2023-09-19 16:13:20
Here we are again!
There is still a lot to talk about in the 2023 NFL season, especially after Week 2.
So it’s good that there is the “User Endzone” – the NFL format from YOU for YOU.
Two users present their expertise, opinions and views in different categories.
We look forward to your feedback and suggestions, after all, this format also needs to be further developed.
The hosts in Week 2: “marver711” and “Sportfan1990”.
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SPORTFAN1990:
Arizona Cardinals (0-2) vs. New York Giants (1-1) 28:31
Dear Giants, it was so close that you would have made it into the loser category this week. After last week’s disastrous start, when New York lost 40-0 at home to division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, they now had to go to the desert in Arizona. The Cardinals are considered the favorite for the number 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
But the first half played out like you were watching a replay from a week ago. The Cardinals dominate and deservedly lead 20-0 at halftime. That means the Giants scored 0 points and conceded a whopping 60 points in their first 90 minutes this season – a disastrous statistic considering the Giants made the divisional playoffs last season. After three halves of disastrous football, the Giants came out of the locker room with a monster play. Daniel Jones found rookie receiver Jalin Hyatt for 58 yards and two plays later the Giants scored for the first time this season with a 14-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jones.
OKAY HYATT ????
????: FOX pic.twitter.com/4Qf4WEO3jG
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 17, 2023
After the Cardinals temporarily took a 28:7 lead, New York’s defense woke up and didn’t concede any more points until the end. The Cardinals’ last four drives were all stopped. In contrast, the Giants’ offense scored three touchdowns and a field goal on its final four drives. With 19 seconds left, Graham Gano sealed the victory with a 34-yard field goal. It was the Giants’ first comeback win from a deficit of 21 or more points since October 30, 1949 – their opponent at the time was the Chicago Cardinals (predecessor of the Arizona Cardinals).
The downside is the injury to star running back Saquon Barkley. He had to leave the game early on the final drive. The Giants pulled their heads out of the noose again with a strong second half. With a loss, the Giants would have already had their backs against the wall in the NFC East, where all three other teams have a 2-0 record.
The rest of the game plan is also not so good for the Blues from New York. The next NFC West team is already waiting on Thursday – the San Francisco 49ers. After that comes the Seahawks and in week 5 you have to go to Miami to face the Dolphins. This quick look shows how important this comeback win against the Cardinals was.
Dallas Cowboys (30:10 win against the New York Jets)
Can the Cowboys really take a big step this season and at least be in the big game. Of course, so far they have only played against the two New York teams. The Giants were still on summer vacation on the first day of the game and the Jets – with a completely overwhelmed Zach Wilson – were also a pleasant task this week. The first big chunk awaits in Week 5 with the San Francisco 49ers.
But there are no walk-ins running around in the NFL. To be at 70:10 after two games is a statement – no matter who the opponents were. Now I have to quote a famous saying which goes: “Offense wins games, defense wins championships”.
And this defense is absolutely for real. 10 sacks in two games is a statement and six turnovers and three more forced fumbles speak for themselves. Led by Micah Parsons, who will probably have a big payday after this season and will be in the salary range of good quarterbacks, the defense has been a force so far. The offense isn’t great at this point, but is playing good, error-free football. This offense is currently carried by Tony Pollard, who has recovered well from a broken tibia, and CeeDee Lamb, who had his best start of the season.
It will be interesting to see where the Cowboys will go this year, but after two weeks it can be said that the Cowboys are for real.
John Metchie III (WR, Houston Texans, 1 Reception, 17 Yards)
Now many will ask why a player with one catch for 17 yards is Player of the Week. This reception in particular came with ten seconds left, when Houston was already down by 11 points. But of course it’s not about the statistics, it has a much broader background.
Metchie III played his last game for Alabama on December 4, 2021 in the SEC Championship Game. After a strong season, Metchie III was considered a rumored Round 1 pick and the successor to other very strong Alabama Crimson Tide receivers in the recent past (including Jeudy, Smith and Waddle). In that aforementioned game, Metchie III seriously injured his knee. Due to the cruciate ligament tear, he was also unable to take part in the Combine and as a result he fell until the middle of the second round. The Houston Texans secured his rights.
The then 21-year-old was busy working on his debut, but unfortunately he received much worse news. In the summer of 2022, he was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia. So football was no longer a priority and Metchie III had to undergo months of therapy.
But he also overcame this illness. After he officially received the green light from the Texans’ doctors, he was able to take part in training camp. It wasn’t enough to play in the first game, but on Sunday he was able to crown his first minutes in the NFL with a catch. For me it’s a wonderful story that I really wanted to mention here. I wish John Metchie III a successful NFL career and, above all, many healthy years.
Welcome to the NFL, John Metchie. ???????? pic.twitter.com/ryMTeQHHmH
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) September 17, 2023
Minnesota Vikings (28:34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles)
If you lose by six points away against last year’s finalists Philadelphia Eagles, are you a loser? No! If you’re 0-2 after two weeks, are you a loser? No, not necessarily! So why are the Minnesota Vikings in this category? The Vikings offense should now practice one thing for a week. Protect the fu…ing ball.
If your quarterback throws for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, then you have a good chance of winning. Well, when four players – including key players like Cousins, Jefferson and Mattison – fumble, it becomes difficult to win.
The key moment in this game was, of course, Jefferson’s fumble. Instead of a 14:10 lead, the Eagles got the ball again and had to go into halftime with a 7:13 deficit.
Justin Jefferson fantasy managers, look away now ????
This fumble at the goal-line resulted in an Eagles touchback. But don’t sweat it, he still had 11 catches for 159 yards ???? pic.twitter.com/fgqTGJbNut
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) September 15, 2023
There were three turnovers in week one – all by Kirk Cousins (2 fumbles, 1 interception). They then surprisingly lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings need to eliminate the turnover problem as quickly as possible.
Next week there will be a very groundbreaking game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams are 0-2. A win is therefore a must for both teams. Only six teams have managed to qualify for the playoffs since 1979 after an 0-3 start. Because the regular season has now been 17 games long for two years, the possibility is slightly greater, but certainly not an easy undertaking. So TV tip for everyone: Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 7 p.m.!
ROOKIE IN FOCUS: Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
15 receptions for 147 yards against San Francisco! The BYU receiver was a fifth-round pick in the last draft. In the offseason, experts thought he would fight for a roster spot.
After he made the jump to the 53-man squad and Cooper Kupp was injured, there were definitely snaps in there. Now after two games he has 25 receptions for 266 yards. He is the first player in NFL history with 10 or more catches and 100 or more receiving yards in his first two career games.
The young shooting star is characterized by very good route running and reliable hands. One might think that the injured Cooper Kupp is at work here. All joking aside, when Kupp is fit again, this offense will be even more efficient and the Rams may have a shot at the playoffs thanks to a sensational coach – Sean McVay – and an outstanding young rookie.
MARVER711:
Detroit Lions (1-1) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) 31:37 OT
Seahawks vs. Lions, this game apparently means spectacle. Last season both teams gave us an incredible game with a 48:45. The current game was no less exciting than last year’s.
The Lions took a 14-7 lead into the break thanks to two great TD passes from Jared Goff. The second TD pass was a very spectacular one and definitely my play of the week. Goff handed the ball off to his running back. He ran a few yards, threw the ball back to Goff, who then found WR Raymond in the end zone (the play is called the Flea Flicker).
The lead went back and forth in the second half before Goff threw a nasty interception with 8 minutes left that was carried back into the end zone. But the Lions didn’t want to give up and fought their way back into the game. With 3 seconds left, Lions kicker Patterson sent the game into OT. Unfortunately, the coin toss decided the game and the Seahawks were able to win thanks to a TD from Lockett. A great game that didn’t really deserve a loser.
Buffalo Bills (38:10 win against Las Vegas Raiders)
What’s the best way to come back from a bitter OT loss to a division rival on Matchday 1? Preferably like the Buffalo Bills with this impressive win against the Las Vegas Raiders. But one after anonther.
The Raiders were able to take the lead thanks to a TD catch by Davante Adams, but the Bills then took over and gave the Raiders no chance as the game progressed. QB Josh Allen delivered a strong performance (270 yards, 3 TDs), but was also well supported by a very good run game around RB James Cook.
And the defense? Jimmy G & Co held this to just 10 points. A very important victory for the Bills and, above all, very convincing in all parts of the team!
Mike Evans (WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6 Catches, 171 Yards, 1 TD)
As always, the selection for the player of the week was very difficult. There would have been enough alternatives with Danielle Hunter (3 sacks!), Devontha Smith or D’Andre Swift. The choice ultimately fell on Mike Evans.
Mike Evans is also symbolic of a strong Bucs team with a great defense (6 sacks + pick six). Mayfield & Co did the rest for the convincing 27:17 win against the Chicago Bears. Evans is one of the most reliable WRs and has been for years! Now he also seems to have found good chemistry with Baker Mayfield.
He had over 1,000 receiving yards every year under Jameis Winston and Tom Brady. If things continue like this, he will do it this year too. Let’s see where the Bucs’ path leads.
Denver Broncos (33:35 loss to the Washington Commanders)
How could the Broncos actually lose such a clear game?
Shortly before halftime the Broncos were already leading 21:3 and everything smelled strongly of a Broncos victory. The Broncos’ offense collapsed completely in the second half and only put 3 more measly points on the scoreboard until shortly before the end.
Denver had another chance to equalize thanks to a Hail Mary seconds before the end, but failed on the 2 point conversion. The Broncos are already under pressure with a 0-2 start and have to win the next few games if they want to make the playoffs.
IM FOCUS ROOKIE: Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons)
172 total yards against the Green Bay Packers! In general, I’m not a fan of selecting running backs in the first round of the draft. Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons, that could be a very good fit.
Robinson excelled in college at Texas, totaling nearly 1,900 yards and 20 TDs last year!! Robinson not only runs the ball, but he can also catch the ball very well. The Falcons selected him with the 8th pick in this year’s draft. By now it should be clear why.
With his 172 total yards, Robinson was able to make a decisive contribution to the Falcons’ victory (25:24) against the Packers. When you consider that Robinson is currently sharing runs with Allgeier, you can see how much potential there is still here. If his development continues like this, nothing will stand in the way of more games like this.
PETER ALTMANN:
1.) Before this season, it felt like it was all about which NFC team could congratulate one of the AFC superpowers on winning the title after the Super Bowl, right?
Well, to be honest, I currently think the AFC is more competitive than the NFC, which makes it all the more worth mentioning that the NFC leads 6-0 in direct duels against the AFC after the first two weeks.
Specifically: In Week 1, the Lions defeated the Chiefs, the 49ers defeated the Steelers, the Saints defeated the Titans and the Eagles defeated the Patriots. In Week 2 the Cowboys face the Jets and the Commanders face the Broncos.
These are all results that one could have guessed in advance (including the Lions sensation in Kansas City). The NFC’s three top favorites, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco, were also involved. Still, it’s remarkable.
Another curiosity: In the NFC East (Dallas, Philly, Washington) and in the supposedly weak NFC South (Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay), three teams are each 2-0. Then there are the San Francisco 49ers. The entire AFC only has two undefeated teams (Miami and Baltimore).
I think it’s a nice numbers game, but nothing more. On the one hand, it is partly due to the greater balance of the AFC. On the other hand, an unusually large proportion of the top teams had at least one slip-up.
2.) Speaking of slip-ups, and twice as much. The Cincinnati Bengals undoubtedly made one of the most shocking false starts.
One of the most popular games for 0-2 teams is the question: to panic or not to panic?
I’m leaning toward not panicking about the Bengals – yet. Because we can slowly accept it as a fact that Joe Burrow simply can’t start the season.
It’s his fourth season. His record after every two matchdays is 1-7. Ouch! Last season, Cincinnati made it to the conference championship game after an 0-2 start – and since there are only two undefeated AFC teams, nothing is lost anyway.
However, I would like to throw in a small but, a bit of a panic. Because the way this highly gifted offense is currently acting is sluggish, one can be a little worried until proven otherwise. Burrow doesn’t seem to have shaken off his summer injury yet.
And to finish the game, here are the other 0-2 teams in a spontaneous assessment:
New England Patriots – Panik! (0-2 for the first time since 2001 and all of you know what that means)
Houston Texans – don’t panic! (It will happen, but not this year)
Los Angeles Chargers – don’t panic! (Like the Bengals too good to pass up)
Denver Broncos – Panik! (Correction: super overwhelmed super panic!)
Minnesota Vikings – don’t panic! (Anyone who challenges the Eagles like that is good enough)
Chicago Bears – Panik! (Because perhaps you didn’t want to be further ahead in terms of results, but in terms of performance)
Carolina Panthers – don’t panic! (Let Bryce Young learn in peace)
Arizona Cardinals – don’t panic! (Jössas! Is it really necessary to endanger the number 1 pick with such a good half 12?)
Joe Burrow’s slow starts continue. He is now 1-7 in his team’s first 2 games of a season in his NFL career.
In those games he has 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions while averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. pic.twitter.com/2s78EhRX7X
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 17, 2023
3.) If you’ve been reading here for a while, you know the following: It’s been years since I made fun of the Detroit Lions week after week, but…
…it has to be this week. Whereby: Don’t make fun, but rather scold.
There’s no need to discuss the Lions’ potential much anymore. It would be all the more necessary if, after a statement victory like the one in Kansas City, the euphoria were not killed with an avoidable home defeat like the one against Seattle.
This football town has suffered enough. November marks the 60th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy. He only missed one Lions playoff win (January 1992).
In order to take the decisive step to become a top team, you MUST learn to win such games.
4.) How horrific is Nick Chubb’s injury?!?
I know we complain about bad injuries every year at the start of the season, but after the Rodgers shock last week, the next piece of bitter news really wouldn’t have been necessary.
(For anyone who was just wondering: JFK has missed at least eight of the Browns’ playoff wins. But only one since 1994…)
5.) Ideally, the jump in performance between the rookie season and the second season is particularly large. That’s why it’s extremely pleasing that Bernhard Raimann has had a dream start to the new season. In 85 pass block snaps, he has not allowed a sack and only allowed 1 pressure. This is outstanding!
Unfortunately, Anthony Richardson was eliminated in the second game with a suspected concussion. If he can manage to stay healthy despite his wild play, it could be really fun.
.@robertmays & @Nate_Tice talked at length about Austrian left tackle Bernhard Raimann in the Indianapolis Colts preview a few days ago.
Check out the full Colts preview on YouTube:
???? https://t.co/1FV2ByUKwK
Listen to the AFC South preview:
???? pic.twitter.com/veUuV23Ith— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) August 22, 2023
6.) This leads us neatly to the resolution of the Week 1 poll: 48 percent of you believe Richardson will have the best career of the top three rookie QBs. 36 percent are betting on Bryce Young, 16 percent on CJ Stroud.
This week, given the NFC’s 6-0 start against the AFC, we’re going to keep it simple: Which conference is actually better?
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