The NFL Week 2 slate provided us with an Eagles win over the Vikings to kick things off before a baker’s dozen of games Sunday.
Among the best games this weekend included the Chiefs’ defense dominating and earning a key win over the Jaguars, while the Bengals fell to 0-2 with a second consecutive divisional defeat.
In the late window, Jets quarterback Zach Wilson threw three interceptions against the Cowboys in a blowout defeat, before the Broncos lost despite completing a last-second Hail Mary for a touchdown.
Finally, on Sunday night, the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa held off the Patriots to stay unbeaten at 2-0 and in first place in the AFC East.
SUNDAY
Dolphins 24, Patriots 17
David Butler II/USA TODAY Sport
- What it means for Dolphins: Miami isn’t all offense. While Tua Tagovailoa and Co. had a nice night at Gillette Stadium, the Dolphins’ defense bounced back after allowing 34 points to the Chargers in Week 1. New England managed just 288 yards while turning the ball over twice. Miami should feel good about its entire operation.
- What it means for Patriots: New England has to find a creative way to get explosive plays. Mac Jones was 31-of-42 passing, but for only 231 yards (5.5 YPA). Needing to walk down the field is a tough task against any good defense, and it’s something the Patriots are forced to do without much speed on the outside. New England is now 0–2 for the first time since 2001.
- Sept. 24: Broncos at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET; Patriots at Jets, 1 p.m. ET
49ers 30, Rams 23
- What it means for 49ers: No team has a better running game than the 49ers, who can beat you in a multitude of ways. On Sunday, San Francisco ran for 159 yards on 5.7 yards per carry after totaling 188 yards on 5.5 YPC. If quarterback Brock Purdy can simply make the easy plays, the Niners are one of the best offenses in the league.
- What it means for Rams: Los Angeles might have found a gem in fifth-round receiver Puka Nacua. After catching 10 balls for 119 yards in his NFL debut, Nacua torched the 49ers for another 15 catches and 147 yards. If the Rams can get Cooper Kupp healthy next month, quarterback Matthew Stafford has a nice group of weapons.
- Week 3: Giants at 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Thurs.); Rams at Bengals, 7:15 p.m. ET (Mon.)
Cowboys 30, Jets 10
- What it means for Jets: Zach Wilson isn’t getting it done unless New York scores in unconventional ways. Wilson had a 68-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson, but otherwise was 12-of-27 for 170 yards and three interceptions. While the Cowboys’ defense is elite, the Jets couldn’t threaten at all. Even though they beat Buffalo in Week 1, it was much of the same last Monday night as well.
- What it means for Cowboys: Dallas continues to show why it’s a Super Bowl contender. The offense has room to improve, but the defense is a dominant unit with Micah Parsons leading the way. Parsons already has three sacks on the season, and against New York had three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, two sacks, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
- Sept. 24: Patriots at Jets, 1 p.m. ET; Cowboys at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chiefs 17, Jaguars 9
Morgan Tencza/USA TODAY Sports
- What it means for Chiefs: Kansas City’s defense is starting to become notable. After always playing a secondary role in the Chiefs’ championship stories, the defense has stepped up considerably, allowing 23 points across two games against very good offenses in Detroit and Jacksonville. Oh, and Chris Jones? He had 1.5 sacks with a tackle for loss.
- What it means for Jaguars: Jacksonville needs to get better up front. The Jaguars allowed four sacks to Kansas City, including 1.5 each to Jones and George Karlaftis. After two weeks, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been dumped six times. It’s not cause for major concern considering left tackle Cam Robinson is suspended and right tackle Anton Harrison is a rookie, but it’s worth monitoring.
- Sept. 24: Bears at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET; Texans at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Commanders 35, Broncos 33
- What it means for Commanders: The defensive line can be the reason Washington has real playoff hopes. Over the Commanders’ first two games, they’ve notched nine sacks, including six of Russell Wilson in Sunday’s come-from-behind win. The combination of Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Chase Young is among the league’s scariest for opposing offenses.
- What it means for Broncos: Sean Payton is a Super Bowl-winning coach, but this might test everything inside of him. Denver had a 21–3 lead against a quarterback making his third career start, and then was promptly outscored 32–6. Wilson is clearly an issue, but the defense is also part of the problem.
- Sept. 24: Bills at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET; Broncos at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Ravens 27, Bengals 24
- What it means for Ravens: Lamar Jackson looked far more comfortable this weekend in Todd Monken’s offense. Even without star linemen Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley, Jackson threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 57. He was the star Baltimore needed to notch a key divisional win over the struggling Bengals.
- What it means for Bengals: The rushing defense is a major issue. Yes, the Ravens and Browns are maybe the two worst opponents to face in that regard, but Cincinnati has been gashed for a collective 384 yards on 77 carries (4.9 YPC). While Joe Burrow’s lackluster start is concerning, that’ll be corrected. The defense, right now, is the bigger long-term problem.
- Week 3: Colts at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 24; Rams at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET (Mon.)
Titans 27, Chargers 24 (OT)
- What it means for Chargers: Los Angeles has no pass defense. The Chargers allowed a Week 1-high 466 passing yards against Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Then, facing a pop-gun offense in the Titans and Ryan Tannehill, the Chargers watched as the veteran quarterback went 20-of-24 for 246 yards and a touchdown. In the pass-heavy AFC, that’s a certain way for L.A. to lose more than its share of games.
- What it means for Titans: Tennessee can win with its front seven. Last weekend, the Titans allowed only 16 points to the Saints, largely because it sacked Derek Carr four times. On Sunday, Tennessee brought down Justin Herbert on four occasions. This pass rush, plus running the ball, is a winning recipe.
- Sept. 24: Chargers at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET; Titans at Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Bills 38, Raiders 10
Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports
- What it means for Raiders: If Las Vegas is going to be surprisingly competitive this season, it starts with Jimmy Garoppolo not making huge mistakes. Leading 7–0 with the ball early, Garoppolo threw an interception deep in his own territory, and Buffalo took off. The veteran signal-caller needs to take the sack on that screen instead of throwing it into chaos. Hopefully, he takes that lesson moving forward.
- What it means for Bills: The easy takeaway is Josh Allen bouncing back, but that’s not surprising. What was surprising is Buffalo, which had the league’s worst Week 1 run defense, holding Josh Jacobs to minus-two yards on nine carries. If the front seven can play anything close to that most weeks, Buffalo will notch plenty of blowout wins.
- Sept. 24: Steelers at Raiders, 8:15 p.m. ET; Bills at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET
Seahawks 37, Lions 31 (OT)
- What it means for Seahawks: After an incredible Pro Bowl season in 2022, Geno Smith struggled in Week 1 with 112 passing yards. The big adjustment? Getting Tyler Lockett more involved. After catching just two passes on four targets against the Rams, Lockett had eight receptions on 12 targets, including the game-winning touchdown. Nice job by coordinator Shane Waldron getting Lockett back in the flow.
- What it means for Lions: The pass rush remains an issue. While second-year stud Aidan Hutchinson is on Detroit’s front, there isn’t much else. Detroit only hit Smith once on Sunday, and against the Chiefs in Week 1, Mahomes was never sacked. It’s putting a ton of pressure on the secondary.
- Sept. 24: Panthers at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET; Falcons at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Giants 31, Cardinals 28
- What it means for Giants: New York showed fight, led by their much maligned quarterback. Daniel Jones signed a questionable four-year, $160 million extension this offseason but facing a 20–0 halftime deficit, completed 17-of-21 for 259 yards in the second half of a comeback win. New York has plenty to clean up, but that’s the kind of performance from Jones which inspires confidence.
- What it means for Cardinals: Arizona has been competitive in both of its games, more than most expected from this group with quarterback Kyler Murray rehabbing from a torn ACL. Blowing a 28–7 lead leaves little room for silver linings, but the offense was efficient with Joshua Dobbs under center (21-of-31 for 228 yards) and running back James Conner (23 carries, 106 yards, TD).
- Week 3: Giants at 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Thurs.); Cowboys at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 24
Falcons 25, Packers 24
- What it means for Packers: Last weekend, the Bears were stifled by a swarming Green Bay defense. That wasn’t the case in Atlanta, as the unit allowed 446 total yards, including four consecutive scoring drives before a kneel-down to end the game. If the Packers are going to fight for the NFC North, the defense must be terrific while the offense finds its way.
- What it means for Falcons: The defense, for the second consecutive week, is doing the job. After holding the Panthers to 10 points in Week 1, the Packers only mustered 224 total yards. With a second-year quarterback in Desmond Ridder working into the offense, defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is taking significant pressure off him.
- Sept. 24: Saints at Packers, 1 p.m. ET; Falcons at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Buccaneers 27, Bears 17
Kim Klement Neitzel/USA TODAY Sports
- What it means for Bears: The passing game hasn’t improved. Chicago spent the offseason adding guard Nate Davis and tackle Darnell Wright, along with receiver DJ Moore. The result? Horrid play. Quarterback Justin Fields was sacked six times on Sunday, and it could have been more. Chicago has to find a way to generate easy throws.
- What it means for Buccaneers: Who saw this start coming? One of the biggest reasons is quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has yet to throw an interception. If Mayfield can continue to play smart football, allowing his defense to play the leading role, there’s a good season ahead for Tampa Bay in the wide open NFC South.
- Week 3: Bears at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 24; Eagles at Buccaneers, 7:15 p.m. ET (Mon.)
Colts 31, Texans 20
- What it means for Colts: Shane Steichen knows what he’s doing. Indianapolis led the Jaguars in the final quarter of Week 1, and then handled the Texans with relative ease. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who had two rushing touchdowns, needs to be handled with extra care after his concussion, but the offense is multi-dimensional despite limited weapons.
- What it means for Texans: Houston isn’t going to win shootouts, putting the defense in a tough spot. Under a defensive-minded coach in DeMeco Ryans, the Texans can’t allow 90 rushing yards in a half, leading to 28 points. The path forward for Houston is playing conservatively and allowing the defense to lead. Last week saw some of that despite a lopsided loss. Not the case against the Colts.
- Sept. 24: Colts at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET; Texans at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
