Football is back. Well, it has been back, but looking back at those week one nfl matchups from the 2025 season start, you realize just how much the league shifted in one single weekend. People always say don't overreact to the first game. Then we do it anyway.
Honestly, the schedule makers knew exactly what they were doing. They gave us the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys on a Thursday night. It wasn't just a rivalry game; it was a total reset of the NFC East power structure after that wild Micah Parsons trade to Green Bay. Yeah, seeing Parsons in a Packers jersey later that Sunday felt wrong, but seeing the Cowboys try to rush Jalen Hurts without him was even weirder.
The Big Opening Statement
The Eagles won that opener 34-17. It wasn't even as close as the score looked, mostly because Saquon Barkley decided to play like it was 2018 again. Philly showed why they were the favorites, but the real story was Dak Prescott returning from that hamstring injury. He looked a bit rusty, sure. But the lack of a pass rush on the other side? That’s what had Dallas fans panicking by the second quarter.
Then came Friday. Brazil.
The NFL went to São Paulo for a massive AFC West clash: Chiefs vs. Chargers. Everyone was buzzing about whether Taylor Swift would make the trip, but the real fireworks were on the field. Patrick Mahomes doing Mahomes things is expected, but Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers played a brand of "bully ball" that actually kept it tight. The Chiefs escaped, but it set the tone for a season where Kansas City couldn't just coast.
Sunday’s Chaos and the MVP Race
By Sunday afternoon, the week one nfl matchups were coming fast.
- Bengals vs. Browns: Joe Burrow usually starts slow, and 2025 was no exception. Cleveland’s defense, led by Myles Garrett, absolutely swarmed him.
- Dolphins vs. Colts: This was the Daniel Jones debut in Indy. Most people (myself included) thought it would be a disaster. Instead, "Danny Dimes" threw for 272 yards and looked... competent? The Dolphins, meanwhile, looked lost without Jalen Ramsey.
- Steelers vs. Jets: A defensive slugfest. T.J. Watt and Sauce Gardner basically took over the game. It ended 13-10, the kind of score that makes offensive coordinators cry.
The most anticipated game for most junkies was definitely the Sunday Night Football showdown. Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills. Two MVP frontrunners in Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Last time they met in the playoffs, it was a 27-25 heartbreaker for Baltimore. This time? Lamar was on a mission. He ran for nearly 100 yards in the first half alone. It felt like a heavyweight fight where neither guy wanted to sit down between rounds.
What We Got Wrong About the Rookies
We always hype up the rookie quarterbacks. In 2025, the spotlight was on Caleb Williams in Chicago and J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. They didn't actually play each other until Monday night, which gave the hype an extra 24 hours to ferment.
The Bears under Ben Johnson—the guy everyone wanted as a head coach—looked different. Faster. Williams made a few "hero ball" throws that got him into trouble, but you could see the talent. McCarthy, on the other hand, had the benefit of Kevin O'Connell’s system and a guy named Justin Jefferson.
"You can't win the Super Bowl in September, but you can definitely lose the locker room if you don't show up."
That’s a sentiment often echoed by Mike Vrabel, who made his Patriots coaching debut in week one against the Raiders. New England won a gritty 20-17 game. It wasn't pretty, but it was vintage Vrabel. He had Drake Maye playing "boring" football—limiting turnovers and leaning on a stout defense. It worked.
The AFC South Shakeup
Jacksonville hosted the Panthers, and while Bryce Young showed flashes of growth, the Jaguars' defense looked rejuvenated under Liam Coen. People forget that the AFC South was wide open entering 2025. The Texans were the darlings of the league, but they had a massive test against the Rams at SoFi. C.J. Stroud vs. Matthew Stafford was a pure passing clinic.
Stroud is special. You see it in the way he manipulates safeties. Even against a Sean Payton-coached defense later in the year, those week one traits were visible. He doesn't panic.
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Why These Matchups Mattered Long-Term
Looking back from the perspective of the playoffs, those early games weren't just flukes. The Seahawks beating the 49ers 13-3 in the afternoon window seemed like a defensive anomaly at the time. We thought San Francisco was just having an off day. Turns out, Seattle’s "Legion of Boom 2.0" was the real deal. They ended up being one of the stingiest units in the league.
On the flip side, the Falcons' loss to the Bucs in week one was a harbinger of their struggles. Michael Penix Jr. got the start over Kirk Cousins, and while the arm talent was obvious, the chemistry with Kyle Pitts just wasn't there yet.
Moving Toward the Postseason
If you're looking to analyze how these teams evolved, don't just look at the final scores. Look at the trenches. The Patriots' offensive line was a mess in September but became a top-10 unit by December. The Cowboys' defense never quite recovered from losing Parsons, proving that some players are truly irreplaceable.
Actionable Insights for Following the Rematches:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Teams like the 49ers and Dolphins were decimated early. If they're healthy now, their week one tape is basically useless for scouting.
- Home Field vs. Neutral Site: The Chiefs' win in Brazil was impressive, but international travel fatigue is real. Always weigh those performances differently than a standard home game.
- Second-Year Leap: Keep an eye on the 2024 draft class. Guys like Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams showed more growth between Week 1 and Week 18 than most veterans do in three seasons.
Go back and re-watch the condensed highlights of the Ravens-Bills game. It’s the best blueprint for how to beat elite dual-threat quarterbacks in today's NFL. The way Buffalo used "spy" packages while maintaining a four-man rush is something defensive coordinators are still copying.