NFL: One Takeaway For Each Team From Week Two Of The 2025-26 Season

The Cards have not looked their best through the first two weeks of the season, but they’re 2-0, which is the only thing that matters. They played bend-but-don’t-break defense in Weeks One and Two, and that strategy has paid off with two game-clinching defense stands. More importantly, Kyler Murray once again looks like the former number-one overall draft pick he was cracked up to be. As the competition gets stiffer, the Cards are bound to lose some games, but for now, they’ve positioned themselves to have success this season and maybe even make a playoff push.

For the first time in years, the Dirty Birds look like they have a pass rush that can help them win games. As a team, they have seven sacks on the season, but six of them came against a Vikings squad with a banged-up offensive line and the youngest starting quarterback in the league. They’re not going to be a top-five pass-rushing team, but the Falcons’ defensive linemen are already playing much better than last year’s group. After finishing last season with the second-fewest sacks in the NFL, that will definitely not be the case this year.

The most sacks in a half since 2009 😅 pic.twitter.com/P9nAhxmiJB

On a day when Baltimore scored 41 points, Derrick Henry only touched the ball 11 times for 23 rushing yards. He was basically non-existent against a solid Browns defense, yet the Ravens still managed to score five touchdowns. Maybe Baltimore decided to reduce Henry’s workload after his second-quarter fumble? Regardless, in games like this, where the Ravens are lapping weaker opponents, they don’t have to lean so heavily on the 31-year-old running back, which will allow him to stay fresh for the postseason.

Even though Josh Allen didn’t play his best game, the Bills absolutely smoked a divisional opponent on the road. The rushing attack averaged 5.21 yards per carry on 43 attempts while scoring three touchdowns. Without their best d-lineman, the defense forced two turnovers and held the Jets to 154 total yards of offense. Through two games, the offensive line has only given up two sacks. With the Chiefs on the decline and a win over the Ravens, Buffalo is the team to beat in the AFC so far.

Young might have thrown for 328 yards and three touchdowns, but his costly mistakes at the beginning and end of the game are the reason why the Panthers are 0-2. His opening-drive fumble and his absurd interception put Carolina in a 10-0 hole that they spent the whole game battling back from. The Cats made it close and even had a chance to win their matchup on Sunday, but on the Panthers’ final drive, Young went 0/6 passing and took a sack on a 4th and 15 that lost them the game. Don’t let the comeback attempt trick you into thinking Bryce Young is suddenly good.

Despite all the obvious signs not to extend this man, the Bears signed him to an extension anyway that keeps him with the team through the 2029 season. Following Sunday’s blowout loss, the Bears moved to 15-38 under Ryan Poles’ watch. What’s worse is their divisional record, which is 3-17 after Week Two. On top of that, the players he selected in the 2025 NFL Draft were nowhere to be found this weekend. Tight end Colston Loveland and wideout Luther Burden III combined for one five-yard catch. Defensive tackle Shemar Turner is dealing with injuries, while offensive lineman and second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo was a healthy scratch. Ryan Poles has yet to draft a Pro Bowler as the general manager of Chicago. Every week, it looks worse and worse that they kept him on and extended him.