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The Monday Morning Mashup, NFL Week 2: Saints Surprise, Bengals Fall to 0-2, and What Matters Going Forward

The Saints march along, the Bengals face a test, and the Lions stumble. Here is what you need to know from the second Sunday of the NFL season.
by Shawn Syed|September 16, 2024

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Welcome to The Monday Morning Mashup! In this column, I will share all of the things from NFL Sunday that I think are worth your time. It may be good things, it may be bad things, it may be plays or play calls or players, but it will all be rooted in my love for this beautiful, ugly, fascinating, frustrating game we call football.

In this week’s column, you can jump to:

First Things First: The Saints Go Marching In

If you only remember one thing from this Sunday, this is what it should be.

Klint Kubiak, Alvin Kamara, and the rest of the New Orleans Saints offense put on a show in a 44-19 upset victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints scored touchdowns on their first six possessions, and five of those drives went for 70 or more yards. Alvin Kamara’s four touchdowns and an impressive offensive line run blocking performance raise questions for a Cowboys defense off a strong Week 1 performance but also provided answers for an offense that seems to be settling into its identity.

With back-to-back offensive explosions, Klint Kubiak is putting together his version of the Shanahan offense that continues to spread across the league. New Orleans is using condensed sets to create leverage in the run and pass game, multiple tight ends to manipulate the defense, and motion to dress plays up all while drawing a big red target on the middle of the field.

The Saints have true matchup advantages on the outside with the route running of Chris Olave and the burner speed of Rashid Shaheed, but Kubiak is also maximizing the roster by getting extra tight ends on the field to encourage the defense to crowd the box. That encouragement has teeth when this group up front is able to push around a defense while masking some pass protection limitations.

This is all happening while Derek Carr is playing like Matt Ryan during his magical run with Kyle Shanahan. Kubiak dialed up play action on nine of Carr’s 17 dropbacks, and Carr is more than happy to take the shots called for him. Carr also saw motion on 74% of Saints plays as they were able to stay a step ahead of the Cowboys defense.

The Saints offense has the Eagles and Vic Fangio coming to town next week as Fangio attempts to live up to his reputation as a coordinator that the likes of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay hate playing against.

For the Cowboys, their Week 1 defensive performance against the Cleveland Browns is marred by this game. Dallas faced questions about their run defense down the stretch last season, and the Saints were able to find space on zone run after zone run. Mike Zimmer’s unit will look to regroup quickly as they head into a Week 3 matchup against the run happy Baltimore Ravens. It may take more time than expected for this talented unit to figure out some key issues.

The Matter Meter

How much does what we saw on Sunday actually matter?

It Definitely Matters: The Bengals face an uphill climb at 0-2, but they can still make the playoffs.

Over the last 5 seasons, 41 teams have started the year 0-2. Just two, the 2022 Bengals and 2023 Texans, managed to reach the playoffs. The list of teams trying to become the third is lengthy; the Bengals, Ravens, Rams, Jaguars, Colts, Titans, Broncos, Giants, and Panthers (and the Falcons if they lose on Monday night) all will try to beat the odds this season.

Of those teams, the Bengals have made an ill-advised habit of struggling early in the season and recorded their third straight 0-2 start. The Bengals snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Arrowhead after an impressive performance was overshadowed by a late pass interference on the way to a game-winning Kansas City field goal.

The Bengals defense held up their end of the bargain for much of the day with a dominant Trey Hendrickson performance that forced the Chiefs to go to a second left tackle, an interception across the middle of the field, and an astounding interception from Cam Taylor-Britt:

Most importantly, Cincinnati’s offense showed life. Joe Burrow was able to push the ball down field on a 47-yard throw to Jermaine Burton and he found Andrei Iosivas for two red zone touchdowns. The Chiefs were able to succeed in man coverage and with blitzes as Burrow was 8/15 for 84 yards against man coverage and faced pressure situations. The Chiefs were more than happy to play this style of defense against an offense whose biggest threat, Ja’Marr Chase, was in desperate need of a second fiddle.

The next four games for the Bengals are against the Commanders, Panthers, the 0-2 Ravens, and Giants. There is a real possibility that they will enter Week 7 3-3. The offense is trending in the right direction. The defense is trending in the right direction. The schedule, and division, can work in Cincinnati’s favor. A return from Tee Higgins should jumpstart the offense out of the conundrum the Chiefs defense presented. Chase, Higgins, and Mike Gesicki will all be key pieces for Joe Burrow as he tries to beat the odds once again.

It Shouldn’t Matter: The Lions loss to the Buccaneers shouldn’t give us cause for concern.

After the Lions ran their way to an overtime victory against the Rams last Sunday night, Jared Goff attempted 55 passes in a close loss to the Buccaneers. Those 55 throws are the most Goff has made in a game since Week 1 of the 2021 season. Goff threw two interceptions, was flustered at times, and the Lions ended the day one for seven in the red zone. Amon-Ra St. Brown also looked hobbled late in the game, and Sam LaPorta was held in check.

Detroit also flubbed an end of half situation where a spike and a too many men on the field penalty prevented a field goal attempt in a game where three more points would have changed the end of game approach. And yet, there is optimism to be had for these Lions.

Jameson Williams continued to be a threat on the outside with a 50-yard gain, 11 targets, and a solid 15-yard run. Jahmyr Gibbs still moves at 1.5x speed. Despite an early 4th and goal field goal, Dan Campbell is still Dan Campbell.

It is unlikely that Jared Goff attempts more than 50 passes in a game again for a team that consistently shows run game creativity and run game reliance. Ben Johnson will look to fix some of the red zone issues going forward, and his resume has shown us that his designs can get the offense back on track.

Aside from the struggles the Lions saw on offense against the Buccaneers, the defense can become a bright spot. Brian Branch, the Defensive Player of the Year in my heart, came down with an interception after being very close to more than one last week, and Aidan Hutchinson had 4.5 sacks in another favorable matchup.

The Lions man coverage and pressure style should present problems that carry over to other offenses that do not have Baker Mayfield performing miracles in the pocket. With a rising defense and an offensive coordinator I trust, the Lions should be just fine.

It Might Matter: Christian McCaffrey is going to miss more time than was originally expected.

Early Sunday morning, it was reported that Christian McCaffrey could miss up to six weeks as he looks to recover from an Achilles injury. This comes after McCaffrey rapidly went from being probable last Monday to being out for the game to being a candidate for IR to now looking to miss more than four weeks. On the same day the news spread across the league, the San Francisco 49ers came up short against the Minnesota Vikings in a 23-17 loss.

Brian Flores once again flustered a 49ers offense that saw Brock Purdy sacked four times against the blitz. Jonathon Greenard tallied a team-high five pressures, Purdy threw an interception, and he also lost a fumble as a ball slipped out of his hand as he started a throw. For the second straight year, Brian Flores cooked up a diabolical formula for dealing with the league’s top attack.

The 49ers next six games are against the Rams, Patriots, Cardinals, Seahawks, Chiefs, and Cowboys before a Week 9 Bye. Their offense was a well-oiled machine against the New York Jets, and they will look to bounce back against a very injured Los Angeles Rams team. McCaffrey is a real playmaker and changes how defenses deal with the 49ers. He can be the primary target on 3rd down designs and opens up Deebo Samuel for a different role in the offense.

Kyle Shanahan will lean on Jordan Mason and some secondary runs from Deebo Samuel as McCaffrey recovers. This is a team that is playing for big games late in the season and will take a cautious approach to this year’s Madden cover athlete. Brock Purdy may be expected to shoulder more responsibility, and Shanahan is sure to draw up designs that send linebackers spinning.

The NFC West is a curious case with the Seahawks at 2-0 and the Cardinals emerging, but the 49ers offense, even without McCaffrey, should expect to end the season with the division crown.

It Mattered to Him: Maxx Crosby played every single defensive snap, again.

Maxx Crosby led the Raiders defense in snaps, impact, and performance in Week 2. His game wrecking ability highlighted issues for the Ravens offensive line and sparked an upset in which the Raiders led for less than a minute.

The Ravens now face tough questions as they figure out how to get out of the 0-2 hole. The new offensive line is still looking to settle in but will face strong pass rushers across six division games. Relying solely on Lamar Jackson super heroics may not be sustainable as this team looks to expand its pass catching options and help out its two-time MVP.

Jackson is more than capable of carrying an offense, but I hope to see improvements across the board for the Ravens offense sooner rather than later.

And the Nominees Are…

Here are the ballots for some very real, very important awards. Cast your vote and let your voice be heard.

Best Team Performance in a Win Where the Offense Attempted 20 or Less Passes
1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 20 pass attempts

The Pittsburgh Steelers land on my oddly specific awards list again one week after winning a game in which the offense did not score a touchdown. They won a matchup where the Broncos tallied nine penalties for 124 yards, seven more yards than Justin Fields threw for on the day.

I don’t know what to make of the Steelers, but I also know exactly who they are. They are a Mike Tomlin coached team with a suffocating defense that will find ways to win games and end the season over .500. They also happen to sit atop the AFC North at 2-0.

2. Los Angeles Chargers, 20 pass attempts

The Jim Harbaugh era is off to a fast start as the Chargers look to create an identity in Los Angeles. Jesse Minter has helped turn around a defense that has allowed one touchdown in eight quarters of play with both disguise and aggressiveness, and J.K. Dobbins went over 130 yards for the second straight game.

The Bolts will have a tough matchup next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers as both teams ponder if they need to break the dreaded 20 pass attempts mark.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 19 pass attempts

Baker Mayfield insists on playing an extremely likable brand of football. He has found a way to avoid sacks, lets it rip from the pocket, and has the Buccaneers riding high. Mike Evans was contained for most of the day, but Chris Godwin led the way with seven receptions, 117 yards, and a touchdown.

The highlight of the day for the Buccaneers came on a play that should lead the end of year Baker highlight reel:

4. New Orleans Saints, 16 pass attempts

The Saints offense got the shine to lead the column, but the defense can make this team a legitimate NFC contender. Without Marshon Lattimore, the Saints defense held strong all three times the Cowboys entered the red zone and picked Dak Prescott off twice.

Add in three sacks, a bit of attitude, and a fierce front, and the Saints become a fun matchup for the Philadelphia Eagles next week. The Saints are already a legitimate contender in the surprising NFC South, but a win against the Eagles could turn the page from good story to great team.

5. Green Bay Packers, 14 pass attempts

Matt LaFleur faced the challenge of calling an offense without Jordan Love with an approach a high school coach could only dream of. The Packers racked up 164 rush yards in the first quarter as LaFleur used a wide receiver in the backfield, motioned in every direction, and fielded a diverse attack that set the foundation for an ugly (see below) win.

LaFleur picked up hints from the Colts Week 1 loss to the Texans as the Colts front struggled against the run once again. The Packers defense also bounced back from their Week 1 loss in Brazil with three interceptions off Anthony Richardson, though one was on the last play of the game.

Best Performance by a Quarterback in the NFC West
1. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray and Drew Petzing have the Cardinals offense fully operational. Petzing combines a desire for personnel diversity with dynamic play calling that now feels more thoughtfully sequenced. The Cardinals can manipulate defenses by trotting out their 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends, and one receiver) looks that force the defense into a choice.

Defenses can bring out their own heavy personnel to match the tight ends and may end up in single high defenses that open things up for the offense. Alternatively, they can line up light and face the unbridled wrath of James Connor. Marvin Harrison Jr. overcame Week 1 concerns about his speed and took advantage when he was the only receiver on the field as both of his touchdowns came from 13 personnel looks:

Kyler Murray was also on another planet (in a good way) on Sunday in all facets of the game. He was able to scramble for yards, extend plays and find open receivers, and delivered accurate balls down the field. The league is struggling to manufacture explosive offense, but Murray is a big play waiting to happen on every snap. The Cardinals are a team that may be more fun than good for now, but that gap is shrinking because of this offense.

2. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Mike Macdonald is the only first-year Seahawks head coach to start off their tenure 2-0. That is thanks to some great coaching on the defensive side of the ball and Geno Smith playing every down like it may be his last.

Against a stout Patriots defense, Smith was under pressure, did not have much of a run game to rely on, and saw multiple drops. None of that mattered as Smith made play after play down the stretch on the way to an overtime win.

We should all be excited for Smith and Macdonald as well as Jaxon Smith-Njigba taking over the WR2 role in Seattle. The Seahawks will play the Miami Dolphins next week before a massive test in Detroit on Monday night. With that and future matchups against the 49ers, Macdonald will have plenty of chances to prove he belongs in the Coach of the Year discussion in year one.

Best Kick by Brandon Aubrey, Kicker #1

Brandon Aubrey, the best player in a Cowboys jersey on Sunday, and perhaps in the entire history of the NFL, had another stellar week. What was your favorite kick form Aubrey this week? Was it the 52 yarder? The simple extra point? The 48 yarder to end the half?

WRONG AGAIN! It was this beautiful bouncing ball that ended in the rare touchback to the 20-yard line.

This type of kick is the gold standard for those of us watching all of the NFL kickoffs. A usual touchback is brought out to the 30-yard line, but a touchback that bounces in the field of play before going through the end zone puts the offense on the 20-yard line.

Aubrey is resetting the bar in the kicking game and will look to earn a three-peat spot in this column next week. His comfort on field goals and his ability to manipulate the ball on kickoffs is a marvel of science, technology, and football art.

Special shout-out to NFL Pro for many of the advanced stats used above.

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