Samwise NFL Newsletter
Monday, September 14, 2026
Bears Crush Panthers 59-37 in Record-Setting NFL Season Opener
Caleb Williams threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores as the Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers 59-37 Sunday, the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history. Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and added 65 rushing yards. He became the first player in franchise history to post 200-plus passing yards, two-plus passing touchdowns, 50-plus rushing yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns in a single game, per NFL Research. D’Andre Swift rushed 18 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai added 100 yards on 10 carries including a 61-yard scoring run. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw for 361 yards in the loss.
Sources: National Football Post
Lions Survive Saints’ 21-Point Comeback, Win 31-30 in Overtime
The Detroit Lions survived a 21-point New Orleans comeback to win 31-30 in overtime Sunday, with Jared Goff throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown early in the extra period. Jahmyr Gibbs set a career high with 29 carries for 156 yards and matched his career high with three rushing touchdowns. Detroit had led 21-0 before the Saints, led by Tyler Shough, outscored the Lions 24-3 over the final stretch of regulation to force overtime. New Orleans won the OT toss and played defense first, then scored on an eight-yard Shough-to-Noah Fant touchdown, but Shough’s ensuing two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete.
Sources: CBS News Detroit
Jaxson Dart Throws Three TDs as Giants Upset Cowboys 28-20 on SNF
Jaxson Dart threw three touchdown passes and completed 23 of 29 attempts for 230 yards as the New York Giants upset the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 on Sunday Night Football in head coach John Harbaugh’s debut on the Giants sideline. Dart connected with Devin Singletary from nine yards and with Likely from two yards among his scoring throws. Running back Cam Skattebo carried 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. New York amassed 394 total yards and held a 13-minute edge in time of possession. The win gave the Giants a 1-0 start to open what many expect to be a competitive 2026 NFC East campaign.
Sources: CBS Sports
Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry Lead Ravens Past Colts 41-23
Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards and scored a touchdown while Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens routed the Indianapolis Colts 41-23 in Sunday’s season opener. The Ravens put up 31 points before halftime, the second-most first-half points in franchise history to open a season, per the team. Wide receiver Zay Flowers added 150 receiving yards. The dominant victory marked head coach Jesse Minter’s debut leading Baltimore. Jackson, who battled injuries throughout a difficult 2025 campaign, appeared rejuvenated and the Ravens’ offense functioned seamlessly against a Colts team that could not contain Henry in the running game.
Sources: Baltimore Ravens Official
Carson Wentz Leads Vikings Back from 12-Point Deficit After Kyler Murray Concussion
Carson Wentz stepped in after Kyler Murray left with a concussion and led the Minnesota Vikings on a 29-3 scoring run to close out a 39-22 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Murray suffered the injury in the first quarter and was evaluated for a concussion before being ruled out, after being intercepted on his first pass attempt. The Vikings trailed 22-10 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter before the offense sparked by Wentz’s replacement performance. Wentz finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Packers could not hold their 12-point lead in the second half.
Sources: CBS Sports
Josh Allen’s Four-Touchdown Performance Lifts Bills Over Texans 36-31
Josh Allen threw for 324 yards and four total touchdowns, two passing and two rushing, as the Buffalo Bills held off the Houston Texans 36-31 on Sunday in what NFL Week 1 observers described as one of the most competitive season-opening games of the weekend. The Bills jumped out to an early lead but needed Allen’s playmaking throughout the contest to fend off a Texans team that kept the game within range. Buffalo’s defense ultimately made enough stops late to secure the win. The Texans fell to 0-1 in the AFC South, while the Bills joined the Jets as co-leaders of the AFC East at 1-0 after the opening weekend.
Sources: NBC New York
A.J. Brown Placed on IR With High Ankle Sprain, Expected to Miss Six Weeks
The New England Patriots placed wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve Saturday with a high ankle sprain sustained during their Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, with the expectation he will miss approximately six weeks. Brown had three catches for 26 yards in his Patriots debut in Seattle before going down and grabbing his ankle in the third quarter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the injury falls on the longer end of the recovery timeline, saying the expectation is Brown misses six weeks with no surgery planned. The WR cannot return until at least Week 6 when New England hosts the New York Jets.
Bears RB D’Andre Swift Signs Three-Year, $33.75M Contract Extension
The Chicago Bears and running back D’Andre Swift agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $33.75 million, including $27.5 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL.com, keeping him under contract through his age-30 season in 2029. Swift’s agency, Athletes First, announced the agreement on Instagram on September 11, 2026. The deal comes after Swift rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns last season and also caught 34 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown. The extension provides Swift with a raise of more than $3 million in average annual salary while fitting the Bears’ salary-cap management needs heading into the new season.
Raiders Win Opener 27-13 as Jeanty Shines Without Brock Bowers
The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-13 on Sunday despite playing without star tight end Brock Bowers, who missed the game after a meniscus procedure on his left knee. Running back Ashton Jeanty carried the offense with 147 total yards and two receiving touchdowns, while quarterback Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes to offset two interceptions. Las Vegas outgained Miami 305 total yards to 259. Bowers, who underwent a meniscus trim procedure ahead of the season opener, is expected to miss one to two games. The Raiders opened their 2026 season 1-0 with the road victory, providing early momentum for new head coach Klint Kubiak’s debut campaign.
Cardinals Pull Off 26-14 Upset of Chargers in Mike LaFleur’s Coaching Debut
The Arizona Cardinals stunned the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on Sunday in a Week 1 upset that served as head coach Mike LaFleur’s first game leading Arizona. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett and tight end Trey McBride led the Cardinals’ offensive effort in the road win at the Chargers’ stadium. The result gave Arizona a 1-0 start to the 2026 season and handed the Chargers a home loss few anticipated heading into the year. LaFleur, whose coaching background generated significant attention in the offseason, collected an immediate victory in his debut. The Cardinals were considered significant underdogs entering the contest based on preseason expectations for both franchises.
Sources: LA Chargers Official
AFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| New York Giants | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency