Bears score 59 as Bills and Ravens join record-setting NFL opening Sunday

The Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers 59-37 as Buffalo and Baltimore also opened with road victories on a record-setting NFL Sunday. According to BBC Sport's Ben Collins, the day's games produced the highest combined scoring total for an opening Sunday since the league merger in 1970. Chicago's win was also the highest-scoring week-one game in NFL history.

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The Bears and Panthers were tied 31-31 midway through the third quarter before Chicago pulled away. D'Andre Swift finished with three touchdowns, and the Bears recorded their highest points total since 1980. Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards. The result followed a season in which head coach Ben Johnson led Chicago to its first division title in seven years.

Buffalo won 36-31 at Houston in Joe Brady's first game since his promotion from offensive co-ordinator to head coach. The lead changed hands eight times, with David Montgomery scoring three touchdowns on his Texans debut. Josh Allen passed for 334 yards, threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores. After nearly being intercepted on a late end-zone attempt, he connected with Joshua Palmer for a decisive 34-yard touchdown.

Baltimore began Jesse Minter's tenure with a 41-23 victory at Indianapolis. Zay Flowers caught five passes for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown before half-time, while Derrick Henry's two first-half rushing touchdowns moved him into third place on the NFL's all-time list. Henry subsequently added another score. The Ravens also had injury concerns: BBC Sport reported that Flowers and rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane missed the second half with hamstring and wrist injuries respectively.

John Harbaugh, whose 18-year spell in Baltimore ended after last season, started his Giants tenure with a 28-20 win over Dallas. Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, and Cam Skattebo added a rushing touchdown. Before the game at MetLife Stadium, the Giants held tributes to first responders and people affected by the September 11 attacks, two days after the 25th anniversary.

Elsewhere, Arizona beat the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14 in Mike LaFleur's first game as Cardinals head coach. Minnesota recovered from a 22-10 third-quarter deficit to defeat Green Bay 39-22 after Kyler Murray left with a concussion and Carson Wentz replaced him. Cincinnati beat Tampa Bay 33-27, with its defence recording four sacks and recovering all four fumbles it forced, including one returned for a touchdown.