like how O'Connell all started, but profitable in Philly towards a great crew goes to be challenging. The other one which's no longer as crazy as you suppose, of course, is the Giants and Daboll beating the Panthers, who have all types of offensive concerns. supply me Bowles and Daboll to circulation to 2-0.

Sando: I'll take Bowles' Buccaneers over New Orleans. I provide O'Connell's Vikings and Daboll's Giants very good photographs to win this week also. beyond these, I'm so intrigued with the aid of McDaniel's Dolphins facing Baltimore as a result of Miami has the same protective coordinator, Josh Boyer, whose scheming helped include Lamar Jackson final season. among the other new coaches, although, I'll take Josh McDaniels' Raiders over Arizona and Nathaniel Hackett's Broncos over Houston. I'm also intrigued by means of Pederson's Jaguars dealing with the Colts, who with ease have to win this online game however are susceptible and could wilt within the warmth.

Which team that misplaced in Week 1 most needs a win in Week 2?

Auman: I think it's New England. To lose at Miami and muster best seven aspects handiest provides to concerns about that offense, and they're at Pittsburgh, which was lots wobbly in eking past the Bengals. The Patriots are a highway favourite, but the Steelers forced a ton of turnovers from Joe Burrow, and a weak showing would supply the Pats the inaccurate kind of national attention. I'm assured the Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Broncos can jump returned from their opening losses, too.

Baumgardner: The Colts don't count number as a result of they tied. however they might possibly be the answer. when it comes to the groups that lost, the Raiders left a ton of elements on the field final week and lost a video game versus the Chargers they absolutely may've had. Derek Carr's play wasn't exquisite. He needs a bounceback this week against the Cardinals (who additionally can be the reply to this question), and the Raiders need to iron out some wrinkles.

Sando: The Broncos, as a result of if they can't beat Seattle and Houston to open the Russell Wilson era, then who're they beating in the AFC West?

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Which Week 1 winner is undoubtedly to lose this weekend?

Auman: It ought to be Chicago or Seattle, and it's challenging to argue against the Bears, who've misplaced six in a row average against the Packers and last gained at Lambeau in 2015. Aaron Rodgers, 22-5 all time towards Chicago, has 14 touchdowns and nil interceptions in his final 4 video games in opposition t the Bears, so I consider green Bay bounces returned nicely and brings Bears lovers lower back to reality.

Baumgardner: unless the Bears are bringing the rain and that mess of a container with them, I don't see a Chicago win occurring in green Bay.

Sando: Yep, Chicago traveling to green Bay for a dose of Aaron Rodgers is tricky.

if you needed to decide on an upset this week, which team do you see pulling it off?

Auman: i used to be shocked to peer the Eagles enable the Lions back into the online game Sunday after constructing a 17-factor lead in the 2d half. The Vikings are a two-aspect underdog on the road, but Justin Jefferson is a good deal more of a probability than anything the Lions had, so this should be a true test for Philadelphia's protection, which has excessive expectations under coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Eagles don't are looking to lean on Jalen Hurts' scrambling as an awful lot as they did, but I see loads of scoring right here and Minnesota pulling out an brilliant road win to enrich to 2-0.

Baumgardner: The Steelers are two-point domestic underdogs against the Patriots as I class this. New England's offense became root canal unhealthy closing week towards Miami, and the solutions (extra creativity, better flow insurance plan) likely aren't coming in Week 2. though invoice Belichick has made fools of us all before.

Sando: The Vikings are barely an underdog at Philly, so that's an easy one. searching at the fatter element spreads, I think Seattle being a 10-factor underdog at San Francisco jumps out, with no trouble because the 49ers are averaging 14.three points per game in Trey Lance's three starts, and it received't be a shock if Lance has a bad satisfactory video game to lose against any one, in my view.

(right illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; pictures of Aaron Rodgers and bill Belichick: Getty photographs; picture of Justin Jefferson: us of a these days)

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