The NFL is back and the games are already coming thick and fast. In fact, by the time you read this look ahead to the weekend; you could already have two games in your rearview mirror.
With that in mind, I’m going to focus on three games being played across Sunday and Monday that are going to give us plenty of early-season headlines and talking points.
Into the belly of the beast
I was in Houston last November to watch the Texans take on the Buffalo Bills, and I have to admit I was mostly excited to see Josh Allen in action.
It turned out to be a personal disaster for the Bills quarterback. He was sacked eight times, Buffalo turned the ball over on three occasions and Houston took the win with backup quarterback Davis Mills at the helm.
Now the Bills return to Texas with a new head coach in Joe Brady. So how will this offense look in 2026? They still have James Cook in the backfield, hey still have their own version of Superman in Josh Allen at quarterback and they’ve added DJ Moore at wide receiver. How much of a difference can he make?
This is the best defense in football they’re facing on opening weekend. Houston are brilliant on all three levels, and I think they’re going to create plenty more headaches for Josh Allen.
The big question on the other side is CJ Stroud. Can he avoid the mistakes that plagued him last year, particularly in the playoffs? If he can - if he can simply play competent, clean football at the quarterback position - Houston can not only win this game, they can go a very long way in 2026.
Questions at quarterback
I'm fascinated to watch the NFC East matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday evening, primarily because both quarterbacks have a lot to prove in this coming season.
For Washington, they need to get back on track and try to find the form that saw them reach the NFC Championship game in the 2024 season. But to do that, quarterback Jayden Daniels must stay on the field. He missed 10 games last year with knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. He has told me he needs to tailor his approach and live to fight another down. But let's see if he can do that in the heat of the battle. He is essential for the Washington Commanders this season. He's not the biggest of quarterbacks. That has been well documented. So, he must take care of his body if he's going to lead this team wire to wire.
For Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts continues to have whispers about his game and his impact on this offense grow louder and louder. Some of that is justified, but some of that is mystifying.
Over the past five seasons, only Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have accounted for more offensive touchdowns and Hurts is a Super Bowl MVP. The biggest difference in this game is that Hurts is backed up by a very, very good defense, whereas Washington's unit ranked dead last in the NFL in 2025. How much growth will they have made by the time this 2026 season kicks off?
Mahomes Watch on Monday night
Monday Night Football will feature a genuine Super Bowl contender in the Denver Broncos, but I'm looking with a sharp focus at the home team to see how good Patrick Mahomes looks at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
He hasn't played since tearing his knee ligaments in mid-December last season, a miserable campaign in which the Chiefs won just six games and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Head coach Andy Reid told me this summer that Mahomes was in the building seven hours a day during the offseason in a bid to get back on the field for Week 1. But even if Mahomes is at his very best, does he have enough around him? I like the addition of Kenneth Walker at running back, Travis Kelce is going to have one more go around at tight end, but are the wide receivers good enough?
The Chiefs also lost some players on defense in defensive backs Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, so there are questions on that side of the ball. Mahomes will be forced to run a bit on Monday night because Denver, boy oh boy, do they get after the quarterback. They have one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL.
Plus, we get a look at Jaylen Waddle making his debut at wide receiver for the Broncos to see if he brings out even more in Bo Nix in his third season in the NFL. So, lots to look out for on Monday Night Football, and primarily, because it's the most important position in the NFL, starting with Kansas City’s already-legendary quarterback.