The NFC South came out of Week 2 with a split down the middle: two teams left smiling, two left searching for answers.
The biggest jolt came from New Orleans. Nobody was penciling in the Saints to knock off the Baltimore Ravens, a Super Bowl contender, but that’s exactly what happened.
It wasn’t clean, and it wasn’t pretty across the board, but the Saints found a way to stay in it from start to finish and then take control after halftime. Tyler Shough looked confident all game, the defense kept Derrick Henry under 100 rushing yards, and Chase Young was a force off the edge.
Add in some questionable Ravens decisions, and New Orleans walked out of Baltimore with a shocker.
The Saints now turn to a matchup with the 2-0 Raiders, who have opened the season strong under former Saints OC Klint Kubiak. That one has all the makings of a fun game.
Carolina also gave the division a big lift. The Panthers flattened the Falcons 34-3 in a game that never really felt competitive.
Carolina’s defense showed up in a major way, and Bryce Young keeps building on what’s been a really strong start to the season. With the Panthers sitting at the top of the division, they’ll get the Browns next week, and the expectation is that they’ll handle that one too.
Atlanta, meanwhile, had a rough day that went well beyond the final score. A 31-point loss is ugly enough on its own, but the Falcons were out of it much earlier than that.
Their rushing attack was the only real bright spot, and even that had to be shelved once the game got away. With Penix and Tua out, the quarterback play was downright horrible.
The good news for Atlanta is that Penix is set to return in Week 3 against a Packers team that’s also off to a shaky start.
Tampa Bay had the kind of loss that stings in every direction. The Buccaneers were expected to take care of business against the Cleveland Browns, but after a long weather delay on what should have been the final drive, they couldn’t score and ended up losing by four.
Deshaun Watson outplayed Baker Mayfield, the defense had a rough outing, and the result was an embarrassing one. The season is still alive for Tampa Bay, but Todd Bowles’ seat is on fire.
After two weeks, the standings are simple enough: Carolina and New Orleans at 1-1, Tampa Bay and Atlanta at 0-2.
In Other News...
Saints Fans Will Notice One Big Superdome Change At The Home Opener
The home opener at the Caesars Superdome is bringing more than the return of Saints football, as the building rolls out a fresh food-and-drink lineup tied to the franchises 60th season. Fans walking into the dome will find a new $6 value menu alongside Louisiana-flavored additions that fit the citys game-day personality, part of a broader push to make the in-game experience feel more distinctly local.
Among the new options are a pork alligator burger, Tabasco wings and specialty cocktails, with suite guests getting their own nod to the anniversary through a $60 commemorative dessert. It is the kind of detail that may not change the standings, but it does speak to how much the Superdomes culinary staff is leaning into the moment, especially with a full home schedule still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Can Already See Kellen Moores Travis Etienne Problem
Two games into the season, Travis Etiennes role has already become one of the more interesting early questions around Kellen Moores offense. The Saints head coach has leaned on Alvin Kamara in the running game, while Etienne has been more of a factor as a receiver than as the primary runner many expected when he arrived with a big contract.
For a back paid to be a centerpiece, fewer than 10 rushing attempts in each of the first two weeks is hard to ignore, especially for a Saints team still sorting out how it wants to distribute touches. The concern now is less about Etiennes talent than whether Moore intends to use him as a true lead back at all, or if this early split is a sign of how the backfield will be managed going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Lose First Tyler Shough-Jaxson Dart Test For One Frustrating Reason
The Saints were already looking ahead to their next matchup with the Giants, but the quarterback picture in New York has changed dramatically. Jaxson Dart left the Rams game with what was first believed to be an MCL sprain, and an MRI later showed more extensive damage, raising the possibility that his absence could stretch deep into the rest of the season.
For New Orleans, it means the first Tyler Shough-Jaxson Dart meeting will have to wait. Dart is not expected to play against the Saints, with Jameis Winston slated to start in his place, leaving one of the more interesting quarterback tests on the schedule without the rookie the Saints were preparing to see. [Read more 🡒]