Saturday will be a big day for football fans everywhere. In total, 22 teams will take the field for Week 2 of the NFL’s Preseason.
Although it isn’t the regular season, many storylines will intensify as Week 2 commences. With more than half the league playing, there is sure to be a handful of stories to follow on Saturday.
What reception will Ray Rice get in his first road trip?
We all know the fallout from the incident with Rice and his fiancée earlier this year, but it could get worse for the Baltimore Ravens’ running back as the team heads to Dallas to face the Cowboys in Week 2.
Rice received a warm reception in Baltimore, but it seems that the rest of the country won’t be as kind. With thousands of fans packing Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Rice might want to prepare himself for the worst.
He looks quicker and smaller than last season, but he only had 17 yards in Week 1. He may have to have a much better game to silence the Cowboys’ fans.
Will Michael Sam improve on his Week 1 results?
Sam, the seventh-round pick for the St. Louis Rams, had a solid debut at defensive end by many accounts. However, he’ll need to keep the momentum going to gain a spot on the Rams’ regular season roster.
At 257 pounds, Sam seems suited to play special teams for most of the season if he makes the team. However, he played a majority of his snaps on the defensive line in the first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
Robert Griffin III vs. Johnny Manziel
Possibly two of the most electrifying players in the league will face off on Saturday, but one isn’t even a starter. Manziel is listed as the No. 2 quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and will play against the Washington Redskins’ second team.
Griffin III comes into Week 2 of the preseason looking to improve on a weak, 2-for-4 performance against the New England Patriots last week. Back up Kirk Cousins went 9-for-13 with 103 yards and a touchdown, so the pressure is on to succeed this year.
Manziel, on the other hand, is trying to prove to coaches that he is ready to overtake Brian Hoyer for the starting gig. He went 7-for-11 with 63 yards in his first action and the Browns will expect him to do more of the same Saturday.
Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers
These teams are two of the favorites to win it all this year, but neither has succeed in the big game thus far. The Broncos were blown out by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII and the 49ers fell short to the Ravens in Super Bowl XVLII.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos looked sharp in the Week 1 victory of the Seahawks. However, the 49ers struggled mightily against the Ravens, falling 23-3.
Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers offense will look to improve after last week’s weak game, but they’ll be facing a new-look Broncos defense that includes Demarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward.
Can Sammy Watkins make the Buffalo Bills’ offense a force?
Watkins was drafted with the fourth pick in this year’s NFL Draft to be the Bills’ next star. However, nothing is guaranteed for the former Clemson wide receiver that ran a 4.34 40-yard dash.
In his first two games in a Bills uniform, Watkins has totaled just three catches for 21 yards. If he wants to be a go-to receiver for this team in 2014, he’ll need to start establishing himself against opposing defensive backs like he did in college.
Facing an aging Steelers secondary could be a good matchup for Watkins, who can outrun many corners and safeties. Quarterback E.J. Manuel will definitely be looking his way as the preseason progresses, so look for Watkins to add to those stats.