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The good (Tom Brady), the bad (the Jets), and other telling moments from Week 2 in the NFL

Sep 20, 2021, 22:19 IST
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Tom Brady and Mike Evans. Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
  • Week 2 of the NFL season is in the books.
  • Tom Brady is the big winner of Week 2, showing he hasn't lost a step even at 44 years old.
  • Zach Wilson and the Jets are the big losers this week.
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Week 2 of the NFL season was another wild one.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were big winners, putting up a statement game against the Atlanta Falcons and showing the rest of the league they don't plan to take it easy on their title defense.

Meanwhile, Zach Wilson and the New York Jets were losers. Take a look below at all the winners and losers from Week 2 of the NFL season.

WINNER: Tom Brady

At 44 years old, Tom Brady is off to the best start of his already historic NFL career.

Brady has thrown for 655 yards and 9 touchdowns through two games, leading the Buccaneers to a 2-0 start in their title defense.

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After Sunday's game against the Falcons, Brady downplayed his performance.

"We were a little loose with the ball," Brady said. "I certainly wish I had made a few better throws."

If that's what Brady has to say after a five-touchdown game, the rest of the league better watch out.

LOSER: The new era of Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston. AP Photo/Nell Redmond

In Week 1, it looked as though Jameis Winston may have finally exorcised his turnover demons, as the new Saints starting quarterback threw for five touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers without an interception.

In Week 2, the old Jameis was back, completing just 11 of his 22 passes while throwing two interceptions, including this hopeless heave.

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If Winston can land somewhere between his brilliance last week and his recklessness this week, the Saints will be fine. But if this is a sign of what is to come, New Orleans could be in for some frustrating moments this season.

WINNER: Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp is off to a blistering start to the 2021 season. Through two games, he has 16 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns since linking up with new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Kupp has also shown a tendency to come up in big moments for the Rams. With the game slipping away from them after a botched punt in their own end zone, Kupp and the Rams offense needed a big drive to take back the lead.

Kupp was there to make the play.

Kupp is just one man in a talented receiving corps for Matthew Stafford and the Rams. It's a group that is going to be able to score when they need to this year.

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LOSER: The Rams long-snapping the ball into their own player

Kupp's late-game brilliance might not have been necessary if not for a bone-headed special teams play just minutes earlier.

With the Rams pinned against their own end zone, head coach Sean McVay called out the punt team with hopes of switching the field. Unfortunately for him, safety Nick Scott didn't get out of the way of his own long snapper.

The ball rocketed off of Scott before punter Johnny Hekker ever had a chance at it, and the Colts recovered the ball in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Rams won in the end, but this seems like a good problem to fix heading into Week 3.

WINNER: The bounce-back Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen. AP Photo/Doug Murray

In Week 1, the Buffalo Bills got punched in the mouth by the Pittsburgh Steelers, blowing a second-half lead and losing what was expected to be a celebratory season opener.

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Against the Dolphins this week, they took their vengeance against the Miami Dolphins, pitching a 35-0 shut out in the most dominant win of the day.

If Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs are connecting like this again, the rest of the AFC should consider themselves warned.

LOSER: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins got run off the field by the Bills and possibly lost their quarterback in the process.

Tua Tagovailoa was forced to exit the game in the first quarter after taking a big shot from the Bills defense, leaving the Dolphins to turn the reins of the offense over to Jacoby Brissett.

Hopefully, Tua can bounce back this week with a trip to Las Vegas to face the 2-0 Raiders next on the schedule.

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WINNER: Kyler Murray's highlight reel

Kyler Murray continues to make plays that only Kyler Murray could make.

Look at this.

Murray seems to do this at least twice a game. This week, his second game-breaking play came on the biggest snap of the day.

Facing fourth-and-5 and trailing the Vikings 33-31 with just six minutes left in the game, Murray threw a floater off of his back foot to hit Christian Kirk in stride to pick up the first down and move the Cardinals into the red zone.

The Arizona offense is must-watch football, and Murray is a budding MVP candidate.

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LOSER: Zach Wilson

It's not easy being a rookie quarterback for the Jets, but Zach Wilson isn't doing himself any favors.

Wilson threw four interceptions against the Patriots in his first game against the defensive mind of Bill Belichick. He didn't exactly force the Patriots defense to make any amazing plays.

Wilson has talent and could settle in as the season rolls on, but through two games, it's not clear that the Jets have enough firepower to give him a fighter's chance.

WINNER: Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold. AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Sam Darnold is winning the breakup. After the Jets dumped Darnold in favor of Zach Wilson, he landed with the Carolina Panthers and has his new team off to an unexpected 2-0 start.

He's also making plays like this.

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It's amazing what escaping the clutches of Adam Gase will do for a man.

WINNER: Trusting your quarterback when he is Lamar Jackson

Facing fourth-and-1 from midfield with a chance to seal the game against the Chiefs on Sunday night, the Ravens had a decision to make - go for the win and risk giving the game away with a stop, or punt the ball away and risk Patrick Mahomes driving the field for the win.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh decided to ask his quarterback.

Lamar absolutely wanted to go for it, and the move paid off, with Jackson pushing forward for the first down and sealing the win.

Good coaching, great play, and trust between the two. That's a winning formula.

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LOSER: Vikings fans listening to the game on the radio

The Minnesota Vikings lined up for a game-winning 37-yard field goal with just seconds left in the game. Trailing the Cardinals 34-33, it was a do-or-die play.

Vikings kicker Greg Joseph pushed the kick wide, but fans listening on the radio didn't know that thanks to a blunder on the play-by-play call.

Congratulations to the Vikings for continuing to innovate to find even more painful ways to lose.

WINNER: Surprise 2-0 teams

Derek Carr. AP Photo/Matt Durisko

The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0 after winning twice as underdogs to start the year, with quarterback Derek Carr playing like an MVP contender.

The Carolina Panthers are 2-0 thanks to a young defense that is finding its footing and some quality play from Sam Darnold, and could be 3-0 after a Thursday night showdown with the Houston Texans this week.

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The Denver Broncos have two wins by 10 points to start the season, after not winning a single game by 10 points in 2020.

Well done boys, keep up the good work.

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