Week one of the 2024-2025 NFL season is in the books! No more speculation, no more unproven rookies, no more waiting. We got to see what the 32 NFL teams are bringing to the table is week one’s kickoff this past weekend. Like many others, I had some very strong reactions to these first glimpses of the season. Some are overreactions, some underreactions, and some are just…indifference. Let’s dive in and look at my thoughts for each of the sixteen games that introduced us to the best time of the year: Football season!

Ravens @ Chiefs

This must be what it felt like to play the Patriots during our dynasty eras. No wonder everyone hated us! The inevitability of Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs squad has not faltered much in the months since they hoisted their second consecutive Lombardi trophy in February. If anything, they look a bit more dangerous. New additions like rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy make the team more dynamic than they were when they emerged as the top team in the league last year. It’s not an easy pill for any non-Chiefs fan to swallow, but perhaps least of all for Ravens fans.

The poor Ravens. This extremely talented team can never quite manage to get the best of this Kansas City squad. Even at what has looked like their peaks over the years, there is always the shadow of Patrick Mahomes looming over Baltimore. Dropping this week one match after a near game tying touchdown means that the Ravens will have to spend the rest of the season dwelling on this game and plotting their revenge. Every other game is just a scrimmage in comparison. Unfortunately for them it feels inevitable that the Ravens will make their way to the playoffs just to lose to this same Chiefs team again. You don’t really need a crystal ball to see this one play out clearly, it feels all too familiar at this point.

Buckle up kids, looks like we have another year of red and yellow confetti in front of us.

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Packers @ Eagles

This game really delivered on the hype. We were promised two Super Bowl contenders going at it in Brazil and that’s exactly what we got. Both of these teams have oodles of offensive potential and are extremely fun to watch.

We have the Packers who have been one of the most consistently talented teams in the twenty-first century. This consistency is thanks in a large part to the fact that Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and now Jordan Love have been a successive line of rocket-armed quarterbacks leading this franchise forward. With Love coming into his own last season, many fans were exciting to see him hit the field. He isn’t alone in his talent though. The team has brought together crop of young receivers out of practically thin air and brought on powerhouse running back Josh Jacobs this off season. The possibilities for greatness are quite thrilling for this team. However, the magical start to their season was cut short when their young QB went down with an injury during a last-minute pass attempt in Friday night’s game. The next few weeks without him will be extremely telling about how much this offense depends on Love for their success.

On the other side of the field we have an Eagles team who struggled to rebound after a Super Bowl loss last year. In just this one performance we can see glimpses of the team that brought them to the big show in the first place. There is still a lot of work to be done to take them back to what they are capable of, but the addition of Saquon Barkley is certainly a step in the right direction. Barkley looked at the haters who doubted him on this offense (read: me) and swiftly shut them up. Sometimes it isn’t any more complicated than putting good players on a good team and getting good results.

Both teams have work to do on defense that could leave them vulnerable to some of the higher proficiency offenses in this league, but they are each in an exciting position going into this season. So long as they can stay healthy, that is.

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Steelers @ Falcons

After two thrilling primetime games to open the season we had some real duds on Sunday. Perhaps none more lifeless than this matchup between the Kirk Cousins’ led Falcons and the Justin Fields’ driven Steelers. The result of this lackluster game was a trash performance from Cousins and not one single offensive touchdown for the winning team.

Coming into this season I was very high on the Falcons. I think they have a ton of talent on their team – Kyle Pitts, Bijon Robinson, and Drake London to name a few. I thought that Cousins would be the ideal game manager to be dropped into this team that is oozing with potential. Yet we quickly learned in these four quarters that he may keep the tradition that has been plaguing Atlanta since their Super Bowl loss: quarterbacks that hold their team back.

The only thing I have to say about the Steelers is that their best player today – besides TJ Watt since that is a given – was their kicker. That about sums it up.

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Cardinals @ Bills

Josh Allen will have to put his team on his back and carry them forward if the Bills want to make a playoff run this year in the way they have become accustomed to in recent years. After Sunday’s performance against a decent Cardinals team it looks like he may not just be willing to take this task on, but may even be capable of successfully executing.

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Titans @ Bears

At face value this looks like a triumphant win for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Nothing like making your NFL debut a win at home! But when you look a little closer – AKA check the box score – it’s clear that this win had little to do with Williams at all. There was not one offensive touchdown scored by this Bears team, though their defense proved to be a force to be reckon with.

As for the Titans, we got two offensive declarations from this team:

1. Tony Pollard reminded us all not to count him out as one of the more talented rushers in the league.
2. Will Leviss is not the guy for this and maybe any team in the NFL.

The overreacting, overdramatic side of me tells me that these two teams are doomed to rot in the middle of the league and will fail to do anything to genuinely capture my attention. The other side part – the less dramatic part – is quick to remind me that this is just week one. Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.

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Patriots @ Bengals

I don’t think there were more than a handful of Patriots faithful who were feeling confident about this team going into Cincinnati to face the Bengals this weekend. Personally, I was dreading not only this matchup but this entire Patriots season. The offseason conversations around this team have been terrible. Between Aiyuk rejecting us and Judon being shipped down to Atlanta, vibes are not ideal. Yet somehow, we had a victory Monday this week.

This win can be almost completely credited to our single best offensive player: Rhamondre Stevenson. It was clear from the moment he took his first snap that Mondre was capable of being a special addition to the team, but this is the moment he truly shined for all to see. Even if I am less than impressed by the team’s overall performance, I am very encouraged by the work I saw out of our running back.

Can the same be said about the Bengals? It’s tough to know since this is not exactly unfamiliar territory for this team. Though they fancy themselves Super Bowl contenders still, it’s been a few years since Cincinnati made their appearance in the big game and each subsequent season has started off with a loss. There is still a chance this squad is in contention come January, but there is a lot that needs to go their way to get there.

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Texans @ Colts

The AFC South has always left a lot to be desired as a division, during my lifetime anyway. It seems the teams take turns being interesting and there is never much solid competition between them. Not this season! The Colts, Jaguars, and Texans all have exciting young talent and the Titans are also…there.

This game was the four quarters worth of proof that I needed to know these divisional match-ups will be must watch football this year. With two incredibly talented and dynamic quarterbacks at the helm, the Texans and the Colts duked it out til the very end on Sunday. The quarterbacks are just the beginning of the offensive intrigue though. Both teams have explosive running backs and young wide receivers brimming with urgency. Adding Stefon Diggs to the Texans offense doesn’t hurt either.

Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of either team, be sure to pencil this rematch in your calendar for October 27th.

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Jaguars @ Dolphins

There was no lack of drama in this 1:00pm ET battle of Florida. Before the first whistle even blew, Tyreek Hill was already making headlines with his detainment by the Miami-Dade police department. I will spare you my opinions on this specific matter and instead focus on the drama that unfolded on the field in Hard Rock Stadium, but it goes without saying that this piece of news upped the ante in this game.

The story on the field was not as thrilling as the final score and last-minute field goal would lead you to believe. Trevor Lawrence, it seems, is going to have to work even harder this year to overcome to shortcomings of his supporting cast. With names like Travis Etienne and Evan Engram on his offense, you wouldn’t think there would be issues with talent. Yet, fumbles and dropped catches littered this first offensive outing for Jacksonville. We saw shades of this last year, but seeing it trickle into this season is not a good sign. This might not be a habit the Jaguars can break, no matter how hard Trevor tries.

As for the Dolphins? They were fine. Devon Achane looked great and Tyreek caught an 80-yard touchdown which he celebrated by reenacting his detainment. Say what you will about him, but he is sure knows how to get the people talking.

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Panthers @ Saints

There isn’t much to say about this game without sounding cruel. Despite an offseason and some new additions to the team, the Panthers still don’t have what it takes. I fear they may be the worst of the bunch this year.

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Vikings @ Giants

The Panthers might be the worst team in the league, but the Giants are a close second. And their throwback jerseys this week? An assault to the eyes. There is absolutely no justification for those pants. I will not hear anything that will make me feel anything less than visceral rage about them.

While there wasn’t much positive to take away from this game for Giants fans, there is a glimmer of hope for the Vikings faithful. The team looked promising and relatively healthy. But before we get too excited about anything, there is an important question we have to ask: Is Sam Darnold a competitive and competent quarterback or is Justin Jefferson just that good? I’ll give Darnold a shot, but my gut tells me JJettas might be able to make anyone look like a bonafide starter…even just for a game or two.

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Raiders @ Chargers

The Chargers beat the Raiders. The Chargers look better than I was expecting and the Raiders look worse than I was expected. That’s pretty much all I have to say about that.

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Broncos @ Seahawks

This game was the start of a new era for both Seattle and Denver.

Seattle started their first season without head coach Pete Carroll since 2009. The Pete Carroll years saw the team win a Super Bowl, lose a Super Bowl, and reign supreme as the “Legion of Boom.” Nothing gold can stay and the team had to move on to a new coach to start this season. The result was nothing remarkably new, but it was very messy. Though they pulled off the win, the Seahawks didn’t look like a complete squad that could compete against the heavy hitters in the NFC. Not to mention their standout running back, Kenneth Walker III, left the game injured. Hopes should not be high in Seattle even though they started their season with a win.

In Denver we are seeing the start of the Bo Nix era. I can’t say it’s one I have high hopes for, especially after this first game, but I guess we will have to see how this all plays out.

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Cowboys @ Browns

There was a lot of hype around this game. At least there was for me. These are both talented, competent, and gritty teams who I had high expectations for this year.

The Cowboys lived up to the hype I had built up for them in my head. Both offensively and defensively, they were a relatively well oiled machine. Not to mention they have perhaps the most exciting kicker in the league in Brandon Aubrey.

The Browns on the other hand…they shit the bed on this one. With a strong defense and talent in the skill positions, it was ultimately their scum bag of a quarterback who showed his true colors today. Guess what folks? Deshaun Watson isn’t just a terrible person, it also seems like he is a terrible football player! I would be lying if I said I didn’t get a tremendous amount of joy from this fact. On behalf of all those he has hurt – a list which seems to still be growing – I relish in the fact that he is making an absolute fool of himself every time he steps onto the field.

What is less satisfying is that Browns as an organization are the real losers here. The Browns signed Watson to one of the most prolific contracts in the history of the NFL and have yet to reap any sort of reward for such an investment. To bench him would be a defeat, but to continue to play him would lead to continued losses. It’s a conundrum that many have been discussing since this less than ideal start to Cleveland’s 2024-2025 campaign.

This game might not have been the competitive match I was hoping for, but it surely did bring the drama and a massive pay day for Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. I can’t really complain about that, can I?

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Commanders @ Buccaneers

Should we be taking the Buccaneers and their polarizing play-caller more seriously? I wouldn’t have agreed with that sentiment before Sunday’s game against the Commanders, but now I am seriously considering whether or not the Bucs are for real.

I don’t know what it is about Mike Evans that makes me forget about him the moment the Bucs finish their season each year. Not only is he talented, but he has been extremely consistent in his career thus far. Yet every year, I am shocked to see him perform in the manner which he has become expected to perform: at a very high level. This week’s game was no exception as I begrudgingly remembered just how talented Evans and his team are capable of being.

My anticipation – while clearly not centered around the Bucs – was targeted at the Commanders rookie Quarterback, Jayden Daniels. This Heisman winning QB out of LSU was number one on my list of players I wanted the Patriots to draft this year. When the Commanders beat us to it, I was salty, but excited to see what he had up his sleeve. As a repeat fantasy owner of Terry McLaurin, I was also excited for him to be the number one target of a talented QB for the first time in what feels like forever. In my head, the possibilities for this team were sky high.

The reality of the matter is that Jayden Daniels is a rookie who has a lot to learn and Terry will continue to disappoint me on my fantasy team. Oh yeah and the Commanders defense stinks. Just like I didn’t see the Mike Evans and Bucs coming even though it was obvious, I expected more from the Commanders than they were capable of.

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Rams @ Lions

Rivalries make sports better. They bring out the worst in the fans and the best in the teams. As a Red Sox fan I can confirm two things to be true:

1. There is no team I hate more irrationally than the New York Yankees. No matter how many or how few names I know on the Red Sox roster, the Yankees make me see red.
2. No matter how good or bad these rivals are, their games are nearly always competitive. They are able to tap into to some reserve power whenever they face off.

There are many historic, long-running rivalries in the NFL that never fail to entertain even the casual viewer. Every few years though, something exciting happens and a new rivalry emerges. The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams are forever intertwined by the 2021 blockbuster trade that swapped quarterbacks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford between teams. Miraculously, it looks like everything has worked out for both squads. Detroit broke a 31-year playoff victory drought last season and the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2022. What initially looked like a one-sided trade has turned into something mutually beneficial.

It also created tension between the teams and the cities they played in. With each matchup, one of the quarterbacks faced their old team and their old fans. The ability to win a game meant winning the trade and coming out on top. Beyond the fans involvement, these two teams bring an energy of rivalry-level proportions onto the field when they play. If last season’s playoff game didn’t prove it, this year’s first edition of Sunday Night Football did. These two teams tap into the extra gas in their tanks when they play and I only wish they were in the same division so we could see it more often.

At this point the Rams have a super bowl, but the Lions have the edge in the head-to-head matchups. This is the stuff of historic rivalries!

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Jets @ 49ers

Well, those of us who were hoping for Aaron Rodgers to get hurt in the first few snaps of this game have to swallow the pill that he is in fact the starting quarterback for the New York Jets. I don’t root for injuries…except for Jets players who I think are complete nut bags. Rodgers very nicely – and singularly – fits into this bucket.

It’s easy to overthink and idealize what something might look like when you haven’t seen it yet. Speculation is seductive and it can skew your perception into something so inflated that reality will never live up to your expectations. Many people let speculation get the best of them when imagining what an Aaron Rodgers led Jets team would look like. Throwing the ball to Garrett Wilson and handing it off to Breece Hall? How exciting! Add all this into the speculation around the dumpster fire that has been the lead up to the season for the 49ers and you have an the potential for something groundbreaking in this Monday night matchup. Brandon Aiyuk reluctantly stays? Brock Purdy looks shitty in preseason? Christian McCaffrey missing game one? Yikes!

The reality of the game wasn’t nearly as exciting. The 49ers are still one of the most elite teams in the NFL. The Jets are still riddled with the issues of a cursed franchise. Aaron Rodgers is still old. Kyle Shanahan is still the running back whisperer. No overthinking needed to see this outcome for exactly what it was: predictable.