Score
14
Carolina Panthers
Score
29
Buffalo Bills
- Coleman begins crucial third season with TD. The first touchdown at new Highmark Stadium belongs to Keon Coleman. It’s way too early to say if that future trivia answer will portend to a bounce-back season for Coleman, but it’s not a bad start. Coleman enters 2026 after an offseason full of questions about his future with the team following a rough second campaign. New seasons, however, mark new beginnings. Reports from training camp have been positive, and Coleman cashed in with a red-zone TD to cap the Bills’ second drive of the game. Coleman showed nice sync with Josh Allen moving back across the end zone on a broken play and used his 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame to create space for the 9-yard score, eventually finishing his day with three catches on four targets for 17 yards. Not the flashiest stat line, but with DJ Moore already in midseason form (three catches, 61 yards), Coleman can cement his role as red-zone target with more outings like Saturday’s. One thing to note: Both players were looked at by the medical staff during the game, but head coach Joe Brady did not express concern about either’s status.
- Newcomers impress on Panthers’ defense.Bryce Young and the rest of the Panthers’ first-team offense will want to forget Saturday — nine total plays, 17 yards and three three-and-outs — but a few new players on defense gave fans reason for optimism on an otherwise ho-hum preseason opener. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, the two jewels of Carolina’s free-agent class, showed out against the Bills’ starters. Phillips helped end a scoring threat with a red-zone sack of Josh Allen and finished with another QB pressure in nine total plays. Lloyd had three tackles, one QBP and one run stuff in 12 plays, per Next Gen Stats.
— David Ely
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Watch the Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears highlights during Preseason Week 1 of the 2026 season
Score
10
Cleveland Browns
Score
34
Chicago Bears
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- New data for Browns QB battle. Deshaun Watson started for Cleveland, taking the field for live action for the first time in nearly two years. He appeared to be more comfortable operating in Todd Monken’s offense than he ever did under former head coach Kevin Stefanski. That’s not to say he was excellent (he wasn’t), but Watson largely delivered passes with conviction and helped the Browns overcome a behind-the-chains situation to complete a touchdown drive, producing an outing that was decent enough to keep this competition going (11-of-15 passing, 126 yards). The throw of the day belonged to Shedeur Sanders, who found Luke Floriea over the middle for a 35-yard gain in the third quarter and also appears more comfortable under Monken. Sanders and Dillon Gabriel each had their ugly moments, too, with Sanders sailing a pass over an open Malachi Corley into the arms of Bears defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr. and Gabriel completely missing an undetermined target for another Bishop interception. Given the fact the Browns’ offensive line play dropped once backups entered, it will be interesting to see how Sanders performs with the starters next week against the Bills.
- Ben Johnson’s offense is rolling. The Bears’ schematic genius didn’t even need to play any of his starters in order to find success, instead guiding Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum to productive outings (320 passing yards, three touchdowns combined). Once the Browns sent their backups in, Johnson’s offense shredded Cleveland’s defense, delivering great days for Ray-Ray McCloud, Salvon Ahmed, Maurice Alexander and Scotty Miller.
— Nick Shook
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Watch the highlights from the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants matchup during Preseason Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season
Score
13
Minnesota Vikings
Score
10
New York Giants
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- Dart rebounds for bullseye score. The Giants’ second-year quarterback didn’t see a ton of action on Saturday, but he did have a tumultuous period that is becoming characteristic of his young career. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. whiffed on a blitz pickup in the first quarter, leaving Dart completely exposed to a free-rushing safety, Jay Ward, who flattened Dart and sent the quarterback to the medical tent for a concussion evaluation. Fortunately, Dart was fine and returned in time to toss an on-the-run dime to big-bodied rookie Malachi Fields for a touchdown. That’s a combo that could become a household name in the near future.
- Brief outing for Vikings’ new starter.Kyler Murray didn’t play much after being named the Week 1 starter but was able to complete a couple of short passes, convert a third down through the air and lead a drive that ended with a field goal. His understudy, J.J. McCarthy, didn’t find much downfield, either, and only saw action on three possessions before his day also ended with 34 yards on 4-of-7 passing.
— Nick Shook
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Watch the highlights from the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs matchup during Preseason Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season
Score
20
Los Angeles Rams
Score
12
Kansas City Chiefs
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- Ty Simpson activates. Rams head coach Sean McVay gave Stetson Bennett the start but the majority of the game belonged to Simpson, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 draft who could use a few quality preseason outings in the battle to become Matthew Stafford’s backup. After a slow start, Simpson settled in and produced a remarkably sharp outing, completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns to running back Dean Connors. McVay didn’t operate cautiously with his first-rounder, either, testing the rookie by including plenty of rollouts and on-the-move throws. He also gave Simpson two different assignments — throw a screen to the right, and fire a quick throw through a tight window in the end zone — on key red-zone downs that both led to touchdowns. As far as preseason debuts go, this one was quite good and should serve Simpson well in L.A.’s backup competition.
— Nick Shook
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Watch the highlights from the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints matchup during Preseason Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season
Score
24
Jacksonville Jaguars
Score
20
New Orleans Saints
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- More bad than good from Rattler. With Tyler Shough firmly entrenched as New Orleans’ starter and Zach Wilson on the roster, there is an avenue for another team to upgrade its QB2 situation by swinging a trade for Spencer Rattler. Positive reviews have been flowing out of camp, but Rattler didn’t put on much tape Saturday that will boost interest. He started with a one-play scoring drive, a 9-yard handoff to Audric Estimé after Ty Chandler’s 86-yard opening kickoff, then went three-and-out twice before his most disastrous play of the game: On first-and-10 from his own 20, Rattler initially evaded the rush but kept looking for the big play while failing to secure the ball, leading to a costly strip sack. It was a frustrating combination of athleticism and poor situational awareness that Rattler tends to exhibit. He settled in after that with a 15-play, 57-yard possession that included multiple nice throws, but the march stalled out for a field goal to end Rattler’s day. He finished 8 of 11 for 42 yards and the turnover. For what it’s worth, Wilson looked much better against lesser competition, finishing 11 of 16 for 145 yards and one touchdown.
- Trio of Jags defensive rookies get their feet wet. Jacksonville rested most of its household names to open the preseason, allowing some defenders from the team’s incoming draft class to see some much-needed game action. Defensive tackle Albert Regis (Round 3, No. 81 overall), safety Jalen Huskey (Round 3, No. 100) and defensive end Wesley Williams (Round 4, No. 119) were able to contribute to varying degrees. Regis delivered the highlight-reel play in the third quarter, shoving Saints offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III to the side to pursue Zach Wilson straight down the middle for a 14-yard sack. Huskey contributed three tackles and held pass-catchers to two receptions for nine yards on his three targets, while Williams contributed two QB pressures and a tackle. All in all, it was a useful day at the office for some Jacksonville youngsters.
— Bobby Kownack
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Fagnano
Score
7
Philadelphia Eagles
Score
24
Baltimore Ravens
FULL BOX SCORE
- Lane, Hibner ace their preseason debuts. It would have been understandable if Ja’Kobi Lane didn’t live up to the hype that’s been building around him ahead of his first outing. His offensive coordinator Declan Doyle recently compared Lane to Michael Thomas. His quarterback Lamar Jackson likened his catch radius and range to DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham during an in-game interview. Luckily, Lane did show a little of what everyone’s been hearing. The third-round rookie reeled in three receptions for 38 yards and scored the game’s opening touchdown on an in-breaking route, securing the catch nicely with his hands before immediately turning toward the end zone and plunging past the line with two defenders hanging onto him. He wasn’t alone in impressing, though. Fellow rookie, tight end Matthew Hibner, looked similarly solid. Hibner broke free for a 29-yard catch on Baltimore’s second offensive play of the game, his first of four first downs and five receptions. There’s a need for someone to step up alongside Mark Andrews following Isaiah Likely’s departure. Hibner, who was an early focal point and finished with 61 receiving yards, flashed early signs that he could be that person.
- Trotter Jr. was Philadelphia’s best defender. There wasn’t much doing for the Eagles offense, but Jeremiah Trotter Jr. gave the Philly faithful something to cheer about early. The third-year linebacker was active, racking up five tackles, three quarterback pressures and a sack as he played the entirety of the first half. His takedown of Tyler Huntley was a lesson in relentlessness, as Trotter’s blitz was initially redirected by offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. and running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver before he continued to give chase, diving just in time to get ahold of Huntley’s foot to prevent the QB from taking off. There’s a bit of a logjam ahead of him at linebacker, but Trotter, who has made just two starts in his two NFL seasons, appears to have elevated his game.
— Bobby Kownack
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Dallas Cowboys
Seattle Seahawks
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Analysis to come from Bobby Kownack
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