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NFL Week 1 Recap: Bears Score 59 as Sunday Delivers Upsets and Overtime Drama

The first full Sunday of the 2026 NFL season produced record-breaking offense, dramatic comebacks, surprising upsets and several memorable debuts.

The Chicago Bears scored a franchise-opening-record 59 points, Josh Allen rescued Buffalo in the final two minutes, the Detroit Lions survived an overtime gamble and the Arizona Cardinals stunned the heavily favored Los Angeles Chargers.

Elsewhere, Derrick Henry continued climbing the NFL record book, Carson Wentz led an improbable Minnesota comeback after Kyler Murray was injured and the New York Giants opened the John Harbaugh era by defeating the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is a complete recap of every NFL game played Sunday, Sept. 13.

Chicago Bears 59, Carolina Panthers 37

Chicago and Carolina combined for the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, but the Bears turned what had been a competitive contest into a 22-point victory.

Caleb Williams completed 20 of 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and two more scores. D’Andre Swift rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai gained 100 yards and broke loose for a 61-yard score.

The Panthers tied the game at 31 during the third quarter before Chicago responded with three consecutive touchdowns. Bryce Young passed for 361 yards and three scores in defeat, with Jalen Coker collecting eight receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Turning point: Chicago’s three-touchdown response after Carolina tied the game at 31.

Star of the Game: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears.

Buffalo Bills 36, Houston Texans 31

Josh Allen delivered another late-game masterpiece, finding Joshua Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:36 remaining to lift Buffalo past Houston.

Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns while also running for two scores. Dalton Kincaid accumulated 130 receiving yards, and DJ Moore recorded 100 yards and a touchdown in his Buffalo debut.

Houston reached the Buffalo 9-yard line on its final possession, but Greg Rousseau stripped C.J. Stroud on a sack and Terrel Bernard recovered the fumble. David Montgomery scored three touchdowns for Houston, including two on the ground.

The win was Buffalo’s first in Houston since 2006. Buffalo’s official highlights captured Allen’s decisive connection with Palmer.

Turning point: Allen’s 34-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Palmer.

Star of the Game: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills.

Detroit Lions 31, New Orleans Saints 30 — Overtime

Detroit survived one of Sunday’s wildest finishes after surrendering a 21-point lead.

Jared Goff opened overtime with a four-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. New Orleans answered when Tyler Shough found Noah Fant for an eight-yard score, but Saints coach Kellen Moore elected to attempt a winning two-point conversion rather than kick the tying extra point. Shough’s pass fell incomplete.

Jahmyr Gibbs carried 29 times for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns. Goff passed for 206 yards and two scores, both to St. Brown.

Shough recovered from three turnovers to finish with 410 passing yards and three touchdowns. Chris Olave caught 10 passes for 182 yards as the Saints rallied from a 21-0 deficit.

Turning point: Detroit stopping New Orleans’ two-point conversion in overtime.

Star of the Game: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions.

Minnesota Vikings 39, Green Bay Packers 22

Minnesota scored the final 29 points after losing starting quarterback Kyler Murray to a first-quarter concussion.

Carson Wentz entered in relief and completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 92 yards and two scores as the Vikings transformed a 22-10 deficit into a convincing division victory.

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns, both to Christian Watson. Watson finished with 147 receiving yards, but turnovers accelerated Green Bay’s collapse.

Minnesota converted a strip-sack and an interception into points during its furious comeback. Murray’s status will be closely watched ahead of Week 2.

Turning point: Minnesota’s defense forced two late turnovers that fueled the 29-point run.

Star of the Game: Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings.

Baltimore Ravens 41, Indianapolis Colts 23

Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns as Baltimore overwhelmed Indianapolis with 506 yards of offense.

Henry’s performance moved him into third place on the NFL’s career rushing-touchdown list. Lamar Jackson added 324 passing yards, one passing touchdown and another score on the ground.

The Colts could not contain Baltimore’s combination of Jackson’s mobility and Henry’s power. Indianapolis finished with just 251 total yards while Baltimore surpassed 20 points in a season opener for the 10th consecutive year.

Ravens receiver Zay Flowers produced 150 receiving yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. Ja’Kobi Lane also suffered a fractured wrist, giving Baltimore injury concerns despite the decisive victory.

Turning point: Henry’s punishing running allowed Baltimore to take firm control during the middle quarters.

Star of the Game: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals 33, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27

Cincinnati’s rebuilt defense forced and recovered four Tampa Bay fumbles, turning three first-half takeaways into touchdowns.

Baker Mayfield lost three fumbles, including one that Demetrius Knight Jr. returned 27 yards for a score. Bucky Irving committed Tampa Bay’s other turnover.

Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Evan McPherson supplied four field goals, including successful attempts from 55 and 58 yards.

Tampa Bay pulled within six when Mayfield scored on a nine-yard run with 3:19 remaining, but Burrow directed a final possession that allowed Cincinnati to exhaust the clock. The Bengals held Tampa Bay to 282 total yards.

Turning point: Cincinnati converting Tampa Bay’s repeated first-half fumbles into a 24-10 halftime lead.

Star of the Game: Cincinnati’s defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Cleveland Browns 10

Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes as Jacksonville built a 31-0 lead and spoiled Todd Monken’s debut as Cleveland’s head coach.

Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards. His scoring throws went to Parker Washington, JaKobi Meyers, Brenton Strange and rookie Josh Cameron.

Foyesade Oluokun intercepted Deshaun Watson on Cleveland’s opening possession, giving Jacksonville an immediate short field. The Jaguars scored on each of their first four first-half possessions and led 24-0 at halftime.

Watson, making his first regular-season start since 2024, finished with 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Cleveland’s only touchdown came late on a 46-yard pass to rookie Denzel Boston.

Turning point: Oluokun’s interception on Watson’s third pass attempt.

Star of the Game: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Atlanta Falcons 13

T.J. Watt provided the game’s defining moment, intercepting Cooper Rush and returning the ball 35 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Watt also recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss. His defensive touchdown gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead and helped the Steelers win Mike McCarthy’s first game as head coach.

Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. Pittsburgh’s offense generated only 264 total yards and converted three of 13 third downs, but its defense held Atlanta to 238 yards.

Bijan Robinson was Atlanta’s most productive player, finishing with 83 rushing yards and eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Falcons kicker Nick Folk missed two field-goal attempts.

Turning point: Watt’s fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown.

Star of the Game: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers.

New York Jets 23, Tennessee Titans 10

The Jets controlled nearly 39 minutes of possession and outgained Tennessee 367-195, spoiling former Jets coach Robert Saleh’s Titans debut.

Geno Smith completed 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards in his return to New York. Breece Hall carried 22 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, while rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq scored on the Jets’ opening possession.

New York’s defense pressured Cam Ward throughout the afternoon and recorded three sacks. Ward threw for 140 yards, with Tennessee’s only touchdown arriving during the final five minutes.

Jason Sanders made field goals from 33, 51 and 52 yards. The Jets did sustain injuries to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

Turning point: New York’s nearly 12-minute, 19-play drive established control of the game.

Star of the Game: Breece Hall, New York Jets.

Las Vegas Raiders 27, Miami Dolphins 13

Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes in his Raiders debut as Las Vegas opened the Klint Kubiak era with a comfortable victory.

Cousins completed 21 of 30 passes for 160 yards. Two of his touchdown passes went to Ashton Jeanty, who also rushed for 102 yards on 23 carries and caught six passes for 45 yards.

Miami quarterback Malik Willis threw for 220 yards and ran for the Dolphins’ only touchdown, but he was intercepted once and sacked five times. The Dolphins converted just two of 10 third downs and were limited to 259 total yards.

Las Vegas protected Cousins without allowing a sack and controlled possession for nearly 35 minutes.

Turning point: The Raiders answered Miami’s third-quarter touchdown with another Cousins-to-Jeanty score.

Star of the Game: Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders.

Arizona Cardinals 26, Los Angeles Chargers 14

Arizona entered as a 9½-point underdog but never trailed, giving Mike LaFleur a victory in his first game as the Cardinals’ head coach.

Jacoby Brissett passed for 277 yards and one touchdown. Trey McBride caught nine passes for 95 yards and a score, while rookie Jeremiyah Love reached the end zone on the third carry of his NFL career.

Arizona also received four field goals from Chad Ryland, a blocked punt from Simi Fehoko and a crucial fourth-quarter interception by Andrew Wingard.

Justin Herbert finished with 209 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. Ladd McConkey caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a chest injury.

The victory ended Arizona’s nine-game losing streak dating to last season.

Turning point: Wingard’s fourth-quarter interception stopped a potential Chargers comeback.

Star of the Game: Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals.

Philadelphia Eagles 24, Washington Commanders 22

Philadelphia stopped a late two-point conversion and recovered the ensuing onside kick to escape with an NFC East victory.

Jalen Hurts completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns while adding 46 rushing yards. Dallas Goedert caught four passes for 77 yards and two scores, including a 43-yard touchdown that gave Philadelphia a 24-16 lead.

Jayden Daniels answered with a late touchdown pass to rookie Antonio Williams. Washington attempted to tie the game with a two-point shovel pass to John Bates, but Moro Ojomo stopped Bates before the goal line.

DeVonta Smith recovered Washington’s onside kick with 1:01 remaining. The Eagles’ official recap includes the complete scoring sequence and player statistics.

Turning point: Philadelphia’s defense stopping the potential tying two-point conversion.

Star of the Game: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles.

New York Giants 28, Dallas Cowboys 20

Jaxson Dart threw three touchdown passes and helped the Giants control the ball for more than 36 minutes in John Harbaugh’s first game as New York’s head coach.

Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards while rushing for another 54. Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and Cam Skattebo contributed 81 rushing yards and a score.

New York outgained Dallas 394-244 and ran out the final 5:16 without giving the Cowboys another possession.

Dak Prescott threw for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Dallas pulled within 28-20 on Prescott’s touchdown pass to Javonte Williams, but a taunting penalty moved the extra-point attempt back and Brandon Aubrey missed the kick.

The Cowboys’ official game recap detailed New York’s advantages in rushing, pressure and possession.

Turning point: Jevón Holland intercepted Prescott late in the first half, setting up a Giants touchdown.

Star of the Game: Jaxson Dart, New York Giants.

Sunday’s biggest NFL Week 1 takeaways

Chicago produced the day’s most explosive performance, but Minnesota’s comeback may have been the most improbable. The Vikings lost Murray early, trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter and still won by 17.

Buffalo and Detroit demonstrated their ability to prevail in close games, while Arizona delivered the weekend’s biggest point-spread upset. Jacksonville, Baltimore and Las Vegas controlled their matchups from start to finish.

Injuries will become an important storyline entering Week 2. Murray entered the concussion protocol, while Flowers, McConkey, Fitzpatrick and several other prominent players left their respective games.

Week 1 concludes Monday night when the Denver Broncos visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

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