The 2026 season started with a mix of blowouts, milestone performances, injuries, and a few first-time coaches making very different impressions. Sunday’s games quickly separated early contenders from teams that already have urgent questions.
First-Year Coaches Got a Fast Reality Check
Several new play-callers stepped into the spotlight, and the results were all over the map. Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals pulled an upset as 8.5-point underdogs against the Chargers, with Jacoby Brissett throwing for 277 yards and the defense forcing two timely turnovers. Klint Kubiak’s Raiders also opened well, using a much-improved offensive line to help Ashton Jeanty post a breakout performance in a win over Miami.
Joe Brady’s Bills took a different path from the franchise’s usual script by attacking downfield early. Josh Allen completed 6 of 7 passes traveling more than 10 air yards in the first half alone, showing a more aggressive approach in Buffalo’s win.
Todd Monken’s Cleveland debut went the other direction. The Browns were beaten 34-10 by Jacksonville, Deshaun Watson looked rusty in his first regular-season action since October 2024, and a defense missing Myles Garrett plus former coordinator Jim Schwartz had no answer.
Teams That Sent an Early Message
New York’s 28-20 win over Dallas stood out as one of the clearest statements of the day. The Giants ran for 165 yards, and Jaxson Dart delivered a sharp debut with 230 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 54 rushing yards. The result snapped Dallas’ recent edge in the rivalry, where the Cowboys had taken 16 of the previous 18 meetings.
The win also made New York look far more dangerous in the NFC East, especially with the Eagles and Commanders not separating themselves yet. Isaiah Likely was a major part of that attack, catching all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two scores.
Dallas, meanwhile, looked unsettled under new defensive playcaller Christian Parker. Seven first-half penalties and a fourth-quarter taunting call that wiped out an extra point in a one-score game only made the loss feel messier.
The Jets also left a strong first impression in a 23-10 win over Tennessee. They mixed the run and pass effectively, Geno Smith avoided turnovers, and the receiving group had already topped 148 yards by the third quarter.
Records, Milestones, and a High-Scoring Start
Chicago and Carolina produced one of the wildest openers in league history, combining for 96 points in the Bears’ 59-37 victory. That total set the NFL record for the highest-scoring season opener ever.
Caleb Williams played a central role in the shootout, finishing with 269 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Carolina’s defense, after a heavy offseason investment in the front seven, surrendered the most points in team history.
Josh Allen also added to his career résumé in Buffalo’s 36-31 win over Houston. He recorded his ninth game with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns, which is already five more than any other player in NFL history, and became the first player to reach 300 combined touchdowns within his first nine seasons.
Derrick Henry delivered a classic power performance in Baltimore’s rout of Indianapolis, running for 144 yards and three touchdowns. That pushed him past Jim Brown for the most 100-yard, multi-touchdown games in NFL history. Detroit also needed overtime to beat New Orleans 31-30, and rookie back Jahmyr Gibbs reached 51 career touchdowns in his 50th game, the sixth-fastest pace ever.
Quarterback Problems Moved to Center Stage
Not every team left Sunday with confidence at quarterback. Minnesota lost Kyler Murray to a concussion after only 11 plays, but Carson Wentz steadied the offense in relief and threw three touchdowns as the Vikings scored 29 unanswered points to beat Green Bay 39-22. Wentz is expected to start until Murray clears the protocol.
Atlanta had a rougher outcome with Cooper Rush filling in for injured Tua Tagovailoa in a loss to Pittsburgh. The Falcons are hoping Michael Penix Jr. can return by Week 2.
Indianapolis saw Daniel Jones return from a torn Achilles in a lopsided defeat, though the bigger problem was the offensive line in front of him. Washington’s Jayden Daniels also started slowly against Philadelphia, completing just 6 of 16 passes in the first half before settling in during a narrow loss.
Fantasy Notes Worth Tracking
- Isaiah Likely, TE, Giants: 8 catches, 78 yards, and 2 touchdowns made him the top tight end scorer of the week.
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders: His 32.7 fantasy points, powered by two 13-yard receiving touchdowns, confirmed his RB1 outlook.
- Christian Watson, WR, Packers: 6 catches, 147 yards, and 2 touchdowns make him a strong midrange WR2 option moving forward.
- Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals: He posted his eighth 20-plus fantasy-point outing in 13 games with Brissett under center.
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens: 324 passing yards, 41 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns put him in elite Week 2 territory.
- Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Eagles: His 2 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown came with just 10% rostered, making him a worthwhile stash.
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals: The quiet 3.2-point start is not a reason to worry, since he has often been slow out of the gate.
The Road to Week 2
Detroit and Buffalo now have a short week ahead of Thursday Night Football. Several clubs that stumbled in Week 1, including Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta, will try to reset quickly against familiar or division opponents next Sunday.