Welcome to Week Two of The Huddle, Place to Be Nation! This week, our panel of Roger Morrissette, JT Rozzero, Brian Cullinane, and J Arsenio D’Amato, with quick drop-ins by Chad Campbell and Jason Greenhouse, take a look back at Week One and peer ahead to Week Two of NFL action.
With that, toss your jersey on and get inside the huddle!
Kickoff questions:
Question 1: Biggest shocker of Week One?
Question 2: Most intriguing Week Two matchup?
Roger Morrissette:
Jimmy G! How about those Pats! I told you guys… 14-2!
JT Rozzero:
1. The play of (Eagles’ QB) Carson Wentz. Even though Cleveland is forever Cleveland… (the) only team to be blown out (Sunday)!
2. Jets/Bills may already be an elimination game. Also, is Russell Wilson able to get healthy?
Brian Cullinane:
1. Biggest shock to me was tough. Pats winning on the road to Oakland going for two at the end to win the game.
2. Cincinnati/Pittsburgh.
Roger Morrissette:
Keenan Allen going down was a huge blow for the Chargers who, up until that point, seemed to be validating those in this group who pegged them as a surprise playoff team. Least shocking development of the week was Indy’s D being unable to hold the lead against Detroit.
Brian Cullinane:
Another shock was how bad the Seahawks offense looked.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
1. Biggest shocker was Miami hanging with Seattle. Kenny Stills’ drop saved a million-and-one knockout pools from going down right way
2. Green Bay/Minnesota. Does Bradford get in there this week? Either way, Minnesota has an elite defense and it will be put to an early test and I like Zimmer as an emerging coaching force.
Roger Morrissette:
I love that GB/MIN matchup too, JAD. Minnesota’s defense masked a very ineffective performance by AP against a shitty Tennessee defense. I think he rights the ship this week against the Packers. But there is always the possibility he is hitting the “Year-31” RB wall. What do you guys think?
JT Rozzero:
It wouldn’t shock me if he declined suddenly this year. If he can get it going, the Vikings are a real threat. If he steps back, they could see a dent in their chances for sure, unless McKinnon gets more touches and delivers.
Down goes RG3!
And what’s up with Chris Ivory? Still in the hospital and experiencing “pain”?
Chad Campbell:
[He’s] pregnant.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
The Titans stacked the box with no threat of Sean Hill’s arm burning them.
Hill did manage the game, unlike Mariota, who blew the game up with a couple of egregious turnovers.
JT Rozzero:
Roger Morrissette:
Word is he will be ok and is a full go for Thursday. We’ll see how he fares on Revis Island.
Jason Greenhouse:
1. Carson Wentz and the Eagles were really fun to watch. Sure it was against the dope Browns, but in a division that’s wide open, a W is a W.
2. Green Bay/Minnesota. The Jags put up a great fight Week 1 against the Pack. I’m calling for a mild upset here as Mike Zimmer and his troops christen their new stadium with a big division win Sunday night.
JT Rozzero:
How bout them Steelers!
Roger Morrissette:
They looked great – no denying It.
Brian Cullinane:
Their offense is great and that’s without Bell.
Roger Morrissette:
Washington did sort of lay down and die in the 4th.
Brian Cullinane:
They had no answer for Williams or Brown.
Roger Morrissette:
The Steelers can score on anyone… No doubt about it. Cousins really had a bad game. The Bengals will be a great game next week. AJ vs Antonio!
Roger Morrissette:
What a dumpster fire the Rams looked like (on Monday night)! How does Fisher keep his job every year?
JT Rozzero:
He should get fired today. That was embarrassing.
Fisher (has) no winning seasons since 2008!
J Arsenio D’Amato:
He’s got two lethal weapons in Gurley and Austin and no clue how to utilize them.
JT Rozzero:
The Goff pick looks brutal as well as of now.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
It’s a real red flag when your best player on defense gets frustrated and thrown out of the game. Aaron Donald is a real talent surrounded by chaos.
Roger Morrissette:
Their offense is a mess. Keenum looked like a high school freshman. Poor Gurley is going to have nine guys in the box all year. As far as the Niners… I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Gabbert looks like a pretty nice fit for the Chip Kelly offense. It’s going to be tough with Jeremy Kerley as the No. 1 receiver, but they could be respectable. Thoughts?
JT Rozzero:
I hate putting stock in those late MNF games week one but, yeah, I think they may be frisky and not the worst team in the league. Three wins instead of one?
Roger Morrissette:
They need Hyde to stay healthy, which has been an issue. He looked pretty elite last night against a very good front four.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
An angry and rested Carolina crew should bring them back to reality this Sunday.
Roger Morrissette:
Agreed – that is a brutal game on a short week.
Brian Cullinane:
A few things to look out for in Week Two:
1. How will the Chargers adapt without Keenan Allen? I expect more reliance on Woodhead in the passing game and maybe more of the running game in general.
2. Also, Dallas will need a win on the road to avoid dropping to 0-2 against their division opponents. Let’s see how Prescott can handle his first game on the road and if Elllott can produce against a poor run defense.
JT Rozzero:
Can Detroit set themselves up nicely in the division with a home win over shaky Tennessee? With Minnesota and Green Bay playing, one of them will slide to 1-1, allowing Detroit to keep pace with a winnable game.
Does Gronk play? Word is he may now miss multiple games… What is going on there?
A big game for Arizona with Tampa coming in. They need to make a statement and not let a high-octane, but flawed, Bucs team go toe-to-toe with them.
Brian Cullinane:
Also, want to see if the Rams can actually score a point this season as they go up against Seattle.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
Four teams desperately have to change their culture and shed their reputation as soft: Atlanta, New Orleans, San Diego, and Indianapolis. Week One was same-old-same-old for all (four): No defense, toughness, or physicality displayed.
JT Rozzero:
(Does anyone) have a big upset they see happening? And who is he team that looked best Week One that will do a 180 this week? Niners seem to be the obvious answer, but anyone else?
Brian Cullinane:
My upset is Indianapolis over Denver, who were lucky to win at home against Carolina. It will be a high-scoring game and the Colts will air it out.
As for the 180, I’ll go with the Eagles, with Wentz going on the road to face the Bears; without TE Zach Ertz, things will get more difficult than facing Cleveland.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
The Rams usually save their quality games for Seattle. If they can’t use the mojo of their first game back in L.A., when will they?
Roger Morrissette:
I like Cincy, the Jets, and Green Bay to get tough division road wins this week. I think the Jets handle the Bills fairly easily and the drum beats get louder for Rex’s head. Giants/Saints is a big game for the G-Men. If they are for real, they beat a flawed NO team at home. I think they do it.
JT Rozzero:
I think Tampa is on upset alert. I’m not a huge believer in them, but I do think Arizona is that “What Happened?!?” team this season. A crazy shootout in the desert could go down there, as the Cards come away 0-2 at home and shell-shocked.
The Niners looked pretty damn good, but they crash to Earth this week.
One game we haven’t discussed that could be big down the stretch when it comes to AFC seeding and playoff slots and what not: KC at Houston.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
Baltimore will take a step back and struggle versus a fired-up Cleveland who will jump on a rare chance for a victory.
Roger Morrissette:
I’m with you on the Rams, JAD. They always play the Seahawks tough but, my god, did they look bad Monday! Will be interesting.
Brian – I hope you are right about Indy/Den. I worry about the Colts’ line holding up against that pass rush though.
Justin – I think Detroit works over Tennessee and Gronk plays. Miami always plays the Pats tough, but I see another W for Jimmy G.
JT Rozzero:
I don’t see the Ravens losing that game, but McCown does have good rapport with Barnidge and could get him going again.
Roger Morrissette:
I like Houston at home in what will be a very good game. Those teams are very similar, so, when in doubt, go with the home team. I think Miller has a big day for the Texans.
50/50 McCown makes it through the whole game with T-Sizzle (Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs) back.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
KC really put it on Houston in last year’s playoff game and Houston will be motivated to prove it was only because Hoyer didn’t give them any chance to be competitive.
Roger Morrissette:
Hoyer was putrid in that game; worst playoff performance this side of (Jake) Delhomme.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
I’m not sold on Osweiller, but those two stud (receivers), Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins, really cover for his inaccuracy.
Roger Morrissette:
Agreed. Clowney looked really good last week. Adding a healthy Clowney, Lamar Miller, Fuller, and Osweiler makes them a much better squad than the team the Chiefs beat.
JT Rozzero:
The Bills and the Jets are legit in must-win mode here as Buffalo draws the Cards and Pats next and the Jets get the Chiefs and Seahawks next.
Whoever loses Thursday night is looking at a very possible 0-4 start.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
The NYJ can overcome 0-2, but Buffalo can’t.
Brian Cullinane:
If Watkins is out, Buffalo is toast.
JT Rozzero:
0-2 for the Jets puts them in a must-win at KC, and that would be a tall order. Not taking advantage of a winnable home against Cincy was a big miss.
J Arsenio D’Amato:
The NY Jets have a Super Bowl-caliber defensive line that can carry them to a victory anywhere against anyone. They can survive a rough start by just playing one week at a time. The schedule looks daunting but an injured starting QB could pop up in Week Five or Six, and an upset win that’s unexpected always changes the landscape of the season.
Brian Cullinane:
Fitzpatrick needs to play better if the Jets want to make the playoffs. He didn’t look too great in Week One.
And with that, we’re up to speed on the gridiron. Until next week!
