Every start of the NFL season brings plenty of surprises and the 2023 campaign is no different.
Last week, the biggest story was the loss of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his New York Jets’ shocking come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Bills. This week, several teams predicted to go on deep runs in the playoffs find themselves in deep trouble, an unexpected AFC South team is undefeated after a big win, the Giants wake up and avoid disaster.
Here are the trending stories from Sunday’s NFL Week 2 action.
Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers winless
The statisticians tell us NFL teams that go 0-2 rarely make the playoffs. Only one 0-2 team has made the playoffs since 2009, and since 2006, only five teams started off the first two weeks without a win and made it to the postseason. Since 1990, 11% of the teams that start 0-2 have gone on to make the NFL Playoffs.
Two teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers, find themselves in this dire position despite having the two highest-paid players in NFL history.
Perhaps the biggest surprise are the Cincinnati Bengals. A team that a year ago started 0-2, and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game, is in the same spot again. After his worst game as a pro in a Week 1 loss in Cleveland, the NFL’s highest-paid player Joe Burrow, reinjured the calf that had him miss almost all of training camp this year and he again struggled before rallying in a loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens.
After a brutal first half with only 36 yards in the air, Burrow led his team on a comeback that came up short in the 27-24 loss. Burrow finished 27-of-41 with 222 yards passing, two touchdowns and one interception. His status for next week is unknown. The Bengals are 0-2 in the competitive AFC North and, without Burrow, could be in serious trouble.
The Los Angeles Chargers are the poster child for disappointing NFL seasons under coach Brandon Staley. Looked at as a team that could challenge the Kansas City Chiefs for supremacy in the AFC West, the Chargers continue to blow leads and opportunities.
After leading in both games this season, the Chargers continue to squander late leads. This time, they did it in at Tennessee. Leading 21-17 early in the fourth quarter, the Chargers fell behind 24-21 with just 2:22 remaining but tied the game on a late Cameron Dicker field goal, sending it to overtime. After failing to score on their first possession, they lost on a Nick Folk field goal 27-24.
Dating back to the Chargers’ infamous 30-point blown lead in the AFC playoffs last year, they are now 0-3 and led all three games. The league’s second-highest-paid player, quarterback Justin Herbert, again passed for over 300 yards and didn’t turn the ball over in the loss.
You have to wonder how fast the seat under coach Staley is going to get after this one.
Surprise: Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0
Almost as surprising as the bad starts in Cincinnati and LA are the hot starts in Atlanta and Tampa.
Both the Falcons and the Buccaneers – thought to be at the bottom of the weak NFC South – have showed grit and toughness in two close wins.
In Atlanta, second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder and rookie running back Bijan Robinson lead the resurgent Falcons offense. Although the Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love was a bigger star on the stat sheet Sunday, Ridder led his team from 12 points down in the fourth quarter on three consecutive scoring drives to win 25-24 on a last-second field goal. Robinson carried the ball 19 times for 129 yards in the win over Green Bay.
In Tampa, it was the Baker Mayfield show yet again. Mayfield passed for 317 yards and one touchdown for Tampa Bay, who defeated a disappointing Justin Fields and the Bears. Mayfield, who replaced Tom Brady as the starter in Tampa, has three touchdowns and no turnovers in two weeks as the Bucs starter. Wideout Mike Evans caught six balls for 171 yards and a TD in the win.
In a division where the New Orleans Saints have the most complete and competitive roster, having both Atlanta and Tampa Bay at 2-0 will make things interesting early in 2023.
How ’bout them Dallas Cowboys?
After their 40-0 win over the New York Giants in Week 1, the Cowboys (2-0) returned home to face the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets (1-1) and were in control the entire way. The closest New York got to the Cowboys was after the Jets pulled within three points at 10-7 halfway through the second quarter thanks to a Zach Wilson to Garret Wilson 68-yard touchdown toss.
That’s when Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense took over. Despite playing second fiddle to their defense in the Giants win, Prescott and the Cowboys offense generated 382 total yards in offense, with Prescott going 31-of-38 for 255 yards and two scores. Much of Prescott’s work was with WR CeeDee Lamb who blew up against the Jets with 11 grabs for 143 yards on 13 targets.
Jets QB Zach Wilson, replacing Rodgers after his season-ending injury, struggled mightily against the stout Dallas defense. Wilson threw three interceptions on the day with one touchdown.
Chiefs are back to winning, but are they back to being themselves?
The good news: the Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) are back in the win column. The bad news: they didn’t look themselves in a big win on the road against the upstart and young Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1).
The Chiefs struggled to create offense in a Week 1 loss at home to Detroit and Patrick Mahomes went just 2-of-12 in the second half of that game when targeting his wide recievers. In a 17-9 win over Jacksonville, Mahomes faired better but still struggled at times. He eclisped the 300-yard mark in passing and threw for two touchdowns and one interception.
Despite the numbers, the Chiefs offense struggled on third down, converting on just 4-of-13 attempts and committed three turnovers. The usually disciplined Chiefs were also their own worst enemies committing 12 penalties for a total of 94 yards.
Tight end Travis Kelce, who missed Week 1 with a bruised knee, returned and caught four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown.
The Chiefs were helped by a stymied Jaguars offense that struggled all day. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence was battered in the pocket and finished the day completing 22-of-41 passes for 216 yards.
The Chiefs now head home to take on the struggling Chicago Bears who have lost 11straight games dating to last season.
Related: NFL Week 2 takeaways
San Francisco 49ers continue to strike gold
After two weeks, the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) continue to hold onto their title as the best team in the NFL.
Facing NFC West rival Los Angeles on Sunday, the 49ers were faced with a tough Rams team that may be young but is led by veteran, and Super Bowl champion quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
The 49ers led by just three points at 20-17 heading into the final quarter before quarterback Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan’s offense opened up on the Rams. San Francisco outscored LA 10-6 over the final quarter to win 30-23. Purdy was efficient and protected the ball but did not score in the victory, hitting on 17-of-25 passes for 205 yards. Running back Christian McCaffery shouldered the load again, rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the win.
The 49ers’ defense starred as well, intercepting Stafford twice in critical situations
San Francisco returns home Sunday against the New York Giants (1-1), who had a tremendous come-from-behind victory over Arizona on Sunday.