{"id":369550,"date":"2025-09-15T08:49:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T08:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/369550\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T08:49:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T08:49:11","slug":"are-chiefs-in-trouble-are-colts-for-real-our-nfl-experts-offer-week-2-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/369550\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Chiefs in trouble? Are Colts for real? Our NFL experts offer Week 2 takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Jourdan Rodrigue<\/p>\n

Each Sunday, three of The Athletic\u2019s NFL writers react to the biggest news, plays and performances from the day\u2019s games.<\/p>\n

A high-scoring Week 2 of the NFL season included a Super Bowl rematch; a last-second win for the Indianapolis Colts; a riveting back-and-forth affair between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants; star turns from a pair of backup quarterbacks; and worrisome losses for the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs, who dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 2014.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still early, but that excuse might not last very long if the losses keep piling up. NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Jourdan Rodrigue share their thoughts on a wild Week 2.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t a blowout this time, but the Eagles beat the Chiefs again in a Super Bowl rematch. What\u2019s the most important thing we learned?<\/p>\n

Jones: To quote the late, great Dennis Green, \u201cThey are who we thought they were!\u201d The Eagles are still a well-rounded team built to win in whatever way they have to. They can light up the scoreboard, and they can also win gritty, grind-it-out games. As a result, they remain one of the most dangerous teams in the league. As far as the Chiefs, they are who we thought they are too: a squad that always has a chance because of Patrick Mahomes, but has a very narrow margin for error with their receiving unit hobbled, Travis Kelce long in the tooth, the offensive line a work in progress and the rushing attack still streaky. The defense gave the Eagles fits and kept the Chiefs in the game, but they have work to do. Does 0-2 mean their hopes of returning to the Super Bowl are shot? Not with this head coach, defensive coordinator and quarterback. But this was another truth-teller game that showed exactly what weaknesses they must address \u2014 and quickly.<\/p>\n

Nguyen: The Chiefs\u2019 defense played much better than it had in Week 1. The secondary was sticky and didn\u2019t give up much, even though Eagles QB Jalen Hurts had enough time to make a cup of coffee in the pocket nearly every time he dropped back. The Chiefs\u2019 four-man pass rush is a major concern, though. Offensively, they\u2019re struggling without their top two receivers, Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. This is the second week in a row that Kelce made a crucial red zone mistake. Last week, he slowed down instead of running on a shallow cross, which cost the Chiefs a touchdown. This week, he dropped a pass at the goal line that turned into an interception. The good news is he looks more nimble than he did last year, but the passing game is just out of sync. At 0-2, the Chiefs can\u2019t afford any more mistakes. Things would be so much easier if they had a healthy run game.<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: A noticeable lack of pressure from the Chiefs\u2019 four-man rush raised a red flag for me in Week 1, and my concern only grew on Sunday. At times, it seemed like Hurts had an eternity to throw (and he didn\u2019t even have to use his threat as a runner on some of his longer dropbacks). Hurts had more than 2.5 seconds to throw on 40 percent of his pass attempts, according to Next Gen Stats. To counter, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had to design more blitz pressure to help out his base front \u2014 in fact, Hurts was blitzed on 64 percent of his dropbacks, the highest blitz rate the Chiefs have used since Spagnuolo took over as defensive coordinator in 2019. It wasn\u2019t like the win was glamorous for the Eagles offense \u2014 Hurts was only 15 of 22 for 101 yards and no touchdowns (although he did rush for a touchdown). Meanwhile, the Eagles\u2019 defense held the Chiefs\u2019 offense (minus the explosive Worthy) to 4 of 12 on third downs.<\/p>\n

The Colts are 2-0 for the first time since 2009? Are they for real?<\/p>\n

Nguyen: I think they are. Daniel Jones could be this year\u2019s veteran reclamation project. I polled defensive coaches and coordinators about who they thought were the top 10 play callers in the league<\/a> and Shane Steichen\u2019s placement raised some eyebrows. But Indy\u2019s head coach is showing why he belongs on the list, drawing up some great plays that Jones is executing at a high level. Rookie Tyler Warren already looks like a top tight end. There are a lot of weapons on this team and Jones is doing a great job of playing point guard. The Colts aren\u2019t as talented on the other side of the ball, but this is the best group that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has had to work with in years. The Colts will often have the edge at play caller on both sides of the ball. The devastating Jones turnover is always a worry until he can prove otherwise, but so far, so good.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones and the Colts improved to 2-0 with a win over the Denver Broncos. (Photo: Michael Hickey \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Jones: Hard to believe it, but I think they are, too. They have all of the ingredients necessary for winning without elite quarterback play: a quality offensive line, a fantastic run game, an impactful defense. And with all of those elements, they\u2019re able to support Jones and position him for success \u2014 and he\u2019s delivering. He looks comfortable, he looks decisive and he\u2019s playing within the framework of the offense rather than trying to do too much, at least for now. Could Jones turn back into a pumpkin? Sure. But as long as the Colts can avoid falling into early holes, they\u2019ll be able to lean heavily on the rushing attack and stay in manageable down and distance situations, which helps Jones immensely. That\u2019s a good recipe for success, especially in the wide-open AFC South.<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: I want to believe. So far, I think I do. Here\u2019s what I know: Steichen is feeling good right now as a play caller, and you can see it all over his opening script and how he\u2019s scheming bespoke plays for Warren, the rookie tight end who already looks like he belongs with the big names in the league at his position. (He had four catches for 79 yards on Sunday, including a 41-yard catch where he came out of the backfield on his route.) Anarumo\u2019s defense is aggressive, attacks the ball and makes plays \u2014 how\u2019s two picks in two weeks (and two choreographed celebrations) by free agent addition Cam Bynum? Part of the Colts\u2019 magic is that nobody really knows what to expect from them. Part of their magic is that they have a combination of strong scheme and talent at key positions on both sides of the ball. With two weeks of tape out on this group, I\u2019m extremely curious to see how teams next defend the Colts \u2014 and how they themselves adjust.<\/p>\n

The Bears and first-year head coach Ben Johnson are 0-2 after two NFC North games, and QB Caleb Williams was underwhelming again in Sunday\u2019s 52-21 loss to the Lions<\/a>. How concerned should Chicago be?<\/p>\n

Jones: I\u2019ll say moderately concerned. Look, it\u2019s a first-year head coach and a second-year quarterback, so it\u2019s going to be a process. Also, the Lions are on a different level than the Bears. Having said that, there are indeed some troubling aspects when it comes to Williams. He\u2019s just not very accurate. He\u2019s late on a lot of throws. He also tends to rely on his athleticism too much, thinking he can extend plays and eventually make something happen. Johnson might need to further simplify things for Williams: Give him half-field reads and lean more heavily on the run game to set up play-action opportunities and see if that helps ease some pressure on Williams and helps him play with better rhythm.<\/p>\n

Nguyen: I\u2019m not concerned about Johnson but I am about Williams. Johnson is one of the best play callers in the league, but right now, it\u2019s a battle trying to coach Williams into becoming the quarterback that he needs to operate his offense. There have been some flashes but obviously too many negative plays. I don\u2019t think it should be a surprise that it\u2019s going to be a process. It doesn\u2019t help that they ran into an angry and extremely talented Lions team that got embarrassed by the Packers in Week 1. It\u2019s only Week 2, and we\u2019ve seen the Bears play against two teams that were expected to be among the best in the NFC. The Vikings, who they faced last week, have one of the best defenses in the league. My concern for Johnson is at 0, but my concern for Williams is about a 3 out of 10. It looks like he\u2019s trying his best to fight the demon on his shoulder on every snap.<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: Chicago should be concerned, but not necessarily surprised. Based on reports of sloppy practices throughout training camp, and the time we knew it would take for Johnson\u2019s offense \u2014 not just the quarterback, the entire operation \u2014 to get off the ground, rational viewers knew this would be a longer-term project for the organization than just a couple of weeks. As soon as the Bears\u2019 offense goes off script, problems arise. Williams and the offense scored on their first possession against Detroit. Over the next four possessions, the Bears then punted, lost a fumble, turned the ball over on downs and saw Williams throw an interception. It\u2019s not just the offense: The Bears\u2019 defense looks shaky, too. Chicago gave up 456 total yards by the start of the fourth quarter. And then the Lions opened the fourth quarter with a rub-it-in score. There\u2019s a long way to go in Chicago. By the way, after 12 penalties in Week 1 against Minnesota, the Bears racked up another eight on Sunday. That\u2019s not the sign of a disciplined team.<\/p>\n

The Dolphins are 0-2 after a 33-27 loss to the Patriots.<\/a>\u00a0They allowed points on their opponents\u2019 first 10 drives this season and now face a Thursday night trip to Buffalo. Is it already hopeless in Miami?<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: There have been recent \u201csuccess stories\u201d of 0-2 teams making the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams went all the way to the divisional round after an 0-2 start in 2024. The Houston Texans did the same in 2023, and the 2022 Cincinnati Bengals did them one better, advancing to the AFC Championship Game. But none of those teams \u2014 to my knowledge \u2014 had to have a players-only meeting<\/a> after Week 1 like these Dolphins did. I hate to write off a team (and coaching staff and front office) so early in the season, but the vibes seem very, very off in Miami right now. And how about New England\u2019s expensive free agency acquisition Milton Williams getting the quick pressure and sack on Tua Tagovailoa on fourth down to throw cold water on a potential comeback drive? Where one AFC East team may be trending up, another is very much trending down.<\/p>\n

Jones: Week 2 is too early to write an obituary, and the Dolphins did look better this week before falling short. But this team just doesn\u2019t have the feel of a squad that\u2019s going to make a playoff run. Give them credit for fighting to the end. De\u2019Von Achane thought he had a touchdown to lift his team late, but he stepped out of bounds, and then things went south for Miami. The game pretty much embodied what we can expect from the Dolphins this season. They\u2019ll make some plays, put up some points, and even make things interesting here and there. But when it really matters, they\u2019ll cripple themselves with self-inflicted wounds, and thus, won\u2019t really be a factor down the stretch of the season.<\/p>\n

Nguyen: They were at least able to wake up their offense against the Patriots and we saw them look like they did when they were humming in the past, with Tagovailoa throwing anticipation darts to Tyreek Hill (6 catches for 109 yards). However, that secondary is the worst in the league, their offensive line is terrible, and they can\u2019t still run inside. Their pass rush, which was supposed to be a strength, hasn\u2019t shown any teeth so far. So \u2026 indeed, this team is cooked, as the kids say. The secondary is going to get pummeled by Josh Allen and company. Miami will be 0-3 and the seat will keep heating up for head coach Mike McDaniel.<\/p>\n

Two teams with big expectations \u2014 the 49ers and Bengals \u2014 won behind backup QBs on Sunday. Which win was more impressive, and which team is better equipped to compete without its starting QB?<\/p>\n

Nguyen: Cincinnati\u2019s Jake Browning has more tools to work with, being able to throw to Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and he\u2019s proven himself to be a high-end backup. San Francisco\u2019s Mac Jones played well and helped the 49ers get a much-needed win (26-21 over the Saints<\/a>). He was accurate and avoided the big mistake. I thought Browning succeeded in a tougher situation. He was the backup coming into the game so he didn\u2019t get starter reps all week, and after Joe Burrow got hurt, Browning had to step in against a tough Jaguars team, already down 14-7. Browning did throw three interceptions, which is never good, but ultimately came out with a win.<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: While Browning gutted through a sudden change without the benefit of a week of practice with the first-team offense, Mac Jones simply played a cleaner game. Jones didn\u2019t just take the usual safety-blanket options \u2014 Christian McCaffrey, whom he hit for a short seven-yard touchdown, may look like the \u201cpoint and throw\u201d outlet on paper but it was a tough completion over a defender to the back corner of the end zone that required some touch. Jones also hit Jauan Jennings with good timing, right in the void between a couple of defenders, and it turned into a 42-yard touchdown. I tip my cap to Browning for his effort in a tough spot, but Jones has Kyle Shanahan, McCaffrey, Jennings and Ricky Pearsall and the benefits of a Shana-plan for these next few weeks.<\/p>\n

Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings for the 42-yard TD!<\/p>\n

SFvsNO on FOX\/FOX Onehttps:\/\/t.co\/HkKw7uXVnt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/oRKIHFajpv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Jones: This is a tough one. I initially was going to give Jones the nod because, in addition to completing 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns, he also didn\u2019t throw a single interception. But I\u2019m going with Browning instead. Yes, he turned the ball over multiple times (three picks), and yes, he had the better supporting cast. But unlike Jones, he didn\u2019t get any reps with the first-team offense all week. He also delivered in the most high-pressure of situations as he directed a 15-play, 92-yard scoring drive to lift his team to the game-winning score with 18 seconds left on the clock. On that drive, Browning completed 9 of 12 passes and punched the ball in from a yard out for the winning touchdown. Hats off, Jake Browning.<\/p>\n

Brandon Aubrey saved the Cowboys with a 64-yard field goal to force overtime and a 46-yarder for a 40-37 win<\/a> over the Giants. What, if anything, did we learn about these teams?<\/p>\n

Jones: If we\u2019re being honest, the Cowboys are a team with plenty of limitations, just like the Giants. So this was a pretty even matchup. The Giants came to play. Giants QB Russell Wilson responded well to the post-Week 1 adversity and passed for 450 yards and three touchdowns before that backbreaking INT in overtime. Wilson showed what he could do when he had time. The Cowboys only sacked him three times and hit him six times over 70 minutes. It\u2019s hard to win when you struggle to get to the quarterback, but that\u2019s the call Jerry Jones made when he shipped Micah Parsons to Green Bay. This was a roller coaster of a day for the Cowboys, but that\u2019s what this team is: full of highs and lows, solid enough to not stink, and not good enough to dominate anyone.<\/p>\n

Rodrigue: I\u2019ll bravely admit it: I am pleasantly surprised by this Cowboys team under Brian Schottenheimer so far in this young season. I am, of course, operating under the premise that teams will move the ball and score points on this Dallas defense (especially minus a certain future Hall of Fame do-it-all defender). Still, bearing that in mind, this team is feisty. Whether it\u2019s an emerging run game led by smart scheme (Klayton Adams\u2019 impact is quite clear already in his first year as offensive coordinator) and a reborn Javonte Williams \u2014 who had another good day with 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries \u2014 or Dak Prescott and a solid cast around him knowing they need to score a lot, I think I\u2019ll enjoy watching this team in 2025, all the more so if their games keep coming down to the wire. They are, after all, in the entertainment business \u2014 right Jerry?<\/p>\n

Nguyen: I came away a little more impressed with the Giants. My expectations for the Giants\u2019 offense was very low, but they were able to protect Wilson, who still has the ability to throw a beautiful moon ball. He threw a few deep beauties in this game. Also, that Giants pass rush is relentless. Prescott looked uncomfortable for most of the game until the fourth quarter; maybe that pass rush tired out a bit. Obviously, the Cowboys showed great resilience battling back, but I expected this team to get in shootouts. I didn\u2019t expect the Giants to be able to hang in that sort of game. If New York\u2019s offense can play at a baseline level, it could keep Wilson out there for longer and remain patient with rookie QB Jaxson Dart. (Also, I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the best idea to throw Dart on the field for random zone read-plays in the fourth quarter when you need to score a touchdown to win the game.)<\/p>\n

(Top photo of Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes: David Eulitt \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n