Chicago put up the highest-scoring total in season-opener history, Detroit needed overtime to survive a 21-point collapse, and Jim Harbaugh lost a Week 1 game for the first time in his coaching career. Here’s every score from Sunday’s 13-game slate, and what actually mattered in each one.
Bears 59, Panthers 37 — the highest-scoring opener ever
Caleb Williams made history: 21-of-29 for 269 yards and two touchdowns through the air, plus 65 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground, making him the first quarterback in Bears history with 200+ passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 50+ rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the same game. D’Andre Swift added three rushing touchdowns and 124 yards, Kyle Monangai broke off a 61-yard score, and Chicago’s ground game alone put up 291 yards and six touchdowns. Bryce Young actually threw for three touchdowns himself, two of them to Jalen Coker (eight catches, 138 yards), but it wasn’t close to enough. The combined 96 points made it the highest-scoring regular-season opener in NFL history.
Lions 31, Saints 30 (OT) — New Orleans blew a 21-point lead and still almost won
Detroit built a 21-0 lead behind Jared Goff, who threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs, who ran for three scores. Then New Orleans clawed all the way back, tying it at 24 on a Tyler Shough touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson with 1:07 left in regulation. Goff hit St. Brown again for a 5-yard score early in overtime, and the Saints’ two-point conversion attempt to tie it fell incomplete in the end zone, ending the game.
Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 — Jim Harbaugh’s streak ends
Arizona pulled the biggest upset of the week, and it cost Jim Harbaugh something he’d never lost before: a season-opening game as a head coach. Jacoby Brissett was efficient (27-of-37, 277 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions), Trey McBride caught nine passes for 95 yards and a score, and the Cardinals held the ball for more than 37 minutes while outgaining the Chargers 393-268. Justin Herbert struggled (17-of-27, 209 yards, one touchdown, one interception), Los Angeles converted just two of eight third downs, and a blocked punt compounded the problems.
Giants 28, Cowboys 20 — John Harbaugh’s debut delivers
New York’s other new head coach had a much better night. Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns (both to Isaiah Likely) and added 54 rushing yards, Devin Singletary caught a third touchdown, and Cam Skattebo scored in his first game back from injury. Safety Jevon Holland turned an interception into points on defense. Dallas hurt itself with eight penalties for 85 yards, and the loss handed the Giants their first Week 1 home win since 2010.
The rest of Sunday’s scores
- Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27 — Cincinnati avoided its usual slow start.
- Jets 23, Titans 10 — Robert Saleh’s Titans debut against his old team didn’t go his way.
- Ravens 41, Colts 23 — Baltimore’s first game under new coach Jesse Minter, replacing John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, opened with a rout.
- Steelers 20, Falcons 13 — Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh held off Tua Tagovailoa’s Atlanta debut.
- Jaguars 34, Browns 10 — Jacksonville routed Deshaun Watson and Cleveland at home.
- Bills 36, Texans 31 — A shootout in new Buffalo coach Joe Brady’s debut.
- Raiders 27, Dolphins 13 — Las Vegas’s Klint Kubiak-Kirk Cousins pairing outplayed Miami’s Jeff Hafley-Malik Willis combo.
- Vikings 39, Packers 22 — Minnesota took control of the NFC North opener early.
- Eagles 24, Commanders 22 — Philadelphia’s retooled offense held on in the division matchup.
For the full Sunday and Monday matchup preview before these games kicked off, see BeezLoop’s NFL Week 1 preview.
Sources: ESPN · Yahoo Sports · CBS Detroit · NBC Sports · NBC News
