Is this real?

Summary of Is this real?

by The Athletic

57m•September 24, 2026
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Overview of The Athletic Football Show — “Is this real?”

Robert Mays and Bill Barnwell continue their annual early-season NFL tradition: two weeks into the season, they ask which surprising performances are sustainable and which are likely to regress. The conversation focuses on five major storylines: Bryce Young’s resurgence in Carolina, the Bengals’ improved defense, the Packers’ struggling offense, the Chargers’ offensive mess, and Josh Allen’s monster start in Buffalo.

Biggest Questions Discussed

Bryce Young and the Panthers offense

  • Young has been one of the most productive passers in the league through two games, ranking near the top of EPA/dropback.
  • Barnwell and Mays agreed this is the most uncertain case in the segment.
  • The main debate:
    • Skeptical view: two games is too small a sample, and Carolina has benefited from favorable circumstances and weaker pass rush situations.
    • Optimistic view: Young may finally be learning how to survive in the NFL by:
      • finding space in and outside the pocket,
      • getting the ball out faster,
      • and processing more quickly.
  • The Panthers have also changed their offensive approach:
    • more downfield passing,
    • more flexibility with play caller Brad Idzik,
    • and more confidence in Bryce Young’s timing and movement.
  • Verdict: Not necessarily a top-five passing offense, but this may be a real sign that Young has a viable long-term path as Carolina’s quarterback.

Bengals defense

  • Cincinnati’s defense has looked dramatically better after being one of the league’s worst units last season.
  • Barnwell believes the front is real:
    • Dexter Lawrence–style interior disruption was compared to how dominant some nose tackles can be without posting sacks.
    • The team’s pass rush and run defense up front have been legitimate.
  • But there are reasons for caution:
    • the defense has benefited from some variance,
    • the secondary and linebacking level still look vulnerable,
    • and the Bengals’ coverage issues in the middle of the field may be exposed more over time.
  • Verdict: Probably not a top-eight defense, but a finish in the 10–12 range is plausible if the front continues to play at this level.

Packers offense

  • Green Bay’s offense has been ugly early, ranking near the bottom of the league in offensive success rate.
  • The concerns are structural:
    • injuries on the offensive line,
    • inconsistent personnel,
    • a lack of reliable depth at receiver,
    • and reduced confidence in the run game.
  • Mays was slightly less panicked than Barnwell because some of the worst issues came in a rainy, messy game against the Jets, where mistakes felt correctable.
  • Still, both acknowledged the offense may have a lower ceiling than in recent years.
  • Verdict: The floor may still be solid, but this could be a more ordinary offense than the Packers have had recently. The worst-case comparison floated was a 2022 Rams-type season if the injuries keep piling up.

Chargers offense

  • The Chargers’ offense is the most alarming of the group.
  • The concerns are both schematic and execution-based:
    • the run game has been disastrous,
    • turnovers and miscues keep stacking up,
    • and the entire offense looks disjointed.
  • Barnwell pointed out that the run game has been especially bad in condensed formations and that the Chargers have lost a huge amount of expected value on designed runs already.
  • Justin Herbert is not being absolved, but he is also not the sole problem:
    • he’s making some bad decisions,
    • but the offense around him is broken,
    • and the defense has not been good enough to stabilize things.
  • The upcoming schedule makes the situation even worse.
  • Verdict: Yes, this is real — or at least real enough to be very concerning. The Chargers look like a team in serious trouble unless something changes quickly.

Josh Allen and the Bills

  • Allen’s hot start is real in the sense that the offensive changes around him are real.
  • Key reasons for optimism:
    • Dalton Kincaid’s expanded role,
    • better usage of Josh Palmer and other weapons,
    • more play action,
    • and a more coherent under-center run/pass structure.
  • The Bills’ offense is now built in a way that more naturally complements Allen’s strengths.
  • There’s also a strong argument that this could be an all-time Allen season if everyone stays healthy.
  • Verdict: The exact pace may not last, but the foundation is real, and Buffalo could still have the league’s best offense.

Key Takeaways

What feels sustainable

  • Bryce Young is showing real signs of functional growth, even if the ceiling is still uncertain.
  • Cincinnati’s defensive front looks legitimately improved.
  • Buffalo’s offensive structure is much better aligned with Josh Allen’s skill set.
  • The Chargers’ problems are broad enough that they feel systemic rather than fluky.

What may regress

  • Carolina’s top-five passing efficiency is likely too high to fully sustain.
  • The Bengals may not keep generating elite pressure while blitzing so little.
  • The Packers may not stay this bad, but injuries could cap their upside.
  • The Chargers could improve a bit, but the combination of injuries, schedule difficulty, and poor execution makes a major turnaround hard to believe.

Final Thoughts

The episode is essentially a snapshot of early-season NFL volatility: some teams are overachieving in ways that may be real, others are surviving on shaky ground, and a few are already flashing serious red flags. The biggest theme is that two weeks is enough to notice meaningful trends, but not enough to fully trust them — except maybe when a team like the Chargers looks fundamentally broken.