Week 1 never eases you in — it dumps you right into the deep end. Sunday felt like pure NFL chaos in the best way, with teams trading haymakers, rookies crashing the party, and veterans making us double-check what year it is. If you like your football unpredictable, this slate had it all.

Every game felt bigger than it probably is, and every play will get overanalyzed like it’s January. But that’s part of the fun. You wait months for this and then suddenly you’re yelling at the TV because yet another kicker missed a gimme.

Early Window

Steelers 34, Jets 32 — The Quarterback Switch That Worked For All Sides

The irony of Aaron Rodgers winning a shootout while his defense got gashed on the ground isn’t lost on anyone. He was the grown‑up in the room late — quick decisions, accurate ball placement, and the calm that shows up when the stadium tightens. Four touchdowns on 30 throws tells you all you need to know about red‑zone execution and shot selection.

But the Jets didn’t lose because they’re broken; they lost because one special‑teams mistake swung a game they otherwise controlled. New York shoved people around. The quarterback run element with Justin Fields complicates fits immediately, and when you pair his legs with Breece Hall bouncing through arm tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield, you’ve got an offense that finally looks like it knows what it wants to be.

Fun fact: The Jets' offense led all teams in yards per pass in Week 1.

The difference was a fumble after a Steelers score that handed Rodgers a short field, and you don’t hand him coupons. Pittsburgh’s defense has plenty of holes to fix if this is going to be sustainable, but Mike Tomlin’s team banked a win while they get their footing on that side of the ball. For the Jets, there’s actual structure to build on.

Cardinals 20, Saints 13 — Arizona Played Clean, New Orleans Didn't

Arizona didn’t need fireworks. They needed to avoid the kind of self‑inflicted stuff that buries you on the road, hit a couple shots, and make the tackles at the end. Check, check, and check. Kyler Murray, listed with an illness, looked spry enough — a scramble here, an nifty underhanded shovel there, and the big one: the deep strike to Marvin Harrison Jr. that reminded everyone why he was drafted so high. Sprinkle in Trey McBride bullying seams and a James Conner (who's quietly been one of the most underrated backs in the league for years now) for the goal‑line finish, and you’ve got a tidy, professional win.

New Orleans will absolutely kick themselves when they sit in the film room to watch this one back. Thirteen penalties and the procedural issues on quarterback sneaks were flat‑out sloppy. Add a missed chip‑shot field goal on top and you’ve basically gift‑wrapped opportunities back to the other sideline. For all that, Spencer Rattler actually looked calm — he moved them late and gave them a chance. But Arizona’s secondary wasn’t having it. Budda Baker and company slammed the door at the goal line with the kind of physical, well‑timed plays that win you games in the margins.

The Cardinals aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Their formula is simple: pop a couple big plays, finish drives when you get close, and let your defensive backs scrap until the final whistle. It’s not flashy, and sure, their ceiling isn’t sky‑high, but that’s the exact sort of team that ruins somebody else’s playoff hopes come December. They’ve got enough grit and enough star power in spots to make life miserable for contenders who think they can coast past them.

Raiders 20, Patriots 13 — Vegas Hit the Gas, New England Hit the Brakes

You could see Pete Carroll’s fingerprints right away: aggressive shots, let your dudes run after the catch, and trust your pass rush to finish the story. Geno Smith looked loose — not reckless, loose — and that matters. Even after an early pick, he kept firing and kept his eyes up outside the pocket. The Raiders didn’t dink their way down the field; they stretched it.

The best part for Vegas? The weapons matched the plan, and that’s not something we’ve always been able to say about this team. Brock Bowers picked up right where he left off — slipping into open grass, splitting safeties, and turning tight‑window throws into routine completions. Jakobi Meyers played like someone trying to prove something to his former team, finding space on third downs again and again.

On the other side of the ball, you could tell halftime wasn’t just orange slices and pep talks — the Raiders came out with a plan. They tightened up coverage, stopped letting New England get cheap explosives, and made Drake Maye live off patience. That’s a brutal ask in gross weather against a front with Maxx Crosby that’s hunting. Maye had moments that make you nod — the back‑shoulder stuff is real — but when the run game never shows up and your coach punts from his own 44 in a one‑score game, it feels like they're playing not to lose. That’s a hard sell in Foxborough, and the Raiders took full advantage.

Stat of the game: Harold Landry III had 2.5 sacks and another 7 QB pressures in the loss.

Commanders 21, Giants 6 — Washington Leaned Into Who It Is; New York’s Issues Look Awfully Familiar

Dan Quinn’s version of the Commanders isn't what most people pictured when he got hired for the job. Instead, they run it with a bunch of different backs, sprinkle in just enough Jayden Daniels wizardry to keep a defense off balance, then hand things over to a group on defense that lives for third down and red-zone stands. Washington made sure they stuck to that approach in this one. Over 200 yards on the ground, keeping drives ahead of schedule, and asking Daniels to pick his shots instead of forcing the hero ball. He answered the call, looking calm and calculated, even if the highlight reel wasn't super flashy.

The defense matched the moment. Short yardage, red zone, sudden change — the line handled it and the back end rallied and tackled. The defining sequence was first‑and‑goal for New York and nothing to show for it. Four plays, zero points. That’s commitment to your identity.

As for the Giants, it’s Year 2 of trying to spread thin resources over too many problems. The line struggled, the spacing looked congested, and Russell Wilson had to be the leading rusher just to keep drives alive. When he did try to throw the ball, nothing good came of it. He completed less than 50% of his passes on the day. It may be this week, it may be in early October, but if this game taught us anything, it's that the Jaxson Dart era will start before Thanksgiving.

Bengals 17, Browns 16 — An Ugly Win Counts the Same, Technically

Cincinnati might call this a character win, but let’s be honest — it’s hard to feel encouraged when your offense puts up seven net yards in the entire second half. That’s not just a slow stretch; that’s a flashing red light. Burrow looked rusty, the passing game felt completely out of sync, and the run game gave them nothing to lean on.

Sure, the defense looked steadier than it did a year ago, with tip‑drill picks and some clutch red‑zone stands, but that can only take you so far. You don’t survive in the AFC North by letting your offense disappear for two straight quarters. At some point soon, this passing game needs a breakout performance just to calm the nerves.

Cleveland, meanwhile, looked exactly like the version we expected. The defense is nasty enough to keep them in just about every game — Myles Garrett drew doubles all afternoon and still disrupted plays, and the rest of the unit fed off that energy. Joe Flacco made a handful of throws that remind you he’s been around the block, moved the chains a few times, and kept the ball mostly out of harm’s way. But this offense has a hard ceiling with him at the helm. They’ll grind, they’ll frustrate opponents, and they’ll hang around, but you’re not losing sleep game‑planning for them. Between the tipped‑ball interceptions and the missed field goals, this was about as on‑brand as it gets for a team built to be competitive without being scary.

Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20 — A Rookie Wideout Announces Himself

This one lived in the margins. The Bucs weren’t dominant; they were timely. Baker Mayfield missed some shots and shook off some rust, but when he had to make a throw with bodies in his lap, he did. Rookie Emeka Egbuka looked like he’s been in the room for years — savvy routes, strong hands, and the feel to find space in scramble rules. Two touchdowns in your debut, including the late go‑ahead? That’s not just noise. That changes how defensive coordinators game‑plan for you next week.

Tampa’s defense made a clear trade: shut down the traditional run, live with the underneath stuff to Bijan Robinson, and rally‑tackle. You saw it in the box score — nothing easy on the ground, but the Falcons found ways to feed Bijan in space.

Michael Penix Jr. was outstanding all afternoon. He showed off the accuracy and arm strength that made him a first‑rounder, zipping throws into tight windows and keeping the ball out of harm’s way. What caught a lot of people by surprise was the mobility; he moved around better than most thought he could, buying extra time and picking up yards when the play broke down. And when the moments got loud, he didn’t blink. He strung together a long, pressure‑packed drive when everyone in the building knew he had to sling it, and he consistently gave his team chances to score. The frustrating part for Atlanta is that he kept putting them in position, and it was everyone else who couldn’t quite cash it in.

The deciding factor in this one was the kickers: a missed PAT here, a doinked kick there, a wide‑right at the buzzer. The Flacons aren't the only team dealing with it, but they're going to have to address the kicking issue if they want to win games down the stretch.

Colts 33, Dolphins 8 — A Coaching Clinic and a Tone‑Setter

Seven drives, seven scores. That’s not a hot streak; that’s scheme fitting the pieces being asked to run it. Shane Steichen put Daniel Jones in rhythm early with first‑down throws, layered play‑action, and built‑in answers versus the pressure Miami loves. The best thing you can say about Jones was that he was on time. When your feet and your eyes are on time, everything looks easier — even the QB sneaks.

Defensively, Indy didn’t try to win a track meet with Miami. They capped the explosive plays, sat in split‑safety shells, and dared the Dolphins to be patient while their pass rush made life uncomfortable in the backfield. When the ball had to come out fast, the Colts tackled the quick game and punched at the catch point. Mistakes snowballed for Miami — turnovers, protection busts, penalties — and nothing feels worse than trying to chase points when the structure keeps nudging you back into third‑and‑medium.

This wasn’t just a rough opener for the Dolphins — it looked bad on both sides of the ball. The offensive line probably had the roughest day of all, getting whipped in both pass protection and run blocking. Tua was under pressure constantly, the backs had no room to breathe, and it all snowballed from there. When your supposed strength is speed and timing but your quarterback never has time to set his feet, the whole operation collapses fast.

Jaguars 26, Panthers 10 — Big Runs, Smart Packaging, and a Two‑Way Rookie Cameo

The Jaguars didn’t overthink it. When the run game showed life early, they just leaned into it. Travis Etienne ripped off long runs that completely changed how Carolina had to defend the rest of the way. Suddenly, safeties were cheating up, linebackers were guessing, and Trevor Lawrence could sit back and play point guard. Lawrence wasn’t out there chasing hero throws; he was steering an offense, and sometimes that’s all you need.

The subplot that had everyone talking was Travis Hunter pulling double duty in his debut. He only saw six snaps on defense, but he still found ways to make noise on offense, flashing that smooth skill set that made him such a unicorn prospect. You can tell Jacksonville is easing him in, not trying to overload the kid, but the touches he got showed just how much of a weapon he can be. Defensively, with a new voice in the headset, the Jags looked sharper — tighter zones, quicker rallying to the ball, and a couple of opportunistic takeaways that kept Carolina chasing.

On the other sideline, Bryce Young looked like a quarterback pressing the gas a little too hard late. He forced things, the decision‑making slipped, and behind an offensive line that wasn’t giving him much help, it turned ugly. The Panthers have some intriguing young pieces like rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan, but none of it matters if the trenches keep leaking like this. Until that line stabilizes and Young can actually run the offense on schedule, stacking first downs is going to feel like pulling teeth, let alone stacking wins.

Late Window

Broncos 20, Titans 12 — Defense Carried the Load

Bo Nix is in his second year now, and this outing didn’t exactly scream progress. He had a couple of throws that made you nod, but way too many that will have him cringing in the film room. The accuracy just wasn’t consistently there and the ball security lapses were the kind you can’t repeat if you want to be taken seriously as a starter. Denver’s defense completely carried the load, racking up six sacks, 17 pressures, and winning every third down worth winning. That gave Nix an out for this one, but you can’t keep hiding behind that every week.

The Broncos did get that classic late‑game backbreaker run to seal it, but the reality is this offense still looks stuck in the mud when it has to throw. They need some easy buttons, some layups, anything to keep drives alive without asking for a miracle throw on every series.

As for Tennessee, their rookie quarterback Cam Ward deserves a ton of credit. The kid actually looked pretty good despite the mess around him. He showed poise in chaos, flashed a strong arm, and even bought time with his legs, but too often he was holding the ball with no real options. The penalties and protection issues buried him. It wasn’t enough to win, but there were enough glimpses to think the Titans might have something if they can get him a little help.

49ers 17, Seahawks 13 — Win Ugly, Cash the Lesson

San Francisco survived a messy one, and it felt every bit like a Week 1 game. Brock Purdy forced a couple of throws he’ll want back, and the kicking game turned what should’ve been a smooth afternoon into group therapy. Still, the defense never blinked. When it mattered most, a third‑string tight end became the unexpected hero — capping off a 6-for-6, 67-yard drive from Purdy to take the lead late — and Nick Bosa slammed the door.

The injuries are the real story here, though. Brandon Aiyuk didn’t even suit up, George Kittle was done before half, and Jauan Jennings left the game very early in the fourth quarter. That’s a huge chunk of the pass‑game menu gone, and you could see it in Shanahan’s play‑calling. There weren’t as many options to stretch the field or play with tempo, and the offense leaned harder on Christian McCaffrey to keep the chains moving. The good news is, they proved they can ride their defense and CMC when things get choppy — but it’s not a sustainable recipe if those guys miss real time.

Seattle flashed a little of what they want to become, but it’s clear they’re not there yet. The defense deserves credit — two smart interceptions came from disciplined eyes and good positioning. But the offense? Too cramped, too one‑dimensional, too much phone‑booth football that never made San Francisco sweat vertically. They coughed up the ball late when they had a chance to steal it, and that about sums it up. Until they find another real playmaker across from Jaxon Smith-Njigba to loosen things up, defenses are just going to shade help his way and dare them to beat man coverage.

Rams 14, Texans 9 — Defense Sets the Tone While Stafford Hits a Milestone

The Rams didn’t pretend this was going to be a track meet. They leaned into a defense that looks faster and meaner than it did a year ago, squeezed Houston’s spacing, and let Matthew Stafford take what he could find while Puka Nacua vacuumed targets. When you hold a good quarterback to field goals and then punch the ball out to seal it, you’ve said plenty about who you want to be.

Stafford crossing 60,000 career passing yards is a cool historical nugget, but the substance is how comfortably he moved after an injury-riddled camp. Nacua took a few shots and kept coming; the guy’s toughness is his superpower. For Houston, the offensive line issues that haunted them last season showed up again. It’s tough to chase an efficient defense when you’re constantly behind the sticks and your best receiver is getting bracketed without answers on the backside.

Packers 27, Lions 13 — Green Bay Looked Ready, Detroit Looked Stuck in Neutral

Jordan Love didn’t tiptoe into the year; he punched the gas. He looked confident stretching the ball downfield, working through progressions, and letting it fly without hesitation. When your quarterback is playing fast and decisive like that, it makes everything else flow smoother. The wide receiver room, which felt inconsistent last year, looked like it collectively took a step forward — guys finishing routes, attacking the ball, and playing with swagger. Add in a defense that was flying around from the jump, winning early downs, and letting Micah Parsons tee off on third downs, and you’ve got the kind of balance that makes opponents rethink their game plan.

Detroit, on the other hand, just didn’t look like themselves. The run game never found daylight, the pockets kept collapsing, and the passing game turned into checkdowns and hope. With two new coordinators, the timing was off and the play‑calling felt choppy — like a group still trying to find its rhythm. It’s hard to tell if this was great Packers football, bad Lions football, or a little of both, but either way, it was a wake‑up call for last year’s No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ve got too much talent to panic after one week, but the tape is going to sting, and it should.

Sunday Night Football: Bills 41, Ravens 40 — Instant Classic

Buffalo pulled off the kind of late rally that makes you remember exactly why you never change the channel in this league. Josh Allen went full MVP mode in the fourth, slinging darts and making plays that keep highlight guys in business for a week. The Ravens had this game by the throat, but one mistake led to another and suddenly the whole thing flipped. Baltimore will look back at this one and wonder how it slipped, but credit to the Bills — they didn’t blink, they just kept swinging until the clock said stop.

Keep an eye out for the full breakdown coming soon — this matchup between the league’s last two MVPs had just about everything. There’s way more to dig into, from Allen’s late-game magic to how Baltimore built their lead just to let it slip.