What’s Hot and What’s Knott in Football – Week 2

By Rhys Knott

Matchups are hot this week. As they say in boxing, “styles make fights” In football, we learned that the styles that make fights are sloppy defenses and special teams trying to stop elite athletes. 

A Vikings defense that struggled to tackle the Bears in Week 1 were again left grabbing at thin air as the Falcons visited U.S. Bank Stadium. Da Bears couldn’t tackle a square meal either as the Lions dropped a 50 burger at Ford Field.  

Neither the Giants nor Cowboys were all that concerned about defending as they combined for 77 points at Jerry World. But by far the most egregious demonstration of two defenses who would rather be at home watching Redzone came in Miami Gardens. 

Special teams combined for 400 yards as the Patriots and Dolphins surrendered more yards than General Custer. Not to be outdone, both defenses combined to allow 691 yards! Is there any way to trade the AFC East to the UFL? 

Russell Wilson is the Schroedinger’s Cat of the NFL! The 36-year-old quarterback provided enough evidence for his critics to argue his career is dead and buried while simultaneously demonstrating that his unique skill set can still cause defenses problems.

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What’s Hot in Football – Week 2

Well, Russell Wilson, obviously. Who throws for 450 yards in their 201st game in the NFL? DangeRuss, that’s who. His 41 passes are the most he’s thrown since the 13th of November 2021, too! 

Is it sustainable? Absolutely not. Did they play the most engaging regular-season game in living memory? Absolutely. Is Brian Daboll’s job hanging by a thread? Also yes. 

Running the ball is hot too; four guys went over 100 yards on the ground, and all of their teams won. Jonathan Taylor led the way. The Cots’ running back racked up 165 yards on the ground and added 50 receiving yards. Stop showing off, JT.

Amazon should rename Thursday Night Football to Tucker Kraft Night. Green Bay’s imposing tight end racked up 124 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Commanders on just six catches! 

Even before Austin Ekeler’s unfortunate injury, a Brian Robinson-sized hole appeared in the Commanders’ offense. Washington could only gain 2.7 yards per carry, which meant nobody fell for the play-action, and Kliff Kingsbury’s play sheet became significantly smaller. 

The Packers’ defense did something few NFL defenses have managed: make Jayden Daniels look like a young quarterback. The havoc Green Bay caused at the line of scrimmage really knocked Daniels out of his comfort zone, and their zone coverages made it nearly impossible to find any open receivers. 

However, Zach Ertz still showed there’s still some life in the old dog yet. The 34-year-old footballer’s husband averaged 10.7 yards per reception, but only saw eight targets. 

Want to know who is really hot in 2025? Eric Wilson, you’ve never heard of him, have you? He’s Blake Cashman’s backup in Minnesota. Last week, he kick-started the Vikings’ defensive effort in Chicago. This week, even Wilson couldn’t solve Brian Flores’ issues. 

Wilson has managed 10 tackles in a game and a bit, forced a fumble and stuffed 1.5 runs. The former Packer is on pace to stop 13 runs and force nine fumbles in 2025. If the rest of the Vikings’ defense could join in, that would be great.

Want to know who else is hot? Don’t worry, you’ve heard of this guy. Joey Bosa, both Joey and Nick Bosa, in fact. 

“Big Bear” (Joey), as his friends call him, has been used as a situational pass rusher so far in Buffalo, and he’s made a sack and forced three fumbles! He’s on course for his best season since 2021! 

“Small Bear” heard all the people who questioned his ability to perform at an elite level after his 2024 lull. The 27-year-old only had 33 tackles and 24 QB Hits last season, but he’s already made 15 tackles and three QB Hits in 2025. He’s on pace to make 128 tackles and 25.2 QB Hits in Robert Saleh’s system! All of which begs the question, what exactly did Nick
Sorenson do last year? 

Week 2 sees the return of the “Malik of the Week” award. No prizes for guessing that it’s the guy who caught all of those rockets Russell Wilson fired in Dallas. Malik Nabers’ 167 receiving yards led the NFL in Week 2. The 22-year-old averages 17 yards per reception in 2025 and 119 yards per game! 

Oh yeah, and super rookie Isaac TeSlaa did this again. He’s caught two passes in his career, and they’ve both been stunning!

What's Knott in football - Week 2

A sitting President complaining about kick-off rules instead of ending a war he promised to end in one day? You’d better believe that’s Knott. 

Throwing an interception in overtime when your team only needs a field goal to win, that’s very Knott. Take a bow, Russ. At least Aaron Rodgers threw his interceptions during the first four quarters (and found the Seahawk who couldn’t catch a cold).

And as previously discussed, tackling is incredibly Knott after two weeks of the regular season.

Pass protection is even more Knott so far. The Vikings seem desperate to get J.J. McCarthy injured. It’s safe to say the 22-year-old might not be pulling trees up in the NFC North, but he’s been pressured on 22.2% of his dropbacks. That’s a 3.4% higher pressure rate than Tua is battling against in Miami! 

Christian Darrishaw can’t return from injury quickly enough, but if the Vikings can’t figure out how to run the ball, the rookie signal caller won’t be able to improve. 

On the subject of quarterbacks getting knocked about, Joe Burrow’s toe is absolutely Knott, especially because it looked more like a foot injury. Adam Schefler reports it is the toe that requires surgery, and the Bengals’ only hope is done for the next three months!

Dropping a go-ahead touchdown pass is Knott, but flicking the ball up so a rookie cornerback can return it 41 yards is incredibly Knott! Come on, Travis, get your head in the game.

While we’re talking about the “Arrowhead Abomination” the Eagles and Chiefs served up, let’s talk about the tush-push, shall we? Just like those birthday cake candles that never go out, The Brotherly Shove may have been funny the first time, but we’re done with it now. 

Even Dean Blandino, a man with “bland” in his surname, paid to offer absolutely no opinion on anything except officiating, is “over it”. 

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Allowing false starts on Brotherly Shoves is really Knott!

Muffing a punt is Knott; Myles Price’s only excuse is that he saved J.J. McCarthy from being sacked three more times! 

That wasn’t even the most Knott thing that happened on special teams in Week 2. The Broncos committed hari-kari.

And this happened in Pittsburgh. Never change, NFL, never change.

This new blocking technique has to be Knott.

Trevor Lawrence, doing this? That’s right, it’s also Knott.

And we can’t let a week go by without grumbling about kickers. If you can’t wallow in someone else’s misery, what can you wallow in? Seven of the little blighters missed field goals this week, and three missed extra points! Technically, that is better than Week 1; by Week 9, nobody will be missing. If you believe that you’ll believe anything. 

RHYS KNOTT

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

Rhys has been watching the NFL for 30 something years and still hasn’t managed to pick a team to support. When he’s not fixatED on pass rushers you can find him blithering on about most sports on Twitter @wrhys_writes

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