The 2025 NFL season has gotten off to a shocking start with unexpected upsets, breakout performances, and record-breaking history Within the span of a few weeks, there already have been many unexpected events such as injuries spoiling contenders to teams surprisingly rewriting preseason narratives. If this early action is anything to go by, we are in for a season that will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable in recent times.

Injuries have already changed the season for Cincinnati’s star quarterback. Joe Burrow went down with a brutal toe injury that will sideline him for three months. For a player whose early career has already been defined by both brilliance and setbacks, this is another major blow. The Bengals will now be forced to navigate their season without their leader at the center, a challenge that could crush their playoff hopes.

Meanwhile, shock value and resilience have been in overdrive. In Week One, the Buffalo Bills stunned the Ravens with one of the biggest upsets in recent years. Trailing 40–25 with just under five minutes left to play, Josh Allen rushed for two touchdowns and threw two touchdown passes to drive his team to a staggering 41- 40 victory. Another shock was seen with the Cleveland Browns’s win. The Browns shocked their home-faithful with a walk-off 46-yard field goal to beat the highly-touted Packers, proving that even underdogs could bring about lifetime-lasting memories. 

“History has already been written this early in the scene, and in a dramatic fashion.”The Minnesota Vikings beat the Bengals 48–10, but the tale of this game was centered around cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who had a defensive game made for the ages. Rodgers is the first in NFL history to have scored on an 87-yard interception return and a 66-yard fumble return in one contest, in addition to forcing several turnovers. Not only did his play seal a dominating win, but it also cemented him in the NFL record books.  The Vikings beating the Bengals in this manner was a big surprise move. 

Other teams are making their way up the list as surprise movers as well. The Indianapolis Colts have sprinted to a 3–0 start, paced by quarterback Daniel Jones, who looks like a different person now as he navigates the offense with confidence, something he did not have previously. Rookie head coach Liam Coen has flipped around the Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing them from one of the worst teams in football a year ago to a promising 2–1 start with creative play-calling and an energized locker room. In contrast, former Lions OC and now Bears boss Ben Johnson has struggled in his new role. His team was thrashed 52–21 by Detroit, showing that not all new starts are successful right away.

Even veterans have been redefining their roles. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has looked electrifying, leading Los Angeles to a 3-0 start capped by an opening-week win over the reigning AFC champion Chiefs in Brazil. Kicker Brandon Aubrey was also in the news in Dallas, kicking a pressure-filled 64-yarder in overtime and closing out the Cowboys’ 40–37 win with a 46-yard game-winner. These kinds of performances demonstrate not only individual greatness but also how a single play can turn a preseason around.

If the initial weeks have done anything to educate fans, it is to anticipate the unexpected. From devastating injuries to miraculous recoveries and record-setting plays, this season of the NFL has already been one for the books. With half a year of football remaining, the thrill has barely gotten underway.

Sources

https://www.vikings.com/video/vikings-weekly-reactions-to-isaiah-rodgers-big-game-mic-d-up-moments-playing-steelers-in-dublin

https://www.jaguars.com/news/k000469-thursday-quick-hits-travis-hunter-help-more