The new NFL season is underway, and already intriguing storylines are coming together.
From quarterback battles to new faces looking like ready-made stars, there is plenty of excitement heading into the second week of regular season action.
Here are five things’ fans should look out for this week in the NFL.
Dolphins and Bills clash in early playoff contender Thursday Night Football
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The AFC East was once a one-team division with the New England Patriots led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick having a stranglehold, and often going deep into the playoffs.
With a rebuild now underway in Foxborough, the AFC East is wide open, and Thursday Night Football this week will see two playoff contenders and divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, go head-to-head in Florida.
With both teams possessing exciting offenses, it is a game fans cannot miss with the likes of Tyreek Hill, Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa going head-to-head.
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins already under pressure
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The arrival of Kirk Cousins at the Atlanta Falcons came with plenty of fanfare in the offseason.
With a four-year, $180 million contract, it appears that the Falcons are pinning their offensive hopes on the shoulders of the 36-year-old, but when it came to the team’s opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, there are already some concerns under centre.
Cousins threw for 155 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his team’s 18-10 loss to the Steelers, and it does not get much easier this week when the Falcons face a Super Bowl contender in the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
While there may be little hope the Falcons could win this game, Cousins needs to show a huge improvement, otherwise he could be swiftly replaced by rookie Michael Penix Jr.
New Packers QB takes to the field
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The Green Bay Packers lost their opening game to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, and the loss was made even worse after quarterback Jordan Love picked up an MCL strain in the closing stages.
While the Packers will not put Love on IR for this week’s trip to the Indianapolis Colts, the team has confirmed that backup QB Malik Willis will start.
Willis has already mentioned that he is leaving no stone unturned when preparing for the clash at Lambeau Field, but that’s easier said than done in front of a passionate Packers fan base who are desperate for success.
Chiefs offense look to wreak havoc on Bengals defense
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One shock result from opening weekend was the Cincinnati Bengals falling to the New England Patriots.
The Bengals are known for slow starts, but failing to beat a struggling Patriots team was something not many expected.
Now the team has the small task of travelling to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
A new offensive weapon for the Chiefs in the form of rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy already looks at home in the NFL, but expect Andy Reid’s team to utilise Isiah Pacheco and the running game after the Bengals struggled to contain the Patriots on the ground who are a level below the defending Super Bowl champions.
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets need to deliver
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The mood surrounding the New York Jets has been a positive one with quarterback Aaron Rodgers now finally fit to start, but the team failed to spark interest in the 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.
Week 2 sees the Jets travel to the Tennessee Titans, and while the Titans did lose to the Chicago Bears on opening weekend, the team’s defense impressed.
Rodgers and this talented Jets roster have enough to get the first win of the season at Nissan Stadium, but they cannot allow it to be a tight game and will instead need to blow the Titans away if they are to send a statement to the rest of the league.