After a Week One slate of games full of action and a blowout that we are not talking about, the 2024 NFL season moves on to week two. So, how did the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Vikings, among others, get on this week?
Let’s look back at Week Two of the 2024 NFL Season.
The Atlanta Falcons Swipe Victory
The Atlanta Falcons changed their quarterback in the offseason, bringing in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Then, they decided to draft Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick. Questions arose about why this decision was made and what this meant for Cousins. In the end, Kirk was the starter last week but struggled. This week, the Atlanta Falcons faced the Philadelphia Eagles, who have returned from Brazil after Saquon Barkley led the Eagles to victory.
For most of the first quarter, not much happened except for drives that ended in punts. There was one expectation to this rule when the Eagles got the ball down to the Falcons’ nine-yard line. However, a failed fourth-down attempt by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ended the hope that Philadelphia would get any points from this drive.
The Atlanta Falcons got the game’s first points a few drives after this. However, they were lucky to be in this position, to begin with, as on the Eagles’ 23-yard line, Cousins would fumble the ball. Fortunately for Atlanta, this was recovered by another member of the Falcons offense. After this incident, the offense went no further, setting up a 39-yard field goal attempt from Younghoe Koo, who would be successful, putting the Falcons onto the board and in the lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut this lead did not last long. On the next drive of the game, the Eagles could strike back. Hurts brought the offense down to the Falcons’ 7-yard line before finding DeVonta Smith for the touchdown pass. The Atlanta Falcons could reply to this only with a 22-yard field goal after a drive that took Cousins and company the length of the field and stalled down at the four-yard line.
This meant that at halftime, the Eagles had a 7-6 lead over the Falcons.
The Atlanta Falcons opened the second half in the same way in which they finished the first. A Kirk Cousins drive that would stall in the Philadelphia red zone, leading to a Koo field goal. This time, the successful kick was from 34 yards out, and did give Atlanta the lead. But, this was only temporary, as the Eagles would score a field goal of their own on the next drive. A 29-yard FG from Eagles’ kicker Jake Elliot returned the lead to the Eagles.
The Atlanta Falcons were then finally able to score a touchdown. From the Eagles’ 41-yard line, Cousins found Darnell Mooney for the 41-yard TD pass. They then attempted a two-point conversion to prevent the lead from being reduced to three points. However, this failed.
The extra two points would not have made a difference, as Philadelphia would find the endzone on the next drive. During this nearly ten-minute long drive, Hurts and company slowly made their way down into the Falcons’ red zone, and then to the five-yard line. From here, Hurts found Saquon Barkley for the score. However, the play was reviewed and it was ruled that Barkley was a yard short. So, on the next play, Hurts found the endzone for the one-yard TD. As with the Falcons’ drive beforehand, the Eagles also attempted a two-point conversion attempt, but unlike Atlanta, this was successful.
Philadelphia would add to this lead on the next drive, from an Elliot field goal from 28 yards out. This forced the Falcons to score a touchdown on what would be their final drive of the game, with around 90 seconds left of the clock.
During this drive, Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons offense very quickly made it down to the Eagles’ 7-yard line. Then, he found Drake London for what could be the game-winning score. However, there was enough time for the Eagles to have one more attempt. All they needed was a field goal to win the game, could they do this?
The answer would be no. Hurts’ pass was intercepted, giving the Atlanta Falcons a 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis victory vindicates Kirk Cousins’s poor performance last week and shows that he can still do it when needed. The Eagles were almost sure to win this game up to the final drive, and their performance cannot be taken away from them. Next week, the Eagles face the high-scoring New Orleans Saints, while the Atlanta Falcons face the Kansas City Chiefs.
And on the subject of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes vs Burrow Part Five
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals recently have the AFC’s strongest teams. It has also created a rivalry between the teams’ QBs, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. Their meeting in week two would be another round in this ongoing battle. Will Burrow stop his usual early-season slump to deliver an early loss to Mahomes?
The Bengals had the opening possession of the game and would start well. Burrow and company were able to move the ball down into the Chiefs’ red zone, and then to the four-yard line. However, they were unable to go any further, forcing Bengals kicker Evan McPherson to make a 22-yard field goal.
In reply to this score, the Chiefs were matched by the Bengals. Mahomes brought the ball down to the Bengals’ one-yard line, where this drive would stall. From here, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker scored the 19-yard field goal to keep things level.
However, a few drives later, Mahomes would make a costly mistake. From his 29-yard line, the Bengals intercepted Mahomes’ pass to Travis Kelce and returned to the Chiefs 31-yard line. This gave the Bengals a short-field position, which they capitalized on. Burrow found Andrei Iosivas for the four-yard TD pass to cap off this drive, putting Cincinnati into the lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut, as what is now a familiar sight with Kansas City, they immediately replied to this score. Shaking off his previous interception, Mahomes found Rashee Rice for a 44-yard touchdown pass to again level the scores.
This equality did not last. On the game’s next drive, the Bengals could drive down to the Chiefs’ 15-yard line but no further. This set up McPherson with a 33-yard field goal attempt, which he was successful with.
The good luck for Cincinnati continued soon after Chiefs running back Carson Stelle fumbled the ball, which the Bengals would recover. The resulting drive ended in another field goal for McPherson, meaning that at the half, the Bengals had a 16-10 lead over Kansas City.
The Chiefs had the first possession of the second half and were able to put themselves back into the lead. Starting from their 30-yard line, the Chiefs found their way down to the Bengals’ one-yard line. From here, Mahomes found Wanya Morris for the TD.
But, as with much of this game, the lead did not stay for long. On the game’s next drive, the Bengals’ offense made their way down to the Chiefs’ 3-yard line. However, they were lucky to do so, as Burrow fumbled the ball earlier in the drive but recovered it himself. Burrow paired up with Iosivas from the three-yard line for his second TD of the game.
The drama did not stop there. On the game’s next drive, Mahomes threw his second interception. But it would be the Bengals who would make a far more costly mistake.
Burrow was sacked and fumbled the ball on the Bengals’ 34-yard line. The Chiefs defense scooped it up and returned it into the end zone for the touchdown. Kansas City then attempted a two-point conversion to increase their slim lead, but this was unsuccessful, giving them a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs expected, this lead did not last. On the next drive, Cincinnati retook the lead through another field goal from McPherson. This gave them a two-point lead. Could they hold onto it?
There was then a period when no team could do anything on offense. However, the Chiefs had possession with enough time on the clock to score a game-winning field goal. Could they do this?
Mahomes and company slowly drove down the field, taking valuable seconds off the clock. A pass interference penalty against the Bengals helped the Chiefs get into field goal territory. Then, with time nearly up, Harrison Butker stepped up for a game-winning 51-yard field goal. He would be successful with this, giving the Kansas City Chiefs a 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
This was another game that could have gone in either direction. There were numerous lead changes, with Kansas City only having the lead for around 12 minutes of game time, and the length of two drives for the Bengals ended in scores. For the second week in a row, Kansas City won a game on the game’s final play. However, they have played two quality opponents, and when they face a weaker team, it is likely not to be like this. Cincinnati held on for as long as they could, but as we have seen in every year that Joe Burrow has been with the Bengals, bar one, they start the season with a 0-2 record.
Next week, Kansas City faces Atlanta, while Cincinnati faces the Washington Commanders.
Is Brock Purdy Human?
The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the best teams in football in the last few years but have never been able to win the Super Bowl in this period. Last season, they made the game but lost to Kansas City in overtime. The main cause for the 49ers’ success has been the pairing of Quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. However, McCaffrey is out injured. This week, they met the Minnesota Vikings, who destroyed a poor New York Giants team last week. Could they do the same again this weekend?
The first few drives of this game were unable to go anywhere. However, we did see the Vikings block a 49ers punt, which would prove costly for San Francisco. Starting at the 49ers’ 24-yard line, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was able to bring the offense down to the four-yard line. The drive stalled here, and former Alabama kicker Will Reichard would score the 22-yard field goal to put Minnesota into the lead.
San Francisco did try to respond. Purdy moved the ball down to the Vikings’ two-yard line in a drive that lasted over nine minutes. However, he struggled to get the ball any further from this point, failing the crucial fourth-down attempt and handing possession back to the Vikings.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis would be another thing that Minnesota was able to capitalize on. Darnold found Justin Jefferson for a 97-yard TD pass from their three-yard line to put the Vikings ten points up.
San Franciso again tried to get something going on offense, but they again failed on a fourth down conversion attempt. However, they could have some luck when Darnold’s pass was intercepted. From this, Purdy finally had a good drive, throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle to keep the game within three points.
But, this did not last long, as on the half’s final play, Reichard scored a 39-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 13-7 lead at the half.
As with the first few drives of the first half, the opening drives of the second half could not go anywhere. However, the 49ers would make another mistake, which would be costly. Deep in the 49ers’ territory, Purdy would throw an intercepted, which the Vikings would return to the ten-yard line. This gave them a solid base to launch a scoring drive, which they could do, as Darnold found Jalen Nailor for the ten-yard TD pass to put Minnesota 13 points ahead.
The mistakes soon continued for San Francisco. On the next drive, Purdy was sacked and then fumbled the ball, which was then recovered by the Vikings’ defense. However, things would not be all perfect for the Vikings. Darnold and company moved the ball down to the 49ers’ 20-yard line; then he found Aaron Jones for a sure TD pass. However, Jones fumbled the ball at the two-yard line, and it was recovered by the 49ers defense.
But something more important than a fumble happened on this drive. Jefferson and Nick Bosa (a star of the 49ers’ defense) were injured in this play. Jefferson could play next week, while Bosa’s status remains unknown.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith the ball on their one-yard, the 49ers offense finally got going. Purdy moved it down to the Vikings’ 10-yard line, and then Jordan Mason ran it in for the rushing TD to make it a six-point game in the fourth quarter.
This did not last long. On the next drive, the Vikings took a lot of time off the clock in a 14-play drive that ended in a 27-yard field goal. This extended the lead to nine points. San Francisco would need a miracle (and a touchdown on this next drive) if they were to have any chance of staying in the game.
The touchdown they wanted never arrived. The 49ers were able to move the ball to the Vikings’ four-yard line, but then Deebo Samuel (who is also injured and will miss a couple of games) lost nine yards on the following play. They then decided to take a field goal, which Jake Moody was successful on. But it was not enough, as the Minnesota Vikings had defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17.
Minnesota dominated this game. At the beginning of the season, many thought that due to QB J.J. McCarthy’s injury, this team would struggle. They are doing anything but that and could be a surprise contender for the NFC North title. San Francisco was outplayed in this game. Maybe Brock Purdy is human, after all? Next week, Minnesota faces the Houston Texans, while San Francisco faces divisional rivals the Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks win in Overtime
The New England Patriots have struggled since Tom Brady left the team. Mac Jones and Bailey Zapp made no impact, and now that Bill Belichick has left Foxborough, there was little hope surrounding this team. Last week, the Pats defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. Could they do the same against the Seattle Seahawks?
The game started slow, with two drives ending in punts. But it soon found its gear. New England was able to get the first score of the game. The Patriot’s offense, led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, moved the ball down to the Seahawks’ five-yard line. From here, he found Ja’Lynn Polk for the game’s opening touchdown.
In reply, the Seahawks were able to find a score of their own. Seattle QB Geno Smith found DK Metcalf for a 56-yard TD pass to level the game. But this did not last long, as on the next drive, a 29-yard field goal from Patriots kicker Joey Slye gave New England the lead again.
This lead lasted for about five minutes. On the next drive of the game, Smith and the Seahawks’ offense were able to drive the ball down to the Patriots’ one-yard line. From here, Zach Charbonnet found the endzone for a rushing TD to put Seattle into the lead. The Patriots did try to reclaim their lead, but their drive stalled at the Seahawks’ 10-yard line. This resulted in another field goal from Slye.
Embed from Getty ImagesTo end the half, the Seahawks extended their lead with a field goal. A 44-yard FG from Seahawks’ kicker Jason Myers gave them a 17-13 lead as the teams entered the locker room.
As with the first half, the second half did not get off to the best of starts. For most of the third quarter, neither team could get anywhere on offense.
Then, in a similar way to the first half, it would be the Patriots who made the first move. Brissett and his offense were able to make it down to the Seahawks’ six-yard line. Here, a minor mistake happened when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled the ball. Luckily, another member of the Patriots offense was there to collect it, keeping the drive alive. Stevenson vindicated himself from this mistake a few plays later, as he ran the ball in for a one-yard TD to give New England a three-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
Three could have become six on the Pats’ next drive. However, Slye’s field goal from 48 yards out was blocked by the Seahawks. In reality, three became zero, as from the following drive, Myers could kick a 38-yard field goal to level the scores at 20-20 with only a minute left on the clock.
Neither team did anything at this minute, which meant that we were going to overtime in Foxborough.
The Patriots had the first possession in OT but could not do anything with it. This gave the possession to Seattle, who needed a field goal to win the game. From their 16-yard line, the Seahawks offense could drive the ball down to the Patriots’ 13-yard line. From here, Myers attempted a 31-yard field goal to win the game. He was successful, and the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 23-20 in overtime.
Embed from Getty ImagesComing into this season, no one had any hope for the New England Patriots. Two games in, there is at least some hope that things could improve. Seattle’s win continues their good start to the season, which is going to be needed when they are in a division full of talented teams.
Seattle faces the Miami Dolphins next week, while New England faces Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Thursday night.
What Happened in the Other Games?
This week, the Buffalo Bills faced the Miami Dolphins in the Thursday Night Football match. This game was overshadowed by the fourth concussion for Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa, and there are now calls for him to retire for his safety. The Bills were the stronger team on the field, with James Cook scoring three TDs in their 31-10 victory.
The New Orleans Saints’ high-scoring start to the season continues. They faced the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington this weekend. This should have been a tough game, but the Saints were dominant. Alvin Kamara scored three TDs in the Saints’ 44-19 win over the Cowboys, ending Dallas’ 16-game home winning streak.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother team that had a good start to the season is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They faced the Detroit Lions in another playoff rematch for the Lions. This one was not as successful for them. Despite throwing for over 300 yards, Goff could not get this offense going, while Tampa Bay did just enough to record a 20-16 victory, keeping their undefeated season alive.
After losing the game and their quarterback in Brazil, the Green Bay Packers returned home to face the Indianapolis Colts. Maalik Willis stood in for Jordan Love in this game, but the Packers’ defense would win this game. Colts quarterback Antony Richardson threw three interceptions and struggled as the Packers defeated them 16-10.
Aaron Rodgers has finally made it to week two as a New York Jet. He faced the Tennessee Titans, whose mistakes cost them their game last week. It was tied into the fourth quarter, but a Braelon Allen TD would give the Jets a 24-17 win. This is Aaron Rodgers’s first win since January 1, 2023, when the Packers defeated the Vikings.
The Carolina Panthers’ spell as the worst team in football continued this week as they faced the Los Angeles Chargers. As expected, the Chargers won this game 26-3. A day later, the Panthers announced that Bryce Young would no longer be the starting quarterback and would be replaced by Andy Dalton.
The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Cleveland Browns this week. In honor of their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars’ home ground was renamed in his honor just for this week. Unfortunately, the Jags could not win this game at Trever Bank Stadium. Cleveland would hold on and get a late safety to record an 18-13 victory.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Las Vegas Raiders met the Baltimore Ravens in a close game. Baltimore had a 10-point lead coming into the half, but a Raiders comeback in the fourth, including a late field goal from Daniel Carlson, gave Las Vegas a surprise 26-23 victory over the Ravens.
In the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, there was only one name on fans’ lips. Marvin Harrison Jr. The former Ohio State wide receiver scored two TDs in the first quarter and would record 130 yards from only four catches. Arizona was able to dismantle the Rams 41-10.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn a mostly uneventful game, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos 13-6. Broncos QB Bo Nix threw for two interceptions in this game and could never get anything going.
The Sunday Night Football game was between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. Both teams have two highly praised quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams. However, Williams struggled again this week, and Stroud did the minimum to give the Texans a 19-13 victory.
And finally, this week’s instalment of “How did the New York Giants ruin my weekend?”. This week, they faced the Washington Commanders, a welcome game after the horrors of last week. The offense somewhat delivered, with Daniel Jones throwing two TDs in this game, one to Maalik Nabers. However, an injury to kicker Graham Gano early in the game would prove costly, as the Giants would have to rely on two-point conversions and fourth-down attempts instead of kicks.
The Commanders did not have this problem and kicked seven field goals, including the game-winning one as time ran out. However, they lost 21-18 against an easy opponent. I am now wondering where these wins will come from this year.
So, that was week two of the NFL season. Next week, we will see if the Atlanta Falcons’ win was a fluke, If the Green Bay Packers can continue strong without Jordan Love, and if the Cincinnati Bengals’ poor start is just a tradition.