NFL Week 2 Most Anticipated Matchups
Week 2 of the NFL season starts tonight with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Minnesota Vikings. The defending NFC champs will look to get their offense back to the well oiled machine it was last year against a Vikings team who disappointed in week 1 losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As far as Thursday Night Football games go Philly-Minnesota is pretty good but I wouldn’t consider it one of the most anticipated matchups of the week so let’s take a further look into this weekends upcoming matchups.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 06: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the second quarter in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Paycor Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
One of my most anticipated matchups of the weekend is an AFC North clash between two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. Joe Burrow and the Bengals struggled mightily in their week 1 contest against the Browns, Burrow and the Bengals offense only mustered up 3 points and now host the always tough Baltimore Ravens looking to get their season back on track. The Ravens head into week 2 coming off a win over the Houston Texans, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens started a little slow in their new offense integrating several new targets. The biggest questions heading into this game will be whether the Bengals offensive line can keep Joe Burrow upright letting Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins get the ball and be the playmakers they usually are. The Ravens will be looking to have their new offense run more smoothly under Todd Monken and hope their defense can replicate some of what the Browns defense did last weekend holding the Bengals offense in check.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 06: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the second quarter in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Paycor Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Another highly anticipated matchup this weekend is the 0-1 defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs heading to the Super Bowl hopeful Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs started the NFL season off last Thursday with a tough loss to the Detroit Lions at home. If you’ve been listening to the Joe Murray show at all this week you’ll know the importance of not starting 0-2 if you’re a Super Bowl hopeful, since 2007, 127 teams have started the season 0-2. Only 14 have rallied to make the playoffs. 11 teams were 0-2 in 2020 and seven in 2021, none made the playoffs even with the playoffs expanding. In 2022, six teams started 0-2. The Bengals and Titans went on to make the playoffs. It’s crazy to think of a week 2 game as a must win for the defending Super Bowl champs but looking at these numbers and the powerhouses that remain in the AFC the Chiefs will hope Travis Kelce is good to go this week and their defense can hold Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley in Check. For the Jaguars they’ll be looking to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2018 in a weak AFC South, after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in week 1. Calvin Ridley looked like he hadn’t missed a beat returning from suspension and the Jaguars will hope that continues against a weak Chiefs secondary.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 22: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers (-8) @ Los Angeles Rams
The San Francisco 49ers were the most impressive team in week 1 dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers on both sides of the ball. The 49ers are another Super Bowl hopeful that have looked the part from the first snap of the season. Brock Purdy doesn’t look like just a fill in quarterback along for the ride, he was patient and direct with all his decisions on Sunday and will hope to build off of it in Los Angeles against Aaron Donald and the Rams defense. The Rams were one of the more surprising winners of week 1, a team that headed into the season with a lot of question marks around it’s roster this year. With Cooper Kupp out Matt Stafford tapped into his Detroit years throwing for over 300 yards and finding a new potential favorite receiver Puka Nucua who racked up 119 receiving yards against the Seahawks. Will Brock Purdy and the 49ers continue to look dominant or will Aaron Donald and the Rams play spoiler to a 2-0 start?
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins (-3) @ New England Patriots
Sunday Night Football brings us to the AFC East and a matchup of old school versus new school coaching between Bill Belichick and Mike McDaniel. Bill Belichick had the Patriots defense clicking on all cylinders against the defending NFC champion Eagles in week 1, the Eagles went up 16-0 early but it was due to turnovers and great field position. After the Eagles hot start the Patriots defense locked in and had Jalen Hurts confused, slowing down his reads and stunting the Eagles offense. While it wasn’t enough to overcome the Patriots early turnovers the defense was definitely the high point of the Patriots play on Sunday and they’ll need them again against Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins lightning fast offense. Mike McDaniel had his offense flying against the Chargers on Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards with Tyreek Hill getting over 200 for himself. The Patriots will have their hands full trying to slow down one of the best receiving groups in the league but if their defense can even somewhat mimic what it did against AJ Brown and Devonta Smith the offense will have it’s chances to compete.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10: Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns breaks through to run for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns (-2.5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The second of the two Monday Night Football game’s this week brings us to Pittsburgh, the Steelers struggled mightily in week 1 against the 49ers. While the Browns impressed in a convincing win at home against the Bengals, holding Joe Burrow and their offense to 3 points. The AFC North is going to be one of the tougher divisions in football, the Steelers will need to do everything they can to slow down Nick Chubb and hope they don’t get into that dreaded 0-2 hole. The Browns will look to break a 30 year streak by going 2-0 this week, yes that’s right it’s been 30 years since the Browns started 2-0. Deshaun Watson will have his hands full with Mike Tomlin at home coming off a loss but if he can limit the turnovers the Browns have a chance to break a historic streak.
