The NFL is staring down a historic milestone as it heads into Monday night, with the opening week of the 2026 season on track to become the highest scoring start in league history. Following an offensive onslaught across fifteen games, including a staggering fifty nine point performance by the Bears in Charlotte, the total tally currently sits at seven hundred and fifty points. According to data from Front Office Sports, that leaves the league just forty one points shy of shattering the all time Week 1 record. If the upcoming clash between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs produces at least forty two combined points, the record books will officially be rewritten.
This sudden surge in scoring has sparked a broader conversation about how the game has evolved over recent decades. Former coach Mike Tomlin recently weighed in during an NBC appearance, suggesting that modern preparation methods may be contributing to these inflated scoreboards. Tomlin noted that today’s training camps feature far less physical violence than those of twenty five years ago, citing a shift away from full padded practices toward skill oriented drills like seven on seven sessions. In his view, defenses simply spend less time mastering the grit of shedding blocks and tackling than they once did.
Beyond practice habits, Tomlin highlighted the inherent advantage given to mobile quarterbacks who can evade pressure more effectively early in the year since defenders are restricted from hitting them during rehearsals. This trend aligns perfectly with long term rule changes implemented by the NFL to prioritize offense and entertainment value for fans. While players and coaches debate whether defense has fallen behind, league officials likely welcome the fireworks. On Tuesday morning, expect a celebratory press release confirming that we have entered a new era of explosive productivity for football’s opening act.