If you know somebody who's a fan of an actual NFL team, there's some chance their team suffered a heartbreaking loss yesterday. Or an incredible last-second win. Because there were an equal number of both. So if your fantasy team did the same, feel comforted by knowing it happens to everyone. Oh yeah: lots of injuries, too.
Cardinals at Ravens: I stayed away from this game (and its 13.5 point spread) giving the Cardinals a puncher's chance of hanging around. So it was interesting, and there was some usable passing game production (1oo-yard games for Fitzgerald and Kirk), but too much Lamar Jackson for them to spring the upset. Guess I owe him an apology, he's off to a great start. Defenses will get tougher, but maybe not in the AFC North. Not enough production out of Mark Ingram, though another good game for Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown -- who needs practice. Impressive start for Brown.
49ers at Bengals: Kudos to the 49ers for proving the doubters (including me) wrong in this one. Dominant performance. Looks like it's high time to take their rebuilt defense seriously, and maybe they've found something good in Deebo Samuel, who I drafted everywhere as a sleeper but really had modest hopes for (and naturally left him on the bench everywhere yesterday). Another long touchdown for John Ross, good job those who started him off his big week. Good game running it for Matt Breida, although Jeff Wilson vultured a touchdown; ouch. Dante Pettis had more pass completions than receptions.
Chargers at Lions: This one stings for Chargers fans. There was a goal-line fumble by Austin Ekeler (hmmm...), and a pair of missed field goals by punter turned kicker Ty Long. Some clutch throws by Matthew Stafford. Chargers should have / could have scored more than 10 points in this one, but didn't. They were without some key players, so a lesser performance was to be expected, but still. A game they might look back on down the road. Justin Jackson had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty.
Vikings at Packers: We discussed that maybe Green Bay had an improved defense this year. They added a lot of players, but I had my doubts. But the final numbers so far are impressive, and it's why they're 2-0. Some good fortune today, including the Vikings having a touchdown wiped out on an offensive pass interference challenge that wouldn't have happened a year ago. Bad end-zone pick to end things. Tough one to swallow for Vikings fans. Big game for Aaron Jones (I benched him) and Dalvin Cook (75-yard TD), not so much for anyone else you started. Vikings also missed a field goal (they'd have probably won late had they made it).
Jaguars at Texans: Jacksonville defense came to play in this one, and Houston's offense looked ordinary. But the Texans got the low-scoring win, when the Jaguars went for 2 after scoring a last-second touchdown and Leonard Fournette got stuffed. Or did he? Tough to call and the refs erred on the side of calling him just short and sending the fans home happy. Gardner Minshew almost pulled out the win, but his presence doesn't look like a plus for the passing game (or Dede Westbrook).
Patriots at Dolphins: Well, the Patriots did feed Antonio Brown early; 3 early receptions. He finished 4 for 56 with a TD. I think the short story is that teams can and will do whatever they want to the Dolphins right now. I got 39 points from the New England Defense in one league; in another league they were worth 44 against me. A defense. You ended up getting good points out of Brady, Michel, and Brown, so-so out of White. And the other Patriots pass catchers were hurt by Brown being around, just as running backs are being hurt by Burkhead being around. Miami's not doing much for anyone in extended garbage-time, unless you're starting a defense against them.
Bills at Giants: Speaking of defenses, New York's appears to be really, really bad. Buffalo basically scored 21 points early and then ran the clock out from there. Devin Singletary had a nifty touchdown run and then left with an injury. Giants fans booed Eli Manning. Josh Allen had another very good all-around game (NFL and fantasy). Giants were kind of short-handed with receivers and it showed, but their lack of defensive resistance two weeks in a row really stands out.
Seahawks at Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger and James Conner were hurt in this game, but the Steelers almost won anyway. Didn't, because they couldn't stop Seattle's passing game when it counted. Will Dissly came back from an "injury setback" a week ago to score 2 TDs. Tyler Lockett had a good PPR game, DK Metcalf made an impressive contested grab for the game-winning touchdown. Vance McDonald had a nice game. But it's the injuries that are the story here. Pittsburgh can maybe get by if necessary if Conner misses time. But Roethlisberger...
Colts at Titans: Colts win, but pretty it was not. The Titans were involved, so that explains it. A rough game for Adam Vinatieri and word is he'll be retiring today. Good that Indy won despite his misses. Clutch TD from Brissett to T.Y. Hilton. Committee backfield for the Colts in this one which helps no one. Eric Ebron scored, but it doesn't look like the Brissett-Ebron connection is happening right now. Colts have a pretty good defense...they can win these kind of games.
Cowboys at Washington: Washington made a game of it, but there's no slowing down Dak Prescott and company right now. Talk about a contract push. Nice game for all involved. Adrian Peterson early, Terry McLaurin late. Hope you were able to pick him up this week, and when I win a bid on a pickup I tend to stick him in my lineup and see what happens. Worked out. Not much else good with Washington right now, but McLaurin looks like a keeper.
Kansas City at Raiders: Raiders got out to an early lead, and Josh Jacobs had another decent day. Darren Waller in PPR too, plus Tyrell Williams scored again. But Kansas City just has too much. Too much Mahomes, too much Kelce and Demarcus Robinson (guess we shouldn't have bailed on him) and Mecole Hardman (who also had a long touchdown called back). Neither Damien Williams nor LeSean McCoy did anything on the ground, and both banged up too. Maybe Oakland's plan was to force Kansas City to put the ball in Patrick Mahomes' hands? Probably not, but that's what happened. You're feeling good if you drafted Mahomes these days.
Bears at Broncos: Gut-wrenching loss for the Broncos, remarkable win for the Bears. Quarterback completes a 25-yard pass on 4th and 15 with 9 seconds left to set up a 53-yard field goal on the last play? Yeah that qualifies. And after Denver, their offense struggling all game, scored a touchdown and a gutty 2-point conversion for the lead. Call it a season-saving win for the Bears. David Montgomery was the best running back, looking like the start of a trend.
Saints at Rams: Drew Brees left early with a thumb injury. You probably heard about it. Tests today. Ironically enough, yesterday morning I was watching a replay of a Brett Favre comeback win over the Raiders from 20 years (to the day) earlier, where he injured his thumb early on before leading Green Bay to victory. Back to Brees. Offense sure looked lost without him, so hold your breath until we get the final word. Rams stumbled around for a bit but were ultimately too much, with a Todd Gurley touchdown and a nice game for Cooper Kupp (and a score for Brandin Cooks) among the highlights.
Eagles at Falcons: Not only was I starting Matt Ryan (yay) and Austin Hooper (eh) everywhere, but I was 5-0 in a Pick Sixem competition (picking six games versus the spread) with Atlanta my 6th pick. So I was glued to this one, which really should have been a Falcons blowout (with half the Eagles team going down to injury). Instead Ryan threw 3 picks and Atlanta needed a long fourth-down touchdown and a favorable spot (after the Eagles converted a Hail Mary, basically) to get the win. Atlanta can thank their lucky stars, I think. Big negative is that Devonta Freeman not looking so good; Atlanta's line in general not as good as expected either. But Falcons win and some of us are happy. Especially those who had Ryan, Julio or Ridley, who for much of the game was looking like Atlanta's No. 1.
Monday, Monday: Would have been a lot more interesting if we had the Mayfield versus Darnold angle. Instead we have the Browns really needing to win this thing to make all the playoff predictions look good, and they still look like the 2nd-best AFC North team at best (we'll see on the Roethlisberger injury). Should be a lot of LeVeon Bell and Nick Chubb in this one, and with the Jets missing C.J. Mosley, hard to see them slowing down the Browns. I'll call it Browns 27, Jets 20.