Sunday’s Best: Week 1 game changers

Sunday’s Best is a weekly column highlighting the NFL’s top five performers. Each week, the players who are spotlighted not only put up big numbers, but also set the tone for their teams and shaped the storylines of Sunday.

Sundays are back, and week 1 showed us why they’ll always belong to football.

The NFL returned this past week and reminded everyone why Sundays are sacred. From quarterbacks lighting up the scoreboard to a veteran running back proving he still has plenty left in the tank, the league’s brightest stars wasted no time making their presence felt in week 1 of the 2025 season.

Here are this week’s standouts:

1. Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Bills

The reigning MVP started off the season by battling the Ravens on Sunday Night Football to open the season in a rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional playoff game. After trailing for more than three quarters, Allen finished with one of the most dramatic comebacks of his career.

The Bills entered the fourth quarter seemingly heading for a loss, trailing 34-19. However, when Bills running back James Cook took a short pass from Allen 51 yards down to the Ravens’ 2-yard line, it seemed as if a switch was flipped. Two plays after this, Allen would run it in for a score to cut the lead to give the Bills the spark they needed.

That very next drive, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens would take all hope out of Highmark Stadium with Derrick Henry capping off a 65-yard drive in four plays.

What came next was not only the best performance of the week, but could ultimately be one of the best performances of the year.

Down 40-25, Allen led the Bills to an improbable comeback in the final four minutes, ending with a 41-40 win.

The league MVP would finish passing 33of46 for 394 yards and two touchdowns along with 14 rushes for 30 yards and two ground scores to set up Matt Prater’s game-winning kick.

Allen’s poise under pressure continues to separate him from his peers. His 424 all-purpose yards, delievered while being down 15 points with 3:56 left,showed that the Bills are never out of a game with him under center.

1. Lamar Jackson | QB | Baltimore Ravens

Jackson looked untouchable Sunday night, showing off why he’s considered in the upper echelon of quarterbacks in both his efficiency as a passer and explosiveness as a runner.

The two-time MVP was in complete command, piling up 279 total yards along with three touchdowns, making it look as if he was playing at a different level against the Bills’ defense.

After running back Derrick Henry put the Ravens ahead with the first touchdown for Baltimore, Jackson’s first score of the season would come from 10 yards out.

The Ravens would begin to pull away, as Lamar would follow this drive with two touchdown passes including a perfectly thrown deep ball to DeAndre Hopkins in what could ultimately be the catch of the year

His ability to control the tempo of the game continues to stand ou. Beyond the stats, Jackson’s presence Sunday night elevated every single player on that Ravens team, opening up opportunities for Henry and keeping the Ravens unpredictable on every snap. This is nothing out of the ordinary for Jackson, as it’s highly likely he finds himself with his third league MVP award this year.

1. Derrick Henry | RB | Baltimore Ravens

Running backs aren’t supposed to do this at 31, but Henry started his season like he’s still in his prime.

The 10th-year veteran opened Baltimore’s offense with a 30-yard touchdown run, stiff-arming a defender along the way, to give the Ravens an early 10-7 lead over Buffalo.

He barreled through the Bills defense again for a 51-yard gain, setting up a Lamar Jackson rushing touchdown and showcasing the Ravens’ dominant ground game.

By halftime, Henry had 123 rushing yards on just nine carries, adding another 13 yards receiving. He finished the night with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns, proving he’s still one of the most physically imposing backs in the league.

His late fumble in the fourth quarter ultimately allowed the Bills to mount a comeback and steal a 41-40 win, but it shouldn’t diminish the greatness of his performance.

Even at 31, Henry reminded the NFL why he’s still one of the game’s most feared runners.

1. Daniel Jones | QB | Indianapolis Colts

Daniel Jones? Yes, Daniel Jones.

In his Colts debut, Jones led Indianapolis to a 33-8 win over Miami and delivered one of the most efficient performances of the week.

Jones became the first player in NFL history to throw for 250-plus yards and rush for two touchdowns in his debut with a new franchise. Beyond the history, what stood out was how steady he looked running Shane Steichen’s offense.

The Colts scored on all seven of their possessions, becoming the first team to do so since at least 1978. That included three touchdowns and four field goals, showing a performance fans in Indy haven’t seen in years.

One game doesn’t erase Jones’ past struggles, but maybe it was a statement that he finally found the right fit.

1. Aaron Rodgers | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers

Who would’ve thought a revenge story happening in the first week for a 41-year old Super Bowl winning quarterback?

At 41, the four-time MVP showed everyone that he may still have it.

Facing his old team, the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers delivered a masterclass in efficiency, throwing four touchdown passes without a single turnover in the Steelers’ 34-32 win. What stood out most wasn’t just the numbers, but the confidence and edge he brought to Mike Tomlin’s football team after his underwhelming stint with the Jets. It made such an impression that he made sure to rub it in the post-game press conference.

Rodgers was able to spread the ball to multiple receivers, keeping drives alive with quick decision-making, and looking sharper than many expected at this stage of his career.

Week 1 reminded us that Sunday’s best isn’t just about stats—it’s about moments that make the games feel alive. This week, you can say that these players brought the energy, the unpredictability, and the moments that make the league feel alive.

Whether it’s the storylines, the comebacks, or the flashes of brilliance, Sunday is where football earns its crown as the game that never stops delivering.