The opening week of the 2025 NFL season delivered dramatic finishes, surprising performances, and tactical innovations that hint at what’s to come this year.
In Sunday’s action, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed he still has plenty left in the tank at age 41, throwing four touchdowns in the Steelers’ 34-32 win over his former team, the Jets. Rodgers completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards without an interception, continuing his historical excellence by tying Tom Brady for the most career games with four-plus touchdowns and no interceptions (28).
The Colts dominated the Dolphins 33-8 behind Daniel Jones’ efficient debut, as the former Giants quarterback went 22-of-29 for 272 yards and three total touchdowns. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa struggled mightily, failing to complete a single pass under pressure and throwing two interceptions.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo made an immediate impact in his Colts debut after six seasons in Cincinnati. His defense confused Miami with varied pressure packages that included defensive back blitzes, creative coverages, and unexpected drops into coverage from pass rushers like rookie Laiatu Latu, who recorded an interception.
In Green Bay, Micah Parsons proved his worth in Packers debut despite playing just 29 of 65 defensive snaps. The star pass rusher helped limit the Lions to 13 points, even beating All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell multiple times to pressure quarterback Jared Goff. The Packers won 27-13 as Jordan Love threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
The 49ers overcame George Kittle’s hamstring injury to edge the Seahawks 17-13, with third-string tight end Jake Tonges catching the game-winning touchdown. Nick Bosa sealed the victory with a strip-sack of Sam Darnold in the final minutes. Christian McCaffrey recorded his 31st career game with both 50+ rushing and 50+ receiving yards, second only to Marshall Faulk’s 41 such games.
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Several rookies made immediate impacts across the league. Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka caught two touchdowns, including the game-winner, in a 23-20 victory over Atlanta. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty scored a touchdown in Las Vegas’ 20-13 win over New England, while Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt sealed Washington’s 21-6 victory over the Giants with a 42-yard run.
The new kickoff rule changes implemented for 2025 are already affecting field position battles, with touchbacks now coming out to the 35-yard line instead of the 30. This adjustment has teams considering more strategic returns and placing greater emphasis on returner-coverage unit matchups.
Next Gen Stats unveiled new metrics for 2025, including Coverage Responsibility and quantification of coverage disguises, offering deeper insights into defensive performance. The Vikings led the NFL last season with a 38.4% blitz rate under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who continued his aggressive approach in Week 1.
The Bills mounted a dramatic comeback against the Ravens on Sunday night, with Josh Allen leading three straight scoring drives to erase a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit. Allen finished with over 400 total yards and four touchdowns in the 41-40 victory. Second-year receiver Keon Coleman emerged as Allen’s go-to target, recording a career-best eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.With Week 1 complete, teams now have actual game film to evaluate their offseason changes and adjust strategies heading into the second week of what promises to be an intriguing 2025 NFL season.
