NFL Week 2 kickoff times, TV info, game breakdowns
Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Steve Tasker)
The matchup: The Browns feel good about their young core and their chances of escaping the AFC North cellar. Rookie QB DeShone Kizer performed pretty well in a close season-opening loss to Pittsburgh and should improve with experience, but he faces a tall task in his first road game. ... QB Joe Flacco operated a conservative offense and shook off some rust after missing nearly six weeks because of a back injury, and, perhaps most important, the Ravens ran the ball effectively to put the game away.
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Chicago Bears (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, Fox (Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth, Shannon Spake)
The matchup: The Bucs didn’t get their first look at QB Jameis Winston’s new targets — WR DeSean Jackson and first-round TE O.J. Howard — because Hurricane Irma delayed their trip to Miami until Week 11. So coach Dirk Koetter’s club should be as fresh as any team in the league.... The Bears came within 5 yards of upsetting the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. The defense held the NFL’s highest-scoring offense to 23 points, more than 10 below its 2016 average. Rookie RB Tarik Cohen might have been the best player on the field, leading Chicago in rushing and receiving en route to 158 scrimmage yards — the most in a debut in franchise history.
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, Fox (Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber, Kristina Pink)
The matchup: A revamped offense wants to feature rookie RB Dalvin Cook and is still finding a rhythm with new faces on the offensive line and new roles for the receiving corps. That line will be tested by a Steelers defensive front that was dominant in the season opener, but the Vikings believe Cook can create big plays and keep the Steelers honest. QB Sam Bradford will see how the Browns used their tight ends last week against the Steelers and try to attack with TE Kyle Rudolph, an emerging star and one of his favorite targets. ... The Steelers running game never got rolling in the season opener, but QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown were on their games and rookie OLB T.J. Watt was dominant in his debut. The Steelers remain confident that RB Le’Veon Bell will only improve after he sat out training camp and the preseason.
New England Patriots (0-1) at New Orleans Saints (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
The matchup: After being shellacked 42-27 by Kansas City, the banged-up Patriots will look to bounce back. QB Tom Brady looked rusty, completing 44% of his passes with no TDs and a 70.0 passer rating. Hard-charging RB Mike Gillislee scored on three short TD runs but was stopped twice on fourth-and-1. The defense was shredded for 537 yards. ... The offseason trade of WR Brandin Cooks to New England coupled with the three-game suspension of WR Willie Snead means Saints QB Drew Brees has just one of his top three pass catchers — WR Michael Thomas. But he always has been able to adapt quickly. Brees is hoping to use TE Coby Fleener more, and Brees targeted him six times in Week 1.
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver)
The matchup: Eagles Second-year QB Carson Wentz was solid with flashes of excellence, while the defense, led by DT Fletcher Cox and LB Jordan Hicks, held the Washington Redskins to 264 yards. It also created four turnovers, one returned by Cox for the clinching touchdown. ... Kansas City’s expectations took a decided leap up last week with a stunning road victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. The good news was legion: the record-setting debut of rookie RB Kareem Hunt, a defense that smothered Tom Brady and the fact QB Alex Smith outshined Brady. But there was bad news, too: 15 penalties for 139 yards.
Tennessee Titans (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, CBS (Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta)
The matchup: Tennessee’s 26-16 loss to Oakland was heavily swayed by poor execution in the fourth quarter, which the Raiders won 10-3. QB Marcus Mariota was sharp, going 25-for-41 for 256 yards, most frequently hitting trusty targets TE Delanie Walker and WR Rishard Matthews. Being more explosive and being more effective in the red zone, where they went 1-for-3, will be critical for Tennessee. ... The Jaguars invested heavily again in their defense this offseason. If their 29-7 season-opening win in Houston is an indication of how well their defense might play in 2017, they finally knocked it out of the park. With RB Leonard Fournette keeping the chains moving on offense and QB Blake Bortles protecting the ball, the Jaguars might be poised for a breakout.
Arizona Cardinals (0-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, Fox (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)
The matchup: Despite key injuries, the biggest worry for the Cardinals is that QB Carson Palmer, 37, continues to look his age. He threw three interceptions in the opener. This week could be a chance to get right, and it’s bordering on must-win status with the Dallas Cowboys next on the schedule. ... The Colts looked so bad in their opener, it raised a legitimate question: Would it be a good thing to get QB Andrew Luck back? What’s pretty clear is that QB Scott Tolzien is not the answer. He threw two interceptions and got sacked four times.
Buffalo Bills (1-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon)
The matchup: Embattled QB Tyrod Taylor threw two TD passes and RB LeSean McCoy had 159 yards from scrimmage as Buffalo topped the New York Jets 21-12 in coach Sean McDermott’s debut. The Bills’ O-line will face greater pressure this week against a defense that had four sacks vs. the 49ers and was second in the league with 47 in 2016. ... Offseason shoulder surgery limited Panthers QB Cam Newton to one series in the preseason, and the rust showed. Though he did throw TD passes to WR Russell Shepard and RB Jonathan Stewart, Newton also threw an interception and missed TE Ed Dickson wide open in the end zone. Newton will be tempted to test the Bills’ all-new secondary.
New York Jets (0-1) at Oakland Raiders (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 ET, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
The matchup: The Jets managed to be competitive in their season-opening 21-12 loss to the Bills. To have any chance of slowing Oakland’s offense, the Jets have to keep it off the field by running ball the consistently. They might be able to because the Raiders are average up the middle and start rookie MLB Marquel Lee. ... RB Marshawn Lynch, who came out of retirement, contributed much to Oakland’s 26-16 victory at Tennessee. He finished with 76 yards on 18 carries and caught a pass for 16 yards. Meanwhile, QB David Carr passed for 262 yards and two TDs with no interceptions and a passer rating of 114.3.
Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 ET, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)
The matchup: Because of Hurricane Irma, by the time the Dolphins starters take the field, it will have been 24 days since they played in the third preseason game Aug. 24 against the Eagles. Dolphins DE Cameron Wake had 111/2 sacks last season, and whether he can get pressure on Chargers QB Philip Rivers will be important for Miami’s defense. ... It’s the first home game in Los Angeles for the Chargers since 1960, when they played there for one season in the American Football League before heading to San Diego. They missed a potential tying field goal on the last play when Younghoe Koo’s attempt was blocked by the Broncos.
San Francisco 49ers (0-1) at Seattle Seahawks (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 ET, Fox (Sam Rosen, David Diehl, Jennifer Hale)
The matchup: The start of the Kyle Shanahan era brought more of the same for the 49ers. Getting into the end zone once would be a good start, and the 49ers also need to show more of a pass rush. QB Brian Hoyer didn’t prove any of the doubters wrong last week, but the guys who really need to show improvement are young defenders Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. ... There were plenty of red flags for the Seahawks in the loss to Green Bay. Not being able to get into the end zone against a Packers defense that has struggled is not a great sign. Seattle’s offensive line struggles were all too familiar. And QB Russell Wilson still isn’t playing at an elite level after a subpar 2016. The return of RB Thomas Rawls (ankle) could give the offense a boost, but he won’t go anywhere if the blocking doesn’t improve.
Washington Redskins (0-1) at Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 ET, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)
The matchup: Redskins coach Jay Gruden didn’t envision starting the season by losing at home to NFC East foe Philadelphia and then having to travel cross country to face a potentially dangerous team. It can be argued that QB Kirk Cousins did not actually fumble and Fletcher Cox’s 20-yard fumble return for a TD should have been overturned with 89 seconds remaining. But Gruden knows his team had four turnovers, was 0-for-2 in the red zone and 3-for-11 on third down. ... Former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, the youngest NFL head coach in modern history at 31, called the Rams’ stunning 46-9 win over the outmanned Indianapolis Colts “a step in the right direction.” The Rams dominated from the first to last minute, badly exposing the Colts, who played without injured QB Andrew Luck. A win against the Redskins would lend more credence to the theory that the Rams have turned the corner.
Dallas Cowboys (1-0) at Denver Broncos (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
The matchup: Dallas’ loaded offense gets the headlines, but the defense was a surprising star of last weekend’s season-opening 19-3 victory. The Cowboys emphatically slammed the door on the Odell Beckham Jr.-less Giants, holding them to 233 total yards while sacking Eli Manning three times and making him get rid of the ball in a hurry. QB Dak Prescott, the Offensive Rookie of the Year thanks to his beyond-his-years poise, will need his offensive line to keep the disruption of LB Von Miller and his cohorts to a minimum. ... Denver is coming off a narrow victory against the Los Angeles Chargers and hoping to get its groove back under new coach Vance Joseph. The Broncos ranked fourth in the league in total defense and No. 1 against the pass last season. The offense is very much a construction project, with QB Trevor Siemian maintaining a tenuous hold on the starting job.
Green Bay Packers (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 8:30 ET, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
The matchup: Green Bay muddled its way to a season-opening win against the Seattle Seahawks, thanks to a gritty defense that yielded no touchdowns and limited QB Russell Wilson to 198 total yards. QB Aaron Rodgers overcame a scoreless first half to rally the troops, though 17 points likely won’t get it done against the Falcons in what promises to be a high-scoring affair. The Packers will try to avenge a lopsided 44-21 loss to Atlanta in last year’s NFC Championship Game, in which they trailed 24-0 at halftime. ... Atlanta didn’t look like the defending NFC champs against the Chicago Bears, needing a defensive stand in the waning seconds to win 23-17. The offense didn’t appear to be in sync with first-year coordinator Steve Sarkisian, and their defense needs to play at a higher level under first-year coordinator Marquand Manuel. They’ll need to get more pressure on Rodgers from Grady Jarrett, Dontari Poe and top pick Takkarist McKinley, among others.
Detroit Lions (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)
TV: Monday, 8:30 ET, NBC (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters)
The matchup: The Lions turned another fourth-quarter deficit into a 35-23 win vs. the Arizona Cardinals. Detroit’s sudden defensive playmaking surge was not only encouraging but something of a shocker, as it was the biggest concern entering the season. But coordinator Teryl Austin’s unit notched four takeaways. Safeties Glover Quin, Tavon Wilson and Myles Killebrew all had interceptions, and Matthew Stafford, after tossing a pick-six on his first pass attempt, was the calm, clutch quarterback Lions fans have grown accustomed to seeing. ... If the Giants had any doubt about the importance of Odell Beckham Jr., they don’t after an abysmal offensive showing in their 19-3 defeat to the rival Cowboys with their star wideout missing. Beckham gets an extra day to recover from an ankle injury, and the Giants are optimistic he will play. The defense, after spending more than 34 minutes on the field, can surely use the extra recovery time as well. They ceded 53% on third downs.
Capsules compiled by Paste BN Sports staff
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