During an upset-heavy slate of games across the NFL on Sunday, September 27, 2026, underdogs won six out of 14 matchups through the 1 p.m. ET hour. The Cleveland Browns secured a 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers, pushing themselves into a tie for first place in their division, according to Cbssports.
The third week of the NFL season brought dramatic shifts and unexpected upsets across the league. According to Cbssports reporting on September 27, 2026, underdogs capitalized on the early afternoon slate, taking six of the first 14 games played.
Cleveland Browns Tie for First After Defeating Carolina Panthers
The Cleveland Browns (+2.5) managed a tight 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers (1-2), a victory that vaults them into a tie for first place in their division, Cbssports reported. Elsewhere in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5) improved to 2-1 by recovering a Joe Burrow fumble to lock down a 30-27 win against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1).
Commanders Stun Seahawks While Colts Edging Texans
The biggest shock of the afternoon belonged to the Washington Commanders (+8.5). Playing as heavy underdogs, the Commanders pulled off a 33-31 thriller against the Seattle Seahawks (2-1). Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts (+1.5) relied on special teams heroics, using a 53-yard field goal in the final seconds to slip past the Houston Texans (0-3) with a 19-17 final score, per Cbssports.
Raiders and Falcons Extend Winning Efforts in Week 3
The Las Vegas Raiders (+4.5) preserved their undefeated status, moving to 3-0 after a wild 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints (1-2). Kickstarting the week on Thursday night, the Atlanta Falcons (+4.5) routed the Green Bay Packers (1-2) in a 35-14 blowout, according to Cbssports.
Late-Game Collapses and Lopsided Scores Across the League
Not every underdog managed to complete an upset. Cbssports noted that the Dallas Cowboys looked poised for an upset before suffering a total collapse in the final seven seconds, falling 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens (2-1). In other matchups, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) soundly defeated the New England Patriots (1-2) by a score of 35-6.
Additional Week 3 final scores verified by Cbssports include the Minnesota Vikings (3-0) defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) 23-16, the San Francisco 49ers (3-0) topping the Arizona Cardinals (1-2) 36-30, the Buffalo Bills (3-0) beating the Los Angeles Chargers (0-3) 24-16, the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) defeating the Miami Dolphins (0-3) 24-10, the New York Giants (2-1) edging the Tennessee Titans (0-3) 12-7, and the Detroit Lions (2-1) beating the New York Jets (1-2) 31-24.
