Bleacher Report's Week 2 NFL Awards

There's an old saying that NFL stands for "Not For Long."

And there's a good reason for that saying. Things can change on a dime. Rookie quarterbacks who look like the second coming in Week 1 can come crashing back to Earth a week later. A team that downs the defending NFC champions one week can get rolled by a doormat the next.

Expect the unexpected.

That was certainly the case in Week 2. The writers here at Bleacher Report, as they do every week, have gathered to sift through the rubble of a wacky week in the NFL to offer their takes on the best and worst of the week that was.

Here's what that esteemed group had to say.

Author's Note: Votes for the weekly awards are submitted Monday morning, so players/teams on Monday Night Football won't appear here.

Team of the Week

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Winner: Oakland Raiders (4 votes)

I told you it was a wacky week.

Outside of Raider Nation, you wouldn't find many folks who thought Oakland had much of a chance to knock off the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Not after the team got flattened by the Cincinnati Bengals to open the 2015 season.

Well, young quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders apparently didn't get the memo.

Carr had quite possibly the best game of his NFL career, throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns to guide the Raiders to a stunning 37-33 win. It was all the more impressive given that a Carr interception led to Baltimore taking a three-point lead with just over two minutes to play.

Carr told Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area (sic) he and his teammates never doubted the Raiders could mount a game-winning drive:

"

I just looked in the huddle, and it was just a great to see a confident look on everyone’s face. It felt like we were just at practice. We worked on moment like this. We practiced against this. We practiced against these looks. It was just a confident look toward everyone in that huddle, and I just thought "Hey man, I better not screw it up. These guys are ready to go."

"

That drive culminated in a 12-yard scoring pass to Seth Roberts that shocked both the Ravens and the rest of the NFL.

Maybe now they will start believing in the Raiders too.

Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh Steelers (3 votes), Cleveland Browns (1 vote)

Coach of the Week

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Winner: Bill Belichick, HC, New England Patriots (7 votes)

What can you say about New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick that hasn't already been said?

His effervescent personality. His constant smile. His top-notch fashion sense.

Well, after the Patriots once again showed the AFC East who's boss by dispatching the Buffalo Bills 40-32 in Week 2, Bills head coach Rex Ryan had plenty to say, per ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor.

"This loss is squarely on one man's shoulders; it's on my shoulders," Ryan said. "Yeah, we've got to get better as a team, there's no question. But I have to get better. Belichick outcoached me, no question about it, and that's how it ended up."

According to O'Connor, Belichick was, as he always is, filled with sunshine and cheer after the win:

"

Hey, there's a reason (beyond Tom Brady) why Belichick has won 12 of the past 14 AFC East titles -- he never wavers. Told Sunday that Ryan conceded defeat in the matchup of dueling headsets, Belichick wouldn't bite. He credited his players and maintained they "probably overcame some not-so-great coaching on my part."

"

Love him or hate him (and let's be honest—outside of Boston just about everyone hates him), there may well not be a better head coach in NFL history than Darth Hoodie.

And on Sunday, he reminded Ryan (and the rest of us) of that—again.

Others receiving votes: Rod Marinelli, DC, Dallas Cowboys (1 vote)

Goat of the Week

Michael Perez/Associated Press

"Winner:" Chip Kelly, HC, Philadelphia Eagles (5 votes)

Be careful what you wish for—you just might get it.

After being granted personnel control, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly took a buzz saw to his roster. He wanted a new quarterback, so he traded Nick Foles and a second-round pick for Sam Bradford.

He didn't get along with Pro Bowlers LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Evan Mathis. All three are gone, with Kelly trading McCoy to Buffalo for one of his former college players in Kiko Alonso.

Kelly completely remade the Eagles in his image. And now that image sits in the NFC East basement after a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in which Kelly's supposedly high-octane offense looked absolutely pathetic.

As Jarrett Bell of USA Today reported, Kelly declared after the game, "We have to assess everything. That includes everybody. Coaches, everybody."

Bell believes that assessment should begin with a long look in the mirror:

"

When the Poobah assesses everything, it needs not start with the woeful offensive line – and no, the unit doesn’t get a pass – it begins with the shot-caller behind the massive overhaul.

This mess begins with Kelly, hailed in many corners as the innovative genius who would revolutionize the NFL. His decisions, schemes, prototypes and culture are suddenly open to much more debate.

"

The fact is Kelly's Eagles teams have won 10 games in each of his first two seasons. But no, that wasn't good enough. King Chipster, the all-knowing, wanted things his way.

Kelly fixed what wasn't broken.

But it sure looks broken now.

Others receiving votes: Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (2 votes), DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Winner: Matt Jones, RB, Washington Redskins (7 votes)

Back in 2012, Alfred Morris went from little-known late-round draft pick to bell cow running back for the Washington Redskins, rushing for over 1,600 yards.

Morris has topped 1,000 yards every year he's been in the NFL, but that feat may be hard to duplicate in 2015—because the Redskins may have drafted an even better back this year.

Granted, Matt Jones was selected earlier than Morris (the third round), but the former Florida star still wasn't expected to do big things as a rookie. Especially with Morris in town.

However, it was Jones who led Washington with 123 rushing yards in their Week 2 win over the St. Louis Rams, scoring a pair of touchdowns.

And ESPN.com's John Keim thinks the Redskins may have just found lightning in a bottle:

"

Morris is a definite grinder, someone able to move the chains and keep drives going. That’s what he did in the season opener. But the Redskins need a little lightning, too. While Jones clearly can run with some power -- he is 6-foot-2, 231 pounds -- he also runs with some speed. Morris has the power, but he’s not a big speed guy. That’s OK; he gets plenty of 10-yard carries to please the coaches -- and even popped one for 35 yards Sunday.

"

It may be premature to say that the torch has been passed at running back in the nation's capital, but this much is certain: That rumbling sound you hear is fantasy owners stampeding to grab Jones off their league's waiver wire.

Others receiving votes: David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Best QB Performance

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Winner: Tom Brady, New England Patriots (7 votes)

The Buffalo Bills have been in existence since 1960. Over that time, the team has played well over 800 games, including four Super Bowls.

Sorry for bringing that up, Bills fans.

And never, in their long and storied history, had the Bills given up as many passing yards to a player as they did in their loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Brady attempted an eye-popping 59 passes in New England's 40-32 win, completing 38 for an equally astounding 466 yards and three touchdowns.

As Andie Hagemann of NFL.com reported, Brady continued his absolute dominance of the Bills:

"

Leading up to the weekend's anticipated clash between the AFC East rivals, Rex Ryan claimed the Bills would slow down Tom Brady. Brady quickly foiled Ryan's plans and silenced the masses at Ralph Wilson Stadium by going to the air and leaving an empty backfield against the Bills. Brady continuously connected with Rob Gronkowski, Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman. The trio accounted for 24 catches and 308 yards in the Patriots' 40-32 victory.

Brady threw 59 times in Sunday's game. He racked up three touchdowns and 466 yards passing -- the second-most of his career, and most passing yards by any player against Buffalo. Brady improved to 24-3 all-time against Buffalo, while the Patriots improved to 27-3 in the past 30 games against their division foe.

"

If Brady and the Bills were two kids on the playground, then Tom Terrific just walked off with Buffalo's lunch money.

And the balls were properly inflated and everything.

Others receiving votes: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Best RB Performance

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Winner: Matt Jones, Washington Redskins (6 votes)

Back in May, as the second day of the 2015 NFL draft wound down, Mike Mayock of NFL Network said of the Washington Redskins selecting Florida running back Matt Jones with the 95th overall pick: "That is a big specimen right there. Jones is a big, physical downhill guy who needs to learn patience, but he has a lot of talent."

Well, apparently that big specimen is a quick study, because Jones turned in a big game in Week 2.

Granted, as Mark Bullock of the Washington Post wrote, the Washington offensive line deserves a share of the credit for the success the team enjoyed on the ground against the St. Louis Rams:

"

Jones had an excellent game, but so did the offensive line. So far, through two games, the Redskins are making good on their promise to play more physically up front and build a foundation of running the ball. The Redskins have 343 net rushing yards over their opening two games, an average of 171.5 yards per game. If Washington can keep that average going throughout the season, it will have every chance of being successful.

"

Jones, for his part, credited teammate Alfred Morris while speaking with John Keim of ESPN.com.

"I have this energy feeding off [Morris] when he gets the ball," Jones said. "So it was a great day for us."

Credit whoever you want. The fact remains that Jones just piled up over six yards a carry against a Rams defense that contained Marshawn Lynch in Week 1.

Others receiving votes: Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (1 vote), Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (1 vote)

Best WR Performance

Don Wright/Associated Press

Winner: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (6 votes)

At this point, I'm not entirely sure that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown isn't a robot.

Because when it comes to catching passes, Brown is a machine.

In Week 1 against the New England Patriots, Brown caught nine balls for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Yawn.

In Week 2, Brown again caught nine passes. Only this time it was for 195 yards and a touchdown.

For those of you who hate math (which means just about everyone), that's a robust 18.2 yards a catch through two weeks.

That makes 34 straight regular-season games in which Brown has at least five catches and 50 receiving yards.

And mind you, it's not like Brown's wide open all day. Opposing defenses know full well that Ben Roethlisberger is going to target Brown—a lot.

There just doesn't appear to be anything they can do about it.

Others receiving votes: Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (1 vote), Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (1 vote)

Best Gronking (TE Performance)

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Winner: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (all the votes)

If Antonio Brown is a robot, then Rob Gronkowski is Gronkus, the Roman god of making professional linebackers and defensive backs look stupid.

And as NFL Analyst Sean Tomlinson wrote, Gronkowski is off to a Gronkish start in 2015, even by his standards:

"

After Week 2 Rob Gronkowski leads all tight ends in receiving yards. That isn't a remotely shocking development during any season. But Gronkowski has quickly established his own tier, with his 207 receiving yards well ahead of the Chiefs' Travis Kelce (164 yards). That's already a sizable buffer after only two games. Somehow he's exceeding his own astronomically high standards, as at this point in 2014 Gronkowski had only 72 yards on eight receptions.

"

It's simple, really. There are maybe five players in the entire National Football League who, when they are on top of their game, just cannot be stopped. You can scheme all you want. Double-team. Bracket. Hold. Pay a houngan to put a curse on them.

And it isn't going to make a bit of difference.

Because at the end of the day you're still Gronk out of luck. Absolutely, totally and completely Gronked.

In other words, he's kind of good.

Best Defensive Performance

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Winner: Dallas Cowboys (4 votes)

The Dallas Cowboys are the most miserable 2-0 team in the NFL. First, wide receiver Dez Bryant broke his foot. Then, in Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the team lost quarterback Tony Romo to a broken collarbone.

Get ready for a whole lot of Brandon Weeden, Dallas fans. Condolences in advance.

But the fact remains the Cowboys are not only 2-0, but 2-0 in the NFC East. And Sunday the Cowboys made an Eagles offense that was supposed to be unstoppable this season look like the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Actually, scratch that—Jacksonville won in Week 2.

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli told Todd Archer of ESPN.com that Dallas didn't do anything special in shutting down the Eagles' supposedly high-powered offense: "I just think we played our defense. We didn't do anything special. We just try to line up, get lined up No. 1 and be on our keys and then we try to play really fast and really hard and tackle well."

The Cowboys are going to need more performances just like that if they're going to weather the storm created by all their injuries on offense.

Others receiving votes: Denver Broncos (2 votes), Carolina Panthers (1 vote), Pittsburgh Steelers (1 vote)

Best Decision

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Winner: Starting Johnny Manziel (6 votes)

Yep. It's the end of the world. The Raiders won Team of the Week, and the Cleveland Browns won best decision.

Get your affairs in order.

Yes, Johnny Manziel only attempted 15 passes the entire game, completing eight, but two of those passes were long scores. Manziel posted a passer rating of over 130 and didn't turn the ball over.

Oh, and the Browns won. There's that, too.

And yet, while simultaneously praising Manziel's performance, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com reports that Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine refused to rule out going back to Josh McCown at quarterback once he clears the NFL's concussion protocol:

"

Johnny's made a lot of progress in the right direction. Still a lot of things to get cleaned up, but we certainly feel like the arrow is up.

We're going to put it all on the table and talk about it and we'll see where it takes us. As I already mentioned, to me it's a positive conversation because you have a young quarterback that's been through a lot that has gone out and led his team to a win.

"

One game does not a career make, but if Pettine goes back to McCown at this point...

Well, it would be why the Browns are the Browns.

Others receiving votes: Redskins' offensive game plan (1 vote), Raiders attacking the Ravens vertically (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

"Winner": Bill O'Brien going with Ryan Mallett at quarterback (4 votes)

Granted, while the combination of Ryan Mallett and Bill O'Brien garnered the most votes this week in a category no one really wants to win, technically all four votes weren't for the same thing.

For two of our experts, it was the fact that O'Brien went with the quick hook at all, inserting Mallett as the starter after benching Brian Hoyer partway through the team's Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

For two more, it was a game plan that called for Mallett to attempt nearly as many passes as Tom Brady did in Week 2.

Fifty-eight.

Yes, you read that right.

Even before the Texans fell to the Carolina Panthers, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post speculated that decision could come back to haunt the second-year coach:

"

After assuring quarterback Brian Hoyer in front of the HBO “Hard Knocks” cameras last month that he wouldn’t be on “a short leash,” O’Brien gave Hoyer all of three quarters of the Texans’ 27-20 opening home loss to the Chiefs before making the switch to Ryan Mallett, then confirming that switch for Sunday’s trip to the Panthers.

You can be sure that blatant hypocrisy wasn’t lost on O’Brien’s players, and that’s an easy way for a coach to lose the respect of his locker room in a hurry.

"

With the Texans now mired in the AFC South basement and looking like they're headed nowhere fast, O'Brien's seat isn't getting any cooler.

Others receiving votes: Rex Ryan running his mouth about the Patriots (3 votes), Olivier Vernon shoving Clay Harbor (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Winner: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (7 votes)

Tom Brady is a dirty cheater.

There. That should liven up the comments for this article.

I'll confess, I don't care what Brady did or didn't know about which footballs were or were not deflated during whatever game. Pretty sure that's not why the Indianapolis Colts lost last year's AFC Championship Game by 38 points.

I will, however, confess that Brady gets on my nerves.

He has millions upon millions of dollars. A supermodel wife who has even more millions and millions of dollars than he does. He has more Super Bowl rings than a Vegas pawn shop.

Plus, he went to Michigan, and where I come from (Columbus, Ohio), that is just unacceptable.

As if all that weren't bad enough, Brady looks a lot less like he's 38 and more like he's 28 through two games in 2015. Brady is averaging over 375 passing yards per game, has seven touchdowns versus zero interceptions and appears set to take out all the Deflategate brouhaha on the rest of the NFL this year.

The last time Brady and the Pats entered a season under a cloud of scandal they went 16-0 and Brady set the NFL record for touchdown passes in a season.

And the New York Giants don't appear to be in a position to spoil their fun in 2015.

What a jerk.

Others receiving votes: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)