NFL Week 1 roundup: Bills win in Houston, Cardinals upset Chargers, Broncos favored over Chiefs on Monday night
Week 1 saw the Buffalo Bills defeat the Houston Texans, the Arizona Cardinals upset the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Denver Broncos entered Monday night as slight favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Buffalo Bills earned a 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, giving quarterback Josh Allen his first win in Houston and a B+ grade from analyst John Breech. Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 34-yard pass to Josh Palmer with 1:34 left. The Texans' defense, expected to be among the league's best, allowed 36 points and received a B- grade, while quarterback C.J. Stroud posted a solid performance despite a late fumble.
In Los Angeles, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Chargers 26-14, handing the Chargers their first loss of the season and a D grade. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett led a balanced attack with 394 yards, and the defense forced two turnovers and blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown. New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur earned an A grade for the win.
Other notable results included a 59-37 win for the Chicago Bears over the Carolina Panthers, which set a Week 1 scoring record with 96 combined points, and a 39-22 victory for the Minnesota Vikings over the Green Bay Packers, marking the first double scorigami of the season.
The league's weekly winners and losers list highlighted Buffalo, Arizona and the Denver Broncos as top performers, while the Cleveland Browns' quarterback Deshaun Watson was singled out for a poor debut. Analysts debated early-season narratives, with one noting that Lamar Jackson's 324-yard passing day supports his MVP candidacy, while another warned against overreacting to the Texans' defensive struggles.
Monday night will feature a matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. Broncos analyst Jared Dubin cited the Broncos' league-leading sack total from last season as a factor that could pressure a returning Patrick Mahomes, who is still recovering from an ACL tear. The Chiefs are expected to rely on a strong running game, featuring rookie Kenneth Walker III, to mitigate pressure on Mahomes. Several experts, including Dubin, John Breech and Tyler Sullivan, have the Broncos as slight favorites, with most picks favoring a Broncos win.
In injury news, defensive end Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (New England Patriots) were placed on injured reserve after sustaining knee and ankle injuries, respectively, sidelining them for at least four games.