The wait is finally over; the NFL is back. Here are some of the best games from week one.
Ravens 40, Bills 41 — Lamar and Baltimore blow a big 4th quarter lead. Baltimore’s inability to close games comes to the forefront once again.
Without a doubt, the game of the week. It may even end up being a contender for game of the year. High-flying offense was the theme throughout all 4 quarters. Both offenses combined for 929 yards and 10 touchdowns. Through 3 quarters, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry tore up the Bills’ defense. Henry ran for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day, while Lamar had a passer rating of 144 on a scale of 158, virtually a perfect game. With 11 minutes to play in the 4th quarter, Baltimore led by 15 points. With 10 minutes to play, the Bills turned it around and found a way to win. Their defense shut down the Ravens on all their remaining drives, while Josh Allen put on a show that only he can produce. Here’s a stat: at one point in the fourth quarter, Buffalo had a 1% chance of winning. Meaning, if this game were played 100 times, the Bills would win once, at best, yet they found a way.
The Bills celebrate their win. Photo: NFL.
All that is fun to talk about, however; here is what is most apparent: The Baltimore Ravens can’t get the job done in big games. We’ve seen it time and time again. Baltimore is arguably the best team in the league; they have been for the past few years. Unfortunately for them, they are also the best team in the league at beating themselves. If you look at all the big games they’ve played over the past 4 years, there is not one game where they lost because they have an inferior team; rather, they were the makers of their own downfall. While the Ravens did throw this game away in the final 10 minutes, the Bills deserve massive credit for mounting that comeback.
Dolphins 8, Colts 33 – Is it time for Miami to start from scratch?
The Colts came up big in week 1. Photo: NFL.
Miami came out cold against the Colts in week 1… and that may be an understatement. The Dolphins looked horrific against a team that many considered to be one of the worst in the AFC heading into week 1. First and foremost, Tua Tagovailoa needs to be examined closely over the next few weeks. His ability to play at a high level consistently is questionable. When you have the luxury of being in an offense surrounded by talent and good blocking, there are no excuses for bad play. That being said, the blame doesn’t fall entirely on Tua; the team wasn’t nearly good enough across the board and did not help out their quarterback at all. If it becomes clear they will miss the playoffs, they need to consider reshaping this team and give up on 2025. In contrast, Daniel Jones deserves a lot of praise. Jones, who has been maligned by so many analysts, balled out. He threw for 272 yards, with one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns – in addition, he had a 75% pass completion rate. We will have to wait and see how good the Colts will turn out, or if this was a one-off. Either way, they played well in week 1.
Chiefs 21, Chargers 27 – The Chiefs’ supporting cast and defense let Mahomes down… again. While Justin Herbert shines bright in Brazil.
For a first game back after a Super Bowl blowout, Chiefs fans would have expected much more from their team. The Chiefs addressed their left tackle problem over the offseason, while retooling other positions as well. However, other than Mahomes, none of those upgraded departments were firing. What was most concerning was the run game. You know you have a problem when your quarterback is your leading rusher. Defensively, the Chiefs’ secondary, which is very good, did a torrid job at stopping Herbert on the day. While there are many things to point at, none of them will matter come week 16 when the Chiefs prematurely secure a playoff berth; the Chiefs will figure it out.
Let’s focus on Herbert and the Chargers; they, unlike Kansas City, were firing. Herbert had a field day, throwing for 318 yards with three touchdowns and rushing for 32, earning a passer rating of 131.7 – on a scale of 158 (according to Pro Football Reference). The other huge positive for Chargers fans to take away was the performance of their former first-round pick, Quentin Johnston. Johnston, to date, has been a huge disappointment. However, if he can somewhat replicate this level of production going forward – 5 catches for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns – he can silence all the critics. The Chargers have good coaching and have some experienced veterans that can help guide the team to success, possibly even into the playoffs…
Bears 24, Vikings 27 – Caleb Williams shows positive signs despite blowing a lead.
The Vikings looked good in week 1. Photo: NFL.
This was a battle of two young quarterbacks in their first true seasons. Caleb Williams, who is now able to perform with a heavily upgraded offense, and JJ McCarthy, who is in his first true season. Both performed very well, and their respective fan bases should be very pleased with what they saw. Williams showed his dual-threat ability while also demonstrating composure in the pocket, despite some missed throws in key moments. McCarthy demonstrated a certain maturity that is beyond his time in the NFL. McCarthy’s play was reminiscent of Joe Burrow. Both teams looked good, and I believe both have recipes for success as currently constructed.
Packers 27, Lions 13 – How can you not love Jordan Love? The Pack impresses against the Goff-led Lions.
The Packers demonstrated they are a legit contender in the NFC with this win against the Lions. Jordan Love looked confident and decisive throughout the game. He was making quick reads and found the end zone a couple of times. The Packers’ defense played very well. They overwhelmed the Lions with their pass rush, consistently putting pressure on Jared Goff throughout the game and recording 4 sacks, 9 hits on the quarterback, and 9 tackles for loss. Lions fans shouldn’t be concerned about their team at all. They came up against a good team that executed a good game plan both defensively and offensively.
