NFL offenses didn’t need any time to shake off the rust. Scoreboards were busy across the league last week as teams combined to tie the record for the highest-scoring opening week in NFL history.
The Carolina Panthers did its part, on both sides of the ball, falling to the Chicago Bears by a 59-37 count. The game featured 1,030 total yards and the most combined points (96) ever in an opener.
Josh Allen led the Bills to a stunning performance against Houston’s once-stingy defense in a 36-31 road win. The Texans allowed the second-fewest points (17.4 per game) and fewest yards (277.2 per game) in 2025. But Allen threw for 334 yards and Buffalo scored on eight of its 11 possessions before kneeling down to win coach Joe Brady’s first game.
Eleven teams scored more than 30 points, including the Kansas City Chiefs in a 31-10 victory over the Broncos on Monday night. Six teams had at least 24 in the first half.
Just a thought, Maybe teams should play their started on defense during preseason games.
Back to the Panthers. We have been told that the defense would be improved in 2026. Giving up 552 total yards of offense, including 291 yards on the ground, is not an improvement.
Head coach Dave Canales spoke of how his offense did not help the defense. He mentioned that Panthers turnovers led to 17 points for the Bears.
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin offered a theory: defenses are allowed to hit less and less during training camp, leading to a lack of proper tackling in the first couple of weeks of the season. I will buy that as a partial theory.
The Panthers now turn their attention to the Atlanta Falcons and another potent rushing attack led by the 2025 leader in scrimmage yards, Bijan Robinson.
