2023 NFL Week 2 Biggest Takeaways

Week 2 painted an even better picture of how this season’s landscape will pan out, and the week wasn’t short of captivating storylines and outcomes to illustrate that picture. Sunday was jam-packed with such developments and we’re here to round up the most impactful moments over the weekend.

Nitrobetting is here to take your bets into the end zone this 2023 NFL season. Let’s briefly recap the biggest headlines and takeaways from the Week 2 action on the gridiron, and what we should expect from the upcoming thrills of Week 3.

Top 5 Takeaways from Week 2 of the 2023 NFL Season

this is art pic.twitter.com/ri0lVrmsOp

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2023

Double the OTs, Double the Fun

The early afternoon slate got Week 2 off to a thrilling start, as both the AFC and NFC delivered overtime games. Seattle and Detroit traded blows throughout their contest for another one of their patented high-scoring shootout showdowns against one another. And like those previous matchups, it was the Seahawks that emerged victorious over the Lions again, with Geno Smith connecting with Tyler Lockett for the walk-off touchdown score in OT to send the Motor City crowd home with dampened spirits.

Over in the Music City, on the other hand, the Titans gave their home fans much to sing chippier tunes after a game-winning field goal by Nick Folk sent the Chargers reeling into an 0-2 start to their campaign. Tennessee finally ended its eight-game losing streak dating back to the previous season and will look to keep the ball rolling in Week 3 as (+4.5) road underdogs in a tough matchup against the Browns.

Beasts of the NFC East

The NFC East is once again looking like the most competitive division in the league, as all four teams in this group picked up wins in Week 2. While the Eagles and Cowboys picked up wins with relative ease as many had expected, the Giants and the Commanders had to secure their victories in a more unconventional and exciting manner.

Both New York and Washington had to claw out of huge deficits in their respective matchups. The G-Men overcame a 21-point hole on the road against the Cardinals for their largest comeback win in over half a century. The Commanders also needed a gritty road victory over the still-winless Broncos, with young Quarterback Sam Howell looking crisp (299 passing yards, two passing TDs, no picks) and with Denver squandering an 18-point lead in the second quarter.

Bears, Bengals, Broncos Still Busts

Three teams that many expected to be playoff contenders are off to disappointing starts to their respective seasons, and they just happen to be teams starting with the letter B for what it’s worth. We mentioned the Broncos earlier, who have found new life on offense under new head coach Sean Payton but have seen their once-feared defense regress.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, is having the opposite problem as Denver. The Bengals’ offense is quite in flux right now despite having a prolific offense for the past couple of seasons. As for the Bears, they’ve yet to figure out how all their new pieces fit and lost by double digits in back-to-back weeks. Out of these three teams, Chicago needs to improve the most, especially with the NFC North crown being wide open for the taking.

Rookie Receiver Ram-page

No Cooper Kupp? No problem says the Rams, as another young wide receiver has filled in for the injured former Offensive Player of the Year. 22-year-old Puka Nacua continued his sizzling start as a pro, hauling in a whopping 15 catches for 147 yards against a stout 49ers defense.

With this sensational performance, the fifth-round selection out of BYU set a new NFL record and then some. Nacua’s 25 catches through his first two NFL games is the most by any player, obliterating the former record of 19 held by Earl Cooper set back in 1980. Los Angeles will have to lick its wounds after another crushing loss to the Niners, though, and hopes to pick up a Week 3 victory as a (+6.5) road dog over the struggling Bengals.

Tense Birthday Bash for Mahomes

Reigning league MVP and Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes needed a morale-boosting win on his 28th birthday on Sunday he and his Chiefs dropped their season opener. Mahomes had to earn every bit of his birthday celebration in Week 2, though, as the AFC Divisional Round rematch from last season against the Jaguars was as hotly contested as many had predicted.

Kansas City escaped with a 17-9 road win over Jacksonville, with the return of All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce proving to be a vital key to the team’s success once more. Kelce hauled in a touchdown pass from Mahomes to give the Chiefs an eight-point lead in the third quarter that they would not give up by the end of the contest. Even better news for the defending champs is that their defense limited the Jags to just three field goals and managed to sack Trevor Lawrence four times to put KC back on the prowl as top contenders in the AFC.

Where to Bet On NFL with Crypto

NFL odds are available all year round here at Nitrobetting. Create a Nitrobetting account now to win tons of Crypto from the 2023 NFL season with our up-to-date NFL futures odds, as well as our special Bitcoin Squares and Picks contests throughout the upcoming season!

Check out our latest crypto betting guides for the 2023 NFL season. Stay tuned for more football previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest NFL betting odds at our online crypto sportsbook.

READ MORE: 2023 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Picks