“Even the genius ask questions.” -Tupac

Question everything. That’s the motto for this week. Only two weeks into the season, everything can be broken down into three categories: things we know, things we think we know, and things we don’t know. Attempting to accurately categorize things, we’re going to dust off an old road trip game: twenty questions.

Question #1: Will this work? No idea.

Tier 1: Heavyweight Fights (Season Record: 1-2)

Rams +3.5 over Eagles

Ravens -5.5 over Lions

These feel like the two biggest clashes of the weekend in terms of featuring two teams whom I expect to at least threaten a deep playoff run. Question #2: Will the outcome of either of these games will be in any way informative for a potential playoff rematch? Not even a little bit, but an ESPN pundit will almost assuredly try to use it as such. Both games do have the opportunity to serve as a “we’re still here” game for the winners, with each of these teams trying to show that they are still a top dog in their respective conferences and divisions.

Question #3: Can Jalen Hurts unleash the playoff passing game in the regular season?

Through two weeks, Philadelphia’s offense looks like it’s returned to the run happy, pass only when necessary, and only as far as necessary unit that raised major questions heading into the 2024 playoffs. If you paid attention, you noticed that they were a completely different beast in the playoffs, particularly the Super Bowl. It seems like that team is still in there, but can they pull it out in the regular season? That needs to be the strategy to have success against a Rams defense whose biggest weakness is the secondary. On the other side of the ball, we keep waiting for Matt Stafford’s age and injury load to catch up with him, but this multi-dimensional offense just keeps on rolling. I expect this game to come down to a field goal either way. Grab the points here. This is also the most watchable game of the weekend, for those that want that kind of analysis.

Question #4: Can Baltimore close the deal?

The Lamar Jackson era Ravens are known for two things: being one of the best teams in the NFL with the best roster and not being able to close out big games…particularly in January. It’s unfortunate that one of the brightest stars and best organizations in the league has earned that reputation, but that doesn’t make the narrative false. We’ve already seen the Ravens let one high profile game get away from them this season. Will they make it twice in three weeks? I still believe in the Baltimore talent and infrastructure. Detroit put up huge numbers against a flailing Bears team last week, but regression feels inevitable after all they lost last season and their roster, while good, still doesn’t match up across the board with Baltimore’s. If the Ravens can avoid beating themselves, this is a prime opportunity to pick up a big win.

Tier 2: Division Rivals (Season Record: 3-2)

Texans +2.5 over Jaguars

Bills -11.5 over Dolphins

Question #5: Would the Texans really start 0-3?

Houston seemed like the obvious pick to win the AFC South coming into the season, so much so that I might be holding onto a Texans AFC South winner preseason bet slip, but after an 0-2 start, they aren’t favored to win the division any longer. In fact, they don’t even have the second-best odds with both the Colts and Jaguars now having shorter division odds. Houston is better than Jacksonville is. I can’t imagine a scenario where Houston, with an elite defense and good QB-coach combo, is essentially eliminated from playoff contention before we wake up the guy from “Green Day”, so I have to think the Texans will win this game.

Question #6: How high would this line have to be before you’d bet on Miami?

Twenty-and-a-half? Twenty-three? Honestly, I’m not sure what the number would have to be before you convinced me to put money on the Dolphins. They look like the worst team in the NFL. Mike McDaniel is a lame duck. Tua seems like this might be his last year in South Beach. Tyreek Hill is under yet another domestic violence investigation and seems like he’s one more over- or underthrown ball away from demanding a trade. The point is Miami is a mess right now. You could make this line high enough to make me stay away from it, but there’s almost no point at which you could make me put money on this team again. I’ll gladly lay the eleven-and-a-half and cackle like a moron watching Josh Allen carve up this Miami defense.

Tier 3: Talking Quarterbacks (Season Record: 4-4)

Falcons -5.5 over Panthers

Bucs -6.5 over Jets

Cowboys +1.5 over Bears

Broncos +2.5 over Chargers

Question #7: Will Michael Penix level up the Falcons as an organization?

Atlanta has been a smoldering team ever since Michael Vick’s dog-fighting scandal drove him out of town. They had the one Super Bowl appearance with Matty Ice, but outside of that they’ve pretty much ranged from mediocre to decent ever since. Penix looks like he might be left-handed Brett Favre, but with more discretion in his (honestly on- and off-field) decision-making. He nearly took down the Bucs in week 1, but going into Minnesota and beating the Vikings on Sunday night was impressive, even if the red zone offense left plenty to be desired. Atlanta finally seems ready to “rise up” and if they truly are, then we shouldn’t have to worry about a back-door Panthers cover

Question #8: Is Baker Mayfield him?

File this one into the “things we know” column. Yes. Baker Mayfield is him. You don’t need any more evidence than watching him go from looking like he just shredded his Achilles’ to staring down C.J. Garder-Johnson in 5 seconds. His post-game press response is just the cherry on top. The Jets announced today they’ll be without Justin Fields, but I’m not sure it would have mattered. Baker gives this Tampa team an edge and I have confidence each week that they are either going to scrap their way back into games or put their foot on the throat and not let up for four quarters. That’s a team I want to gamble on. That’s a team that covers a six-and-a-half point spread against a mediocre team.

Question #9: Does Caleb Williams just not have “it”?

Unfortunately, this question also seems like it’s headed for the “Definitely Not” category. Maybe there’s still time for Ben Johnson to work his magic and get the most out of the uber-talented Williams, but it’s alarming that we haven’t seen more progress by now. Maybe a game against a weak Dallas defense will solve that but I can’t really figure out why Chicago would be favored in this game, especially not when the Cowboys are always apparently one first down away from field goal range. Dallas might win this game 12-10.

Question #10: Is Bo Nix going to continue lending credence to the “Sophomore Slump is Real” campaign?

Denver entered the season as a media darling to return to the playoffs and potentially unseat the Chiefs atop the AFC West. So far, the Chargers look more likely to be that team. Denver’s defense hasn’t been the juggernaut we thought it was so far, and Bo Nix hasn’t taken a step forward. I still think there’s time, and I’ve been burned by the Chargers enough times to remain a skeptic, but if Denver is going to retain the title of “trendy but legitimate AFC West” pick they have to win this weekend. I have to ask though…

Question #11: Is Justin Herbert him?

I know. I know. I just said Baker Mayfield is him, but Herbert might finally be ascending to the pedestal that the nerds have been trying to put him on ever since the Chargers drafted him. He has great hair. He has a high-profile relationship with an “it” girl. He stole Trea Turner’s belt for “coolest baseball slide“. And he’s finally winning games!

This weekend either the Chargers or the Broncos will put the Chiefs on notice and say, “Hey we’re coming for your throne.” I want it to be the Chargers. It feels like it should be the Chargers. I’ve seen this movie too many times before. I still bear the emotional scars. I just can’t do it. Broncos Country…let’s ride.

Tier 4: Mediocrity Loves Company (Season Record: 3-4)

Vikings -3 over Bengals

Cardinals +2.5 over 49ers

Giants +5.5 over Chiefs

Steelers -1.5 over Patriots

Question #12: How is it already time for Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz?

Give Jake Browning credit. It seemed like the Bengals were about to get dropped to 1-1 with another disappointing season ahead after Joe Burrow left the game with his toe injury. Browning, a classic overqualified backup but underqualified starter, managed to lead the Bengals down and pull off the Cam Newton quick-reach-over-the-line quarterback sneak to win the game. If he had a better offensive line and defense, I think Browning could game manage a team to the playoffs, but Cincinnati doesn’t have an adequate offensive line (hence the discourse about Burrow’s sack total) or a passable defense. On the contrary, the Vikings can surround Carson Wentz with a good defense and elite playcaller. I’m not sure I think Wentz could get the Vikings into the playoffs, but I do trust the rest of the Vikings more than the Bengals.

Question #13: Who’s the 2025 “Good Bad Team”?

Credit to Bill Simmon’s for formally naming a phenomenon all of us sports fans understand intuitively. The “Good Bad Team” is the team that’s just good enough to beat all the miserable teams in its league, but not good enough to upset any of the truly good teams in the league. This team is destined to be either the last team in the playoffs or the division winner that ends up being a home underdog on Wild Card Weekend. It feels like the winner of 49ers-Cardinals will claim the crown of “2025 Good Bad Team.” I trust Arizona slightly more in this matchup, if for no other reason than that they’re healthy. The bonus question is: what do you call the loser of the “Good Bad” championship? The “Best Bad” team?

Question #14: Will Pat Mahomes ever air it out again?

Do you remember why we were all so infatuated with Pat Mahomes? Watching the current iteration of the Chiefs quarterback makes it hard to remember why he captivated us so much when he took over for Alex Smith. He was like the quarterback personification of the Rick Flair “son of a gun” rant. He threw the ball wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted and it usually worked out for him. With Kansas City’s current roster limitations, Mahomes has essentially been relegated to an overqualified game manager. Maybe instead of the wildly inappropriate “Free 4” shirts, the Chiefs players should look in the mirror and where “Free 15” shirts to warm up. I’m sorry, but I just can’t trust Kansas City with a spread greater than a field goal against anyone at this point.

Question #15: Can Pittsburgh still play defense?

Through two games, the Steelers defense has given up 30+ points twice. That is the opposite of what we’d expect from a Mike Tomlin-coached team, especially considering their first two opponents were the Jets and Steelers…not exactly the Brady Pats or “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams. New England is also not an offensive juggernaut, but Drake Maye showed some flashes last week. If Pittsburgh still has a good defense anywhere in there, this would be a prime week to unleash the beast.

Tier 5: Ignorance Might Be Bliss (Season Record: 4-4)

Titans +4.5 over Colts

Raiders +3 over Commanders

Browns +7.5 over Packers

Seahawks -7.5 over Saints

Question #16: Are the Colts for real or the 2024 Saints?

Do y’all remember how the New Orleans Saints 2024 started? In case you forgot, they won their first two games and scored 40+ points in both. They proceeded to lose their next seven. Dennis Allen got fired. Derek Carr retired. Some might say, the train went off the rails. I’m not saying the Colts are going to do the same thing this year…but I am saying Daniel Jones is their quarterback. Shane Steichen is the coach, and they have considerably exceeded early season expectations. Maybe that will continue, but I don’t want to be holding the bet slip when this comes crashing back to Earth.

Question #17: Will Jayden Daniels be available or limited?

I can’t really bet on Washington unless I am confident that they have a 100% healthy Jayden Daniels. Daniels is a good quarterback and seems like he will prove to be the best quarterback in the 2024 draft class. What makes him good though is the ability and the threat he poses with his legs. If he can’t play or his mobility is hampered by his knee sprain, he isn’t the same player. That opens the door for the Raiders to steal one.

Question #18: Has the Packers offensive efficiency caught up to its big play potential?

Coming into the season there was no doubt about Green Bay’s offense having home run play potential. Explosive plays bailed them out on multiple occasions last season, but the boom-bust nature of the offense led to doubts about the sustainability of their offense. Credit to whatever Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love and the rest of the Green Bay offense did in the offseason though, because through two weeks they are the best team in the NFL by DVOA. Is this who they are now, or is regression coming?

Question #19: How many seconds of this game can you stomach?

Sixty-two seconds. Final answer.

Question #20: Should you tail me or fade me this week?

Probably fade, but who knows. Broken clocks and blind squirrels and all that.

Last Week’s Record: 9-7

Season Record: 15-17

Cover Photo Courtesy of Mitchell Leff/Getty Images