Chicago and Carolina just dropped a mind-blowing 96 points on us in Week 1, completely shattering what we thought we knew about opening weekend football. Seriously, remember last year? The first week was usually a snooze fest, offenses figuring stuff out and low-scoring games. If you bet the under on those 12 Sunday games last year, you were cleaning up! Not this time. We’re trained to be cautious with opening expectations, but this early Sunday window was a crazy batch of football, featuring pinball scoring and records tumbling left and right.
Lamar Jackson Is Healthy Again and the AFC North Is Sweating
But hold up, because Baltimore’s comeback tour officially kicked off, and man, did they make a statement. The Ravens didn’t just *win* at Indianapolis, they absolutely stomped ’em, 41-23, and the offense was straight-up unstoppable. They rolled up a ridiculous 506 total yards, averaging almost 8.0 yards per play! You gotta remember, this team missed the playoffs last year. But with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson healthy and absolutely slinging it in OC Declan Doyle’s hotshot scheme, the dots might finally be connecting for this overdue franchise. It’s about time!
Lamar was lethal out there, going 17-for-25 for 324 yards and a ridiculous 13.0 YPA as a passer. Then he added a five-yard rushing touchdown as part of his 7-carry, 40-yard day. And Derrick Henry? The King just flat-out refuses to show any signs of slowing down, piling up 163 total yards and three touchdowns! Zay Flowers was putting on a first-half clinic with five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before a hamstring injury took him to the sidelines. Man, I hope he’s back soon, because a monster season is definitely brewing there. Mark Andrews was useful too, snagging four catches for 49 yards on six targets, and even rookie Ja’Kobi Lane showed flashes before a wrist injury. Seriously, when Lamar plays a full season, this Ravens offense is elite. His injuries were what sunk them in 2022 and 2025. Now? They look like the overwhelming favorites for the AFC North. Keep an eye on them!
The Chicago Carnival Is Wide Open
Speaking of absolute bonkers games, did you SEE what happened in Chicago? That game against Carolina was an absolute carnival, a full-on bonanza of points everywhere you looked. The Bears outlasted Carolina 59-37 in a game that, at times, honestly felt too good to be true. Coach Ben Johnson knows this squad is gonna have to win these high-scoring shootouts all year long with that leaky defense, so expect more pinball action every single week. Caleb Williams looked outstanding, clocking an insane 124.1 rating and stacking up 334 total yards with four overall touchdowns. He’s got ‘it’, man, no question about it.
D’Andre Swift showed everyone exactly why he got that fresh contract extension, busting out for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. What a way to validate that deal! And Kyle Monangai? He only had 10 carries for 100 yards, but one of those was a ridiculous 61-yard touchdown! This Bears offense is loaded, no doubt about it. The defense might be leaky as heck, but who cares when you’re dropping nearly 60 points on the board? It’s gonna be a wild ride watching them all season.
So, what’s next after a Week 1 like that? Baltimore’s got a home opener against the Saints, and you know they’ll be fired up to keep this momentum rolling. Meanwhile, Chicago proved they’re exactly who we thought they were: a high-octane offense that’s gonna keep things interesting every single week. If this is just the start, buckle up, because the rest of the season is gonna be bonkers!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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