MY WWE HELL IN A CELL RECAP

BROCK LESNAR SHOCKINGLY RETURNS AND CAUSES CHAOS DURING MAIN EVENT

Hell in a Cell was an eventful night that ended with Brock Lesnar wreaking havoc on the main event and leaving the Universal championship picture in chaos. It was far from the only contested ending, on a night in which a new SmackDown women's champion was crowned and Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre got two separate chances to tear the house down.

HELL IN A CELL MATCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROMAN REIGNS (C) VS. BRAUN STROWMAN GOES TO A NO CONTEST

When a character on WWE TV goes out of his way to say a certain rule or stipulation is going to prevent outside forces interfering in a match, you can be confident that at least one outsider is going to figure into the result of the match. Braun Strowman's assertion that Hell in a Cell would be a fair way to determine whether he or Universal champion Roman Reigns would walk out the victor without interference was nullified by watching just about every Hell in a Cell match outside of the first one and seeing how easily action spilled to the outside of the cage.

RATINGS SUMMARY (3.25 OUT OF 5)

This match was captivating chaos with some incredible bumps. The lack of a definitive winner hurt the final product, though. Booking aside, this match was very entertaining.

• Storytelling: 0.50
• In-Ring Execution: 0.50
• Match Psychology: 0.75
• Timing: 0.50
• Innovation: 1.00

If we're going to talk about one of the most unsatisfying endings to a fun (if insanely chaotic) match in recent memory, the way that the main event of Hell in a Cell came to its end would still have to rank at or near the top of that list.

Everything that happened leading up to the moment when a replacement referee called the match off as a no contest was fun. Strowman used the steel stairs, the cage and anything that wasn't nailed down as a means to batter Reigns. Reigns fought back each and every time, sent Strowman into the cage a few times in his own right and hit about a half-dozen Superman punches.

Strowman and Reigns each hit one finisher. Strowman countered a Superman punch into a chokeslam that special guest referee Mick Foley nearly accidentally counted to three on, as well as a powerslam. Reigns speared Strowman through a table set up in the corner, which also only earned a two-count. But from that moment on, the participants in the main event were an afterthought.

Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre ran down to the ring, with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins predictably not far behind. All four men made it to the top of the Hell in a Cell in a breathtaking but scary few minutes which included a double clothesline between Ambrose and McIntyre that caused a big impact. Rollins and Ziggler made the highlight reel as they slammed each other's heads off the cage and sent each other flying off the side of Hell in a Cell through tables.

Then it was time for Brock Lesnar to rear his head and impose his will. As Paul Heyman tried to beg the referee for the key to the lock securing the cage door, Lesnar decided he'd rather kick the steel door off its hinges to gain entry. Heyman neutralized Foley with pepper spray to the eyes, and Lesnar beat both Reigns and Strowman into oblivion -- using the door and fragments of table, with an F-5 to each to cap off his efforts.

The match was immediately called off, and if you don't think there's a triple threat grudge match to come, you simply haven't been paying attention. But it was certainly a tough night for Raw general manager Baron Corbin, who's feeling the pressure of his title in this moment.

Walking away from a match that's supposed to decide a definitive winner without that clear winner emerging is a bait-and-switch tactic born in the olden days of pro wrestling, to be sure. But it sure wasn't a satisfying way for fans to leave the AT&T Center or for those watching at home, especially considering how it wiped out the fun and chaotic nature of the Money in the Bank briefcase as an afterthought.

RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: RONDA ROUSEY (C) DEF. ALEXA BLISS

It came as no surprise that Ronda Rousey walked away from her Raw women's championship match against Alexa Bliss with a submission victory via armbar, but everything else leading up to that moment didn't quite click.

RATINGS SUMMARY (1.75 OUT OF 5)

Outside of Bliss' strategy in targeting Rousey's injured ribs and some nicely executed offense by Rousey, this match never quite got going. Both Bliss and Rousey have been strong in 2018, but this one ranks near the bottom of their efforts.

• Storytelling: 0.25
• In-Ring Execution: 0.50
• Match Psychology: 0.50
• Timing: 0.25
• Innovation: 0.25

Rousey spent the majority of her title defense with Bliss battering and bruising her ribs from every direction imaginable. In terms of a performance, it sadly felt like it strained suspension of disbelief to its limits as the larger and more acutely trained Rousey didn't make for a believable underdog who should be fighting from behind. It's a stylistic choice of what to do with her character, to be sure, but a lot of Rousey's appeal comes from her experience and actual destructive powers from the world of mixed martial arts.

Despite Bliss having injured Rousey's ribs in the lead-up to this match, and the potential distractions on the outside, it took far too long for Rousey to turn things around. When it did, with an over-the-top expression change that happened in an instant, a judo-style spinning suplex and an armbar caused Bliss to tap out almost instantaneously.

This finally puts Bliss in Rousey's rear-view mirror, but it also leaves her dance card open for WWE Evolution. Monday's edition of Raw is likely to provide either clues or outright answers to which direction Rousey's heading in next -- and that step could be a crucial one as far as her long-term career prospects.

MIXED TAG-TEAM MATCH: MARYSE & THE MIZ DEF. BRIE BELLA & DANIEL BRYAN

From the beginning, it was difficult to say what role Brie Bella and Maryse would play in Sunday night's mixed tag-team match. They each have a solid pedigree, but the truth is they were each subplots in the heated feud between Daniel Bryan and The Miz.

RATINGS SUMMARY (2.75 OUT OF 5)

In addition to the cat-and-mouse game between Maryse and Brie Bella, there was some fun in-ring action. It was more of a solid TV match though, as opposed to an anticipated PPV bout.

• Storytelling: 0.75
• In-Ring Execution: 0.50
• Match Psychology: 0.75
• Timing: 0.50
• Innovation: 0.25

In some ways, this mixed match seemed more like an exhibition, perhaps even a halftime show, than it did in the next chapter of Bryan versus The Miz rivalry. The two men went at it right away, but we had to wait and wait ... and wait for their partners to enter the ring, as Maryse wanted no part of the action.

The cowardly act elicited jeers from the crowd, and when they finally did enter, about 10 minutes into the match, Bella cleaned house. She had all the momentum and it seemed certain she and Bryan would come out on top.

Somehow, someway, though, Maryse rolled up her foe in a last-ditch effort to win the match. The heels reveled in their win as they walked back to the locker room.

Make that advantage Miz again. Since his issue with Bryan reignited weeks before SummerSlam, Miz has won the war of words and the battle inside the ring. The strategy makes sense. It allows Bryan the opportunity to play the David role, to wallow in his shortcomings before the inevitable win when the spotlight is shining bright.

The problem is unless this comes at Survivor Series, which does not seem like the ideal time, when will Bryan have that spotlight again? Will this feud slowly linger until next year at the Royal Rumble? Longer?

Whatever it is, Bryan has a lot of work to do if he has aspirations of retribution.

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP: AJ STYLES (C) DEF. SAMOA JOE

The big question heading into the WWE championship match between AJ Styles and Samoa Joe was whether or not Joe was viewed as true world champion material. Sunday didn't provide a definitive answer.

RATINGS SUMMARY (2.75 OUT OF 5)

These two worked really hard and put forth an admirable effort featuring a lot of stiff shots. The abrupt ending leaves the door open for more battles down the road. This chapter of that story was solid, but didn't kick into that next gear.

• Storytelling: 0.75
• In-Ring Execution: 0.50
• Match Psychology: 0.75
• Timing: 0.25
• Innovation: 0.50

Although Styles emerged with the victory and retained the WWE championship, the ending was far from decisive; as the referee's arm was dropping to the mat for the third count, Styles tapped out -- albeit out of the view of the referee and the primary TV camera. This is sure to lead to controversy and at least one more WWE title match between these two, as well as an opportunity to truly prove the best of what they're capable of.

Up to the point when this match ended, Styles and Samoa Joe were seemingly giving it their all. The level of physicality was there, but whether it was the crowd not feeling the story that led to all of the tension in this match, or sheer exhaustion after putting so much energy and excitement into the Raw tag team title match, it felt as though something was missing.

That's not to say there weren't a few moments for each guy's highlight reel, including Styles turning a torture rack into a spinning powerbomb and the dizzying series of finisher counters that led us to the controversial finish.

It's been a while since WWE has done a disputed finish in such a high-profile match, but if it serves to ramp up the intensity and emotion of fans while putting some distance from the wife and daughter narrative, it will have fulfilled its purpose.

RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: DOLPH ZIGGLER & DREW MCINTYRE (C) DEF. DEAN AMBROSE & SETH ROLLINS

Take a breath. A deep one. From start to finish, this might end up being the match of the night.

Surprising? Hardly. The chemistry between Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler is unparalleled in the WWE landscape and that was never more apparent than Sunday night.

RATINGS SUMMARY (4.50 OUT OF 5)

As expected from four of the premier superstars in the company, this was an incredibly entertaining tag match. It was a high octane affair full of drama. This was one of the better tag team matches of the year.

• Storytelling: 1.00
• In-Ring Execution: `1.00
• Match Psychology: 0.75
• Timing: 1.00
• Innovation: 0.75

Amid the suicide dives, frog splashes, superkicks, buckle bombs, superplexes and Falcon Arrows, the action was nonstop, and you could hear it in the reaction from the audience and through commentary. In the end, it was the heels, thanks to a match-saving Claymore Kick from McIntyre (who was not the legal man) on Rollins, just as Rollins was about to finish off Ziggler to snare the titles.

It's not surprising the match ended without a title change. At the moment, it's more important that Ziggler and McIntyre hold on to their belts for the sake of relevancy. Rollins already owns the Intercontinental title, and even if he didn't, the cachet of The Shield will keep him in the main-event spotlight for the foreseeable future.

Ziggler and McIntyre are better together and carry more figurative (and literal) weight than they do alone. Both were non-essential figures in the WWE for some time recently, but teamed up with a new identity. There's no question they're earning respect from the WWE universe. More so, by aligning themselves with Braun Strowman, Ziggler and McIntyre will only grow more relevant in the coming months.

SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: BECKY LYNCH DEF. CHARLOTTE FLAIR (C)

We've seen the best of Charlotte Flair when put up against a specific caliber of opponent, and Sunday night's Hell in a Cell SmackDown women's championship match against Becky Lynch proved just how good the SmackDown women's division can be when two top-tier in-ring performers get a chance to show their stuff.

RATINGS SUMMARY (3.75 OUT OF 5)

This was a finely worked match by two superstars with an immense amount of chemistry. Each sequence smoothly flowed into the next. We were treated to a great one tonight.

• Storytelling: 0.75
• In-Ring Execution: `0.75
• Match Psychology: 1.00
• Timing: 0.75
• Innovation: 0.50

The psychology was clear from beginning to end, as Lynch and Flair started with grappling and submission efforts, but Lynch was the dominant aggressor throughout the bulk of the match. She worked on Flair's shoulder throughout the contest with everything from a shoulder-first apron slam to an innovative inverted hammerlock DDT. From a heated exchange of forearms to a missed moonsault from Flair, it was clear these two long-time friends weren't going to hold anything back in this match.

With the way these types of matches typically go, Lynch's dominance during the bulk of the match and failed attempt at a Dis-Arm-Her seemed to point toward a Flair victory, but there was one final twist to come. Flair led shoulder-first with her damaged arm and appeared to hit a spear, only for Lynch to roll through into a pin to gain a three-count victory and her second career SmackDown women's title reign

As Flair made one final attempt to mend the bridge between the two long-time friends, Lynch refused to accept Flair raising her hand in victory -- removing even the slightest of doubts about the building animosity between the two women. As we head into October and Evolution, there's a lot to look forward to in terms of a title rematch between these two women, whenever it may come.

HELL IN A CELL: RANDY ORTON DEF. JEFF HARDY

If it was violence you expected between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton, it was violence you were granted.

RATINGS SUMMARY (3.00 OUT OF 5)

This was a different Hell in a Cell match than expected. The pace was slow and while we did get a big aerial spot out of Jeff Hardy, the match was more about gruesome brutality. The end result was good, but not great.

• Storytelling: 0.75
• In-Ring Execution: `0.50
• Match Psychology: 0.75
• Timing: 0.25
• Innovation: 1.00

The energy in the AT&T Center was sky-high as the Hell in a Cell cage descended on the ring in the first main-card match of the night.

But the action between Hardy and Orton was slow and methodical -- and marred by more acts of depravity. Yes, tables, ladders and chairs were used, but that was the beginning. At one point, Orton found a screwdriver under the ring, carried it inside and stuck it into Hardy's already pierced ear, twisting it in a stomach-turning act of cruelty.

Hardy overcame the pain, but ultimately his biggest downfall was his own undoing. Holding on to the top of the cage and swinging, Hardy attempted to land a splash on Orton, who was lying on a table. But Orton moved just in time and the impact of the fall incapacitated Hardy, who was then taken out of the ring on a stretcher.

At this point, what more can we expect from Hardy and Orton? The feud was built on a whim, and despite these next-level gruesome spots, it never felt like anything the fans could truly embrace. It seemed as though creative didn't have a good storyline for either and the beef was born out of convenience.

The chemistry between Orton and Hardy wasn't terrible; Orton can deliver pain and Hardy can endure high levels of pain. But here's hoping each can move on and find rivals that resonate more than the one they had together. In the end, this was a decent start to the pay-per-view, especially with the implementation of the cage. But it also felt like the end of a feud that never clicked in the first place.

SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: THE NEW DAY (C) DEF. RUSEV DAY (RUSEV & AIDEN ENGLISH)

At this point, New Day having a chip on their shoulder because their match is on a pay-per-view kickoff show is essentially a given -- but Rusev Day stepped up in their own right. It wasn't a particularly long match, but it was a faced-paced, fun opener as New Day ultimately retained.

MORE WEEK 2 TAKEAWAYS IN THE NFL

CONCERN FOR EAGLES, STEELERS?

Concern grew for a few teams with Super Bowl hopes in the second week of the 2018 NFL season. The Patriots, Eagles and Steelers all fell, the Vikings and Packers settled for a tie (yes, another one!) and the Saints just slipped by for a close win.

HERE ARE ALL OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 2.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 42, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 37

The Chiefs have reason to believe they can outscore the 49ers next Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium -- and any of their other opponents down the line. They started strong offensively last year before hitting a midseason slump, but they also didn't have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. His presence, plus an improved collection of skill players that includes Sammy Watkins, makes them more difficult to defend this season. 

The Steelers' offense still has its fastball and looks ready to win shootouts after Ben Roethlisberger's 452-yard performance, but why should it have to? The team has spent significant draft capital on a defense that looked confused and overmatched against the Chiefs. Players admitted communication breakdowns dug them a 21-0 deficit and that shouldn't happen on a team stocked with veterans. Monday Night Football will be a gut check for a 0-1-1 team with Super Bowl hopes. 

DALLAS COWBOYS 20, NEW YORK GIANTS 13

Darnold wasn't great in a loss on Sunday, but he remains the best bet as Tom Brady's AFC East successor. No pressure, Sam.

It was only Week 2, but Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones knew the importance of Sunday's game against the Giants. The Cowboys avoided the dreaded 0-2 hole with their 20-13 win, stopping the sky from falling -- temporarily at least -- after a disheartening season-opening loss to the Panthers. "It was on the line tonight," Jones said. "This was a big game for us. Not any more for [Dak Prescott], but it was on the line tonight." The Cowboys travel to Seattle next week, followed by back-to-back games against winless Detroit and Houston. This win can set them up for an early-season run that balances out a tough stretch toward the close of the season. 

Again, the Giants are 0-2 after they lost 20-13 to the Cowboys. This is the fifth time in six years they've dropped their first two games. It's trouble. Since the inception of the current playoff format, 88 percent of teams to start 0-2 miss the playoffs. You have to wonder where this Giants team is headed with an aging and ineffective quarterback behind a bad offensive line that allowed six sacks. It deems all their weapons mute. The Giants have two touchdowns in their first two games. Next up: a tough Texans defense ... on the road. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 29, GREEN BAY PACKERS 29

The most frustrating aspect of Sunday's tie relayed by Vikings players and Coach Mike Zimmer was how many chances they had to put the Packers away. The Vikings settled for field goals, which rookie kicker Daniel Carlson missed. "Guys are supposed to do their jobs," Zimmer said. "Maybe we should've thrown a ball into the end zone a couple of times at the end, but I believed that the guy was going to make the kick." The Vikings have a good chance to improve to 2-0-1 when they host the winless Bills in Week 3. 

Daniel Carlson misses a 35-yard field goal attempt in overtime as time expires, giving the Vikings a 29-29 tie with the Packers.

The most talked about subject after the Packers' tie wasn't how Aaron Rodgers valiantly played with an injured left knee. Rather, it was the questionable roughing-the-passer call on Clay Matthews that wiped out a late fourth-quarter interception that might have clinched the win. And you can bet it will be a point of discussion right up until next Sunday's game at Washington, which became even more critical after the tie

ATLANTA FALCONS 31, CAROLINA PANTHERS 24

Matt Ryan made plays with his arm and his feet, accounting for four TDs and igniting his teammates with some Cam Newton-like scrambles. With Ryan playing at a high level, rookie Calvin Ridley scoring a TD and the Falcons establishing a running game behind Tevin Coleman (16 rushes, 107 rushing yards) -- not to mention creative play calling and an admirable job by a banged-up offensive line -- the Falcons go into next week's showdown with the Saints confident in their ability to put up points. 

The run defense, in the word of Panthers coach Ron Rivera, was "terrible" and the number of dropped passes was "disappointing." Throw in a makeshift offensive line because of injuries, and it was almost a miracle Carolina had a chance to tie Atlanta on the last play. Nevertheless, it put more emphasis on the need to win the next two games at home against Cincinnati and the New York Giants. Win those to get to 3-1 with outside linebacker Thomas Davis returning from a four-game suspension and the sting from Sunday's loss won't feel so bad. 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 27, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 21

This "Fitz-Magic" thing is real. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for eight touchdowns and has a rushing TD and the Bucs are 2-0 for the first time since 2010. But credit also goes to the defense for getting more pressure on Nick Foles than they did Drew Brees last week. Rookie defensive backs Carlton Davis, M.J. Stewart and Jordan Whitehead looked fine stepping into big roles because of injuries. 

The Eagles have some issues to deal with coming out of their loss to the Bucs. Jason Peters and Mike Wallace got banged up, and there was a lack of discipline and execution on both sides of the ball. But the winds are about to shift. Carson Wentz is expected to make his return next week at home against the Colts, which will likely invigorate this team and keep the sting of this loss from lingering. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 21, CLEVELAND BROWNS 18

Two weeks and two wake-up calls for the Saints, but at least they got a victory this time. The Saints' offense flopped for most of the day while the defense actually kept them afloat (the exact opposite of Week 1's 48-40 loss to Tampa Bay). Drew Brees said they might have left more "points out there" than he could ever remember. The good news: New Orleans goes into this week's game at Atlanta with a "huge sense of urgency for our improvement," according to Brees. 

A quick turnaround for Thursday night's game against the Jets awaits, so the Browns can't wallow after another brutal loss. The team that can't seem to get things right may face the Jets with a new place-kicker after Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals and two extra points in a three-point loss to the Saints. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 21, WASHINGTON REDSKINS 9

Andrew Luck's play may no longer dictate whether the Colts win or lose, if Sunday was any indication. Luck hurt the Colts with two interceptions on their side of the field, only to be bailed out by the defense. The D, which has finished 20th or worse in five of the past six seasons, held Washington to nine points. Second-round pick Darius Leonard was the best player on the field this week with 18 tackles, a sack and an interception. Indy faces the defending champion Eagles in Week 3. 

The Redskins' offense can't just sling the ball around and win without a consistent run game. Against the Colts, they rushed for only 65 yards -- 117 less than a week ago. The offensive line did not handle the Colts' movement up front, so they can expect to see more of this style moving forward. Considering they play high-powered Green Bay next week, the Redskins can't afford another bad day in the ground game. -- John Keim

TENNESSEE TITANS 20, HOUSTON TEXANS 17

In Mike Vrabel's first victory as an NFL coach, creativity and tempo helped generate a spark without quarterback Marcus Mariota and top offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Dennis Kelly. Safety Kevin Byard had a 66-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt, and Tennessee mixed in Derrick Henry in a Wildcat look. Vrabel said Mariota (elbow) will be further evaluated after not playing on Sunday, as the Titans hope to have their QB back for next week's road trip to Jacksonville

The Texans need better pass protection for Deshaun Watson, who was hit nine times and sacked four Sunday. Watson constantly faced pressure and didn't have time to throw, especially early. Julie'n Davenport, who started at right tackle after Seantrel Henderson was put on IR last week, said the offensive line "has to be better" starting next week when the Texans host the Giants. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS 20, NEW YORK JETS 12

The Dolphins are 2-0 for the first time since 2013, and Coach Adam Gase said they plan to "keep surprising people." An efficient Ryan Tannehill and attacking defense led the way for a team that is riding an early-season high and feels like they can be a surprise playoff contender. The field is open for them in a weak AFC. 

Memo to those who believe Sam Darnold had arrived after his big debut: He's a rookie. He will make mistakes. He threw two interceptions as the Jets dropped their home opener, and now he has only three days to prepare for the Browns' blitz-heavy defense on Thursday night. This is the growing-pain phase

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 31, BUFFALO BILLS 20

The Chargers earned their first victory without the services of defensive end Joey Bosa. Melvin Ingram and Derwin James filled the void, helping the Chargers to five sacks against rookie Josh Allen. The Chargers face another tough task against the Rams -- a Week 3 battle for Los Angeles at the Coliseum -- which will be a barometer on if the Bolts remain favorites to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013. 

Allen's NFL starting debut was overshadowed by another poor defensive performance, at least in the first half. After allowing 47 points to the Ravens in the opener, Buffalo trailed the Chargers, 28-6, at halftime. When it returned for the second half, cornerback Vontae Davis had abruptly retired and Coach Sean McDermott had taken over play calling duties from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. The Bills have four of their next five games on the road, including the next two at Minnesota and Green Bay. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 31, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 20

It may be only Week 2, but the Jaguars' victory over the Patriots should send a message to the rest of the NFL that their success in 2017 wasn't a fluke. The franchise had been 0-8 against Tom Brady and had beaten the Patriots once in 12 previous meetings. The Jags can't dwell on this victory too much, though, because they host division-rival Tennessee on Sunday. Tennessee swept the Jaguars last season, and a victory on Sunday would give them a 2.5-game lead in the AFC South. 

The Patriots' defense was the biggest disappointment as Blake Bortles finished with 377 yards and four scores. The Pats didn't follow through on one of their key game-plan points of keeping Bortles in the pocket. A trip to Detroit is on deck, where the Patriots would like to show former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia that they're better than they played against the Jaguars. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS 34, ARIZONA CARDINALS 0

The Rams' defense has posted six consecutive scoreless quarters, and while Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh aren't filling up the stat sheet, their presence certainly has been felt by opposing quarterbacks. The challenge next week against the Chargers and Philip Rivers will be to force turnovers, which they were unable to do Sunday. 

There is a lot of work to be done for the Cardinals, especially on offense. Arizona has scored only six points in eight quarters, struggling to run or pass the ball. In fact, the Cardinals are 4-of-20 on third downs this season, so unless the offense can figure something out soon, the Cardinals' season could be lost before it really gets going. -- Josh Weinfuss

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 30, DETROIT LIONS 27

The Niners couldn't afford a loss to Detroit, especially with difficult road games against the Chiefs and Chargers up next. With a 66-yard jolt of lightning from running back Matt Breida and a fortunate defensive holding call on the Lions, the 49ers got the job done. "A win is a win, but it felt like a loss," cornerback Richard Sherman said after the game. They must be better in all phases if they're going to slow down the Patrick Mahomes train next week in Kansas City. 

There are signs of life for the Lions, and that's encouraging for a team that looked in real trouble after the first seven quarters of the season. Multiple players even admitted that Sunday was "progress" after a 31-point loss to the Jets on Monday. Detroit gave itself a shot to win at the end, so, at least in theory; the Lions have something to build on heading into Week 3 against New England. 

DENVER BRONCOS 20, OAKLAND RAIDERS 19

Two games, two fourth-quarter comebacks and two wins for the Broncos. "We showed a lot of character and fight, and that's good, but we can't keep waiting like that," cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. With games coming up against the Ravens, Rams and Chiefs, Denver can't keep racing the clock in the fourth quarter to try to clean up early mistakes. The Broncos had one first down in the first half Sunday and didn't have an offensive touchdown drive until their first possession of the third quarter. 

Yes, 0-2 is ugly, but as down as the locker room was after the loss; there was also a strange sense of optimism because if the Raiders make one of at least 10 plays, they win the game. "We're this close," Derek Carr said. But offensive tackle Donald Penn pointed out, "That's the difference between good teams and mediocre teams. Right now, we're a mediocre team." 

CINCINNATI BENGALS 34, BALTIMORE RAVENS 23

The Bengals are 2-0 for the first time since 2015 and have all the confidence in the world as they head into a two-game road stretch against the Panthers and Falcons. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green proved their connection is alive and well with three touchdowns in the first half, which bodes well for the future of the team's offense. 

Joe Flacco goes from the place where he struggles the most (Cincinnati) to his comfort zone, back home next week at M&T Bank Stadium to face the Broncos. When playing at home in September, Flacco is 16-2 with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His passer rating is 99.5. 

MY WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM NFL WEEK 2

Fans around the nation got their fill of big plays as NFL teams threw themselves into action during the second week of the new season.

History was made by more than one person, and it’s clear the youth movement is alive and well around the league. On the flip side, some players and teams just could not get out of their own way, putting up stinkers.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from NFL Week 2.

WINNER: THAT MAHOMES KID CAN REALLY PLAY, EH?

The numbers that Patrick Mahomes put up Sunday against Pittsburgh are astounding. The second-year quarterback, starting just the second significant game of his career — last year’s start was a no-pressure deal that had no impact on the playoffs — was practically flawless.

Mahomes completed 23-of-28 passes for 326 yards with six touchdowns and nary a single interception. Combined with last weekend’s outstanding performance against Los Angeles, the young man has 10 touchdown passes in the first two games — a new Super Bowl-era record — on just 55 attempts, no less.

It’s worth noting that he got Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce involved on Sunday, which is huge because now it means opposing defenses have to key in on three big-time playmakers — not just Tyreek Hill. This pick-your-poison offense is simply amazing.

LOSER: BIG BLUE’S OFFENSIVE LINE IS BIG TROUBLE

The New York Giants did some work this offseason to attempt shoring up what’s been an awful offensive line in recent years. They added Will Hernandez in the draft and paid Nate Solder a ton of money up front to come man the left tackle position.

On Sunday night, none of that mattered. The front seven of the Dallas Cowboys had its way with the Giants. Saquon Barkley, for all his brilliance, was only able to generate 28 yards on the ground, and the Giants as a team averaged 2.1 yards per carry. Eli Manning was sacked six times for a loss of 59 yards.

The passing offense was unable to really make much of a dent at all until garbage time. Barkley was the exception, catching an astounding 14 passes for 79 yards.

Dallas’ defense deserves a ton of credit. But let’s be honest, it’s not like we’re talking about the Steel Curtain here. The Giants are just bad.

WINNER: RUN CMC CONTINUES TO WOW

The Carolina Panthers lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but you cannot pin an ounce of blame on the shoulders of Christian McCaffrey.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner only dialed up eight runs for the second-year phenom, and he did fine when his number was called, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Where McCaffrey did most of his damage was through the air, hauling in an astonishing 14 catches for 102 yards. All told, the former Stanford star piled up 139 yards, marking the second week in a row where he was clearly Carolina’s best offensive weapon.

Fantasy owners who started this guy in PPR leagues were beaming, even though he didn’t score a touchdown.

LOSER: YEP, BUFFALO STILL STINKS

Hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills were already doomed at halftime, down 28-6. Combined with last weekend’s awful showing against the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo had given up 75 points in the first six quarters of the new season. Even worse, and potentially very telling about how things are going behind the scenes, Vontae Davis is said to have quit on his team and retired at halftime.

The second half was mostly just a grind, and rookie quarterback Josh Allen threw two interceptions to preemptively put an end to any potential momentum the Bills might have seized upon as their defense stiffened up.

The one piece of silver lining Bills fans can take away from this game is that Allen did throw his first career touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

WINNER: PHILLIP LINDSAY THE CLEAR NO. 1 BACK IN DENVER

When the season opened up, we assumed that the Denver Broncos would have a rookie lead back. That proved to be correct, but we got the player wrong. Rather than former Oregon star Royce Freeman, who was selected in the third round, undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay — who wasn’t even invited to the combine — has become the star of Denver’s offense.

Following up a 102-yard performance in Week 1, this diminutive back out of Colorado was once again the top producer for Denver in Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders. Though he touched the ball just 15 times, Lindsay had 111 total yards, with 107 yards coming on the ground. He made history in the process.

The Broncos have been searching for a consistent ground threat for years. Now they’ve found one in the most unlikely of places.

LOSER: ZANE GONZALEZ HANDS THE BROWNS YET ANOTHER LOSS

Cleveland’s defense has done enough to win games two weekends in a row. Unfortunately, after Sunday’s debacle in New Orleans, they enter Week 3 with a record of 0-1-1.

The big goat of the team’s 21-18 loss to the Saints was kicker Zane Gonzalez. He was just awful, missing 2-of-4 field goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts. That’s eight points. The Browns should have beaten the Saints, who ended up winning by three points with a 44-yard field goal of their own after Gonzalez’s second missed extra point kept the game tied with just 76 seconds left on the clock.

The second field-goal attempt he missed, with eight seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter, would have tied the game. Instead, the Browns are still Brownsing in the worst possible way.

WINNER: TRICK PLAY SPARKS HUGE UPSET FOR SHORTHANDED TITANS

Something about Tennessee’s matchup made me think the Houston Texans were ripe for an upset. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened.

It wasn’t easy, though, especially since Marcus Mariota was ruled out, meaning it was the Blaine Gabbert show. Tennessee was also without a few key offensive linemen. In the end, the Titans eked out a 21-17 win at home over their AFC South rival, thanks in large part to a trick play that gave them an early lead in the first quarter.

From Tennessee’s own 34-yard line, Mike Vrabel called for a fake punt. That’s very risky, given the field position a mistake would have given the Texans. But Kevin Byard made a perfect throw to Dane Cruikshank, who was wide open down the right sideline. Sixty-six yards later, Cruikshank scored (watch here).

Tennessee’s offense only generated one touchdown in this game. That play proved to be the difference between winning and losing.

LOSER: ROUGH GAME FOR SAM DARNOLD AND CO.

First, credit is due to Sam Darnold for his first career 300-plus-yard game. He’s the youngest player in NFL history to hit that milestone, and he clearly has a bright future in this league.

That being said, Sunday’s home game against Miami was one of those learning experiences for young Darnold and his offensive teammates.

The USC product threw an interception in the first quarter that immediately turned into a touchdown for the Dolphins on their next drive. Then Robby Anderson lost a fumble in the second quarter, leading to a Dolphins touchdown two plays later. Darnold’s second interception negated a forced fumble that occurred right after New York’s first touchdown of the game, and the Jets were lucky to have only lost one of their four total fumbles.

In the end, Miami walked out of MetLife Stadium with a 20-12 win.

WINNER: TAVON AUSTIN MAKES A BIG IMPACT

Over the course of his career, Tavon Austin has always been a disappointment. He was the No. 8 overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, but heading into this season he had averaged just 38.5 combined rushing and receiving yards per game.

Dallas has been talking about how Austin would be a big part of its offense since early this summer. Last week, he touched the ball just once, going for one yard on his lone carry. So, it seemed like that talk was nothing but hot air.

Then Austin showed up in a big way Sunday, scoring the game’s first points on a gorgeous 64-yard catch and run for a touchdown. He added another 15-yard reception, along with a 15-yard run, to finish with 94 yards and one of the two touchdowns scored in the game by Dallas.

LOSER: PATRIOTS SECONDARY ABSOLUTELY TORCHED BY JAGS

Tom Brady didn’t explode on the stat sheet, but he didn’t exactly fizzle, either, as the New England Patriots hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Instead, it was the New England defense that lit a stink bomb.

Blake Bortles — yes, this guy — was on fire. He went off to the tune of 377 yards and four touchdowns, all too different receivers. Keelan Cole was the star of the game, both for his one-handed gem and touchdown afterward.

All told, Bortles distributed the ball to nine different pass catchers. New England’s secondary was helpless to stop this attack, and the Jaguars cruised to a big-time 31-20 win over last year’s top AFC squad.

WINNER: MELVIN GORDON WAS A TOUCHDOWN MACHINE

In his fourth season as a pro, former Wisconsin star Melvin Gordon is evolving into one of the best dual-threat running backs in the league. Following up a nine-catch, 26-touch outing against Kansas City in Week 1, Gordon was once again a threat as a receiver on Sunday in Buffalo, not to mention on the ground.

Of the Chargers’ four first-half touchdowns, three went to Gordon. He caught six passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 28 more yards and a score on the ground. That kind of production is a huge reason why the Chargers were able to cruise to an easy road win in Week 2.

LOSER: REFS ABSOLUTELY ROB PACKERS OF A WIN OVER VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers finished their game all tied up after a seesaw game that was quite honestly the best game of the week, right up until the end.

In reality, the Packers should have won in regulation after Clay Matthews forced Kirk Cousins to throw what should have been the game-sealing interception. But rather than end the game, Tony Corrente’s crew called a roughing the passer penalty on Matthews for supposedly picking Cousins up and then driving him to the ground.

If you take a look at the replay video, that’s absolutely not what happened. The Packers got jobbed, and what’s worse is that the penalty gave Minnesota new life, and the Vikings ended up tying the game and sending it into overtime.

WINNER: MICHAEL THOMAS ON HISTORIC PACE

Can’t. Guard. Mike. Just can’t do it. Now in his third NFL campaign out of Ohio State, this dynamic receiver has now caught 28 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his first two games of the 2018 season.

That’s a new NFL record. The previous record for most catches in the first two games of a season was 26, set back in 1994 by Andre Rison.

At his current pace — difficult to sustain, we know — Thomas would finish the season with 224 catches for 2,152 yards and 12 touchdowns. This is a historic pace he’s setting, and we cannot wait to see what he does next.

LOSER: SAM BRADFORD ISN’T IT, ARIZONA

The Arizona Cardinals are going nowhere, at the speed of light. This is a team that’s been beaten now by the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams by a combined score of 58-6.

Along the way, Sam Bradford has put up astonishingly poor statistics — 60.6 percent completion rate for 243 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions — leading an offense that’s managed 350 total yards and 19 first downs.

In two games.

Given that the defense is getting toasted as well, it’s fair to assume the Cardinals are doing go be pretty bad all year, regardless. So with that in mind, Arizona absolutely has to see what Josh Rosen can do. He cannot possibly be any worse than what we’re seeing from Bradford.

WINNER: A.J. GREEN SETS PERSONAL SINGLE-GAME TD MARK

The Cincinnati Bengals came out on Thursday night with a dominant first-half effort, putting 28 points on the board to essentially put the game away in the first 30 minutes. Of the four touchdowns that Andy Dalton threw in that first half, three of them went to A.J. Green.

It’s no secret that Green is one of the NFL’s best wide receivers. He’s been putting up amazing statistics since being selected No. 4 overall back in 2011. But those three touchdowns, and the two he scored in the first quarter, were both career-best numbers.

Green finished the game with just five total catches for a meager 69 yards. But those three touchdowns were special, and they helped the Bengals jump out to a 2-0 start in 2018, handing a divisional rival a big loss in the process.

LOSER: PITTSBURGH’S DEFENSE A RED HOT MESS

We get it. Patrick Mahomes is currently leading the hottest offense in the NFL. Its likely most defenses would struggle to contain the weapons at his disposal.

That being said, the Steelers were absolutely helpless on Sunday to do anything remotely positive defensively. The Chiefs averaged 8.3 yards per play. They put 42 points on the board and punted just twice in the entire game.

If this were just a one-week issue, we might brush it off as an aberration. However, Pittsburgh also allowed the Cleveland Browns to gain 327 yards and 22 first downs in a rain storm last weekend as well. It’s also worth pointing out that the team is 0-1-1 on the season, despite scoring 58 points. That’s a problem.

WINNER: MATT BREIDA SPARKS NARROW VICTORY FOR 49ERS

Sunday’s home win against the Detroit Lions wasn’t pretty. The San Francisco 49ers are honestly lucky to have escaped with their first win of 2018 against a Lions team that was torched by none other than the New York Jets a week ago.

So, there’s clearly a lot of work ahead of Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff to improve things, on both sides of the ball.

That being said, the play of second-year running back Matt Breida stood out as a huge positive for the 49ers. He and veteran Alfred Morris split carries, with Morris actually seeing more work than Breida. But the former undrafted back out of Georgia Southern made his opportunities count, going off for 138 yards on the ground on just 11 carries.

His afternoon was highlighted by a brilliant 66-yard scamper that put the 49ers up by two touchdowns in the third quarter and would ultimately prove to be the difference in the narrow 30-27 win.

LOSER: STAGNANT OFFENSE DOOMS WASHINGTON

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: An Alex Smith-led offense struggled to make explosive plays and put points on the board.

Okay, so it’s not fair to pin it all on Smith. On Sunday at home against the Indianapolis Colts, the offensive line got absolutely dominated at the line of scrimmage, and Adrian Peterson was almost invisible. All told, the run game averaged just three yards per play, gaining a total of 65 yards.

That said, Smith and his passing game wasn’t great, either. He attempted 46 passes. Only two of them went for over 20 yards, and only one of those was hauled in by a wide receiver. In the end, Washington managed just nine points and failed to score a single touchdown in the 20-9 loss.

WINNER: ANOTHER FITZMAGICAL SUNDAY FOR TAMPA BAY

For the second weekend in a row, Ryan Fitzpatrick was magnificent leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second win of the season.

On Sunday, Fitzpatrick took it to the defending Super Bowl champs, putting up numbers comparable to his humongous Week 1 outing against the New Orleans Saints. Completing 27-of-33 passes for 402 yards with four touchdowns (including this incredible 75-yard bomb to DeSean Jackson on the first play of the game) and an interception, he was unstoppable.

Through two games, Fitzmagic has 819 yards and eight touchdowns. He is giving the front office and his coaching staff a lot to think about with Jameis Winston soon coming back from suspension.

LOSER: DAMONTAE KAZEE DESERVES TO BE SUSPENDED FOR DIRTY HIT ON CAM NEWTON

Late hits happen. We totally get that. Sometimes players are moving so fast that there’s no time to make an adjustment. But players who are head-hunting are easily identifiable, and when those plays occur it’s unmistakable that there’s an intent to harm.

That’s what happened in early in the second quarter of Sunday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. Cam Newton — a player who’s been targeted by defenders since he entered the league — was laid out by Damontae Kazee while sliding on the ground.

Kazee went head-first into Newton’s head. It was a dirty, inexcusable play that has no place in the league. The officials correctly made the call to eject him, but the NFL needs to do more than that. Kazee needs to be suspended for his blatant disregard for Newton’s health, and for the rules.

SEVEN FROM SUNDAY 2018 REGULAR WEEK 02

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 16, the second week of the 2018 season.

• Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES completed 23 of 28 attempts (82.1 percent) for 326 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions for a 154.8 passer rating in the Chiefs' 42-37 win at Pittsburgh. 
  
  
  Mahomes, who threw four touchdown passes in Week 1, has 10 touchdown passes in two weeks, the most by a quarterback in NFL history through his team's first two games of a season. The previous record of nine touchdown passes was held by PEYTON MANNING (2013), DREW BREES (2009) and CHARLEY JOHNSON (1965). Manning's 2013 Denver Broncos and Brees' 2009 New Orleans Saints advanced to the Super Bowl in their respective seasons. ​
  
  
  Mahomes, who started the final game of the 2017 season and the first two games of this season for the Chiefs, has 10 touchdown passes in his first three career games. His 10 touchdown passes are the most by a player in his first three career games in NFL history, surpassing MARCUS MARIOTA (eight) and MARK RYPIEN (eight).
  
  
  At 22 years, 364 days old, Mahomes is the youngest quarterback in NFL history with at least six touchdown passes in a single game. The previous record was held by NICK FOLES (24 years, 287 days), who threw seven touchdown passes on November 3, 2013.​

• Tampa Bay quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK completed 27 of 33 attempts (81.8 percent) for 402 yards with four touchdowns and one interception for a 144.4 passer rating in the Buccaneers' 27-21 victory over Philadelphia. 
  
  
  Fitzpatrick, who threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1, joins PATRICK MAHOMES (2018) and DREW BLEDSOE (1997) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least four touchdown passes in each of their team's first two games of a season.
  
  
  Fitzpatrick connected on 75-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver DE SEAN JACKSON and tight end O.J. HOWARD in the contest. He has four touchdown passes of at least 50 yards this season; tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE NAMATH (four in 1972) for the most 50+ yard touchdown passes through a team's first two games of a season in NFL history. 
  
  
  Jackson, who has 23 career touchdowns of at least 60 yards, tied Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (23) for the most such touchdowns in league annals. 
  
  

• New Orleans wide receiver MICHAEL THOMAS had 12 catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints' 21-18 win against Cleveland. 
  
  
  Thomas, who had a franchise-record 16 catches in Week 1, has 28 receptions in the Saints' first two games of 2018 and surpassed ANDRE RISON (26 catches in 1994) for the most by a player in his team's first two games to start a season in NFL history. 
  
  

• Tennessee safety KEVIN BYARD threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to rookie defensive back DANE CRUIKSHANK on a fake punt in the first quarter of the Titans' 20-17 win against Houston. 
  
  
  Byard's 66-yard touchdown pass was the longest by a defensive player in the Super Bowl era, surpassing the previous long of 18 yards set by Los Angeles Rams defensive back ED MEADOR on November 19, 1967.
  
  

• Indianapolis kicker ADAM VINATIERI converted all three of his extra-point attempts in the Colts' 21-9 victory at Washington. 
  
  
  Vinatieri, who has 2,501 career points in 23 career seasons, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer MORTEN ANDERSEN (2,544) as the only players in NFL history with at least 2,500 career points. 
  
  

• The MINNESOTA VIKINGS and GREEN BAY PACKERS played to a 29-29 tie at Lambeau Field. Sunday's game marked the second consecutive week with a tie (Cleveland-Pittsburgh in Week 1). This is the first season to feature a tie in each of the first two weeks since 1971, which saw Miami and Denver tie 10-10 in Week 1 and Atlanta and the Los Angeles Rams tie 20-20 in Week 2.
  
  

• Other notable performances from Sunday's games:
  
  

• Miami running back FRANK GORE rushed for 25 yards in the Dolphins' 20-12 win at the New York Jets. Gore, who has 14,112 career rushing yards, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN (14,101) for the fourth-most rushing yards in NFL history. 
  
  
• Pittsburgh quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 39 of 60 attempts (65 percent) for 452 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 104.3 passer rating in the Steelers' loss to Kansas City. Roethlisberger has 51,852 career passing yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (51,475) for seventh place on the NFL's all-time passing yardage leaderboard.
  
  

• Denver rookie running back PHILLIP LINDSAY had 111 scrimmage yards (107 rushing, four receiving) in the Broncos' 20-19 win against Oakland. Lindsay, who had 102 scrimmage yards (71 rushing, 31 receiving) in his NFL debut last week, became the first undrafted player in NFL history to record at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his first two career games.
  
  

• Oakland quarterback DEREK CARR completed 29 of 32 for a 90.6 completion percentage in the Raiders' loss at Denver. Carr's 90.6 completion percentage was the fourth-highest in a single game in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts in a game.
  
  
  ​​Among quarterbacks with at least 20 passing attempts, Carr's 288 passing yards are the most by a quarterback who completed at least 90 percent of his attempts in a single game in NFL history. He is the only quarterback with at least 30 pass attempts and a 90+ completion percentage in a single game.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM SUNDAY'S WEEK 2 GAMES

HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED FROM SUNDAY'S WEEK 2 GAMES OF THE 2018 NFL SEASON

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 42, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 37

1. Patrick Mahomes is a laser-wielding quarterback wizard. The Chiefs signal-caller followed up a four-touchdown opening game with a six-TD performance at Heinz Field in Week 2. The ten touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season breaks the record previously held by Peyton Manning (2013), Drew Brees (2009) and Charley Johnson (1965). Not a bad group to best, eh? Mahomes spread the ball around with aplomb, finding wide open targets scampering free in the Steelers secondary. While Week 1 was the Tyreek Hill show, Sunday was Travis Kelce's day. Mahomes darted passes to the tight end down the seam repeatedly, including touchdowns of 19 yards and 25 yards. Mahomes hit five different receivers with his six touchdowns, spreading the wealth around to his targets. He finished 23-of-28 passing for 326 yards and 6 TDs for a 154.8 passer rating. Kansas City's overwhelming speed was evident from the start as Andy Reid's team jumped out to a 21-0 lead before Pittsburgh fans could blink. Mahomes proved he could move the ball without needed to chuck it deep repeatedly. Reid's creativity, Mahomes' gun, and the Chiefs overwhelming receiving weaponry makes K.C. the most dangerous offensive unit in the NFL. It's also the most fun group to watch work.

2. The Steelers' sleepy start to the game spelled trouble against the explosive Chiefs. Pittsburgh went three-and-out to open their first two drives, earning -5 yards. After getting down by three touchdowns early, Ben Roethlisberger woke up. Big Ben picked apart the K.C defense, spreading the ball around to nine targets. Passing 35 times in the first half, the Steelers stormed back to tie the game at halftime. With the running game stymied (30 total rushing yards), the Steelers relied on Ben's arm, despite missing practices this week with an elbow injury. Roethlisberger passed for 452 yards on 39 completions on a whopping 60 attempts passing with three TDs and no turnovers. Roethlisberger passed Hall of Famer John Elway (51,475) for the 7th-most pass yards in NFL history. With Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Jesse James, the Steelers can spread the ball around the field. They'll need to keep putting up points if the Pittsburgh defense continues to be a sieve.

3. If you like defense, this tilt was not for you. The teams combined to give up 79 points and 924 total yards, 57 first downs, and zero red-zone stops (8-of-8 collectively). Offensive playmakers were running scot-free in the secondary on both sides. The Steelers missed corner Joe Haden, who was out with an injury, and the communication errors remain a concern for Mike Tomlin's unit. A week after giving up a Cleveland Browns comeback, Pittsburgh's D looked like it was playing in quicksand at home versus Kansas City. For the Chiefs, Sunday is a reminder that Reid's offense must continue to put up massive numbers. K.C.'s secondary couldn't stop a sneeze, and the pass rush was non-existent most of the day (1 sack of Big Ben on 60 attempts).

DALLAS COWBOYS 20, NEW YORK GIANTS 13

1. With a steady, turnover-free performance, Dak Prescott (160 yards) did just enough Sunday night to silence growing criticism of his play after his Week 1 dud and lifted up the Cowboys' dead-on-arrival attack in the process. Dallas opened up the playbook for Dak, calling more run-pass options and deep throws this week. Prescott picked up three first downs with his legs, tallying 46 crucial yards on the ground. His first-quarter touchdown bomb to Tavon Austin exorcised whatever demons remained from Dallas' loss to Carolina and gave the 'Boys a lead it would not relinquish. 

Speaking of... Did Dallas solve the problem that is Tavon Austin? On their second play, the Cowboys dialed up a go route for Austin against Janoris Jenkins and the embattled receiver hauled it in for a 64-yard score, his first touchdown reception since Week 12 of 2016, shocking the pundits who had ruled out Austin and Dallas' vertical passing game in one fell swoop. Austin was only utilized twice more on the evening, but his addition opened things up for the entire offense going forward.

2. Thirty-seven-year-old Eli Manning struggled for the second week in a row, a sign that the Giants quarterback could be regressing in front of our eyes. Manning's completion percentage against the rival Cowboys was passable, but his leading receiver was his rookie running back, Saquon Barkley, who didn't do much at all with the 14 dump-downs Manning bestowed upon him. (Barkley's 14 catches were the most by a player in Giants history and a rookie in league history. His 80 receiving yards were the least by any player with so many receptions.) Far too often, Manning was taking sacks or overthrowing Odell Beckham. The Giants currently employ their most impressive collection of skill players they've had in years, but their stockpile of weapons is useless if Eli can't get them the ball in space.

Some would blame Eli's ebbs on his offensive line, blame that isn't misplaced. New York's troubles on the O-line are not going away, and they are arguably intensifying. The Giants allowed six sacks to Dallas' pass rush for 59 yards -- their most sacks surrendered to Dallas in 10 years -- and failed to pave much of a path for Barkley for the second consecutive game (28 yards on 11 carries). Save for his one breakout run, Barkley has averaged 2.3 yards per carry through two games. Everyone, not just Ereck Flowers, deserves some blame this week. Rookie Will Hernandez and Patrick Omameh were victimized as well; fullback Shane Smith got beat when he was brought in to help; and to add injury to insult, starting center Jon Halapio left on a cart in the third quarter with his leg in an air cast.

3. Another way to look at it is that the Cowboys defense had another impressive showing. Six different Cowboys recorded takedowns of Manning (DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Taco Charlton, Kavon Frazier, Antwaun Woods, Damien Wilson). Jaylon Smith led Dallas with 10 tackles and recorded a menacing, memorable midfield hit on Manning. It helped the Cowboys' pass rush that the secondary allowed few big gains and held Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard to just seven receptions.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 31, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 20

1. Save for the sauna-like environment as the hottest home game in Jacksonville history, this contest was eerily similar to the AFC Championship Game for three and a half quarters. Blake Bortles was in an uncanny rhythm, the Jaguars were dominating up front on both sides of the ball and the Patriot slacked any semblance of a big-play element. Whereas Bortles and the Jags coaches shrunk from the moment last January, they remained ultra-aggressive this afternoon. Down 24-13 in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Patriots opted to punt on 4th-and-inches from their own 19-yard line. Bortles promptly hit Dede Westbrook for a back-breaking 61-yard catch-and-run score to put the game on ice and spoil any chance of another Tom Brady comeback special.

2. This was a dispiriting effort for a New England club that was simply outmanned on both sides of the ball. Down 14-0 in the first half, Brady and play-caller Josh McDaniels were each seen screaming at offensive teammates to "Do your job!" Brady's 10-yard scramble in the third quarter was the team's second-longest run of the day in a one-dimensional attack. Facing creative double teams designed by defensive coordinator Todd Wash, All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski was limited to just 15 yards on two catches. With Julian Edelman serving a four-game suspension and the ground attack sputtering, Brady lacks the firepower to make defenses pay for devoting extra attention to Gronkowski.

3. During last week's telecast, CBS analyst Tony Romo raved about Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers as the NFL's most underrated star. When Flowers went down with a concussion after taking a knee to the head early in the first quarter, New England's supposedly improved pass rush vanished. Bortles entered halftime 17 of 25 for 200 yards, three touchdowns and a sterling 131.7 passer rating en route to a 21-3 lead. Even with a knee injury to left tackle Cam Robinson, the offensive line kept Bortles unsacked and nearly untouched for the majority of the afternoon. The Patriots allowed 473 yards to an offense that struggled mightily to move the ball against a rebuilding Giants defense a week ago.

DENVER BRONCOS 20, OAKLAND RAIDERS 19

1. If ever there was a head coach who desperately needed a win (other than Hue Jackson), it's Jon Gruden. For 57 minutes and change, it appeared as though he'd get that victory, but the signs of his team's eventual loss were apparent nearly a full quarter prior -- or almost a full week, depending on who you ask. Much like they did in Week 1, the Raiders let victory slip away at the end of the third and through the fourth quarter, getting outscored 13-0 in the final 17:43 of the game. Denver compiled three drives of 10 or more plays, including a 14-play, 67-yard march that included four downs inside the Oakland 5-yard line and resulted in a Case Keenum rushing touchdown to cut the Raiders' lead to one point. Equipped with one of the toughest backs to bring down in the NFL, Oakland couldn't chew enough clock, and its defense failed to keep the Broncos out of field goal position. The result was a loss that in reality should have been a win and more questions about a defense that can't get a stop when it needs it most.

2. Related to that defense is the play of Derek Carr. We're not here to crush the Raiders for this loss, but Oakland just suffered defeat after Carr completed 29 of 32 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating was 114.6, and he even re-established a rapport with Amari Cooper (10 catches for 116 yards). Last week, Raider Nation (and Gruden, less directly) put the blame on Carr, who had a forgettable game. He bounced back in the most professional of ways, putting together an excellent game that was deserving of a win.

But again, this was a tale of a lack of total team execution. Gruden got gutsy late in the third, going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Denver 33 with a 19-10 lead. A naked bootleg left fullback Keith Smith open in the flats, with the nearest defender (Bradley Chubb) turned around. Smith dropped the pass that would have extended a drive that was already in Denver territory. It felt like a turning point, even with more than a quarter to go, and it ended up being one after the Raiders lost by a single point.

3. In case you've been living under a rock, Denver found itself a gem by looking just down the road to Boulder, and Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay. The undrafted rookie who finished with the second-most career rushing yards in Buffaloes history is finding similar success right out of the gate, racking up 107 yards on 14 carries. He's the first undrafted player in NFL history with 100 scrimmage yards in each of his first two games. If that isn't a home run, nothing is.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 30, DETROIT LIONS 27

1. Jimmy Garoppolo is back in the win column, but it didn't come easily for the 49ers' quarterback. Facing a 3rd-and-2, up three points with 2:24 remaining, Jimmy G threw a pass late and behind Matt Breida that was picked off by rookie Tracy Walker. Fortunately for Garoppolo, he was bailed out by a Lions holding penalty away from the play, and the Niners held on for the win. Jimmy G tossed for 206 yards on 18-of-26 and two touchdowns, but it was far from a crisp performance. Garoppolo appeared to zero in on targets, predetermining throws, like the near-pick to Breida, and taking too long to get to his second read. The QB was sacked six times on the day. It wasn't pretty for Garoppolo against an injured, struggling Lions defense, but he'll gladly take the ugly win.

2. Running back Matt Breida was the player of the game for the 49ers' offense. The second-year back galloped through the Lions' defense for a career-high 138 yards on 11 attempts, a 12.5-yard average. Breida's breakthrough came late in the third quarter, with the 49ers leading by one score backed up deep in their own end. Breida popped off for a 20-yard gain and followed it up with a weaving 66-yard touchdown run. He also added another 28-yard scamper. Breida runs with great vision, underrated power between the tackles, elusiveness in close quarters and speed on the second level. The 190-pound back chipped in with three receptions for 21 yards. Battling Alfred Morris with snaps, the dual-threat Breida stated his case resoundingly for a larger workload moving forward in Kyle Shanahan's offense.

3. Matt Patricia's team remained in Struggleville for most of Week 2. The Lions' defense remains a sieve, particularly against the run. The special teams once again gave up big plays. Most disappointing was Matthew Stafford's struggles continuing until his team was down big. The highly paid quarterback missed numerous passes, including overthrowing several wide open deep shots. Looking uncomfortable in the face of the Niners' young pass rushers, Stafford was scattershot for three quarters throwing behind targets regularly. It took until the Lions got down by 17 points for Stafford to find any rhythm. Credit the QB for helping the Lions pull close with two late touchdowns. But his early struggles helped lead to the big deficit that necessitated a wild comeback that fell short. When the team's best player is playing as poorly as Stafford did through seven quarters, losses will ensue. The Lions only woke up following LeGarrette Blount's ejection in the fourth quarter on a hit after the play when Stafford was blown up near the sideline. Beyond the play of young receiver Kenny Golladay, there isn't much positive to take away from the Lions first two weeks. The consternation in Detroit about Patricia's coaching and game management will continue for another week.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 29, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 29 (OT)

1. Green Bay's defense decided to rely more on its base grouping in Week 2, going with a 3-4 on the majority of defensive plays in the first half, and it paid off through two quarters. The Packers held the Vikings to seven first-half points and relied on five-plus defensive back groupings on third down to limit the Vikings to a sub-50 percent success rate -- and went completely away from that strategy in the second half. Green Bay shifted to calling five-plus defensive back groupings for most of the second half (understandable, considering the Vikings essentially abandoned the run out of necessity in the fourth) and struggled as the Vikings clawed their way back into the game through the air.

The biggest miscue, though, wasn't a change in strategy or even a missed kick (more on those later), but a flag that directly altered the outcome of the game. Green Bay intercepted Cousins with less than two minutes remaining, seemingly icing another thrilling home win until officials called a roughing the passer penalty on Clay Matthews, who hit Cousins but didn't appear to drive him into the ground. The penalty gave the Vikings a second chance that they did not squander, sending the game to overtime and eventually a tie. We'll spend the next 12 to 24 hours waiting for clarification on that call while the Cheeseheads spend the entire week cooling off.

2. It might sound tired by now, but the Packers decided to make the Vikings beat them by the air, and it was once again the Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen show. Never was it more present than on Minnesota's final drive of regulation, when Cousins completed an unlikely touchdown pass thanks to an incredible catch made by Thielen in traffic at the front corner of the end zone. Needing two to tie, Cousins then turned to the other side of the field for a fade thrown to Diggs, who ran an excellent route to the back pylon for the successful conversion. The two combined for 21 catches, 259 yards and three touchdowns, all of which being very necessary for Minnesota to overcome a 13-point deficit with a furious, 22-point fourth quarter. All of this was achieved with very little of a running game, thanks to Green Bay's commitment to stopping Dalvin Cook. Should the Vikings get these things going earlier (and creep closer to a balanced attack); they will be a fearsome offense for opponents all season long.

3. Sunday might have been the worst day for kickers in modern NFL history. Cleveland's Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals and two extra points as the Browns lost by three, Crosby missed a would-be game-winner in this contest, and Minnesota's Daniel Carlson blew two chances to do so in overtime. The kicker who gave Mike Zimmer cause for concern three weeks ago (as pointed out by our own Chris Wesseling) justified those sleepless nights on Sunday, missing all three of his field goal attempts (but making each of his three point-after tries). Carlson missed from 48 in the second quarter, from 49 in overtime and from 35 to end the game in a tie. The last was the most appalling, as Minnesota seemed poised to win a game it really shouldn't have be in position to take.

ATLANTA FALCONS 31, CAROLINA PANTHERS 24

1. Alert! The Atlanta Falcons red-zone offense is alive. Matt Ryan led four successful touchdown drives in the red zone in Sunday's victory. After going 1-of-5 in the red area in the season-opening loss, the Falcons spread the ball around in the condensed space. On the first trip deep into Panthers territory, Ryan found rookie Calvin Ridley for a score on an 11-yard slant. On the following drive, the QB looped a pass to tight end Austin Hooper in the corner of the end zone for a 2-yard TD. In the second half, Ryan dove into the end zone from the 1-yard line and later scampered for another rushing score. While much consternation persists about Julio Jones' usage in the red zone, Ryan spreading the ball around in the antidote to the team's struggles. Ridley burst out in Week 2 going for 64 yards on 4 receptions and the TD. The rookie's emergence makes Atlanta's offense diversely dangerous crew.

2. Cam Newton's re-acclimation to life without Greg Olsen looks to be a struggle. The Carolina Panthers' quarterback got little help from his receiving corps early. Sans Olsen, running back Christian McCaffrey was the focal point of the passing offense. McCaffrey caught 14 passes for 102 yards. The rest of the Panthers weaponry corralled just 18 of Newton's 32 completions (45 attempts). With the ground-game stymied, Carolina's offense was relegated to a dink-and-dunk operation. It took until less than seven minutes left in the second game for the Panthers to earn their first 20-plus receiving play of the season. Newton entered the fourth quarter averaging 4.9 yards per attempt -- he finished 7.4 YPA following some late-game plays after trailing by two scores. Without Olsen, Newton's targets repeatedly let him down. Devin Funchess and Ian Thomas (replacing Olsen) each suffered drops, and rookie DJ Moore couldn't corral the potential game-tying toss in the end zone on the final play. Sunday's loss was a reminder that completion percentage isn't everything. Newton connected on 71.1 percent of his passes, but the inefficiently is concerning for the Panthers offense moving forward. Facing a Falcons defense without Keanu Neal, Deion Jones and safety Damontae Kazee, who was ejected in the first half for a hit on Newton, the Panthers couldn't take advantage.

3. No Devonta Freeman. No problem for Atlanta. Tevin Coleman gashed a good Carolina defense with a bevy of stretch runs and pitches. The back galloped for 107 yards on 16 attempts, including big gains of 36 and 19 yards. Elusive in space, Coleman can squeeze between blockers, run through arm tackles, and outrun linebackers on the second-level. Rookie running back Ito Smith also impressed when giving Coleman a breather, including back-to-back gashes of 13 and 18 yarders on the Falcons third TD drive. With Freeman expected to miss a couple weeks, it's comforting for Atlanta coaches to know they have a duo capable of carrying the load.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 27, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 21

1. Jameis Winston better get used to the visor and clipboard. Ten seconds into the game, Ryan Fitzpatrick staked the Buccaneers to a 7-0 lead with a 75-yard touchdown to former Eagles game-breaker DeSean Jackson. Before halftime, O.J. Howard's long catch-and-run gave Tampa Bay multiple scores of at least 75 yards for the first time in franchise history. By the middle of the third quarter against the reigning Super Bowl champions, Fitzpatrick became the first Bucs quarterback ever to toss four touchdowns in consecutive games. This aerial attack is absolutely loaded with complementary talent, and Fitzpatrick is giving them all a chance to make big plays. The journeyman quarterback is well on his way to NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors.

2. The Eagles as currently composed simply don't have the firepower to hang with Fitzpatrick's firepower in the early-season heat and humidity of Florida's gulf coast. They entered the game without starting quarterback Carson Wentz and No. 1 receiver Alshon Jeffery. By the end of the first quarter, power back Jay Ajayi, deep threat Mike Wallace and Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters were sidelined. By the time Ajayi returned in the second half, the Eagles were facing a prohibitive 27-7 deficit. The Wentz watch is back on -- in full effect -- for next week's matchup with the upstart Colts.

3. The Bucs' offensive explosion through two weeks has coincided with offensive coordinator Todd Monken's promotion to play-caller, taking the reigns from head coach Dirk Koetter. If Fitzpatrick's aerial attack keeps blowing other teams out of the building, it won't be long before Monken is touted as not just the next offensive mastermind but also a trendy head-coaching candidate.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 21, CLEVELAND BROWNS 18

1. A week after posting 43 yards rushing on 13 carries as a team, the Saints running game struggled to gain consistency for a second consecutive game. The Browns limited the Saints to 62 yards on 23 carries, an average of 2.7 yards per carry. The shortcoming in New Orleans' running game is magnified when considering Mark Ingram still has two games remaining on his four-game suspension, and the Saints finished the 2017 season ranked fifth in rushing with Ingram and Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Through two games, opponents have mostly kept Kamara in check and backup Mike Gillislee hasn't done much to help take pressure off Kamara. Ingram is eligible to return to the active roster in time for Week 5, but the Saints need to get something going when considering their next two games are on the road and no team wants to go away from home with a one-dimensional offense.

2. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas had 12 catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns on the game and now has 28 catches through two NFL games, a new league record for the most catches through the first two games. Thomas, who entered the season with 196 catches over the past two seasons, now has 224 career catches on the early part of the season and puts him well within pace of the NFL record for most catches in first three seasons of 288, which is currently held by Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr.

3. The Browns defense held the Saints' potent offense for the most part until the latter stages of the fourth quarter, and a lot of the credit has to go to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' familiarity with Saints head coach Sean Payton. Williams, who once served on Payton's coaching staff, designed a game plan that didn't allow the Saints to gain any momentum throughout the game. Still, while the defense was shining, the offense couldn't take advantage of the Saints' early miscues. The Browns will get a win eventually and it will be because of the defense.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 31, BUFFALO BILLS 20

1. It wasn't a flawless performance, but cross-country treks in Week 2 of any NFL season typically don't breed peerless performances. In the end, the Chargers (1-1) did everything they needed to do to win against a beatable opponent. Philip Rivers led the way, completing 23 of 27 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes were to Melvin Gordon, who finished the game with three TDs on 66 total yards. Austin Ekeler helped out with 77 yards on 11 carries in addition to making three catches for 21 yards. Most of this production came in the first half when the Chargers offense seemed to be more or less operating at will against a Buffalo defense that managed to make some progress since last week's blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While the Chargers definitely showed flashes of what they're capable of on offense, it seemed like the whole thing lost its voltage once the team took a three-TD lead. They probably aren't on the same level as the molten-hot Chiefs' offense, but it seems the Chargers are capable of offering more when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard.

2. Josh Allen's first career start for the Bills (0-2) was packed full of big-armed, rookie drama. The first-round pick completed 18 of 33 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown in tandem with eight carries for 32 yards. He also threw two interceptions and hardly had a chance to breathe easy playing behind an offensive line that couldn't keep the pressure off. Still, it was definitely a step beyond the Nathan Peterman experience that went nowhere in Week 1. Allen definitely did enough to keep his starting quarterback role, piecing together some good throws in combination with some gutsy runs. His 57-yard pass to Zay Jones got a standing ovation from the crowd at New Era even if the team did run into the tunnel at halftime amid a smattering of boos. Allen will continue to grow and improve, but the lack of on-field supporting staff will continue to make it a hard-knocks life for the rookie moving forward.

3. LeSean McCoy said earlier this week the Bills needed to do a better job giving Allen support, and they sort of did that -- at least they did it more than they did in Week 1. McCoy tallied 39 yards on a nine carries and also caught four passes for 29 yards. However, his afternoon came to an abrupt end when he left the game in the fourth quarter after suffering an injury to his ribs.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 21, WASHINGTON REDSKINS 9

1. What a difference a week makes. After imposing their will for four quarters in Arizona, the Redskins returned home to face a rabid Colts defense firing off the ball as if they knew Alex Smith's snap count. Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson were bottled up on the ground, and Smith had trouble moving the chains without a downfield element in the passing game. Coach Jay Gruden will have to go back to the drawing board for next week's tilt versus the Packers ahead of the Week 4 bye.

2. Don't tell new Colts coordinator Matt Eberflus that his defense is supposed to be one of the NFL's weakest units. Margus Hunt, formerly a Hard Knocks star with the Bengals, has been reborn in Eberflus' 4-3 scheme, hip-tossing blockers to harass quarterbacks and hog-tie running backs behind the line of scrimmage. Not to be outdone, rookie Darius Leonard looks like a small-school steal out of South Carolina State. The second-round linebacker tallied an astonishing 18 tackles (15 solo) with a sack and a key forced fumble on Jordan Reed in the fourth quarter. If the season's first two weeks are any indication, Indianapolis' defense is no longer a pushover.

3. Stop me if you've heard this one before: Andrew Luck overcame an undermanned offensive line, a toothless ground attack and a lack of firepower at wide receiver to lead the Colts to victory. Luck's ball placement was sublime on an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a beautiful back-shoulder fade to Eric Ebron, starting the afternoon with a bang. Although the offense went into a funk in the second and third quarters, he played pitch-and-catch with T.Y. Hilton down the stretch to seal the victory with a 13-play, 75-yard drive in the middle of the fourth quarter. Much to relief of Indy faithful, Luck looks like the same quarterback who led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes in 2014 before a string of injuries disrupted his progress and sent the franchise into a 2017 tailspin.

TENNESSEE TITANS 20, HOUSTON TEXANS 17

1. The version of Deshaun Watson who churned out near-constant rookie of the year prognostications before going down with a torn ACL last year made its official comeback Sunday. Unfortunately, it was a rookie-like mistake that snuffed out the Texans (0-2) chances of a comeback. After getting the ball back with no timeouts and less than a minute to go following a tie-breaking 31-yard field goal by Ryan Succop, Watson managed to drive Houston to midfield with 17 seconds left to go. On the final play of the game, he found DeAndre Hopkins for a big gain, but there were two problems -- his foot was over the line of scrimmage when he threw and Hopkins caught the pass in the middle of the field. With no way to the stop the clock, the game ended. It was a significant blemish of what was otherwise a strong comeback effort by the sophomore signal-caller, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Watson's chemistry with receivers Will Fuller, DeAndre Hopkins and Bruce Ellington was spectacular, at times, in helping the Texans come back from an early 14-0 deficit, but it wasn't enough to overcome what was a gutsy performance from the Titans (1-1).

2. Hand it to Titans coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur for going full-cajones on the creative play-calling with their starting quarterback injured. Even though Marcus Mariota was active for the game, he was relegated to cap-wearing sideline duty because an elbow injury that was causing him problems holding onto the ball. Blaine Gabbert got the start, but the Titans utilized plenty of clever ways to limit their reliance on the passing game while not taking him out of the equation. Kevin Byard toss a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dane Cruikshank on a fake punt in the first quarter and, on the Titans' next possession, Derrick Henry took direct snaps out of the Wildcat to move the ball quickly down field. Atypical plays aside, Tennessee kept the Texans honest by running the ball a lot. Derrick Henry had 56 yards on 18 carries and Dion Lewis had 14 carries for 42 yards to help sustain time-killing drives. Gabbert did his part, though, connecting on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Taywan Taylor in route to completing 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards in a solid effort. Tennessee's creativity on offense was refreshing and effective in operating on the correct assumption that Mariota and Gabbert aren't the same player.

3. The Texans need to be better for Deshaun Watson. The quarterback struggled in the first half playing behind an offensive line that was very spotty in protection. The game proved that Watson's surgically repaired knee was up to the task of constant jukes and dekes as he tried to evade the clutches of the Titans' pass rushers. Tennessee's front seven did an admirable job putting pressure on Watson for almost the entire game, forcing the QB to rely on his talented receivers to ignite the near comeback. Still, Houston has to find a way to get more consistency out of its O-line if it wants to make the most out of Watson's abilities.

MIAMI DOLPHINS 20, NEW YORK JETS 12

1. A half that was all Dolphins seemed to be taking a late turn in favor of the Jets when Darnold ed a five-play, 74-yard drive that began at the Jets' 25. The only issue with the possession: Darnold's final pass, completed to Chris Herndon at the 2, came painfully short of a touchdown, ending at the 1 as time ran out on the half. In a world full of what-ifs, the Jets lost by eight. Perhaps that would-be touchdown, narrowly missed in a half filled with victories for the Dolphins, would have changed things, especially considering Miami's offense fell silent in the final two quarters. These close calls happen to teams looking to turn the corner.

2. Ryan Tannehill had one of the odder games you'll see from a quarterback who posted a passer rating well above 100. Tannehill completed 17 of 23 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, but looked skittish at times in the pocket, including when he was strip sacked in the first half. Fortunately for him and a Dolphins offense that was much less vertical and came screeching to a halt in the second half, Miami found intermittent success on the ground and its defense forced New York to become one-dimensional enough to hang onto its lead.

3. In case Jets fans weren't aware, there will be some growing pains with Darnold. The rookie continued to flash why New York is so excited about him, but also made some mistakes reminiscent of his time at USC, putting together a bad first half that ended up sinking the Jets. His first interception looked a lot like one he threw in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State, and his second -- thrown in the Dolphins' end zone -- blew an excellent opportunity created by a takeaway a play earlier.

The positives: he still completed 25 of 41 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown. He hasn't yet produced the late-game moxie he showed at USC, but that's also due to a lack of chances. Down just eight with less than six minutes to play, the Jets never got the ball back to give Darnold a shot.

LOS ANGELES RAMS 34, ARIZONA CARDINALS 0

1. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year spent his Sunday in Arizona's end zone. One week after Los Angeles figured out that the key to victory in Oakland was to feed, feed and keep feeding Todd Gurley; the Rams repeated that strategy in their home opener. Gurley didn't have the most productive day yardage-wise (42 yards on 19 carries), but was a hammer at the goal line, scoring three of L.A.'s four touchdowns. Gurley exited with some cramping, but by the time he was taken out, the damage was done.

Gurley proved the perfect knockout punch to the countless jabs provided by Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. The three combined for 19 receptions almost evenly and 295 of Jared Goff's 354 passing yards. Cooks (159 yards) is already a far more consistent deep threat than his predecessor Sammy Watkins and proved it on a second-half 57-yard reception. Woods (81) and Kupp (63) are steady, reliable route-runners, who create countless mismatches in the slot and outside. With this much balance, it is hard to envision any team keeping up with the Rams offense in its current iteration. Especially not when the opposing offense averages just three yards per play...

2. Try these stats on for size: In two games, the Cardinals have just four first-half first downs. Against the Rams, they tallied just five total. FIVE -- and two came in the final three minutes. The Cardinals crossed midfield just once on Sunday afternoon -- on the second to last play of the game. Arizona can't move the ball, and it's not the fault of just Sam Bradford or just David Johnson or just Chad Williams or just the offensive line. It's a collective effort. In that way, they're playing as a team.

For the second week in a row, the Cards struggled to get David Johnson going early -- through two weeks, D.J. has just 85 rushing yards -- and, in failing to do, never established a rhythm on offense or created manageable third-down opportunities. Bradford, with little to work with, threw for just 90 yards and averaged 3.33 yards per attempt. Would Josh Rosen have fared better? Maybe. Maybe not. The result surely would have been the same, a loss so boring and an offensive performance so inept that the cameras caught the rookie Rosen yawning on the sidelines. It's been that type of start to the Steve Wilks era in Arizona.

3. The Rams' special teams unit is often considered the best in the league, and it proved as much Sunday. After Greg Zuerlein was unexpectedly ruled out with a hamstring injury, All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker stepped up, handling kickoff duties and hitting a short field goal and an extra point (when the Rams deemed attempting another two-point conversion "piling on"). Signed off the street after L.A. placed Pharoh Cooper on IR, JoJo Natson was a fine fill-in, taking one punt back 60 yards to set up a touchdown at the end of the first half. Unlike their counterparts, the Rams are a complete team, capable of winning games even if one of their phases flops. When all three are cooking despite adversity as they were on Sunday, boy, the league is in trouble.