The second week of the NFL season features a handful of one-sided in-game matchups that could decide the outcomes of those games. Here's a look at the four biggest mismatches of Week 2:Philip Rivers vs. Bills' defenseJeff Gross / Getty Images Sport / GettyEven in a loss to the Chiefs, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers put together a masterful performance, recording 424 passing yards, three touchdowns, and an interception at home. However, his receivers dropping four passes (tied for the most team drops in Week 1) prevented him from having an even better day.In Week 2, Rivers faces the Buffalo Bills, who are coming off a 47-3 beatdown from Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Rivers is a much better quarterback than Flacco, and the Chargers have many more offensive weapons.Rivers’ favorite target is the perennially underrated Keenan Allen, who finished with eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown last week. Rivers prefers to target him on crossing routes in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, where Allen’s quickness and ability to beat man coverage stand out:From the moment the ball is snapped, Rivers knows where he's throwing. The Chiefs' defense is in Cover 1 (man coverage across the board with a safety guarding the deep middle). That means Allen, who is aligned in the slot to Rivers’ left, will face single coverage with the whole field to work with.After the snap, Allen uses a quick stutter step to create early separation from Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson. Then his burst takes over as he simply runs away from Nelson, giving Rivers an easy target for the completion.When he’s not targeting Allen in the short-to-intermediate zones, Rivers loves taking deep shots to Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams. Against Kansas City, Rivers looked to hit both Benjamin and Williams deep, but each receiver had a bad case of the drops even after accurate passes:Judging by their recent luck, the Bills probably won’t be as fortunate this week. Buffalo has some talent on defense, particularly from defensive backs Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer. But the unit struggles to stay disciplined and work cohesively.The weakest area on the Bills' defense is its linebacker corps. Tremaine Edmunds is a young blue-chipper, but savvy quarterbacks like Rivers - who has been manipulating second-level defenders since he became a starter in 2006 - can take advantage of his inexperience.Furthermore, the Bills' defense can’t expect to get much help from the offense, as Buffalo might be the most talent-deprived team offensively in the NFL. The Ravens had four different drives start inside Buffalo territory in Week 1, which is almost impossible to overcome on defense. After a game when the Chargers' offense left a lot of meat on the bone, expect the unit to be efficient and effective against the Bills.On top of that, Rivers dominates teams outside of his division. From 2015 to 2017 against divisional opponents, Rivers had a 28:21 touchdown-to-interception ratio and averaged 5.82 adjusted net yards per pass attempt (the passing statistic most correlated with winning). Against non-divisional opponents over that same time span, Rivers had a 62:23 TD-to-INT ratio while averaging 7.35 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.Look for Rivers to go off against the Bills' defense.Khalil Mack vs. Seahawks' offensive lineStacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter being traded from the Oakland Raiders, it didn’t take long for Khalil Mack to make an impact on the Chicago Bears' defense, finishing with three tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception in Week 1. And that was against the Packers’ David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga, the best offensive tackle duo in the NFL.Mack will have a much easier assignment this week against Seahawks offensive tackles Duane Brown and Germain Ifedi for most of the game.Mack is one of the most difficult defenders to block regardless of the play call because he can win in so many ways. He has a unique mix of athleticism, power, and technique, making it tough for offensive linemen to find a rhythm throughout a game.He can win with speed, using his burst, lower body pliability, and well-timed techniques to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks:And he can win with power, using his raw strength and leverage to physically dominate foes at the point of attack. That happened below against a top-three offensive tackle:Against the Broncos, another team with an elite pass-rusher, Brown and Ifedi were part of an offensive line that All-Pro Von Miller roasted for three sacks on his way to winning best defensive lineman of Week 1.Don’t be surprised if Mack puts together a similar performance when the Seahawks visit Chicago on Sunday night.Damon Harrison vs. Joe Looney/Connor WilliamsJim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettySince joining the New York Giants in 2016, Damon Harrison has been a thorn in the Dallas Cowboys’ side. Blessed with three All-Pros leading a dominant offensive line, the Cowboys never have an answer for New York’s 6-foot-3 and 355-pound nose tackle, even when Travis Frederick is healthy.Now, as Frederick deals with the effects of Guillain-Barre syndrome, the test Harrison presents is much more difficult.Here, the Cowboys are looking to use their bread-and-butter run play: an outside zone run.Harrison is aligned with a slight outside shade over Frederick. After the ball is snapped, he gains superior hand positioning, using it to control Frederick while also identifying the running back’s path. As Harrison re-leverages his right hand to Frederick’s chest in an attempt to get the center off balance so that he can easily shed the block, he peaks his head into the play-side A-gap (the space between Frederick and left guard Zack Martin).That forces Alfred Morris, who's reading the defensive line to determine which gap he should run through, to cut back to the back-side A-gap and right at Harrison, who effortlessly sheds Frederick’s block and makes the tackle.Joe Looney, a six-year veteran and Frederick’s replacement, will likely be on the receiving end of Harrison’s powerful attack throughout the game on Sunday. However, don’t be surprised if New York lines Harrison up over rookie left guard Connor Williams when the Giants move to their nickel defense.Neither matchup favors Dallas, as Harrison’s effective hand use and raw power will be too much for Looney and Williams. Unless Dallas becomes much more creative with its blocking schemes, Harrison is going to blow up any runs inside the tackle box.Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys' rushing attack struggles for the second week in a row.Julio Jones vs. Panthers' secondaryGrant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyComing off a disappointing loss to the Carson Wentz-less Philadelphia Eagles, Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons' offense will be looking for revenge against the Carolina Panthers, the team that Jones scorched for 12 catches and 300 yards in 2016.It may seem weird to put the Panthers' secondary on the wrong side of a mismatches column, especially after the unit gave up just 170 passing yards in Week 1. However, the Cowboys, Carolina's Week 1 opponent, don't have a wide receiver who comes close to matching Jones’ talent, and Dak Prescott isn’t on the same level as Matt Ryan as a pure passer.The Falcons also do an excellent job of moving Jones around the formation to manufacture big-play opportunities, making it challenging for defenses to double-team him.Here, the Falcons are using a trips left formation with Jones lined up in the slot:The Eagles are in a Cover 3 variant, meaning there are three deep defenders. After the snap, the two receivers aligned outside of Jones run quick-breaking routes to prevent the cornerback from dropping deep into his zone. That allows Jones to sneak behind the outside cornerback on the deep out route for a big gain.Jones is easily capable of producing without being schemed open, too, as his elite route-running ability allows him to create a ton of separation. Here’s an example:Jones runs another deep out route, but against man coverage this time.After the ball is snapped, he bursts forward and eats up the cushion between him and Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby. Once Jones crosses the 40-yard line, he straightens his route to mimic a “go” route. That forces Darby to transition out of his backpedal and into a sprint.Then Jones stealthily runs into Darby’s blind spot. Once he reaches that, he breaks off his route to create a lot of space before making the easy 22-yard grab.Panthers cornerbacks James Bradberry and Donte Jackson will have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Jones. Neither offers much of a challenge, so don’t be surprised if Jones tears apart the Carolina secondary.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins will be without one of their key offseason additions for the remainder of the 2018 season, as Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton will require surgery for a torn rotator cuff he suffered during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, a league source told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.The Dolphins signed Sitton to a two-year, $13.5-million contract this offseason. The 32-year-old had been named to four Pro Bowls as a member of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.Sitton will be placed on injured reserve. Ted Larsen is expected to take his spot in the starting lineup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley was carted to the locker room Thursday versus the Cincinnati Bengals and later diagnosed with a bone bruise.The Ravens initially said Mosley was being evaluated for a knee injury when he left the game early in the first quarter.After the game, head coach John Harbaugh said the injury "doesn’t look to be long term," and that the team would see how it responds over the next few days, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Harbaugh didn't know whether his linebacker would be available for Baltimore's Week 3 matchup with the Denver Broncos next Sunday.Mosley appeared to injure himself while hopping over a Bengals receiver who was on the ground at the end of a play.

Free-agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks will sign a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kendricks visited the Seahawks earlier Thursday - one week after he pleaded guilty to insider trading charges. He's expected to play Monday night against the Chicago Bears, Schefter added.The linebacker, who was released by the Cleveland Browns before entering his plea, will be sentenced Jan. 24. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.The NFL is currently reviewing Kendricks' legal matter, and the league confirmed he is permitted to sign and participate in team activities, including games, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Seattle is currently thin at linebacker, with K.J. Wright dealing with a knee injury, so the veteran defender could see significant snaps in his debut.Kendricks spent the first six seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles after being selected in the second round in 2012. The 27-year-old posted 77 tackles with two sacks across 15 regular-season appearances in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks visited the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, a source told ESPN's Field Yates - exactly one week after he pleaded guilty to insider trading charges.Kendricks, who was released by the Cleveland Browns before entering his plea, will be sentenced in December. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.Kendricks spent the first six campaigns of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and helped the franchise capture its first-ever Super Bowl title last year. The 27-year-old posted 77 tackles with two sacks across 15 regular-season appearances in 2017.Seattle is gearing up to take an 0-1 record into a Monday Night Football meeting with the Chicago Bears to cap Week 2.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones has apologized to Kelvin Benjamin for a now-deleted tweet from his mother that implied Jones had to tell his teammate where to line up in Week 1."He talked about it with me," Benjamin said Thursday, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak. "He came and apologized for it. That really was it. Just trying to move on from it."Maneesha Jones wrote, "(regarding) Jones who else is skilled enough to play all wide out positions AND tell Benjamin where to line up too?" in reply to a tweet about her son playing nearly all of the Bills' offensive snaps in the 44-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens.After refusing to comment Wednesday, Jones said there are no issues between him and Benjamin."Me and KB got a great relationship. I love KB," Jones said. "I don't have anything against him."Jones had three catches for 26 yards while Benjamin produced just one grab for 10 yards against Baltimore, though the receivers had few opportunities as Nathan Peterman and Josh Allen completed just 11 of 33 passes between them.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 2.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Standard

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette said Thursday he expects to be a game-time decision for Sunday's AFC Championship Game rematch with the New England Patriots due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.Fournette added that he resumed running in Thursday's practice.The second-year pro was hurt in the second quarter of the Jaguars' Week 1 win over the New York Giants and wasn't able to return. He had nine carries for 41 yards before exiting and giving way to T.J. Yeldon.Fournette was held relatively in check by the Patriots in the AFC title game while nursing an ankle issue, scoring one touchdown but averaging just over three yards per carry on 24 rushes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not many things are more certain than 0-2 NFL teams missing the playoffs.According to Justis Mosqueda of Optimum Scouting, only six of the 77 teams that have started 0-2 since 2009 have reached the postseason - a minuscule 8.5 percent success rate.There are five games this weekend involving two 0-1 teams. We'll look at three of those pivotal contests in this week's X vs. O preview.QB redemption: Deshaun Watson vs. Marcus MariotaTwo of the league's emerging star quarterbacks entered 2018 with lofty expectations, albeit for slightly different reasons. Deshaun Watson was coming back from injury, while Marcus Mariota was playing with a new offensive coordinator. Yet both players struggled in their debuts.As outlined earlier this week, Watson was held in check by a New England Patriots defense that focused on rush-lane discipline, smart defensive calls, and reactions in the secondary. Even when Watson was given time to throw from a clean pocket, though, he failed to capitalize. Facing fourth-and-5 on the Patriots' 17-yard line and trailing 21-6, Houston head coach Bill O'Brien kept his offense on the field to try to get back in the game. They put tight end Ryan Griffin (No. 84) alone on the right in a "Y-Iso" formation. The Patriots fielded a 4-1-6 defensive package with four down linemen, one linebacker, and six defensive backs.New England used a man coverage scheme, with Stephon Gilmore (No. 24) and Devin McCourty (No. 32), the free safety, bracketing DeAndre Hopkins. That left Griffin isolated on the other safety, Duron Harmon (No. 21), who used outside leverage, giving the tight end the advantage inside on his post route.Watson, however, missed the throw.Watson's counterpart, Mariota, is dealing with an elbow injury suffered in the Titans' Week 1 road loss to the Miami Dolphins. He's not the only Tennesse player hurt. OT Taylor Lewan left the game with a concussion, while TE Delanie Walker suffered an ankle injury that will require surgery. If this team is going to avoid the 0-2 hole, it'll need Mariota to step up.The lofty expectations on the fourth-year quarterback were fueled in part by the potential influence of offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who spent last season under Sean McVay in Los Angeles. Using offensive designs that made more effective use of space, as McVay is known to do, would vastly improve an offense that struggled in that area last year. At times against the Dolphins, it seemed the offense was in a better position than last year when it came to spacing their concepts and stretching the defense. This play from the second quarter is a perfect example:This is a variation of a classic Air Coryell passing design, 585. This school of thought focuses on the vertical passing game, and here we have two comeback routes along each boundary (the 5 routes) paired with a post route over the middle (the 8 route). But we also get the tight end releasing to the left flat, as well as running back Dion Lewis (No. 33) on the angle or Texas route underneath. That's where Mariota looks to throw.With Lewis isolated on a linebacker, this is an advantage for the offense. A better use of the field gets players in space and creates matchup problems for the defense.But there were still some mistakes, and they start with Mariota. On this play against Miami, he immediately throws in the flat to the right and misses a dig route that came open in the back of the end zone that could've extended the Titans' early lead.If you look at the offense and defense pre-snap, you'll see that even though the Titans have a three-receiver bunch to the right, the Dolphins have four defenders over that alignment, giving them the numbers advantage:If Mariota let this play develop, he could've taken advantage of Tennessee's numbers edge on the other side of the field.QB protection: Cowboys vs. GiantsWeek 1 was one to forget for both Cowboys and Giants fans. Dallas lost a one-score game on the road to the Panthers and saw quarterback Dak Prescott get sacked six times in the 16-8 loss. The Giants dropped a one-score game at home, falling 20-15 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Eli Manning, who missed on a few throws that could've changed the game, was pressured often and was under severe duress on a pick-6 that altered the complexion of the matchup.While not every sack or pressure can be attributed to the guys up front - there were instances where both Prescott and Manning could've been faster with their reads and decisions - fans and coaches of both teams should be concerned by how often Carolina and Jacksonville were able to get pressure with just four pass-rushers. Anytime a defense can pressure the QB with four pass-rushers but still drop seven into coverage, it has a clear advantage.On this play, the Panthers implemented a dual tackle-end exchange, or TEX stunt. A TEX stunt is a design where the defensive tackles work upfield and try to split the guard and tackle in the B-gap. The DT looks to occupy both the guard and tackle while the defensive ends loop behind to the inside.Prescott (No. 4) thought for a split-second he had space inside to tuck and run, but he ran right into the looping defensive ends for a sack.The TEX stunt also played a role on the pivotal strip-sack of Prescott in the closing minutes. This time, the Panthers just used it on one side of the formation, but Prescott again thought he had space to run before getting overtaken by one of the four Carolina pass-rushers.In New York, the spotlight shone on Ereck Flowers, the Giants' right tackle. And while that was justifiable, to an extent, Jacksonville also excelled at faking him. Here's the game's pivotal play, a pick-6 by Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack:The Jaguars rushed just four on this play. Linebacker Telvin Smith (No. 50), who's responsible for rookie running back Saquon Barkley (No. 26) in coverage, deked Flowers (No. 71). Smith took a few steps toward the line of scrimmage as Flowers slid to his right to start his kick slide and block defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (No. 91). But when Flowers saw Smith's first few steps, he stopped his kick slide short and tried to move to the inside, because with Barkley not involved in pass protection, Flowers needed to protect that inside gap. That gave Ngakoue the edge, and he pressured Manning. The QB tried to climb and check the ball down to Barkley, but the pass was tipped and then intercepted by Jack.Again, pressure with four gives the defense the advantage on the back end. Which team - or quarterback - handles the pressure better Sunday night will go a long way toward determining the winner of this NFC East clash.Seahawks' O-line vs. Bears' defensive frontThis is a matchup between two more 0-1 teams that lost one-score games in Week 1. The Chicago Bears got a glimpse of their future with Khalil Mack and rookie linebacker Roquan Smith harassing Green Bay passers in the first half. Then Aaron Rodgers led yet another stunning comeback. Meanwhile, it was the same old song and dance for the Seattle Seahawks, with the Denver Broncos sacking Russell Wilson six times en route to a 27-24 victory.Part of Denver's ability to pressure Wilson came from its proficiency to get after the QB with just four rushers, as we talked about earlier. On this third-and-3 play, the Broncos sent just four after Wilson, giving them seven defenders in zone coverage:There's nowhere for Wilson to throw the ball given the seven defenders in coverage, and, as we can see from the end-zone angle, the pocket breaks down as he tries to buy time. Von Miller (No. 58) chases him down after getting past right tackle Germain Ifedi (No. 65).Another way the Broncos challenged the right side of Seattle's offense was with a cornerback blitz, which they used on a critical third-down play in the fourth quarter. As you can see pre-snap, Denver put eight defenders down near the line of scrimmage, showing blitz:They sent six of the eight defenders, and with five linemen and the running back, this play should be blocked. But there seems to be some miscommunication, as center Justin Britt (No. 68) turned to the left and running back C.J. Prosise (No. 22) handled an interior blitzer, leaving defensive back Chris Harris Jr. (No. 25) unblocked off the right edge.Harris finally chased Wilson down, and the Seahawks were forced to punt.Given the pressure the Seahawks allowed off the right edge and fans' concerns over Ifedi, this Doug Farrar tweet is cause for major concern:

Even after returning to the field in the most dramatic fashion during the Green Bay Packers' season opener, head coach Mike McCarthy insisted Thursday that Aaron Rodgers is no lock to suit up in Week 2."This is no layup," said McCarthy of Rodgers' availability, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "That's why it's a day-to-day situation."Rodgers will sit out Thursday's practice and attempt to put in more work with the rehab group than he did the day prior, according to McCarthy.On Wednesday, the two-time NFL MVP described the injury he suffered in the comeback win over the Chicago Bears as a sprained knee. He added that he doesn't need any practice reps to play in Sunday's divisional clash with the Minnesota Vikings."You hate that you're dealing with something like this in the first week, but you feel similar to this Week 13, 14, 15, 16, 17," Rodgers said. "If you're fortunate to stay healthy the entire season you're going to get banged up at some point."Obviously, I've dealt with foot injuries, calf injuries, hamstring, you know, lower extremities, and played with it, so hopefully, I'll be able to be back out there Sunday."It remains to be seen whether the Packers are comfortable letting Rodgers face a Vikings defense that sacked Jimmy Garoppolo three times and intercepted him three times during Week 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos punter Marquette King was asked on Wednesday if he's looking forward to facing the Oakland Raiders, his former team, and head coach Jon Gruden on Sunday."Who’s that?" the enigmatic special teamer said to Mike Klis of 9News. "I don’t know who you’re talking about."King was released shortly after the Raiders hired Gruden, even though he ranked as a top-five punter in 2017 while averaging 42.7 net yards per punt, according to Pro Football Focus. The Broncos quickly picked him up, signing the 29-year-old to a three-year deal.Related - Former Raiders teammate on Marquette King: 'People don't like him'When asked if he was looking forward to facing his old team, King suggested it would be the same as any other matchup."I’m looking forward to every game," said King.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles did his best to dial back some of the hype around rookie quarterback Sam Darnold on Wednesday.Related: Top moments from Sam Darnold's eventful NFL debutBowles was asked at a press conference whether he thinks Darnold is a franchise quarterback after Monday night's 48-17 beatdown of the Detroit Lions."We won one game, I can tell you after about 100 more of them whether we have one or not, right now it's a little early," Bowles said, according to the team transcript.The 2018 third overall pick threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in his regular-season debut while completing over 76 percent of pass attempts. He quickly recovered from an interception that was returned for a touchdown on the first meaningful pass of his NFL career.Bowles said mistakes like that will help Darnold learn and grow."Obviously, (we're) starting him, he can play the position. He's got to go through some things like he will every week, every week will be different for him just like everybody else on the team that's young. You grow with the position, he's not green he's very sharp, he handles himself very well and I trust him to make adjustments as he goes."Darnold will take the field for his second start in the Jets' home opener on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills veteran running back LeSean McCoy seems to be taking it upon himself to help rookie quarterback Josh Allen find success in his first NFL start on Sunday.Allen was named the Bills' starter on Wednesday for their home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 22-year-old Wyoming product was made the seventh overall pick in April's draft. He now finds himself at the helm of the Bills' offense just one week into the 2018 season after replacing Nathan Peterman against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.McCoy wants to make sure Allen is able to build some early confidence."One thing I’m going to talk to the offense about, especially the skill guys, for the rookie quarterback to have a good game for them is to make it easy on him," McCoy said, according to Kyle Silagyl of BuffaloBills.com. "Hey, if he makes a wrong read and the ball is hard to catch, catch it."You might not get yards after the catch, but just catching the ball will give him confidence, moving the chains. In the running back room, making guys miss, breaking tackles, everything to give him the extra advantage is critical and big for this game and his confidence."Peterman was given the Week 1 start following the trade of veteran AJ McCarron at the end of the preseason. The sophomore quarterback struggled mightily against the Ravens, going just 5-for-18 through the air for 24 yards and two interceptions.Allen was forced to enter in relief and completed 6 of 15 pass attempts for 74 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.McCoy said he was quickly impressed by Allen at the Bills' minicamp in June, calling the rookie "pretty good" despite admitting he's not a big fan of rookies.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite nearly 6,000 yards separating Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith on the NFL's career rushing list, the 33-year-old tailback believes he can break the all-time record before retiring."I feel like it's realistic, you know, very realistic," the Washington Redskins running back said Tuesday on the "#PFTPM" podcast. "In the great words of Kevin Garnett, 'Anything is possible.' So that's how I view it. If I'm to continue to have success, stay injury-free and play three-to-four more years and I definitely see myself claiming that title and in order to achieve something you have to believe it, you know? So I'm a believer."To be precise, Peterson is 5,983 yards behind Smith for the all-time record. He moved into 10th in career rushing yardage with a 96-yard performance versus the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1.Related: Peterson fires back at Cris Carter after star performance in Week 1The former league MVP boasts an impressive list of accomplishments but hasn't reached the 1,000-yard mark in rushing since 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone and Woods are joined by JJ Zachariason, editor-In-chief at FanDuel and numberFire, as they discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 2.Topics include:

Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa remains week to week after consulting with a specialist about his injured foot, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Bosa, who missed the season opener due to the ailment, is believed to be dealing with a bone bruise. The Chargers reportedly feared there was a fracture in Bosa's foot before he met with the specialist.The 23-year-old posted 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 16 games last year, earning his first career Pro Bowl nod in his second season.Bosa isn't expected to be available Sunday when the Chargers travel across the country to face the Buffalo Bills.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Oakland Raiders officially re-signed Martavis Bryant on Wednesday, head coach Jon Gruden appeared confident that his wide receiver will spark the club's dull passing attack."I think he's healthy. I think he's ready to go. I'm sold on that," Gruden told reporters Wednesday, per Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com. "We've been in contact with him since he's been away. And as I said when we made the trade to get him, when he's right, he can be a difference-maker. And we're hoping he can be one sooner than later."Bryant was a marquee acquisition in the offseason, as Oakland parted with a third-round pick to acquire him from the Pittsburgh Steelers.An up-and-down training camp, however, coupled with reports that he's facing another year-long suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, led the Raiders to release him after the preseason."Well, I think one of the reasons he was outperformed was he was inconsistently available," said Gruden, who was critical of Bryant at times during training camp. "He was sick, he had lingering problems. But I think he's in a really good place right now ... and when he's in a really good place, he can be a really good player in this league. He's proven that."Bryant could, conceivably, jump into the starting lineup right away, as the Raiders' wide receivers combined for just 43 receiving yards in a 33-13 Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams."We obviously know what kind of talent he is, so we're very excited to have him back to have that threat and that speed," quarterback Derek Carr said.Bryant posted 50 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns for the Steelers last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown apologized Wednesday for a threatening tweet he directed at an ESPN reporter who wrote about aspects of his life off the field."I made a mistake in judgment with my tweet last week, and I apologize for that," he said in a statement through the Steelers, according to Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It is not OK to threaten anyone and I need to be better spiritually and professionally. Though I do not agree with the negative parts of the story about my personal life, I need to have better control over my actions to use social media as a way to engage with my fans, rather than use it improperly."The story, published Friday by ESPN's Jesse Washington for "The Undefeated," is titled, "Antonio Brown is an Instagram All-Pro. But is that the full picture?"In response to the article, Brown said in a since-deleted tweet: "@jessewashington wait to I see you bro we gone see what your jaw like."Brown, a six-time Pro Bowler, racked up nine receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh in Week 1 versus the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Marrone didn't watch Super Bowl LII. In fact, it's been decades since the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach last tuned in for the big game.Marrone made the revelation on a conference call Wednesday ahead of the Jaguars' AFC Championship Game rematch against the New England Patriots, explaining that he's "usually so pissed off" he can't handle watching it."I just don't watch it. That's all," Marrone said. "I watch enough tape during the year."He was then asked when he last watched the big game."Probably when I wasn't coaching and I was allowed to gamble. Probably when I was like 12 ... when I had a little money on it," Marrone replied. "You guys write that. I'll probably get (expletive) investigated."Marrone added that he didn't review tape from Super Bowl LII to prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Patriots, but he's sure other Jaguars coaches have."I think our defensive and offensive coaches obviously have watched it," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield drew comparisons to Drew Brees out of college, but the New Orleans Saints quarterback doesn't want the No. 1 overall pick to sell himself short."I think he can be a lot better than me," Brees told reporters Wednesday when asked about the Cleveland Browns rookie, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon.Both natives of Austin, Texas, Brees and Mayfield have been likened to one another for their smaller statures and passing accuracy.The two will meet for the first time Sunday when the Saints and Browns square off, though Mayfield is slated to serve as a backup for Tyrod Taylor once again."Man, he's got all the tools," Brees said of Mayfield. "He's more athletic. He probably can run around better. He's got a stronger arm."The 39-year-old Brees added he couldn't help but notice Mayfield in college, where he became one of the most prolific passers in Oklahoma history and captured the Heisman Trophy in 2017."I followed his college career," said Brees. "Couldn't have been more impressed with what he was able to accomplish, especially last year. Really impressed with the way he plays the game. I think he's a great competitor."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was glad to be one of the few quarterbacks to avoid the verbal wrath of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey.In a now-infamous GQ interview before the season, Ramsey blasted several highly regarded NFL pivots, but mentioned Brady on his short list of signal-callers that don't "suck.""I never want to suck," Brady told reporters Wednesday when asked to respond to Ramsey's assessment. "I don't want to be in that category."Related - Jaguars' Ramsey roasts NFL QBs: Josh Allen is 'trash,' Flacco 'sucks'While Ramsey didn't expand much on his analysis of Brady, the future Hall of Fame quarterback offered a longer breakdown of Ramsey, who's become one of the game's top corners since entering the league in 2016."I mean, he's a great player," Brady said. "Yeah, he's very talented - big, fast, very rare talents, rare abilities, size, speed. They match him up with the top receiver from time to time, and he holds his own versus everybody. So, he's a great young player."Brady and the Patriots are set to take on Ramsey and the Jaguars on Sunday in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A poll of 2,000-plus Americans shows that 19 percent would buy more Nike products after the company announced Colin Kaepernick as a face in its "Just Do It" 30th-anniversary campaign."Gen Z (13 to 22 years old) and millennials (22 to 34 years old) value companies that are socially active," John Gerzema, the CEO of Harris Poll, which conducted the polling, said to ESPN's Darren Rovell. "The younger population approve of Nike's choice to use Colin Kaepernick."The decision to include Kaepernick was polarizing. Some conservatives publicly declared they won't purchase Nike products again, and videos of shoes and apparel being burned were uploaded to Twitter. In the poll, 21 percent of respondents declared they'll stop making Nike purchases.A television advertisement starring Kaepernick debuted during the NFL season opener on Sept. 6 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.Kaepernick remains a free agent. He's involved in a collusion case against the NFL stating that the league's owners conspired to keep him off a roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders bolstered their defense Wednesday by signing veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to a one-year contract, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Hankins played for the Indianapolis Colts last year. He performed steadily in the trenches, but was cut one season into a three-year, $30-million contract after the Colts' new coaching staff made schematic changes to the defense.Prior to his stop in Indy, Hankins spent four years with the New York Giants. He had a career-high seven sacks in 2014.The Raiders also agreed to terms Wednesday with fellow defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, according to the 31-year-old's agent. McDonald racked up 29 tackles and five sacks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.The two additions were part of a busy day for the Raiders, who also confirmed the re-signing of wide receiver Martavis Bryant.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah underwent an MRI on his shoulder, revealing that he didn't suffer a significant injury and the team is hopeful he can play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ansah left Monday's contest against the New York Jets with a shoulder injury and was later ruled out of the contest. He recorded four tackles and a sack before leaving the game.The Lions placed the franchise tag on Ansah, which is valued at $17.5 million for the 2018 season. Ansah recorded 12 sacks in 14 games during the 2017 season.If Ansah can't play Sunday, expect Kerry Hyder, Romeo Okwara, and Da'Shawn Hand to battle for increased snaps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A new study shows that the San Francisco 49ers, not the Dallas Cowboys, are most deserving of being called "America's Team."The study, conducted by Custom Ink, compared Google search interest data for every NFL team to determine the non-local favorite of each state. The 49ers were the most popular out-of-state team, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.The New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals were the only teams not favored in any states outside their own.The study also found that states tend to favor out-of-state teams from the same region, with the 49ers being the most popular in the West, the Chicago Bears in the Midwest, and the Giants in the Northeast. Interestingly, though, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the most common favorite in the South.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will play in Sunday's Week 2 game against the Houston Texans, barring a setback with the elbow injury that forced him from the season opener, head coach Mike Vrabel announced Wednesday.Mariota appeared to suffer the injury after taking a hit from Miami Dolphins defensive lineman William Hayes, and was replaced by Blaine Gabbert for the remainder of the 27-20 loss.The quarterback struggled before exiting with the injury, tossing two interceptions and just 103 yards on 16 attempts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he suffered a "sprained knee" during Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears.Rodgers left the game during the first half, but came back for the third quarter, leading the Packers from a 20-point deficit to emerge with a 24-23 victory.The two-time MVP told ESPN's Rob Demovksy that he avoided taking pain medication Sunday."There was a lot of adrenaline and (it's) pretty sore the last three days," Rodgers said.Rodgers did not practice Wednesday and the Packers indicated no decision has been made on his status for Week 2.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders confirmed the re-signing of wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday.Bryant reportedly signed a one-year deal to return to the Raiders after they released him at the start of September amid reports that he would be facing another year-long suspension for a failed drug test. Oakland traded a third-round pick for Bryant during April's draft.While his status with the league remains unclear, he's reportedly expected to suit up in Week 2.Bryant's return should boost a receiving corps that struggled in Oakland's season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Tight end Jared Cook led the team with 180 receiving yards, while top wideouts Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson combined for just 32 yards on four catches.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson is looking for revenge after submitting an impressive debut performance with his new club.Peterson is intent on proving his naysayers wrong, most notably Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter, who compared the running back's decline to a baby's diaper in August.Coming off a 24-6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, where he rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 70 yards, Peterson dismissed Carter's evaluation."I don't know what it is with him," Peterson said, via Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "I have no clue, I can't pinpoint and put my hand on one thing. We played different positions. ... I don't know what it is. I haven't wrapped my mind around it but at the end of the day, he's one person and I just try to block him out ... it is what it is. It was just more personal because he actually played for the Vikings for a long time, and through a lot of those situations I've been through that he commented on he could've reached out and got some intel that's not known to the public to base his opinion on and not just go off of the face value of things ..."The 33-year-old running back is intent on using his legendary handshake to get back at Carter."I'm definitely gonna try to crush his hand," Peterson said of their next encounter.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will put cornerback Vernon Hargreaves on injured reserve after he reportedly suffered a potentially season-ending shoulder injury in Week 1, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.It's unclear if Hargreaves will be able to return this year, but he'll be forced to miss at least eights weeks after being placed on IR.The 23-year-old will hit IR for the second straight season after missing seven games last year due to a hamstring injury.Tampa Bay's other starting corner, Brent Grimes, missed the team's season opener with a groin injury. If he's unable to return against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bucs could be forced to start two rookies in Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart on Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson confirmed Wednesday that Nick Foles will remain the team's starting quarterback for Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as Carson Wentz has yet to be cleared for contact, according to James Palmer and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Wentz is reportedly expected to miss several more weeks as he continues to work back from last year's season-ending ACL injury.Foles struggled in his first regular-season action after winning Super Bowl MVP honors, throwing just 117 yards and one interception on 34 attempts in a season-opening 18-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday.In more positive injury-related news for Philadelphia, Pederson announced that wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will do individual drills at Wednesday's practice, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles' leader in touchdown receptions last season is reportedly expected to miss at least one more game following shoulder surgery in February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Josh Allen era is here already.The Bills will start the 2018 No. 7 overall pick in Sunday's Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers following Nathan Peterman's two-interception, 24-yard performance in the 44-point blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Buffalo's season opener, the team announced Wednesday.Allen fared moderately better than Peterman after coming into the game in the third quarter, tossing 74 yards on 6 of 15 attempts. He was, however, sacked three times."I don't feel a need, honestly, to elaborate (on my decision)," McDermott said after the announcement, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak. "We talk a lot in-house about decisions and the right move ... This is the right move for us."It was expected the Bills would be cautious with the development of their 2018 first-round pick.However, projected starter AJ McCarron was unable to stay atop the depth chart during training camp and was traded to the Oakland Raiders, allowing Peterman to temporarily win the job off the back of a strong preseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes lived up to the hype straight out the gate, picking apart the Los Angeles Chargers' strong secondary to the tune of four touchdown passes and 256 yards to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The second-year passer had an outstanding yards-per-attempt average of 9.5, thanks in large part to his immediate chemistry with speedster Tyreek Hill.Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Week in the AFC. The young pass-rusher did a great impression of his older brother, J.J., by almost single-handedly disrupting the Cleveland Browns offense time and time again. Watt finished with an otherworldly stat line of 11 tackles, four sacks, three quarterback hits, and, most importantly, a blocked field goal in overtime to save Pittsburgh from a shock loss.Miami Dolphins kick returner Jakeem Grant took home the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor. The wide receiver returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, and also added another 23 yards on a second run-back, helping the Dolphins knock off the favored Tennessee Titans.NFCTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after shocking the football world by dismantling the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Starting in place of the suspended Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick had one of the best games of his career, hitting on 75 percent of his passes and throwing four touchdowns for a near-perfect passer rating of 156.2.Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith earned the Defensive Player of the Week award for the NFC. Smith was integral as always during the Vikings' strong defensive effort against the San Francisco 49ers, totaling eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and two tackles for loss as Minnesota held the Jimmy Garoppolo-led unit to just 16 points.Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Zuerlein continued to prove he's one of the league's best long-distance kickers, nailing a 55-yard field goal - one of four he made in the win Monday against the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Stafford had a night to forget Monday against the Jets, who picked off the Detroit Lions quarterback four times and forced him from the game briefly when two New York defenders sandwiched him in the third quarter.The veteran passer was also the victim of friendly fire when left tackle Taylor Decker kicked him in the left knee earlier in the game, which Stafford called "a complete accident."Despite the pounding he took, Stafford said Tuesday he's ready for a Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers."I'm doing OK," Stafford said, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I'm feeling healthy and good to go.""I was just locked out on my left leg and my knee just kind of, leg just kind of hyper-extended just a little bit," Stafford said of the Decker collision. "Probably scared me more than anything. That's a common way people (get) really hurt, so I was lucky to get out of there with not too much (damage)."Stafford only threw 10 total interceptions in 2017, so the Lions are likely hoping his turnover-laden night against the Jets is an aberration.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL's opening week proved once again that predicting outcomes in a perpetually unpredictable league is a fool's errand.While a number of stars dominated to kick off the 2018 season, several lesser-known players shocked the football world.Here are the top unexpected performances from an exciting Week 1:7. T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers11 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 blocked kickAfter an impressive rookie campaign, Watt's play was expected to improve in his second season. A four-sack performance, however, was better than Pittsburgh could have hoped for.Watt was matched up against Cleveland Browns right tackle Chris Hubbard - a former Steelers teammate - for most of the afternoon, and the sophomore pass-rusher won the battle cleanly.His four sacks were tied for the second-most in a single game in Steelers history.6. Jared Cook, TE, Raiders9 receptions, 180 receiving yardsAfter arguably the busiest offseason in the NFL, no one was certain how the new Raiders offense would look under Jon Gruden. Apparently, it's one that will heavily feature Cook.In an otherwise dull affair, the tight end was Oakland's brightest star, emerging as quarterback Derek Carr's favorite target. Cook lined up in multiple spots Monday night en route to a career high in receiving yards.Despite his elite physical traits, Cook's performance was somewhat surprising because his recent production had been marred by inconsistency. Over his last four seasons, the veteran had surpassed 100 receiving yards in a game just three times.Amazingly, Cook now owns the record for most single-game receiving yards by a tight end for three different franchises.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves suffered a potentially season-ending shoulder injury Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hargreaves will seek a second opinion Wednesday from Dr. James Andrews to determine the severity of the injury.More to come.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll appeared to confirm that wide receiver Doug Baldwin will indeed miss game action due to an MCL injury.It was reported Monday that Baldwin would miss time with a partial MCL tear. Carroll claimed the team didn't report a tear, but said his top wideout is having "MCL issues," per USA Today's Andy Patton."He's really gonna go a few days at a time here," Carroll said Tuesday, via ESPN's Brady Henderson. "Let's see what happens. We'll wait and see. We don't know yet. It could be a couple weeks. It could be a couple weeks, and we'll find out. He's as tough as you get. We'll need to wait."Baldwin dealt with recurring left knee problems throughout the preseason, but his current injury is to his right knee.A lengthy spell on the sidelines would be a big blow to the Seahawks' passing attack, as Baldwin was the team's leading receiver in 2017.Seattle is set to battle the Chicago Bears in Week 2.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 2.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.You can also find out who the top pickups are in our Week 2 Waiver Wire column.Standard Rankings

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is working on a documentary that follows a year in his life.Hall of Famer Brett Favre confirmed the news Tuesday on his new SiriusXM NFL Radio show.

Martavis Bryant appears to be reuniting with the Oakland Raiders.The wide receiver and the Raiders are closing in on a one-year contract, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Bryant is also expected to play in the team's Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos, Pelissero added."I am just thankful and happy and excited for this weekend and the opportunity to take care of my family - it will be not be taken for granted," Bryant told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Oakland released Bryant Sept. 1 amid reports that he would be facing another year-long suspension for a failed drug test, but an NFL ruling has yet to be announced.The 26-year-old receiver has already been suspended three times for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He missed the 2016 season because of a year-long ban before earning reinstatement ahead of the 2017 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dez Bryant may be the latest professional athlete caught up in a Twitter burner account scandal.Bryant retweeted and commented on his own tweet sent Tuesday, launching speculation that the free-agent wide receiver was attempting to use a burner profile, but instead, forgot to log out of his main account.This, of course, would not be the first Twitter-related incident involving Bryant and his former club. He took shots at his former Dallas Cowboys teammates and owner Jerry Jones in a July Twitter rant.The veteran receiver caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games with Dallas in 2017. He was released after the season and has yet to sign with a team as a free agent. The three-time Pro Bowler indicated last month that he may sign later in the 2018 season.Bryant responded to the burner account claims shortly after with another tweet, which has since been deleted.

Much like Dorothy clicking the heels of her ruby red slippers, some NFL teams will be itching to get home after Week 2.All 32 teams receive eight home games per season, though three - the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Seattle Seahawks - won't play in their own confines until Week 3.That means consecutive road games to start the season, a profitable angle to fade that was recently brought up in "The Sports Thoughts" podcast.Let's check out how teams have fared on the second of back-to-back road games to start the season over recent history (teams in bold are the subject of this exciting science fair project):2017RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreNYJOAK (-14)L20-45ARIIND (+6.5)L16-13 (OT)PHIKC (-4.5)L20-272016RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreTBARI (-7)L7-40GBMIN (+1.5)L14-17CINPIT (-3)L16-24MIANE (-5.5)L24-312015RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreMINJAC (-6)L20-23SEAGB (-3)L17-27DETMIN (-2.5)L16-26TENCLE (-1)L14-282014 RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreNOCLE (+5)L24-26JACWAS (-5)L10-41NEMIN (+3.5)W30-72013RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreTENHOU (-7.5)W24-30MINCHI (-6)W30-31MIAIND (-1)W24-202012RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreDALSEA (+3)L7-27WASLAR (+3.5)L28-312011RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScorePHIATL (+2.5)L31-35SEAPIT (-13.5)L0-24DALSF (+3)P27-24CINDEN (-3)W24-262010RoadHome (Spread)ATS ResultScoreARIATL (-7)L7-41BALCIN (+2.5)L10-15Here are a couple of things we've learned:

The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday that they've placed Pro Bowl linebacker Deion Jones on injured reserve due to a foot injury.Head coach Dan Quinn said the team expects that Jones will be able to return "at some point this season." He added that Jones reported soreness in his foot after Thursday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and tests revealed an injury that required surgery.By NFL rules, Jones will have to miss a minimum of eight weeks by going on IR.Jones' absence is a massive blow to Atlanta's defense, which saw safety Keanu Neal go down for the season due to a knee injury in the season opener.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams was ejected for a late hit to the helmet of Andrew Luck during Sunday's win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the veteran is confused as to how the NFL expects him to play differently."If you guys have any suggestions on what I can do to not get a flag and still do my job, then let me know," Williams said Monday, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.Luck scrambled to his left with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter and was in the process of being tackled by another Bengals defender before Williams crashed in. The defensive back became the first player ejected this season for the play.

Each week, theScore's betting writer, Alex Kolodziej, will share a running diary of his Sunday experiences. Here's the first edition, featuring bonus Monday night content (all times PT):It's 104 degrees in Tempe, yet I can't stop thinking about Christmas.To be clear, that doesn't mean I'm fixated on snow, or ornaments on a tree, or presents. For me, Christmas is more of a feeling. And with the first NFL Sunday coming on the heels of last weekend's Saturday NCAA bonanza, I'm about to get my second Christmas in eight days.But all that bottled-up enthusiasm comes with a lingering cloud of defeat.Any momentum I hoped to generate heading into the first Sunday of the NFL season was halted by an 0-4 night in college football. If there's such a thing as a hangover despite consuming not a single drop of alcohol, I feel all of it.Sunday, Sept. 94:30 a.m. - It's how I know I'm a pessimist. The joyful iPhone alarm signaling the start of the day is met with my realization that the wake-up of wake-ups is already over, just like that. Poof. 365 more days until the next. Anyway, it's the opening Sunday of the NFL season, and I've been waiting for this day, this routine, and this adrenaline for months.4:40 a.m. - I'd typically let a pot of coffee percolate while running through the numbers, but this week, it's just the coffee. I locked in three plays (Bengals-Colts over 46.5, Bills-Ravens over 40.5, and Seahawks +3) about four weeks prior, hoping to get good prices before the post-preseason market wave shaped the numbers a little more.Bengals-Colts over 46.5

If you kept tabs on Week 1 or even just glossed over the box scores, you likely came away with the following takes:

Truths were uncovered and myths debunked during the first full slate of NFL action this past week.Would Jimmy Garoppolo ever lose? Would the helmet rule make games five hours long? Week 1 of the 2018 regular season answered those questions and more.New coaches, same problemsSeven teams entered the year with new head coaches at the helm. All seven of those teams lost in Week 1.It could be argued that Jon Gruden, Matt Patricia, Steve Wilks, Pat Shurmur, Frank Reich, Matt Nagy, and Mike Vrabel are each facing more challenges now than when they signed on for their new jobs.Darnold is the real dealIn the Monday night spotlight, rookie quarterback Sam Darnold showed why the New York Jets had no reservations about naming him their starter from the outset of the season.The No. 3 overall pick exuded the poise and presence of a seasoned vet and routinely placed the ball exactly where it needed to be in an impressive NFL debut.Cover the names on the box score and one would assume Matthew Stafford had two passing touchdowns and a 76 completion percentage and Darnold was the quarterback with four picks.Concerns over new rules overblownRemember all that hand-wringing about the number of use-of-helmet flags thrown? A total of 71 helmet-rule penalties were called in the preseason, but only one such foul was called Sunday. The most high-profile penalty of the day - Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams' blow on Andrew Luck - was for unnecessary roughness, and it was handled swiftly as Williams was ejected from the game after a brief review.Sophomore QBs ready to make the leapPatrick Mahomes and Mitchell Trubisky are poised to do exactly what Carson Wentz and Jared Goff did in their sophomore years: Take the league by storm.Mahomes announced his presence in a scintillating debut as the Kansas City Chiefs' unquestioned starting quarterback and Trubisky looked dangerous in the Chicago Bears' new offense.While the old guard is holding onto the last vestiges of their careers, a young crop of talented passers is ready to take the spotlight.Saints' D could be a problem againAfter the New Orleans Saints' defense improved from 31st in points against in 2016 to 10th last season, the unit was expected to pick up where it left off. After all, the defense is returning many of the same players, including 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore.But there's a reason the Saints gave up a future first-round pick to select a pass-rusher in this year's draft. New Orleans didn't manage even one sack of backup Tampa Bay Buccanneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and allowed the journeyman to shred its defense for 529 total yards.Big Ben hits the snooze buttonA trend appears to be crystallizing: Ben Roethlisberger is bad in 1 p.m. start times on the road.The idea's been bandied about for years, but Roethlisberger's produced more convincing evidence in recent seasons. Here are the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's splits depending on start time (regardless of home or away).Start timeWLYdsTDsINTs20161 p.m.5217651084-8 p.m.52205419520171 p.m.421505884-8 p.m.812746206The trend continued early Sunday afternoon in Cleveland as Ben threw three picks, coughed up two fumbles, and was sacked four times in an embarrassing tie with the Browns.Browns nailed top defensive draft picksIn each of the past two drafts, the Browns have used top-five picks on defensive players. Those two selections - Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward - are already on their way to stardom.Garrett was a terror Sunday, racking up two sacks, two QB hits, and two forced fumbles. Ward, this year's No. 4 overall pick, picked off two passes in his first career game.That's two big booms for a team used to selecting busts.Garoppolo is humanGaroppolo entered the season with an invincible aura about him. After spending three years under the tutelage of Tom Brady, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback began his career as a starter with a 7-0 record.Then the Minnesota Vikings happened. Last year's top-ranked defense frustrated Garoppolo for four quarters, corralling three interceptions, sacking him three times, and holding the $137-million man to a 45.5 completion percentage.He's human, but keep in mind Sunday's loss was the first of Jimmy's career, and he had the Niners driving to tie the game on their last series.Bucs might be fine without WinstonThe issues the Buccaneers' passing offense faced last season were nowhere to be seen in Week 1 of the new campaign. Fitzpatrick had no problem connecting with DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans on deep balls, and he found a way to spread the wealth to Chris Godwin, O.J. Howard, and Adam Humphries.Bucs' brass warned that the starting job might not be there for Jameis Winston when he returns from suspension in Week 4. If Fitzpatrick continues to play like he did in the opener, they might follow through on that threat.Nathan Peterman: Worst QB in NFL history?GPYdsTDsINTsComp. %QB ratingPeterman52762743.325.7Of the 882 NFL signal-callers with a career quarterback rating, Nathan Peterman's 25.7 ranks 805th.Sunday's starter for the Buffalo Bills is averaging minus-0.23 adjusted net yards per pass attempt. Impressive.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a league where quarterbacks are worth their weight in gold, the players responsible for making the quarterback uncomfortable have become more and more valuable.In Week 1, defensive linemen across the NFL justified that value. Whether they affected the quarterback as a pass-rusher or dominated the line of scrimmage against the run, many were able to make their presence felt.Let's hand out a few defensive-line superlatives.(Note: Since 3-4 outside linebackers have essentially the same roles as 4-3 defensive ends, and typically play defensive end when their defense goes to nickel - five defensive backs, two off-ball linebackers, four defensive linemen - this weekly feature will treat them as defensive linemen.)Defensive Lineman of the Week: Von Miller, Denver BroncosHe may have been playing against a below-average Seattle Seahawks offensive line, but Von Miller was unblockable Sunday, registering six tackles, four quarterback hits, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.The foundation of Miller's skill set is his speed off the edge. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, his upfield burst is just too quick for 300-pound humans moving backward to handle. When Miller combines that with varied footwork and pacing, he becomes nearly impossible to block:Here, Miller is in a two-point stance aligned on the outside edge of Seattle's right tackle. After the snap, he slow-plays his rush, reading the Seattle backfield to determine whether it is a run or pass. Once he identifies that it's a pass, Miller quickly expands his rush to the outside, using a concise two-hand swipe to defeat the balance and hands of the right tackle. After beating the block, Miller does an excellent job of flipping his hips, allowing himself to accelerate toward and then sack the quarterback.Miller may have been even more dominant against the run, finishing with three stops, per Pro Football Focus. He uses superior leverage and a wide array of hand techniques to keep offensive linemen off balance, making it easy for him to shed blocks and make plays on the ball carrier.Miller has arguably been the best edge defender in the NFL over the last half-decade. Sunday, he proved that he's not even close to slowing down.Rookie Defensive Lineman of the Week: Genard Avery, Cleveland BrownsGenard Avery may have been the 20th edge defender selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he was the best rookie edge defender on the field Sunday.The Memphis product finished with four tackles, a hurry, a QB hit, and a sack against the Steelers, demonstrating why he was one of the biggest steals of the draft. Avery, who is listed at 6-feet and 250 pounds, fell down draft boards due to size and competition-level concerns; however, his skill set is ready-made to produce in the NFL.In college, Avery was known for his ability to consistently soften the corner with his powerful hands, similar to what made James Harrison famous. However, against Pittsburgh, Avery used a pure speed rush to virtually eliminate the Steelers' chances of winning the game:With Pittsburgh driving for the game-winning score late in overtime, the Browns needed someone to make a play. Avery, who is in a two-point stance with a wide alignment toward the bottom of the screen, takes advantage of his one-on-one opportunity with a masterful speed rush.Avery does a great job of timing the snap, laying the foundation for him to win with speed. Through his first three steps, Avery gains a good bit of ground, forcing the right tackle to bail on his pass set in lieu of attempting to push Avery past the pocket.Unfortunately for him, Avery does an excellent job of reducing his blockable surface area by dipping his inside shoulder. This allows Avery to accelerate through the corner and pursue Ben Roethlisberger. When the Steelers QB steps up in the pocket, Avery uses his lower-body pliability and footwork to turn at an acute angle and make the sack.Avery saved the game and even put Cleveland in position to win with a field goal (which ended up getting blocked, forcing the tie).The Browns already possess two excellent edge defenders in Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah. Don't be surprised if Avery becomes the third prong in Cleveland's monstrous pass rush.Pass Rush of the Week: Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr., New England PatriotsFor this Pass Rush of the Week, we're going to cheat and look at two different rushes on the same play.Patriots defensive ends Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr. gave the Texans offensive line fits, finishing with 11 total hurries and three sacks between them. Both players used excellent timing and technique to generate pressure and make life miserable for Deshaun Watson.This play was especially impressive:Let's start with Wise, the right defensive end aligned to the outside edge of the Texans left tackle. After the ball is snapped, Wise bursts upfield for three steps at the left tackle's midline, attempting to disguise his true intentions.Once Wise's third step lands, he is within range for the left tackle to land hands. However, as the left tackle initiates his punch, Wise expands to the tackle's outside edge while employing a well-timed cross-chop-to-club-to-rip-move sequence, using the proper footwork to trim a tight arc to the quarterback.Unfortunately for Wise, Flowers was able to get to Watson just before he did, so Wise just missed out on the sack.Flowers is the left defensive end aligned to the outside edge of the right tackle. After the ball is snapped, Flowers doesn't try to disguise anything, opting to use sheer power, explosiveness, and leverage on his bull rush.A common saying among defensive linemen is "get under the chin and you will win," and that's exactly what Flowers does here. He drops his pad level so that he can get beneath the right tackle's center of gravity, maximizing his ability to generate power while limiting the right tackle's ability to anchor against Flowers' bull rush. Once he has the right tackle on skates, Flowers easily discards him and sacks Watson.While Wise and Flowers used different methods, they were both able to generate pressure using high-level technique and nuance. If they can do this consistently, the Patriots' defense could be among the best in the NFL.Run Defender of the Week: Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas CowboysIn a losing effort, Demarcus Lawrence was a monster against the Carolina Panthers, finishing with seven tackles (three for loss), a QB hit, and a sack.While he put together a number of noteworthy pass rushes, this stop against the run was the most extraordinary play he made Sunday:Here, Lawrence is the left defensive end aligned head-up on the tight end. The Panthers are using a pin-and-pull concept - Carolina is looking to "pin" Lawrence and the play-side defensive tackle so the center and play-side guard can "pull" around the edge - to get running back Christian McCaffrey to the edge of the Cowboys' defense.Initially, it works perfectly for Carolina, as the tight end does an excellent job of pinning Lawrence inside. However, Lawrence identifies the pin-and-pull concept and uses a spin move to defeat the block, freeing himself to pursue and tackle McCaffrey at the line of scrimmage.It was a brilliant display of awareness, technique, and effort from Lawrence as he looks to prove that his breakout 2017 season was not a fluke.In the spotlight: D.J. Reader, Houston TexansNot many people know who D.J. Reader is. The 2016 fifth-round pick is an easily forgotten name on a loaded Texans front seven. Nevertheless, the Clemson product has become a valuable member of Houston's defensive line.Listed at 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds, Readers is a hulking presence. While his size and strength allow him to eat up double teams against the run, his deceptive quickness and well-developed hand technique allow him to be more productive as a pass-rusher than most defenders his size. This play against New England is a great illustration:Reader is the nose tackle with an outside shade on the center's right edge. With the right guard worried about J.J. Watt on the right edge, Reader executes a lightning-quick club-rip move on the center's snap hand, which allows Reader to continue upfield unimpeded for the sack.Altogether, Reader finished Week 1 with three tackles, two sacks, and a QB hit. Next time you're watching Houston, keep an eye on big No. 98, who may be the most underrated part of the Texans' defense.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are set to lose a key part of their offense for the foreseeable future, as star tight end Greg Olsen is expected to miss "a significant chunk of time" due to a foot injury suffered in Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys, sources told Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Olsen refractured the same foot that kept him sidelined for nine games in 2017, the Panthers confirmed. Carolina said Olsen won't need surgery but will be evaluated "on a monthly basis."It's possible Olsen will go on injured reserve, added Rapoport, meaning he'd have to miss a minimum of eight weeks. The tight end said he's "optimistic" that he'll be able to return this season in a statement posted on Twitter:

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Minnesota VikingsPrevious Rank: 2Challenged right out of the gate, the Vikings handled a possible NFC title contender. An early opportunity at division supremacy comes in Week 2 versus the Packers. - McClymont2. Los Angeles RamsPrevious Rank: 1The Rams scored 33 points, albeit with a late gift from Derek Carr, despite never getting anywhere near top gear and Jared Goff looking sloppy on multiple deep shots. That's frightening. - Browne3. New England PatriotsPrevious Rank: 4Though many expected a shootout, it was the Patriots' defense that shined in Week 1, halting Houston's hype train. An AFC championship rematch against the Jaguars is next. - Alessandrini4. Philadelphia EaglesPrevious Rank: 3The offense looked sloppy against Atlanta, but the defense was exceptional. Final score aside, Doug Pederson's squad defeated a playoff-caliber opponent without Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, and Nigel Bradham, showing serious championship fortitude. - Alessandrini5. Jacksonville JaguarsPrevious Rank: 8Calais Campbell and Myles Jack were in top form, and the Jaguars are committed to their run-heavy offense. Last year was no fluke. - Srinivasan6. Green Bay PackersPrevious Rank: 9For a minute there, it looked like we'd be robbed of seeing Aaron Rodgers play a full season again. Thank goodness he only needs one good leg to do this. - McClymont7. Kansas City ChiefsPrevious Rank: 11Most NFL offenses have fallen in love with the death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach. The Chiefs, however, are going limb chopping with the unique Patrick Mahomes-Tyreek Hill combo. It might not be sustainable, but if it is, Kansas City could be a force in the AFC. - Browne8. Atlanta FalconsPrevious Rank: 5The Falcons are the most talented team in the league until they get to the red zone. If Atlanta doesn't learn to simplify its offense deep in opposing territory, the frustrating losses will continue. - Srinivasan9. New Orleans SaintsPrevious Rank: 6The offense remains explosive, but Cam Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and Co. were dreadful in the Saints' 48-40 loss to the Buccaneers. They have to be better if they're to remain a leading contender in the uber-competitive NFC South. - Srinivasan10. Carolina PanthersPrevious Rank: 12Cam Newton was an all-around threat, Kawann Short was unblockable, and the Panthers look like a Super Bowl contender again. It's only one week but sleep on Carolina at your own peril. - Srinivasan11. Pittsburgh SteelersPrevious Rank: 7Nothing new in Pittsburgh, just the Steelers playing down to inferior competition. Fans can only hope the team gets its act together before a matchup with the Chiefs' high-wire offense. - McClymont12. Baltimore RavensPrevious Rank: 17The schedule makers did Baltimore some favors early. The Ravens rolled over the hapless Bills in Week 1 and get a chance to avenge last year's season-ending loss to the Bengals on Thursday night. - McClymont13. Los Angeles ChargersPrevious Rank: 10Joey Bosa is out for a few more weeks and the Chargers' kicking woes have carried over into 2018. What did Philip Rivers do to deserve this endless cycle of bad luck? - Browne14. Washington RedskinsPrevious Rank: 19Alex Smith was surgical in his Redskins debut, while Greg Manusky's defense may finally be putting the pieces together. Washington has the look of a playoff contender. - Alessandrini15. Denver BroncosPrevious Rank: 22Von Miller apparently didn't like being surpassed as the league's highest-paid defensive player, as he showed no mercy in dominating the Seahawks' offensive line. - Browne16. Houston TexansPrevious Rank: 13It's never easy against the Patriots, but if the Texans can withstand a subpar night from Deshaun Watson and remain competitive, they'll be fine going forward. - Srinivasan17. Chicago BearsPrevious Rank: 18Khalil Mack can do everything. Only Aaron Rodgers kept this team from making a big jump in our rankings. - McClymont18. New York JetsPrevious Rank: 30What a start to the Sam Darnold era! After throwing a pick-6 to open his NFL career, the youngest starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era showed the poise of a 10-year veteran, leading the Jets to a dominant victory on Monday Night Football. - Alessandrini19. San Francisco 49ersPrevious Rank: 16Losing to perhaps the best team in football shouldn't be a major concern for Kyle Shanahan. However, the 49ers' inability to protect Jimmy G should be. - Browne20. Tennessee TitansPrevious Rank: 14Losing to the Dolphins is bad enough. If Marcus Mariota misses any time at all, it'll be a nightmare start to the season for the Titans with Delanie Walker done for the year. - Srinivasan21. Tampa Bay BuccaneersPrevious Rank: 29Put your hands up if you had Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing for over 400 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. No, you're lying. It's early, but the Buccaneers may be more explosive than we gave them credit for. - Srinivasan22. New York GiantsPrevious Rank: 21New York couldn't squeak out a win against the Jaguars, but Odell Beckham Jr. won his individual battle against Jalen Ramsey, which is bad news for future opponents. An important division battle with the rival Cowboys looms. - Alessandrini23. Cincinnati BengalsPrevious Rank: 25There are positive signs all over for Cincy. Joe Mixon looks ready for a huge workload, Tyler Eifert made it out of a game fully healthy, and A.J. Green's still doing A.J. Green things. - McClymont24. Dallas CowboysPrevious Rank: 20The Cowboys' offense looked as vanilla as ever versus Carolina, with Dak Prescott's performance resembling his second-year form rather than his stellar rookie campaign. If the unit continues to struggle, how long will it be before changes are made? - Alessandrini25. Miami DolphinsPrevious Rank: 26Miami's scoring unit, in the midst of an NFL-record long game, looked surprisingly efficient against the Titans. That included the immortal Frank Gore, who averaged 6.8 yards per carry at 35 years old. - Alessandrini26. Detroit LionsPrevious Rank: 15What was that on Monday night? Nothing's changed with Matt Patricia aboard, as the Lions still have the league's worst running game. - McClymont27. Seattle SeahawksPrevious Rank: 23Doug Baldwin has never received the credit he deserves. If the wideout misses significant time to a knee injury, the Seahawks' passing game could fall apart. - Browne28. Oakland RaidersPrevious Rank: 27Maybe the Raiders have to use those newly acquired firsts on a quarterback. In all seriousness, the Carr-Gruden connection is the key to the Raiders' season, so it's a major concern how lost the QB looked in a second-half meltdown against the Rams. - Browne29. Indianapolis ColtsPrevious Rank: 28It's nice to see Andrew Luck back and prospering. Sunday also served as a reminder of the lack of talent surrounding Luck. - Srinivasan30. Cleveland BrownsPrevious Rank: 31The Browns are undefeated! - McClymont31. Arizona CardinalsPrevious Rank: 24Arizona's uninspired offense scored just six points, and the uncreative usage of David Johnson was a major disappointment. The Cardinals' O can't play scared just because of Sam Bradford's injury history. - Browne32. Buffalo BillsPrevious Rank: 32It's going to be a long season in Buffalo. Hang in there, Bills fans. - AlessandriniCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.