And the second week of the NFL season is in the books.
Some teams are 0-2 and starting to panic, such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants, who as luck — or the schedule makers — would have it face each other this week.
Others such as the Indianapolis Colts are 2-0, and giving their fans a reason to dream.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at the week that was in the NFL, and hand out some weekly awards.
Best Coach of Week 2: Kyle Shanahan
This time last week, a victory over the New Orleans Saints was probably not fertile ground for naming Kyle Shanahan the Coach of the Week.
But that changed when Brock Purdy was ruled out with a pair of injuries to his shoulder and toe, Shanahan was forced to turn to Mac Jones, the quarterback he was rumored to be interested in drafting back in 2021. All Jone did was throw for three touchdown passes in his first start for the 49ers, as San Francisco improved to 2-0.
Right now Shanahan is calling plays for an offense missing some of their key players, such as Purdy and. George Kittle, but the 49ers are still finding ways to win.
Best Rookie of Week 2: Tetairoa McMillan
The Panthers’ offense might be a flaming dumpster fire of sadness, but at least Tet McMillan is a spark. Through two weeks he’s been the only reliable receiver Carolina has after trading away Adam Thielen and while Jalen Coker nurses an injury. Against the Cardinals he showed off all the reasons the Panthers decided to take him with a Top 10 pick, rather than address their problems in the trenches.
McMillan finished with 6 catches for 100 yards, critically picking in five first downs in the process. Not only did he display the glue hands this team needs, but showed a level of shiftiness most people didn’t think would play in the NFL. Early in the game he took a short pass for 40+ yards as he found a seam and got behind the linebackers. Then in the third quarter he picked up a huge first down by securing the ball on the sideline, shaking his man and turning upfield.
Arizona routinely put their best player on McMillan and routinely he found a way to beat them. Huge day from the rookie.
Best Offensive Player of Week 2: Jared Goff
Rumors of Jared Goff’s demise were greatly exaggerated. Look, I think it’s fair that questions were raised after the Lions opening game against the Packers when Goff looked terrible without Ben Johnson running the show — but those fears were completely assuaged by beating the barn doors off the Bears in Week 2.
Goff remains the best unremarkable QB in the NFL. That’s not intended to be a slight, but a compliment that he does every single thing well to the point where it’s easy to forget what an impact he’s having on the game. While some QB make the highlights by escaping pressure and completing a wild off-platform throw, Goff never makes waves because he stands tall in the pocket, makes the correct read, and delivers the ball at the right time — without much pomp or circumstance.
This was a critical week for Detroit to show they aren’t going to drift into obscurity. Goff’s mammoth game is the reason why.
Best Defensive Player of Week 2: Fred Warner
Fred Warner was all over the field on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, notching 11 total tackles, but two plays in particular stand out from the San Francisco 49ers’ win.
First, with the Saints driving late in the third quarter, Warner forced a fumble by Alvin Kamara. The 49ers recovered, and instead of New Orleans potentially taking the lead, San Francisco extended their own advantage on the ensuing possession with a touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings.
“That was the turning point in the game right there,” 49ers running back Brian Robinson said, as quoted by 49ers Webzone. “Excellent play by him.”
Then late in the fourth quarter with New Orleans facing a 3rd-and-1, and trailing by just five, it was Warner in coverage against Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. Spencer Rattler looked to the tight end on an out route, but Warner was in position to deflect the throw away.
A sack of Rattler on fourth down ended any chance of a comeback.
Best Special Teams Player of Week 2: Antonio Gibson
After the boo birds made an early appearance at Hard Rock Stadium, Malik Washington gave Miami Dolphins fans something to roar midway through the fourth quarter.
Washington’s electric 74-yard punt return touchdown spotted the Dolphins to a 27-23 lead with just 7:18 minutes left in the game. But before Miami fans could even sit back down after celebrating, Antonio Gibson stunned them into silence, and gave Patriots fans something to cheer about in the process:
Gibson’s 90-yard touchdown came after the running back told himself that he needed to provide New England with a spark.
“I need to start talking to myself more,” Gibson said with a laugh after the game. “I was talking to myself before the play, like man, make a play right here AG. I asked and received.”
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who accounted for three touchdowns in New England’s 33-27 win, pointed to that moment when speaking after the victory.
“I saw him cut around the edge. The kicker didn’t know where he was at,” Maye said. “He just kept turning and I knew he wasn’t catching him then. What a play. That’s just this league. There are close games. In one-score games, you got to come out on top. That was awesome.”
MVP of Week 2: Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals are 2-0 right now, and it’s damn sure not because of anyone else but Ja’Marr Chase. It would have been easy for Chase to pack it in when Joe Burrow left hurt and call the game a wash, but he was working harder than anyone on the field for Jake Browning to will Cincinnati to victory.
Finishing with a ludicrous 14 receptions for 165 yards, Chase put the entire team on his back and dragged them to the win — even if he only had one touchdown on the day. The biggest factor were the TEN first downs he picked up, ensuring every drive stayed alive and the Bengals could slowly grind down the Jaguars.
It’s unclear how sustainable the offense will be without Burrow, but it won’t be for lack of trying by Ja’Marr Chase.