NFL Warmth Index Week 1: New-Look Raiders Shine; Who Put Themselves on the Scorching Seat?

All Pete Carroll does is win.

At 73 years and 357 days previous, Carroll grew to become the oldest head coach in NFL historical past to educate a recreation, main the Las Vegas Raiders to a 20-13 victory on the street towards the New England Patriots. 

Carroll, who turns 74 on Sept. 15, will get an opportunity to earn his first successful streak with the Silver and Black in Las Vegas when the Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers in a nationally televised recreation on Monday Night time Soccer.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco additionally made historical past with Carroll, turning into the primary 40-year-old sign caller to start out in franchise historical past. And Flacco simply missed out on a victory, dropping at residence to the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-16. 

These two had been part of a aggressive opening weekend of the NFL, with 11 video games determined by eight factors or much less. Together with that, six groups that missed the playoffs final season earned victories in Week 1: the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Raiders. 

Right here’s a more in-depth have a look at who’s scorching and who’s chilly from Week 1. 

WHO’S HOT

The reigning league MVP confirmed why he’s the frontrunner to win the award for a second straight season, main the Payments again from 15 factors down with simply over eight minutes left to get an unbelievable 41-40 victory at residence towards the Baltimore Ravens.

In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Buffalo had a 1.1% win likelihood with 8:37 remaining within the fourth quarter when it trailed 40-25. It was essentially the most unbelievable comeback by the Payments with Allen at quarterback, and the Thirteenth-most unbelievable comeback by any staff during the last decade.

Josh Allen rushed for 2 touchdowns within the fourth quarter of the Payments’ win over the Ravens. (Photograph by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Photos)

In line with FOX Sports activities Analysis, the final time the Payments received a recreation when trailing by a minimum of 15 factors within the 4th quarter was in 1967. Allen threw for 251 yards … in simply the fourth quarter. He completed with 394 passing yards and two touchdowns for the sport, whereas additionally operating for 2 scores. Allen is now the Payments’ all-time chief in speeding touchdowns with 66, passing Thurman Thomas

Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen took some strain off Trevor Lawrence to hold the offense by leaning into the operating recreation, and Etienne was the primary benefactor of that strategy. 

Etienne completed with 143 speeding yards on 16 rushes, averaging a powerful 8.9 yards per rush. Etienne’s complete included a 71-yard run, because the Jaguars totaled 200 speeding yards in a win over the Carolina Panthers. 

Getting ready to dropping their season opener with the Houston Texans marching to attain, Landman saved the Rams by executing an ideal “Peanut Punch,” knocking the ball away from operating again Dare Ogunbowale, which defensive sort out Braden Fiske recovered to protect a 14-9 victory for Los Angeles.

The defensive sign caller for the Rams, Landman additionally completed tied for the staff lead with 10 tackles. In line with FOX Sports activities Analysis, the Rams are the primary staff to win their season-opening recreation regardless of scoring 14 or fewer factors because the Inexperienced Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 10-3 to open the 2019 season.

Ramsey put the exclamation level within the Steelers’ late-game victory on the street towards the New York Jets. The hard-hitting defensive again broke up a go to receiver Garrett Wilson on fourth down that may have stored the drive alive for the Jets, securing the win for Pittsburgh.

Ramsey’s penchant for making massive performs is likely one of the causes the Steelers introduced him in. Pittsburgh additionally received one other massive kick by Chris Boswell, who drilled a 60-yard subject aim for the sport winner. Boswell is the tenth kicker of all time to make a successful subject aim of 60 or extra yards within the remaining two minutes of regulation or extra time. 

The vast again is again. In his debut for the Commanders, Samuel completed with 96 scrimmage yards, together with a 19-yard landing run on a reverse. 

In line with FOX Sports activities Analysis, the final time Samuel had a speeding landing in a recreation was in Week 1 of the 2024 season towards the Jets. Samuel additionally had seven catches for 77 yards on 10 targets. 

It’s been a minute since Las Vegas had competent quarterback play. However the arrival of Smith through commerce from the Seattle Seahawks created some stability for Carroll in his return to the sideline, together with playmaking means for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. 

Geno Smith had 362 passing yards in Week 1, essentially the most by any participant in his Raiders’ debut in staff historical past. Smith was surgical towards the blitz. In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Smith completed 9 of 13 for 189 yards and a landing when going through the blitz towards New England. 

WHO’S COLD  

The bruising again put up massive numbers towards Buffalo, ending with 169 speeding yards and two scores – massive numbers for the 31-year-old. Nonetheless, Henry additionally had a vital fumble late within the recreation that opened the door for Buffalo’s unbelievable comeback.

Henry’s miscue that led to Baltimore’s loss might come again to hang-out the franchise late within the yr as each groups jockey for playoff seeding and homefield benefit within the postseason. 

The rumblings of dysfunction and unhealthy vibes in Miami appeared to spill onto the sphere for McDaniel, because the Dolphins had been non-competitive and seemed disinterested in a lopsided loss towards a staff few NFL observers anticipated a lot from within the Indianapolis Colts.

Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins received off to a poor begin to the 2025 season. (Photograph by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos)

McDaniel is already No. 1 on our scorching seat and going through a simple schedule to start out the yr. However he won’t get a shot to show issues round if the Dolphins should not extra aggressive at residence subsequent week towards New England. 

[Read more: NFL Head Coach Hot Seat Ranking: Who’s Under Most Pressure To Win Now?]

The 49ers can’t return to the postseason with Jake Moody as their kicker. Kyle Shanahan has been greater than affected person with Moody. A 3rd-round choice within the 2023 draft, the Michigan product has been wildly inconsistent in his three years with the 49ers. However Sunday’s recreation towards the Seahawks must be the final time Moody kicks for San Francisco. He doinked a 27-yarder off the left upright and had one other subject aim blocked. 

Moody’s struggles modified the best way Shanahan referred to as the sport within the pink zone and virtually led to a loss. It has additionally affected the locker room, with gamers dropping religion that Moody can get the job performed in essential conditions. 

Wilson threw for 168 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions as New York managed simply six factors in a loss to the Commanders. It was a typical efficiency of late for Wilson, as he performed conservatively and didn’t take any dangers, unwilling to place the ball in hurt’s method.

And that’s not going to get it performed within the NFC East, which is likely one of the best divisions within the NFL. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was non-committal on who his quarterback shall be in Week 2, however it seems that rookie Jaxon Dart will get his alternative sooner slightly than later. 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on X at @eric_d_williams.

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