Well Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books and it was for sure an interesting start. It was a very defensive start. We saw total touchdowns and yards go significantly down from previous years. There were 62 touchdowns scored this week. Last year it was 73, and the year prior it was 88. Naturally this will be the cause for a lot of negative fan reactions.
First, lets tart with the Overreactions.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in trouble:
These guys won the Super Bowl last year and bthey have been to 5 consecutive AFC championships. A loss to a gritty Lions team in Week 1 is not the end of the world. The Chiefs were missing their best weapon in Travis Kelce with a knee injury, and their best defensive player in Chris Jones due to a hold out. Kelce's injury is thought to be minor and Chris Jones just signed a one year deal and will be out there this week. No need to panic over the Chiefs.
2. The Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC
The Dallas Cowboys put on an absolute show on Sunday Night Football. Their defense had a day for the ages; totaling 2 touchdowns, a blocked kick, 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery and 7(!) sacks. Not to mention the shutout. Overall, I do believe the Cowboys are a good, maybe great football team. However, the Eagles and 49ers are the still teams to beat. Both won their games and both wins were impressive. Anytime you beat a Bill Belichick coached team as the eagles did, that is a good win. Additionally, the 9ers massacred one of the offseason's most hyped teams in the Steelers.
3. Ryan Tannehill should be done as a starting QB in the NFL.
Ryan Tannehill was awful. I mean horrendous. He completed less than 50% of his passes. He threw for under 200 yards on 34 attempts. He tossed 3 interceptions and finished with a QBR of 10.3. However, they played a Saints defense that was expected to be dominant and he still needs to get comfortable with new Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In his time in Tennessee, Ryan Tannehill has been great for the Titans. They got him in 2019 and he took over after a 2-4 start. He led them to a 9-4 record in his starts and he won comeback player of the year. The Titans proceeded to go 11-5 and win their division in 2020, then followed that up by going 12-5 and earning the first seed in the AFC in 2021. He has been excellent, boasting an 89-36 TD/INT ratio, a 67% completion percentage and a 36-19 record in his stay in Tennesee. He had a bad game. It happens. He is still their guy.
Not and Overreaction
Matthew Stafford and the Rams are back!
The Rams put on an offensive and defensive clinic against the division opponent Seattle Seahawks. The Rams were thought to be in the Caleb Williams sweepstakes after their awful season in 2022. However they were the NFL's second most injured team, including losing Stafford and Kupp for the final 8 games. The Rams put up 30 points and Stafford made Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell look like Pro Bowlers. Their secondary clamped rookie Jaxon-Smith Njigba, and veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Overall, it was a great performance by the rams. Do not forget, they won the Super Bowl in 2021.
2. The Lions Are the Frontrunners for the NFC North
We knew the NFC North would be somewhat open this year, even after the Vikes won 13 games a season ago. We saw the Bears develop a crazy hype train for this season behind young phenom Justin Fields. And, the Packers faithful are ready for the third straight franchise QB. Overall, this division is totally up for grabs, and no one is making any conclusions after week one, but the Lions taking down the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in Arrow Head makes about as strong a statement as you can make.
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