The opening Sunday of the 2026 NFL season delivered a little bit of everything: surprising results, major milestones, and several quarterback situations that already feel unstable. By the end of the day, a few teams looked ready to contend while others were left with more concerns than answers.
New Head Coaches Got Very Different Results
Four first-time offensive leaders made their regular-season debuts, and their outcomes ranged from impressive to alarming. Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals, despite entering as 8.5-point underdogs, beat the Chargers by controlling the game with Jacoby Brissett’s 277 passing yards and a defense that forced two important turnovers.
Klint Kubiak also opened with a win, as the Raiders leaned on a stronger offensive line to spring Ashton Jeanty for a huge afternoon against Miami. In Buffalo, Joe Brady immediately showed a different offensive personality, pushing the ball vertically early and getting Josh Allen to go 6-of-7 for 149 yards on passes traveling more than 10 air yards in the first half.
Todd Monken’s first game in Cleveland went the other direction. The Browns were beaten 34-10 by Jacksonville, Deshaun Watson looked out of rhythm in his first regular-season appearance since October 2024, and the absence of Myles Garrett plus former coordinator Jim Schwartz left the defense exposed.
Two Teams Sent Loud Early Messages
The Giants made one of the clearest statements of the day with a 28-20 win over Dallas. New York piled up 165 rushing yards, and Jaxson Dart delivered a polished debut with 230 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and 54 more yards on the ground.
The victory also snapped Dallas’ control of the matchup, since the Cowboys had taken 16 of the previous 18 meetings. With Philadelphia and Washington both showing flaws, New York suddenly looks like a real threat in the NFC East.
Dallas, meanwhile, looked disorganized under new defensive play-caller Christian Parker. Seven first-half penalties and a costly taunting flag in the fourth quarter made a one-score game even harder to manage.
The Jets also opened with a convincing 23-10 win over Tennessee. Their offense stayed balanced, Geno Smith avoided mistakes, and the receiving corps had already surpassed 148 yards by the third quarter.
Big Numbers Came Fast
Chicago and Carolina combined for 96 points in a 59-37 Bears win, setting a new NFL record for points in a season opener. Caleb Williams accounted for two rushing touchdowns and 269 passing yards, while the Panthers’ defense produced the most points allowed in franchise history after a heavy offseason investment in the front seven.
Josh Allen added more items to the record book in Buffalo’s 36-31 win over Houston. It was his ninth career game with at least two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, extending an NFL record, and he also became the first player to reach 300 total touchdowns within his first nine seasons.
In Baltimore’s dominant win over Indianapolis, Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns. That performance moved him past Jim Brown for the most career games with at least 100 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns.
Detroit needed overtime to edge New Orleans 31-30, and rookie back Jahmyr Gibbs reached 51 career touchdowns in only his 50th game. That pace ranks as the sixth-fastest in league history.
Quarterback Situations Already Need Monitoring
In Minnesota, Kyler Murray exited with a concussion after just 11 plays, and Carson Wentz stepped in to throw three touchdowns as the Vikings scored 29 unanswered points in a 39-22 comeback over Green Bay. Wentz is expected to start until Murray clears the concussion protocol.
Atlanta’s offense had a much rougher time. Cooper Rush struggled while filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa in a loss to Pittsburgh, and the Falcons are hoping Michael Penix Jr. can return by Week 2.
Indianapolis also had a difficult day, though Daniel Jones’ return from a torn Achilles was affected more by poor protection than by the injury itself. Washington’s Jayden Daniels started slowly against Philadelphia, completing only 6 of 16 passes in the first half before settling down late in a close loss.
What Matters Next
The short week creates an immediate test for Detroit and Buffalo, both of whom must turn around quickly for Thursday Night Football. That leaves little time to celebrate record-setting openings.
For Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta, Week 2 will be about damage control. Each team now heads into a matchup that could reveal whether Sunday was a bump in the road or the start of a larger problem.