NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 14, 2026, 6:43 AM ET

Giants Stun Cowboys in Season Opener

John Harbaugh's Big Apple debut delivered the result he wanted most, as the Giants knocked off the Cowboys 28-20 on Sunday night. Harbaugh ranked the win as the No. 1 victory his team has right now, praising the performance across all phases. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer struck a measured tone afterward, telling reporters the Cowboys are not going to panic despite a lackluster showing in which he admitted, "We just didn't perform the way we're capable of playing." The game turned in part on a Dak Prescott interception that New York capitalized on with a Likely touchdown. NFL Nation reporters reacted to the result and the rest of Sunday's action, asking whether the Giants are legit and what happened to Dallas' new defense. Oddsmakers had installed Dallas as a slight favorite entering "Sunday Night Football," a line the Giants promptly flipped.

Bills, Bears and Cardinals Roll

Josh Allen uncorked a whopper of an offensive performance as Buffalo outlasted Houston in a house of Bills horrors, winning in Houston for the first time since 2006 and handing Brady a victory in his debut. The Bills also led the week's postgame trolling, with Houston-themed jabs topping the Week 1 taunts. Chicago's offense erupted for a historic 59-point outburst in a 59-37 win over Carolina, the fourth-most points in franchise history and 96 combined points, after which Johnson doubled down on his unit's potential. In Arizona, Mike LaFleur became the first Cardinals full-time coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973, authoring a 26-14 upset of the heavily favored Chargers. From an advanced-stats lens, Williams was clocked at 20-plus MPH twice, while Kincaid led the Bills in receiving.

Browns, Titans and Packers Stumble

Todd Monken sidestepped questions about whether Deshaun Watson remains Cleveland's starter but called it unfair to blame the veteran quarterback for Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Jaguars. Tennessee fell flat in Robert Saleh's debut, a 23-10 loss to his former Jets team, as Cam Ward struggled throughout, completing 19 of 32 attempts for 140 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay was left searching for answers after blowing another lead late, extending last season's woes in a 39-22 loss to the Vikings. Washington's Stefon Diggs took responsibility after a goal-post hug penalty cost his team on a fourth-quarter touchdown celebration.

Smith, Rodgers and Lawrence Shine

Geno Smith made his re-debut with the Jets and won, 3,612 days after his previous start, helping New York defeat the Titans. Aaron Rodgers handed coach Mike McCarthy a game ball following the Steelers' victory Sunday. Trevor Lawrence's 100th NFL touchdown pass went to rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron, who hauled it in. Derrick Henry moved into third all time in rushing touchdowns by scoring three times for the Ravens. In fantasy terms, Caleb Williams, Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence came up big in Week, while Ja'Marr Chase, Drake London and Colston Loveland had very quiet days.

Injuries and Roster Moves

Rams star defensive end Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and is headed to injured reserve, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray was in good spirits after his Minnesota debut ended with a concussion following a hard hit. Jets rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick both suffered injuries Sunday. The Raiders believe there is a realistic chance star tight end Brock Bowers will miss only one game because of his knee injury, sources told ESPN. San Francisco rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling will miss at least a month because of an ankle injury, sources told NFL Network. New England will cope with the loss of wide receiver A.J. Brown for four weeks after he suffered a high ankle sprain, leaving the Patriots to determine who steps up in his absence.

Coaching and Front Office

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and coach Jim Harbaugh discussed their football marriage, a partnership with a lot on the line for Los Angeles' title hopes. Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins spoke about approaching Year 15 as a starter and his role as a mentor to the team's young core. Kansas City ruled out left tackle Josh Simmons for Monday's season opener against the Broncos, with the Chiefs expected to turn to undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson to protect Patrick Mahomes. Atlanta announced Cooper Rush experienced back spasms Saturday but will still start Sunday against the Steelers.

Contract and Trade Buzz

Baker Mayfield just got $55M per year in new money, signaling where the quarterback market is headed and offering great news for 11 other passers ready for big deals. Lamar Jackson has been reluctant to discuss a long-term extension and has been more focused on the upcoming 2026 season, with sources indicating no deal before the season. The Texans and C.J. Stroud made a run at an extension but both sides now prefer to wait until after the season to work out a long-term deal. The Jaguars and Parker Washington are unlikely to agree to an extension before the season, a source told NFL Network. Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., embroiled in a contract dispute all summer, was inactive for the opener because of a back injury, with a trade still in play. Several teams could pursue Porter, including the Cowboys, 49ers and Lions, as trade fits emerge. The Rams pursued Maxx Crosby after his trade to the Ravens fell through, but Crosby shut down the talks and wanted to stay with the Raiders.

Around the League

Lamar Jackson's big day headlines the Week 1 overreactions, with questions about whether he will reset the market and which Class of 2023 quarterback will be extended first. Fifteen predictions for Week 1 included upset picks, fantasy sleepers and projected stat lines, such as whether DeVonta Smith would find the end zone. Betting analysis for Sunday afternoon's games offered odds and player props, with experts sharing their favorite plays. Odds, spreads, totals and FPI predictions were set for all 16 games, including every line and total. Updated inactives covered the status of Jeanty, Love, Odunze and others ahead of kickoff, with fantasy implications for managers. The Jets are eager to end a historic interception drought and are also ready to see what No. 2 pick David Bailey will do in his debut against the Titans. Off the field, Week 1's fashionable arrivals featured Dak Prescott and Cam Skattebo among players who brought the heat before their matchups. In college football, NFL draft spin off Week 2 examined whether to worry about Dante Moore's play and what has been most impressive about Jeremiah Smith, with questions at the top of the quarterback class.