All articles tagged with #nfl 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has not been sacked in the first three games of the 2026 NFL season, leading the league with a 133.1 passer rating. Teammates and coaches attribute this success to his exceptional vision, pocket mobility, and decision-making, while analysts note that elite offensive line protection and favorable early opponents have also contributed to his flawless record.
The Los Angeles Rams suffered a 30-10 second-half collapse against the Denver Broncos, dropping their Super Bowl odds to +700. Key injuries to Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua have eroded the team's margin for error, raising questions about their title viability despite a strong offseason.
The Las Vegas Raiders have achieved a perfect 3-0 start in the 2026 NFL season, matching their entire 2025 win total after finishing 3-14. Head coach Klint Kubiak, a former Super Bowl-winning assistant, has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround, leading the team to a +34 point differential and a fourth-best record in the league. Key factors include the return of tight end Brock Bowers, the efficiency of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, and a defensive unit that excels in late-game situations. While some analysts question the sustainability of this success due to small sample sizes, others view the structural changes as genuine indicators of a contender.
The Las Vegas Raiders' 3-0 start is considered 'pretty darn real' due to versatile offensive schemes and defensive improvements, while the San Francisco 49ers' identical record is viewed as fragile due to significant injury concerns and weak opponent quality. Other teams like the Chiefs and Vikings also show strong early signs, but the Raiders' success is attributed to coaching and structural changes rather than luck.
Rob Gronkowski suggests Aaron Rodgers may regret coming back for the 2026 season after a sluggish two-game start with the Steelers, citing a stagnant offense and only two touchdowns (one from a pick-six) as the year begins, a view echoed by Julian Edelman but still early in the season.
Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a first-quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, sparking a raucous suite celebration from Taylor Swift who pointed to her wedding ring and yelled, “That’s my husband!” The moment capped Kelce’s first TD of 2026 and highlighted the couple’s high-profile romance amid a Chiefs win at Arrowhead.
Seattle overcame a 10-0 deficit to beat the Patriots 13-10, despite Sam Darnold’s early injury and a slew of penalties, as Seattle leaned on a precise snap-count plan. The offense featured four primary targets (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, A.J. Barner, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed) with Jadarian Price and George Holani splitting RB1 duties, and Brady Russell handling a career-high workload at fullback. Defensively, Rodney Thomas II played nearly every snap, Dante Fowler Jr. saw limited rushes, Tyrice Knight was mostly on early downs, and Josh Jobe solidified himself as the CB2 with Nehemiah Pritchett logging 53 snaps in the secondary. Seattle heads to Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals.
Detroit’s 2026 rookie class looks to define the season, with five rookies on the 53-man roster and a staff split over who will win Lions Rookie of the Year. Several writers back first‑round right tackle Blake Miller for an immediate impact on the offensive line, while others point to defensive end Derrick Moore as the more disruptive, game‑changing edge. A poll included with the piece shows Miller as a leading pick among the staff, though Moore is firmly in the mix for the award depending on how the line and pass rush develop.
The Browns released an unofficial Week 1 depth chart for their Sept. 13 road game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville, with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS. The chart details projected starters across offense, defense and special teams, including notes on injuries or rookies where applicable.
CBS Sports projects the last-place finisher in each NFL division for 2026: AFC East—Dolphins; AFC North—Browns; AFC South—Titans; AFC West—Raiders; NFC East—Commanders; NFC North—Vikings; NFC South—Falcons; NFC West—Cardinals, arguing factors like cap moves, QB injuries, line stability, and division-level competition could leave these teams at the bottom.
Kevin Knight argues the Falcons should start Michael Penix Jr. in 2026, citing his cost efficiency and years of team control, plus his encouraging moments from 2025, as the best path to long-term success amid a still-developing quarterback battle.
Bleacher Report ranks the NFL’s top defensive duos for 2026, led by the Los Angeles Rams’ Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald at No. 1 after Donald’s return from retirement, with Parsons/McKinney (Packers), Hamilton/Smith (Ravens), Surtain II/Bonitto (Broncos), and Anderson/Hunter (Texans) rounding out the list.
Green Bay’s 2026 53-man roster features seven defensive tackles, a major upgrade from last year and a plan to avoid an interior-scarce season again. Headliners Javon Hargrave and Chris McClellan joined Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks, while rising contributors Warren Brinson, Jonathan Ford, and Anthony Campbell earned spots. Nazir Stackhouse was cut, Jordon Riley is on the PUP list to start the year, and the Packers’ DT group now boasts notable depth and upside heading into the season.
The Athletic’s 2026 fantasy football preview lays out 20 underdog predictions across QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs, including Jahmyr Gibbs as a top-10 PPR RB, Lamar Jackson returning as fantasy QB1 and MVP, Colston Loveland as a potential TE1, Brock Purdy and Kyler Murray rising into top QB tiers, Nico Collins and Jayden Reed breaking into high WR territory, D’Andre Swift seizing a lead-back role, and Chris Godwin outranking Emeka Egbuka. It also highlights rookies/late-draft sleepers like Dalton Kincaid and others, plus a notable bust risk for Cam Skattebo, all framed by system fits and injury narratives that could shape 2026 fantasy outcomes.
This Eagles roundup centers on Jalen Hurts’ candid GQ interview and his accountability mindset, while also outlining the team’s 2026 plans with a new offensive scheme, plus roster cutdowns, practice-squad signings, and coach/GM notes on patience and development as the organization navigates training camp and the season ahead.