Welcome to Week 1 of the 2026 season, where fans’ dreams that their team could be the one to lift the Lombardis in Super Bowl LXI remain alive and well… for now. The opening window was action-packed (and absolutely filled to the brim with points), headlined by a Buffalo Bills-Houston Texans thriller for the ages, where Josh Allen led a tremendous comeback effort in the final 90 seconds with a 96-yard drive that ended in a touchdown to win. 36-31. The Chicago Bears also surprised with a 59-point effort against the Carolina Panthers after head coach Ben Johnson expressed his hope to finish the year with the “highest scoring offense in history” in the offseason. Third-year quarterback Caleb Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 65 yards and two touchdowns on the ground en route to the victory. Among the biggest surprises of the beginning? Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints, who forced overtime against the Detroit Lions and almost pulled off the upset. They responded to a Lions touchdown with one of their own from Shough to tight end Noah Fant, but failed on the two-point conversion to lose on the final play of the game. Follow the latest highlights, NFL news, injury updates and more from Week 1. Dolphins vs. Raiders, 4:25 pm ET on FoxCardinals vs. Chargers, 4:25 pm ET on CBSLive90 2026 updates 08:55 pm UTC Dontayvion Wicks was destroyed on a pass over the middle early in the game against Washington. He avoided injury and then made the longest catch of his career, bringing in a 65-yard pass from Jalen Hurts to enter the red zone. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:53 pm UTC Rookie kicker Trey Smack began his debut with an impressive 59-yard field goal. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold up as Smack missed his first career PAT after Christian Watson’s 81-yard touchdown. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:51 pm UTC Jordan Love hit Christian Watson on a short pass up the middle. Watson got to the outside and, after a few missed tackles, turned on the afterburners all the way to the end zone. A flag was thrown on the play for an alleged back block, but it was raised. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:49 pm UTC The Las Vegas Raiders got on the board first against the Miami Dolphins. Senior quarterback Kirk Cousins found Jack Bech for the 15-yard score. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:46 pm UTC Running back Omarion Hampton responded to a rushing Jeremiyah Love TD with one of his own. The sophomore running back hit him from nine yards out, refusing to go down. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:45 pm UTC New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore opted to go for two after a Noah Fant touchdown, but the Saints were down 1 against the Lions in overtime. Quarterback Tyler Shough tried to find an open receiver but couldn’t. He threw a prayer to the back of the end zone, but it was incomplete. Detroit held on to win. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:43 pm UTC The New Orleans Saints needed a touchdown to have a chance to at least tie the Lions in overtime. Quarterback Tyler Shough hit Noah Fant for a score. Head coach Kellen Moore seems to be betting on two and a win instead of a draw. 2026 08:36 PM UTC Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love scored the first rushing touchdown of his career in his debut. The No. 3 overall pick scored from five yards out to give Arizona an early lead. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:31 pm UTC The Lions strike first in overtime when quarterback Jared Goff hits Amon-Ra St. Brown for the four-yard score. Detroit kicked the extra point for a seven-point lead. New Orleans must now score a touchdown and kick at least one extra point to prevent a Lions victory. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:30 pm UTC Kyler Murray debuted for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Packers. Murray’s start should only be from here, as his first pass of the game was intercepted. game against the Panthers. He has 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries that helped put Chicago up 59-37. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:26 pm UTC With the initial window coming to an end, the afternoon’s four-game schedule begins. Here are the games that now begin: Packers-VikingsCommanders-EaglesCaridnals-ChargersDolphins-RaidersSunday, September 13, 2026 08:25 pm UTCPittsburgh held on to win in Mike McCarthy’s debut with the team and reunion with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was an ugly game offensively on both sides, and the Steelers’ defense, including a TJ Watt pick-six. – helped them to a season-opening victory. Pittsburgh will go on the road to face New England next week. Atlanta hopes to get either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa back from injury when it faces the Panthers in Week 2. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:22 pm UTC Despite holding a 21-0 lead in the third quarter, the Lions allowed the Saints back into the game and are now heading to overtime. UTC The Carolina Panthers are having one of their best offensive performances in recent memory, even though their defense has allowed 52 points to the Bears so far. Bryce Young and Jalen Coker had connected on a 51-yard touchdown earlier and followed it up with a fourth-quarter score from eight yards out. The score put the Panthers down 15 points with less than four minutes remaining. game in the final series. Quarterback CJ Stroud was sacked for a 10-yard loss and fumbled. Gregory Rousseau recovered it, sealing the game for the Bills. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:18 pm UTC Baltimore’s day was led by Derrick Henry scoring three touchdowns to move into sole possession of third place in career rushing touchdowns. The Ravens have some injury issues at wide receiver with Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane ruled out before the end of the game. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor finished with 98 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. In Daniel Jones’ return to the field following his season-ending Achilles injury last year, he finished 19 of 31 for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Baltimore will face New Orleans next week, while Indy will go on the road to face Kansas City. the game with 24 points with just over a minute left against the Lions. Quarterback Tyler Shough has had a tale of two halves. He set up the scoring with an impressive 43-yard reception from Chris Olave. Shough then hit Juwan Johnson for the nine-yard touchdown. New Orleans scored the extra point to officially tie the game. Sunday, September 13, 2026 08:09 pm UTC Chicago head coach Ben Johnson’s goal of scoring the most points in an NFL season is off to a great start. Quarterback Caleb Williams found Jahdae Walker for a one-yard score, his fourth passing touchdown of the game. The touchdown put the Bears up 52-31 over the Panthers with 6:27 left. 13, 2026 08:08 pm UTC The Bills-Texans game is one of the best in the early window. Trailing by one point with 1:36 left, Josh Allen found Joshua Palmer for the 34-yard score. Buffalo tried two, but failed. The Bills are up five points with 1:36 left.
