NFL Week 2 schedule sees key divisional games

NFL Week 2 is already bringing us some pivotal matchups. The teams made their first impressions last weekend. Some put themselves in a prime spot while others already have a hill to climb.

This week, some of these teams will face an important task; win within the division.

For openers, the New York Jets are playing host to the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Surprisingly, both teams are 1-0. New York went into Motown and trounced the Detroit Lions by a 48-17 count. They were led by a ball-hawking defense that intercepted Matthew Stafford four times. Meanwhile, the Dolphins helps serve at home against the Tennessee Titans, winning 27-20 in a game that was twice delayed by lightning.

Whoever wins the game will move to 2-0 and start to dream of a playoff push, albeit very early on.

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Speaking of the Titans, they host the Houston Texans in a contest that suddenly carries a ton fo weight. The Texans lost to the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium for their opener. They now go on the road for a second straight week. Tennessee comes home for its first class at Nissan Stadium in 2018. The loser will fall to 0-2 and be put in the unenviable position of having to scale a considerable mountain towards contention.

Elsewhere in NFL Week 2, the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders will clash at Mile High, with Oakland having to find a way to escape the black hole of hope that is Jon Gruden. The Raiders played a good first half on Monday night before being blown out on national television by the Los Angeles Rams. Now, they take on the Broncos in a notoriously tough place to play, with Denver hoping to get to 2-0. Huge affair.

Read: Gruden – Martavis Bryant Can be a Difference Maker

In the NFC, it’s the Atlanta Falcons who need to find a way to stop the reeling stink. Atlanta is already without Keanu Neal (torn ACL) and Deion Jones, and at 0-1, the Falcons welcome in the Carolina Panthers. Carolina wasn’t particularly impressive offensively in Week 1, beating the Dallas Cowboys by a 16-8 score. Still, if the Panthers can find a way to go on the road and beat the Falcons, they jump to 2-0 with a road division win in tow, while Atlanta is 0-2 and in major trouble.

Finally, the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings meet at Lambeau Field, putting the power balance of the NFC North on the line. If Green Bay can find a way to win with Aaron Rodgers at less than 100 percent, the Packers move to 2-0, first place in the division and a pair of divisional wins already in hand. Should the Vikings go up to Wisconsin and take care of business, they walk out with an unblemished record and the toughest NFC North game behind them.