Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.
Sunday night spotlight
Patience required
I was reasonably confident heading into this season that the Vikings offense could keep things rolling with J.J. McCarthy. The thought was that a stellar supporting cast, along with an elite coaching staff, created a dream situation for a first-year starter. It's still early, but that take isn't looking too hot right now. McCarthy completed just 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards while throwing two interceptions and taking six sacks in a Sunday night loss to the Falcons. Last week's prime-time win over the Bears was much of the same until McCarthy got hot late. In total, McCarthy's -0.52 EPA/dropback is tied for the sixth-worst QB mark over the first two weeks of a season (minimum 30 attempts) since at least 2000, according to TruMedia. He'll get better with more experience, and the offensive line getting healthy would help, but it hasn't been a strong start. The Vikings are at risk of taking a major step back until that changes.
Falcons find a pass rush
It's important to note that Sunday night's result wasn't only a matter of McCarthy not being ready. The new-look Falcons also made things tough on the Vikings quarterback. In a particularly inspiring development, it all started up front. Atlanta ranked dead last with 169 sacks from 2019-2024, 30 shy of the next-worst total. After an offseason spent trying get past those issues once and for all, we're finally starting to see some progress. First-round rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. were among the many who got in on the fun in Atlanta's six-sack showing. While I was critical of the price the Falcons paid to move up for the latter, you had to respect the idea in doubling down on the roster's most glaring need. This team suddenly becomes a legitimate playoff contender if the defense, which ranks second in defensive EPA/play through Sunday of Week 2, can even come close to sustaining its early performance.
Late-afternoon slate
Danny Dimes does it again
Daniel Jones has been the catalyst for Indy's hot start less than a year after being run out of New York. The veteran signal-caller made it two straight promising outings to begin his Colts stint, throwing for 316 yards and a touchdown Sunday while adding another score on the ground against an elite Broncos defense. Is it real? Your guess is as good as mine. I'll probably need to see him sustain it over the first month or two before I can truly buy in. Can you blame me? But Jones certainly looks more comfortable in this offense than he did at any point with the Giants. And although head coach Shane Steichen got too conservative at the end, needing a Denver penalty to bail him out after settling for a 60-yard field-goal try, this win was deserved. The Colts are 2-0 for the first time since 2009, and they're the only team in the Super Bowl era without a single punt across the first two games of a season.
Chiefs start slow
Speaking of things that haven't happened in a while, the Chiefs are 0-2. Kansas City hasn't started a season with consecutive losses since 2014, three years before Patrick Mahomes was drafted. Its schedule is a big part of the early stumbles - opening the year with the Chargers and Eagles isn't exactly the most favorable draw. But the Chiefs are also dealing with issues on both sides of the ball. Will the eventual return of their receivers finally allow Mahomes to open things up in the downfield passing game? If not, I'm wondering whether the style of offense we've seen over the last few years will be enough to compensate for a declining defense. The smart money is on Mahomes and Co. figuring it out. They always do. But with the Ravens and Lions being among their next four opponents, the road back from this difficult start could be a long one.
Eagles still grounded
Chris Jones provided a bit of a viral moment in the final seconds of Sunday’s game when the broadcast picked up some trash talk directed at Jalen Hurts. His point: The Eagles quarterback finished the day with just 101 passing yards. First of all, that’s a hilarious thing to be going on about as the clock ticks down on a Chiefs loss. Hurts and the Eagles have long proven themselves capable of winning however they need to - they all count the same. That being said, the Eagles' passing attack will be worth monitoring in the weeks and months ahead. Hurts is still seeking his first passing touchdown of the year, and his mark of 5.6 yards per attempt is easily his worst through the first two games of a season. A.J. Brown, notably, has just 35 yards. The run game is good enough to be the foundation for everything this offense does, but there will almost certainly come a time when the Eagles need to lean on the passing attack. We're still waiting to see what that looks like under Kevin Patullo, Philly's fourth offensive coordinator in as many years.
T-Mac living up to hype
The Panthers fell short in their comeback attempt against the Cardinals, but it was nice to see the offense rebound from a disappointing Week 1 effort. Tetairoa McMillan's first career 100-yard game was a leading factor in that progress. The No. 8 overall pick is well on his way to making predraft concerns about his speed look silly. He plays every bit as big as his 6-foot-4 frame and has impressive route-running skills for his size. McMillan has the opportunity put up spectacular rookie numbers as the clear No. 1 in this offense. Xavier Legette's struggles reached a new low this week, as he managed just one catch for a loss of two yards on eight targets.
Early kickoffs
Bengals in trouble
The Bengals' issues have been well-documented at this point - the defense is bad, and the offensive line isn't any better. Still, Cincinnati was always going to have a chance to overcome those shortcomings with Joe Burrow under center. However, that could become nearly impossible in light of the star quarterback's toe injury. We're still awaiting word on his status, but Burrow didn't return after leaving in the second quarter and was reportedly seen using a one-leg scooter after undergoing an MRI. Although the Bengals managed to steal a win against Jacksonville and move to 2-0 despite three interceptions from Jake Browning, that won't produce favorable results against many other opponents. An upcoming stretch against the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, and Packers could potentially crater Cincinnati's season if Burrow faces a lengthy absence.
Lions make statement
The big story heading into this week's matchup between Chicago and Detroit was Bears head coach Ben Johnson going head-to-head with his former team. The big story coming out is that his new squad can't hold a candle to his old one - at least not yet. The Lions made the statement of all statements in that regard by dropping 52 points on Chicago. It was fair to wonder whether Detroit's loss of its former coordinator, as well as key pieces on the offensive line, would lead to regression. A six-point effort in last week's loss to the Packers only fanned those flames, but we can probably all move on now. There's just too much talent for this offense not to be one of the best in football.
Reality check
It may only be a matter of time before the Bears start to see results in the win column, but Sunday's blowout loss in Detroit was an important reminder that expectations should be kept in check in the short term. They've got a long way to go. While Caleb Williams certainly looks more comfortable in the new system and there's plenty of talent in place around him, Johnson's offense won't approach the heights we saw in Detroit without the foundation of a strong run game. Chicago is getting virtually nothing from that group to this point, ranking 26th in rush success rate, according to TruMedia. Investments made in the offensive line need to start paying dividends.
Cowboys sweat one out
Micah Parsons single-handedly elevated an otherwise mediocre Cowboys defense for the better part of the last four years. Trading him to Green Bay a week before the season felt like a surefire way to guarantee this would be one of the worst units in football. That's exactly how it looked for most of Sunday's contest against the Giants, as Russell Wilson went off for 450 yards and three touchdowns. But the Cowboys can put points on the board, too. George Pickens getting involved alongside CeeDee Lamb after a quiet debut gave us a good look at how good this passing game can be. It'll rarely be stress-free, but the Cowboys will have a chance to win on a fairly regular basis with this kind of firepower.
FG record watch
Brandon Aubrey nailing a 64-yard field goal to force overtime was a big part of the Cowboys' thrilling win over the Giants. While he's arguably the best kicker in football right now, anyone making that kind of boot look like a chip shot is a sign of things to come this campaign. The NFL quietly made a key adjustment to its special teams rules this offseason, allowing teams to prepare kicking balls to their liking before game day. It was only fair to assume this would lead to some added distance, and Cam Little connecting on a 70-yarder in the preseason all but confirmed that. Justin Tucker's regular-season record of 66 yards, set in 2021, could be topped multiple times this year.
Tuten on the rise
Bhayshul Tuten is rostered in just 55% of Yahoo fantasy football leagues. If you have a team in the 45% range where he's available, you may want to ensure you beat your friends to the punch. The explosive rookie saw a major uptick in opportunities following the recent trade of Tank Bigsby, producing 42 rushing yards on eight carries while adding another two catches for 32 yards and a score as a receiver out of the backfield. Travis Etienne remains the lead back for the time being, but Tuten's role should continue to grow as the season progresses. There's Bucky Irving-like upside here if he can earn any sort of significant workload.
TreVeyon's limited role
An impressive preseason made TreVeyon Henderson a popular pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. At this rate, he won't even be in the conversation. It's not even really his fault. The Ohio State product is at least temporarily buried behind Rhamondre Stevenson in the backfield pecking order. I was among the many who assumed Henderson would at least have a significant role in the passing game, if not leapfrog the veteran for a true feature role. But Stevenson isn't really giving the Patriots an opportunity to consider it. He was New England's most productive weapon in Sunday's win over the Dolphins, taking 11 carries for 54 yards and adding five receptions for a career-high 88 yards.
0-and-Tua
The Dolphins deserved all the heat they took for last week's embarrassment. The offense was quite a bit better in Week 2, but it wasn't enough. While Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane each made their share of big plays, Miami's defense forced just two punts and allowed Drake Maye to complete all but four of his 23 pass attempts. The offensive line surrendered another five sacks, and although Tua Tagovailoa's final line looked good, his brutal interception on a late fourth-down play squandered a chance to secure the win. An 0-3 start feels certain with a trip to Buffalo up next Thursday night. The schedule eases up from there, but can the Dolphins keep it together long enough to take advantage?
Warren not going anywhere
Anyone hoping for Kaleb Johnson to be a key contributor in his rookie season is probably going to end up disappointed. Jaylen Warren's status atop the Steelers' depth chart is the main thing standing in his way, and it doesn't seem like the veteran back will relinquish that role any time soon. He was Pittsburgh's most reliable playmaker this week against the Seahawks, running for 48 yards and adding four catches for 86 yards. Johnson may have a hard time earning the trust of the coaching staff anyway. He made a critical error in the return game by allowing a kickoff to bounce into the end zone for a Seahawks touchdown, putting the Steelers at a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter. That won't make Mike Tomlin inclined to play a rookie over his more experienced backs.
Cool the Jets
It was easy to get excited about what we saw from the Jets' offense in the season opener. New York's rushing was every bit as good as expected, and Justin Fields was even providing some big plays as a passer. In hindsight, that would appear to be this year's big Week 1 mirage. Fields completed just 3 of 11 passes for 27 yards before exiting with an injury in Sunday's blowout loss to the Bills. The non-QB rushing attack wasn't much better, as Breece Hall averaged 2.9 yards on a team-high 10 carries. Buffalo is a significant step up in competition, so we should be careful not to swing too far back in the other direction here. Still, we're talking about a Bills defense that gave up a league-worst 8.6 yards per play in Week 1. Fields and the Jets' offense looking overwhelmed isn't a great sign.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.
