NFL Preseason Week 1: Mendoza Throws First TD, Allar Shines as Cam Ward Struggles

The first full wave of NFL preseason football delivered exactly what August is supposed to provide: rookie debuts, quarterback auditions, depth-chart pressure and enough evidence to make September feel considerably closer.

Fernando Mendoza threw his first NFL touchdown for the Las Vegas Raiders. Drew Allar produced three scores for Pittsburgh. Anthony Richardson reminded Indianapolis of the athletic upside that continues to make his career fascinating. Cam Ward endured a difficult night for Tennessee despite the Titans winning.

Across six completed preseason games, the final scores mattered less than the players behind them.

Arizona defeated Las Vegas 27-14, Cincinnati edged Detroit 16-14, Pittsburgh routed Green Bay 28-9, Indianapolis and New England finished 13-13, the Los Angeles Chargers dominated Houston 27-7, and Tennessee beat San Francisco 19-13.

The results moved the preseason beyond training-camp speculation and into the first meaningful evaluation phase before roster cuts and Week 1.

Readers can follow the broader build-up through The Sports Encounter’s NFL coverage, including our recent look at the quarterback and contract pressure building around the preseason.

NFL Preseason Results at a Glance

Game	Final Score	Defining Story
Cardinals at Raiders	Arizona 27, Las Vegas 14	Fernando Mendoza throws first NFL touchdown
Lions at Bengals	Cincinnati 16, Detroit 14	Joe Burrow sharp in limited action
Packers at Steelers	Pittsburgh 28, Green Bay 9	Drew Allar throws two TDs and runs for another
Colts at Patriots	13-13 tie	Anthony Richardson flashes dual-threat ability
Chargers at Texans	Los Angeles 27, Houston 7	Chargers offense rolls under Mike McDaniel
Titans at 49ers	Tennessee 19, San Francisco 13	Cam Ward struggles while Joey Slye dominates

Fernando Mendoza Gets His First NFL Touchdown

The most watched rookie quarterback of the night belonged to Las Vegas.

Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown during four possessions in the Raiders’ 27-14 loss to Arizona.

His first NFL scoring pass came from six yards to Jack Bech.

Mendoza also moved Las Vegas into field-goal range during his final possession, although a 38-yard attempt missed.

The performance was encouraging without ending the Raiders’ quarterback debate.

Kirk Cousins played only the opening drive and completed five of six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. That efficiency made the competition more interesting rather than less.

Mendoza represents the future. Cousins is making sure Las Vegas cannot simply hand it to him.

The Raiders’ broader preseason has already produced considerable intrigue around Cousins and the roster, part of the developing NFL picture TSE has followed through its training-camp coverage.

Arizona also got its first extended look at No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love. The former Notre Dame running back carried 11 times for 58 yards after being held out of the Hall of Fame Game.

Drew Allar Makes Pittsburgh’s Quarterback Depth Look Dangerous

Pittsburgh produced the most convincing team performance of the night.

The Steelers beat Green Bay 28-9, with Drew Allar completing his preseason appearance with 153 passing yards and two touchdowns while also contributing a rushing score.

Aaron Rodgers did not face his former team, but Pittsburgh hardly suffered at quarterback.

Allar, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard combined to complete 27 of 33 passes for 332 yards.

Green Bay never found comparable rhythm.

Jordan Love completed three of five passes for only 18 yards, while Kyle McCord went 12 of 16 for 102.

The Packers’ entire scoring output came from three Trey Smack field goals, including a 58-yarder.

Preseason performances require context because game plans are simplified and starters play limited snaps. Pittsburgh can still take something important from this one: its reserve quarterbacks looked organized, accurate and comfortable running the offense.

Joe Burrow Looks Ready, Cincinnati Holds Off Detroit

Joe Burrow needed only two series to provide Cincinnati with the reassurance it wanted.

The Bengals quarterback completed five of six passes for 39 yards before leaving the 16-14 victory over Detroit.

Joe Flacco followed and threw Cincinnati’s only touchdown, a four-yard completion to Jack Endries.

Kicker Evan McPherson supplied the rest of the scoring pressure with three field goals, including one from 56 yards.

Detroit rookie Luke Altmyer received considerably more work. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Joshua Dobbs also made his first Lions appearance after joining the team following Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement.

Jared Goff did not play.

Anthony Richardson Reminds Indianapolis Why the Upside Still Matters

The Colts and Patriots produced the night’s only tie, but Anthony Richardson supplied its most interesting individual performance.

Richardson completed 11 of 14 passes for 145 yards during the first half. He threw one interception but added 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries.

That gave him 198 yards of total offense.

Daniel Jones did not play, leaving Richardson with valuable live repetitions in a quarterback situation that remains worth monitoring.

Indianapolis needed two late kicks from Spencer Shrader, including a 61-yard field goal, to secure the 13-13 tie.

New England rested Drake Maye. Tommy DeVito completed 13 of 22 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in his absence.

Chargers Give Mike McDaniel an Encouraging First Look

The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason with 379 yards of offense and a comfortable 27-7 victory in Houston.

The performance offered the first game look at the offense under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Justin Herbert remained on the sideline, allowing Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei to handle the quarterback work.

Lance threw for 164 yards, while Uiagalelei added 120 yards and a touchdown.

Amar Johnson did far more damage near the goal line than his six carries for 17 yards would normally suggest. He scored twice and added a two-point conversion.

Houston rested C.J. Stroud. Davis Mills threw for 82 yards and the Texans’ only touchdown.

Cam Ward’s Numbers Raise the Biggest Question of the Night

Tennessee won 19-13 in San Francisco, but Cam Ward left with more to work on than celebrate.

The Titans’ starting quarterback completed only five of 12 passes for 57 yards.

Ward never established consistent timing, and his difficulty connecting with the receiving group became the central offensive concern despite Tennessee’s victory.

That development matters because the Titans have invested heavily in building a better environment around their young quarterback.

The offensive line now includes the NFL’s highest-paid guard after Tennessee signed Peter Skoronski to a four-year, $100 million extension, a deal examined in The Sports Encounter’s analysis of Skoronski’s record contract.

The Titans were rescued instead by kicker Joey Slye.

Slye went four-for-four on field goals, including three attempts from at least 53 yards.

San Francisco rested Brock Purdy. Adrian Martinez threw for 159 yards, while Kurtis Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 before leaving with a rib injury.

The Rookie Quarterback Story Is Already Taking Shape

Mendoza’s first touchdown and Ward’s difficult night captured two very different stages of quarterback development.

Mendoza is trying to win a job from an established veteran.

Ward already owns a major role and must now demonstrate progress inside an offense designed to help him take another step.

Allar’s performance added another layer by showing how quickly a rookie can force coaches to reconsider the depth chart when preseason opportunities are used well.

The NFL has spent August generating these questions across the league. TSE has tracked the roster pressure through its latest Saints injury coverage, broader preseason roster developments and 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame coverage.

What We Learned From Thursday’s NFL Preseason Games

Mendoza looked comfortable enough to keep Las Vegas’ quarterback competition alive.

Pittsburgh’s reserve offense looked deeper than Green Bay’s.

Richardson remains one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks when his passing efficiency and rushing ability appear in the same game.

The Chargers gave McDaniel an encouraging first offensive performance.

Ward has work to do.

Those conclusions may change quickly. That is the nature of preseason football.

But live snaps now exist where projections stood a few days ago.

That evidence becomes increasingly important as coaching staffs move closer to roster decisions and opening weekend.

For further business and roster context, TSE recently examined how the Cowboys reached a record $15.5 billion valuation, illustrating the enormous commercial environment surrounding every decision these franchises make.

Official schedules, scores and team information are available through the NFL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Fernando Mendoza perform in his Raiders debut?

Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown in Las Vegas’ 27-14 preseason loss to Arizona.

Who won between the Steelers and Packers?

Pittsburgh won 28-9. Drew Allar threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score.

How did Cam Ward play against San Francisco?

Ward completed five of 12 passes for 57 yards as Tennessee beat San Francisco 19-13.

Did Anthony Richardson play for Indianapolis?

Yes. Richardson threw for 145 yards and rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown during the Colts’ 13-13 tie with New England.

Did Joe Burrow play in Cincinnati’s preseason opener?

Yes. Burrow played two series, completing five of six passes for 39 yards.

How many NFL preseason games were completed Thursday night?

Six games were completed across the slate covered here, including victories for Arizona, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, the Chargers and Tennessee, plus the Indianapolis-New England tie.