Julianna Duennes Russ is a breaking and trending news reporter at the Austin American-Statesman. She covered business as a Dow Jones intern for the San Antonio Express-News and has bylines with the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in journalism, international affairs and comparative literature from the University of Georgia, where she also earned a certificate in sports media. When she’s not writing, you can find Julianna strolling Zilker Park or cuddling with her orange cat, Colby. Reach out to her at julianna.russ@statesman.com with news or notes.
Tony Plohetski is a 25-year newsroom veteran and the associate editor of investigations, producing some of the Statesman’s most preeminent journalism through individual reporting and elevating the work of others. He was the Statesman’s lead reporter in the 2022 aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in public service. He also received a duPont-Columbia Award for his collaborative reporting with KVUE-TV, among other national awards. His other works in recent years have investigated the dangerous and deadly partnership between a local sheriff’s office and a reality TV show, prompting changes in state law, and an examination into the causes and aftermath of a deadly school bus crash in 2024. He is a three-time national Edward R. Murrow winner, recipient of the Hillman Prize, and has twice in recent years been named Texas Star Reporter of the Year by Texas Managing Editors, among many other national and state honors.

One week of NFL football gives fans and the media something to talk about. Two weeks gives them just enough information to start believing that they might actually know something (they still don’t, and that includes me).
Week 2 offered the first chance to see which opening-week performances were meaningful and which were complete mirages. Although, thanks to confirmation bias, nothing that happened probably changed anyone’s opinion (including mine).
Below, you will find my biggest takeaway from each game on the Week 2 Sunday slate.
Panthers 34, Falcons 3
Takeaway: Don’t sleep on the Panthers offense.
Carolina gave up 59 points to Chicago in Week 1, which overshadowed a solid offensive performance of their own. The Panthers scored 37 points and gained 478 yards of offense against the Bears. Of course, the defensive no-show made it all for naught. But after another 30+ point performance, suddenly it looks like Bryce Young’s step forward in 2025 wasn’t a fluke and he might be taking another step in 2026.
ATLANTA FALCONS ARE DEALING WITH THE WORST QUARTERBACK SITUATION IN THE NFL AND IT ISN’T EVEN CLOSE
Saints 24, Ravens 17
Takeaway: The Saints are a really fun team to watch.
Last week, New Orleans nearly pulled off a massive upset of the Detroit Lions but fell just short. This week, they didn’t let the opportunity slip away. More importantly, at least for general NFL fans, this team is fun. Tyler Shough, coming off a fan-voted Rookie of the Year season, doesn’t look like a one-hit wonder. If Chris Olave can stay healthy, Saints-Panthers might be must-watch TV and that’s not something I ever thought I’d type.
Vikings 9, Bears 3
Takeaway: What a difference a week makes.
A week ago, pundits were declaring that the 2026 Chicago Bears offense might be one of the greatest of all time. That was.. premature. Now, there’s nothing more important than the health of quarterback Caleb Williams, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. But Chicago didn’t look great even when Williams was in the game. Weather was a factor, of course, but the two teams that scored 98 points combined in Week 1 only mustered 12 in Week 2.
Bengals 20, Texans 6
Takeaway: If the Bengals can win games like this, the rest of the NFL is in trouble.
In the Joe Burrow era, the Bengals have basically relied on their star quarterback to help them outscore opponents. This game was the opposite. In fact, Houston outgained Cincinnati by over 100 yards and had 10 more first downs. But the Bengals defense kept clamping down, forcing four turnovers on downs and only allowing two field goals. If Cincinnati’s defense can almost singlehandedly win games, the Bengals are one of the best teams in the league.
Patriots 20, Steelers 3
Takeaway: The Steelers are not a fun team to watch.
Right now, Pittsburgh is like the anti-New Orleans. While the Saints have a young quarterback and a young receiver helping them move the ball up and down the field, the Steelers have an old quarterback whose career probably should have ended three years ago and an overpaid veteran receiver who can’t catch anything. That’s not a fun combination.
Packers 20, Jets 17
Takeaway: I honestly don’t know what to even think about this game.
I was ready to declare that the Jets might actually be good, then they blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Packers and I’m back on the “oh wait, they’re still the Jets” train. Similarly, what even are the Packers? They had a huge lead last week against the Vikings, blew it, and looked dead in the water for three quarters against the Jets. I guess they’re just this year’s ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. They look fantastic at times and utterly terrible at others.
Eagles 24, Titans 20
Takeaway: The Eagles’ record is perfect, but their play is anything but.
There are no moral victories in the NFL, so you’d much rather be 2-0 and playing bad than 0-2 with two heartbreaking losses despite great play. That said, I’m not sure how Eagles fans can feel great about this team right now. They barely scraped by the Commanders in Week 1 and then needed a last-second touchdown to avoid an upset against one of the worst teams in the NFL. The inconsistency that haunted the team last year is still present, and the Cowboys and Giants are both improved. The NFC East is no longer theirs to lose.
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Browns 23, Buccaneers 19
Takeaway: The Bucs might just be bad.
Losing to Cincinnati in Week 1 wasn’t exactly shame-inducing, but a home loss to the Cleveland Browns is exactly that. Tampa’s defense made Deshaun Watson look like a competent NFL quarterback for the first time in like 5 years and the offense really couldn’t do much. They might have entered the season as NFC South favorites, but it’s clear right now that both the Saints and Panthers are better teams.
49ers 35, Dolphins 13
Takeaway: The Dolphins are the worst team in the NFL.
This won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who follows the league, but yeah, the Dolphins are terrible. The good news is that they are tanking properly and an 0-17 season isn’t out of the question. The two other teams that could have staked a claim as the league’s worst, the Titans and Browns, both showed up in Week 2 (and the Browns even won). Not only did the Dolphins lose, but they were run out of the building. They might be a historically bad team by the time the season ends.
Broncos 20, Jaguars 13
Takeaway: Sean Payton is still overrated.
To be honest, I don’t have much to say about this game. So, I decided to just remind everyone of my hottest NFL take. Sean Payton is a good NFL coach and he’s treated like an elite one. He isn’t, and the Broncos aren’t that good. They’ll be exposed in the next two weeks against the Rams and 49ers.
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Raiders 26, Chargers 14
Takeaway: The Chargers’ season is over.
This might seem extreme, but I don’t think it is. The Chargers have now lost games against the Cardinals and Raiders, not exactly world-beaters. Now, look at their upcoming schedule: at Buffalo, at Seattle, Denver, at Kansas City, at Los Angeles Rams, Houston, at Baltimore. It’s possible the Chargers are going to be underdogs in each of their next seven games. I don’t know how they recover at this point.
Seahawks 31, Cardinals 7
Takeaway: The Seahawks defense is very much the league’s best.
There was a debate last year over whether it was the Seahawks or Broncos that featured the league’s top unit but there’s no such argument so far this year. Seattle held New England to 10 points in Week 1 and came up with a game-winning interception of Drake Maye. The Cardinals put up nearly 400 yards in Week 1 against the Chargers only to have the Seahawks hold them to 151 yards in Week 2. The NFC West is so stacked it almost seems unfair.
Cowboys 37, Commanders 20
Takeaway: Injuries stink.
I was excited to see Jayden Daniels bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 and return to his 2024 Rookie of the Year form. Then, right at the end of the first half, Daniels suffered another elbow injury and likely faces a lengthy absence. That stinks. For Dallas, it was a good response to the egg they laid in Week 1 against the Giants but the Daniels injury makes it hard to draw too many conclusions from this victory.
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Chiefs 33, Colts 30
Takeaway: Is it possible for both teams to be happy?
Yes, the Colts lost and are now 0-2. Yes, I wrote earlier that teams would much rather be 2-0 playing poorly than 0-2 and playing well. But after getting blown out of their own building in Week 1 by the Ravens, this was a major step forward. And the good news is the Colts face the Texans, Commanders, Steelers, Titans and Vikings in their next 5 games, and all five of those games are winnable. For the Chiefs, what is there to say? They look great and poised to make another run at a Super Bowl.

Silent Hill: Townfall for PlayStation 5 and PC, and GOBBLE for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC are the highlights of this week’s Japanese video game releases.
Also due out this week are Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age for Switch 2, and CONTROL Resonant for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Get the full list of this week’s Japanese game releases below. It should be noted that Gematsu will receive a small percentage of money from purchases made through Play-Asia links. You can also save five percent with our multi-use “GEMATSU2026” coupon code.
Physical and Digital
Derby Stallion 2 (Switch 2)
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Switch 2) – Game-key card.
North American Version (Switch 2)
European Version (Switch 2)
Asian Version (Switch 2)
EA Sports FC 27 (PS5, Switch 2, PS4, Switch)
North American Version (PS5, Xbox Series / One, Switch 2, PS4, Switch)
European Version (PS5, Xbox Series / One, Switch 2, PS4, Switch)
Asian Version (PS5, Xbox Series / One, Switch 2, PS4, Switch)
GOBBLE (PS5, Switch 2, Switch)
Hell is Us Special Edition (Switch 2) – Launching digitally worldwide.
Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 8 (PS5)
Asian Version (PS5)
Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 15 (Switch)
Asian Version (Switch)
Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow (PS5, Switch) – Launching digitally worldwide.
Asian Version (PS5, Switch)
Pre-order:
North American Version (PS5, Switch)
European Version (PS5, Switch)
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance (Switch 2) – Launching worldwide.
North American Version (PS5, Switch 2)
Asian Version (Switch 2)
Silent Hill: Townfall (PS5) – Launching worldwide.
North American Version (PS5)
European Version (PS5)
Asian Version (PS5)
Digital-Only
Aniimo (iOS, Android) – Launching worldwide.
CONTROL Resonant (PS5, Xbox Series, PC [Steam, Epic Games Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Cupid Parasite (PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked (Xbox Series, PC [Microsoft Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Dragon Shelter (PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
DRAPLINE (PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
Dune: Awakening (PS5, Xbox Series) – Launching worldwide.
EA Sports FC 27 (Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC [Steam, Epic Games Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Fading Echo (Switch 2) – Launching worldwide.
Farming Camp (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
GOBBLE (PC [Steam])
Graveyard Keeper II (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
Lawn Mowing Simulator 2 (PS5, Xbox Series, PC [Steam, Microsoft Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Nomori (Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC [Steam, Microsoft Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow (PC [Steam, Epic Games Store]) – Launching worldwide.
The Relic: First Guardian (Xbox Series, PC [Microsoft Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Silent Hill: Townfall (PC [Steam, Epic Games Store]) – Launching worldwide.
SiN: Reloaded (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC [Steam, Epic Games Store]) – Launching worldwide.
Stick It to the Stickman (PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
Ved: Recure (PC [Steam]) – Launching worldwide.
Well Dweller (PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, PC [Steam, GOG]) – Launching worldwide.
The PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch titles listed above can be purchased through Japanese PlayStation Network and Nintendo accounts using prepaid cards:
PlayStation Store cards (yen): 1,100 / 3,000 / 5,000 / 10,000
Nintendo eShop cards (yen): 1,000 / 1,500 / 3,000 / 5,000 / 9,000
Additionally, direct top-ups for gacha games are available here, including:
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance
Genshin Impact
Honkai: Star Rail
Love and Deepspace
Marvel Rivals
Where Winds Meet
Zenless Zone Zero
Demos, DLC, Updates, etc.

Travis Kelce woke up Taylor Swift and the friends in her suite at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs capitalized on a turnover. Mahomes saw Kelce burst out to the right side. He caught the ball and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. It was a vintage play that so many NFL fans have seen for years.
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The score caused a raucous celebration from Swift. The NBC broadcast caught Swift pointing to her wedding ring as Kelce celebrated in the end zone.
“That’s my husband!” she shouted.
Swift has been a mainstay at Arrowhead Stadium since the two began dating a few years ago. She and Kelce hard launched their relationship nearly three years ago when she showed up to support the legendary tight end when the Chiefs took on the Chicago Bears.
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Since then, it’s been a storybook romance for the two superstars. They got married at Madison Square Garden earlier this summer and began the next chapter of their lives together.
Kelce, at 36 years old, isn’t exactly the same tight end he was in 2023. But the 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion has shown he can still make massive plays on the field when he’s called upon. His mere presence on the field is enough to cause the defense to keep a special eye on him.
In the Chiefs’ 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos last week, he had three catches for 71 yards on five targets.
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Sunday night was Kelce’s first touchdown of the year and what a better way to do it than with your wife in the house.

In Week 2, the Philadelphia Eagles faced an opponent in the Tennessee Titans that had a 3-14 record in 2025 with a point differential of -194, that was also dominated in Week 1 by, uh, the New York Jets. The Eagles eked out a win, but as usual, there is plenty to gripe about. As always, we hand out 10 awards.
1) The ‘Winner’ Award 🏅: Jalen Hurts
With the Eagles’ win on Sunday, Hurts has won better than 70 percent of his career regular season starts. He now has a regular season record of 59-25 (0.702). One narrative that has followed Hurts over the course of his career is that he has had great talent around him (unquestionably true) and has been carried to his impressive record (often unfair).
So far in 2026, Hurts has carried the Eagles to two wins when the rest of the team around him hasn’t played all that well.
Hurts finished 26 of 37 for 264 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. One of the INTs was a terrible decision; the other was a misfire to a wide open DeVonta Smith, although he got hit on the play.
But the good outweighed the bad, and Hurts saved his best for a clutch 9-play, 65-yard, game-winning drive, all of which occurred on the other side of the two-minute warning.
The drive included a 20-yard strike to Dontayvion Wicks, a sneaky-impressive play where he got outside the tackle box under heavy duress and was able to throw the ball away instead of taking a sack, and a bigtime throw to DeVonta Smith to get the Eagles on the doorstep of the end zone.
And then on the game-winning play, when his primary target (Smith) slipped, so Hurts calmly lofted a TD throw to a wide open Darius Cooper in the back of the end zone.
Here are all of Hurts’ throws on that final drive (via @ThePhillyPod):
During the week leading up to the game, star Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said the Titans defense needed to make Hurts “be a quarterback.” Well, he was, and he let Simmons know about it after the game.
Outstanding.
2) The ‘Beast’ Award 👹: DeVonta Smith
Smith has been a very good receiver in his first five NFL seasons, but in 2026 he was going to become the unquestioned WR1 and focal point of the Eagles’ passing offense with A.J. Brown no longer wanting to be in Philly.
On Sunday, Smith caught 10 passes for 117 yards and a TD, but the degree of difficulty on many of his catches was extraordinarily high. He is a human highlight reel with extreme body control.
3) The ‘Chain Mover’ Award ⛓️: Tay Wicks
In the first half, Wicks had four first downs in high-leverage situations:
27 yards on 3rd an 12
7 yards on 3rd and 4
5 yards on 4th and 2
15 yards on 3rd and 12
And then as noted above on the Eagles final drive he had a 20-yard reception. That was on 3rd and 6.
That’s six targets, five catches, 74 yards, but most importantly, five high-leverage first downs.
The Eagles have to be absolutely thrilled with what they have gotten so far from Wicks, if for no other reason than forcing opposing defenses to stay honest and not overcommit attention to Smith.
4) The ‘Dirty Work’ Award 🧹🧽: Darius Cooper
Being the dirty work receiver is hard. You play special teams and when you get in the game on offense you’re usually just blocking or running pick plays for the star players. And yet, when you get your opportunities, you sure as hell better be ready because you’re not going to get many of them.
Cooper had two catches for 26 yards, and the game-winning TD.
5) The ‘Comeback?’ Award ↪️: Jake Elliott
After two down seasons, Jake Elliott’s 2026 season is off to a great start. He had a very good training camp and preseason, and so far he is perfect on all eight of his kicks. Against the Titans he hit a key 58-yarder.
It would be a big boost for the Eagles if Jake Elliott is good again. #Analysis.
6) The ‘Brick Wall’ Award 🧱: The Eagles’ rushing attack
The Eagles’ rushing stats:
Add it all up and you get 32 carries for 89 yards (2.8 YPC) and 1 TD.
They also had four penalties for 35 yards on run plays. The Eagles’ rushing attack stinks so far.
7) The ‘OL Drama’ Award 🎭: Cam Jurgens and Drew Kendall
All week long the Eagles tried to hide what their offensive line configuration would look like on gameday. And, well, they were successful, as their decision — Drew Kendall at C and Cam Jurgens at LG — was an unexpected surprise.
MORE EAGLES
Eagles-Titans Week 2 report card: Titans made Jalen Hurts be a QB, and he schooled them
Eagles Week 2 stock watch: Jalen Hurts overcomes mediocre defense, inconsistent offense
Week 2 non-Eagles rooting guide
Whether it was the right choice or not is another story, as Simmons wrecked the interior of the Eagles’ offensive line all day. I’ll wait until I re-watch the game to dole out individual blame, but collectively the Eagles lost in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball.
8) The ‘Takeaway’ Award: Uh, not the Eagles’ defense
Aside from a Jalen Carter Peanut Punch that was recovered by Washington Week 1, the Eagles’ defense hasn’t come close to forcing a turnover yet this season, despite playing two of the worst offenses in the NFL.
They are one of just three teams that have not yet forced a turnover.
Takeaways aside, the defense has looked OK at times, but they have not been the top five type of defense many (self included) projected them to be.
9) The ‘Gift’ Award 🎁: The NFL schedule makers
It’s a good thing the Eagles got to play two crappy teams to start the season, because they would not be 2-0 if they hadn’t. And now the schedule gets a lot harder:
• Week 3: at Bears
• Week 4: Rams
• Week 5: Jaguars (in London)
They may have caught a break in their Week 3 matchup in Chicago, as starting QB Caleb Williams was carted off with a hamstring injury, but that will still be a better team than either of the two loser franchises they have played so far.
10) The ‘Good Episode’ Award 📺👏: Season 94, Episode 2
When you play a team like the Titans, ideally you just blow them out and leave no doubt. The Eagles didn’t do that by any stretch, and if a play here or there went another way they’d be 1-1.
But ultimately, they played a fun game that ended with a clutch drive spearheaded by the weirdly maligned quarterback who just wins. Would it be cooler if the Eagles won 55-0? Sure. But also, your favorite TV show had some drama, and some payback for words spoken during the week, some adversity, and a happy ending. It was a good ep.
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