Pittsburgh Steelers

2016 NFL Week Two Hot Takes: End of the Tony Romo Era?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jul 30, 2016; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman comes off the field after the first session of training camp at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Get ready for some scorching 2016 NFL week two hot takes from every game. Rest assured there will be some surprises and controversial topics.

Fittingly it starts with the suddenly mess thing have become down in Buffalo.

Greg Roman firing feels like a message from owners to Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan said that the firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman was his decision and it was made in the best interests of the Buffalo Bills organization. This after Romo helped the team lead the league in rushing the year before and made Tyrod Taylor a Pro Bowl quarterback. However word out of Buffalo says team ownership actually met with the players to get their thoughts on the coaching staff situation. The belief being they the Roman decision came off pressure from above.

If the Pegulas’ are beginning to flex their muscles with the team, there can be no doubt that this latest move was a clear statement. It is still Rex Ryan’s team but he’s been put on notice. If they aren’t afraid to dismiss a credible assistant two games into the season, then how much longer before the head coach is next? Ryan will be under immense pressure to win moving forward or he may kiss his last chance at a head coaching job goodbye.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) catches a touchdown as Carolina Panthers cornerback James Bradberry (24) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Absence of Josh Norman is noticeable

The Carolina Panthers romped their way to a blowout win at home in week two as Cam Newton and the offense hung 46 points on San Francisco. However, buried within that victory is something of notable concern. This marks the second-straight week that an average quarterback has performed better than he should’ve against that defense. Trevor Siemian did enough to beat them in Denver and then it was Blaine Gabbert putting up 27 points for the 49ers.

More than ever their decision to release cornerback Josh Norman must be called into question. GM Dave Gettleman said he felt the team didn’t build their defensive success off paying corners large amounts of money. Yet the absence of the All-Pro has clearly weakened the entire back end of it. Teams no longer fear throwing the ball anywhere and its made their vaunted front seven less effective. Quite possibly the worst “business” decision in recent memory for Carolina.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) is pressured by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matt Judon (91) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Appalling weakness in trenches cost Browns again

If people are looking for scapegoats as to why the Cleveland Browns blew a 20-point lead to the Baltimore Ravens, they need not look any further than their play on the offensive and defensive lines. That is often where NFL success is built. It’s a lesson Cleveland has failed to learn for years. Outside of left tackle Joe Thomas they have no legitimate blockers on offense. That would explain why two of their quarterbacks are already facing long-term injury absences.

It’s just as bad on defense too. When was the last time the Browns had a legitimate pass rusher? A long time. Their inability to sack Joe Flacco despite the Ravens starting two rookies on their offensive line is the perfect encapsulation of the ineptitude. It’s for that reason a huge portion of their salary cap space and draft picks should be devoted to those two areas in 2017. Until its fixed this team will continue to lose games like this.

Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) talks to the offensive line during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Stafford really misses Calvin Johnson

For the first time this season people saw Matthew Stafford struggle throwing the football. After a strong start at home against Tennessee, the Titans defense made some adjustments. Stafford couldn’t complete passes with any regularity and got no help from the ground game either. Normally late in games he’s been great and most expected he’d bring the Lions back again. Right up until he threw the crippling interception to Perrish Cox.

That game was the first tell-tale sign of how different the Lions passing attack looks without Calvin Johnson. The beast receiver was a presence that defenses had to account for and opened up opportunities for everybody. Most of all he was the go-to guy in crunch time for Stafford. With him gone the magic seems to have dimmed a little bit. If that’s the case, Detroit is in bigger trouble than they may have originally thought.

Sep 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker John Simon (51) and defensive end J.J. Watt (99) tackle Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans have their eye on the single-season sack record

Time to give GM Rick Smith some credit. He has done quite a job putting together that Houston Texans defense, specifically the front seven. Of course it helps when one spends several 1st round picks on it. Still the results speak for themselves. Houston is 2-0 and hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game yet this season. At the heart of their success is a swirling maelstrom of a pass rush that has quarterbacks running for their lives.

Through two weeks the combination of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus and John Simon have led the team to nine sacks. That starts them on a pretty impressive pace. The NFL record belongs to the 1984 Chicago Bears who had 72. This means the Texans have 63 more to go in order to tie the record and 64 to top it. That averages out to around 4.6 sacks per game. It might sound daunting but with this loaded front and the slew of weak offensive lines they play in the weeks to come? Look out.

Sep 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the side line during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Belichick proves again Tom Brady is great but not essential

Tom Brady deserves every accolade he’s ever received. He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback and a great leader who overcame a lot to become an all-time great. That being he is not the biggest reason the New England Patriots might be arguably the greatest dynasty ever. Why? Simple. Bill Belichick is the head coach and the team has consistently performed well even when Brady is out for any length of time. The devil has been in the details.

In the games Brady has not started since 2001 when he officially took over the job, the Patriots are 12-5. Belichick helped turn Matt Cassel into a multi-million dollar quarterback while Jimmy Garoppolo looked borderline unstoppable in his first two starts ever. It proves without a doubt that the Patriots are masters because of the system Belichick has built. Pieces may break down, but are then replaced, adjustments made and the engine keeps running.

Brady will always be great, but ironically his legacy is losing a little bit of its luster with each win the Patriots get without him.

Aug 12, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo takes with New York Giants middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley (53) in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

Giants defense as improved as fans hoped it would be

Given the amount of money and draft picks the New York Giants threw at their defense this past off-season, it’s fair to understand results were expected. After all the unit has been their Achilles heel much too often the past few years. How ironic then that it is the primary reason they are 2-0 and in command of the NFC East lead. They held a strong Cowboys offense to just 19 points in the opener but it was their play in week two that deserves the utmost praise.

Understand that the last time the Giants saw Drew Brees, he became one of just a handful of quarterbacks in NFL history to throw seven touchdown passes in a game, finishing with 52 points. It was the absolute low point for the Giants defense and likely the catalyst for the spending spree they went on a few months later. The second time would be different and it was different. Brees managed just one touchdown pass and 13 points.

Sep 18, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) forces a fumble as he hits Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals are still making bad mistakes in big games

Seems the big game troubles for the Cincinnati Bengals have spread into the regular season. Or maybe that’s just the curse they seem to suffer from because of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Either way it was like a sad repeat of what happened in the playoffs. Once again the Bengals are driving for a potential score that could extend the game into overtime. Once again they hit a big play over the middle and then fumble the ball away to all but seal their fate.

In January the culprit was Jeremy Hill. This time it was rookie Tyler Boyd who made the critical mistake. In his defense the replay seemed to show his knee was down before the ball came out, but the referees didn’t feel it was enough to overturn the call. Ball goes back to Pittsburgh and the Bengals drop to 1-1, suddenly relegated back to spectator status in the AFC North as the Steelers and Ravens wage war. It’s not a position they’re comfortable with but also one that won’t change until they can get over these crippling blunders.

Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) scores a touchdown as Washington Redskins linebacker Mason Foster (54) defends in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Cowboys won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott takes big step towards keeping Romo benched

It sounds absolutely insane when first offers, but as the weeks have gone on the conversation is growing serious. After another injury setback and his well-documented age, people are wondering if Tony Romo could actually lose his job if rookie Dak Prescott plays well enough. After two weeks of near spotless performance and making the big play to beat Washington, several voices in the media are buying into that thought. Doing so without hesitation too.

What a difference a year makes. Still, the status of Romo remains a big topic. Some wonder if he should ever play football again. These injuries he’s suffered the past two years aren’t the normal ligament or muscle problems. He’s suffering broken bones in some pretty important parts of his body, including his spine. One can understand he’s a competitor and is desperate to win a Super Bowl, but his long-term health should take ultimate precedence.

Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) takes off his helmet against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Good Jameis and Bad Jameis is still very much a thing

After dissecting the Atlanta Falcons in week one, everybody was ready to proclaim Jameis Winston the heir apparent to the old guard of elite quarterbacks in the NFL. They didn’t bother to recall that it takes more than one game to make that determination. Never mind the fact that Winston has a long documented history of following great games with ugly ones. Case and point: a rendezvous with an ornery Arizona Cardinals team who weren’t in the most giving mood.

They made Winston’s afternoon absolutely miserable. He was lost for almost the entire game. The Cardinals sacked him twice and confused with several exotic looks. As a result he threw four interceptions including two to cornerback Marcus Cooper. Winston barely completed half of his 52 passes and narrowly avoided a shutout with a scoring drive to start the second half. These are the kinds of peaks and valleys he’ll have to get over before people take him seriously.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) rushes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL game at Levi

Even in victory the Rams offense is a disgrace

As said before, the Los Angeles Rams are delaying the inevitable with Jared Goff. They may not feel he’s ready to play but it does matter at this point. Their offense is an absolute mess, even in victory. For the second-straight week they failed to put the ball in the end zone. Their receivers are average at best and Case Keenum continues to look like what he really is, which is a backup passing himself off as a starter. To say nothing of the shoddy offensive line play on top of it.

Only a supreme effort by the defense enabled them to get the victory over Seattle. Jeff Fisher has stuck to his guns on Goff. It’s admirable but that team needs some sort of spark offensively and the only one who can provided it their #1 overall pick. Otherwise it’s fair to expect more of the same moving forward. After all Todd Gurley can’t get anything going because teams have figured out he’s their only option. Rest assured the Rams must accept that reality and endeavor to change it.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos show Colts having a great QB matters little if the roster stinks

Everybody talks about the fact that teams can’t win consistently if they don’t have an elite quarterback. It seems the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos are doing their best to prove that theory wrong. The Colts have Andrew Luck but have steadily let the roster around him get worse as the years have gone on. Now they’re 0-2 and watching Houston take full control of the division. Meanwhile the loaded roster the Broncos have built are winning games against elite quarterbacks with Trevor Siemian under center.

It’s further proof that the NFL is a team league. Quarterback might be the most important position but without a strong roster in general, winning the Super Bowl matters little. Build a great defense and load the offense with playmakers a team can win with a halfway decent quarterback.

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. reacts against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Becoming clear Ken Norton was a bad hire for defensive coordinator

One of the more puzzling hires a year ago among coaching staffs was when the Oakland Raiders decided to make Ken Norton their new defensive coordinator. This despite misgivings from sources close to the situation and that he’d never held the position before even at the college level. Nobody was denying his legacy as an outstanding linebacker and leader of men, but play calling in the NFL is a tricky business for creative men.

Time has proven Norton is not one of them. After being dissected in the opener by New Orleans, a game saved by the heroics of Derek Carr, the Raiders were once again picked apart in week two by Atlanta. Despite all the money and high draft choices spent to upgrade the roster, it somehow looked worse than ever. Word is Jack Del Rio didn’t need too long before he assumed play calling duties, confirming the fact that Norton was given the job based on coming from a successful system and not actually having the chops.

Sep 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley addresses the media during a post-game media conference following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Bradley should be fired by midseason

How is a team that seems so stacked with young talent like the Jacksonville Jaguars still losing games? They had chances to beat Green Bay, who haven’t looked good, but still blew it. Then they get absolutely blasted by a San Diego Chargers teams missing two of their key playmakers on offense. At one point must the finger be leveled at the coaching staff for not getting more out of these supposedly talented players? Gus Bradley has been given a longer leash than most and done nothing with it.

He talks a nice game. A plan is in place and the players required to execute are being acquired. The problem is it takes a commanding presence to bring it all together. Bradley has not shown himself to be that kind of guy. Once again the Jaguars are in the AFC South cellar and don’t appear anywhere close to prepared for digging themselves out. He had his chances. It might be time to consider a new voice in the locker room.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings better hope no big injuries hit their defense

Sam Bradford is getting the attention after the big win on Sunday Night against Green Bay, along of course with Stefon Diggs. That’s expected but make no mistake, after losing Adrian Peterson to a torn meniscus this team can’t afford anymore notable injuries. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. Right now that unit is 80% of the reason Minnesota is 2-0. Their ability to withstand difficult situations and make plays has kept the team on course for the time being.

The offense is not going to light it up moving forward. Peterson is out. The offensive line continues to struggle pass protecting and nobody outside of Diggs has really emerged as a threat in the passing game. Mike Zimmer needs that defense healthy and humming if they’re going to maintain their grip on the NFC North. It feels like the Vikings are one more injury away from fading out of the picture. Not a good sign in this league.

Sep 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao (97) makes Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) fumble the ball during the second half at Soldier Field. The Eagles won 29-14. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Jay Cutler and his offensive coordinator carousel is almost over

Monday Night against Philadelphia may have been the breaking point for Bears fans with Jay Cutler. Once again an opposing defense knew that by harassing him they’d start making mistakes. Sure enough he delivered two backbreaking turnovers in the second half that enabled the Eagles to pull away. Then to top it off, almost on cue, he leaves the game with an injured thumb. After two very average performances, another injury and being 33-years old it feels like the end is in sight for the Cutler era in Chicago.

He won’t be alone either. Dowell Loggains is almost guaranteed to follow him out the door. For years Cutler has been the subject to constantly changing offensive coordinators. In fairness some of them were terrible choices but a few could be considered viable as well. Loggains is not one of them. He was viewed as a necessary promotion in order to keep Cutler happy, but it’s plainly obvious that he is nowhere near the effective play caller as Adam Gase was. John Fox is almost certain to start the next quarterback era with a coordinator of his own recruiting.