NFL Week 2 preview: Early tests after record-setting opening weekend
Week 2 of the NFL follows a record-breaking Week 1, where teams showcased significant offensive power, including several 1-0 matchups. Noteworthy games include the Bears vs. Vikings and Ravens vs. Saints. With promising starts from multiple teams, Week 2 will test their performances, revealing potential contenders for the season ahead.
After one of the highest-scoring opening weekends in NFL history, Week 2 shifts the focus toward teams trying to confirm strong starts and others looking for an immediate response.
The league produced 791 points in Week 1, matching the NFL record for a Kickoff Weekend. The 93 total touchdowns, 90 offensive touchdowns and 37 rushing touchdowns were all opening-week records, while 11 teams scored at least 30 points.
That offensive start carries into a Week 2 schedule featuring several matchups between 1-0 teams, divisional games and two primetime contests that will close the weekend.
Bears and Vikings bring explosive starts into NFC North matchup
One of Sunday’s most notable games comes in Chicago, where the Bears host the Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m. ET.
Chicago produced the biggest offensive total of Week 1, scoring 59 points against Carolina. The Bears recorded at least 14 points in every quarter and rushed for six touchdowns, tying the NFL record for the most rushing scores in a season opener.
Minnesota also started with an offensive statement. The Vikings scored 29 unanswered points in the second half of their 39-22 victory over Green Bay.
Carson Wentz came off the bench and threw three touchdown passes without an interception, becoming the first non-starting quarterback to accomplish that in a season-opening victory since Fran Tarkenton in 1961.
Both NFC North teams enter Sunday at 1-0.
Ravens prepare for another productive offence
Baltimore’s home matchup against New Orleans also brings together two teams that generated significant offence in Week 1.
The Ravens recorded 506 total yards and an AFC-high 41 points against Indianapolis. Derrick Henry accounted for 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns, moving to 125 career rushing scores and passing Marcus Allen for third on the NFL’s all-time list.
New Orleans lost 31-30 in overtime to Detroit, but Tyler Shough threw for a career-high 410 yards, the most by any quarterback during opening weekend. Chris Olave led all players with 182 receiving yards.
Lamar Jackson provides the other side of the quarterback matchup. Baltimore’s starter owns a 25-3 career record against NFC opponents.
Bengals look to build on defensive start
Cincinnati travels to Houston after beginning its season with a 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay.
The Bengals’ defence recorded four sacks, recovered four defensive fumbles and scored a touchdown in Week 1. Cincinnati became only the fifth team since 1963 to reach all three marks in a season opener.
Houston, meanwhile, enters at 0-1 after its 36-31 loss to Buffalo.
A Cincinnati victory would give the Bengals consecutive 2-0 starts for only the second time in franchise history.
Chiefs and Giants headline primetime schedule
Kansas City hosts Indianapolis on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET after opening its season with a victory over Denver.
Travis Kelce reached another career milestone in Week 1. His 71 receiving yards moved him past Jason Witten for second place on the NFL’s all-time list for regular-season receiving yards by a tight end. Tony Gonzalez remains first with 15,127.
The Giants then travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET.
New York opened with a 28-20 victory over Dallas as Jaxson Dart threw at least three touchdown passes, posted a career-high 134.2 passer rating and added 54 rushing yards. He became the first player to reach all three marks in an NFL season opener.
The Rams return home looking for their first victory of 2026. Matthew Stafford was particularly effective at home last season, throwing for 2,320 yards with 22 touchdowns and only one interception across eight starts.
Kansas City, Los Angeles and New York are also part of a scheduling rarity: for the first time since 1970, three teams will each play their first two games of a season in primetime.
Week 2 continues with Lions-Bills underway Thursday
The Week 2 schedule began Thursday night with Detroit visiting Buffalo in the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium.
The matchup featured two 1-0 teams after Buffalo scored 36 points against Houston and Detroit beat New Orleans 31-30 in overtime during opening weekend. It was also a rematch of their 2024 meeting, when the Bills defeated the Lions 48-42.
Beyond Thursday night, Sunday’s slate will provide the next indication of which Week 1 performances can carry into the early stages of the season. Nine teams that missed the 2025 playoffs won their opener, including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Minnesota, and the New York Giants, giving Week 2 several opportunities for new contenders to build on their starts.
