By Avi Wizwer
As the 2024-2025 NFL Season is officially underway, it’s a chance to see how much improvement was made in the off-season. It can predict how the season may turn out for some of these teams, but it can also be a chance to look at how much potential a team has. There were some surprises for Week 1, and some devastating news regarding injuries to start the season.
The game of the week was the Kansas City Chiefs, back-to-back champions, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 with an underwhelming performance from Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He threw for 291 yds with one touchdown and one interception. The one touchdown he threw was to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who played an incredible debut game against one of the best teams in the league, the Ravens. Another notable add is Rashee Rice, a wide receiver for the Chiefs chipped in seven receptions for 103 yds.
As for the Baltimore Ravens, a well-known name carried his team to the end. Star quarterback and last year’s MVP Lamar Jackson had a stellar performance, with a combined 395 yds, as he threw for 273 yds and rushed for 122 yds. Despite his performance, he couldn’t finish the job in the closing seconds to seal the victory. Other notable performances include the newcomer Derrick Henry rushing for 43 yds and scoring his first touchdown with the Ravens. Receiver Isiah Likely had nine receptions with 111 yds and one touchdown.
Some devastating news also occurred in Week 1. Green Bay Packers star quarterback Jordan Love suffered a knee injury against the Philadelphia Eagles. His timetable for return is currently unknown, which is a massive loss for the Packers going into Week 2. Another notable name that suffered an injury is San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey. He didn’t play in Week 1, and has been put on the Injury Reserve and is expected to miss at least four weeks with Achilles tendinitis.
The week’s biggest surprise was the New England Patriots defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10—a breakout performance from New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson as he ran for 120 yds with one touchdown, and a good performance from quarterback Jacoby Brissett as he threw for 121 yds. The Patriots also played a remarkable defense in holding the Bengals to only 10 points. The Cincinnati Bengals had a bit of underperformance from star quarterback Joe Burrow, who only threw for 164 yds, and star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who only had six receptions for 62 yds. It’s a game Bengals will need to put in the rearview mirror if they want to have some success come Week 2.
With some unexpected performances, unlikely heroes, and injuries, the football season is back and in full swing. Whether you’re cheering from the stands or cheering from home supporting your favorite team, the NFL is back!