No surprises in Week 1 action

Aside from the underwhelming performances by the Spread Beaters and Invaiders (who still won), we got what was expected in the first week of JSFL play

Justin Herbert (27 points) runs for a game-clinching first down against the Chiefs on Friday.

Jordan Garcia's WTNE has set the early standard in JSFL play in 2025 with a 116-point explosion out of the gate. Garcia's team, which reached the playoffs last season, got headed back in that direction with an easy 46-point win over Who Dey.

All the favorites notched victories last week so "Swami" Vern starts the season 5-0 for the first time in history.

The Recliners handled the Tirades by 16, the Packers won the battle of the Lamberts by 18, as Jeff defeated brother John's Rangers, the Invaiders squeaked by the Bands Aids and the Beaters eked out a five-point win over the Gerbils.

There were some notable performances: Josh Allen scored 38 points in a thrilling, come-from behind win over the Ravens on Sunday night. Too bad he was on the bench for the Rangers, who instead started Jalen Hurts (24 points) and lost as a result. WTNE QB Justin Herbert scored 27 to lead his team to victory. The Packers got 29 from QB Lamar Jackson in that thriller against the Bills, and the Recliners won despite a typical week one disappearance from QB Joe Burrow (8 points) thanks to 44 points from three RBs (and the fact that they were playing the Tirades). The Band Aids got almost half their points from Derrick Henry (28) in the loss to the Invaiders, whose high scorer was a 41-year-old last-minute replacement kicker (Matt Prater, 12 points).

The bad news: the injury report from the first week features some big names, especially among the tight ends: Brock Bowers injured a knee (unknown status) and George Kittle looks like he'll miss several weeks with a hamstring injury. A third-string replacement, Jake Tonges, caught the game-winning TD pass on Sunday for the (Yay!) 49ers. The Gerbils lost TE Evan Engram to a calf injury.

Also on the injury report is the guy who threw Tonges that pass, QB Brock Purdy, with a hurt toe and shoulder. That means the Tirades might have to start QB Jake McCarthy of the Vikings, the guy they spent the last two weeks (and entire first half of the MNF game against the Bears, in which he did nothing except throw a pick-six) prepared to push the "Drop" button. Thankfully yours truly could not drop him until after the game, and woke up this morning to find out McCarthy led a fourth-quarter comeback that featured two TD passes and a TD run (21 points to Purdy's 16). Another 49ers starter, Jauan Jennings (free agent) is also injured with a hurt shoulder, along with Beaters WR Drake London (who didn't even start). Recliners first-round pick WR Puca Nacua (13 points) may have a concussion -- or might not, he exited and re-entered Sunday's game twice before leaving for good in the fourth quarter -- and the Rangers lost WR Xavier Worthy (zero points) so now may have to play someone like Deebo Samuel, who actually scored (14 points that included a rushing TD).

Here's a rundown of the Week 1 results.

WTNE 116, WHO DEY 70: In addition to a breakout performance from Herbert (27), Jordan got 20 from WR Zay Flowers and 14 more from RB Saquon Barkley and K Ka'imi Fairbairn. QB Jordan Love led Who Dey with 15 and Matt McCumber's WR tandem of Justin Jefferson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 21.

RECLINERS 93, TIRADES 77: Keeper Bijan Robinson and fellow starting RBs Chuba Hubbard and JK Dobbins combined for 44 points (Robinson led the way with 18) as the Recliners coasted to the win. Marvin Harrison Jr. and decrepit RB Breece Hall each had 13 for the Tirades.

QB Josh Allen led all JSFL scorers with 38 points last week, but was on the bench.

PACKERS 92, RANGERS 74: In addition to Jackson's 29 points, Jeff Lambert got 41 from his trio of RBs: Christian "Thank God He Played" McCaffrey and De'Von Achane (13 each) and James Cook (15). I am going to get very tired of writing this each week: The Rangers high scorer was Josh Allen, on the bench (38). RBs Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones each had 12 and his other QB, Jalen Hurts, had 24.

BEATERS 78, GERBILS 73: Chuck Nelson's Gerbils had three guys score in double figures, led by QB Pat Mahomes (25), but still managed to lose this one to a team with only two scorers in double figures: QB Jayden Daniels (19) and the Denver defense (14). It didn't help that Gerbils RBs Jamyr Gibbs and TreVeyon Henderson scored just 4 each. Meanwhile. Beaters RBs Ashton Jeanty and James Conner had 9 each.

INVAIDERS 67, BAND AIDS 61: If only the Tirades had played one of these teams! But I digress. RB Kyren Williams and aforementioned backup K Matt Prater led the Invaiders with 12 each and TE Travis Kelce had 10. The Band Aids managed to get zero points out of two starting positions (TE Mark Andrews and the Jets defense).