NFL Odds: Three things we learned from MNF Week 2

In the first of four Monday Night Football doubleheaders this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers came out winners.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Buccaneers scored a winning touchdown with under a minute to play on the road as Tampa Bay edged the Houston Texans, 20-19.

And, for the second time in as many weeks, the Chargers picked up a win against an AFC West rival, knocking off the Raiders in Las Vegas, 20-6.

The Buccaneers and Chargers both improved to 2-0 and are among the 10 undefeated teams left in the NFL after two weeks of play. 

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Buccaneers showing mettle in the clutch

Tampa Bay has won the NFC South in each of the past four seasons and made five consecutive playoff appearances. But the team has not advanced deep into the postseason with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The Buccaneers have become a middle-of-the-pack playoff team, winning 8-10 games a year, reaching the postseason, and maybe winning a game, but certainly not going far.

Mayfield has the talent, moxie, and leadership to get Tampa Bay over the hump. The Falcons and the Texans may not be the Philadelphia Eagles or the Buffalo Bills, but multiple late comeback road wins at the start of the season are certainly a good sign. According to ESPN, Mayfield joined Doug Williams (1980) as the only Buccaneers quarterbacks to captain two consecutive game-winning drives to open a season. 

The Texans will finish with one of the league’s toughest defences under coach DeMeco Ryans, and Mayfield finding a way to pull a W out against them should pay dividends down the road.

Chargers making run for AFC West crown this year

The last time the Chargers won the AFC West, they were in San Diego and the year was 2009. The annual flaunting of sexy offensive statistics with little to show for it come playoff time is exactly why the franchise brought in no-nonsense coach Jim Harbaugh. But, then his team did the same thing, going 11-6 and getting bounced easily by the Texans in a Wild Card game.

Is Justin Herbert the next coming of Philip Rivers or Dan Fouts, great Chargers QBs who could light up the scoreboard and comprehensively fill in a stat sheet, but couldn’t get the team across the finish line?

Monday’s 20-6 win at Las Vegas was not mind-blowing. Herbert threw for 242 yards, and the defence picked off Geno Smith three times and held the Raiders to three field goals. But it was another division win and proved, at least early this season, that Los Angeles won’t falter after big wins.  

Egbuka Already a Steady Red Zone Threat

Eight catches for 96 yards may not blow you away after two weeks of the season, whether the receiver involved is a rookie or a 10-year veteran. But Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka has already exhibited a nose for the end zone, finding it three times for the Buccaneers already.

With last night’s 15-yard, second-quarter touchdown, Egbuka became the sixth receiver since the merger with three touchdowns in his first two games. 

With Chris Godwin just starting to practice after recovering from a dislocated ankle suffered last season, and with Jalen McMillan out at least the first nine weeks of the season with a severe neck injury, Egbuka is stating his case as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver across from future Hall of Famer Mike Evans.