Shawn Hubbard/Baltimore Ravens
Week 2 in the NFL brought no shortage of fireworks, and the league’s Players of the Week reflected that. From record-setting offensive outbursts to game-changing defensive plays and special teams heroics, the AFC and NFC each had stars rise to the occasion.
AFC Honorees
Offense – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
Jonathan Taylor looked every bit like the workhorse back Indianapolis depends on, piling up a league-best 215 scrimmage yards in the Colts’ 29-28 win over Denver. Taylor gashed the Broncos for 165 yards on the ground and added 50 more through the air, including a touchdown reception. It marked the first 150+ rushing yard and receiving touchdown performance of the year, and Taylor joined a short list of players to accomplish that feat multiple times since 2020.
This is Taylor’s fourth Offensive Player of the Week award, placing him alongside Edgerrin James as the only Colts non-quarterbacks to reach that mark.
Defense – Roquan Smith, LB, Ravens
Baltimore’s Roquan Smith was everywhere against Cleveland, racking up 15 tackles and three tackles for loss while also scooping up a fumble and returning it 63 yards for a touchdown. His dominance helped fuel the Ravens’ 41-17 win and earned him his first Defensive Player of the Week award. Smith becomes the latest Georgia linebacker to bring home the honor, following in the footsteps of names like Justin Houston and Leonard Floyd.
Special Teams – Antonio Gibson, RB, Patriots
Antonio Gibson’s spark came in the return game, where he delivered the first kickoff return touchdown of the season. His 90-yard sprint to the end zone put New England ahead late in a 33-27 win at Miami. Gibson finished with six returns for a league-high 171 yards and joined a select group of Patriots running backs—Dion Lewis, Laurence Maroney, and David Meggett—to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
NFC Honorees
Offense – Jared Goff, QB, Lions
Jared Goff put on a clinic against Chicago, completing 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and tying his career high with five touchdown passes. He finished with a 156.0 passer rating as Detroit rolled up 52 points, the most of any team in Week 2. Goff now has five career starts where his team topped 50 points, tying Peyton Manning and trailing only Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Len Dawson. The honor is his seventh career Player of the Week, and fourth since arriving in Detroit.
Defense – Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
Fred Warner anchored San Francisco’s defense in a 26-21 win over New Orleans. He tallied 11 tackles, a pass defense, forced fumble, and fumble recovery. It was the first such stat line since Warner himself pulled it off back in 2020. The performance gave him his fourth Defensive Player of the Week honor, putting him in company with Nick Bosa and Merton Hanks among 49ers greats.
Special Teams – Brandon Aubrey, K, Cowboys
Brandon Aubrey delivered one of the most dramatic kicking performances in league history. He hit all four of his field goals and extra points in Dallas’ 40-37 overtime win against the Giants. Most notably, he drilled a 64-yarder to tie the game at the end of regulation—the third-longest field goal in NFL history—and followed it with a 46-yard game-winner as time expired in overtime. He became the first player ever to hit both a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation and a game-winning field goal at the end of overtime in the same contest.
Six different players, six standout moments. From Taylor’s all-around dominance to Aubrey’s clutch leg, Week 2 showed just how many ways a game can be flipped by star power.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
