Sep 18, 2026 · 30 min
Cosell finds new answers in Week 2’s evolving NFL identities
Greg Cosell's 2026 NFL Week 2 Preview: Part Two + Lions- Bills reaction
The episode tests whether early-season results reflect durable schematic shifts, quarterback trends, or small-sample noise across the league.
- 1Kansas City’s ground-driven win challenged the assumption that Patrick Mahomes must carry its offense.
- 2San Francisco’s inside rushing attack exposed how Kyle Shanahan manipulated the Rams’ defensive structure.
- 3Week 2 spotlights changing offensive formations, quarterback uncertainty, and a potentially explosive Giants pass rush.
Don't miss
Greg Cosell breaks down Kyle Shanahan’s masterful use of inside runs to exploit the Rams’ defensive structure.
The brief
Greg Cosell and Ross Tucker use Week 1 film to question familiar assumptions: Kansas City won decisively without Patrick Mahomes at the center, while several offenses remain unsettled.
The preview moves through quarterback evaluations and matchup identities, from Jalen Hurts’ poise and Cam Ward’s struggles to Denver’s uncertain offense and Jacksonville’s emerging Parker Washington.
A league-wide return to under-center formations and heavier rushing emphasis links the Raiders-Chargers, Seahawks-Cardinals, and Commanders-Cowboys discussions.
Cosell calls Kyle Shanahan’s plan against the Rams a master class, explaining how San Francisco’s effective inside runs exploited Los Angeles’ defensive structure.
The episode closes on the Giants’ defensive ceiling, with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter giving New York rare pass-rush potential.
Featuring
Patrick Mahomes
Parker Washington
Steve SpagnuoloListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.