After two weeks of football, the takes are still hot. Welcome back to Five Hot Takes. This is a weekly feature where I take a look at five hot takes from the week and then counter them with an argument of my own. Whether or not you agree with them will be up to you.
Five Hot Takes From Week Two
So without delay, let’s dive right into the narratives going on right now.
1. Aaron Rodgers is in a Slump
Statistically? Yes. In terms of quality? Not even close. Rodgers is being strangled by a limited receiving cast (Jordy Nelson is rusty coming back from missing all of 2015) that can’t get separation. Davante Adams for instance, is struggling terribly, failing to catch the ball or gain separation.
Rodgers was great against the Jacksonville Jaguars, moving well in the pocket and buying the receivers time to get open. While he wasn’t good against the Minnesota Vikings, his jitters were offset by a receiving cast that really struggled. He still made a few great plays on his own that day.
Bottom line: the Green Bay Packers need to provide Rodgers with better play-calling and fresh receivers.
2. The New Orleans Saints Defense Stopped the New York Giants
Not really. The reason the Saints “held” the Giants to 16 points was because the Giants offense kept shooting themselves in the foot. On the very first drive, Larry Donnell and Odell Beckham dropped back to back would be touchdown catches in the end zone. In the second quarter, Shane Vereen fumbled in the middle of a drive, Victor Cruz fumbled on a 40-yard pass play, and Eli Manning fumbled on a sack (on an otherwise excellent day for him). Later in the game, Sterling Shepard (on an otherwise outstanding performance) slipped on the turf on a would be touchdown, and Cruz and Beckham dropped an additional two touchdown passes.
So really, the Saints defense still played terribly, allowing big holes and separation. It was the Giants receivers and turnovers that really played up the story.
3. The Baltimore Ravens Are Off to a Great Start
The team is 2-0, but I don’t feel too confident about them as a whole so far. Joe Flacco performed relatively well in Week One, but got away with a lot of turnover-worthy throws in Week Two that the Cleveland Browns defense never caught on to. It was really a big break against an awful defense. The Buffalo Bills game had a bit more to like, but it was also against a terrible defense.
True, it is better to win ugly than to lose outright, but this Ravens team needs to be tested.
4. Time to Panic About the Seattle Seahawks Offense
Not quite. The offense is not off to a good start by any means, but that can be explained and fixed. Russell Wilson is playing hurt, and his much needed mobility is not there currently. Thomas Rawls is also playing hurt, and poor offensive line play is preventing the team from getting any comfort.
This is an offense filled with young talent, and when healthy, I guarantee they will be a lot better.
5. The Dallas Cowboys Outplayed the Washington Redskins
Box score aside, this was more of a failed opportunity for quarterback Kirk Cousins. The receivers and offensive line put him in the best position to succeed in Week Two and he failed. He could not hit open receivers downfield with precision, kept throwing late to receivers, showed off limited vision when surveying the field, and continued to lock in on targets, regardless if they were open or not (his interception is a great example of how terrible his lock on was).
With a more capable quarterback, it’s hard for me not to say the Redskins would have won that game, especially with star quarterback Tony Romo injured for the Cowboys.
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