Everything we learned in NFL Week 2: Takeaways, big questions and who impressed

Week 2 of the NFL season began on Thursday night with a Buffalo Bills blowout win over the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left the game in the third quarter with a concussion.

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tamed the Detroit Lions, and the New Orleans Saints‘ offense proved to be too much for the Dallas Cowboys. Packers quarterback Malik Willis helped lead Green Bay to its first win of the season, while the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens fell to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Our NFL Nation reporters are reacting to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

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BUF-MIA | LAC-CAR | NO-DAL
IND-GB | TB-DET | SF-MIN

Vikings

What physical condition will the Vikings be for Week 3? As exciting as Sunday’s victory was, the Vikings were playing without most of their offensive playmakers by the end of the game. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson had departed in the third quarter because of a right quad injury, while wideout Jordan Addison (ankle) was inactive and T.J. Hockenson (knee) was on the PUP list. Running back Aaron Jones, meanwhile, seemed slow in the fourth quarter after a trip to the blue tent. Unless there are some quick recoveries, the Vikings could be short-handed heading into next Sunday’s matchup against Houston.

Describe the game in two words: Brian Flores. The Vikings’ defensive coordinator spun up a scheme that pressured QB Brock Purdy on 13 of his dropbacks and sacked him a total of six times, which are both the most taken by Purdy in his career. The Vikings also intercepted him once and recovered his lone fumble. There will be plenty of adulation around the organization for this 2-0 start, but Flores has found ways to affect both victories via pass coverage and forced turnovers.

Eye-popping advanced stat: Jefferson ran a total of 127.5 yards on a 97-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, the most by a ball carrier on an offensive touchdown since 2016, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Darnold sent the pass 50 yards in the air, but Jefferson had to stop after catching it, pivot and outrace Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odom to the far corner of the end zone for the score. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

49ers

Will the 49ers ever win in Minnesota again? No matter how good they have been, the Niners simply can’t get it done in the Twin Cities. Sunday’s loss was their eighth straight at Minnesota with their last win coming all the way back in 1992. This loss was more alarming for the fact that the Vikings were missing multiple key offensive pieces for most or all of the game and still rang up 407 total yards. Save for linebacker Fred Warner, the Niners have a lot of improvement to do defensively if they want to get back to the team they’ve been in recent years.

Biggest hole in the game plan: It’s no secret that Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the league, and with Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson unavailable for Minnesota, it stood to reason the Niners would take special care to force anyone else to beat them. Instead, Jefferson posted four catches for 133 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown, before leaving with an injury. San Francisco wants to stick to its defensive principles of rushing four and playing zone coverage, but if the pass rush isn’t getting home consistently, there has to be a better plan for players of Jefferson’s caliber.

Describe the game in two words: Error filled. Playing their first road and 10 a.m. body-clock game had the Niners seemingly sleepwalking for much of Sunday’s game. It led to numerous costly mistakes, such as a blocked punt, a muffed punt and Purdy simply losing the ball for a fumble before he could throw it. In a place as difficult to win as Minnesota, that’s not going to get it done. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Vikings turn a Purdy INT into a TD

Josh Metellus gets the interception off the deflection. Vikings would score on the next play with a Jalen Nailor touchdown.

Buccaneers

Are we looking at a career-high year for QB Baker Mayfield? Mayfield’s five passing touchdowns (with a sixth on the ground) are the most ever for him to start the season. His ability to thrive under duress (he was sacked five times) and connect with wideout Chris Godwin — who has amassed 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the first two games — was the difference-maker against the Lions.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Without starting right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion), Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson dominated Tampa Bay’s offensive line. The Bucs had all week to prepare for the former second overall pick. While the first sack came on a stunt with DT Alim McNeill, Hutchinson just man-handled backup Justin Skule on the next two, and it wasn’t until then that Skule got some help from another blocker. Even then, Hutchinson rattled off 1.5 more sacks.

Most surprising performance: The Bucs’ battered secondary. The unit grabbed two takeaways off Lions QB Jared Goff without Antoine Winfield Jr. and Josh Hayes. Cornerback Zyon McCollum, who’d just cleared the concussion protocol, secured his first career interception in the first quarter, which set up a 55-yard field goal. Backup safety/nickelback Christian Izien picked off Goff in the fourth quarter and also made a touchdown-saving play against RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Safety Jordan Whitehead was a tackling machine and allowed only four catches on seven targets with a team-high three run stuffs. Both Izien and Whitehead tackled Gibbs on the Lions’ fourth-and-8 for the game-winner. — Jenna Laine

Next game: vs. Broncos (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Lions

Should the Lions be concerned about QB Jared Goff? Sunday wasn’t his greatest performance. While Goff finished with 307 yards passing, he threw two costly interceptions, including a pick on Detroit’s first offensive play of the game. He has now thrown an interception in each of the first two games of a season for just the second time in his career. On a day the Lions’ offense recorded 463 yards, Goff’s performance was a key factor in the loss.

Most surprising performance: Hutchinson put together a sack hat trick in the opening quarter before ending with a career-high 4.5 sacks. It was the second-most in a game by a Lions player since sacks became official in 1982. Hutchinson was also the first player with three sacks in a quarter this NFL season and now has a sack in four consecutive games, tying the longest streak by a Lions player.

Early prediction for next week: The Lions scored just one touchdown on seven red-zone trips against the Buccaneers, which is uncharacteristic for an offense with so many weapons. Detroit will need to clean up its mistakes entering next week’s matchup on the road in Arizona. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Packers

Can the Packers win again without QB Jordan Love? Considering they’re playing another offensively challenged AFC South team in the Titans next week, why not? While it sounded like Love was close to being able to play against the Colts, the Packers may want to try to buy another week of recovery now that they have at least one win without him. An 0-3 start would’ve been tough — but not impossible — to overcome and a loss might have forced the Packers to push Love to play. But at 1-1 early in a 17-game schedule, they can better afford to roll the dice with Malik Willis and another run-heavy game plan.

Describe the game in two words: Run over. The Packers barely even pretended to throw the ball in the first half. Willis threw just five times compared to 34 rushing attempts for the Packers before halftime. In just his second game with the Packers, running back Josh Jacobs carried 32 times for 151 yards. Willis was effective when he was asked to throw and finished 12-of-14 for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Eye-popping advanced stat: The Packers’ 237 yards rushing in the first half was the third-most by an NFL team in the first half of a game since 2000. It was 14 behind the most, which was by the Jaguars in 2006 also against the Colts. In all, the Packers rushed 53 times for 261 yards. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Titans (Sunday , 1 p.m. ET)

Colts

What happened to the Colts’ run defense? For the second week in a row, the Colts were physically dominated up front by an opponent’s running game. The Packers posted historic first-half rushing totals with 237 yards. And while the Colts got the rushing attack under control in the second half, the Packers still managed to convert some critical third downs. Green Bay also beat the Colts with great use of misdirection, using Indianapolis’ aggressiveness against it. The Colts have now allowed 405 rushing yards this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Quarterback Anthony Richardson was the Colts’ leading rusher with six carries for 56 yards. But the Colts were seemingly disinterested in using Richardson on designed runs Sunday, opting to keep him in the pocket even though the Packers’ coverages were intent on not allowing him to throw downfield. Richardson had one designed run Sunday after several were called in Week 1.

Most surprising performance: Rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. He had a promising training camp and has created much optimism, but Mitchell hurt the Colts on Sunday with a critical pair of plays. Mitchell committed a mental error with an illegal formation penalty in the second quarter, negating a huge third down conversion. Later, Mitchell dropped a perfect pass from Richardson that would have converted a critical third down during the Colts’ failed comeback. Mitchell saw fewer snaps the rest of the game, perhaps as a result. — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Josh Jacobs breaks off impressive 34-yard run

Josh Jacobs bounces a run to the outside and takes it 34 yard for a Packers first down.

Saints

Can the Saints keep up this offensive pace? The Saints proved their new offense is for real after blowing out both the Panthers and Cowboys. But how long can they keep up this record-setting pace? The Saints’ starting offense scored on its first 16 possessions of the season, gave running back Alvin Kamara his second career four-touchdown game and looked unstoppable. The Saints did not stall on a possession until a QB Derek Carr interception in the fourth quarter.

Describe the game in two words: Master performance. It’s hard to take issue with anything Carr or the offense did against the Cowboys. They set the tone early and never let off the gas, utilizing WR Rashid Shaheed‘s speed and Kamara’s versatility while deploying multiple players as blockers to allow Carr to play mostly error-free.

Eye-popping advanced stat: 91 points. The Saints made a big move this offseason by moving away from the Sean Payton offense that won a Super Bowl title in the 2009 season. That particular team put up 93 points in its first two games, the second-most in NFL history. This season’s Saints are tied for sixth in NFL history with 91 points through Week 2. — Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

What should be made of the Cowboys defense? Dominant against the Browns. Dominated by the Saints. Through three quarters, the Saints averaged 9.7 yards per play. The 35 points allowed in the first half tied for the most given up through the first two quarters in team history. Last year, the Cowboys allowed more than 35 points in a game just once. Carr was hardly touched and neither was Kamara, who had four touchdowns. Coach Mike McCarthy was around for the last time an opponent had four touchdowns against Dallas with Packers running back Aaron Jones scoring four in a Green Bay win at AT&T Stadium.

Early prediction for next week: It’s not going to get any easier. The Ravens have historically been one of the better rushing teams in the NFL, in part because quarterback Lamar Jackson is a game-changer. He can make defenses look bad on his own. RB Derrick Henry has yet to go off in his first two games with the Ravens, but the Cowboys were bludgeoned by the Saints in every way, giving up more than five yards per carry on their first six possessions.

Describe the game in two words: Over early. This wasn’t as bad as the 48-32 wild-card loss to the Packers last season, but only because this wasn’t a playoff loss. The Cowboys allowed touchdowns on the Saints’ first six possessions. The offense moved the ball but failed on two red-zone trips, settling for too many Brandon Aubrey field goals. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Chargers

Should the Chargers stop splitting caries between RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins? Dobbins had another record setting Sunday, finishing with 17 carries for 131 yards and one touchdown. Dobbins is the first Chargers player to rush for 100 yards in each of the team’s first two games of a season and somersaulted in the end zone for his lone score of the day. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that they would roll with the “hot hand” as the season progressed, but it’s clear that the rushing offense is better with Dobbins. Edwards had 18 carries for 59 yards.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Quentin Johnston. He had scored two touchdowns over the first 18 games of his career before he caught two in the first half Sunday. His first score, a 29-yard catch over CB Jaycee Horn, was his most impressive play of the day. Johnston ran by Horn and adjusted as the ball was in the air to reel in the pass for the score.

Describe the game in two words: Defensive domination. The Chargers held Panthers quarterback Bryce Young to just 22 passing yards and an interception in the first half, the lowest first half total of his career. The Chargers’ defense has allowed just 13 points over the first two weeks of the season. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Panthers

When will coach Dave Canales sit QB Bryce Young? Carolina has way more problems than Young, but slow starts are killing the Panthers. Young is a factor. He was 8-of-10 for 22 yards and a pick in the first half Sunday. He was 6-of-12 for 50 yards with a pick in the first half last week. Backup QB Andy Dalton might give Carolina a better chance. But when recently asked about changing, Canales said: “The best experience you can have is to be on the field, and just to live it.”

Describe the game in two words: Déjà vu. The 20-0 first-half deficit looked eerily to the one against New Orleans, which led 30-3. The inability to stop the run against L.A. (44 rushes for 219 yards) mirrored the inability to stop it against the Saints (180 yards). Young’s ineffectiveness … yes, a lot of bad sameness.

Early prediction for next week: Canales doesn’t plan to gamble before next week’s game at Las Vegas — he said “Bryce is our quarterback” after the Week 2 loss — but will switch to Dalton at some point next Sunday to give Carolina a fighting chance. It was this time last season that Young sat because of an ankle injury and the Panthers had their best offensive output. — David Newton

Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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Quentin Johnston secures his second TD with a 5-yard grab

Quentin Johnston hauls in a 5-yard touchdown pass to extend the Chargers’ lead vs. the Panthers.

Bills

What does the future hold at linebacker? Terrel Bernard left the game in the first half with a pectoral injury meaning both of the team’s starting linebackers are injured, in addition to starting nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. Baylon Spector played the rest of the game for Bernard, while Dorian Williams is in for the Matt Milano. With Bernard set to miss time — the team is deciding whether to place him on injured reserve — a position that has dealt with injuries since the offseason will have to overcome even more with coach Sean McDermott anticipating Spector taking over the middle linebacker role in Bernard’s absence.

Eye-popping advanced stat: On quarterback Josh Allen‘s throw to running back Ty Johnson that set up James Cook‘s 1-yard touchdown run, Allen was running 14.87 mph at the time of his throw. In the last five seasons, Allen has completed 50 passes on 113 attempts when running at least 14 mph. That is the most such completions in the NFL over that span (Eagles’ Jalen Hurts is next with 40).

Most surprising performance: Cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram. The former undrafted free agent took advantage of opportunities and came away with two interceptions, including a pick-six. Ingram came into the game without ever recording an interception. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

What will the Dolphins do at quarterback moving forward? Tua Tagovailoa’s latest concussion will likely keep him out of next week’s game against the Seahawks coach Mike McDaniel said. The Dolphins have the “utmost confidence” in third-year quarterback Skylar Thompson, who will in all likelihood start until Tagovailoa is able to return. McDaniel said Miami will add another quarterback to its roster, but don’t expect a quarterback like Ryan Tannehill or Jimmy Garoppolo who would come in expecting to start.

Most surprising performance: The Dolphins’ performance as a whole was surprising, but individually, Tyreek Hill recorded just three catches for 24 yards. Jaylen Waddle, Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane were all more productive as Hill’s struggles against the Bills continue. If Thompson is to start next week, Hill has to assert himself as one of the league’s best players — regardless of his team’s quarterback situation.

Eye-popping advanced stat: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Tagovailoa only completed two of his eight attempts of 10-plus air yards, resulting in 38 yards and two interceptions. It was the lowest completion percentage of his career in games where he’s attempted at least eight of such passes. Considering the Bills’ unproven safeties entering the game, not being able to take advantage of that matchup was a huge miss for Miami’s offense. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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