Six lessons learned from Week 1: Caleb Williams is taking another leap, don't forget about Trevor Lawrence

September 15, 2026

The opening slate of the 2026 NFL campaign established a fresh high-water mark for total points on a kickoff weekend, highlighted by Chicago's 56-39 shootout triumph over Carolina. Buffalo racked up 36 points to topple Houston, while C.J.

Stroud rebounded from a difficult finish to the previous year to guide the Texans to 31 points against expectations. Elsewhere, Baltimore rolled behind a 41-point display orchestrated by Lamar Jackson in a revamped system, and Detroit barely escaped New Orleans despite surrendering 410 passing yards to Tyler Shough.

Monday night capped the action by unveiling a ground-heavy blueprint for Kansas City, powered by Kenneth Walker III. After Kansas City tailbacks produced a solitary run of 20-plus yards throughout the entirety of last season, the former Seattle standout broke off two such runs in his debut, helping the squad to a 14-7 halftime advantage while Andy Reid called running plays on 51 percent of first-half snaps.

As Patrick Mahomes works back from an ACL tear, Walker's arrival gives the franchise a dynamic rushing centerpiece capable of re-establishing their trademark big-play capability.