Five Stories to Watch in NFL Week 2

Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images North America

Can the week 1 surprises continue to impress moving forward?

1. Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns – Did you know the Titans are on top of the AFC South? Okay, it’s only week 1, but getting the Browns in week 2 is huge for a young team trying to break out of the Colts shadow. A lot more eyes are going to be on Marcus Mariota. Did he have a fluke week against a bad team or can we crown him rookie of the year? Well, playing the Browns are not going to tell us that, but throwing another four touchdowns will certainly have him on a lot more fantasy teams.
2. Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers – If you have been paying attention, then you know this is a must watch game between two of the most elite teams in the last three years. The Seahawks have had the Packers number the last four times they’ve played and last year in the regular season it wasn’t even close. Last week the Seahawks suffered a big upset at the hands of the Rams while the Packers thrived in a tough road game. The thing you really need to watch for in this game is simply this; can Aaron Rodgers finally figure out the Seahawks and put them in a deeper hole to start the season?
3. Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs – I’ve been critical of Peyton Manning after last weeks performance and his season will get no easier this week as they visit the Chiefs. Kansas City was able to go into Houston and score 27 points against a tough defense. Now the Chiefs defense will have to step up as they face first ballot hall of famer Manning who is hungry to get just one more shot at another ring before he has to hang it up. As far as week 2 match ups go, they don’t get much bigger than this.
4. Arizona Cardinals@ Chicago Bears – I was surprised at the amount of people who picked the Cardinals to beat the Saints last week. You would think that Drew Brees would be enough for anyone to pick the Saints no matter what the rest of the team looks like. But that was when the Cardinals played at home. Now they go into Chicago where the fans are always rowdy, loud, and passionate. Are the Cardinals the real deal? This game will tell us all we need to know about how Arizona’s season will go.
5. New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills – Much like the Rams and Seahawks this is a division rivalry that you can never predict. The Bills have been able to sneak a win from the Patriots during the regular season and if last week was any indication of how strong of a defense the Bills have, you have to at least pause before you pick the Patriots. Rex Ryan knows the Patriots better than anyone not named Manning. If the Bills want to make a strong statement this season, this is the week to do it.