NFL: Takeaways From Week Two In The AFC East 

We’re starting to see a little separation in the AFC East, and it’s not exactly surprising how that separation is shaking out. After two weeks of the season, the division has one 2-0 team, one 1-1 team, and two 0-2 teams. Let’s dig into what happened in the AFC in Week 2 and see who’s who – and how we got there.

It’s Buffalo’s world, and the AFC East is just living in it

It didn’t take more than one week, really, but two weeks have shown us that the AFC East, again, belongs to the Buffalo Bills. The Bills overcame a Week 1 scare against the Ravens and absolutely demolished the Jets 30-10 in Week 2. Buffalo’s offense put up over 400 total yards, their defense limited the Jets to just 154 yards, and the Bills look to be on their way to a sixth-straight AFC East crown.

James Cook deserved his payday

While the Bills’ success will rely upon the throwing arm (and rushing legs) of Josh Allen, James Cook has become an increasingly important chess piece. Cook looked great on Sunday and put up 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The Bills have to be happy with their investment after paying Cook big money this summer.

The Patriots have a playoff run in them

The entire New England region had their hand hovering over the panic button after a Week 1 loss to the Raiders, but a big Week 2 win in Miami has Patriots fans back on the bandwagon. While it may look more like a 9-8 Wild Card berth, the Patriots have a relatively easy schedule and look to have a playoff run in them after righting the ship at 1-1.

New week, New Drake

Drake Maye looked every bit the 22-year-old that he is during an uneven performance, but the second-year signal caller looked fantastic on Sunday as he went 19-of-23 for 230 yards and three total touchdowns. Some of that may have had to do with the Dolphins bad defense (more on that later), but we could be watching Maye turn the corner right in front of our eyes. 

The Jets can’t stop being the Jets

Week 1 was a promising showing for the Jets despite losing to the Steelers. However, Week 2 was an absolute disaster as the Jets barely surpassed 150 total yards on offense in the loss to the Bills. While some of that has to do with the fact that they played a really good team, some of it more likely has to do with the fact that the Jets are the bottom-10 team that we thought they were before the season.

We just saw the real Justin Fields

Justin Fields looked much-improved in the Jets Week 1 loss to the Steelers, but Week 2 was a much different story. Fields went 3-of-11 for just 27 yards against the Bills and left the game due to a concussion. While he’s not quite as bad as he looked against the Bills, it’s hard to have much faith in Fields as a long-term (and maybe even short-term) option in New York.

The Dolphins might just be cooked

Miami sits at 0-2 after losing at home to the Patriots, and things aren’t going to get any better soon. The Dolphins will head to Buffalo to face the Bills on Thursday Night Football, and there’s a very good chance they’ll be 0-3 after Week 3. They have some get-right opportunities against the Jets and Panthers after that, but the Dolphins have dug a bit of a hole for themselves to start the season.

The Dolphins offense still has some life left

After looking completely anemic in Week 1, the Dolphins offense actually outgained New England in the 33-27 loss on Sunday. Tua Tagovailoa put up 315 passing yards and Tyreek Hill eclipsed 100 receiving yards. Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane also both added receiving touchdowns, so fantasy managers who drafted the Dolphins stars can breathe a little easier after this Week 2 performance.