The second one Sunday of the season introduced a tiny extra drama than endmost future, with the Raiders coming again to overcome the Ravens in Baltimore, the Bucs conserving off the Lions in Detroit, the Seahawks taking to additional time to knock off the Patriots and advance to 2-0, and the Jets getting their first win in the back of Aaron Rodgers, striking on in Nashville. One contest that wasn’t akin? The Saints, one future next blowing out the lowly Carolina Panthers, did the similar in Dallas to the high-flying Cowboys.
There is going Alvin Kamara for 57 yards!
: #NOvsDAL on FOX
: pic.twitter.com/F0NOkTSZ7g— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
It’s nonetheless early, however we’re studying an increasing number of about how the 2024 season will play games out. The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Dan Pompei proportion their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks advance to 2-0 at the similar pace the Baltimore Ravens advance to 0-2 next given up 20 second-half issues to Gardner Minshew and the Raiders. Is that this a possible brain-drain condition brewing in Baltimore?
Jones: The Ravens are lacking greater than Macdonald. This offseason, additionally they noticed defensive assistants Anthony Weaver (the Dolphins’ brandnew defensive coordinator) and Dennard Wilson (the Tennessee Titans’ DC) let go for jobs with alternative groups. Additionally they misplaced some key defensive playmakers, like Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney. So, this protection is indubitably going via some rising pains beneath first-year coordinator Zach Orr, who used to be promoted from inside of linebackers trainer. The secondary is an segment of shock, and on Sunday they gave up 9 catches and 110 yards and a landing to Davante Adams, and 9 catches and 98 yards to tight finish Brock Bowers. The protection doesn’t deserve the entire blame for this loss, then again. The offense struggled on 3rd downs, changing 3 of eleven, Baltimore dedicated 11 consequences for 109 yards, and likewise noticed Justin Tucker omit an early subject target. The Ravens need to perform a little fine-tuning in a rush. They in point of fact wanted to pick out up a win lately, as a result of later future they face the Cowboys at the street, and after comes a while with the Buffalo Expenses. Issues may withdraw from hand temporarily in the event that they’re now not cautious.
Nguyen: The Ravens had been certain to whip a step again, dropping a skill at the offensive layout, the protection (Queen, Clooney) and dropping MacDonald, who’s the most productive defensive play games caller in soccer for my part. Nonetheless, this used to be a sinful contest for them to release. Derrick Henry is having a coarse past getting going as a result of he’s by no means been nimble plethora to trade in with penetration. When he will get downhill he’s bad, which we noticed a glimpse of however, he may have a dozen of inefficient carries in the back of this layout. The Ravens had been in keep an eye on for many of the contest and after Davante Adams and Brock Bowers took over. The move interference name on Brandon Stephens towards Adams used to be indubitably questionable however Baltimore shouldn’t have let it get akin. The Ravens at all times appear to determine issues out even though they begin gradual, and they have got the skill to get again into the race, however launch 0-2 is terribly tricky to come back again from traditionally.
Pompei: There’s a reason why Macdonald is a head trainer now. He’s excellent. Positive, the Ravens omit him, particularly right through this feeling-out level of the season. As Mike identified, they misplaced greater than Macdonald, and it confirmed within the fourth quarter once they gave up 13 issues. The Ravens aren’t constructed to win when their protection softens — however that isn’t to mention they gained’t in finding tactics to play games the type of protection the Ravens are identified for. That used to be an out-of-character contest for Baltimore. The loss used to be about greater than their protection. Their offense additionally wasn’t as clever as anticipated, particularly the offensive layout.
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5 takeaways from Raiders-Ravens: Minshew will get scorching, Ravens fall to 0-2
Saints dominate in Dallas, Bucs win in Detroit… might I pastime you within the NFC South bandwagon?
Pompei: Sure, you could. It’s a greater category than it’s been given credit score for. The Bucs had been a forged workforce one yr in the past, and the proof via two video games says they’re higher this yr. Seven years into his profession, Baker Mayfield in point of fact is hitting his stride. And despite the fact that the Bucs don’t have all that they had when Tom Brady used to be there, Tampa nonetheless has the nature of the ones groups — as evidenced through their street disappointed of certainly one of soccer’s very best groups. And all credit score to the Saints, who had been a very simple workforce to forget. The skeptics will say they’re enjoying a tiny over their skis. They are going to have a prospect to turn out they aren’t towards any other NFC East powerhouse later future, once they host the Eagles.
Jones: The Buccaneers performed the Lions difficult again in January’s NFC divisional spherical, so Tampa taking to Detroit this weekend and coming away with a victory doesn’t amaze me all that a lot. However I’m totally surprised through what we noticed out of the Saints. Extreme future’s blowout win used to be remarkable, however all of us took that with a grain of salt as it used to be the atrocious Carolina Panthers. However to advance in the market and ranking any other 44 issues towards a Dallas protection that’s thought to be one of the most very best within the league, and to keep an excellent Cowboys offense to simply 19 issues? I indubitably didn’t look forward to this. Nearest endmost yr’s underwhelming appearing, I in point of fact questioned if Derek Carr would even construct it throughout the season because the Saints’ launch quarterback. However brandnew offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has accomplished a masterful process of positioning Carr and all of his guns for luck. In the meantime, the Saints’ protection denied the Cowboys on all 3 journeys within the crimson zone and recorded two takeaways. This used to be probably the most whole efficiency as we’ve noticeable via two weeks of the season.
Nguyen: The Buccaneers have a bodily entrance that might give any workforce hassle (even regardless of Vita Vea’s trauma), and Baker Mayfield is continuous his soar again this yr with the enough of guns he has (like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin). It used to be in point of fact remarkable to advance into Detroit and drive Goff the way in which that they did. The Lions have struggled to move oppose the primary two video games of the season. The Saints, in the meantime, are one of the most largest surprises of the season. The protection used to be anticipated to be stingy however the offensive layout appeared adore it may well be one of the most worst within the league — in lieu, they’ve been maulers. Fresh Orleans has pressed for time for 370 yards in two video games. Fresh offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has this offense rolling. Derek Carr seems a really perfect have compatibility on this quick-pass, play-action offense.
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Key takeaways from Saints-Cowboys: How excellent is Fresh Orleans’ offense?
Is a dud in Minnesota for a moment immediately yr reason why for the 49ers to fret about this offense?
Nguyen: Brian Flores has an excessively distinctive protection that obviously gave Brock Purdy hassle endmost season, and that used to be the case on Sunday. Thankfully for Purdy, they gained’t need to play games a protection like that each future. With all in their offseason drama and the being lacking Christian McCaffrey, they had been certain to have a contest like this. Brandon Aiyuk must be a larger a part of this offense however they’re bringing him alongside slowly. I don’t assume it’s one thing the 49ers have to fret about longer term.
Jones: Offensive struggles from the 49ers are comprehensible. As excellent as Jordan Mason is, he doesn’t deliver the similar versatility that McCaffrey boasts. In the meantime, they didn’t have a dozen of follow past with all in their manage offensive gamers this preseason — it takes past to regain brotherly love. Brian Flores is an excellent defensive coordinator, and he did a excellent process of pressuring Brock Purdy and making issues tricky for San Francisco. Sure, Mason pressed for time for 100 yards and a landing, and Deebo Samuel had 8 catches for 110 yards, and George Kittle had seven catches for 76 yards and a landing. However the 49ers had been 2-for-10 on 3rd downs and became the ball over two times. Kyle Shanahan is at all times taking to have his gamers well-prepared, however this offense is lacking some of the dynamic playmakers within the league, so the street goes to be tougher till McCaffrey returns.
Pompei: If the 49ers’ offense used to be hitting on all cylinders in Era 2, that might had been a amaze. Between the learning camp holdouts of Aiyuk and Trent Williams and the being lacking McCaffrey, they’re allowed a bumpy starting. However with 3 in their later 4 towards NFC West opponents, they’re going to want to determine it out quickly. That can heartless they want extra from their quarterback. Purdy wasn’t extreme Sunday, however he became the ball over two times — as soon as with an interception and as soon as with a fumble — and used to be sacked six instances. He wasn’t the explanation the 49ers misplaced, however he might want to be the explanation they win (or no less than one reason why they win) within the non permanent.
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Vikings stun 49ers, fortify to 2-0 beneath Sam Darnold
Extreme future we mentioned Caleb Williams’ struggles, what do you construct of Jayden Daniels up to now, particularly next Sunday’s field-goal satisfied pace towards the Giants?
Jones: I in point of fact like what Kliff Kingsbury has accomplished to put Daniels for luck via two weeks. He is helping him get right into a rhythm through getting the ball out of his arms temporarily and transferring the ball downfield in chunks. And Daniels has a excellent really feel for realizing when to importance his legs. He used to be very correct on Sunday, finishing 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and ran the ball 10 instances for 44 yards. He took serve of the ball as effectively. I do know Terry McLaurin fanatics are a bulky worried at the moment since the gifted extensive receiver had any other tranquility pace (six catches for simply 22 yards). However at the moment, it’s about serving to Daniels discover a rhythm and ship the ball temporarily as he performs in the back of a shaky offensive layout. Now, Washington must do a greater process of capitalizing within the crimson zone. Daniels directed some in point of fact great drives deep into Giants field, however 5 fake get started consequences within the crimson zone in point of fact hampered the Commanders’ efforts and compelled them to accept seven subject targets and ranking negative touchdowns.
Nguyen: Daniels didn’t play games in addition to his numbers advised endmost future — a dozen of his stats got here in rubbish past. This future, early on within the contest, he appeared very tentative and dubious within the region, like he didn’t know what he used to be having a look at however he would construct the occasional play games along with his legs. Like a standard Kingsbury offense, a dozen of Washington’s manufacturing got here from the choice contest and displays. What’s encouraging is how resilient Daniels is. He took a dozen of hits however by no means wavered. He made some sturdy in-structure throws, together with a good looks to Noah Brown in the course of the subject overdue within the contest to win the sport.
Pompei: After all the Commanders would instead see Daniels govern landing drives than subject target drives, however extra touchdowns are prone to come if he builds on his efficiency Sunday. 3 issues stood out about Daniels Sunday: 1) He led a game-winning force, with the Commanders going 65 yards on 8 performs earlier than Austin Seibert’s 30-yard subject target put aside the Giants; 2) He finished 79 % of his passes, that’s a mirrored image of accuracy, and it’s additionally a mirrored image of processing and resolution making; and three) He ran for 44 yards, now and again sensing when to drag the ball i’m sick. His working left Giants defenders i’m nervous. It used to be a really nice moment get started.
(Lead photograph: Brandon Sloter / Getty Photographs)
