If the first two weeks of the new NFL season are anything to go by, we should be in for close, yet still high-scoring encounters as we head into Week 3.

There have already been 17 games decided by six points or less, and last week saw a ridiculous 797 points scored — the most for a single week since 2021. Ten teams currently sit at 2-0 and, for the first time since 2002, every division has at least one team that has started the season with two wins. That could end this week, however, with two clashes this week between unbeaten squads, as the Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers welcome the Arizona Cardinals to California.

More on them later, however, as the best-looking game on the slate appears to be coming via Monday Night Football from Baltimore.

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

Two powerhouse offenses clash at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday, as the Lions and Ravens both look to win their second straight game after starting the season with a loss.

These teams finished first and second in yards per game last season, with both also in the top three in terms of points scored. The Lions beat the living daylights out of the Chicago Bears in Week 2, handing former OC Ben Johnson a 52-21 loss with quarterback Jared Goff racking up 334 yards and five touchdowns. This marked the fourth time in Goff’s career that he racked up 300 yards, five touchdowns and a passer rating of 150 plus.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown caught nine balls for 115 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, while Jameson Williams also went over the century mark and found the end zone. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both added scores on the ground, the tenth time they have scored rushing touchdowns in the same game, the most for any running back duo in NFL history.

For the Ravens, Lamar Jackson had to settle for a mere 225 passing yards and four scores in the Ravens 41-17 rout of the Browns, the fourth time in his career that he has passed for at least four touchdowns without throwing a pick. The Ravens are the sixth team since 2000 to post 40 or more points in each of their first two games, and will be looking to become the first side ever to do it in the first three.

Derrick Henry was quiet against the Browns, but he has rushed for at least 135 yards in four of his last five games and he has found the endzone in three of his last four. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has 14 receptions and 218 yards after two games, while veteran DeAndre Hopkins has found the endzone in both games so far this season.

PREDICTION: It’s another high-scoring and close-fought game, but the Ravens just about edge it.

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WELL WORTH A WATCH

Los Angeles Rams (2-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Two familiar foes face off in the City of Brotherly Love, with both the Eagles and Rams undefeated to start the season. These two sides last met in the NFC Divisional Round of the 2024 playoffs, with the Eagles snatching a 28-22 victory on their way to an eventual Super Bowl victory. The Eagles also beat the Rams in L.A. in Week 12 of the regular season, thanks to 302 scrimmage yards from Saquon Barkley.

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford comes into the game needing one touchdown pass to tie old pal Matt Ryan for the ninth-most in NFL history (381), and will undoubtedly look to wide receiver Puka Nacua — who has 18 receptions for 221 yards after two games and averages 7.3 receptions and 95 yards per game against the Eagles — for help. Davante Adams caught his first touchdown pass as a Ram in Week 2 and posted his 33rd career game with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams, as expected, is the Rams leading rusher with 132 yards through two games, and he is on a 30-game streak with at least 50 yards from scrimmage.

The Rams have a nasty pass rush, all with recent experience of taking down Jalen Hurts, as Jared Verse, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske all logged sacks in the Rams playoff loss last year.

Speaking of Hurts, the Eagles QB found the endzone on the ground in the Eagles win over the Chiefs last week, marking the 45th game of his career with at least one rushing score. Hurts has won each of his last nine home games, including the win over the Rams in the playoffs last season.

Saquon Barkley has 148 rushing yards so far this season, and will be hoping he can recapture the form that saw him rack up 534 yards from scrimmage against the Rams in his two games against them last year. The Eagles passing game is yet to truly catch fire this season, with Hurts yet to throw a touchdown (or an interception), as DeVonta Smith leads the team with just seven receptions for 88 yards.

The Eagles defense has shown a knack for breaking up passes against the Rams, with Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell and Jalen Carter all notching PBUs against them in their January meeting.

PREDICTION: Eagles move to 3-0 but the Rams push them all the way.

Denver Broncos (1-1) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)

With the Kansas City Chiefs reeling at 0-2, the winner of this clash has a chance to seize control of the AFC West. The Chargers are looking to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2002 and, if they can down the Broncos, will also have started their season with three wins over divisional opponents — the first time this will have happened since the Bears beat the Lions, Vikings and Packers in 2006.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix threw three touchdown passes in their Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and has thrown for at least two scores in every AFC West game of his young career. Last week might be something of a breakout game for second-year wideout Troy Franklin too, having caught eight balls for 89 yards and a score. Veteran receiver Courtland Sutton, meanwhile, has been something of a road warrior lately, with at least five grabs and 50 yards in five of his last six games away from Denver. The Broncos leading rusher this season is former Chargers back J.K. Dobbins, who has out carried rookie R.J. Harvey 30-11, and outrushed him 139 yards to 78.

The Broncos defenders love to make tackles, with safety Talanoa Hufanga the only defensive back in the league to have logged at least ten tackles in both games this season, while linebacker Alex Singleton has six or more tackles in eight consecutive games and defensive end Zach Allen seven tackles for loss in five games against the Chargers.

L.A. quarterback Justin Herbert is off to a great start to the season, with 560 yards and five touchdown passes against zero interceptions so far. His leading pass catchers — Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston — have all contributed to his gaudy numbers, with Allen and Johnston notching at least 60 yards and a score in both games, and McConkey strtching his run of at least five receptions to nine straight games.

The Chargers’ defense ranks third in points allowed, giving up just 15 per game so far, and linebacker Daiyan Henley was a wrecking machine against the Raiders — despite having been a doubtful starter due to illness — posting 10 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack and an interception. The Broncos will remember Henley well after he logged 10 tackles and a tackle for loss the last time these two sides met.

PREDICTION: The Chargers move to 3-0 and look like the side to beat in the AFC West.

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ALSO ON IN WEEK 3

Miami Dolphins (0-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0)

Can the hapless Dolphins bounce back from two crushing losses to register their first win of the season, or will Josh Allen become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to register eight consecutive wins on Thursdays?

Atlanta Falcons (1-1) @ Carolina Panthers (0-2)

Bryce Young had five total touchdowns the last time this sides met, while Bijan Robinson averaged 139 yards from scrimmage in the two games last season. Can the Falcons build on their win over the Minnesota Vikings last week and move to 2-1 by continuing their dominance in this series, or will the Panthers finally avoid a 20-3 half-time situation and score a win for the home side for the fifth time in seven meetings?

Green Bay Packers (2-0) @ Cleveland Browns (0-2)

Josh Jacobs has a rushing score in 11 consecutive games. Myles Garrett has 1.5 sacks in each of his first two games. Will both players keep their streaks alive, and can the Browns pick up their first win of the season and stop the Packers going to 3-0 for the third time in the Matt LaFleur era?

Houston Texans (0-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)

The Texans have lost two straight to start the season, but C.J. Stroud boasts a 3-1 record against the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence has at least two touchdown passes in three of his last four AFC South games. Can the Texans get one in the win column and continue their recent dominance over the Jags — they’ve won 12 of the last 14 meetings — or will the Jags bounce back after a sloppy outing against the Cincinnati Bengals to try and keep pace with the Colts?

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

A clash between two of the best wide receviers in the NFL, both former LSU Tigers, in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson is marred by both sides going into this one with backup quarterbacks leading the team. Can Carson Wentz return the Vikings to winning ways after their surprise defeat to Atlanta, or will Jake Browning capture the form that saw him rack up 324 yards and two touchdowns the last time these two sides met?

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) @ New England Patriots (1-1)

The Steelers looked listless against the Seattle Seahawks last week, while the Patriots edged past the Dolphins to see both sides sit at 1-1. Can the Patriots beat the Steelers for the eighth time in nine meetings, or will Aaron Rodgers add to his five game streak of 230+ passing yards and two touchdown passes against New England and get his side to 2-1?

New York Jets (0-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)

The 0-2 Jets travel to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers and former head coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs have won both games this season with a last-minute touchdown, while the already-struggling Jets might be without QB Justin Fields as they look for their first win under Aaron Glenn. Can Tyrod Taylor get them over the hump, or will Baker Mayfield take the Bucs to their first 3-0 start since 2005?

Indianapolis Colts (2-0) @ Tennessee Titans (0-2)

Cam Ward is the first number one pick to not throw an interception in his first two career starts, but he and his Titans side are still 0-2. Daniel Jones and the Colts, meanwhile, are the first team in the Super Bowl era not to punt in their opening two games of a season. Can the Titans beat the Colts for the first time in five meetings, or will the Colts move to 3-0 for the first time since 2009?

Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) @ Washington Commanders (1-1)

Both sides lost in listless fashion in Week 2 after encouraging opening day wins. The Commanders might be without Jayden Daniels for this one, so can the Marcus Mariota revenge game get the Commanders to 2-1, or will Geno Smith lead his side to a win that keeps them ahead of the Chiefs in the early season running?

New Orleans Saints (0-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

The Saints are still looking for their first win, while the Seahawks are the only NFC West team to lose a game so far in 2025 (to San Fran, so something had to give). Can Klint Kubiak guide the Seahawks offense to a strong showing over his former employers, or will the Saints land Kellen Moore the first win of his head coaching tenure?

Dallas Cowboys (1-1) @ Chicago Bears (0-2)

Neither of these defenses should be too proud of themselves after last week, with the Cowboys allowing the New York Giants and Russell Wilson to pass all over them, while the Bears were handed a drubbing by the Lions. Can Dallas win their second straight game, or will the Bears claim Ben Johnson’s first head coaching win and a fifth win in six for the home side in this series?

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Cardinals’ grizzled veteran Calais Campbell became just the fourth player aged 39 or older to register two sacks in a game since 1982 as Arizona maintained their unbeaten start to the season last weekend. Meanwhile, 49ers’ stud Christian McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history with 50 rushing and 30 receiving scores. Can the Cardinals get to 3-0 for just the sixth time in the Super Bowl era, or will Kyle Shanahan lead his side to three opening wins for the third time since 2019?

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) @ New York Giants (0-2)

The Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014, and Patrick Mahomes has lost three straight games for the first time in his career. However, the good news for Chiefs fans is that the QB owns an 8-1 record on Sunday Night Football — and is facing the Giants this week. Big Blue, however, pushed the Cowboys all the way last Sunday, but just couldn’t seal the deal, despite Russell Wilson becoming the sixth player in NFL history to record 400 passing yards and three touchdowns in a game for three different teams. In this unexpected clash between two 0-2 teams, will the Chiefs get their season up and running with a first win, or will the Giants move out of the NFC East basement?

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