The NFL has finally returned after a long offseason of excitement and anticipation. As the sun sets on week 1, football fans enjoy a thrilling game showcase that sets the stage for what promises to be an electrifying season. Buckle up as we dive into the key takeaways from an opening week that was nothing short of fantastic.
Game of the Week
The first game of the NFL season lived up to the hype as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 27-20. In the final seconds, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely caught what appeared to be a touchdown that would’ve taken the game to overtime but was later ruled incomplete due to his toe being out of bounds. Football is often described as a game of inches, a perfect summary of this game’s ending. Thursday night’s showdown will go down in history as NBC announced it was the most-watched NFL season opener of all time, with the audience peaking at 33 million viewers.
Surprise Upset
The first major upset of the new season came from the New England Patriots as they pulled off an impressive 16-10 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite being heavily favored to win the game, the Bengals came up short, largely due to a dominant performance from the Patriots defense. Patriots defensive end Keion White had a breakout game, sacking Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow 3 times. The Patriots took control of the game offensively by effectively running the ball. Rhamondre Stevenson put the game on ice by rushing for 128 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Star Performers
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt stood out as dominant players who made great contributions to their team’s Week 1 victories. In Barkley’s first game as an Eagle on Friday, he rushed for 109 yards, had 23 receiving yards, and scored a trio of touchdowns. In Philadelphia’s 34-29 victory against the Green Bay Packers, he became the first Eagles player to score three touchdowns since Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens did so in 2004. Barkley’s efficient running fueled the Eagles’ offense as they secured their first victory of the new season. On Sunday, T.J. Watt was a force to be reckoned with on defense, assisting the Pittsburgh Steelers in securing an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Watt was unblockable throughout the game, notching four tackles, 3 QB hits, a sack, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Watt’s impressive stats could’ve been even better if 2 of his sacks weren’t taken away due to penalties. Nonetheless, Watt was able to put consistent pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins and played a huge role in the Steelers’ strong start to the season.
Injury Report
Unfortunately, several big-name players sustained injuries this week that may impact their availability for the upcoming week and beyond. On Friday night, the Green Bay Packers quarterback, Jordan Love, left the game with a knee injury in the final moments of Green Bay’s
loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was confirmed that he injured the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and is expected to miss 3-6 weeks. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was unexpectedly ruled out shortly before Monday night’s game due to the lingering calf and Achilles injuries that limited him throughout training camp and the preseason. This surprising decision to sit McCaffrey leaves many fans wondering about the true severity of his injury and if he is at risk for missing even more time in future weeks. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua may miss the most time out of all of these players after he suffered a knee sprain in the team’s 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. He has already been placed on the injured reserve and will not be able to return to action for at least a month.
Conclusion
As week 1 of the NFL season officially comes to a close, it’s clear that the excitement and unpredictability of football is back in full force. After a thrilling opening week, fans are gearing up for an unforgettable season.
