Week 2 report card: two 8.5-point dogs won outright
Week 2 had two outright upsets by 8.5-point underdogs, two overtime games, and a 9-3 final with no touchdowns. Here's how everybody did.
By the numbers
Biggest wins (margin): Panthers over Falcons 31 pts, Seahawks over Cardinals 24 pts, 49ers over Dolphins 22 pts, Rams over Giants 22 pts, Patriots over Steelers 17 pts, Cowboys over Commanders 17 pts
Scoring swings from Week 1: Bears: 59 to 3 56 pts, Rams: 7 to 28 21 pts, Panthers allowed: 59 to 3 56 pts, Seahawks: 13 to 31 18 pts
The grades
A week after giving up 59, Carolina held Atlanta to a field goal and forced five turnovers. Atlanta never even reached the red zone.
A backup quarterback, three Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdowns, and a defense that allowed 151 yards. Arizona's longest completion went for 9.
Stafford threw four touchdowns and the Rams outgained New York 481 to 182. The Giants ran for 52 yards a week after bullying Dallas.
Purdy went 20 of 22 and San Francisco scored 21 in the third quarter. Miami has 13 points in both games.
Four sacks, a strip-sack touchdown, and Pittsburgh never reached the end zone. Aaron Rodgers looked every bit of his age.
Dak went 26 of 31 with four touchdowns. Washington won the rushing battle 182 to 66 and it didn't matter.
The upset of the week, as an 8.5-point underdog. Watson went 24 of 30 and won it with a touchdown pass inside four minutes.
Another 8.5-point dog cashes. Tyler Shough sneaked in the winner with 1:32 left. Baltimore is 1-1 and looks it.
Up 21-0 before Detroit woke up, 203 rushing yards, five Josh Allen touchdowns. Goff's big stat line was mostly garbage time.
Four fourth-down stops and zero Houston touchdowns. Burrow to Chase twice was all the offense needed.
Kirk Cousins threw three touchdowns and the Chargers turned it over three times. Two straight home losses for LA.
A defensive win, 9-3, with no touchdowns on either side. Chicago went from 59 points to 3.
Denver was down 13-3 in the third and scored the last 17. Jacksonville's offense disappeared after halftime.
A win's a win, but KC needed overtime at home. Indy tied it late and deserved better.
Hurts threw two picks and needed a touchdown with 14 seconds left to beat a rookie quarterback. Tennessee's getting better fast.
Green Bay was down 10 in the fourth and won in overtime in a game with 27 penalties. Nobody looked good.
Honor roll
- Panthers: gave up 59 in Week 1, gave up 3 in Week 2. Biggest turnaround in football
- Seahawks: 2-0 with a backup quarterback, and the defense is the reason
- Browns and Saints: both won outright as 8.5-point underdogs
Summer school
- Falcons: five turnovers, zero red zone trips, three points
- Bears: went from 59 points to 3 in a week
- Dolphins: 13 points in each of the first two games, and it's not getting easier