The 2026 NFL season wasted little time delivering fireworks.
NFL teams combined for 791 points during Week 1, tying the league record set in 2012 for the highest-scoring Kickoff Weekend in history. The opening week also established NFL Week 1 records with 93 total touchdowns, 90 offensive touchdowns and 37 rushing touchdowns.
Now the attention shifts to Week 2, where several high-scoring teams collide and a number of intriguing primetime matchups highlight the schedule.
Lions and Bills Open New Highmark Stadium
One of Week 2’s marquee games takes place Thursday night when the Detroit Lions visit the Buffalo Bills in the inaugural game at the new Highmark Stadium.
Both teams enter at 1-0 after offensive shootouts. Detroit escaped with a 31-30 overtime victory over New Orleans, while Buffalo defeated Houston, 36-31.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen accounted for four touchdowns in the opener, throwing for two and rushing for two. It marked the 25th game of his career with at least four combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs opened the season with 186 scrimmage yards, including 156 rushing, and two touchdowns. Gibbs now has 51 scrimmage touchdowns through his first 50 career games, making him just the fifth player in NFL history to reach 50 in that span.
Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown also enters Week 2 after recording his 12th career game with at least 10 receptions.
Vikings and Bears Meet After Offensive Explosions
The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears meet Sunday in an NFC North battle between 1-0 teams.
Chicago produced the biggest offensive performance of opening weekend, scoring an NFL-high 59 points. The Bears became only the second team in the past 76 seasons — and sixth ever — to score at least 14 points in every quarter of a regular-season game.
Chicago also rushed for six touchdowns, tying the NFL record for the most rushing scores in a season opener.
Minnesota, meanwhile, scored 29 unanswered second-half points in its 39-22 victory over Green Bay.
Quarterback Carson Wentz became the first non-starting quarterback since Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to throw at least three touchdown passes without an interception in a season-opening victory.
Derrick Henry Looks to Continue Historic Run
The Baltimore Ravens host the New Orleans Saints after both offenses produced huge numbers in Week 1.
Baltimore scored 41 points and generated 506 yards of offense in its victory over Indianapolis. New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough threw for a career-high 410 yards, while receiver Chris Olave led all NFL players with a career-best 182 receiving yards.
But Baltimore running back Derrick Henry continues to rewrite the NFL record book.
Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. He now owns 125 career rushing touchdowns, moving past Hall of Famer Marcus Allen for third place in NFL history. Only Emmitt Smith (164) and LaDainian Tomlinson (145) have more.
Henry also recorded his 26th career game with at least 100 rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns, breaking the previous NFL record of 25 shared by Jim Brown and Tomlinson.
Bengals and Texans Clash in Houston
The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Houston after opening their season with an impressive defensive performance.
Cincinnati became only the fifth team since 1963 to record four sacks, four defensive fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown in a season-opening game.
The Bengals can begin consecutive seasons 2-0 for only the second time in franchise history.
Week 1 Winners Have History on Their Side
Nine teams that missed the postseason in 2025 opened the new season with victories: Arizona, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minnesota, the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Since 1990, teams winning their season opener have reached the postseason 54.3 percent of the time, with 303 of 558 Week 1 winners eventually qualifying.
An opening loss, however, doesn’t end a team’s postseason hopes. During that same period, 25 percent of teams losing their opener have still reached the playoffs. Both participants in last season’s Super Bowl — the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks — began their 2025 seasons 0-1.
Travis Kelce Continues Climb Up NFL Record Book
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football after Kansas City opened its season with another victory.
Since Andy Reid became head coach in 2013, Kansas City has won 11 season openers, trailing only Philadelphia’s 12 during that span.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce added another milestone in Week 1. His 71 receiving yards moved him past Jason Witten’s 13,046 career yards for second place among tight ends in NFL history.
Only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, with 15,127 receiving yards, remains ahead of Kelce.
Giants Face Rams on Monday Night Football
Week 2 concludes with the New York Giants visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.
The Giants enter at 1-0 following a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and have an opportunity to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2022.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart made NFL history in the opener, becoming the first player to record at least three touchdown passes, a passer rating of 130 or better and 50 rushing yards in a season-opening game. Dart finished with a career-high 134.2 passer rating and 54 rushing yards.
The Rams will attempt to rebound from an opening-week loss.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford was particularly effective at home last season, throwing for 2,320 yards and 22 touchdowns against just one interception in eight starts, producing a 114.7 passer rating.
With the NFL coming off one of the most prolific opening weekends in league history, Week 2 has plenty to live up to. A schedule loaded with high-powered offenses, divisional matchups and primetime games should provide an early indication of which teams can carry their opening-week momentum deeper into the 2026 season.
Source: NFL
