The 2026 NFL season has already included some entertaining twists and turns. Among them, some teams have proven to be the most surprising, for better or for worse, already through the first two weeks of the season.

While some clubs, like the Buffalo Bills, have been exactly what was expected of them, here are three teams that have pulled together starts that defy expectations.

While they haven't played the most challenging schedule early in the year, the Las Vegas Raiders have been a surprise by winning games in a way that no one anticipated. 

For a team with a top young running back in Ashton Jeanty, it's been quarterback Kirk Cousins racking up points for the offense. Although Jeanty ran for 102 rushing yards in his first game of the season, Cousins has piled on six passing touchdowns, three in each game, to help propel the Raiders over the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers.

Meanwhile, the team's three interceptions are tied for No. 2 in the NFL.

In 2025, the Raiders appeared to have no answer quarterback or on defense. Then, the team drafted Indiana Hoosiers passer Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, but chose to start the veteran Cousins early in the season. 

Cousins has become the answer early and the Raiders' defense has done an expeditious 180-degree turn which has now led to a 2-0 start to the season that few expected.

A favorite in the NFC South division, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have started the season winless with a consistency problem.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense has shown flashes of their old selves, but have also showed the inefficiencies of their even older selves. The team first dropped a shootout with the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been outstanding to start the season, but then turned around to lose a 23-19 game to the Cleveland Browns amidst a weather delay.

What was expected to be an easy start to the season for Tampa has turned into a worst-case scenario opening.

The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated through the first two weeks of the season being led by neither Kyler Murray nor J.J. McCarthy, but veteran passer Carson Wentz.

Week 2 was a slugfest 9-3 victory over a Chicago Bears team reeling after a hamstring strain sidelined star quarterback Caleb Williams, but Minnesota's opening 39-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers was a statement, one punctuated by Wentz' three-passing-touchdown day.

Even with the momentum slowing in Week 2, the Vikings are one of the surprising clubs around the league opening the year 2-0.

Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Rams

They still have to play their Week 2 matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, but the Los Angeles Rams laid an egg to open up their season in Australia with their 27-7 beatdown loss to the San Francisco 49ers. A rebound in Week 2 would help, but the NFL's "superteam" looked dreadful to open the year.