—The 16 teams that lost their openers will be trying to avoid 0-2 starts. Only one team, Cincinnati, started out 0-2 last year and made the playoffs. By contrast, six teams that started off 2-0 made the playoffs.
—The feature game is Miami at New England Sunday night. Patriots coach Bill Belichick took defensive players with the first three picks in the draft and held Philadelphia to a touchdown in the opener but still lost. If his defense can’t stop the explosive Dolphins, the Patriots will start off 0-2 and be two games behind the Dolphins in the division. And owner Bob Kraft may be frustrated.
—The Bengals are trying to avoid a 0-2 start for the second year in a row after a listless performance in the opener against the Browns as Joe Burrow seemed to show the effects of missing most of camp with a calf injury. The Ravens opened with a win against Houston and are going for a 2-0 start.
—The defending champion Chiefs are trying to avoid a 0-2 start when they go to Jacksonville, a team they beat twice last year. The Chiefs lost to the Lions in the opener when Kadarius Toney dropped some key passes and Travis Kelce was injured and Chris Jones was holding out. They are both back although Kelce probably won’t be 100 per cent. The Jaguars may have the weather on their side. It will be hot and may rain so Chiefs have to show they can avoid wilting.
—Zach Wilson, the Jets starter now that Aaron Rodgers is injured, faces a tough task at Dallas. The Jets aren’t expected to win but need to show they can be competitive and not be blown out the way the Giants were last week by the Cowboys.