TL;DR
- Six games opened the 2026 NFL preseason on Thursday, 13 August.
- Steelers 28–9 Packers · Bengals 16–14 Lions · Chargers 27–7 Texans · Cardinals 27–14 Raiders · Titans 19–13 49ers · Colts 13–13 Patriots (tie).
- Steelers rookie QB Drew Allar was the night’s standout: 10 of 13 for 153 yards, two passing touchdowns and one on the ground.
- Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack went 3 for 3, including two 58-yarders.
- Colts QB Anthony Richardson did little to move his trade market: 11 of 14, 145 yards, an interception and a lost fumble.
Preseason football is a strange product — the scoreboard barely matters, the depth charts matter enormously. Thursday’s six-game slate opened the 2026 exhibition season and, as usual, the most interesting things happened well after the starters had showered. Here is every result, plus what actually moved.
What were the NFL preseason Week 1 scores?
- Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Green Bay Packers 9
- Cincinnati Bengals 16, Detroit Lions 14
- Los Angeles Chargers 27, Houston Texans 7
- Arizona Cardinals 27, Las Vegas Raiders 14
- Tennessee Titans 19, San Francisco 49ers 13
- Indianapolis Colts 13, New England Patriots 13 (tie)
Who was the biggest winner of the night?
Drew Allar. The Steelers rookie quarterback came on late in the third quarter and tore through the bottom of Green Bay’s depth chart, finishing 10 of 13 for 153 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing score. Seventy-four of those yards came on a single breakaway to fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen, who later caught one of the touchdowns.
Earlier in the game, second-round rookie receiver Germie Bernard had already made the case for a role: four catches for 51 yards on five targets from Mason Rudolph, with a 25-yard grab that involved spinning through two defenders. With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman both resting, Pittsburgh got a useful look at what sits behind them.
And the most relieved fanbase?
Green Bay’s. The Packers have churned through kickers since Mason Crosby, and sixth-round rookie Trey Smack had been inconsistent in camp. On Thursday he went 3 for 3, opening with a 58-yarder that was wiped out by a Pittsburgh penalty, converting the 37-yard retry, then drilling another 58-yarder before half.
What did we learn about the quarterbacks?
In Cincinnati, the story was mechanics rather than statistics. Joe Burrow’s first pass was a play-action strike from under center to Ja’Marr Chase for 16 yards — the Bengals want more under-centre play-action in 2026, and it had been rough in camp. Over two drives Burrow lined up under centre on seven of 13 snaps and went 2 of 2 for 25 yards. Less encouraging: he was sacked on the opening drive and hit hard after a quick pressure allowed by left tackle Orlando Brown.
In New England, Anthony Richardson produced a box score prettier than the tape: 11 of 14 for 145 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, one lost fumble, plus a 1-yard sneak and 53 rushing yards across six first-half drives that yielded seven points. With Daniel Jones established as Indianapolis’ starter and Richardson having requested a trade, the night did little to build a market or to settle the QB2 battle with Riley Leonard.
Which rookies flashed elsewhere?
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love started slowly — 3, 2, 1 and 2 yards on his first four carries — then found his gear with runs of 8, 9 and two of 15, finishing the first half with 11 carries for 58 yards and three catches for 15. On the other sideline, Raiders back Mike Washington Jr. put up 63 yards on just six carries, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his debut in a losing effort.
Tennessee gave first-round picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk starts against San Francisco. In Houston, rookie centre Keylan Rutledge played a single drive — a vote of confidence in his starter status — and it ended with a Davis Mills touchdown throw to Jared Wayne.
Frequently asked questions
When was NFL preseason Week 1?
The first wave of six games was played on Thursday, 13 August 2026. More Week 1 preseason games follow across the weekend.
Did any game end in a tie?
Yes. The Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots finished 13–13. Preseason games do not go to overtime, so ties are possible.
What was the biggest margin of victory?
The Los Angeles Chargers’ 27–7 win at Houston, matched in points by Pittsburgh’s 28–9 result against Green Bay.
Do preseason results count in the standings?
No. Preseason records are tracked separately and have no bearing on the regular-season standings or playoff seeding.
Who stood out most among rookies?
Steelers quarterback Drew Allar, with 153 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, alongside Packers kicker Trey Smack’s perfect 3-for-3 night.
By Patrick Lancier
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