NFL Sunday Delivers Thrillers in Season Opener

Bucs rally past Falcons; Bengals, Cardinals, Raiders secure narrow wins

Tampa Bay overcame Atlanta 23-20, Cincinnati edged Cleveland 17-16 and Arizona held off New Orleans 20-13, while Las Vegas defeated New England 20-13, Pittsburgh outlasted New York 34-32 and Indianapolis routed Miami 33-8 on Sunday, Sept. 7, launching Week 1 with dramatic finishes and high-scoring affairs.

The opening Sunday slate featured six contests decided by one possession or more than 25 points, underscoring the competitive parity and offensive firepower set to define the 2025 campaign.

Bucs’ Late-Game Heroics Sink Falcons

  • Baker Mayfield connected with Emeka Egbuka for the go-ahead 25-yard touchdown with 59 seconds remaining.
  • Michael Penix Jr. rallied Atlanta to a 20-17 lead late in the fourth, but Younghoe Koo’s 44-yard field-goal try rimmed out, sealing Tampa Bay’s season-opening triumph.

Bengals’ Defense Holds Off Browns

Cincinnati’s defense forced two second-half turnovers, including D.J. Turner’s interception with 1:24 to play, preserving a 17-16 win over Cleveland and handing the Browns a gut-wrenching defeat to start their season.

Cardinals Survive in New Orleans

Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes and Arizona capitalized on several Saints penalties to secure a 20-13 victory in New Orleans, spoiling Kellen Moore’s coaching debut with the Saints.

Raiders Rally Past Patriots

Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and a touchdown, and rookie Ashton Jeanty powered in the game-winner, as Las Vegas overturned New England 20-13 in a hard-fought AFC West showdown.

Steelers Edge Jets in Shootout

Pittsburgh rallied from a 32-31 deficit in the final two minutes, capped by Najee Harris’s four-yard touchdown run, to down New York 34-32 at MetLife Stadium.

Colts Dominate Dolphins

Indianapolis jumped to a 30-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 33-8 victory over Miami, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and stifling Dolphins’ hopes of a comeback.

The thrilling outcomes on opening Sunday set a high bar for Week 1, combining razor-thin margins and decisive blowouts that hint at a season filled with unpredictability and excitement.