Tyreek Hill spent a part of his morning in handcuffs, then a part of his afternoon in the long run zone. Josh Allen confirmed why he’s a perennial MVP contender. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears proved in Week 1 you don’t want to attain an offensive landing to win a recreation.
And Dak Prescott, the NFL’s newly minted highest-paid participant, celebrated his $240 million cope with a rout of the Cleveland Browns.
Welcome again, soccer.
For the primary time in 45 years, the NFL noticed three groups rally from at the very least 14-point holes to win on opening weekend. The Bears have been down 17 to the Tennessee Titans earlier than coming again for a 24-17 victory, and Allen’s Buffalo Payments (residence towards the Arizona Cardinals) and Hill’s Miami Dolphins (residence towards the Jacksonville Jaguars) every got here again from two-touchdown deficits. The Los Angeles Rams almost turned the fourth staff to tug off an inconceivable opening-day comeback earlier than ultimately falling to the Detroit Lions in time beyond regulation Sunday night time.
Jim Harbaugh, on an NFL sideline for the primary time in a decade, opened his Los Angeles Chargers tenure with a 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was classic Harbaugh, a reminder of why his San Francisco groups have been so profitable: L.A. owned this one on the bottom, punishing the Raiders for 176 dashing yards, together with a 61-yard burst from J.Okay. Dobbins on the game-sealing drive.
GO DEEPER
NFL Week 1 takeaways: Cowboys’ expertise overwhelms, Harbaugh’s formulation works, Caleb Williams shaky
In Atlanta, the Falcons confirmed that — for one week at the very least — video games aren’t gained within the offseason. For a staff that earned widespread reward from the pundits for its head-coaching rent and roster additions, together with giving out the largest free-agency contract in NFL historical past to Kirk Cousins, Atlanta has little to point out for it one week into the season. The Falcons managed only one offensive landing in a dispiriting 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who gained regardless of not scoring an offensive landing. Beginning for an injured Russell Wilson (calf), Justin Fields threw for 156 yards with out tossing an interception.
In Indianapolis, it took Anthony Richardson all of 1 quarter to uncork top-of-the-line throws we’ll see all season, an absolute rocket off his again foot that traveled 65 yards within the air and fell proper into the arms of Alec Pierce for a landing.
ANTHONY RICHARDSON 60-YARD DIME TO ALEC PIERCE.
📺: #HOUvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/p0xddm5Kl1— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
But it surely was a late third-down connection from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins, plus sterling debuts from two Texans’ newcomers — Stefon Diggs snared two touchdowns, and Joe Mixon piled up 159 dashing yards and a rating — that proved the distinction in Houston’s 29-27 win. Meaning the Colts have now gone 11 seasons with out profitable their opener, the longest such streak within the league.
In Orchard Park, the Cardinals constructed a 17-3 lead within the second quarter however light from there, unable to include Allen within the Payments’ 34-28 comeback. The star quarterback accounted for 4 touchdowns, together with a fourth-quarter leap into the top zone wherein he appeared to injure his left (non-throwing) hand. Buffalo outgained Arizona 211-80 after halftime, yielding only a area aim on protection and protecting extremely touted rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. a non-factor (one catch, 4 yards).
Nobody had a worse outing than the Carolina Panthers, who seemed an entire lot like they did a yr in the past — once they have been the worst staff in soccer. It’s solely Week 1, and any form of rebuild goes to take time, however a 47-10 drubbing in New Orleans wasn’t the debut first-year coach Dave Canales had in thoughts. Saints quarterback Derek Carr had nearly as many landing passes (three) as incompletions (4) as New Orleans outgained the Panthers 379-193 in whole yards. Bryce Younger, contemporary off a disastrous rookie season, opened his 2024 marketing campaign with an interception on his first go try. He completed 13 of 30 for 161 yards and two picks, an ominous begin to what’s a crucial Yr 2 for him. He’s now misplaced 15 of 17 begins since being drafted No. 1 in 2023.
In New York, Giants followers should be questioning if it’s too early to contemplate a transfer at quarterback. Nothing Daniel Jones did in a 28-6 loss to the Vikings — he completed 22 of 42 for 186 yards and two interceptions — will ease hypothesis that the staff take into account different choices. “That’s not on my thoughts,” coach Brian Daboll stated after the loss. It’d should be quickly. In what seems like a make-or-break yr for Jones in New York, this wasn’t the way in which to start out it off. And let’s not overlook the afternoons of Sam Darnold, who performed like a seasoned professional — 19 of 24 for 2 touchdowns — and Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell, who as soon as once more confirmed what he can do with out his beginning quarterback.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rode Baker Mayfield’s four-touchdown day to a simple 37-20 win over the Commanders. The offseason determination to re-sign Mayfield is wanting good to date; similar for the two-year extension the Bucs handed to veteran wideout Mike Evans, who hauled in two of Mayfield’s landing throws Sunday.
In Seattle, the Mike Macdonald period began with a win after his protection gave Bo Nix suits all afternoon. The Denver Broncos’ rookie starter was intercepted twice, and with out some drops by Seahawks defenders, it simply may’ve been a number of extra. It took Nix 34 makes an attempt simply to climb previous the 100-yard mark, and every of Denver’s first six possessions of the second half resulted in a punt or a turnover. Seahawks QB Geno Smith ran for a 34-yard landing and threw for an additional in a 26-20 win.
Right here’s what stood out from Week 1 throughout the NFL:
day to be Dak
A extremely, actually good day. The Cowboys’ quarterback turned the league’s highest-paid participant — his new four-year deal features a whopping $231 million assured — a number of hours earlier than Dallas dominated the Browns 33-17 in a recreation that was by no means shut.
Prescott completed 19 of 32 with a landing, however the story was the Dallas protection, which pissed off Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson all through the sport. Forty-five go makes an attempt for Watson netted simply 169 yards, and he was intercepted twice. Since arriving in Cleveland a number of years in the past, he hasn’t seemed something near the participant he was in Houston, and Sunday was one other stark reminder. It’s only one week, however this could possibly be an issue that brews all season for the Browns.
And to assume: as of late August, the Cowboys hadn’t signed their star quarterback or star huge receiver to contract extensions, and that cloud of uncertainty hung over the franchise because it seemed to maneuver previous one other disappointing playoff exit. Roughly $376 million later — the mixed whole worth of Prescott’s and Cee Dee Lamb’s offers — that uncertainty has been put to relaxation. The Cowboys are 1-0, Mike Zimmer’s protection seems scary and the celebs are joyful.
Williams’ rocky debut
There’s no means round it: Caleb Williams’ Bears debut was terrible. He threw for simply 93 yards on 29 go makes an attempt (his score: a dismal 55.7). He discovered extending performs within the NFL isn’t the identical as extending performs within the Pac-12 (he misplaced 29 yards on sacks). He pressed. He struggled. He missed receivers low and huge.
He additionally turned the primary rookie No. 1 choose to win in Week 1 since 2002.
He can thank the Bears’ protection and particular groups for that. And Titans’ quarterback Will Levis, whose late-game errors buried Tennessee after it constructed a 17-0 lead.
Chicago’s 24-17 victory felt old skool — ugly, with the offense all however nonexistent — not precisely emblematic of the brand new period the franchise hopes to start with its high choose. Similar because the Steelers, the Bears didn’t rating an offensive landing all day.
“Clearly, nice to get this primary win,” Williams stated. “We’re all excited. We went to the locker room to rejoice, and I sat down and loved the second, simply watching all the blokes rejoice, understanding that I should be higher, I can be higher.”
The Bears face the Texans subsequent Sunday in prime time. Williams’ dismal debut isn’t unusual for first-year quarterbacks, but it surely was troubling that he reverted to a few of the traits that obtained him in bother at USC. He wants to interrupt freed from these tendencies and achieve this rapidly. The Bears have invested rather a lot of their rookie QB and constructed a succesful offense round him. Williams may have higher days. We’ll see how lengthy the Bears have to attend to see them.
Detroit nonetheless as gritty as ever
Matthew Stafford has returned to Detroit twice in 9 months. Each journeys have resulted in heartache.
The Lions backed up their wild-card victory over the Rams again in January with a 26-20 time beyond regulation win Sunday night time. This was a terrific opener between two groups that determine to be gamers within the NFC playoff race later this season and one other reminder of what makes Dan Campbell’s staff so robust to play: The Lions merely refuse to fold.
After blowing a 17-3 first-half lead, the Lions drove 40 yards in 9 performs late to arrange a game-tying area aim from Jake Bates late in regulation, then pounded the Rams’ protection with David Montgomery on the game-winning drive in time beyond regulation. Stafford by no means obtained to the touch the ball.
Each he and Cooper Kupp (14 catches, 110 yards, one TD) have been good for many of the second half, a reminder on the nationwide stage why this pair stays as deadly as any within the league.
Wild day in Miami
Think about being a Dolphins fan, tailgating a number of hours earlier than the staff’s season opener towards the Jaguars, and witnessing the staff’s greatest participant, wideout Tyreek Hill, being handcuffed outdoors the stadium.
That’s how an eventful Sunday unfolded in Miami Gardens, the place Hill and defensive sort out Calais Campbell have been briefly detained by police. Hill later instructed reporters he had been stopped Sunday morning on his technique to the sport for allegedly rushing however had “no concept” why officers positioned him in handcuffs; Campbell stated he stopped to supply assist for his teammate. “Proper now, I’m nonetheless making an attempt to place all of it collectively,” Hill stated after the Dolphins’ 20-17 win over the Jaguars.
Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Division issued a press release Sunday that confirmed one of many officers concerned has been positioned on administrative duties and an inner investigation will happen.
Hill helped the Dolphins erase a gradual begin and end in a flurry; Miami scored the sport’s last 13 factors to finish the comeback. Hill led the staff with seven catches for 130 yards, together with an 80-yard landing within the second half that he celebrated by placing his arms behind his again and having fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle mockingly handcuff him.
Hill now has 12 profession touchdowns of at the very least 75 yards, tied for the third-most in NFL historical past.
Similar begin for the Bengals
By now we’re used to those gradual begins from the Bengals — it’s virtually an annual custom in Cincinnati — however this yr was imagined to be completely different. Joe Burrow lastly had a wholesome coaching camp, and regardless of Ja’Marr Chase’s on-again, off-again presence, few figured they’d run into a lot bother opening towards a Patriots staff that gained simply 4 video games final season and seemed misplaced at occasions within the preseason.
As a substitute: Patriots 16, Bengals 10.
On its residence area, Cincinnati didn’t handle a primary down till halfway by the second quarter and completed with only one landing drive all day. Burrow tried 29 passes however simply seven went greater than seven yards within the air (Chase had six catches for 62 yards). A staff that constructed its repute on ruthlessly carving up defenses down the sector bore little resemblance to the contender of years previous.
Free, each day NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, each day NFL updates direct to your inbox.
The protection seemed an entire lot prefer it did final yr — stricken by missed tackles and shaky play up entrance — because the Patriots managed parts of the sport on the bottom, piling up 170 dashing yards within the course of. Jacoby Brissett, beginning forward of third total choose Drake Maye in the intervening time, accomplished simply 15 passes for 121 yards however didn’t flip it over, and Cincy had no reply for Rhamondre Stevenson, who completed with 120 dashing yards and a landing.
The Bengals at the moment are 1-5 in openers beneath Taylor. And the Patriots are 1-0 beneath Jerod Mayo, whose gamers celebrated with a Gatorade bathtub for his or her new coach. One of many league’s worst groups from 2023 has some life early in 2024.
However the story was Cincinnati’s offense, which by no means obtained on observe. Was this merely a fluke, like a number of of those season-opening duds have been for the Bengals in recent times, or an indication that the offense isn’t proper? A stiffer check arrives subsequent week, once they face the two-time defending champs in Kansas Metropolis, residence to one of many league’s greatest defenses.
(Picture of David Montgomery: Gregory Shamus / Getty Pictures)