NFL 2026 Week 2 Recap
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills was the Thursday night game. Both teams have high octane offenses and suspect defenses, especially Detroit. The Bills began at their own 15 and went right to work. James Cook ran for 12 and Josh Allen added runs of 13 and 12. Allen went to Shakir for 13. Cook added 10 and Allen another 14. Allen got the last yard as the ground game steamrolled Detroit for a 7-0 Bills lead. The Bills got it back at their own 21 and kept rolling. Allen went deep to Kincaid for 25. On 3rd and 11 from the Detroit 43, Allen went deep to Palmer for the touchdown and the 14-0 Bills lead. The Bills got it back and faced 3rd and 1 at the Detroit 48. On the last play of the third quarter, Cook got the yard. The fourth quarter began with Allen hitting Kincaid for 12 and Coleman for 22. Allen hit Dawson Knox for a one yard touchdown to make it 21-0 Bills.
The Lions spent the rest of the game in catch-up mode. A 12 play, 70 yard, 7 minute drive was capped with Jared Goff hit Jahmyr Gibbs for an 11 yard touchdown. The Lions were on the board but the Bills kept coming. From their own 20, Cook gashed the defense for monster gains of 20, 35 and 7. Allen hit Kincaid for a 16 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good bu the Bills led 27-7. The Lions managed a field goal before the half and began the third quarter with an 11 play, 74 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive. Goff hit Amra St. Brown for a 2 yard touchdown. The Lions were within 27-17, but they would get no closer.
The Bills responded with a 15 play, 75 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive. Allen ran for a 2 yard touchdown and a 34-17 Bills lead. In the fourth quarter the Lions moved 68 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes, but ball control drives are not optimal when down by 17. Goff hit Sam LaPorta for a one yard touchdown to have the Lions within 34-24. The Bills put the game away with a 61 yard drive. Cook ran for 22 and then the one yard touchdown to make it 41-24 Bills with 3 minutes left. The Lions managed one more touchdown to make he finals core look closer than the game really was. The onside kick failed to extinguish any faint hopes of a comeback. 41-31 Bills
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons — The Panthers gave up 59 points at home in their season opener, but this week they played an Atlanta team still missing quarterback Michael Penix and backup Tua Tagovailoa to injury. Third stringer Cooper Rush was miserable in the opener but got the start again. On the first play from scrimmage, Rush fumbled the ball away. The Panthers began with a short field at the Atlanta 35. Bryce Young went to McMillan for 26. Dave Canales surprisingly gambled on 4th and goal at the 3 rather than kick an easy field goal. Young hit Chuba Hubbard for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers. Rush was then intercepted. Fitzgerald hit a 37 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Panthers. Fitzgerald hit from 25 in the second quarter for a 13-0 Panthers lead. The Falcons managed a field goal to avoid the shutout but the Panthers blasted them to pieces. A 73 yard drive came mainly on a deep ball from Young to Leggett for 55. On 3rd and goal at the 7, young hit Darren Waller to have the Panthers cruising 20-3 at the break. The second half was pointless. A 10 play, 73 yard, 5 1/2 minute third quarter drive saw Young hit Waller for a 12 yard touchdown. Rush was benched in favor of 4th stringer Strand. Strand was intercepted by Lloyd, who returned the pick 16 yards for a defensive touchdown. The fourth quarter was scoreless. Down by 31, the Falcons attempted a field goal that was no good. 34-3 Panthers
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens — The Saints went on the road and were one two point conversion from an upset victory. The Ravens and their new coach rolled in their opener. In the first quarter the Ravens marched 76 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. Lamar Jackson hit Derrick Henry for 20 and Rashad Bateman for 19. King Henry ran for 6, 5, 8, and the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. A 49 yard Tyler Loop field goal try to extend the lead was blocked. Newly acquired Daniel Carlson hit a 23 yard field goal to get the Saints on the board. The Ravens marched 80 yards in 10 plays. Jackson hit Bateman for a 22 yard touchdown to have the Ravens cruising up 14-3 with 24 seconds left in the half.
Yet the Saints proved resilient. A 53 yard kickoff return allowed Carlson to hit a 47 yard field goal to end the half. Carlson hit from 51 in the third quarter as the Saints were only down 14-9. Loop hit from 49 to have the Ravens up 17-9 after three quarters. The saints began the fourth quarter at their own 32. On 3rd and 5 from the Baltimore 39, Tyler Shough hit Chris OLave for 12. Shough went back to Olave for a 21 yard touchdown. Kellen Moore went for 2 and Travis Etienne got in for a 17-17 game with 10 minutes left in regulation. The Saints got the ball back at their own 32 midway through the fourth quarter and embarked on a staggering 16 play, 68 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 8 from the Baltimore 30, Shough connected with Johnson for 25. On 3rd and goal at the one, Shough got stopped. With 90 seconds left, the Saints only needed a field goal for the lead. Yet with Jackson on the other sideline, Moore went for it all. On 4th and goal at the one, Though took the sneak again. It was nail-bitingly close, but Shough broke the plane of the goal for the touchdown. The Ravens moved from their own 29 to the New Orleans 27 with 20 seconds left. Jackson went deep to try and tie or win the game but was intercepted for a stunning upset at the Big Crabcake. 24-17 Saints
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears — The Bears put up 59 points in their opener. Yet this game was an old-fashioned NFC North street fight. It was stone aged football. Call it ugly, but it was beautiful in its brutality. With rain coming down, these teams engaged in an old-school bare-fisted slobber-knocker. The Vikings started backup Carson Wentz in place of injured Kyler Murray. In the first quarter Will Reichard hit a 35 yard field goal for theVikings and Cairo Santos answered from 50 for a 3-3 game. Reichard hit from 49 in the second quarter. Midway through the fourth quarter the Bears had moved from their own 33 to a 1st and goal at the 6. Caleb Williams was taken down for no gain, suffering an injured hamstring on the tackle. Backup Tyler Agent finished the game. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Bagent threw incomplete. From only 23 yards out, santos’s field goal chip shot to tie the game was blocked. Reichard hit from 39 to put the Vikings up by 6 with one minute left. From his own 35, Bagent moved to Bears to a 2nd and 2 at the Minnesota 12 with 10 seconds left. A pair of incompletions left one second. On the final play of a game that was all defense, Bagent dropped back knowing that the game’s only touchdown would win it. The ball never left his hand. Kevin O’Connell’s defense belted Bagent to the ground. The Purple People Eaters were done proud. Bud Grant had to be smiling in heaven at this one. 9-3 Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans — Both teams have good quarterbacks and good defenses, but only one team showed up for this game. In the second quarter the Texans moved to a 4th and 4 at the Cincinnati 16. The special teams fumbled the snap on the field goal try and never got the kick off. The Texans got it back and moved to a 4th and 1 at the Cincinnati 18. This time Demeco Ryans went for it. Montgomery got rocked for a one yard loss. The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 21. Joe Burrow went to Tee Higgins for 18. On 3rd and 4 from their own 45, Burrow went to Tee Higgins for 23 and deep to JaMarr Chase for a 3 2yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bengals. Kaimi Fairbairn hit a 37 yard field goal for the Texans late in the half, but Evan McPherson hit from 51 for a 10-3 Bengals third quarter lead. From 58 yards out midway through the third quarter, Fairbairn was no good. The resulting field position led to the Bengals facing 3rd and 6 at the Houston 18. Burrow went to Chase for the touchdown to make it 17-3 Bengals. Fairbairn hit from4 5 late in the third quarter but McPherson drilled a 57 yarder early in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati’s defense did the best, keeping the Texans out of the end zone. 20-6 Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots —In the opener the Steelers won ugly while the Patriots blew a 10-4 quarter lead and lost ugly. Shockingly, these teams combined for an ugly game with one team mostly taking the day off. A field position game early on had the Patriots taking over just past midfield. Henderson ran for a 39 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Patriots. Both offenses took an extended hibernation. In the second quarter Alex Borregales hit a 30 yard field goal to extend the lead. Chris Boswell blasted one from 56 to end the half and get the Steelers out of the goose egg column. n ugly third quarter saw Drake Maye intercepted and Borregales miss a 47 yard field goal before connecting from 45. In the fourth quarter Aaron Rodgers lost a fumble on a sack and Ponder returned it for the 19 yard clinching defensive touchdown. Rodgers was also intercepted in a game where even the winning team should burn the game tape. 20-3 Patriots
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets — In the opener the Packers blew a double digit half lead, being outscored 29-0 down the stretch. The Jets actually won a game, but agains a team worse than them. After a scoreless first quarter, the Packers began the second quarter at their own 36. Jordan Love hit Watson for 20 and found Lloyd for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Packers. The Jets soon faced 3rd and 11 at their own 29. Geno Smith hit Greg Wilson for 16. On 3rd and 9 from the Green Bay 20, Smith went to Mitchell for 15. Allen ran for a 5 yard touchdown o make it 7-7. In the third quarter the Jets moved 70 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. Breece Hall and Williams had matching 14 yard runs and Smith added 9. Smith found Wilson for a 5 yard touchdown. A fumble by Love in the fourth quarter led to a 32 yard Sanders field goal to make it 17-7 Jets. With 11 minutes left in regulation, Aaron Glenn’s Gang Green defense was beating up Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay West Coast Offense.
The Packers soon faced 3rd and 3 a their own 34. Love found Golden for 18. On 1st and 25 from their own 37 after consecutive offensive penalties, a 38 yard defensive pass interference penalty kept the drive going. Love hit Soldier for 18 and Watson for a 3 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter. he Packers got another break when Moore returned a punt 63 yards to the Jets 19. Give Aaron Glenn’s defense credit. They held the Packers to a 34 yard Smack field goal. The game was tied 17-17 with 3 minutes left. he Jets got the ball first in overtime only to see Smith sacked on both of the first two plays. The Packers took over at their own 34. Love hit Brooks for 15 with 15 more tacked on for defensive unnecessary roughness. Love went to Golden for 14. Halfway through overtime, Matt LaFleur took no chances. Smack came in on first down for a 26 yard chip shot to win it. The kick was good. The Packers may not be as good as years past and the Jets may not be as bad as years past, but the Jets still lost, blowing a double digit fourth quarter lead. The Packers escaped. 20-17 Packers, OT
Cleveland Browns at Tampa B ay Buccaneers — The Browns and Buccaneers both had decades of futility but the Browns finally drafted a very good quarterback in Baker Mayfield with the top overall pick. He even won a road playoff game for them. So naturally they got rid of him in favor of Deshaun Watson, a once talented quarterback who saw his career collapse under a combination of scandal and injuries. Yet the Browns gave him a 5 year guaranteed contract and were stuck with him. Now the perpetually aggrieve Mayfield had a chance to beat the team that chucked him overboard. All of that drama could not hide a pair of bad teams playing hideous football, especially in the first half. In the first quarter Chase McLaughlin blasted a 59 yard field goal for the Buccaneers. Szmyt answered from 50 for the Browns. McLaughlin hit from 45 to have the Buccaneers back in the lead. An interception of Mayfield led to Szmyt hitting from 34 early in the second quarter to tie the game again. With 3 minutes left in the half, some guy named Todd Monkey insisted he was the Browns coach and gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 34. A run went nowhere, and the short field allowed McLaughlin to hit from 31. The Buccaneers led 9-6 a the intermission, and for some reason league rules mandated the the second half be played.
The start of the third quarter after a touchback actually some offense. Mayfield went to Chris Godwin for 24. Irving ran for 14. On 3rd and 9 from the Cleveland 14, Mayfield ran for 9. Mayfield hit Egbuka for a 5 yard touchdown. The end zone existed, and the Buccaneers led 16-6. Szmyt hit a 34 yard field goal to get the Browns within 16-9. he Browns got the ball back at their own 17. Watson hit Fannin for 13. Watson then found Boston for a 55 yard touchdown for a 16-16 tie. In the fourth quarter McLaughlin hit from 31 to have the Buccaneers up 19-16 with 10 minutes left in regulation. Surely neither team would score 2 touchdowns in this game. he Browns took over at their own 32. Runs and short passes led to the Brows facing 3rd and 2 at the Tampa Bay 17 with 4 minutes left. Watson hit white heart for the touchdown. The Browns led by 4. A 48 yard kickoff return had the Buccaneers starting just shy of midfield. With 45 seconds left the Buccaneers had moved to a 2nd and 4 at the Cleveland 13, plenty of time. Offensive holding was a killer. On 4th and 11 with 22 seconds left, Mayfield threw incomplete. He would not get his revenge. 23-19 Browns
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans — he Eagles are a very good team. The Titans are one of the worst teams in the league. Yet the Eagles tend to play down to the level of their competition. They win close games. In the first quarter the Eagles moved 64 yards in 15 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and goal from the 8, Jalen Hurt went to the end zone and was intercepted by Hooker. Hooker then returned the interception 92 yards to have the Titans facing 1st and goal at the 10. On 4th and goal at the one, Robert Saleh went for it and Cam ward got in up the gut for the 7-0 Titans lead.
The Eagles came back again 11 plays and 65 yards in 6 1/2 minutes. This time Tyler Bigsby ran for a 2 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game in the second quarter. The Eagles got it back and mounted another long drive consisting of 14 plays, and 83 yards in 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 12 from the Tennessee 28, Hurts went to Wicks for 15. Hurts hit Devonta Smith for a 23 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Eagles. Joey Slye hit a 37 yard field goal for the Titans to end the half and Jake Elliott leveled a 58 yarder in response to have the Eagles up 17-10 in he third quarter.
The Titans fought hard, moving 69 yards in 12 plays and over 7 minutes. From his own 45, Ward went to Calvin Ridley for 25 and 10. On 3rd and goal at the one, Ward got in around the end to have the game tied 17-17 after three quarters. The Eagles mounted another long drive consuming 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 12 from the Tennessee 44, Hurts went deep and threw his second red zone interception. Ward then threw a 41 yard pass to Ayomanor and Spears ripped off a 27 yard run. Yet on 1st and goal at the 9, Ward was sacked o kills he drive. Slye hit the 32 yard field goal as the Titans led 20-17 with only 1:56 remaining. The upset of the young football year was possible.
On 3r and 6 from his own 39, Hurts found Wicks for 20. With 20 seconds remaining, On 3rd and 1 from the Tennessee 22, Hurts found Smith for 19. Hurts hit Cooper for the 3 yard touchdown with only 9 seconds left. After a touchback and a 15 yard completion to midfield, Ward had one shot with 4 seconds left. Rather than go Hail Mary, Ward threw a short pass hoping for the hook and laterals. There would be zero laterals as Ward’s pass fell incomplete. The Titans were game, but the result was he same. The Eagles survived. 24-20 Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos — A pair of good teams who made the playoffs last year faced off. After a scoreless first quarter, the Jaguars began the second quarter facing 3rd and 1 at their own 37. Rodriguez gained 2 and the Jaguars finally got going. Trevor Lawrence hit Strange for 14, Thomas for 22 and Washington for 32 down to the one. Tuten got in for the touchdown and the 7-0 Jaguars lead. The Broncos moved to a 1st and goal at the one. JK Dobbins got stopped twice for no gain and on 3rd and goal at the one got taken down for a one yard loss. Sean Payton had seen enough. On 4th and goal at the 2, Will Lutz hit the 20 yard field goal. The Broncos again drove deep to a 1st and goal at the 9. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Bo Nix went to the end zone and was intercepted for a touchback. Two trips right near the goal line yielded the Brcncos a combined 3 points. Little ended the half with a 44 yard field goal to have the Jaguars up 10-3 at the intermission. In the third quarter it was the Jaguars who moved to a 1st and goal at the 3 only to face a stiff defense. A run out 2 yards, a completion gained nothing, and on 3rd and goal at the 5, Lawrence threw incomplete. Little hit from 23 to have the Jaguars up 13-3 in the third quarter.
Lutz hit a 45 yard field goal to have the Broncos within 13-6 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. A key play in the game came with the Jaguars facing 3rd and 6 from midfield. Lawrence was intercepted to have the Broncos at their own 36. Nix hit Adkins for 18. The fourth quarter began with the Broncos facing 3rd and 7 at the Jacksonville 31. Nix went to Jalen Waddle for 14. Nix went to Adkins for a 7 yard touchdown to tie the game 13-13 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The Jaguars quickly moved down the field to try and take the lead. with 10 minutes Little came in for a 54 yard field goal try. His kick was wide left no good. In the first half the Broncos wasted opportunities. In the second half fortunes were reversed. The Broncos took over at their own 44. Nix went to Sutton for 7 and to Evan Engram for 17. A 23 yard defensive pass interference penalty was a killer. On the next play, Coleman ran for a 3 yard touchdown to give the Broncos their first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter. With 4:45 to play on 4th and 11 from his own 34, Liam Cohen decided to punt and rely on his defense. It was the right call but it still failed. On 3rd and 3 from his own 27, Nix went to Waddle for 29. Coleman ran for a pair of 12 yard gains and nix took 3 knees. This was a tough game that would be worthy of a playoff rematch. 20-13 Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers — The Raiders won their opener on the road while the Chargers lost. Yet this week was supposed to be the return to reality. Cameron Dicker missed an early 58 yard field goal try for the Chargers. The Raiders began with an offensive holding penalty and concluded with a deep bomb by Kirk Cousins that was intercepted. Yet Justin Herbert went for a deep ball that was also intercepted. The Raiders reached 4th and goal at the one. Kling Kubiak went for it. Ashton Jeanty ran into a brick wall for nothing The first quarter was scoreless.
The Raiders held on defense and got the ball back just shy of midfield. On 2nd and 12, Kirk Cousins went to Tre Tucker for 13. Om the next play Cousins went deep to Tucker for a 40 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Raiders lead. The Chargers finally got going, moving 69 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 11 from their own 30, Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for 19 and Hampton for 18. Mitchell ran for 11 and Hampton added 10. Hampton got the last yard for a 7-7 ballgame.
With 36 seconds left in the half, the Raiders took over at their own 16. Rather than conservatively run the ball, Kling Kubiak went aggressive. Cousins went deep to Tucker for 42 yards. Matt Gay buried a 56 yard field goal to end the half with he Raiders holding a surprising 10-7 lead. The Raiders got the ball to start the third quarter but 3 plays netted one total yard. The Chargers took over at their own 26. On 3rd and 5 from their own 42, Herbert went deep to Harris for 53 yards. The Chargers fumbled the ball all day and were lucky enough to recover their own fumbles. Herbert fumbled a snap from the Raiders 5 yard line but escaped with a 5 yard loss. On the next play Herbert went to Gadsden for a 10 yard touchdown and a 14-10 Chargers lead.
The Raiders did not fold. In fact, they went very big and very bold. Kling Kubiak took a monster gamble on 4th and 1 from his own 35. Hayward took the direct snap and got the tough yard. Cousins then hit Thomas for 11. Jeanty ripped off gains of 9 and 4. On 3rd and 10 from the Chargers 13, Cousins went to White for the touchdown. With 4 minutes left in the third quarter, the Raiders had a 17-14 lead. Yet the Chargers seemed to be getting every lucky bounce of the ball. On 3rd and 7 from their own 40, Herbert was sacked and fumbled. By the time this reverse holy roller was recovered, the Chargers had gained 6 yards. On 4th and 1, the Raiders defense got called for 12 men on the field. Yet on the next snap the Chargers fumbled again, and this time their luck finally ran out. Jeremy Chinn picked up the fumble and raced 43 yards to the Chargers 16. On 3rd and 5, Cousins hit white for the touchdown. with 3 minutes left, the Raiders had a 24-14 lead.
The Raiders defense wasn’t done. The Chargers needing 2 scores faced 3rd and 11 a their own 34. Herbert was intercepted by Masses. A punt pinned the Chargers back at their own 6 yard line. The Raiders sent a bull rush for an exclamation pojnt safety. The Chargers lost at home by the exact same score 2 weeks in a row. The Raiders were suddenly 2-0. Time will tell if they are good but they are certainly improved. 26-14 Raiders
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals — With Sam Darnold out, the Seahawks were lifeless for most of their opener before overcoming a 10-0 fourth quarter deficit to win 13-10. The Cardinals went on the road and shocked the Chargers. Was this a new era for the sad sack Cardinals? Could the Seahawks play better with Drew Lock again starting in place of Darnold? Early on, Lock went bombs away to Jaxson Smith-Nigba for an 82 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Seahawks. Jacoby Brissett finally got the Cardinals going in the second quarter from his own 39. Runs and short passes led to a 4th and goal at the 2. Rookie coach Mike LaFleur won his first NFL game as a head coach last week, and he decided to gamble here. Brissett went to Terry McBride for the touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame at the midpoint. The first half showed a competitive game, but the second half was the reality check.
The Cardinals fumbled the second half kickoff to set up the Seahawks at the Arizona 37. Price ran for 25. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Lock hit Smith-Nigba for the touchdown to make it 14-7 Seahawks. 3 plays later Brissett was intercepted. Myers hit a 33 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Seahawks. The Seahawks got it back and looked to put the game away, going 80 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 6 from the Arizona 12, Lock hit Smith-Nigba for the touchdown to make it 24-7 Seahawks in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks got it back at their own 30 and led a mind-numbing drive that battered the Arizona defense into submission. 16 plays and 70 yards took over 10 minutes off the clock. On 4th and goal at the one, Mike McDonald went for it. Barner took the direction snap up the gut for the touchdown to make the game a blowout. The Seahawks are still good. The Cardinals are not. 31-7 Seahawks.
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys — Both teams lost their opener. The Cowboys went right to work from their own 34. Dan Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for big gains of 23 and 15. Prescott ran for 15. Prescott hit Lamb for a 3 yard touchdown to cap the 66 yard, 10 play drive and make it 7-0 Cowboys. The Cowboys got it back at their own 36 and Prescott immediately went deep to Lamb for 38 yards. Brandon Aubrey hit a 25 yard field goal to have the Cowboys up 10-0 after the first quarter. Stevens hit a 27 yard field goal for the Commanders in the second quarter, but the Cowboys kept coming. After a touchback, Prescott went to George Pickens for 12 and to Flournoy for 6 and 10. Prescott hit Pickens for 9 and Ferguson for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 17-3 Cowboys.
The Commanders spent most of the game playing catchup. The Commanders took over at their own 34. Jayden Daniels ran for 20. White ran for 8 and on 3rd and 2 from the Dallas 27 added 7, 14 and 2. Daniels went to Stefan Diggs to have the Commanders within 17-10. With 5 minutes left in the half the Commanders got it back and moved 64 yards in 15 plays, taking up the entire time. With 3 seconds left in the half, the Commanders faced 3rd and goal at the one. Dan Quinn properly went for it. Daniels threw incomplete. Even worse, Daniels was injured on the play. He would no return, and for the second straight year, the news was bad. Daniels had a disclosed left elbow. He would miss several weeks. Marcus Mariota is a competent backup, and he played the second half. Early in the third quarter Stevens hit from 47 to get the Commanders within 17-13.
Aubrey responded from 44 for a 20-13 Cowboys lead. On the next play from scrimmage, the Commanders fumbled the ball away. The cowboys took over at the Washington 13. Prescott hit Ferguson for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 27-13 Cowboys after three quarters. Things got worse for the Commanders when Stevens missed a 51 yard field goal try. Early in the fourth quarter Aubrey gutted the Commanders by drilling a 60 yard field goal. The Cowboys led 30-13. The Commanders managed one garbage time touchdown but then the Cowboys responded with an 11 play, 83 yard, 6 minute drive to remove any doubt. Prescott hit Lamb for a 24 yard touchdown with 3 minutes left. 37-20 Cowboys
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers — The 49ers entered as a legitimate Super Bowl contender after stomping their archival Rams in Australia. The Dolphins may not beat a high school team. Sometimes a really bad team can go on the road and shock a really good team in an upset for the ages. This was not that game. Goliath beat up David and then wen after his family. Patterson missed a 51 yard field goal try for the Dolphins. The 49ers took over at their own 41 and made it look easy. On 3rd and 5 from the Miami 32, Brock Purdy hit Mike Evans for 10. On 3rd and 5 from the Miami 17, Purdy went to Christian McCaffrey for 16. McCaffrey got the lsat yard to make it 7-0 49ers. The Dolphins took over at their own 27 and embarked on a mind-numbing 17 play, 63 yard drive that ate up nearly 9 1/2 minutes. On 1st and goal at the 6, a run went nowhere and Malik Willis was taken down twice. Patterson hit from 28. The 49ers took over at their own 29 and kept rolling. Purdy had runs of 10 and 18. Purdy went to Robinson for 19. Purdy ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 49ers. The Dolphins again drove deep and settled again for a field goal with Patterson hitting from 24. The Dolphins only trailed 14-6 at the half, but field goals were no going to stop the 49ers.
On the first play from scrimmage after a second half touchback, Purdy went deep to George Kittle for 40. Purdy hit Kittle for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 21-6 49ers. The 49ers got it back at their own 29. On 3rd and 11, Purdy went to Deebo Samuel for 21, Evans for 17, and Kyle Juszcyk for 21. On 3rd and 3 from he Miami 6, Purdy went to Juszczyk for the touchdown to make it 28-6 49ers. The Dolphins are so bad that they even fumbled a snap on a punt to give the 49ers gift field position at the Miami 28. Purdy went to Evans for 27 and McCaffrey banged in from the one to blow open the game and have the 49ers up 35-6 after three quarters. The Dolphins managed one fourth quarter garbage touchdown. The 49ers are as good as advertised. The Dolphins are as bad as advertised. 35-13 49ers
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs was the Sunday night game. The Chiefs are back, while the Colts looked listless in their home opening blowout defeat. The Colts moved at the start on an 11 play, 65 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. Shane Steichen rode his workhorse Jonathan Taylor for gains of 5, 4 and 12. Burka added 10. Daniel Jones hit Laquon Treadwell for 10, Downs for 11, and Warren for a one yard touchdown to make it7-0 Colts. Harrison Butker hit a 46 yard field goal to get the Chiefs on the board. An interception of Jones gave the Chiefs gift field position at the Indianapolis 16. Patrick Mahoems hit Travis Kelce for a 13 yard touchdown and a 10-7 Chiefs lead. The second quarter started with the kickers. Shrader hit from 42 to tie the game. Butker missed from 51. Shrader hit from 49 as the Colts held a 13-10 lead. With 10 minutes left in the half, the game turned into a track meet.
The Chiefs moved 70 yards in 12 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 2nd and 14 from his own 26, Mahomes hit Rice for 16. Kenneth walker III added runs of 7 and 8. Mahomes went to Kelce and Walker for 11 apiece. Mahoems hit Xaavier Worthy for a one yard touchdown and a 17-13 Chiefs lead. From their own 28, the Colts benefitted from a 23 yard defensive pass interference call. Taylor ran for a 24 yard touchdown to make it 20-17 Colts with one minute left in the half. In the third quarter the Chiefs moved 80 yards in 14 plays and 7 minutes. Pass happy Walrus Andy Reid actually went smash mouth as Walker ran for one, 12, 10 and 4. On 3rd and 11 from the Indianapolis 46, Mahomes went deep to Thornton for 45. From the one, Walker got stopped 3 straight times. So on 4th and goal at the one, the most concerned Walrus went back to who he is. Reid was going for it and he was not going to run the ball. Mahomes hit Royals for the touchdown to have he Chiefs up 24-20 after three quarters.
The chiefs got it back at their own 9 yard line and had another long drive of 13 plays, 81 yards ad 6 1/2 minutes. Yet offensive holding in the red zone killed the drive. Butker hit from 45 to have the Chiefs up 27-20 only 45 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Colts took their turn to eat up clock with a 13 play, 64 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive. On 4th and 1 from the Kansas City 25, Shane Steichen went fort and Jones gained 3. Taylor ran for a 5 yard touchdown and a 27-27 game with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Surprisingly, neither offense could get in position for another field goal in regulation.
The Colts won the overtime coin toss and Shane Steichen made the horrendous decision to defer. Coaches have been doing this ever since Bill Belichick started doing it. He is no longer coaching in the NFL, and it was always a dumb decision. The logic is that since each team gets the ball in overtime, it is better to see what the other team does and then react. his is crazy. Letting Patrick Mahomes dictate the pace of a game is insane. Butker hit a 31 yard overtime field goal for the Chiefs. With 3 minutes left in overtime the Colts faced 4th and 8 at the Kansas City 15. Steichen bluffed like he was going for it, but nobody was fooled. Shrader came in and hit the38 yard field goal to tie the game. The strategy of being reactive allowed the Chiefs to have 2 overtime possessions to only one for the Colts. If you win the overtime coin toss, take the d@mn ball. With one second left in overtime, Butker came in for a 40 yard try to win it. His kick was good. The Chiefs are 3-0, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 33-30 Chiefs, OT
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams is the Monday night game. The Rams got smacked around by archival San Francisco in Australia. The Giants beat the daylights out of archival Dallas at home. Yes, the Giants have a new outstanding coach in John Harbaugh, but the Rams still have a stud in Sean McVay. This game was a return to reality as the Giants season went up in smoke on their first drive. 3 1/2 minutes into the game, Jaxson dart did what he does. He refuses to learn how to slide or avoid unnecessary hits. This time he left the field with an injured knee. He will be out for the rest of the season. Jameis Winston is now the starter.
In the first quarter the Rams needed 5 1/2 minutes to go 80 yards. Matthew Stafford hit Devontae Adams for 19 and again for a 31 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Rams. The Rams got it back at their own 22 and soon faced 3rd and 10. Stafford went deep to Adams for 64 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Giants 10, Stafford went to Karen Williams for the touchdown and the 14-0 Rams second quarter lead. The Giants managed a field goal before the half, bu this game was over. In the third quarter the Rams easily moved 86 yards. Stafford went to Adams for 16, to Ferguson for 20, and to Adams again for 23. Williams ran for 20. Stafford hit Adams for an 11 yard touchdown to make t 21-3 Rams. The Giants managed one more field goal but the Rams managed one touchdown in each quarter. 64 yards came easily is Stafford hit Ferguson for a 5 yard touchdown to close the scoring. The Giants were so desperate that they traded with Minnesota to bring in JJ McCarthy as the backup to Winston. 28-6 Rams