Two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the AFC North already has a clear leader. Cincinnati sits alone at 2-0 after a 20-6 win over the Houston Texans, while the other three teams all have work to do after uneven Sundays.
For the Bengals, the story again started on defense. Dexter Lawrence anchored another strong showing, and Cincinnati made life miserable for Houston’s run game, holding the Texans’ running backs to just 18 rushing yards.
Demetrius Knight Jr. finished with a team-high 12 total tackles, and the Bengals brought down C.J. Stroud four times.
Cedric Johnson accounted for two of those sacks. If Cincinnati keeps getting that kind of pressure and control up front, it’s going to stay in the AFC conversation.
The offense had its own headliners. Ja’Marr Chase found the end zone twice, and his first touchdown grab was the kind of catch that reminds you why he’s one of the league’s best.
He finished with seven receptions for 75 yards and those two scores. Tee Higgins was Cincinnati’s top yardage producer with 95 yards on five targets, while Chase Brown handled the ground game with 80 yards on 20 carries.
Joe Burrow went 20 of 31 for 207 yards and two touchdowns, though his back remained a storyline after Houston sacked him five times. Burrow said afterward that it was a little sore, but that he was “good to go.”
Baltimore’s Sunday went the other direction. In the Ravens’ home opener, they blew a double-digit lead and fell 27-17 to the New Orleans Saints, handing the Jesse Minter era its first disappointment.
The defense couldn’t finish the job late, even with repeated blitzes, as Tyler Shough drove the Saints down the field and capped the march with a quarterback sneak. Baltimore got to Shough just three times, and even with his starting left tackle exiting because of an ankle injury, the Ravens still couldn’t land the game-sealing stop.
The offense didn’t help much in the second half. Baltimore managed only three points after halftime, with four drives producing two three-and-outs and an interception on the final possession.
Lamar Jackson was efficient for most of the afternoon, finishing 21 of 31 for 235 yards and a touchdown before the closing turnover. Rashod Bateman stepped up in Zay Flowers’ absence, leading the team with 88 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches.
Derrick Henry added 68 rushing yards and a score on 16 carries, but he got just five touches in the second half.
Pittsburgh also fell to 1-1, and the problems at quarterback are only getting louder. The Steelers lost 20-3 to the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots, and Aaron Rodgers’ second start of the season didn’t calm any doubts. Pittsburgh has one touchdown through two games with the 42-year-old under center, and against New England he went 23 of 39 for 187 yards, one interception, four sacks and a lost fumble.
The supporting cast didn’t do much to change the picture. D.K.
Metcalf, acquired for a second-round pick and given a huge contract a year ago, managed just four catches for 27 yards. Germie Bernard led the Steelers in receiving with 35 yards on four catches, while Jaylen Warren paced the run game with 43 yards on 11 carries.
Rico Dowdle left with a toe injury after seven carries for 22 yards.
Pittsburgh’s defense tried to keep it close. Patrick Queen picked off a pass, Nick Herbig forced a fumble on Rhamondre Stevenson, and the Steelers sacked Drake Maye three times, with T.J.
Watt collecting 1.5 sacks. But with so little coming from the offense, the unit could only do so much.
Cleveland finally got into the win column with a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Deshaun Watson bounced back from a rough Week 1, completing 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
Rookie Denzel Boston delivered the biggest play again, this time turning in a 55-yard touchdown as part of a five-catch, 95-yard day. Watson also led the Browns on the ground with 22 rushing yards on seven carries.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland had a familiar face across from it in Baker Mayfield and came away with an interception and three sacks. Carson Schwesinger led the Browns with 10 total tackles. Jared Verse, brought in as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, has not yet made his mark through two games with his new team.
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Ravens Fans Wont Love Declan Doyles Reasoning After That Saints Loss
The Ravens are still sorting through the fallout from their loss to the Saints, and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle did not try to sidestep the criticism that followed. He acknowledged responsibility for the play-calling that drew questions, but also pointed to the bigger-picture need to keep developing young players, including rookie tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas, even with Super Bowl expectations hanging over the season.
For Baltimore, that tension matters because it touches both the short-term game plan and the long-term roster build. Doyles approach came in a game where usage patterns for players such as Durham Smythe and Derrick Henry also stood out, and it underscored how much influence general manager Eric DeCosta can have on in-game decisions. The result is a reminder that the Ravens are balancing urgency now with the kind of roster management that does not always sit well after a loss. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Got Pulled Into A Marvin Harrison Jr Trade Debate
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The appeal is obvious: Harrison would bring more talent to a room that cant afford to keep losing bodies. The harder part is getting from a hypothetical fit to an actual deal, and the uncertainty around whether the Cardinals would even consider moving him is what keeps this from being anything more than an intriguing debate for now. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face An Early Test Few NFL Teams Ever Deal With
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Ravens fans have reason to pay attention because this is the kind of setup that can affect both teams before the ball is even kicked off. Chris Russo took aim at Jerry Jones for putting Dallas in this spot, calling it a competitive disadvantage, while Jones pushed back by saying he is confident in the playing conditions and noting his business interests in Brazil. For Baltimore, it is one more wrinkle in a season that already asks plenty of teams, and one of those rare early tests where the setting feels like part of the story. [Read more 🡒]