NFL Week 2: What's at Stake for Teams, Players This Weekend?

The first week of the NFL season is like a giant breath of fresh air. That feeling you get after a thrilling victory is a great euphoria. It’s why we anticipate the next batch of games as soon as the previous week has concluded.

With only 17 weeks of regular-season games, there’s significant pressure for teams to play well each game. Wins are a premium in the NFL, and the playoffs are the first step to achieving all-time feats. That pressure to win is why every week is placed under a microscope.

Week 2 of the 2015 season has several juicy storylines packed in. We’ve highlighted eight of the biggest questions for teams and players that must be answered for success to come. Failing to earn what is at stake could eventually mean the season will end with bitter disappointment.

Let’s jump in and see which teams and players have the most at stake in Week 2.

Buffalo Bills: Are They a True Contender?

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

After a highly impressive 27-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, the Buffalo Bills face another AFC powerhouse in the New England Patriots in Week 2. The Bills combined their usual excellent defense with a new-look offense against the Colts. Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was unguardable in his first start, and the Bills need him to continue piloting that unit.

Buffalo is no stranger to fast starts, but the question is whether they can sustain early success throughout the season. Winning against the Patriots won’t be the final answer as to whether they’re a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but it will help the Bills prove themselves. A home loss against the defending Super Bowl champion would be a sobering outcome.

Eventually, defenses will have enough film on Taylor to adjust. If he can still play well at that point, the Bills will be an extremely dangerous team. Facing defensive genius Bill Belichick in Week 2 will offer us a chance see if Taylor is ready for the bright lights.

Ryan Mallett: It’s Now or Never

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

The Brian Hoyer era didn’t last long in Houston. Despite the offseason investment in the free-agent acquisition, head coach Bill O’Brien pulled the plug on that experiment just three quarters into the season. His decision to name Ryan Mallett as the starter moving forward could have a major positive impact on the team.

Mallett played much better than Hoyer despite only getting about one quarter to play. He completed eight of 13 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. His upside is more substantial than anything Hoyer can offer Houston.

O’Brien’s willingness to go all in with Mallett may not work out, but it is the right decision. Houston must find out whether he can be their long-term starter or if they’ll need to look elsewhere in 2016. Week 2 begins the Mallett era, and we’ll be watching closely.

San Francisco 49ers: Can They Sustain a High Level of Play?

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Raise your hand if you thought the San Francisco 49ers would look like a shell of themselves after a disastrous offseason and disappointing preseason. It’s alright: Unless you’re a 49ers’ fan, you had good reason to feel that way. But we were proved wrong in Week 1.

The 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings convincingly by being the more physical and talented team. San Francisco has built a deep roster during the last few years, and the work paid off after losing numerous impact players and a coaching staff. Their reliance on power running is old school, but it will work as long as the defense is as tough as it was in the 49ers' opening game.

Their Week 2 opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, didn’t fare too well on defense against the Patriots. The 49ers must commit to the run again and allow Carlos Hyde to cause havoc against a vanilla defense. Pittsburgh will try to create a shootout, but San Francisco can win if it plays its style of football and avoids falling into the Steelers’ trap.

Seattle Seahawks: Is the Offensive Line Too Much of a Liability?

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Seattle’s offseason plan to add athletes to the offensive line instead of more polished but limited players has utterly failed so far. The Seahawks offense mustered just 17 points against the St. Louis Rams’ talented defense. The main culprit is obvious: The offensive line is not anywhere near the level it needs to be playing.

Things get much easier in Week 2—at least on paper. The Green Bay Packers defense has aging pass-rushers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, but the rest of the line lacks the punch the Rams had. Seattle must control the game with their rushing attack, which is all about winning in the trenches.

If Seattle doesn’t play better, its chances at returning to the Super Bowl or even the playoffs take a big hit. The team's offensive line must be decent enough for the offense to score more points or else the Seahwaks will continue to lose. The defense can only carry this team so far.

Marcus Mariota: Was Week 1 a Fluke?

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Throughout the NFL draft process, Marcus Mariota faced questions about whether he’s pro ready or if he needed more time than his peers because of his collegiate background. Those questions are no longer as loud after his debut. Mariota’s four-touchdown performance certainly opened eyes across the NFL.

The question now is whether we can expect Mariota to continue to look like a seasoned veteran throughout the campaign. It’s unrealistic to believe he’ll keep posting such efficient and effective games, but he can be very successful with less bloated stat lines. Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns does offer a tougher test than Tampa Bay.

Mariota’s success came because of a wonderful game plan and a terrible Buccaneers defense. He deserves credit for executing the stratagem with great precision, but no game will be as easy as that one. All eyes will be on the rookie in Week 2.

Indianapolis Colts: Are They Overrated?

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The last two times we’ve seen the Indianapolis Colts, they have looked a severely flawed team. The Colts have a solid offense that can keep them in most games, but their defense is still atrocious. It’s gotten to the point that the coaching staff and front office deserve significant criticism for their poor team-building balance.

Maybe that is an exaggeration after two bad showings. But losing to AFC East teams consecutively is worrisome, especially when each had a great defense that stifled quarterback Andrew Luck. This wasn’t a team that improved itself in the offseason, so why should we expect a change?

A big win in Week 2 against a talented New York Jets team would be a positive sign. The Jets were impressive in their opening game and are a tough matchup for the Colts. We’ll learn a lot about this Colts team on Monday, win or lose.

Jameis Winston: Can He Overcome His Supporting Cast?

Scott Audette/Associated Press

The Week 1 showdown between the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers really wasn’t a contest. Tampa Bay was clearly a much worse team, which led to a blowout. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, they’ll have the worse roster and coaching staff most weeks.

All of this adds up to a long season for quarterback Jameis Winston. His offensive line is among the worst in the NFL, and his defense won’t keep the Buccaneers in many games. Playing from behind every week is not how a team should groom a quarterback.

Winston had his own struggles in his debut. His accuracy and decision-making continue to be an issue. But he’ll need a lot more help each week to keep this team competitive. There’s no reason to be overly down on the long-term success of Winston, but he’s unlikely to carry his team this year.

Oakland Raiders: Are They Ready to Take the Next Step?

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

The Oakland Raiders did a lot of things the right way this past offseason. They recruited a veteran coach, Jack Del Rio, to add stability and a proven voice to the locker room. Oakland also made several solid acquisitions in free agency and the draft to help round off the roster.

It didn’t matter in Week 1, as the Cincinnati Bengals spanked the Raiders 33-13. Oakland was a mess despite all of the positive buzz around the team all offseason. Losing quarterback Derek Carr for the game was a tough blow, but he looked terrible before his injury occurred.

Facing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 is a tough task. Baltimore is extremely physical and talented, which is the opposite of Oakland’s identity right now. If the Raiders can give the Ravens a tough game, then maybe we’ll be more comfortable projecting them to be closer to where they had hoped they'd be.

All stats used are from sports-reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL featured columnist for Bleacher Report. 

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