The long wait is over as Week One of the 2025 NFL season wrapped up Monday night with the Minnesota Vikings shocking the Chicago Bears 27-24 at Soldier Field.
Where there are winners, there are losers. But not all losses are created equal, some teams feature players who single-handedly cost them the game. These players are favorably called Bobbleheads.
Here are the biggest Bobbleheads from Week One who helped their teams start the season on the wrong foot.
Cleveland Browns: kicker Andre Szmyt
Cleveland dropped its home opener to their division rival Cincinnati Bengals in a heartbreaking 17-16 defensive slugfest.
Szmyt started strong, hitting his first extra point and a 45-yard field goal to cut the Bengals’ halftime lead to 14-10.
But midway through the third quarter, after Cleveland scored a go-ahead touchdown, Szmyt missed the extra point, leaving the Browns ahead only 16-14. Cincinnati later regained the lead with a 35-yard field goal, a kick that would have tied the game had Szmyt converted, instead it put the Bengals in the lead.
The Browns had one more chance late, but Szmyt pushed a 36-yard attempt wide, sealing Cleveland’s fate.
San Francisco 49ers: kicker Jake Moody
The 49ers escaped with a narrow 17-13 win over their division rival Seattle Seahawks, despite a rough outing from Moody.
Moody made his first extra point but doinked a 27-yard attempt off the left upright. Later, a 36-yard kick was blocked, keeping San Francisco down 10-7 in the third quarter.
He redeemed himself slightly with a 32-yarder to tie it at 10 in the fourth quarter, but Brock Purdy’s late touchdown pass bailed out the Niners.
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San Francisco waived Moody following the game, moving on from the kicker after his rocky performance.
Detroit Lions: quarterback Jared Goff
Detroit entered Lambeau Field looking to maintain NFC North dominance, but a revamped Green Bay Packers squad headlined by offseason acquisition linebacker Micah Parsons throttled the Lions 27-13.
Detroit’s offense sputtered, and Goff didn’t throw a touchdown pass until garbage time.
Green Bay’s pass rush sacked him multiple times, Parsons’ key pressure forced an errant throw that safety Evan Williams picked off.
Chicago Bears: quarterback Caleb Williams
The Bears opened the season against the Minnesota Vikings, with sky-high expectations under new head coach Ben Johnson. On Williams’ opening drive, he marched the Bears down field for a 61-yard drive capped by his rushing touchdown, had fans roaring.
Chicago’s offense stalled after that, despite a defensive touchdown giving the Bears a 17-6 lead in the third, Minnesota stormed back with three straight touchdowns,
Williams’ inability to get the offense going drew boos from the Soldier Field crowd as Chicago fell 27-24.
Simon Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @simon_reseigh
