5 major surprises from Week 2 of 2024 NFL season ft. Panthers axe Bryce Young in startling move
Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season is now over and there was some thrilling excitement to keep fans accompanied all the way. There were some close games, some upsets, some worrying injuries and some good old football intrigue.
Here's a closer look at some of the events from Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season that surprised fans the most:
Week 2 of 2024 NFL season's major surprises
#1. Dave Canales moves on from Bryce Young
Dave Canales is supposed to be the quarterback whisperer. He revitalized Geno Smith's career as quarterbacks coach of the Seattle Seahawks before working his magic on Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he was employed as the offensive coordinator.
It was this resume that led to the Carolina Panthers hiring him as the head coach. They had Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, whom they wanted to be made NFL-ready after a poor rookie season. But even Canales seems to have given up after just two weeks.
He subsequently decided to bench Bryce Young from Week 3 onwards and move on with veteran Andy Dalton leading his offense. Does that mean it is the end of the road for the former Alabama quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner? There is still a chance that he gets to sit behind a veteran and resume his duties when he is ready, but this is a major downgrade for him.
#2. Lamar Jackson and Baltimore Ravens fall to 0-2
One quarterback whose worth is not in doubt is Lamar Jackson. The reigning MVP is one of the best players in the league. And he is complemented by a stellar cast around him in offense and defense, along with one of the best head coaches in the NFL. After falling short in the AFC Championship game last year, the addition of star running back Derrick Henry was supposed to make them instant Super Bowl favorites.
Instead, the Ravens are now 0-2 after Week 2. The loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the dynastic behemoths led by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, was perhaps understandable. But the defeat to the Raiders this week was unfathomable.
Teams have come back from such deficits to make the playoffs and go on a long postseason run. But one might worry if 2023 was their best chance to bring the championship back to Baltimore.
#3. Derek Carr and Sam Darnold lead MVP conversation
Fortunes can change if one has the willingness to persevere. That is possibly the overriding lesson from the season so far. Derek Carr was hounded out of Las Vegas a couple of years ago and struggled in his first season with the New Orleans Saints. Sam Darnold, a former third overall pick by the Jets, failed to impress with the Panthers and served as a backup for the 49ers.
But with the Vikings, he has found a new lease of life. He has a completion percentage of 72, a passer rating of 111.8, and four touchdowns in two games, both of them ending in victories. Carr has been arguably even more impressive, recording five touchdowns and just one interception in two matches, with a cumulative passer rating of 142.4 and a completion percentage above 76.
Two players whom many NFL observers discounted are now leading the race for the MVP gong after Week 2. Bryce Young might take some inspiration from that.
#4. Has Travis Kelce hit a bump?
The Chiefs are now 2-0 having defeated two strong teams and potential AFC contenders in the Bengals and Ravens. Patrick Mahomes keeps doing ridiculously amazing things on the football field, and they look well-suited for an unprecedented three-peat.
But with Marquise Brown injured and out for the regular season and Isiah Pacheco expected to spend time on the sidelines, the star quarterback will need to depend on more reliable weapons. Travis Kelce has always been his go-to guy, but the surprise here is that the tight end has been nearly anonymous in the first two games.
After just three catches for 34 yards in the season opener, he reached a nadir this week with just a single catch for five yards. That connection arguably won the Chiefs their Super Bowl last season and it might not be time to panic yet, but it is still a worry for the Arrowhead faithful.
#5. Cardinals show signs of life in competitive NFC West
The NFC West was supposed to be a three-way shootout between the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. The first two teams made the playoffs last year.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals were supposed to just make up the numbers, but after Week 2, they have a 1-1 record and are ranked ahead of both teams that made it into the previous postseason.
Arizona scored 28 points in their first game which ended in a loss to Buffalo. Against the Rams, though, they took off scoring 41 points and obliterating Matthew Stafford and company. With Marvin Harrison Jr. looking good and Kyler Murray looking well set, they could be the surprise package of the year.