The NFL continues to react to the seismic shift in fortunes for the New York Jets after four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers’ 2023 season ended less than five minutes into Monday night’s opener. But there were other developments to monitor heading into Week 2. Action begins Thursday night when the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) host the Minnesota Vikings (0-1) at Lincoln Financial Field.
Barring ties, two teams will get their first wins of the season. The 0-1 Indianapolis Colts visit the 0-1 Houston Texans while the New York Giants (0-1) visit the Arizona Cardinals (0-1).
On the flip side of the coin, there are two matchups of 1-0 teams set for Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers visit the Los Angeles Rams while the Jets visit the Dallas Cowboys. Here are five storylines to watch in Week 2.
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5. Are the New York Giants irretrievably broken?
Last season, the New York Giants were among the NFL’s surprise teams, finishing 9-7-1 and winning a road playoff game. Big Blue got to spend the offseason in relative peace. Almost all of the attention in New Jersey — and the rest of the NFL — was on its MetLife Stadium roommates, the Jets.
The Giants were flying under the radar even after committing to a four-year, $160 million extension for quarterback Daniel Jones that includes $92 million in guaranteed money.
But that ended with a thud on Sunday night. Dallas came to MetLife and humiliated the Giants in a 40-0 blowout. The offensive line failed miserably to protect Jones, who was pressured on 23 of his 42 dropbacks, absorbed seven sacks and threw two interceptions.
Even Dallas edge rusher Micah Parsons wondered why Jones was still in the game in the fourth quarter. It was as if coach Brian Daboll was trying to save a tired bullpen by making Jones wear the loss. Except football doesn’t have a bullpen. All Jones got was many long looks at the New Jersey skies from turf level.
New York goes to Arizona on Sunday needing to show signs of life.
4. Will the Philadelphia Eagles pay for their preseason approach?
Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni went all-in on injury prevention in the preseason, not playing his offensive starters. After a poor offensive performance in a win over the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Sirianni expressed regret over his approach.
But it is the defense that took the biggest hits on Sunday. Starting defensive backs James Bradberry and Reed Blankenship are out for Thursday’s home opener against the Vikings and running back Kenneth Gainwell also won’t play. Bradberry is in the concussion protocol while Blankenship and Gainwell have rib injuries.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox has a rib ailment as well and is listed as questionable.
D’Andre Swift got just two touches in the opener and will be asked to play a bigger role at running back. Second-year man Josh Jobe will fill in for Bradberry, a second-team All-Pro performer in 2022.
A short-handed secondary looms large when acing Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson.
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3. Rookie quarterbacks have lots of room for improvement
Quarterbacks dominated the top of the NFL draft in April. Three went in the first four picks and none dazzled in their first taste of NFL regular-season action on Sunday.
Top overall pick Bryce Young completed 20 of his 38 throws for 146 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions — both on late throws over the middle — in the Carolina Panthers’ 24-10 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud didn’t turn the ball over but his offensive line did him few favors in a 25-9 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The rebuilding Houston Texans surrendered five sacks and Stroud scrambed much of the day. He was 28-for-44 for 242 yards as Houston was held out of the end zone.
Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts, showed some upside, throwing for a touchdown and running for another in a 31-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Richardson also threw an interception and was 24-for-37 for 223 yards. Richardson led the Colts with 40 yards on 10 carries in the absence of Jonathan Taylor.
Young makes his Carolina debut against the Saints on Monday night while Richardson and Stroud will face off in Houston on Sunday.
2. Josh Allen’s generosity hurts the Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen led the NFL in 2022 with 19 turnovers. It’s not a new issue for Allen, who has 84 giveaways since 2018, the most in the league.
Buffalo took the Jets to overtime on Monday night in spite of four more Allen turnovers — three interceptions and a fuimble — but lost 22-16.
Allen’s tremendous athleticism allows him to attempt plays other quarterbacks can’t. But that ability cuts both ways as Allen struggles to find the balance between when to go for broke and went to live to fight another down.
He’s a faster version of noted gunslinger Brett Favre, another quarterback who mixed dazzling results with puzzling decisions throughout his Hall of Fame career.
Favre turned that combination into one Super Bowl ring over 20 seasons. Allen’s playoff record of 4-4 includes an AFC Championship loss in 2020 and divisional-round exits each of the last two seasons.
Hang on, Bills Mafia. It looks like another wild ride in 2023.
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1. A whole new world for Zach Wilson
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Zach Wilson failed to live up to the hype in his first two seasons with the Jets. Things came to a head with a midseason benching last season in favor of Mike White, signed as an undrafted free agent the same year Wilson was drafted.
The Jets traded for four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in April but kept Wilson as the backup. Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon on his fourth snap Monday night and now Gang Green is in Wilson’s hands.
At least for now.
Coach Robert Saleh pulled the rug out from under Wilson last season but strongly endorsed Wilson after confirmation of Rodgers’ status on Tuesday.
Jets fans turned on Wilson last season. After a spring and summer of Super Bowl hype after adding Rodgers, the Utah native faces a new level of scrutiny. Nothing done Monday night helped Wilson’s cause — 14-of-21 for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The worse news for Wilson: The Jets visit the Dallas Cowboys, the same team that pummeled Daniel Jones on Sunday night in a 40-0 blowout. So good luck with that.
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