Week 2 of the NFL season saw 19 former Golden Bears return to the field. Solid performances saw 5 come out with 2-0 wins, with Aaron Rodgers, Tyson Alualu, Jared Goff, Mitchell Schwartz, Patrick Mekari all claiming that status heading into Week 3.
Quarterbacks Jared Goff and Aaron Rodgers played well, both leading their teams to blowout victories. The two quarterbacks have combined for 9 touchdowns, 1100+ yards, and 1 interception in two games, and are listed by Pro Football Focus as the only two starting quarterbacks in the NFL “without a turnover-worthy play in 2020.”
Tyson Alualu has been perhaps the biggest surprise, with 9 tackles, 1 sack, 3 tackles for a loss, and 1 pass defended in just 2 games. He’s been an integral part of the Steelers defense that ranks 3rd in yards allowed and 2nd in sacks this season. The other Golden Bear defensive end, Cam Jordan, got his 131st consecutive start against the Raiders Monday night, claiming 5 tackles. Next week, he’ll take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in an exciting heavyweight matchup on Sunday Night Football.
After a poor performance in Week 1, Jared Goff looked like a completely different player with an impressive 267 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions against the Eagles. Goff was deadly accurate in the first half, going 13/13 for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns to start the game. Goff looked like his old self in Week 2, completing 74% of his passes and making quick decisions throughout the game. Head coach Sean McVay was especially pleased with his performance, and had this to say about his day:
“I thought he played a great game. He had a great command of what was going on. He got into a rhythm and our guys made plays, but it starts with him and he did an outstanding job.”
“Outstanding” is something you like to hear when it comes to the Cal product, and it’s promising to see Goff’s team at 2-0 to start the season. The true test is yet to come however, as Goff has the burden of competing in the most competitive division in football. Minus the defending NFC champs, Goff will face both the undefeated Seahawks and Cardinals twice this year in what are extremely talented teams. His work will be cut out for him, and we’ll see if Goff can produce at the level that got him the NFL’s fifth largest per-year salary.
Aaron Rodgers put up a solid performance with 240 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 42-21 win over Detroit. Rodgers helped Green Bay escape a 14-3 deficit with 2 scores just before the half to get a 17-14 lead.
Completing 60% of his passes, Rodgers’ didn’t have the best statistical game of his life, but did just enough to facilitate a dominant Packers offense led by running back Aaron Jones, who had 3 touchdowns and 236 yards from scrimmage on the day.
Rodgers’ Packers are 2-0 and will look to meet high expectations after a 13-3 finish and NFC championship appearance last year. So far they’ve looked the part, scoring 40-plus points in back-to-back games, a feat that’s only been accomplished three times in the Rodgers era.
Tyson Alualu recorded 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 1 pass defense in a home win against Denver. Lead Draft Analyst at Pro Football Focus Mike Renner had this to say about Alualu’s current performance:
Alualu came off the bench but played exceptionally well in the second game of a contract year. Next week, he’ll go up against a porous Houston offense that has allowed the most QB sacks per game and ranks 29th in rushing yards per game.
Keenan Allen improved on a poor Week 1 performance with 7 receptions for 96 yards in a 23-20 home loss to Kansas City. A change at quarterback was all it took to see Allen’s volume increase. With Oregon rookie Justin Herbert under center, Allen saw an increase and team high in targets, yards, and receptions.
A Week 2 defeat to Kansas City puts the Chargers at 1-1. Next week he’ll go up against the 0-2 Carolina Panthers.
Marvin Jones Jr got his first touchdown grab of the season on 23 yards and 4 receptions in Sunday’s 42-21 loss to Green Bay. Jones’ grab gave Detroit a 14-3 lead, but the Packers took over after that. Jones has served as the No. 1 wide receiver for Detroit in the absence of star wide-out Kenny Golladay, but has only accumulated 8 catches for 78 yards through two games.
Playing in a contract year, Jones will need to improve his performance. Next week he’ll take on the talented 2-0 Arizona Cardinals defense.
No. 65 Mekari is the Ravens’ back-up center, but in this play he lined up on the far left in a wildcat formation. On 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter, Mekari made a decisive block to open the lane for running back Mark Ingram. The rest is history.
Cam Jordan recorded 5 tackles, no sacks, and no tackles for loss in his 131st consecutive start against Las Vegas Monday night. Jordan did not have a stellar night, contributing one horsecollar penalty and still without a sack this season.
Jordan finished each of the last three seasons with 12+ sacks, so he’ll look to improve next week against the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
DeSean Jackson contributed six receptions and 64 receiving yards in a 37-19 loss to the LA Rams. The 3x Pro Bowler had team highs in targets (9), receptions (6), and receiving yards, showing that he is still the No. 1 wide receiver in Philadelphia.
The 33 year-old’s numbers are as volatile as ever, which can be attributed to a number of factors (age, quarterback play, injuries, etc.). He’ll look to improve next week against Cincinnati’s exploitable secondary.
The Rookies
Ashtyn Davis got his first start as the Jets’ kick returner in a 31-13 loss to San Francisco. Davis contributed his one kick return for 27 yards on the game’s opening kickoff. Davis now has two kickoff returns and will look to continue in this role next week at Indianapolis. Jaylinn Hawkins played on 17 special teams’ snaps for the Falcons and did not accumulate any other stats. He’ll take on the Bears next week.
Other Cal Bears that played per CalBears.com include:
- L.P. Ladouceur, LS, Dallas Cowboys, 16th Season
- Made the snap on Greg Zuerlein's game-winning 46-yard field goal on the final play of a 40-39 Week 2 home win over Atlanta
- Has the NFL's longest current consecutive regular-season games played steak that is also 12th all-time in the league at 239, having played in every regular-season game possible dating back to the final 13 contests of his 2005 rookie campaign all with Dallas
- Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City, 10th Season
- Extended his streak of consecutive regular-season starts to 130 regular-season games
- His current streak of 130 consecutive NFL regular-season starts ranks tied for the third in the league among active players
- Alex Mack, C, Atlanta Falcons, 12th Season
- Started his 82nd consecutive contest and played in all 75 offensive snaps in a 40-39 Week 2 loss at Dallas after also taking all 79 offensive snaps in a 38-25 Week 1 home loss to Seattle
- Devante Downs, LB, New York Giants, 3rd Season
- Played off the bench in a 17-13 Week 2 loss at Chicago but did not have any statistics other than participation with 11 defensive and seven special teams' snaps
- Stephen Anderson, TE, LA Chargers, 4th Season
- Has played in both a 16-13 Week 1 win at Cincinnati and a 23-20 Week 2 overtime loss to Kansas City and contributed a pair of special teams' tackles with both stops coming against the Chiefs
- Bryan Anger, P, Houston Texans, 10th Season
- Averaged 46.7 yards per punt and had a 44.0 yard net punt average in a 33-16 Week 2 home loss to Baltimore
- Patrick Laird, RB, Miami Dolphins, 2nd Season
- Played off the bench in a 31-28 Week 2 loss to Buffalo but did not have any statistics other than participation with three defensive and 19 special teams' snaps
- Richard Rodgers, TE, Philadelphia Eagles, 7th Season
- Played but did not record any statistics other than participation in both a 27-17 Week 1 loss at Washington (17 snaps – 2 offensive, 15 special teams') and a 37-19 Week 2 loss vs. the Los Angeles Rams (12 snaps – 12 special teams' snaps)
- Nick Sundberg, LS, Washington Football Team, 11th Season
- Played but did not record any statistics other than participation in a 27-17 Week 1 win over Philadelphia (14 special teams' snaps) and a 30-15 Week 2 loss at Arizona (seven special teams' snaps)
