NFL Catch-Up

"Welcome to another episode of NFL Catch-Up, a recap of the opinions and analysis from national experts across the NFL podcasting landscape—delivering you a weekly catch-up of the most interesting takes from around the NFL. We drop NFL Catch-Up every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl_catchup. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com."
"Week 2 certainly did not disappoint, bringing us a mix of surprises and storylines that have everyone talking. Let's kick things off with perhaps the biggest shocker so far: the New Orleans Saints' unexpected surge."
"Absolutely. Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer openly admits he was way off in his preseason assessment of the Saints. He thought they'd be terrible, citing Derek Carr's mediocrity, Dennis Allen's coaching record, and an aging defense. But through two weeks, they've outscored opponents by 62 points—no other team comes close."
"What's fascinating is how new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has revitalized their offense. Kapadia highlights how Kubiak's game plan neutralized the Cowboys' formidable pass rush, especially Micah Parsons. Carr used play-action on nearly 59% of his passes, leading to big gains."
"And let's not forget Alvin Kamara's resurgence. He looked like his old self, scoring on a beautifully executed 57-yard screen pass. The Saints' offense leads the league in success rate and scoring, which is a far cry from what anyone expected."
"It just goes to show how unpredictable the NFL can be. From a team projected to finish below 500 to leading the league in multiple offensive categories—that's a storyline to watch."
"Switching gears, let's talk about the Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Nick Sirianni's controversial decision-making. According to Sheil Kapadia, Sirianni's conservative play-calling late in the fourth quarter cost the Eagles a win against the Falcons."
"Right. The Eagles were up 18 to 15 with just under two minutes left, facing a third-and-3 at Atlanta's 10-yard line. Instead of planning for four-down territory, they went for a pass that Saquon Barkley ended up dropping. Then, they kicked a field goal, giving the ball back to the Falcons."
"Kirk Cousins took advantage, leading a game-winning touchdown drive. Kapadia argues that analytically, the Eagles should've gone for it on fourth down. The downside was minimal compared to the risk of giving the ball back to a motivated Falcons offense."
"It's a tough pill to swallow, especially since Sirianni's main responsibility is game management. Under an analytics-focused owner like Jeffrey Lurie, these kinds of decisions are under a microscope."
"Now, let's delve into the situation in Carolina. ESPN's David Newton reports that Panthers head coach Dave Canales has benched second-year quarterback Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton."
"Sheil Kapadia sheds light on the bigger issue here—the role of Panthers owner David Tepper. Kapadia describes Tepper as 'insecure and incompetent,' suggesting he might be meddling in coaching decisions, which could be detrimental to the team's development."
"Absolutely. While benching Young might make sense given his struggles—he completed just 18 of 26 passes for 84 yards and threw an interception—the potential interference from ownership is a red flag."
"Kapadia emphasizes that while you can replace coaches and players, you can't change ownership. If Tepper is indeed pulling the strings, the Panthers might have a long road ahead."
"Speaking of rookie quarterbacks, let's talk about Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. Williams had a rough outing against the Houston Texans, completing 23 of 37 passes for just 174 yards and throwing two interceptions."
"Kapadia suggests it's time to reset our expectations for Williams's rookie season. Despite the Bears seeming to offer a supportive environment with new weapons and a fresh offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron, the offense looks disjointed."
"He's been pressured on over 43% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. It's tough for any quarterback, let alone a rookie, to perform under that kind of pressure."
"Exactly. While it's too early to make definitive judgments, it's clear that Williams needs more support from his offensive line and coaching staff to reach his potential."
"Now, let's turn our attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite scoring only one offensive touchdown through two games, they're sitting at 2 and 0. Kapadia humorously notes that the Steelers are 'Steeler-ing' like never before."
"It's classic Steelers football. Their defense has been stellar, allowing just 16 points over two games—the fewest since 2007. However, the offense ranks 29th in success rate, and they're struggling to move the ball."
"Quarterback Justin Fields isn't lighting up the stat sheet, but he's also not turning the ball over, which seems to be enough for Mike Tomlin. Kapadia points out that while this approach may not be sustainable long-term, it's hard to argue with the results so far."
"It's one of those situations where you wonder if the Steelers can keep winning games like this. But as Kapadia says, when has that ever stopped them before?"
"Shifting gears to the Cincinnati Bengals, who are off to an unexpected 0 and 2 start after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. Yet, Kapadia remains optimistic, stating that the Bengals will be okay."
"Joe Burrow looked much better in this game. His wrist didn't seem to bother him, and he made some big-time throws. Despite the loss, the Bengals showed signs of the team we expected them to be."
"The defense also held its own, limiting Patrick Mahomes to just 151 passing yards. Kapadia notes that while they missed opportunities—like Burrow's costly fumble returned for a touchdown—the overall performance was encouraging."
"It's still early in the season, and if Burrow continues to improve, the Bengals should bounce back. There's too much talent on that roster to count them out just yet."
"Let's discuss the Buffalo Bills' commanding win over the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa struggled significantly before exiting the game with a concussion."
"Despite the Bills missing key defensive players like Terrel Bernard, Taron Johnson and Matt Milano, Tagovailoa couldn't capitalize. He threw a couple of interceptions, including a pick-six, and seemed rattled throughout the game."
"On the flip side, Josh Allen didn't need to force anything downfield. Running back James Cook had a standout performance, scoring multiple touchdowns and helping the Bills secure a 31-10 victory."
"It's a concerning pattern for the Dolphins regarding Tagovailoa's performances in big games. Meanwhile, the Bills showed they can dominate even when not at full strength."
"Moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders, who pulled off a surprising upset against the Baltimore Ravens. ESPN's Paul Gutierrez highlights how the Raiders' offense came alive in the fourth quarter."
"Davante Adams was instrumental, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders' defense also stepped up, limiting Lamar Jackson's rushing yards significantly compared to his Week 1 performance."
"On the Ravens' side, Jamison Hensley points out that an 0 and 2 start is rare under John Harbaugh. With tough games ahead against the Cowboys and Bills, the Ravens need to find answers quickly."
"It's a pivotal moment for Baltimore. Missing the playoffs could lead to major changes, so the pressure is definitely on."
"Circling back to the Saints, Katherine Terrell from ESPN notes that their offense was unstoppable against the Dallas Cowboys, scoring on their first six possessions."
"Alvin Kamara had a phenomenal game, tying his career-high with four touchdowns. Derek Carr played efficiently, and the offensive line held up against the Cowboys' pass rush."
"Todd Archer reports that the Cowboys' defense, which looked dominant in Week 1, was caught off guard. They allowed 35 points in the first half, tying for the most given up in team history through two quarters."
"It's a statement win for the Saints and raises questions about the Cowboys' consistency on defense."
"Lastly, let's touch on the Minnesota Vikings' victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Kevin Seifert highlights that the Vikings' defense, under coordinator Brian Flores, effectively pressured Brock Purdy."
"Purdy was sacked six times and threw an interception. However, the Vikings are dealing with significant injuries. Justin Jefferson left the game with a right quad injury, and they were already missing key players like Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson."
"Nick Wagoner notes that the 49ers have their own struggles, particularly their inability to win in Minnesota—they've lost eight straight games there. Both teams have issues to address moving forward."
"Injuries are part of the game, but how teams adapt will define their seasons. The Vikings' win is encouraging, but they need to get healthy."
"Week 2 certainly gave us plenty to talk about, from surprising team performances to critical coaching decisions."
"Absolutely. It's shaping up to be an exciting season, and we can't wait to see how these stories develop."
"Thank you for listening today. We would kindly ask that you rate, review, share, and subscribe to NFL Catch-Up. Remember, we drop every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl_catchup. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com."