The 2026 NFL season began with a little bit of everything: record-setting scores, major injuries, and several coaching debuts that landed very differently. Sunday’s games quickly separated the early winners from the teams already facing pressure.

First-Year Coaches Delivered Mixed Results

A handful of new play-callers made their regular-season entrances, and the outcomes varied sharply. Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals pulled off one of the day’s bigger shocks, beating the Chargers as 8.5-point underdogs behind Jacoby Brissett’s 277 passing yards and a defense that forced two crucial turnovers.

Klint Kubiak’s Raiders also started strong, using a stronger offensive line than expected to clear space for Ashton Jeanty in a win over Miami. Joe Brady’s Bills went in a different direction from their usual approach, taking repeated shots downfield while Josh Allen completed 6 of 7 passes traveling more than 10 air yards in the first half.

Todd Monken’s Cleveland debut did not go nearly as well. The Browns were thumped 34-10 by Jacksonville, Deshaun Watson looked rusty in his first regular-season action since October 2024, and the defense, missing Myles Garrett and former coordinator Jim Schwartz, was exposed.

Teams That Sent an Early Message

New York’s win over Dallas stood out as a statement game. The Giants ran for 165 yards, Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, and he added 54 more yards on the ground in a 28-20 victory that ended Dallas’ recent edge in the matchup.

That result mattered even more because the rest of the NFC East did not look dominant. With Philadelphia and Washington both leaving room for concern, New York suddenly appears much more credible in the division race. Isaiah Likely also made a strong debut in the passing game, catching all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Dallas looked disorganized under new defensive caller Christian Parker. The Cowboys piled up seven first-half penalties, then took a fourth-quarter taunting flag that erased an extra-point opportunity in a one-score game.

Elsewhere, the Jets handled Tennessee 23-10 with a balanced attack, Geno Smith avoided mistakes, and New York’s receivers had already combined for more than 148 yards by the third quarter.

Historic Numbers Popped Up Right Away

Chicago and Carolina turned into the biggest scoring show of the week. The Bears’ 59-37 win produced 96 total points, the highest total ever in an NFL season opener, and Caleb Williams contributed two rushing touchdowns along with 269 passing yards.

The Panthers’ offseason investment on defense did not pay off in Week 1. Carolina gave up the most points in franchise history, a brutal opening for a group that was supposed to be much improved.

Buffalo and Baltimore also featured major statistical milestones.

• Josh Allen: He extended two career records in a 36-31 win over Houston, including his ninth game with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns.
• Derrick Henry: He ran for 144 yards and three scores in Baltimore’s rout of Indianapolis, then passed Jim Brown for the most 100-yard, multi-touchdown games in league history.
• Lamar Jackson: He delivered 324 passing yards, 41 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns, a performance that kept his Week 2 outlook near the top tier.
• Detroit’s overtime escape: The Lions survived New Orleans 31-30, and rookie back Jahmyr Gibbs reached 51 career touchdowns in only 50 games.

Quarterback Injuries and Tough Debuts Changed the Day

Several teams left Week 1 unsure about their quarterback situation. Minnesota lost Kyler Murray to a concussion after just 11 plays, then watched Carson Wentz come off the bench and throw three touchdowns in a comeback that finished with 29 straight points and a 39-22 win over Green Bay.

Wentz is expected to start until Murray clears the concussion protocol. That keeps Minnesota’s offense in a holding pattern despite the strong finish.

Other teams had their own problems. Cooper Rush struggled while filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta’s loss to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones returned from a torn Achilles in a lopsided defeat, and Washington’s Jayden Daniels started slowly before settling in too late against Philadelphia.

Fantasy Takeaways Worth Tracking

Week 1 also produced a few clear fantasy winners and some players worth patience. Isaiah Likely led all tight ends with the top fantasy output of the opening week, while Ashton Jeanty justified the buzz around him with a monster performance for Las Vegas.

Several other names either climbed the board or stayed worth monitoring:

• Isaiah Likely: 8 catches, 78 yards, 2 touchdowns.
• Ashton Jeanty: 32.7 fantasy points, powered by two 13-yard receiving touchdowns.
• Christian Watson: 147 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.
• Trey McBride: His Brissett connection kept producing, with another 20-plus-point fantasy outing.
• Dontayvion Wicks: A low-rostered option who turned two catches into 77 yards and a score.
• Ja’Marr Chase: A quiet opener, though his slow starts are nothing new.

The busiest teams from Sunday will not get much time to reset. Detroit and Buffalo both return quickly for Thursday Night Football, while Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta all face the challenge of bouncing back in Week 2 against opponents that will feel familiar.