NFL Preseason Week 1 Roundup

Last Updated on August 12, 2025 9:01 am by Erwin Noguera

The 2025 NFL preseason kicked off with a thrilling start full of contrasts.

The Chargers dominated the Lions, winning 34-7 in the Hall of Fame Game. Meanwhile, the Ravens beat the Colts 24-16 on Thursday, while the Eagles played an exciting game against the Bengals, winning 34-27 thanks to a solid offensive performance.

The other games over the weekend produced some striking results and a few ties. Notable among them were the 23-23 tie between the Seahawks and Raiders, and another tie, 24-24, between the Bears and Dolphins. In clear victories, the Patriots crushed the Commanders 48-18, and the Jets beat the Packers 30-10.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Games

NFL Preseason Week 1 Roundup: Lions vs. Chargers

The official return of the NFL in 2025 took place in Canton, Ohio, with the traditional Hall of Fame Game, which also served as a ceremony to welcome four new legends: Antonio Gates, Eric Allen, Jared Allen, and Sterling Sharpe, the fewest inductees in two decades.

On the gridiron, the Los Angeles Chargers dominated the Detroit Lions from start to finish, winning by a resounding 34-7.The key to victory was not only their offense, but also a relentless defense that forced three interceptions and almost completely neutralized their opponents’ third downs, allowing only one conversion out of eleven attempts.

From the start, the Californians set the pace with two touchdowns in the first quarter, one through the air from Will Dissly and another on the ground from Kimani Vidal, both under the direction of quarterback Trey Lance, who added 120 yards through the air with 65% of his passes completed.

Although Detroit closed the gap with a rushing touchdown in the second quarter, Lance responded with another 60-yard drive culminating in a pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith to close out the first half 21-7.

The rest was a formality: two field goals by Cameron Dicker and another touchdown run by Vidal sealed a comfortable victory that gives the Chargers a promising start to the preseason.

Result: Lions (7) – (34) Chargers

NFL Preseason Week 1 Roundup: Raiders vs. Seahawks

The 2025-26 NFL preseason kicked off for the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks with a 23-23 tie at Lumen Field, a matchup that served as a laboratory to evaluate roster depth and potential starters.

The Raiders, amid a rebuild, showed interesting flashes under Pete Carroll, weathering the home crowd’s pressure and rallying in the second half. Aidan O’Connell had a productive but inconsistent performance, completing 18 of 30 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Running back Dylan Laube shone with a touchdown and an average of 6.8 yards per carry, while Shedrick Jackson contributed 52 yards and a touchdown that brought his team closer on the scoreboard.

The game’s finale was in the hands of Cam Miller, who completed 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards, including a 41-yard pass to Jackson that put the score within field goal range. Daniel Carlson made three of five attempts, including a 51-yarder to tie the game, but a final attempt at victory was blocked by rookie Jalan Gaines.

Despite not getting the win, Miller’s performance left a good impression and could earn him points in the internal competition for a spot on the roster. The Raiders will return to action on August 16, when they host the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.

Result: Seahawks (23) – (23) Raiders

NFL Preseason Week 1 Roundup: Ravens vs. Colts

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their 2025 preseason with a 24-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in a game where defense took center stage.

Although the offense barely surpassed 50 combined passing yards between Cooper Rush and Devin Leary, the team controlled the pace thanks to constant defensive pressure and timely plays at critical moments. Rookie Mike Green stood out in his debut, winning 30% of his head-to-head matchups to force opposing quarterbacks out of the pocket. Adisa Isaac and David Ojabo added the only two sacks of the night, both at decisive moments that stopped dangerous drives by Indianapolis.

Baltimore’s secondary also shone with solid collective work. Jalyn Armour-Davis deflected two key passes, Jay Higgins IV made an interception, and Beau Brade, along with TJ Tampa, led the physical effort with a total of 13 tackles and several effective coverages.

In total, the Ravens’ defense racked up 12 passes defended and seven quarterback hits, keeping the Colts at bay even when they threatened in the final minutes. Although the offense left some work to be done, this start reaffirms that the defensive unit could be Baltimore’s mainstay for the regular season.

Result: Ravens (24) – (16) Colts

NFL Preseason Week 1 Roundup: Cowboys vs. Rams

Without Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys fell 31-21 to the Los Angeles Rams in their first preseason game of 2025.

The game, played on Saturday, August 9, saw the Rams come out strong from the start, scoring two quick touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. Dallas was barely able to respond with a field goal before halftime, leaving the score at 14-3 in favor of the Los Angeles team.

In the second half, the Rams maintained control and extended their lead with scores that brought the score to 17-6 and then 24-6. Although the Cowboys tried to react with two drives that brought them to 24-12 and 24-14, Los Angeles struck again to make it 30-14 and 31-14.

A final effort by Dallas reduced the deficit to 31-20 and finally 31-21, a result that partly masked a game dominated by the Californian team.

Result: Rams (31) – (21) Cowboys