NFL Week 1 grades: Aaron Rodgers leads Steelers to wild win and solid mark, Bengals survive ugly opener

Welcome to the Week 1 grades. 

The 2025 NFL season is off and running and like we do every year, we’re going to be grading every game that’s played between now and January. 

The first week of the season always seems to get a little crazy and this year was no exception. In the early games on Sunday, we saw the Cincinnati Bengals total just 141 yards in a win over the Cleveland Browns. And then there was the Indianapolis Colts, who won their regular-season opener for the first time since 2013 and it was all thanks to Daniel Jones. Yes, that Daniel Jones. 

Aaron Rodgers got revenge on the New York Jets and all he needed to make it happen was a 60-yard field goal from Chris Boswell in the final minute. Not every kicker was as reliable as Boswell, though. In Atlanta, the Falcons had a chance to force overtime against the Buccaneers, but OT didn’t happen because the kick missed. 

It’s been a wild week, and now it’s time to grade every game. 

Tampa Bay 23-20 over Atlanta

Cincinnati 17-16 over Cleveland

Indianapolis 33-8 over Miami

Las Vegas 20-13 over New England

Arizona 20-13 over over New Orleans

Pittsburgh 34-32 over N.Y. Jets

Jacksonville 26-10 over Carolina

Washington 21-6 over N.Y. Giants

Philadelphia 24-20 over Dallas (Thursday)

L.A. Chargers 27-21 over Chiefs (Friday in Brazil)