The most sharp, worst and most sharp questions from NFL Week 2: How the Bills, Chiefs got motivate to being themselves

Welcome to Week 2 of the NFL customary season. Yet any other week, yet any other painstaking process in seeking to determine which teams are among the many elite this season.

The Bills’ offense came alive towards the Raiders, while Chris Jones used to be the variation-maker within the Chiefs’ gain over the Jaguars. Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson left Sunday’s sport towards the Texans within the major half of with a concussion, and the Seahawks and Titans both pulled off overtime victories.

Within the boring window, the Giants tied their franchise-file for most sharp comeback towards the Cardinals (they were down 20-0 at halftime), the 49ers outlasted the Rams and the Cowboys are 2-0 with a gain over the Zach Wilson and the Jets.

Our NFL Nation journalists are reacting to the entire paddle, answering lingering questions popping out of every sport and picking out who — or what — is rising and falling for every group. Let’s get to it.

Washington 35, Denver 33

Commanders

What’s different about this group as in contrast with the previous? Washington has a younger quarterback with moxie who makes tall-time throws. Sam Howell threw for 299 yards in his third NFL initiate, and first on the highway, as neatly as two touchdowns. He shakes off imperfect plays and has the skill to get hot. Nonetheless the defense is also making plays. Sort out Daron Payne is playing at an elite level and they’ve now pressured four turnovers in two video games and had probabilities for several more.

Replenish after the gain: Operating backs. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown, exhibiting the vitality and like a flash feet Washington most in trend when it drafted him within the third round closing 300 and sixty five days. The backs were also fascinated by the computer screen sport. Robinson caught two passes for 42 yards while Antonio Gibson added three for 44 yards.

Stock down after the gain: Kicking sport. Washington’s Joey Slye disregarded two field goals — the major a outcomes of yet any other imperfect snap by Cam Cheeseman, the 2d miss used to be broad correct from 59 yards. The third-300 and sixty five days Cheeseman has struggled with his snaps since coaching camp started. — John Keim

Next sport: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Broncos

When will the Broncos play the complementary soccer they’ve promised? The season-opening loss to the Raiders used to be worrying, but Sunday’s loss used to be alarming, boring 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown now not withstanding. The Broncos let an 18-level lead get away per week after their offense did now not motivate up their defense. This time, the defense let the Commanders paddle on a 32-12 slither over the closing three quarters. So, the brand new workers and its hoped-for new tradition have not revealed what the Broncos can lean on in with the Dolphins, Chiefs (twice), Packers and Bills restful on the agenda before mid November.

Replenish after the loss: WR Marvin Mims Jr. Mims had 113 yards on his first two receptions of the game, collectively with a 60-yard touchdown, and inexplicably wasn’t thrown to again within the game. The rookie needs to be a some distance bigger part of what they attain.

Stock down after the loss: S Kareem Jackson. Jackson’s savvy and fiery leadership are consistently wished on the defense, but he is now had two consecutive video games with a boring hit — un-primary roughness penalties that changed the complexion of video games. He had one within the season opener that stored a boring Raiders power going and Sunday he used to be ejected actual before halftime for a hit on tight break Logan Thomas. The Broncos led 21-9 after Thomas’ obtain, but Washington dominated the game after the play. — Jeff Legwold

Next sport: at Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dallas 30, N.Y. Jets 10

Cowboys

Are we seeing the Cowboys’ new offensive id? When coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged in February that frail offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, “needs to light up the scoreboard, but I must slither the damn ball so I’m in a position to relaxation my defense,” he used to be killed by the analytic world. Nonetheless what he in actual fact intended used to be he wished to lend a hand watch over the game. Protect in thoughts it managed. Quarterback Dak Prescott had two touchdown passes, but he did one thing he did now not attain a 300 and sixty five days ago, also: He went motivate-to-motivate video games with out an interception.

Replenish after the gain: WR CeeDee Lamb. He accomplished with 11 catches for 143 yards, but he had more than 100 yards within the major two quarters. It used to be the third time in his profession he recorded more than 100 yards in a half of.

Stock down after the gain: Purple-zone offense. The Cowboys scored 30 aspects bolstered by kicker Brandon Aubrey’s 5 field goals, but converted 2-of-6 alternatives for the interval of the Jets’ 20. Within the opener, the Cowboys converted of three-of-4 probabilities, with Pollard scoring two dashing touchdowns, but Pollard accomplished with four carries for minus-1 yard on carries for the interval of the 10-yard line towards the Jets. — Todd Archer

Next sport: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Jets

Can the Jets be a winning group with QB Zach Wilson? Or now not it’ll be tough, in actual fact tough, to gain with Zach Wilson. Wilson accomplished only 12 of 27 passes for 170 yards and three interceptions — and 68 yards came on a slant that Garrett Wilson became into a touchdown. Wilson is now not at the stage in his trend where he can raise a bunch to the playoffs. If this continues, the entrance space of enterprise must bear a call: Hump it out with Wilson or exchange for a starting-caliber QB. The Jets did now not lose on account of Wilson, but he did now not bear ample plays to gain. That’s a controversy.

Replenish after the loss: WR Garrett Wilson. He scored on a spectacular obtain-and-slither for his 2d touchdown of the season. Nonetheless for the Jets, it used to be lone touchdown on the day.

Stock down after the loss: The Jets’ secondary. Supposedly “one of many most sharp secondaries within the league” got destroyed by CeeDee Lamb. A number of the anguish came towards D.J. Reed, but Sauce Gardner did now not abet by dropping a doable opt-six. — Smartly off Cimini

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

N.Y. Giants 31, Arizona 28

Giants

Is there restful motive for philosophize for the Giants? The group that confirmed up within the 2d half of used to be different than the one from first six quarters of the season, when they were outscored 60-0. Right here’s what the Giants offense used to be speculated to search for enjoy, with 358 yards of total offense within the 2d half of after 81 within the major. The 21-level comeback matched the most sharp in franchise historic previous. Now it be a matter of whether or now not there are restful too many holes and deficiencies (offensive line, lack of cross slither) — plus the aptitude for RB Saquon Barkley to miss time on account of an ankle ruin — for this to proceed.

Replenish after the gain: WR Jalin Hyatt. His 58-yard reception on the major play of the 2d half of gave the Giants some lifestyles, and his 31-yard obtain boring within the fourth quarter place the Giants up for the tying ranking.

Stock down after the gain: OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux. After a restful opener, the fifth total opt in closing 300 and sixty five days’s draft used to be invisible any other time on Sunday in Arizona, with zero tackles, no sacks and one stress within the competition, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Jordan Raanan

Next sport: at 49ers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Cardinals

Can the Cardinals’ offense obtain on their growth? It may perhaps in all probability in all probability now not be uncomplicated going throughout the Cowboys and 49ers’ defenses the next two weeks but the Cardinals confirmed Sunday they’ll bear a balanced and productive offense – for a half of. The offense stalled within the 2d half of — gaining actual 119 yards after gaining 241 yards and scoring 20 aspects within the major half of — which set up more stress on a defense that used to be on the field about nine minutes longer within the 2d half of than it used to be within the major.

Replenish after the loss: QB Joshua Dobbs. The quarterback confirmed an even bigger show of the map and wasn’t skittish to bear plays with his feet (41 dashing yards and a touchdown) alongside with throwing the ball some distance and broad the yard (21-of-31 for 228 yards, one touchdown).

Stock down after the loss: DT Dante Stills. The rookie used to be flagged for pointless roughness on a boring hit on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, with the imperfect decision coming per week after Arizona used to be flagged for 2 same penalties in Washington. — Josh Weinfuss

Next sport: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

San Francisco 30, L.A. Rams 23

49ers

Is this a blip on the radar for the defense, or is there motive for philosophize? It feels more enjoy a blip. For a tall chunk of the game, the Rams managed to slowly switch down the field, which used to be efficient in keeping the game stop and the Niners’ offense on the sideline. Grand of that can also be attributed to a temporary passing sport that neutralized the cross slither, as the Rams took good thing about soft zone coverages. The Rams’ familiarity with the Niners positively helped, alternatively it be also goal correct-seeking to own new coordinator Steve Wilks is restful finding his footing. Make no mistake, the Rams did now not pile up the yards or aspects. And Wilks will get credit score for dialing up extra stress down the stretch as the Niners defense delivered when it used to be wished most to flee with the gain.

Replenish after the gain: CB Isaiah Oliver. The worthy-maligned nickel corner delivered tall plays when the Niners defense desperately wished them, creating with a pair of key tackles to get stops and an interception on a deflection for the game’s first takeaway. A model of stops used to be on Kyren Williams on fourth down boring within the game to extinguish any chance of a Rams comeback.

Stock down after the gain: QB Brock Purdy’s deep ball. Though he hit a tall one boring to Jauan Jennings, Purdy struggled pushing the ball down field towards the Rams, lacking open wideouts Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk for would-be touchdowns and Jennings for a key third-down conversion. — Slash Wagoner

Next sport: vs. Giants (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Rams

Can the offense proceed to switch the ball with out Cooper Kupp? The Rams played neatly towards a tricky 49ers defense within the major half of, but two turnovers within the 2d half of stopped an offense that used to be rolling. Within the occasion that they’ll proceed that first-half of play, it’ll be while relying on rookie receiver Puka Nacua, who place the file for most receptions by a player through his first two video games, in step with ESPN Stats & Recordsdata. For the 2d sport in a row, Nacua has taken on a heavy load of the target share, turning 20 targets into 15 catches for 147 yards. The Rams’ performance wasn’t ample to beat the 49ers on Sunday, but absolutely offers more hope than fans maybe anticipated when they chanced on out Kupp would miss at least the major four video games of the season.

Replenish after the loss: RB Kyren Williams. Williams, a 2022 fifth-round opt, used to be named the Rams’ lead motivate this week, and impressed within the role. He accomplished with 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and had six receptions for Forty eight yards and a touchdown, changing into the major Rams player to ranking throughout the air and on the ground since Week 8 of the 2021 season.

Stock down after the loss: RB Cam Akers. Akers used to be a healthy scratch for Week 2, per week after dashing for 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Akers also fell out of resolve on for a while closing season, but Williams’ emergence may perhaps well bear it tricky for him to get motivate within the lineup. — Sarah Barshop

Next sport: at Bengals (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Tampa Bay 27, Chicago 17

Buccaneers

Can the Bucs proceed to gain with Baker Mayfield? After listening to all offseason how badly they were anticipated to achieve with out Tom Brady, the Bucs are in actual fact 2-0. Between Mayfield’s quarterback amble plays, the deep-ball connections to Mike Evans, and the sacks and takeaways by the defense, this community has established itself as a bunch elephantine of winners. Tampa Bay will most likely be tested the next two weeks, though, with two high-5 defenses from closing season on deck: the Eagles on “Monday Evening Football” and the Saints in Week 4.

Replenish after the gain: Pass slither. After sacking Kirk Cousins twice closing week, the Bucs sacked Justin Fields six cases, with two sacks every from Vita Vea and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (who also recovered a fumble closing week), and Shaquil Barrett sealing the victory with a opt-six.

Stock down after the gain: Purple zone offense. While the Tampa Bay offense moved the ball significantly better this week and confirmed a huge improvement on third down — some extent of emphasis for OC Dave Canales — it used to be 1-for-4 on trips to the red zone, so the Bucs disregarded different scoring alternatives. — Jenna Laine

Next sport: vs. Eagles (Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET)

Bears

Will Bears therapy Justin Fields’ inconsistent play? Fields used to be in show on the major power, marching the Bears 75 yards before dashing in a touchdown. The following six drives were a catastrophe, alternatively, with 5 sacks — several brought about by preserving on to the ball too lengthy — and bother throwing downfield. The quarterback set up collectively a 90-yard TD power within the fourth quarter and went 2-of-3 on throws of 10-plus air yards, collectively with a 20-yard TD to Tear Claypool, but on the closing power, he threw a opt-six at his own 6-yard line. He’ll have to toughen on the highway versus the Chiefs in Week 3.

Replenish after the loss: WR Tear Claypool. Per week after he used to be known as out for his lack of effort, which set up his Week 2 availability into search data from, Claypool caught his first touchdown cross as a Have and have change into eight targets into three receptions for 36 yards.

Stock down after the loss: Third-down defense. Chicago did now not get off the field towards Green Bay (9-of-16 on third downs) and persisted that being concerned trend in Tampa, where the Bucs went 7-of-11 on third downs, collectively with two touchdowns. — Courtney Cronin

Next sport: at Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Atlanta 25, Green Bay 24

Falcons

What can Desmond Ridder attain to toughen? Sunday used to be a mixed win. Ridder led some lengthy drives and had a solid touchdown throw on the slither to hit Drake London within the break zone. Nonetheless there were at least three passes — one which used to be intercepted and two that simply can have been — whereby Ridder confirmed some of his inexperience. He handled the be taught-option sport neatly, finishing with nine carries for 40 yards, collectively with a touchdown. He has enjoyed a level of comfort boring in video games; if he can attain the equivalent in first halves and toughen his accuracy on intermediate and deep passes, he can bear some tall beneficial properties.

Replenish after the gain: RB Bijan Robinson. Robinson followed up his solid debut with his first 100-yard dashing sport (124 yards on 19 carries), which incorporated two highlight-reel runs: one whereby he made three jukes, and yet any other whereby he jumped over a Packers defender lying on the ground. He also added four catches for Forty eight yards, showing off his versatility.

Stock down after the gain: WR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson. The group’s attain-it-all player used to be sluggish Sunday with a thigh ruin irrespective of practicing in elephantine all week and now not being listed as questionable on the ruin picture. — Michael Rothstein

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

Packers

Does losing this sport imply anything else within the tall image? The Packers took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter with out wideout Christian Watson, running motivate Aaron Jones and left take care of David Bakhtiari, plus they misplaced left guard Elgton Jenkins to a indispensable-half of knee ruin. The philosophize used to be, Bijan Robinson wore down the Packers’ defense and Jordan Relish — irrespective of three touchdowns for the 2d straight week — did now not get a indispensable down on their closing three drives to worth their first loss with a double-digit fourth-quarter lead for the reason that 2014 NFC Championship Game.

Replenish after the loss: The receivers. 2nd-round opt Jayden Reed and fifth-rounder Dontayvion Wicks combined for three TD catches. Reed caught two — collectively with a 9-yarder within the 2d quarter on a jet-sweep paddle shovel cross whereby he hit 20.54 miles per hour, in step with NFL Next Gen Stats.

Stock down after the loss: Forcing turnovers. The Packers dropped two gimme interceptions — one by Jaire Alexander and yet any other by Quay Walker. What appeared enjoy a opt-six correct into Alexander’s hands became into a field device on the next power. — Rob Demovsky

Next sport: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Seattle 37, Detroit 31 (OT)

Seahawks

Who are the protest Seahawks? This Seattle group on Sunday may perhaps well now not have perceived to any extent additional different from the group that played in Week 1. After getting blown out at home to the Rams, the Seahawks delivered an upset gain amid tricky cases. They were with out both starting offensive tackles and going through a correct Lions cross slither at a raucous Ford Discipline. Additionally they misplaced No. 1 CB Riq Woolen to a chest ruin. His alternative, Tre Brown, most sharp symbolized the one-week turnaround. Picked on within the opener, Brown came off the bench and had a opt-six within the fourth quarter as neatly as a sack and two passes defensed vs. Detroit.

Replenish after the gain: QB Geno Smith. Smith used to be elegant below duress. He handled the noise and absence of his starting tackles, made plays and avoided expensive mistakes — till the 17-yard sack he took to examine the Lions’ sport-tying field device at the break of law. Smith (32-of-41, 328 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) atoned by leading the game-winning OT power.

Stock down after the gain: K Jason Myers. Myers has alternated correct seasons and imperfect ones since rejoining the Seahawks in 2019, and 2023 is off to a shaky initiate. After going 2-of-3 within the opener, he went 1-of-3 vs. Detroit, lacking from 45 and 56 yards within the major half of. — Brady Henderson

Next sport: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Lions

Did Seattle describe the Lions’ defensive weaknesses? Coming off a season-opening victory towards the Chiefs, the Lions laid an egg in their home opener with an overtime loss to Seattle whereby they gave up three touchdowns within the fourth quarter and overtime. The defense struggled as a total, permitting two dashing touchdowns to RB Kenneth Walker III, two receiving touchdowns to Tyler Lockett and 328 receiving yards.

Replenish after the loss: QB Jared Goff. His wander with out an INT ended after 383 consecutive makes an try, but the faded now has quite loads of touchdown passes in six straight home video games going motivate to Week 9 in 2022 — the longest intelligent wander within the NFL.

Stock down after the loss: Offensive ball security. Goff threw his first opt since November. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and running motivate David Sir Bernard Law were both stripped for misplaced fumbles. — Eric Woodyard

Next sport: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Kansas Metropolis 17, Jacksonville 9

Chiefs

Was once Chris Jones worth the wait? Though the Chiefs can have extinct him within the opener towards the Lions, he made up for it towards the Jaguars. Jones, in restricted playing time, had 5 pressures, 1.5 sacks and a batted cross. He had only one sport with more than four pressures closing season. The Chiefs had four sacks from a cross slither that used to be energized from the earlier week.

Replenish after the gain: RB Isiah Pacheco. He perked up a dormant running sport. His 31-yard slither jump-started a touchdown power to initiate the third quarter. He rushed for 16 yards on a field device power within the fourth quarter, collectively with changing on a fourth-and-1 play with the Chiefs struggling in such cases.

Stock down after the gain: Broad receivers. They did now not have a tall philosophize with dropped passes, as they did within the season opener, but they combined to fumble three cases, losing two. Dropped passes and turnovers are two things that can murder even the Chiefs’ offense. — Adam Teicher

Next sport: vs. Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

Is OC Press Taylor’s playcalling hurting the offense? The offensive line has been a controversy, but there were probabilities to bear plays, and the Jaguars actual disregarded them. QB Trevor Lawrence overthrew an open Zay Jones within the break zone, Lawrence disregarded Calvin Ridley at the motivate of the break zone, Christian Kirk dropped a third-down cross, and Jamal Agnew fumbled a lateral. The unit did now not play cleanly (actual 4.2 yards per play), alternatively it used to be associated more to OL considerations and execution than playcalling.

Replenish after the loss: DC Mike Caldwell. His defense pressured two turnovers out of the Chiefs (the Jaguars also got one on a muffed punt) and held Patrick Mahomes out of the break zone within the major half of till less than a minute remained. That stored the Jaguars within the game while the offense stumbled around for three quarters.

Stock down after the loss: The offensive line. It had bother keeping the Chiefs off Lawrence: He used to be pressured on 25% of his dropbacks and also used to be sacked three cases into the early part of the fourth quarter. Rookie RT Anton Harrison had bother with Chris Jones (5 pressures and 1.5 sacks). — Mike DiRocco

Next sport: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Indianapolis 31, Houston 20

Colts

How will QB Anthony Richardson’s concussion impact preparations over the next week? With the rookie quarterback leaving the game with a concussion within the 2d quarter, the Colts’ preparations for next week’s sport towards the Baltimore Ravens becomes refined, at most sharp. Even though he clears the concussion protocol by the break of the week, Richardson’s educate reps will most likely be significantly reduced and his preparation will most likely be negatively impacted. And balancing the necessity to prepare backup Gardner Minshew will most likely be nonetheless, too, as Minshew plays the gap worthy otherwise and attributable to this truth would require a different sport blueprint. Coach Shane Steichen can have his work gash out for him.

Replenish after the gain: RB Zack Moss. Moss rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in his first paddle of the season, providing a wished enhance to a running sport that struggled mightily in Week 1. The Colts’ running backs averaged 1.6 yards per try closing week at the motivate of lead motivate Deon Jackson, who did now not contact the ball Sunday.

Stock down after the gain: CB Darrell Baker Jr. He gave up several key first-down completions — collectively with a 32-yard connection from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins — and a 23-yard touchdown to Tank Dell. — Stephen Holder

Next sport: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

Can the Texans’ offense extend with its line accidents? The Texans were with out four starters on the offensive line as left take care of Laremy Tunsil, heart Juice Scruggs, correct take care of Tytus Howard and left guard Kenyon Green were out. Consequently, the Texans’ offense may perhaps well now not successfully slither the ball, totaling 52 dashing yards on 26 carries. Quarterback C.J. Stroud also used to be sacked six cases.

Replenish after the loss: Stroud. Despite the offensive line struggles, Stroud went 30-of-47 for 384 yards with two touchdowns, and he has yet to throw an interception through two video games.

Stock down after the loss: RB Dameon Pierce. After a promising rookie 300 and sixty five days, Pierce is off to a slack initiate with 31 yards on 15 carries in Week 2 and 38 yards on 11 carries in Week 1. — DJ Bien-Aime

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

Buffalo 38, Las Vegas 10

Bills

Is the multidimensional offense the Bills confirmed for staunch? It determined can also be. After a turnover-heavy performance in Week 1, the Bills confirmed how the offense can rob over a sport. QB Josh Allen set up collectively touchdown drives of 11 and 15 plays, and unfold the ball around to nine cross-catchers. The Bills avoided turnovers and Allen diminished his moderate air yards per play from 7.4 in Week 1 to three.9 vs. the Raiders, and the offense benefited in consequence. The slither sport came up tall, too. After dashing for 97 total yards closing week, the Bills racked up 183 Sunday.

Replenish after the gain: The Bills’ linebackers. Matt Milano has an interception in three straight customary-season video games, and 2d-300 and sixty five days heart linebacker Terrel Bernard had some correct moments towards the Raiders, collectively with an interception, alongside with a bunch-excessive six tackles.

Stock down after the gain: Third-down manufacturing. There is now not an uncomplicated candidate right here as almost everything trended in a more sure route for the Bills, but the offense went 7-of-13 on third down, leading to four fourth-down makes an try, and may perhaps well restful be an hiss to elegant up. — Alaina Getzenberg

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

Raiders

What is occurring with frail Pro Bowl receiver Hunter Renfrow? Per week after now not getting a single target for the major time in his profession, Renfrow used to be again an invisible man. The 2021 Pro Bowler, who caught 103 passes that season, used to be now not focused by new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo till there were less than four minutes to play. There have been at least a pair of different occasions on which Renfrow used to be running free but Garoppolo did now not detect him. If Garoppolo, who has more interceptions (three) than throws to Renfrow (one), does now not must became too predictable, he needs to get the receiver more eager.

Replenish after the loss: WR Davante Adams. Adams is with out doubt one of many most sharp — if now not the most sharp — receiver within the game currently, so the All-Pro goes to get his. And he did, catching six passes for 84 yards, collectively with a 16-yard obtain-and-slither ranking to initiate the day. Adams used to be being evaluated for a concussion after the game.

Stock down after the loss: RB Josh Jacobs. The All-Pro ran for a profession-low minus-2 yards on nine carries. — Paul Gutierrez

Next sport: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Tennessee 27, L.A. Chargers 24 (OT)

Titans

Can the secondary come by a strategy to forestall opposing quarterbacks? The Titans’ secondary gave up yet yet any other 300-plus yards of passing irrespective of the gain. Justin Herbert threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee used to be with out starting correct cornerback Kristian Fulton and Herbert picked on his alternative Tre Avery. The Chargers drove 60 yards, largely passing the ball before a Harold Landry sack saved the day and pressured a 33-yard field device to send the game to overtime. The cross defense, after ranking silly closing within the NFL closing season, is now not off to a significantly better initiate.

Replenish after the gain: Purple-zone offense. The Titans bounced motivate and scored touchdowns three of their four cases for the interval of the 20-yard line after failing to achieve so on any of their visits closing week.

Stock down after the gain: The offensive line. Tennessee allowed 5 sacks, with two approaching imperfect miscommunication. Ryan Tannehill used to be consistently below stress. — Turron Davenport

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

Chargers

Which version of the Chargers’ cross slither will describe up transferring forward? In closing week’s loss to the Dolphins, the Chargers struggled to get worthy stress on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw for 466 yards and wasn’t sacked. Chargers coach Brandon Staley disregarded the inability of stress, pointing to how hasty Tagovailoa threw the ball. With All-Pro edge rusher Joey Bosa nursing a hamstring ruin, the cross slither used to be in search data from heading into this sport. Nonetheless that unit appeared enjoy a different community this week, because it sacked Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill 5 cases.

Replenish after the loss: LB Tuli Tuipulotu. The Chargers’ 2d-round opt started at edge rusher in space of Bosa, who used to be restricted with a hamstring ruin. Tuipulotu accomplished with a sack and beat offensive lineman for stress frequently.

Stock down after the loss: Pass defense. The Chargers struggled again to forestall deep throws. Sunday used to be the major time since 2013 that Tannehill accomplished two passes of at least 45 air yards in a sport, the most important being a 70-yard strike to receiver Treylon Burks. — Kris Rhim

Next sport: at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 24

Ravens

How are the Ravens overcoming accidents? Baltimore used to be with out six injured starters, alternatively it had a healthy Lamar Jackson. It used to be Jackson’s snatch play that led Baltimore to beat the Bengals on the highway. Within the 2d half of, Jackson threw two touchdown passes on third down after which helped seal the victory with a 12-yard amble on third down. The possibilities were absolutely towards the Ravens, who were with out running motivate J.K. Dobbins, offensive take care of Ronnie Stanley, heart Tyler Linderbaum, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and security Marcus Williams. Then, Baltimore dominated out broad receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with an ankle ruin. Nonetheless Jackson used to be the variation-maker.

Replenish after the gain: TE Designate Andrews. In his first sport motivate after lacking the opener with a quad ruin, Andrews caught his first touchdown cross from Lamar Jackson since Week 6 of closing season — a span of 12 video games.

Stock down after the gain: Punt protection. The Ravens’ only touchdown allowed within the major half of came on an 81-yard punt return, which used to be the major one given up by Baltimore since 2016. — Jamison Hensley

Next sport: vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bengals

What’s most touching on regarding the Bengals’ 0-2 initiate? At this level, it be the slither defense. It had some rough moments in Week 1 towards the Browns on a day when Cleveland racked up 206 dashing yards. In Week 2, the Ravens had same success (178 yards) irrespective of who used to be running it: Gus Edwards, Lamar Jackson or Justice Hill. That played a role in Cincinnati’s inability to forestall Baltimore on a pair of key first downs. The offense may perhaps well restful figure things out as Joe Burrow will get more reps. Nonetheless Cincinnati needs to be better at stopping the slither.

Replenish after the loss: WR Tee Higgins. After posting no catches in Week 1, Higgins bounced motivate towards Baltimore with eight catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Stock down after the loss: Bustle defense. Cincinnati struggled towards the slither as Baltimore gained 178 yards. Gus Edwards averaged 6.2 yards per raise. — Ben Toddler

Next sport: vs. Rams (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Thursday

Philadelphia 34, Minnesota 28

Eagles

What’s at the motivate of the passing sport struggles? Heart Jason Kelce acknowledged the Eagles’ offense has been seeing some “loopy things” from opposing coordinators over the major two weeks in an try to attain confusion and slack the passing assault. Kelce believes it’ll stop that manner, predicting “chaos” the rest of the manner. One level of emphasis for opposing defenses has been to limit the explosive plays. It falls to the coaching workers and quarterback Jalen Hurts to decode the myriad looks they are getting and come by a strategy to get the passing sport motivate now not off beam.

Replenish after the gain: RB D’Andre Swift. The Philadelphia native made the most of his homecoming, dashing for a profession-excessive 175 yards and a touchdown in Philly’s home opener.

Stock down after the gain: WR A.J. Brown. He had four catches for 29 yards. Frustration resulted in a heated dialog on the sideline with Hurts. Hurts known as him a “gigantic player, gigantic teammate, gigantic buddy” and acknowledged he is now not anxious about Brown, alternatively it wasn’t the most sharp search for on what proved to be a winning night for the Eagles. — Tim McManus

Next sport: at Bucs (Sunday, 7:15 p.m. ET)

Vikings

Contain the Vikings already given away their season? They committed four turnovers Thursday night and have a total of seven throughout the major two video games, which have been determined by nine aspects combined. Who is aware of how their losses to the Eagles and Buccaneers would have been different with out a minus-6 turnover margin? Nonetheless whether or now not it has been by fluke or it’s miles deserved, the Vikings have fallen into an 0-2 gap that, historically, many teams have struggled to get out of.

Replenish after the loss: QB Kirk Cousins to WR Justin Jefferson. Despite the two losses, Cousins and Jefferson are clicking enjoy by no manner before, with Jefferson changing into the major NFL player in 12 years to examine up consecutive 150-yard receiving video games to open a season and Cousins throwing for a franchise-file 708 yards over that stretch.

Stock down after the loss: Bustle sport. The Vikings had only 28 dashing yards, on only nine makes an try, a continuation of a theme that started in Week 1 and a unusual twist following an offseason spent attempting to toughen dashing efficiency. — Kevin Seifert

Next sport: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)