J.J. McCarthy accounted for three touchdowns—two through the air and one on the ground—in his highly anticipated NFL debut, leading the Vikings to a 27-24 comeback win over the Bears on Monday Night Football.

Each week, we will highlight an interesting grade or stat from every game in the NFL. Click here to dive into PFF Premium Stats for yourself. To dig deeper into every game, including snap counts for every player, subscribe to PFF+.

With the new season underway, we’re kicking off a weekly series at PFF that offers a behind-the-scenes look at our grading process. Each week, we’ll break down some of the highest-graded individual plays—complete with tweets to show you the action.

With Week 1 in the books and the first wave of PFF grades finalized in Premium Stats, it’s time to spotlight the NFL’s top performers. From breakout rookies to veteran standouts, these are the highest-graded players at each position who made an immediate impact to open the 2025 season.

PFF broke down the advanced metrics immediately after every game of the Week 1 slate, giving an in-depth look at the numbers behind every contest.

This year, PFF NFL game recaps have been reimagined to deliver more value than ever. Each game breakdown includes advanced box-score metrics, player participation, snap counts, initial PFF grades and key statistical takeaways — all powered by Premium Stats 2.0.

The Bills looked out of sync early, but Josh Allen’s second-half surge — combined with a critical fumble by Ravens running back Derrick Henry — sparked a dramatic comeback and sealed a thrilling win for Buffalo.

D.K. Metcalf and Jonnu Smith's contributions after the catch helped the Pittsburgh Steelers to a rollercoaster win over the New York Jets.

Bo Nix overcame three turnovers to lead the Broncos past top pick Cam Ward and the Titans, 20–12. Nix connected with Courtland Sutton for a score, while rookie R.J. Harvey’s 50-yard run set up J.K. Dobbins’ decisive fourth-quarter touchdown.

The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Houston Texans in a low-scoring Week 1 battle, leaning on quarterback Matthew Stafford for the game's only score in the second half.

The San Francisco 49ers spoiled Sam Darnold's Seattle Seahawks debut despite a sloppy showing overall.

The Green Bay Packers got out to a quick lead and never looked back against the Detroit Lions, who suffered only two regular-season losses last year.

The New York Giants entered 2025 with the No. 28-ranked offensive line in PFF’s preseason rankings, and that concern showed up immediately in their 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 1.

Signed just 10 days ago, Dalton Risner was a stalwart in pass protection for the Bengals in Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals outlasted the New Orleans Saints behind a strong showing from Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Commanders opened their season with a 21–6 win over the Giants, powered by Jayden Daniels’ 233 yards and a touchdown through the air. Deebo Samuel added a score in his Washington debut, while the defense held New York without a single touchdown.

Tampa Bay edged Atlanta 23–20 in a dramatic opener, with rookie Emeka Egbuka hauling in two touchdown passes — the last a 25-yard strike in the final minute. The Falcons had briefly pulled ahead with a long fourth-quarter drive, but Egbuka’s late heroics sealed the Buccaneers’ win.