Week 2 of the NFL season delivered several surprises, from the New Orleans Saints dismantling the Dallas Cowboys to a narrow Chiefs escape against the Bengals.
It appears I missed mentioning some teams in my previous recap. Let me correct that and ensure every team from Week 2 is covered:
New Orleans Saints 44, Dallas Cowboys 19
The Saints dominated the Cowboys from the start, with Alvin Kamara leading the way, racking up 180 total yards and four touchdowns. Derek Carr continued his strong play, throwing for nearly 300 yards while keeping the Saints’ offense rolling. The Cowboys’ defense, which looked dominant in Week 1, had no answers. They allowed 35 points in the first half, tying a team record for most points allowed. With this performance, the Saints are proving they can contend for the NFC South title—and possibly more.
For Dallas, it was a disappointing outing on both sides of the ball. Dak Prescott and the offense struggled to score in the red zone, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns. After a strong opening week, Dallas’ reality check was loud and clear.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Detroit Lions 16
Tampa Bay’s defense bent but didn’t break, Tampa Bay edged out the Detroit Lions 20-16 in a game that was a rematch of their playoff loss last season. Despite injuries, including the absence of star safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the Bucs managed to hold off the Lions. Jared Goff threw two costly interceptions, while Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up in critical moments. Chris Godwin was a key target for Baker Mayfield, grabbing 117 yards, helping the Bucs improve to 2-0
New York Jets 24, Tennessee Titans 17
Aaron Rodgers led the Jets to a fourth-quarter win over the Titans. Braelon Allen rushed for 114 yards, and the Jets’ defense caused multiple turnovers. The New York Jets bounced back with a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, thanks to a balanced effort across all phases. Aaron Rodgers led a crucial touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. The Titans, despite promising moments, were plagued by mistakes, including a blocked punt and Will Levis’ turnover inside the red zone, which cost them dearly
Minnesota Vikings 23, San Francisco 49ers 17
The Vikings pulled off a surprising win over the 49ers, The Minnesota Vikings delivered an upset, beating the San Francisco 49ers 23-17. A blocked punt and two failed fourth-down attempts by the 49ers in the first half set the stage for Minnesota. Justin Jefferson caught a 97-yard touchdown from Sam Darnold, cementing the Vikings’ lead. Brock Purdy struggled with turnovers in the second half as the Vikings capitalized on every mistake
Kansas City Chiefs 26, Cincinnati Bengals 25
Kansas City escaped with a one-point victory after recovering a Joe Burrow fumble for a touchdown. The Chiefs pulled off another miracle win, this time with a last-second field goal from Harrison Butker. Joe Burrow threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but a critical fumble, returned for a touchdown, proved costly. Even with Patrick Mahomes’ two interceptions, the Chiefs managed a game-winning field goal. Despite playing better than in Week 1, Cincinnati remains winless.
Cleveland Browns 18, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Deshaun Watson and the Browns’ defense shut down Trevor Lawrence, who struggled in the red zone. Jacksonville couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities, leading to their second consecutive loss.
Las Vegas Raiders 26, Baltimore Ravens 23
Gardner Minshew led a fourth-quarter comeback for the Raiders, overcoming a 10-point deficit. Davante Adams made crucial plays, and Las Vegas capitalized on Baltimore’s defensive breakdowns. The Ravens, who led for much of the game, faltered in the final minutes, with missed opportunities and struggles in the kicking game costing them dearl
Arizona Cardinals 41, Los Angeles Rams 10
Arizona’s offense exploded, with Kyler Murray and rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. leading the charge. The Cardinals racked up over 400 yards of offense and dominated the Rams from start to finish. The Rams, dealing with multiple injuries, couldn’t match Arizona’s intensity on either side of the ball
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Denver Broncos 6
The Steelers defense stifled rookie quarterback Bo Nix, allowing Pittsburgh to grind out an ugly win. Pittsburgh’s offense wasn’t flashy, but timely runs by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were enough. Denver’s struggles on offense continued, with Nix facing constant pressure and failing to generate much momentum
Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 10
Buffalo’s defense overwhelmed Miami, forcing Tua Tagovailoa into three interceptions. Buffalo cruised to victory, largely thanks to their defense and running back James Cook, who totaled 95 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills shut down Miami’s offense, forcing Tua Tagovailoa into three interceptions. Buffalo remains the team to beat in the AFC East
Green Bay Packers 16, Indianapolis Colts 10
Without Jordan Love, who was sidelined with an injury, the Packers leaned on their running game, The Packers rushed for 261 yards. Malik Willis filled in, and Josh Jacobs led the Packers to victory. Colts rookie Anthony Richardson struggled, throwing three interceptions
Washington Commanders 21, New York Giants 18
Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 133 yards, leading Washington’s offense in a narrow win. The Giants struggled with special teams issues, including kicker Graham Gano’s injury. Despite Malik Nabers’ big receiving day, New York couldn’t overcome their missed opportunities.
Los Angeles Chargers 26, Carolina Panthers 3
The Chargers put on a dominant performance, with J.K. Dobbins leading the charge on the ground. Dobbins rushed for an impressive 131 yards and added a touchdown, becoming the first Chargers player since LaDainian Tomlinson to rush for over 100 yards in the first two games of a season. His physical, downhill running punished a Carolina defense that had no answer for the Chargers’ ground game. Defensively, the Chargers shut down the Panthers at every turn, holding them to just three points. Carolina’s offense was lifeless, going 0-for-10 on third downs and failing to generate any rhythm. Bryce Young, struggling under pressure, finished with just 72 yards through the air before being benched late in the game. The Chargers’ defense capitalized on every opportunity, constantly applying pressure and forcing the Panthers into mistakes. This loss highlighted the issues Carolina faces on both sides of the ball, particularly on offense, where they still seem unable to find consistency under head coach Dave Canales.
Houston Texans 19, Chicago Bears 13
The Texans secured a hard-fought victory, thanks to a suffocating defense and a standout performance by wide receiver Nico Collins. Houston’s defense, led by standout edge rushers Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard, sacked Chicago’s rookie quarterback Caleb Williams seven times, overwhelming the Bears’ offensive line. Williams, despite his potential, struggled to cope with the pressure and threw two costly interceptions that stunted Chicago’s drives. On the offensive side for Houston, C.J. Stroud showed great composure, and his chemistry with Collins was evident. Collins recorded 135 receiving yards, consistently making big plays to keep the Texans’ offense moving. The Bears’ offense never found its rhythm, with a lackluster run game adding to their woes. Despite Williams showing flashes of brilliance with a couple of impressive throws, he couldn’t overcome the Texans’ relentless defense, leading to Chicago’s second straight loss of the season.
Seattle Seahawks 23, New England Patriots 20 (OT)
The Seahawks edged out the Patriots in a thrilling overtime win, largely due to Geno Smith’s poise and precision. Smith threw for 327 yards and a touchdown, connecting frequently with DK Metcalf, who had 129 yards, and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who broke out with 12 catches for 117 yards. Seattle’s offense struggled on the ground, but Smith’s ability to stay composed in critical moments, including leading two late field goal drives, proved pivotal. New England, meanwhile, leaned heavily on its ground game, racking up 185 rushing yards between Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. However, Jacoby Brissett couldn’t find his rhythm, completing just 10 passes, as the Patriots’ receiving corps struggled to make an impact. The Seahawks’ defense bent but didn’t break, forcing key stops when necessary to clinch the win in overtime.
New England Patriots 20, Cincinnati Bengals 17 (OT)
The Patriots battled their way to an overtime win against the Bengals, relying heavily on their ground attack. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for 185 rushing yards, keeping the Patriots in control of the tempo throughout much of the game. Cincinnati’s defense struggled to contain the duo, who found consistent success on the ground. Despite the strong rushing performance, Jacoby Brissett failed to connect with his wide receivers, managing just three completions to that position all game. In overtime, New England’s defense came through in the clutch, forcing a critical turnover and setting up the game-winning field goal. The Bengals, despite Joe Burrow’s efforts to keep them competitive, fell just short, thanks to a critical fumble late in the game.
Chicago Bears 13, New York Giants 10
The Bears outlasted the Giants in a defensive slugfest that saw rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggle under pressure. The Bears sacked Williams seven times and intercepted him twice, with defensive end Danielle Hunter wreaking havoc in the backfield. Despite the defensive dominance, Chicago’s offense wasn’t much better, with D’Andre Swift rushing for only 18 yards on 14 carries. Williams did show flashes, making two excellent throws on a fourth-quarter scoring drive, but his efforts were undone by a penalty and a key drop by Rome Odunze. For the Giants, Malik Nabers had a breakout performance, catching 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, but New York’s offensive miscues—including three missed fourth-down conversions—proved too costly.
Los Angeles Rams 10, Philadelphia Eagles 26
The injury-plagued Rams were no match for the Philadelphia Eagles, who controlled the game on both sides of the ball. The Eagles’ defensive front, led by edge rusher Haason Reddick, constantly pressured Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, sacking him multiple times and forcing hurried throws. Stafford finished the day with just 245 yards as the Rams’ offense struggled to find any rhythm. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts efficiently managed the Eagles’ offense, throwing for two touchdowns while rushing for another. The Rams’ defense couldn’t contain Hurts, and their inability to stop the run allowed Philadelphia to dominate time of possession. The Rams were further hampered by the loss of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp to an injury, which left their passing game depleted. This loss leaves the Rams at 0-2, while the Eagles continue to look like one of the best teams in the NFC
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