Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 14
Bills Edge Texans 36-31 as Cardinals Stun Chargers in 26-14 Week 1 Upset
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 14

Bills Edge Texans 36-31 as Cardinals Stun Chargers in 26-14 Week 1 Upset

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 14

Summary

  • Buffalo opened Week 1 with a 36-31 win in Houston, where Josh Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns, including a 34-yard game-winner to Josh Palmer with 1:34 left.
  • That result stood out because Allen beat Houston on the road for the first time in his career, while the Texans' highly regarded defense gave up 36 points and C.J. Stroud lost a fumble on the final possession.
  • Arizona delivered the biggest upset of the opening slate, beating the Chargers 26-14 as a +9.5 underdog after piling up 394 yards, forcing two turnovers and making three fourth-down stops.
  • Other Week 1 surprises included the Bears and Panthers combining for a record 96 points in a season opener, the Jets and Giants both winning openers for the first time since 2009, and Baltimore earning one of the top grades after a 41-23 rout of Indianapolis.

Insights

With heavy favorites like Dallas crumbling early, are top-tier NFL defenses structurally vulnerable or just shaking off off-season rust?
After a historically explosive 59-point debut, what secret adjustments transformed Chicago’s offense into an unstoppable juggernaut?
How will the grueling travel from the NFL's Australian showcase secretly impact the 49ers and Rams in the coming weeks?