Gridiron Update

Sunday’s Week 2 slate delivered a mix of dominant performances, dramatic finishes and crucial player milestones across the NFL. In the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills continued their mastery over the New York Jets with a methodical 30-10 victory, while the Detroit Lions roared past the Chicago Bears 52-21 in the NFC North. The Indianapolis Colts edged the Denver Broncos 29-28 on a last-second field goal, and the Seattle Seahawks leveraged a special-teams takeaway to dispatch the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17. In primetime, the Atlanta Falcons throttled the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 behind a juggernaut ground attack. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots stunned the Miami Dolphins 33-27 in a back-and-forth affair in South Florida ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/bills-run-roughshod-over-jets-30-10-win--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Buffalo Bills 30, New York Jets 10
The Bills asserted their dominance from the opening snap at MetLife Stadium, cruising to a 30-10 win that extended their streak over the Jets to four straight victories. Running back James Cook carried the load with 132 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, spearheading a 224-yard rushing attack that overwhelmed New York’s front seven. Quarterback Josh Allen contributed both through the air and on the ground, throwing for 148 yards and tacking on 59 rushing yards, while kicker Matt Prater drilled three field goals, including a 52-yarder that extended his record for 50-plus-yard makes to 82 in his career. Buffalo outgained the Jets 403-154 in total yards and won the first down battle 25-11, remaining the AFC East’s only unbeaten team at 2-0. Jets starter Justin Fields exited in the fourth quarter for a concussion evaluation, and head coach Robert Saleh will hope for a clearer picture on his health after a dismal offensive showing ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/bills-run-roughshod-over-jets-30-10-win--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Detroit Lions 52, Chicago Bears 21
In Chicago’s North Side return, the Lions reminded everyone why they were last year’s highest-scoring team, exploding for 52 points on over 500 yards of offense in prime time. Jared Goff completed 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and matched his career high with five touchdown strikes, three of which went to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught nine passes for 115 yards. On the ground, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showcasing a balanced, record-setting attack that averaged 8.8 yards per play. Chicago rookie Caleb Williams showed flashes, throwing for 207 yards and two scores to Rome Odunze, but the Bears were undone by eight penalties, four sacks allowed, and turnovers on downs in each half. Detroit’s 52-point output was three shy of the franchise record, and the win snapped a season-opening loss, improving the Lions to 1-1 ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/lions-blow-out-bears-former-oc-ben-johnson--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Indianapolis Colts 29, Denver Broncos 28
In Indianapolis, Spencer Shrader became the unlikely hero with a 45-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Colts to a 29-28 edge over the Broncos. Shrader initially missed from 60 yards, but a “leverage” penalty on Denver’s Dondrea Tillman – called for using a teammate to elevate in an attempt to block the kick – moved the ball 15 yards closer and granted Shrader a second opportunity, which he calmly converted for his fifth successful field goal of the night. Jonathan Taylor racked up 165 rushing yards and caught a touchdown pass, while quarterback Daniel Jones totaled 316 passing yards, one touchdown and added a rushing score. Denver’s Bo Nix threw for 206 yards and three first-half touchdowns, but a costly late interception and Wil Lutz’s 42-yard miss sealed their fate. Indianapolis improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2009, while the Broncos fell to 1-1 ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/spencer-shrader-hits-5th-field-goal-buzzer-lift-colts-past-broncos--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Seattle Seahawks 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
At Acrisure Stadium, Seattle flipped the script in the fourth quarter, turning Pittsburgh miscues into a 17-3 scoring advantage that sealed a 31-17 road victory. After two Sam Darnold interceptions in the first half – which contributed to a 14-7 Steelers halftime lead – the Seahawks rebounded with a balanced attack. Kenneth Walker III churned for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Darnold finished with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns. The game’s defining moment came when rookie special-teamer George Holani recovered a muffed kickoff in the end zone for a touchdown, creating a 10-point swing and a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers threw for 203 yards with one touchdown and two picks, and despite DK Metcalf’s six catches for 83 yards, the Steelers couldn’t overcome Seattle’s dominance in the final frame. Both teams are now 1-1 on the young season ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/seahawks-swing-10-points-even-record-with-win-steelers--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Atlanta Falcons 22, Minnesota Vikings 6
In the Week 2 Sunday Night Football spotlight, the Falcons overwhelmed the Vikings with 218 rushing yards in a 22-6 defeat at U.S. Bank Stadium. Second-year back Bijan Robinson led the charge with 143 yards on 22 carries, and Tyler Allgeier added 76 yards and the game’s lone touchdown plunge late in the fourth quarter. Atlanta kicker Parker Romo was perfect on five field-goal attempts, including a 54-yarder, as the Falcons outgained Minnesota 326-198 in total offense. Viking rookie QB JJ McCarthy struggled under pressure, completing just 12 of 22 passes for 158 yards with two interceptions, while his offense managed only 78 rushing yards and crossed midfield only thrice. Atlanta’s stout defense keyed the victory, sacking McCarthy six times and forcing three turnovers, improving the Falcons to 1-1 and handing the Vikings their first loss of the season ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/falcons-ride-strong-running-game-victory-over-vikings--flm-2025-09-15/?utm_source=openai)).

New England Patriots 33, Miami Dolphins 27
In Miami Gardens, Antonio Gibson electrified the stands with a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown that proved the difference in New England’s 33-27 victory over the Dolphins. Gibson’s score came just moments after Miami’s Malik Washington had tied the game with a 74-yard punt return, showcasing the game’s wild swings. Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye was efficient, completing 19 of 23 passes for 230 yards and two touchdown throws, and also added a rushing touchdown, while Rhamondre Stevenson chipped in with 88 receiving yards and 54 on the ground. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 315 yards, two scores and an interception for Miami, which fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2020. A late defensive stand – highlighted by Milton Williams’ fourth-quarter sack on fourth down – sealed the win for New England, snapping a long drought of road victories in Miami ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/antonio-gibson-td-helps-patriots-top-dolphins--flm-2025-09-14/?utm_source=openai)).

Across the league, standout performances and pivotal moments continued to shape the early 2025 season narrative. From record-setting kicking feats to game-deciding special teams plays, Week 2 provided a rich tapestry of storylines that will carry into next Sunday’s matchups. Teams will look to build on their successes or rebound from setbacks as parity and unpredictability define the modern NFL.