NFL Week 1: Upsets, shootouts and statement wins open the 2026 season

The NFL’s opening weekend delivered just about everything, from the Arizona Cardinals stunning the Los Angeles Chargers to a 96-point shootout in Carolina, an overtime escape in Detroit and the San Francisco 49ers making history with a convincing win in Melbourne.

By the time the Kansas City Chiefs closed Week 1 with a 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos Monday night, eight teams had scored at least 30 points and several preseason favorites were already 0-1.

Cardinals spring the biggest upset

No result turned more heads than Arizona’s 26-14 win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

The Cardinals entered as 9½-point underdogs but controlled the game, outgaining Los Angeles 393-268 and holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.

Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards and a touchdown without an interception, while Trey McBride caught nine passes for 95 yards and a score.

Bears and Lions provide the drama

The wildest scoreboard came in Carolina, where the Chicago Bears outlasted the Panthers 59-37. D’Andre Swift ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns, while Carolina quarterback Bryce Young threw for 361 yards and three scores.

Things were considerably tighter in Detroit. The Lions watched a 21-point lead disappear before escaping the New Orleans Saints 31-30 in overtime. Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns for New Orleans, while Jahmyr Gibbs powered the Lions with 156 rushing yards and two scores.

49ers own the stage in Melbourne

The first NFL regular-season game in Australia belonged to the 49ers, who rolled past the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 before 100,021 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes as San Francisco turned one of the league’s biggest international showcases into a convincing opening victory.

Ravens and Vikings start fast

The Baltimore Ravens looked explosive in a 41-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards, Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns and Zay Flowers piled up 150 receiving yards.

The Minnesota Vikings erased a 22-10 deficit against the Green Bay Packers and stormed back for a 39-22 win at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills survived the Houston Texans 36-31, the Philadelphia Eagles held off the Washington Commanders 24-22 and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27.

Chiefs put the finishing touch on Week 1

The New York Giants knocked off the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 Sunday night before the Chiefs supplied the final statement Monday.

Kansas City ran away from Denver 31-10 at Arrowhead Stadium, with Patrick Mahomes throwing two touchdown passes.

The Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders also opened with victories.

Sixteen games, several surprises and no shortage of points later, Week 1 is in the books — and the 2026 NFL season wasted very little time getting interesting.