NFL Week 2 Recap
Week 2 brought a mix of nail-biters, standout performances, and some teams needing serious adjustments. Rankings are already shifting, and storylines are bubbling. Here are the key results and what to watch.
Key Games & Final Scores
- Packers 27, Commanders 18 — Green Bay dominated most of the evening, controlling both sides of the ball. Their offense moved well, while Washington struggled to get much going until late.
- Buccaneers 20, Texans 19 — Tampa Bay edged out Houston on Monday Night Football. A dramatic finish with Rachaad White punching in the game-winner with just seconds left.
- Eagles 20, Chiefs 17 — Philly held off Kansas City in a defensive struggle. The Eagles’ defense looked strong, especially in critical spots, while Mahomes and Co. couldn’t find enough explosive plays to pull away.
- Colts 29, Broncos 28 — A tight one in Indianapolis. This was an edge-of-your-seat kind of game with back-and-forth scoring. Colts pulled it out in the end, surviving a late Broncos push.
- Bills 30, Jets 10 — Buffalo dominated on both sides. Strong running game (James Cook) and stout defense held the Jets in check.
- Rams 33, Titans 19 — Los Angeles pulled away in the second half after a competitive first half. Their defense made key stops, and the offense took advantage of momentum shifts.
- Patriots 33, Dolphins 27 — A wild back-and-forth in an AFC East battle. Big special teams plays (kickoff/punt returns) made a difference. Drake Maye impressed under pressure.
- Falcons 22, Vikings 6 — Atlanta’s defense carried them. Big sack totals, pressure up front, while Minnesota couldn’t generate much offense or protect their QB.
- Cardinals 27, Panthers 22 — Arizona held on despite a second-half surge by Carolina. Turnovers and big defensive plays helped tilt things. Panthers showed fight but couldn’t close.
- Cowboys 40, Giants 37 (OT) — A high-scoring, back-and-forth affair that needed overtime to settle. Big performances on both sides, clutch kickers, momentum swings. Dallas pulled through in the extra period.
- Ravens 41, Browns 17 — Baltimore looked sharp. Lamar Jackson was efficient, multiple TDs, no interceptions. Browns couldn’t keep up either through the air or on the ground.
- Seahawks 31, Steelers 17 — Seattle controlled a lot of this game. Big plays, some turnovers, and the offensive balance helped them build and hold a lead. Pittsburgh made runs but couldn’t sustain.
Other Notables
- Detroit beat Chicago 52-21, putting up fireworks on offense.
- Some early season injury concerns creeping up for a few teams. Offensive lines, QB protection, and defensive secondaries came in for scrutiny.
Takeaways & Storylines
- Strong starts for some, cracks for others. Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore have looked impressive through two weeks. Meanwhile, teams like the Chiefs (0-2 now) and Texans are showing issues that might haunt them.
- Defense wins—or at least keeps you in games. Eagles vs Chiefs, Falcons vs Vikings, and Ravens dominating the Browns—games are being decided by stops, turnovers, red zone defense.
- Special teams matter more than people often give credit. Punt/Kick returns, blocked kicks or punts, big returns have already swung outcomes. Patriots-Dolphins had a couple of those. Buccaneers-Texans as well.
- Quarterback play matters, but adversity shows who’s ready. Drake Maye stepping up, Lamar Jackson sharp, Buffalo’s running game filling gaps. On the flip, QBs under pass rush (Vikings, Chiefs) are getting exposed.