After each team split its first two games, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots will both be looking to climb over the .500 mark Sunday when they meet in Foxborough, Mass.

New England is coming off a 33-27 victory over Miami last week and will be attempting to win back-to-back games for the first time since the 2022 season, when the Patriots defeated Detroit (29-0) and Cleveland (38-15) in consecutive weeks.

“There’s a lot of stats here, guys, that I’m not familiar with, nor am I concerned with,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said during his weekly press conference. “The focus is trying to build some consistency, which would then lead to confidence, and continue to build on what we did, improve the things that we have to fix and then continue to eliminate some of the things that we feel like could get you beat.”

Run defense will be a key for Pittsburgh, which allowed 117 yards rushing on 29 attempts during last Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Seattle. The Steelers gave up 182 yards rushing in a 34-22 victory over the New York Jets in Week 1.

Pittsburgh has allowed at least 30 points in each of the season’s first two games for the first time since 2002. The Steelers gave up 30 points or more twice last season.

Cornerback Darius Slay (rest), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (knee), linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle), and linebacker T.J. Watt (rest) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Offensive lineman Max Scharping (knee) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) had limited participation, and linebacker Patrick Queen (oblique) was a full participant.

Harmon, a rookie out of Oregon, said Wednesday he’s ready to play after missing the first two games with a knee injury suffered in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game.

“I’m ready to go,” Harmon said. “If my number is called, I’m ready to go.”

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin cited attrition as one of the reasons the Seattle offense was able to have so much success last Sunday.

“I thought our defense wore down some, particularly as the game went on,” Tomlin said. “We had the desire to improve our run defense, and I thought, particularly initially, we did. But there’s an attrition component to the game, and our lines got a little thin at various points in the game.”

Defensive end Keion White (illness) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non-injury related), linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (hamstring), cornerback Carlton Davis III (Achilles), cornerback Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), linebacker Harold Landry (foot), linebacker Marte Mapu (neck), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), fullback Jack Westover (hamstring) and guard Jaren Wilson (thigh) had limited participation.

New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced Wednesday for the first time since he sustained a hamstring injury July 28 in training camp, but it isn’t clear if he will play Sunday.

“Excited to be out there,” Gonzalez said. “I love football. This is what I do, so I mean it’s been very challenging to be out for so long.”

The Patriots would welcome Gonzalez’s return as they have allowed a league-high 630 passing yards this season, despite also leading the league in sacks (nine).

–Field Level Media

Perfect to start the season, the Los Angeles Chargers are out for a clean sweep of the AFC West through three games when they play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

The Chargers (2-0) took down another division opponent when a shorthanded defense stepped up to dominate a 20-9 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Los Angeles also won its season opener 27-21 over the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Quarterback Justin Herbert continues to grow into a steady veteran with the third-most passing yards through two games at 560 and the fifth-best completion percentage among starters at 72.1. He has five touchdown passes without an interception.

On Monday, the Chargers were without linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) and lost linebacker Khalil Mack (elbow) on the final play of the first quarter. Linebacker Daiyan Henley had been questionable with an illness before playing.

Henley ended the night with one of three interceptions for the Chargers against Raiders QB Geno Smith, along with a sack and 10 tackles. Mack, diagnosed with a dislocated left elbow, and Perryman will both miss at least the next four games after being placed on injured reserve.

The victory put the Chargers alone in first place for the first time since 2021.

“To be in the conversation to be competing for a spot like that is our goal,” Herbert said Wednesday.

That the 2-0 record has happened without the Chargers playing a home game provides more reason for optimism.

“I think it’s been great the past couple weeks for us to go play on the road,” Herbert said. “To be the team that we want to be, we need to go play and win games like that, but to (now) stay at home and lose some of the travel, it’s always good for us.”

In addition to Henley not practicing on Wednesday, wide receiver Ladd McConkey (biceps), tight end Will Dissly (knee), defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (foot) and safety Elijah Molden (hamstring) were also absent.

The Broncos (1-1) looked like winners in Week 2 when the Indianapolis Colts missed a field goal to end the game. But a leverage penalty against Denver gave Indianapolis another chance and Spencer Shrader delivered to give the Colts a 29-28 victory.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed 22 of 30 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Nix led Denver on a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to open the second half, with J.K. Dobbins scoring on a 5-yard run.

But the Broncos had just 83 net yards the rest of the way, with Wil Lutz missing a 42-yard field goal attempt with 3:19 remaining to leave the door open for the Colts to win it.

“I felt like it slipped away from us,” Nix said. “Got away. We made errors at the end that cost us.”

One of those miscues was Nix’s interception with 11:25 remaining. Through two games, the second-year QB has thrown for 382 yards with a 67.1 completion percentage, four TDs and three interceptions.

“There will be a bitter taste in our mouth for a little bit, and it’s because we put ourselves in a position to control that game late — and then it slipped out of our hands,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said. “It’s hard.”

The Broncos practiced Wednesday without tight end Evan Engram (back), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) and linebacker Justin Strnad (foot).

–Field Level Media

The vast majority of the buzz leading up to this week’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders surrounds who will be under center for the home team.

Jayden Daniels’ availability remains in question after he suffered a knee sprain in a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday. Daniels did not practice Wednesday but did undergo a rehab session and do some throwing.

It remains to be seen if he’ll miss a start for the first time in his NFL career when the Commanders (1-1) take on the Raiders (1-1) Sunday afternoon in Landover, Md.

“We’re gonna be smart and not just fast in this assessment,” head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday. “This is a player that is absolutely wanting to do everything all the time. So, it was a good start to the week, for us — the throwing, the movements at the position.”

Daniels was sacked seven times in the first two games and the Commanders’ struggling pass protection faces another strong pass rush with Maxx Crosby and the Raiders coming to town. Las Vegas has six sacks in two games.

If Daniels can’t play, veteran Marcus Mariota will step in. Mariota, 31, played in three games off the bench last season for the Commanders. When Daniels exited the Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers with a rib injury, Mariota led Washington to a 40-7 victory, completing 18 of 23 pass attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns.

The Raiders have some familiarity with Mariota from his time with the organization in 2020-21. However, head coach Pete Carroll is leaning towards Daniels being the starter based on his team’s preparation this week.

“We have a lot of background about Marcus on the staff, so we know what his capabilities are, we think,” Carroll said. “We’re preparing for both guys, but primarily for Jayden.”

The Commanders lost running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and defensive end Deatrich Wise, Jr. (quad) for the season after both suffered injuries against the Packers. Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round rookie who impressed in preseason, is expected to start on Sunday.

The Raiders, 20-9 losers to the visiting San Diego Chargers Monday night, are looking to jump-start their offense. They are averaging 14.5 points per game, second fewest in the league.

Geno Smith finished 24-of-43 passing for 180 yards, threw three picks and was sacked three times against Los Angeles. Running back Ashton Jeanty has 81 yards on 30 carries (2.7 yards per carry) and one touchdown in two games.

Tight end Brock Bowers did not practice until last Saturday and had five catches for 38 yards against the Chargers. He was targeted eight times and should be more of a factor on Sunday.

“I think you see we were just trying to get him out there and get him playing and he looked okay,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said. “We got to him in the second half more, but we really need him. We need him being active throughout the game.”

Looking to boost their pass rush with Wise out, the Commanders added veteran edge rusher Preston Smith on Wednesday. A second-round pick in 2015, Smith spent four seasons in Washington before moving on to Green Bay. The 32-year-old, who played for the Packers and Steelers last season, has 70.5 sacks in his 10-year career.

“I’m a guy who knows how to get to the quarterback,” Smith said. “I’m a guy who’s versatile…who can be used in any way. I can be an asset to this defense and this team overall.”

One advantage Washington has Sunday is rest. The Commanders last played on Thursday, Sept. 11. The Raiders played the second game of Monday night’s NFL doubleheader and will travel across the country on short rest.

Washington cornerback Jonathan Jones, who suffered a hamstring injury against Green Bay, was placed on injured reserve this week and will miss a minimum of four games.

Among those not practicing Wednesday in addition to Daniels were wide receiver Noah Brown (groin/knee) and tight end John Bates (groin). Cornerback Trey Amos (shoulder), offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (shoulder), running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) and tight end Colson Yankoff (hip) were limited.

For the Raiders, Bowers, safety Jeremy Chinn (pectoral) and offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (concussion) were limited on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 for the fifth straight season, but they haven’t achieved a 3-0 start since 2005.

The Buccaneers will try to end a string of four consecutive Week 3 losses when they host the reeling New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa Bay rallied for a 20-19 road victory over the host Houston Texans on Monday night. Rachaad White scored the winning points on a 2-yard run with six seconds remaining to cap a stellar 11-play, 80-yard drive.

The Buccaneers also staged a comeback in the fourth quarter of Week 1 to beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. The game-winning score was made with 59 seconds remaining.

“We’re always in the fight,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield said Wednesday. “Anytime we step on the field, we expect to win. We expect to play well and do our job at a high level. It’s just the mentality.”

Mayfield was the recipient of some blows while completing 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans. He also rushed for 33 yards on three attempts.

Mayfield (foot, toe) was a full participant at Wednesday’s walkthrough. He said his left leg was feeling “Good. Great.”

Mayfield has thrown five touchdown passes without an interception in 70 attempts this season.

The Jets (0-2) certainly would cherish some stability at quarterback as they aim to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2021.

Justin Fields (concussion) was ruled out on Wednesday and veteran Tyrod Taylor will make his 59th career regular-season start.

Fields sustained the concussion in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 30-10 home loss against the Buffalo Bills.

Fields wasn’t even at the team complex Wednesday as he recovers from the injury.

First-year New York coach Aaron Glenn expressed confidence that Taylor can get the offense moving. The Jets are averaging just 274 yards per game, 26th in the NFL.

“There is no coverage, there is no pressure that he hasn’t seen,” Glenn said of Taylor. “So that’s why I have confidence in him and he’s a very studious person, good athlete. Again, been around this league for a long time. There is no better player you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point of time.”

Taylor last started games in 2023 for the New York Giants — he started five — and has a 28-28-1 regular-season record.

He completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo after replacing the injured Fields.

“I can’t sulk in or what-if, or what should happen,” said Taylor of his role. “The reality is that you have to be in the moment, and I’ve learned to be more vocal over the years. I think as a quarterback, eyes are always on you, so how you are when you’re up, when you’re down, when things aren’t going your way, is a reflection of your character. So I’ve never been one to question why my time isn’t right then or right now, it’s more so just prepare myself for whenever it does happen and that I make the most of it.”

Undrafted rookie Brady Cook of Missouri will serve as the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback.

Fields was one of seven Jets to miss practice. The others were safety Tony Adams (hip), cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II (ankle), defensive lineman Jay Tufele (illness), receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring).

Tampa Bay formally placed standout defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (pectoral) on injured reserve on Wednesday. Kancey had a team-leading 7.5 sacks in just 12 games last season.

“Everybody has to step up,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said of replacing Kancey. “We can’t replicate what Kancey can do for us and some of them have to play the run and some of them have to be ready for the pass. Everybody has to do their job.”

Receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip/groin) missed the walkthrough, but star wideout Chris Godwin Jr. (ankle) and standout left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) were both limited and could possibly make their season debuts on Sunday. Offensive tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) didn’t participate and is expected to miss multiple weeks, while guard Cody Mauch (knee) also sat out.

The Jets lead the series 10-3, but Tampa Bay has won the past two meetings.

–Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints’ first road game of the season will double as a homecoming of sorts for new coach Kellen Moore.

Moore, who grew up in Prosser, Wash., and the Saints (0-2) are heading to Seattle to face the Seahawks (1-1) on Sunday.

“It’ll be a lot of fun to be back up there,” Moore said. “It’s a really cool environment, really fun environment. There’s a lot of challenges with playing up there and the crowd noise. But it will be an awesome opportunity for our football team.”

The Saints opened the season with a pair of one-score defeats at home to Arizona (20-13) and San Francisco (26-21). They’ll get their third straight matchup with an NFC West opponent Sunday.

Last weekend’s loss to the 49ers wasn’t sealed until New Orleans’ Spencer Rattler was sacked on fourth down with 57 seconds left.

“We’re putting ourselves in position to win games,” said Moore, 37, who was the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles last season. “Ultimately, we have to take advantage of those opportunities.

“Through two games, we have a great group of guys that work their tail off. Their play style, you can’t take advantage there or assume those sorts of things. We’ve got everything we need, but we have to play cleaner football and we have to play and do what winning teams do in each and every moment. From the beginning of the game, all the way to the end, every play matters. We can’t take it for granted.”

Rattler threw for a career-high three touchdowns but still dropped to 0-8 as an NFL starter.

“Man, we’re close,” Rattler said. “These games come down to the wire and you’ve got to do what winning teams do.”

After losing their opener at home to San Francisco, the Seahawks rebounded with a 31-17 victory last weekend at Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks got their new-look offense on track, gaining 395 yards against the Steelers.

Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while Kenneth Walker III rushed for 105 yards and a TD — his first 100-plus yard game on the ground since the 2024 season opener.

“This offense is designed to get everybody the ball,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “And I felt like it did that (Sunday). And we’re on our way on that front.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a game-high eight receptions for 103 yards and Cooper Kupp added seven catches for 90 yards, with tight end AJ Barner making a TD grab.

“We put ourselves in good positions on first and second down to get us into good third downs, third and manageable,” Darnold said. “And we converted a lot of those third downs.”

The Seahawks could be short-handed in the secondary, with safeties Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and Julian Love (hamstring) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) all missing practice time this week, as did running back Zach Charbonnet (foot). The Saints practiced without offensive linemen Taliese Fuaga (knee/back) and Dillon Radunz (toe) as well as defensive end Chase Young (calf).

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Rams take another shot at stopping Saquon Barkley when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles for an early clash of unbeaten teams on Sunday.

The Eagles (2-0) knocked the Rams (2-0) out of the playoffs last season with a 38-22 divisional round win, with Barkley rushing for 205 yards and two touchdowns on a snowy January day in Philadelphia.

That came two months after his franchise-record 255-yard, two-TD effort in Philadelphia’s 37-20 road win against Los Angeles in Week 12 that supercharged Barkley’s historic 2,000-yard season.

Barkley broke off touchdown runs of 62, 70, 72 and 78 yards in those two meetings — by far the four longest TD runs allowed by the Rams all season.

“He’s great and they’re great,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Barkley on this week’s “The Coach McVay Show.” “Football is the greatest team sport that there is and they’ve got legitimate threats across the board, whether that’s on the perimeter, at the tight ends. They’re excellent across the board with all five of their offensive linemen, and then obviously Jalen (Hurts) can beat you with his arm, his legs or his mind.

“But you know Saquon is so dynamic. He obviously had such a tremendous impact. Nobody had the production in the history of this game that he had when you combine his regular season and playoffs. And certainly he made his impact and his presence felt in the two games that we played them last year.”

The Rams responded this offseason by signing defensive tackle Poona Ford and linebacker Nate Landman. Results so far have been positive, as Landman was the Week 1 NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the Rams have not given up a TD run through two games.

Barkley, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 148 yards and two scores this season and could be poised for a breakout on Sunday — along with the rest of Philadelphia’s 29th-ranked offense in yards per game (259.0).

All five of the Eagles’ touchdowns have been red-zone runs of 13 or fewer yards, three by quarterback Jalen Hurts, as critics claim the offense has been too predictable under first-year coordinator Sean Patullo.

“We’re constantly making sure that we’re not giving anything away to the defense,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Monday. “But there are times you’re going to have tendencies. You do your best to put a seed of doubt in the defense’s mind to break tendencies. But a lot of teams — good teams have tendencies. But that doesn’t mean you don’t fight like crazy to fight them and to, again, put seeds of doubt in the defense’s mind of what you’re doing.”

Barkley rushed for 88 yards and found the end zone for the second straight week in last weekend’s 20-17 victory at Kansas City, a rematch of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win.

The Rams arrive with the NFL’s seventh-best offense, averaging 367.5 yards per game behind 37-year-old Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Stafford threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns and Adams recorded his first 100-yard game and first score with L.A. in last week’s 33-19 triumph at Tennessee. Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards to increase his team-leading totals to 18 and 221.

Rams guard Steve Avila (ankle), tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) and defensive end Braden Fiske (oblique) were considered questionable to begin the week. Avila and Fiske did not practice Wednesday while Parkinson was a limited participant.

For the Eagles, veteran tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) returned to practice Wednesday after missing Week 2 and was a limited participant along with star defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder) and backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb). Backup running back Will Shipley (oblique) remains sidelined with the injury he suffered Week 1.

Including the postseason, the Eagles have won nine of the last 10 meetings. The exception was the Rams’ 37-19 win in Philadelphia in Week 2 of 2020.

–Field Level Media