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The 2026 NFL season opened with plenty of surprises, statement wins, and major concerns. Some teams immediately looked like playoff contenders. Others left Week 1 with plenty of questions. Week 1 never tells the entire story, but it can reveal plenty about a team. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the opening week.
Winners
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears made the biggest offensive statement of Week 1. Chicago crushed the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in the highest-scoring Week 1 game ever. The Bears scored 31 points before halftime and never let Carolina recover. Caleb Williams looked confident throughout the game. He accounted for four total touchdowns. Chicago also dominated on the ground with 291 rushing yards. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each topped 100 rushing yards. The Bears still have defensive concerns after allowing 37 points. However, Ben Johnson’s offense looked extremely dangerous in his second season.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills earned one of Week 1’s most impressive victories. Buffalo defeated the Houston Texans 36-31 on the road. Josh Allen delivered another outstanding performance against a highly regarded defense. Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores. The Bills also avoided turnovers throughout the game. That proved crucial against a Houston defense expected to dominate opponents. Buffalo also received a strong debut from receiver DJ Moore. Moore caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. The Bills showed they remain serious contenders in the AFC.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens looked like an offensive powerhouse in their opener. Baltimore defeated the Indianapolis Colts 41-23. Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Those three scores also moved Henry into third place on the NFL’s rushing touchdown list. Lamar Jackson added 324 passing yards and two total touchdowns. The Ravens controlled the game for most of the afternoon. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle also enjoyed an impressive debut. Baltimore appears capable of producing another explosive season.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals earned an important 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay. More importantly, their defense created several major plays. Cincinnati forced Baker Mayfield into three turnovers. The defense also generated a scoop-and-score touchdown. Joe Burrow did not need to carry the offense every minute. That balance could become extremely important for Cincinnati. The Bengals entered the season with legitimate playoff expectations. Their Week 1 performance provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals delivered arguably the biggest surprise of Week 1. Arizona defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 on the road. The victory also gave Mike LaFleur a memorable coaching debut. LaFleur became the first Cardinals coach to win his debut since 1973. Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and one touchdown. Trey McBride added nine catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Arizona’s defense and special teams also delivered critical plays. A blocked punt helped Arizona seize control late in the game. The Cardinals now have some early momentum heading into Week 2.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings deserve plenty of credit for their second-half comeback. Minnesota defeated Green Bay 39-22 after trailing at halftime. The Vikings allowed 19 points during the first half. However, their defense allowed only three points after halftime. Minnesota also forced turnovers and pressured Jordan Love. Carson Wentz stepped up after Kyler Murray’s injury forced him into action. Wentz threw three touchdown passes during the comeback. The Vikings showed impressive resilience against a division rival.
Losers
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers entered the season with major expectations. Unfortunately, they suffered one of the week’s most disappointing losses. Arizona defeated Los Angeles 26-14 at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers struggled to generate consistent offensive momentum. Justin Herbert finished with 209 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The special team’s unit also surrendered a crucial blocked punt. Los Angeles cannot afford many performances like this. The Chargers face a difficult schedule, making the Week 1 loss even more concerning.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns suffered one of the week’s ugliest performances. Jacksonville dominated Cleveland 34-10. The Jaguars jumped ahead 31-0 before Cleveland finally showed signs of life. Deshaun Watson struggled badly during the afternoon. Watson threw an early interception and lost a fumble. He also took five sacks during the game. Cleveland’s offense never found a consistent rhythm. The Browns now face immediate questions about their quarterback situation. Shedeur Sanders could eventually enter that conversation if Watson continues struggling.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers appeared to control their Week 1 matchup. Then everything changed after halftime. Green Bay led Minnesota before collapsing during the second half. The Vikings outscored Green Bay 29-3 after halftime. They also shut out the Packers during the fourth quarter. That collapse creates uncomfortable questions for Matt LaFleur. Green Bay cannot repeatedly waste leads against quality opponents. The Packers entered 2026 with significant expectations. Their Week 1 collapse certainly did not quiet those concerns.
Houston Texans
Houston suffered one of the most painful losses of Week 1. The Texans lost 36-31 against Buffalo at home. Their defense allowed Josh Allen to make plays throughout the afternoon. Houston also failed to capitalize on a potential game-ending opportunity. Kamari Lassiter dropped a potential interception late in the game. Allen then connected with Joshua Palmer for the go-ahead touchdown. C.J. Stroud also lost two fumbles. The Texans still showed enough talent to remain dangerous. However, their defense must improve quickly after allowing 36 points.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s defense had a nightmare against Chicago. The Panthers surrendered 291 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. That performance erased much of the offensive production from Bryce Young. Young threw for 361 yards and accounted for four touchdowns. Still, Carolina could not keep pace with Chicago’s rushing attack. The Panthers allowed 59 points in their home opener. That type of defensive performance creates immediate concerns.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans also had a rough opening afternoon. New York defeated Tennessee 23-10 in Nashville. The Titans managed only 195 total yards. Cam Ward could not consistently move the offense against New York. Meanwhile, the Jets controlled the ground game. Tennessee expected to compete better under new coach Robert Saleh. Instead, the Titans looked overmatched on their home field.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams opened the season with a disappointing Thursday night performance. San Francisco defeated Los Angeles 27-7 in the season opener. The Rams struggled to generate enough offensive production. Meanwhile, the 49ers controlled the game from the opening kickoff. A division loss immediately puts pressure on Los Angeles. The Rams have plenty of time to recover. However, they cannot afford another offensive performance like that.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas suffered another frustrating loss against the New York Giants. New York defeated Dallas 28-20 on Sunday night. The Cowboys struggled to finish drives when opportunities appeared. Meanwhile, the Giants made enough plays to protect their lead. Dallas entered the season hoping to compete in the NFC. Instead, the Cowboys immediately fell behind a division rival. There is still plenty of football remaining. However, Dallas needs a much cleaner performance in Week 2.
Final Takeaway
Week 1 produced several clear winners and plenty of warning signs. The Bears, Bills, Ravens, Bengals, Vikings, and Cardinals gained valuable momentum. Meanwhile, the Chargers, Browns, Packers, Texans, Panthers, and Titans face early questions. The Cowboys and Rams also have plenty to correct. Still, one game cannot define an entire NFL season. Teams now have another week to make adjustments. The biggest question involves which Week 1 results actually matter. Some winners could cool off quickly. Likewise, some losers could become dangerous once they correct their mistakes. That makes Week 2 even more important for teams across the league.
These teams whether they are winners and losers it can change from week to week.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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