Samwise NFL Newsletter
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Bears Dominant 27-7 Victory Over Eagles on MNF Raises Questions About Philadelphia
The Chicago Bears turned to their third-string quarterback Monday night and delivered one of Week 3's most commanding performances. Case Keenum, starting for the first time since 2023, completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards with two touchdown passes and added a rushing score in a 27-7 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Head coach Ben Johnson's offense found easy rhythm against Philadelphia's defense, while Chicago's secondary forced three turnovers, including two interceptions of Jalen Hurts. The victory improves the Bears to 2-1 and deepens questions about the state of the Eagles following a second straight shaky outing.
Sources: CBS Sports
Ravens Walk Off Cowboys 34-31 With Last-Second Field Goal at Maracanã in NFL’s Brazil Debut
The NFL held its first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, and it delivered in dramatic fashion. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 at the historic Maracanã Stadium, with kicker Tyler Loop drilling a 56-yard field goal as time expired. The Ravens improved to 2-1 while the Cowboys fell to 1-2. Brazil is home to more than 36 million NFL fans, and the league has committed to staging at least three regular-season games in Rio over the next five years, making Sunday's buzzer-beater an ideal advertisement for the sport's international growth.
Sources: CBS Sports
Commanders Stun Defending Champion Seahawks 33-31 on Mariota's Three-TD Day
Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes as the Washington Commanders produced a 33-31 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the season's most significant upset to date. Linebacker Kain Medrano returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown with 3:57 remaining to swing the outcome in Washington's favor. Mariota, starting in place of injured Jayden Daniels, completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, returning from a Week 1 injury, threw two interceptions. The Commanders, playing their home opener in miserable conditions, improved to 2-1.
Sources: CBS Sports
Broncos Rally From 16 Down to Stun Rams 30-26 on Sunday Night Football
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix capped a remarkable second-half comeback with a short touchdown keeper in the final minute, as the Broncos rallied from a 16-0 halftime deficit to stun the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 on Sunday Night Football. Safety Talanoa Hufanga was Denver's defensive star, recording two interceptions — including a 66-yard pick-six — and finishing with a sack, a tackle for loss, and three pass breakups. The Broncos move to 2-1 while the Rams drop to 1-2. Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged afterward that Denver must play better in the first half to avoid relying on late comebacks.
Sources: CBS Sports
Giants Linebacker Brian Burns Tears ACL, Out for the 2026 Season
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns suffered a torn ACL in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 12-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, the team confirmed Monday. Burns, a three-time Pro Bowler, ranked second in the NFL with 16.5 sacks last season and had recorded at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first seven NFL seasons. He was playing through an ankle injury when the ACL setback occurred. The Giants held on to beat Tennessee behind Jameis Winston, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards while avoiding turnovers in his team's win.
Dolphins Place De'Von Achane on IR After Season-Ending ACL Tear vs. Chiefs
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing his ACL during Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Dolphins placed Achane on injured reserve Monday. Achane, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection last season, signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension this past offseason. The injury represents a major blow for Miami, which has struggled to a 0-3 start. Kansas City won the game with Patrick Mahomes completing 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns in what was a decisive Chiefs performance.
Mayfield Dislocates Thumb, Out 3-Plus Weeks; Rookie Daniels to Start for 0-3 Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb late in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and will miss at least three weeks, head coach Todd Bowles announced Monday. Mayfield suffered the injury on a fourth-down play when his hand struck a Vikings linebacker while attempting a pass. An MRI showed no additional ligament or tendon damage, ruling out surgery. Rookie Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent from the University of Kansas, will start in Mayfield's absence. Tampa Bay falls to 0-3 in what CBS Sports described as a historically poor 12-game stretch for the franchise.
Packers Sign Veteran Guard Laken Tomlinson Off Cowboys Practice Squad
The Green Bay Packers shored up their struggling offensive line Saturday by signing guard Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. Tomlinson, 34, is in his 12th NFL season with 162 career starts, including a Pro Bowl appearance in 2021. Green Bay had used three different players at left guard in the season's first three games as preferred starter Aaron Banks missed time with toe and knee injuries, and first-year starter Jacob Monk struggled at right guard. The Packers lost to Atlanta 35-14 on Thursday Night Football in Week 3 before making the move to add veteran depth on the interior line.
Week 3 Takeaways: Raiders Remain Unbeaten, Upsets Define Wild Sunday Across NFL
The Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 4 as the NFL's last unbeaten team, leading an AFC West that also features the Kansas City Chiefs after both sides won in Week 3. Eight of the week's 16 games were won by the underdog, with the Steelers recovering a Joe Burrow fumble to edge the Bengals 30-27, the Colts hitting a 53-yard field goal to down the Texans 19-17 in the final seconds, and the Broncos erasing a 16-point halftime deficit on Sunday night. Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns in the Lions' win over the Jets, and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings remain one of the NFC's early frontrunners.
AFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Las Vegas Raiders | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 1 | 2 | 0 |
NFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Washington Commanders | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Atlanta Falcons | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 2 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency