Two weeks into the NFL season, we’re obviously nowhere near the point where anyone should be making any definitive conclusions. But after two games, I do have some thoughts on these four teams that were considered contenders this preseason.
The Chargers Are in Trouble
Week 1 Result (Home): 26-14 Loss to Cardinals
Week 2 Result (Home): 26-14 Loss to Raiders
Well my thoughts on this preseason contender are pretty straightforward: they aren’t a contender anymore. Probably the most surprising 0-2 team in the league, this has been a nightmare start for the Chargers. Two home games to start the season against two teams that finished last in their respective divisions a season ago and were expected to struggle again this year, too. And yet, here are the Chargers sitting at 0-2. I didn’t worry about them after Week 1, as every NFL season has plenty of surprising wins and losses. But after another home loss in a game where you would have expected their absolute best after that upset in Week 1, the Chargers should be extremely concerned.
If you look at only the box score against the Raiders, it looks like Herbert played terrible. It’s not like he played great in this game by any stretch, but there were definitely some bad drops impacting his numbers too (including 1 INT that wasn’t his fault). This team has also fumbled 7 times(!) so far this season, but have been lucky to only lose 2 of them.
But nonetheless, how many “ifs” and “buts” are we going to give Justin Herbert? He’s always been the QB analysts will say “well if this or that happens, this guy is going to be a superstar!” We are now in year 7 of Herbert on the Chargers, not year 3. So at some point, there can’t be any more ifs with him. It’s time for this guy to take that step, or you have to seriously start doubting whether he ever will.
Herbert and Mike McDaniel, the new offensive coordinator, better get this offense going. And get it going fast. Because they only scored 28 points total in those two games when this offense was expected to be great with this duo leading the charge. And their next seven games look like this: @Bills, @Seahawks, Broncos, @Chiefs, @Rams, Texans, @Ravens. Absolutely brutal stretch after this horrible start. I’m out on the Chargers.
Do the Bengals Actually Have a Defense?
Week 1 Result (Home): 33-27 Win vs Buccaneers
Week 2 Result (Away): 20-6 Win vs Texans
Before I start praising the Bengals defense, it’s fair to point out that WR Nico Collins missed this Week 2 matchup for the Texans, and they were already without their other WR Jayden Higgins who was lost for the season. But even so, if you told a Cincy fan a year or two ago that this defense would go on the road and hold a team, and I mean legitimately any team at all in the NFL, to only 6 points they would have laughed in your face. But that’s exactly what happened on Sunday in Houston. The Houston RBs, David Montgomery and Woody Marks, also had a combined 14 carries for only 18 yards.
The Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence this offseason, which I had rated as the second best offseason move in my 5 Best NFL Offseason Moves of 2026 blog. And it’s hard not to think of him when you see two RBs combine for 18 yards on 14 carries. Especially when you see the grade he currently has from PFF:
And is also making plays like this on huge 4th downs:
Yeah, probably worth that 10th overall pick they gave away. Whoever they would have taken there would’ve been a complete unknown in terms of how they would pan out. Unlike Lawrence, who we already know is a beast and one of the best DTs in the NFL. This is a team that knew they could compete right away if they fix that defense. So I loved being aggressive with that trade.
The offense was never the question in Cincinnati, with guys like Burrow, Chase, Higgins, and Brown. Ok maybe the o-line has had some questions, but this offense never struggled to score points anyway. If this defense can just be an average to above-average unit for the full season, and that offense gets clicking like we know it can, the Bengals will be fighting for the AFC crown this year.
The Chiefs Are Back
Week 1 Result (Home): 31-10 Win vs Broncos
Week 2 Result (Home): 33-30 Win vs Colts
Maybe don’t close the book on the Chiefs dynasty just yet. Kenneth Walker III has been everything the Chiefs could have hoped for and more so far. He has ignited this offense that has not looked the same the last couple of seasons. In two games, he has 47 carries for 290 yards and 1 TD, and 9 catches for 79 yards and another TD. Here are some of his highlights from Week 2:
Walker’s presence will definitely help open up the passing game too, especially play-action. We may actually already be seeing the impact his presence could have, as even old ass Travis Kelce looks to have turned back the clock with 12 catches for 172 yards and a TD on the season (where was this last year for my fantasy team, asshole!). Mahomes has 566 yards, 5 TD, and 1 INT in these two games too.
Mahomes is coming off that torn ACL from last December, so it was unknown how long it may take for him to get back to his usual form. Not long, apparently.
But beyond the stats, there’s something really scary about this team. And it’s that they look like they’re going to be able to beat you in multiple ways. One day it may be Walker’s day, the next it may be Mahomes, and on another day that Steve Spagnuolo-led defense may win one for you. That’s what makes them so dangerous. They don’t have to win with the same formula every week. And at the end of the day, come playoff time, is there any QB you would rather have than Patrick Mahomes?
Do People Remember the Seahawks?
Week 1 Result (Home): 13-10 Win vs Patriots
Week 2 Result (Away): 31-7 Win vs Cardinals
Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, but it seems like no one is talking about the defending Super Bowl champions. Every time I turn on ESPN or scroll social media, it’s either about Dallas and if they’ll be good, are the Ravens back, are the Chiefs back, Harbaugh and the Giants, the Bears, etc. Have we forgotten the Seahawks? The 2-0 Seahawks that just beat up on the Cardinals in the Cardinals’ house with backup QB Drew Lock? Justin Herbert and the Chargers can’t even beat the Cardinals at home!
Say what you want about the Cardinals, but that’s still a division rival for Seattle on the road. And Drew Lock looked real impressive in Darnold’s absence going 19/26 for 235 yards and 3 TDs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was on the receiving end of all 3 TDs, and also had 9 catches for 155 yards. So the offense didn’t miss a beat even with their backup QB, and we all know what this defense is capable of.
I don’t really have much else to add for this team. I’m just very surprised how under the radar they seem to be. At least at this point in time. But I have a feeling they are completely fine with flying under the radar over there in Seattle.
At the end of the day, we’re only two weeks into the season and we still have no idea what this NFL season is going to look like. The Chargers should be very worried, the Bengals appear to have made the right move in acquiring Dexter Lawrence and look like a contender, the Chiefs look like the Chiefs again, and somehow the defending champs are not getting enough attention. Ask me about these teams again in a month and it’s possible my opinions will be different.
And honestly, that’s what’s so awesome about the NFL. We may be convinced we know exactly how a team will perform the rest of the way, but a lot can change after a couple weekends. It’s an unpredictable, week-to-week league, and I love it.
Have a take on this? Leave a comment below.