NFL Week Two Round Up
By John Menton
The Gaelic Gridiron round up of week two is here!! There are only so many happenings and goings on we can cover: how will the 49ers do with Christian McCaffrey’s prolonged layoff (first up the Vikings)? Will Lamar Jackson and the Ravens bounce back from last week’s disappointment against the Chiefs? Can the Steelers offense equal the intensity and efficiency of their defence?
Vikings Humble Touted 49ers
While the 49ers were able to progress offensively up the field, both in the air and on the ground, without Christian McCaffrey they ultimately came up short against a robust Vikings defense. Jordan Mason, McCaffrey’s temporary replacement, put in an impressive performance with one hundred yards from twenty carries: including a TD from the end of a wonderfully orchestrated ninety-nine yard drive. Ultimately it was the offensive line that let down the 49ers: with Brock Purdy sacked six times and pressured into one interception.
Vikings 23 49ers 17
Ravens Revival Rebuffed by Raiders
Ravens fans, like the perennial underachieving Tottenham Hotspur fanbase, have been salivating over the prospect of “this is our year!” Those long hoped for days seem even further from reach with the shocking capitulation in the final quarter. Whereas last week’s tightest of margins defeats to the Chiefs may have served as motivating, this loss will be demoralising for Harbough and the Ravens. With just twelve minutes to go the Ravens were cagey, but in the lead. They had sacked Raiders QB Gardner Minshew SIX times! They HAD to be confident. Everything went wrong from then on: Minshew lead the Ravens to three consecutive scoring drives on the fourth quarter. Ravens HC John Harbough was dumbstruck at the post game conference: “Disappointing loss, (a) tough loss.” Echoing the sentiments of Ravens fans world wide.
Raiders 26 Ravens 23
Steelers Down the Broncos
Steelers fans rejoice: we have an offensive touchdown! It would appear that the Steelers are on the move with Justin Fields providing the Steelers Nation with it’s first offensive touchdown of the season. In a tight game, with little or nothing between the two teams, it was Fields’ first connection with Darnell Washington that provided the Steelers with the win. With Wilson given the nod and then replaced by Fields due to injury, the unease over Wilson or Fields/Fields or Wilson from the preseason may now be tempering. Steelers fans have been given a glimpse of what is possible: no doubt hope springs eternal for an offensive force that will match a stellar defense that is purring!
Steelers 13 Broncos 6
Another week of bedlam and fantastic entertainment! While nothing is settled, we can only look forward to more dramatic storylines developing as the weeks progresses and the rivalries intensify! Will the old reliables continue to reign supreme? Or will young upstarts or dormant powerhouses resurface? It is, no doubt, delectable!