The second week of the NFL season delivered a clearer picture of which teams are legitimate and which are still searching for answers. The Green Bay Packers continued their erratic play, the Cincinnati Bengals showed they can win without relying solely on Joe Burrow, and the Los Angeles Chargers' season appears to be over before it truly began.
The Packers, who blew a large lead against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, found themselves trailing the New York Jets by 10 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday. They managed to rally and escape with a win, but their performance left more questions than answers. Green Bay looked dominant at times and utterly lost at others, embodying the classic Jekyll-and-Hyde team. The Jets, meanwhile, squandered a late lead and reverted to the form that has plagued them for years.
In Cincinnati, the Bengals secured a victory that felt different from their usual script. Houston outgained Cincinnati by over 100 yards and recorded 10 more first downs, but the Bengals' defense forced four turnovers on downs and limited the Texans to just two field goals. If Cincinnati can consistently win games in this fashion, it could transform the team from a perennial offensive powerhouse into a complete contender. The Bengals have long relied on Burrow to outscore opponents; a defense that can single-handedly win games makes them one of the league's most dangerous teams.
The Chargers, on the other hand, appear to be in freefall. Their season is effectively over after another poor showing, and the team looks nothing like a playoff contender. The Dolphins, widely considered the worst team in the NFL, were run out of the building in their own game, and an 0-17 season is not out of the question. Miami's struggles are compounded by the fact that other bottom-tier teams like the Titans and Browns showed signs of life in Week 2, with Cleveland even securing a win.
Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers' offense is quietly becoming one of the most exciting units in football. After scoring 37 points and gaining 478 yards in a Week 1 loss to Chicago, the Panthers followed up with another 30-point performance. Bryce Young's step forward in 2025 appears to be no fluke, and he may be taking yet another leap this season. The New Orleans Saints are also a surprisingly fun team to watch, with Tyler Shough building on his fan-voted Rookie of the Year campaign and Chris Olave providing a reliable target when healthy.
The Chicago Bears came crashing back to earth after a Week 1 offensive explosion. Quarterback Caleb Williams was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, and the Bears' offense managed just 12 points combined with their opponent after scoring 98 in Week 1. The health of Williams is now the team's top priority.
The Philadelphia Eagles remain undefeated but hardly convincing. They narrowly escaped the Washington Commanders in Week 1 and needed a last-second touchdown to avoid an upset against one of the league's worst teams in Week 2. The inconsistency that plagued them last year persists, and with the Cowboys and Giants both improved, the NFC East is no longer theirs to lose.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might simply be bad. A home loss to the Cleveland Browns, in which Deshaun Watson looked competent for the first time in years, suggests the Buccaneers are not the NFC South favorites many expected. Both the Saints and Panthers currently look like better teams.
Finally, the Denver Broncos and head coach Sean Payton continue to be overrated. The Broncos are not a good team, and they will likely be exposed in the coming weeks against the Rams and 49ers. As for the Chargers, their season is over — a harsh but increasingly accurate assessment after another dismal performance.