While we still only have a two-game sample size for the 2024 NFL season, we can at least begin to gauge the production and performances of most teams and players around the league.
After two weeks of NFL action, we’re not overreacting — we’re just…reacting!
Let’s take a step back and assess whose stock is up and whose is down after Week 2 of the 2024 campaign. Which players started on the right note this year, and which are already looking forward to Week 3?
Stock Up | New Orleans Saints OC Klint Kubiak
First-year Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak should probably start polishing his resume.
Kubiak is the hottest name on the NFL’s play-calling circuit after his New Orleans offense went off again on Sunday. After dropping 47 points on the hapless Panthers in Week 1, Derek Carr and Co. were on fire again this week, pouring 44 points on the Cowboys in a blowout victory.
Alvin Kamara scored four total touchdowns for the second time in his career, while Carr was 11 of 16 for 243 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, including a 70-yard bomb to wideout Rashid Shaheed. Carr also scored a rushing TD on a quarterback sneak.
Saints QB Derek Carr now has at least 2 passing TDs in 7 straight games. 🔥
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 15, 2024
Kubiak, who worked under Kyle Shanahan as the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023, is pulling all the right levers. New Orleans used play-action on just 13% of dropbacks last season; they’re at 51% in 2024, per ESPN’s Kat Terrell.
The Saints’ offensive explosion is almost unprecedented. They’ve posted 0.30 EPA per play through two weeks, the third-highest mark for any offense through two weeks over the past decade, according to TruMedia. Only the 2015 Steelers (0.35) and 2019 Cowboys (0.32) were better.
Stock Up | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While the Saints are 2-0, they aren’t alone atop the NFC South.
The Buccaneers, who have won three consecutive division titles, are also undefeated after holding on for a tight 20-16 win over the Lions. Todd Bowles’ defense allowed Detroit’s high-powered offense to score just one touchdown on Sunday and was especially dominant in closing Tampa Bay’s Week 2 win.
The Bucs scored a touchdown with 34 seconds left in the third quarter to take a 20-16 lead. Here’s how the Lions’ final four offensive drives ended: punt, interception, downs, downs.
MORE: NFL Power Rankings Week 3
Baker Mayfield wasn’t quite as explosive as he was in Week 1, but he didn’t have to be. Even without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle/foot), Tampa Bay’s defense held Detroit’s offense in check.
Winfield’s replacement, 2023 undrafted free agent Christian Izien, played all 82 snaps, deflected two passes, and picked off Lions QB Jared Goff with Detroit deep in Tampa Bay territory in the fourth quarter.
Stock Down | Baltimore Ravens
Dropping a season-opening road game to the defending champion Chiefs was explainable.
Losing a Week 2 home tilt to Gardner Minshew and the Raiders was not.
Baltimore’s defense let Davante Adams and Brock Bowers post nine catches and 90+ yards each. After Derrick Henry scored a touchdown to give the Ravens a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Baltimore allowed Minshew to lead three scoring drives while Lamar Jackson and Co. posted two three-and-outs on the other side.
John Harbaugh’s team doesn’t look like it will get a reprieve. Over the next three weeks, the Ravens have to play the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals.
Stock Up | Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold will likely be the best free agent quarterback available on the 2025 market. If he keeps playing like he has through two weeks, Darnold could be in for a massive payday after beginning his NFL career as a bust.
While Darnold wasn’t quite as efficient as he was in Week 1, he still averaged 10.3 yards and threw two touchdowns in the Vikings’ Week 2 against the 49ers.
Justin Jefferson, who scored on a 97-yard catch-and-run, later went out with a leg injury but said he expects to be ready for Week 3.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON 97 YARD TUDDY!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0PJs9mheCK
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Over the next four weeks, Darnold will continue to be tested with games against the Texans, Packers, Jets, and Lions. After that stretch, our view of Minnesota might look different. For now, the Vikings are 2-0 and surprisingly atop the NFC North.
Stock Up | Green Bay Packers
Credit to the Packers’ coaching staff after Green Bay held on for a much-needed Week 2 win over the Colts.
Playing without starting quarterback Jordan Love (knee), Packers head coach and offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur crafted an offense that allowed QB2 Malik Willis to complete 12 of 14 attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. Compared to Willis’ previous NFL starts for the Titans, Sunday’s performance was nearly unrecognizable.
MORE: Biggest Disappointments From Week 2 of 2024 NFL Season
Willis looked completely overwhelmed during his appearances in Tennessee. Sunday’s win was evidence that LaFleur is an excellent offensive schemer and that Green Bay doesn’t have to rush Love back.
Stock Down | Carolina Panthers and New York Giants
No one expected the Panthers or Giants to compete for playoff spots in 2024.
But does it have to look this bad?
Bryce Young averaged a measly 3.6 yards per attempt and posted a 6.5 QBR in Carolina’s 26-3 loss to the Chargers. His 17.2% passing success rate was the sixth-worst mark for a QB with at least 20 attempts in a game since 2020.
The Panthers crossed Los Angeles’ 40-yard line just once on 11 drives. There’s a non-zero chance first-year head coach Dave Canales decides Young isn’t an NFL-caliber quarterback and turns things over to veteran Andy Dalton at some point this season.
Meanwhile, the Giants scored three touchdowns but still lost 21-18 to a Commanders team that kicked seven field goals. Punter Jamie Gillan missed his only extra-point attempt while filling for kicker Graham Gano, who was hurt on the opening kickoff, and New York failed on its two two-point conversions.
Stock Down | Colts, Jaguars, and Titans
The 1-0 Texans are playing on Sunday Night Football in Week 2, but they’ve already received good news from around the AFC South, where every other team is 0-2.
The Colts, who took Houston to the brink in Week 1, lost to the Love-less Packers on Sunday after Anthony Richardson threw three picks. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars couldn’t get anything going against the Browns in an 18-13 loss.
In Tennessee, you didn’t need to be a lip reader to figure out what head coach Brian Callahan said to quarterback Will Levis after yet another ill-advised turnover.
brian callahan is all of us watching will levis pic.twitter.com/SpX0gWekag
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) September 15, 2024
It’s only Week 2, and any of the Texans’ divisional competition could turn things around as the season progresses. But if C.J. Stroud guides Houston to a 2-0 record with a win on SNF, the Texans will undoubtedly be in the AFC South driver’s seat.
Stock Down | Cincinnati Bengals
Although the Bengals’ offense was much more productive than it was in the club’s season-opening loss to the Patriots, Joe Burrow and Co. still couldn’t pull out a win against Patrick Mahomes in Week 2. Cincinnati is 0-2 for the third consecutive year and has lost to Kansas City in three straight games.
The Ravens are also winless, while the 2-0 Steelers and 1-1 Browns haven’t exactly lit the world on fire through two weeks.
MORE: Biggest Surprises From Week 2 of 2024 NFL Season
The Bengals’ schedule opens up over the next two weeks with winnable games against the Commanders and the Panthers.
If Cincinnati loses to either Washington or Carolina, it will be time to panic in the Queen City. Going 0-2 again has to be disheartening for Zac Taylor’s club, which is why the Bengals are listed as “stock down.” But there are reasons for Cincinnati to be optimistic after a one-point loss to the NFL’s best team.
Stock Up | Arizona Cardinals
We’ve already talked up Saints OC Klint Kubiak, but how about Cardinals offensive play-caller Drew Petzing, who arguably should have been on NFL head coaching radars this past offseason?
Arizona went 1-8 with Josh Dobbs and Clayton Tune under center last season. However, the club immediately improved after quarterback Kyler Murray (ACL) returned in November, ranking ninth in offensive EPA per play from Week 10 onward, per TruMedia.
The Cards haven’t slowed down in 2024. They scored 28 points in a Week 1 loss to the Bills before 41 in today’s win over the Rams. Petzing’s unit is second in EPA per play through Week 2.
Murray used play-action on 48.1% of his dropbacks on Sunday, the second-highest rate in the league. Marvin Harrison Jr. followed up his one-catch NFL debut with a Randy Moss-esque stat line (4-130-2). James Conner ran for 122 yards and scored three total touchdowns.
Stock Down | Los Angeles Rams
Things probably can’t get much worse for Sean McVay’s Rams, who are not only 0-2 after losing to the Cardinals but are dealing with myriad injuries that threaten to upend Los Angeles’ 2023 campaign.
The Rams, who placed WR Puka Nacua (knee) on injured reserve last week, watched as fellow pass catcher Cooper Kupp went down with an ankle injury on Sunday. Kupp should have been Matthew Stafford’s unquestioned WR1 with Nacua out. He finished with 14 catches on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown when Nacua missed the second half of L.A.’s Week 1 loss to the Lions.
Los Angeles also sent offensive linemen Joe Noteboom and Steve Avila to IR last week, where they joined other contributors like TE Tyler Higbee and CB Darious Williams.
Can the Rams emerge from their tailspin in Week 3? Things won’t get any easier next Sunday when the 49ers come to town for an NFC West showdown.