The AFC North division went .500 in Week 1 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals coming out victorious and the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens losing their opening game.
Here are the studs and duds of the week.
Stud: Steelers QB Aaron Rogers
The comprehensive list of QBs with 240 Pass Yards, 4 Pass TD and 0 INT in their team debut over last 60 NFL seasons
– Aaron Rodgers (Week 1 vs Jets)
End of list pic.twitter.com/o2cI0OQKMA
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025
The AFC North headline player of the week is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Many wondered what the 41 year old had left in the tank. He completed 73% of his passes (22 for 30) for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Will the Steelers have vintage Rodgers this year, or was that performance a Week 1 anomally against his former team, the New York Jets? That remains to be seen. Eith way, the 34-32 win on the road was impressive.
The Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium in Week 2 at 1 PM ET on September 14.
Dud: Browns K Andre Szmyt
The Cleveland Browns should have beaten the Cincinnati Bengals, but kicking follies were part of the problem. This is not a new storyline for the Browns who have struggled with consistent kicking for over a decade since legend Phil Dawson retired.
This is why you don’t enter a season with zero Plan B for your kicker. There was the Cade York season, the Dustin Hopkins season, and now we enter the Andre Szymt era. Andrew Berry never learns from his mistakes.
— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) September 7, 2025
Andre Szmyt, the rookie kicker out of Syracuse, missed a field goal and an extra point, and his team lost 17-16. The Browns historically play the Bengals tough so this loss is especially painful knowing that they let a divisional win slip through their fingers.
Coach Kevin Stefanski is not ready to give up on Szmyt so fans who thought the Browns would start calling free agent kickers in for a tryout will be bitterly disappointed. Szymt is expected to be handling the kicking duties when the team travels to play the Baltimore Ravens at 1 PM ET on September 14 in the Joe Flacco Bowl.
Stud: Bengals Off To A Winning Start
#Bengals QB Joe Burrow dappin’ up the boys in the locker room postgame. Defensive guys saying “we got your back this year.” Love that. pic.twitter.com/WzUM2W3oS6
— Austin Elmore (@autyelmore) September 8, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals are notorious for getting off to a slow start so an ugly Week 1 win over the Browns changes that narrative. They didn’t play especially well, and the Browns shut down the offensive weapons; however a win is a win, and Joe Burrow and company will improve as the season goes on.
The Bengals host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 14 at 1 PM in the Battle of the 2020 and 2021 1st Overall NFL Draft picks.
Dud: Ravens Bad Luck
Every year the Ravens have plenty of buzz. With Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry among others, that buzz is justified.
However, they also seem to lose heartbreakers and usually at night. That script continued on Sunday night as the Ravens ran all over the Buffalo Bills until the 4th quarter when they gave up 22 points to fall 41-40.
30th season celebrations at the Bank!
🎟: https://t.co/3PTOXJ3v36 pic.twitter.com/zziJiYXD94
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 9, 2025
Will the Ravens get in the win column in Week 2 while hosting the Browns at 1 PM on September 14 with 30th Anniversary celebration events planned in the Joe Flacco Bowl? Time will tell.
