🧨 It was an offensive explosion to kick off the 2026 NFL season, with Sunday delivering plenty of points with some surprising results.
🏈 The openers
But let’s begin with the season openers, with the defending champion Seahawks coming back to beat the Patriots on Wednesday night—as the defense sparked it with three consecutive INTs of QB Drake Maye. Sam Darnold (hip) was injured to end the first drive for Seattle, but thankfully it’s looking like a short-term injury; and backup QB Drew Lock (16/22, 187 yards, TD) did an excellent job in relief. There’s concern building in New England over their QB, as this continues a stretch of struggles from last postseason.
Not struggling to begin 2026 was the 49ers. They were humming in a 27-7 victory over the heavy preseason Super Bowl favorite Rams in the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia. From Mike Evans (a few key third-down catches and a TD) fitting seamlessly with his new squad to Deebo Samuel Sr. returning to catch a TD to Christian McCaffrey looking fresh to the defense tightening up, San Francisco has a lot to be optimistic about. Meanwhile, the Rams will look to put a morning game across the globe behind them quickly.
👀 Stars shine in Week 1
“We do like Reliant Stadium. Woohoo!” Bills superstar QB Josh Allen and his squad got over the hump at Houston (previously 0-4), winning a 36-31 shootout capped by a TD dot to WR Joshua Palmer on third-and-11 with under two minutes remaining. Allen totaled four TDs (two passing, two rushing), and his 26th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or OT is the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2018.
New Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III went off in his first game with the squad, totaling 191 yards and two TD in a surprising rout of the rival Broncos. The revamped KC defense looked excellent, putting a ton of constant pressure on Broncos QB Bo Nix and smothering WRs in coverage. And Patrick Mahomes ran for a TD in his return from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
The Ravens looked highly impressive in a 41-23 win at Indy, led by the duo of QB Lamar Jackson (324 passing yards, 40 rushing yards, two total TD) and RB Derrick Henry (144 rushing yards, three TD) looking like an absolute force in the new offense. And WR Zay Flowers put up 150 yards and a TD in the first half before leaving with a hamstring injury that’s thought to be minor.
Realistic goals? Bears HC Ben Johnson said he wants the scoring record, and Chicago started red-hot in a 59-37 victory at Carolina—the highest-scoring Week 1 game ever. QB Caleb Williams showed off his dual-threat ability with two passing TD and two rushing TD, while the Bears ran for six total TD. After the win? Williams says this will be their worst game.
Other Week 1 results:
Giants 28, Cowboys 20 (SNF): The story might be the Dallas defense not looking improved at all in Game 1, but the Giants are clearly not much of a joke anymore with HC John Harbaugh taking over—and his big TE signing Isaiah Likely headlined with eight receptions for 78 yards and two TD.
Eagles 24, Commanders 22: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts looked good in the new Philly offense, connecting with TE Dallas Goedert for two scores—while the defense made enough stops including getting some help on Commanders WR Stefon Diggs’ celebration after a TD.
Lions 31, Saints 30 (OT): Detroit held on after giving up a 21-0 lead, stopping New Orleans on a two-point conversion attempt in OT—already a big win to get to 1-0 with a trip to Buffalo this Thursday.
Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27: Cincy’s revamped defense forced four turnovers, including a fumble recovery for a TD and recovering a costly redzone fumble by Baker Mayfield in the end zone.
Vikings 39, Packers 22: Green Bay appeared in control on the road, but the Vikings defense caught fire late and QB Carson Wentz (three TD, two to WR Justin Jefferson) played really well after Kyler Murray’s early concussion.
Cardinals 26, Chargers 14: Arizona HC Mike LaFleur gets on the board with a win in his first game, with his squad playing a very clean all-around game—while the Chargers may have been the most disappointing team in Week 1.
Steelers 20, Falcons 13: A pick-six by Steelers star EDGE T.J. Watt created some fourth-quarter distance in a game where Atlanta felt extremely limited with Cooper Rush forced to start at QB with Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) out.
Jets 23, Titans 10: The Jets had a balanced offensive attack and took care of the ball, with the Titans unable to do much through the air.
Jaguars 34, Browns 10: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was on point, tossing four TD including one on a diving catch by breakout candidate WR Parker Washington. Cleveland looked worse than the 34-10 score indicates.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13: Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty looks very healthy, being used all over the place and getting fed the ball with two receiving scores.
📝 The latest player news
There’s a lot to know. First, the injuries:
Rams star EDGE Myles Garrett had arthroscopic knee surgery and is out at least four games.
Patriots star WR A.J. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain in the season opener and is out at least four games while on IR—but may miss six games.
Raiders star TE Brock Bowers underwent a knee procedure that forced him to miss Week 1, but there’s hope he could even return this week.
Eagles G Landon Dickerson will miss at least four games while on IR with multiple ailments.
Out for the year: 49ers DL Alfred Collins (knee injury in practice), Cowboys RB Malik Davis (hip injury in practice), Falcons DL Da’Shawn Hand (quad).
Week 1 rookie WR injuries: Ravens WR Ja’Kobi Lane (wrist, out several weeks), 49ers WR De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle, out at least a month), Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr. (high-ankle sprain).
Lions RB Isiah Pacheco (back) out 12 weeks.
Texans second-round rookie DT Kayden McDonald (ankle) will miss at least three more games while on IR.
Steelers star CB Joey Porter Jr. was out Week 1 with a “back” injury in an apparent continued hold-in over not getting a contract extension from Pittsburgh. A trade is reportedly possible.
Contract news includes a few extensions just before the season:
The Packers signed TE Tucker Kraft to a massive three-year extension.
Raiders TE Michael Mayer got a great three-year extension to continue working in tandem with Brock Bowers.
The Bears signed RB D’Andre Swift to a three-year extension.
WR Ryan Flournoy (one-year) and TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (three years) were both extended by the Cowboys.
Not getting new deals right now: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Texans QB C.J. Stroud, Jaguars WR Parker Washington.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to his misdemeanor domestic charges, setting the stage for him to potentially return after six or so games, depending on the NFL’s ultimate punishment. Jacobs is currently on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and his time there can go toward any possible discipline.
📰 News and funny notes around the NFL
The 49ers signed HC Kyle Shanahan to a long-term contract extension in the offseason.
The Broncos considered signing Drew Brees ahead of the AFC Championship last season after Bo Nix’s ankle injury (without Sean Payton knowing).
Among the Aaron Rodgers news from the past week was him jokingly (but clearly a bit serious) calling his former HC Matt LaFleur “a clown” for saying Jordan Love is the best QB he’s had at the line of scrimmage.
Steelers WR DK Metcalf told The Athletic that he believes there is a hidden civilization under Antarctica.
Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin revealed that he’s been playing Minecraft and has a city he’s worked on for 12 years.
Other Sports Updates
🙏 Rest in Peace: Legendary hockey analyst Barry Melrose passed away at 70.
🏈 College football highlights: Then-No. 4 Texas stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat No. 1 Ohio State, while Oklahoma State snapped their program-worst 12-game losing streak by stunning No. 6 Oregon.
🚨 Florida State fired athletic director Michael Alford amid the football program’s recent struggles.
🎾 US Open winners: Alexander Zverev (men’s) and Elena Rybakina (women’s).
