Week 2 Takeaways for the 2025 NFL Season
Saying that “a lot happened this week” would be an understatement. Mac Jones led the 49ers to a road win. Miami returned a punt for a TD but allowed a KR TD on the very next play in a loss to the Patriots. Grant Delpit and his Browns did indeed stuff Derrick Henry but got crushed by the Ravens anyway. Detroit moved to 11-0 in their last 11 games following a loss and trounced their former OC. Steelers rookie RB Kaleb Johnson did…this. And these are just things we DON’T have space to cover! My week 2 takeaways for the 2024 NFL season cover as much as they possibly can. I hope they’re informative and that you enjoy them!
TNF: Packers’ Defense Continues to Roll Against Commanders
In this battle of 1-0 teams, it was clear whose week 1 win carried more weight. Washington didn’t look like a well-oiled machine against the Giants, whereas Green Bay smothered the Lions. At first, the Packers didn’t seem to be in control of this week’s contest. Rookie RT Anthony Belton, replacing an injured Zach Tom, committed a holding penalty on the opening drive that got a TD called back. Worse still, the man who caught the nullified pass, WR Jayden Reed, broke his collarbone on the play. To finish the drive, the Packers had an open man in the end zone on 4th down, but CB Trey Amos made a great play to swat the ball away.
As was the case against Detroit though, the defense of Green Bay came to play. Washington, known as an excellent rushing attack, managed just 51 total yards on the ground (2.7 YPC). Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (24/42, 200 yards, 2 TDs; 7/17 rushing) looked disjointed and only produced in garbage time. He also went down 4 times at the hands of a swarming pass rush. Even when Deebo Samuel (7/44/1) had a great drive to start the 2nd half, new Packer Micah Parsons sacked Daniels (he shared it with LB Edgerrin Cooper, who led the team with 10 tackles, leading to a missed FG (the second of the game for K Matt Gay).
Offensively, the Packers oddly did better when they started close to their own end zone. They manufactured two TD drives of 90+ yards, one of which extended the rushing TD streak of RB Josh Jacobs (23/84/1). QB Jordan Love (19/31, 292 yards, 2 TDs) showed good command, taking advantage of easy reads throughout the game. HC Matt LaFleur called a great game, effectively using motion to pick on CBs Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil and create open looks. The biggest beneficiary was TE Tucker Kraft (6/124/1), who the Commanders were correct to worry about. These Packers look as complete as any team right now.
Washington’s outlook is less rosy. This game wasn’t nearly as close as the 27-18 final score suggests. As I alluded to in my recent power rankings, Daniels might face some year-two regression. He clearly wasn’t comfortable with how GB kept him contained in the pocket and took away his initial reads. This is something to monitor moving forward. Adding injury to insult, DE Deatrich Wise got carted off with a bad-looking quad injury in the first half, and RB Austin Ekeler went down late with a noncontact Achilles injury (it’s likely torn). To end positively, at least we got to see our first (failed) onside kick try of the 2025 season?
Burrow Injury Casts Pall over Bengals’ Comeback Victory
Cincinnati got off to their first 2-0 start since 2018, but they have little to celebrate. At first, their game against Jacksonville looked like a typical Bengals affair. Their defense was powerless to stop Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense, but QB Joe Burrow (7/13, 76 yards, TD) was keeping pace. Down 14-7 but driving, Burrow got sacked and stayed down on the field. He had trouble making it to the sideline, went back to the locker room, and did not return due to a toe injury. Backup Jake Browning came in, and Cincy punted. However, Browning went 5-4 in 2023 when Burrow hurt his wrist, so hope was not lost.
The Bengals defense allowed Jacksonville to march up and down the field, but as they did against Cleveland, they earned some very opportunistic stops. CB Dax Hill (9 tackles, INT) anchored the secondary, and S Jordan Battle added another INT of Lawrence. Only one of them was earned, as the other came off a drop. It was a good thing that the defense stepped up, because Browning threw 3 INTs of his own. Still, he kept the Bengals in the game by firing two TD passes and smartly peppering star WR Ja’Marr Chase (14/165/1) with targets. The truth is though, the Jaguars helped out a LOT in the final minutes of the game.
Following Browning’s 3rd INT while the Jags were already leading 27-24, Jacksonville began their drive in the red zone but went three and out, setting up an easy FG. But they didn’t do that. HC Liam Coen bafflingly chose to go for 4th and 5, where the pass predictably fell incomplete. He later scapegoated analytics for the decision. With one last chance, Browning calmly guided a 15-play, 92-yard TD drive in 3:24 (aided by a 4th-down penalty on Travis Hunter), scoring on a QB sneak with just 18 seconds remaining. One Trey Hendrickson sack later, and the Bengals escaped with a surprising 31-27 win, but at what cost?
This is a case where a team can win the battle but lose the war. First-round rookie DE Shemar Stewart left the game with an ankle injury, which is concerning, but Burrow’s injury is the headline here. He was diagnosed with turf toe and torn ligaments. Surgery is upcoming, and Burrow will be out a whopping 3 months. Browning is a solid backup, but for a team that planned to outscore its own defense, losing Burrow could be a death sentence. It’s ironic after the Bengals worked so hard to start fast for once. They’ll need these two banked wins, and hopefully Browning can keep things afloat until Burrow returns.
Cowboys Defeat Giants in Unexpectedly Thrilling OT Shootout
When stored division rivals such as the Giants and Cowboys face each other, they don’t usually land in the early window on Sunday afternoon. In fact, these particular teams haven’t played at 1 PM EST in many years. Low expectations for both squads landed them in a less desirable slot, and that was a mistake, as they gave us the best game of the week by far. We can safely ignore the defenses. While the defensive stars showed up, with Dallas’ Kenny Clark and New York’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns each earning a sack, neither stop unit had much of an impact during regulation. So let’s talk offense!
Giants QB Russell Wilson was skewered in the media last week, even though the team’s poor offensive output wasn’t his fault. The offensive line is in shambles, and that looked to potentially be an issue again. Case in point: LT James Hudson, filling in for an injured Andrew Thomas, was benched for rookie Marcus Mbow after committing 4 penalties on just one drive. Despite the bad blocking and no running game (Wilson had 23 of the team’s 84 rushing yards), Wilson (30/41, 450 yards, 3 TDs, INT) turned back the clock. He still has his trademark moonball, and he fired bomb after bomb to torch the Dallas secondary.
It was a fantastic rebound, and Wilson set a career-high in passing yards. Rookie Jaxson Dart came in for a running play, which led to a 3-yard loss because he fell on his behind. The kid needs to stay on the bench until he actually starts games. Wilson shouldn’t have come off the field at all, as he was dealing. WRs Malik Nabers (9/167/2) and Wan’Dale Robinson (8/142/1) feasted, and the Giants put up 37 points. However, Dallas’ offense also cooked. QB Dak Prescott (38/52, 361 yards, 2 TDs, INT) and RB Javonte Williams (18/97/1; 6/33 receiving) served up a balanced attack. These two teams traded blows all games.
To that point, we had 5 lead changes in the 4th quarter alone. Just in the final minute, Wilson heaved a deep shot to Nabers to take a 37-34 lead, only for Dallas to tie the game when K Brandon Aubrey nailed a 64-yard FG with room to spare. With all the kicking drama so far this year, it’s nice to have an elite option like him. The game went to OT, where the Giants won the coin toss and chose to play defense first. With the new rules, where both teams are guaranteed a possession even with an opening-drive TD, do you want the ball second now like in college, or can the first team eat too much clock?
The point was moot, as we started the extra period with 3 punts. That’s when Wilson made his lone mistake. He threw one too many moonballs, putting a duck up for grabs. It was picked off, and Dallas kicked another 46-yard FG as time expired to win 40-37. New York deserved a better fate here, but at least Wilson should be off the hot seat for a bit. Dallas can’t claim that their defense is “better” after trading Micah Parsons anymore. However, their offense returned to its 2023 form. Neither of these teams is great, but we can conclude one thing. We should’ve put them in a better broadcasting window.
Super Bowl Rematch Has Different Feel but Goes Eagles’ Way Again
The last time the Eagles and Chiefs faced each other, Philly embarrassed Kansas City in a game neither city will soon forget. This contest had far fewer fireworks, with both defenses controlling the action. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (15/22, 101 yards; 8/16/1 rushing) kept everything underneath and found little room as a runner. His counterpart, Patrick Mahomes (16/29, 187 yards, TD, INT; 7/66/1 rushing), had a tough time. It wasn’t really his fault though. Based on his last two matchups with the Eagles, you might conclude that DC Vic Fangio has his number. That doesn’t address what happened in this game, where Mahomes had no help.
In fact, the team around him was a detriment to his chances of success. He led the Chiefs in rushing, with RB Isiah Pacheco (10/22) struggling for a second straight game. KC has a dearth of weapons with WR Xavier Worthy injured and Rashee Rice suspended. The one guy Mahomes thought he could count on was TE Travis Kelce (4/61). Though the future Mr. Swift did lead the team in receiving yards, he arguably cost them the game. In the 4th quarter, with the Chiefs driving to take the lead, Kelce dropped a perfectly thrown pass in the end zone. He popped the ball up, and it was intercepted by S Andrew Mukuba.
Mukuba returned the ball 41 yards and nearly broke it for a pick six. I have to shout out rookie LT Josh Simmons though. He chased Mukuba with all he had and finally knocked him out of bounds. The effort by the big man was fantastic, but Philly scored the finishing TD off the turnover (on a tush push of course). A late score by KC didn’t matter, and the Eagles hung on 20-17. Kansas City is in a place they’ve never been with Mahomes: 0-2. There’s no margin for error here because the offense is so limited. I don’t think Mahomes is the problem, but he’ll have to be the answer. This season is off to an inauspicious start.
Philadelphia wasn’t fantastic on offense either, but they had far more positives in this game. The defense, with DT Jalen Carter causing havoc and not spitting on opponents, played far better than it did against Dallas. RB Saquon Barkley (22/88/1) is still a difference maker. Even K Jake Elliott is having a revival. After going 1/7 on 50+ FGs last year, he’s already 3/3 from that distance through 2 games in 2025. Getting WR AJ Brown (5/27) involved in the offense will be crucial, and the passing game as a whole needs to improve. However, if you’re having these problems at 2-0, you’re in a pretty darn good spot.
Furious Finishes in Indianapolis and Houston
Two games this week saw their results flip in the final 10 seconds of action. First, Denver went to Indianapolis, who beat Miami in a game that proved nothing. How would Colts QB Daniel Jones fare against the vaunted Broncos defense? Surprisingly, he did quite well. The line gave him time, and he completed 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and a TD to go with a rushing score. Once again though, the key is that he committed 0 turnovers. It also helped that rookie TE Tyler Warren (4/79) looks like a real weapon, and RB Jonathan Taylor (25/160/1; 2/50/1 receiving) provided balance on the ground and an outlet through the air.
In fact, Colts’ P Rigoberto Sanchez hasn’t booted the ball once yet this year. Denver’s offense couldn’t perform like it did last week and win. To their credit, they didn’t. QB Bo Nix (22/30, 206 yards, 3 TDs, INT) had a bounce-back effort, and RB JK Dobbins (14/76/1) looked healthy for a change. However, the Broncos faltered late and let the Colts back in the game. Trailing 28-26, the team had no choice but to attempt a 60-yard FG. K Spencer Shrader missed it, but LB Dondrea Tillman committed a leverage penalty. Shrader got another shot from 45 yards out and won the game. Somehow, Indy is 2-0, and Denver has work to do.
On Monday Night Football, Tampa went to Houston to engage in a defensive struggle. Both defenses were very good, but the offensive lines made it easy. The Bucs had an excuse: LT Tristan Wirfs is still out with an ankle injury, forcing C Graham Barton to kick outside. Making matters worse, RT Luke Goedeke left early with a foot injury and did not return. Houston’s line just doesn’t have the personnel even at full strength. It’s really hurting 3rd-year QB CJ Stroud (13/24, 207 yards, TD; 4/27 rushing), who finds himself under constant pressure. He’s seeing ghosts in the pocket even when the rush isn’t there, which is a bad sign.
Still, Houston’s defense made this a game. Tampa churned out yards on the ground, with RBs Bucky Irving (17/71; 6/50 receiving) and Rachaad White (10/65) and even QB Baker Mayfield (3/33) enjoying rushing success. The passing game was stifled though because Mayfield had little time to throw once Goedeke departed. The Bucs led most of the game regardless, but a big 53-yard PR late by rookie receiver Jaylin Noel set the Texans up in field goal range, and RB Nick Chubb (12/43) had his one good run of the game, scoring a 25-yard TD. The running game (84 yards) did next to nothing for Houston but provided a 19-14 lead there.
With 2:10 to go, that’s when Mayfield (25/38, 215 yards, 2 TDs) took over. For the second straight week, he led a game-winning drive, marching 80 yards in 11 plays. He stood tall in the pocket and scrambled when necessary, moving so efficiently that the Buccaneers could bleed the clock before White plunged into the end zone with 6 seconds left. The 20-19 victory moved Tampa Bay to 2-0 for the 5th straight year. They’re in fantastic position to retain their NFC South crown, especially with both wins so far coming on the road. Houston, now 0-2, has a weak enough division to rebound. I’m just not sure they’re capable of doing so.