I’ll be tracking each week’s matchups between AFC and NFC teams to see who can win the battle of the conferences. I’ll unpack every matchup after it happens (and maybe occasionally a preview article), while tracking the overall record. After a dominant week one for the AFC (and home teams), it was more split in week two as the NFC looks to gain ground.
Without further delay, the breakdown of the week two results. The home team is on the left.
Cowboys vs Titans
Cowboys 38 def. Titans 35
The home teams stayed undefeated as Xev survived Doc’s resurgent season. Dallas was the definitive favorite, being a playoff team versus a weak roster that ended in the bottom ten of teams a year ago. However, the Titans were ready and gave a good shot on the road without their quarterback of choice. The NFC begins to creep back.
Steelers vs Saints
Steelers 45 def. Saints 28
The AFC says not so fast, as DK and Pittsburgh handily take care of New Orleans as they are supposed to. Rookie John Mateer seemingly had a perfect game, but Deebo didn’t play much defense and fumbled twice, allowing the Steelers to coast, even if they couldn’t and didn’t run much.
Buccaneers vs Browns
Browns 35 def. Buccaneers 27
Now this is more similar to the first AFC-NFC matchup of the week. The favorite wins, but not as easily as many expected. Is this a case of Dot dealing with rookie struggles because of Haynes King, or is Vet just better than we give him credit for? He did finish last season over .500 at 9-8. Either way, Cleveland and the AFC walked away with the all-important win.
Broncos vs Rams
Rams 37 def. Broncos 35
And the NFC roars right back! A pretty notable upset from the away team that has the worse quarterback and team compared to Fallen and the Broncos. Spawn has looked improved this season outside of a let-down in week one, and it’s surprising with Taylen Green. Denver, on the other hand, continues to be a confusing team, even if they are still considered above average.
Overall
AFC 2-2 NFC
The NFC bounced back in a big way, with a very respectable, formidable, solid two-win and two-loss performance against the AFC. They were realistically only a favorite in one of the matchups and were able to pick up another, while that close lot to Dot is more than you’d normally ask from Vet. On the AFC side, it still wasn’t a bad week; it just couldn’t live up to how well they performed in the opening advance window.
AFC 6-2 NFC
The AFC remains firmly in the lead thanks to those four quality pickups in the first week of the season. However, the gap is bound to tighten, and more importantly, the win percentage is bound to move closer to .500. The sample size will only increase, and we have yet to see the Super Bowl Champion Eagles play an AFC team, and won’t until week 5. Worth mentioning that home teams also returned to Earth this week, going 2-2 after starting undefeated in these matchups.
