Week 1 Takeaways for the 2025 NFL Season
Week 1 always excites, which is why I need to provide an immediate disclaimer: please don’t overreact. You’ll see shock results and major conclusions drawn with the smallest of sample sizes. Unless they confirm what you already knew, they could be mirages. I’ll be touching on the Thursday night kickoff game, the special Friday night game, and everything in between. Several teams shined, others imploded, and we’ve got info about all of it. This is going to be a meaty article because of how much happened this week. Find out who the stars and the goats were in my week 1 takeaways for the 2025 NFL season!
TNF Kickoff Game: Eagles Outlast Cowboys in Testy Affair
As always, the first game of the season was good one. When two division rivals who hate each other play, you’re bound to see fireworks. I just didn’t expect them to come on the opening kickoff. On the routine play, Eagles FB Ben VanSumeren went down with a potentially serious knee injury. While trainers attended to him, teammate Jalen Carter got into it with some Cowboys. He spit on Dallas QB Dak Prescott, getting himself ejected before playing a single snap. Carter is becoming one of the best defensive players in the league, but maturity questions continue to follow him. You can’t help your team from the locker room.
That wild sequence took away from some of the storylines we thought we’d be focusing on. The Eagles were making their Super Bowl defense with a new OC in Kevin Patullo. Dallas got both Prescott and CB Trevon Diggs back from injury, and they were playing for a new HC in Brian Schottenheimer. We also wondered how the Cowboys offense would look with new WR George Pickens, as well as how the defense would play with DT Kenny Clark replacing the traded Micah Parsons along the defensive line. To answer a couple of those questions, Diggs and the coaches had solid days, while Clark didn’t do much for the run defense.
In fairness to Dallas, neither defense had a great start. Both teams’ first possessions went for rushing TDs. Cowboys RB Javonte Williams (15/54/2) looked spry behind a strong line, but he certainly benefitted from the holes vacated by Carter. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (19/23, 154 yards; 14/62/2 rushing) was his typical self, playing efficiently as a passer but dominating on the ground. He led all players in rushing yards, as Dallas did a pretty decent job on RB Saquon Barkley (18/60/1; 4/24 receiving). The two teams shredded each other, with the first defensive stop coming just before the two minute warning. We had 0 first-half punts.
Philly took a 21-20 lead into the locker room and added an FG after the break. It was an encouraging 58-yard make from K Jake Elliott, the normally excellent kicker who went an uncharacteristic 1/7 from 50+ yards last season. Cowboys RB Miles Sanders (4/53) responded with a 49-yard run against his original team, but he fumbled in the red zone for our first scoreless drive of game. Before another play could be run, an hourlong lightning delay paused the contest. The storm must’ve sucked the offense out of the air, as not a single point was scored following the resumption of play. The Eagles won 24-20.
Prescott (21/34, 188 yards) looked great in the first half, but he really had no help in the second half. WR CeeDee Lamb (7/110) had a fantastic start, but he also posted 3 critical drops after the weather delay, including one that could’ve helped Dallas win. Pickens (3/30) had a nice grab, but his most notable contribution was a personal foul. On the other side, star WR AJ Brown had just 1 catch for 8 yards, but it came as part of Philly’s game-icing drive. Both team’s defenses really clamped down once the game resumed, and the Eagles’ rushing attack proved too much for the Cowboys to stop when it mattered most.
I think both offenses will be better in the weeks ahead. Lamb rarely drops passes, so this was an aberration. Had he caught one of his miscues, Dallas might’ve won, giving us a different conversation. I worry about the Cowboys’ defense though. Despite Clark’s arrival, Dallas couldn’t stop the run before lightning appeared. 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, supposedly a run-stuffing DT, was a healthy scratch. Prescott and the offense will need to win shootouts this year if this is a sign of things to come. Philly’s defense will definitely improve when Carter returns. His absence showed that the team’s depth isn’t quite what it was in 2024 though.
FNF: Chargers, Led by Herbert, Earn Rare Win Over Chiefs in Brazil
Once again, we played a Week 1 Friday game in Sao Paolo for some reason. I’m not sure about the security and logistics, but by all accounts, the NFL improved the field this time. That kept injuries to a minimum, but the Chiefs still suffered a major blow. Just 3 snaps in, 2nd-year wideout Xavier Worthy hurt his shoulder. He looked to be in pain, and he did not return to the game. That must’ve really affected KC’s offense, because they came out flat. Between Rashee Rice being suspended, Hollywood Brown killing a drive with a drop, and Worthy exiting, it was a bad start for the supposedly revamped WR room.
Conversely, the Chargers came into the season with questions about their WR room. Somehow, their passing game looked great. Keenan Allen (7/68/1), recently signed back to the team, showed plenty of juice. Former first-rounder Quentin Johnston (5/79/2) had one of his best games as a pro. He simply looks better running routes than he did before. Of course, Ladd McConkey (6/74) was a stud. Putting it all together was QB Justin Herbert. The offensive line held up despite the absence of Rashawn Slater, giving the QB plenty of time to throw. And throw he did, to the tune of 25/34 passing for 318 yards and 3 TDs (7/32 rushing).
I think LA’s pass-heavy start caught the Chiefs off-guard, enabling the Bolts to find wide-open receivers. The running game, with rookie RB Omarion Hampton (15/48) leading the way, didn’t help much. Najee Harris was mostly absent, with just two touches for 10 yards. Hampton also made an error by running out of bounds before halftime, giving KC time. The Chiefs would turn that gift into a 59-yard fire drill FG by Harrison Butker. Fortunately, the Chargers had Herbert, who was surgical. This was the absolute best version of the quarterback, and if he can play this well every week, I may have badly underestimated this team.
Kansas City’s offense was mostly a dude. RT Jawaan Taylor committed 3 penalties that short-circuited drives. I suspect Jaylon Moore might take over at RT soon. QB Patrick Mahomes (24/39, 258 yards, TD; 6/57/1 rushing), Brown (10/99), and TE Travis Kelce (2/47/1) did what they could. However, the running game was nonexistent, and even the reliable Butker missed a critical PAT. The Chiefs went 0/7 on 3rd downs in the first half, and the whole operation seemed like the 2024 grind all over again. Worst still, the defense didn’t do their part. That unit felt the offseason losses it suffered in the secondary, which could be problematic.
LA’s defense has the Jim Harbaugh imprint. LB Daiyan Henley (8 tackles, sack) is really raising his game. The Chargers’ young secondary is ascending. I still think the pass rush is a weak point, but it wasn’t needed in this game. Harbaugh himself may be the biggest boost. His coaching is shifting the Chargers from a team that always blows it to one that clamps down when needed. At the end of the game, facing 3rd and 14, the old Bolts would’ve run up the middle, punted, and lost the game. This time, Herbert iced the 27-21 win with a 19-yard dash. Just that little difference in competence could be huge this year for LAC.
Eight QB Debuts with New Teams Yield Four Wins
For the purposes of this section, I’m defining a QB debut as a case where the player has never started a game for his current team. As an example, Joe Flacco started for Cleveland in 2023, and Spencer Rattler played for New Orleans late last year, so they don’t count. I have to set limits or this already long part will become unruly. The players we’ll touch on are as follows: Aaron Rodgers (Pittsburgh), Justin Fields (NY Jets), Russell Wilson (NY Giants), Daniel Jones (Indianapolis), Geno Smith (Las Vegas) Sam Darnold (Seattle), Cam Ward (Tennessee), and JJ McCarthy (Minnesota). Let’s start with the first three.
Rodgers, Fields, and Wilson all have ties to the Steelers. The latter two started games for Pittsburgh last year, but the team wanted an upgrade and signed Rodgers after the Jets released him. NYJ, also seeking a reset, essentially traded Rodgers for Fields, while Wilson signed with the Giants. By coincidence, the Steelers played at the Jets this week, and we got fireworks. Fields (16/22, 218 yards, TD; 12/48/2 rushing) looked better than I’ve ever seen him play. He always excels as a runner, but his touch on passes against a normally strong defense was surprising. Fields would’ve won if it weren’t for his counterpart.
Clearly having something to prove, Rodgers (22/30, 244 yards, 4 TDs) turned back the clock. Despite a lack of support in the run game and 4 sacks allowed by his line, he diced the Jets and was a major reason Pittsburgh won 34-32. For once, the Steelers won BECAUSE of their QB, not in spite of him. Maybe this team has a run in them after all. Wilson (17/37, 168 yards; 8/44 rushing), the forgotten man, probably wants to forget his NYG debut. He had zero help (he even led the team in rushing), but the results in a 21-6 loss at Washington weren’t encouraging. HC Brian Daboll refused to deny the idea that rookie Jaxson Dart could start.
Jones won a lackluster competition for the Colts’ starting QB job, so not much was expected. Hosting the Dolphins, all he did was score points on all 7 of his drives during the game. Indy opened a 20-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 33-8 victory, their first week 1 win since 2013. Jones (22/29, 272 yards, TD; 7/26/2 rushing) looked sharp against an overmatched defense, with the only blemish being some stalling in the red zone. I don’t want to say that the Colts have solved their QB problem. That would be an overreaction. I can say though that Jones’ first start went as well as or better than anyone could’ve hoped.
We’ll group Smith and Darnold together because the latter replaced the former in Seattle. Through one week, the Raiders are happier with their new starter. Smith (24/34, 362 yards, TD, INT) had one bad throw but was otherwise excellent. He made great use of TE Brock Bowers (5/103) but didn’t miss a beat when his star pass catcher got hurt. The run game did nothing, but LV still won 20-13 at New England. Conversely, Darnold (16/23, 150 yards, FUM lost) played a solid but unspectacular game in a 17-13 loss to SF. He nearly led a comeback, but a strip sack sealed the Seahawks’ fate. I think he’ll get better with time though.
Ward, Tennessee’s #1 overall pick, had the toughest debut to assess. His stats (12/28, 112 yards) and inability to reach the end zone in a 20-12 loss look awful, but a review of the tape will tell you that it would be unfair to pin everything on Ward. Everything around him was detrimental to his well-being. Facing Denver’s elite defense was an unlucky draw, but his teammates let him down. His revamped line got him sacked 6 times, the running game averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, and I counted at least 4 drops by Ward’s receivers. He certainly has plenty of room to improve, but you can’t draw any conclusions from this game.
Finally, McCarthy made his Vikings debut on Monday Night Football at Chicago, a year after he was the team’s first-round pick. I’ve never been high on him, and he started off as badly as expected. McCarthy (13/20, 143 yards, 2 TDs, INT; 2/25/1 rushing), 3 sacks taken) took 3rd-down sacks on his first two drives (both 3 and outs), and when he somehow had a chance to take a 3rd-quarter lead against a secondary missing its two top corners, he threw an ugly pick six. And yet, he rebounded and took advantage of a Bears meltdown, storming back for a 27-24 win. I’m still not confident, but it’s a start. A 1-0 start for that matter!
Kicking Woes Ruin Falcons and Browns; Bucs and 49ers Survive Theirs
As a stark reminder that kickers are important players, four teams had major kicking issues this week, and two of them lost as a direct result. We’ll discuss the three games that involved these teams, but with a particular focus on their kicking mishaps. Cleveland hosted Cincinnati, a team that notoriously starts seasons slowly. The Browns’ defense played great, particularly in the second half, but new K Andre Szmyt wasted that performance. Cleveland took a 16-14 lead in the 3rd quarter, but Szmyt missed the PAT, which had a ripple effect. He also missed a 36-yard go-ahead FG attempt late in the 4th quarter. The Browns lost 17-16.
QB Joe Flacco (31/45, 290 yards, TD, 2 INTs) tried to overcome the kicking, but his receivers failed him. Cleveland went on 4th down at one point because they didn’t trust Szmyt to make a kick. WR Jerry Jeudy (5/66) received a catchable ball, but he popped it up, and it got picked off. Later, WR Cedric Tillman (5/52/1) did the exact same thing with an even more accurate pass. Don’t go by the stats: Flacco played well enough to win. In fact, Cincinnati couldn’t do anything once G Lucas Patrick left with an injury. Ironically though, the kicker the Browns chose over incumbent Dustin Hopkins caused them to suffer defeat.
Tampa and Atlanta played each other, so only one of their kickers would go down as a goat. We’ll fast-forward to the 4th quarter, where the Bucs held a 17-13 lead despite K Chase McLaughlin already missing a 44-yard FG. Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr (27/42, 298 yards, TD; 6/21/1 rushing) led an 18-play, 9-minute go-ahead drive with two Herculean efforts on the ground: one run on 4th and 2 at the 5 and another on 4th and goal a few plays later. That gave Atlanta a 3-point advantage, but a defense that had impressed all day couldn’t keep up their strong play in the final two and a half minutes of game time.
After a frustrating offensive afternoon, QB Baker Mayfield (17/32, 167 yards, 3 TDs; team-leading 39 rushing yards) found excellent rookie WR Emeka Egbuka (4/67/2) for a beautiful go-ahead TD, but McLaughlin pulled the PAT. Down just 3 instead of 4, Penix led the Falcons on another march without injured WR Drake London (8/55). However, K Younghoe Koo missed a tying 44-yard FG attempt, losing the game. Both of these teams proved that they’re viable in the NFC South, but their kicking must improve. McLaughlin has a good track record, so I believe in him. Koo has struggled for over a year now, which is troubling.
In San Francisco’s case, I’m afraid I spoke a few weeks too soon. During a game where points were at a premium, K Jake Moody missed a 27-yard FG attempt and had a 36-yard kick blocked. Had Seattle scored a TD instead of fumbling (as described above), those kicking failures would’ve cost the 49ers. This battle was a struggle: TE George Kittle scored the Niners’ first TD, but he left with a hamstring injury. The offense bogged down from there, but backup TE Jake Tonges (3/15/1) caught his first 3 career passes, including the eventual game-winner. Still, the point is that Moody has cost SF games before and might do so again.
Heavyweight Tilts Yield 1-0 Starts for Rams, Packers, and Bills
In addition to the special games on Thursday and Friday, week 1 featured 3 more contests that included 6 potential contenders. So let’s go through each of them! The Texans took on the Rams in a game with much intrigue. Everyone wanted to see how LA QB Matthew Stafford looked following his back injury and how the new Houston offensive line would fare. The answers to those questions were “fine” and “horrible”, respectively. Stafford (21/29, 245 yards, TD) needed time to warm up, but he settled in and reached 60,000 passing yards for his career. His connection with WR Puka Nacua (10/130) was also in midseason form.
Houston’s line was an abject disaster, and it will be this team’s Achilles heel once again. Poor QB CJ Stroud (19/27, 188 yards, INT) was under duress all game against a ferocious Rams front. He actually played better than those numbers would suggest, but the offense (under new OC Nick Caley) had no consistency because of the pressure. Injuries made the line even worse, and the Texans never scored after halftime. Their defense forced a fumble to give them life, but RB Dare Ogunbowale fumbled back on Houston’s best-looking drive. The Rams won 14-9, and they’re definite threats. Houston can’t contend with this line.
Simultaneously, the Lions played the Packers in a vital divisional tilt. Detroit has gotten the better of Green Bay recently, but this game was a surprisingly easy victory for the Cheeseheads. I’ve wondered how the Lions would fare after losing both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs. This was not an ideal start, particularly on offense. Detroit was held to just 13 points, 7 of which came in garbage time. QB Jared Goff (31/39, 225 yards, TD, INT) was uncomfortable and took 4 sacks. The team averaged just 2.1 yards per carry on the ground. I expected better than this with or without their old playcaller.
Green Bay shined on defense, where new toy Micah Parsons made his debut. He earned one late sack on a chase, but he didn’t beat Lions RT Penei Sewell at all. However, he did create opportunities for everyone else, and his unit was swarming. Offensively, QB Jordan Love (16/22, 188 yards, 2 TDs) had a nice stat line and more importantly didn’t seem like his thumb bothered him. He made mistakes though, with two would-be INTs dropped and called back by penalty. Other teams, or maybe even Detroit later in the year, will capitalize on those errors. This NFC North race is VERY far from over, but it was a great start for Green Bay.
Sunday Night Football saved the best for last: Baltimore at Buffalo in a potential playoff preview. We knew that QBs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen being on the same field would be a treat, but this game might have already secured game-of-the-year status. Both offenses started hot, but Baltimore’s was especially so. The Bills defense had no answer for the Ravens’ running game, with both Jackson (6/70/1) and RB Derrick Henry (18/169/2) gashing them for huge gains. That in turn opened up the passing attack, where Jackson (14/19, 209 yards, 2 TDs) repeatedly found WR Zay Flowers (7/143/1) wide open down the field.
Buffalo’s offense also played well, but they couldn’t keep up with Baltimore. Halfway through the 4th quarter, the Bills trailed 40-25 and seemed hopeless. Three players refused to let that be the end of the story. QB Josh Allen (33/46, 394 yards, 2 TDs; 14/30/2 rushing) was in MVP form, and he found a new security blanket in 2nd-year receiver Keon Coleman (8/112/1). Coleman’s best play came on 4th and 2, when Allen fired a pass that got deflected, and he used his concentration to real it in for a score. Even so, Buffalo still trailed 40-32 with 3:56 to play. That’s where our third hero, DT Ed Oliver, comes into play.
Oliver (6 tackles, sack, TFL) had one of the best games of his career, and following Buffalo’s TD, he forced a rare Derrick Henry fumble. The Bills recovered and scored again, but they didn’t convert the two-point try. Baltimore needed a first down to win the game, but the Bills forced 4th and 2 at the 38. Should the Ravens have gone for it like commentator Chris Collinsworth suggested? Even without the benefit of hindsight, I’d say “yes” because you can’t put the ball back in Allen’s hands in that situation. Baltimore punted though, and 1:26 was plenty of time for Allen to calmly lead the Bills down the field.
He fired laser after laser, reaching the red zone. Baltimore burnt their timeouts, but they couldn’t stop new K Matt Prater (in for the injured Tyler Bass) from booting the game-winning FG as time expired. Contrast that with the missed PAT by Ravens K Tyler Loop (I could’ve put this in the kicking section, but this game deserved far more coverage) in a 41-40 game, and you see one of the small differences that separated these teams (and gave us a scorigami!). This is why Allen won the MVP over Jackson last year. One falters in the biggest moments, while the other wills his team to victory no matter the odds. I can’t wait for the rematch.