Week 1 of the 2025-2026 NFL season kicked off last Sunday and did not disappoint. There were many surprises, with lots of teams that looked like a threat to make a playoff run, and many fans were either happy or sad about what the 2025-2026 NFL season would bring for their favorite team.
Week 1 Scores:
- Eagles beat Cowboys 24-20
- Chargers beat Chiefs 27-21
- Colts beat Dolphins 33-8
- Steelers beat Jets 34-32
- Jaguars beat Panthers 26-10
- Cardinals beat Saints 20-13
- Commanders beat Giants 21-6
- Buccaneers beat Falcons 23-20
- Bengals beat Brown 17-16
- Raiders beat Patriots 20-13
- 49ers beat Seahawks 17-13
- Broncos beat Titans 20-12
- Packers beat Lions 27-13
- Rams beat Texans 14-9
- Bills beat Ravens 41-40
- Viking beat Bears 27-24
Here are some key games that stood out.
The Bills vs Ravens lived up to the hype built around the game. Both teams were amazing, and both quarterbacks led that effort. This was by far the game of the week. The Buffalo Bills overcame a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 41–40 in a thriller. Josh Allen put on a legendary performance with 250+ passing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and two passing scores. His final drive set up a walk-off field goal by Matt Prater. Allen’s fourth-quarter rally also made him the franchise’s all-time rushing TD leader, surpassing Thurman Thomas.
Colts vs Dolphins was a blowout that nobody saw coming. Daniel Jones had a great debut for the Colts, leading them to a 33–8 win over the Dolphins. Jones threw for 272 yards, ran for two scores, and led seven straight scoring drives. This marked Indy’s first Week 1 win since 2013. The Dolphins, on the other hand, looked flat and were slugged by turnovers and poor red-zone execution, raising early concerns for Miami. Jones seemed to be the problem when he was in New York, but maybe he has found a new place where he can settle in.
Minnesota Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy delivered one of Week 1’s most clutch performances, leading his team to a 27–24 comeback win over the Chicago Bears. Down 10 entering the fourth quarter, McCarthy threw two TDs and added a rushing score in a brilliant debut under pressure. The Bears, as we have seen in the past, folded when it mattered, and the disappointment in Chicago is real. After the pick six McCarthy threw in the 3rd quarter, it seemed like he was over hyped, but after the interception, he played amazingly and helped lead his team to victory.
Pittsburgh and the Jets both had new quarterbacks starting this season. Aaron Rodgers (PITT) beats his former team and Justin Fields (NYJ). Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes and led the Steelers to a 34–32 victory over his former team, the New York Jets. Facing boos in MetLife Stadium, Rodgers led a furious fourth-quarter comeback, scoring twice in 50 seconds to take the lead. With just over a minute remaining, Chris Boswell nailed a career‑long 60-yard field goal to seal the win. The game was capped by Jalen Ramsey’s pass breakup on fourth down to Garrett Wilson, forcing the Jets to settle for a loss.
Key games to watch out for next week include:
- Commanders at Packers Thursday Night 8:15pm
- Super Bowl Rematch from last year Eagles at Chiefs Sunday 4:25pm
- 2024 College Football National Championship QB rematch between Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons vs J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings Sunday night 8:20pm. J.J McCarthy got the best of Michael Penix Jr with a 34-13 win where the Michigan Wolverines beat the Washington Huskies, Penix is back for revenge.