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NFL Week 1 Delivers Bengals Promise, Bears Record, Packers Collapse
The NFL’s 2026 season began with many exciting games.
The Cincinnati Bengals won while their defense forced four turnovers and made four sacks.
The Chicago Bears scored 59 points, the most ever in a Week 1 game.
The Green Bay Packers had a big lead but then allowed the Minnesota Vikings to score 29 straight points.
The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills also earned impressive wins.
The Jacksonville Jaguars easily beat the Cleveland Browns.
The Detroit Lions won in overtime after losing a 21-point lead.
Several other teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, also started with victories.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos still had to play their Monday night game.
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 after forcing four turnovers and recording four sacks.
The Chicago Bears beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37, setting the highest-scoring Week 1 game record.
The Green Bay Packers surrendered a 22-10 lead and lost 39-22 to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders also won.
The Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks won in the NFC, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos had yet to play.
- Who
- The Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and other NFL teams competing in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
- What
- Fifteen games produced notable wins, a Week 1 scoring record and several blown leads; the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos remained scheduled to play Monday night.
- Where
- NFL stadiums across the United States, with the San Francisco 49ers–Los Angeles Rams game played in Melbourne.
- When
- The opening week of the 2026 NFL season, before the Monday night game.
- Why
- The games provided the first indications of teams’ early strengths, weaknesses and potential playoff outlooks.
Optimistic Reading
Critical Reading
Cincinnati’s contender potential
Optimistic Reading
The Bengals’ four turnovers, four sacks and limited pressure on Joe Burrow suggest their defense could support a Super Bowl challenge.
Critical Reading
Tampa Bay scored 27 points, including a pick-six and a late touchdown against a prevent defense, so the defense still allowed significant production.
Green Bay’s fourth-down decision
Optimistic Reading
Coach Matt LaFleur defended the decision to remain aggressive, saying the team expected to make it an eight-point game.
Critical Reading
The Packers’ failed fourth-and-1 attempt, a penalty that removed points and 29 unanswered Minnesota points reflected poor game management and a late collapse.
Cleveland quarterback blame
Optimistic Reading
Deshaun Watson’s interception, five sacks and limited scoring made him the obvious focus after the loss.
Critical Reading
Todd Monken said placing the loss on Watson alone was unfair and indicated Cleveland would evaluate everything before Week 2.
Key facts
- Bengals result
- Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 33-27 after forcing four turnovers and recording four sacks.
- Bears scoring record
- Chicago defeated Carolina 59-37 in the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history.
- Packers collapse
- Green Bay led Minnesota 22-10 in the third quarter before losing 39-22 after allowing 29 unanswered points.
- Top individual performances
- Caleb Williams accounted for four touchdowns, while Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
- Bills comeback
- Josh Allen accounted for four scores and led a 96-yard game-winning drive in Buffalo’s 36-31 victory over Houston.
- Lions overtime win
- Detroit beat New Orleans 31-30 in overtime after surrendering a 21-0 second-half lead.
- Remaining game
- The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos had not yet played their Monday night game.
Quotes
Matt LaFleur
Green Bay Packers head coach
“We’re going to be aggressive. It was going to be an eight-point game. If it would have been a two-possession game, I probably would have thought otherwise.”
livemint.com
“You look at that fourth quarter, they got the momentum, and they started rolling, and that’s where we kind of fell apart.”
livemint.com
Sources
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