We are just one week into the 2025 NFL season, and there are already plenty of hot takes regarding the performances of teams around the league during the opening weekend. Some losses were just opening-week struggles, but others revealed deeper concerns that could linger all year.
Here’s a look at a handful of franchises; some that should stay calm, and some that might need to sound the alarm.
Which 0-1 NFL Teams Should Already be Worried After Week 1?
Houston Texans
Panic Meter: 5.8/10
While the Texans finished 2024 with the same 10-7 record that they did the year prior, there was a noticeable drop-off in the team’s overall performance. Fans in Houston were hoping that it would be a one-year hiccup, and that CJ Stroud could bounce back from the sophomore slump that he endured a season ago.
Things didn’t look promising in Week 1, as the Texans failed to find the end zone in a 14-9 loss to the Rams. Stroud completed over 70% of his passes, but finished with just 188 passing yards and an interception, leaving plenty to be desired by the fan base. They shouldn’t be panicking yet, but if the Texans struggle at the end of the month in games against the Jaguars and Titans, fans might be pressing the button.
Detroit Lions
Panic Meter: 6.4/10
The lead coordinators on both sides of the ball for the Lions in recent years are gone, and it could prove to have an adverse effect on the team’s play this season. They struggled on both offense and defense against the division rival Packers in Week 1, with their only touchdown of the day coming with under a minute left with the game well out of reach.
Expectations have been sky-high for Detroit over the past three years. They met them by being one of the top teams in the NFL in 2023 and 2024, but came up short in the postseason in both years. They’ll have to be at the top of their game to win in the tough NFC North, and any further regression could take them out of the championship contending conversation.
Chicago Bears
Panic Meter: 7.2/10
A familiar feeling was back in Chicago on Monday night. The Bears looked to have the game in hand against the Minnesota Vikings, but a rookie quarterback playing in his first NFL game mounted an unlikely comeback to drop Chicago to 0-1.
There is a new regime in town with Ben Johnson at the helm. There will still be plenty of time to work out the kinks. But second-year quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t look any more dynamic in a new offense during the Week 1 debacle, and the team was even met with boos from the Soldier Field crowd after the game.
Miami Dolphins
Panic Meter: 9.1/10
No team looked worse during Week 1 than the Miami Dolphins. Their offense was stagnant, as they set franchise records for ineptitude in multiple stat categories, and the defense gave up points on every single Colts possession.
There were already plenty of lingering questions about Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa, and Tyreek Hill about their futures with the franchise, and the belly flop to open the 2025 NFL season has fans rightfully upset. It appeared last year like NFL defenses had figured out McDaniel’s schemes, and it doesn’t seem like the issue was addressed at all during the offseason. Panic mode has already set in for the fans, which would be intensified with a loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Baltimore Ravens
Panic Meter: 3.1/10
The Ravens ended up on the wrong side of what might end up being the game of the year in Week 1, but is there any reason for panic? They looked dominant throughout most of the game against the Bills, but fell into the familiar trap of giving up a double-digit lead late in the contest.
Baltimore will still be one of the best teams in the NFL this season, and will continue to be a Super Bowl contender. But coming up short against Buffalo and blowing another late lead could spell trouble if the trends continue during the postseason.
