Bottoms Up for NFL Week 2: New Bills paying off

8. AFC West: Oakland Raiders (0-2)

Despite losing 30-14 to the Houston Texans last week, Dennis Allen’s club actually outgained their guests last season in total yards.

Of course, that kind of number doesn’t mean that much. Neither does the fact that one week after running for a mere 25 yards in a loss to the Jets, the Raiders rushed for 101 yards vs. Houston. And that’s because 58 of those yards came courtesy of four runs by rookie quarterback Derek Carr. Allen’s club had the ball a total of 21:24 in the game.

Meanwhile, the Oakland defense allowed a whopping 188 yards on the ground to Houston, this after giving up 212 yards rushing a week earlier to Rex Ryan’s club. That’s easy math…and disappointing math as well.

Week 3: at New England Patriots

7. NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

The new-look Buccaneers have looked like the same old Bucs that have finished dead last in the NFC South each of the last three seasons.

While the Tampa defense has played respectable football, allowing only three touchdowns in two games, the mistake-prone offense has averaged less than 300 total yards per game the first two weeks while quarterback Josh McCown’s two touchdown passes this season have been offset by three interceptions and two fumbles (none lost) while being sacked four times.

This week it’s a trip to the Georgia Dome to face a Falcons’ team which has defeated them in eight of the teams’ last 11 meetings.

Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons