NFL SOAP BOX GAME REPORTS

1. Thursday, September 20, 2023 CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S ONLY LOCAL NFL PUBLICATION GridironGoose@msn.com
OFFICIAL MEDIA MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
CLOSE GAMES, COMEBACKS ARE COMMON THREAD AS LEAGUE ENTERS WEEK 3
It’s the new normal in the National Football League: Games are closer than they’ve been in 91 years and large leads are an
endangered species. NFL games have picked up where they left off in 2022, when the average final-score margin was only 9.70 points,
the lowest for a full season since 1932 (9.13). This year, the average final-score margin is 9.50 points through two weeks. That’s
significant for many reasons, the most revealing of which is this: Winning close games leads teams to the playoffs. Since the NFL
expanded the postseason in 2020, 20 of 21 teams that won at least 66.7 percent of their one-score games (decided by eight points or
less) have advanced to the postseason.
SEASON
TEAMS WITH .667 WINNING PERCENTAGE OR BETTER IN
ONE-SCORE GAMES
MADE
PLAYOFFS
2022 6 6
2021 7 6
2020 8 8
TOTALS 21 20
This past week was historic as 12 games – tied for the most ever in a single NFL week – were decided by eight points or less. Also in
Week 2, 13 of 16 games were within one score in the fourth quarter. And close games in the fourth quarter are many times intertwined
with their sibling complement: Comebacks. In the most impressive comeback this season, the NEW YORK GIANTS last week
overcame a 21-point third-quarter deficit to win, 31-28. While it stood out so far in 2023, that comeback wasn’t unusual in recent history.
The Giants’ win marked the seventh time since 2019 in which a team overcame a deficit of 21-or-more points to win, including the
postseason.
So as you return from your halftime break this week, word to the wise: Do get comfortable with close games because they’re here to
stay. But don’t get comfortable with big leads because, if you haven’t learned by now, comebacks are contagious in the NFL.
SUPER BOWL HARBINGERS: PHILADELPHIA (2-0) travels to TAMPA BAY (2-0) for a Monday Night Football showdown (7:15 PM
ET, ABC) featuring the week’s only battle of unbeaten teams. Since 2010, early season tests between undefeated teams have
foreshadowed Super Bowl appearances. In that span, 14 NFL games have featured a pair of 2-0 teams in Week 3, and seven of those
14 games have produced an eventual Super Bowl berth. In recent seasons, both the Chiefs in 2019 and the Rams in 2021 earned
Week 3 wins against undefeated opponents en route to world championships.
 Both Tampa Bay (plus-five) and Philadelphia (plus-four) rank among the league’s top three teams in turnover ratio. Only DALLAS
(plus-seven) has a better mark through the season’s first two weeks.
 Since the beginning of 2020, the Buccaneers (34-18, .654) own the NFL’s fourth-best record, trailing only KANSAS CITY (41-11,
.788), BUFFALO (38-13, .745) and GREEN BAY (35-17, .673).
 Tampa Bay has won each of its last four against Philadelphia, including the postseason.
 Eagles quarterback JALEN HURTS has guided his team to wins in 19 of his last 20 regular-season starts. During the Super Bowl era
(1966-present), he’s only the sixth quarterback to win at least 19 games over a 20-start stretch, joining TOM BRADY (twice, 2003-04
and 2006-08), PATRICK MAHOMES (2019-20), JIM MCMAHON (1984-85) and Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING
(2008-09) and JOE MONTANA (1983-84).
 In last week’s win, Hurts ran for two touchdowns. He now needs one more game of two-or-more rushing touchdowns to reach 10
such games in his career and match the NFL record among quarterbacks, held by CAM NEWTON.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 50: The number of wins by NFC East teams since the beginning of 2022, most in the NFL. The NFC East
is a combined 50-24-2 (.671), substantially better than the next-closest division, the AFC North (42-33-0, .560). DALLAS,
PHILADELPHIA and WASHINGTON are each 2-0. The last time the NFC East had three 2-0 teams was 1989, when the Giants, Eagles
and Cardinals opened undefeated through two weeks.
RENEGADES: In their Monday night win, Steelers linebackers ALEX HIGHSMITH and T.J. WATT became the first pair of teammates
to each post a sack and touchdown in the same game since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. PITTSBURGH
(1-1), which travels to face the LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), also became the first team

2. to record at least six sacks, four takeaways and two defensive touchdowns in the same game since NEW ENGLAND in Week 2 of the
2019 season.
SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Broncos cornerback PAT SURTAIN and Dolphins wide receiver TYREEK HILL each earned
first-team All-Pro honors last season. They’ll line up on opposite sides when MIAMI (2-0) has the ball against DENVER (0-2) on Sunday
at Hard Rock Stadium (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: NEW ORLEANS (2-0) visits GREEN BAY (1-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Through two weeks,
Green Bay is tied for the league’s best red-zone offense (five touchdowns on six red-zone possessions, 83.3 percent). New Orleans,
meanwhile, owns the NFL’s third-best defense in the red zone (one touchdown allowed on six opponent red-zone possessions, 16.7
percent).
STREAK SPEAK: No player in NFL history has reached 150 receiving yards in each of his team’s first three games of a season. When
MINNESOTA (0-2) hosts the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (0-2) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Vikings wide receiver JUSTIN
JEFFERSON can become the first. Last week, Jefferson had 159 yards on 11 catches and reached 5,000 career receiving yards in his
52nd career game, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (also 52 games) for the fastest ever to reach that milestone.
Jefferson, who caught nine passes for 150 yards in Week 1, became just the fifth player since the 1970 league merger to reach 150
receiving yards in each of the NFL’s first two weeks, the first since STEVE SMITH did it in 2011. Chargers quarterback JUSTIN
HERBERT has 23 career games with at least 300 passing yards and last week surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO
(22 games) for the third most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (26) and Pro Football Hall
of Famer KURT WARNER (26) have more.
DID YOU KNOW?: The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-1) make their 11th return trip to Baltimore, including postseason, since relocating to
Indiana in 1984. The BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-0), who host the Colts on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), have won the last four against
Indianapolis at M&T Bank Stadium. Included in that streak is a 24-9 victory in the 2012 playoffs, the first step toward the Ravens’ Super
Bowl XLVII victory. Six years earlier in the 2006 playoffs, Indianapolis earned a 15-6 win at Baltimore en route to a Super Bowl XLI win.
Overall, the Colts are 4-6 all-time against the Ravens in Baltimore, including a 1-1 postseason record. The Colts called Baltimore home
from 1953-83, winning three NFL titles during those 31 years, including Super Bowl V. In last week’s win, Baltimore quarterback
LAMAR JACKSON totaled 54 rushing yards. Jackson now has 48 career games with at least 50 rushing yards and surpassed CAM
NEWTON (47) for second in NFL history. Only MICHAEL VICK (54) has more.
UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: Quarterbacks DAK PRESCOTT and JOSHUA DOBBS were each selected 135th overall in the
fourth rounds of the respective 2016 and 2017 NFL Drafts. This week, they’ll face off when DALLAS (2-0) meets ARIZONA (0-2) at
State Farm Stadium on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX). The Cowboys are the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to score at least 70 points
and allow 10-or-fewer points through the first two games of a season, joining the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS in 2019, DETROIT
LIONS in 1970, OAKLAND RAIDERS in 1967 and HOUSTON OILERS in 1966. Last week, Dallas linebacker MICAH PARSONS
recorded two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Parsons has 10 career games with at least two sacks and is the sixth
player since 1982 to record 10-or-more games with at least two sacks in his first three NFL seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers
REGGIE WHITE (16 games) and RICHARD DENT (12), as well as SHAWNE MERRIMAN (12), ALDON SMITH (12) and DWIGHT
FREENEY (10).
TREND TIME: Twelve of the last 14 teams to open 3-0 have reached the postseason. Nine clubs have an opportunity to achieve that
mark this week, including WASHINGTON (2-0), who with a win at home over BUFFALO (1-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS) will have
its first 3-0 start since 2005. NEW ORLEANS (2-0), meanwhile, goes into GREEN BAY (1-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) looking for
its first 3-0 start since 2013. PHILADELPHIA (2-0), which won its first eight games last year, can advance to 3-0 in consecutive seasons
for the first time since 1992-93. TAMPA BAY, the Eagles’ opponent this week in the first of two games on Monday Night Football (7:15
PM ET, ABC), also can improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2005.
The second game of the Monday doubleheader pairs the two teams from Super Bowl LVI, the LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) and
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2) at Paycor Stadium (8:15 PM ET, ESPN). Rams wide receiver PUKA NAKUA (25 receptions) is the first
rookie to lead the league in receptions through two weeks since EARL COOPER in 1980. Last week, Nakua posted 147 yards on 15
receptions, the most catches in a single game by a rookie in NFL history. He’s also the first player in NFL history with at least 10
receptions and 100 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.
NEXT GEN STATS NOTE OF THE WEEK: In last week’s 25-24 victory, Falcons rookie running back BIJAN ROBINSON posted 172
scrimmage yards (124 rushing, 48 receiving). According to Next Gen Stats, Robinson averaged 5.15 yards per carry after coming within
a yard of the nearest defender. Robinson and ATLANTA (2-0) are at DETROIT (1-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). In Week 2, Detroit
quarterback JARED GOFF completed 28 of 35 pass attempts (80 percent) for 323 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for
a 121.8 rating. Goff threw 383 passes without an interception, the third-longest streak of attempts without an interception in NFL history.
Only AARON RODGERS (402 attempts in 2018) and TOM BRADY (399 in 2022) had longer streaks.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Sunday’s game between HOUSTON (0-2) and JACKSONVILLE (1-1) at EverBank Stadium (1:00 PM
ET, FOX) will feature five players selected among the first three overall picks of the last three NFL Drafts (2021-23). That group
includes a pair of No. 1 overall selections (Jacksonville quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE, 2021; and Jaguars linebacker TRAVON
WALKER, 2022), one player drafted No. 2 overall (Houston quarterback C.J. STROUD, 2023), and two players selected No. 3 overall
(Houston defensive end WILL ANDERSON, 2023; and Texans cornerback DEREK STINGLEY, 2022). In addition, the Jaguars are
expected to play three other first-rounders from the last three drafts: Running back TRAVIS ETIENNE, 2021; tackle ANTON
HARRISON, 2023; and linebacker DEVIN LLOYD, 2022).

3. SELECT GAME NOTES (Courtesy NFL Communications)
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO (2-0)
GIANTS- GIANTS completed 21-point comeback in Week 2, tied-largest comeback win in franchise history. QB DANIEL JONES
completed 26 of 37 atts. (70.3 pct.) for 321 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT for 103.5 rating & had 59 rush yards & 13th-career rush TD last
week. Aims for his 3rd road start in row with 300+ pass yards. Has 90+ rating in 2 of his past 3 Thursday starts. Since 2022, ranks 4th
among QBs with 810 rush yards. RB SAQUON BARKLEY had 6 catches, 92 scrimmage yards (63 rush, 29 rec.) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1
rec.) in Week 2. Has rush TD in 2 of his 3 career Thursday games. Had 100 scrimmage yards (63 rush, 33 rec.) in his only career game
vs. SF (11/12/18). RB MATT BREIDA had 2,463 scrimmage yards & 10 scrimmage TDs in 3 seasons (2017-19) with SF. TE DARREN
WALLER had 6 catches for 76 yards last week. Had 72 rec. yards & TD catch in his only career game vs. SF (1/1/23 w/ LV). WR
JALIN HYATT (rookie) led team with 89 rec. yards in Week 2. WR ISAIAH HODGINS had 1st rec. TD of season last week & has TD
catch in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with rec. TD. DL DEXTER LAWRENCE had 1st TFL of season last week & has
TFL in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TFL. LB BOBBY OKEREKE had 8 tackles & TFL last week. Had TFL & PD in
his only career game vs. SF (10/24/21 w/ Ind.). S JASON PINNOCK set career highs with 13 tackles & 3 TFL in Week 2, 1st DB with 13
tackles & 3+ TFL since 2013 (Da’Norris Searcy). CB ADOREE’ JACKSON aims for his 4th in row on road with PD. Had 8 tackles & 2
PD in his only career game vs. SF (12/17/17 w/Ten.). Has 5 PD in 5 career Thursday games. 49ERS- 49ERS advanced to 2-0 for 3rd
time in past 5 seasons QB BROCK PURDY had 206 pass yards & 93.1 rating & 2nd career rush TD in Week 2. Has 8 TDs (7 pass, 1
rush) vs. INT for 132.8 rating in 3 career home starts. RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY had 135 scrimmage yards (116 rush, 19 rec.) &
rush TD in Week 2. Became 5th player in SB era with 40+ rush TDs (40) & 20+ rec. TDs (22) in 1st 7 career seasons. Ranks 2nd in
NFL with 304 scrimmage yards. Aims for his 8th in row with TD. Has 221 scrimmage yards (160 rush, 61 rec.) & rec. TD in 2 career
games vs. NYG. Has 5 TDs (3 rec., 2 rush) in 5 career Thursday games. WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 6 catches, 101 scrimmage yards
(63 rec., 38 rush) & his 15th-career rush TD in Week 2, his 15th career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 9 receptions & career-
high 191 scrimmage yards (159 rec., 32 rush) in his last Thursday game (12/23/21 at Ten.). WR BRANDON AIYUK had 50+ rec. yards
in 6 of his final 7 home games last season. Had 101 scrimmage yards (70 rec., 31 rush) & his 1st-career rush TD in last meeting. TE
GEORGE KITTLE has 4 rec. TDs in his past 4 on Thursday & has 75+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 Thursday games. Aims for his 3rd in
row at home with 2+ rec. TDs. Had 9 catches for 83 yards in his only career game vs. NYG (11/12/18). DL NICK BOSA had 13 sacks &
14 TFL in 9 home games last season. Aims for his 3rd in row on Thursday with TFL. LB FRED WARNER had 11 tackles & 1st sack of
season in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL & PD. Had INT in last meeting. LB DRE GREENLAW led team with 12 tackles in
Week 2. CB ISAIAH OLIVER had 1st INT of season last week.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1)
SAINTS- QB DEREK CARR passed for 228 yards last week. Has 569 pass yards (284.5 per game) & 4 pass TDs in 2 career games
vs. GB. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. GB with 275+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes. QB TAYSOM HILL rushed for 75 yards in Week 2. RB
JAMAAL WILLIAMS had 2 rush TDs in his last game vs. GB (1/8/23 w/ Det.). Had 2,946 scrimmage yards & 18 scrimmage TDs (10
rush, 8 rec.) in 4 seasons (2017-20) with GB. RB TONY JONES had 1st 2 career rush TDs last week. WR MICHAEL THOMAS had
team-high 7 catches for 55 yards last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 5+ receptions. Had 7 catches for 82 yards in his only career
game vs. GB (10/22/17). Has 538 career receptions, most-ever by player in 1st 75 games. WR CHRIS OLAVE had 6 catches for team-
high 86 rec. yards in Week 2. Is 1 of 3 (Justin Jefferson & Puka Nacua) with 85+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 4th in
row with 5+ catches. DE CAMERON JORDAN has TFL in 2 of his past 3 on road. Has 3 TFL in his past 4 vs. GB. DE CARL
GRANDERSON had sack & 3rd-career FF in Week 2. Has sack in 4 of his past 5. Aims for his 3rd in row in 2023 & 4th in row on road
with sack. LB DEMARIO DAVIS had 37th-career sack in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with TFL & 12th in row with 5+ tackles. Has 3
sacks in 3 career games vs. GB. CB MARSHON LATTIMORE aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Has PD in 2 of his 3 career games vs.
GB. CB PAULSON ADEBO had 1st-career FR in Week 2. S MARCUS MAYE had 1st sack of season in Week 2. Aims for his 6th in row
with 5+ tackles. PACKERS- QB JORDAN LOVE had 3 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 113.5 rating in Week 2 & became 4th QB ever (Case
Keenum, Patrick Mahomes & HOFer Kurt Warner) with 3+ TD passses & 0 INTs in 2 of his 1st 3 career starts. Can make 1st-career
home start in Week 3. RB AARON JONES had 932 scrimmage yards (103.6 per game) & 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.) in 9 home games last
season. Rushed for 131 yards & TD in his only career home game vs. NO (10/22/17). Has rush TD in 2 of his 3 career games vs. NO.
RB A.J. DILLON rushed for 55 yards in Week 2. Had 3 rush TDs in his final 3 home games last season. WR CHRISTIAN WATSON had
6 TDs (5 rec., 1 rush) in his final 7 home games last season. WR JAYDEN REED (rookie) had 1st 2 career rec. TDs last week. WR
DONTAYVION WICKS (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. LB QUAY WALKER had career-high 17 tackles & PD in Week 2,
his 4th-career game with 10+ tackles & most tackles by any player last week. Has 6 PD in his past 6 & aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
Has 5+ tackles in each of his 9 career home games. LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL had 14 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his

4. past 6 at home. Has 6+ tackles in 4 of his past 5 vs. NO. LB RASHAN GARY had 1st half sack of season last week. Since Week 4 of
2021, has 12 sacks, 11 TFL, 3 FF & 2 FR in his past 11 home games. LB PRESTON SMITH aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. CB
JAIRE ALEXANDER aims for his 3rd in row with PD. CB RASUL DOUGLAS had 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week, his 15th-career
INT. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
DALLAS COWBOYS (2-0) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-2)
COWBOYS- DALLAS became 5th team in SB era to score 70+ points & allow 10-or-fewer points in 1st 2 weeks of season. QB DAK
PRESCOTT completed 31 of 38 atts. (81.6 pct.) for 255 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 112.2 rating in Week 2, his 8th-career start with
80+ comp. pct., 3rd-most among QBs since 2016. Has 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 117.3 rating in 2 career starts vs. Ari. Aims
for his 3rd in row vs. Ari. with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. RB TONY POLLARD had career-high 7 receptions & 109 scrimmage yards
(72 rush, 37 rec.) last week, his 13th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Has 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in his past 5 on road. WR
CEEDEE LAMB led team & tied his career high with 11 receptions & had 143 rec. yards in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 100+
rec. yards. Has 5+ catches in 8 of his past 9 on road & in 11 of his past 12 overall. TE JAKE FERGUSON had 1st rec. TD of season in
Week 2. TE LUKE SCHOONMAKER (rookie) had 1st career rec. TD last week. LB MICAH PARSONS had 2 sacks, 3 TFL, his 7th-
career FF & 4th-career FR in Week 2. Is 6th player since 1982 with 10+ games (10) of 2+ sacks in 1st 3 seasons. Aims for his 3rd in
row overall with sack. Had 2 TFL in last meeting. DT OSA ODIGHIZUWA had sack in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row on road & 4th in
row overall with sack. CB TREVON DIGGS had 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. Has 18 career INTs, tied-most in NFL since 2020.
JAYRON KEARSE & S MALIK HOOKER each had 1st INTs of season in Week 2. CARDINALS- QB JOSH DOBBS completed 21 of 31
atts. (67.7 pct.) for 228 yards & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for career-high 99.9 rating last week, his 1st-career game with 2+ TDs
& his 1st career rush TD. Aims for his 5th start in row with 20+ completions. RB JAMES CONNER rushed for 106 yards & had 1st rush
TD of season in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 22 consec. games, 3rd-longest
active streak in NFL. Aims for his 5th in row at home with 100+ scrimmage yards & 6th in row at home with TD. TE ZACH ERTZ had 6
catches for 56 yards in Week 2. Is 1 of 2 TEs (T.J. Hockenson) with 6+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 68 career games with 5+
catches, 3rd-most among active TEs. Had 7 receptions in last meeting. WR MARQUISE BROWN had 6 catches for 54 yards & 1st rec.
TD of season last week, his 25th-career TD catch. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 & aims for his 3rd in row with 50+
scrimmage yards. Had rec. TD in his only career game vs. Dal. (12/8/20 w/ Bal.). WR MICHAEL WILSON (rookie) had 56 rec. yards in
Week 2. S JALEN THOMPSON had 7 tackles, TFL & 6th-career INT last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 5+ tackles. S K’VON
WALLACE led team & tied his career high with 8 tackles in Week 2. S ANDRE CHACHERE had 1st 2 career PD last week. LB ZAVEN
COLLINS had 1st half sack of season in Week 2. Has PD in 3 of his past 4. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4 at home. LB KYZIR WHITE had
1st sack of season last week. LB DENNIS GARDECK had sack & 2 TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack & TFL. Had FR in
last meeting.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)
EAGLES- PHILADELPHIA is 2-0 for 2nd-consecutive season. QB JALEN HURTS had 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 pass) in Week 2. Has 9 games
with 2+ rush TDs, trailing only Cam Newton (10) for most such games by QB all-time. Has 28 rush TDs in 47 games, tied with Newton
(28) for most rush TDs by QB in 1st 50 career games. Had 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 pass) in last reg. season meeting. Has 325+ pass yards in
2 of his past 3 Monday games. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with both pass & rush TD. RB D’ANDRE SWIFT rushed for career-high
175 yards & had 19th-career rush TD in Week 2, most rush yards by PHI RB since LeSean McCoy (217 rush yards on 12/8/13). WR
DEVONTA SMITH had 4 catches for 131 yards & rec. TD in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Aims for his 3rd in row
with TD catch. WR A.J. BROWN had TD catch in his only career game vs. TB (10/27/19 w/ Ten.). Has 5+ catches in 3 of his 4 career
MNF games. Has 50+ rec. yards in 8 of his 9 road games with Phi. TE DALLAS GOEDERT led team with 6 catches last week. Had 6
catches for 92 yards in 2021 NFC-WC at TB (1/16/22). DE JOSH SWEAT had 30th-career sack & 6th-career FF last week. Has 9 sacks
in his past 8 games. Aims for his 4th in row in primetime with sack. DT FLETCHER COX had 14th-career FR last week. DT JORDAN
DAVIS had 1st-career full sack in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sacks & TFL. DT JALEN CARTER (rookie) aims for his 3rd
in row with TFL. LB HAASON REDDICK has TFL in 6 of his past 7 road games. CB DARIUS SLAY aims for his 4th in row with PD. Has
12 PD & 3 INTs in his past 7 primetime games. BUCCANEERS- QB BAKER MAYFIELD completed 26 of 34 atts. (76.5 pct.) for 317
yards & TD pass vs. 0 INTs for 114.5 rating in Week 2, his 11th-career game with 300+ pass yards. Passed for 204 yards with 86.2
rating in his only career start vs. Phi. (11/22/20 w/ Cle.). RB RACHAAD WHITE had 5 catches with 103 scrimmage yards (73 rush, 30
rec.) & 2nd-career rush TD in Week 2, his 3rd-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 6 catches, 69 scrimmage yards (41 rec.,
28 rush) & TD catch in his only career Monday game (12/5/22 vs. NO). WR MIKE EVANS had 6 catches for 171 yards & rec. TD in
Week 2, his 8th-career game with 170+ rec. yards, 2nd-most among active players. Is only player with 6+ catches & TD catch in each
of 1st 2 weeks. Had 10 catches for 83 yards & rec. TD in last home meeting. Has 5 catches & rec. TD in 6 of his 7 career Monday
games. WR CHRIS GODWIN had 5 catches for 58 yards last week, his 16th-straight game with 5+ receptions, longest active streak in
NFL. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 on Monday. Aims for his 5th in row on Monday with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for
56 yards & rec. TD in last home meeting. TE CADE OTTON tied his career high with 6 catches last week. LB LAVONTE DAVID has 55
tackles (7.9 per game) & 10 TFL in 7 career Monday games. Had FR in last home meeting. LB DEVIN WHITE aims for his 5th in row on
MNF with 5+ tackles. LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had 1st sack of season & 1st-career INT-TD in Week 2. Had sack & 2 TFL in last
meeting. LB JOE TRYON-SHOYINKA had 2nd-career 2-sack game last week. DL VITA VEA had 1.5 sacks in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd
in row with TFL. Had half sack in last meeting.
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5. BUFFALO BILLS (1-1) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-0)
BILLS- QB JOSH ALLEN completed 31 of 37 atts. (83.8 pct.) for 274 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 124.5 rating last week. Has 180
career combined pass & rush TDs, surpassing Russell Wilson (177) for 4th-most ever by QB in 1st 6 seasons. Passed for 358 yards
with 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 129.8 rating in last meeting. Has 7 TDs (5 pass, 2 rush) with 123.6 rating in 2 career starts vs.
Was. Has 2+ TD passes in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. RB JAMES COOK rushed for career-high 123 yards in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in
row with 50+ scrimmage yards. RB LATAVIUS MURRAY had 1st rush TD of season last week. Had 68 rush yards & rush TD in only
career game vs. Was. (11/12/17 w/ Min.). RB DAMIEN HARRIS had 1st rush TD of season in Week 2. WR STEFON DIGGS had 7
catches for 66 yards in last week & is 1 of 5 in NFL with 7+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 447 rec. yards (111.8 per game) in 4
career games vs. Was. Has 75+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. WR GABE DAVIS had 6 catches for team-high 92 yards & TD in
Week 2. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 on road. TE DAWSON KNOX had 1st TD catch of season last week. Has rec. TD in 5 of his past
6. Had TD catch in last meeting. TE DALTON KINCAID (rookie) had 5 catches for 43 yards last week. DE GREG ROUSSEAU had TFL
& PD in Week 2. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 vs. NFC. DT ED OLIVER aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of his past 4 on
road. LB MATT MILANO is 1st LB since 2013 (DeAndre Levy) with INT in each of team’s 1st 2 games of season. Aims for his 5th in row
with PD. Had 7 tackles, 2 TFL & FR in last meeting. LB TERREL BERNARD had 1st-career INT last week. COMMANDERS-
COMMANDERS overcame 18-point deficit to win in Week 2, largest road comeback win since 11/4/90 (21-point deficit at Det.). QB
SAM HOWELL had career highs in completions (27), pass yards (299), pass TDs (2) & rating (108.8) in Week 2, his 1st career game
with 100+ rating. Has pass TD & rush TD in each of his 1st 2 home starts. RB BRIAN ROBINSON had career-high 129 scrimmage
yards (87 rush, career-high 42 rec.) & 1st-career game with 2 rush TDs last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD & 10th in row with
50+ scrimmage yards. RB ANTONIO GIBSON had 53 scrimmage yards (44 rec., 9 rush) last week. Had 104 scrimmage yards (73 rec.,
31 rush) & TD catch in last meeting. WR TERRY MCCLAURIN led team with 5 receptions for 54 yards & rec. TD last week, his 22nd-
career TD catch. Had 62 rec. yards in last meeting. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 11 at home. TE LOGAN THOMAS had
1st TD catch of season last week, his 13th-career rec. TD. Had rec. TD in last meeting. DE CHASE YOUNG tied his career high with
1.5 sacks in Week 2. DE MONTEZ SWEAT had 1.5 sacks last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. DT DARON PAYNE had
sack & 2 TFL in Week 2. Has 2+ TFL in 3 of his past 4. LB CODY BARTON led team with 10 tackles & had FR last week, his 10th-
career game with 10+ tackles. CB EMMANUEL FORBES (rookie) had 1st-career INT in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. S
KAMREN CURL aims for his 3rd in row with 9+ tackles.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2)
RAMS- QB MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 307 yards in Week 2 & is 1 of 2 (Kirk Cousins) with 300+ pass yards in each of 1st 2
weeks. Has 59 career 300-yard games, 2nd-most among active QBs. Has 52,723 career pass yards in 193 games & surpassed HOFer
Peyton Manning (52,606) for 3rd-most pass yards by QB in 1st 200 career games in NFL history. Passed for 283 yards & 3 TDs in SB
VI vs. Cin. RB KYREN WILLIAMS set career highs in catches (6) & scrimmage yards (100) & had 1st-career game with rush TD & rec.
TD last week. Is only player with 2 TDs in each of 1st 2 weeks & can become 5th player since 2000 with 2+ TDs in each of his team’s
1st 3 games of season. WR PUKA NACUA (rookie) had15 receptions for 147 yards in Week 2, most receptions by rookie in single
game in NFL history. Is 1st player all-time with 0+ catches & 100+ rec. yards in each of his 1st 2 games. Leads NFL with 25 catches,
most catches by player in 1st 2 career games. Is 3rd player ever (Michael Thomas & Andre Rison) with 25+ catches in his team’s 1st 2
games of season. WR TUTU ATWELL had career-high 7 receptions for 77 yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ catches &
75+ rec. yards. DT AARON DONALD had 2 sacks in SB LVI vs. Cin. Had sack & 3 TFL in last reg. season meeting. Has 14 TFL in his
past 9 on road. LB ERNEST JONES led team with 10 tackles in Week 2, his 5th career game with 10+ tackles. Had 7 tackles, 2 TFL,
sack & PD in SB LVI vs. Cin. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TFL & 3rd in row overall with 9+ tackles. LB BYRON YOUNG (rookie)
aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sacks. LB MICHAEL HOECHT aims for his 3rd in row on road with 0.5+ sacks. DB JORDAN FULLER
had 1st-career FF last week. BENGALS- QB JOE BURROW passed for 222 yards & 2 TDs last week. Had 263 pass yards & TD pass
vs. 0 INTs with 100.9 rating in SB LVI vs. LAR, only career start vs. Rams. Has 1,400 pass yards (280 per game) with 11 TDs (10 pass,
1 rush) vs. 2 INTs for 101.3 rating in 5 career starts in primetime. RB JOE MIXON led team with 95 scrimmage yards (59 rush, 36 rec.)
last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 70+ scrimmage yards. Has 150 scrimmage yards (75 per game) & rec. TD in 2 career games vs.

6. LAR (incl. SB LVI). WR JA’MARR CHASE has 5+ catches in 10 straight games, tied 2nd-longest active streak in NFL. Had 5 catches
for 89 yards in SB LVI vs. LAR. Has 80+ rec. yards in 8 of his past 9 at home. Has 50+ rec. yards in each of 3 career games in
primetime. WR TEE HIGGINS led team with 8 catches for 89 yards & 2 TDs last week, 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Had 4 catches
for 100 yards & 2 TDs in SB LVI vs. LAR. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 in primetime, incl. in his last game on MNF (10/31/22 at Cle.).
WR TYLER BOYD had 6 catches for 52 yards in Week 2. Has 5+ catches in each of 2 career games vs. LAR, incl. SB LVI. DE TREY
HENDRICKSON aims for his 3rd in row vs. LAR with sack, incl. postseason. Has 5.5 sacks in 5 career games on MNF, with 0.5+ sacks
in each game. LB LOGAN WILSON aims for his 7th in row with 8+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL. Had 9 tackles, 3 TFL & PD in SB LVI
vs. LAR. LB GERMAINE PRATT aims for 3rd in row with 9+ tackles. CB CHIBODE AWUZIE had PD in Week 2. Has PD in each of 4
career games vs. LAR, incl. INT in SB LVI. S DAX HILL led team with career-high 11 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row
with 6+ tackles & PD.
NO NEED TO PANIC
Since 1990, percentage of teams to make the playoffs after starting…
2-0 63.8% (171/268)
1-1 41.8% (200/479)
Since 1990, percentage of teams to make the playoffs after starting…
2-0 41.0% (110/268)
1-1 24.0% (115/479)
An 0-2 team has made the playoffs in 7 of the past 10 seasons.
Last season, 8 of the 14 playoff teams started the season either 1-1 or 0-2, including Cincinnati who began 0-2 and won the AFC North.
Each of the 6 teams to begin the season 2-0 made the playoffs.
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