Week 2: Winners and Losers

Week 2 of the 2024 regular season was a perfect reminder that, in the NFL, anything can happen. From blowout wins, to season-ending injuries; from record-breaking offense to highlight-reel defense, the latest slate of NFL matchups provided a host of winners and losers for us to Decyfr.

Haason Reddick – Edge Rusher – New York Jets – WINNER

Injuries are an unfortunate reality of life in the NFL, with any one play capable of resulting in a season-ending injury – something New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson knows all too well. In the third quarter of the Jets’ 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the 2023 Pro Bowler was carted off the field with a torn Achilles, a devastating blow to a young team with Super Bowl aspirations. That said, Johnson’s injury could prove to be bittersweet for Haason Reddick. Since joining the Jets from the Philadelphia Eagles in April, the 2022 All-Pro edge rusher has orchestrated a well-documented holdout in pursuit of a new contract. Heading into the season, it was reported that the Jets were reluctant to meet Reddick’s demands. However, with a painfully poor defensive showing against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, and the loss of Johnson in Week 2, general manager Joe Douglas might have little choice but to open the cheque book – likely giving Reddick the eye-watering contract he’s been seeking all offseason.

These 3 stars are after one thing… 💰#DallasCowboys #RuleTheJungle #JetUp pic.twitter.com/0ySbJOxBAs

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) July 30, 2024

Xavier Worthy – Wide Receiver – Kansas City Chiefs – LOSER

It may seem harsh to attach the ‘loser’ label to a rookie wide receiver following only the second game of his NFL career, but in the case of Kansas City Chiefs wide out Xavier Worthy, it’s unfortunately fitting. Week 1 saw Worthy explode onto the scene – demonstrating his record-breaking speed as he scored two touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. Understandably, this prompted the attention of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cameron Taylor-Britt who told the media: “He can run straight. He can’t do much else. He’s only 100 some pounds.” Despite Chiefs Kingdom immediately coming to Worthy’s defence, their efforts were in vein when the first-round receiver from Texas was held to just three touches for 22 yards. To make matters worse, in the dying stages of the third quarter, Taylor-Britt pulled off a stunning one-handed interception on Patrick Mahomes. Who was Mahomes’ intended target? Xavier Worthy. Undoubtedly, Worthy has a lot to offer the Chiefs and will impress again this season – particularly with the added motivation of proving Taylor-Britt wrong.

Justin Fields – Quarterback – Pittsburgh Steelers – WINNER

Once upon a time, Justin Fields was viewed as the Chicago Bears’ saviour – destined to finally bring competent, winning quarterback play to Chicago. Three years later, and the same title has been thrust upon another rookie quarterback, this time in the form of 2024 first-overall pick, Caleb Williams. With the arrival of Williams, Fields was sent packing – as the former 11^th-overall pick joined the Pittsburgh Steelers to play second-string behind nine-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson. After impressing all offseason, however, Fields was ready to take over as QB1 when Wilson was ruled out of Week 1 with a calf injury. Not only has Fields led the Steelers to a 2-0 record, Caleb Williams’ poor performances in Chicago have made Fields a clear ‘winner’ at this point in the season. Despite a stacked wide receiver room, the Bears’ failing offensive line – paired with Williams’ inexperience – has resulted in extensive issues for the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. Through two weeks, Williams has recorded just 267 passing yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions en route to an 0-2 record – not to mention a shockingly low passer rating of 53. Justin Fields has by no means been elite, but trumping Williams in almost every statistical category must make an unbeaten record taste even sweeter.

Zac Taylor – Head Coach – Cincinnati Bengals – LOSER

For somewhat obvious reasons, losing both of your first two games to start a new season does indeed make you a ‘loser’ – particularly when your team is loaded with talent, having also made a Super Bowl appearance just three years prior. For Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, however, that isn’t the only reason for his appearance on this list. Following Joe Burrow’s rookie season, the Bengals had a decision to make – draft a lineman to protect their young QB1 or give him a weapon. The Bengals opted for the latter, using the fifth-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to select LSU star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The decision paid off, with the Bengals becoming AFC Champions behind Chase’s historic rookie season. Chase continued to uphold that level of excellence in each of his next two seasons, resulting in the WR1 understandably seeking a lucrative payday. Not only have the Bengals not yet provided Chase with a new contract, but recent ESPN reports suggest that Ja’Marr Chase now has “no plans” to negotiate a long-term contract and that he feels “misled” by the team. The prospect of losing one of game’s best WRs who has a unique chemistry with Joe Burrow – dating back to their time at LSU – paired with two painful losses, will be a bitter pill for Zac Taylor to swallow.

The last time the @Saints scored 90+ points through their first two games, they went on to win Super Bowl XLIV 👀#Saints pic.twitter.com/FIajJprNws

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) September 16, 2024

Klint Kubiak – Offensive Coordinator – New Orleans Saints – WINNER

Before the 2024 season began, the New Orleans Saints were nowhere to be seen on almost every NFL expert’s playoff prediction. In fact, the Saints were often projected to finish the season at the bottom of the NFC South. Skip forward to Week 2, however, and Klint Kubiak’s offense has shattered all expectations. Through two weeks of the season, the Saints have scored a huge 91 points. The only other team, since 1970, to score more points after two weeks (93) were, rather interestingly, the 2009 Saints – who went on to win the Super Bowl. But that’s not all, as part of their dominance, Kubiak led New Orleans to 15-straight scoring drives and 813 total yards of offense. While a performance this dominant wasn’t overly surprising against a Carolina Panthers team in the midst of a rebuild, a 44-19 annihilation of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 was by no means expected and ensured all remaining doubters were silenced.

Matt Stafford – Quarterback – Los Angeles Rams – LOSER

Matt Stafford has rarely had the ‘Football Gods’ on his side. Despite boasting generational talent, the former first-overall pick could never find success in Detroit – owing to a lack of weapons at his disposal and questionable coaching. After joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, and immediately leading them to Super Bowl glory, the tide looked to be permanently turning in Stafford’s favour. Skip forward to 2024, however, and injuries have plagued the Rams’ season already – unsettling the incredibly talented QB yet again. Not only have Los Angeles experienced heavy injuries across their offensive line, but 2023 sensation Puka Nacua was added to the Injured Reserve (IR) after straining his PCL in an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Rather than rebounding in Week 2, injuries left the Rams trailing all game to the Arizona Cardinals who eventually polished them off with a painful 41-10 victory. To add insult to injury – excuse the pun – star wide receiver Cooper Kupp suffered an ankle injury during the loss, with head coach Sean McVay telling reporters that Kupp will likely miss an extended period of time and could join Nacua on the IR. Stafford now heads into a tough Week 3 clash with reining NFC Champions, the San Francisco 49ers, without both of his star weapons.