Before Week 1 of the NFL Season, every team is undefeated. Every team feels that maybe—if things broke just right—they could be holding the Super Bowl trophy in February.
As the old saying goes: Hope springs eternal.
But then Week 1 comes and at least half the teams in the league realize just how much work they have to do to get to the mountaintop. They see how far they are from their goal.
That’s when I look closer at the scoreboard to see who makes the biggest leap forward in Week 2. Let me explain why.
One of the longest-standing, tried-and-true rules of the NFL is that the biggest team improvement is almost always between Week 1 and 2 of the season.
For months, squads have been practicing against themselves, scrimmaging amongst their teammates. But Week 1 is the first time players see a defense wearing another jersey.
Week 1 is the first time teams really go and hit like it matters. In other words, it’s the first big test of the season. But the result I care most about is not how Week 1 ends.
It’s how Week 2 goes.
Indeed, if I owned an NFL franchise, I wouldn’t be up in arms if we lost Week 1. I would, however, be inclined to fire my staff if we were no-shows the following matchup.
For me, it doesn’t matter as much where a player or team starts as long as they show a willingness and ability to improve. But if a team comes out with poor showings in Week 1 and 2—that’s a fireable offense.
In business, we can face similar challenges. Beginning something is easy—truly, saying you want to improve in an area of your life and career is one thing. But following up is another.
After a loss (or a win, for that matter), it’s important to ask yourself, “What am I doing during this window before the next game to get better?”
No matter the outcome, we can’t get caught up in the result of Week 1. Insted, the name of the game must be: Constant improvement.
As I watch the 2026 NFL season unfold, I can’t help but wonder which teams will make the leap forward after the opening game? We all saw the L.A. Rams wilt in the second half of the Australia game. Similarly, we saw the Colts, Browns and Titans lose big on Sunday.
But which will bounce back?
Which of those teams will treat Week 2 like their Super Bowl?
Because if they don’t, their hopes of playing in the Big Game later this year will all but be dashed before they could take shape as a team.
We all have bad days. They say there is only one first impression—but who amongst us hasn’t screwed one of those up along the way? (Heck, it happens to the best of us.)
The goal isn’t to be perfect at every first chance you get. Instead, the key to a winning season is the ability to see where you are, recognize where you need to improve, and go out and act on it.
First impression? No thanks.
I’d rather see sustained excellence.
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 13-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
