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Just because they no longer play at Wisconsin doesn't mean that they aren't still Badgers. With that in mind, here's a look a how the Badgers of the NFL did in Week 2.
RB Montee Ball, Denver Broncos
As well as things are going so far for the Denver Broncos, Montee Ball would love to hit the reset button for his personal start to his NFL career. In the Broncos' 41-23 victory over the New York Giants Sunday, Ball carried the pigskin 12 times for just 16 yards and fumbled inside the red zone during the first quarter. He did make himself useful as a receiver, however, by catching two catches for 27 yards.
What's worse for Ball is that Knowshon Moreno had himself quite the afternoon as he rushed for 93 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns. Expect head coach John Fox to slowly start moving away from the running back by committee approach as Moreno has begun to separate himself through the first two weeks of the season.
The Broncos host the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 3.
TE Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
With the majority of opposing defenses focusing on Houston's wide receivers, Owen Daniels has taken advantage of the open space so far this season. After opening the year with five receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, Daniels followed it up with a two-catch, 24-yard and one-touchdown performance Sunday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans. Daniels' touchdown came in the third quarter on a 12-yard pass from Matt Schaub in the corner of the end zone.
After being the second-most targeted receiver on the team in Week 1, Daniels was targeted the third most in Week 2 and is proving once again why he is one of the best tight ends in the league.
The Texans travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in Week 3.
DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
If five solo tackles, two sacks and two pass deflections sound like just another day at the office for reigning defensive MVP J.J. Watt, it's because it is. In Watt's last 18 games, he has 22.5 sacks and 19 pass deflections.
Watt and the rest of the Texans' defense held Tennessee to just 3.7 yards per play and forced a safety by tackling Chris Johnson in his own end zone.
The Texans travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in Week 3.
QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
After throwing for a career-high 320 yards in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, Russell Wilson struggled on Sunday Night Football against his NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Wilson threw for a mere 142 yards, completing just eight of his 19 passing attempts with a touchdown and an interception for a combined QBR of 25.9 -- the fourth-lowest in Week 2.
Wilson did scramble for 33 yards on 10 carries, but was sacked four times for 24 yards.
Luckily for the Seahawks, their defense was able to carry the load as they intercepted 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick three times and only gave up a total of 207 yards. They also held the 49ers' three running backs to 13 yards on 11 attempts. Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch had himself quite the night, as he scored two touchdowns on 28 carries for 98 yards, helping propel the Seahawks to a 29-3 victory.
Perhaps the best news of the day for Wilson was that he didn't have to shave off one of his eyebrows. As part of a bet made between Wilson and Kaepernick as part of their promotion of Madden 25, the quarterback of the losing team had to shave off one of his eyebrows, a task Wilson was more than willing to help Kaepernick complete on Sunday night.
The Seahawks host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.
Other notes from Badgers in the NFL:
- Atlanta Falcons fullback Bradie Ewing separated his should in the first half of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams. Head coach Mike Smith said that the team is going to place Ewing on injured reserve and that the second-year player will miss the remainder of the season.
- Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Nick Hayden had four tackles in the team's 17-16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.