The first 16 games of the 2026 NFL season have wrapped up, and it sure felt like a long week. Games spanning six days involved a slew of shocking upsets, awe-inspiring individual performances and even a number of notable injuries.
The sample size of evaluation is admittedly small, but we’ve already learned something about every NFL team. To what extent those trends stick will be driven by what happens over the next few weeks.
1. Bills (1-0):
The Bills answered the call with a triumphant victory over the Texans in Week 1. Joe Brady’s offense hummed like rarely seen against Houston, racking up 13 explosive plays with major contributions from Dalton Kincaid (career high 91.6 PFF receiving grade) and newcomer D.J. Moore. However, new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard looks to make adjustments on a short week after allowing a 53.2% success rate against Houston’s offense.
If winning a regular-season game got Joe Brady to take off his shirt, he’ll be butt naked if they win in the playoffs.
2. Bears (1-0):
The 59 offense is possibly better than the 46 defense.
Ben Johnson wasn’t playing around about boasting the highest-scoring offense in league history. The Bears averaged a prodigious 3.93 points per drive and 0.365 EPA per play against the Panthers, especially mashing Carolina on the ground thanks to a terrific day from D’Andre Swift (90.9 PFF rushing grade). The worry is still a defense which missed 15 tackles, but if Johnson’s offense remains this effective, perhaps winning shootouts is a productive formula.
3. 49ers (1-0):
They turned the page decisively on all of those bizarre offseason storylines.
It was hard not to be impressed watching the 49ers take the rival Rams to the woodshed in Australia. The return of Fred Warner (91.1 overall PFF grade) was dazzling, while free-agent acquisition Mike Evans (3-for-3 in contested catches) made an instant impact in the team’s receiver room. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will try to sustain that level of defensive performance in which San Francisco missed only four tackles and permitted a 10% scoring drive rate.
4. Jaguars (1-0):
They won 34-10, and it felt way more lopsided than that.
The Jaguars didn’t mess around against the Browns, dominating from start to finish courtesy of their hyper-efficient offense. Jacksonville’s defense also rose to the occasion against Deshaun Watson, with new starting linebacker Ventrell Miller (92.4 overall PFF grade) flourishing. Liam Coen’s squad will get a much more serious test in Week 2 against the Broncos, but the Jaguars have the balanced coaching and talent to make another run.
5. Seahawks (1-0):
They can win with Drew Lock. It’s unknown how long they’ll have to try to do that.
If you told the Seahawks that Sam Darnold would play only five snaps into the season opener, alarm bells would have rung. Yet Seattle still found a way to prevail over the Patriots again thanks to its stout defense, relying on unsung contributors like Nehemiah Pritchett (81.3 PFF coverage grade) and Uchenna Nwosu (76.7 overall PFF grade). While Darnold recovers from a hip injury, Drew Lock is expected to make at least one more start after more than holding his own against New England with an 84.1 overall PFF grade.
6. Ravens (1-0):
Derrick Henry may never lose a step.
Baltimore’s offense met lofty expectations against the Colts, averaging 0.200 EPA per play while ranking second with a 21% explosive play rate. Zay Flowers, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry appeared the part of a multi-faceted unit that should vie as one of the best in the NFL. Head coach Jesse Minter will remain focused on improving a defense that currently slots 26th in PFF run-defense grade but which showcased growth.
7. Bengals (1-0):
In past years, they would have fully blown a 27-10 lead.
The Bengals displayed more signs of progress against the Buccaneers in a win. Cincinnati’s offensive line enjoyed a stellar day, letting up only six pressures as a group against a talented Tampa Bay defensive line. Further, the Bengals’ defense sits 12th in EPA per play after forcing four turnovers and ranking 10th in PFF run-defense grade. Questions about tackling and coverage acumen will determine just how much Al Golden’s unit has really improved over the next few weeks.
8. Chiefs (1-0):
Kenneth Walker III earned every penny of his contract in his debut, and then some.
Are the Chiefs all the way back to their contending status? Monday night was very much a step in the right direction, with Kenneth Walker III (90.5 PFF rushing grade) contributing to a night-and-day rushing attack that was explosive and tremendous after contact. Further, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense held its own thanks to efforts from rookies like Mansoor Delane (97.3 overall PFF grade) and Peter Woods (83.2). If Patrick Mahomes rounds into full form, Kansas City becomes that much more terrifying.
9. Texans (0-1):
Scoring 31 points should be more than enough for that defense.
Houston’s season opener against the Bills was a double-edged sword. On one hand, its beleaguered offense looked much better, averaging 0.083 EPA per play and gaining 25 first downs. On the other, the Texans’ defense was astonishingly carved up while generating only 13 pressures. DeMeco Ryans’ defense shouldn’t play this badly again, which means Houston is that much more of a contender if C.J. Stroud & Co. can sustain this type of efficacy.
10. Eagles (1-0):
A Week 1 escape vs. the Commanders answered no questions about whether they’ll be true contenders.
The Eagles clung to victory over the rival Commanders to begin the season, thanks in large part to a strong day from Jalen Hurts (79.7 overall PFF grade) that featured three big-time throws. Philadelphia’s defense ranks seventh in success rate behind a masterpiece from Zack Baun (90.6 overall PFF grade), although Cooper DeJean (29.2 PFF coverage grade) was rarely poor. A focus this week and beyond will be the interior offensive line after guard Landon Dickerson underwhelmed, then was placed on injured reserve.
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They’re coming to take a spot amongst the flavor of the week.
11. Dallas (0-1)
12. Rams (0-1)
13. New England (0-1)
14. Broncos (0-1)
15. LA Chargers (0-1)