The NFL Roundup 2020: Week 2

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Normally, Week 2 in the NFL provides fans everywhere with a lovely sense of comfort and routine. Because football is back and knowing that you can enjoy games three nights a week just makes one feel all cozy and warm inside and we adjust our schedules accordingly to enjoy all the games the weekend has to offer. But this year, with a wild year upon us, the excitement from Week 1 continues to carry over. Because everyone needs this escape right now and the anticipation has all of us carefully examining this week’s games and all the storylines that could come from them. Which means that it is definitely time to dive in and examine those stories in great detail, and some of the delightful games that await us over the next few days.
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Will Tom Brady rebound after his embarrassing performance in Week 1?
Well, whether #12 likes it or not, all eyes will be upon him this Sunday, for all the wrong reasons. Simply because he was downright awful against the Saints and to make matters worse, he looked confused and out of sorts on the field. Which speaks volumes to the fact that he is not comfortable in this new offense in the slightest and that means we will likely see him continue to struggle this weekend when Tampa Bay takes the field against the Panthers. Because he doesn’t know this playbook and he doesn’t have any synergy with his receivers just yet. An unfortunate fact that means the Bucs may deal with some offensive struggles for several weeks this season as they and everyone else wait for Brady to get comfy, and if he doesn’t, well then Tampa Bay has made quite the mistake.
 
The Denver Broncos need their backups to step up this weekend.
Unfortunately, injuries are part of life in the NFL. For this is an incredibly physical game, one where bumps and bruises and far worse come with the territory. But while players go down on a consistent basis anymore, what truly keeps a team from succumbing to the injury bug, are the next men up. Because if they step up their game and play at a high level, their team won’t miss a beat scheme wise and sadly, that’s precisely what needs to happen with the Denver Broncos right now. For this team is starving for quality play thanks to the rash of injuries that have come forth by way of training camp and Monday night’s game against Tennessee. And if the second teamers don’t start doing their part quickly (since they were just okay on MNF) and make some big plays, well then there is a fair chance that all the hope surrounding this team will evaporate since they will quickly slip into a hole that they cannot recover from.
 
Will the Dallas Cowboys rebound from their ugly loss in Los Angeles?
In staying with the theme of teams that have hopeful fans concerned early on in the season, let’s take a moment and discuss the Dallas Cowboys. Because the prevailing belief in Big D and around the nation, is that former head coach Jason Garrett and his awful play calling, are why the Cowboys saw minimal success with a loaded roster. Which is why everyone was hopeful for a better performance from this team with Mike McCarthy at the helm, and unfortunately… they most certainly disappointed on Sunday night against the Rams. Because once again, the Cowboys looked lethargic on the field and ironically, the play calling wasn’t all that great. Which means Dallas needs a big game on Sunday to rebound from that loss and quiet any worries and truth be told; they should be able to do that. Because they’re at home this weekend and they’re facing the so-so Falcons. So as long as this team focuses on football and tunes out the noise, they should be just fine. But if the opposite happens, and Atlanta wins, it’s going to be a long season in Dallas, one surrounded by question marks once again.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (1-0)
Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN
Sunday, September 20, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

Normally taking time to spotlight the Jacksonville Jaguars is a waste of time, especially when one considers that they emptied out their roster in the offseason as part of their latest roster overhaul. But a funny thing happened last week. In that, this team came together and played some inspired football and snagged a win. Making it seem as though the roster purge was quite helpful in the end and that quality play is why this game is on my radar this week. Because if the Jaguars can come into the Titans’ house and do what they did last week, they’ll have a 2-0 start on their hands and a rhythm early on in the season and that’s huge. But such a win will be no easy task. Because the Titans do boast a quality offense and a solid defense and well, the potential back and forth in this game is what makes it worth a look, and it should be interesting to see who walks away with an early divisional win in this one.

Sunday Night Football
New England Patriots (1-0) at Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, WA
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

​Sunday afternoon saw the football world ablaze over the possibility that the Patriots were going to continue along just fine without Tom Brady at the helm, since Cam Newton led the team to a victory over Miami. But let’s be honest, they beat Miami. Which isn’t exactly a tough task these days and to make matters more dubious, they won by having their new QB run the ball all day long. Which isn’t exactly a solid formula for long-term victory. Which means that this particular matchup is quite the litmus test for the Cam and the Patriots. Because not only are the Seahawks able to score at will thanks to their stellar offense, they also feature a powerhouse defense, one that knows how to shut down RPO and neutralize a passing game. So, unless Cam plays at a high level and drives this team in a methodical and patient manner, expect the Seahawks to win. Because they’ve been planning and scheming for some time now and they are ready to contain a QB with happy feet.

Monday Night Football
New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV
8:15 p.m. EST – ESPN/ABC

​Now this is a game that is of interest for several reasons. First and foremost, it is the first time that professional football will be played in the city of Las Vegas and that’s awesome to say the least. Plus, this is the inaugural game at Allegiant Stadium, and it will be quite cool to see the Raiders take the field in their brand-new home and marvel at another new stadium. But outside of the glamour and glitz, there’s a football game to play as well and it is shaping up to be a shootout. Because despite their win in Carolina last week, the Raiders showed the football world that their defense is quite porous. A problem that New Orleans shares with them. Which means this matchup is likely going to be a scoring fiesta as two quality quarterbacks do their thing and that should make this game fun to watch, especially since it has a good chance of coming down to the wire.