After virtually seven months away, the NFL is again in emphatic vogue.
All 32 groups made their 2025 season debuts in Week 1, with dramatic endings, assertion wins and doubtlessly damaging defeats among the many outcomes on show.
Here are three huge takeaways from the opening week of motion.
Another 12 months has passed by and Derrick Henry is nonetheless Derrick Henry.
Despite being the oldest beginning working again in the league, Henry confirmed that he is nonetheless top-of-the-line in the enterprise in a dominant efficiency on Sunday Night Football.
Starting his second season for the Baltimore Ravens, 31-year-old Henry ran for 169 yards on 18 carries and two dashing touchdowns towards the Buffalo Bills.
Henry’s total efficiency confirmed his all-around skillset: his energy to interrupt tackles and his breakaway velocity on lengthy landing runs.
His two scores had been the 107th and 108th dashing touchdowns of his NFL profession, breaking a tie for sixth with Hall of Famer Jim Brown on the all-time listing for many in a profession. He is now simply two behind Walter Payton in fifth and 56 behind the chief Emmitt Smith.
The truth Henry is nonetheless in a position to produce at this degree given he’s (presumably) in the latter levels of his profession is a outstanding sight, particularly as a result of the place favors youthful gamers. And his manufacturing on Sunday towards the Bills was the primary speaking level the vast majority of the sport.
That was till late in the fourth quarter when Henry had a expensive fumble which sparked a late Buffalo comeback and resulted in a 41-40 loss for the Ravens.
Henry – who performed eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans earlier than transferring to the Ravens forward of final season – had misplaced one fumble in his earlier 37 video games, together with the playoffs, earlier than Sunday.
“First of all, I got to take care of the ball,” Henry advised reporters after the sport. “I advised my teammates after the sport to place the loss on me. I personal it, like a man.
“We emphasize taking care of the ball since we got back, it’s a big emphasis, especially in our room and the running backs taking care of the football. Keeping it high and tight, not lackadaisical, and they made a play. But I put the loss on me. If I take care of the ball, probably be a different situation.”
Despite his expensive late mistake, Henry proved why he’s nonetheless a difference-maker in the NFL. His signing final season would’ve been extra of a story – he scored 16 dashing touchdowns and ran for 1,921 yards – however he was eclipsed by Saquon Barkley in his debut season with the Philadelphia Eagles as he rushed for two,000 yards on the way in which to a Super Bowl title.
But if Henry can hold producing at this degree – offering a key bodily aspect to pair with the elusiveness of celebrity QB Lamar Jackson – then the Ravens could possibly be in-line for one more deep playoff push.
While many groups’ offseasons are stuffed with hope and optimism, the identical can’t be stated in regards to the Miami Dolphins.
A disappointing finish to final season ramped up the strain on head coach Mike McDaniel heading into his fourth season in cost.
To make issues worse, star extensive receiver Tyreek Hill appeared to specific his frustration with the team’s performances, saying “I’m out” on social media.
Although Hill has returned to South Beach for one more season, the strain was on McDaniel to provide a profitable team.
But issues couldn’t have began a lot worse for the Dolphins in Week 1 towards the Indianapolis Colts.
Facing a team which benched its top-five quarterback decide from two years in the past and beginning a passer whose future in the NFL has been questioned, Miami appeared completely outclassed in the 33-8 loss.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble because the offense spluttered. The team’s solely landing got here late in the fourth quarter when the defeat was virtually assured.
It wasn’t a lot better on the defensive facet of the ball as they did not decelerate Colts QB Daniel Jones who, after signing in the offseason, had an impeccable recreation, throwing for 272 yards and a landing, in addition to dashing for 2 extra.
Miami’s complete efficiency was affected by errors, miscues and expensive penalties, and the Dolphins have loads of work to do going ahead.
“Guys let the bells and whistles of Week 1 get the best of them, and they got dealt some strong humility,” McDaniel stated afterwards. “We’re a young team going through some growing pains. That’s what the NFL is and what the NFL does – it teaches you some hard lessons sometimes.”
Miami already confronted a powerful street to make the playoffs in a division with the powerhouse Bills however that job appears even more durable now.
For the second season in a row, the NFL traveled to Brazil in Week 1. And like final season, we would’ve simply seen a Super Bowl contender shine in South America.
Last 12 months, it was the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Green Bay Packers – the Eagles would go onto win Super Bowl LIX. This time round, the Los Angeles Chargers had been victorious towards the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite being greater than 6,100 miles away from their South California house, the Chargers confirmed the world their aspirations this 12 months by beating the NFL’s current dynasty team and their AFC West rivals, 27-21.
While LA’s protection labored laborious to clamp down Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the remainder of the KC offense, virtually all of the headlines had been made by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The 27-year-old put in an all-around efficiency in São Paulo, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, Herbert clinched the victory with a important 19-yard run late in the fourth quarter, snapping a seven-game shedding streak for the Chargers towards Kansas City.
“Justin was phenomenal today in every way with pinpoint accuracy,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh stated after the sport. “I believed he did a nice job together with his legs and working on the finish to seal the sport.
“Just overall toughness and just complete stalwart. He took some big hits and gave a few shots himself. It was incredible quarterback play today.”
While the victory was spectacular, extra necessary maybe was what it confirmed – the Chargers are for actual.
With Harbaugh on the helm, Herbert at quarterback, a bodily dominant offensive line and a protection which has improved quickly during the last 18 months, they’re trying like a formidable opponent for any team.
The Chargers should battle their current historical past of unhealthy luck with accidents and playoff mishaps in the event that they need to be taken significantly come January. But after the victory in Brazil, Herbert isn’t getting forward of himself.
“This was an important one because it was the first one,” the sixth-year quarterback stated. “It’s a very good opponent that we are going against and obviously have a lot of respect for them. But I’m happy the way that all three phases executed today. That’s what our goal was, and it was good to see.”
Winners in daring (Home vs. away)
Philadelphia Eagles 24-20 Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Chargers 27-21 Kansas City Chiefs
Atlanta Falcons 20-23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cleveland Browns 16-17 Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts 33-8 Miami Dolphins
Jacksonville Jaguars 26-10 Carolina Panthers
New England Patriots 13-20 Las Vegas Raiders
New Orleans Saints 13-20 Arizona Cardinals
New York Jets 32-34 Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Commanders 21-6 New York Giants
Denver Broncos 20-12 Tennessee Titans
Seattle Seahawks 13-17 San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers 27-13 Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Rams 14-9 Houston Texans
Buffalo Bills 41-40 Baltimore Ravens
Chicago Bears 24-27 Minnesota Vikings