Samwise NFL Newsletter
Friday, September 18, 2026
Bills 41, Lions 31: Josh Allen Accounts for Five TDs in Highmark Stadium Debut
Josh Allen accounted for five touchdowns — three passing and two rushing — as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday Night Football, improving to 2-0 on the season. The game marked the first regular-season contest at the Bills’ new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Buffalo surged to a 27-10 halftime lead, going 9-for-12 on third down and scoring on all but three drives. Allen completed 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards, connecting with Josh Palmer (43 yards), Dawson Knox (1 yard) and Dalton Kincaid (16 yards) through the air, while adding two short rushing scores. Detroit fell to 1-1.
Sources: NBC Sports / Pro Football Talk
Rams’ Myles Garrett Placed on IR After Knee Surgery, Out at Least Four Games
Los Angeles Rams pass rusher Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and has been placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for a minimum of four games. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the move on Thursday, the day after the Rams lost their Week 1 opener. Garrett, acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade from the Cleveland Browns, dealt with the knee issue throughout training camp but had hoped to avoid surgery. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year did not record a single tackle, sack or quarterback hit in the season opener. Garrett is eligible to return for the Rams’ Week 6 game against Arizona.
Seahawks Rule Out Sam Darnold for Week 2; Drew Lock to Start Against Cardinals
The Seattle Seahawks have ruled out quarterback Sam Darnold for Sunday’s Week 2 home game against the Arizona Cardinals, with Drew Lock set to make his first NFL start since 2023. Darnold suffered what the team described as a “very unique soft-tissue injury” to his glute during Seattle’s Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, exiting just five snaps into the game. The Seahawks have chosen not to place Darnold on injured reserve, suggesting an expected return in under four weeks. ESPN reports Darnold could miss approximately four weeks but the team’s medical staff is cautiously optimistic about a faster recovery.
Vikings Place RB Jordan Mason on IR With Fractured Thumb, Out Four-Plus Games
The Minnesota Vikings placed running back Jordan Mason on injured reserve Wednesday after he sustained a small fracture in his thumb, sidelining him for at least four games. Mason, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in March 2025, had been expected to carry a significant workload in Minnesota’s backfield this season. The injury occurred during the team’s Week 1 preparations. The Vikings will need to elevate a running back from the practice squad to fill Mason’s role, with Ty Chandler and DeeJay Dallas providing depth options at the position. Mason is now eligible to return beginning in Week 6 of the 2026 season.
Sources: CBS Sports
Seahawks Claim No. 1 Spot in Week 2 NFL Power Rankings
The Seattle Seahawks hold the top position in Week 2 NFL power rankings, a reflection of their dominant Week 1 performance against the New England Patriots. Head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense stifled New England even as quarterback Sam Darnold suffered an early injury, with backup Drew Lock stepping in and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba delivering the decisive play. The Seahawks enter Week 2 without Darnold, who has been ruled out against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, yet analysts rate Seattle as the NFL’s most complete team. The Broncos, Rams and Bills round out the top five in multiple power ranking systems.
QB Index Week 2: Trevor Lawrence Soars Into Top Five, Drake Maye Tumbles
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence soared into the top five of NFL.com’s Week 2 QB Index following an impressive season-opening performance, joining Caleb Williams and Lamar Jackson among the league’s elite signal-callers. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who nearly won the MVP award last season and led New England to a surprise Super Bowl appearance, suffered a dramatic drop after a difficult Week 1 outing in which all three of his interceptions came on deep attempts of 20-plus air yards. Maye threw more deep interceptions in one game than he had thrown in all of the previous season combined, per the rankings update published Wednesday.
Goodell Says International NFL Franchises Are Inevitable, Europe Most Likely Destination
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday that international NFL franchises are “inevitable,” reiterating his confidence that the league will eventually place teams outside the United States. Goodell, appearing on Amazon Prime Video’s pregame broadcast ahead of Thursday Night Football, said Europe is the most likely destination for initial international franchises, with London capable of supporting two teams in his estimation. The NFL is already playing a record nine international regular-season games in 2026, including debuts in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City. Goodell indicated the league is working through logistical challenges around travel, player agreements and scheduling before committing to a specific city or timeline.
Sources: CBS Sports
Week 2 Sunday Night Football: Chiefs Host Colts in Prime-Time Showdown at Arrowhead
The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday Night Football at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Kansas City enters at 1-0 after a commanding Week 1 performance, while the Colts are also seeking their second consecutive win. The matchup is the highest-profile game of a 16-game Sunday slate that also features the Bengals-Texans, Ravens-Saints, Bears-Vikings and Falcons-Panthers. Kansas City is favored by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 47.5 total points. The Chiefs and Colts met last November in a game Kansas City won on an overtime field goal.
Sources: CBS Sports
AFC Standings (Week 1 Final / Week 2 TNF)
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 1 | 0 |
NFC Standings (Week 1 Final / Week 2 TNF)
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Atlanta Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency