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Chiefs back in business as star QBs go down - five things from NFL week two

Chiefs back in business as star QBs go down - five things from NFL week two

After a feast of points in week one, defences hit back in week two of the NFL.

The Chicago Bears came crashing back down to earth after a flying start - and they suffered one of the two worrying injuries to two of the league's top young quarterbacks.

The Kansas City Chiefs were back doing what they do best but the Baltimore Ravens were surprisingly beaten, while two games were settled in overtime and one decided with just nine seconds on the clock.

Here's our pick from Sunday's week two action.

Allen stars as Bills open new stadium in style

NFL schedule & results

Superstar quarterbacks suffer serious injuries

The Chicago Bears scored 59 points last week but just three this time in an ugly 9-3 home loss to the Vikings, as Minnesota won their seventh straight game at Soldier Field.

The 56-point drop-off is the second most in NFL history as the Bears saw two touchdowns lost with a dropped catch and a fumble, had a field goal blocked but worst of all lost their star quarterback Caleb Williams.

The first pick of the 2024 draft was carried off the field in the fourth quarter looking in serious pain, but initial reports are that his hamstring injury may not be as serious as first feared.

Jayden Daniels was the second pick of that 2024 draft behind Williams and he left Washington's defeat at Dallas with a serious injury to the same elbow he dislocated last season.

Daniels, who seems certain to be out for some time, would still have struggled to keep up with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott who threw four touchdowns in their 37-20 victory.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo's team record of 248 touchdown passes by taking his tally to 249.

Classic Kansas City Chiefs win in overtime

The Kansas City Chiefs gave another ominous sign that they were back in business with a 33-30 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Winning tight games was a hallmark of the Patrick Mahomes dynasty during three recent Super Bowl wins, so there was a familiar feeling when Harrison Butker kicked the winning field goal right at the death.

Mahomes threw three touchdowns and his 382 passing yards was his most for three years. Travis Kelce had 101 yards and a touchdown and summer signing Kenneth Walker had another huge game.

The Super Bowl MVP had 178 total yards and was crucial in overtime to help overcome a strong challenge from Daniel Jones and the Colts - who may have lost their first two games but look to have plenty to build on.

The Green Bay Packers also triumphed in overtime by erasing a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets to win 20-17 - and snap a six-game losing streak.

Which team is the best at 2-0?

Super Bowl champions Seattle look the real deal again after beating the Arizona Cardinals 31-7 for a 12th straight win.

Drew Lock showed he is no ordinary back-up quarterback with three touchdown passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, including an 82 yarder that is the longest of the talented receiver's career.

The Seahawks lost Walker to the Chiefs but have retained a remarkable 17 of 22 starters and 44 of their 53-man roster from last season's title win.

That consistency should see them go close again, but they'll face a rejuvenated San Francisco 49ers in their division, who are also 2-0 after beating the Miami Dolphins 35-15.

Showing no signs of jet leg from their victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, the Niners scored touchdowns on their first five possessions to blow Miami away - Christian McCaffrey scored twice, George Kittle also found the end zone and Brock Purdy accounted for three scores.

With the 49ers having their defensive stars back from injury Kyle Shanahan's squad look the total package once again.

The Cincinnati Bengals also look more well rounded this season after winning a 20-6 battle in Houston, thanks to an early touchdown of the season contender catch from Ja'Marr Chase.

We expect fireworks from Chase and Joe Burrow, but having a defence capable of keeping CJ Stroud out of the end zone, and sacking him four times in a road game is the biggest reason for optimism among Bengals fans.

The Philadelphia Eagles were on the ropes against the Tennessee Titans until Jalen Hurts threw the winning touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with just nine seconds left in the game.

Although not as impressive overall as other 2-0 sides, that ability to win games at the death is a familiar trait with Philly - and will make them dangerous all season again.

Saints shock Lamar Jackson's Ravens

The New Orleans Saints just fell short after a monster comeback in Detroit last week, but went one better this week by upsetting Lamar Jackson's Baltimore Ravens 24-17 in their home opener.

Tyler Shough bundled over in a big crowd for a slightly controversial touchdown given the ball was largely unsighted, before two-time MVP Jackson then threw a late interception when trying to salvage the game.

The Saints may just surprise a few more teams this season.

Raiders riding high as Falcons falter

Surprising everyone right now are the Las Vegas Raiders, who sit on 2-0 after winning 26-14 at the hapless Chargers.

The Chargers have lost by double digits to two of last season's biggest strugglers and with away games at Buffalo and Seattle, things look likely to get much worse.

DeShaun Watson threw a fourth quarter touchdown as the Cleveland Browns also sprung an upset win on the road in Tampa Bay, with a weather delay meaning they had to wait an extra two hours to seal the deal.

Perhaps the biggest surprise so far though is just how bad the Atlanta Falcons are. They were beaten 34-3 by the Carolina Panthers to become just the fourth team since 1978 to fail to get into an opponents red zone in their first two games.

The quarterback mess has played a part - and what summed them up nicely was undrafted rookie Jack Strand replacing a struggling Cooper Rush, and duly threw a pick six.

Atlanta could already be eyeing the first draft pick next year if this continues.

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