NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap

2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap: Results, Position Battles, Injuries & Betting Takeaways

The first full week of the 2026 NFL preseason is in the books, and while preseason records won't mean anything once September arrives, the information coming out of these games absolutely matters.

For bettors, the final score is only part of the story. Quarterback rotations, coaching philosophy, depth-chart battles, offensive-line play, injuries and which players are actually fighting for roster spots can be much more predictive when attacking the next preseason slate.

Week 1 ran from August 13-15 and gave us all 32 teams in action. (FOX Sports)

Here is the MoonPicks98 breakdown of what happened, what caught our attention and what bettors should be watching heading into Preseason Week 2.

🏈 NFL Preseason Week 1 Results

Thursday, August 13

• Cincinnati Bengals 16, Detroit Lions 14

• Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Green Bay Packers 9

• Indianapolis Colts 13, New England Patriots 13

• Los Angeles Chargers 27, Houston Texans 7

• Arizona Cardinals 27, Las Vegas Raiders 14

• Tennessee Titans 19, San Francisco 49ers 13

Friday, August 14

• Denver Broncos 27, Atlanta Falcons 7

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, New York Jets 16

• Washington Commanders 20, Miami Dolphins 7

Saturday, August 15

• Buffalo Bills 29, Carolina Panthers 14

• Chicago Bears 34, Cleveland Browns 10

• Minnesota Vikings 13, New York Giants 10

• Los Angeles Rams 20, Kansas City Chiefs 12

• Jacksonville Jaguars 24, New Orleans Saints 20

• Baltimore Ravens 24, Philadelphia Eagles 7

• Dallas Cowboys 17, Seattle Seahawks 7

The official NFL schedule confirms those 16 Week 1 results. (NFL.com)

🔥 What Stood Out in Week 1?

Pittsburgh's Drew Allar Made a Statement

One of the biggest performances of the opening week came from Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar.

Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a rushing touchdown as Pittsburgh rolled past Green Bay 28-9. (FOX Sports)

Aaron Rodgers remains the story at the top of Pittsburgh's quarterback room, but preseason bettors need to look further down the depth chart.

Having a young quarterback capable of moving the offense after the starters leave can create a substantial preseason advantage.

Betting takeaway:

Backup quarterback quality matters enormously in preseason football.

If Pittsburgh continues giving Allar significant playing time against second- and third-team defenses, the Steelers deserve serious consideration in upcoming preseason markets.

Rams Rookie QB Ty Simpson Looks Comfortable

Los Angeles also received an encouraging performance from rookie quarterback Ty Simpson.

Simpson finished:

21-of-25 passing190 yards2 touchdowns0 interceptions125.0 passer rating

He played three quarters after Stetson Bennett opened the game and helped the Rams defeat Kansas City 20-12. (FOX Sports)

Simpson is competing with Bennett for the backup job behind Matthew Stafford.

That competition is exactly what preseason bettors want to see.

When two quarterbacks are fighting for a roster position or backup role, coaches have an incentive to give them meaningful snaps rather than simply trying to survive the game.

Betting takeaway:

Keep the Rams quarterback rotation on the radar in Week 2.

Motivated backup quarterbacks combined with Sean McVay's offensive system could make Los Angeles an interesting preseason team.

👀 Cleveland's Quarterback Situation Remains Must-Watch

The Browns' 34-10 loss to Chicago wasn't pretty, but Cleveland remains one of the most interesting teams to monitor.

The Browns are still evaluating their quarterback room, and every preseason snap becomes another piece of information for coaches — and bettors.

Chicago's secondary intercepted both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, with Beanie Bishop Jr. accounting for both picks. (ESPN)

That doesn't automatically mean we should fade Cleveland going forward. Quite the opposite: quarterback competitions can sometimes create strong preseason betting situations because teams need extended game reps to make roster decisions.

What we're watching:

How Cleveland divides its QB snaps in Week 2 could be more important than anything that happened in the final score against Chicago.

🚀 Rookie Playmakers Are Starting to Emerge

Preseason isn't only about quarterbacks.

A number of rookies and younger players made legitimate cases for larger roles.

One of the most interesting was Cleveland's KC Concepcion.

He produced:

• Three catches for 27 yards

• A 31-yard punt return

• A 14-yard rushing touchdown

His versatility immediately stood out despite Cleveland's lopsided loss. (ESPN)

Jacksonville also got an impressive performance from undrafted running back J'Mari Taylor, who rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on 12 second-half carries after gaining 20 yards in the first half. (ESPN)

These performances matter because preseason games are often decided by the bottom half of the roster.

When starters leave, depth becomes everything.

🐦 Baltimore's Young Receivers Are Worth Monitoring

Baltimore's 24-7 victory over Philadelphia deserves attention beyond the final score.

Rookie receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt entered the preseason after generating positive reports during camp, and their development could become important to Baltimore's offensive depth. (FOX Sports)

For preseason bettors, identifying teams with legitimate second- and third-string playmakers can provide an edge that isn't always reflected in the opening line.

🏥 Injuries: The Biggest Preseason Betting Variable

This is where things become especially important.

Depth charts can change overnight during August.

The best example from Week 1 came in Washington.

Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a ligament sprain in his right knee after only four plays against Miami. Head coach Dan Quinn subsequently said Mariota would miss the remainder of the preseason. (Axios)

With Jayden Daniels held out of the opener, Washington was forced to turn to Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.

Kaliakmanis completed 6 of 10 passes for 87 yards, while Hartman helped lead two touchdown drives but also threw an interception. (Axios)

Now those quarterbacks are likely to receive significantly more Week 2 playing time.

Betting impact:

This is exactly why preseason betting requires late information.

A team's quarterback rotation projected Monday could look completely different by Saturday.

Before betting preseason sides or totals, we want to know:

Who is playing?How long are they playing?Who is sitting?Which quarterbacks get the second half?Are starters playing a quarter, a series or not at all?

Those questions can matter more than power ratings.

⚔️ Position Battles We're Watching

Backup Quarterback

This remains the single most important position battle for preseason betting.

Teams with multiple quarterbacks fighting for jobs can have an advantage over teams simply protecting established veterans.

Some of the situations worth following include:

Pittsburgh: Drew Allar continues making his case within the quarterback room.

Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson vs. Stetson Bennett for the backup role.

Washington: Sam Hartman vs. Athan Kaliakmanis takes on additional importance following Mariota's injury.

Cleveland: Every quarterback rep remains significant as the Browns continue evaluating their options.

Running Back Depth

Running back competitions are another area we're watching closely.

Preseason rushing numbers can be misleading because offensive-line combinations constantly change, but snap counts and usage aren't meaningless.

Look for:

• Who plays with the second-team offense

• Goal-line carries

• Third-down snaps

• Pass protection assignments

• Receiving work

• Which backs remain in the game late

Those clues can tell us which teams possess stronger offensive depth.

Offensive Line

This might be the most overlooked preseason betting angle.

A third-string quarterback can look fantastic in camp, but if he's playing behind an offensive line that can't protect him, the offense can disappear quickly.

Philadelphia rookie tackle Markel Bell, for example, earned positive reviews after starting at right tackle against Baltimore. ESPN noted his preseason performance has added to the organization's confidence in him. (ESPN)

For totals especially, offensive-line depth deserves attention.

Poor backup line play can create sacks, turnovers and stalled drives — all extremely important when evaluating preseason unders.

💰 What Week 1 Taught Bettors

There are several lessons we want to carry into Week 2.

1. Don't Overreact to Final Scores

Chicago beating Cleveland 34-10 doesn't automatically mean Chicago is a preseason powerhouse or Cleveland should immediately be faded.

We need to understand how the score happened and who was on the field.

2. Quarterback Rotations Are King

A strong QB2/QB3 combination can completely change a preseason game after halftime.

That's why players like Allar and Simpson immediately get our attention.

3. Coaching Intent Matters

Some coaches want to evaluate players. Others prioritize getting through August healthy.

Knowing how many snaps the starters are expected to receive can completely change the handicap.

4. Injuries Can Create Opportunity

An injury doesn't automatically mean "fade."

Mariota's injury, for example, should create additional opportunities for Washington's younger quarterbacks.

More snaps can sometimes produce more predictable rotations, which can actually help bettors.

5. Don't Bet Too Early Without a Reason

Preseason information changes incredibly fast.

Depth charts, injuries and coach announcements can dramatically alter the value of a line.

Getting +3 early doesn't mean much if you later discover the opponent intends to play its starters for an entire half while your team's starters aren't playing at all.

📊 MoonPicks98 Betting Focus Heading Into Week 2

Our biggest focus isn't going to be which teams went 1-0.

We're looking deeper.

We want to identify teams with:

Strong backup quarterback playMotivated position competitionsQuality offensive-line depthCoaches willing to play startersReliable second-half offensesDeep defensive rotationsFavorable injury situations

And perhaps most importantly, we're watching quarterback playing-time announcements.

Preseason betting is a different animal from regular-season NFL handicapping.

You're not always betting the better football team.

Sometimes you're betting the better 53rd-through-90th-man roster.

That distinction matters.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Week 1 gave us our first meaningful look at the 2026 NFL landscape.

Drew Allar and Ty Simpson were among the quarterbacks who increased their stock. Young players across the league made cases for larger roles. Position battles started taking shape. And Washington's Marcus Mariota injury gave us another reminder of just how quickly preseason betting conditions can change.

The biggest mistake bettors can make now is simply looking at last week's scores and assuming those results predict what happens next.

They don't.

Personnel predicts preseason football.

Before Week 2, we'll be digging into quarterback rotations, expected starter playing time, injuries, roster battles and line movement to identify where the actual betting value may be hiding.

🌙 Stay locked in with MoonPicks98 as we continue breaking down the NFL preseason and searching for value before the regular season begins.

Bet smarter. Follow the information. And let's rocket that bankroll to the Moon! 🚀🌙

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