NFL Takeaways: Week 1
Photo by Tina MacIntyre-Yee from the Democrat And Chronicle
The NFL is well and truly back, and it was…
Kind of a slog to watch?
That is, until Sunday night.
Here is what we learned from week 1.
Eagles defeat Cowboys 24-20
A concerning night defensively for the Eagles, as they were under severe upset alert if CeeDee Lamb, one of the best receivers in football, knew how to catch a pass.
They escaped with a win, thanks to a great game on the ground from Jalen Hurts, but boy. It was rough at times.
Chargers defeat Chiefs 27-21
THIS is what I have been waiting to see from Justin Herbert since he was a rookie.
I know all the NFL smart heads will say that Justin Herbert was always good and it wasn’t his fault and blah blah blah. I know all of that. He’s obviously good.
But I saw a rookie in 2020 who had the capability of being a superstar, and that never materialized until Friday night.
Friday night, Justin Herbert looked like a top five quarterback in football.
That’s what I needed to see.
Buccaneers defeat Falcons 23-20
This was the perfect Bucs, Falcons game.
Close game.
Michael Penix makes excellent 4th down play to get the lead for Atlanta.
Baker Mayfield makes amazing throw to get the lead back for Tampa Bay.
Atlanta gets a chance to send the game to overtime.
Atlanta misses the kick and loses in heartbreaking fashion.
It’s like art every time these two face off.
Bengals defeat Browns 17-16
This was a winnable game for the Browns.
Two dropped passes that end up as interceptions, a missed extra point, and a missed potential game winning field goal.
The Bengals are 1-0 to start the season for the first time since 2021, but I don’t have any more faith in them than I did before.
This team still has key flaws.
Colts defeat Dolphins 33-8
It’s just over in Miami.
I know it’s only week 1, but it’s over.
Mike McDaniel has to go. Tua has to go. Tyreek has to go.
It’s time to blow it up and start over.
Raiders defeat Patriots 20-13
I didn’t predict the Raiders to be a playoff team, but I am in no way surprised that Geno Smith played well and Pete Carroll had to Raiders playing sound, fundamental football.
These aren’t your normal Raiders.
Cardinals defeat Saints 20-13
Spencer Rattler played well, but I’m not sure about the Saints gameplan of having him throw 46 times.
It’s not like the Cardinals were dominating the whole time and the Saints needed to throw to get back into the game.
Strange call from new head coach Kellen Moore.
Steelers defeat Jets 34-32
This was the second best game of the week, and a game that made me eat a lot of crow.
Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields were absolutely fantastic in this game, trading haymaker for haymaker.
But it was special teams that made the difference in the end, with the Jets having a costly turnover on a kickoff, and the Steelers winning on a 60 yard field goal.
You have to win in every phase, and the Jets lost the special teams battle.
Even still, what a great debut for Aaron Glenn as he tries to turn around the Jets culture, and a great game from Justin Fields as he tries to revitalize his career.
I am officially interested in the New York Jets.
Commanders defeat Giants 21-6
This is the third straight season the Giants started the year without scoring one offensive touchdown.
I don’t think Daniel Jones and this version of Russell Wilson are incredible, but at some point we have to consider the coaching.
Not one single offensive touchdown? When Brian Daboll is supposed to be an offensive genius?
Ick.
Jaguars defeat Panthers 26-10
The first game of the Liam Coen era began with a perfectly balanced Jaguars offense, heavy on the run game and giving Trevor Lawrence open targets to move the ball down the field.
It was far from flashy, but that’s fine.
The Jags just need wins.
49ers defeat Seahawks 17-13
In my preseason predictions, I said that I don’t think the Niners are that good.
That didn’t change after Sunday’s game.
Brock Purdy didn’t play well, despite what the stat line says, having two picks (and frankly, should have had a third one that lost them the game), and they got even more beat up with George Kittle having to leave the game with a hamstring injury.
But I also picked them to win the NFC West, because I liked the rest of the division even less.
That didn’t change either, as the Seahawks offense was completely lifeless, with poor play calling, a poor running game, and a quarterback in Sam Darnold who made about two good throws all game and had a costly redzone turnover to lose the game.
Should be an interesting season out west.
Broncos defeat Titans 20-12
Coaching matters.
I say it over and over again, and the Titans coaching is why they aren’t starting the season 1-0.
The Titans defense forced four turnovers that they scored only 6 points off of, and the team racked up 13 penalties for 131 yards.
This loss is solely on Brian Callahan, and I don’t think it’s too soon to say that his seat is hot after a game like that.
Packers defeat Lions 27-13
Is it too soon to overreact in Detroit?
No.
Having two new coordinators is always going to be a work in progress, and having to do it on the road against a tough Packers team is going to make it even harder.
With all that being said, it was a pretty poor performance from the Lions, and the Packers look very good so far.
This might be their division to lose.
Rams defeat Texans 14-9
C.J. Stroud is really good, and the Texans defense is absolutely fantastic.
But the Texans couldn’t take the next step towards Super Bowl contender last year because they couldn’t protect their quarterback.
One game into 2025 (against a good defensive line, mind you), and the Texans offensive line problems seem to be exactly the same.
If they don’t get that line fixed, the Texans are nothing more than only a playoff team.
And you need more from that with a quarterback like Stroud and the defense that they have.
Bills defeat Ravens 41-40
I think, and have thought, that Ravens fans wanting John Harbaugh fired is foolish.
Is he Don Shula? No. But there are a lot of worse coaches out there that could make things a whole lot worse.
And last night wasn’t his fault either.
He didn’t tell Derrick Henry to fumble the ball, or for his kicker to miss an extra point, or for his secondary to completely capitulate.
But this is the Ravens 10th blown second half double digit lead in the last four seasons.
If it continues to happen, and the Ravens find themselves with another devastating, heartbreaking playoff loss, a change at coach simply has to be on the table.
After a certain point, enough is enough.
Last night might have been that point.
Vikings defeat Bears 27-24
In the first half, the discrepancy between Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy was hard to believe.
Williams looked great, eluding lots of pressure and making accurate throws, while McCarthy struggled heavily and looked as if the game was too fast for him.
But then, as the game went on, Williams started becoming incredibly inaccurate, and McCarthy started to make solid throws and play within Kevin O’Connell’s incredible structure, which led the Vikings to come roaring back and beat the Bears on the road.
Is McCarthy the next superstar QB in the NFL? I don’t know. I don’t think so.
But he showed last night that he can thrive in Kevin O’Connell’s system, and that system had the Vikings as NFC North Champs with Kirk Cousins and won 14 games with Sam Darnold.
So if he can do that, he’ll be just fine.
As for Caleb Williams, I don’t mind poor play overall in his first game in a new system, but the clear cut inaccuracy has to be a concern.
