There is nothing like Week 1 of the NFL season; the ups and downs of rooting for your favorite team, the storylines, matchups. As the kids would say, the NFL “aura” is simply unmatched.
Throughout the course of the weekend, there were many studs and duds. I have compiled a list of the three most important storylines of the weekend.
Headline No.1- Jackson vs. Allen, the Bills and Ravens deliver an all-time classic
When you think of football in 2025, two names are quickly coming to mind: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. It just means more when these two collide. Josh Allen was coming off his MVP season, and Lamar Jackson was coming off the greatest TD-INT ratio in NFL history for a single season. These two are definitely entertaining to watch.
The Ravens and Bills combined for a staggering eighty-one points in a game. Fans saw Josh Allen pull off the improbable and lead the Buffalo Bills from a 40-25 deficit with four minutes left in the game. Bills Mafia saw an impossible 41-40 victory for their Bills. It would probably be impossible to do this in Madden, let alone in an NFL game.
The storylines from this game are plentiful; they could take up the entire article.
Derrick Henry continues to age like a fine glass of wine; he can’t stop and won’t stop, but he had the most consequential turnover of the game.
DeAndre Hopkins had an improbable one-handed catch that should’ve been the dagger in the game. When targeted on third down in the clutch moment, he couldn’t come through. Not saying it is his fault.
However, the theme, ultimately, is that the Ravens had a series of miscues that ultimately cost them the game. No one is more at fault than Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Any team that is up 40-25, with four minutes left on the clock, should be able to find a way to pull out the victory. But, the Ravens were not able to finish the job, whether it was the defense not being aggressive enough for the full sixty minutes.
The bottom line is simple. The Bills outscored the Ravens 22-0 in the final quarter. For any team that wants to make it to the playoffs, let alone win a Super Bowl, this loss can not happen again.
I still think the Ravens will be fine, and yes, I still think Jackson is a better overall quarterback than Josh Allen. Ultimately, this is just one game where you tip your cap to Allen and admire his greatness. The road to Santa Clara now runs through Orchard Park and the Bills Mafia.
Headline No.2- Aaron Rodgers Shines, Leads the Steelers to Victory with Four Touchdowns
Is it just me, or did everyone just completely forget about how good Aaron Rodgers is for the National Football League? Whether you like him or you hate him, you have to respect him.
Rodgers is a top-five quarterback of all time. I am one of the few who believe Rodgers was not the problem with the Jets; he was plagued by constant chaos and drama outside of his control.
Going from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers is like going from hell to heaven in terms of organizational competency. Say anything about the Steelers, they always find a way to put a competent product on the field. Even a season ago, with Russell Wilson, the Steelers still found a way to make the playoffs.
With Rodgers now in the land of competence, he looked refreshed; he looked like a different quarterback. Granted, there was plenty of extra motivation to go to MetLife Stadium and play great football against his old team. It was something more for Rodgers to silence the haters.
Rodgers went on to help the Steelers defeat the Jets 34-32, throwing for an impressive 244 yards and four touchdowns.
In his postgame press conference, Rodgers alluded to the fact that he was happy to “defeat everyone associated with the Jets.”
I still think this could be the classic AJ week one overreaction. But, for now, I see the Steelers and Rodgers as a favorite for the number seven seed in the AFC.
Headline No.3- Perfection Personified, Justin Herbert Lights up the Chiefs
When talking about Justin Herbert this offseason, NFL fans really honed in on the dramatic wild-card loss to the Houston Texans back in January. The Chargers were upset by the Texans as Herbert struggled. He threw for four interceptions in a losing effort.
This performance strained Herbert’s 2024 campaign, in which he threw only three interceptions throughout the regular season. It was also head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season in the city of angels.
Fans also forget that Herbert’s supporting cast, outside of future superstar wide receiver Ladd McKonkey, was depleted. Throwing the ball to a main supporting cast consisting of Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins, Will Dissly, Quentin Johnston, and D.J. Chark Jr is nowhere near a Super Bowl campaign in 2025.
Now, with a newly revamped Chargers offense led by additions such as Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris, Mekhi Becton, and Keenan Allen, it should have been obvious that the Chargers were due for a leap in 2025. If it wasn’t, it sure is after week one.
In my opinion, Herbert played his best game as a professional quarterback, throwing for 318 yards and three passing touchdowns in a winning effort. The Chargers stunned the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Look for the Chargers to be a strong playoff contender, with a chance to knock off some top-tier teams in the conference.