Most concerning NFL upsets: Who should be worried most after Chargers, Bears, Buccaneers losses in Week 2?
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Most concerning NFL upsets: Who should be worried most after Chargers, Bears, Buccaneers losses in Week 2? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Sunday was a reminder that things rarely go according to plan in the NFL.
In their respective season openers, the Bears and Ravens started 2026 strong, while the Texans, Chargers and Buccaneers did lose, but still have plenty of reason for optimism this season. All five of those squads lost in Week 2, while the Eagles and Packers also survived scares.
Highlighted by the Bears' offense dropping from 59 points last week to just three against the Vikings, while there's plenty of season to be played, some contenders have reason to be concerned moving forward.
Here's a ranking of the most stunning results from Week 2 so far, breaking down how worrying the loss should be for each contender.
MORE: Inside Caleb Williams' recovery timeline after suffering hamstring injury
Ranking the most surprising upsets of NFL Week 2
5. Bengals send Texans to 0-2
In fairness to the Texans, their two opening matchups in 2026 both came against elite quarterbacks and offenses. After dropping a Week 1 contest to Josh Allen and the Bills, this time, Joe Burrow and the Bengals took down what was anticipated to be one of the NFL's best defenses.
Houston, which allowed 36 points to Buffalo last week, fell 20-6, primarily due to an inefficient offensive day. C.J. Stroud completed just 29 of his 52 passes, while the Texans averaged just 3.3 yards per carry as a team.
Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase twice in the end zone, and that was plenty for Cincinnati on the road.
RUN IT BACK. 9 ➡️ 1.#CINatHOU September 20 at 1:00 PM on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/lsJHwpwL1b
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 20, 2026
For Cincinnati, a 2-0 start to the season is a welcome change after years of early-season struggles. But Houston will enter Week 3 winless — and if there's anywhere for DeMeco Ryans to be concerned, it's with his offense. Stroud couldn't solve Cincinnati's defense, while Houston's run game largely remains a non-threat.
The Texans could be fine, set to face the Colts next week, but their start to 2026 hasn't been ideal.
MORE: What does a Keenan Allen suspension mean for the Colts?
4. Saints quiet Lamar Jackson, pick up first win on road
New Orleans' offensive talent made it a trendier preseason pick to take a step forward in 2026 after winning six games last year. Tyler Shough wasn't flawless in Week 2, but the Saints did prove they can be a dangerous opponent in any given game.
Despite going down 14-3 as Derrick Henry found a rhythm in the first half, New Orleans rallied for a 24-17 win over the Ravens on the road. Shough (252 yards, 1 TD) had a solid day against a talented Ravens defense, which virtually silenced Saints running backs. Shough's connection with Chris Olave is quickly becoming one of the NFL's most reliable, and it showed in Week 2, with the duo connecting eight times for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Shough zips it in to Chris Olave for SIX 🎯
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
NOvsBAL on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/oDswfhPi71
Perhaps the most surprising takeaway, though, was the Saints defense's ability to halt Lamar Jackson.
Jackson threw a late interception after consecutive touchdown drives from the Saints, while Henry got just five second-half carries. There's no reason for the Ravens to panic much quite yet — this win says more about New Orleans' legitimacy than Baltimore — but it's undoubtedly a game that Jessie Minter's side let slip away.
MORE:How controversial Tyler Shough TD led to Saints' win over Ravens
3. Deshaun Watson spoils Baker Mayfield's opportunity for revenge
The Browns still likely aren't going to win many games this season, even with Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. But for at least one game, Deshaun Watson had Cleveland's passing game working well, taking advantage of a Tampa Bay secondary that looks like a weakness.
Watson had 238 passing yards in Week 2, his most in a game since 2023, as the Browns held on after a lengthy weather delay for a 23-19 win. The veteran quarterback likely helped himself hold onto his QB1 role a bit longer with the win.
The fourth down pass is incomplete and the Browns are going to get the win pic.twitter.com/ltudX4Zv1t
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
For Tampa Bay, however, an 0-2 start is an early hole to dig out of despite a competitive offense that should contend in the NFC South. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, their division is sometimes winnable with just eight or nine wins; while they need improvement soon, there's likely time for a turnaround.
Still, a loss to a young Browns team in a game that Mayfield likely had circled on the schedule is a significant disappointment for Todd Bowles' squad. If things continue to trend downward, Bowles could be on the hot seat.
2. Chargers start 0-2 with daunting schedule ahead
When the Chargers' 2026 schedule was released, it looked like they'd have a clear path to 0-2 before a tough stretch begins. Instead, they remain winless heading into matchups with the Bills, Seahawks and Broncos over the next three weeks.
Once again, the Chargers lost 26-14 to a rebuilding opponent with a bridge quarterback. In Week 1, Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals gave L.A. trouble. On Sunday, Kirk Cousins and the Raiders had it going, with Las Vegas' defense grabbing two interceptions against Justin Herbert.
Picked up where he left off 🙂↕️#LVvsLAC | 📺 Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/cSrQHPwttQ
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 20, 2026
For the Raiders, the Klint Kubiak era is off to an impressive start, sitting at 2-0 despite star tight end Brock Bowers not playing a snap yet. Cousins has proved to be an excellent fit, and if things continue to click, there could be a path to playoff contention while Fernando Mendoza waits in the wings.
Week 2 is too early to overreact, so perhaps the Raiders' start doesn't stick. What isn't an overreaction, though, is the urgency the Chargers will now face. Los Angeles has looked disjointed, struggling with turnovers and some mental mistakes against two non-2025 playoff teams. Now, the schedule gets harder.
The Chargers should be concerned, even if two games is a small sample size.
1. Bears manage just three points, lose Caleb Williams vs. Vikings
As quickly as possible, the high of the Bears' Week 1 came has come crashing to the ground. Not only did Ben Johnson's team manage just three points in a 9-3 final score vs. Minnesota more fit for a baseball game, but Caleb Williams' injury put a massive damper on the result.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 20, 2026
While nobody was getting ahead of themselves after the Bears' 59-point performance last week, Johnson's offseason comments about becoming the "best offense of all-time" in 2026 had an amazing start. A week later, even before Williams went down with an apparent hamstring injury in the fourth quarter, Chicago's offense was struggling.
Williams threw an interception, tight end Colston Loveland has another silent outing, and a first-quarter field goal would be the Bears' only points of the day. Weather and an elite Minnesota defense played a role, but the hype train came to a halt.
Minnesota had a strong enough day on the ground (119 rushing yards) to manage nine points, and in a touchdown-less game, Wentz won another game.
In terms of concerning losses, it doesn't get much worse than zero touchdowns and an injured star quarterback. In the best-case scenario, Williams can return soon, and Chicago shakes off Week 2 as an anomaly in a divisional matchup — otherwise, the Bears' Week 1 offensive eruption may become more of an outlier as the season progresses.
Per ESPN Research: the Bears' 56-point differential between Week 1 and Week 2 is the fourth-biggest point differential week-over-week in NFL history, and the biggest since 1973
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 20, 2026
MORE: Caleb Williams suffers hamstring injury in Week 2 loss to Vikings