2025 NFL season, Week 1: What We Learned from Sunday's games

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Buccaneers-Falcons on NFL+ Premium

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Tampa Bay wakes up in the nick of time. Perhaps the Buccaneers should operate as if they're always in a two-minute drill, because it was the only moment in which their offense showed legitimate urgency. They spent most of the day grinding out drives, most of which failing to amount to much. But as Baker Mayfield has been known to do, the fiery quarterback injected life into the Bucs offense on their final significant possession, leading a 63-yard sprint over five plays capped by a spectacular throw down the middle of the field for a 25-yard touchdown pass to rookie Emeka Egbuka. The display was inspiring, especially for those who are accustomed to watching the high-flying Bucs offense of the last couple of years, but the Bucs likely know they need to be more consistent in the coming weeks in order to maximize their chances of victory. Fortunately, they found it at the perfect time on the road for a key divisional win to open the season.
2. Falcons' defense impresses but fails to finish the job. For most of Sunday's contest, Atlanta played above expectation defensively. It limited the Buccaneers' offense to 192 yards through three quarters, allowed just one scoring drive of more than 52 yards and consistently forced Mayfield out of the comfort of the pocket while delivering generally tight coverage. The fourth quarter was the Falcons' downfall, though, as they allowed an urgent Buccaneers offense to slice right through them on the game's deciding touchdown drive. When the Falcons scan the numbers, they'll lament this outcome. Atlanta generated a pressure rate of 40.5% -- a notable improvement over where it stood a year ago -- missed just four tackles over four quarters and held the Buccaneers to a success rate of just 36.4%. The Falcons played well enough to win until the final two minutes, failing their uneven (and concerningly unbalanced) offense at the worst possible time. It's precisely what defensive-minded coach Raheem Morris likely hates to see the most.
3. Egbuka justifies his selection in just one game. When the Buccaneers spent the 19th overall pick on Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka in April's draft, some saw it as the rich getting richer, adding the Buckeyes' all-time leading receiver to a corps that already included Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and promising youngster Jalen McMillan. Roughly four and a half months later, they look like geniuses. With Godwin still working back from injury and McMillan sidelined, Egbuka's role became essential and proved to be the difference in the season opener. Mayfield found Egbuka four times for a team-leading 67 yards on a day in which the Buccaneers' offense struggled to produce at their standard rate, and in the biggest moment of the contest, Egbuka delivered with his second touchdown grab (each of 25-plus yards) to push the Buccaneers to the victory. That's quite a debut for a receiver who will continue to play a key role going forward.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Buccaneers-Falcons (via NFL Pro): Atlanta had nine defenders generate at least one pressure, including three defenders with four pressures each (Divine Deablo, Ruke Orhorhoro and first-round pick James Pearce).

NFL Research: The Buccaneers have now won five straight Week 1 games and did so Sunday with a three-touchdown performance from Baker Mayfield, who posted his fewest passing yards with three or more passing touchdowns in his NFL career.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Bengals-Browns on NFL+ Premium



Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Bengals finally start on the right foot. Cincinnati heard the talk and knew all too well about its struggles in the first two weeks of every season played under coach Zac Taylor, and while the Bengals were far from a well-oiled machine on Sunday, they managed to secure what mattered most: a win. Joe Burrow led an emphatic, methodical opening scoring march, Chase Brown paced the ground game early and the Bengals' offense collectively produced just enough in the first half to put 14 points on the board and give themselves just enough of a cushion to hang on to the lead through the remainder of the game. More importantly, Cincinnati's defense capitalized on opportunities, snagging two dropped passes for interceptions that stopped the Browns in their tracks and prevented Cleveland from taking the lead in a grind of a second half. Folks will look at the final score and suggest the Bengals' defense is much improved, which isn't entirely accurate, but the collective effort -- including a spike in QB pressures in the second half -- was enough to go 1-0 in Week 1.
2. Browns snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. In classic Browns fashion, Cleveland blew a number of excellent opportunities to start the season with a win. Browns pass catchers dropped four key on-target throws from Joe Flacco, with two resulting in crushing interceptions and the other two killing a drive in Cincinnati territory. The Browns wasted a fantastic defensive showing, especially in the final two quarters in which they held the Bengals to seven yards yet still lost the game. When Cleveland needed stops, the defense repeatedly delivered, yet the Browns couldn't finish scoring drives because their rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed what would have been a game-tying extra point and possible go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter, and Flacco's targets couldn't haul in catchable passes. The margin for error is notoriously slim in the NFL, and the Browns simply didn't take care of the details, a sign of a bad team that dominated statistically but has nothing to show for it.
3. Cincinnati has plenty to work on going forward. The Bengals won Sunday but certainly did not storm out of the gate as they intended. Their offense flatlined in the second half, protection broke down consistently in the fourth quarter and the supposedly high-powered unit resembled little more than a pea shooter. We'll look back on this in a month with more data at our disposal and either chalk it up to Jim Schwartz's defense clamping down on Joe Burrow and Co., or we'll view it as a concerning sign of things to come. It's up to Zac Taylor, Burrow and the rest of the group to ensure they're more productive than they were Sunday.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bengals-Browns (via NFL Pro): The Browns lost 93.8% in win probability over three plays -- Jordan Battle's second-quarter interception, Andre Szmyt's missed field goal in the fourth quarter, and D.J. Turner's fourth-quarter interception -- in their Week 1 loss to the Bengals.

NFL Research: The Bengals had 141 total net yards of offense, their second-lowest output in a win in franchise history.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Dolphins-Colts on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Daniel Jones shines as Indy snaps opening-game losing streak
• READ: McDaniel: Dolphins were 'dealt some strong humility' in blowout loss

Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Indy’s QB decision looks right for now. There are certainly tougher tests ahead, but Daniel Jones looked capable on Sunday of putting the Colts in position to compete for the AFC South in 2025. Although he had a few classic misfires and opened himself up to danger on a scramble or two, Jones kept those negatives to a minimum. He made the correct reads and consistently took what was there, but he also dialed up some high-difficulty dots. He dissected Miami’s defense to throw for 272 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-29 passing and scored twice more on QB sneaks at the goal line. He showed particularly good chemistry with Michael Pittman, connecting with him six times for 80 yards -- including a 27-yard TD on a beautiful Pittman double move -- and rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who had seven receptions for 76 yards. Even with an average outing from running back Jonathan Taylor (18 carries for 71 yards), the Colts offense hummed, scoring points on all seven of its possessions. So far, so great for Danny Dimes.  
2. Vibes are bad in Miami. After dealing with injuries to star players De'Von Achane and Tyreek Hill during the preseason and being inundated with opinions regarding the team’s culture and practice habits, the Dolphins did little to start rewriting the narrative. Tua Tagovailoa looked particularly lost. Gone was his quick processing, replaced by misthrows and putting the ball in harm’s way. He was responsible for three turnovers. Miami’s offense seemed to be missing someone like tight end Jonnu Smith, who the team traded away in July. Miami’s defense seemed to be missing someone like cornerback Jalen Ramsey, gone in the same trade. Indianapolis did essentially whatever it wanted all day, as Colts pass catchers came open at will and Miami allowed conversions on each of its opponent’s three fourth-down tries. The Dolphins were trounced head to head in first downs (12 to 27), yards (211 to 418) and time of possession (21:17 to 38:43), and even those lopsided numbers look better due to garbage time. South Beach might already need to press the panic button.
3. Anarumo has gem of a Colts debut. Cast out from Cincinnati after six years, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo put together a game plan for Indianapolis that was night and day from how his Bengals D performed in 2024. The Dolphins hardly had room to breathe. They didn’t eclipse 100 total yards until 39 minutes into regulation, already trailing, 23-0. Anarumo cooked up pressure with unique packages on key plays and mixed up looks to keep Miami off balance. Multiple defensive backs had sacks, with Kenny Moore forcing a fumble that was recovered by longtime former Dolphin Xavien Howard, and Nick Cross leveling Tua Tagovailoa after tearing around the edge untouched. Edge rusher Laiatu Latu dropped back into coverage and picked off a pass, as well. It felt like everyone on the Colts defense made a play at some point, which resulted in a blowout victory to kick off Anarumo’s tenure.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Dolphins-Colts (via NFL Pro): Tua Tagovailoa didn’t log a single completion under pressure, and he threw each of his two interceptions on plays with no pressure from Indianapolis’ defense.

NFL Research: Daniel Jones is the fifth quarterback since 1950 to have 250-plus passing yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns in his first game of the season.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Panthers-Jaguars on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Panthers-Jaguars game delayed more than an hour due to lightning
• READ: Jags' Hunter believes he can do much more after offense-focused debut

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Coen era gets off on the right foot. A 1-hour, 16-minute lightning delay made Liam Coen's first game a bit disjointed, but Jacksonville looked much better coached on both sides of the ball than we’d seen the past few seasons. The Jags scored on four of their first five possessions to run away from Carolina. It was a learning day for Trevor Lawrence as he got comfortable in the new offense. At times, he zipped darts, favoring tight end Breton Strange early. However, Lawrence missed a host of balls and wasn’t on the same page with Brian Thomas Jr. The Jags' running game, however, carried the load. Trevor Etienne entered the season with questions about his role. They were answered in Week 1. Etienne paced the Jags with 16 carries for 143 yards, including a 71-yard blast that helped blow the game open. No other runner had more than five carries. It was against a still-porous Panthers run defense, but Etienne displayed breakaway speed and more tackle-breaking ability between the hashes than we’d seen from him last year. Etienne generated 109 yards on 9 carries on inside rush attempts, where he recorded a career-best +66 rushing yards over expected. He fit Coen’s offense like a glove.
2. Young struggles in season debut. Bryce Young couldn’t build off his good end to 2024, looking similar to how he started last season, riding the struggle bus. The Panthers QB missed a host of throws high and wide. Young turned the ball over three times, including two interceptions. With an offensive line that struggled to keep him clean, Young didn’t get a ton of help from his teammates. Outside of Tetairoa McMillan (5 receptions for 68 yards), who looked solid in his debut, no player had more than 32 yards — no other wide receiver had more than 11 yards. Young looked rattled for stretches and never settled. His last pass of the day was a tad high to running back Mike Dowdle, which bounded off the RB's hands for an interception. The play summarized Young's forgettable day. Carolina is now 0-8 with Young as the starting quarterback when the team has a minus-two or worse turnover differential.
3. Jaguars secondary additions provide playmaking, big hits. Corner Jourdan Lewis and safety Eric Murray looked like money well spent this offseason. Lewis played sticky coverage, generating three passes defended, intercepting Young's final pass, and recovering a fumble. He also had a QB hit. Murray laid the wood several times, while generating two passes defended and a QB hit. The Jags' secondary was an issue last season, but the additions of Lewis and Murray stabilized the crew at least for one week. We’ll see if it was a one-week blip or a trend when they face Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins next week.

Next Gen Stats Insight for JAX-CAR (via NFL Pro): Travis Hunter played 39 offensive plays (62% play time), aligning in the slot on 59% of such snaps. He caught 6 of his 8 targets for 33 yards. On defense, Hunter played on only 6 snaps (10% play time), all aligned at left cornerback. He was targeted one time, allowing 12 yards on a reception against fellow first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan.

NFL Research: Sunday marked the fewest points (10) and total yards allowed (255) by the Jaguars in their season opener since a 29-7 win at Houston in 2017 ("Sacksonville" AFC Championship Game season).

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Raiders-Patriots on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Smith dealt in his debut, even with Bowers getting hurt. Geno Smith’s Raiders debut couldn’t have gone a lot better. He led the team down to a fast touchdown and overcame a first-half interception to wipe out the Patriots on the road. The Patriots sacked him four times, and the protection has to be better, but Smith fought through that and an injury to Brock Bowers. Bowers was the offensive star before leaving the game with a left knee injury, but Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker both made good contributions. Last year’s Raiders only won two away from home, so Pete Carroll had to be happy with how his first season in Las Vegas started. Ashton Jeanty was held in check but was good in short yardage, pinballing for a TD run and converting a key third-and-short late. They’ll hope for more balance offensively the next time out, and they’ve got to sort out the pass protection, but the Raiders did what they had to do offensively. 
2. Maye, Patriots had chances but struggled to convert. On a rainy day in Foxborough, the Patriots’ offense had some early momentum, leading, 10-7, at halftime, but the second-half showing was disappointing. Drake Maye was up and down, with an interception and some open receivers missed. The rushing attack was mostly held in check, too, and the Patriots had trouble protecting for Maye at times. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell had a rough fourth quarter, allowing a strip-sack of Maye and committing a brutal false start. The Patriots were going for it on fourth-and-5 with just under five minutes left, down, 20-10, but Campbell’s penalty convinced Mike Vrabel to punt. The Patriots kicked a field goal late but really never gave themselves a chance to win
3. Raiders’ defense stepped up in big way. There was a question of just how much juice the Raiders possessed defensively outside of Maxx Crosby heading into this season, but their opening effort was a strong one – especially in the second half. The Patriots found a little first-half rhythm throwing the ball, but Crosby, Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce all ratcheted up the pressure around Maye. The coverage was good, too, with Isaiah Pola-Mao earning a game-shifting interception after Maye was pressured by Crosby. The Raiders lost Elandon Roberts to a first-half elbow injury but buckled down and nearly pitched a second-half shutout. Impressive stuff all around from this much-maligned unit.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Raiders-Patriots (via NFL Pro): Geno Smith’s 26-yard TD pass – his first as a Raider – traveled 44.2 yards in the air. Tre Tucker had 6.2 yards of separation when he caught the TD pass.

NFL Research: In Geno Smith's Raiders debut, he completed 24-of-34 passes for 362 yards – the most passing yards in a Raiders QB’s debut, breaking the mark set by Dan Pastorini (317) in 1980.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Cardinals-Saints on NFL+ Premium

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Dynamic Murray powers Cardinals offense. Kyler Murray was, at times, unstoppable against a veteran-led Saints defense, effectively utilizing his legs and right arm in a performance that brings back memories of an MVP-level stretch he displayed in 2021. Arizona's star quarterback went 21-of-29 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns to lead an offense that scored points on four of its first five drives. It's not to say Murray wasn't under duress, either, with New Orleans breathing down his neck all afternoon to the tune of five sacks and 10 pressures on 38 dropbacks. Murray avoided a few sacks with his legs and scrambled for 38 yards, but his efficient passing highlighted the day. Marvin Harrison Jr. hauled in his deepest completion on a 45-yard dime and later scored on a 1-yard pass during Arizona's first scoring drive. Trey McBride (6 receptions, 61 yards) was Murray's most reliable target, especially in third-down situations. His best throw came on a wonderfully designed pass play to running back James Conner, where he underhanded a spiral for an easy score. While the Cardinals sputtered down the stretch offensively — scoring just three points (Chad Ryland's second field goal attempt was blocked) — Murray begins his 2025 campaign like a play-making QB who can have Arizona compete in an ambitious NFC West.
2. Rattler holding back Saints' old guard. New Orleans mainstays like Alvin Kamara, Cameron Heyward, Carl Granderson and Demario Davis were their usual selves, reliably making plays to keep the Superdome jumping and the Saints in range of capturing Kellen Moore's first win as a head coach. Spencer Rattler's play — relatively mistake-free but noticeably unspectacular — ultimately prevented an upset, however. The second-year QB took few chances downfield and gave up on his reads if he felt even a whisper of pressure, finishing 27-of-46 passing for 214 yards with zero TDs or interceptions. Many of those incompletions were either off the mark or throws that put receivers in a position to get whaled on by a nearby Cardinals defender. The Saints defense, led by Jordan -- who became the franchise's all-time sack leader on Sunday with 1.5 sacks to reach 123 -- stood tall in the second half to give Rattler a chance at a game-winning drive in the final frame. He fired a nice pass to Juwan Johnson in the end zone with seconds remaining, but — like several instances before — the tight end could not hang on as Budda Baker disrupted him with a well-timed hit. New Orleans' offense was one-dimensional, with Kamara bottled up after the star RB scored the game's first TD and Rattler wasn't enough of a threat to keep Arizona at bay. 
3. Arizona's rookie cornerback shows promise in NFL debut. Will Johnson appeared on only 57.1% of the defensive snaps, but his presence was certainly felt. The second-round pick made noise early on by tracking and hauling in a deep ball for a would-be interception that was negated by a Cardinals penalty on the other side of the field. It was an early moment that seemed to make Rattler reluctant to throw deep going forward. Later on in the fourth quarter, Johnson perfectly timed a hit on Chris Olave that dislodged a would-be catch. By game's end, Johnson allowed four receptions for 32 yards on seven targets, and the rookie could be in line for more playing time as the season progresses. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Dolphins-Colts (via NFL Pro): Kyler Murray completed 8 of 10 passes for 71 yards and two TDs against the blitz on the day, recording a passer rating of 135.8 after finishing with a 79.0 passer rating (fourth-lowest in NFL) against the blitz last season. Murray targeted pass catchers behind the line of scrimmage on 31.0% of his attempts (sixth-highest rate in a game in his career), completing all nine for 20 yards and a touchdown.

NFL Research: Kyler Murray had his 21st career game with two-plus passing TDs and a 100-plus passer rating, tying Hall of Famer Kurt Warner for third-most in Cardinals franchise history.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Steelers-Jets on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Battista: Rodgers' 4 TD tosses lead Steelers past his old squad

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Rodgers tosses four TDs in return to East Rutherford. The 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers showed sage savviness and even some youthful moments, guiding Pittsburgh to a comeback win over his former club. Rodgers looked comfortable throughout the contest, spreading the ball around to seven targets, splashing five passes of 20-plus yards. It wasn’t all pretty. The QB isn’t a field-stretcher, and his pocket mobility remains restricted, taking four sacks. However, when he sees it in rhythm, Rodgers can put it in the perfect place for his wideout to earn yards after the grab. The Steelers' running game was muted, and the offense had too many negative plays. However, when Rodgers needed a play, he found open targets and took advantage of the Jets' miscommunications. There were questions entering the season about how much Rodgers has left in the tank. Sunday showed that he can still sling it when he has time. The QB finished 22-of-30 passing for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
2. Fields flashes upside as Jets fall short. Justin Fields flashed his dynamic running ability and dropped in several dimes, leading six scoring drives. The new Jets quarterback went 16-of-22 passing for 218 yards and a touchdown. He rushed 12 times for 48 yards and two additional TDs. Fields was known for his running ability in Chicago and one season in Pittsburgh, but his accuracy with his arm on Sunday was an excellent sign for the Jets' offense in 2025. The touch he put on the ball on the 33-yard touchdown to Garrett Wilson was picture perfect. If the QB can keep that up, the Gang Green operation will be fun to watch. The entire Jets offense looked good under first-time offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Breece Hall had his wiggle back, blasting off for 107 yards on 19 attempts (5.6 yards per carry). The offensive line, despite losing Alijah Vera-Tucker, played well, opening big holes on the ground and giving Fields time. This week, it was the Jets' defense that couldn’t get a stop late against Aaron Rodgers.
3. Ramsey calls game. The Steelers' defense got worked over for long stretches, giving up gashing runs up the gut and letting Garrett Wilson get open at will. The Steelers allowed 394 yards and 6.4 yards per play and 7-of-14 on third downs to the Justin Fields-led Jets offense. But when they needed a stop on the final drive, Pittsburgh sped Fields up with pressure. On fourth-and-3, Jalen Ramsey popped Wilson with a hard hit, jarring the ball loose and ending the Jets' threat. During the offseason, the Steelers imported a slew of veterans in an effort to get over their postseason failures. So far, so good for Ramsey, who allowed one catch for six yards on three targets, including the game-sealing PBU.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Jets-Steelers (via NFL Pro): Sauce Gardner lined up across DK Metcalf on 30 of his 33 routes (90.0%) and allowed one reception for 11 yards on three targets. Metcalf recorded four receptions for 83 yards on seven targets on the day, averaging just 3.2 air yards per target, the lowest in a game in his career.

NFL Research: Aaron Rodgers tied Tom Brady for the most career games with four-plus passing touchdowns and no interceptions (28 games).

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Giants-Commanders on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Daboll has confidence in Russ despite Sunday struggles

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Commanders overcame early mistakes to finish off Giants. Washington was dominating early on, but mistakes kept the Giants in the game until midway through the fourth quarter. The Commanders committed 12 penalties, including seven in the first half. The killer was Jayden Daniels' grounding penalty in the final seconds of the second quarter from the Giants’ 4-yard line, forcing Washington to walk away with zero points. The Commanders wouldn’t score again until Deebo Samuel took a cleverly designed reverse to finally put the Giants away. The offense bogged down at times, struggling to contain a live Giants pass rush, but the Commanders avoided major mistakes, played turnover-free ball and converted in the red zone on their other three possessions in that area of the field. It was a solid start buoyed by a solid, balanced rushing attack. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored before halftime and finished the game off in style with a 42-yarder late.
2. Wilson, Giants offense stuck in neutral. The Giants were swimming upstream Sunday without star left tackle Andrew Thomas, but their offense showed very little explosion and didn’t show much life until the game was out of reach. They crossed midfield three times, kicking two field goals and turning it over on downs. Failing to convert on first-and-goal from the Washington 1-yard line set a tone for the afternoon. There was pressure around Russell Wilson all game, as offensive tackles Jermaine Eluemunor and James Hudson were under fire, making the likes of Dorance Armstrong look like an All-Pro. Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson made some plays but not enough, with Brian Daboll and Nabers having a first-half disagreement on the sideline. There were too many missed layups, including a pair of drops from Theo Johnson. There also was no “package” for rookie QB Jaxson Dart in what would have been his NFL debut. Wilson went the distance and battled but never found sustained success with a get-it-out-quickly passing game until late.
3. Commanders defense turned in a great effort. Anytime you keep your opponent out of the end zone, it’s a good day for the defense. The Commanders made their first big stand in the first quarter, holding the Giants out of the end zone despite a goal-to-go situation from the Washington 1-yard line. After that, the Giants punted four straight times, failing to cross their own 35-yard line. It was the performance Dan Quinn’s defense needed while the offense was scuttling a bit. Washington’s pass rush was consistently solid, with Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise adding excellent pressure. Daron Payne also dominated, with a sack and two batted passes, helping contain the Giants’ run game most of the afternoon. If the argument against the Commanders coming into this season was the defense, that unit offered a pretty encouraging counterargument Sunday. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Giants-Commanders (via NFL Pro): Jayden Daniels completed 16 of 21 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown on dropbacks with four or fewer pass rushers, recording a 121.9 passer rating on such dropbacks (second-highest of his career). Daniels completed only 3 of 9 passes for 29 yards against the blitz, recording the lowest single-game passer rating against the blitz of his career (43.3). Last year, Daniels’ 114.7 passer rating against the blitz was the highest mark for any rookie quarterback since at least 2018.

NFL Research: Terry McLaurin (6,406) needs 87 receiving yards to pass Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell (6,492) for the fifth-most receiving yards in Washington franchise history.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Titans-Broncos on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Titans-Broncos game delayed due to inclement weather

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Nix might need to rein himself in a bit. Fresh off an incredibly encouraging rookie campaign, Bo Nix took the field Sunday with seemingly endless confidence. It showed in some of the passes he attempted, too. Nix threw an interception on a 50/50 ball intended for Courtland Sutton in the first half, ripped an under-pressure pass well across the field into a tight window that became a closed window by the time the ball arrived, resulting in another interception, and also fumbled while attempting to escape the pocket. On the flip side, Nix also fired a laser down the sideline to Sutton for a touchdown in the first half's final minute, capitalizing on an extra opportunity afforded to the Broncos by the Titans' situational management. Overall, Nix had a good day, but better teams will make the Broncos pay for his turnovers.
2. Titans have a long way to go. Tennessee drafted its franchise quarterback in April, and while it's only one week, it was painfully evident that the Titans are still very far from being a competitive team. Their defense is undoubtedly their strength, handed their offense three extra possessions via takeaways and gave maximum effort through the first three quarters but eventually ran out of gas. Their offense isn't even in the same conversation, even with Cam Ward at the controls. Credit is due to Denver's excellent defense, but Tennessee simply wasted a number of excellent opportunities. It mismanaged the final minute of the first half (allowing Denver to score a touchdown), Ward's receivers repeatedly failed him when he delivered accurate passes, and the entire unit produced very little evidence that suggests it will be able to keep up on the scoreboard on a weekly basis. There's plenty of room for improvement; the operation on Sunday, however, was very difficult to watch.
3. Denver's ground game is very exciting. It was a quiet element through three quarters, but the Broncos were able to lean on their revamped backfield to all but put away the game in the fourth quarter. J.K. Dobbins' debut included an excellent cutback on an inside ride and a pinball-like exit to the left, where Dobbins maintained his balance and sprinted into the end zone for his first score as a Bronco. Rookie RJ Harvey got involved in the fourth, too, ripping off a 50-yard run that helped set up Dobbins' touchdown, a two-play display of how the Broncos' versatility can help them significantly late in close games. We knew Denver had weapons entering 2025. It was much more enjoyable to watch it produce in Week 1 than just scanning over names on a depth chart.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Titans-Broncos (via NFL Pro): Bo Nix completed 25 of 40 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions Sunday, but connected on just 2 of 7 under-pressure attempts while throwing both picks under duress.

NFL Research: Six Broncos defenders recorded a sack Sunday, tying for the second most in franchise history.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Niners-Seahawks on NFL+ Premium

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Niners' third-string TE snags game-winning score. George Kittle's second-quarter exit brought forth an uphill climb for the 49ers offense, but the glaring absence only created room for the game's fourth-quarter hero. On third-and-3 from the Seattle 4-yard line and down three points, Brock Purdy flushed out to his right and floated a ball into the end zone off his back foot. The pass was seemingly asking to be picked, but it was third-string tight end Jake Tonges who came down with it, muscling it away from Tariq Woolen, who seemed to be eyeing an interception instead of an effective pass break-up. Tonges had zero career receptions entering 2025 and his third catch on Sunday stole a victory in Seattle. Of course, none of this would've been possible without the great play from a Niners defense that suffocated the Seahawks all afternoon (230 yards allowed) despite a calamitous stretch that saw bad San Francisco mistakes after Kittle left the game. 
2. Darnold's Seahawks debut ends brutally. Following the Niners' go-ahead touchdown, there was ample opportunity for the Seahawks to have a game-winning drive of their own. Facing a four-point deficit with 94 seconds left and one timeout remaining, Sam Darnold keyed in on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to flip the field on a 40-yard pass along the sideline. That put Seattle in scoring position with more than a minute left to play and the timeout in its back pocket. But the mere pressure Nick Bosa created on the right side caused Darnold to fumble as he was winding up to throw, with the tip of the ball getting dislodged out of his hand thanks to right tackle Abraham Lucas' back. It was a brutal way to lose for Darnold, who was looking to shake off a bad outing in his final performance for the Vikings and start his time with the Seahawks on the right foot. There was little opportunity for Darnold and Co. to do that, however, having possessed the ball for an astounding 22:02 in the game and snapped just 50 offensive plays. Darnold finished with an efficient day passing (16 of 23 for 150 yards) but it was a gloomy end for Seattle's season opener.
3. San Francisco's pass-catching corps limps out of Week 1. Everything was going swimmingly for San Francisco until the injury exit of George Kittle, who found the end zone on the first possession. The 49ers proceeded to struggle mightily for a stretch of possessions that included two missed field goals (one blocked) and two bad interceptions from Brock Purdy in the second half. Ricky Pearsall, who led the team in receiving on Sunday (four receptions, 108 yards), came up clutch on the game-winning drive, hauling in a 45-yarder to help set up Jake Tonges' game-winning catch. Outside of that, there was not much elsewhere Purdy could go despite Kyle Shanahan doing his best to draw up ways for Christian McCaffrey (142 scrimmage yards) to get the rock. There's no question Purdy was struggling to find open targets downfield and that led him to force throws. He was also pressured at an alarming rate. Jauan Jennings exited the game in the second half with a shoulder injury in addition to Kittle's hamstring ailment. For a pass-catching corps that was already thin entering the 2025 season, Purdy's targets are limping out of Week 1. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for 49ers-Seahawks (via NFL Pro): Brock Purdy was pressured on 57.9% of his drop backs in the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Seahawks, the highest-pressure rate he’s faced in a single game in his career. When under pressure, Purdy completed 13 of his 20 attempts for 126 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions while taking one sack.

NFL Research: Christian McCaffrey had his 31st career game with 50-plus rushing and 50-plus receiving yards, the second-most such games in NFL history (behind Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk: 41). No other player has 25-plus such games in his career.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Lions-Packers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Parsons makes impact with sack after 'super draining' offseason

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Love stood tall in a big Week 1 challenge. Jordan Love had two prior starts against the Lions at Lambeau Field, both ending in Packers losses, with Love making critical mistakes in each. Sunday’s effort against the Lions was a far cleaner effort and an important game for Love, helping set an early tone in a statement victory. Too often the Lions had controlled the early action in these matchups, but Love helped the Packers strike first, with two touchdowns and a field goal in their first three possessions. Coming off a procedure to his left thumb, Love had no issues with handoffs and didn’t appear in discomfort. The Lions aimed to stop Josh Jacobs, and Love made a lot of big throws. His first eight completions went to eight different receivers, and after the Lions cut the lead to 10-3, Love quickly hit Romeo Doubs for 48 yards and Jayden Reed for a 17-yard TD. Then after getting conservative, the offense stalled, and Love followed a dropped pick with a pick-six that was wiped out by a defensive penalty. But if any doubt crept in, Love quelled that with a TD drive, converting a fouth-and-1 sneak in the red zone. He wasn’t perfect, but Love played well in a game where the Packers looked like playoff contenders.
2. Lions offense hit a low we haven’t seen in some time. Even with a spectacular TD catch by rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa putting a little perfume of this stinker of an offensive game, it’s hard to get too excited about what the Lions did in John Morton’s offensive coordinator debut. They drove into the red zone three different times in the game’s first 35 minutes, requiring great effort just to get there, and those ended with two field goals and an interception. The Lions had to grind their way for every yard, with Jahmyr Gibbs held to 50 yards on 19 touches. This was not the high-flying unit we saw the past few seasons under Ben Johnson. Morton’s play-calling wasn’t the only issue, but after hitting a deep shot to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the first quarter, Jared Goff wouldn’t attempt another pass of 20-plus air yards, per Next Gen Stats, until there were four minutes left in a three-score game. Everything early was short, short, short – often dictated by heavy pressure. The Lions had quieter games offensively early last season, growing into the offensive machine they became, and even Johnson had to grow into the role of play-caller back in 2022. Those might be reasons not to panic, but this team is built to win now. Even in a tough environment against an improved Packers defense, this version of the Lions’ offense was shockingly tame.
3. Parsons outplayed Hutchinson in showdown of elite defenders. Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson are two of the most celebrated defenders in football today, yet would you believe that neither were credited with making a tackle until there were four minutes left in the game? That’s true, but the tackle was a chase-down sack by Parsons, earning him roaring approval from the Lambeau crowd in his Packers debut, with the home team up three scores. Parsons was the more impactful of the two defenders Sunday, playing 29 snaps and logging three pressures, with one of them (against the Lions’ Penei Sewell) forcing a Jared Goff interception. Hutchinson played nearly every snap in his return from a season-ending leg injury in 2024 and was quiet early. He hit Jordan Love hard on a dropped interception by Alex Anzalone but had trouble impacting the game -- despite Green Bay losing right tackle Zach Tom to injury – than Parsons did. Both stars likely were at less than full strength, but it’s hard not to think that Parsons can elevate this defense to an even higher level if he gets healthy. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for (via NFL Pro): Jordan Love was most successful attacking the intermediate area (10-19 air yards) of the field, completing 6 of 8 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Love completed passes to 10 Packers receivers, including every receiver who ran a route other than Malik Heath, who ran only three routes all game.

NFL Research: Josh Jacobs, who scored in his 10th straight game -- including playoffs -- became the 11th player since 1970 to score a rushing TD in double-digit straight games. The only other player to do it in the past 20 years was the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in 2021.

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Texans-Rams on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Stafford becomes 10th NFL player to pass for 60,000 yards

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Stafford’s back seems just fine as Rams fend off Texans. Dealing with an aggravated disc during training camp, Matthew Stafford looked normal on Sunday. Facing a fast, feisty Texans defense, L.A. didn’t light up the scoreboard, but the Rams' Pro Bowl quarterback made enough clutch throws to earn the W. The third-quarter sequence to put the Rams up for good was vintage Stafford. The signal-caller hit Davante Adams for a 15-yard catch-and-run to push near midfield. Two plays later, he dropped an absolute dime to Xavier Smith on the sideline for 36 yards to move into the red zone. Next, he took a play-action rollout and put it on tight end Davis Allen for the score. It’s the type of big-play series we’ve become used to seeing from Stafford during his 17 years. Stafford’s connection with Puka Nacua (10 receptions for 130 yards) was in midseason form, and the big-bodied receiver shined from more slot usage (44.4%). The quarterback took several hits, including three sacks from a very good Texans front, and his back didn’t seem worse for wear. It took some time for the offense to kick into gear, and a late fumble made things shaky, but the performance against that type of defense is a positive way to start the campaign.
2. Feels almost like Groundhog Day for Houston’s offense. The offseason plan to overhaul the offensive line took several hits. Ed Ingram was out before the game due to injury. During the contest, the Texans were forced to shuffle the operation several times, including when Cam Robinson left for a spell and after center Jake Andrews was carted off. The injury issues compounded things for C.J. Stroud against a beastly Rams pass rush. Stroud was sacked three times, hit seven times, and forced out of the pocket regularly. The QB did work to battle through pressure, completing 9 of 10 passes under pressure for 102 yards, per Next Gen Stats. With the lack of a rushing attack, sans Joe Mixon, the Houston offense seemed stuck in the mud. Nick Chubb generated 60 yards on 13 carries, but it was dirty work. No Houston pass catcher generated more than 32 yards, and Stroud completed 19 of 27 passes for 188 yards and an interception. The Texans entered the year hoping the new offense would bring fresh plays. It’s one game against a good Rams defense, but there is work left to do for offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
3. Rams come out victorious in the battle of elite defenses. Houston and Los Angeles entered the season boasting two of the most menacing defenses, highlighted by game-wrecking fronts. The clubs didn’t disappoint, with the defenses consistently stepping up. If not for several big plays by the Texans defense to slow Stafford & Co., including an Azeez Al-Shaair forced fumble late to give Houston one more shot, the Rams might have run away with the contest. In the end, it was L.A.’s defense that forced the biggest plays. The Rams pressured Stroud on 41.2% of his dropbacks, Cobie Durant made a highlight reel interception, and linebacker Nate Landman helped seal the game with a punchout fumble as the Texans were driving deep in the fourth quarter. Both defensive units boast playmakers. The Rams’ herd made more on Sunday.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Texans-Rams (via NFL Pro): C.J. Stroud was pressured on 41.2% of his dropbacks, his 14th game facing a pressure rate of 40% or higher since he entered the league in 2023 (tied for most such games in the NFL).

NFL Research: Matthew Stafford tied Matt Ryan (233 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 60,000 career passing yards in NFL history (Drew Brees: 215).

FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Ravens-Bills on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Henry's record-setting night marred by fourth-quarter fumble

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. There’s no counting out Josh. When Derrick Henry sprinted untouched for a 46-yard touchdown and a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Ravens looked to have flown away with a season-opening win. Josh Allen -- and defensive tackle Ed Oliver -- had other plans. Allen, perennially one of the game’s greatest and most entertaining one-man adventures, led a rally to remember, spurring Buffalo back from the dead to the 1-0 land of the living. This game flirted with being a blowout at times, particularly after Henry’s second TD buoyed Baltimore to a 40-25 lead. Allen wouldn’t have it, though, as he turned the Bills -- who had been held to back-to-back three-and-outs after an opening-drive score -- into an unstoppable comeback machine. The Bills scored on each of their final three drives, the first an Allen 2-yard run, the second an Allen-to-Keon Coleman 10-yard score and the last a Matt Prater field goal with zeroes on the clock. Allen had more than 400 yards of offense and four total TDs. The first Sunday night of the 2025 NFL season belonged to the 2024 MVP.
2. Ravens grow cold after three quarters of magnificence. For three quarters and change, Derrick Henry ran off a Week 1 masterpiece and Lamar Jackson wasn’t far behind in his brilliant ways. They had a hand or a leg in all five of Baltimore’s touchdowns. Then it all came crashing down when Henry fumbled in the fourth quarter, and the Jackson-led offense was unable to score a point over its last three drives after scoring 40 on its first eight. Rightly or wrongly, Jackson and his squad are saddled with the narrative that they can’t win the big one. This was a Week 1 game, it wasn’t a big one. But nonetheless, the Monday morning chatter will be about a victory squandered by the Ravens in a high-profile season opener. In many ways, it matches seasons past as Baltimore has met unfortunate ends in the playoffs after impressive regular-season runs. Henry was spectacular with 169 rushing yards and two scores before his fumble. Jackson was his usual brilliant self before it all slipped away. It’s imperative that a bounceback comes in Week 2 against the Browns.
3. Keon’s coming out party? Josh Allen wasn’t the only clutch performer for the Bills. Ed Oliver had a massive forced fumble against Derrick Henry that made the comeback possible and was the highlight of a stellar evening (six tackles, sack, two QB pressures, two run stuffs). Running back James Cook had some big plays, especially in the second half. But Keon Coleman began his second season with a sterling effort, recording a career-best eight receptions for 112 yards and 10-yard fourth-quarter touchdown off a tipped pass. Coleman emerged as Allen’s go-to target in the second half to help steer the comeback. He had just one catch for 17 yards in the first half, but he came alive in the final 30 minutes.

Next Gen Stats Insights for Ravens-Bills (via NFL Pro): The Ravens had a 98% win probability with a 40-32 lead and 3:10 to go before Derrick Henry lost a fumble. Even with the takeaway, the Bills took possession and had just a 17% win probability.

NFL Research: Josh Allen led his 11th-game-winning drive since 2022 (including playoffs). Only Patrick Mahomes (18th) and Geno Smith (12) have more in that span.