There’s having bad luck and then there’s being done dirty. Enter Tyrod Taylor.

Let’s run down some of his history. He was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round back in 2011 and didn’t see much action for the next four seasons as he was the backup for starting QB Joe Flacco.

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He then signed on with the Bills and became a starting quarterback. In 2017, he was benched in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman. You probably remember what happened next: Peterman soiled his uniform to the tune of five first-half interceptions in his first start and Taylor was brought back in for the second half. He managed to lead the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999 later that season, only to be rewarded with a trade to Cleveland.

Taylor started atop the Browns’ depth chart, even though the team selected Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick that year. He lasted until Week 3, when an injury (running theme during his career) forced him out of the lineup and Mayfield took over. Taylor never got the job back.

OK, fine, things like that happen. He headed to the West Coast and got a deal as Philip Rivers’ backup in Los Angeles. Taylor got to wear a hat and hold the clipboard while Rivers sank the Chargers again and again with costly interceptions before the team got sick of him and let him and his noodle arm walk in free agency.

So, great! Taylor was named the starter for 2020 over Justin Herbert, the team’s No. 6 overall pick this year. Then the bottom fell out. He suffered a broken rib in Week 1 against the Bengals and while receiving a painkiller injection before last Sunday’s home opener, the doctor went too far with the needle and reportedly punctured his lung.

Herbert, meanwhile, got the start and threw for more than 300 yards as the Chargers took the defending champion Chiefs to overtime before eventually losing.

What god did Taylor displease? What kind of luck is that? The man has been cursed with naturally occurring injuries over his career and now even the people who are supposed to keep him safe are causing him to miss time.

I don’t want to blame 2020 for all of society’s ills, but I’m going to do it anyway. Damn this year to hell!

NFL’S TOP 10

  1. Ravens — I find it’s best to wait until after Week 2 before starting any power rankings because it’s too easy to get swept away by an opening week win or loss. However, there was no need to wait to put Baltimore in the top spot. Lamar Jackson? Check? Run game? Check. Defense? Solid. Special teams? Who cares, it’s special teams. And they have Justin Tucker. This team is stacked and the future is bright.
  1. Chiefs — Man, did you see how they kinda struggled against the Chargers? Did you see they needed Harrison Butker and his iron leg kick a 58-yard field goal three times (two didn’t count because of a penalty and a timeout) to win the game? Did you see Clyde Edwards-Helaire regress with just 38 yards rushing? Who cares, they’re the champs. They have Patrick Mahomes. It’s fine.
  1. Seahawks — Look, there are 11 teams with 2-0 records. What separates them? Here’s what: Russell Wilson looks like the MVP. At one point during Sunday night’s win over the Patriots, he had more touchdown passes than incompletions in 2020. That’s absurd. So absurd that I’m willing to overlook Seattle’s swiss cheese defense.
  1. Packers — Here’s something else that’s absurd. I want to vote for Aaron Rodgers as comeback player of the year, even though he’s coming off a 13-3 season and a trip to the NFC championship game. Is he motivated by the drafting of QB and first-round pick Jordan Love? Possibly. Whatever the reason is, he’s looked like a missile man while demolishing two division foes, RB Aaron Jones is playing himself to a contract extension and Green Bay should be among the elite by season’s end.
  1. Rams — Homer pick! Homer pick! Sue me. Most people felt that L.A.’s 2019 campaign was an unmitigated disaster and yet, they finished 9-7 and just out of the playoffs. Now they’re back and the Rams offense is popping again. Their three-headed monster at running back seems capable of filling the gap left by Todd Gurley (if they stay healthy) and the defense, although they failed to record a sack against the Eagles last week, has been stout.
  1. Bills — Buffalo leads the league in passing yards and is third in total yards. That’s great news for head coach Sean McDermott. Does it take a little bit of the shine off the accomplishment when you notice their wins have come against the Jets and Dolphins? Maybe a little.
  1. Titans — I hear the food alone makes a trip to Nashville worthwhile. Maybe that’s what has fueled Ryan Tannehill’s Tennessee rebirth. The man has been a different player since he put on a Titans uniform and his team will need him to keep it up since they have a challenging schedule over the next four games until their bye week.
  1. Steelers — It’s good to see Ben Roethlisberger back under center. But what’s been impressive is their defense being No. 1 in the league against the run and third in total yards allowed. That will keep this team winning games until their offense shakes off the early season rust.
  1. Raiders — Are they really a top 10 team? No, and they will tumble down these rankings soon enough. However, one cannot just ignore an East Coast win in the 1 p.m. window in Week 1 and then a home win against the Saints. They deserve credit.
  2. Cardinals — I have a man crush on Kyler Murray. That is all. And Gardner Minshew. But for now, Murray wins.

WHAT’S THE CHATTER?

Not too late: Last week, I felt the Browns should trade Odell Beckham Jr. I may have babbled something about “addition by subtraction.” Then he went out and caught a sweet touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield, making me look silly. And yet, something else happened during that Thursday night win. The Browns consistently fed the ball to their running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Then Beckham said on Thursday that he probably won’t have big numbers this season. If he doesn’t say at peace with that, he just might leave Cleveland yet.

Nuke’s dream: Who knows what really happened with DeAndre Hopkins in Houston? The man was an All-Pro in three consecutive seasons and yet Texans head coach/GM Bill O’Brien couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Whatever it was, Hopkins is in Arizona now and he’s feasting. He has 22 catches over two games and meanwhile, the Texans are 0-2 and Will Fuller, the team’s presumed No. 1 receiver, didn’t have a catch against the Ravens. Ouch.

Doubts creeping up: As an unabashed USC fan, I’ve defended Sam Darnold as he’s endured ups and down during his first three years in the league. And while it’s true he’s shown some flashes, he’s not consistent and at some point, you can’t keep blaming the head coach. The Jets will have to make a decision soon, especially with a quarterback-rich rookie class coming in 2021. Is Sam destined for another uniform?

Defense is offensive: Everyone made a big deal out of Cam Newton’s Sunday night performance in Seattle. And he was great, there’s no denying that. What was disturbing was seeing the Patriots defense give up 35 points while defending defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore got torched in the passing game. Keep an eye on that unit. They are missing a ton of players and you can’t help but feel that’s going to cost them down the road.

Getting ugly: I commented before Week 2 that the 49ers were riddled with injuries. Then came Sunday’s game against the Jets. Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an ankle injury. Running back Raheem Mostert got hurt. Then to top it all off, Nick Bosa (my pick for defensive player of the year) was lost for the season with a torn ACL. You can’t use the phrase Super Bowl hangover if everyone gets hurt.

APPOINTMENT VIEWING FOR WEEK 3

Bears at Falcons: With every passing game, the ax closes in on Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn. After last week’s onside kick fiasco, another loss here could be the end of him.

Rams at Bills: Are the Rams for real? Are the Bills? This game will sort of settle things for now. By the way, this will be L.A. second trip to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. start in the first three weeks. Damn schedule makers …

Washington at Browns: Cleveland seemed to figure things out last week. At least on offense. Let’s see if they can build on that. And let’s see if the Browns start puffing their chests out again if they come away with a win.

Raiders at Patriots: Very interesting. The Raiders are just like the Rams as they face another early start in the Eastern Time Zone. If they go to 3-0 here, people will have to start eating all their mocking words they once lobbed at Jon Gruden. So far, their rebuild is going swimmingly.

49ers at Giants: Last week’s bloodbath is still fresh in their minds. And now San Francisco is back at the scene of the crime with a second game in as many weeks at MetLife Stadium. The 49ers blamed a crappy turf for all their injuries. Did things improve in just one week? And how exactly will the Giants move the ball after Saquon Barkley went down for the season with a torn ACL?

Bengals at Eagles: Rookie Joe Burrow and Carson Wentz have something in common. They’re both 0-2 this season. And yet, Burrow has looked like a confident young man, while Wentz appears lost.

Lions at Cardinals: Kyler Murray. That is all.

Cowboys at Seattle: Dallas needed Atlanta’s incompetence to get that Week 2 win. They won’t get so lucky against the Seahawks. However, judging how Pete Carroll’s defense looks, the Cowboys shouldn’t have much trouble moving the ball. This should be entertaining.

Packers at Saints: People are suddenly doubting Drew Brees. If they get stomped at home by Aaron Rodgers, things will get interesting.

Chiefs at Ravens: I know I complained about the NFL schedule makers above. But they got this one way right. These two teams on Monday night? Hooooooo. The very definition of appointment viewing.

Have a great weekend!

Sid Saraf
Sid Saraf

NFL Analyst

Currently a Mobile Editor at Yahoo, Saraf spent 5.5 years (Oct. 2010 – Feb. 2016) working for FOX Sports as an NFL Editor and Writer. Prior to that, Saraf worked for CBS Interactive for 4.5 years (May 2006 – Oct. 2010) as a Staff Editor.

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