Week 2 of the NFL gave us some shocking upsets, an AFC thriller and some spectacular individual performances. Let’s recap some of the biggest news from Sunday’s slate.
The Chiefs will always find a way
Trailing 25-23 and facing fourth-and-16 with under a minute to go, most teams would be dead in the water.
Not the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs stole a 26-25 victory from the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. A pass interference penalty on the aforementioned fourth-and-16 kept Kansas City’s last drive alive. The Chiefs capitalized with a 51-yard Harrison Butker field goal as time expired.
It was a sloppy game by the Bengals. On their last possession, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that derailed a possible touchdown drive. That allowed the Chiefs to stay within a field goal — as did Cincinnati’s offensive struggles.
Settling for four field goals against Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a recipe for disaster. Twice the Bengals settled for field goals deep in the red zone. And they scored only 10 points off three turnovers — and even gave seven back. After a Mahomes interception, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was strip-sacked, and the fumble was recovered for a score on the next possession.
The Bengals fall to 0-2 with the loss. The Chiefs remain undefeated at 2-0.
The Saints’ offense keeps marching
After they scored 47 points in their Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints came back with 44 more against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Alvin Kamara scored four touchdowns on his own as New Orleans’ offense dominated in a 44-19 win.
It was a surprising upset on multiple levels.
Is the Saints’ offense really this good? What’s gotten into Derek Carr? It’s one thing for New Orleans to beat up on the hapless Panthers, as they did in Week 1. It’s another to smack around a Cowboys defense loaded with talent that had its own dominant performance to open the season. The Saints scored touchdowns on five straight possessions to open the game, sandwiching long drives around explosive plays.
For the Cowboys, which week is more illustrative? Their beatdown of the Cleveland Browns to open the season or their performance against the Saints, which lacked on both sides of the ball?
Of course, it’s impossible to know now whether this game was merely an early-season blip or a sign of things to come. The Saints certainly sent a message, though. Their offense is not to be taken lightly.
The Vikings aren’t throwing in the towel
With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy out for the season, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t treating this year as a lost cause. Instead, the Vikings are 2-0 after they upset the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 on Sunday.
Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold exacted revenge on his former team, throwing for 268 yards and two scores — including a 97-yard connection with receiver Justin Jefferson.
The 49ers were without star running back Christian McCaffrey. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 319 yards but was also intercepted once.
Don’t count out the Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also pulled off an upset Sunday, winning 20-16 against the Lions in Detroit.
In a battle of former No. 1 picks discarded by their old teams, Baker Mayfield bested Jared Goff. Mayfield, Tampa Bay’s signal-caller, passed for 185 yards, throwing for a score and running for another. Goff threw for 307 yards but had no touchdowns and two costly interceptions.
The Buccaneers are 2-0 and have exacted revenge on the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. The Lions were a trendy pick to make the Super Bowl, but they’re at 1-1 after having been outplayed by Tampa Bay.
The Jaguars are in the danger zone
Both the Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars were 0-1 and desperate for a win Sunday. And it was the Browns who emerged victorious with an 18-13 win.
Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson somewhat bounced back. He threw for a meager 186 yards and ran for a touchdown, and most importantly he didn’t turn the ball over.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence didn’t impress. He completed only 14 of 30 passes for 220 yards and zero scores. He also suffered a safety late in the fourth quarter.
After having looked overmatched in Week 1, the Browns ultimately came back nicely with a road win.
Jacksonville, on the other hand, missed the playoffs last year and is now 0-2.
