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The Road to Inglewood via Jacksonville

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JACKSONVILLE – (Wire Service Preview) – The New England Patriots were the best road team in the NFL last season, a perfect 8-0 in the regular season.

New England travels to Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon looking to start a new streak against the Jaguars. The Patriots lost at Seattle to begin the regular season.

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It won’t be easy against a Jacksonville crew going for its sixth consecutive regular-season home win dating back to last season.

“They play well at home. They’ve been getting great first-half leads,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said of Jacksonville. “They feast off turnovers. They’ve been creating turnovers and turning those into points.”

Division winners in the AFC last season, Jacksonville and New England have taken opposing paths to their respective 1-1 records.

The Jaguars opened with a convincing win over the Cleveland Browns before blowing a fourth-quarter lead in last week’s 20-13 loss at Denver.

Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass to four different receivers in the opening win, then was held under 200 passing yards with no touchdowns against the Broncos.

Jacksonville hasn’t found the same consistent offensive success as it had in Liam Coen’s first season as head coach.

The 2025 Jaguars finished sixth in the NFL in scoring offense (27.9 points per game) and 11th in total offense (337.4 yards per game). This year’s team ranks 15th in scoring (23.5 ppg) and total offense (314.0 ypg) through two games.

Wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (80 yards) and Jakobi Meyers (68) and tight end Brenton Strange (48) haven’t carried over their production which buoyed the 2025 offense.

Parker Washington, however, has built on his breakthrough 2025 campaign, following up his 847 yards and five TDs with a team-high 181 yards and a touchdown this season.

“Obviously, he’s super talented. He gets open, creates separation. He’s a really good route runner, great ball skills, can make contested catches. All those things are part of it,” Lawrence said of Washington’s success. “I trust him. Our chemistry has grown more and more over the past year of him being put in a lot of different situations and excelling and winning his 1-on-1s. All those things kind of play into that.”

New England features a lockdown cornerback in Christian Gonzalez, who has excelled since signing a record-breaking four-year, $135 million extension before the regular season began. Gonzalez locked up DK Metcalf in the Patriots’ win last week. Washington isn’t the same type of physical specimen, but has been more productive.

He’s No. 2 in the NFL in target share behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 36.7% which is why he warrants the attention of Gonzalez.

The Patriots were unable to beat the Drew Lock-led Seahawks in their opener but bounced back with a resounding 20-3 home win over Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh last week.

New England is allowing a league-best 8.0 points per game, while Drake Maye scrambles to recapture the momentum of his second-place MVP finish last season.

The third-year quarterback has one touchdown pass and four interceptions. Vrabel is trusting the process over the early results.

“Being decisive, believing in what you see,” Vrabel said of what he wants to see from Maye. “All we ask all our players to do is prepare to try to play fast and aggressively and make great decisions. So, yeah, we could always say, ‘Man, we should have let that one rip,’ or ‘We’ve got to make a better decision.’

“Ultimately, it’s his responsibility to be able to distribute the football as quickly and decisively as possible in the places that it’s supposed to go.”

Meyers (thumb), running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip), offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (elbow/groin) and Cole Van Lanen (knee) as well as defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (back) were all limited in Jacksonville’s practice on Thursday. Cornerback Christian Braswell (knee) pracaticed in full one day after being limited.

A pair of New England linebackers in Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and Quintayvious Hutchins (knee), along with safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) didn’t practice Thursday, while starting right tackle Morgan Moses (foot) was limited.

Jacksonville has won the last two times it hosted New England, most recently in 2024, but the Patriots hold a 12-3 edge in the all-time series, including postseason play.

–Field Level Media

Defense! … Defense!

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England linebacker Elijah Ponder had a sack and also returned a fumble 19 yards for a touchdown to help the Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 Sunday in Massachusetts.

Ponder’s touchdown came after defensive tackle Christian Barmore stripped the ball from Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The TD plus the Andy Borregales point-after kick gave the Patriots a 20-3 lead with 13:37 to play.

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TreVeyon Henderson (16 carries, 76 yards) scored New England’s other touchdown on a 39-yard run. The Patriots (1-1) also received two field goals from Borregales (30 and 45 yards).

Drake Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards. He was intercepted once. Romeo Doubs had three receptions for 96 yards, and tight end Hunter Henry caught three passes for 40 yards.

Pittsburgh (1-1) was limited to 235 yards of offense (3.5 yards per play) and was 2 of 12 on third down. The Steelers’ offense has produced one touchdown in eight quarters this season.

Rodgers was 23 of 39 for 187 yards and was intercepted once. Germie Bernard was Pittsburgh’s leading receiver with four catches for 35 yards.

Linebacker Christian Elliss led New England with 12 tackles (seven solo). He recorded one of New England’s four sacks.

New England opened the scoring on Henderson’s 39-yard touchdown run with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter. It was a four-play, 49-yard scoring drive.

Borregales made a 30-yard field goal with 14:14 left in the first half that extended the lead to 10-0, and Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell kicked a 56-yard field goal on the first half’s final play to make it 10-3 at halftime.

The Patriots had a 13-3 lead after Borregales made a 45-yard field goal with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

New England rushed for 136 yards in the win.

–Field Level Media

NFL Sunday Night Football: Week Two

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Indianapolis Colts (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -6.5, total 46.5
Series History: The Chiefs beat the Colts 23-20 in overtime last season, breaking a two-game losing streak in the series.

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Indy’s beleaguered defense has already swapped its lead “blue-dot” communicator on defense, from S Cam Bynum to LB Akeem Davis-Gaither. The Colts are overturning every stone to try to figure out how the opener against the Ravens went so poorly. A run defense whipped by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson (202 yards, four TDs) is praying that Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III won’t have much left for an encore in KC. Walker had 173 rushing yards and 18 receiving yards on three catches to power the Chiefs to a Monday night victory over the Broncos. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor did his part in the opener, with the exception of a rare fumble. He had 98 yards and two TDs. But QB Daniel Jones couldn’t get the passing game to fire. WR Alec Pierce had four receptions but Indianapolis amassed only 251 total yards. Pierce (heel) has been bothered by the same injury that limited him in the offseason, but he’s a go for Sunday night after being removed from the injury report.

NFL: Week Two Previews; 4pm Games

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Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at Denver Broncos (0-1)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Broncos -2.5, total 45.5

Series History: The home team has won four of the past five games in the series, which is tied 7-7 all-time.

Jacksonville prepped for a rematch with the Broncos by destroying the Browns 34-10 last week. The Jaguars travel west to face the Broncos in Denver on Sunday. Bo Nix completed 17 of 28 passes for 131 yards, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2024. It certainly didn’t help the third-year QB that he was sacked four times and hurried five more times, contributing to converting just 2 of 12 third downs. The Jaguars led the Browns 31-0 after the first drive of the second half before taking their foot off the gas. Trevor Lawrence, who found restored success last season under head coach Liam Coen, had nearly as many touchdown passes (four) as incompletions (five). Lawrence knows it will be tough to find the same success against a Denver defense that finished last season second in yards allowed (278.2 per game) and third in points allowed (18.3). While Denver led the league in sacks (68) a season ago, it managed just two in its loss at Kansas City, while Jacksonville’s defense is tied for the league lead with five. That included 1.5 sacks apiece from former first-round picks Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. The Jaguars’ receiver room has bumps and bruises. Jacksonville removed Jakobi Meyers (thumb) and Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) from the injury report after they were limited throughout the week in practice.

Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
Sunday, 4:05 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Chargers -6.5, total 43.5
Series History: The Chargers have won five of the past six meetings.

Pundits are hedging before pushing the chips to the table on a revival in Las Vegas. The Raiders enter Week 2 off an impressive 27-13 win over Miami, but that’s the qualifier. The Dolphins are in full-blown rebuilding mode and lack the playmakers to compete with … almost anyone in the league. The win highlighted the reasons the Raiders opened with Kirk Cousins at quarterback instead of rookie No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. Cousins was calm and collected, delivered three touchdown passes and spread the ball around. RB Ashton Jeanty took a strong first step toward a rebound season. He collected 147 total yards from scrimmage. Las Vegas’ defense had five sacks and held the Dolphins to 74 rushing yards, appropriate to bring up because of the Chargers’ run-first approach. The Chargers would like to erase Week 1. LA had 14 points and lost WR Ladd McConkey (ribs) after he scored a touchdown. To open up the running game, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wants Herbert to push the ball vertically.

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -4.5, total 41.5
Series History: The Seahawks own nine consecutive wins over the Cardinals.

The Seahawks entrusted the game to their defense for a 13-10 win over New England in the opener after starting QB Sam Darnold left on the opening offensive drive. Drew Lock was efficient in relief, completing 73% of his passes, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba delivered 122 yards and a touchdown. Seattle intercepted three passes and generated consistent pressure. They’ll need to get to the pocket quickly this week. Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett threw to his primary or first read on almost every pass last week. For the Seahawks, getting rookie Jadarian Price will be a focus. He’ll be opposite his former Notre Dame backfield teammate Jeremiyah Love, who had a strong debut to help Arizona surprise the Chargers.

Washington Commanders (0-1) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Cowboys -4.5, total 50.5
Series History: The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings in the series.

Dak Prescott has only two career losses to the Commanders and is chasing redemption with WRs George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb after a Week 1 defeat. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was inconsistent in Week 1, but came alive late to make things interesting at Philadelphia thanks to rookie wideout Antonio Williams. He was a bright spot with 64 yards and a touchdown and all four receptions were long enough to move the chains. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt has big-play speed and had two touchdowns in the last meeting with the Cowboys in December. The Cowboys might look to work underneath and between the hashmarks as the Eagles had great success working the ball to TE Dallas Goedert last week. Dallas lost a close game to the Giants, allowing 394 yards and struggling against the run. Rookie Caleb Downs was impressive with a sack and forced fumble but the Cowboys are banged up in the secondary already. OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku brought pressure off the edge, but the Giants converted 9 of 11 third-down tries and had too much time to survey the field. Protecting Daniels against Dallas’ aggressive pass rush could decide momentum early in the game. Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker didn’t have a dream of an opener in the loss at New York but he trained under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Miami Dolphins (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
FanDuel odds: 49ers -13.5, total 45.5
Series History: The Dolphins won the last meeting (29-17) in 2024. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is 1-2 against Miami.

QB Malik Willis threw for 220 yards but the Miami offense struggled to finish drives in the Week 1 loss at Las Vegas. Willis had two rookie receivers in the starting lineup. Caleb Douglas was a bright spot with 94 yards. RB De’Von Achane added 66 total yards and is the player the 49ers — and most opponents — will game plan to stop. The Dolphins have to put up points to keep pace with a diverse and balanced 49ers scheme with Brock Purdy at the controls. While the Dolphins forced two turnovers at Las Vegas, the Miami run defense allowed 130 yards, and top pass rusher Chop Robinson (concussion) is out this week. San Francisco opened its season with a dominant 27-7 thrashing of the Rams in Australia. The offensive line was a major advantage in the game and it stands out as a mismatch against Miami. RB Christian McCaffrey could be in line for a massive game. He had 146 total yards in his last game against the Dolphins.

NFL: Week Two Previews; 1pm Games

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Previews by Field Level Media) – Week Two of the 2026 NFL season might be a bit early to declare a “must win” situation, but according to historical data tracked since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only 43 out of 422 teams (10.1%) that started 0-2 managed to rebound and secure a postseason berth. Since 2020 (14-Team Bracket Expansion): The odds jump slightly to 12.2% due to the added wild card spot and the 17-game schedule.

For the New England Patriots, overcoming an 0-2 start this year would be a grueling task due to their upcoming schedule. Following the Steelers game, New England faces a difficult stretch:

  • Week 3: At the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Week 4: At the Buffalo Bills (who are already off to a dominant 2-0 start).

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at New England Patriots (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -4.5, total 41.5
Series History: The Steelers lead 16-15; the Patriots have won three of the last four.

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The Steelers let their defense do the dirty work in Week 1. LBs T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith combined for four sacks, Watt had a pick-6 and the Falcons leaned almost entirely on RB Bijan Robinson for offense. The Patriots welcome back RB TreVeyon Henderson after he sat out Week 1 with an ankle injury. He brings a valuable speed and big-play threat, and QB Drake Maye could use a crutch after his three-INT opener at Seattle. Maye also lost No. 1 WR A.J. Brown (ankle) in the loss and Romeo Doubs didn’t make a great first impression with costly drops. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (221 yards, one passing TD), back in Mike McCarthy’s scheme, worked from the middle of the field to the sideline last week.

Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Panthers -2.5, total 43.5
Series History: The Falcons lead the all-time series (37-25), but the Panthers have won four of the past five.

Carolina’s offense exploded for 478 yards in Week 1 behind Bryce Young’s 361 yards and three touchdowns passing, but turnovers and defensive breakdowns doomed the Panthers in a 59-37 loss to the Bears. Young has historically played well against Atlanta. WRs Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker and RB Chuba Hubbard give them multiple explosive options. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson has to be salivating after the Panthers allowed 291 rushing yards to the Bears. However, Atlanta didn’t make a call at quarterback. It’s likely Cooper Rush will make another start with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) possibly planning to return Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Robinson, who posted 173 scrimmage yards in Week 1, has four consecutive games against Carolina with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. Atlanta struggled offensively in its loss to Pittsburgh, managing just 13 points and 238 total yards. Rush was particularly ineffective on third down, converting only 16.7% to first downs. Za’Darius Smith’s two sacks and a strong secondary featuring A.J. Terrell and rookie Xavier Watts helped the Falcons stick around.

New Orleans Saints (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -8.5, total 46.5
Series History: The Ravens have won four of the past five meetings.

The Saints went for two and the upset victory of Detroit in overtime in a one-point loss, but their offense came away looking like a winner. QB Tyler Shough’s 410-yard, three-touchdown performance generated plenty of excitement around the young quarterback. WR Chris Olave had 182 receiving yards and New Orleans held up reasonably well in pass protection but did allow five sacks. Still, Shough was able to take consistent shots downfield. The Ravens overwhelmed Indianapolis in Week 1, generating turnovers and consistent pressure on Daniel Jones. Baltimore also put on an offensive show at Indy. QB Lamar Jackson appeared to have quickly mastered new play-caller Declan Doyle’s scheme. Jackson threw for 324 yards and added a rushing touchdown, while Derrick Henry delivered a vintage performance with 144 rushing yards and three scores. Where Jackson will go with the ball on pass plays will depend on whether WR Zay Flowers (hamstring) is back in the lineup. Flowers posted a career-high 150 yards in Week 1 without playing a snap in the second half.

Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Chicago Bears (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Bears -4.5, total 47.5
Series History: In the 2020s, the Vikings are 9-3 in this matchup. They swept the season series in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Rain and wind could become a factor Sunday as the Vikings venture outside the dome for a second consecutive division matchup. Minnesota opened the season with a 39-22 win over Green Bay despite losing Kyler Murray (concussion) in the first half. Carson Wentz led the rally with four consecutive TD drives in the second half. Wentz had three touchdown passes and leaned heavily on WR Justin Jefferson, who finished with 92 yards and two scores. The Vikings did allow nearly 400 passing yards as they lived and died with the blitz, firing five-plus defenders into the pocket on more than 65 percent of their snaps. There will be a risk-reward balance at Chicago. The Bears put up 59 points with a dominant ground game producing six touchdowns. QB Caleb Williams said he’s looking forward to the cat-and-mouse game with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Williams had 269 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added two rushing TDs. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 224 rushing yards. The Bears did not throw a perfect game defensively at Carolina and getting pressure on Wentz will be of significant importance.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) at Houston Texans (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -2.5, total 45.5
Series History: The Texans have won four of the past five meetings.

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Joe Burrow completed 71% of his passes and the Bengals generated 351 total yards against the Buccaneers, but they had their defense — and three forced fumbles — to thank for coming out on top. The Bengals had four sacks and four takeaways. They shift their focus to C.J. Stroud, who won’t have No. 1 WR Nico Collins (hamstring) available. Stroud threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 while RB David Montgomery carried the offense with three TDs. The Texans can get to Burrow, but the issue last week was communication in the back seven. Houston was hammered by Josh Allen and the Bills for 409 total yards. With Collins out, the Bengals can tip the scales in their favor by handling Montgomery.

Green Bay Packers (0-1) at New York Jets (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Packers -3.5, total 44.5
Series History: The Packers have won three of the past four meetings.

There could be changes afoot on the Packers’ offensive line. QB Jordan Love threw for 387 yards in a loss to the Vikings but felt pressure consistently. It might be too soon for major changes on defense, but coordinator Jonathon Gannon admitted this week Green Bay won’t win games surrendering 39 points. WR Christian Watson looked the part as Love’s go-to guy. He worked in the slot often, where his size and speed make him a nightmare for most defenses. Watson finished with 147 yards and two touchdowns. Second-year pro Matthew Golden added 95 receiving yards. The Packers are still searching for a rotation they can trust at running back with Josh Jacobs on the exempt list. The Jets opened their season with a convincing 23-10 win over Tennessee, highlighted by a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive play. Geno Smith was aggressive and efficient, completing nearly 80% of his passes. RB Breece Hall likely has Gannon concerned after he dominated with 118 total yards.

Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Buccaneers -8.5, total 41.5
Series History: The Browns won the last meeting between these teams and hold a 7-4 advantage all-time.

Baker Mayfield gets a chance to show the Browns what they’re missing after choosing Deshaun Watson over the former No. 1 pick in 2022. Mayfield, who bounced from Carolina to the Rams and then signed with the Buccaneers, said in the offseason this was a game he circled on his calendar. Watson kept the starting job after the Browns fell behind 31-0 at Jacksonville and lost 34-10. Rookie WR Denzel Boston caught a 59-yard touchdown in garbage time, the only highlight in a miserable offensive outing. The Browns struggled to protect Watson, who was sacked five times, lost a fumble and was intercepted. The Buccaneers lost three fumbles, and the costly mistakes tipped the scales in a Week 1 shootout loss to Cincinnati. Mayfield completed 82% of his passes and added a rushing touchdown. RB Bucky Irving contributed 93 scrimmage yards, and WR Emeka Egbuka (five catches, 63 yards) showed strong chemistry with Mayfield. The Browns had little choice but to abandon the running game and Quinshon Judkins. To keep this one tight, they’ll need to generate longer drives and keep the vengeful Mayfield on the sideline.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -7, total 39.5
Series History: The Eagles lead the all-time series 8-5.

He heard some boos and then generated the opposite in the opener, but Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns against the Commanders. RB Saquon Barkley rushed for 83 yards and TE Dallas Goedert delivered two touchdowns as the Eagles kept Washington’s defense guessing. The Titans have a few riddles of their own to solve. They lost to the Jets in Week 1 and managed only 195 total yards. Cam Ward averaged only 4.4 yards per pass attempt which clogged lanes near the line of scrimmage in Brian Daboll’s first game as offensive coordinator. On the defensive side, Titans LB Anthony Hill was exceptional, posting 16 tackles and two pass breakups. Ward will be responsible for creating big plays to keep pace with Philadelphia. If the Titans can slow Barkley and force Hurts to throw early and often, Tennessee can keep it tight.

 

Patriots, Maye Face Tough Pitt D

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England QB Drake Maye will be seeking a bounce-back performance when the Patriots face the Pittsburgh Steelers  in Massachusetts today.

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Maye was intercepted three times in the fourth quarter of New England’s 13-10 loss to Seattle in Week 1. The Patriots were in field goal range when Josh Jobe picked off a Maye pass in the end zone with 21 seconds to play.

“The decisions a quarterback makes have a lot to do with wins and losses,” Maye said. “I know that and respect that and realize what I need to do to help the team win. … I’m looking forward to getting back out there and having another chance. Another week.”

Maye, the runner-up to Matthew Stafford as the NFL MVP last season, completed 23 of 33 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

“I think there’s a difference between being reckless and being aggressive,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “We want to be aggressive. That’s how we want to play, but we also have to make great decisions when there’s a look or something that maybe would take a play away.”

The Patriots will be without wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the third quarter against Seattle. Brown, who caught three passes for 26 yards against the Seahawks, is expected to miss six weeks.

Running back TreVeyon Henderson, who did not play against Seattle because of an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice Wednesday. Tackle Dametrious Crownover (knee) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck) did not practice, while offensive lineman Ben Brown (knee), linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (foot) and linebacker Robert Spillane (knee) were limited participants.

Mike McCarthy won his first game as Pittsburgh’s head coach when the Steelers opened the season with a 20-13 win over Atlanta.

T.J. Watt delivered the game’s key play, intercepting a Cooper Rush pass early in the fourth quarter and returning it 35 yards for a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead. Watt, who also recorded two sacks in the victory, was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Not only did he make the play, but the ability to get up and finish, it was incredible,” McCarthy said. “It was a great finish by the whole defense, and the momentum swing that came with that, that was obviously huge. That was clearly the biggest play in the game.”

Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the Pittsburgh offense struggled for most of the game. The Steelers failed to convert on 10 of their 13 third-down opportunities and were held to 58 yards on the ground. Jaylen Warren led the team in rushing with 46 yards on 10 carries.

“We’re going to trust our menu of offense, and we’re going to line up and try to attack their defense the way we feel gives us the best chance to be successful,” McCarthy said. “Nothing’s changed with how we feel about throwing the ball short, long, intermediate, all that. It’s important to have all those components of your pass game.”

Pittsburgh offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (ankle) and tight end Darnell Washington (personal reasons) did not practice Wednesday, while receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) was limited.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (not injury related/conditioning) continues to work his way back onto the field and was also a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Porter was inactive against Atlanta and is still dealing with a back injury that kept him sidelined through training camp and the preseason.

–Field Level Media

Bills Open New Stadium Tonight

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BUFFALO – (Wire Service Report) – The Buffalo Bills, the pride of Western New York State, will pull back the curtain on its brand-new digs in primetime Thursday night and Detroit coach Dan Campbell knows the Lions understand the assignment at Highmark Stadium.

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He put Victory Monday in Detroit on fast-forward to share film of Bills quarterback Josh Allen shredding Houston for four touchdowns — two rushing, two passing — in a Week 1 win. The Lions needed overtime to escape the Saints, 31-30, a win that generated a long list of necessary corrections with minimal prep time to implement fixes before heading to Buffalo.

“That’s the challenge of the short week,” Campbell said, knowing all too well the perils of trying to step in front of Allen and the Bills.

The last time they met, Detroit and Buffalo locked into a shootout. It was the highest-scoring game of the 2024 season — and a 48-42 Buffalo win. Allen had four touchdowns — two rushing, two passing — and generated 430 yards of offense.

“I can’t say enough about this quarterback,” Campbell said. “He’s the catalyst for them.”

Allen led the Bills to a 36-31 road win over the Texans last week, barely blinking in the face of the NFL’s top pass rush.

Detroit can get after quarterbacks. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson plays a monster role in the success rate of the pass defense. But the secondary stepping on the field in Buffalo isn’t the brand-name version the Lions might prefer. Kerby Joseph, the league leader in interceptions (16) since 2023, had knee surgery; Brian Branch is nine months into recovery from surgery to repair a torn Achilles. Neither will be available until at least Week 5.

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough carved up the Lions after New Orleans fell behind 21-0. He threw for a career-high 410 yards — tops in the NFL in Week 1 — and three touchdowns against Detroit, the type of film Campbell might want to fast-forward. Of course, Allen will take in every detail this week. He averaged 11.5 yards per attempt and hit 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards at Houston.

One particular Allen observation might concern Campbell on the short week. A lot of New Orleans’ success came after the Saints went to an up-tempo, no-huddle operation. No-huddle is an Allen favorite.

“Buffalo does some of that anyway. They’ve always done some of those things. That showed up a little bit,” Campbell said. “It’s those things you address, which we have. You understand what you’re getting ready to face and why wouldn’t they test us there. We would do the same thing.”

The Lions’ offense has shown up consistently and won’t back away from a shootout if one develops Thursday.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a career-high 29 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. He felt at least two other runs could’ve been bigger plays, even touchdowns, while accounting for 186 total yards. The Lions had 369 yards total offense.

“They’re extremely talented. They’re an explosive offense,” Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “They have been for years. (Jared) Goff has been playing at an extremely high level now for a long time. So, it’s not fun to watch them on tape, but you do know what the issues are — and we’re going to need to solve those problems.”

Rest – or the lack thereof – is a potential problem for both teams.

Gibbs had only two 20-plus carry games in 2025. But he’s confident he’ll be full strength Thursday night. The last time he had to follow up a 20-carry game, Gibbs responded with 120 total yards, seven receptions and three touchdowns on 19 touches against the Dallas Cowboys in December.

Bills first-year head coach Joe Brady went shirtless to celebrate with his team in the postgame locker room on Sunday. But like Campbell, he said he’ll punt sleep for a few days to prepare for a juggernaut offense.

“A couple of people have asked me how I celebrated the win, and I went straight (home) and had to watch an overtime game,” Brady said. “That’s part of the Thursday night games. We can sleep on Friday, but let’s do everything we got to do to help put our guys in position to have success.”

 

Filed Under: NFL

Walker Delivered for KC Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY – (Wire Service Report) – Kenneth Walker III delivered a K.C. masterpiece in his debut and the Chiefs announced their return to form with a 31-10 win over the visiting Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Signed as a free agent after winning Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seahawks in February, Walker wowed with a career-high 173 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.

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Another Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes, threw TD passes to Walker and Rashee Rice, ran for a 15-yard score in the first half and worked through early cobwebs in his first game since sustaining a season-ending knee injury in December. He completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards with one interception.

Heat, wind and humidity hindered Broncos quarterback Bo Nix at different times in the game. He was intercepted on the third play from scrimmage of the game and Kansas City’s defense kept bringing the heat with four sacks and two forced fumbles.

In his first game with Davis Webb operating as the play-caller instead of head coach Sean Payton, Nix connected on 17 of 28 passes for 131 yards and a first-quarter touchdown pass to Evan Engram.

The Chiefs rushed for 220 yards. The Broncos had 176 total yards.

Walker boosted Kansas City’s lead to 21-7 with a 60-yard TD on the first possession of the second half. On his 16th carry of the game, Walker bounced a fourth-and-1 run left while eluding diving Broncos cornerback Riley Moss and found nothing but green grass in front of him. Walker also picked up first downs on three third-and-1 carries in the first half.

When Walker crossed the goal line with the clock showing 12:43 in the third, he had outgained the Broncos 165-113.

Kansas City limited Denver’s offense to nine first downs (including one via penalty) and two third-down conversions on 12 attempts.

Walker caught a misdirection toss from Mahomes and trailed an escort into the end zone to stake the Chiefs to a 31-10 lead 21 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Broncos appeared to be already hanging by a thread in the third quarter when Brandon Jones came up with a gift interception courtesy of Mahomes.

Throwing from his own end zone, Mahomes was picked off on a pass intended for Xavier Worthy. Worthy cut up the field, and Mahomes threw the ball between the hashmarks where Jones stood alone at the 28. Jones returned the ball to the Kansas City 5, but the Broncos botched multiple plays, narrowly evading disaster when Nix lost the ball near the sideline while scrambling away from L’Jarius Sneed. Sneed recovered but was out of bounds. By rule, the Broncos retained possession.

Denver lost 8 yards on three plays and came away with a 31-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.

The Chiefs had first-and-goal at the 4 on the next possession only to put three on the board themselves. On that drive, the Chiefs made some history.

Mahomes hooked up with Travis Kelce for the second time in the game, a 59-yard reception that moved Kelce to second all-time in NFL history for most receiving yards by a tight end. He passed Jason Witten (13,046 yards) but still stands more than 2,000 yards behind former Chiefs and Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (15,127).

With his three catches for 71 yards on Monday, Kelce now has 13,079 receiving yards.

Nix fumbled again to give Mahomes the ball right back. Nix moved up in the pocket on third-and-16, but the ball squirted out of his hands and Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones recovered at Denver’s 34.

Nix was intercepted by rookie Mansoor Delane on the opening drive of the game. Delane, the No. 6 pick in the 2026 draft, left the game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week One Round-Up

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CHARLOTTE – (Wire Service Reports by Field Level Media) – Caleb Williams threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more and the Chicago Bears pulled away for a 59-37 victory against the Carolina Panthers in the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history.

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In the teams’ season opener, D’Andre Swift scored three touchdown runs and rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries for Chicago. Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and added 65 rushing yards. Kyle Monangai gained 100 yards on 10 carries, including a 61-yard TD.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw two of his three touchdown passes to Jalen Coker. Young was 23-of-37 passing for 361 yards with one interception. Coker made eight catches for 138 yards. Chuba Hubbard scored touchdowns on a run and a reception.

The Panthers pulled even at 31-31 on Hubbard’s 2-yard run with 9:02 left in the third quarter. From there, the Bears posted the next three touchdowns on runs by Swift (1 yard), Monangai and Williams’ 1-yard pass to Jahdae Walker. Later, Swift found the end zone from 28 yards out.

Bills 36, Texans 31

Josh Allen accounted for four touchdowns and tossed the decisive 34-yard scoring pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining as Buffalo won in Houston for the first time in 20 years with a wild victory over the Texans.

Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing scores while winning in Houston for the first time in five career attempts, including the postseason. The touchdown throw to Palmer capped a seven-play, 96-yard drive.

Dalton Kincaid had five receptions for 130 yards and DJ Moore had five catches for 100 yards and one touchdown in his Buffalo debut. Tyler Bass kicked three field goals and Rousseau had two sacks as the Bills won in Joe Brady’s first game as head coach. David Montgomery rushed for two touchdowns and caught another in his Texans debut.

Lions 31, Saints 30 (OT)

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns, Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown and host Detroit held off New Orleans in overtime.

Detroit got the ball first in overtime and Goff threw a 4-yard TD pass to St. Brown for a 31-24 lead with 5:04 remaining in the extra period. Tyler Shough drove the Saints down the field on the ensuing drive and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant, but his two-point conversion pass was incomplete in the back of the end zone.

Shough recovered from three turnovers to pass for 410 yards and three touchdowns, including a 9-yard strike to Juwan Johnson late in regulation that forced OT. Chris Olave hauled in 10 receptions for 182 yards.

Jaguars 34, Browns 10

Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes and Jacksonville dominated visiting Cleveland and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards as Jacksonville built a 31-0 lead before tapping the brakes in the second half. Parker Washington caught Lawrence’s first TD pass and led the Jaguars with five receptions for 83 yards. Ten Jacksonville receivers caught at least one pass.

With the Browns down 34-3, Watson threw a 46-yard TD pass to rookie Denzel Boston with 1:52 remaining in the game. Watson was 16-of-22 passing for 205 yards and an interception, but he also fumbled and was sacked five times.

Steelers 20, Falcons 13

Aaron Rodgers began his final NFL season by throwing for 221 yards and a score and T.J. Watt returned an interception for a touchdown to help Pittsburgh hold off visiting Atlanta.

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Watt also had three tackles for loss and two sacks for the Steelers, who won their third straight season opener. Cooper Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown while throwing two interceptions for the Falcons. Bijan Robinson rushed for 83 yards and had eight catches for 90 yards and a score.

Facing a 13-7 halftime deficit, Atlanta threatened to cut the margin in half on its first drive of the second half, but Nick Folk missed his second field goal attempt of the game — this time a 45-yard try. So when Folk hit from 51 later in the third quarter, the Falcons still trailed 13-10. But Watt’s touchdown less than a minute into the fourth made the lead too big for Atlanta to overcome.

Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27

Cincinnati’s overhauled defense converted three first-half fumbles into touchdowns and led the Bengals past visiting Tampa Bay.

Joe Burrow finished 25-of-35 passing for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Bengals, who finished with four forced turnovers. Baker Mayfield was 23-of-28 for 216 yards and a touchdown run for the Buccaneers, who dropped their first season opener since 2020. Mayfield lost three fumbles for the first time in his career.

Evan McPherson converted all four field goal attempts, including kicks of 55 and 58 yards, to help Cincinnati to its first Week 1 win at home since beating Minnesota in 2021.

Jets 23, Titans 10

Kenyon Sadiq and Breece Hall ran for touchdowns, Geno Smith threw for 215 yards and visiting New York put the clamps on Tennessee. The outcome spoiled the first game as Tennessee’s coach for former Jets boss Robert Saleh.

Smith was 19-of-24 in winning his first start for the Jets since 2016. Hall added 102 yards on 22 rushes as the Jets outgained Tennessee 367-195 and hogged the ball for 38 minutes and 46 seconds.

Cam Ward struggled most of the game for the Titans, hitting 19 of 32 passes for only 140 yards and a late touchdown. Ward played under constant pressure as New York recorded three sacks and forced him into inaccurate throws.

Ravens 41, Colts 23

Derrick Henry scored three touchdowns to move into third place on the all-time rushing TDs list and rushed for 144 yards to power visiting Baltimore past Indianapolis.

Ravens wideout Zay Flowers (hamstring) had five receptions for a career-high 150 yards before he was ruled out. Lamar Jackson had 324 yards passing with a touchdown pass to Flowers and ran for a score while Henry (125) passed Marcus Allen (123) on the TD list.

Daniel Jones passed for 166 yards, one TD and one interception, while Jonathan Taylor ran for 98 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns for Indianapolis. The Colts fell to 1-8-1 in regular-season openers the past 10 years.

Vikings 39, Packers 22

Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and Minnesota closed the game with 29 unanswered points to stun Green Bay in Minneapolis.

Kyler Murray’s Vikings debut ended early as he sustained a concussion, and Carson Wentz came off the bench to complete 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. rushed for one touchdown apiece, and T.J. Hockenson had one touchdown catch.

Jordan Love completed 21 of 42 passes for 387 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Packers. Christian Watson caught six passes for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Raiders 27, Dolphins 13

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns, two to running back Ashton Jeanty, and Las Vegas took care of visiting Miami in a meeting of teams not expected to do much this season.

Cousins, who signed with Las Vegas this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Falcons, completed 21 of 30 passes for 160 yards and two interceptions. He leaned heavily on Jeanty, who rushed for 102 yards on 23 carries and caught six passes for a team-high 45 yards. Las Vegas controlled the ball for 34:53 and finished with 290 total yards.

Malik Willis hit 15 of 27 passes for 220 yards and an interception in his first start for Miami while running for its only touchdown. The Dolphins managed 259 total yards and converted only 2 of 10 third downs. Willis absorbed five sacks.

Cardinals 26, Chargers 14

Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and a touchdown, Jeremiyah Love added a TD in his NFL debut and Arizona pulled off a victory over Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif.

Trey McBride had nine receptions for 95 yards and a TD as the Cardinals won their season opener after losing their final nine games of the 2025 season. Arizona outscored the Chargers 19-7 after each team scored on its opening drive, thanks in large part to Chad Ryland’s four made field goals.

Justin Herbert was held to 209 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception, while Ladd McConkey caught five passes for 82 yards and a score before departing toward the end of the third quarter with a chest injury for Los Angeles, which was unable to find sustained offense in its first game under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Eagles 24, Commanders 22

Jalen Hurts completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdown passes plus 46 rushing yards as Philadelphia won its sixth consecutive opener by holding off visiting Washington.

Dallas Goedert caught four passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley had 15 carries for 83 yards for the Eagles. Dontayvion Wicks, in his first game for Philadelphia, had two receptions for 73 yards, including a 9-yard TD catch in the first half.

Jayden Daniels completed 18 of 34 passes in the game for 164 yards with two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Commanders created a dramatic finish. Daniels went to rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams on a quick out for a 1-yard TD pass with 1:01 remaining for a 24-22 deficit. The Eagles weren’t fooled on the two-point try. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo was waiting for an inside shovel pass to tight end John Bates, stopping him at the line of scrimmage.

Giants 28, Cowboys 20

Jaxson Dart passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns and New York excelled in John Harbaugh’s debut as coach, beating Dallas in the season opener for both teams at East Rutherford’s Met Life Stadium.

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Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns as the Giants defeated the Cowboys for the second straight time after losing 16 of the previous 17 meetings. Cam Skattebo rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown, Devin Singletary caught a touchdown pass and Jevon Holland had a key interception. Giants star receiver Malik Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards in his first contest since sustaining a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee 11 1/2 months ago.

Dak Prescott was 22-of-34 passing for 175 yards, two touchdowns and the costly pick for Dallas. Javonte Williams accounted for two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) and CeeDee Lamb had a scoring grab for the Cowboys.

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With:

NFL Sunday Night Football

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Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Cowboys -2.5, Total 48.5

Series Rewind: The Giants’ 34-17 win at MetLife Stadium in Week 18 last season snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Cowboys. Dallas is 16-2 against New York since the start of the 2017 season.

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The schedule-makers decided to throw John Harbaugh directly into the NFC East fire by inviting the rival Cowboys to town for his prime-time debut as head coach of the Giants following 18 seasons in Baltimore. Harbaugh was 4-1 vs. Dallas while coaching the Ravens. New York QB Jaxson Dart led all rookies with 24 touchdowns (15 passing and nine rushing) last season despite a high-contact playing style that led to multiple concussion evaluations. Keeping him healthy is essential if the Giants want to make the playoffs for just the third time since winning Super Bowl XLVI. WR Malik Nabers went off — nine catches for 167 yards and two TDs — in his most recent clash with the Cowboys in Week 2 last season. When it comes to success in this rivalry, however, Dallas QB Dak Prescott has earned bragging rights with a 14-3 record, 4,346 passing yards and a 31-9 TD-INT ratio in 17 meetings with Big Blue. He will be looking to air it out Sunday night with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens stretching the field.

–Field Level Media