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The Minnesota Vikings became the last NFL team to lose their unbeaten record as the 2026 season continued with a wild weekend featuring rare occurrences and two games settled in overtime.
Injuries Strike Ravens as Bills Win
Two former MVPs went head-to-head as Lamar Jackson returned from three games out with an ankle injury to face Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills, as reported by BBC Sport. That match-up was ruined within moments as Jackson injured his right thumb on the game’s first snap, and his back-up Tyler Huntley was then ruled out in the second quarter with a toe injury.
That meant the Baltimore Ravens had to finish the game with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback and Buffalo ran out comfortable 36-10 winners. The Ravens have lost their past three games and now have a 4-4 record, and Jackson could miss the rest of the season as he is set to undergo surgery. Huntley could also be out for weeks so the Ravens will have to act fast to bring in an experienced QB or Fagnano will have to start against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.
Broncos Take Top Spot as Vikings Fall
Minnesota put their 6-0 record on the line at their NFC North rivals the Detroit Lions, who won 19-15 to halt the Vikings’ unbeaten start. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 153 yards and a touchdown as Detroit improved to 5-2. Lions linebacker Jack Campbell was taken to hospital to be treated for a neck injury suffered while tackling tight end TJ Hockenson in the fourth quarter.
The Denver Broncos moved to 6-2 to replace the Kansas City Chiefs at the top of the AFC West after coming from 11 points down in the final quarter to win 28-24. Patrick Mahomes threw for three touchdowns and 321 yards but that was not enough for the Chiefs as the Broncos’ defence made a goal-line stand at the death to clinch victory. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars took charge of the AFC South at 5-2 after romping to a 42-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 26-7 to go top of the AFC North.
Burrow Shines for Bengals in Overtime
Another of Pittsburgh’s divisional rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, made hard work of it before beating the Tennessee Titans 43-36 in overtime. Despite being intercepted three times by Tennessee’s Amani Hooker, Joe Burrow became the first player in 75 years—and only the second ever after Norm van Brocklin’s 554 passing yards in a 1951 game—to record more than 450 passing yards, five touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in a single game.
After a mixed start to the season, the former first overall draft pick has also become the first quarterback in NFL history to register a 70% completion percentage plus touchdown passes in three consecutive games. Burrow and his high-powered offence are in ominous form as they seek a Super Bowl return and host Pittsburgh in two weeks.
Buccaneers Win Without Completing a Pass
While Cincinnati’s offence relies on its passing game, running backs grabbed the spotlight on Sunday. For the first time since 2003, at least six players had 140 rushing yards on the same day, including Bucky Irving with 170 and Kenneth Gainwell with 140 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0.
Torrential rain in Florida made handling conditions difficult so Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted just three passes, completing none of them. Instead he spent most of the day handing the ball to Irving or Gainwell as the Bucs racked up a team-record 324 rushing yards, becoming the first team to have zero pass completions since 1974 and just the second in the Super Bowl era.
Minshew Magic Stuns Cowboys
Tyler Allgeier starred for the Arizona Cardinals by rushing for 147 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. Eccentric back-up quarterback Gardner Minshew helped turn the game in Arizona’s favour after replacing an ineffective Jacoby Brissett with the Cardinals trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter.
Minshew made a thrilling debut, becoming the first quarterback this season to throw three touchdown passes in a fourth quarter. That tied the game at the death, and although recent hero Chad Ryland failed to kick the extra point, he redeemed himself in overtime with a field goal to win 33-30. It is only the second time Dallas have ever lost when leading by 10 points inside the final three minutes, leaving them at 3-5 and heaping pressure on head coach Brian Schottenheimer, with outspoken team owner Jerry Jones stating, “It’s an indictment of the whole show”.
The Ravens will prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday as the NFL season moves forward.
