During Sunday’s early slate, Saquon Barkley, Drew Lock, Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo headlined a long list of players who were forced out and potentially face long absences. The 49ers, in particular, were battered with injury issues throughout their win on Sunday. Elsewhere, the Cowboys mounted a huge comeback against the Falcons to win on a field goal in the final seconds, the Titans held off the Jaguars for a close win to take sole possession of first place in the AFC South and the Bears escaped a Giants rally in the closing minutes.
The Eagles stumbled to another loss, and the Vikings’ offense couldn’t find any footing in their defeat. And as far as big performances go, Aaron Jones went over 200 scrimmage yards and scored three times.
In the afternoon games, Kyler Murray dazzled with his rushing ability, the Texans’ offense couldn’t find a spark and the Chiefs navigated a comeback win on a long field goal.
Sunday’s night game was an offensive explosion, as Seattle’s Russell Wilson tied a career high with five touchdown passes in a matchup with the Patriots that came down to the final three seconds.
All that and more in Week 2’s biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
Seattle Seahawks 35, New England Patriots 30
Standout performer for NE-SEA: Russell Wilson, 21-of-28, 288 yards, 5 TDs, INT
Wilson once again looks like an MVP candidate, but the Seahawks need their defense to catch up. Wilson tied a career high with five touchdown passes, giving him nine TDs over the first two games to one interception that was the result of a drop. The Seahawks had to have everything they got from Wilson with a mixed bag of a performance from their defense. Allowing a ton of yards to Matt Ryan and the Falcons last week was understandable, given how Seattle jumped out to a big lead and then went into prevent mode. Less understandable was only sacking Cam Newton once and nearly allowing him to rally the Patriots from a 12-point deficit with 4½ minutes left, before getting a goal-line stop on the final play. The Seahawks’ pass rush was a major question mark heading into the season, and it remains one through two games. — Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Dallas (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Deep ball. Deep trouble. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wilson was the best deep-ball thrower in the NFL, and that’s ultimately what sunk New England despite a valiant comeback bid. How rare was this for the Patriots’ secondary? Consider that opposing wide receivers scored four touchdowns against the Patriots over the course of the 2019 season. Seattle had four in the game Sunday night — and Wilson threw five TD passes overall. Wilson’s five touchdowns ties for the most ever against Belichick’s Patriots, with the Saints’ Drew Brees throwing for five in 2009. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Las Vegas (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Los Angeles Rams 37, Philadelphia Eagles 19
Standout performer for LAR-PHI: Jared Goff, 20-of-27, 267 passing yards, 3 TDs
The Rams’ offense fired on all cylinders. Goff completed 13 consecutive passes to start the game, as the Rams’ play-action and misdirection kept the Eagles’ defense on its heels. Seven Rams players recorded a carry, and six caught a pass. “We had guys open, and I was throwing the ball pretty good,” Goff said. Now the offense must maintain momentum as the Rams return to L.A. before traveling to the East Coast again next Sunday to play the Bills. — Lindsey Thiry
Next game: at Buffalo (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Carson Wentz (242 yards, two interceptions) could not match the level of play of his old training partner, Goff, and now the Eagles are in an 0-2 hole. Philadelphia needed its franchise quarterback to elevate the offense and meet the moment, and he didn’t deliver despite a much-improved performance from the offensive line. There is plenty of time to turn things around, but the concern is growing when it comes to the starting QB. — Tim McManus
Next game: vs. Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Dallas Cowboys 40, Atlanta Falcons 39
Standout performer for ATL-DAL: Dak Prescott, 450 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 3 rushing TDs
The difference between 1-1 and 0-2 might not mean what it had in past years, with an additional wild-card team being added this season. But how the Cowboys got to 1-1 is more meaningful than the fact that they’re back to .500. Overcoming a 20-0 deficit in the first quarter and a 15-point hole with less than five minutes to play to beat Atlanta is something that could give this team a push going forward. “We all know where we want to go, and we all understand it’s a process,” linebacker Jaylon Smith said. “We embrace each moment, but whenever you win in the National Football League, you have to embrace it. We’re going to evaluate the footage and figure out how we can get better and grow. This is not a sprint. It’s a marathon, and we want to peak when we need to peak.” — Todd Archer
Next game: at Seattle (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
No matter how you dissect it, this was an embarrassing loss for the Falcons and one that could linger the rest of the season. An 0-2 start was not what owner Arthur Blank signed up for when he decided to keep both coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff after back-to-back 7-9 seasons. Yes, it’s too early to rule the Falcons out of playoff contention, but a fast start was critical, especially with how difficult NFC South play will be against Drew Brees’ Saints and Tom Brady’s Bucs. Quinn said he’s going to take things game by game, and he gave an emphatic “No,” when asked whether any coaching changes would be made. The Falcons have no choice but to turn it around against a surprisingly undefeated Bears team next week at home, or else they could find themselves 0-4 out of the gate with a road trip to Green Bay in Week 4. — Vaughn McClure
Next game: vs. Chicago (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Denver Broncos 21
Standout performer for DEN-PIT: Mike Hilton, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 8 tackles
Ben Roethlisberger looked mortal in his home debut with an interception and a couple of missed throws, but he emphasized the offensive miscues were his fault, complimenting his receivers for running the right routes and being in the right place. “A lot of the throws I missed is me needing to trust myself and that the guys are in the right spots, because they are in the right places,” Roethlisberger said. With the offense struggling to find an identity in the third quarter, the defense came through to preserve the win, making up for gifting the Broncos six first downs on penalties with a massive 11-yard sack on fourth down by Terrell Edmunds with less than two minutes remaining. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Houston (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season, the Broncos have used seven different starting quarterbacks, and Pat Shurmur is now their fifth different offensive coordinator in the past five years. Jeff Driskel could be the eighth starting quarterback next week after Drew Lock left Sunday’s game in the first quarter with a right (throwing) shoulder injury. Driskel tried to rally the Broncos before a failed fourth-down conversion inside the two-minute warning ended those hopes. And for the Broncos to have any success next week, they need to protect Driskel. Lock and Driskel were sacked a combined seven times and hit 18 others. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Tampa Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
San Francisco 49ers 31, New York Jets 13
Standout performer for SF-NYJ: Jordan Reed, 50 receiving yards, 2 TDs
A team that was already without tight end George Kittle, receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive end Dee Ford and cornerback Richard Sherman watched as defensive end Nick Bosa (left knee), quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (right ankle), running backs Raheem Mostert (knee) and Tevin Coleman (knee) and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (knee) departed and did not return. Bosa might have suffered a torn ACL, something coach Kyle Shanahan said is “most likely,” and a high ankle sprain for Garoppolo could cost him time. “You’ve got a little mixed emotions when you lose some guys like that,” Shanahan said. “We had a good team last year, and we have got a good team this year. I just told the guys we do have a good team, but there’s also so many guys in our place that can get a lot better.” The Niners will need that improvement to happen fast and hope for better days to come on the injury front. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: at N.Y. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Jets are an absolute mess, and the Adam Gase Watch is on. They were noncompetitive for the second consecutive week, regressing in all areas. CEO Christopher Johnson said last week he will base his end-of-season evaluation on Gase on whether the team shows progress. At the rate the Jets are going, he won’t make it to the end of the year. Injuries are mounting, making the challenge that much greater. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Indianapolis (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Indianapolis Colts 28, Minnesota Vikings 11
Standout performer for MIN-IND: Jonathan Taylor, 101 rushing yards, 1 TD
The Colts’ defense responded to a poor performance in Week 1 by intercepting Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins three times, sacking him three times and holding Minnesota’s offense to 175 yards. At one point in the second half, Cousins had a 0.0 rating. The Colts needed a game like Sunday to avoid questions about a defensive unit that was supposed to take a step forward with the addition of DeForest Buckner and the return of Darius Leonard. For one week, they answered those questions. — Mike Wells
Next game: vs. N.Y. Jets (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Vikings are in trouble. In a year in which the defense is undergoing a major rebuild, the offense has not been able to pull its weight in two miserable early-season losses. The identity of this team is not what it has been for the past six seasons, and according to coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings are “not very good at anything.” It’s going to take a while before Minnesota’s defense is back to being one of the top units in the NFL. Until then, the offense has to find workarounds for its lackluster pass protection, unproven receiving corps (outside of Adam Thielen) and disastrous play at quarterback. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Green Bay Packers 42, Detroit Lions 21
Standout performer for DET-GB: Aaron Jones, 168 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards, 3 total TDs
How can the Packers not pay Jones after he totaled a career-best 236 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns against the Lions? In a perfect, non-salary-cap world, that wouldn’t even be a question. Even in the world in which the Packers operate, they’re going to have to start asking themselves that question if the fourth-year running back with an expiring contract keeps doing what he did during Sunday’s win over the Lions in the home opener at Lambeau Field. — Rob Demovsky
Next game: at New Orleans (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Lions lost a double-digit lead for the fourth consecutive game, which was also their 11th straight loss. At least the collapse didn’t come at the end against Green Bay. Instead, it happened at the end of the first half and start of the second, when a 14-3 lead evaporated with 31 straight Packers points. At 0-2, 2020 is starting to feel a lot like a continuation of last season, when the Lions went 3-12-1 and were one of the worst teams in the league. — Michael Rothstein
Next game: at Arizona (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Carolina Panthers 17
Standout performer for CAR-TB: Leonard Fournette, 103 rushing yards, 2 TDs
The Bucs’ defense notched four takeaways, with two setting up scoring drives, and Fournette broke out for 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 touches. The offensive line also didn’t give up a sack. That’s exactly the kind of support Tom Brady and his receivers need while they continue to get more on the same page. Brady went 23-of-35 for 217 passing yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumbled exchange with Ronald Jones. “Consistency, dependability are gonna be things we really need,” Brady said. “Defense played great the first two games. We’ve gotta match ’em.” — Jenna Laine
Next game: at Denver (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The question isn’t whether the Panthers can turn things around after an 0-2 start. It’s whether they can do it without their best player, running back Christian McCaffrey, if he misses time with an ankle/lower-leg injury suffered on a 7-yard touchdown run with about 13:30 remaining. Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay was filled with mistakes, highlighted by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s four turnovers. Those things can be corrected, and Bridgewater doesn’t have a history of being mistake-prone. But replacing McCaffrey, who last year became the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, won’t be so easy if his injury is serious. — David Newton
Next game: at L.A. Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 28
Standout performer for BUF-MIA: Josh Allen, 417 passing yards, 4 TDs
Buffalo didn’t just improve its passing offense this offseason — it might have become one of the most proficient aerial attacks in the NFL. Allen has looked like an elite passer over his past two games, and trading for Stefon Diggs (eight catches, 153 yards, TD) has immediately paid off. The Bills’ ability to put points up quickly will serve them well now that their schedule gets a lot more difficult over the next month. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. L.A. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
It was eye-opening to see how Allen exposed what was supposed to be the strength of the Dolphins: their pass defense. But the biggest takeaway? The Dolphins continue to show fight and improvement, but they have gaping flaws and are still rebuilding rather than truly competing for the AFC East. At 0-2, the Dolphins look like a team at least a year or two away, rather than a team truly ready to compete for a playoff spot. — Cameron Wolfe
Next game: at Jacksonville (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)
Tennessee Titans 33, Jacksonville Jaguars 30
Standout performer for JAX-TEN: Stephen Gostkowski, 2-of-2 FGs, including 49-yard game winner
Even in a win, the defense needs to perform better. Tennessee gave up 165 rushing yards to the Jaguars, and it had a lot of missed tackles. Gardner Minshew also threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns, as Jacksonville gained 480 yards on offense. But the Titans were fortunate to get two late stops on the last two drives by the Jaguars, and Jeffery Simmons’ tipped pass intercepted by Harold Landry sealed the game. — Turron Davenport
Next game: at Minnesota (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Jaguars made stopping Derrick Henry a priority, limiting him to 84 yards on 25 carries. But they couldn’t stop Ryan Tannehill, who threw for 239 yards and four TDs. The Jaguars were down starting free safety Jarrod Wilson but had every other starter in the secondary until cornerback D.J. Hayden was evaluated for a concussion on the Titans’ game-winning drive. The Jags didn’t get much pressure on Tannehill, either. They sacked him once and now have two sacks through the first two games of the season. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Miami (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)
Chicago Bears 17, New York Giants 13
Standout performer for NYG-CHI: David Montgomery, 82 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
The Bears are 2-0, but it’s impossible to tell whether they’re actually any good. Just when you want to start believing in Matt Nagy’s offense and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears score zero second-half points against a depleted Giants defense. Chicago’s defense — a group Nagy recently referred to as the NFL’s best — has played spotty football through two weeks. And New York’s offense — without Saquon Barkley or Sterling Shepard — almost erased a 17-point deficit and won the game as time expired. That is not how a championship defense is supposed to look. The Bears have benefited from playing two subpar teams to open the season, but the schedule won’t remain soft forever. — Jeff Dickerson
Next game: at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Giants likely lost Barkley for the season to a torn ACL. “I mean, that’s Saquon Barkley,” running back Dion Lewis said after the loss. “You lose a guy like that, it’s a huge loss.” The Giants also lost Shepard (toe) and are off to an 0-2 start for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time in eight seasons. But at least they can take some solace from almost battling back from a 17-point halftime deficit without Barkley. The Giants had the ball on Chicago’s 10-yard line with four seconds remaining and a chance to win. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: vs. San Francisco (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Arizona Cardinals 30, Washington Football Team 15
Standout performer for WSH-ARI: Kyler Murray, 286 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 67 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
Murray finished Sunday’s game among the NFL’s leaders in rushing touchdowns. His two running scores gave him three on the season, one off the league lead. His touchdowns helped the Cardinals overwhelm Washington to improve to 2-0 with two winnable games up next on the schedule (Detroit and Carolina). — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Detroit (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Washington’s Week 1 win over Philadelphia showed what the coaches hope the team becomes: a resilient group with a big-play defense. But the Week 2 loss to Arizona shows it’ll take a while to get there. The offense is inexperienced and lacks enough playmakers, not to mention the sort of line that Ron Rivera wants. The season will become about who just needs experience and who needs to be replaced — whether now or next season. — John Keim
Next game: at Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Baltimore Ravens 33, Houston Texans 16
Standout performer for BAL-HOU: Marlon Humphrey, 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB hit
The Ravens can win without Lamar Jackson delivering an NFL MVP game. The Baltimore defense forced two turnovers, including a 22-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker L.J. Fort. The Ravens’ running backs totaled 176 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown from Mark Ingram on a direct snap. This was the first time in nine games in which Jackson didn’t contribute multiple touchdowns. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: vs. Kansas City (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 28)
Two weeks, two subpar offensive performances for the Texans. Houston’s gamble of trading wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for running back David Johnson hasn’t paid off so far, and No. 1 receiver Will Fuller did not have a target in Sunday’s loss. The Texans’ schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they face the 2-0 Steelers in Week 3. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Kansas City Chiefs 23, Los Angeles Chargers 20
Standout performer for KC-LAC: Harrison Butker, 3 of 3 FGs, including 58-yard game winner
The Chiefs can feel confident they can score points any time they get the ball to the opponent’s 40-yard line. Butker’s added field goal range gives them another dimension. He showed the range by making two 58-yard kicks, including the winner in overtime. Butker said he kicked a 67-yarder in pregame and a 70-yarder at halftime, so it’s no wonder the Chiefs were confident in him at such a distance. — Adam Teicher
Next game: at Baltimore (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 28)
Quarterback Justin Herbert impressed in his surprising NFL debut. He was 22-of-33 for 311 yards and two touchdowns, one of them on the ground, in a heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs in overtime. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn didn’t know he would need to start Herbert until after the coin toss, when he found out Tyrod Taylor was experiencing chest pains that necessitated a trip to the hospital. Despite Herbert’s performance, Lynn sounds committed to Taylor as the starter if he’s healthy enough for Week 3. — Alden Gonzalez
Next game: vs. Carolina (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Cleveland Browns 35, Cincinnati Bengals 30
Standout performer for CIN-CLE: Baker Mayfield, 219 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Coming off a rough 2019 season and even rougher 2020 season opener on Sunday, Mayfield roared back with perhaps the sharpest performance since his rookie season. Mayfield connected on his first five passes, including a 43-yard TD to Odell Beckham Jr. After struggling in the 32-point season-opening loss at Baltimore, Mayfield said the potential of a talented offense built around him was “not just false hopes.” Cleveland will have tests ahead tougher than Cincinnati, but this was a strong step, both for Mayfield and the Browns. — Jake Trotter
Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow showed flashes of his potential for the second time in five days, throwing for 316 yards on 61 attempts with three touchdowns. But after Thursday’s loss, it’s clear Burrow needs those around him to play well if he’s going to make the most of his first NFL season. In his second pro start, Burrow was able to move the offense down the field despite the lack of big plays. However, the rookie constantly found himself under pressure and needing to overcome the play of his teammates. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Philadelphia (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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