Week 2 of the NFL season is underway following the Thursday night Philadelphia Eagles victory over the Minnesota Vikings. There is still a long season ahead. However, these three teams need a week 2 win.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills kicked off their NFL season with a Monday Night Football to their division rival New York Jets. This was despite Aaron Rodgers tearing his ACL four plays into the game. The loss can mostly be credited to Josh Allen’s four turnovers when the team had a lead for most of the game. The Bills have won the division the previous three seasons and have been considered Super Bowl Contenders. If they start 0-2 with a loss to the Raiders at home in Week 2, it will be time to push the panic button. In a loaded AFC, every win and every conference win is vital. They are already 0-1 in the division, and dropping to 0-2 in conference play could go a long way in not only deciding the AFC East, but the Wild Card picture as well. Let alone the locker room drama that could follow after an offseason that was full of Stefon Diggs drama. Win on Sunday and everything is good in Buffalo. Lose and the Bills could feel their Super Bowl window closing.
Picked by Jordan Whitehead! @jwhite_333
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023
?: #BUFvsNYJ on ESPN/ABC
?: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/6SstXq1rq7 pic.twitter.com/FTTDJRgZ8L
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached the Conference Championship game twice and the Super Bowl once in the last two seasons. Quarterback Joe Burrow received a massive contract extension last week to make him the NFL’s highest-paid player. Needless to say, expectations are high in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, Cincinnati didn’t show up in their first game of the season. Burrow only completed 45 percent of his passes for 82 yards in the team’s loss to the Cleveland Browns. This week they host the division rival Baltimore Ravens. If the Bengals fall to 0-2 in the AFC North, it will be very difficult to make up that ground in their pursuit of a third straight division title. It also puts them in a big hole for the AFC Wild Card picture. Securing at least one home-field game in the playoffs has never been more important in a crowded AFC. If the Bengals plan to not only make the playoffs but host a playoff game, then they need to win their Week 2 matchup.
Joe Burrow struggled in the loss vs. Cleveland. He went 14 for 31, with 82 Pass yds, a career low. It was the 1st time in his career under 100 Pass yds in a single game.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 10, 2023
He falls to 1-5 in his career against the Browns. (his most losses vs any opponent) pic.twitter.com/bpCZijXgno
New York Giants
The New York Giants had the worst showing of any team in Week 1. They got blown out 40-0 at home by their division rival Dallas Cowboys. The Giants are fresh off a playoff berth and playoff win last season. This offseason they gave Daniel Jones a contract extension paying him $160 million over the next four seasons. The NFC is not nearly as strong as the AFC, so starting 0-2 wouldn’t kill their playoff dreams completely. However, after all last season’s success and the contract handed out to Jones, the Giants can not afford to lose to the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are the popular pick to finish with the worst record this year in a possible “Tank for Caleb Williams” season. If the Giants want to build off of last year’s season and justify Jones’s extension, they need to win convincingly against the Arizona Cardinals.
Stephon Gilmore picks off Jones! Another INT for the Dallas D
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2023
?: #DALvsNYG on NBC
?: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/DITLbvj034 pic.twitter.com/jQA8yk6pSw
Featured Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
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