The 2026 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday night with a packed slate, and if you blinked, you missed some serious statement games. Let's break down every score, every standout, and what it all means for your fantasy draft board.
Thursday Night: August 13
Bengals 16, Lions 14 — Cincinnati's defense came out swinging, holding Detroit to two scores while the offense did just enough. The Bengals' young receivers flashed, and the defense generated consistent pressure. Detroit's starters looked sharp early but fizzled after the first quarter.
Steelers 28, Packers 9 — Pittsburgh dominated wire-to-wire. The Steelers' run game carved up Green Bay's front seven, and the defense made life miserable for the Packers' backup QBs. This is a Steelers team that looks deeper than people think.
Patriots 13, Colts 13 — A tie in preseason is meaningless, but both defenses showed flashes. Neither offense could sustain drives, which raises questions for two teams with QB situations that are anything but settled.
Cardinals 27, Raiders 14 — Arizona put up points in bunches. Gardner Minshew II threw for 101 yards and looked comfortable running the offense. The Raiders, meanwhile, have work to do on both sides of the ball.
Chargers 27, Texans (score pending) — LAC looked explosive. The run game was relentless, and the defense swarmed. If this is a preview of what the Chargers bring in 2026, the AFC West just got more interesting.
Friday Night: August 14
Broncos 27, Falcons 7 — Denver steamrolled Atlanta. Jarrett Stidham threw for 131 yards and looked like a legitimate starting option. The Falcons, on the other hand, couldn't get anything going — the defense couldn't stop the run, and the offense was stuck in neutral all night.
Commanders 20, Dolphins (score pending) — Washington's young core showed up. The Dolphins' backups struggled to find rhythm.
Saturday: August 15 (Today)
Panthers 7, Bills 13 — A defensive battle in Buffalo. The Bills' depth on defense is real, and Carolina's offense has a long way to go.
Browns 10, Bears 10 — Even matchup, even result. Both teams are still figuring out their QB depth charts.
Rams vs Chiefs — The marquee matchup of the day. Two teams with Super Bowl aspirations squaring off in preseason — the starters might play a series or two, and that's all we need to see.
What to Watch
Preseason Week 2 runs August 20-23. The key storylines: Can the Steelers' offense sustain this? Are the Broncos a sleeper playoff team with Stidham? And which rookie QBs start climbing depth charts around the league?
Got a question about any of these games or your fantasy lineup? Hit the "Ask The Blog" button at the bottom right of your screen — it'll break down any matchup, compare players, or help you set your roster.
— Smokyy
