Overview
- A string of unexpected Week 1 losses has put multiple preseason contenders under immediate pressure to win in Week 2 or risk starting 0-2, which makes their paths to the postseason harder.
- The New England Patriots lost their opener and will be without wide receiver A.J. Brown for at least three weeks, a gap that raises the urgency of their home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- The Los Angeles Rams were routed in Australia and have placed newly acquired Myles Garrett on the shelf for several weeks, weakening a defensive front already under scrutiny.
- Other troubled teams from Week 1 — the Chargers, Cowboys, Broncos, Packers and Texans — face single-game tests in Week 2 that will signal whether they can stabilize or begin a deeper slide.
- Early losses matter more in strong divisions like the AFC East and NFC West because they cut margin for error, hurt team morale, and can alter coaching and roster decisions over the next few weeks.