NFL week 1 in review
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season has come to an end, but don’t fret. There are still 21 weeks to go. Week 1 brought us high scoring games, disappointing performances, and everything in between.
The biggest surprise of week 1
After an exciting, high-scoring match up against the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears find themselves 1–0. Not only is Chicago undefeated, they also proved to be an offensive powerhouse when firing on all cylinders, finishing the game 59–37.
Quarterback Caleb Williams put on a show with 2 touchdowns through the air and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Fair to say Williams is living up to the cover-athlete standard so far.
However, the real Chi-town heroes in this game were the one-two combo of running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Swift racked up 124 yards from 18 carries and found the endzone three times. Monangai complemented Swifts performance nicely with 100 rushing yards and one touchdown of his own.
The Bears could be legit and a real threat in the NFC.
Which team made the biggest statement?
It’s not like this team came into the 2026 season as an “underdog” in the NFC West per se, but after the Rams added big time stars like Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, it was understandable to believe that they would win week 1 but the San Francisco 49ers had other plans.
San Francisco was riddled with injuries last season, but they still prove to be a tough opponent. Going into the week 1 match up, the 49ers were without year 3 wideout Ricky Pearsall, year 2 edge rusher Mykel Williams, and rookie wide receiver Dezhaun Stribling. It did not matter. The 3.5-point underdogs beat the Rams 27–7 and showed that they are still a problem for the NFC.
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Opening the season in another country against a very talented rival while dominating, is the statement the 49ers set out to make.
The biggest disappointment
The Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers were favored by 9.5 points against the Arizona Cardinals but lost 26–14 at home. Despite a solid performance from quarterback Justin Herbert; 209 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, the Chargers just couldn’t make it happen.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, it’s not getting any easier from here. This week they play the Las Vegas Raiders which has the potential to be a bounce-back game, but then they’re off to Buffalo and Seattle before playing the Broncos at home. After that, they have to face the Chiefs and the Rams on the road. Each of these opponents has potential to reach the Super Bowl and their defenses can smell blood in the water. The Chargers are bleeding.
It may be too early to press the panic button, but something needs to change fast.
Looking ahead to week 2
Week 2 of the NFL season kicks off with an exciting match-up between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. Going into the week, some questions come up.
Can Chicago stay consistent as a high-scoring offense?
Can the 49ers continue their early season momentum against the Dolphins?
Will the Chargers bounce back against the Raiders?
