2026 NFL season, Week 1: What We Learned from Sunday's games

Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from Sunday's action in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:

Early Window

• Chicago Bears 59, Carolina Panthers 37
• Cincinnati Bengals 33, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
• Detroit Lions 31, New Orleans Saints 30 (OT)
• Buffalo Bills 36, Houston Texans 31
• Baltimore Ravens 41, Indianapolis Colts 23
• Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Cleveland Browns 10
• Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Atlanta Falcons 13
• New York Jets 23, Tennessee Titans 10

Late Window

• Arizona Cardinals 26, Los Angeles Chargers 14
• Las Vegas Raiders 27, Miami Dolphins 13
• Minnesota Vikings 39, Green Bay Packers 22
• Philadelphia Eagles 24, Washington Commanders 22

Sunday Night

• New York Giants 28, Dallas Cowboys 20

Dan Parr's takeaways:

1. Bears offense enters a new orbit. After jumping from the bottom of the league to sixth overall in total yards last season, Chicago's offense used Week 1 to send the clearest message that it has an extra gear to hit in Year 2 of the Ben Johnson era. The Bears dropped 59 points on Carolina -- their most in a game since the 1980 season -- with a balanced and unrelenting attack. Caleb Williams looked masterful for much of the game, making highlight-reel plays with his arm and legs. He's the first player in franchise history to post 200-plus passing yards, two or more passing touchdowns, 50-plus rushing yards and two or more rushing scores in a single game, per NFL Research. Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each reached the century mark in rushing yards. On a day when the defense gave up 37 points, Chicago won by 22 points. For so many years, that kind of outcome was something Bears fans could only dream about.
2. Turnovers, porous defense crush Panthers' hopes. It was a disastrous day for the Carolina defense, which had received an infusion of talent this offseason thanks to the marquee free-agent signings of Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips. The reigning NFC South champions were torched for 552 yards, including 291 on the ground. Still, if not for a muffed punt by Jimmy Horn Jr. and a fumble by Tetairoa McMillan, maybe the team could have turned the tide on Sunday -- scoring 37 points should be enough to win most of the time. There was also a costly offside penalty on Derrick Brown, which wiped out a Bobby Brown III interception on a Williams throw to the end zone. The collection of errors became too much for Dave Canales' team to overcome by the fourth quarter. Bryce Young's 361 passing yards (second-most in his career) weren't nearly enough.
3. Loveland silenced. In a somewhat shocking development given the Bears' offensive explosion, their starting tight end, Colston Loveland, was held without a catch. Loveland -- the team's leading receiver last season -- was targeted just twice. Caleb Williams threw behind an open Loveland in the third quarter on a pass that fell incomplete, one of the quarterback's few misses on the day. It might go down as a blip on the radar when looking back in a few weeks if Loveland rebounds, but it was a tough day for fantasy managers who went all-in on the second-year TE in their drafts.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bears-Panthers (via NFL Pro): D'Andre Swift rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries (6.9 yards per carry) against the Panthers. The seventh-year veteran recorded a 55.6% rushing success rate, fourth-highest of his career (minimum 15 carries) and forced seven missed tackles, tied for his third-most in a single game since entering the league.

NFL Research: With 96 points between the two teams, Sunday's Bears-Panthers shootout was the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history. It beat the previous record of 88 combined points in 2018 (Bucs 48, Saints 40).

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Revamped Bengals defense is for real. Cincinnati's offseason was defined by the moves its front office made to address its leaky defense, capping an aggressive roster construction period by trading a first-round pick for Dexter Lawrence. Those efforts paid off tremendously Sunday. The Bengals forced four turnovers (the second time they've done so in Week 1 in franchise history), including a 27-yard return of a Baker Mayfield fumble for a Demetrius Knight Jr. touchdown, and forced a Mayfield fumble just short of the goal line that prevented a Buccaneers touchdown and set up an 80-yard touchdown drive for the Bengals. In what ended up being a fairly high-scoring game, Cincinnati's defense proved to be the difference, limiting Tampa Bay's opportunities in the first half and enjoying contributions from a collection of familiar and new faces (Myles Murphy, Barrett Carter, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe). At all three levels of the defense, Bengals defenders played with increased intensity and collectively produced results for which their fans have yearned for years, an incredibly encouraging sign to start a season.
2. Baker giveth, Baker taketh away. Just days after signing a three-year extension that moved him into the $55 million-per-year club, Baker Mayfield took the field with the same fire that has propelled him into the role of franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay. That competitive inferno caused problems for the Buccaneers on Sunday. Mayfield's refusal to give up on plays contributed directly to two turnovers that led to two Bengals touchdowns, and his three total giveaways created an uphill battle which Mayfield tried to push the Buccaneers past, but ultimately fell short. It's part of the agreement when signing up for a season quarterbacked by Mayfield. He'll produce plenty of thrills, never quit and often be the main reason the Buccaneers are in contention, but it always comes with risk. On Sunday, that risk was just too much for the Buccaneers to overcome.
3. Cincinnati's offense successfully evolves. The Bengals' typically explosive offense underwent a bit of a transformation in the offseason, requiring Joe Burrow to take more snaps from under center in an attempt to become more multiple (and thus, less predictable). It caused some growing pains during camp and inspired some minor concerns they might not be as productive as they were in previous years. Those worries can be put to bed for at least a week. Burrow looked perfectly comfortable operating in offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher's scheme, found plenty of profit when targeting tight end Mike Gesicki, enjoyed a quality day from running back Chase Brown and remembered he can always rely on Tee Higgins when he needs it most, converting the game-sealing first down on an 18-yard connection with Higgins. The traditionally slow-starting Bengals looked much better than they typically do in Week 1, which is a big win for Cincinnati.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Buccaneers-Bengals (via NFL Pro): Baker Mayfield's three lost fumbles decreased the Buccaneers' win probability by a combined 32.9 percentage points in Sunday's loss to the Bengals.

NFL Research: Josiah Trotter recorded one sack and one interception return touchdown in Week 1 against the Bengals. Trotter is the first player since at least 1982 to record a sack and pick-six in his NFL debut. He joined Paul Tripoli (1987) as one of only two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players with a pick-six in their NFL debut.

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Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Lions survive epic collapse with OT win. The Lions took a 21-0 lead midway through the third quarter, as Tyler Shough and the Saints offense bungled things. Then, Detroit took its foot off the pedal, allowing New Orleans to control much of the rest of the contest and force overtime. Jahmyr Gibbs motored the Lions down the field, and Amon-Ra St. Brown capped off the opening drive of overtime with a score. The Saints matched the touchdown but fell short on the game-winning two-point attempt, which fell incomplete. It would have been a brutal loss for the Lions after they built a three-score lead. As expected, the offense ran through Gibbs, who took a career-high 29 carries for 156 rushing yards and two TDs. He also added five catches for 30 yards. The Lions leaned on the run, particularly early, and it paid off late as Gibbs gashed through holes, particularly in OT. Expect the Lions to lean on the RB until the passing attack catches up.
2. Shough overcomes terrible start to give the Saints a shot. Tyler Shough looked like a second-year quarterback who didn't take any preseason snaps early in the contest. The QB was scattershot and jittery in the pocket, missed reads, and threw some shockingly awful passes. His two second-half turnovers allowed the Lions to take a big lead. On the ensuing drive after a fumble turned the game into a 21-0 deficit, Shough hit Chris Olave on a deep strike after escaping the pocket. The pass settled down the passer. He picked apart the Lions secondary from there on. Shough led the Saints on scoring drives on five of their final six possessions. The early skittishness disappeared, and he made some beautiful up-and-down throws stretching the field. Shough finished with 410 yards on 35-of-56 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions, took five sacks, and lost a fumble. If not for the wobbly early play from the QB, the Saints would have swiped a big-time road upset to open the season. Kellen Moore's club will be a tough out in 2026.
3. Lions secondary struggled in second half. It was a given Detroit could have some issues in the defensive backs group, particularly early in the season. The unit played solidly early, but was taken advantage of as the game wore on. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard threw a trove of blitzes, particularly from DBs, at Shough. The pressures sped up the young QB early and led to the issues. When the Lions didn't have time to get home, with New Orleans throwing quick passes, the secondary was exposed. Five of the Saints' six 20-plus-yard completions came in the second half or overtime. Aidan Hutchinson was his usual disruptive self, generating two sacks, four QB hits, two tackles for loss and 10 QB pressures. The Lions also got solid play from linebacker Derrick Barnes, who had a sack and an interception. Detroit got to 1-0 thanks to building its big lead, but against more experienced passers, the Lions need to figure out how to protect the secondary to avoid bigger letdowns as the season progresses.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Lions-Saints (via NFL Pro): Jared Goff aligned under center on 47 snaps in Week 1 against the Saints, tied for the most of his Lions career. From shotgun, Goff completed 17 of 22 passes for 134 yards and both of his touchdowns. Lions rushers carried the ball 30 times for 145 yards and two scores with Goff under center.

NFL Research: Jahmyr Gibbs became the fifth player in NFL history with 50-plus touchdowns in their first 50 career games (Week 1 was Gibbs' 50th career game). With two touchdowns in Week 1, Gibbs' 51 career touchdowns only trail Chuck Foreman (55), Jim Brown (53), Marcus Allen (52), and Larry Johnson (52) on that list.

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Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Bills pull through in unexpected barnburner. Buffalo versus Houston was expected to be one of the best matchups of Week 1. That was certainly the case. Much less expected was the teams combining for 67 points. In the end, the Bills did just enough on both ends to start the season with a win, twice retaking the lead after Houston was able to pull ahead in the fourth quarter. Their game-winning drive was a seven-play, 96-yard march led by Josh Allen, who hit Dalton Kincaid for a 35-yarder to flip the field and later Josh Palmer on a beautiful 34-yard strike for the go-ahead score. The drive was a microcosm of Buffalo's day on offense, as the Bills still found resistance against Houston's stellar D but was simply able to overcome it. James Cook nearly fumbled the game away on the drive's first play, and Allen threw a gimme to Kamari Lassiter one snap before Buffalo's score that the cornerback couldn't corral. Despite racking up the most points Houston has allowed since the 2023 season, the Bills still required a stop on defense as C.J. Stroud began a potential statement drive with 1:36 remaining. He did march the Texans down to Buffalo's 9-yard line, but there the Bills refused to break, as Deone Walker sacked Stroud on first-and-goal and Gregory Rousseau later clinched the win with a third-down strip-sack. It was going to take a total team effort to beat a club of Houston's quality, and Buffalo got one.
2. Montgomery delivers back in workhorse role. David Montgomery came to Houston for more opportunities, and he saw plenty in his first game with the Texans. Although he was inefficient on his carries -- 3.0 yards per attempt on 20 totes -- he exhibited a nose for the end zone, scoring three of Houston's four touchdowns. He scored his first when the Texans, who notably struggled running in the red zone last year, trusted him with three consecutive goal-line carries. His second, an 18-yarder, came as he cut into a huge hole opened by the Texans offensive line and streaked untouched to the end zone. Montgomery also had three receptions for 19 yards, including a 7-yard score. He benefited the passing game beyond just his presence, too. The Texans having a legitimate rushing game helped C.J. Stroud (26 of 38 for 274 yards and two TDs) settle in and make some stellar throws. It didn't result in a win Sunday, but the trade for Montgomery looks like it will boost a Texans offense that too often failed to hold up its end of the bargain in 2025.
3. Moore enjoys new digs. It took a while for Josh Allen to target new acquisition DJ Moore, but once he did, the pair made the most of the new partnership. Moore collected his first look as a Bill for an 18-yard catch with just under five minutes to play in the second quarter. On the very next play, he drew a 46-yard pass interference penalty that set up a 1-yard Allen TD plunge. Moore then made a brilliant catch on the following possession, snagging the ball over a diving Reed Blankenship and keeping his feet in before streaking down the sideline for a 43-yard score. Though he was topped by Dalton Kincaid's 130 receiving yards, which marked a career high for the tight end, Moore finished with a team-leading eight targets, five receptions, 100 yards and the score. His impact on Buffalo's offense should silence those who thought he might be done after Chicago or fail to carve out a role in a passing attack that loves to spread the ball around.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bills-Texans (via NFL Pro): Houston blitzed on only 18.8% of dropbacks, allowing 287 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 144.7 passer rating on plays without blitzing.

NFL Research: Josh Allen became the 12th player to reach 80 rushing touchdowns by his ninth season and the first quarterback in the NFL to have 80 career scores on the ground.

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Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Impressive Ravens offense stalled by injuries. Baltimore's offense functioned seamlessly early on against the Colts to put up 31 points before halftime, the team's second-most first-half points to ever open a season. The output was especially impressive considering Lamar Jackson and Co. were breaking in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's new system. Jackson, who struggled with injuries sapping his effectiveness throughout a trying 2025 season, looked especially rejuvenated. Although he did lose a fumble, Jackson's signature elusiveness appeared to be back. He rushed four times for 43 yards (excluding three kneel-downs) and a score, escaped sure sacks on several occasions and threw it tremendously too, with 324 yards on 17-of-22 passing. Derrick Henry continues to look ageless, rumbling his way to 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns with a ferocity, and the Jackson-Zay Flowers connection was unstoppable. Jackson enjoyed a perfect 158.3 passer rating on his six targets to Flowers, which went for five catches, 150 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, Flowers left before halftime with a hamstring injury, and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane, who was involved and caught a touchdown that was called back for offensive holding, also got knocked out by a wrist injury. The offense understandably looked different in the second half following those departures, leaning on Henry even more while adding just 10 more points. While it was a tremendous play-calling debut by Doyle, the injuries could loom large moving forward.
2. Taylor was one of few bright spots for Colts. It was ugly for Indianapolis, which fell into a 28-6 hole after marching 65 yards for a touchdown to open the game. Outside of forcing a second-quarter turnover to prevent Baltimore from potentially putting together a third consecutive TD drive and fortifying a bit after Lamar Jackson no longer had Zay Flowers to torment them with, the Colts were completely lost on defense. They gave up 506 total net yards and were ineffective against the pass and the run. Perhaps the most important takeaway for Indy long term is that Daniel Jones came away looking healthy, but he never got much going. Jones finished 19 of 31 for 166 yards, an early pick and a mostly meaningless late touchdown to Tyler Warren. As has often been the case in recent years, Jonathan Taylor proved to be the Colts' surest means of production. He punched in two scores and collected 121 yards on 22 touches while averaging 5.2 yards per carry -- with five of his attempts going for 10-plus yards, per Next Gen Stats. It's great knowing the Colts can count on Taylor, but everyone else around him needs to raise their game.
3. Minter gets A+ in first game as head coach. It's hard to imagine a head-coaching debut going much better than Jesse Minter's. His Ravens destroyed the Colts. Even the lopsided 41-23 score made the result seem far closer than it was. Baltimore's defense -- the coach's specialty -- was unable to limit Jonathan Taylor, but Marlon Humphrey did force and recover a fumble from the RB at a point when the game still felt somewhat in the balance. Roquan Smith contributed 11 tackles and collected an interception after going without one for the first time in his career last year. Trey Hendrickson also fit in spectacularly, as he delivered a game-high eight quarterback pressures. And when things got a little hairy in the second half following an injury to Zay Flowers, Baltimore made the correct adjustments, counting on Derrick Henry to help milk the game away. This was Minter's seventh Week 1 as an NFL coach, having spent four years on the Ravens staff previously and the past two years as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. His teams are now 7-0 in Week 1 and his defenses have allowed 10.4 points per game in those contests, per NFL Research.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Ravens-Colts (via NFL Pro): The Ravens defense posted a 58.6% pressure rate and two sacks when Trey Hendrickson was on the field.

NFL Research: Zay Flowers recorded a career-high 150 receiving yards prior to leaving in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Flowers has averaged 102.0 receiving yards per game in Week 1 in his career, the fourth-most by a player in NFL history to have played multiple Week 1 games (Michael Irvin (106.8), Tyreek Hill (104.9) and Antonio Brown (103.3).

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Jaguars pick up right where they left off. One of the most entertaining storylines of the latter portion of the 2025 season existed in Jacksonville, where Liam Coen's offense hit its stride and became one of the most explosive units in football. Judging by how it performed Sunday, rust never had a chance of affecting this group. Trevor Lawrence was dialed in from the start, leading two touchdown drives that ended in much different, but equally impressive Lawrence touchdown passes. Jacksonville moved up and down the field with ease, piling up 363 offensive yards and converting over 50 percent of its third downs. At times, it seemed as if Lawrence was spending his Sunday playing 7 on 7. Bhayshul Tuten got off to an encouraging start in his new role as lead back, receiving 15 carries for 66 yards, and Parker Washington (five catches, 83 yards, one touchdown) continued to be the most important player not named Lawrence in Jacksonville. Collectively, it was business as usual in Jacksonville, which is just how the Jaguars like it.
2. Watson's first start goes even worse than expected. Deshaun Watson's selection as Browns starter defied logic, and his performance Sunday only made reality more frustrating for Browns fans. Watson threw an ugly interception on his third pass attempt of the season, routinely appeared overwhelmed by the speed of the game and a pass rush that eagerly feasted on his unusually long pass drops, and frequently missed his targets even when free from pressure. His only high-quality throw of the game came in garbage time, when he launched a deep ball to Denzel Boston for the rookie's first touchdown. Sure, the Browns didn't help themselves (11 accepted penalties for 75 yards), but in any other scenario with any other team, there would be no reason Watson is playing. These Browns are a unique case, though, and they'll likely subject their fans to this misery again for at least one more week.
3. Jacksonville's pass rush feasts. When reviewing the Jaguars entering the 2026 season, it was fair to have some questions regarding their defense. Could Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker key a consistently effective pass rush? Might the secondary come together quickly, especially with Travis Hunter back in the mix? For one week, the answer was a resounding yes. Jacksonville piled up five sacks (Hines-Allen and Walker combined for three of them), limited the Browns to 1 of 8 on third down, forced two turnovers (and was inches from a third) and held Cleveland to 132 total yards through three quarters. This is only one game and isn't a proper barometer for where the Jaguars stand, but for one Sunday, it was magically delicious.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Browns-Jaguars (via NFL Pro): Trevor Lawrence was pressured on just five pass attempts and completed two for 62 yards and two touchdowns, posting a stellar passer rating of 126.7 under duress.

NFL Research: The Jaguars have won nine consecutive games dating back to last season, tied for the second-longest win streak in franchise history. Their 24-point victory is the second-largest margin of victory in a season opener.

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Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Watt, D carried Steelers to victory. With the Steelers offense unable to cash in, T.J. Watt decided to do it himself. The star pass rusher plucked a Cooper Rush pass and dashed to the end zone for the eventual game-deciding touchdown. The Pittsburgh defensive line controlled most of the contest, holding Bijan Robinson down early and bamboozling Rush. The stars shined for the Steelers. Watt generated two sacks. Ditto for Alex Highsmith. Cameron Heyward was playing volleyball, swatting three passes. Pittsburgh held Atlanta to 2 of 12 on third downs and 238 total yards. It might not have been pretty, but the Steelers D showed it can keep the club stable until the offense gets clicking.
2. Bijan can't do it alone. The star running back generated 173 of the Falcons' 263 scrimmage yards -- 83 rushing yards on 21 carries, 90 receiving yards on eight catches with a TD. Cooper Rush was thrust into a tough spot, making the Week 1 start after joining the club late in the process. The issues were obvious. Rush was inconsistent, missing targets and rarely threatening downfield. Ten of his 21 attempts came behind the line of scrimmage. With very little passing threat, the Steelers defense was able to prioritize slowing the ground attack. It was a testament to Robinson's talent that he averaged 4.0 yards per carry. Until the Falcons QB situation is sorted, Atlanta will struggle to put up points.
3. Pittsburgh offense, DK had a forgettable Week 1. The positive: A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers looked spry enough and comfortable in Mike McCarthy's offense. Rodgers attempted to stretch the field more than last year, but had little success doing so, going 0 of 6 on passes of 20-plus air yards. A few of those deep tosses should have connected, but DK Metcalf struggled to come down the ball repeatedly. Metcalf caught just four of 10 targets for 40 yards and was called for a couple of offensive pass interference penalties. Metcalf flubbed several potential big plays on beautiful throws from Rodgers. The run game was silenced, averaging 2.8 yards per carry with neither Jaylen Warren nor Rico Dowdle able to find any consistency. Put in poor down-and-distance repeatedly, the Steelers generated just 15 first downs and 264 total yards while going 3-13 on third downs.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Steelers-Falcons (via NFL Pro):  Aaron Rodgers' 9.2 air yards per target against the Falcons are the most he has recorded as a member of the Steelers, with his 2.95-second time-to-throw being the third-highest average in a game as a Steeler. On passes under 10 air yards, Rodgers completed 20 of his 24 attempts (83.3%), with 11 of these pass attempts being quick passes (under 2.5 second TTT). As he pushed the ball on downfield throws (10-plus air yards), his passing efficiency dropped, completing just four of 12 (33.3%) of his passes for 73 yards and one touchdown.

NFL Research: T.J. Watt joined Julius Peppers as the only players with 100-plus sacks and 10-plus interceptions since sacks were first tracked in 1982.

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Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Jets start season at cruising altitude. Aaron Glenn didn't earn his first win as head coach until Week 8 of his first season in charge. One game into 2026, his Jets boast a winning record for the first time since Week 3 of the 2024 campaign -- and deservedly so. Gang Green was clicking all sides of the ball (with a few exceptions). Geno Smith played error-free ball, spreading the ball around to eight different receivers. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen paced the offense with a plus rushing attack (142 yards on 32 carries). New York dominated time of possession, in part thanks to a second-quarter near-12-minute drive. Glenn's defense, much maligned in 2025, was stalwart, allowing just 112 yards and six first downs through three quarters as the Jets built a 20-3 lead. Qwan'tez Stiggers and the Jets' special teams delivered some key stops and a takeaway on Titans returns, too. New York hasn't looked this composed in all three phases in some time. The Jets' lowly opponent notwithstanding, they couldn't have asked for a better Week 1.
2. Underwhelming start of Saleh era in Nashville. Donning fresh kits and a new outlook, the Titans looked on Sunday like the same outfit that stumbled to a 3-14 campaign in 2025. Robert Saleh's defense was run through and put little pressure on New York's offensive line. Brian Daboll's offense had no explosion; the Titans' longest play was 14 yards, and Tennessee averaged just 4.0 yards per play. Cam Ward was swamped by the Jets' pass rush, getting pressured on 41% of his dropbacks and taking three sacks. Nissan Stadium emptied out early, partially due to a stifling Tennessee heat but mostly due to the Titans' poor play, leaving remaining local fans to boo and scream "Fire Saleh" audibly enough to be picked up by CBS boom mics, and a sizable Jets contingent to break out their notorious "J-E-T-S" chants. For Saleh, a former Jets coach, the result was the last thing he could have wanted. With so much new in Nashville, an adjustment period is to be expected. But the new-look Titans still look like a team at least a year away from contending.
3. Gang Green rookies don't look green. The Jets used their three-first round picks to load up on talent with pass rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. All three made their presences felt on Sunday, if only briefly. Cooper delivered a YAC-happy 30-yard catch-and-run on New York's opening scoring drive. That march ended with a nifty end-around touchdown run for Sadiq, an athletic tight end with the motor to beat linebackers to the edge; in the process, Sadiq joined Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome (1978) as the only TEs in NFL history with a rushing TD in their first career game. Bailey got home in the third quarter, logging his first NFL sack (with help from the boundary), and was a constant force in the backfield. The No. 2 pick logged a game-high six QB pressures. The one drawback: Cooper was forced from the game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. But for Bailey and Sadiq, the latter of whom was held out of most of training camp with an injury, the opener was an unquestioned success and hopefully for New York a sign of things to come.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Jets-Titans (via NFL Pro): The Jets ran from under center on 69.4% of called runs, their highest rate under Aaron Glenn, totaling 25 of their 36 called runs for 115 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Breece Hall led with 17 under center rushing attempts for 85 yards and a touchdown, including three explosive runs (10+ yards), tied for a career high.

NFL Research: The Jets outgained Tennessee by 172 total yards, their largest total yards margin in Week 1 since 2014, the last time Geno Smith was New York's Week 1 starter.

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Brooke Cersosimo's takeaways:

1. Cards capitalize on Chargers' fourth-quarter miscues. Mike LaFleur's bunch was Sunday's biggest surprise -- snapping a nine-game losing streak carried over from the 2025 season. The Cardinals had a fourth quarter for the books, one that included a blocked punt and two huge defensive stands. The dam began to break for the Chargers early in the fourth, trailing, 16-14, when Cardinal Simi Fehoko shot through the middle to block a punt deep in Chargers territory. Two plays later, Jacoby Brissett hit Trey McBride for a 3-yard touchdown, and a Daniel Carlson extra point put the Cards up by two scores. The flood gates continued to open on the next two Chargers' possessions as undrafted eighth-year safety Andrew Wingard picked off a deep Justin Herbert pass before the Cardinals forced a turnover on downs with 4 minutes to play. Holding Los Angeles to just seven second-half points, the Cardinals couldn't ask for a better start to this new era.
2. LaFleur's offense cooks with balanced effort. The Cardinals did a lot of good things offensively Sunday. Mike LaFleur, with an infusion of shifts and motions, orchestrated a balanced offense (34 rushes to 37 pass plays) and put up nearly 400 yards. The unit's first punt occurred with 2 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter. And Jacoby Brissett looked more than worth that reworked contract, playing efficiently and often delivering quick and accurate strikes. He finished 27-of-37 passing for 277 yards and a touchdown. To no one's surprise, Trey McBride was his top target (nine catches, 95 yards and one TD on 13 targets), and it was promising to see Kendrick Bourne so involved. He hauled in all eight of his targets for 75 yards. It's worth noting Marvin Harrison Jr. made one catch (albeit a nice one) on three targets. Predictably, Tyler Allgeier and Jeremiyah Love split the backfield workload with the veteran taking 17 carries for 61 yards on 41 snaps, and the rookie 11 totes for 41 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run, on 32 snaps. There's a lot to like about this offense at first blush. If it cleans up the pre-snap penalties, it'll keep Arizona in a lot of games.
3. Sluggish start for Herbert, L.A. Our real first look at Justin Herbert in Mike McDaniel's offense was a mixed bag. Herbert looked dialed early leading an eight-play, 77-yard scoring drive -- hitting Ladd McConkey three times for 60 yards. McConkey was far and away Herbert's favorite receiver in this one, hauling in five catches for 82 yards with an 8-yard touchdown before a chest injury sidelined him just before the third quarter concluded. His exit left Los Angeles without a reliable possession receiver and it showed, as the Chargers offense failed to reach Cardinals territory on four fourth-quarter possessions. Veteran tight end David Njoku also had five catches Sunday for 58 yards, while Herbert finished 17 of 27 for 209 yards, a TD and INT with three sacks. The offense converted twice on eight third-down tries, was 0 of 3 on fourth down and lost the possession battle by 15 minutes. This offense has talent to be sure, but this was one of the more concerning storylines from Sunday.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Cardinals-Chargers (via NFL Pro): Jeremiyah Love forced six missed tackles in his NFL debut on 11 carries, generating 38 of his 41 rushing yards after forcing a missed tackle. Most of his rushing production came on outside runs to the right side of the formation (28 yards on six carries), with only two carries coming between the tackles.

NFL Research: Mike LaFleur became the first non-interim head coach for the Cardinals to win his first game since Don Coryell in 1973.

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Dan Parr's takeaways:

1. Raiders take baby steps. It wasn't always pretty, but first-year head coach Klint Kubiak showed in the opener that he has elevated Las Vegas from the depths it fell to in recent years. After spending the last two seasons at the bottom of the league, the 27-13 win showed there is now a gap between them and a Dolphins team that appears to be at the bottom right now. It was the franchise's largest margin of victory since Week 17 of the 2024 season and its first double-digit win to open a season since 2017. Ashton Jeanty had one of the best games of his young career, gaining 147 scrimmage yards on 29 touches (5.1 yards per touch) and posting two touchdown catches. The offensive line was functioning at a level that was missing all too often last year. The Raiders didn't even punt until the fourth quarter and scored 27 points, a mark they reached only once last season (in a Week 9 loss).
2. QB questions for Raiders are not going away. Kirk Cousins isn't going to build confidence that he's long for the starting job with his performance on Sunday. Yes, Cousins finished with three touchdown passes and completed 70% of his throws, but he couldn't get much of anything going downfield. He was 1 of 7 for 21 yards, no TDs and two interceptions on passes of 10 or more air yards, per Next Gen Stats. He was without his top pass catcher, tight end Brock Bowers, but Miami's four starters in the secondary had a combined three career starts entering Sunday. Vegas is going to need more from Cousins to be competitive against the league's better teams. The drumbeat to start first overall pick Fernando Mendoza will grow louder with each week if the veteran QB can't connect with deep targets and turns the ball over like he did on Sunday.
3. Dolphins still have a long way to go. Week 1 confirmed that Miami is very much in the beginning of a rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. In his first start with his new team, quarterback Malik Willis had some nice moments, but he also looked indecisive at times -- perhaps because his young wide receivers were not open -- and took five sacks. The Dolphins went 2 for 10 on third down and converted on only 1 of 3 trips to the red zone. They didn't sack Cousins and too often shot themselves in the foot, including on special teams, allowing two kick returns of 40-plus yards and missing a 41-yard field goal. It's only going to get tougher from here, with Miami visiting the 49ers next week.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Dolphins-Raiders (via NFL Pro): The Raiders used 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR) on 24 of their 67 offensive plays (35.8%), their highest rate in the NGS era (since 2016). Las Vegas posted 154 yards and two touchdowns out of 21 personnel, averaging 6.4 yards per play. Both TDs were scored by Ashton Jeanty, who caught all four of his targets for 36 yards out of the grouping.

NFL Research: The Raiders' 27-point performance extended their streak to 38 consecutive games without reaching 30 points, the longest active streak in the NFL.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Flores' defense keys comeback. Notorious for his penchant for dialing up blitzes, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores threw caution to the wind to start the season and sent his soldiers after the opposition all afternoon. Minnesota blitzed on 78.3% of defensive plays, logging a pressure rate of 50% and throwing a massive, purple-and-gold wrench into Green Bay's offensive plans. Though present throughout the contest (and a frequent disruptor for Green Bay's offense in the first half), the aggressive approach truly swung the game in favor of the Vikings in the second half, when Flores understood Green Bay's offensive line could not properly handle his blitzes, and he could manufacture one or more free rushers on any given down. With the Packers behind the sticks and desperate for a response, Flores unleashed his attacks, wrecking Jordan Love's chances of keying a late rally and forcing takeaways that helped the Vikings run away with the win. Even with an offseason of change intended to balance out the team's strengths, the defense got the job done once again.
2. Packers still can't overcome adversity. For most of Sunday's contest, Green Bay appeared to be the better team. The Packers were leading despite lacking a running game, their defense was causing all sorts of problems for Carson Wentz and the Vikings' offense, they were outgaining Minnesota significantly, and it seemed they were one or two more stops from wrapping up a Week 1 win over their division rivals. It all fell apart in one possession, though, with a few questionable calls buying the Vikings second, third and fourth lives on a drive that ended with an Aaron Jones rushing score. From there, the wheels flew off the Packers' bus. With Flores sending relentless pressure and Green Bay's offensive line completely failing to pick up Minnesota's blitzes, Jordan Love melted down, fumbling away possession and throwing an interception on the Packers' next drive in a fashion that was painfully reminiscent of the end of Green Bay's 2025 season. In seemingly a flash, the Packers went from a likely Week 1 winner to a runaway loser. And despite all of the attempts to fix their issues in the offseason, they'll walk away from this game mired in the same familiar feeling of disappointment.
3. Nightmarish debut for Kyler. The Kyler Murray era was supposed to commence happily on Sunday. Instead, it began with an interception on Murray's first attempt, a desperation heave in the face of unblocked pressure. Murray's day didn't last much longer. A third-down scramble midway through the first quarter ended with Murray sliding late and suffering a concussion when he was hit late, sending the Vikings back to the familiar place known as Plan B. Carson Wentz replaced Murray and did a serviceable job, but with Murray entering concussion protocol, the Vikings might again find themselves in a position in which they must rely on a backup and hope for the best. Fortunately for them, it worked out in their favor Sunday.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Packers-Vikings (via NFL Pro): Justin Jefferson's 39-yard TD reception from Carson Wentz was Jefferson's first deep TD (20-plus air yards) since Week 16, 2024.

NFL Research: Sunday's win was the first game in Vikings franchise history that it has won by 15-plus points despite being outgained by 150-plus total yards.

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Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Eagles use big plays to outlast Commanders. Much like the last several seasons, the Eagles offense wasn't pretty, but it got the job done, eking out a two-point win over a division rival. Philly's offense was an inconsistent mess for much of the day, with the offensive line struggling to pick up the new blocking scheme, allowing far too many free runners into the backfield. However, Nick Sirianni's club used a trove of big plays that made the difference. Saquon Barkley had a 42-yard scamper that helped set up a second-quarter score. Jalen Hurts, who was up-and-down, splashed three passes that went at least 30 yards, including the difference-making 43-yard catch-and-run TD from Dallas Goedert. The big plays covered for an offense that went three-and-out four times, including three straight to start the second half. There are obvious kinks to iron out with Sean Mannion's system, but a win's a win.
2. Commanders offense takes too long to get started. Like its counterpart, Washington's newly installed offense took time to make moves. At times, with both clubs breaking in new play callers, Sunday's game in Philadelphia had a preseason feel. Through two quarters, Jayden Daniels completed just six of 16 passes for 43 yards. In the second half, Daniels picked things up, used his legs more effectively, and got an offense that was mostly stuck in the mud early into gear. Daniels guided the Commanders to back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdown drives, using a slew of quick passes to knife through a good Eagles D. However, a two-point attempt shovel pass to tight end John Bates was DOA, as the Commanders fell shy. New offensive coordinator David Blough would probably like that call back. Returning after an injury-riddled 2025 campaign to face a stout Philly D in a new offense was a tough first ask for Daniels. Washington's offense has a lot to clean up moving forward, but at least the offensive line didn't get the QB killed, allowing just two QB hits and one sack.
3. Baun swarms for Fangio's defense. Philly's lack of consistent pass rush is a concern, especially given the state of the Commanders' offensive line. Yet linebacker Zack Baun continued to anchor the middle of the defense. The Pro Bowler flew all over the field, gobbling up 12 tackles, including one for loss, and generated the Eagles' only two passes defensed on the day. Baun stood out among a Philly D that was solid but not otherworldly as they've been. Cooper DeJean got worked at times, allowing seven catches on nine targets in coverage for 83 yards and a TD. The pass rush went silent for stretches and didn't provide enough pop. The middle of the D, led by Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo, however, was solid, combining for 13 tackles, two run stuffs, and Ojomo destroyed the two-point attempt. The Eagles held the Commanders to 295 total yards, the 19th game holding their opponent under 300 yards since Vic Fangio took over in 2024, second in the NFL behind the Seahawks (21).

Next Gen Stats Insight for Commanders-Eagles (via NFL Pro): Jalen Hurts completed six of nine downfield passes (10+ air yards) for 176 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 against the Commanders. His yardage total on those throws was the eighth-highest of his career, while he threw three or more downfield touchdowns for just the sixth time.

NFL Research: The Eagles won their sixth straight Week 1 game, the longest active streak in the NFL. Nick Sirianni is the fifth head coach to win each of his first six career season openers, joining Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan, Potsy Clark and Hall of Famer George Allen.

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Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. What a way to kick off the Harbaugh era. Jaxson Dart was back, so too were Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, each of them making contributions to knock off the rival Cowboys in head coach John Harbaugh's Gotham debut. Facing a franchise that popularized the triplets term, the Giants' young franchise trio of Dart, Nabers and Skattebo proved to be the offensive catalyst. Buoyed by their defense forcing an opening three-and-out, the Giants' offense responded with a 10-play, 83-yard scoring march in which Dart used his arm and legs to guide them. When the quarterback took a dirty and savage hit along the sideline that drew a flag, his teammates surrounded him in unity. Dart was marvelous to the tune of 23-of-29 passing for 230 yards, three touchdowns, and 54 rushing yards. Nabers (six receptions for 69 yards) got his first licks out of the way coming back from a torn ACL and meniscus that had sidelined him since Week 4 of last year. After his opening score, Skattebo, coming back from a busted ankle, predictably backflipped and proceeded to churn out 81 hard yards. This was the start Harbaugh and the franchise needed and wanted. Their young guns were firing against a hated adversary. This wasn't a pretty game. Too many penalties, too many fumbles, some drops. But for Harbaugh and New York, it was a beautiful result for the franchise's new dawn.
2. Cowboys start big season with dud. Brian Schottenheimer, Dak Prescott and Co. haven't shied away from proclaiming their belief that they can and will be going to the Super Bowl. An uncharacteristically drama-free offseason helped to fuel the confidence, but Dallas fell flat to start the season with an surprisingly dreadful offensive performance that equated to a loss to a division rival it's used to dominating. Deep into the fourth quarter, Prescott's offense had less than 200 yards. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens had bad drops, Prescott (175 yards, two touchdowns) had an ugly interception, and everything looked off. Even when the Cowboys made it a one-score game, Javonte Williams foolishly drew an unsportsmanlike penalty on his touchdown catch. High hopes aren't shot down in Week 1, but Dallas was reminded nothing's coming easy, and these Cowboys aren't riding into the sunset anytime soon if they don't execute to their potential.
3. Harbaugh, Giants hold tight. John Harbaugh's time in Baltimore came to a close after his 19th season, with the campaign ending well short of expectations thanks to five one-score losses and three blown fourth-quarter leads in 2025. The first of those was a bitter 41-40 loss to the Bills on Sunday night to open the campaign last September. The 2025 Giants, meanwhile, blew an incredible five fourth-quarter leads. In a victory symbolic of exorcising the ghosts of blown leads' past, these Giants held on. When the Cowboys cut the deficit to the final score, Big Blue's second-year QB found his most fitting target, Isaiah Likely, who converted a third-and-9 with a 12-yard pick-up. Likely converted another third down later on the drive before Skattebo salted away the win with the final first down needed. Likely, a longtime former Raven, had a game-high eight catches for 78 yards and two scores. In so many ways, this is a great vibes win for New York as it aims to build a winner.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Cowboys-Giants (via NFL Pro): Odell Beckham, playing his first game with the Giants since Dec. 12, 2018, played 11 snaps with seven routes run and no targets.

NFL Research: Sunday night saw the Giants defeat the Cowboys for just the third time in the last 19 meetings. It was the 12th Week 1 meeting between the rivals, and New York won for just the second time in such instances.

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