Brian Flores struck once more, delivering another dramatic New Orleans Saints rally while the Los Angeles Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert continued to feel mounting pressure. Below is our comprehensive review of NFL action on Sunday. The Chicago Bears opened the season with a staggering 59 points in Week 1, only to manage three points on Sunday. That stark contrast perfectly illustrates the "Brian Flores experience" – a defensive mastermind capable of turning even the most potent offenses into sputtering machines.
The matchup was hyped as a chess‑like duel between two of football’s most cerebral and unpredictable strategists: Ben Johnson’s free‑wheeling Bears offense versus Flores’ blitz‑centric Minnesota Vikings defense. In the end, the Vikings’ controlled chaos prevailed, handing the Bears a 9‑3 defeat. The game carried an additional footnote: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams left the field in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. According to NextGen Stats, Williams was hit by a blitz on 81.8% of his drop‑backs before his exit – a pressure rate that would rank among the top three single‑game blitz percentages recorded since 2018.
By the final whistle, Minnesota had amassed four sacks, ten quarterback hits, and seven pass break‑ups, capped by Dallas Turner’s game‑ending sack of Tyson Bagent on the last play. The victory nudged Flores to a 2‑1 record against Johnson since the latter assumed the Bears’ head‑coaching role, and a 5‑2 ledger dating back to Johnson’s tenure as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. This win adds another marquee entry to Flores’ growing résumé, strengthening his case for a return to an NFL head‑coaching position. It is hard to argue that a coach who can consistently neutralize a Ben Johnson offense with such precision, aggression, and inventive blitz schemes does not belong among the league’s elite.
Flores has further cemented his reputation built alongside defensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell during their tenure in Minnesota. While O'Connell has long been praised for extracting maximum performance from quarterbacks once written off, Flores’ impact on the Vikings’ playoff relevance is equally, if not more, impressive.
His inventive blitz angles and the way he leverages versatile personnel such as safety Josh Metellus have produced one of the most dynamic defensive units in the NFL today. Turner’s breakout season is another testament to Flores’ ability to develop talent.
The young edge rusher added two sacks in the victory, including the decisive play at the end, and recorded ten additional pressures, bringing his total to a league‑leading 20 pressures after just two weeks. The Vikings’ defense ranks among the best in the league, and Flores is the primary architect of that success.
Rivals in the NFC North – the Bears, Packers, and Lions – can only hope his tenure in Minnesota is short‑lived, because if the league is honest, Flores deserves a head‑coaching slot in the next hiring cycle, if not already. Long live the "Box‑Office Brian Flores Blitz".
Justin Herbert’s future with the Los Angeles Chargers looks increasingly uncertain. The narrative that he should have already been recognized among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks is being challenged by a series of underwhelming performances and an alarming sack total. After a loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, the Chargers fell 26‑14 to Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Herbert completed 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while being sacked three times.
What was supposed to be a season of offensive fireworks under new coordinator Mike McDaniel has thus far turned into a disappointment, with no clear path to playoff contention. The lack of postseason success hangs heavy over Herbert, and criticism is intensifying in Los Angeles. Wide‑receiver Ja'Marr Chase once again reminded everyone why he is considered one of the premier receivers in the game. In Cincinnati’s 20‑6 victory over the Houston Texans, Chase executed a spectacular 32‑yard, back‑pedaling touchdown catch.
He finished with seven receptions for 75 yards and two scores, helping the Bengals neutralize a highly regarded Texans defense. In Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith has emerged as the clear No.
1 target now that AJ Brown has departed. Smith played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ 24‑20 win over the Tennessee Titans.
With the game tied and facing a third‑and‑six in the final 20 seconds, Jalen Hurts lofted a deep pass to Smith, who leapt to secure the ball and set up Darius Cooper’s game‑winning three‑yard touchdown. Smith ended the contest with ten catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Seattle’s Jaxon Smith‑Njigba continued his offensive dominance, delivering one of the best performances of his Super Bowl‑winning career. He logged nine receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 31‑7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals, a team that managed only 151 total yards.
The Ravens’ identity crisis resurfaced on Sunday as head coach Jesse Minter watched his squad squander a fourth‑quarter lead to the New Orleans Saints, falling 24‑17. Early in the game, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry appeared to be in control, with Henry scoring a wildcat‑formation touchdown. However, the offense stalled in the second half, limiting Henry to just five carries for 17 yards, and the Saints seized the momentum to complete their comeback.
Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers suffered a revenge‑game loss to the Cleveland Browns, dropping 23‑19. The defeat was especially painful because Mayfield, recently signed to a lucrative contract, failed to connect with Emeka Egbuka on a potential game‑winning touchdown in the final 20 seconds.
Linebacker Devin Lloyd, who signed a three‑year, $45 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, showcased why he is considered a top free‑agency acquisition. In the Panthers’ 34‑3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Lloyd recorded two interceptions (including a pick‑six), one sack, three pass break‑ups, nine tackles, and two tackles for loss.
Turning to Denver, the Broncos’ home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was a memorable experience for me, as it marked my first visit to Mile High. The stadium’s atmosphere was electric, amplified by a chorus of boos whenever the big screen displayed the number of "no‑shows," a recurring theme for the Broncos. Despite early penalties and a sluggish start that drew groans from the crowd, Denver’s defense reasserted itself, stifling Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense.
Bo Nix also found a reliable connection with wideout Jalin Waddle, giving the Broncos a vertical passing threat capable of stretching defenses. In Washington, quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow for the second time in less than a year, forcing him onto a stretcher at halftime during the Redskins’ 37‑20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams also endured a right‑hamstring injury, exiting midway through the fourth quarter of Chicago’s defeat to Minnesota. Head coach Ben Johnson said, "We'll know more tomorrow. I'm actually relieved it's not a knee issue, but a hamstring could still be serious.
We'll assess tomorrow and go from there." Fans can catch every moment of the 2026 NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, via Sky Sports or the ad‑free NOW streaming service.