Samwise NFL Newsletter
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Penix Jr. Debuts as Falcons Win First Game of 2026, 35–14 Over Packers
Michael Penix Jr. made his 2026 season debut Thursday night and delivered immediately, completing 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards as the Atlanta Falcons earned their first victory of the season, defeating the Green Bay Packers 35–14 in Week 3 Thursday Night Football. Bijan Robinson was dominant on the ground with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as Atlanta outgained Green Bay 498 to 312 in total yards. The Falcons trailed 7–0 before scoring 27 consecutive unanswered points. Jordan Love attempted 53 passes under constant pressure, completing 28 for 312 yards, but faced 18 quick pressures as Green Bay’s battered offensive line mustered just eight rushing attempts.
Sources: CBS Sports
Mahomes Returns from ACL Injury to Lead Chiefs to Dominant 2–0 Start
Patrick Mahomes, returning from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2025 season, has opened the 2026 NFL campaign in dominant fashion. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has completed 47 of 74 passes for 566 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception across the team’s first two games, capped by a game-winning overtime drive against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 Sunday Night Football. Harrison Butker’s 40-yard field goal in overtime sealed a 33–30 victory. Kansas City, now 2–0, travels to Miami on Sunday to face the 0–2 Dolphins, entering as 10.5-point favorites at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Giants QB Jaxson Dart on IR with Season-Ending Knee Injury; Winston Steps In
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Dart suffered damage to the MCL, PCL, and meniscus in his left knee during New York’s Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, when he was hit simultaneously by defensive ends Josaiah Stewart and Byron Young. The IR designation was announced Thursday. Veteran Jameis Winston, signed as a backup before the season began, will take over as New York’s starter. The Giants, sitting at 1–1 after two games, face a pivotal stretch with their new signal caller under center.
Brock Purdy Leads NFL in Completion Rate with Historic 2–0 Start for 49ers
Brock Purdy has opened the 2026 NFL season as the league’s most accurate quarterback, completing 80.4 percent of his passes — the best completion rate in the NFL — through two games. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has thrown for 492 yards with five touchdowns and one interception, leading San Francisco to a 2–0 start behind victories over the Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins. Purdy, entering his fifth NFL season at age 26, leads the league in Total QBR at 95.0 and Completion Percentage Over Expected at plus-11.1. General Manager John Lynch said this week that Purdy is entering the prime of his career.
Josh Allen Earns AFC Player of Week as Bills Score 36-Plus Points in Each Win
Josh Allen has picked up AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the 19th time in his career after leading the Buffalo Bills to a second straight dominant performance in 2026. Allen threw five touchdown passes while adding four rushing scores across the Bills’ first two games, as Buffalo has scored at least 36 points in each contest while opening 2–0. The Bills host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, where Buffalo is installed as a seven-point favorite. The Chargers are 0–2 and have struggled to establish any offensive consistency through the early weeks of the season.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Packers’ Offensive Line Crisis Puts Jordan Love Under Pressure in 1–2 Start
The Green Bay Packers’ early-season offensive line struggles came into sharp focus Thursday night as Jordan Love threw 53 passes — completing 28 for 312 yards and two touchdowns — but faced 18 quick pressures in a 35–14 loss to Atlanta that dropped Green Bay to 1–2. The Packers attempted just eight rushing plays as the offensive line, hampered by injuries, failed to create any running lanes and could not protect Love from a relentless Falcons pass rush. Green Bay gained only 312 total yards to Atlanta’s 498. The Packers, viewed as a playoff contender entering 2026, must shore up their line before the situation deteriorates further.
Sources: NBC Sports
Cardinals CB Will Johnson Placed on IR with Neck Injury, Could Miss Season
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson has been placed on injured reserve with a neck injury suffered in the team’s Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks, head coach Mike LaFleur announced Wednesday. LaFleur indicated Johnson could miss the remainder of the 2026 season. The 22-year-old, selected by Arizona in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan, sustained the injury in a collision with Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson. The Cardinals are also monitoring cornerback Max Melton, listed as day-to-day with a toe injury, leaving Arizona’s secondary thin entering their Week 3 contest.
Sources: NBC Sports / Pro Football Talk
Week 3 Sunday: Chiefs and Bills Look to Stay Unbeaten in AFC Showdowns
Sunday’s Week 3 schedule features the NFL’s two undefeated AFC powers each looking to extend their perfect records. The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Hard Rock Stadium as 10.5-point favorites against the 0–2 Miami Dolphins, with Patrick Mahomes facing first-year Miami head coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis. In Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills host the Los Angeles Chargers in an afternoon game, with Josh Allen and the 2–0 Bills installed as seven-point favorites. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles host the Chicago Bears, while the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks — also both 2–0 — look to continue their strong starts.
Sources: CBS Sports
AFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC EAST | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| AFC NORTH | |||
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC SOUTH | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| AFC WEST | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
NFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC EAST | |||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC NORTH | |||
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers* | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC SOUTH | |||
| Carolina Panthers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons* | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC WEST | |||
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 1 | 0 |
* Updated after Week 3 TNF (Sep 24)
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