The first NFL Sunday of the 2026 season has been full of surprises, high-scoring shootouts, and notable upsets.
The Green Bay Packers voyaged to US Bank Stadium to face the Minnesota Vikings, ultimately losing 39-22. In the first quarter, Packers S Javon Bullard hit Vikings QB Kyler Murray, resulting in a concussion for the former Cardinals first round pick. Heading into halftime, the Packers led 19-10, yet they could not match Minnesota’s 29-point performance in the second half. WR Justin Jefferson scored two touchdowns for the Vikings, already matching his total from the 2025 season, and QB Jordan Love threw his first interception against Minnesota.
At SoFi Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals upset the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14. Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett held his own, throwing 27/37 for 277 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Arizona also held it down on the ground, with Tyler Allgeier, Jeremiyah Love, and Brissett running for a total of 116 yards. The Chargers struggled offensively and defensively, with only 290 yards of total offense, and Justin Herbert receiving a 83.7 QBR.
The Chicago Bears gave it their all for the first game of the season, scoring 59 points against the Carolina Panthers. The combined score of 96 points blew out the existing NFL record for the highest-scoring season opener. The Bears controlled the game on the ground, running for a total of 291 yards. Caleb Williams accounted for 65 of the total running yards. Bryce Young proved himself, throwing 23/37 for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns, receiving a QBR of 110.3. In the postgame press conference, Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson boldly states, “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever.”
The rest of the games resulted/are to be played as follows:
- New Orleans Saints (30) vs. Detroit Lions (31)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (33)
- Baltimore Ravens (41) vs. Indianapolis Colts (23)
- Cleveland Browns (10) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (34)
- New York Jets (23) vs. Tennessee Titans (10)
- Buffalo Bills (36) vs. Houston Texans (31)
- Atlanta Falcons (13) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (20)
- Chicago Bears (59) vs. Carolina Panthers (37)
- Green Bay Packers (22) vs. Minnesota Vikings (39)
- Miami Dolphins (13) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (27)
- Arizona Cardinals (26) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (14)
- Washington Commanders (22) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (24)
- Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (SNF)
