August 10 – The NFL preseason kicked off with an action-packed slate of games on Saturday, giving fans their first glimpse of new faces and returning players looking to make an impact. From standout quarterback performances to dramatic fourth-quarter swings, the day’s matchups offered plenty of talking points. Among the highlights, free agent Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart shined in their first appearances for the New York Giants, helping lead the team to a 34-25 road victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Giants Edge Bills in Back-and-Forth Contest
Russell Wilson quickly made an impact in his first outing for New York, connecting on 6 of his 7 pass attempts for 28 yards to guide the opening possession, which wrapped up with a 53-yard field goal. Taking over under center, rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart put together a strong showing, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. The matchup stayed competitive throughout, with the lead changing hands four times after halftime.
Veteran Jameis Winston added to the Giants’ offensive output with a 7-of-11 passing performance for 62 yards and a score in the latter stages. With just over seven minutes remaining, kicker Jude McAtamney’s 42-yard field goal gave New York the lead for good. The decisive moment came when the Giants recovered a late fumble deep in Buffalo territory, capitalizing with Tommy DeVito’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Ward to seal the win.
Buffalo quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, starting in place of Josh Allen, completed 9 of 13 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Mike White also contributed for the Bills, throwing for 112 yards and two scores on 8-for-13 passing.
Vikings, Rams, and Steelers Secure Wins
In Minneapolis, the Vikings began their preseason campaign with a 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans. JJ McCarthy made his NFL return after missing the previous season due to a knee injury, completing 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards. Sam Howell was nearly flawless, connecting on 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and adding a rushing touchdown. Davis Mills connected with Braxton Berrios on a 14-yard touchdown to give Houston an early advantage, but the Texans’ attack struggled to maintain momentum as the game progressed.
The Los Angeles Rams impressed with a 31-21 home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Stetson Bennett passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns while Blake Corum scored twice on the ground. Dallas quarterback Joe Milton III threw for 143 yards and a touchdown but left the game late with a bruised elbow. Both teams opted to rest key starters, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb sitting out for Dallas, and Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo doing the same for Los Angeles.
In Jacksonville, the Steelers claimed a 31-25 win over the Jaguars, but much of the buzz centered on Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter playing on both offense and defense. Jacksonville kicker Cam Little stole the spotlight by hitting a remarkable 70-yard field goal before halftime. While it won’t enter the record books due to being in a preseason game, the kick still left fans stunned. Mason Rudolph delivered an accurate performance for Pittsburgh, going 9-for-10 for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Skylar Thompson contributed with three touchdown throws.
Buccaneers, Jets, Cardinals, and Broncos Wrap Up Strong Performances
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers controlled their matchup against the Tennessee Titans, winning 29-7. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the top overall draft pick, showed flashes for Tennessee, completing 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards in limited action. The Buccaneers leaned on Kyle Trask, who went 12-for-16 for 129 yards, while their defense and special teams provided key contributions, including a pick-six from Roman Parodie.
In their preseason opener, the Jets left Lambeau Field with a commanding 30-10 triumph over Green Bay. Newly signed quarterback Justin Fields made an immediate impact, capping a 79-yard opening drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Rookie Brady Cook and Adrian Martinez took over afterward, with Martinez tossing a 24-yard score to Stone Smartt. Green Bay couldn’t get much going offensively, with Jordan Love hitting only one pass for 7 yards. Late in the contest, undrafted rookie Amar Johnson broke free on a long run, covering 39 yards for Green Bay’s only touchdown.
The Cardinals pulled out a narrow 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Arizona. Patrick Mahomes made a brief appearance, completing his only pass for a 1-yard touchdown. Kyler Murray made an impressive preseason return, completing 7 of 8 passes for 96 yards, though he was picked off once. Jacoby Brissett threw two touchdowns for Arizona, while Kansas City backup quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Bailey Zappe struggled to maintain momentum.
The Denver Broncos finished the day strong, securing a decisive 30-9 victory against the San Francisco 49ers. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham was nearly perfect, completing 14 of 15 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos’ starters, led by Bo Nix, had a slower start but found success later. San Francisco rested most of its key players, and their offense was limited, with reserve Mac Jones throwing one interception in limited play.