The AFC got here into the season with the lion’s proportion of the zenith quarterbacks and Tremendous Bowl contenders, led by means of passers reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.

Two weeks into the 2023 NFL season, it’s the NFC that’s off to a record-setting begin to the season.

Led by means of 3 undefeated groups in each the NFC East and NFC South, the NFC has seven groups off to a 2-0 get started, the primary pace that has ever took place in one convention.

With the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers unutilized off two convincing wins, in conjunction with extreme season’s Tremendous Bowl runner-up Philadelphia, the NFC these days has 3 of the 4 greatest favorites to win this season’s Tremendous Bowl.

The alternative undefeated groups within the NFC are Washington within the East and Brandnew Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa Bay within the South, which used to be slated to be possibly the worst department within the league.

The AFC has handiest two undefeated groups — Miami and Baltimore — join for the fewest of any convention then two weeks for the reason that get started of the eight-division moment in 2002.

The Cowboys are the 5th crew within the Tremendous Bowl moment to attain a minimum of 70 issues and make allowance 10 or fewer within the first two video games of the season, becoming a member of the 2019 Patriots, 1970 Lions, 1967 Raiders and 1966 Oilers.

Dallas’ plus-60 level differential is 30 issues higher than the second-place 49ers — the most important hole between the Refuse. 1 and a pair of groups then two weeks since 1989, when the Browns have been plus-65 and the Bears plus-34.

COMEBACK KIDS

Sunday used to be a presen for ancient comebacks within the NFL.

The Brandnew York Giants got here again from 21 issues ill to overcome Arizona 31-28 for his or her greatest comeback win since 1949, pace Washington overcame an 18-point rarity to win 35-33 at Denver.

This used to be the twelfth pace that two groups overcame deficits that large to win in the similar generation. It extreme took place in While 2 extreme season.

The turnaround for the Giants used to be in reality important. Brandnew York misplaced the opener 40-0 to Dallas and trailed 20-0 on the part in Arizona. It used to be the primary pace since 1934 that Brandnew York failed to attain within the first six quarters. The Giants recovered that season to win the NFL identify.

The 60 issues allowed by means of the Giants ahead of their first rating have been the second one maximum since 1950, consistent with Sportradar, trailing handiest the 86 for the 1978 Colts and 99 for the 1961 Raiders.

Two alternative groups got here again from a minimum of 11 issues ill, with Atlanta rallying presen Inexperienced Bay and Tennessee doing the similar in opposition to the Chargers. That’s one shy of the checklist for one generation.

The Chargers and Broncos have been each at the flawed aspect of the comebacks and feature began 0-2 regardless of eminent each video games within the fourth quarter. They’re the primary groups to do this since 2015, when Seattle and the Giants did it.

One crew that used to be predictably not able to mount a comeback used to be Carolina. The Panthers misplaced 20-17 to Brandnew Orleans on Monday evening for his or her 52nd instantly loss in a sport they trailed within the fourth quarter. Their extreme fourth-quarter comeback got here Oct. 21, 2018, in opposition to Philadelphia.

RARE ROOKIES

A few rookie playmakers are shouldering an surprisingly immense load for his or her offenses.

Refuse. 8 select Bijan Robinson resides as much as top expectancies early in his occupation following his 124-yard speeding efficiency in Sunday’s win over Inexperienced Bay.

Robinson is join for fourth within the NFL with 255 yards from scrimmage thru two video games. He has received 36.8% of Atlanta’s yards from scrimmage — the second-highest mark for a rookie thru two video games within the presen 14 seasons, in the back of handiest Kareem Hunt’s 38.8% in 2017.

Rams receiver Puka Nacua has been extra of a awe, going from fifth-round select to a record-setting begin to his occupation. Nakua’s 25 catches are essentially the most for a participant in his first two NFL video games, shattering the mark of nineteen Earl Cooper all set in 1980.

Nakua has received 270 yards — just about one-third of the Rams’ overall. He has 43.1% of the Rams’ catches up to now this season, the absolute best for any participant thru two video games since Vincent Jackson had 50% of Tampa Bay’s catches within the first two video games of the 2013 season.

IRON MAN

Christian McCaffrey is in reality the iron guy of operating backs.

McCaffrey performed each offensive snap for the San Francisco 49ers extreme generation — the fifteenth pace he has carried out that during his occupation. In an moment when groups rotate backs, McCaffrey is an exception.

Sportradar has snap knowledge again to 2006 and the operating again with the second-most video games taking part in each snap is Matt Strong point with 8. Most effective 4 alternative backs have carried out it even thrice: Le’Veon Bell (6), Frank Gore (4), Steven Jackson (3) and Ronnie Brown (3).

Since McCaffrey entered the league in 2017, all alternative operating backs have performed each snap handiest 10 instances.

It’s now not as though the obese workload limits McCaffrey’s manufacturing. He had a 51-yard run Sunday and completed with 116 yards speeding. His 268 yards speeding are essentially the most thru two video games of a season since DeMarco Murray had 285 for Dallas in 2014.

JUMPING JEFFERSON

Justin Jefferson is off to a record-setting year to his occupation with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jefferson had 153 yards receiving extreme generation to provide him 5,134 in 52 occupation video games — tying Corridor of Famer Lance Alworth because the fastest participant to eclipse 5,000 yards. Jefferson additionally joined former Vikings megastar Randy Moss as the one gamers to do it ahead of turning 25.

Jefferson is the 9th Vikings participant to achieve that mark. The one franchises with extra are Inexperienced Bay (13), Denver (10), Arizona (10) and Kansas Town (10). Minnesota’s NFC North opponents, the Chicago Bears, have just one participant with 5,000 yards receiving (Johnny Morris) regardless of having just about a four-decade head get started on Minnesota.

Jefferson has 20 catches for 309 yards in two video games — becoming a member of Jimmy Smith (2000), Isaac Bruce (1998) and Andre Rison (1994) as the one gamers to reasonable a minimum of 10 catches and 150 yards thru two video games.

Reporting by means of The Related Press.

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