NFL Week One Takeaways

NFL Week 1 Takeaways

The Lions have one of the most talented rosters in football—though not as talented as last year’s team. However, two positions stood out before the season started: cornerback and offensive line. The Lions handed out substantial contracts this offseason, which led to cuts throughout the roster. Could the Lions overcome these changes? Week 1 against their rival Packers showcased that the Lions still have a long way to go after losing 27-13.

Jordan Love had no trouble carving through the Lions' secondary, completing 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, with eight of his completions— including one touchdown—traveling over ten air yards. The Lions' offense struggled to find a rhythm against the Packers’ defense. Yes, Micah Parsons recorded his first sack against the Packers, but the rest of the defense also played a significant role in pressuring the Lions' offensive line. The Packers sacked Jared Goff four times, with contributions from Devonte Wyatt, Luka Van Ness, and Rashan Gary. Additionally, the Packers' defensive line stifled the Lions' run game, generating nine tackles for loss. Forced to handle more drop-backs and carry more of the offensive load than initially projected, Goff couldn't spark much momentum after trailing 17-3 at halftime.

In another devastating collapse, the Ravens fell to the Bills after leading 40-25 in the fourth quarter. The Baltimore offense completely crumbled, failing to score or pick up a first down after midway through the fourth, allowing the Bills, led by Josh Allen, to mount a comeback with 17 unanswered points, winning 41-40. When Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson find their rhythm on offense, the Ravens typically appear unbeatable. However, Baltimore has a tendency to take their foot off the gas late in games, leading to a decline in run game effectiveness. A couple of seasons ago, the Ravens experienced a similar late-game collapse against the Dolphins after holding a two-score lead.

Derrick Henry rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, making several explosive runs, but his late-game fumble ultimately handed the Bills the win. The Ravens didn’t receive much support behind Henry; instead, Lamar Jackson contributed with 70 rushing yards and one touchdown. While Jackson delivered an impressive passing performance, going 14 of 19 for 209 yards and two touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 94.0 and a passer rating of 144.4, his efforts weren't enough. Wide receiver Zay Flowers was particularly successful, with seven catches for 143 yards, showcasing his speed against the Buffalo defense.

Josh Allen experienced some ups and downs during the game, but he delivered when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, finishing 33 of 46 for 394 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 30 rushing yards. Keon Coleman caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, which ricocheted off the hands of the tight end and landed in the back of the end zone. The Bills' special teams also contributed significantly, racking up 200 total yards in kick returns, which helped them in the field position battle. Although Baltimore played a solid game, their offense stalled after their first drive, averaging over 11 yards per rush. If the game had ended at 40 minutes, the Ravens would have secured the victory. Instead, for the second season in a row, the Ravens lost on opening day in crunch time, a disappointing outcome for the team.

**Bucs vs. Falcons**

The Bucs' offense looked stuck in the mud at the start of this highly anticipated contest against the Falcons. They began the game with just 31 yards in the first quarter. The Falcons jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks to a 50-yard touchdown catch-and-run on a short pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Bijan Robinson, while the Bucs' defense struggled. Although Baker Mayfield has shown moxie throughout his career, he kept fighting. Emeka Egbuka caught the first touchdown of his career from Mayfield in the second quarter, but Egbuka’s second touchdown would prove to be the difference-maker for the Bucs in the fourth quarter.

Mayfield's play remained inconsistent throughout the first half, as he barely avoided interceptions on multiple throws. Credit the Falcons, who pressured Mayfield and kept their zone coverage tight downfield, forcing him into tough throws and making it difficult for Bucs receivers to make catches. Mayfield dodged interception after interception, with Falcons defenders dropping potential picks, and the Bucs drew first blood in the second half after a massive kick return set them up inside Falcons territory.

With little contribution from the run game, Baker connected with running back Bucky Irving for a 10-yard touchdown, capping off a 5-play, 32-yard drive. Heading into the fourth quarter, Mayfield led the Bucs in rushing despite struggling as a passer. Michael Penix started the game efficiently, but aside from some big completions to Bijan Robinson, the Falcons couldn’t get much going. Penix’s performance slowly regressed, but late in the fourth, with the Falcons needing a score on fourth and goal, he made a surprising play. Known more for his lack of mobility, Penix managed to rush for a yard touchdown, finishing off an 18-play, 91-yard drive and giving the Falcons a 20-17 lead with just over two minutes to go.

Baker Mayfield completed around 50% of his passes for the game. He channeled his inner Kobe Bryant, continuing to shoot as the game progressed. After a roughing the passer call helped the Bucs move the chains amid pressure from Atlanta, Mayfield hit rookie Emeka Egbuka for a 25-yard touchdown downfield. Given how Mayfield and the offense performed through three quarters, the Bucs had no business taking that chance deep. Nevertheless, Mayfield connected with Egbuka again to give the Bucs a 23-20 lead with just over a minute remaining.

Michael Penix then led the Falcons on a drive to field goal range, but Younghoe Koo missed the tying field goal attempt. The Bucs ended their losing streak to the Falcons, escaping with a thrilling 23-20 victory. While the Falcons' offense outplayed the Bucs, Baker Mayfield’s performance in critical situations, along with some penalties from the Falcons, played a significant role in the outcome.

**Raiders vs. Patriots** The Raiders and Patriots quietly face each other in a game of significant importance to their franchises as they move forward. Both teams are debuting new coaches who took time off from the league before returning to lead teams that finished in the bottom ten last season. The Raiders appear to be the team most ready to contend, boasting a more established quarterback, better offensive weapons, and the infrastructure to support a potentially top-15 offense if everything goes well. In the season opener, the Raiders, led by Geno Smith, demonstrated this potential right away, scoring the first touchdown of the season with a deep 26-yard connection to Tre Tucker. Some questioned whether Geno, lacking Seattle’s elite receiving talent, could still make deep throws, but he showed signs of struggle. Unfortunately, his tendency to force passes caught up with him as he threw an interception on the next Raiders drive after the defense stopped the Patriots on a three-and-out. The Patriots' offense responded with a touchdown drive, and quarterback Drake Maye connected with Pop Douglas for their first touchdown of the year. The Patriots later took the lead, scoring a field goal on their fourth drive after a missed attempt on their third, giving them a 10-7 lead at halftime. After halftime, the Raiders scored 13 unanswered points, including a 3-yard rushing touchdown by rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, which was the only touchdown for either team in the second half. The Raiders came away with a 20-13 victory. Geno Smith had a performance that was far from perfect, completing 24 of 34 passes for 362 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, averaging 8.8 yards per pass while being sacked four times against a talented Patriots secondary. His success was largely due to targeting his star tight end, Brock Bowers, as much as possible; Bowers finished with five catches on eight targets for 103 yards. On the other hand, Jakobi Meyers, who is still without a new contract, caught eight passes for 97 receiving yards. However, the Raiders struggled to establish their running game, underscoring the risk of drafting a running back in the top ten, primarily due to the offensive line's inefficiencies in blocking. Drake Maye also received minimal support from his run game and had to lean heavily on his arm after halftime, finishing with over 50 dropbacks. He completed 30 of 46 passes for 287 yards, achieving an 80.6 passer rating, with one touchdown and one interception. One silver lining for the Patriots was the emergence of Kayson Boutte as a viable number one option for the offense, although Maye faced significant pressure and was sacked four times throughout the game. Las Vegas feels like a dark horse candidate to make some noise this season, as they have an "easier" schedule and some talent on offense. If Geno can survive the challenges presented by the offensive line and string together more performances like this, Las Vegas will have something to celebrate later in the season. The Patriots, on the other hand, are a work in progress. They received six catches and 57 receiving yards from free-agent signing Stefon Diggs. The foundations of what head coach Mike Vrabel wants to implement in New England are starting to take shape, even if they don’t look entirely cohesive just yet.

**Colts vs. Dolphins**

If any teams in the AFC South and AFC East look poised to end the dominance established by the Texans and the Bills, the Colts and Dolphins stand out as strong contenders. The Colts haven’t won the division since Obama was in office, when the Warriors were still looking for their first title of the 2010s, LeBron was wearing a Heat uniform, and Andrew Luck was beginning to make his mark in the league.

A lot has changed since then, and today, the Colts' starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, was still in high school back in those days. However, if he’s the key to leading the Colts back to the top of the division, he has the perfect opportunity to prove himself against the Dolphins. In this matchup, the Colts dominated the Dolphins, winning convincingly with a score of 33–8.

Two seasons ago, the Dolphins set the football world ablaze by scoring 70 points in a single game against the Broncos. Their offense, under Mike McDaniel, appeared nearly unstoppable and could attack defenses in numerous ways. Fast forward two seasons, and despite having Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and a talented roster featuring Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins could only score eight points. Their lone touchdown came late in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach, and they suffered three turnovers, including two interceptions.

It looked as if the Dolphins were a new team rather than one that had played together for a few years. The Colts nearly doubled the Dolphins in total offensive yardage, racking up 418 yards compared to Miami's 211. Only one of Miami's drives exceeded 65 yards. Daniel Jones finished the game with an impressive 22 completions on 29 attempts, amassing 272 passing yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 115.9, adding 26 rushing yards.

The Colts have the right players to complement Jones. Only five of his completions went for more than 10 air yards, supported by a solid run game. Jones connected with key targets: Michael Pittman Jr. had six receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown, while rookie tight end Tyler Warren caught seven passes for 76 yards. This game showcased Jones's ability to make intermediate throws, demonstrating that the Giants did him a disservice by drafting Malik Nabers instead of a player who would enhance his skill set.

Jonathan Taylor contributed significantly as well, recording 18 carries for 71 rushing yards. The Colts appear to have a top-ten offense. Meanwhile, despite the Miami pass rush being fully healthy, the Dolphins managed just one sack. Has the bell tolled for Miami under Mike McDaniel? The challenges keep piling up for the Dolphins, and although McDaniel is trying to reinvent the offense, it hasn’t had the desired effect. Tua struggled, completing 14 of 23 passes for only 113 yards and posting a passer rating of 51.7, with just three passes traveling over 10 air yards and limited yardage gained after receptions

**Commanders vs. Giants**

In a matchup marked by contrasting performances, Jayden Daniels showed signs of second-year regression, but the Commanders jumped out to an early two-score lead against the Giants. Russell Wilson, who managed to generate only 79 yards of offense in the first half, was named the team starter right after signing with New York. Following an up-and-down season with the Steelers, Wilson had some notable moments but struggled overall. He led the Giants on a red zone drive that resulted in a field goal, but without the ability to rush and extend plays like he did during his time in Seattle, his effectiveness as a quarterback is limited.

The Commanders' defense, particularly their revamped defensive line, played a significant role in Wilson’s struggles, applying multiple pressures and recording several sacks early in the game. On the other side, the Giants' defensive line also managed to pressure Daniels, but the Rookie of the Year remained unfazed. He escaped, scrambled, and delivered pinpoint passes, ultimately leading the Commanders to a 21-6 victory. Daniels finished with 19 completions on 30 attempts for 233 passing yards. Although the offensive line struggled to provide him with clean pockets, Daniels picked up right where he left off last season. He adeptly moved within the pocket and rushed for 68 yards on scrambles, keeping the Commanders' offense in motion.

Those who doubted Deebo Samuel's capabilities were likely surprised by his performance, as he recorded 7 receptions for 77 yards and added a rushing touchdown. While the Giants' pass rush managed to sack Daniels three times, they allowed 220 rushing yards, with Jacory Croskey-Merritt leading the charge with 82 yards on just 10 carries. The Commanders' revamped defensive line demonstrated its strength against a struggling Giants' pass protection unit.

Wilson completed 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards, resulting in a less-than-ideal passer rating of 59.3. To remain as the Giants' starter throughout the season, he will need to elevate his performance. The run game provided little support for the passing game, leaving Wilson as the team's leading rusher with just 44 yards. Malik Nabers contributed with a solid performance, catching passes for 71 receiving yards.

**Eagles vs. Cowboys**

The Cowboys fell to the defending champion Eagles 24–20 in what began as a scoring fest for both teams in the first half. However, a weather delay of over 50 minutes killed the momentum of the game, and both teams managed only a field goal in the second half. The Eagles secured the win thanks to a fumble by former Eagle Miles Sanders in the third quarter, as the Cowboys were advancing towards the Eagles' end zone at the 11-yard line. This fumble was one of the few blemishes on the Cowboys’ offense, which had started strong. In the second half, both the Eagles and Cowboys struggled offensively, leading to a punting spree, and the Eagles ultimately pulled away with the win.

The recent trade of Micah Parsons seemed to dominate all discussions surrounding the Cowboys' season, but the team's opening drive quickly shifted focus. Dak Prescott, looking agile after recovering from a hamstring injury last season, led the Cowboys to the Eagles' end zone. A forced pass interference by Ceedee Lamb in the end zone set the Cowboys up at the 1-yard line, where Javonte Williams fought his way into the end zone. The Eagles' secondary, which had improved from one of the worst in 2023 to one of the best in 2024 with the addition of rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean, faced challenges from the Cowboys' outside receivers. New addition George Pickens from the Steelers drew a 34-yard pass interference penalty, giving the Cowboys another red zone opportunity. Javonte Williams marked his tenure with the Cowboys by scoring two touchdowns on opening night.

The absence of Parsons or any elite pass rush became evident when the Eagles responded to the Cowboys' score with a rushing touchdown of their own. Jalen Hurts scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown, finishing off a ten-play drive. Hurts stood in the pocket for three seconds, but no Cowboys pass rusher could pressure him against the Eagles’ formidable offensive line before he took off untouched into the end zone. Hurts' ability to scramble defined the Eagles’ offensive strategy, as the Cowboys' defense covered well downfield, forcing him to hold the ball longer than usual, but they could not secure him with the rush. On the Eagles' second drive, Hurts took off running. The Eagles' offense ran 12 plays, with Hurts dropping back 9 times but passing only three times for 17 yards. Instead, he scrambled for 32 yards and a touchdown that tied the game 14-14 in the second quarter.

Throughout the second quarter, star receiver AJ Brown notably did not have a catch or a target, while third receiver Jahan Dotson made a significant play with a 51-yard reception that moved the Eagles into Cowboys territory. Saquon Barkley capped off the drive with a 10-yard run in the red zone, giving the Eagles a 21-17 lead. The Eagles covered 81 yards in 8 plays in less than two minutes. Over the course of the game, Hurts scrambled 9 times for 63 yards, achieving 5 first downs. He was less sharp as a passer, completing 19 of 23 attempts for 152 passing yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 94.2. He targeted star receiver AJ Brown just once for 8 yards, late in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys' defensive line managed to pressure Hurts, particularly in the second half, revealing vulnerabilities in the Eagles’ usually strong offensive line, especially at the interior. For the Cowboys, Ceedee Lamb performed well against the Eagles’ secondary, recording seven catches for 110 receiving yards, including 44 yards after the catch. However, his three drops illustrated the difficulties for Dallas against the Philly secondary. Dak Prescott played well enough for the Cowboys to win, demonstrating good timing, touch, and accuracy in his deep passes. However, his receivers did not capitalize on these opportunities, losing 92 yards on four dropped passes, according to PFF. One of the key differences between the two teams was Jalen Hurts'