NFL Week 2 grades delivered everything: a defensive statement in Kansas City, a Detroit detonation, a special-teams gut punch in Pittsburgh, and a Monday night game-winner in Houston. Here’s how it all shook out, with quick grades for every headliner.
Eagles 20, Chiefs 17 — Philly’s defense carries the rematch
Grades: Eagles B+, Chiefs C-
Philadelphia didn’t win with flash; it won with control. The Eagles compressed Kansas City’s explosive game, clogged throwing lanes, and leaned on short-yardage power to close it out on the road. Kansas City’s offense looked disjointed for long stretches, and a costly mistake in the passing game proved pivotal in a third straight setback to Philly across their last three meetings.
Cowboys 40, Giants 37 (OT) — An instant classic in Arlington
Grades: Cowboys B+, Giants B
Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson traded haymakers in a wild finish. Dallas forced overtime with a bomb-range kick at the end of regulation, then walked it off after picking Wilson in the extra period. Wilson still authored a vintage 450-yard night; penalties and one late miscue undid an otherwise spectacular Giants effort.
Lions 52, Bears 21 — Detroit’s offense lights the scoreboard
Grades: Lions A+, Bears D-
Jared Goff sliced Chicago for 334 yards and five TD passes, three to Amon-Ra St. Brown, as Detroit ran away with the biggest blowout of Sunday. The Lions blended pass timing with yards-after-catch and play-action shots; Chicago’s defense had no answers and the offense couldn’t keep pace.
Seahawks 31, Steelers 17 — A new kickoff rule bites Pittsburgh
Grades: Seahawks B+, Steelers C
Seattle seized control on a bizarre special-teams sequence early in the fourth quarter, turning a live ball on a kickoff into a touchdown. The Seahawks then slammed the door with a late interception. Pittsburgh’s defense yielded chunk plays after halftime, and Aaron Rodgers threw two picks in his home debut in black and gold.
Ravens 41, Browns 17 — Four TDs and a response in Baltimore
Grades: Ravens A+, Browns D
Baltimore got right in a hurry: four Lamar Jackson TD passes and complementary football in all three phases turned a divisional game into a rout. Cleveland won some between-the-20s metrics but lost the turnover battle and red-zone moments decisively.
Bills 30, Jets 10 — Buffalo’s ground-and-pound plus defense
Grades: Bills A, Jets D
Buffalo leaned on a downhill run game (James Cook powered the day) and a suffocating defense. Josh Allen briefly left with a bloody nose, returned, and kept the offense on schedule. New York’s day worsened with Justin Fields exiting late to be evaluated for a concussion; a late backup-led TD only trimmed the margin.
Buccaneers 20, Texans 19 (MNF) — Mayfield magic at the death
Grades: Buccaneers B-, Texans C-
Down late on the road, Baker Mayfield engineered an 11-play, 80-yard drive, extending it with a fourth-and-10 scramble and a strike over the middle. Rachaad White finished the comeback with a 2-yard score with six seconds left. Houston’s special-teams pops and a late Nick Chubb TD looked like enough…until it wasn’t.
Falcons 22, Vikings 6 — Pass rush and patience
Grades: Falcons B, Vikings D+
Atlanta’s rebuilt rush arrived with six sacks, the kicker drilled a 54-yarder, and the ground game controlled tempo. Minnesota, battered on the OL and in the backfield, saw J.J. McCarthy take a pounding and throw two picks before the ankle issue that puts Week 3 in doubt.
Cardinals 27, Panthers 22 — Big lead, late wobble, still a win
Grades: Cardinals B-, Panthers C
Arizona raced ahead 27-3 behind defensive pressure and a strip-sack TD, then nearly gave it all back as Bryce Young found late rhythm. The hole was too deep: turnovers and protection leaks doomed Carolina’s rally.
Around the league: injuries & context that matter
- Joe Burrow is set for toe surgery and is expected to miss at least three months, a massive AFC North storyline.
- J.J. McCarthy (Vikings) is week-to-week with an ankle sprain and is unlikely for Week 3.
- Jayden Daniels (Commanders) sustained a knee sprain and is day-to-day ahead of Week 3.
- The AFC heavyweights flexed: Bills (30) and Ravens (41) combined for 71 points in comfortable wins.
- In the AFC South picture, Colts 29, Broncos 28 came via a last-second field goal after a penalty moved a missed 60-yarder into makeable range.
Quick team snapshots (Week 2 lens)
- Best offense: Lions — balance, explosives, YAC, red-zone ruthlessness.
- Best defense: Eagles — coverage integrity + situational trench wins at Arrowhead.
- Most clutch: Buccaneers — two-minute operation under pressure.
- Most alarming: Jets — offense stalled, injury concern at QB.
- Weirdest turning point: Seahawks at Steelers — live kickoff recovered for a TD under the new rule nuances.
What the NFL Week 2 grades suggest heading to Week 3
- Eagles: Contender profile even without fireworks; defense trending up.
- Chiefs: Urgent need for downfield answers and cleaner situational football.
- Lions/Ravens/Bills: Statement wins that translate — sustainable traits (protection, pass concepts, defensive disruption).
- Cowboys/Giants: Both volatile…but dangerous. Efficiency and discipline will decide close games.
- Steelers: Must stabilize pass pro and special teams; minimize high-leverage mistakes.
- Bucs: 2-0 with a resilient identity; run game and QB improvisation travel.
- Bears/Panthers/Vikings/Jets: Trending problems differ, but all four face execution and health questions more than schematic crises.
