NFL Week 2 Scores: Every Result, Takeaway, and Surprise

September 21, 2026

Key Stats and Takeaways

  • The Bills and Lions combined for 72 points on Thursday night, and Buffalo pulled away late.
  • The Vikings and Bears played the lowest-scoring game of the week, a defensive slog at 9-3.
  • The Chiefs survived a scare, edging the Colts 33-30 in a shootout finish.
  • The Seahawks stayed red-hot, crushing the Cardinals 31-7 to open 2-0.
  • The Cowboys dropped 37 points on the Commanders in a statement NFC East win.

NFL Week 2 Scores: Full Rundown of Every Game

Here’s the complete list of NFL Week 2 scores from Thursday through Sunday. Grab a snack, because there’s a lot to unpack.

Buffalo Bills 41, Detroit Lions 31
This one kicked off the week, and it did not disappoint. Both offenses came out firing, but Buffalo’s defense made just enough stops late. Josh Allen and company improved to 2-0, while Detroit still has real question marks on defense.

Carolina Panthers 34, Atlanta Falcons 3
Nobody expected this. Carolina’s offense clicked from the jump, and Atlanta simply had no answer. Consequently, the Falcons now face serious pressure heading into Week 3.

Cincinnati Bengals 20, Houston Texans 6
Cincinnati controlled this game from start to finish. Houston’s offense sputtered again, and fans are starting to worry. Meanwhile, the Bengals look like a legit playoff threat early on.

Cleveland Browns 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Cleveland pulled off a gritty road win here. The Browns’ defense forced key turnovers late, sealing the victory. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, will regret missed opportunities in the red zone.

Green Bay Packers 20, New York Jets 17
A close, physical battle, and Green Bay came out on top. The Packers leaned on their run game to grind out the win. Still, the Jets showed some fight and kept it competitive until the end.

Denver Broncos 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Denver’s defense set the tone in this one. The Broncos forced three turnovers and never trailed. As a result, Jacksonville’s offense never found any rhythm.

Las Vegas Raiders 26, Los Angeles Chargers 14
Las Vegas dominated the trenches all game long. The Raiders’ ground attack wore down the Chargers by the fourth quarter. Therefore, Los Angeles heads home with a lot to fix.

San Francisco 49ers 35, Miami Dolphins 13
This was a statement win for San Francisco. The 49ers’ offense looked unstoppable all afternoon. Miami, meanwhile, continues to struggle on both sides of the ball.

Minnesota Vikings 9, Chicago Bears 3
Ugly, but a win is a win. Both defenses dominated, and neither offense found consistent footing. Nonetheless, Minnesota escapes with a much-needed victory.

New Orleans Saints 24, Baltimore Ravens 17
A surprising result here, since Baltimore entered as the favorite. New Orleans capitalized on Ravens mistakes and controlled the clock late. Because of this, Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes take an early hit.

Philadelphia Eagles 24, Tennessee Titans 20
Philadelphia needed a late push to pull this one out. The Eagles trailed for most of the game before rallying. Ultimately, their experience in close games paid off again.

New England Patriots 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
New England dominated from start to finish. The Patriots’ defense completely shut down Pittsburgh’s offense. Clearly, this was one of the most lopsided results of the week.

Seattle Seahawks 31, Arizona Cardinals 7
Seattle looks like the real deal early on. The Seahawks jumped out fast and never let up. Meanwhile, Arizona’s offense couldn’t find any answers all game.

Dallas Cowboys 37, Washington Commanders 20
Dallas put on an offensive clinic in this NFC East clash. The Cowboys racked up yards through the air and on the ground. Washington, however, struggled to keep pace after halftime.

Kansas City Chiefs 33, Indianapolis Colts 30
This game came down to the final possession. Kansas City needed a late drive to hold off Indianapolis. Still, the Chiefs found a way, just like they always seem to do.

New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
This one closed out the week on Monday Night Football. Both teams entered with something to prove after Week 1 results. Check ESPN or your favorite score tracker for the final result.

NFL Week 2 Scores: Biggest Takeaways From the Weekend

So what does all this mean going forward? Let’s break down the top storylines.

First, the NFC South looks wide open. Carolina’s blowout win over Atlanta shocked plenty of fans. Additionally, it suggests the division race will stay unpredictable all season.

Second, Baltimore’s loss to New Orleans raises real concerns. The Ravens looked sluggish on both sides of the ball. Therefore, questions about their Super Bowl window are already surfacing.

Third, Kansas City continues to find ways to win close games. That’s a trend Chiefs fans know well by now. However, a defense that allows 30 points to Indianapolis needs some fixing.

Fourth, Seattle and San Francisco both look like true contenders. Their offenses have been explosive through two weeks. Consequently, the NFC West race should be must-watch football all year.

Finally, Miami and Houston both have serious issues to address. Neither offense has found consistency so far. Unless something changes fast, both teams risk falling behind early.

For a full breakdown with grades and snap counts, check out PFF’s complete Week 2 recap. And for more analysis on the Sunday slate, ESPN’s Week 2 takeaways piece covers plenty of extra angles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carolina’s blowout of Atlanta stands out as the biggest surprise. New Orleans also pulled off an unexpected road win over Baltimore.

Buffalo, San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City, and New England all improved to 2-0. Each of those teams looks strong heading into Week 3.

Kansas City’s 33-30 win over Indianapolis came down to the final drive. Green Bay’s three-point win over the Jets was close too.

Dallas and San Francisco both looked dominant on offense. Both teams topped 35 points in convincing victories.

NFL Week 3 typically kicks off the following Thursday night. Check the official NFL schedule for exact game times and matchups.

NFL Week 2 Scores: Every Result, Takeaway, and Surprise

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