NFL 2016: An Early Week 2 Primer

While we saw a pair of blowout wins by the Steelers and 49ers on Monday Night Football, here’s hoping NFL Week 2 looks more like Thursday night and Sunday.

Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season is in the books. But you can’t wait to get ready for Thursday Night Football, as well as Sunday and Monday, right? You have come to the right place.

Each week we’ll drop a little early knowledge on the next round of games a few days in advance.

This Thursday night at Orchard Park, the winless Buffalo Bills host the equally 0-1 New York Jets.

Here’s a few more interesting notes when it comes to NFL Week 2.

Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) tries to break a tackle by Green Bay Packers linebacker Jake Ryan (47) in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Familiarity Breeds Fun

In Week 1, we saw four divisional matchups, with two road teams coming up with wins (Buccaneers over Falcons, Giants over Cowboys) this weekend.

This week, we not only get seven more division rivalries renewed but there is also a playoff rematch from a year ago when the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Houston to face the Texans. Andy Reid’s club took a pair from in Houston

Here is something to keep an eye on for later in the season when teams play a second time and make sure you recall who won the first encounter. Dating back to 1990, when it comes to a team beating a twice in a season, it happens far more often than the teams splitting their season series. Only four times in the last 26 years have there been more splits than sweeps when it comes to divisional showdowns.

Keep that in mind when the Packers face the Vikings, the Steelers host the Bengals, the Jets travel to Buffalo (Thursday night), etc.

Nov 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after throwing his seventh touchdown pass of the game during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Giants 52-49. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Points Taken

We don’t want to overstate the point here. But it may not be that big of a gamble to say that the scoreboard at MetLife Stadium will be busy when the New Orleans Saints travel north to face the New York Giants.

You will recall last year’s free-for-all at the Superdome, a game which we saw Drew Brees (7) and Eli Manning (6) combine for a record 13 touchdown passes in the Saints’ 52-49 victory. Yes, it’s easy math and it adds up to 101 points.

This Sunday will mark these teams fifth meeting dating back to 2009, the year New Orleans wound up winning Super Bowl XLIV. That year, the clubs combined for 75 points in a 48-27 Saints’ victory. In 2011, it was New Orleans 49, New York Giants 24 (73 points). One year later, New York ran away with a 52-27 victory. Yep, that’s 79 points.

Bring your abacus on Sunday if you’re headed to East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Nov 8, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) tackles Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief (10) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Denver 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Not Saved by Zero

On Sunday in the Mile High City, the Indianapolis Colts are hoping to avoid a third consecutive 0-2 start when they take on the defending Super Bowl champions Denver Broncos. Gary Kubiak’s club is 1-0 following a 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Which means Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck have the champs right where they want them?

This will mark the fourth straight year these clubs will collide in the regular season and the fourth consecutive time the Broncos will enter the game without a loss.

In 2013, Denver and quarterback Peyton Manning came to Indianapolis with a 6-0 record and left with a 39-33 loss. One year later the teams opened the regular season against each other and the Broncos held on for a 31-24 win. One year ago, Kubiak’s club was 7-0 before losing at Indianapolis, 27-24.

Now the 1-0 champs welcome Luck and company back to Denver this Sunday. This could be interesting.