Good Calls, Bad Calls - Time to Review Week Two

I'm bradley and it's my job to keep you from being the sucker at the table.

Let's put it this way - if the NFL were a girlfriend, you'd be suggesting she see a professional to help her deal with that bipolar behavior she's exhibiting.

I mean, WTF?

Last week da Bears hang 51 on the Panthers - who, OK, were not exactly a defensive juggernaut. So this week, their home opener, they lay a three point egg on the Vikings - also a defense not to be confused with the '85 Bears. The Giants kick the Cowboys all over the field in Week One, then lose their starting QB while dropping just two field goals on the Rams. And there's sooooo much more. Let's sort it out.

Surprise #1 - Bills Mafia. Enjoy Josh Allen while you can. He's in the prime of his career and a joy to watch. The Bills defense? Like trying to babysit your brothers four kids  he and his wife enjoy a night out. I would lay hard capital on the Bills getting to, and winning , the big game of the year - except for that defense. At times, they look like killers. Other times, they look like your sister's corgi - on their back, legs in the air, begging for a belly rub. Face it - they have to find a way, each and every week, to scare up enough points to outscore their own defense, which seems never able to come up with the big plays when necessary. Could they still make it all the way to SoFi stadium to play for the Big Prize? Sure - but it's all in the hands of the ex-Wyo Cowboy. Break a table or two for good luck, Bills fan.

Surprise #2 - OK, Ben Johnson, about that record setting scoring season you predicted. Did you miss the memo that it sometimes RAINS on Sundays? Wow, did da Bears momentum just come to a grinding halt, just  like Madonna's love life. And all because of a little rain. However, bigger issue - Coach Johnson is being cagey about Caleb Williams and his now multi-million dollar hammy issue. How bad is it? Won't know until we see him play. But let me put on my Dr House outfit for a minute and tell you straight up - hammy's are a strange and mystical creature. Unless they're given time to heal COMPLETELY, they nag and nag and nag, never really going away - yeah, just like her. It could be a long season for daBears and their wonderkin QB.

Surprise #3 - Cleveland and Deshaun Watson. Even though Deshaun was spotted in Office Depot this week checking out cool colors for the clipboard he was about to carry, a funny thing happened - he channeled the old Deshaun Watson. Result? 24 for 30, 238 yards passing, two TD's and a 121.9 QB rating. Yeah, definitely vintage Deshaun stats.  And let's not forget 17 second half points, including the winning touchdown drive, on the road. Did Deshaun suddenly dust off all that bad karma and become what he used to be, making a case for taking the Browns seriously in 2026? Well, remember, the NFL is bipolar. Let's just say, for one week, Watson was a meteor. And he did it against the $165 million man. Which leads me to...

Surprise #4 - Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield was adamant that he wanted to be paid and respected. The Bucs hesitated for a long time, before signing the check. Why? Let's revisit 2025 for just a second. After week 8 of last year, the Bucs sat atop the NFC South at 6 and 2. From that moment forward, the Bucs, due to a number of reasons including Baker's own injuries which he played through, the Bucs went 2 and 7 and finished out of the playoffs. Baker healed, and began this year ready to deliver. Only the Bucs are oh for 2026 and unless Baker is hiding some other issues, he's been enormously underwhelming. Never question Baker's guts or drive - but question whether the first over all pick in the 2018 draft is showing the wear and tear of life as an NFL QB. Oh - and his coach Todd Bowles? Never a fanboy, but always gave him props for the fact that his teams never quit. Coach since 2022 of the Bucs, Bowles has had only two winning seasons and has to take his share of the blame for the collapse of 2025.  If the Bucs continue to underperform, Todd will soon be filling out the paperwork for his membership in the NFL Alumni coaches group.

Surprise #5 - Chargers and Saints. Loss to the Cardinals, loss to the Raiders, both at home, and now, a road trip to Buffalo. A team I thought had real potential to do some damage in 2026 is now looking like it's auditioning for flag football league entry. In a division where the Chiefs are still the class, the Broncos are trying find an offense and Da Raidahs have been reborn hard, Jim Harbaugh better start figuring out what the heck is wrong with the Bolts. Or could it just be the SoCal vibe that says, 'chill dude. It's only football.' Speaking of being reborn hard, can we please put our hands together and shower some love on Tyler Shough and the Jazz City Saints. Wow - you play the Saints in 2026, you better take them seriously. And in that Jello soft division known as the NFC South, no telling how deep this team can go this year. Another fun story to keep an eye on. 

I refuse to try to and predict what will happen in week three and what we'll be going over with a microscope.  But like that bipolar girlfriend - don't turn you back on the NFL for one second. You might miss something important.

I'm bradley and it's my job to keep you from being the sucker at the table.