Overreaction Monday: Are The Cowboys Really Back? Are The Chargers Finished?

If Week 1 is a liar, Week 2 provided some truth serum for NFL teams — and some probably didn’t like the results.

The Green Bay Packers snapped a six-game losing streak but needed overtime to defeat the New York Jets. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks still teamed with starting quarterback Sam Darnold, extending their franchise-best and league-leading hitting streak to 12 games by making quick work of the Arizona Cardinals.

But the big stories this week were the injuries to the top two picks from the 2024 draft class. Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Jayden Daniels (elbow) suffered injuries serious enough to be sidelined in losses to their respective teams. How the Washington Cardinals and Chicago Bears move forward without their franchise quarterbacks for an extended period could define the rest of the 2026 NFL season.

Now, let’s react to Sunday’s week two action.

After a disappointing road loss against the New York Giants in Week 1, Dallas bounced back at home with a convincing win over Washington. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense finally looked as good as advertised.

Prescott threw for 279 yards and four scores. His favorite target was CeeDee Lamb, who finished with 153 receiving yards and two touchdowns. And after looking disjointed against the Giants, Dallas’ defense led by new defensive coordinator Christian Parker held Washington’s offense to 207 passing yards and two touchdowns.

So are the Cowboys really back?

Conclusion: Overreaction

Washington lost standout quarterback Jayden Daniels and had to end the game with Marcus Mariota, making the Commanders less dangerous on offense. And, even with that in mind, the Commanders still finished with 182 yards on the ground, which followed a 165-yard performance on the ground by the Giants in Week 1.

While the Cowboys improved to 1-1, we need to see more of them on defense against Lamar Jackson and the high-flying Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 to truly consider them a playoff contender.

Considered a Super Bowl contender and facing another underdog at home, the Bolts once again looked uncoached in another modest loss, this one to the Las Vegas Raiders by an identical score of 26-14. Sophomore quarterback Omarion Hampton ran for 94 yards but fumbled twice, losing one. The Chargers had a game-high six digs.

The pairing of Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has yet to produce the results many expected entering the season. Herbert finished Sunday’s game with 192 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked three times, posting a 59.5 passer rating.

And on defense, the Chargers appear to be missing departed defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

“We’re going to have to fight our way out of this,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are looking for answers after falling to 0-2. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

Over the next six games, the Chargers face five playoff teams from last season and the Kansas City Chiefs. Extend that stretch to nine games, and that list includes the Ravens and New England Patriots. This arduous journey begins with road games in Buffalo and Seattle.

Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in the league, leading the Chargers to 11-6 seasons in his first two years in Los Angeles. But his coaching acumen will be tested over the next month.

The Kansas City Chiefs have put last year’s 6-11 season in the rearview mirror as they are one of four teams in the AFC with a 2-0 record after their overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts. Others include the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chiefs have done this by playing complementary football as well. In the win over the Colts, Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns as he and Travis Kelce rekindled the bond that made them AFC kings for years. Running back Kenneth Walker III had his second straight 100-yard performance and the Kansas City defense got enough stops to seal the victory after a strong outing in a win against the Denver Broncos last week.

Conclusion: Overreaction

Josh Allen has been the best player in the NFL and the Bills have been the best team through two weeks of the NFL season. The Bills are tied for second in the AFC in scoring and the most shutouts, picking up a win against the Houston Texans on the road in Week 1 before knocking off the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

The Chiefs and Bills meet on Thanksgiving in Week 12, so we’ll get a more accurate barometer of where these two teams stand later this year. But for now, the Bills pass the eye test as the most complete team.

With a double-digit win over one of the best defenses in the league in the Houston Texans, the Cincinnati Bengals have started the year 2-0 for the second straight season. That’s no small feat, considering the Bengals have traditionally started slowly under coach Zac Taylor.

With Joe Burrow, J’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals always had an offense that could carry them into a deep playoff run. But with the offseason additions of defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonahan Allen, plus edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in free agency, the Bengals are stout on defense. That was evident on Sunday, when they allowed just six points after Texans quarterback CJ Stroud carried the ball 55 times.

Jonathan Allen (left) got a sack on Sunday, while Boye Mafe (right) has contributed to the Bengals’ strong start. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

Through two games, the Bengals have allowed 33 total points, after giving up 29 points per game last season. However, if you count the six picks Burrow threw in their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, the Bengals defense has allowed just 13 points per game.

Burrow said before the season started that this is the year the Bengals make the Super Bowl. Maybe he spoke it into existence.

In Seattle’s comeback win over the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch, Smith-Njigba made the game-changing play: a short pass from Drew Lock that he turned into a 45-yard touchdown.

Smith-Njigba finished with 122 receiving yards in Week 1, and he bounced back this week on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, scoring on an 82-yard catch-and-run on a deep ball from Lock for the game’s first touchdown. The catch was the longest of his career and served as the start of a strong day for the star wide receiver. Smith-Njigba finished with nine receptions for 155 yards and three scores, moving the Seahawks into a tie atop the NFC West at 2-0 with the San Francisco 49ers.

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

On a day where Ja’Marr Chase excelled with two touchdowns (including a highlight-reel toe catch), Smith-Njigba passed him. He had more than twice as many yards as the Bengals star and one more touchdown — and he’s doing it with a backup quarterback.

The Seahawks don’t have a definitive timeline for Sam Darnold’s return from a pectoral injury, but with Smith-Njigba anchoring Seattle’s offense, Seattle could take a cautious approach to his return. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receptions (277) and is tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns (4).

Yes, Sunday’s Vikings-Bears game was played in a steady rain at Soldier Field. However, the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flroes fielded one of the best offenses in the league, led by Caleb Williams, holding them to three points after Chicago scored 59 points against the Carolina Panthers.

Minnesota made Williams uncomfortable for much of the game and stuffed Chicago’s potent running game led by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, holding that duo to a combined 92 rushing yards with 3.5 yards per carry.

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

The Vikings are the only 2-0 team in the NFC North division. Even with backup Carson Wentz starting in place of Kyler Murray at quarterback, the Vikings dominated so much on defense that Wentz didn’t have to take any chances on offense.

Flores once again proved that he is the best coordinator in the league and deserves an opportunity to serve as a head coach again.