The Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens made emphatic starts to the NFL season as a record-breaking opening Sunday produced a feast of points and standout performances.
The three teams, all regarded as contenders in the AFC and NFC, secured impressive victories, with the Bears producing the biggest statement by beating the Carolina Panthers 59-37.
The 96 combined points made the game the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history. Chicago’s 59 points were also its most in an opening game since 1948.
Quarterback Caleb Williams accounted for four touchdowns as Chicago’s offence overwhelmed Carolina.
Williams threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and two rushing scores.
Running back D’Andre Swift also had a huge afternoon, rushing for 124 yards and three touchdowns from 18 carries.
The Bears and Panthers were tied 31-31 midway through the third quarter before Chicago pulled away with three unanswered touchdowns.
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Kyle Monangai added a 61-yard touchdown run as Chicago finished with 552 total yards.
Coach Ben Johnson, who led the Bears to the NFC North title last season, has set ambitious targets for his team.
“We want to be the highest scoring. We want to have the most wins. We want to win Super Bowls,” Johnson said.
Josh Allen produced a commanding performance as the Buffalo Bills edged the Houston Texans 36-31 in a dramatic contest.
Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing scores as Buffalo survived a game in which the lead changed hands several times.
With the score tied at 31-31 late in the fourth quarter, Allen delivered a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining to put Buffalo ahead.
Houston had one final chance, but Greg Rousseau sacked C.J. Stroud and forced a fumble that was recovered by Terrel Bernard to seal the victory.
The win was particularly significant for Buffalo, which had not won in Houston since 2006. It also gave new head coach Joe Brady an impressive start.
The Baltimore Ravens also began life under new coach Jesse Minter with a convincing 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns, moving him to third on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown list.
Lamar Jackson added 324 passing yards, one passing touchdown and a rushing score, while Zay Flowers caught five passes for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown.
Baltimore finished with 506 total yards compared with Indianapolis’ 251.
The Ravens’ victory was tempered by injuries to Flowers and rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who both left the game.
The New York Giants also produced an encouraging start, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in Sunday night’s game.
Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart threw three touchdown passes for 230 yards, while Cam Skattebo added a rushing touchdown.
The Giants controlled the game with a balanced offensive performance and disciplined defence, giving supporters renewed hope of a playoff challenge.
The victory was also an emotional one, coming during a night of tributes to victims and first responders connected to the 11 September 2001 attacks.
The Arizona Cardinals upset the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 at SoFi Stadium.
Arizona dominated possession and finished with 393 total yards, while its defence forced two turnovers.
The result was a disappointing start for the Chargers, who had been tipped by many to challenge for the playoffs.
The Cincinnati Bengals also offered signs that their revamped defence could make a difference this season.
They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 despite giving up 27 points, forcing four fumbles and recording four sacks.
All four Tampa Bay fumbles were recovered by Cincinnati, with one returned for a defensive touchdown.
Joe Burrow passed for 254 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals held on for the victory.
After struggling defensively in recent seasons, Cincinnati will hope the improved unit can complement an offence capable of producing big numbers.
The opening Sunday ultimately provided an early indication that the 2026 NFL season could be one of high-scoring games and strong competition, with several contenders immediately making their ambitions clear.
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