Week 2 gave the former Syracuse crew in the NFL a mixed bag, but there were a few standout performances that helped brighten an otherwise uneven start to the season.
Andre Cisco was right in the middle of things for the Jets. With Minkah Fitzpatrick still sidelined after last week’s injury, Cisco had another heavy workload and made it count.
He finished with five tackles, including one for a loss, added a forced fumble and broke up a pass. He also delivered a solid shot on Jordan Love while coming on a safety blitz.
The Jets came up short, but Cisco was part of the reason they stayed in the fight.
Zaire Franklin had a similarly active afternoon for the Packers in their 20-17 overtime win over Cisco and the Jets. Franklin posted seven tackles and showed the kind of presence Green Bay leaned on to help avoid an 0-2 start.
Andre Szmyt delivered the biggest individual impact of the weekend. In Cleveland’s surprising 23-19 win over the Bucs, he was responsible for 11 points.
Szmyt knocked through all three of his field goal tries, including a 50-yarder, and added both extra points. That kind of reliability made a huge difference in a tight game.
Riley Dixon was on the other side of that result for Tampa Bay. After not being used in Week 1, he handled four punts against the Browns, booting one 55 yards, averaging 46.5 yards per kick and pinning Cleveland inside the 20 once.
Oronde Gadsden also found the end zone, giving the Chargers a brief lift in a season that has started 0-2 with both losses coming at home. He caught just two passes for 18 yards, but one of them was a 10-yard touchdown that put Los Angeles ahead in the third quarter. The Chargers couldn’t protect that lead.
LeQuint Allen had a rough outing in Jacksonville’s road loss to the Broncos. His role has been limited through two weeks, and the one time the Jaguars looked his way in Week 2, he dropped a pass at the 1-yard line. Jacksonville settled for a short field goal on the drive, and that missed chance hung around in a 20-13 defeat.
The week also featured some familiar names still waiting for a cleaner break. Garrett Williams remains hurt, Sean Tucker and Marlowe Wax still can’t get on the field even though their teams need help, and the Dolphins are continuing with Malik Willis while Kyle McCord stays ready and available.
In Other News...
Syracuse's Quarterback Situation Just Got A Lot More Uncomfortable
Syracuses quarterback conversation took a sharp turn in the loss to Pittsburgh, when Steve Angeli was pulled late after a rough second half changed the tone of the game. Angeli had looked steady early, completing 11 of 18 passes for 155 yards in the first half, but the offense stalled after halftime and the momentum shifted with it.
Fran Brown turned to Amari Odom after Angeli threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, and the late change added another layer of uncertainty to a position that already carries plenty of attention. For Syracuse, the issue is no longer just about one bad stretch in one game, but how Brown handles the spot moving forward if the inconsistency carries over. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Is Facing A Syracuse Problem Fans Know Too Well
After Syracuses recent loss, Fran Brown spent part of his latest public comments trying to steer the conversation toward the bigger picture, leaning on the off-field traits he values and the development he believes his program is building. He also took questions about the teams DART concept and the penalties that have become part of the frustration surrounding the Orange, a reminder that the on-field issues are still difficult to separate from the message Brown is trying to sell.
For fans, the larger concern is familiar: they can appreciate a coachs culture talk and still want a direct accounting for what happened in the game. Brown now has to manage both sides of that equation, keeping faith in his program philosophy while showing enough accountability to satisfy a base that has seen too many disappointing outcomes already. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got Two Early National Tests That Will Frame Both Seasons
The early nonconference calendar for Syracuses basketball programs is starting to take shape, and it brings a clear measuring-stick week in December. ESPN has unveiled the schedule and TV assignments for the fourth annual SEC/ACC Challenge, giving both the mens and womens teams a high-profile matchup with Oklahoma that should draw plenty of attention well before league play begins.
For the women, the Sooners will come to Syracuse on Dec. 3, while the men head to Oklahoma two days earlier on Dec. 1. The full slate of games and broadcast details is now set, and for both Orange teams, these are the kinds of early tests that can sharpen a seasons identity and offer an immediate read on where each roster stands. [Read more 🡒]