The second week of the NFL season has shown wild games and insane individual performances across the league. We had four contests featuring previous No. 1 overall draft picks on Sunday, with Matthew Stafford squaring off against Cam Ward, Joe Burrow against Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff versus Caleb Williams, and Kyler Murray against Bryce Young.
Moreover, the Lions faced their former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, while the Cowboys faced the Giants in the most chaotic match of the day. The 49ers even played with their backup quarterback amidst all this activity.
With that much going on, it’s time to evaluate who excelled and who faltered this Sunday. Welcome to this week’s winners and losers!
Winner: Lions’ Offense
Detroit rebounded from a disappointing season opener against the Packers, overwhelming the Bears with 511 yards and 52 points. Goff was remarkable, completing 23 out of 28 passes for five touchdowns, including three to Amon-Ra St. Brown and another long one to Jameson Williams.
Loser: Brian Daboll
The Giants had an incredibly disorganized game with a staggering 14 penalties that hindered their performance against the Cowboys, ultimately causing them to lose after blowing multiple leads.
Winner: Lamar Jackson
Following a tough loss to the Bills, Jackson shone brightly against the Browns, throwing for 225 yards and four TDs. He played a key role in rallying the only victory after last week’s setback.
Loser: Kaleb Johnson
The Steelers’ rookie running back made a crucial error, neglecting to recover a loose kickoff that the Seahawks scooped up for a touchdown, escalating their lead.
Winner AND Loser: Bengals
Cincinnati snagged a victory over the Jaguars with backup Browning stepping in after Burrow sustained a toe injury. Ja’Marr Chase had a stellar game, with 14 catches for 165 yards, but Burrow’s uncertain condition remains a concern.
Loser: Justin Fields
Fields struggled significantly in his second start with the Jets, with only 27 passing yards and 0-for-7 on third downs during a loss against the Bills.
Winner: Brandon Aubrey
Aubrey, the Cowboys kicker, earned his spot in history with a 64-yard field goal that tied the game and a 46-yarder that clinched the win in overtime.
