2026 NFL Preseason, Week 1: What We Learned from Thursday's Thrilling Games

The first week of the 2026 NFL preseason has come to a close, and what a thrilling start it has been! Thursday's matchups delivered a plethora of exciting moments, surprise performances, and telling signs of what's to come in this year's NFL season. The Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals kicked things off with a highly anticipated matchup, followed by the Green Bay Packers taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Indianapolis Colts facing off against the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Chargers battling the Houston Texans, the Arizona Cardinals clashing with the Las Vegas Raiders, and finally, the Tennessee Titans going head-to-head with the San Francisco 49ers.

As the dust settles on the opening preseason games, it's time to dive into what we learned from these early showdowns. The Lions' quarterback battle continues to be a fascinating story, with Jared Goff and Tim Boyle both turning in solid performances. Goff, in particular, looked impressive, connecting on numerous long passes and displaying his usual poise under pressure. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a force to be reckoned with, recording multiple sacks and pressuring the Bengals' quarterbacks all evening. The Bengals, meanwhile, were forced to rely on their backups after starter Joe Burrow was ruled out with an injury, but they still managed to keep pace with the Lions and put on an impressive display of resilience.

The Packers-Steelers matchup was another highlight of the night, with Green Bay's quarterback duo of Aaron Rodgers and Graham Mertz getting a chance to shine together. Rodgers, as expected, was a masterclass performer, making precision throws and leading his team to several scoring opportunities. Mertz, meanwhile, had his moments, including a beautiful 30-yard touchdown pass that showcased his arm strength and accuracy. As for the Steelers, quarterback Kenny Pickett looked solid, but it was their running back group that stole the show, with Najee Harris and Dennis Daley both churning out respectable yards and breaking tackles with ease. The Steelers' defense, on the other hand, looked a bit vulnerable, allowing several big plays and struggling to contain the Packers' high-powered offense.

The Colts-Patriots game was a low-scoring affair, but it still had its share of intriguing moments. Indianapolis quarterback Sam Ehlinger was a bright spot, completing 75% of his passes and leading his team on several scoring drives. New England, meanwhile, relied on the services of their veteran backup quarterback, Brian Hoyer, who was a steady presence and helped the Patriots maintain a slim lead until the very end. The Patriots' running game, however, was a different story altogether, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson struggling to find traction and getting bottled up by the Colts' defenders time and again.

The Chargers-Texans matchup was a defensive struggle, with both teams' offenses sputtering at times. Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert did his best to will his team to victory, but it was his defense that ultimately made the difference, forcing several turnovers and holding the Texans to a meager 4 points. The Texans, on the other hand, were hampered by several drops and miscues, including a fumble return touchdown that put the game out of their reach. In the end, it was a solid performance from Chargers defensive linemen Morgan Fox and Chris Harris that sealed the win for Los Angeles.

The Cardinals-Raiders game was another defensive battle, but this one was marked by several turnovers and fumbles that swung the momentum in either direction. Arizona quarterback Colt McCoy was a solid performer, completing several key passes and engineering a 4th-quarter comeback that nearly propelled his team to victory. Oakland, meanwhile, had its chances to put the game away, but their running back group continued to struggle, getting bottled up by the Cardinals' front seven and failing to convert several important 3rd-down opportunities.

The final matchup of the night, the Titans-49ers game, was a high-scoring affair that showcased both teams' offenses. San Francisco's quarterback duo of Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy both played admirably, connecting on numerous long passes and leading their team to several scoring drives. The Titans, meanwhile, were led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who completed 70% of his passes and engineered several crucial scoring opportunities. In the end, it was the Titans' defense that emerged victorious, forcing several turnovers and sacking 49ers quarterbacks multiple times.

Looking ahead to the rest of the preseason schedule, one thing is clear: these early games have given us a glimpse into what could be an incredibly competitive season. With so many teams jockeying for position and each matchup featuring its unique set of storylines and surprises, it's going to be an exciting few weeks ahead of us. The question now is: will the Lions be able to overcome their quarterback struggles and find a rhythm? Can the Packers build on their promising showing and stay healthy throughout the season? And will the Chargers' defense continue to be the glue that holds their team together? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the 2026 NFL season is shaping up to be one to watch.