Week 1 is in the books, and this is the time for NFL overreactions. Teams overperformed and underperformed on opening weekend. Let’s take some hot takes and see whether they’re overreactions.
I predicted Caleb Williams to win NFL MVP in July, and Week 1 poured gas on that fire. The Chicago Bears’ offense scored 59 points against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. “The Iceman” completed 21 of his 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams ended Week 1 with a 72.4 completion percentage, his highest since Week 17 of his 2024 rookie season. As electrifying as he was in 2025, fans and analysts questioned his accuracy. In a breakout season, he never surpassed a 67.9 completion percentage.
Williams’ impressive Week 1 stat line didn’t end with passing. He rushed 10 times for 65 yards and two more touchdowns against Carolina. He was 58 yards away from being Chicago’s first-ever 4,000-yard passer in 2025.
With cleaned-up accuracy and the ability to extend plays with his legs, Williams is already on the right track for MVP. He’ll exceed 4,000 yards and make history for a century-old franchise.
If Chicago ends the year with another NFC North title behind a record-breaking QB in Williams, the award is as good as his. It’s also worth noting that head coach Ben Johnson wants the NFL’s scoring record, which would only cement his QB as MVP even further.
Verdict: Not An Overreaction
The Houston Texans’ defense was the best in the NFL last season. They dominated opponents every week en route to another deep playoff run. The offense struggled once again, leading to their downfall. Has that finally been fixed?
Houston scored 31 points in a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Their defense also allowed 36 points. It’s the first time they’ve allowed over 35 points since December 24th, 2023. They may be leveling out, and not in a good way.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud went 26/38 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He may finally have his rhythm back, but the defense seems to have lost some mojo. A balanced roster is necessary for success, but without a dominant defense, it might not matter.
Houston lost at home to Josh Allen for the first time in the Bills QB’s career. He had only defeated them one other time in Buffalo back in 2021. This defense will find its dominance again, but losing to a contending team doesn’t instill a ton of confidence.
Verdict: Overreaction
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was among the NFL’s worst last season. They ranked 30th in total yards allowed per game (377) and dead last in pass yards allowed per game (251.5). After a defensive coordinator change and roster improvements, they’ve somehow gotten worse.
Dallas opened the season against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. Despite defensive improvements, they allowed 165 rush yards, 229 pass yards, and four total touchdowns in a 28-20 loss.
What’s even more concerning for the Cowboys was their offensive performance. Dak Prescott went 22/34 for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were held to just 75 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Dallas also ended Week 1 with 69 total rush yards, a far cry from the 135 they logged against the Giants in Week 2 of 2025. There were moments in Week 1 where the team looked completely lost and out of sync. Even Brandon Aubrey missed a 48-yard extra point kick.
Verdict: Not An Overreaction
The Los Angeles Rams traveled to Australia for Week 1 to face the San Francisco 49ers. After a 27-7 loss to their division rival, the “super team” is already being mocked.
To make matters worse for Los Angeles, superstar trade acquisition Myles Garrett underwent knee surgery and will miss at least four weeks. After an embarrassing loss, losing the reigning DPOY is extremely concerning.
Matthew Stafford went 15/25 for 155 yards and an interception in the Thursday night loss. International games tend to be messy, and so do division matchups. A combination of the two may have been catastrophic for LA.
For a team as talented as the Rams, it’s far too early to write them off. The NFL season is an 18-week marathon, and a bad opening game isn’t enough to kill a super team.
Verdict: Overreaction
The New York Giants looked like a brand-new team in Week 1. They defeated the Cowboys and looked like a well-oiled machine in the process. They dominated time of possession by over 13 minutes, and Dallas only had the ball twice in the second half.
New York’s QB, Jaxson Dart, had a stellar opening night to 2026. He went 23/29 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Free agent acquisition Isaiah Likely led the team with eight receptions and two touchdowns in the 28-20 victory.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders had a game of their own on Sunday. Philly walked away with a 24-22 victory, but neither team looked overwhelmingly strong. After defeating Dallas, the Giants have finally won a Week 1 home game for the first time since 2010. There’s excitement around New York, but they’ve proven time and again that it can quickly fall off a cliff.
Week 1 is an extremely good liar. Good teams look bad, bad teams look good, and hot starts fizzle out. The Giants have had great games over the past 10 dismal years. Until we see some consistency, it’s too soon to crown them kings of the NFC East.
Verdict: Overreaction
NFL Week 1 is an exciting time. Football is back, and even the bad teams are fun to watch. That excitement makes it easy to get caught up in the moment, and overreactions spread like wildfire. While there is truth to some, they shouldn’t all be taken too seriously.
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