After winning just 4 games in 2016, the Thugs have been making steady improvements over the past few years, raising their win total to 5 in 2017 and then 6 a year ago.

Heading into 2019, the Thugs were hoping to continue that trajectory. However, when franchise QB Andrew Luck announced his surprise retirement just weeks before the start of the season, any hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 seemed out the window.

Two weeks into the season, the Thugs are flying high thanks to big contributions from unlikely sources. Sammy Watkins scored a career high 24 points in Week 1 to deliver an easy victory and then Jacoby Brissett (filling in for Sam Darnold(!) who was out with mononucleosis(!!)) followed that up with a career high 18 points in Week 2 to keep the Thugs undefeated.

The one consistent through the first two weeks has been Dalvin Cook, who was selected #4 overall by the Thugs in 2017, but has battled injuries throughout his career. Now healthy, Cook has posted double digit scores in consecutive games and is looking like a breakout candidate. He'll try to move the Thugs to 3-0 this week as they square off with the rival Merry Men.

Elsewhere around the league, Patrick Mahomes and the Buddies continued their dominance as they looked every bit the Super Bowl favorites with another easy win, the Boys edged the Mallards in a game that came down to Monday Night Football, Bear Poop moved to 2-0 thanks to their collection of Patriots and the rebuilt Huskers are the fourth undefeated team as they look to go from worst to first in the NFC West.