QB Report Cards for 2026 NFL Week 2

NFL offenses weren't as explosive in Week 2 as they were during the league's opening weekend. Defenses adjusted, tackled better overall and came to play, which made life more difficult on the league's quarterbacks.

Fifteen teams scored 26 or more points in their season debut. The number dropped under double-digits this past weekend. However, some outstanding quarterback play was still seen, particularly late in contests.

The Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, New Orleans Saints' Tyler Shough, Denver Broncos' Bo Nix and Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love all helped their squads escape with victories. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy nearly achieved perfection.

Each week, Bleacher Report grades every quarterback performance to provide context for individual play and how it affects their respective squads.

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Score: 31-7 loss vs. Seattle Seahawks

Stat Line: 17 of 28 for 95 yards, a touchdown and an interception

The version of the Arizona Cardinals nearly everyone expected to see this season showed up during Week 2. After a heartwarming and unexpected victory to open the campaign, the Cardinals could do little against the rival Seattle Seahawks.

Offensively, Arizona managed a measly 151 yards and averaged 3.2 yards per play. The unit converted only three of 12 third-down attempts as well. Jacoby Brissett's 95 passing yards are his second-fewest ever when playing the majority of a game.

The biggest concern right now is the veteran quarterback hasn't been able to build a rapport and connect with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

"They stay in the structure of staying two-high," Brissett said of Seattle's defensive approach. "It's kind of hard to push the ball. It was hard to find completions today."

Grade: F

Atlanta Falcons: Cooper Rush and Jack Strand

AP Photo

Score: 34-3 loss vs. Carolina Panthers

Stat Line: Rush, 10 of 17 for 86 yards, two interceptions and a fumble lost; Strand, eight of 15 for 59 yards and a fumble lost

Cooper Rush didn't make it his through his second start with the Atlanta Falcons before being benched. Jack Strand, who is the team's fourth-string quarterback, entered the contest and didn't fare any better.

At this point, the Falcons are simply waiting until they can make another change at the game's most important position. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL network's Ian Rapoport, Michael Penix Jr. could start Thursday against the Green Bay Packers.

"Mike is on his medical journey," guard Chris Lindstrom told reporters. "We want him to be out there and feel confident in his knee and feel confident in himself. When he's ready, we know that, as his teammates, he's doing everything in his power to be back."

Grade: F

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Score: 24-17 loss vs. New Orleans Saints

Stat Line: 21 of 31 for 235 yards, a touchdown and an interception; four carries for 34 yards

The NFL is a week-to-week business. Case in point, the Baltimore Ravens looked like they were going to be an offensive juggernaut after Week 1. The same can't be said after the team's second outing.

The fact Baltimore faced the league's worst defense to open the season probably skewed the perception. Against the New Orleans Saints, the Ravens moved the ball but the group was not nearly as dynamic.

When Baltimore needed a fourth-quarter scoring drive, Lamar Jackson was affected by pressure and threw a game-sealing interception that looked like he wasn't on the same page with wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

"It was no miscommunication," Bateman told reporters. "Ran the right route. The ball was what it was. It's just one of those plays you look at and can't get it back. Lamar still played well."

Grade: C-

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Score: 41-31 win vs. Detroit Lions

Stat Line: 20 of 31 for 248 yards and three touchdowns; 14 carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills christened the new Highmark Stadium with an impressive victory.

A five-touchdown performance by Allen gives him nine total touchdowns through two weeks of play. It's early, but the Bills signal-caller is clearly on an MVP trajectory .

At this point, the only complaint regarding Allen is he's scoring too many touchdowns, specifically as a runner near the goal line. His teammates don't care, though, because the group understands how special the 2024 MVP really is.

"He can make anything happen out of nothing," center Connor McGovern told The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. "You give him enough time and he will find someone open, or f— it, he's just gonna run it."

Grade: A+

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Score: 34-3 win vs. Atlanta Falcons

Stat Line: 23 of 36 for 287 yards and three touchdowns

Prior to Sunday's matchup, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich showered Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young with significant praise.

"He's become scary in a lot of different ways…very Aaron Rodgers like…he's gonna test us in every way from a coverage perspective," Ulbrich told reporters.

The comparison may have been considered lofty when making reference to a four-time NFL MVP. Young didn't disappoint when the two teams met Sunday. The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick threw for 287 yards and a three touchdowns. He threw three scoring passes in back-to-back games, which is a career-first.

Head coach/play-caller Dave Canales is doing an excellent job of directing an offense to make Young comfortable by highlighting the quarterback's strengths. The individual still has to deliver, though. Young has.

Grade: A

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent

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Score: 9-3 loss vs. Minnesota Vikings

Stat Line: Williams, 15 of 26 for 138 yards and an interception; Bagent, five of nine for 54 yards

What a difference a week makes. The Chicago Bears and their offense were the belle of the ball after torching the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The Minnesota Vikings defense was a different animal and it showed in how much the Bears O regressed.

Vikings coordinator Brian Flores is the game's most aggressive defensive play-caller. Unsurprisingly, the Bears struggled to move the ball. The wet and wild weather conditions certainly didn't help matters. But Minnesota created pressure and slowed the run. Chicago had to work for everything.

Unfortunately, Williams suffered a hamstring injury before being carted to the locker room. How much time he misses has yet to be determined.

Whatever the case may be, Bagent will direct the offense in the meantime. How the 26-year-old signal-caller performed after being forced into the lineup late in the fourth quarter after not getting many reps throughout week shouldn't serve as an indication of how the Bears will perform without Williams.

Grade: D

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow

AP Photo

Score: 20-6 win vs. Houston Texans

Stat Line: 20 of 31 for 207 yards and two touchdowns

Despite being sacked five times and hit on 10 more occasions, the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow stood tall in the pocket and delivered. The biggest difference between this season and the last four is Burrow and the Bengals offense doesn't feel like they have to do everything.

"It feels like early-on 2021," Burrow told reporters. "We have a really good defense. We're trying to stay in front of the sticks and not turn the ball over. Kick field goals. Put points on the board, because we're going to win with our defense.

The Bengals offense isn't worried that it has to score a touchdown on every possession, because the defense isn't going to stop anyone. That's no longer the case. As a result, Burrow looks more comfortable despite the fact his offensive line remains a concern.

Grade: B

Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson

AP Photo

Score: 23-19 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line: 24 of 30 for 238 yards and two touchdowns; seven carries for 22 yards

Deshaun Watson's standing as the Cleveland Browns' QB1 was teetering on the edge of oblivion. A poor performance Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely would have been Watson's last chance with the team. He responded by completing 80 percent of his passes and helping lead Cleveland to a victory.

Watson isn't all the way back to his previous three-time Pro Bowl level and he may never be. The Browns can't expect him to be an elite passer after four years of basically nothing. Although, Cleveland should demand adequate play to make the team competitive. He provided exactly that in Tampa.

The next test comes when Watson and the Browns play their first home game. Watson must string together multiple solid performances in order for the rumors of him being replaced by Shedeur Sanders are finally quieted. For now, he can relish a victory after already being counted out by many.

Grade: B

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Score: 37-20 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line: 26 of 31 for 279 yards and four touchdowns

The Dallas Cowboys offense still isn't firing on all cylinders but Sunday's effort looked much closer to what everyone expected compared to the team's Week 1 flop.

Mainly, Dak Prescott rediscovered his favorite target, CeeDee Lamb. The five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver caught eight balls for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Prescott's four touchdown passes made him the Cowboys' all-time leader with 249 (and counting).

"I think it starts certainly with Dak," Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters after the game. "He's playing at an incredible level. When he's really rolling, he's one of the best."

Prescott is often forgotten among the NFL's elite quarterbacks, but he's been deserving of that recognition for quite some time.

Grade: A

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix

AP Photo/Eric Lutzens

Score: 20-13 win vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line: 22 of 31 for 288 yards, a touchdown and an interception

After being shut down by the Kansas City Chiefs a week earlier, the Denver Broncos responded Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Broncos decided to attack the Jaguars defense differently.

According to Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed, Bo Nix's average depth of target increased by nearly six yards from one week to the next. This tactic allowed Jaylen Waddle to explode onto the scene as part of Denver's passing attack. Waddle went from one catch for two yards in his Broncos debut to catching eight passes for 138 yards, including a beautiful 49-yard pass from Nix while the quarterback was rolling to his right.

However, Nix did throw a poor interception in the end zone, because he continued to fade backward, didn't step into the pass attempt and heaved a lob toward the corner, which was grabbed by Jacksonville's Jourdan Lewis. Even so, the third-year quarterback continued to play better late in the game.

"We never flinched, and we never really flustered, and we didn't panic, and we just kept the plow moving, and I thought defense played phenomenal today," Nix told reporters. "They did a great job. They kept us in the game, and when we needed it, we found times to go get touchdowns."

Grade: C+

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff

AP Photo

Score: 41-31 loss vs. Buffalo Bills

Stat Line: 26 of 38 for 327 yards and four touchdowns

Typically, a 300-plus-yard, four-touchdown performance warrants top marks, but the difference between Jared Goff and Thursday's counterpart, Josh Allen, shows why a good Detroit Lions offense is, ultimately, limited.

The Los Angeles Rams traded Goff to the Lions for Matthew Stafford, because the latter expanded the offense. Whereas, Goff is able to orchestrate a scheme at a high level, while not offering much beyond that point.

With Detroit's offensive line not performing well against Buffalo's defensive front—the Bills generated four sacks and 11 quarterback hits—Goff wasn't as effective. He put up numbers after Buffalo built a 21-point lead, but he's not the same caliber of playmaker other top quarterbacks are.

Grade: B

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

Score: 20-17 win vs. New York Jets

Stat Line: 16 of 29 for 145 yards and two touchdowns

This year's Green Bay Packers don't look like the typical Packers during Matt LaFleur's tenure as the team's head coach. This is particularly true for the offense.

Sunday's contest proved to be brutal for the Packers' O, because it lost wide receiver Jayden Reed, right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and left guard Aaron Banks to injuries. The unit struggled for most of the contest. In fact, the group finished a combined one for 10 on third- and fourth-down attempts and didn't even manage 200 yards.

Even so, Love and Co. generated points on three of the Packers' final four possessions and emerged with an overtime victory, even though the quarterback was dealing with an issue in his throwing hand.

"Love said he kept trying to shake out his right hand because he got hit in the elbow and had some numbness," ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported.

Grade: C+

Houston Texans: CJ Stroud

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Score: 20-6 loss vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line: 30 of 55 for 353 yards; three carries for 29 yards

The Houston Texans' biggest concern is coming to fruition right in front of their eyes. Everyone understood the Texans couldn't rely solely on their defense to be a Super Bowl contender this season. Yet the team has come up short two weeks in a row and only scored six points against the Cincinnati Bengals.

CJ Stroud didn't have any turnovers in Week 2, but the offense failed to convert on four different red-zone trips. Clearly, the injuries at wide receiver hamper the unit to some degree. The offensive line has yet to jell as well.

Ultimately, everything falls on the quarterback to elevate the play of those around the position. Stroud has yet to reach that level. In fact, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 350 yards in a contest and his team still scored fewer than 10 points, according to Scott Kacsmar.

Grade: C+

Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Score: 33-30 loss vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Stat Line: 22 of 31 for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception

A lot is being asked of Daniel Jones yet somehow not enough.

The Indianapolis Colts signal-caller is playing relatively well despite suffering a torn Achilles tendon less than a year ago. He's now doing so without his top wide receiver, Alec Pierce, due to an injury. Plus, Indianapolis' offense must carry the team since the Colts defense has been disastrous through the first two weeks of play.

Though head coach/offensive play-caller Shane Steichen wasn't willing to put the ball in Jones hands with the game on the line in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead of going for it on 4th-and-8 from the Chiefs' 15-yard-line to outright win the contest, Indianapolis eventually chose to kick a game-tying field goal.

"If you love it, man, let's go at it. Let's go win this thing," Steichen said he told Jones. "But if it's not the right look ... let's kick the field goal here."

Grade: B-

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Score: 20-13 loss vs. Denver Broncos

Stat Line: 17 of 29 for 189 yards and an interception

Trevor Lawrence had been on a heater since Week 13 of the 2025 campaign. The Denver Broncos finally cooled off the Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller. Lawrence's 189 passing yards were his fewest since before Thanksgiving last year.

Obviously, the stat line doesn't tell the entire story, because Lawrence played much better than the final numbers indicated. However, a clear delineation exists that will need to be addressed as the Jaguars progress throughout the campaign.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t John Shipley of Jaguars on SI), "Lawrence totaled nearly all of his production on throws between the numbers, finishing 14 of 17 for 175 yards, compared to just theee of 11 for 14 yards and an interception when targeting receivers outside the numbers."

Grade: C+

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Score: 33-30 win vs. Indianapolis Colts

Stat Line: 32 of 47 for 382 yards and three touchdowns

The rest of the NFL should be worried, because the Kansas City Chiefs once again look like the team that went to the playoffs for 10 straight seasons before last year's downturn. Through two weeks of play, Patrick Mahomes and Co. are the league's top-ranked offense.

Against the Indianapolis Colts, Mahomes was dealing. Three different targets had at least 83 receiving yards. Running back Kenneth Walker also finished second in the game with six receptions. The quarterback's movement and uncanny playmaking might not be all the way back after last season's significant knee injury, but he's still making all of the throws to the point where the Chiefs once again look like a contender early in the campaign.

"He's a great player. It was just a matter of time for him getting back and feeling comfortable there," head coach Andy Reid said of Mahomes. "You saw it the second half of last week (against Broncos), and he just built on that."

Grade: A

Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Score: 26-14 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line: 19 of 29 for 253 yards, three touchdowns and an interception

The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since the 2021 campaign. The unexpected start is being led by veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Cousins is supposed to be a bridge to this year's No.1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza. Instead, the Raiders are getting the best of both worlds.

The 38-year-old veteran is playing well. Mendoza continues to sit and learn. Most importantly, the Raiders are winning. Meanwhile, Cousins has thrown six touchdowns in his first two games, and the team is rallying around him.

"Everyone loves Kirk, when you got a guy who loves the game…we believe in him," defensive end Maxx Crosby told reporters.

Grade: B+

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert

AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Score: 25-14 loss vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line: 15 of 27 for 192 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions

The Los Angeles Chargers are performing well below expectations, which should be obvious after an 0-2 start to the campaign. Specifically, quarterback Justin Herbert does not look like the same quarterback from a season ago.

Last year, Herbert was almost single-handily carrying his squad and overcoming massive deficiencies found along the team's offensive line. Now, Herbert and the entire group is failing to execute despite the significant amount of talent found within the Chargers offense.

Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Herbert threw two interceptions and fumbled three times. Though the Chargers recovered each of the loose balls. He hasn't been nearly as dangerous running the ball, either.

"That's not good enough and can't expect to win games like that when we're playing like that," Herbert said after the game. "If we're not playing up to our standard, that's on us to fix it."

Grade: F

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox

Score: 35-13 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line: 14 of 23 for 197 yards and a touchdown

Without Ryan Miller's 77-yard touchdown in garbage time, Malik Willis and the Miami Dolphins offense did little to challenge the San Francisco 49ers defense.

Willis is trying to make the most out of a poor situation. His athleticism provides the Dolphins with a threat. Very little can be found around the quarterback position, though.

Wide receiver continues to be a major question mark. Miami's offensive line isn't playing well as a unit. Running back De'Von Achane was more effective Sunday than he was in Week 1, but he still averaged under 4.0 yards per carry.

Miami is operating at a talent deficiency, hence why the Dolphins own the league's second-worst point differential. Willis can only do so much. He hasn't played particularly well, but the deck is also stacked against him.

Grade: C

Minnesota Vikings: Carson Wentz

AP Photo

Score: 9-3 win vs. Chicago Bears

Stat Line: 11 of 20 for 143 yards

Carson Wentz did exactly what's expected of a backup quarterback being forced into the starting lineup. He didn't hurt his team. The Minnesota Vikings had a strong defensive gameplan. They also benefited from a wet afternoon and Caleb Williams not finishing the contest due to injury. Even so, Wentz didn't turn over the ball or make game-changing mistake.

Conversely, Wentz not playing particularly well in Week 2 makes the Vikings' upcoming decision much easier. The coaching staff is going to hand the reins back to Kyler Murray once he's cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol.

"Kyler showed a lot of progress," head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Friday. "He's doing well, felt good this week working through it, but he will be out Sunday. Fully anticipate him clearing the protocol early next week with the progress that he's made."

Grade: C

New England Patriots: Drake Maye

AP Photo

Score: 20-3 win vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stat Line: 14 of 22 for 208 yards and an interception

The New England Patriots seem to be suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, at least on offense.

"Definitely not where we want to be," Drake Maye told reporters. "Making some plays, getting some first downs, but stalling out. And it starts with me making plays…just hurting ourselves, and it's going to come back to bite us."

To Maye's point, the Patriots are nine for 28 on third-down attempts so far. Plus, New England has converted only one red-zone possession.

Obviously, AJ Brown's injury changed the unit's plans. Maye was finally able to connect with Romeo Doubs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, the third-year signal-caller needs to be better with his reads and smarter with where he throws the football. Four interceptions over a two-week span didn't happen a season ago.

Grade: C

New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Score: 24-17 win vs. Baltimore Ravens

Stat Line: 27 of 34 for 252 yards and a touchdown; nine carries for 23 yards and a score

Tyler Shough could have lost his head, literally and figuratively, late in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

With the New Orleans Saints and Ravens tied at 17 in the fourth quarter, Shough orchestrated a 16-play drive that culminated in a controversial touchdown ruling where the quarterback scored on a sneak while having his helmet turned nearly 360 degrees when fighting through the mass of humanity.

Shough continues to shine late in contests. According to Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed, the second-year signal-caller has a 19.71 total EPA after halftime through the first two games.

The 2025 second-round draft pick has yet to start a full season since he didn't enter the lineup until Week 9 of his rookie campaign. Yet Shough continues to show signs of being a legitimate franchise quarterback.

Grade: B+

New York Jets: Geno Smith

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Score: 20-17 loss vs. Green Bay Packers

Stat Line: 27 of 41 for 247 yards and a touchdown

Take a moment and forget the New York Jets had every opportunity to beat the Green Bay Packers Sunday and move to 2-0 on the season. Aaron Glenn's team is far better than most expected entering the campaign, and Geno Smith is a significant reason behind the squad's competitiveness.

A year ago, Smith was the NFL's worst starting quarterback. The Jets' decision to trade for the veteran signal-caller came across as the team settling since it didn't have a better option. Yet Smith has played relatively well to open the 2026 season.

"We had the game right in our hands, and we didn't finish," Smith told reporters. "To me, there (is) tons of room for improvement. But the time is now, so we've got to get it done."

More games are lost by teams than they're won. The Jets' mistakes late in the contest and overtime serve as a great example. But this squad is further along than originally projected and Smith's veteran presence has actually helped.

Grade: C+

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts

AP Photo

Score: 24-20 win vs. Tennessee Titans

Stat Line: 26 of 36 for 264 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions

Jalen Hurts showed up when it mattered the most for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Trailing by three in the fourth quarter, Hurts orchestrated a nine-play drive with under two minutes to play. The possession culminated with a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darius Cooper. During the drive, Hurts completed six of eight pass attempts. He did so while playing behind a reworked offensive interior and very little output from the run game since Saquon Barkley suffered a shoulder stinger.

"I don't even think words can describe how much you have to manage as a quarterback in this league from a responsibility standpoint, and the weight that comes with the position," Hurts told reporters. "And the responsibility. And ultimately, you've got to keep the main thing the main thing throughout that."

Though the pair of interceptions thrown by the quarterback won't be forgotten, particularly when Hurts failed to recognized underneath droppers in both instances.

Grade: B-

Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Score: 20-3 loss vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line: 23 of 39 for 187 yards, an interception and a fumble lost

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is a mess. The group has converted five of 25 third-down attempts, averaged just under 250 yards per contest and cashed in during one of three red-zone possessions through the first two games.

"In a game like today where there wasn't a lot of flow to it, we need to be better and it starts with me, at like, making sure Mike [McCarthy] knows what's working and what's not working," Aaron Rodgers told reporters. "Let out coaches know so we can call stuff that we feel like has a better chance."

As stated, Rodgers should do a better job getting his unit into better spots based on his experience. Plus, he no longer has the ability to overcome obvious deficiencies at wide receiver and along the offensive line.

Grade: C

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy

AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox

Score: 35-13 win vs. Miami Dolphins

Stat Line: 20 of 22 for 287 yards and two touchdowns; three carries for 30 yards and a score

Brock Purdy flirted with perfection Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. According to Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed, his EPA ranked above the 99th percentile for a single game. While impressive unto itself, even against an inferior opponent, the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback did so despite multiple injuries at wide receiver.

De'Zhaun Stribling was already placed on injured reserve prior to Week 2's contest. Both Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson left Sunday's game due to injuries. Tight end George Kittle led San Francisco with four catches for 80 yards.

The 49ers are accustomed to dealing with injuries. An elite quarterback can still maximize the available talent. That's exactly what was seen with Purdy's latest performance.

"We're starting to witness Brock's prime," left tackle Trent Williams told reporters, "and I think it's going to be a sight to behold."

Grade: A+

Seattle Seahawks: Drew Lock

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Score: 31-7 win vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line: 19 of 26 for 235 yards and three touchdowns

Once upon a time, Drew Lock was viewed as a high-end quarterback prospect. From that point, things didn't go as planned. Eventually, he became a Day 2 draft pick, couldn't secure a starting job with his original team and bounced back and forth between a few franchises.

Despite those circumstances, Lock has been everything the Seattle Seahawks needed him to be in the first two weeks of the season. He filled in admirably for Sam Darnold in Week 1 despite not getting much practice time leading up to the contest and helped the Seahawks win the contest. The backup-turned-starter was excellent against the Arizona Cardinals, because he knew the assignment. Throw the ball to the game's most productive wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

"Drew is a special talent," Smith-Njigba told reporters. "He sees the field very well and can make any throw, and I know he's looking for me. I just want to be there for him, and we've been having a special connection."

Thanks to 2-0 start and Lock playing well, Darnold doesn't need to rush back from injury.

Grade: A

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Score: 23-19 loss vs. Cleveland Browns

Stat Line: 21 of 34 for 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Throughout Baker Mayfield's career, the former No. 1 overall pick has displayed a tendency of getting too amped up for certain situations, which causes him to force too many passes or outright miss throws he can make.

Sunday's meeting with the Cleveland Browns was a big one, because the contest served as an opportunity to enact revenge against his original NFL team and the quarterback who replaced him as that squad's starter.

Instead, Mayfield had multiple bad misses, including the final play of the game despite a streaking Emeka Egbuka open for the potential game-winning touchdown.

To be fair, Mayfield did drop a dime earlier in the same offensive series, which rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst dropped in the end zone. Still, the Browns were downtrodden after their Week 1 performance. Cleveland's quarterback setup had become a national joke. Mayfield and Co. failed to show up and fell to 0-2 to start the season.

Grade: D

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Score: 24-20 loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line: 13 of 20 for 183 yards and two rushing touchdowns

Cam Ward's performance in Week 1 caused plenty of doubters to enter the public sphere and question whether he's going to be a franchise quarterback. The 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick responded with a strong outing against the Philadelphia Eagles. Though the Tennessee Titans couldn't hold their fourth-quarter lead and ultimately lost the contest.

"I think what encouraged me the most was that we were able to get some explosive offense," Ward told reporters. "The O-line did a fantastic job as far as protecting myself. I think there were times where I shouldn't have left the pocket so early just because of how well they protected it. I think the O-line had a great day."

Ward will continually find himself under the microscope because of his position and draft status. Eventually, the Titans must find ways to win a game like Sunday's outing. However, progress is still progress, even if it didn't provide the preferred result.

Grade: B

Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota

AP Photo

Score: 37-20 loss vs. Dallas Cowboys

Stat Line: Daniels, 11 of 17 for 96 yards, a touchdown and 69 rushing yards; Mariota, 11 of 16 for 111 yards and a touchdown

The Washington Commanders' performance Sunday come second to starter Jayden Daniels suffering another dislocated elbow to his non-throwing arm.

An 0-2 start is difficult unto itself. However, Daniels' health is now a growing concern after last year's injury-plagued campaign. How much time Daniels will miss has yet to be determined. Marcus Mariota is a capable backup, but the Commanders already saw this scenario play out last year. It didn't end well.

"That's the reality of it, that it's happening again," wide receiver Terry McLaurin told reporters. "None of us can really be in denial about it. I don't think it's that all that (offseason) work was for nothing. I think it allowed us to build the camaraderie needed to come into the season and try to build a new offense. I guess the silver lining is we're only in Week 2, going into Week 3. It's a long season. And I know [Daniels] bounced back last year. Obviously, the season kind of went off the rails, and he was held back. But there's going to be a lot of season for him to be able to come back."

Grade: C+