NFL offenses provide one of the highest-scoring opening weeks in history

They lit up the scoreboard in one of the highest-scoring opening weeks in NFL history.

The Bears beat Carolina 59-37, falling three points shy of tying Atlanta’s 53-year-old record for the most in Week 1. The game featured 1,030 total yards and the most combined points (96) ever in an opener.

Josh Allen led the Bills to a stunning performance against Houston’s once-stingy defense in a 36-31 road win. The Texans allowed the second-fewest points (17.4 per game) and fewest yards (277.2 per game) in 2025. But Allen threw for 334 yards and Buffalo scored on eight of its 11 possessions before kneeling down to win coach Joe Brady’s first game.

Ten teams scored more than 30 points, and six had at least 24 in the first half.

Maybe starters don’t need to play in the preseason. Quarterbacks were in midseason form as 13 posted a passer rating over 100.

All those joint practices must have benefited offenses more than defenses.

One of Chicago’s team goals set by coach Ben Johnson is to break the NFL record for most points in a season. Johnson believes the Bears still have room to improve despite scoring touchdowns on their last four drives.

“There’s still a number of things on there that I didn’t love just from the sideline perspective,” Johnson said.

Entering the Broncos-Chiefs game on Monday night, teams have combined to score 750 points. The record in Week 1 is 791 in 2012.

Caleb Williams kicked off his second season in Johnson’s offense playing like a guy who is going to be an MVP candidate. He made precision throws, big plays with his legs and was in command for Chicago’s offense from start to finish.

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens were impressive in a 41-23 victory at Indianapolis, giving coach Jesse Minter his first win. Baltimore has high expectations and the team’s core players were spectacular.

Jackson, who dealt with injuries last season, played like a two-time MVP. The 32-year-old Henry ran like he’s 22. Zay Flowers had a career day.

The Colts have now lost eight straight games after starting 8-2 last year. Quarterback Daniel Jones was ineffective in his first game back from a torn Achilles, and the defense was poor.

John Harbaugh had a better day than brother Jim. Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and the New York Giants defeated Dallas 28-20 in their first game with their new coach. The Giants played like Harbaugh’s old Ravens teams. They controlled the ball for almost 37 minutes and kept Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ playmakers off the field.