The more things change, the more they stay the same.
At the start of the year, both the Chicago Bears and New York Jets were optimistic, believing their offseason moves would yield significant improvements.
In Chicago, the Bears hired Detroit offensive guru Ben Johnson as head coach to instill a winning culture and mentor QB Caleb Williams, who showed promise in his rookie season after being selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The New York Jets also had reason for optimism. They brought in Aaron Glenn as head coach and signed QB Justin Fields, who had demonstrated maturity and potential during a brief, largely effective stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Although the Jets lost in Week 1—ironically to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers—they played well on both sides of the ball, and Fields looked solid.
By Week 2, however, both teams looked very different from their opening-day form.
In Detroit, the Bears were manhandled 52-21 by the Lions, who were motivated after their own loss in Week 1. Chicago’s defense struggled to stop the run, while QB Caleb Williams was inconsistent, making impressive throws one moment and missing simple throws the next.
The Jets, meanwhile, were thoroughly outclassed by the Buffalo Bills in a one-sided 30-10 loss. Two statistics highlighted the team’s struggles: they possessed the ball for under 22 minutes and totaled only 154 yards, with just 54 passing yards. This was a stark regression from Week 1, when the offense looked potent.
Adding to their woes, Justin Fields left the game in the third quarter due to injury. His replacement, Tyrod Taylor, was no better. The Jets now face a major concern: starting 0-2 and facing an uncertain timeline for Fields’ return.
Other noteworthy games included Chiefs-Eagles and Minnesota-Atlanta.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense were uncharacteristically off, highlighted by a critical Travis Kelce drop at the goal line that resulted in a deflection and interception. Now 0-2, the Chiefs look vulnerable, though with Mahomes and Andy Reid at the helm, they remain a threat. Additionally, reports suggest Xavier Worthy may return next week, and Tyreek Hill could be re-acquired, providing needed help at receiver.
Also, the Minnesota Vikings may be reconsidering their decision to move on from Sam Darnold to make J.J. McCarthy their starter. McCarthy, essentially a first-year player after missing the 2024 season with a knee injury, struggled behind a banged-up offensive line. He missed several key throws, threw two interceptions, and fumbled multiple times. If this continues, the Vikings may need to explore alternatives at quarterback.
Meanwhile, Sam Darnold appears to be flourishing in Seattle, which will be tough for Vikings fans to watch in a league where quarterback play often determines whether a team is a contender or a pretender.
