While the New England Patriots kicked off the 2026 NFL season on Wednesday, the majority of the league kicked off on Sunday, and the Chiefs and Broncos wrapped up the week.
Now officially in the books, Week 1 featured some interesting results. The Cardinals took down the Justin Herbert-led Chargers, while Mahomes looked just fine in his comeback from the Broncos, winning by three touchdowns.
The Rams' super team didn't look so super in their 20-point loss to the Niners on Thursday, while the struggles of the Browns were there for all to see as the Jaguars mopped the floor with them.
Last season, the Patriots went 5-1 in the division, clinching the AFC East title after Buffalo's Week 17 loss to Philadelphia officially put them out of the race. There's no doubt the Patriots have retaining the title on their mind in 2026, but a Week 1 loss won't help.
Due to their 0-1 start, the Patriots lost their spot atop the division power rankings.
Week 1 power rankings sees Patriots drop from their preseason top spot
1. Buffalo Bills (1-0)
Week 1 Result: 36-31 W vs. HOU
Josh Allen remains impressive at 30, throwing for 334 yards and four touchdowns with a 69% completion rate against the fearsome Texans defense. Dalton Kincaid posted a career-high 130 receiving yards to open the season, while new acquisition D.J. Moore also hit the century mark and found the end zone.
Despite losing the division title last season, the Bills will be looking to reclaim the East with new head coach Joe Brady. A shootout against the Texans to open the season is an exciting way to start an important campaign, while the Patriots' loss puts the Bills tied with the Jets for the division lead after Week 1.
2. New England Patriots (0-1)
Week 1 Result: 13-10 L vs. SEA
The Patriots' second-half performance against Seattle was a disaster. After taking a 7-0 halftime lead, Sam Darnold's injury seemed like too much for Seattle to overcome. In the last 15:16 of the game, Drake Maye threw a trio of interceptions, the last of which sealed the victory for Drew Lock and company, who managed 13 points.
The Patriots played better than they did in the Super Bowl, but Maye's shortcomings in the final fifteen minutes eventually led to the team's demise. While Maye's performance was the primary reason for the loss, Romeo Doubs and Josh McDaniels also bore responsibility.
I wouldn't expect Maye to repeat such costly end-of-game mistakes, but the team will need massive improvements if it wants a chance to return to the Super Bowl in February.
3. New York Jets (1-0)
Week 1 Result: 23-10 W vs. TEN
Aaron Glenn's time with the Jets didn't seem likely to last long before the season began, but after the team's Week 1 performance, he could be in line to stay for longer than fans had bargained for.
The Jets looked strong against the Titans, with the defense holding Cam Ward's squad to just ten points. Offensively, Geno Smith's veteran quarterback play could be exactly what the doctor ordered. During Robert Saleh's tenure with the Jets, New York was crying out for a system QB who could avoid turnovers, exactly what Smith was able to do on Sunday.
Smith finished 19/24 for 215 yards, while Breece Hall and Braelon Allen totaled 142 rushing yards from 32 carries. Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell also looked strong, totaling 139 yards between the Jets' two top receivers.
The Jets aren't more talented than the Patriots, so despite their superior record so far, they aren't jumping the Patriots for now. The next few weeks will provide more context, especially as the Patriots face their arch-rival in Week 6.
4. Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Week 1 Result: 27-13 L vs. LV
The Raiders took down an AFC East opponent in Week 1 for the second straight season on Sunday, taking down the Dolphins by two touchdowns. The Raiders appear to have something with new head coach Klint Kubiak. Ashton Jeanty had a fantastic day, scoring three times while leading the team in rushing and receiving, totaling 147 yards and two scores.
The Raiders' improvement from last season shouldn't go unnoticed, but the Dolphins roster is far from All-Pro. Since De'Von Achane is the team's lone offensive star, opponents focusing on bottling him up shouldn't surprise them. He averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in the loss.
On a more positive note, the Dolphins' defense recorded two interceptions, while rookies Jacob Rodriguez and Chris Johnson were tackling machines, logging 14 and 11 tackles, respectively.
Malik Willis's play may have been most important to the franchise's future. He finished with a 55% completion rate for 220 yards and an interception, adding 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground. While it wasn't perfect, it was nice to see him play competently despite his lack of weapons.
The Dolphins are likely to be a very bad team in 2026, but if Willis can establish himself as a legitimate long-term starter, it would no doubt do the team a world of good.
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