NFL Week 2 Grades Analysis: Lions Soar with A+, Vikings Get D+ for Flat Performance
Assessing every team to take the field during Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Complete analysis of standout performances and disappointing showings.
Week 2 Highlights
- Lions A+: 52-21 demolition of Bears shows offensive explosion
- Ravens A+: Lamar Jackson's 4-TD performance leads 41-17 rout
- Bills A+: Josh Allen leads 30-10 domination of Jets
- Vikings D+: Flat home opener with J.J. McCarthy struggles
- Bears D-: Defensive collapse in 52-21 loss to Lions
A+ Performances
Detroit Lions
A+Result: 52-21 over Chicago Bears
The Lions stormed back into peak form in front of Motor City faithful. Jared Goff picked Chicago apart from start to finish, spreading five touchdown throws to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and backup tight end Brock Wright. The all-star attack is officially back, racking up 511 total yards and 7 touchdowns.
Key Stats
- Jared Goff: 334 yards, 5 touchdowns
- Jahmyr Gibbs-David Montgomery: 151 rushing yards
- Total Offense: 511 yards
- Turnovers: 0
Baltimore Ravens
A+Result: 41-17 over Cleveland Browns
Lamar Jackson put on a deep passing clinic against the Browns' secondary, feeding everyone with perfect touch, including DeAndre Hopkins on another acrobatic score. Roquan Smith was also all over the field, racking up three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Key Stats
- Lamar Jackson: 4 touchdown passes
- Roquan Smith: 3 tackles for loss, fumble recovery TD
- Defense: Multiple turnovers forced
- Margin of Victory: 24 points
Buffalo Bills
A+Result: 30-10 over New York Jets
Josh Allen threw for just 148 yards, but the Bills offense rolled all over Aaron Glenn's defense. Allen got loose with 59 yards via scrambles, while James Cook led the way with a cool 132 yards and two scores, including a 44-yard juke special that all but sealed the game before halftime.
Key Stats
- James Cook: 132 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Josh Allen: 59 rushing yards
- Defense: Held Jets to 10 points
- Time of Possession: Dominated
A- to B+ Performances
Los Angeles Rams
AResult: 33-19 over Tennessee Titans
The Rams were the complete package, looking even more explosive than they did last postseason. Matthew Stafford overcame a bad pick to feed both Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, while Byron Young headlined the persistent defense with five sacks.
Green Bay Packers
AResult: 27-18 over Washington Commanders (Thursday)
Tucker Kraft balled out as Jordan Love's primary target, but this was even more about the Packers defense. With Micah Parsons fully charged up off the edge, the front seven bottled up Jayden Daniels until the game was already decided.
New England Patriots
B+Result: 33-27 over Miami Dolphins
Drake Maye took a big leap as the signal-caller after an uneven Week 1. He accounted for three scores, including one on the ground, with Rhamondre Stevenson starring as a receiver.
Disappointing Performances
Minnesota Vikings
D+Result: 6-22 loss to Atlanta Falcons
They were shorthanded, missing key vets like Christian Darrisaw and Blake Cashman, then Ryan Kelly and Aaron Jones later in Sunday's affair. But all the luster of J.J. McCarthy's Week 1 comeback wore off, as he absorbed six sacks and tossed two picks, including an ugly game-sealing floater.
Key Issues
- J.J. McCarthy: 6 sacks, 2 interceptions
- Offensive Line: Struggled with protection
- Game-Sealing Pick: Ugly floater to end it
- Home Opener: Flat performance in front of fans
Chicago Bears
D-Result: 21-52 loss to Detroit Lions
It seemed unlikely the Bears would find a way to pain their fans more than they did with a Week 1 collapse, but then Sunday happened. Caleb Williams turned it over again, but the real problem was Dennis Allen's defense, which was downright porous on the road.
Key Issues
- Defense: 511 total yards allowed
- Touchdowns Allowed: 7
- Caleb Williams: Turnover issues continue
- Road Performance: Completely outclassed
New York Jets
D-Result: 10-30 loss to Buffalo Bills
Talk about an undoing of any promise the new Jets regime showed in a Week 1 shootout with the Steelers. Justin Fields galloped for a team-high 49 yards, but that was about all New York could do with the ball in its hands.
MVP Implications from Week 2
Rising MVP Candidates
Falling MVP Candidates
Key Storylines from Week 2
Positive Storylines
- Lions Offense: Back to peak form with 52 points
- Ravens Defense: Dominant performance with turnovers
- Bills Consistency: Another dominant win
- Rams Explosiveness: Complete offensive package
- Packers Defense: Micah Parsons-led dominance
Concerning Storylines
- Vikings Struggles: J.J. McCarthy regression
- Bears Defense: Complete collapse
- Jets Offense: Minimal production
- Commanders O-Line: Jayden Daniels under pressure
- Bears Turnovers: Caleb Williams issues
What to Watch in Week 3
Key Matchups
Week 3 will be crucial for several teams looking to build on their Week 2 performances or bounce back from disappointing showings. The Lions and Packers will face off in what could be a key NFC North matchup, while the Ravens and Chiefs will provide another potential MVP showdown.
Conclusion
Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season provided plenty of drama and clear separation between the league's elite teams and those still finding their way. The Lions' A+ performance against the Bears showed they're back to their explosive form, while the Vikings' D+ showing raised questions about their quarterback situation.
The MVP race also saw significant movement, with Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen solidifying their positions as co-favorites, while Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford made strong cases for consideration. The season is still young, but Week 2 provided important insights into which teams and players are ready to compete at the highest level.
As we head into Week 3, the focus will be on whether the top performers can maintain their momentum and whether the struggling teams can find answers to their problems. The NFL season is a marathon, but Week 2 showed us which teams are ready to sprint.