NFL ties Week 1 scoring record for Super Bowl era - NFL.com
The 2026 NFL season opened with a historic scoring surge, tying the record for the most points scored in a Week 1 slate during the Super Bowl era. High-scoring performances from teams like the Bears and Ravens contributed to an average of 49.4 points per game.
Why it matters
The record-breaking offensive output challenges the traditional belief that defenses hold an advantage at the start of the season.
A 14-year Week 1 record has been matched.
Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos combining for 41 points on Monday night, the opening slate of games for the 2026 season has officially tied the 2012 season's record for the most Week 1 points scored (791) during the Super Bowl era.
Entering Monday's AFC West showdown, teams had averaged 50.0 combined points per game, per NFL Research, with the Week 1 finale bringing the average down to 49.4.
Tying such a mark would've been hard to see coming on Wednesday, when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kicked off the campaign with a 13-10 defensive battle in a Super Bowl LX rematch.
Much of the rest of the weekend, however, took a different path.
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