Bijan Robinson delivered the opening flourish most fans had been waiting for, hauling in a Michael Penix Jr. deep ball and racing 50 yards for the first touchdown of the 2025 NFL season, a play that electrified Mercedes-Benz Stadium and immediately reframed Atlanta's offensive expectations. The score, coming early in the Falcons' contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, underscored Robinson's expanded role in a backfield that many analysts predicted would tilt toward multi-purpose running backs this year.

"It was just a great connection," Robinson said after the touchdown drive. "Penix put it where it needed to be and we finished." The play validated the Falcons' investment in a more vertical, tempo-driven attack and offered a highlight that fantasy managers and broadcasters seized on within minutes.

Across the early slate, attention split between on-field outcomes and front-office developments. The Pittsburgh Steelers, slated for a high-profile 1 p.m. kickoff in New York against the Jets, shook off an offseason storyline when veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward — who had been holding out for a new deal — reached terms on the eve of the season. Team sources confirmed the agreement, saying the new contract preserved Heyward's presence on a defense that will lean on his leadership.

The timing of the Heyward pact carried business implications beyond Pittsburgh's locker room. Executives around the league watched closely; the resolution signaled a willingness by clubs to negotiate with veteran stars while balancing cap realities. "We were able to get it done for the team," a Steelers official said, noting that the deal was designed to keep a foundational player in place without compromising roster flexibility.

Sunday's matchups — the Steelers at Jets, Buccaneers at Falcons and Giants at Commanders among them — delivered prefigurations of the larger narratives that will drive the season. Young quarterbacks were a central theme: Penix's early chemistry with his playmakers contrasted with more conservative game plans from teams leaning on established veterans. Coaches emphasized ball security and situational football in postgame remarks, aware that Week 1 mistakes can define momentum.

Injury management also surfaced as an early story, though most clubs reported only minor issues after the opener. Teams conspicuously leaned on precautionary approaches, citing new practice protocols and conservative return timelines that reflect ongoing concerns about player health and the league's heightened scrutiny of safety. Fantasy players and general managers alike were parsing recovery timelines, underscoring how individual health decisions can reverberate through both competitive balance and ancillary industries such as betting and fantasy sports.

Beyond wins and losses, Sunday's action highlighted the NFL's cultural reach — from stadium spectacles to social feeds — and its ongoing business evolution. High-profile opening plays like Robinson's generate the instant highlights that drive streaming viewership and sponsor value, while contract negotiations such as Heyward's function as reminders that labor and finance are integral to the product fans consume.

As the Week 1 calendar unfolds, USA TODAY Sports' live coverage aims to capture both the micro and macro: the spectacular runs and timely tackles, the injury reports, and the boardroom decisions that will steer teams through the season. If Sunday proved anything, it is that the first snaps set narratives that will be dissected for weeks — on fields, in front offices and across living rooms nationwide.