There's a few things we knew going into the season, and some things we didn't. Other than the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being the 2 best teams in football again, we have seen quite a bit of chaos so far. New faces making impacts in new places, rookies showing flashes, and coaches making some questionable decisions.
New Contenders
Arizona Cardinals
While they should have probably lost Week 2 to the Vikings, I still would be writing this about no matter the outcome. Aside from the Chiefs and Bucs, the Cardinals might have the most explosive offense in the NFL. Kyler Murray is proving himself to be a truly one-of-a-kind player when you combine his passing and rushing ability. He has weapons to throw to on the outside (DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk, Rondale Moore, and Maxx Williams). They have a reliable backfield duo of Chase Edmonds and James Conner. They're averaging 36 points per game right now and are 2-0 heading into a Week 3 matchup with the Jaguars...pencil them in as 3-0.
Los Angeles Rams
Not to toot my own horn, but I was extremely high on the Rams in every way possible. Win totals, fantasy players, and even Super Bowl long shots. They have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL from top to bottom, and now you have replaced Jared Goff with Matt Stafford. LA is 2-0 with wins over Chicago and Indianapolis. Stafford has looked great, along with Cooper Kupp. The defense has performed led by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. They will be challenged this week when they take on Tampa Bay. If they can come away with a win here, they go from contender to possible favorite.
Biggest Surprises
Denver Broncos
Teddy Bridgewater won the job from Drew Lock in training camp and boy did they make the right decision. Denver is 2-0 (with wins over the Giants and Jaguars) heading into a Week 3 matchup with the Jets....pencil them in for 3-0. They have given up 13 points in each of their games while averaging 25 points per game themselves. Bridgewater has enough skill players to get it done on offense, but will be helped immensely when Jerry Jeudy returns from injury is 3-6 weeks. They have one of the better running back duos in the NFL with Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams splitting carries. In weeks 4 and 5 they play Baltimore and then Pittsburgh, so we will find out if the hype is real at that point.
Carolina Panthers
We weren't sure after a close Week 1 win against the Jets if the Panthers were truly a good team or not. Well how does a 26-7 rout of the Saints sound? It's taken with a grain of salt since the Saints were dealing with injuries and a COVID outbreak amongst their coaches. Sam Darnold has shown us thus far that he might not have been the problem in New York. He has the best security blanket in the league with Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, so if he can continue to lean on CMC the Panthers could stay afloat. Their defense looked very impressive in Week 2 only allowing 7 points to a Saints team that scored 38 in Week 1.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are finding ways to win football games, something that we haven't been able to say much the last few years. Maybe Derek Carr has taken a step up, maybe Jon Gruden made a change in coaching strategy, or maybe the team just improved. Regardless, the Raiders are 2-0 with wins against the Ravens and Steelers. The Ravens, who beat the Chiefs in Week 2, and the Steelers, who beat the Bills in Week 1. Through the first 2 weeks I'm not sure if you can have 2 better wins. Their defense isn't great but the offense has enough to win them games. Darren Waller is proving himself to be a top 2 tight end in the NFL, and maybe the best mismatch in the league.
Biggest Disappointments
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had a tough opening to the season with Seattle and the Rams in the first two weeks. The problem is things aren't going to get easier for them until Week 6. If they don't figure it out soon they could be looking at an uphill climb to the playoffs. Carson Wentz continues to have injury problems...and turnover problems that plagued him in Philadelphia. If they waste this good defense and year 2 of Jonathan Taylor we may see a coaching change at the end of the season or even earlier.
Minnesota Vikings
Here we go again. It seems like every year the Vikings have one of the best rosters on paper and they find ways to lose games, each time more creative than the next. Through 2 weeks this year they have an overtime loss to the Bengals and a last second loss to the Cardinals, which they should have won if not for a missed field goal as time expired. You could look at this from two perspectives, a positive one where they have 2 close losses, or a negative one where they have collapsed and lost 2 games they should have won. The most important thing in the NFL is finding ways to win, no matter how you do it. I can't trust a team that does the opposite.
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