By: Theo A. Katz
With the opening week of the 2022 NFL season complete, week two held some surprising upsets, blowouts, and unreal performances.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday Night Football):
Week two kicked off with an American Football Conference West (AFC W) matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs (KC) defeating the Los Angeles Chargers (LAC) 27-24.
LAC had this game in their hands midway through the third quarter, up 17-7. Then came KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes, throwing a 41 yard wide receiver to Justin Watson to come within three. KC then went on a 13-7 run to win the game.
For KC, Mahomes threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, with tight end Travis Kelce racking up 51 receiving yards.
LAC quarterback Justin Herbert had a stellar performance in the loss throwing for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
Week Three Matchups:
LAC vs Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX)
KC at Indianapolis Colts (IND)
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants:
This is something you don’t see every year. The New York Giants (NYG) are 2-0 for the first time in six years, defeating the Carolina Panthers (CAR) 19-16.
In the loss, quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 145 yards and a touchdown, with running back Christian McCaffery rushing for over 100 yards for the first time since 2019. The Panthers are now 0-2 on the season.
In the win, quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 176 yards and a score, with running back Saquon Barkley rushing for 72 yards. NYG fans, Brian Daboll is an excellent coach.
Week Three Matchups:
CAR vs New Orleans Saints (NO)
NYG vs Dallas Cowboys (DAL)
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers:
The New England Patriots (NE) got their first win on the season defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) 17-14.
NE second year quarterback Mac Jones threw for 252 yards, a touchdown, and a pick, with former Philadelphia Eagle (PHI) wide receiver Nelson Agholor catching for 110 yards and a touchdown.
PIT quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw for 168 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the three point loss.
Week Three Matchups:
NE vs Baltimore Ravens (BAL)
PIT @ Cleveland Browns (CLE)
New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns:
What a game this was. With the New York Jets (NYJ) down two touchdowns within two minutes, they came back to defeat the Cleveland Browns (CLE) on a Garret Wilson touchdown 31-30.
NYJ quarterback Joe Flacco was outstanding in this game, throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns, with rookie wide receiver Garret Wilson racking in 102 yards and two touchdowns.
For CLE, quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 229 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while running back Nick Chubb rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns.
Week Three Matchups:
NYJ vs Cincinnati Bengals (CIN)
CLE vs PIT
Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions:
The Detroit Lions (DET) defeated the Washington Commanders (WAS) at home 36-27. Rookie DET defensive end Aidan Hutchinson put up three sacks in this game.
DET quarterback Jared Goff had a day, throwing for four touchdowns and 256 yards, with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught two touchdowns and 116 yards.
WAS quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 337 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in the loss, while wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught seven balls for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Both teams are now 1-1 on the year.
Week Three Matchups:
WAS vs PHI
DET @ Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) defeated the New Orleans Saints (NO) on the road 20-10.
TB quarterback Tom Brady threw for 190 yards and a touchdown in the win, with running back Leonard Fournette rushing for 65 yards. Wide receiver Mike Evans got into it with NO cornerback Marshon Lattimore, resulting in Evans being suspended one game.
NO quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 236 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in the loss. Rookie wide receiver Chris Olave caught five balls for 80 yards.
Week Three Matchups:
TB vs Green Bay Packers
NO @ CAR
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars:
What a disappointing start to the season for the Indianapolis Colts (IND), first tying to the Houston Texans and now getting shut out by the Jacksonville Jaguars (JAX) 0-24.
IND quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 195 yards and three interceptions in the blowout loss with running back Jonathon Taylor rushing for 54 yards.
For JAX, quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Christian Kirk in the win. Running back James Robinson rushed for 64 yards and a score.
JAX is now 1-1 on the year, while IND is 0-1-1.
Week Three Matchups:
IND vs KC
JAX @ LAC
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens:
This has to be the game of the year. The Miami Dolphins (MIA) rallied from 21 down to beat the Baltimore Ravens (BAL) on the road 42-38.
This game was huge for fantasy football players as well. For MIA, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for six touchdowns and two interceptions, with wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle racking up 190 yards and 171 yards and two touchdowns each respectively. MIA is now 2-0 on the year.
In the loss, BAL quarterback Lamar Jackson still had a day. Jackson threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Mark Andrews caught nine balls for 104 yards and a score.
Week Three Matchups:
MIA vs Buffalo Bills
BAL @ NE
Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams (LAR) defeated the Atlanta Falcons (ATL) at home 31-27, holding off ATL’s late comeback attempt.
In the loss, ATL quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while rookie wide receiver Drake London racked in 86 yards and a touchdown.
In the win, LAR quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 272 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (LAR) sealed the deal with a game winning interception.
Week Three Matchups:
ATL @ Seattle Seahawks
LAR @ Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers:
The San Francisco 49ers (SF) defeated the Seattle Seahawks (SEA) at home 27-7.
SF quarterback Trey Lance passed for 30 yards before being carted off with a severe ankle injury. Lance is out for the season. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo led the 49ers to victory with 154 yards passing and one touchdown.
SEA quarterback Geno Smith passed for 197 yards and one interception in the blowout loss, while wide receiver Tyler Lockett caught nine balls for 107 yards.
Week Three Matchups:
SEA vs ATL
SF @ Denver Broncos (Sunday Night Football)
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys:
Dallas Cowboys’ (DAL) quarterback Cooper Rush got his second win of his career, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals (CIN) 20-17.
Rush threw for 235 yards and a touchdown in the win, with wide receiver Noah Brown racking up 91 yards and a touchdown.
DAL won the game on kicker Brett Maher’s 50 yard field goal.
For CIN, quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 199 yards and a score. CIN is now 0-2 on the year.
Week Three Matchups:
CIN @ NYJ
DAL @ NYG (Monday Night Football)
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos:
Russell Wilson got his first win as a Denver Bronco (DEN), defeating the Houston Texans (HOU) 16-9.
Wilson threw for 219 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the seven point victory, with wide receiver Courtland Sutton racking up 122 yards.
In the loss, HOU quarterback Davis Mills passed for 177 yards.
Week Three Matchups:
HOU @ CHI
DEN vs SF (SNF)
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders:
This game was intense. A 20-0 Las Vegas Raiders (LV) lead at halftime led to quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals (AZ) coming back to win 29-23 on cornerback Byron Murphy Jr’s 59 yard fumble recovery touchdown in overtime.
Murray threw for 277 yards, one touchdown, and an interception in the comeback win. Running back Darrel Williams rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown.
In the loss, LV quarterback Derek Carr threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Week Three Matchups:
AZ vs LAR
LV @ Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (SNF):
The Green Bay Packers (GB) got their first win at home, defeating the Chicago Bears (CHI) 27-10. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a day, throwing for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Aaron Jones rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown along with rushing for 38 yards and a score.
CHI quarterback Justin Fields threw for 70 yards and an interception, but rushed for a score in the blowout loss.
Week Three Matchups:
CHI vs HOU
GB @ TB
Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills (MNF):
The Buffalo Bills (BUF) beat the Tennessee Titans (TEN) in the first game of MNF 41-7.
BUF quarterback Josh Allen had a night, throwing for four touchdowns and 317 yards, with wide receiver Stefon Diggs racking up 148 yards and three touchdowns.
For TEN, quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 117 yards and two interceptions in the blowout loss, with running back Derrick Henry rushing for 25 yards and a score.
Week Three Matchups:
TEN vs LV
BUF @ MIA
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles (MNF):
Minnesota Vikings (MIN) quarterback Kirk Cousins is now 2-10 on MNF, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) 7-24.
In the loss, Cousins threw for 221 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, while wide receiver Adam Theilen caught four balls for 52 yards.
In the win, PHI quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 333 yards and an interception, while cornerbacks Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox had two interceptions and one interception, respectively.
Week Three Matchups:
MIN vs DET
PHI @ WAS