After a high-scoring week one, the defenses begin to set the tone. Minnesota, Chicago, Carolina, New England, and Cincinnati went 60 minutes without scoring a touchdown.
Specifically, the Bears only scored three points in their six-point loss to the Vikings. Contrasting their 59-37 victory over the Panthers, the Monsters of the Midway were hindered by Brian Flores’ defense. In the first quarter, CB Byron Murphy Jr. picked off Caleb Williams, and CB Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and blocked a field-goal in the second half of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams left the game with a grade one hamstring injury. Many people, including Craig Carton, have pointed out Williams’ dramatization of the injury, “And then he’s got the proverbial Gatorade towel covering his face. ‘I don’t want my momma to see me like this. I don’t want people to see me like this.’ Then, as they were driving him off the field, this has become a thing – it’s usually for guys you’re worried have a significant neck injury or he might be paralyzed.” As of September 22nd, it has been reported that Chicago Bears second-string QB Tyler Bagent is under concussion protocol. While the quarterback situation for the Bears remains unclear, former Vikings QB Case Keenum could start in Week 3.
Among Williams and Bagent, quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels were injured during gametime. In his game against the Los Angeles Rams, Dart suffered an MCL tear, which experts claim is worse than expected. Jameis Winston filled in for the remainder of the game, throwing for 111 yards and one interception. Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. shares on X, “Prayers up for my brother 6. Seeing the news is one thing but it’s harder until u actually see it.”
In the final seconds of the first half, Daniels dislocated his left elbow. Preliminary examinations did not show any degree of a fracture, yet Daniels sat out the rest of the game against the Dallas Cowboys. His future remains uncertain.
The final scores are as follows:
- Detroit Lions (31) vs. Buffalo Bills (41)
- Cincinnati Bengals (20) vs. Houston Texans (6)
- Green Bay Packers (20) vs. New York Jets (17)
- New Orleans Saints (24) vs. Baltimore Ravens (17)
- Philadelphia Eagles (24) vs. Tennessee Titans (20)
- Minnesota Vikings (9) vs. Chicago Bears (3)
- Cleveland Browns (23) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (3) vs. New England Patriots (20)
- Carolina Panthers (34) vs. Atlanta Falcons (3)
- Las Vegas Raiders (26) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (14)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13) vs. Denver Broncos (20)
- Washington Commanders (20) vs. Dallas Cowboys (37)
- Miami Dolphins (13) vs. San Francisco 49ers (35)
- Seattle Seahawks (31) vs. Arizona Cardinals (7)
- Indianapolis Colts (30) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (33)
- New York Giants (6) vs. Los Angeles Rams (28)
