Rams Rout Giants as NFL Week 2 Wraps Up Around the League
Week 2 of the NFL season wrapped up Monday night, and it delivered blowouts, an overtime classic, and a handful of injuries that will shape how these teams look the rest of the year.
Winners
The Los Angeles Rams closed out the week in dominant fashion, beating the New York Giants 28-6 at home. Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and receiver Davante Adams caught eight passes for 195 yards and two scores. The win mattered especially for the Rams, who had opened their season with a lopsided loss in Australia the week before. Adding to the story, star defensive lineman Aaron Donald played his first game in more than two and a half years after coming out of retirement. Adams called the win a product of the work the team put in, saying, "We're not going to put any governors on what we can do here."
The Buffalo Bills opened the week with a statement win, beating the Detroit Lions 41-31 in the first game played at their new stadium. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and running back James Cook added 135 rushing yards and a score, pushing Buffalo to 2-0.
The Kansas City Chiefs needed overtime to hold off the Indianapolis Colts, winning 33-30. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns, keeping the Chiefs unbeaten through two weeks.
Elsewhere, the Dallas Cowboys routed the Washington Commanders 37-20 behind four touchdown passes from Dak Prescott, and the Carolina Panthers blew out the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 behind three touchdown passes from Bryce Young. The San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Las Vegas Raiders all moved to 2-0 with wins over the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively.
Losers
Several teams left Week 2 still searching for their first win. The Atlanta Falcons managed just three points at home against Carolina, a rough follow-up to an already difficult start to the season. The Houston Texans fell to 0-2 after a 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, despite 353 passing yards from quarterback C.J. Stroud, a sign the offense's struggles go beyond the quarterback.
The Los Angeles Chargers dropped to 0-2 after losing to the Raiders 26-14, and the Miami Dolphins fell to 0-2 in a 35-13 blowout loss to San Francisco. The Tennessee Titans lost a close one to Philadelphia, 24-20, and remain winless. The Washington Commanders are also 0-2 after their loss to Dallas, a game that came with an added concern when quarterback Jayden Daniels left with an injury.
The Injury Report That Matters
Beyond the scores, Week 2 produced injuries that could affect these teams for weeks to come. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams left Sunday's 9-3 loss to Minnesota with a hamstring injury, overshadowing what was otherwise a defensive struggle between two division rivals. Washington's Jayden Daniels was hurt during the Commanders' loss to Dallas, adding uncertainty to a team already sitting at 0-2. And in Monday night's game, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart left early with a left knee injury after just seven snaps, a blow that contributed heavily to how lopsided that game became.
The Rest of the Slate
A few other results rounded out the week. The Green Bay Packers needed overtime to beat the New York Jets 20-17, avoiding an 0-2 start. The New Orleans Saints edged the Baltimore Ravens 24-17, and the Cleveland Browns held off Tampa Bay 23-19. The New England Patriots shut down Pittsburgh's offense in a 20-3 win, and the Denver Broncos beat Jacksonville 20-13 in a matchup between two of last season's stronger AFC teams.
Two weeks into the season, a clear group of unbeaten teams has emerged, including the Bills, Chiefs, 49ers, Seahawks, Raiders, and Vikings, while teams like the Falcons, Texans, Chargers, Dolphins, Titans, and Commanders are already searching for answers heading into Week 3.
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