Each week throughout the 2025 NFL season I will be casting an eye over three key storylines for the coming weekend. With the new campaign rolling into Week 2, I’m looking to see if some playoff contenders can put a frustrating opening weekend behind them. I will also look at a rising temperature in Miami and focus on the Super Bowl re-match between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Bounce-backs needed
A couple of serious Super Bowl contenders need to bounce back after losing in very different circumstances in Week 1.
The Baltimore Ravens need to get over the mental anguish of blowing a 40-25 lead against the Buffalo Bills with just over four minutes remaining in the potential game of the season. There is more than enough talent to get the Ravens back on track, but they have endured some funny results in the past – as recently as last season.
After losing a heartbreaker to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 1 of the 2024 season (remember Isiah Likely’s failed toe-tap at the back of the endzone?) they returned home expecting to set things right, only to lose in front of their own fans to the unfancied Las Vegas Raiders. This time around, there can be no further mistakes as the Cleveland Browns head to Maryland. The Ravens are favoured by 11 ½ points and simply must take care of business.
The Detroit Lions have traditionally bounced back well following losses under Dan Campbell, but they can’t have suffered many defeats more miserable than Week 1 in Green Bay. The Lions averaged just 3.8 yards per play (they ranked third in 2024 with an average of 6.2) and their only touchdown of the game came with just 55 seconds remaining.
Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff have been voices of determined reason in Detroit this week. They are not hitting any panic buttons. I’ll be watching closely to see how they fare against the Chicago Bears, who are now led by former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
The heat is on in Miami
There is a tendency to overreact to Week 1 in the NFL and it could be that we are being overly-harsh on Mike McDaniel and his Miami Dolphins. But the manner of their 33-8 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts was so alarming that we have seen this team put on notice and roundly criticised all week.
Miami were error-strewn on offense and lifeless on defense. And they face a must-win game against the New England Patriots at home on Sunday. Must-win may sound a bit dramatic in Week 2, but I genuinely believe jobs could be on the line if the Dolphins don’t win this one. Next up after the Patriots is a quick turnaround and a Week 3 trip to face the Buffalo Bills.
If the Dolphins open the year 0-3, you have to start fearing for McDaniel and wondering about the futures of star players such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins could clean house… again!
There is enough talent on Miami’s roster to take care of a Patriots team that was also disappointing in Week 1. What I’m keen to see is if the Dolphins can put forth a passionate display that shows they care about their current predicament. High stakes in South Florida.
Mahomes out for revenge
It’s the Super Bowl re-match at 9.25pm on Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Kansas City Chiefs. For so long, I thought this second encounter would be about how Kansas City can protect Patrick Mahomes – and that will still be key, but the Chiefs have other problems.
Mahomes was sacked six times by the Eagles in Super Bowl 59 and pressured all night long during a 40-22 defeat. And Philadelphia were so dominant getting after Mahomes that they didn’t need to blitz on a single one of those half dozen sacks.
Mahomes may enjoy some better protection this time around, but where are his weapons? He was brilliant in Brazil but had do so much on his own, taking off on downfield runs time after time. Rashee Rice is suspended and Xavier Worthy has a shoulder injury after colliding in a friendly-fire situation with Travis Kelce.
Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts can also make magic on his own, but he rarely has to carry his team single-handedly. We haven’t even seen the best of Saquon Barkley or AJ Brown in Week 1 and you can add Devonta Smith to the offensive weapons at the Eagles’ disposal.
I think that gives Philly the edge in this game, but I do not expect Mahomes to go quietly into the night. His Chiefs are going to be desperate not to drop to 0-2 on Sunday evening.