The NFL Roundup 2017 - Week 2

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)

Some say that the second week of the NFL is no where near as exciting as the first, simply because, the shine of the new season has worn off and the league is already getting down the nitty gritty, but that's something that I just so happen to disagree with. Because one week in, there are already teams fighting for their season, while other teams are looking to capitalize on their early good fortune and put together a wonderful season and those two polarizing possibilities, are what make that second week all the more exciting, and with that in mind, let's take a look at the electrifying storylines waiting for us in Week 2 of the NFL. 

Can the Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys? 
A few years ago, I would not have even asked this question aloud, because the Broncos would have beaten the Cowboys handily. But the times...they are a changing and there are really two key flaws to the Broncos game that brought this question about; their offensive line and their defensive injuries. Because while Trevor Siemian played one hell of a game in the season opener, his line was still a liability, since they allowed the Los Angeles pass rush to get to him and neutralize the offense in the process, and while the defense played solid football in week one, a so-so run defense and mistakes from the No Fly Zone kept the Chargers in the game. Which means that in order for Denver to be 2-0, they're going to have to play lights out football. The Line has to be flawless, and the D has to neutralize Dak Prescott and contain Ezekiel Elliott and with the injuries mounting up in the Mile High City, I'm not 100% sure Denver can pull off a big time win here.

Will the New England Patriots be able to rebound from their stunning loss to the Chiefs?
Losing is something that can truly become a habit for a football team. All it takes is one embarrassing loss and suddenly, more mistakes are made and several games later, the L's keep mounting up and really, is that something that could feasibly happen to the Patriots? After all, they are a team that is unaccustomed to humiliating losses and one has to wonder if what happened to them on Kickoff Weekend will get under their skin and into their psyche. However, they are also a team that uses their losses as pure motivation and considering how much this one stung, combined with the fact that they are facing off against a mediocre Saints team, there's a fair chance New England will win and win big on Sunday. But if Brady's week one inaccuracy returns, the Patriots may be in for a long day...

Will the Houston Texans stick with Deshaun Watson for an entire game?
When it comes to the Texans, you can always expect two simple things when they take the field. J.J. Watt will wow you on defense and they will probably be changing quarterbacks at half time. Because for some strange reason, the instant the play under center isn't exactly what Bill O'Brien envisioned in his game plan meetings, he makes a change. It's weird, but that's life in Houston, and one has to wonder as to whether or not Watson will last the entire game. My hope is that he does. While he wasn't exactly the second coming of Peyton Manning in his first game last week, Watson had some moments of brilliance, and hopefully Coach O'Brien will allow him to learn on the job and deal with his mistakes rather than pull him and continue the confusing quarterback carousel he loves to employ. 

Can the Indianapolis Colts win without Andrew Luck?
In football, the common belief is that no one man dictates the course of a team. Every player helps shape the season, and while that is true for some teams, it's clearly not the case for the Indianapolis Colts. Because without Andrew Luck, this was a different team, one that was completely and utterly anemic on offense. Which means that in order to avoid going 0-2, Coach Pagano is going to have to take this offense back to an old school mentality since Luck is going to be on the sidelines again for Week 2. That means, a heavy dose of the run, so that the Cardinals defense runs out of steam, followed by a few surprise throws to hopefully secure the lead, and if the Colts can stick to that game plan, play some solid D and exercise patience, perhaps they can find a way to win without their star franchise player. 

Can the Jacksonville Jaguars tie together a pair of wins?
Jacksonville started the season off right last week by securing the victory in Houston, but let's be honest...they had an assist from the Texans. Houston was pretty awful on offense and aside from their lone rushing touchdown, the Jags had to settle for Field Goal after Field Goal. But...a win is a win. However, despite that win I think it's safe to assume we are all wondering...can Jacksonville beat the Titans? Honestly? I'm not sure. While Tennessee lost to the Raiders, they hung with Oakland until the fourth quarter. So, if Blake Bortles can protect the ball and play lights out, and if the defense can play some solid football, there's a chance the Jaguars will put together a tiny win streak. But the reality of the matter is, that's quite the tall order and I honestly expect the Titans to rebound and put Jacksonville at .500 for the season. 

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