Rico's Overreactions: NFL Week 2
Phelan M Ebenhack. Shutterstock Images.1- The Colts Really Stink
If you remember last week I stated the Colts stink. Well, upgrade that because they really stink. Matt Ryan looks washed, the offense can't score against the Jaguars. Jonathan Taylor was halted to just 54 yards. Pittman was out but you can't get shutout.The AFC South was supposed to be a dumpster fire yet the Colts tie the Texans and get shutout by The Jaguars Not good. In fact really bad.
To me the issue here is Matt Ryan just doesn't look like the guy people thought he would be to rejuvenate his career. Maybe when he was bad in Atlanta towards the end and the world wrote it off that it was because his team stunk, it was actually him who stunk too. 1 TD and 4 INT through 2 games sure supports that cause.
A look ahead to the schedule isn't something that indicates the Colts can get hot.
Chiefs, Titans, @ Broncos, Jags, @ Titans
Who would have thought the Colts playoff chances could be dead by Halloween?
2- The Broncos Offense Is Ugly
I know Jeudy got hurt and Russ is still getting adjusted to Denver, but 16 points vs Houston? After 16 vs Seattle? It just looks like the Broncos are missing something. They have the weapons, Javonte Williams is a great RB, Courtand Sutton is a solid receiver and when Russ is clicking he's elite. But until those weapons show some real threat of being used to their potential, Denver is stuck in neutral.
Even with the Raiders at 0-2, the AFC West is a big time offense division. Mahomes, Carr, and Herbert (if healthy) are teams that can put up serious points. If you have 6 games in the division against those teams how many do you think you can win by score 16 points a game?
Time will tell but in a deep AFC, Denver may be on the outside looking in, in terms of the playoffs.
3- The Comebacks In The Witching Hour Saved The Sunday Early Slate
The Jets won a game in which they were down 13 with under 2 minutes!
The Dolphins won a game in which they trailed by 21 in the 4th quarter and were predicted (by NFL expert and known pessimist Frank Fleming) to lose 88-0.
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These two comebacks were amazing and saved an underwhelming 1pm slate. The Pats-Steelers, Colts-Jags, Bucs-Saints, and for most of the game Lions-Commanders were a snore. The Giants snuck out a close win vs Carolina but it wasn't the most pretty game ever played. These two comebacks were needed to save the witching hour.
4- The Honeymoon Is Over In Cincinnati
The Bengals are 0-2 and the Joe Burrow may be losing a little bit of his love from Cincy faithful. Now, Burrow is one of the most likable guys in the league and this is an overreaction blog so I dial up the takes a bit but can you be thrilled with the Bengals start so far? Do you start to worry last year was a one time miracle run and the Bengals are due for a life of disappointment if you are a Bengals fan?
It's a long season. I believe in Burrow long term. Jamar Chase is electric. The Bengals can be fine, but if I don't think they are elite. I will say this, this week's game at The Jets is now a must win. Who would have thought that before the season?
5- The AFC Is So Much Deeper Than The NFC
The Packers reestablished that they are a top NFC team. The Bucs are 2-0. The Rams are 1-1 and lost to the best team in the NFL. After that is anyone really considered a great team in the NFC? That gives us 3 elite NFC teams.
Tonight's Vikings-Eagles winner will give us another 2-0 team but neither to me would be considered elite just yet.
The Cowboys are without Dak. The 49ers just lost Trey Lance. The Cardinals needed a miracle to avoid 0-2. Jameis Winston needs a refund on his eye surgery.
The Giants are 2-0 but even as a fan I know they are the "pesky and fun" team that makes the playoffs as a feel good story and catches 10-13 points as an underdog in a wild card game.
The AFC on the other hand has :
To me the Bills, Chiefs, Chargers, Ravens are all elite.
The next tier of the emerging Dolphins, struggling Bengals, need improvement Broncos, and can be dangerous Raiders all have a tad more upside longterm to me than the NFC's second tier.
It's early… but I think if you are a mediocre NFC team you have a much better shot to sneak into the playoffs than an AFC team.
Back next week for week 3 overreactions…