Week 2 of the 2026 NFL Season: Teams on the Brink

Here we are, entering Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season, and what a ride it’s been so far. Week 1, as usual, flipped expectations upside down, with plenty of surprises to boot.

Now, a number of teams and players really need to regroup to steer clear of starting the season at 0-2, which can significantly hurt playoff aspirations. So, let’s talk about the teams facing the most pressure this week, listed in alphabetical order:

The Cowboys have once again been labeled a Super Bowl contender during the offseason. But their performance in a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants was far from impressive. The Giants, who weren’t exactly the top team last season, managed to outplay Dallas quite convincingly. To keep their hopes alive in the NFC East, the Cowboys really need to bounce back at home against the Washington Commanders this Sunday, who aren’t exactly a powerhouse.

The Broncos seemed like they were still in training camp during their 31-10 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. They faced a team that had a bye week, and it showed. The players looked completely out of sync, which is surprising for a team considered to have strong potential this season. Maybe it’s just a case of Week 1 jitters, but they have a daunting schedule ahead with games against the Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks. They’ve got to sort things out, especially with a home game against the Jaguars coming up.

The Packers had a rough week. They fell apart in the final quarter against the Minnesota Vikings, with the Vikings scoring 22 unanswered points, leading to a disheartening 39-22 defeat. Adding insult to injury, they were the only team in the NFC North to lose in Week 1. If Green Bay can’t manage a win against the relatively easier opponent, the New York Jets, they could find themselves in a tough spot early in the season.

The Texans came into this season with a reputation for having one of the best defenses in the league, but the Buffalo Bills proved otherwise by scoring 36 points against them. In a thrilling matchup that hinted at potential playoff implications, the Texans’ offense did appear promising despite the 36-31 loss. Still, they’ll need to prove their defensive prowess at home against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Starting the season with two home losses? That would be a tough pill to swallow for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

The Rams might need to push pause on their Super Bowl celebration for now. They faced a tough defeat from their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers, while playing in Australia, and things were complicated further by Myles Garrett heading to injured reserve. They don’t have the luxury of dwelling on their missteps; they’ll host the emerging Giants this Monday night. This game will be a serious test for them, especially since they struggled on both offense and defense against the 49ers, and they risk falling behind in a competitive NFC West where the others started strong at 1-0.

Finally, quarterback Drake Maye is feeling the heat. After a tough Super Bowl outing, he had another challenging performance against the Seahawks in Week 1, ending the game with a puzzling interception that cost his team dearly. He really needs to turn things around against the tough defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.