Week 2 of the NFL season is in the books. Here’s how it looked from an NFLSU perspective.
Bills 41 vs Lions 31
For the Lions, G Miles Frazier played five special teams snaps and LB Devin White had six tackles (three solo). For the Bills, C Lloyd Cushenberry had a solid game and LS Reid Ferguson didn’t have a bad game.
Grade: C+
Saints 24 @ Ravens 17
Ravens G Emery Jones played four special teams snaps. Saints DT Davon Godchaux assisted on one tackle. Saints WR Barion Brown didn’t appear on the offensive stat sheet, but he had two punt returns
for 13 yards and two kick returns for 73 yards. His 53-yard return at the end of the first half gave the Saints a chance to kick a field goal before halftime despite the Ravens scoring with 24 ticks left. That turns a bleh game into a solid one.
Grade: C+
Panthers 34 @ Falcons 3
Panthers G Damien Lewis had an okay game without anything ruinous. Falcons DT Maason Smith had two assisted tackles, and LB Harold Perkins Jr. had one assisted tackle. Considering how poorly the Falcons’ defense played, this can’t be a good grade.
Grade: D
Bengals 20 @ Texans 6
For the Texans, WR Kayshon Boutte caught three of his five targets for 37 yards, TE Foster Moreau caught both of his targets for 34 yards and added a tackle, LB Danielle Hunter tallied a sack on his only tackle and added a pass deflection, and CB Derek Stingley Jr. had one pass defense and three tackles (two solo). Joe and Ja’Marr had themselves a game. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase caught seven of his nine targets for 75 yards and two TDs. QB Joe Burrow was 20/31 for 207 yards and 2 TDs through the air for a QBR of 105.2. Those performances are what make NFLSU such a great brand.
Grade: A
Browns 23 @ Buccaneers 19
Bucs TE Bauer Sharp played snaps, but he didn’t record a stat. Browns S Grant Delpit had five tackles, all solo, and an unassisted sack. That’s a solid day.
Grade: C
Packers 20 @ Jets 17 OT
The Packers didn’t play a former Tiger, and Jets TE Mason Taylor was never even targeted. Bleh.
Grade: F+
Vikings 9 @ Bears 3
Bears WR Zavion Thomas had no offensive stats, but he had three kick returns for 68 yards. Vikings S Jay Ward had one assisted tackle. WR Justin Jefferson caught three of his six targets for a team-high 55 yards. This was a pretty ugly game despite perfect weather.
Grade: D
Eagles 24 @ Titans 20
Zero former Tigers played a snap.
Grade: F-
Patriots 20 vs Steelers 3
Patriots G Will Campbell had an okay game and got the third-highest PFF grade of any Patriot on offense. Steelers LB Patrick Queen picked off his first pass since he arrived in Pittsburgh and added two tackles. It wasn’t a banner day, but it’ll do.
Grade: B-
Broncos 20 vs Jaguars 13
Broncos DE Sai’vion Jones played some snaps, but he didn’t record a stat. Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. had another brutal day. He caught just three of his eight targets for 40 yards. There are plenty of concerns in Jacksonville around his long-term future.
Grade: D
Raiders 26 @ Chargers 14
Chargers CB Donte Jackson was the only former Tiger in this game. He had a pass defense, five tackles (three solo), one TFL and one forced fumble which didn’t result in a turnover. I don’t know how the Chargers are 0-2, but wow.
Grade: C+
49ers 35 vs Dolphins 13
Zero former Tigers played a snap.
Grade: F-
Seahawks 31 @ Cardinals 7
Zero former Tigers played a snap.
Grade: F-
Cowboys 37 vs Commanders 20
The Cowboys don’t have a former Tiger. LB K’Lavon Chaisson had three tackles (two solo) including an unassisted sack on third down. QB Jayden Daniels had a decent first half going 11/17 for 96 yards and a TD through the air and adding seven rushes for 69 yards. Sadly, he had a nasty elbow injury at the end of the first half which has since been ruled a dislocated elbow. He will miss several weeks.
Grade: B
Chiefs 33 vs Colts 30 OT
Colts DE Arden Key had one assisted tackle and a QB hit. Colts S A.J. Haulcy had two combined tackles (one solo). Chiefs CB Kristian Fulton had two combined tackles (one solo) and a pick in the Chiefs’ red zone that set up a quick first quarter touchdown. That kind of play is worth extra in my gradebook.
Grade: B
Rams 28 vs Giants 6
Giants WR Malik Nabers caught just one of his four targets for one yard. Rams LB Omar Speights had five tackles (one solo).
Grade: D+
