Seahawks @ Steelers: The Seahawks rolled into Pittsburgh hungry for a win, and managed to do so in a dramatic blowout, winning the game 31-17. This game, like most of Seattle’s wins, was a roller coaster of emotions, going from “our season is over” to “we’re going 16-1 and winning the Super Bowl.” Our offense looked a lot better this week, with quarterback Sam Darnold throwing for nearly 300 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Our passing attack was varied, giving the ball to not just Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but also to fellow wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton, who got his first NFL touchdown on his first NFL catch. Darnold also spread the love to his tight ends, with AJ Barner getting the game-winner. Our defense also looked amazing, getting three sacks on Arron Rodgers (who just cannot seem to beat the Seahawks), including one and a half sacks for sophomore defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, who is looking to have a breakout season. Along with two picks, the Seattle defense has made it clear that they are not to be trifled with. While there are some improvements to be made, this unit is on track to be one of the top defenses in the league and help carry this team to the playoffs. While they made a statement in this game, they are looking to win their next two games, especially against the Arizona Cardinals, to move up from 4th place in the division, which is up for grabs this year.

Colts vs. Broncos: I want to be objective about this game, but let’s be honest, no one expected the Colts to be like this, right? There is absolutely no one, besides maybe the most diehard Colts fans, who thought the Colts would have a 2-0 start with Daniel “Indiana” Jones, also known as Danny Dimes, as their starting quarterback. When they won in week one, I was a tad surprised, but I figured that the Dolphins weren’t a good team and this would be one of the 7-8 wins I thought Jones could get for Indianapolis. But after this week’s game against Denver, who is supposed to be the best defense in the league this year, I have to ask: Are the Colts contenders? Danny Dimes has thrown for almost 500 yards in two games, putting him on pace to beat his total passing yards for last season by week eight, and his 2023 passing yards by week four. The early success of the Colts isn’t just from Daniel Jones, however. Running Back Johnathan Taylor has a rushing average of 5.4 yards per carry over two games, putting them at the #3 overall rushing offense so far. As for the Broncos, I’m left wondering what they’re going to do this season. Despite all the hype, they have had two close games: their win against the 32nd overall team in 2024 in the Tennessee Titans, and this loss against the Colts. While I still think they will be good, I have to wonder if they have made any real improvement this offseason. While I think the Titans will be better than people are giving them credit for, the team is expecting to have playoff expectations; they should not be playing games as close as this. I expect them to bounce back next week against their rival Chargers, but they need to get their act together to meet their expectations.

Bears @ Lions: The Lions came back from their week one loss in dramatic fashion, blowing out the Bears 52-21. This game was a chance for the Lions to prove themselves to still be contenders after their week one loss to the Packers. This was clearly an amazing game for the Lions offense just by looking at the score, but is even more impressive when looking at the individual player’s stats. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 300 yards on 23 completed passes, and five touchdowns. Detroit’s running back Jahmyr Gibbs also rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries and also secured a touchdown. Chicago, on the other hand, did not play a great game. Quarterback and first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Caleb Williams, only threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, as well as one interception. Williams continues to struggle adapting to the faster pace of the NFL, especially behind his current offensive line, which allowed him to be the most sacked quarterback in the league last year, making him the third most sacked quarterback in a single season, and gave up four sacks in this game. The Chicago defense simply could not keep up with the Lions offense, making this potentially the highest-scoring game for a single team this season.