TT5 WEEK 2

Tony's Top 5 NFL Observations From Week 2

This is officially the third year of TT5 on the DLB show, but the first one that I’ll be putting in writing to stay accountable on takes and elaborate a little more than I could on the show.

Here’s a quick recap on TT5 Week 1 since it wasn’t dropped last week because I was traveling.

5- Geno can still sling the pill

4- JJ McCarthy showed me some major cojones

3- are the Chargers for real?

2- Packers seem to be a UNIT

1- Hear that? Lions and 49ers SB window just slammed shut

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TT5 WEEK 2

As all good Top 5 lists do we’ll start out in the OLI (Outside Looking In) for our newcomers

OLI

• ATL IS GOING TO SURPIRSE PEOPLE THIS YEAR

Ok that was a brutal SNF game. Atlanta beat Minnesota 22-6 but it actually felt more like the Braves beating the Twins.

It was a Bijan Robinson game from the jump when he popped off a few big runs in the first quarter but other than that the ATL offense was stuck on 2nd gear. No WR over 50 yards and Penix threw for under 140. YUCK. The one thing I’m looking at when it comes to this game is that the Vikings defense is tough and willing to get after the QB. The Vikings have one of the highest blitz percentages in the league under Brian Flores. They neutralized the Vikings pass rush with 39 running plays. Penix executed the gameplan that was set up and didn’t make any costly mistakes. This off the heels of a near comeback vs Tampa Bay where Penix threw for 298 yards and Koo missed a game-tying FG as time expired. ALSO their defense is playing tough. Rookies are making an impact early which is a good sign.

I think Atlanta is going to be fighting for a NFC South division championship come December. Plenty of time to work out the kinks on offense and continue to develop their young QB.

• IS IT TOO EARLY TO CALL BRANDON AUBREY THE BEST KICKER OF ALL TIME?

Honestly haven’t seen a dude dialed in from such a far distance like that. Even prime Justin Tucker wasn’t as good as Aubrey has been from 50+.

27-30 (90%) on FG of 50+ yards — also an unreal 4 FG’s of 60+ yards tying the record with Brett Maher.

The Cowboys ran a DRAW play to line Aubrey up for a 64 yarder that may as well have been a 38 yard kick.

THE TOP 5

5 - CAM WARD SHOWING FLASHES

When you got it like that you play by your own rules.

Growing up I was taught no matter how strong your arm is - don’t throw across your body and don’t throw running the opposite direction of where your ball should be going. Simple enough.

Cam Ward was taught all of those things. Then he realized that he’s got it like that.

:49 seconds left, 3rd & Goal, down 7.

Things you can get away with when you’re special.

Titans still have a ways to go when it comes to contending in the AFC South. Roster needs work, but at least you know you have the right guy under center.

4- PANIC METER AT 5 FOR CHICAGO

I’m sold on Ben Johnson. Really I am. He turned a sub-par Detroit team into an offensive juggernaut with an average QB by putting speed and an incredible scheme around him.

Johnson could’ve gone anywhere - a blank check for a coach with a proven track record. He CHOSE to cash that check in Chicago - at the bank of Caleb Williams, where the coffers have been um, bare.

Two games is obviously too small a sample size to have anything higher than a 5 on the panic meter. In those 2 games, has there been anything memorable for Williams? Anything stick out like a great throw, escape from the pocket with an explosive run? NOPE, just a blown lead to JJ McCarthy and the Lions kicking their teeth in.

Ben Johnson has earned some more patience to implement his system with guys who formed bad habits under whatever the hell Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron were teaching.

Do we have a Josh Rosen situation brewing in Chicago?

3- IS IT TIME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT JOE BURROW?

Three of Six

That’s the percentage chance of Joe Burrow finishing a season on IR.

I’m torn on how to look at these string of injuries. Is it misfortune? Is he taking sacks at a disproportionate rate causing more possibility for injuries? Let’s take a look.

Joe Burrow Injuries

• Torn ACL/MCL/PCL (2020): His rookie season ended early after he suffered a severe knee injury.

• Dislocated Pinky (2021): Burrow dislocated his pinky finger but remained in the game.

• MCL Sprain (2022): He sprained his MCL in Super Bowl LVI but avoided surgery and missed no time.

• Calf Strain (2023): Burrow strained his calf in training camp but returned for the regular season.

• Torn Wrist Ligament (2023): A torn ligament in his wrist in Week 11 ended his 2023 season.

• Turf Toe (2025): A recent Week 2 injury led to surgery for a torn toe ligament, which will keep him out for at least three months.

Burrow has 201 sacks taken (ayo) through six NFL seasons. The math cheats a little because he only played 1.5 games in 2025 let’s take a look at his sacks by season

If we take Burrow’s average of 33.5 and substract 5 from the games already played in ‘25 - he’d have 28.5 for the rest of the season. Putting him at 229.5 through six full seasons. Sounds like a lot right? It would put him at 8th overall in QB’s with the most sacks through 6 full seasons. Not great, but also not an astronomical number of sacks.

In 2021 he had 51 sacks in a season - seems high, until you look at the leaders in sacks taken in one season, and realize he’s not even close. PS- poor David Carr

It seems from watching on TV in the comfort of my couch and living room that taking a sack from d-linemen, LB’s or DB’s isn’t great. Taking 201 of them leaves room for things to happen. Knee, wrist, now turf toe for JB - he’s just gotten unlucky.

2- SOMETHING GOING ON IN L.A. RAMS AND CHARGERS ARE TOUGH?

L.A has 2 afterthought football teams. Not in NFL terms, but for people that actually live in Los Angeles. The Rams won a Super Bowl and it felt like people were waiting to hear about the Lakers or Dodgers instead.

Let’s get to this season.

The Chargers sign Jim Harbaugh (future HOF?) to pair with Justin Herbert, and after a season of stumbling around - the Chargers look really damn good. Herbert seems comfortable in Greg Roman’s system, and the offense as a whole is trending up. Defense looks TOUGH.

I thought at the beginning of the season that Herbert was going to be playing game-manager QB like Harbaugh QB’s tend to play. Through 2 games Herbert has 560 yards 5TD’s and 0 INT’s and completing 72% of his passes. To everyone’s surprise they’re letting Justin cook.

The AFC West was poised to be one of the best divisions in football. In these 2 weeks we’ve seen KC go winless losing one to LAC already, Denver get beat by an interesting Indy team, and Vegas also losing to LAC.

Harbaugh and Herbert in the drivers seat already?

The LA Rams have gone through changes the past couple of years from one of the oldest teams in the NFL to the middle of the pack (avg age 25.5). The rudders of the franchise have always been QB and Head Coach - and both positions are locked and loaded this season. McVay is always tops in the league in scheming offenses to maximize some roster shortages. Stafford is still (very) good. Like Dan said - RAM TOUGH.

2-0 with a tough game in Philly coming up. Enjoy this absolute DIME from the old man. WOOOOOOOOF

HOT TAKE: LAC vs LAR in the Super Bowl. Book it.

1- IT WAS A JOKE AT FIRST BUT DANNY DIMES MVP TRAIN CATCHING STEAM?

Pictures are worth a thousand words. He won’t win. But let’s have fun.