NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 21, 2026, 6:01 AM ET

Chiefs Roll Behind Walker as Mahomes Praises Ground Game

Kansas City's offseason acquisition Kenneth Walker III continued to reshape the Chiefs' offense in a second consecutive dominant outing, prompting Patrick Mahomes to say the backfield has become "fun for me" to operate. The Walker-led attack gave Kansas City balance it lacked a season ago and kept the Colts' defense on its heels throughout the afternoon. Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen, meanwhile, spent his postgame press conference defending his decision-making, revealing he had planned to go for the win on fourth-and-8 had the coverage look been right. Steichen's explanation did little to quiet critics after the Colts squandered a late opportunity in the loss.

Eagles Escape Nashville Heat and Titans Comeback

Philadelphia survived one of the more physically punishing environments in recent memory, as field-level temperatures in Nashville reached 157 F, melting players' cleats and forcing Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to receive an IV during the game. The conditions bordered on unsafe, yet the Eagles still found a way to win, and Jalen Hurts made sure Tennessee heard about it afterward. After Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons approached Hurts, the quarterback taunted the Titans, telling them he "finished what you started." The petty energy extended across the league, with Philadelphia's win over Tennessee topping the trolls in a Week 2 social-media roundup that featured no shortage of postgame shots.

Steelers' Struggles Put Rodgers Under Microscope

Pittsburgh's offensive woes deepened, and coach Mike McCarthy shouldered the blame Sunday, saying he felt the loss coming as early as Wednesday and Thursday of practice week. The bigger question now centers on Aaron Rodgers, whose grip on the starting job is under fresh scrutiny. In our Week 2 overreactions, the debate over whether the Steelers would consider benching Rodgers headlines a list that also examines whether anything has genuinely changed for the Eagles' offense. The Steelers opened the early slate against New England, where the best plays of the week featured Hurts, Drake Maye, Rodgers and Caleb Williams in a highlight package spanning the full Sunday schedule.

Chargers Stumble to 0-2 as Harbaugh Stays the Course

Los Angeles fell to 0-2 after a loss to the Raiders, but Jim Harbaugh insisted he is not deterred by the start, even as Justin Herbert preached urgency in the locker room. The gap between the coach's measured tone and his quarterback's sense of alarm captures the tension building around a Chargers team that believed it was built to contend. Herbert's message was clear: the margin for error is shrinking, and the schedule offers no relief.

Seahawks Ride Lock and Smith-Njigba to 2-0

Seattle improved to 2-0 behind strong play from Drew Lock and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with coach Mike Macdonald revealing that Sam Darnold's recovery has been ahead of schedule and that the quarterback could return to practice soon. Smith-Njigba's emergence has been one of the season's early storylines, and he landed among the Week 2 winners in fantasy analysis, joined by Cee Dee Lamb, while Bijan Robinson headlined the losers after a frustrating afternoon. The Seahawks' depth at the position has softened the blow of Darnold's absence far better than most expected.

Purdy Authors MVP-Caliber Outing in 49ers' Rout

Brock Purdy delivered a near-perfect performance at quarterback in San Francisco's 35-13 dismantling of Miami, keeping the 49ers rolling at 2-0 and burnishing his MVP case in the early season conversation. Purdy's command of the offense has been surgical, and the Dolphins had no answer for San Francisco's rhythm through the air. The win kept the 49ers unbeaten as they navigate the opening month without several key contributors.

Cowboys' Prescott Sets Franchise Record

Dak Prescott became the Cowboys' all-time leader in touchdown passes, breaking Tony Romo's record in Sunday's game, though the quarterback was quick to redirect attention to his larger goal of winning a Super Bowl. The milestone cements Prescott's place in franchise history, but his postgame comments made clear that individual accolades ring hollow without a championship. Dallas' afternoon was overshadowed, however, by a serious injury to the opposing quarterback.

Daniels Injured as Commanders Fall Behind

Washington's game against Dallas turned on a frightening moment when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was carted off the field after dislocating his elbow, with further tests scheduled to determine the severity. The Commanders were forced to fight from behind without their franchise quarterback, a scenario the live coverage tracked as the team scrambled to adjust. The injury is a devastating blow for a Washington squad that had invested heavily in Daniels as the centerpiece of its rebuild.

Injury Wave Sweeps Across the League

The Bears lost rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who left on a cart after falling awkwardly on a scramble, a hamstring injury that clouds Chicago's season. Green Bay endured a brutal sequence in which wide receiver Jayden Reed and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele were carted off on consecutive plays, a staggering double blow in the span of moments. New England lost starting right guard Mike Onwenu, who was carted off with an ankle injury against Pittsburgh, thinning an already vulnerable offensive line. New Orleans saw left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. ruled out with an ankle injury against Baltimore, further depleting the Saints' protection up front. The sheer volume of cart-offs underscored the physical toll of Week 2 across the league.

Jets Collapse Draws Scrutiny on Glenn's Clock Management

New York blew its largest fourth-quarter lead in six years, falling 20-17 in overtime to Green Bay, and coach Aaron Glenn spent his postgame availability defending his clock management as questions mounted about the late-game decisions that allowed the Packers back into it. The loss stung particularly given how firmly the Jets controlled the game through three quarters. Garrett Wilson, meanwhile, has found new life with a move to the outside, where he hopes to avoid punishing hits and deliver more explosive plays downfield, a shift that could reshape New York's passing attack.

Watson Quiets Doubts With Strong Start for Browns

With rumblings that his starting job was on the line, Deshaun Watson made his case with a strong opening performance that temporarily silenced speculation about Cleveland's quarterback situation. Watson's command and efficiency offered the Browns a glimpse of the player they believed they were acquiring, though the pressure will remain until the consistency holds over multiple weeks.

Falcons' London Regrets Fan Confrontation

Atlanta wide receiver Drake London acknowledged regret over a verbal confrontation with a fan following the Falcons' loss, though he was firm that he doesn't take disrespect lightly. The exchange captured the frustration of a team still searching for its identity, and London's willingness to address it publicly offered a measure of accountability. Atlanta may soon get reinforcements, as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is eyeing a Week 3 return and the team is expected to keep Tua Tagovailoa in the fold as well.

Murray Expected Back for Vikings in Week 3

Minnesota should have Kyler Murray available next week, with the Vikings anticipating his return after his absence. Murray's dual-threat ability gives Minnesota an element it has lacked, and his reintegration will be one of the week's most closely watched storylines. The Vikings' offense has managed in his stead, but his return raises the ceiling considerably.

Shough Silences Ravens' Bulletin-Board Material

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough turned the tables on Baltimore after Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver attempted to compliment him by calling him a "poor man's Josh Allen." Shough responded with a performance that beat the Ravens outright, a reminder that locker-room fodder cuts both ways. The rookie's poise under pressure has been one of the more compelling developments of the young season.

Survivor Pools Wiped Out by Bucs' Second Straight Loss

Tampa Bay's loss delivered another brutal blow to survivor-pool entrants, with the Bucs losing for a second straight week despite being the most popular pick at 27% of ESPN survivor entries and 6,601 selections in Circa Survivor. The result wiped out a massive share of remaining contestants and reinforced how treacherous the early-season slate has been for pool players.

York to Miss 49ers' Home Opener Amid Discipline Talk

49ers owner Jed York, who was in Australia but did not attend his team's regular-season opener, is not expected at the home opener as NFL discipline looms, according to sources. The situation adds an off-field storyline to a San Francisco team otherwise firing on all cylinders.

Allen Faces Suspension; Accorsi Remembered

Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen, formally charged last week with two misdemeanors, faces a three-game suspension though sources indicate the NFL could levy a longer ban, a significant blow to Indianapolis' receiving corps. In somber news, longtime NFL executive Ernie Accorsi, the architect of the Giants' historic Super Bowl team, died at, leaving behind a legacy that shaped one of the most memorable championship runs in league history.

Around the League: Fantasy Fallout and Fashion

Fantasy managers navigated a chaotic inactives report, with Brock Bowers out, Ladd McConkey active and Puka Nacua questionable among the key Week 2 inactives that reshaped lineups league-wide. Off the field, the league's tunnel culture was on full display as Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes headlined the Week 2 gameday arrivals alongside Baker Mayfield and Justin Jefferson. And in a broader historical exercise, we ranked the top 10 players without a Super Bowl ring, the first installment in our Super Bowl Top 10s series. As offenses cooled and defenses shined across the slate, our NFL Nation reporters broke down the biggest questions from Week 2, a Sunday defined by a huge day for Jaylen Waddle and injuries to Williams and Daniels.