Football is back. Honestly, after a summer of watching Olympic replays and baseball box scores, that first Thursday night feels like a religious experience. But man, week 1 of the nfl in 2025 was weird. It wasn't just the scores; it was the vibe. You’ve got the defending champ Eagles hosting the Cowboys, and within seconds, things go off the rails.
Jalen Carter gets tossed.
The star defensive tackle for Philadelphia literally got disqualified before Dallas even snapped the ball once. Why? He spit on Dak Prescott. You can’t make this stuff up. It set a tone for a weekend that felt more like a Hollywood script than a football schedule. If you thought you knew how this season was going to go, Sunday probably humbled you.
The Chaos at Lincoln Financial Field
The season opener was basically a tale of two halves. Philadelphia took it 24-20, but it was ugly. Jalen Hurts wasn't exactly lighting up the sky—he only threw for 152 yards—but he ran like a man possessed, picking up 62 yards and two scores on the ground. Then the weather decided to join the party.
A massive thunderstorm parked itself over Philly. The game was suspended for nearly an hour because of lightning. By the time they came back out, the offenses had completely cooled off. The only points in the entire second half came from a leg: Jake Elliott’s 58-yard bomb.
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It’s kinda wild that a game featuring CeeDee Lamb (who had 110 yards) and Saquon Barkley turned into a defensive slog in the rain. Dallas looked like they had it, but they couldn't convert on 4th-and-3 late in the game. Dak Prescott finished with 188 yards and zero touchdowns. Not the start Jerry Jones was dreaming of, for sure.
Sunday’s Biggest Shocks and New Faces
If you had the Indianapolis Colts beating the Miami Dolphins 33-8 on your bingo card, you're a liar. Or a genius.
Daniel Jones made his debut for Indy, and he looked... good? I know, it's weird to say. He led the Colts to a blowout win while Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill just sort of flatlined. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Commanders actually looked like a real football team. They took down the Giants 21-6.
Notable Week 1 Results
- Bills 41, Ravens 40: A literal shootout. Josh Allen threw for nearly 400 yards and outdueled Lamar Jackson in a game that felt like a January playoff match.
- Packers 27, Lions 13: Green Bay might actually be the best team in the NFC North. Jordan Love was efficient, and Micah Parsons—yes, that Micah Parsons—made his Packers debut and looked terrifying.
- Chargers 27, Chiefs 21: Justin Herbert finally got one over on Patrick Mahomes.
- Steelers 34, Jets 32: Aaron Rodgers is in Pittsburgh now. He threw four touchdowns against his old team, which has to feel pretty sweet for him.
The Rookie Report: Who Actually Showed Up?
Most people were watching Travis Hunter in Jacksonville. The kid is trying to play both ways, which is insane in the modern NFL. He didn't score, but he was all over the field on offense. The Jaguars beat Carolina 26-10, mostly because Bryce Young is still struggling to find his rhythm.
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In Cleveland, a rookie linebacker named Carson Schwesinger basically took over the game. He had six tackles and a sack, finishing with a 90.0 PFF grade. Usually, rookies are just trying not to get lost out there, but he was playing like a five-year vet.
Injuries That Already Changed the Season
The "injury bug" didn't wait for Week 2. It’s brutal.
The 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13, but they might have lost George Kittle for a while. He’s headed for an MRI on his hamstring. San Francisco is also dealing with Jauan Jennings being banged up. Kyle Shanahan looked visibly frustrated after the game, and you can't blame him.
The Raiders got a win over the Patriots (20-13), but their star rookie tight end Brock Bowers went down with a knee injury late in the fourth. He told reporters he’s "fine," but Raiders fans are holding their breath. Losing a guy who caught 103 yards in his first game would be a disaster.
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What We Learned About the Power Balance
The Bengals won, but barely. They beat the Browns 17-16 in a game where Joe Burrow looked incredibly rusty. On the flip side, the Rams' defense is much better than people gave them credit for. They held C.J. Stroud and the Texans to just 9 points.
It’s easy to overreact to week 1 of the nfl. We do it every year. We think the 1-0 teams are going to the Super Bowl and the 0-1 teams should fire everybody. But if this opening weekend proved anything, it’s that the gap between the "elites" and the "rebuilders" is thinner than we thought.
Except for the Giants. They might actually be in trouble.
Actionable Steps for Week 2
If you're looking at your fantasy roster or your betting slip for next week, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Waiver Wire for TE help: With Kittle and potentially Bowers dealing with issues, guys like Tyler Warren (Colts) are going to be hot commodities.
- Don't give up on the Chiefs: Mahomes losing a close one to the Chargers isn't a crisis. They usually bounce back with a vengeance.
- Monitor the Eagles' Discipline: If Jalen Carter is getting ejected in the first minute, that defense might have some maturity issues that could bite them against the Chiefs in Week 2.
- Sell high on Geno Smith: He had a monster 362-yard game for the Raiders, but he was playing a depleted Patriots secondary. Don't expect that every week.
The 2025 season is officially live, and it's already more chaotic than most of us predicted. Get your popcorn ready for the Monday night double-header because if Week 1 was any indication, we’re in for a wild ride.