NFL Preseason Week 2: Takeaways from Saturday's Action

Ah, the joys of Saturday football.

OK, so this isn't exactly what we've come to expect. Rather than the best and brightest from the college ranks, Saturday's action featured seven games from the second week of the 2016 NFL preseason.

But hey, it's football. Beggars can't be choosers.

The day kicked off with Cam Newton and the NFC champion Carolina Panthers driving the length of the field with ease against the Tennessee Titans.

It ended with the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos taking the field against the San Francisco 49ers in a battle of the league's best against arguably the league's worst.

OK, so the matchups might not have been great. Neither was the level of play. But that doesn't mean there weren't performances and happenings of notes.

Here are the highlights from Saturday's action.

The NFC Champs Look Ready

James Kenney/Associated Press

All offseason, there's been talk of a "Super Bowl hangover" for the Panthers. It's been well over two decades since a Super Bowl loser made it back to the game the following season.

It was the Buffalo Bills in 1993, in case you were wondering.

Back at the outset of training camp, tight end Greg Olsen told Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review that the Panthers weren't hearing all that chatter.

"It's not just the players—the team, the community, the fans—it's human nature. I think everyone just assumes, 'Hey, you've got the same guys back. Why would it be any different?'"

Granted, it came against a Tennessee team that had the NFL's worst record last year. But on Carolina's first drive of the game, the Panthers certainly didn't look hungover.

After a penalty on the opening kickoff (I know. You're stunned. A penalty in the preseason.) pinned the Panthers inside the 10-yard line, Carolina promptly marched the length of the field for a score.

And by marched, I mean Newton's fourth pass attempt of the game was a 61-yard scoring strike to Ted Ginn Jr.

The Panthers went on to add an interception of Marcus Mariota and a field goal late in the first quarter, snagging a quick 10-point lead in a game they would eventually win by that same margin.

Tajae Looking Sharpe

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

For years ,the Tennessee Titans have been searching for a No. 1 receiver.

After Kendall Wright caught over 90 passes in 2013, it looked like he might be the guy. Since then? Crickets.

Justin Hunter? Still hunting for an NFL impact.

Dorial Green-Beckham? More like Dorial Gone-Beckham—traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, it appears that Marcus Mariota may just have found his new go-to wideout in rookie Tajae Sharpe.

After leading the Titans in receiving yards in the preseason opener, Sharpe was again Mariota's favorite target against the Panthers, reeling in six passes for 68 yards.

Tennessee wide receivers coach Bob Bratkowski has been impressed with the progress of the fourth-round rookie.

“I would put him in the category of a natural football player who understands the game,” Bratkowski told John Glennon of the Tennessean. “He operates at a level of a third-year professional. He’s got it figured out. He knows what it takes to be a pro, which is rare for a rookie.”

All Sharpe did Saturday was reinforce that perception.

LeSean McCoy and the Bills Looking Shady (In a Good Way)

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

It's been a rough week for the Buffalo Bills.

As ESPN's Mike Rodak reported, one season after he scored nine touchdowns, the team cut bait on suspended tailback Karlos Williams, who reported to training camp woefully out of shape.

"I've always said this is a performance-based business," Bills general manager Doug Whaley said. "The release of Karlos Williams was strictly performance-based. He came in behind the eight ball and never caught up. And there was other guys on the roster that moved ahead of him."

Also on Saturday, similarly suspended defensive tackle Marcell Dareus announced (per Kevin Patra of NFL.com) that he was entering a rehab facility.

"After careful consideration of recent events within my life, I have made the decision to enter a rehabilitation facility," Dareus said. "I feel this is the best decision for me, my family and my teammates as I move forward with my career. I appreciate the support of my teammates and the Bills organization through this process."

Given that double-dip of bad news, it must have been a welcome respite for the Bills to play some football, and even more welcome to see quarterback Tyrod Taylor, tailback LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo offense get in a groove against the New York Giants.

Taylor was 7-of-10 for 132 yards and a touchdown, and would have had a second score had Jerome Felton not fumbled just before crossing the goal line.

McCoy struggled on the ground, rushing five times for zero yards. It was another story as a receiver, with "Shady" hauling in four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Colts Feeling Luck(y)

R Brent Smith/Associated Press

The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2015 season a Super Bowl contender. They left it 8-8 and out the playoffs.

There was one prevailing reason: Bad Luck. Well, bad Luck and hurt Luck.

Saturday night's contest against the Baltimore Ravens marked Andrew Luck's first appearance since signing the mega-deal that made him the NFL's highest-paid player.

New Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski told Zak Keefer of the Indy Star that all he wanted to see from No. 12 was efficiency and command of the offense.

“We’d like to see him go out and feel comfortable executing, calling the plays," Chudzinski said. "Andrew has played enough football that you feel pretty confident that he’ll be able to pick up right where he left off and get right back on the bike.”

Luck did that and more. Luck was perfect in two series of work, completing all eight of his pass attempts for 69 yards.

Penalties and a turnover resulted in the two drives accounting for only three points, but that wasn't the quarterback's fault.

The Colts had to be positively giddy to see their Luck take a turn for the better.

Bortles Rolls Again

John Raoux/Associated Press

Heading into Saturday's battle for Northern Florida between Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles revealed to Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union what he was hoping to see happen.

“You want no stupid stuff to happen,” Bortles said. “You want to be sharp, kind of like what we talked about last week, being sharp in and out of the huddle, the formations and shifts, nobody running the wrong route or making stupid decisions from the quarterback position."

Mission accomplished.

After shaking off a sluggish start, Bortles was sharp for the second consecutive week. In three series or work against the Bucs, Bortles completed 8-of-11 passes for 85 yards, finding tailback T.J. Yeldon and wideout Allen Hurns for touchdowns.

Throw in 40 rushing yards on eight combined carries between Yeldon and Chris Ivory, and the Jacksonville offense has the makings of a unit that could be the best in their division.

That's right. Better than the Colts. I said it.

Curse of the Second-Round Kicker

Mel Evans/Associated Press

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent two picks to move up in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft to select Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo. They did this for one overriding reason.

Aguayo never missed in Tallahassee. Not one extra point. Not one field goal inside 40 yards. Not one.

That streak died a quick death with the Buccaneers. Aguayo pushed his first ever 33-yard extra point in the preseason opener.

Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter joked to the Associated Press (via Fox Sports) afterward that the botch was on purpose.

"You've got to take it for what it's worth. We knew there was going to be a huge outcry whenever he missed his first kick. So he actually missed that on purpose, so we could just get it over with," Koetter quipped.

I'd wager Koetter isn't laughing any more.

Aguayo missed two field goals Saturday against the Jaguars, hooking a 32-yarder in the first quarter and 49-yarder in the fourth quarter wide right.

So much for Mr. Automatic.

Clowney Not Clowning Around

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Earlier this week, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien indicated to Ed Werder of ESPN that he was unsure if reigning Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt would be available for the beginning of the regular season.

"O'Brien encouraged by Watt's recovery from back surgery after Wednesday update," Werder tweeted. "Told me still unsure Watt plays first 2 regular season games."

Given that news, the Texans badly need a pass-rusher to step up and pick up the slack.

Enter the first pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

As Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported, Jadeveon Clowney said a few days ago that for the first time since he entered the NFL, his surgically repaired knee doesn't feel like a surgically repaired knee.

"My knee feels fine," Clowney said. "I feel okay. It's great. I missed it. I'm good to go. I'm back out here with the team and ready to go."

His knee looked okay against the Saints. Clowney abused the New Orleans o-line during his time on the field, including a sack where he showed the sort of explosiveness that left so many jaws on the ground when he was at South Carolina.

Osweiler Gets It Going...Sort of

George Bridges/Associated Press

After a disappointing beginning to his tenure with the Texans, Osweiler told Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle that he wasn't interested in the gobs of hot takes regarding his debut.

"A coach once told me, 'Only focus on the things you can control.' I can't control what you guys write, what you guys say. I'm going to keep my focus where it needs to be, and that's … trying to be a great teammate and just being the best football player I can be."

Osweiler saw more extensive action Saturday night against the New Orleans Saints, and for the most part, it was a performance that will have fans feeling a bit better about that $72 million free agent contract.

Against what is admittedly not the best defense in the NFL (or the NFC, or the NFC South), Osweiler was 12-of-19 for 124 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to rookie Will Fuller (who also had a very nice game).

The only blemish on an otherwise fine night? Osweiler's last pass of the evening was completed in the end zone to P.J. Williams.

Williams plays for the Saints.

Siemian Slips Up and Sanchez Sanchezes

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

In discussing his decision to start Trevor Siemian against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday evening, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak told Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post that he wanted to be sure he judged both Siemian and Mark Sanchez (who started a week ago) on an even keel.

“I’m looking at everything—leadership, how they handle the team,” Kubiak said. “Obviously you want to make them each make the same amount of decisions. If I send one of them out there and he throws it four times and the other throws it 15, I’d like to see that pretty equal so I can watch their decision-making process and those types of things. But I’m looking at a lot.”

It's that decision-making that may well be most important for a Denver team built around running the ball and playing defense. The quarterback doesn't have to carry the team. He just needs to avoid mistakes—avoid turnovers.

On Denver's first drive of the game, Siemian looked like he was set to take the bull by the horns, leading the Broncos to a quick touchdown.

On the second, the bull ran him over.

It wasn't just that Siemian was intercepted by safety Eric Reid, or that Reid returned that interception for a touchdown.

It was a bad throw. Siemian not only stared down the receiver, but he completely missed Reid's position underneath—that he was in position to jump the route.

And yet, there's still hope for the second-year pro. A real chance that Siemian might still start against the Carolina Panthers on opening night.

Why? Mark Sanchez, that's why.

In typical Mark Sanchez fashion, the veteran somehow managed to lose two fumbles deep in San Francisco territory in the last minute of the first half.

Two. In a minute. Seriously.

Paging Paxton Lynch. Mr. Lynch, pick up the orange courtesy phone.

Goffing off

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams met for a preseason game Saturday night in which the starting defenses apparently decided to take the evening off.

Kansas City starter Alex Smith and Case Keenum of the Rams both threw first-half touchdown passes. Fantasy football darlings Todd Gurley of the Rams and Jeremy Maclin of the Chiefs both found the end zone.

It wasn't necessarily a well-played game, but it was fun to watch.

At least the first half was.

The second half bogged down, but it also featured the player everyone in La-La land came to see—No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff.

And just as in the Rams' first preseason game, Goff was uneven.

Yes, he got better as the night wore on. Yes, he threw his first touchdown pass in the NFL—late in the game, against scrub defenders. And his 8-for-12, 82-yard stat line in a one-point Rams win wasn't awful.

But Goff once again looked very much like a rookie quarterback, especially on a first drive where he tripped over his own lineman and coughed up the ball.

Goff might very well be the future in the City of Angels.

The present, like it or not, is Keenum.