Sept. 20, 2026Up to date Sept. 21, 2026, 6:39 a.m. ET
The 32 issues we realized from Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season:
0. As in winless groups, of which there are eight coming into “Monday Night time Soccer.” Whereas it’s not a complete dying knell for a season, for the reason that playoff discipline expanded to 14 groups in 2020, solely 16% of groups that misplaced their first two video games over that interval have overcome that begin to qualify for postseason.
1. Yet another group, the one a lot of the NFL universe thought was the league’s premier outfit about 10 days in the past, may be part of the 0-2 ranks if these Los Angeles Rams fall to the resurgent New York Giants on Monday evening. How cataclysmic would that be of their case? Possibly not all that a lot contemplating the Rams began the 2024 season 1-4 (0-2 begin included) and 3-6 the yr earlier than.
2. However the actual losers at the beginning of the 2026 season could be the collective fortunes of the quarterbacks drafted within the first spherical two years in the past – a six-pack that’s alternately appeared destined for stardom and being star-crossed – two of them carted off the sphere Sunday, two of them in mothballs and two of them but to appear like the gamers who led their groups to the 2025 AFC championship sport.
3. The quick concern is for Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams, the highest decide in 2024, who was carted off Soldier Subject on Sunday with a hamstring harm − ‘Madden’ curse anybody? − although that is a minimum of seemingly infinitely higher than an Achilles tear some feared in what was in any other case an unmitigated catastrophe of a day for Da Bears. Just a few hours later, the person drafted instantly after Williams, the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, was carted with a dislocation to his left (non-throwing) elbow, which seemed similar to the one which helped nuke the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months’s second professional marketing campaign. Complete bummers for the gamers and their groups’ quick, and maybe longer-term, fortunes.
4. The New England Patriots’ Drake Maye and Denver Broncos‘ Bo Nix are alive and effectively … if not taking part in − thus far anyway − practically in addition to they did as tremendous sophs. Maye was the runner-up for league MVP final yr whereas guiding the Pats to Tremendous Bowl 60, whereas Nix led the Broncos to the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed earlier than an ankle harm prevented him from taking part in past the group’s divisional-round postseason win over Buffalo. To this point, they’ve mixed to account for 3 TDs … or one-third of what the Buffalo Payments’ Josh Allen has finished by himself.
5. Lastly, the opposite two passers from that record-setting draft class – the primary to have six QBs come off the board throughout the first 12 picks – the Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. and Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy apparently stay in deep storage, the latter but to take a snap this season in his present QB3 function. Penix has but to even be lively amid the restoration from his newest knee surgical procedure, although the Falcons may positive use him again … even when that is unlikely to occur earlier than October.
6. The 2024 draft was solely the second with a half-dozen QBs known as in Spherical 1. The opposite? That occurred in 1983, half of the first-round passers tabbed in that legendary draft (John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino) finally touchdown within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Immortality can be a great distance off for anybody within the 2024 sextet, however appears particularly distant on this second.
7. The variety of consecutive video games the Minnesota Vikings have now gained at Soldier Subject, Sunday’s victory over the Bears leaving them perched alone atop the NFC North regardless of mainly not having injured QB Kyler Murray for many of their 2-0 begin.
8. White is the brand new black in relation to NFL uniforms. The New York Jets grew to become the eighth group to introduce an alternate white helmet to their closet to be able to successfully incorporate a whiteout ingredient to their wardrobe. The Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Saints and Vikings all beforehand created related alternate choices to the one the NYJ debuted, unsuccessfully, Sunday.
8a. Dallas? Regarded fairly good, actually and figuratively, in all white − night its file at 1-1 in Sunday’s blowout of the Washington Commanders.
8b. Congratulations to Dak Prescott, who threw 4 TD passes in a 37-20 rout of the Commanders to turn out to be the Cowboys’ all-time chief in that division (249), overtaking … did you guess, Tony Romo (248)? Corridor of Famer Troy Aikman is method again in third place with 165.
9. Talking of alternate uniforms, the Rams will debut some superb throwbacks for Monday evening’s assembly with the New York Giants.
9a. Talking of Rams throwbacks, they – barring a change in “plan” – may even reintroduce throwback Defensive Participant of the 12 months Aaron Donald on the “Monday Night time Soccer” stage, one of many biggest D-linemen in league annals set to play his first snaps in practically three years following his retirement within the spring of 2024.
10. Talking of retirement, did Aaron Rodgers put it off a yr too lengthy? The four-time league MVP was abused Sunday, sacked 4 occasions and hit a minimum of seven − generally brutally − as his Pittsburgh Steelers managed all of three factors in a 17-point loss at New England. Keep unfastened, Allar.
11. The jersey variety of Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has all 4 of the reigning champs’ TD receptions via two weeks. That may additionally (prematurely) put him on tempo for a single-season league file 34 landing grabs and a second straight OPOY trophy, perhaps even one that claims “Offensive Participant of the 12 months.” JSN at present leads the NFL with 277 receiving yards, and people 4 TD catches are tied for essentially the most with Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown.
12. We’ll get to the 0-2 groups momentarily, however panic could also be getting a extra ominous foothold elsewhere within the league – definitely in Chicago, the place the Bears took a 180-degree flip from the swaggering crew that scored 59 factors within the opener, most of their ineptitude in impact earlier than Williams’ exit. However three factors and 297 yards from Ben Johnson’s offense, no matter circumstances – Williams’ absence, climate or in any other case – is cause for concern for a membership that entered the 2026 marketing campaign with essentially the most tough power of schedule based mostly on its opponents’ collective successful proportion in 2025 (.550).
13. Apart from the 2 Lombardi Trophies which have arrived prior to now 9 years – after an almost six-decade wait – there’s all the time some stage of panic in Philadelphia. And whereas the Eagles are 2-0 and atop the NFC East, they may simply as simply be 0-2 – and Sunday’s escape act from the Tennessee Titans in scorching Nashville (rooster?) is just going to mollify the fan base to a minor diploma given this new-look offense’s uneven begin.
14. The Inexperienced Bay Packers had been additionally lucky to evade 0-2 after surviving the Jets in time beyond regulation in wet New Jersey on Sunday. Beginning the season with out RB Josh Jacobs and OLB Micah Parson was all the time going to make for a difficult September. Nonetheless, Week 3 brings two items for the scuffling Pack: Their residence opener at Lambeau Subject on Thursday evening … and the Falcons.
15. The Houston Texans are among the many winless, although maybe in addition they don’t must essentially redline the panic meter like others may be inclined to. Although the circumstances are definitely unideal, Houston reached the playoffs after an 0-3 begin final yr and likewise surmounted two consecutive losses to kick off the 2023 season, which ended with an AFC South title within the trophy case. Nonetheless it’s definitely not the beginning that fourth-year Houston QB C.J. Stroud, on the heels of a brutal 2025 postseason efficiency, was searching for as he angles for a brand new contract. Not having WR1 Nico Collins on Sunday definitely didn’t assist his trigger or the Texans’ in a 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
16. The man drafted No. 1 general in 2023, one spot forward of Stroud however at present in the identical contractual place, is the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Younger, who might have already put the Falcons within the grime. Younger has now handed for 3 touchdowns in successive weeks for the primary time in his profession.
17. Fast left flip right here for No. 17, aka Allen. Invoice-lieve, y’all − the breakthrough is close to.
18. In the meantime, nonetheless absent their high quarterbacks (Tua Tagovailoa, Penix) in each of this season’s video games, the Falcons, who haven’t reached the playoffs since 2017, are 0-2 for the primary time since 2022. And given the chance neither Tagovailoa nor Penix shall be out there Thursday evening at Inexperienced Bay, 0-3 seems like a definite chance.
18a. Losers of 4 straight to the Panthers, Atlanta has surrendered a median of 34.5 factors over that stretch to a Carolina group that gained’t be confused with the Best Present on Turf.
19. It had been a dozen years for the reason that Tampa Bay Buccaneers began 0-2 … however right here we’re. In a sport Bucs QB Baker Mayfield wished to win greater than most – his first matchup in opposition to the Cleveland Browns and the person, Deshaun Watson, who necessitated his commerce to Carolina in 2022 – the highest decide of the 2018 draft got here up quick (and threw a decide) in opposition to his former group in a sport that skilled a two-hour lightning delay earlier than the fourth quarter could possibly be accomplished.
20. Not less than being 0-2 within the NFC South is a bit more forgiving for the Falcons and Bucs, each nonetheless only a sport out of first place. Although shoutout to the plucky New Orleans Saints (1-1), who staged a profitable fourth-quarter comeback Sunday − after practically doing the identical in Motown − and must be thrilled to emerge .500 after being despatched on the highway to Detroit and Baltimore to begin their season.
21. The Indianapolis Colts are 0-2 after falling in Sunday evening’s 33-30 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium … and have now dropped all 9 of their video games since final season’s Week 11 bye. Their Week 3 matchup with the Texans makes for as compelling a pairing of winless groups, with excessive stakes within the stability.
22. The Tennessee Titans are 0-2, for the third season in a row and fourth time in 5 general – a futile stretch that extends to their final postseason look in 2021. Nonetheless they performed significantly better in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, surrendering the game-winning landing with 9 seconds to go, than they did in Week 1, when the Jets simply dispatched them.
23. Not a lot has gone proper for the Commanders since Daniels sparked their Cinderella run to the 2024 NFC title sport. Assuming he gained’t be again in Week 3, it is laborious to see them avoiding an 0-3 begin with the Seahawks headed to the nation’s capital.
24. The largest query concerning the 0-2 Miami Dolphins? When will they pop champagne corks that signify they’ll keep away from turning into the primary 0-17 group of all time?
25. Being winless after two weeks is a completely international feeling to the Los Angeles Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh, whether or not in his NFL teaching profession or on the faculty stage. And, to suppose, many projected a clean takeoff for the Bolts given they opened at residence in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders. However now it’s the Chargers who’re in disaster as they put together for journeys to Buffalo and Seattle the following two weeks.
26-14. The ultimate rating of each Chargers losses. And, to suppose, they had been favored by a landing to win each video games.
27. The overall variety of penalties (for 289 yards) dedicated by the Jets and Packers in Inexperienced Bay’s 20-17 time beyond regulation squeaker. Contemplating the groups solely mixed for 37 factors and 484 web optimistic yards within the rain – bonus time included – it was a reasonably robust watch.
28. Congratulations to Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, whose two TDs proved decisive in Cincy’s 20-16 win at Houston. Chase had two forgettable catches in Week 1.
29. Congratulations to Watson – by way of head coach Todd Monken, anyway – after notching his first win for the Browns in practically two years following a number of Achilles surgical procedures. Credit score to him for enjoying a cleaner sport − nary a turnover − than Mayfield.
29a. Condolences to Cleveland followers who totally anticipated to see Shedeur Sanders within the QB1 function going into Week 3’s residence opener in opposition to the Panthers.
30. Congratulations to Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson, who scored New England’s solely offensive landing Sunday in his 2026 debut after he missed the opener in Seattle with an ankle harm. The Gillette Stadium crowd completely authorized because the reigning AFC champs notched their first win of the season over the Steelers.
30a. Congratulations to Ed Sheeran, who will get to carry out in Foxborough later this week after Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft had opening act Macklemore booted from Sheeran’s tour lineup. Whether or not the Gillette Stadium crowd will completely approve of Sheeran’s de-politicized present … stays to be seen.
31.0. Instantly the Bears’ scoring common following Sunday’s multi-faced catastrophe at residence, which included all of three factors by the offense which Johnson had hoped would problem the 2013 Broncos’ single-season file for factors. Denver’s weekly common over that 16-game season (37.9), now a TD higher than the Bears, immediately appears to be like fairly unattainable in gentle of latest occasions.
32. Lastly, RIP, Ernie Accorsi. Sharp as a tack over the course of a extremely distinguished 37-year profession as an NFL government, he was nonetheless one thing of a Forrest Gump given the seismic league occasions he was carefully related to. These included the drafting of John Elway in Baltimore; Accorsi’s resignation as Colts GM shortly earlier than they decamped to Indianapolis below cowl of evening; his mentorship of ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. within the Seventies; the development of powerhouse Cleveland Browns groups within the Nineteen Eighties solely to fall in need of the Tremendous Bowl, courtesy of Elway’s Broncos, amid “The Drive” and “The Fumble”; and his impressed choice to carry Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning to the New York Giants – Accorsi laying the groundwork for Massive Blue’s two most up-to-date Lombardi Trophies. Positively a soccer life effectively lived.
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