DANTE LASTING
Assistant Sports Editor
Week 2 has come and gone. Multiple teams improved off their first game, but some teams still looked bad. It is still early in the season, but with the NFL, every game counts.
Note: Analysis does not include Monday night games.
Rookies take center stage
Most college juniors and seniors are focused about getting internships, finding a job or career and are starting to worry about all the debt they have. Rookies who are now playing in the NFL do not have to worry about that. Most of them will be set for their lives and will make more money than all the writers at The Leader combined. After the first two weeks, these rookies are really starting to make a name for themselves.
Gardner Minshew II has a very original name, and he’s not even the second. His dad added that onto his name because he thought it sounded cool. It doesn’t get more original than this, and he got his first start under his belt after taking over for the injured Nick Foles last week. He didn’t end up getting the win, but he kept his team in the game the entire time. He threw for over 200 yards and a touchdown in this close 13-12 loss. The 23-year-old quarterback is taking steps to be the leader that this team needs, and we’ll see if there is more growth next week.
Mecole Hardman and Parris Campbell were taken three picks apart in the second round of this year’s draft. Both wide receivers caught their first career touchdown for their teams this week and helped their teams get a win. Hardman is the newest weapon for Pat Mahomes and the Chief’s electric offense. The 21-year-old should be seeing more targets going forward because of the injury that happened to Tyreek Hill in week one. For Cambell, he is seeing the field more because of the injury to Devin Funchess last week. He will continue to be a big part of this Colts team as everyone is trying to pull together after Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement in August.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has been lighting it up in these first two weeks. This kid from Hollywood, Florida has been living up to his nickname. In the first two weeks, he has caught 12 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He has helped the Ravens start 2-0 on the season, and a pair of his gloves are in the NFL Hall Of Fame. Last week, the 22-year-old became the first player in NFL history to have a pair of touchdowns for 40 or more yards in his first game.
Combined, these four players are set to make an estimated $21 million from their rookie deals. That amount of money makes me think I should have played sports instead of just writing about it.
Buffalo Bills are state champs
The Bills are the first team in NFL history to play back-to-back games on the road in the same stadium. In week one, they beat the NY Jets 17-16 and this week they beat the NY Giants 28-14. Buffalo improved on offense and defense in the second week with quarterback Josh Allen not having a single turnover in the game, and the defense having two interceptions. This is also the seventh straight game with Allen throwing for over 200 yards. The last time this happened was when Jim Kelly did it in 1992.
Buffalo also wasn’t afraid to run the ball, having success with Frank Gore and rookie Devin Singletary. They ran for a combined 125 yards and two touchdowns. Singletary had his first career rushing touchdown, and Gore had his first since 2017. The team will be at home for the near future, with having only one road game in the next seven weeks. Bills Mafia has showed up these past two weeks on the road, and New Era Field will be rocking in week three as it is the Bills home opener. It will be even more special as they will honor the late Pancho Billa who passed away battling cancer this past spring.
Big Ben and Brees got battered and bruised
Two future hall of fame quarterbacks might have their 2019 seasons cut short after leaving with upper body injuries during their games.
Ben Rothlesberger injured his throwing arm during the first half, but the Steelers were able to stay competitive throughout the game. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph kept Pittsburgh in the game, but could not keep up with Russel Willson and the Seahawks.
Later in the day, Saints quarterback Drew Brees was hit during a throw early in the game versus the Rams. He injured his thumb on his throwing hand and was unable to pick up a football. Backup Teddy Bridgewater was unable to do much in the game as the team was only able to score nine points in total.
The Saints and Steelers did not receive good news on Monday. New Orleans was told that Brees tore a ligament in his thumb and will need surgery. He will be out six to eight weeks because of it. For Pittsburgh, the news was worse. Their quarterback will need surgery on his right elbow and will be out for the rest of the season.