Even with the NFL adding a 17th regular season game, no offense has been able to touch the 2013 Denver Broncos as the highest-scoring unit in league history.
Ben Johnson and the 2026 Chicago Bears, however, are coming for the crown.
Before the start of the 2026 season, Johnson made a bold statement that his Bears would be gunning for the record 606 points (37.9 points per game) scored by the 2013 Broncos. As unbeatable as that team's scoring record feels, the Bears scoring 59 points in the first game of the season has at least gotten them on the right track.
Johnson wasn't blowing smoke. He wants the all-time record.
Ben Johnson and the Bears are coming for the Broncos' all-time scoring record
"You've got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, 'Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.' I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts."
- Bears HC Ben Johnson (via NBC Sports)
Just how unbeatable is that record by the 2013 Denver Broncos?
Well, nobody has been able to come any closer than a 50-point gap. The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs scored 565 points, and the 2024 Detroit Lions (also coached by Ben Johnson) put up 564 points. The 2013 Broncos have been in Johnson's sights for some time.
If the 2026 Bears are able to keep a 59-points-per-game pace, they would score over 1,000 points this season. Now, obviously, scoring that many points simply isn't going to happen. We've seen how difficult it is to even average 35 points per game historically speaking. Every NFL team experiences struggles and the Bears will be no different.
But you can't help but be impressed with the way they delivered on that side of the ball in Week 1 after Johnson's bold statement. What's even more impressive is the fact that neither wide receiver Rome Odunze nor tight end Colston Loveland had all that much to do with the Bears' offensive success in their big win over the Carolina Panthers.
As a matter of fact, Loveland -- one of the best tight ends in the game -- didn't have a catch on his two targets.
The fact that the Bears were able to put up 59 points is impressive enough, but to do it with former Bronco Kalif Raymond as the leading receiver? You can't help but think they're going to have plenty of big games offensively this coming season.
Johnson is one of the best offensive play-callers in the game today. He's been honing and refining his craft since he was in Detroit, and to make a statement like the one he made about coming for the record-setting 2013 Broncos? That indicates that Johnson not only believes he's mastered his craft -- he knows it.
The 2013 Denver Broncos offense was ridiculous
The 2013 Broncos not only set an all-time record for points in a season, but they had five different skill players with 10 or more touchdowns.
They converted over 76 percent of their red zone opportunities. Peyton Manning threw an NFL-record 55 touchdown passes. Four different players had at least 778 yards receiving.
It was an embarrassment of riches unlike anything the league has ever known before (or since). Of course, nobody needs to be reminded how that season ended for the Broncos, but there was no question about their regular season dominance offensively.
For the 2026 Bears -- or anyone -- to come even close to that number would be a major milestone. For the Bears to even surpass the 2018 Chiefs and get closer than 50 points would be huge. Regardless, the Bears seem to be a real contender for that crown after what we witnessed in Week 1.
Even the "unbreakable" records eventually get broken, but there is a lot of season left.
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