The San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills look like the teams to beat in their respective conferences through two weeks of NFL football, and of course, the season still has 15 weeks remaining.
Through two 32 total games, oodles of surprises have surfaced; here’s a look at the statistical ones.
Twelve Stats That Look Completely Backward after Two Weeks
1. The Raiders Have the Best Defense in the NFL
Yes, really. Las Vegas sits No. 1 in defensive EPA per play at -0.275 through two weeks. Opponents have also posted just a 34.4% success rate against the Raiders, another terrific early number.
The defense backed up the analytics Sunday by holding the Chargers to 14 points and forcing two interceptions from Justin Herbert. Las Vegas is 2-0, and for now, its defense is evidently the cream of the crop.
2. The Vikings Lead the NFL in Rush Playcall Percentage
Kevin O’Connell finally did it. Minnesota leads the NFL in rushing play percentage at 55.36%, narrowly ahead of Seattle at 53.91%. That’s quite the reversal after the Vikings finished 2025 at just 42.98%.
Two games don’t establish a permanent identity, but this has been intentional. The Vikings have run 62 times while throwing just 44 passes. After years of hearing about offensive balance, O’Connell and Co. are finally showing it. They’re walking the walk.
3. Bryce Young Is One of the League’s Top Passers
Young has apparently decided Year 4 will be different — much different. VikesNow‘s QBCS currently ranks Young fourth among NFL quarterbacks with an 82.8 score. He’s already thrown six touchdown passes.
That’s especially absurd after Young ranked 30th in QBCS last season. Carolina scored 37 points in Week 1, then Young threw for 287 yards with three touchdowns during Sunday’s 34-3 demolition of Atlanta. Quite the September plot twist.
4. The Saints Have a Top 12 Offense
New Orleans wasn’t supposed to be hanging around the league’s better offenses. Yet through two games, the Saints rank 11th in offensive EPA per play. Their passing game has done most of the heavy lifting.
The early returns also haven’t come from garbage time. New Orleans went into Baltimore last weekend and won 24-17. Nobody should declare the Saints an offensive powerhouse after 120 minutes of football, but ranking 11th in EPA/play absolutely qualifies as one of September’s strangest developments.
5. The Packers’ Offense Is One of the Worst
Green Bay’s defense has received plenty of attention. The offense? Different story. The Packers rank 29th in offensive EPA per play, and their rushing figure is an ugly -0.474 EPA per attempt.
It’s quite the surprise for an offense expected to be one of the NFC’s better groups. Green Bay is 1-1, so nothing has fallen apart after two games. Regardless, the Packers enter Week 3 with an offense near the league’s basement.
6. The Jets’ Defense Is Cooking
The Jets haven’t generated much buzz, but their defense deserves some. New York ranks seventh in defensive EPA per play, one spot behind the Vikings. The run defense has been especially stingy at -0.378 EPA per attempt.
Green Bay escaped with a 20-17 overtime victory last weekend, yet the Jets made the Packers work for basically everything. New York’s season outlook might be hazy; the defense has played like a Top-10 unit through two games.
7. Kirk Cousins Is on Pace for 51 TD Passes
Cousins brought a flamethrower to Las Vegas.
He’s thrown six touchdown passes through two games, including three in Sunday’s 26-14 win over the Chargers. Extend that pace over 17 games and you arrive at a hilarious total: 51.
Cousins also became the first Raiders quarterback since Ken Stabler in 1976 to throw at least three touchdowns in each of his first two games. After two weeks, Captain Kirk is on pace for peak Peyton Manning numbers in Sin City.
8. Drake Maye and Baker Mayfield Are Off to a Rough Start
Maye finished 2025 fourth in VikesNow‘s QBCS at 95.0 – – and second in leaguewide MVP voting. Two games into this season, he’s 27th at 67.0. Maye has one passing touchdown. That’s a jarring opening for last year’s breakout star.
Baker Mayfield is right behind him at No. 28. His passing EPA is an even rougher -21.42, with one touchdown through two games. Both quarterbacks have plenty of time. The Vikings will see Mayfield on Sunday.
9. Green Bay Can’t Convert 3rd Downs
Here’s another bizarre Packers stat. Green Bay has converted just 19.05% of its third downs, dead last in the NFL. Pittsburgh is the only other team below 24%, sitting at 20%.
For perspective, Green Bay converted 48.18% of its third downs last season. So the Packers have gone from one of the league’s better third-down operations to No. 32 through two games. Small sample? Absolutely. But 19% is hideous no matter how early the calendar reads.
10. Jalen Coker Ranks 6th in Receiving Yards
Coker may deserve a little more national attention. The Carolina wideout has 204 receiving yards through two games, the sixth-most in the NFL. He’s hauled in 16 of 18 targets and already has two touchdowns.
Most of the damage came in Week 1, when Coker erupted for 138 yards with two scores. He followed with eight more catches for 66 yards against Atlanta. Through two Sundays, he’s averaging 102 yards per game. That’ll work.
11. David Montgomery Averages Less Than 3 Yards per Carry
Montgomery’s new chapter in Houston has produced touchdowns, but the rushing efficiency has been bumpy. He’s carried the football 26 times for 70 yards, good for just 2.7 yards per attempt.
He does have two rushing touchdowns, plus another score as a receiver, so he’s still finding ways to help. Yet, 70 yards on 26 attempts wasn’t what Houston envisioned when adding the veteran back. He’ll need more open grass as 2026 rolls along.
12. Za’Darius Smith Is Rolling
Tell ’em Za’Darius Smith is still doin’ it.
He’s 34 years old, and the former Viking has 2.5 sacks through his first two games with Atlanta, including two in his Falcons debut against Pittsburgh.
Smith added another half-sack against Carolina, keeping his early-season streak alive even while Atlanta fell to 0-2. This is Year 12 for the veteran, yet quarterbacks are still finding him in their damn backfields. Vikings fans remember him well: Smith registered 10 sacks during his lone season in purple.
───────────── ─────────────
VikesNow Verdict: The Raiders own the best defense by EPA/play, while the Vikings suddenly love running the football. Several preseason expectations have already been turned all the way upside down.
───────────── ─────────────
About The Author
