The NFL preseason kicked off with an exciting first week, featuring 16 games from Thursday to Saturday. This year's preseason brought a mix of standout performances and disappointing showings, setting the stage for the upcoming season.

Winners

• Drew Allar, the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback, stole the spotlight in their 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Entering the game in the second half, Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his potential as the future quarterback for the Steelers.

• Trey Smack, the rookie kicker for the Packers, had a breakout game, scoring all nine points for Green Bay, including two impressive 58-yard field goals despite earlier struggles in training camp.

• The Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks shone in their 27-14 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Kedon Slovis combining for 26 of 30 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

• De'Zhaun Stribling of the San Francisco 49ers impressed with seven receptions for 63 yards, making a strong case for himself as a rookie.

Losers

On the flip side, Cam Ward, quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, struggled in his performance, going 5 of 12 for 57 yards.

• Andy Borregales, kicker for the New England Patriots, missed three field goals in a 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts, raising concerns about his consistency.

• Isaac TeSlaa of the Detroit Lions failed to record any catches, contributing to a disappointing outing against the Bengals.

• Riley Leonard, competing for the backup QB position in Indianapolis, completed less than 50% of his passes and threw an interception, potentially falling behind in the competition.

• Trey Lance of the Los Angeles Chargers faced challenges, being outperformed by his competition.

This week showcased emerging talents and highlighted areas for improvement as teams prepare for the regular season.