CINCINNATI — 4. Joe Mixon – RB, Cincinnati Bengals (29 rush, 127 yds, TD; 4 rec., 23 yds) – Sunday’s performance from Joe Mixon shows what he can do when heavily involved in the Bengals offensive gameplans. In a game that produced very similar stats between the two the Bengals and Vikings, Mixon’s performance on the ground was the difference with his ability to hit the edge, taking advantage of Frank Pollack’s wide zone run scheme, getting drives started and keeping drives going, and his heavy usage on the Bengals final possession of regulations suggests that the Bengals coaching staff views Mixon as a running back that can burn clock to close out games. Also worth noting; Mixon has accrued 125 or more rushing yards in three of the last four games he has played at Paul Brown Stadium.
3. Matthew Stafford – QB, Los Angeles Rams (20/26, 321 yards, 3 TD) – This is also my feel good performance of the week. I have always been a fan of Stafford’s. For so many years, he was stuck playing for a lousy organization. Now, he’s playing for a major-market franchise with one of the best offensive-minded head coaches in the league, a tremendous cast of weapons and playing his home games in the palace that is SoFi Stadium. Colin Cowherd brought up an interesting point Monday when he said for as good as former Rams quarterback Jared Goff was for L.A., there wasn’t the ability for quick strikes and deep shots down the field. With Stafford, there is the ability for that within the Rams offense. And if the Rams defense is able to complement what their offense can do, this team can win the NFC West and potentially multiple playoff games.
2. Dak Prescott – QB, Dallas Cowboys (42/58, 403 yds, 3 TD, INT) – I know the Cowboys ended up losing to Tampa Bay on Opening Kickoff night, but considering all the adversity Prescott went through in rehabbing a gruesome ankle injury and battling through a shoulder injury in training camp to be able to play in week one, it is remarkable how well he performed. He also confirmed every reason why Dallas paid him big money in the offseason after playing on the franchise tag last season. I hinted in my week one preview last week that Prescott’s ceiling isn’t that high, but maybe it is after his performance Thursday night. If only the Cowboys could turn his performances into wins.
1. Derek Carr – QB, Las Vegas Raiders (34/56, 435 yds, 2 TD, INT) – Like Prescott, Derek Carr has been stuck in mediocrity for much of his career. But his performance against a Ravens defense that lives to blitz opposing quarterbacks suggests that maybe this is the year he could ascend to being a great quarterback. On Monday night, Carr and the Raiders trailed by 14 points, seven points twice and three points late in the game. Carr rallied the Raiders back from all those deficits, including throwing two darts on the Raiders game-tying drive at the end of regulation.
The Raiders have a good cast of weapons for Carr to throw the ball to, and it’s not just Darren Waller. Hunter Renfrow and Bryan Edwards are reliable pass catchers, and Josh Jacobs is a running back that can take some of the load off Carr’s shoulders if he’s able to get going in games. It’s hard to get exposure playing in the same division as Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, but performances against defenses like the Ravens on a national stage can help Carr get more exposure and ascend his status in the quarterback tiers in the NFL.
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 