NFL Week 2: Takeaways, questions, fantasy spin for Sunday games

In the early window of NFL Week 2 on Sunday, last week's offensive explosion seemed like a thing of the distant past.

Five teams failed to reach double-digits points, including both the Bears and Vikings at a rainy Soldier Field. The Panthers forced five turnovers against the Falcons, while the Patriots cemented their win over the Steelers with a fumble return for a touchdown. The highest-scoring matchup of the early window (44 points) came between the Titans and Eagles, which ended on a game-winning touchdown grab by Philly'sDarius Cooper.

The scoring picked up in the late window Sunday, as the Cowboys and Commanders combined for 57 points. However, Washington lost QB Jayden Daniels to an elbow injury in the third quarter -- hours after Chicago lost QB Caleb Williams to a right hamstring injury. Meanwhile, the 49ers dominated the Dolphins in their first game back from Melbourne, Australia. And the Seahawks won their second straight game with backup quarterback Drew Lock.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for teams that played Sunday. Fantasy football analysts Matt Bowen andTristan Cockcroft also have fantasy takeaways from each matchup. Let's get to it.

Jump to:

WSH-DAL | LV-LAC

SEA-ARI |MIA-SF

JAX-DEN|CLE-TB|PHI-TEN

GB-NYJ|CIN-HOU | MIN-CHI

NO-BAL|CAR-ATL |PIT-NE

Catch up on Thursday's game:

DET-BUF

Dallas 37, Washington 20

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Cowboys

Are the Cowboys going to need QB Dak Prescott to outscore teams again this season? It looks that way. Prescott broke the Cowboys' record for touchdown passes in a career with four Sunday, eclipsing Tony Romo. But Prescott needed to be everything for Dallas, completing better than 80% of his passes, throwing the four scores and running for 26 yards. The defense had issues again, losing safety P.J. Locke (foot) and corner Cobie Durant (hamstring) in the first half. The Cowboys continue to struggle on third down, contain a running quarterback and turn pressures into sacks. Washington had three chances for touchdowns wiped out, but Prescott bailed the Cowboys out ... again.

Trend to watch: The Cowboys want to be a team that relies on the running game to get things going. Through two games, that has not happened. A week after running 18 times for 69 yards against the Giants, the Cowboys followed with 66 yards on 21 carries. No Cowboys running back has a rush of more than 9 yards. The Cowboys miss Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who will be out for at least the next two games because of thumb surgery, but they shouldn't miss him this much. -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Commanders

What's next for Washington after QB Jayden Daniels' injury? This game resembled many from last season -- porous defense, an injured quarterback and a double-digit defeat. Daniels' status and length of absence remains uncertain. And he'll have to answer one giant question whenever he returns: Can he stay healthy? He has now exited four of his past five games with an injury. Also, the defense has struggled. In two games, it has forced zero turnovers and hasn't lived up to internal expectations. If the team is not careful, the season could get ugly.

Trend to watch: The Commanders' pass defense has allowed seven touchdown receptions in the first two games -- including four Sunday. The offseason overhaul on defense was supposed to help the coverage with intense pressure and disguised coverages. However, the pressure has been sporadic and too many targets are left open -- whether from coverage confusion or botched assignments. Cornerback Mike Sainristil has been a frequent target, and he's not the only one breaking down. -- John Keim

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had 20.3 fantasy points in Week 2, catching all four of his targets for 43 yards and two touchdowns. He will remain a touchdown-dependent player in this offense, but he is a priority target in scoring position. Ferguson already has three red zone targets over his first two games after seeing 23 last season. -- Bowen

Las Vegas 26, L.A. Chargers 14

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Raiders

How have the Raiders fared without TE Brock Bowers? Last year, the Raiders' offense fell apart when Bowers sustained a knee injury in Week 1. This year has been different. Las Vegas has been without Bowers (knee) for two weeks and has managed to make things work, which is a testament to coach Klint Kubiak. On Sunday, wide receiver Tre Tucker caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Las Vegas had eight players record a reception, including wide receiver Cody White, who had two touchdown catches. With Bowers expected to return for Week 3, the optimism for this offense grows higher.

What to make of the QB performance: After Kirk Cousins raised concerns about his ability to generate explosive passing plays, he let the ball fly at SoFi. On attempts of 10-plus air yards, Cousins completed 8 of 12 passes for 181 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He had two completions for more than 40 yards each, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tucker. Cousins might not sling the ball like this every week, but at least he showed that he's still capable. -- Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Chargers

What's up with the Chargers' passing offense? Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was confident this week that his offense's Week 1 performance was an anomaly. Instead, the Chargers' offense was even more disjointed. Herbert didn't complete a pass of more than 20 air yards, as he was under constant pressure and receivers struggled to get open. He finished with 192 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception. There were also struggles from left tackle Joe Alt, who had three false-start penalties and a hold that resulted in a safety.

Trend to watch:Omarion Hampton had a career-high 23 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown. It was the first clear indication that the Chargers will lean on him this season. McDaniel has said previously that he would split the workload between the three backs: Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. But through the first two games, it has been clear that this is Hampton's backfield. -- Kris Rhim

Next game: at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Herbert disappointed yet again, throwing multiple interceptions for only the fifth time since the beginning of 2022. He seems out of sync with McDaniel's offense thus far, and he has a tough upcoming schedule (at the Bills, at Seahawks and at Broncos). It's best to look elsewhere for a QB streamer. -- Cockcroft

Seattle 31, Arizona 7

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Seahawks

Will Drew Lock have the Seahawks unbeaten by the time Sam Darnold returns? For the second straight week, the Seahawks showed they have the dominant defense, offensive weaponry and good enough backup quarterback to survive a stretch without their starter. Lock was 19-of-26 for 235 yards, three TDs and no turnovers. The Seahawks hope Darnold can practice this week, which suggests he might not have to miss more than another game or two. Seattle plays at Washington -- which lost Jayden Daniels to an elbow injury Sunday -- before hosting the 0-2 Chargers in Week 4.

Key stat to know:Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year, finished with nine catches for 155 yards and has 11 games with at least 100 receiving yards since the start of last season. Per ESPN Research, that's the most in the NFL. Smith-Njigba also became the third Seahawk with 150-plus receiving yards and three receiving TDs in a game, joining Tyler Lockett and Steve Largent (twice). -- Brady Henderson

Next game: at Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cardinals

What went wrong for the defense in the second half? Arizona's defense went from stopping the run on a regular basis in the first half to hardly containing it in the second. Arizona gave up 43 rushing yards in the first two quarters, stopping the Seahawks twice within 4 yards of the end zone in the second quarter -- including on fourth-and-1 from the 1. But whatever worked in the first half didn't in the second, as Arizona allowed 109 yards in the final two quarters.

Key stat to know: The Cardinals gained 127 yards, which marked the first time they were held under 200 yards since November 2023, per ESPN Research. Arizona couldn't get anything going consistently offensively, with quarterback Jacoby Brissett throwing for 95 yards a week after passing for 277. -- Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Marvin Harrison Jr. isn't getting enough looks from Brissett, as he has run 58 routes and seen only four targets through two games. Five Cardinals have had more targets, including the clear "WR1" Trey McBride (who has 42.6 fantasy points this season). It's time to cut MHJ in fantasy. -- Cockcroft

San Francisco 35, Miami 13

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

49ers

Where do the 49ers go from here at wide receiver? The injury bug bit the Niners' wide receiver room again as Demarcus Robinson left on a cart with a right ankle injury. Though the Niners had no issues producing against the Dolphins without Robinson, the team's depth is growing perilously thin. Robinson joins Ricky Pearsall, De'Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk as injured 49ers wideouts. Making matters worse, Mike Evans had a hip issue late in the game. Kirk is eligible to return after Week 5, but if Robinson is out long, the Niners might need to scour the trade or free agent market for reinforcements.

Trend to watch: Beyond injuries, the 49ers' run defense continues to be their biggest issue. San Francisco limited the Dolphins to 3.5 yards per carry for the game, but Miami kept it close for a half because it controlled the ball and the clock. The Niners had just two first-half possessions, as the Dolphins mustered 60 rushing yards before first contact.

Best quote from the locker room: "Coming into this game, we knew the Dolphins, their whole story, it is what it is," QB Brock Purdysaid about the Niners coming off a long trip to Australia and making sure they didn't have a letdown against a rebuilding opponent. "It's the NFL, you never know. Anything can happen on Sundays. And so for us, it's like how can we just be our best, play our way of football and keep our heads down and let the game play out. That's what we were saying all week and I thought we went out there and did that today."-- Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

Is there a bright spot for the Dolphins' defense moving forward? After this game, you'd be hard-pressed to find one. Jacob Rodriguez -- last week's standout -- was active Sunday, but it didn't make much of a difference as the 49ers' offense scored touchdowns on the team's first five drives. Without edge rusherChop Robinson, the Dolphins' defense failed to generate pressure on Brock Purdy, and Miami couldn't affect him when he was forced out of the pocket. Life doesn't get much easier next week againstPatrick Mahomes.

Trend to watch: Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis was pressured a whopping 17 times in Week 1, taking five sacks; and the heat stayed on him against the 49ers. Willis withstood 11 pressures and was brought down four times. Considering this is Miami's offensive line at full strength, the past two games have birthed a concerning trend. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Purdy has back-to-back games with at least 20 fantasy points, and he's doing an excellent job spreading the ball around. After Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. starred in Week 1, it wasGeorge Kittle's turn. Purdy is a sneaky back-end fantasy QB1, and he's a great partner QB if you need help with that position. -- Cockcroft

Denver 20, Jacksonville 13

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Broncos

What is going on in the red zone for the Broncos' offense, especially in first-and-goal? The Broncos got just enough offense with just enough time left to win, but they continue to flirt with trouble in the red zone. The Broncos have scored just once on four first-and goal situations this season, and it came via rookie running Jonah Coleman on Sunday. Quarterback Bo Nix threw his second interception of the season in first-and-goal, and the Broncos have gone backward on two of those four drives. Toss in a 6-of-22 performance on third down this season, and the Broncos are not getting the situational work done that playoff teams do.

Trend to watch: Cancel the red alert onJaylen Waddle'sparticipation. He looked exactly like the player the Broncos made their biggest offseason move to acquire. After a one-catch, 2-yard evening against the Chiefs, Waddle had a team high in targets (10), catches (eight) and yards (138). Coach Sean Payton had promised Waddle would "get his touches," and he did just that in Week 2.

Best quote from the locker room: "Me, (Talanoa Hufanga), Justin (Strnad), Brandon (Jones), Riley (Moss) andPat (Surtain II) and Ja'Quan (McMillian) all watched [last week's game] on the bus. Before the buses left Kansas City, left the parking lots, we had watched it, we knew what we had to do and (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) knew that. (Last Monday) was embarrassing ... it was bring these guys together and play our brand of football. That's what we did,"Broncos linebackerAlex Singletonon bouncing back from opening week loss to the Chiefs.-- Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Rams (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

Where was the Jaguars' pass rush? After five sacks against Cleveland, the Jaguars didn't sack Nix, and they hit him only three times. The Jaguars didn't really address their pass rush in the offseason, counting on the development of second-year players B.J. Green and Danny Striggow. They also banked on better coverage in the secondary -- led by the return of Travis Hunter -- making a difference. With Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and C.J. Stroud on deck, Jacksonville's pass rush must be more consistent.

What to make of the QB performance:Trevor Lawrence got battered by the Broncos' pass rush, but unlike last season's matchup, the Jaguars weren't able to overcome it. Lawrence did make a few throws downfield -- the longest being a 32-yarder to Parker Washington to the 1-yard line -- when he did get good protection, but he had to rush a lot of throws. After his lone interception late in the third quarter, the Jaguars managed just 34 yards on three possessions.

Best quote from the locker room: "It comes down to all three phases in the second half, specifically fourth quarter, we did not win," coach Liam Coen said. "We didn't win it, we didn't coach it good enough, we didn't play good enough, and we did not finish. ... I thought we played complementary enough in the first half and that was what was disappointing was the complementary football, specifically in the second half. And as we went to the fourth quarter, when you needed a drive, you needed a stop, you needed a catch, you needed a play, we just didn't do it. We just didn't make it." -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Waddle scored 21.8 fantasy points in Week 2. With his catch-and-run ability, plus the vertical stretch speed, Waddle has the traits to mesh with the throwing style of Nix. Managers should keep Waddle in the WR2 range for Week 3. -- Bowen

Cleveland 23, Tampa Bay 19

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Browns

What did Deshaun Watson do to earn another start? With rumblings that his starting job was on the line, Watson delivered arguably his best game in a Browns uniform. His performance was risk-averse, as Watson's 3.7 air yards per attempt were his fewest in a game as a Brown. But he made big plays in the second half, converting four third-down conversions on a go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. It was the type of outing that Cleveland has been waiting for years to see.

Key stat to know: The Browns had scored fewer than 20 points in eight straight Watson starts entering Sunday's matchup. This was Cleveland's first time cracking 20-plus points in a Watson start since Week 10 of the 2023 season, a 33-31 win over the Ravens.

Best quote from the locker room:"Browns are gonna Browns. F--- that!," said coach Todd Monken in response to Mike Tomlin's comments on Cleveland's Week 1 performance. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

Why have Baker Mayfield and the offense looked so out of sync? Mayfield just has not looked comfortable. The Bucs only found the end zone once -- in the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown grab from Emeka Egbuka. The pair couldn't replicate this on fourth down with the game on the line after a lengthy weather delay. Mayfield also struggled to connect withTed Hurst III(2-of-7 total and 1-of-4 on third down), including a 13-yard pass to the end zone he just couldn't hang onto in that final series. With the exception of a 49-yard dime to Tez Johnson, Mayfield struggled on the deep ball, where Mike Evans was always his most dependable weapon. He threw a first-quarter interception for his fourth turnover in two games.

Most surprising performance: No one has expected perfection, especially from a new piece navigating a new defense, but veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone has now surrendered eight receptions for 93 yards on eight targets -- along with a handful of missed tackles. That's not counting the plays in which he was out of position. The team signed him to not only bolster their coverage in the middle of the field, but they also believed in him enough to vote him a team captain. -- Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Denzel Bostonhas big play juice and should be a priority waiver pickup this week. Rostered in only 26.4% of ESPN leagues, he scored 20.5 points, catching 5 of 7 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. Boston has now posted a touchdown reception and at least 13 points in back-to-back games to start his pro career.-- Bowen

Philadelphia 24, Tennessee 20

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Eagles

How should we feel about the Eagles after this game? The offensive line was too leaky for the second straight week. The defense had issues suppressing an offense that ranked 31st in total yards (195) in Week 1. And quarterback Jalen Hurts, operating without running back Saquon Barkley (stinger) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) for much of the game, had two interceptions. Hurts orchestrated a touchdown drive in the final seconds to walk away with a win, but Philly's schedule is only going to get tougher from here.

What to make of the QB performance: Hurts threw an interception on the Eagles' opening drive -- his first on a pass thrown into the end zone since Week 10 of 2024 -- and another in the second half. But he bounced back to calmly lead the Eagles downfield in the closing moments before finding Darius Cooper for the game winner with 14 seconds left. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Bears (Monday, Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Titans

What does this loss do for the Titans' confidence going forward? On paper, this game was lopsided. But both units fed off each other. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll found a nice groove orchestrating two long scoring drives. The defense had interceptions by Amani Hooker and Marcus Harris that led to 10 points. But this is the kind of game the Titans need to find a way to win. Playing the Eagles closely could give them confidence going forward, but when will these turn into wins?

What to make of the QB performance: Ward appeared comfortable executing Daboll's offense. Both of the Titans' touchdowns came via Ward's legs, making him the fifth quarterback in franchise history with two rushing TDs in a game over the past 50 seasons. And Ward's 41-yard pass to Elic Ayomanor was the fourth longest of his career. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Philly's DeVonta Smith showed genuine WR1 potential with 27.7 fantasy points, backed by a 38% target share. He is in prime position to shine with A.J. Brown now in New England, and Smith gets a fantastic matchup to repeat his Week 2 effort against the Bears. -- Cockcroft

Green Bay 20, N.Y. Jets 17 (OT)

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Packers

How badly did the Packers need this win? It wasn't just that their last win came 287 days ago. It wasn't just that they had lost six straight games, their longest losing streak since 1990-91. And it wasn't just that they would have been 0-2 for the first time since 2006, the longest active streak without an 0-2 start. Instead of blowing another late lead, they showed some grit and pulled off a 20-17 comeback win despite trailing 17-7 in the fourth quarter. It's the kind of victory that could boost the vibe around this team. Of course, that is unless potentially serious injuries to WR Jayden Reed (neck) and RT Zach Bako-Bewele take something away from this win.

Key stat to know: With 14 penalties (for 133 yards) against the Jets, the Packers have been called for 26 accepted penalties through two games. Previously, the most accepted penalties against the Packers in their first two games was 22 in 1947, according to ESPN Research. The 26 accepted penalties is tied for the fourth most by any team through its first two games in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).-- Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. Falcons (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Jets

Are the Jets back to being the "Same Old Jets"? Coach Aaron Glenn is trying to change the losing culture, but it's hard to accomplish that when you blow a 10-point lead in the home opener, squandering a chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2015. The Jets needed one timely play to secure the win, but they melted down in crunch time. Basically, they did everything possible to lose. Curiously, the Jets took the ball first in OT -- which, of course, backfired. This would've been a statement win, but it wound up the most crushing loss of the Glenn era.

Most surprising performance: The Jets' running game, so effective in Week 1, disappeared. Breece Hall (16 carries for 29 yards) was a nonfactor, putting a lot of strain on the passing attack. The most surprising part? Offensive coordinator Frank Reich was too pass-heavy throughout the game, taking the Jets out of their comfort zone. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: The Packers used a committee approach for the second straight game. However,MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks combined for only 63 rushing yards. Sure, Lloyd caught a touchdown, but I wouldn't put much stock into that play. At this point, Green Bay's running backs provide very limited fantasy value. -- Bowen

Cincinnati 20, Houston 6

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Bengals

Is this the best start of the Zac Taylor era? Unequivocally, yes. For the second straight season, the Bengals start off 2-0. This time, quarterbackJoe Burrow is healthy, and that is despite getting sacked five times Sunday. All of Cincinnati's stars played like stars, and that recipe can take the Bengals a long way. Perhaps the most noticeable change this season is the defense, which pressured QB C.J. Stroud all day and sacked him four times.

What to make of the QB performance: Given that he was sacked five times, that is one of Burrow's best outings. After dealing with a back issue earlier in the week, he finished 20-of-31 for 207 yards and two touchdowns -- both to Ja'Marr Chase -- without an interception. -- Ben Baby

Next game: at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

Can Houston survive without wideout Nico Collins? The Texans' offense struggled without Collins, who had a 7-75-1 line in the season opener against Buffalo but missed Sunday's game after a midweek hamstring injury. The wideout group of Jared Wayne, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Kayshon Boutte struggled, but tight end Dalton Schultz had 12 catches for 140 yards. Stroud went 30-of-55 for 353 yards. Luckily for the Texans, Collins' injury didn't appear to be serious.

Trend to watch: Houston's running backs have struggled with efficiency, but its offensive line hasn't given the push needed to create holes. Against the Bengals, David Montgomery and Woody Marks had 14 carries for 18 yards. In Week 1, the duo averaged 3.5 yards a carry. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: After a slow Week 1 start (3.2 fantasy points), Ja'Marr Chase bounced back with 26.5 fantasy points vs. one of the league's best defenses. Chase caught 7 of 9 targets for 75 yards, and he added two touchdowns. It's another reminder to trust your top picks in fantasy lineups. -- Bowen

Minnesota 9, Chicago 3

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Vikings

Could the defense have played any better? Honestly, no. The Bears' offense scored 56 fewer points than it did in Week 1. It's hard to make the point better than that. The Vikings held the Bears' rushing game largely in check, as D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 92 yards on 26 carries. And their pass defense bottled up quarterback Caleb Williams before his hamstring injury. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed him on 77% of his dropbacks, and Williams felt compelled to check down and throw short throughout the game.

Trend to watch: Playing with backup quarterback Carson Wentz, and with Week 1 leading rusher Jordan Mason on injured reserve, the Vikings leaned heavily on veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr. His 105-yard performance was his first 100-yard game since 2024, also against the Bears. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Bears

Can the Bears' offense survive without Caleb Williams? Williams exited midway through the fourth quarter with a right hamstring injury sustained while trying to run in a touchdown. The Bears failed to score in his absence after struggling heavily with Flores' blitzes. And even with Williams, the offense did not resemble the one that put up 59 points last week. Chicago believes in backup quarterback Tyson Bagent and its ground game, which was the only way it generated momentum Sunday.

Most surprising performance: The same offensive line that paved the way for 291 rushing yards last week was out of sync from the start. Center Garrett Bradbury was flagged for four penalties, while left tackle Braxton Jones went in and out of the lineup, which Ben Johnson later said was by design. Bagent was sacked on the final play of the game after tight end Colston Loveland was left one-one-one with Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner.-- Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Eagles (Monday, Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Williams produced only 7.72 fantasy points before his injury. He rushed for 42 yards but managed just 138 passing yards and threw an interception. If Williams is out for an extended period, it will have major fantasy implications on Chicago's offense. -- Bowen

New Orleans 24, Baltimore 17

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Saints

How will the Saints fix their slow starts? The Saints put themselves into an early hole for the second week in a row, but it worked out this time with some second-half heroics. The slow starts on offense are becoming a pattern under coach Kellen Moore. According to ESPN Research, this is the Saints' fourth straight game without putting up points in the first quarter. It's their second-longest streak in the past 10 seasons and the longest since they went five straight games in 2021.

Trend to watch: According to ESPN Research, the Saints were 5-of-8 on third-and-long conversions (at least 7 yards) before scoring the go-ahead touchdown at the end of the game. The Saints might start slow, but they've already shown an ability in the past few weeks to make key conversions, particularly between Tyler Shough, Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele. -- Katherine Terrell

Best quote from the locker room: Olave on whether this is one of the best wins he's ever had: "I feel like since I've been here, we haven't really beat a good team. I feel like it's been tough for us to be able to battle against good teams or great teams that make the playoffs every year. Baltimore, like I said, is a contender in the AFC. So just be able to battle, be able to show our resilience, be able to come in here and get a W was huge for us and we got to carry it over to next week."-- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Ravens

Why do the Ravens continue to lose leads in the fourth quarter? Baltimore thought it would change its fortune late in games by changing head coaches. But just like it did so many times under John Harbaugh, the Ravens failed to finish in the fourth quarter in Jesse Minter's second game. In Harbaugh's last five seasons with Baltimore, the Ravens lost an NFL-worst 14 games when leading through three quarters. Baltimore gave up two touchdown drives after entering the fourth quarter with a 17-9 lead Sunday. It will be debated whether Shough crossed the goal line on fourth-and-goal, but the Ravens had their chances to win. Quarterback Lamar Jackson's interception with 13 seconds left ended the game.

Trend to watch: With No. 1 target Zay Flowers out with a hamstring injury, Rashod Bateman stepped up to break out of a rut. He finished with seven catches for 88 yards, the fourth most of his career. This ended a streak of seven straight games of less than 50 yards receiving. Bateman also made a leaping 22-yard grab in the end zone, marking his first touchdown since Oct. 30, 2025. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr. might struggle to approach last season's 296 touches. A week after losing goal-line carries to Kendre Miller, Etienne was out-carried and out-touched by Alvin Kamara, while Tyler Shough handled the game-winning TD sneak. Consider Etienne a low-end RB2. -- Cockcroft

Carolina 34, Atlanta 3

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Panthers

Will the real Panthers defense please stand up? One week after giving up 59 points and 552 yards to the Bears, Carolina's defense suffocated the Cooper Rush-led Atlanta offense. In the first half, the Panthers' defenders produced two turnovers and limited RB Bijan Robinson to 47 rushing yards. The takeaways were key, as Atlanta still picked up 162 net yards before halftime. On his first defensive play in the NFL, 2026 fifth-round pick Zakee Wheatley forced a fumble on Rush. Later, LB Devin Lloyd deflected a pass that was intercepted by Bobby Okereke. Lloyd, in particular, was revelatory with nine tackles (two for loss), a sack, three pass breakups, two third-quarter interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

What to make of the QB performance:Bryce Young looked the part of a franchise QB on Sunday. He threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns before halftime, spreading the ball around to Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette and Darren Waller. Playing point guard against a porous defense, Young continued his Mercedes-Benz Stadium dominance in the Panthers' third consecutive win in Atlanta. -- Mike Kaye

Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Falcons

Will the Falcons get some relief at quarterback in Week 3? Cooper Rush lost a fumble and threw an interception on the Falcons' first two drives. It was the first time the Falcons had two turnovers on back-to-back series to begin a game since 2007. Rush was later pulled for undrafted rookie Jack Strand, who threw a pick-six on his first attempt. ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Michael Penix Jr. could start in Week 3, but it wouldn't be ideal.

Key stat to know: Bijan Robinson surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards Sunday (72 yards) and is now tied for the second-fastest player to reach that mark (53 games) in NFL history, behind only Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. Robinson is tied with Josh Jacobs. Robinson is also now the fastest Falcons player to reach that total. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Packers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway: Bryce Young scored 20-plus fantasy points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, making great use of his deep set of receivers. We're used to him showing signs late in the season, but his hot start now elevates him into the solid-streaming tier for fantasy. -- Cockcroft

New England 20, Pittsburgh 3

Catch up on the action:Box score | Recap

Patriots

Are QB Drake Maye's lingering issues fixable? Maye's shaky decision-making and inaccuracy from the season opener carried over Sunday with a badly underthrown third-quarter interception. All four of Maye's interceptions this season have come on throws of 15-plus yards. He had four of those INTs all of last season. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has preached patience and repetition with the 24-year-old Maye, who has faced two of the NFL's better defenses to open the season (Seahawks and Steelers) and now looks ahead to road games against the Jaguars and Bills.

Key stat to know: Running back TreVeyon Henderson's 39-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter was his fifth one of 30-plus yards since the start of last season, which leads the NFL. Henderson missed the season opener with an ankle injury, and coach Mike Vrabel said the team would welcome his ability to create explosive plays, which showed up quickly Sunday.

Best quote from the locker room: "Just trying to win the game. You're not gonna ruin my Sunday," said coach Mike Vrabel when asked about the concern he has for the offense.-- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Steelers

Is it time to make a change on the offensive line? The O-line failed to protect 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers or get push in the run game. Rodgers was sacked four times, including a strip sack returned for a game-sealing touchdown after Spencer Anderson was manhandled by Christian Barmore. Under pressure, Rodgers was 4-of-11 for 18 yards, with two sacks and two fumbles. The run game averaged 4.0 yards per carry a week after averaging 2.8. The Steelers could turn to veteran Brock Hoffman to replace Anderson at right guard, and they could replace tackle Dylan Cook with rookie Max Iheanachor if they wanted to.

Trend to watch:DK Metcalf picked up where he left off in Week 1 -- and not in a good way. He had four catches on nine targets for 27 yards, with at least two drops. Metcalf has eight catches on 19 targets for 67 yards this season. For most of the day, he struggled to get separation from top Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez. Metcalf added a pair of catches in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Best quote from the locker room:"Offense needs to be better. Mike McCarthy needs to be better," said coach Mike McCarthy after the Steelers' offensive struggles in the loss. -- Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Fantasy football takeaway:Maye is already halfway (four) to his entire 2025 interception total (eight). Repeating last season's stellar accuracy metrics was an unrealistic ask, but this much regression raises red flags ... especially with one of the league's toughest schedules in 2026. If you roster Maye, a start-worthy bench QB is now mandatory.-- Cockcroft

]