The Athletic provided live coverage of Sunday Night Football, with three NFL writers sharing their reactions to the opening week’s games. The first Sunday of the NFL season was filled with drama and high scores.

Record-Setting Performances

In a historic game, the Chicago Bears achieved a 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers, setting the record for the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history. Coach Ben Johnson aimed for the scoring record and his team delivered. The Buffalo Bills battled the Houston Texans, securing a 36-31 win in a game with nine lead changes. In Detroit, the New Orleans Saints came back from 21 points down to force overtime, but the Lions clinched a 31-30 win after stopping a Saints two-point attempt.

This weekend ranked among the highest in scoring for a season opener. The Minnesota Vikings scored 29 consecutive points, stunning the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers, despite being underdogs. The Philadelphia Eagles thwarted a potential game-tying two-point conversion by the Washington Commanders. The Cleveland Browns suffered a loss, 34-10, to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Insights from NFL Analysts

Writers Jeff Howe, Ted Nguyen, and Dan Pompei provided their insights on this electrifying Sunday, filled with impressive debuts and last-minute game-changing moments.

Vikings’ Surprising Victory

The Vikings’ comeback, led by backup quarterback Carson Wentz who scored 29 unanswered points against the Packers, prompted questions about both teams’ prospects.

Pompei observed that the Vikings had potential, overcoming quarterback challenges. Wentz’s performance could make them contenders in the NFC North. However, he noted that the Packers could bounce back.

Howe considered the Vikings potential playoff contenders if Murray’s status strengthens. He sees the Packers as enigmatic, showing inconsistent performances yet being perennial playoff contenders.

Nguyen explained that without Micah Parsons, the Packers’ defense struggled, especially against the run. Wentz’s play was pivotal in the Vikings’ triumph.

Impressive Coaching Debuts

Joe Brady of the Bills and Jesse Minter of the Ravens had notable debuts. Brady led the Bills to a narrow win over the Texans, while Minter’s Ravens dominated the Colts.

Howe admired Brady’s win but was equally intrigued by the Ravens maintaining their identity under Minter, indicating their solid performance with key players like Lamar Jackson.

Pompei viewed both debuts positively but highlighted Brady’s tactical preparation, which yielded 36 points against a usually strong defense.

Nguyen credited Minter for the Ravens’ offensive display but acknowledged Brady’s ability to score despite the Texans’ defensive strength.

Chargers’ Unexpected Loss

The pairing of Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was expected to enhance the Chargers, yet loss to the Arizona Cardinals raised questions.

Nguyen pointed out inefficiencies in the Chargers’ running game and difficulties in adjusting to a new system, indicating some time is needed to realize potential.

Howe noted that self-inflicted mistakes, including turnovers and penalties, contributed significantly to the Chargers’ downfall.

Pompei emphasized the importance of the running game, which faltered for the Chargers, and how Herbert’s performance didn’t offset these issues.

Chicago Bears: Offense vs. Defense

While the Bears were anticipated to regress, their impressive offensive performance raised new questions.

Pompei questioned if the defense would improve sufficiently despite an explosive offense led by Caleb Williams, as defensive shortcomings could hamper Super Bowl aspirations.

Nguyen noted that while the defense struggled, the Bears’ offense was formidable, with Williams showing MVP potential.

Howe cautioned against overreacting, noting the Panthers’ own weaknesses, yet he emphasized Williams’ strong season start.

Bengals’ Defensive Revamp

Following a historically weak defensive season, the Bengals showed improvement against the Buccaneers.

Howe saw the Bengals’ newfound competitiveness as vital, supported by Joe Burrow’s scoring ability.

Nguyen highlighted the physicality and effective pass rush the Bengals displayed, envisioning them as contenders.

Pompei attributed some of the Bengals’ success to Buccaneers’ mistakes, while crediting the Bengals for exploiting opportunities.

Offensive Surge in Opening Games

In an unusual twist, the opening weekend saw high scores, with ten teams scoring over 30 points even before the night game.

Howe speculated whether this offensive surge was an anomaly or indicative of a trend, praising Allen’s performance as exceptional rather than a Texans defensive failure.

Pompei suggested that the offensive minds in the league, supported by technology, were making strategic progress, possibly leading to these unexpected results.

Nguyen believed it resulted from strong offenses versus weaker defenses, naming the Bears and Panthers as examples of this dynamic.