The 2025 NFL season is off to an amazing start. Week 1 was full of surprises, upsets, and one of the best games in recent memory. Early in the season, teams are still wearing masks. Playoff contenders start slow, and bad teams give false hope. Week 2 could see some of the fog lifted.
Thursday Night Football has a real barnburner on its hands here. The Commanders meet the Packers in what could be a playoff preview. The Packers looked unstoppable against the Detroit Lions last week. The addition of Micah Parsons has already started off strong for Green Bay.
The Commanders are coming off a win against the New York Giants. The final score was 21-6, but it could’ve been much more. Washington is a great team, but it had its flaws in Week 1. The Packers look like a dominant force early on, and they’ll get the edge here.
Winner: Green Bay Packers
The Ravens took part in arguably the most entertaining game of the last decade on Sunday night. In a 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Derrick Henry rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Jackson passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 70 yards and another score.
The Browns played admirably in a 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The early-season Bengals, though, aren’t exactly the strongest team in the NFL. This feels like the trap game of the week, but how can anyone bet against Baltimore here?
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals are back to their status quo of starting the year off in mediocre fashion. Joe Burrow completed 14 out of 23 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown, while Ja’Marr Chase only saw two receptions for 26 yards.
The Jaguars were surprisingly fun to watch in their 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. They might be the “frisky and fun” team of 2025, but everyone’s seen Cincy at its best. They have to heat up sooner rather than later.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
The Cowboys were the laughing stock of the NFL world just a few weeks ago. Then they took the Philadelphia Eagles to the limit and nearly beat them. CeeDee Lamb doesn’t make mistakes often, and it’s doubtful he’ll drop game-winning passes again.
It’s always possible that the Giants can find a groove and become a competitive team in 2025. Going off their Week 1 performance, though, they could also be a top-five Draft pick once again. The gap between these two seems massive right now.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Ben Johnson and Dan Campbell go one-on-one in this reunion matchup. Johnson started the Bears off hot on Monday Night, but they couldn’t hold onto the lead. Chicago is finding its identity and could be a contender later in the year.
The Lions looked rough in a 27-13 loss to the Packers. They only mustered 46 rush yards, and the entire offense suffered for it. Detroit has some stuff to figure out, but it’s hard to see them starting off 0-2. They show some grit and toughness at home and beat Da Bears.
Winner: Detroit Lions
The Dolphins might have been the most disappointing team in Week 1. Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts put on a clinic, beating Miami 33-8. Tua Tagovailoa looks more lost than ever, and the defense got burned in every phase of the game.
The Patriots are a work in progress and deserve grace after Week 1. Drake Maye played well, but the run game couldn’t get moving. Given the Dolphins’ current state, this is a terrific matchup for the up-and-coming Pats.
Winner: New England Patriots
The 49ers held on when it mattered most and beat their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, 17-13. Christian McCaffrey rushed 22 times for 69 yards, along with nine receptions for 73 yards. The defense made Sam Darnold look like his old self, going 16/23 for 150 yards and no touchdowns. With injuries to Brock Purdy and George Kittle, it’s hard to tell what Niners team will hit the field on Sunday.
The Saints kept things competitive with the Arizona Cardinals in a 20-13 loss, and that’s all fans could ask for right now. They might not be the worst team in the NFL, but they’re not exactly a threat. Even with some injuries, the Niners should walk away with this one.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
After what happened on Sunday Night Football, how can anyone bet against the Bills? Josh Allen silenced the doubters and proved he deserved the MVP award last year. When the game was on his shoulders, he was, once again, the best player in the NFL.
The Jets were a pleasant surprise in their 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Justin Fields looked good, and they established a nice run game against one of the NFL’s biggest defenses. This could be a fun matchup, but there’s no reason to doubt Josh Allen here. The man might just be an alien.
Winner: Buffalo Bills
What year is it again? 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock with a 244-yard four-touchdown performance in his Steelers debut. The four-time MVP looked like his old self and played terrific football once again. Maybe the “all-in” Steelers won’t be so bad after all.
Sam Darnold’s Seahawks debut wasn’t what he hoped for, but their defense was fun to watch. He’ll need some time to adjust to his new home. The downside is he’s facing a Steelers defense that just gave up 32 points. They’re looking to redeem themselves, and he’s in their crosshairs.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Rams’ defense was insanely fun to watch against the Houston Texans. They logged an interception and recovered a fourth-quarter forced fumble. Even Matt Stafford shut down the injury talk by going 21/29 for 245 yards and one touchdown.
Cam Ward had an opportunity late against the Denver Broncos to get his first win. In unsurprising fashion, his supporting cast did him no favors. Tennessee might have its QB, but the Rams are about to start him off 0-2.
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
The Cardinals looked solid in their Week 1 win over the Saints. Kyler Murray went 21/29 for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and Marvin Harrison Jr. finally looked settled in. Their connection will only get better, and defenses shouldn’t overlook that.
The Panthers ended 2024 with some momentum, and it was killed in Week 1. Bryce Young struggled against the Jaguars, throwing for 154 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Cards’ defense held the Saints down, and the Panthers will likely follow suit.
Winner: Arizona Cardinals
There’s no denying that Daniel Jones and the Colts had a terrific debut. They blew out the Dolphins 33-8, and Jones threw 22/29 for 272 yards and one touchdown, along with two more rushing touchdowns. The question for the Colts now is “Is this real?” They have a chance to prove it on Sunday.
Indy faces the Broncos this week, a very different team from Miami. Denver has a top-five defense in the NFL that can shut down offenses all day. They will surely put Jones to the test. Bo Nix is also looking for redemption after a lackluster Week 1 performance. This is the Broncos’ game to lose.
Winner: Denver Broncos
The Super Bowl rematch is here, and this might be the game of the week. The Eagles pulled off a win against the Cowboys, but it was closer than it should’ve been. Jalen Hurts was a field general and put the team on his back in impressive fashion.
The Chiefs are off to a bad start. Patrick Mahomes lost to Justin Herbert for just the second time in his career, and he was simply outplayed. Herbert had a great day against the Chiefs’ defense, and it’s likely Jalen Hurts will do the same. It’s hard to bet against Philly.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
The Vikings might have a “dawg”. J.J. McCarthy started his first NFL game on Monday night, and despite a slow start, he looked terrific. He threw 13/20 for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for one touchdown en route to a 27-24 win over “Da” Bears.
The Falcons looked strong in their 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming down to a missed Younghoe Koo field goal. Michael Penix Jr. threw for nearly 300 yards and had two total touchdowns, but they couldn’t get the run game flowing. If the Vikings play the way they did in Week 1, this would be an easy win.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
Emeka Egbuka is him. The Ohio State product showed up for the Buccaneers with four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay’s offense is fun to watch, and Baker Mayfield’s three touchdowns sealed a win in Week 1.
The Texans were disappointing in a 14-9 loss to the Rams. C.J. Stroud’s struggles continue with 188 passing yards and one interception. Houston’s defense gave up 224 passing yards to Matt Stafford and co. as well. They need to address these issues ASAP, or Mayfield might go crazy on Sunday.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Raiders looked good in their season opener. Geno Smith passed for 362 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Ashton Jeanty scored his first touchdown. This team will be fun to watch in 2025.
The Chargers were on another level in Brazil, and the status quo in the AFC West might’ve shifted. Justin Herbert went 25/34 for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Quentin Johnston finally looks like the product he should be, and the defense didn’t look too shabby. The Bolts might be contenders, and another division win could only strengthen that argument.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
If Week 1 proved anything, it’s that football is magical. Week 2 is when we’ll start to see some reality set in. If your team is 0-1, don’t sweat it just yet, and if you’re team is 1-0, don’t get too excited. Things change on a dime in the NFL, and it’s wonderful to watch.
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