Recall that at this time last year, Jerod Mayo had the league buzzing about his coaching debut when he guided the New England Patriots to a stunning upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. On the flip side, the Washington Commanders didn't look ready to compete in their 17-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of course, neither data point ended up being indicative of an emerging trend.
But it's always tantalizing to get a first glimpse of rookies, veterans in new places and coaches in new posts. Regardless of where things are headed, here are USA TODAY Sports' ranking of the best and worst debuts from Week 1 in the NFL.