NFL offenses didn’t need any time to shake off the rust in Week 1. They lit up the scoreboard in one of the highest-scoring opening weeks in league history. The Chicago Bears and Carolina combined for 96 points in a 59-37 Bears win. That game featured 1,030 total yards, the most combined points ever in an opener. The Bears even fell three points shy of tying a 53-year-old record for most points in Week 1.
Offensive Fireworks Are Here To Stay
It wasn’t just that one game, either. Offenses across the league came out firing like it was midseason. Josh Allen led the Bills to a stunning 36-31 road victory against Houston, a team whose defense allowed the second-fewest points and fewest yards in 2025. Allen carved them up for 334 yards, and Buffalo scored on eight of eleven possessions. Ten teams dropped over 30 points, and six had at least 24 in the first half alone. All those joint practices must have made defenses look like they were still in training camp, because 13 quarterbacks posted a passer rating over 100. It makes you wonder if starters even need preseason games. Bears Coach Ben Johnson set a team goal to break the NFL record for most points in a season. He still thinks they can improve, saying, “There’s still a number of things on there that I didn’t love just from the sideline perspective” even after scoring touchdowns on their last four drives.
Early MVP Buzz and Dominant Debuts
With all that offense flying around, some serious MVP buzz is already kicking off. Caleb Williams, in just his second season in Johnson’s offense, looked MVP-caliber. He was in command for Chicago, making precision throws and huge plays with his legs from start to finish. In Indianapolis, Lamar Jackson looked like his two-time MVP self, shaking off last season’s injuries to lead the Ravens to a dominant 41-23 win over the Colts. Derrick Henry, at 32, ran like he was 22, and Zay Flowers had a career day. That’s a huge first win for new Ravens coach Jesse Minter, whose team showed their high expectations. John Harbaugh had a better Sunday than his brother Jim, with his Giants squad beating Dallas 28-20. Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo helped New York control the ball for almost 37 minutes, keeping Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ playmakers off the field.
Shocks and Stumbles
Not everyone got off to a hot start, though. Mike McDaniel’s first game as offensive coordinator for the Chargers was inconsistent. Justin Herbert and the squad stumbled, allowing the Arizona Cardinals, led by rookie coach Mike LaFleur and QB Jacoby Brissett, to pull off the biggest upset of the week, a 26-14 win in Los Angeles. The Colts are now riding an eight-game losing streak after their 8-2 start last year. Quarterback Daniel Jones was ineffective coming back from a torn Achilles, and their defense was poor. Rough start for them.
As we head into the Broncos-Chiefs Monday night game, teams have already combined for 750 points. The Week 1 record, set in 2012, is 791 points. Can these offenses keep lighting it up? If Week 1 is any indication, we’re in for some record-breaking fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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