It is the most wonderful time of the year. Week 1 of the NFL season kicked off last weekend, bringing excitement, surprise and disappointment.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles kicked off the year with an over 3-hour showdown on Thursday Night Football, with the Eagles holding on 24-20. Quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts looked sharp and set the tone for their teams. The Eagles, coming off a Super Bowl win, again showed their knack for winning close games and grinded out another tight contest. Dallas, on the other hand, saw wide receiver CeeDee Lamb come up short in the clutch. If the Cowboys want to contend in the NFC, Lamb has to step up in high-pressure moments.
In the early Sunday window, the Indianapolis Colts capitalized on the Miami Dolphins’ offensive collapse to secure a convincing win 33-8. Miami’s offense was a disaster — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played poorly, and the Dolphins looked on the verge of a blow-up. By contrast, tight end Tyler Warren was a bright spot for Indianapolis and Daniel Jones looked surprisingly sharp.
The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Carolina Panthers 26-10. Bryce Young continued to struggle and Carolina’s run defense collapsed. Their screen game and rushing attack clicked with running back Travis Etienne and even a solid debut from two-way player Travis Hunter. Trevor Lawrence looked composed and in control, which could mean a huge leap is on the way, indicating the Jaguars’ potential to dominate the AFC South.
The Washington Commanders rolled the New York Giants 21-6, with Giants quarterback Russell Wilson turning in a rough performance. He struggled with turnovers and poor decisions, basically filling Daniel Jones’ usual role of an underperforming starting quarterback. Washington’s defense looked rusty, but they held strong in the red zone all game. The Commanders have plenty of room to grow but proved they can grind out wins.
The Cincinnati Bengals pulled out an ugly win on the Cleveland Browns 17-16. Neither offense got rolling in this divisional battle — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase never clicked, and Cincinnati’s offensive line looked like a huge liability. If it doesn’t improve, Burrow could take a beating all year. Cleveland didn’t look sharp either, but the missed kicks proved devastating.
The Los Angeles Chargers shocked the Kansas Chiefs in a 27-21 win on Friday in São Paulo, Brazil. This AFC West clash lived up to its billing with a great back-and-forth game. Justin Herbert showed why he’s considered an elite passer, displaying pocket presence, arm talent and accuracy. The Chiefs showed a big lapse for the first time in a while.
The New York Jets lost a heartbreaker 34-32 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the battle of QB swaps; new Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers — who played for the Jets last season — may no longer be MVP-level, but he’s certainly not washed-up. Jets quarterback Justin Fields — the old Steelers QB — proved he can throw the ball effectively. For Pittsburgh, Jaylen Warren’s emergence as the lead running back was a solid storyline with 37 yards on 11 carries. The Jets have plenty of firepower, but the Steelers’ mix of veteran leadership and new talent gives them balance.
The Arizona Cardinals edged out the New Orleans Saints 20-13. Arizona put up a fight, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison flashing greatness, but the Saints’ discipline and adjustments made the difference. Viewers were robbed of an overtime with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. Running back Bijan Robinson was a standout for Atlanta and proved why he is one of the league’s most dynamic backs. Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka looked strong, but the Bucs’ broader struggles left the door open. Expect a season-long battle between these two teams.
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the New England Patriots 20-13, and Las Vegas’ offense looked strong. Geno Smith delivered big throws and showed accuracy and poise, while Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers again starred. My New England Patriots still have bumps to work out, particularly in the pass defense and overall offensive execution.
The San Francisco 49ers pulled out a 17-13 win on the Sam Darnold-led Seattle Seahawks. Both teams looked like playoff threats; running back Zach Charbonnet and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked terrific for Seattle while San Francisco leaned on its elite roster and coaching. The 49ers remain among the NFC’s most dangerous, but Seattle’s offensive weapons keep them competitive.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-12, showing that Denver’s defense may be the best in the league. Titans quarterback Cam Ward had some flashes despite being surrounded by a weak supporting cast and Bo Nix also struggled. The Titans had their chances, but Denver’s defense dictated the game.
The Green Bay Packers shocked the Detroit Lions with their 27-13 win Sunday, making Green Bay look like the most complete team in the NFC. Their run defense dominated, pass rush overwhelmed and their safety tandem was elite. Quarterback Jordan Love appeared ready to unlock his full potential. Detroit, after losing last season’s assistant coaches to other teams, looked disorganized and may already be past its Super Bowl window.
The Los Angeles Rams squeaked out a low scoring 14-9 game over the Houston Texans. Houston’s offensive line was abysmal, leaving quarterback C.J. Stroud in trouble. The Texans had no run game and a thin receiver room. The Rams’ young pass rush was disruptive too, led by defensive end Jared Verse, who has filled the shoes of the future hall-of-famer Aaron Donald.
The game of the week undoubtedly was between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. The Ravens blew a 40-25 lead over the Bills and lost 41-40. Baltimore’s defense let them down, though running back Derrick Henry dominated. Keon Coleman flashed as a future WR1, while Buffalo showed they could grind out wins. Both teams looked competitive, but both need defensive improvements if they want to contend.
The Washington Commanders face the Green Bay Packers Thursday Night at Lambeau Field to kick off Week 2.
