Week 1 in the NFL brings excitement, discovery and surprise, along with plenty of hyperbole about how teams performed in their opening games. The anticipation and anxiety around these early matchups often lead to overreactions, but it is important to separate fact from fiction.
The Chicago Bears’ offense, led by quarterback Caleb Williams, was praised for its potential to set a new scoring record in the league, according to The Sporting News. The Bears scored 59 points against the Carolina Panthers as the teams combined for 96 points, the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history, according to ESPN. Ben Johnson, the team’s head coach, had previously suggested that his team could break the single-season scoring record in 2026. Johnson was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions when they scored 564 points in 2024 and were the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
While the Bears’ scoring was impressive, it is unlikely that they will maintain this pace throughout the season. The Bears needed to move the ball effectively against a tough Carolina team in a back-and-forth shootout to secure the win. Critics may question the Bears’ defense, but it is expected to improve as the season progresses and make more big plays.
The Green Bay Packers were leading 22-10 in the third quarter against Minnesota but lost momentum and eventually fell to a 39-22 defeat. Jordan Love started strong with deep passes to Christian Watson but later lost accuracy and threw an interception. The Packers’ defense struggled against a Vikings team that relied mostly on the running game and big plays by Justin Jefferson. Kyler Murray left with a concussion and Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in relief for Minnesota.
Despite the loss, Green Bay has enough talent to bounce back from a tough divisional game on the road. The Los Angeles Chargers were upset by the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener. Jacoby Brissett threw for a touchdown and the Cardinals’ rushing attack contributed significantly to their victory. The Chargers’ defense was without former coordinator Jesse Minter, who left to become Baltimore’s head coach, and allowed too many big plays in the game. Arizona outgained Los Angeles 393-268 and finished with 116 rushing yards.
However, the Chargers face a difficult stretch of games next, including matchups against the Bills, Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs and Rams. The team’s coach Jim Harbaugh was expected to make improvements, but the loss was a troubling start to the season.
In Las Vegas, the Raiders showed promise under new head coach Klint Kubiak after a solid win over Miami. The Raiders secured a 27-13 victory in their season opener. Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes while Ashton Jeanty rushed for 102 yards.
The Baltimore Ravens also had a strong start with Lamar Jackson leading the team to a 41-23 win over Indianapolis. Derrick Henry rushed for three touchdowns and helped the Ravens score 41 points in their opening game of the season. Jackson threw for 324 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score in the win. Henry finished with 144 rushing yards and Zay Flowers had 150 receiving yards.
The Ravens have now scored at least 20 points in 10 straight season openers. The Chicago Bears’ offensive performance was exceptional, with Caleb Williams throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 65 yards and two scores, ESPN reported. The team’s ability to convert third downs and gain significant yardage on the ground contributed to their high-scoring output.
Despite concerns about the Bears’ defense entering the season, Chicago held off Carolina despite allowing 37 points and 478 yards. The defense was weakened by injuries to key players like safety Coby Bryant, who suffered a knee injury in camp and will miss significant time, and Xavier Woods, who was inactive due to a groin injury.
The Ravens’ offense under new coordinator Declan Doyle and head coach Jesse Minter showed promise. Lamar Jackson had leverage in contract negotiations due to his remaining years on the team and a no-trade clause. Jackson’s performance could lead to him receiving a contract worth more than $64 million per year on average in his next deal.
The Arizona Cardinals’ victory over the Chargers was notable as it marked their first road win against the team since 2001. Mike LaFleur made history by becoming the first Cardinals coach to win his debut game since 1973. The victory was a result of strong offensive play and a solid defensive effort from the Cardinals.
The New Orleans Saints lost to the Detroit Lions in overtime after coming back from a three-touchdown deficit. Saints coach Kellen Moore chose to go for the win instead of tying the game in overtime.
The Washington Commanders lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in a close contest that ended with a failed two-point conversion attempt. Jalen Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the game, helping his team secure a narrow victory.
The Cleveland Browns were defeated by the Jacksonville Jaguars in their season opener, with Trevor Lawrence throwing for four touchdowns. Lawrence’s performance helped Jacksonville dominate the early part of the game and secure a win.
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Houston Texans in a game that ended with a late touchdown pass from Josh Allen. Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for two more scores in the win. The game was a turning point for Allen as it marked his first win in Houston since joining the team. The win also snapped Buffalo’s six-game losing streak in Houston and was the Bills’ first victory there since 2006, Reuters reported.
IMAGE: A Chicago family shows their support for the local NFL team, the Chicago Bears.. Photo: Señor Codo / Wikimedia, taken 2006-09-12, CC BY-SA 2.0