🔍 The Upsets & Surprise Games
- Falcons beat Vikings, 22–6 — Atlanta wasn’t supposed to walk into this one and do that
- Seahawks over Steelers, 31–17 — Pittsburgh looked vulnerable, and Seattle capitalized.
- Buccaneers slip past Texans, 20–19 — A one-possession thriller. Texans let it slip.
- Colts edge Broncos, 29–28 — Drama at the end; special teams error & penalty swung momentum.
⚠️ The Injury Watch (Major, Might Matter)
- Joe Burrow (Bengals) — Turf toe, reportedly Grade 3. Surgery likely. Might be out ~3 months. Big blow.
- Austin Ekeler (Commanders) — Suspected Achilles tear. That’s serious, could be season‑derailing.
- Khalil Mack (Chargers) — Elbow injury in MNF vs Raiders. Won’t return from that one.
- KaVontae Turpin (Cowboys) — Neck injury scare- but some positive signs in early reports.
- Other injuries piling up: Ed Oliver out for Bills; multiple players from Giants, Cardinals, Bears, Vikings dealing with knee, groin, hamstring issues.
🌟 Other Highlights & Storylines
- Backup spotlight — Jake Browning steps up big for the Bengals in Burrow’s absence.
- Trading vs. expectation gap — Some teams doing more than expected given roster injuries (e.g. Chargers, Seahawks) while others (Texans, Commanders) looked shaky when depth was tested.
- Special teams + rules controversies made Week 2 memorable — late‑game penalties, long field goals, walk‑offs. Colts game vs Broncos especially wild.
🚨 What to Keep an Eye On (Going Forward)
- How long Burrow is out (if surgery is confirmed) and how well the Bengals adapt.
- Whether Ekeler will recover in time to make an impact this season. Achilles injuries are rough.
- Impact of nagging injuries on teams with shallow depth — Minkey (Minnesota), Giants, Cardinals etc.
- Shift in momentum: Teams pulling off upsets will have confidence. Those getting healthy will try to bounce back.
