A Deeper Look Into Week 2 in the NFL

Whether it was upsets or last second heroics, Week 2 of the NFL season did not disappoint.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans

When facing the Tennessee Titans, the ultimate goal is to stop Derrick Henry, and the Chargers did that.

Henry rushed 25 times for only 80 yards with a touchdown that came at the 1-yard-line. The Chargers’ defense was exposed last week against the Dolphins. Somehow, while limiting arguably the best running back in the league the Bolts’ defense still struggled.

Ryan Tannehill and company moved the ball through the air with ease. Tannehill was 20-for-24 with 246 yards. He also added a touchdown to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine late in the fourth quarter to put the Titans up 24-21.

However, Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense still had 2:22 left in the game to complete a comeback. Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made a game-tying field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime.

The Chargers won the toss, and quickly lost possession of the ball after they went three-and-out to start OT. It took the Titans offense eight plays to set up kicker Nick Folk to deliver the win for the Titans. The final score was 27-24.

https://twitter.com/titans/status/1703500514338427325?s=51&t=OYQ7pVE94EAk1HF-bWeekQ

Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons

In a game where both teams are still figuring out the quarterback position, both the Packers and the Falcons found success with their respective QB’s.

For the Packers, it was going to be hard match last week’s production without star running back Aaron Jones, who was out with a hamstring injury. Backup AJ Dillon was going to have to help young quarterback Jordan Love. At the end of the third quarter, the Packers were up 24-12 against the Falcons, and the dirty birds needed a big comeback to stay undefeated.

Quarterback Desmond Ridder opened up the fourth quarter with a six-yard rushing touchdown to put the score at 24-19, Packers. After the touchdown, the Packers had the ball for a total of 3:19 in the fourth quarter. The Falcons had two long drives in the fourth to waste 7:51 off the clock, and both ended with successful field goals from kicker Younghoe Koo.

The Packers had one last chance with 57 seconds left in the game. Facing a fourth-and-10 at their own 25, the Packers turned the ball over on downs, and the Falcons completed the comeback.  The final score was 25-24, Falcons.

.@YounghoeKoo for the lead!

📺: FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/V1U6Vu81fY

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 17, 2023

Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions

The Motor City was electric on Sunday afternoon. Both quarterbacks were easily the MVP of their respective teams as each of them threw for 300+ yards and two touchdowns. The biggest lead in the game was held by the Seahawks when they were up 31-21 with 8:04 left in the fourth. Defensive back Tre Brown picked off Jared Goff and ran it 40 yards to put the Seahawks up 10.

With 3:08 left in the game, Jared Goff found receiver Josh Reynolds for a four-yard touchdown to bring the score to 31-28, Seahawks. The Lions needed a stop from their young defense, and with time running out, they did. The Seahawks went three-and-out and were forced to punt the ball back to Detroit.

After Jared Goff led the Lions down the field, kicker Riley Patterson nailed a 38-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to OT. After winning the toss, the Seahawks elected to receive the ball. Geno Smith found receiver Tyler Lockett in the endzone as the Seahawks marched down the field to win the game 37-31.

https://twitter.com/seahawks/status/1703501156750696708?s=51&t=OYQ7pVE94EAk1HF-bWeekQ

New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals

After the Giants got shutout on Sunday Night Football last week, Brian Daboll and the Giants were looking to find not only a win, but points. After being shutout at halftime, the Giants were looking at another blowout loss. The Cardinals were beating them 20-0 at the halfway mark and something needed to change.

Coming out of the break, the Giants quickly answered with a 14-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Daniel Jones. At the end of the third quarter, the score was much better for the Giants, but not satisfactory. They were still trailing 28-14.

The fourth quarter easily belonged to the Giants as they shutout the Cardinals and found the endzone twice. Daniel Jones threw his second touchdown at the 4:25 mark of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28. After a stop from their defense, the Giants were gifted the ball back with 2:31 left in the game. Wasting majority of the time remaining, kicker Graham Gano drilled a 34-yard field goal to put the Giants in front 31-28 with 19 seconds left. The Cardinals couldn’t respond and the game was over.

https://twitter.com/giants/status/1703549262326284321?s=51&t=OYQ7pVE94EAk1HF-bWeekQ

Brian Daboll speaks on Giants’ struggles over the past couple weeks: