NFL WEEk 2: four key takeaways

By Alex Merson

Week two of the NFL season has come and gone, and as usual, the NFL delivered. There was some big injuries, top performances, shock results and much much more.

Here are four key takeaways from the last slate of games:

The Saints are ready to make some serious noise in the NFC

The New Orleans Saints had a great week one, but the team they beat, the Carolina Panthers, are certainly not a great team. However, the week two matchup against the Dallas Cowboys has proved that the Saints are for real.

The Cowboys, coming off a convincing win a week ago against the Cleveland Browns, are a complete team that will most likely be in the playoffs come January. But the Saints decimated them all over the field, winning 44-19, with big play after big play. They scored 35 points in the first half, which is extraordinary considering the Cowboys allowed an average of 18.5 points per game just a season ago.

Alvin Kamara was the star of the show, with a vintage performance as he scored three rushing touchdowns, and a 57-yard receiving touchdown to go with it, as well as reaching 115 yards on the ground. He opened up the scoring with a five-yard rushing touchdown on the Saints’ opening drive before Derek Carr found Rashid Shaheed on a deep pass for a 70-yard touchdown throw-and-catch.

The Cowboys kept it close for as long as they could, and a CeeDee Lamb 65-yard touchdown in the 2ndquarter looked like it may have been a turning point in the game to make it 21-13, however, the Saints added two more before halftime and one more Kamara touchdown ensured the victory.

On this coming Sunday, the Saints face the Eagles in New Orleans, which will provide another big test to see whether this current form is temporary, or if they are legit. Derek Carr only completed 11 passes in the blowout but still managed 243 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how he fairs in a game that is closer when it comes down to the late-game drives, but if they can keep up their current early-scoring power, that is not a worry.

Their defense has some top talent, the likes of Chase Young, Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis and not to mention cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who didn’t suit up against the Cowboys, can be a test for any offense.

Sam Darnold is now.... good!

Embed from Getty Images

Not many people would have expected Sam Darnold to be in any conversations this season about top-performing QBs, however after two weeks, he is certainly in there. The Vikings start the season 2-0, thanks to an eyebrow-raising victory against the NFC favourites 49ers in week two, and Darnold shined just as he did in their week one victory over the Giants.

After a slow first quarter where the Vikings led 3-0, Darnold hit star receiver Justin Jefferson on an incredibly deep pass down the field from his own endzone to the 50-yard line, and Jefferson did the rest to score a 97-yard touchdown. Darnold later found Jalen Nailor in the third quarter for his second touchdown throw, and the Vikings held on despite losing the best receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, to injury during the game.

Darnolds’ most impressive moment of the game came in the fourth quarter, up by six points with just over seven minutes remaining on third down. In a play that would ultimately determine the game, Darnold found Jalen Nailor over the middle of the field for a 25-yard gain with an inch-perfect throw between three 49ers defenders. It would set up a field goal to make it a two-score game, and the 49ers were out for the count.

Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, picked by the New York Jets but he was out of the door after three seasons, as he struggled to make an impact as their quarterback. From there, he played two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, before joining the team he just defeated in the 49ers for a season. There is no denying that he has never lived up to the hope that many people had for him when he was drafted by the Jets, but he is certainly making a name for himself this season.

Caleb Williams won't be saviour in Chicago straight away

Embed from Getty Images

The first overall pick of this past year’s draft Caleb Williams had high expectations, with many people expecting him to come in and turn the Bears’ franchise around right away, but he has failed to transfer his breath-taking skills from college into the NFL.

A Bears win in week one was huge for them to begin the season, but Williams failed to reach 100 yards throwing as the defense played a huge part in that win. On Sunday Night Football this past weekend, the Bears lost 19-13 to the Houston Texans, but on another day could have been a lot more of a blowout.

Williams threw for 174 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The opening drive looked promising for Williams, going 5-5 on passes and completing two third-down conversions, however, he was not able to regain that rhythm for the rest of the contest.

The big problem for the Bears’ is their offensive line, Williams is being pressured by defenders on 36.3% of his drop backs, which any quarterback would struggle to deal with, especially someone only in the second game of their professional career. With a clean pocket, Williams is completing 68% of his passing attempts.

Williams’ made a rookie error in the fourth quarter, as he somehow escaped a sack and rolled out to his right, he attempted a throw down the field into an area of three Texans’ defenders, and was intercepted.

The former USC star has plenty of time to turn things around, and after just two starts has shown glimpses of excellence, but with the poor protection around him and some silly throws, it has not been the start he or the Bears fans have hoped for.

Marvin Harrison Jr has arrived

Another rookie is in the spotlight this week, and this time it is for the right reasons. The Cardinals’ fourth overall pick out of Ohio State, Marvin Harrison Jr, had a disappointing week one, catching just one pass for four yards, but silenced the critics quickly in week two against the Rams.

His first catch of the game came four minutes into the first quarter, a 23-yard touchdown in the back of the endzone, as he managed to somehow keep his feet in bounds as he fell to the ground. If that wasn’t enough for Cardinal fans to get excited, the first play of the next drive certainly will.

Starting on their own 40-yard line, quarterback Kyler Murray rolled out of the pocket as Harrison came across the middle of the field, Murray extended the play and waited as Harrison turned up field towards the endzone, and Murray found him at the 25, before Harrison raced for the touchdown, stretching his arm like Michael Jordan in Space Jam, and scoring his second touchdown in the opening seven minutes.

Once again on the next drive, Murray found his man again on the left sideline as Harrison pulled it down terrifically. On the next set of downs, Harrison was found again downfield along the sideline for a 30-yard gain.

All of this took place in the opening twelve minutes of the first quarter, and any bad talk of Harrison after week one was silenced.

Harrison had a few more throws his way throughout the rest of the game, but couldn’t haul in another catch, but he had proved everything in the opening three drives. The receiver finished the day with 4 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, as the Cardinals demolished the Rams. 41-10.

It was an incredible first quarter to say the least, and expect to see plenty more big plays for Harrison this season.

ALEX MERSON

NFL ANALYST

Previously writing for Ninety-Nine Yards, Alex is a sports content creator and Football Journalism Student at the University of Derby. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexMerseJourno.

5/5