NFL Narrowly Misses Making History with High-Scoring Week 1 After Mahomes, Chiefs Beat Nix, Broncos

NFL offenses came out hot in the 2026 season and just missed the record for the highest Week 1 scoring average since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970.

According to The Athletic's Jayna Bardahl , "Entering Monday's Week 1 capper between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, teams have scored 750 points, for an average of 50.0 points per game. According to the NFL, if that average holds, it would surpass the 49.4 points per game scored in Week 1 in 2012. That week featured a total of 791 points, so the Broncos and Chiefs need a combined 42 points to set the record."

The Broncos and Chiefs fell just short of that total with 41 points, as Patrick Mahomes and Co. defeated Bo Nix's squad 31-10.

As for the Week 1 offensive onslaught, Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears led the way, beating the Carolina Panthers 59-37. Chicago had a whopping 552 yards of total offense (and the Panthers weren't far behind with 478). Fireworks were not in short supply.

In total, 11 of the 30 teams who played scored 30 or more points, while half of the league's teams put up 25 or more points. Four games featured both teams in action scoring 25 or more points.

It was the type of week that fantasy football enthusiasts love, defensive purists hate and probably requires a whole lot of recovery sleep for NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson.

But it still fell just short of the record.