CINCINNATI — 4. Tom Brady – QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24/36, 276 yds, 5 TD) – Process this: Brady has three more touchdown passes through two games this season (9) than he did in his record-breaking 2007 season (6). That was FOURTEEN. years. ago. Is he better now than he was in 2007? Is he playing the best football of his career in his mid-forties? It sure looks like he is through the Buccaneers first two games of the season, and I don’t think this offense is slowing down anytime soon.
3. Kyler Murray – QB, Arizona Cardinals (29/36, 400 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT) – You’ll notice a theme with my next two performers. Spoiler alert; they’re both quarterbacks. Anyway, Murray has become so prolific and so big a part of Arizona’s offense, that I think Arizona can live with him throwing two interceptions if it means he throws for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Murray has become one of the best play-making quarterbacks in the league, and he’s got a great cast of weapons surrounding him. He may only be 5’10”, but his mobility and cannon arm make him a hard quarterback for defenses to prepare for.
2. Lamar Jackson – QB, Baltimore Ravens (18/26, 239 yds, TD, 2 INT; 16 rush, 107 yds, 2 TD) – Like Murray, the Ravens were able to survive Jackson throwing two first quarter interceptions Sunday night against the Chiefs. Being a playmaker comes with making mistakes, but it’s not how you start it’s how you finish. Jackson finished the night by authoring the signature win of his career against the team he has referred to as the Ravens “kryptonite.” When the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, Jackson took over and may have saved the Ravens season. I know Jackson has not put up the most prolific numbers as a passer, but perhaps he showed Sunday night his playmaking abilities can mask that.
1. Derrick Henry – RB, Tennessee Titans (35 rush, 182 yds, 3 TD; 6 rec., 55 yds) – Talk about taking over a game. That’s what Derrick Henry did Sunday in the Titans comeback overtime win at Seattle. Down 24-9 in the second half, the Titans stuck to their roots and identity; running the football. And Henry wore. down. the Seahawks defense. When he’s running hard and running well, the Titans offense is very tough to stop. Case in point: quarterback Ryan Tannehill took advantage of Henry running the football and threw for 347 yards on Sunday.
Henry gets stronger as the game goes on, and that allows the Titans to stick to their gameplan even when down 15 points in the second half. Having that kind of player on your offense to bring your team back from down 15 and then have him take over the game is a luxury a lot of teams wish they had. The Titans have that in Henry, and they can win a lot of games this season because of him.
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 