Key takeaways and analysis from Week 1 in the NFL
Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.
We were concerned about the Chiefs?
The Chiefs trading away Tyreek Hill was one of the biggest stories of the offseason. With the high-powered offense losing its best big-play threat and one of the most explosive players the game has ever seen, it was only natural to assume they might drop off.
One game in, we can probably chalk that up to the football world just needing things to talk about when there are no games to watch. This offense is every bit as good as it has been for the last five years. And when you think about it, there's really no reason it shouldn't be.
Patrick Mahomes - still arguably the best quarterback on the planet - picked apart the Cardinals for 360 yards and five touchdowns to kick off the season with a blowout win. Travis Kelce remained his No. 1 target, leading all pass-catchers with eight receptions and 121 yards, but it was also clear that newcomers JuJu Smith-Schuster (six catches, 79 yards) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (four catches, 44 yards) are already fitting in nicely. Second-round rookie Skyy Moore also had an explosive play on his lone target.
While any offense will be better with a weapon like Hill, it's no secret that the Chiefs have lacked depth at that position for years. That no longer appears to be an issue.
Don't overlook the rushing attack, either. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco were both key contributors in the win, and as much as Andy Reid may resist it, a stellar offensive line makes the Chiefs' running game incredibly useful for closing out games.
This offense can beat you in any way it wants. Best of luck.
Chargers looking elite
The only thing missing from the historically captivating 2021 playoffs was Justin Herbert. Let's go out on a limb and say we won't be robbed of such entertainment this year.
After so narrowly missing out on the postseason last year, the Chargers wisely identified that, with one of the league's premier quarterbacks on a rookie deal, now was the time to go all-in. And that they did, adding a pair of defensive stars in Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson while also spending big on the interior defensive line to solve issues in the run game.
L.A. was far and away the better team in Sunday's opener against the Raiders, and that was with Jackson inactive and Keenan Allen sidelined for most of the game with a hamstring injury. Herbert looked every bit as good as he did throughout an outstanding sophomore season in 2021, Mack starred opposite Joey Bosa with three sacks, and the new-look defensive front limited the Raiders to just 64 rushing yards.
The constant pressure also forced Derek Carr into a number of bad decisions, leading to three interceptions on the day.
The Chargers have joined the Chiefs as another front-runner and bona fide Super Bowl contender in the best division in football. And we get to see them go head-to-head for the first time Thursday night.
Packers need receivers
Green Bay opting against a marquee move at receiver after trading Davante Adams to Las Vegas was a bet on Aaron Rodgers. The idea was presumably that the Packers could allocate resources elsewhere and count on their Hall of Fame quarterback, who just received a monster three-year, $150-million contract, to elevate the play of some less-accomplished pass-catchers.
So far, not so good. Green Bay felt the effects of that questionable decision-making in a season-opening loss to Minnesota, where Rodgers threw for a mere 195 yards. Running back AJ Dillon was his leading receiver, with five catches for 46 yards. In total, only 13 of his 22 completions went to wide receivers.
Allen Lazard missing this game was certainly a factor, so it's worth waiting to see how the offense takes shape when he returns. But it's wishful thinking to expect a five-year veteran who has topped 500 yards just once to carry this position group by himself.
As good as Rodgers still is, entering the season as a two-time defending MVP, he needs help from his supporting cast. For perhaps the best recent example, consider Tom Brady coming off his final season with the Patriots. After struggling with a sub-par group of receivers, many of us probably thought he was on the decline. As we found out when he joined a far superior offense in Tampa Bay, that wasn't even remotely true.
The Packers may well make it to the playoffs on the back of Rodgers and a potential top-five defense alone, but it just feels like their ceiling is limited without the necessary weapons on offense. There may be no better fit for Odell Beckham Jr. when he's healthy and ready to play in the second half of the season.
Don't sleep on the vets
The NFL is notorious for somehow allowing established veterans, and in some cases, proven superstars, to fly under the radar. It really is "what have you done for me lately?" to the extreme.
Julio Jones was seen as a luxury signing for the Bucs in July and a clear No. 3 behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, at best, in a stacked Tampa Bay offense. Though Michael Thomas was poised for a marquee role in the Saints' receiving corps when he got healthy, his fantasy ADP of WR29 shows just how willing fans and analysts were to bet on a return to top form.
In reality, we probably shouldn't be all that surprised that both perennial Pro Bowl receivers had a major impact in Week 1. It really was just about getting healthy.
Injuries are bound to happen in football, and they're certainly not predictable. Some players just have brutal spells of luck and can't seem to catch a break. But when teams are patient or willing to take a gamble on a player others may see as injury-prone, the potential payoff is immense.
The Bucs were clearly making an effort to get Jones involved in Sunday night's win over the Cowboys, as he had two rushing attempts in addition to three catches for 69 yards on five targets. With Godwin now dealing with a hamstring injury, the Jones signing is going to seem all the more genius - a move other teams (*glares at the Packers*) probably wish they had made themselves.
Thomas, meanwhile, started slow before taking over late against the Falcons. His back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter got the Saints to within two points with a few minutes to play, putting them in position for the eventual game-winning field goal.
So while the youth movement at wide receiver continues, it seems a pair of longtime NFC South superstars are poised to once again have a major impact on the way their division shakes out.
What did Belichick expect?
The Patriots have always done things a little differently than everyone else. For as long as most of us can remember, it's what set them apart from the rest of the league. That no longer appears to be the case.
Bill Belichick leaving the offense in the hands of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge when Josh McDaniels departed for the lead job in Las Vegas was a bizarre decision from the jump. Patricia hasn't coached on the offensive side of the ball since serving as the Patriots' assistant offensive line coach in 2005. The only offensive experience on Judge's NFL resume - as a longtime special teams assistant - was when he also coached the wide receivers for New England in 2019.
If you wanted to give Belichick the benefit of the doubt and account for the off chance that it could be his latest stroke of genius, fair enough. In reality, the only difference between this decision and the "Dream Team" Eagles handing the defense to lifelong offensive line coach Juan Castillo is that Philly could at least hope its collection of talent was so overwhelming that it wouldn't matter who called the plays. Nobody can possibly expect that from the Patriots' current offensive personnel, particularly at the skill positions.
New England still has time to figure it out, so we can't draw too many conclusions just yet. But Sunday's season opener against the Dolphins gave us plenty of reason to believe that the Patriots' offense could be in for a disastrous season.
Mac Jones threw for just 213 yards in the 20-7 defeat, with his two turnovers (one interception, one fumble returned for a touchdown) contributing to a QBR of just 9.4. The Patriots' offense was simply outmatched all day.
Maybe they figure it out. Maybe Belichick proves us all wrong. But at this early stage, it's tough to figure out what in the world he was expecting. An entire generation of fans might be about to witness a bad Patriots team for the first time in their lives.
Quick slants
Justin Jefferson 🥵
It would be tough to top what Jefferson did last season, but he's already well on his way. The Vikings star made good on all the hype for his role in a new-look offense, shredding the Packers for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers told Jefferson postgame that he's the best player in the game, and it's increasingly tough to argue against that.
Deebo still a wide back 📝
If you were wondering whether Samuel's big contract would change his role in the 49ers' offense, the answer is a resounding "no." He got eight carries in Sunday's loss to the Bears, and his total of 52 rushing yards was second only to Trey Lance. San Francisco is going to get its money's worth by putting the ball in the superstar playmaker's hands as much as possible.
Colts can't win openers 🥴
What is the deal with the Colts? After four straight years of Week 1 losses - all of which came against bad teams - Indy narrowly avoided a defeat to the Texans and settled for a tie. Maybe it's the fact that the Colts are always debuting a new veteran quarterback, or maybe it's just random. But there's definitely a concerning trend of this team not being ready when the season kicks off.
Cordarrelle Patterson: Weapon 🔥
An offseason to rest up was all Patterson needed to get back on track. With 120 yards on 22 carries, he became just the second opponent in the last 79 games to reach the century mark against the Saints. He should remain every bit the playmaker we saw this afternoon if the Falcons can keep him fresh throughout the year.
Saquon back 👀
Expectations for Barkley weren't especially high coming off a pair of injury-riddled seasons, as evidenced by his second-round ADP in fantasy drafts this year. His 164 rushing yards in a win over Tennessee, averaging a stellar 9.1 yards per carry, showed us what he's capable of when he's healthy.
Travon Walker's big game 💪
Bet on athletes, folks. Walker was one of the more controversial No. 1 overall picks in recent memory, as his college pass-rush production was nowhere near the level of a perceived can't-miss stud at the position. But the Jaguars were confident that his raw traits and freak athletic profile meant that good things were ahead, and with both a sack and an interception in his debut, he certainly looked like a top pick.
Chubb, Hunt can carry Browns 🚂
The football world isn't really expecting much from the Browns with their starting quarterback suspended for the first 11 games of the season. We probably shouldn't count them out, though. Nick Chubb running for 141 yards and Kareem Hunt adding another 46 is a good reminder from the NFL's best running back duo that football is about more than quarterbacks.
Super Bowl hangover(s) 😬
The Rams falling to the Bills on Thursday night and the Bengals stumbling against the Steelers on Sunday marks the first time since 1999 that both Super Bowl teams from the previous year lost their season openers. Nobody is going to panic about either conference champion just yet, but the turnovers from Matthew Stafford (three) and Joe Burrow (five) are particularly notable.
Stat of the Week
Packers WRs: 12 receptions, 120 yards, 0 TD
Davante Adams: 10 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD