Week 1 of the NFL season rarely goes exactly as planned, and this year was no exception. Some teams made an early statement, while others left plenty of questions after disappointing starts to the 2026 campaign.
With the first week of the season now in the books, it’s time to look at the biggest surprises from around the league. From shocking upsets to standout performances, these are the Week 1 surprises that stood out the most.
Cardinals shock the Chargers
Arizona pulled off the biggest upset of Week 1, beating the Chargers 26-14 in Los Angeles. The Cardinals entered the game as a 9.5-point underdog, the largest spread of the opening week, but Arizona led this contest from start to finish.
Jacoby Brissett played a big role in the surprise, completing 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Trey McBride added nine catches for 95 yards and a score, while Arizona’s defence and special teams also came up with some important plays.
For the Chargers, it was a rough start to a season that came with much higher expectations. Justin Herbert threw for just 209 yards with one touchdown and an interception, while Los Angeles struggled to get its running game going. The Cardinals may have given us the first real reason to rethink the NFC West hierarchy.
Bears put up 59 in Win
Few people expected Chicago’s offence to explode quite like this, but the Bears put up 59 points in a 59-37 season-opening win over the Panthers. It was the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, with Chicago piling up 552 total yards.
Caleb Williams was at the centre of it all, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns while adding another two scores on the ground. D’Andre Swift also ran wild, finishing with 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Instead of taking a step back following last year’s breakout season, the Bears looked even more dangerous in Year 2 under Ben Johnson. The defence giving up 37 points is still a concern, but it was hard not to come away impressed by what the Bears did with the ball.
Saints look dangerous in defeat
The Saints may have lost their opener, but they gave fans hope for the rest of this season. New Orleans fell behind 21-0 to the Lions before rallying to force overtime, eventually losing 31-30 after a failed two-point conversion.
Tyler Shough was a big reason for the comeback. After a rough first half, the second-year quarterback caught fire, finishing with 410 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Olave was just as impressive, catching 10 passes for 182 yards.
The Saints still have a lot to clean up after committing three turnovers and struggling early, but erasing a 21-point deficit against a playoff-calibre Lions team showed real resilience. They may not be ready to contend just yet, but Week 1 suggested New Orleans could be much more competitive than many thought.
Wentz leads Vikings over Packers
It looked like the Vikings were in serious trouble when Kyler Murray left with a concussion in the first quarter, especially with Green Bay leading 22-10. Instead, backup Carson Wentz helped turn the game completely around as Minnesota scored 29 unanswered points to win 39-22.
Wentz finished 12-of-19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Justin Jefferson. The Vikings also forced two key turnovers late as their defence took over and sealed the win over their division rival.
Wentz wasn’t asked to do much early, but he came through when it mattered and led four straight touchdown drives. It was also a brutal collapse for Green Bay, which managed just three points after halftime despite leading for most of the game.
Jets make a statement in Tennessee
The Jets entered the season as one of the NFL’s easiest teams to make fun of, but they gave people something else to talk about with a convincing 23-10 win over the Titans in Tennessee. It was New York’s first Week 1 win since 2023, and the Jets never looked particularly close to giving it away.
Geno Smith made his return to the Jets’ starting lineup after more than a decade away, completing 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards without a turnover. Breece Hall added 102 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the defence held Tennessee to just 195 total yards.
The Jets also dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 39 minutes. It’s obviously way too early to say New York has suddenly turned things around, but after all the criticism surrounding this team, a road win this convincing was certainly surprising
Giants open Harbaugh era with win over Cowboys
John Harbaugh couldn’t have asked for a better start to his tenure in New York, beating the Cowboys 28-20 in a game where the Giants controlled much of the action. Dallas entered as a 2.5-point favourite, but New York held the ball for more than 36 minutes and never trailed after taking a 7-0 lead.
Jaxson Dart also gave Giants fans plenty to like in his first game of the season, throwing three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards. New York’s defence did the rest, limiting Dallas to 20 points and forcing two turnovers.
It’s only one game, but considering all of the questions surrounding this team entering the season, beating a division rival in Harbaugh’s first game is a pretty significant surprise. It also gives New York some early momentum heading into what could be a difficult season.
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