NFL Week 1: Six biggest surprises, winners & losers; plus, Week 2's top game

In The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha provides a snapshot of the hottest stories and trends heading into Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, including:

• Top three risers/sliders from Week 1
• Three games worthy of NFL Pro deep dives
• Most intriguing game of Week 2
• Way-too-early MVP rankings

But to kick things off, his six biggest surprises from the start of the new campaign ...

If the first weekend of the 2025 NFL season is any indication, then this is going to be a wild ride. There already were a handful of teams that were legitimate contenders to win a championship. Now it feels like two or three more have joined that list, judging by how the Chargers handled the Chiefs and the way the Packers overwhelmed the Lions. It's safe to assume that list will grow even more as other hopefuls mature.

This is a great thing, by the way. The Chiefs have been the dominant team in the AFC for most of the last six seasons. The NFC has been ruled by four teams in the same time frame, with the 49ers and Eagles playing in two Super Bowls apiece and the Rams and Buccaneers both winning one championship. There was more predictability in the past, which isn't the case today.

This season started with the Eagles chasing a repeat on Thursday night against the Cowboys. It then moved to Brazil for that thrilling AFC West matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers before wrapping up Sunday's slate with the Ravens and Bills clashing in that instant classic. We still have one more game to go -- the Monday night meeting between the Vikings and Bears -- but we've already witnessed plenty of surprises along the way. These are the biggest ...

1) The Ravens beat themselves again. How can we not start with this one? Baltimore had a huge road win nearly wrapped up on Sunday night when Derrick Henry fumbled and opened the door for a seismic Bills comeback. The Ravens led, 40-32, when Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver knocked the ball out of Henry's hands and linebacker Terrel Bernard recovered it. The Bills surged after that -- Josh Allenscored on a 1-yard rush and then drove his team into position for Matt Prater's game-winning field goal -- but this contest was about Baltimore. This is a team that has been cursed with self-inflicted errors over the last two years. This was yet another reminder of what John Harbaugh's group must overcome to win a championship. This crushing setback came in the same stadium where the Ravens lost in the Divisional Round last year, when tight end Mark Andrews dropped a two-point conversion late in the 27-25 defeat and Baltimore committed three turnovers. The Ravens also lost to Kansas City in a mistake-filled 2023 AFC Championship Game, when Baltimore was favored to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 campaign. Seeing how we're already piling on, it's also worth recalling that the Ravens lost last year's opener in Kansas City when quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a couple wide-open receivers in the final minute before tight end Isaiah Likely couldn't keep his feet inbounds on what would've been a game-tying touchdown catch in a 27-20 defeat. See the pattern here? The biggest question about the Ravens coming into this season was whether they were ready to handle those critical moments more successfully. Week 1 told us this is still an issue.

2) AFC West openers. If the NFC North is the best division in football, then the AFC West is going to be a close second. There are three real contenders -- the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers -- and each one did something that we didn't see coming. We'll start with Kansas City, which opened in Brazil against the Chargers and played like a team that didn't know the regular season actually had started. The Chiefs had some serious misfortune at the start -- losing wide receiver Xavier Worthy to a dislocated shoulder on the first series of that 27-21 loss -- but there were plenty of problems in other areas to explain this defeat. They had no running game aside from what quarterback Patrick Mahomes provided, and the defense couldn't contain Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Speaking of Herbert, please locate the person who envisioned him throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns in this season opener. He attempted 34 passes, which is astounding, given how much we've talked about the dedication Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh has shown to running the football. This seemed like a game that would be won in the trenches. Instead, Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman attacked the Chiefs relentlessly through the air and made a huge statement about how diversified this offense will be this fall.

As for the Broncos, they were supposed to have the easiest game of these three teams, a home opener against the Titans and quarterback Cam Ward, the first overall pick in this year's draft. Denver's vaunted defense did its part by keeping Tennessee out of the end zone and forcing a pair of turnovers, but the problem is that second-year quarterback Bo Nix committed three TOs of his own (two interceptions and a fumble) in the 20-12 win. As much as the Broncos are excited about that defense, they aren't going anywhere if Nix falls into a sophomore slump. Given how the Chiefs opened and what they're dealing with offensively (including the six-game suspension of star wide receiver Rashee Rice), this division should be very much up for grabs -- even though Kansas City has won it nine straight times. From what we saw this weekend (the Raiders also started 1-0 with a win at New England), there will be plenty of twists and turns before we know who finishes on top.

3) The next chapter for Daniel Jones. This will be a surprise to many, but yours truly went on record earlier this summer in predicting Jones would win Comeback Player of the Year honors. Why? Because of what he showed in a 33-8 win over Miami on Sunday. Jones produced an impressive start -- completing 22 of 29 passes and accounting for three touchdowns -- and proved that the pairing of him and head coach Shane Steichen could resurrect the player's career. Steichen was the first coach to tap into the potential of Jalen Hurts when those two were together in Philadelphia. He built an offense that helped Hurts develop into one of the league's top quarterbacks, and it's not ridiculous to see him mining the best out of Jones. For all of his faults, Jones is still athletic, and he's played a lot of football. That matters when you're trying to rebuild your career, as reclamation projects like Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold have proven. It also helps that Jones has talent around him, including running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie tight end Tyler Warren. That's more help than Jones ever had during his six seasons with the Giants. Let's also not forget that he spent the end of last season in Minnesota after New York dumped him, which had to be beneficial. He got to spend plenty of time watching Darnold up close and learn from the Vikings coaches, who've proven to know a thing or two about helping quarterbacks play their best. There's still a long road for Jones to travel this season, of that there is no question. It's also true that he beat out former top-five pick Anthony Richardson for this job for a reason. He's more reliable, more accomplished and, judging by what we saw on Sunday, more prepared than ever to be the best version of himself.

4) The Bengals win with defense. Time for full disclosure. It felt a little strange typing that subhead. Cincinnati has Joe Burrow at quarterback, a star so talented that he had people talking about him as a real MVP candidate last year despite the Bengals missing the playoffs. They also dropped a ton of money on wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, which told us the team expected to generate a bunch of points this year to win games. Despite all that, it was Cincinnati's defense that led the way in a 17-16 win over Cleveland. Yes, that's the same defense that ranked among the league's worst units in 2024, lost some key veterans (like defensive end Sam Hubbard and linebacker Germaine Pratt) and had two edge rushers sparring with the franchise over contracts for months (veteran Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart). The Bengals amassed only 141 total yards -- and only 7(!) after halftime -- but they didn't need all that much in this contest. That defense produced two huge interceptions of Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, including the game-clinching pick by cornerback D.J. Turner II in the final minutes. As easy as it will be for some cynics to say the Browns have their limitations, timely plays by the Cincy defense shouldn't be diminished. The Bengals didn't get enough of those last season, and that ultimately was a major factor in the firing of former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. New coordinator Al Golden also needed to establish himself early and create some credibility with a solid showing. The Bengals have become infamous for starting slowly in recent seasons. Winning a game with defense is a good way of letting the rest of the league know things have changed around those parts.

5) Lame Lions in loss. As much as people wondered how Detroit would fare with two new coordinators -- John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense -- it was hard to foresee what the reigning NFC North champion would put on the field in a 27-13 loss to Green Bay. Before we get started, hats off to the Packers. They are legitimate Super Bowl contenders now that their defense has been supercharged by the trade that delivered linebacker Micah Parsons, not to mention all the talent they possess on offense. But let's also remember the Lions are the team that held the top seed in the NFC playoffs last season and reached the NFC Championship Game in the 2023 campaign. They didn't bring the same energy we've come to expect from them, particularly on offense. This wasn't just about coaching staff, either. The Lions are breaking in players at three different spots along the offensive line (Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge at guard, while former guard Graham Glasgow has moved to center) and that showed big time. This was arguably the best offensive line in football over the past two years, a unit that powered the highest-scoring team in the league in 2025. That same group led a rushing attack that amassed all of 46 yards, averaged 2.1 yards per carry and gave up four sacks on Sunday. If that wasn't bad enough, Detroit didn't score a touchdown until the last minute. Look, we all know the NFC North is going to be a dogfight. It's also reasonable to expect the Lions to take a step back after losing valuable assistants. That doesn't mean this performance shouldn't raise eyebrows. The Lions have plenty of work to do if they want to stay on top of this division again.

6) The 49ers keep adding to their injury list. The 49ers have a terrific opportunity to start fast. They have the easiest schedule in football, and they have three winnable games coming up after their victory over Seattle on Sunday (against the Saints, Cardinals and Jaguars). The big question is what this team will look like once it reaches October. The 49ers watched a slew of injuries capsize their season in 2024, and they're starting this year with more health problems. Tight end George Kittle didn't finish the opener because of a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings didn't return to the contest after leaving in the second half with a shoulder problem. Left tackle Trent Williams and linebacker Fred Warner also got banged up against Seattle. We know, we know: This is the NFL; injuries happen. However, the 49ers had so many health issues at receiver during training camp that they had to trade for one wideout (Skyy Moore) and sign a free agent at the position (Marquez Valdes-Scantling). They also acquired running back Brian Robinson Jr. last month because that position had been plagued by backups who couldn't stay healthy (and starter Christian McCaffrey played on Sunday despite turning up on the injury report last week with a calf problem). The 49ers didn't let these setbacks slow them against a divisional rival, as quarterback Brock Purdy won the game by throwing a touchdown pass to third-string tight end Jake Tonges late in Sunday's contest. It's also a fact that this team won't be thriving if star players keep dropping every week.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Kittle is expected to miss at least a few weeks with his hamstring injury, while Purdy is dealing with toe and shoulder injuries.

THREE UP

THREE DOWN

WORTHY OF NFL PRO DEEP DIVES

• Bills over Ravens: After a game-altering defensive play by Ed Oliver, Josh Allen rallies the Bills late in the fourth quarter to set up Matt Prater's game-winning field goal as time expires.
• Steelers over Jets: Aaron Rodgers enjoys his return to New York by throwing four touchdown passes and setting up the game-winning field goal on the final drive.
• 49ers over Seahawks: Nick Bosa clinches the win with a forced fumble/recovery of Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold after Brock Purdy gives San Francisco the lead with a late touchdown pass.

MOST INTRIGUING GAME OF WEEK 2

MVP WATCH

A simple ranking of the top five candidates, which will be updated weekly, depending on performance. Here is how it stands heading into Week 2 (with DraftKings odds as of 1:30 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 8):

EXTRA POINT

My slowly evolving Super Bowl pick, which also will be updated each week, depending on performances: Ravens over Packers.

Back to top