by Vegas Writer
Monday, Sep 16, 2024With one game left to play - the Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles - here are some NFL observations from Week 2:
Eleven of Sunday's games were decided by one score (eight points or less), four if which featured a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.
Through the first two weeks of the season, we've seen 20 games decided by eight points or fewer this season. Only three previous seasons – 2013 (23 games), 2016 (22) and 2018 (21) – have had more such games in the same span.
Four teams – the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks – have begun the season 2-0 after missing the playoffs last season. It's the first time since 2021 that at least four teams started 2-0 the season after missing the postseason.
In the New Orleans Saints 44-19 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, running back Alvin Kamara totaled 180 scrimmage yards (115 rushing, 65 receiving) and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in the win.
The Saints' 91 points this season is the most points by a team in its first two games of a season in 15 years, and tied with the 1971 Dallas Cowboys (91 points) for the fourth-most points in a team’s first two games of a season in NFL history. New Orleans, which scored 48 points in Week 18 last season, is the third team since 1970 to score at least 44 points in three consecutive games.
The Saints, who had 35 points in the first half this week after having 30 points in the first half in Week 1, joined the 2001 Indianapolis Colts and 1968 Oakland Raiders as the only teams in NFL history with at least 30 points in the first half of each of their first two games of a season.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 pass attempts (72%) with two touchdown passes in the Chiefs’ 26-25 win over Cincinnati. Mahomes has 222 touchdown passes in 98 career starts, tied with Aaron Rodgers (222 touchdown passes) for the most by a player in his first 100 career starts in NFL history. Mahomes has 2,424 completions in 98 career starts and surpassed Matthew Stafford (2,410 completions) for the most completions by a player in his first 100 career starts in NFL history.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray completed 17 of 21 pass attempts (81%) for 266 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 158.3 passer rating - the highest attainable mark - while adding 59 rushing yards in the Cardinals’ 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Murray became the second player in league history with at least 250 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and a 158.3 passer rating in a game.
Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 133 receiving yards, including a 97-yard touchdown reception, in the Vikings’ 23-17 win over San Francisco, and now has 30 career games with at least 100 receiving yards, tied for most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. He also has 20 career games with at least 125 receiving yards, tied for the most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history.
The Las Vegas Raiders overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Baltimore, 26-23 as rookie tight end Brock Bowers had nine receptions for 98 yards. Bowers, who had six catches for 58 yards in his NFL debut last week, is the first tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels registered 270 total yards (226 passing, 44 rushing) in the Commanders’ 21-18 win over the New York Giants.
Daniels now has 132 rushing yards this season, surpassing Robert Griffin III (124 rushing yards) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first two career games in the Super Bowl era.
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers recorded 10 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown in Week 2. Nabers is the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in a game.
New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen recorded a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the team’s 24-17 win at Tennessee. He is the youngest player in the Super Bowl era and the second-youngest player since 1933 to score a touchdown. Allen is the youngest player since 1933 with a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game.
Detroit defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Week 2 to become the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record a game with three or more sacks in each of his first three career seasons.
Eleven of Sunday's games were decided by one score (eight points or less), four if which featured a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.
Through the first two weeks of the season, we've seen 20 games decided by eight points or fewer this season. Only three previous seasons – 2013 (23 games), 2016 (22) and 2018 (21) – have had more such games in the same span.
Four teams – the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks – have begun the season 2-0 after missing the playoffs last season. It's the first time since 2021 that at least four teams started 2-0 the season after missing the postseason.
In the New Orleans Saints 44-19 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, running back Alvin Kamara totaled 180 scrimmage yards (115 rushing, 65 receiving) and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in the win.
The Saints' 91 points this season is the most points by a team in its first two games of a season in 15 years, and tied with the 1971 Dallas Cowboys (91 points) for the fourth-most points in a team’s first two games of a season in NFL history. New Orleans, which scored 48 points in Week 18 last season, is the third team since 1970 to score at least 44 points in three consecutive games.
The Saints, who had 35 points in the first half this week after having 30 points in the first half in Week 1, joined the 2001 Indianapolis Colts and 1968 Oakland Raiders as the only teams in NFL history with at least 30 points in the first half of each of their first two games of a season.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 pass attempts (72%) with two touchdown passes in the Chiefs’ 26-25 win over Cincinnati. Mahomes has 222 touchdown passes in 98 career starts, tied with Aaron Rodgers (222 touchdown passes) for the most by a player in his first 100 career starts in NFL history. Mahomes has 2,424 completions in 98 career starts and surpassed Matthew Stafford (2,410 completions) for the most completions by a player in his first 100 career starts in NFL history.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray completed 17 of 21 pass attempts (81%) for 266 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 158.3 passer rating - the highest attainable mark - while adding 59 rushing yards in the Cardinals’ 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Murray became the second player in league history with at least 250 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and a 158.3 passer rating in a game.
Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 133 receiving yards, including a 97-yard touchdown reception, in the Vikings’ 23-17 win over San Francisco, and now has 30 career games with at least 100 receiving yards, tied for most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. He also has 20 career games with at least 125 receiving yards, tied for the most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history.
The Las Vegas Raiders overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Baltimore, 26-23 as rookie tight end Brock Bowers had nine receptions for 98 yards. Bowers, who had six catches for 58 yards in his NFL debut last week, is the first tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels registered 270 total yards (226 passing, 44 rushing) in the Commanders’ 21-18 win over the New York Giants.
Daniels now has 132 rushing yards this season, surpassing Robert Griffin III (124 rushing yards) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first two career games in the Super Bowl era.
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers recorded 10 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown in Week 2. Nabers is the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in a game.
New York Jets rookie running back Braelon Allen recorded a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the team’s 24-17 win at Tennessee. He is the youngest player in the Super Bowl era and the second-youngest player since 1933 to score a touchdown. Allen is the youngest player since 1933 with a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game.
Detroit defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Week 2 to become the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record a game with three or more sacks in each of his first three career seasons.
