The 2025 NFL Season Begins with Surprises and Disarray

The 2025 NFL season has kicked off, showcasing its traditional mix of sloppy play and unexpected outcomes. Teams like the Ravens and Bills delivered thrilling performances, while others failed to find their rhythm during their season openers.

In this week's analysis, Bleacher Report's NFL experts—Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton, and Brent Sobleski—have ranked the NFL's 32 teams based on their performances. While the top team remains unchanged, the bottom ranks have seen significant shifts following the season's opening week.

Power Rankings Breakdown

Carolina Panthers (Last Week: 27, Week 1 Result: Lost to Jacksonville 26-10)Momentum built by head coach Dave Canales and quarterback Bryce Young at the end of last season dissipated quickly in a disappointing loss to the Jaguars. Despite previous promise, Young appeared unprepared and the Panthers now find themselves at a disadvantage within the NFC South.

New Orleans Saints (Last Week: 32, Week 1 Result: Lost to Arizona 20-13)The Saints fell short against the Cardinals, showing flashes of defensive strength but unable to capitalize offensively due to an inexperienced quarterback. Improvements are necessary if they hope to find consistency moving forward.

Tennessee Titans (Last Week: 31, Week 1 Result: Lost to Denver 20-12)Quarterback Cam Ward struggled in his debut against a formidable defense. With a lack of playmakers around him, the Titans face challenges in improving their performance this season.

Miami Dolphins (Last Week: 26, Week 1 Result: Lost to Indianapolis 33-8)The Dolphins had an abysmal showing, allowing the Colts to score on every possession—an unprecedented feat against a team that had not won an opening game since 2013. Immediate changes are needed to regain form.

New York Giants (Last Week: 29, Week 1 Result: Lost to Washington 21-6)The Giants' performance yielded little discussion, similarly ineffective on offense as Russell Wilson struggled. The emergence of rookie Jaxson Dart may bring new life to the team as the season progresses.

Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and others also felt the sting of opening-week losses, each needing to regroup quickly to avoid a bleak season ahead. As speculations swirl about who will step up to meet their expectations, the stakes are high with the first round of rankings already making waves.

Final Thoughts

As the rankings shake up after one week, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars are making waves, suggesting a surprising playoff potential based on their performance. The Bills and Ravens showcase the exciting competition this season promises, but many franchises need to adjust their course if they seek playoff contention. The NFL’s landscape may have shifted significantly after only one week of play, with fans eager to see how the teams will react in their upcoming matchups.