NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 14, 2026, 10:33 PM ET

Bills Lead Week 1 Troll Parade

Buffalo wasted no time celebrating its opening win, with the Bills' Houston-themed jabs topping the league's post-victory social media barrage as teams across the NFL piled on their beaten opponents. The Steelers joined Buffalo at the front of the taunting line after their own Week 1 result. The opening Sunday delivered points galore, an avalanche of touchdowns that produced what amounted to a bettor-friendly trifecta across the early slate.

Giants Stun Cowboys in Harbaugh's Debut

John Harbaugh's first game in New York ended with the Giants knocking off Dallas 28-20 on Sunday night, a result the coach immediately ranked as his No. 1 win "right now." Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer insisted the Cowboys are not going to panic after the lackluster loss, telling reporters, "We just didn't perform the way we're capable of playing." The game turned on a Prescott interception that New York converted into a Likely touchdown, part of the Week 1 highlights that defined the night. Harbaugh also raised eyebrows when he tackled star receiver Malik Nabers, a move the coach described as "all in fun" aimed at helping the wideout move past his injury fears.

Bears Erupt for 59 in Historic Opener

Chicago's offense produced a 59-point eruption in a 59-37 win over Carolina, the fourth-most points in franchise history and part of a game that saw the teams combine for. Coach Johnson doubled down on the attack afterward, signaling he intends to chase historic scoring rather than throttle back. The Bears were among the offenses that exploded in Week, joined by Baltimore, Buffalo and Jacksonville as four of the 10 teams that scored 30-plus points Sunday. Chicago's electric day also showed up in the advanced stats, with Williams hitting 20-plus mph twice and Kincaid delivering a big day for the Bills.

Ravens' New Look Unleashes Jackson

Lamar Jackson looked like his old self in Baltimore's new offense, embracing changes to how he has played football for most of his life in his first season under new coordinator Declan Doyle. The performance raised immediate questions about whether Jackson is going to reset the market, along with which Class of 2023 quarterback will be extended first, as analysts sized up the week's overreactions. Baltimore's offense was among the units that put up 30-plus points, underscoring how quickly the new scheme has taken hold.

Mahomes Completes 274-Day Comeback

Exactly 274 days after suffering the most significant injury of his career, Patrick Mahomes made good on his vow to be back for Week, completing a long road back from a torn ACL. Teammates and coaches described the rehabilitation process as "beyond anyone I've ever seen," a testament to the quarterback's singular drive to return on schedule.

Jets and Giants Both Start 1-0

For the first time in over 15 years, the Jets and Giants are both 1-0, a New York summer of optimism carrying into the fall. Geno Smith authored the Jets' win in his re-debut with the franchise, 612 days after his previous start, guiding New York past Tennessee with an efficient performance.

Cardinals Upset Chargers Behind LaFleur

Mike LaFleur became the first Cardinals full-time coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973, as Arizona authored a 26-14 victory over a heavily favored Los Angeles Chargers team. The result instantly reshaped expectations around a Cardinals squad that entered the season as an afterthought.

Vikings Roll, Then Lose Murray to Concussion

Minnesota blew past Green Bay 39-22, but the win came at a cost: quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a concussion in his Vikings debut after taking a hard hit. Murray was in good spirits afterward, and coach Kevin O'Connell said the blow that caused the injury was a "violent, physical play" that he did not find objectionable, declining to fault the Packers for the hit.

Packers Left Searching After Another Collapse

Green Bay's late-game woes from last season carried straight into Week, as the Packers blew another big lead in the 39-22 defeat to Minnesota. The team was left without answers afterward, the same familiar questions resurfacing about closing out games.

Browns' Quarterback Picture Stays Muddy

Cleveland coach Todd Monken said he expects Deshaun Watson to remain the starter this Sunday at Tampa Bay, even as he sidestepped a direct question on the topic. Monken called it "unfair" to blame the veteran quarterback for the Browns' 34-10 loss to Jacksonville, deflecting criticism away from Watson.

Steelers' Porter Trade Talk Heats Up

Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy was noncommittal on Porter's timeline to return to game action, leaving the cornerback's status unresolved. Porter is open to a trade, and the Cowboys, 49ers and Lions are among five teams that could look to add the star Steelers corner.

Lions Lose Pacheco for 12 Weeks

Detroit running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to miss 12 weeks after recently undergoing back surgery, a source told the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The extended absence is a significant blow to the Lions' backfield plans.

Cowboys Lose Two Defensive Starters

Dallas will likely be without starting linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker for the next two games, according to coach Brian Schottenheimer. The injuries compound a rough opening week for a Cowboys defense that struggled against the Giants.

Chargers' McConkey Day-to-Day

Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh said wide receiver Ladd McConkey has a rib injury and is considered day-to-day. The Chargers will monitor his status through the week ahead of their next matchup.

Lawrence's 100th TD Finds a Rookie

Trevor Lawrence's 100th NFL touchdown pass went to rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron, who hauled it in for his first NFL catch. Lawrence told the rookie he can keep the milestone ball, a memorable welcome to the league.

Broncos Draw Super Bowl Comparisons

Denver's current roster bears a striking resemblance to the 2015 Broncos team that rode a shutdown defense to a Super Bowl 50 title, according to players including Talib and Miller. The comparison carries weight because the '26 group shares both the makeup and the goal.

Diggs Owns Costly Celebration Penalty

Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs knew the moment he hugged the goal post to celebrate a fourth-quarter touchdown that he had committed a penalty that cost his team. Teammates rallied around Diggs afterward, and he took full responsibility for the mistake.

Kraft Blocks Macklemore Over Rhetoric

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he had Macklemore removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran's shows at Gillette Stadium, citing what he called a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery, and stating he would not provide a platform for hate speech.

Mayfield Deal Signals QB Market Surge

Baker Mayfield's new contract worth $55 million per year in new money is telling about where the quarterback market is headed, according to Graziano. All signs point to next year's market exploding, which is great news for 11 other passers ready for big deals.

Week 1 Raises Big Questions

Analysts tackled the biggest questions from Week 1, including whether the Giants are legit and what happened to Dallas' new defense, with NFL Nation reporters answering for each Sunday game. In fantasy terms, Caleb Williams, Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence came up big as Week 1 winners, while Ja'Marr Chase, Drake London and Colston Loveland had very quiet days.

Waiver Wire and Week 2 Betting Angles

For fantasy managers, Shough, Black and Coker headline the top waiver picks worth adding for the week ahead, per Eric Karabell. On the betting side, four games stood out as early Week 2 bets offering immediate value once odds came out.

Draft Watch: QB Class Questions Emerge

Off Saturday's college slate, the NFL draft QB race shifted as Manning overtook Moore after Week, raising questions about Dante Moore's play at the top of the class. Jeremiah Smith's performance drew praise as the most impressive takeaway from the weekend's draft spin.