Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, meaning that there is so much to discuss. There were some great games (Chiefs vs. Ravens), some not-so-great games (Eagles vs. Packers), and everything in between (Steelers vs. Falcons) during opening week.
Some teams (like the Lions) proved themselves to be Super Bowl contenders, while other teams (like the Panthers) are already looking towards the future and the Draft. Without further ado, let’s dive in and take a look at what all happened in Week One.
The Chiefs are still the team to beat
The NFL kickoff game between the Chiefs and Ravens was absolute cinema, with a game-changing Ravens touchdown being overturned serving as the climactic end. This was a great game and a solid way to start the NFL season, featuring two AFC heavyweights who each looked as though they were already in midseason form.
Kansas City is still on top of the NFL hierarchy and the team to beat in the league. Not only are the Chiefs superior to most NFL teams in terms of elite coaching and quarterback play, but these days they get all of the calls from the referees to boot. It’s just so tough to beat them, and especially when they’re playing at Arrowhead.
NFL Sao Paolo Game is a disaster
Don’t let the final score fool you, there was sloppy football played on Friday night. The field in Brazil was horrendous, with players slipping and sliding all night long, resulting in an untimely injury to Packers QB Jordan Love in the Eagles 34-29 win.
Not only was the field bad, but the refs made matters worse in calling 17 penalties. There were four turnovers between the two teams, and there could have been more. Both teams looked rusty and not as crisp as you would expect to see on national TV.
Panthers, Giants, Browns struggle
Speaking of teams that looked rusty & out of sync, what happened to the Panthers? They mustered only 10 points in their 47-10 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Giants QB Daniel Jones threw yet another pick-six, and this time he actually had Vikings defenders feeling bad for him and the Giants offense’s awful performance.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson was similarly dreadful in the team’s 33-17 loss to the Cowboys, & it’s too bad that Cleveland is stuck with him due to his guaranteed deal.
Trouble brewing in “The Jungle“
This meme of Ja’Marr Chase learning the Bengals playbook thirty minutes before kickoff was funny, and it was timed well after the team’s 16-10 loss to the Patriots. Zac Taylor’s Bengals teams start slow every year, and this has turned into an issue. Add in the fact that the team has two talented receivers who each want to be paid (while neither seems interested in playing) and there is some trouble in paradise.
Lions prove that they are for real
Everyone should remember the last time that they saw the Lions play, as they famously blew a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Rewriting that script would mean the team getting back to their identity, rushing. That’s exactly what the team did against the Rams, as their final drive to win the game in overtime proved that they have the premier offensive line in the league.
The Lions demonstrated that that they can close out games in the fourth quarter. They trailed the Rams in time of possession (34:56 to 29:45), total plays (74 to 61), and first downs (26 to 21) yet they were still able to find a way to win in overtime. Could the Lions continue to establish themselves as legit contenders in the NFC?
The Sports Beacon 