NFL Bandwagon Report: Can Dolphins' video game offence challenge Bills?

There are the teams you’re born rooting for, for better or worse, and then there are the bandwagon clubs – the franchises and star players that pique your interest, draw you in and drop you off. Each week of the 2022 campaign, we’re recapping some of the most encouraging and discouraging developments from around the NFL and deciding whose bandwagon to hop on or off – even if only for a week.

Week 2 was rather dramatic with exciting finishes and a handful of improbable comeback wins, including two teams that were down at least 20 at halftime. Week 2 also marked the first time since 2011 that the Jets, Jaguars and Lions all won in the same week. The Lions actually did so as favourites, snapping a streak of 24 consecutive games as the underdog.

The 0-2 Bengals are in the midst of the common Super Bowl loser hangover but what’s most concerning is the team not protecting Joe Burrow whatsoever, allowing the most sacks through the first two weeks. They also allowed the most sacks in 2021, but still managed their improbable run to the championship game.

Nathaniel Hackett picked up his first win as Broncos head coach yet his peculiar decision-making from the sidelines continued with a Week 2 victory riddled with mental errors. Denver is fortunate to not be 0-2.

No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills and so far this season no team’s bandwagon has filled up faster. The 2-0 Bills have looked every part the Super Bowl frontrunners and they head into an anticipated divisional matchup with 2-0 Miami this week.

So, whose bandwagons will we be joining or leaving after an exciting Week 2?

Hopping on: Dolphins’ offence and video game stat lines

If you thought the Miami Dolphins resembled a video game team in Sunday’s wild come-from-behind win over Baltimore, you weren’t alone. Star receiver Tyreek Hill said of his first-year head coach Mike McDaniel: “It was like he was playing Madden out there.”

McDaniel’s play-calling creativity was on display, especially in the third and fourth quarters with his team down 28-7 at halftime and 35-14 after 45 minutes. Tua Tagovailoa went 12 for 20 for 150 yards passing, one TD and a pair of interceptions to Marcus Williams in the opening half before completing 24 of 30 for 319 yards and five touchdowns with no turnovers in the second half. Hill had 190 yards and two TDs on 11 catches; Jaylen Waddle had 171 and two TDs on 11 catches. It was the first such game in NFL history.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson casually set a pair of NFL records in a losing effort by becoming the first player to record 300 passing yards and three passing touchdowns plus 100 yards on the ground and a rushing score in the same game. He is also the first player in NFL history to record a passing and rushing touchdown that both exceeded 75 yards in the same game. Not to mention he had a perfect passer rating against the blitz. Insane.

And speaking of video games come to life, you saw this absurd two-point conversion from Kyler Murray, right? (MJ)

Hopping off: Packers-Bears in prime time

Taking a page directly out of the playbook of Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt, who spelled this one out perfectly:

There’s a way to appreciate league history and honour age-old rivalries, but having the Packers trounce the Bears on the Sunday night stage every single year isn’t it. (ES)

And speaking of NFC North teams disappointing in prime time…

Hopping on: Jaguars as a legitimate AFC South contender

Have you seen the rest of the AFC South? The division was expected to be a two-horse race between the Colts and Titans this season as the Jags and Texans hoped to gain momentum after promising drafts.

Through two weeks, Jacksonville sits alone in first place and they’ve looked like the best team in the division. The Jags currently lead the league in turnovers thanks to all the mistakes they capitalized on and forced the Colts to make in a 24-0 win on Sunday. The division is 1-5-2 and the Jags have that lone victory. Trevor Lawrence was efficient and is developing some nice chemistry with Christian Kirk. Is it crazy to think they have a shot at the upset against a banged up Justin Herbert and the Chargers this week? (MJ)

Hopping off: Underperforming Colts

Matt Ryan wasn’t part of the Colts’ disastrous Week 18 outing against the Jaguars that ultimately saw Indy miss out on last year's playoffs, but he could’ve been part of a fresh start for the club – one that entered the season with great expectations of claiming the division title. It wasn’t just that Indianapolis was shut out in an important AFC South battle on Sunday – its second poor divisional outing in as many weeks – it was that the team looked completely disinterested in winning at all. They were given every opportunity to easily enter Week 3’s date with the Chiefs as 2-0 club, but instead feel like a sure bet to exit September without a win.

It says a lot about the state of the AFC South (we haven’t even addressed the Titans’ fall from grace!) that the Colts’ division title hopes haven’t actually suffered much of a hit, but that’s a take for another week. (ES)

Hopping on: Brian Daboll’s Giants

New York football is… fun now? Between the Jets’ crazy comeback in Cleveland and the Giants’ second straight win, that question should be a statement – especially when it comes to the Giants, who in two weeks have done more to excite a beleaguered fanbase than at any point in the past five years.

That’s all thanks to Brian Daboll, who has clearly come in and changed the culture of this club. The importance of Daniel Jones’ performance against the Cowboys Monday night with a possible 3-0 record on the line cannot be understated. I’m here for the drama. (ES)

Hopping off: Cleveland with Brownie the Elf at midfield

The Browns have had some truly terrible losses over the years and Sunday’s improbable L against the Jets has got to be near the top of a lengthy list. Despite a terrible off-season chock full of negative press amid questionable front office decisions, Cleveland was less than two minutes away from being 2-0 and alone atop the AFC North.

It was Cleveland’s home opener and the first game with that heinous “Brownie the Elf” logo at midfield (I don’t care about the history of the logo, that elf is harrowing and its eyes are not to be trusted). Was the loss perhaps slightly karmic, and part of some new Brownie curse? Or was it simply a series of lapses in judgement and execution?

It unquestionably was an example of why it’s often better to be boring than run up the score. Had Nick Chubb not run in his third TD of the game when he did, and instead gone down in bounds, they could’ve killed more of the clock and a two-touchdown comeback wouldn’t’ve been feasible. They need to bounce back in a big way Thursday at home against the Steelers or they’ll be booed off the field for the second time in less than a week. (MJ)

Hopping on: Philly’s special defence

Last week, Mike waxed poetic about the Eagles’ dynamic offence, which we saw continue to blossom before our eyes at home against the Vikings Monday night. This week, I’m here to praise the defence – one that just shut down one of the league’s most dynamic receivers on Monday night. Tasked with following Justin Jefferson, Eagles cornerback Darius Slay allowed the Vikings’ top weapon just a single catch on six targets and intercepted two of them. In all, Philly’s defence intercepted Cousins three times Monday, sacked him twice, and held Minnesota to just seven points all night. (ES)

Hopping on: Bucs defence

Let’s end on a positive and hop on another dangerous defence. Not that we’re surprised this unit is off to a solid start, it’s just we figured the offence would’ve played a bigger role the first two weeks.

Tampa’s defence has given up a combined 13 points in their two wins and the lone touchdown they allowed was in garbage time this past Sunday against the Saints. They have the most sacks, second-most turnovers and have allowed the fifth-fewest yards so far this season. The defence has scored as many touchdowns as they’ve given up.

They’ll be tested the next two weeks, facing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 3 then Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Week 4. After that, though, Tampa’s defence should have their way with Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Carolina in October, which theoretically will have them at least 5-2 when they meet the Ravens for the Week 8 Thursday Nighter. (MJ)