Every team that lost in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season doesn’t have the same expectations for the season. There are a couple of contenders who took losses in Week 1 that had terrible performances all across the board. Here are three teams whose stock dropped after their Week 1 performances.
Week 1 Takeaways: Three NFL Teams Whose Stock is Down
3. Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
The Chargers took a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a team that is in the mix to potentially have the top overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The new pairing between Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel underwhelmed in the first game of the season, and the Chargers’ defense didn’t seem fully prepared for what the Cardinals’ offense had to offer.
The offensive line was once again an issue for Herbert after a shaky 2025 season. The Chargers were rotating their guards in and out of the game, and it proved to be difficult to find the cohesion needed to be a successful unit. McDaniel and Herbert both have big expectations to live up to this season, as McDaniel was brought in to make life easier for Herbert and the Chargers’ offense. McDaniel had coached high-flying offenses during his time as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2022-2025, with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, and Herbert, is more talented.
2. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
The Cowboys received a lot of offseason hype as a team that could challenge the top teams in the NFC, such as the Eagles, Rams, and Seahawks. One game into the season, the Cowboys look far from ready to be a contender this season. They took a 28-20 loss to rival New York Giants, where the Cowboys’ defensive issues from last season seem to still be a problem through one week of the 2026 season.
The Giants were able to effectively run the ball and pick up enough chunk plays in the passing game to keep Dallas’s defense out of sorts. On offense, the Cowboys didn’t get much production out of the George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb pairing. However, the Cowboys will likely be okay on offense, but the defense under new coordinator Christian Parker will need to find a way to get better soon and fast.
1. Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
The Rams might’ve had the worst Week 1 of all NFL teams. The Rams entered week one as the overwhelming Super Bowl favorites. They traveled to Australia for a Week 1 Thursday night matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, and got punched in the mouth, losing 27-7. There was a lot of talk about the Rams’ travel plans to Australia, as they opted to fly in the day before the game rather than a few days earlier, as the 49ers did. The results showed on the field as the Rams looked lethargic, and most of the big-name stars they acquired over the offseason didn’t perform well. If this trend continues it could derail the Rams Super Bowl chances fast.
To make matters worse, the Rams got bad news on Sunday, even though they weren’t playing, when it was announced that star defensive end Myles Garrett would need knee surgery and miss at least one month of the season. The Rams traded three picks for Garrett in the offseason, including a first-round pick, and also had to add defensive end Jared Verse. The Rams are already starting to look like the early losers in that trade, seeing as Garrett won’t likely be healthy for the whole season.
With as lofty expectations as the Rams have this season, they can’t afford to start the season 0-2.
Main Image: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
