Samwise NFL Newsletter
Sunday, September 27, 2026
NFL Makes History in Brazil as Cowboys and Ravens Meet at Maracaná
The NFL makes history Sunday as the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens face off at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracaná Stadium in the league’s first-ever game in Brazil. Both teams arrive at 1–1, with Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott squaring off in an international showcase. Baltimore’s Derrick Henry enters with 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns through the season’s first two weeks and looks to extend his dominant start before an expected crowd of 75,000. The Cowboys face Sunday’s kickoff shorthanded, with cornerback Cobie Durant, safeties Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown all officially ruled out.
Eight Teams Still Perfect Entering NFL Week 3 Sunday Games
Eight NFL teams carry unbeaten records into Sunday’s Week 3 games, setting up a series of marquee matchups that will begin sorting the league’s contenders. The Bills, Bengals, Chiefs and Raiders represent the AFC’s unblemished clubs, while the Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks and 49ers lead the NFC at 2–0. Among the headlining contests: the Kansas City Chiefs visit Miami in a road challenge for the defending champions, while Buffalo hosts the winless Los Angeles Chargers at Highmark Stadium. With eight teams also winless through two weeks, Sunday’s results will sharpen the early-season picture considerably.
Josh Allen’s 9-Touchdown Start Puts Bills in Historic Territory
Josh Allen has posted a historically productive start to the 2026 season, leading the NFL with nine total touchdowns — five passing and four rushing — while throwing zero interceptions through Buffalo’s first two games. Allen delivered a five-touchdown performance in Week 2, completing 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards and adding two rushing scores in the Bills’ 41–31 Thursday Night Football win over the Detroit Lions. Allen also earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the effort, the 19th such award of his career. Buffalo now hosts the 0–2 Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday’s Week 3 home game.
Nick Bosa Expected to Miss Multiple Weeks After 49ers Practice Injury
San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa is expected to sit out multiple games after sustaining a calf injury during practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Week 3 game. Shanahan said Bosa’s absence is expected to last a few weeks, though the team does not currently plan to place him on injured reserve, which would require a minimum four-game absence. The injury is a significant blow to San Francisco’s defense, which allowed just over 17 points per game in the team’s 2–0 start. The 49ers added defensive end Viliami Fehoko Jr. from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad Saturday as a depth measure.
Sources: SF Standard
Darnold Cleared to Start for Seattle While Daniels Is Out With Dislocated Elbow
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will make his 2026 regular-season debut in Sunday’s Week 3 game at Washington after being cleared from a glute tendon injury that sidelined him for the first two contests. The matchup’s biggest injury story, however, belongs to the Commanders: Jayden Daniels has been officially ruled out with a dislocated left elbow sustained in Washington’s Week 2 road loss to Dallas. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for the 0–2 Commanders, with Daniels consulting specialists on his recovery timeline. Seattle enters Sunday at 2–0 following two victories with Drew Lock under center.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Nacua Expected to Miss Week 3, Targeting Return vs. Eagles
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to sit out Sunday’s Week 3 game against the Denver Broncos due to a hip and groin injury, with the team targeting a Week 4 return against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Sean McVay confirmed Saturday that Nacua is doubtful for this week’s matchup and said there are no current plans to place the young receiver on injured reserve, which would sideline him at least four games. Nacua’s absence continues a slow start for a Rams offense that entered the season 1–1. Los Angeles faces Denver in Sunday’s AFC–NFC crossover matchup.
Rookie Running Back Jonah Coleman Headed to IR With High-Ankle Sprain
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman has been placed on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain suffered during the team’s Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced Friday. Coleman is required to miss a minimum of four games and is eligible to return as early as Week 7 when Denver visits Arizona. The young back had established himself as a contributor to the Broncos’ ground game before the injury. Denver faces the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Week 3 as the team navigates Coleman’s absence from a thin running back depth chart.
Sources: The Gazette
Packers Sign Veteran Guard Tomlinson as O-Line Crisis Deepens After Falcons Loss
The Green Bay Packers signed veteran offensive guard Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad Saturday, addressing a deepening offensive line crisis that began with Thursday’s 35–14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Green Bay managed only nine rushing yards on nine carries against Atlanta and also lost right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele to a season-ending torn patellar tendon during the game. Tomlinson, 34, a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft entering his 12th NFL season, brings veteran starting experience to a Packers team that has dropped to 1–2. He is eligible to contribute from Week 4 onward.
AFC Standings (Through Week 2)
| 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 (Through Week 2)
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 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 | 1 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Carolina Panthers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency