Week 2 brings a packed Sunday slate and a Monday night closer, with the early window setting the tone before the afternoon games take over. The headline matchups are easy to spot: an NFC North showdown between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, a Steelers-Patriots game that has the feel of a possible playoff preview, and a late-day matchup in Kansas City that could deliver another AFC thriller when the Colts visit the Chiefs.
There’s no shortage of pressure points across the board, either. Tampa Bay is staring at an early must-win with Cleveland coming to Raymond James Stadium, as both teams try to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.
Dallas has a similar problem when Washington comes to AT&T Stadium, with both the Cowboys and Commanders sitting at 0-1 and the loser facing a tougher road in the NFC East. New Orleans also has a rough assignment after that overtime loss to Detroit, heading on the road to face Baltimore.
And in the late window, Jaguars-Broncos has enough intrigue to feel like a possible AFC Championship Game preview.
The Bears-Vikings game carries extra buzz because Chicago opened the season by scoring a record 59 points, with Caleb Williams looking to crash the MVP conversation. That one kicks at 1 p.m.
ET and will air on FOX, with Adam Amin on play-by-play and Drew Brees as the analyst. The Vikings are listed at 1-0 and the Bears at 1-0, though the game is shown in Nashville, Tenn. on the schedule.
The Sunday lineup starts with Carolina at Atlanta at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, with Tim Brando and Matt Millen on the call.
Pittsburgh visits New England at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, where Jim Nantz and J.J.
Watt will handle the broadcast. Green Bay takes on the Jets at 1 p.m.
ET on FOX with Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma calling the action. Cleveland travels to Tampa Bay for another 1 p.m.
ET kickoff. New Orleans and Baltimore also meet at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS, with Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta on the broadcast. Cincinnati visits Houston at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS, with Kevin Harlan and Trent Green in the booth.
The late afternoon window features Washington at Dallas at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX, with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady announcing.
Seattle and Arizona meet at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX, with Chris Myers and Mark Schlereth.
Miami heads to San Francisco at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX, where Kevin Kugler and Daryl Johnston will call the game.
The Colts-Chiefs matchup closes the Sunday slate at Arrowhead Stadium, though the schedule listing does not include a start time, TV channel, streaming info, or announcers for that game.
Several games come with streaming options listed for viewers looking to watch online. Bears-Vikings is available on FuboTV, DirecTV, SlingTV, and the ESPN Unlimited FOX One Bundle.
Steelers-Patriots can be streamed on FuboTV, DirecTV, and Paramount+. Bengals-Texans is available on FuboTV, DirecTV, and Paramount+.
Cowboys-Commanders and Dolphins-49ers both list FuboTV, DirecTV, SlingTV, and the ESPN Unlimited FOX One Bundle.
Monday Night Football closes Week 2 with the Giants visiting the Rams.
In Other News...
Steelers Hit With Two Costly Absences Ahead Of Patriots Trip
The Steelers head into their trip to New England dealing with a pair of absences that change both sides of the ball. Joey Porter Jr. is out while contract negotiations continue, and Michael Pittman Jr. will miss the game because of a foot injury, leaving Pittsburgh thinner at cornerback and taking away one of its receiving options before facing the Patriots.
Germie Bernard now looks set for a bigger role with Pittman Jr. sidelined, which gives the rookie a chance to make himself part of the conversation a little earlier than expected. For a Steelers team trying to stay steady on the road, the timing of these absences only adds to the challenge of getting through a tricky AFC test. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Like What Joey Porter Jr. Might Be Worth
The contract picture around Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the more uncomfortable talking points in Pittsburgh, because the Steelers and the young corner still have not reached an extension agreement. For a team that has invested in developing Porter into a key part of its secondary, the lack of a deal has naturally led to trade speculation, even if nothing has been publicly finalized.
What may sting most for Steelers fans is the sense that the return would not match the talent or the expectations surrounding him. Early talk suggests Pittsburgh might only be looking at a second- or third-round pick if it ever got serious about moving him, which is a far cry from the kind of haul some around the league may have once imagined. For now, the situation is still unresolved, and the longer it drags on, the more it invites questions about where Porter fits in the Steelers' future. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Faces A Different Kind Of Test This Week
A.J. Brown landing on injured reserve changes the shape of Pittsburghs Week 2 assignment, but it does not make the Patriots passing game any easier to sort out. Mike Vrabel said Brown worked from multiple receiver spots, and with him out, New England is expected to spread those looks around, using players such as Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs in different ways.
For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]