It's football season, baby!
The NFL is back and better than ever. If Week 1 has been any indication, we're in for a wild season. From stunning upsets to historic performances, Sunday has been the football equivalent of a four-course meal at your favorite dining establishment. Excitement, heartbreak — it's all brewing.
As the first full day of the NFL season winds down, it's important to maintain the long view. Week 1 trends hardly ever hold and it's only natural for jitters and rust to get in players' way at this stage. We will forget most of this ever happened by Week 17.
For now, however, it's just nice to have football back. Fans of every creed have been hyping up their teams all summer. Some of those fans felt a profound sense of vindication today. Others are wearing a paper bag over their heads for the next week.
To the victor goes the spoils. Let's dive into the winners and the not-so-winners.
NFL Week 1 winner: Jordan Love
Few players were under more Week 1 pressure than Jordan Love after his strong preseason. The Green Bay Packers are wading into uncharted waters without Aaron Rodgers and Love is the player tasked with replacing a legend. That can weigh on a player and a fanbase.
Any lingering doubt is out the window now. Love and the Packers went on the road and absolutely stomped the Chicago Bears. Love can work out with Justin Fields all he wants, the bad blood between those franchises will never die. On Sunday, a chippy game reaffirmed the natural discord between two diametrically opposed entities.
The Bears' O-line fell apart and Justin Fields looked positively terrible. Love, on the other hand, dropped 245 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-27 passing, expertly picking apart Chicago's defense and consistently executing in important moments. The outcome of this game was never in any real doubt.
NFL Week 1 loser: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the season with a lot of positive momentum. Kenny Pickett was supposed to take off into the sun as one of the NFL's next great QBs. The offensive line was supposed to round into shape with Broderick Jones and a new complement of vets. Mike Tomlin was supposed to have another winning squad.
Well, it's only Week 1. The Steelers can still turn it around, but Week 1 was a rough start. The Steelers were on the wrong end of a 30-7 scoreboard against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
Patrick Peterson vowed to intercept Brock Purdy. Instead, Purdy dropped a TD dime right over his head.
This game couldn't have gone much worse for Pittsburgh. It's early — take solace in the "it's only Week 1!" of it all, Steelers fans — but man, that was bad.
NFL Week 1 winner: Tyreek Hill
The Miami Dolphins stormed from behind to topple Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers 36-34 in an airtight thriller. Two of the league's most explosive playmakers went head to head, but Tua Tagovailoa won the QB battle in the end. He posted 466 yards and three touchdowns in another comic display of Miami's big-play ability.
It's no secret who Tagovailoa's favorite target is. Tyreek Hill is the NFL's highest-paid receiver, a speedster of the first degree who can beat just about every human in a straight race. He found himself on the receiving end of 11 Tagovailoa passes, accumulating 215 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
We may not see another WR performance of that caliber this season. I'm not sure there's a single QB-WR duo that can touch Miami's core connection when that offense is clicking.
NFL Week 1 loser: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings won 13 games last season, good enough for the NFC North crown and a lot of respect entering the new season. Kirk Cousins has always had his limitations, but he's a proven vet with a track record of impressive performances for winning teams.
It's only Week 1, again, but the Vikings' season couldn't have started much worse. They lost 20-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As you probably remember, Tom Brady retired after last season. He's not on the Bucs anymore. Their starting QB is Baker Mayfield, one of the least proven starting assets in the NFL.
Tampa has a lot of veteran talent left over on the supporting cast, but that team was widely expected to flop in Week 1 and beyond. The Vikings need to round into shape quickly, and Cousins can't afford any more three-turnover afternoons.
NFL Week 1 winner: Calvin Ridley
After a year-long gambling suspension and time missed due to mental health considerations, former first-round pick Calvin Ridley took the field again for his new team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, on Sunday. He was right back to his old ways.
The Alabama product sped up and down the field, making countless impressive grabs in traffic and shredding defenders after the catch. He racked up eight catches, 101 yards, and a touchdown. As the new favorite receiver for one of the NFL's brightest young QBs in Trevor Lawrence, this is only the beginning of a very promising campaign for the 28-year-old.
Ridley has endured more than his share of ridicule for his uncomfortable departure from the Falcons, but he's an all-world talent. It's clear he's in football shape and then some. The Jags scrapped their way to a wild card berth last season. Perhaps with Ridley in the mix, this season holds even bigger rewards.
NFL Week 1 loser: Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is really a winner. He signed a five-year, $275 million contract with $219 million guaranteed earlier in the week. His family has generational wealth and he's going to live comfortably for as long as he inhabits this big blue rock we call Earth.
That said... the former top pick should find Week 1 hard to forget in the worst possible way. Undoubtedly hampered by injury, the former NCAA champion and Super Bowl runner-up completed 14 of 31 passes for 82 yards and zero touchdowns. The Bengals got stomped on the road by the Cleveland Browns, 24-3. That's not in line with expectations for a team many project as Kansas City's primary challenger in the AFC.
Burrow should get back on track — he has a history of crappy Week 1 performances that he later bounces back from — but he has never reached this particular low. The Bengals will need to work doubly hard to avoid a repeat in Week 2.
NFL Week 1 winner: Detroit Lions
Let's toss it back to Thursday for a second. The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes is considered the best of his generation, a potential future G.O.A.T. candidate. The Detroit Lions walked away victorious in the season's first game, setting the tone for a year of surprises.
Jared Goff has salvaged his reputation and emerged as a legitimate winning QB. He's not the greatest arm talent in the world, but he's a daring gunslinger who executes under pressure. The Lions' playmaking talent was bolstered over the summer — David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs look ready to feast in the backfield — and the defense looks born anew.
The Chiefs were far removed from full health and proper spirit on Thursday, but this still qualifies as an impressive feat for the Lions. Add in the Vikings' Week 1 struggles, and suddenly the NFC North looks awfully winnable.
NFL Week 1 loser: Sean Payton
Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos talked a looooooooot of smack this summer. He was supposed to return the Broncos to their former glory after a disappointing first season with Russell Wilson at the helm. Payton the QB whisperer. Payton the champion. Payton the savior. We heard it all.
Well, the Las Vegas Raiders marched up the mountain and toppled Denver, 17-16, despite high elevation and Payton's alleged genius. Wilson was efficient in the pocket, but he only mustered 177 yards and the offense sputtered.
The Raiders aren't exactly burdened with high expectations after swapping Derek Carr for Jimmy Garoppolo. It's only Week 1 — that caveat applies without exception right now — but yeah. The Broncos didn't exactly reinvent the wheel in Payton's first week and there's no reason to believe they will.
NFL Week 1 winner: Los Angeles Rams
Might be time to scrap the Los Angeles Rams obituaries, folks.
The "rebuilding" Rams dominated the "potential NFC West dark horse" Seattle Seahawks, 30-13. Matthew Stafford tossed a vintage 334 yards with no interceptions. Geno Smith managed 112 yards by comparison.
Rams rookie Puka Nacua, a fifth-round pick, went for 119 receiving yards. So did third-year WR Tutu Atwell. So much for the Cooper Kupp injury panic. The Rams' passing attack hasn't looked this good in a minute. Van Jefferson and Tyler Higbee were involved too. Perhaps it's not quite time for Stetson Bennett just yet.
Aaron Donald also made Geno Smith's life flash before his eyes on national television. Full marks.
