NFL 2014: Week 2 What to Look For
NFL 2014: Week 2 What to Look For

 

Comebacks Galore

Kickoff Weekend delivered many games with teams demonstrating impressive turnarounds.

Four teams -- Atlanta, Arizona, Miami and Philadelphia -- overcame deficits of 10+ points to win. The last time there were more than four teams with comeback victories of 10+ points in Week 1 was 2002 (five).

The four teams that overcame deficits of 10+ points to win:

Winning Team Opponent Deficit Result
Source: NFL
FalconsSaints13-0; 20-7W 37-34 (OT)
CardinalsChargers17-6W 18-17
DolphinsPatriots17-7; 20-10W 33-20
EaglesJaguars17-0W 34-17

 

No Need To Panic

At the end of Week 2, no more than 13 teams will be able to claim a perfect 2-0 record, leaving at least 19 clubs at 1-1 or 0-2.

Since realignment in 2002, 86 of the 144 playoff teams (59.7 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including five of the eight division champions in 2013 -- Carolina (NFC South), Cincinnati (AFC North), Green Bay (NFC North), Indianapolis (AFC South) and Philadelphia (NFC East).

A look at how playoff teams in 2012 and 2013 began their seasons:

2012

Team After 2 Games Result
Source: NFL
Atlanta2-0Advanced to Conf. Champ
Baltimore1-1Won Super Bowl XLVII
Cincinnati1-1Advanced to Wild Card
Denver1-1Advanced to Divisional
Green Bay1-1Advanced to Divisional
Houston2-0Advanced to Divisional
Indianapolis1-1Advanced to Wild Card
Minnesota1-1Advanced to Wild Card
New England1-1Advanced to Conf. Champ
San Francisco2-0Advanced to Super Bowl XLVII
Seattle1-1Advanced to Divisional
Washington1-1Advanced to Wild Card

 

2013

Team After 2 Games Result
Source: NFL
Carolina0-2Advanced to Divisional
Cincinnati1-1Advanced to Wild Card
Denver2-0Advanced to Super Bowl XLVIII
Green Bay1-1Advanced to Wild Card
Indianapolis1-1Advanced to Divisional
Kansas City2-0Advanced to Wild Card
New England2-0Advanced to Conf. Champ.
New Orleans2-0Advanced to Divisional
Philadelphia1-1Advanced to Wild Card
San Diego1-1Advanced to Divisional
San Francisco1-1Advanced to Conf. Champ.
Seattle2-0Won Super Bowl XLVIII

 

Interconference Action

With the NFL's late-season schedule packed with division games, the September slate features many exciting interconference matchups, including a Week 2 battle between quarterbacks Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles in primetime on Monday night (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET). Luck (Round 1, No. 1 overall) and Foles (Round 3, No. 88 overall) were both selected in the 2012 NFL Draft and led their teams to division titles last season.

Of the 32 games scheduled for Weeks 2 and 3, 12 will be interconference games, including eight this weekend.

The NFL teams with the top five interconference records since realignment in 2002:

Team Record Pct Next Interconference Game
Source: NFL
Patriots39-9-0.813Week 2 at Minnesota
Steelers33-14-1.698Week 3 at Carolina
Colts32-16-0.667Week 2 vs Philadelphia
Titans30-18-0.625Week 2 vs Dallas
Falcons29-18-1.615Week 2 at Cincinnati

 

Fabulous at 50

Cincinnati quarterback ANDY DALTON completed 25 of 38 passes for 301 yards and a 98.7 passer rating last week against Baltimore. On Sunday, Dalton (11,661 passing yards in 49 career games) will play in his 50th game against Atlanta.

With 387 passing yards this week, Dalton would surpass Jay Cutler (12,047) for the fourth-most passing yards of any active quarterback through his first 50 games.

The active NFL quarterbacks with the most passing yards in their first 50 games:

Quarterback Yards
Source: NFL *Through 49 games
Matthew Stafford14,331
Peyton Manning12,939
Carson Palmer12,259
Jay Cutler12,047
Aaron Rodgers11,746
Andy Dalton*11,661

 

Through 49 games, Dalton (81) already has the fourth-most touchdown passes of any active quarterback through his first 50 games.

The active NFL quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in their first 50 games:

Quarterback TDs
Source: NFL *Through 49 games
Peyton Manning91
Carson Palmer90
Matthew Stafford88
Andy Dalton*81
Aaron Rodgers79

 

Brees-ing By

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passed for 333 yards and a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, his 79th career 300-yard game, the second-most in NFL history (Peyton Manning, 84).

Brees has passed for 51,414 yards in his career, which ranks fifth in NFL history. With 62 passing yards against Cleveland on Sunday, Brees would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (51,475) for fourth place all-time.

The NFL quarterbacks with the most career passing yards in NFL history:

Quarterback Seasons Yards
Source: NFL *Active
Brett Favre1991-201071,838
Peyton Manning*1998-present65,233
Dan Marino1983-199961,361
John Elway1983-199851,475
Drew Brees*2001-present51,414

 

Belichick Moving Up

On Sunday, the New England Patriots travel to Minnesota for an interconference matchup with the Vikings (CBS, 1:00 PM ET).

With a win on Sunday at Minnesota, Bill Belichick can become the sixth head coach in NFL history to reach 200 career regular-season victories.

The most career regular-season wins all-time among NFL head coaches:

Head Coach Team(s) W-L-T Pct
Source: NFL
Don ShulaColts, Dolphins328-156-6.677
George HalasBears318-148-31.682
Tom LandryCowboys250-162-6.607
Curly LambeauPackers, Cardinals, Washington226-132-22.631
Marty SchottenheimerBrowns, Chiefs, Washington, Chargers200-126-1.613
Bill BelichickBrowns, Patriots199-106-0.652

 

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NFL 2014 - Week 2 What to Look For