A note for new readers: Jim Monos scouted for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and served as the director of personnel for the Buffalo Bills. Today, he runs personnel for the UFL. He also co-hosts the “Real Football” podcast with me and will be writing weekly recaps each Monday, riffing on all games.
Miss the Monday column? Here’s my piece on Brian Flores and a Vikings defense on fire.
By Jim Monos
New England 20, Pittsburgh 3
Only answer for the mighty Steelers is to bring back former offensive coordinator Matt Canada as head coach and promote Mason Rudolph to QB1. Both had better results than this stale, slow version. DK Metcalf with more drops. Drake Maye was not good, but a win is a win.
Cleveland 23, Tampa Bay 19
Finally a heartbeat from the Browns. Deshaun Watson had no interceptions and shows off some rookie receivers (KC Concepcion & Denzel Boston) to get the Browns over the top through a lightning delay. Bucs all-world Rueben Bain with no production again. Baker Mayfield is making everything look difficult but his seat is comfortable, while head coach Todd Bowles’ seat warms up.
Minnesota 9, Chicago 3
The good news is Caleb Williams will be OK. The bad news is we have to all remember how he reacted to a pulled hammy. Vikings’ DC Brian Flores makes life miserable and it helps to have a grown man like Dallas Turner rushing off the edge. More to come with this series. Incredible start for the Vikings in the division.
Philadelphia 24, Tennessee 20
Jalen Hurts is clutch. Ugly games happen but he never blinks and delivers. Get a win however you are able to and analyze/learn from it after review. Titans showed some life. Cam Ward shows you signs of arm talent. Accuracy has to continue to become more consistent. The Eagles have not found a running game rhythm with Saquon Barkley and then he suffers an injury. A running game is needed, but Hurts came to the rescue again.
Carolina 34, Atlanta 3
Inept QB play for Atlanta is being nice. Cooper Rush is proven to be not good. Rookie Jack Strand not ready. All of that is a reflection on the front office leaving a roster that has enough ability to be competitive hanging out to dry. Panthers do what you should against backups. Carolina receivers Tet McMillan and Jalen Coker both use their size and have strong hands to make it easy for Bryce Young. He’s developing chemistry with both. I still do not think Young is the answer against the big boys.
New Orleans 24, Baltimore 17
Mentioned last week Zay Flowers is more important than Derrick Henry to this offense. Point made. Tyler Shough and Chris Olave have now been doing this two seasons. It’s not new. Kellen Moore has a plan and Saints have bought in. Would like to think Lamar would find a way, but this Saints defense made him work for everything. New Orleans on the map! Baltimore will be fine.
Cincinnati 20, Houston 6
Texans drop two at home to start the season — not ideal. C.J. Stroud is showing he is more of a he “needs everything loaded up” type of quarterback and not a player who can elevate regardless of the situation. The points do not match the stats for Houston from this game. Burrow did enough especially against a top-ranked defense. Ja’Marr Chase is a level-above-level type receiver. If the ball is near him he finds a way. Bengals secondary got lit up.
Green Bay 20, New York Jets 17
Score could have been 3-0 and we’d reach the same conclusion. Neither Green Bay or New York look like a playoff team. That’s a shot at Green Bay. It’s all on Jordan Love and he’s ready but yesterday wasn’t his best. The Jets showed toughness and have skilled players who can challenge you but need to score more than 17. Pack did what was necessary on the road, but they are not a machine like years past.
Denver 20, Jacksonville 13
The Broncos’ top-ranked defense showed up after a Week 1 no show. Welcome to Denver, Jaylen Waddle. Sean Payton has things under control for the Broncos in terms of a solid effort in all three phases. Sign of a real head coach. For Jacksonville to truly get to the next level, Trevor Lawrence must raise his game. This was a winnable game and Lawrence was not good enough.
Las Vegas 26, Los Angeles Chargers 14
No homefield advantage for the Chargers. Herbert and new OC Mike McDaniel have the chemistry of an awkward, forced, arranged marriage. Cousins throws for three touchdowns and he got no help from Ashton Jeanty (2.2 yards per carry on 21 carries!) Definition of a grind. Road win for Vegas is impressive. The Harbaugh cliche act needs wins to be effective in the locker room.
San Francisco 35, Miami 13
Brock Purdy takes care of business at home. He is efficient, athletic and in command. This is more about the Dolphins being blah than anything. Tough watch right now. Malik Willis is certainly intriguing but can he deliver the ball accurately with timing consistently to get this offense in gear? Not many playmakers on the roster for Miami. The 49ers are well-rounded.
Seattle 31, Arizona 7
Championship team! On the road with a back-up and no problem. Drew Lock is an upper-tier No. 2. He has enough arm talent and toughness to get you through while Sam Darnold recovers. Seattle took an all-hands-on-deck approach and whipped Arizona. No signs of life for the Cards at home. Jacoby Brissett can only do so much.
Dallas 37, Washington 20
Dak to Lamb is a familiar combo and they delivered in their home opener. Jayden Daniels elbow? We’ve said when he entered the draft, that lean body combined with his style of running and taking hits is not proving to have success. Neither team can run the ball. Washington had plenty of chances but didn’t execute. Dallas defense is shaky.
Kansas City 33, Indianapolis 30
KC is all the way back. Fully loaded. Everyone contributing while Mahomes continues to get closer to 100 percent. GM Brett Veach and Andy Reid retooled this offense and made adjustments like all the great ones do. Indy had zero defense. Daniel Jones did his best against Lamar and Mahomes to start the season but the reality is the Colts are 0-2. Tough playing for Colts with no resistance on defense.
Los Angeles Rams 28, New York Giants 6
Different game if Jaxson Dart stays healthy. At least wanted to see it. Not able to gauge much from this game. Rams did what you should to a backup QB. Jameis Winston wasn’t close to ready. It’s getting old with Dart and his injuries. The story of the NFL right now is quarterback health and it’s only Week 3. Before we anoint Dart we need to see him stay on the field.
It's hard to be disappointed in the Green Bay Packer football team when this is what was expected. However I am tremendously disappointed in the front office. If Love is really as good as all the pundits claim ( I don't believe he's much more than average ) then why not surround him with a better o-line? Or is the scouting, and developmental coaching really that bad? Seems like the Judge Parins era is back.
The Giants have me concerned. If Dart can’t stay healthy ( even though it was a ferocious hit) do they have to draft another QB this year (if they have that draft spot to do so) because to first be great you must be available! Can’t have games where Jameis comes in and plays like that. I thought Dart had them moving the ball and it looked like he was making the right calls. Will someone please tell Harbaugh that Theo Johnson has stone hands? They let Bellinger walk and yes have Likely but their next best pass catching TE is Thomas Fidone and he sits on the practice squad. Get that guy up on the A team please. Johnson has bricks for hands and we’ve seen this now since he was drafted. Nabers is fragile too. Giants better be evaluating this whole season. Still plenty of holes to fill. The secondary is a joke.