NFL Week 1: How Bout Them Thrillers

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Week 1 is in the books, and we had us a couple of doozies between some of the best in the NFL. We had some remarkable performances from the usual suspects and some from the not-so-usual.

Steelers 34

Jets 32

So many questions leading up to this season about how much was left in Aaron Rodgers’ tank? Could he deliver one more time like the old gunslinger? If not, then what? How about 22-30 for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks for an answer? How bout that old laser-sharp cannon we were always used to seeing from Rodgers?

We got all that and a bag of chips as the Steelers got the ball with a little more than three minutes left in the game. Rodgers took Pittsburgh down the field, and the team set up for a go-ahead 60-yard try from Chris Boswell. The kick was good and the Steelers were up 34-32 with 2:10 left.

The Jets and their new QB, Justin Fields, were looking to get into field goal position. But a third-down throw to Garrett Wilson looked good enough for the first down, but a monster hit from new Steeler Jalen Ramsey knocked the ball loose, and that was the game.

Fields was another one of those questions coming into this season. Could he find the magic that made him a top FNL draft pick? How would he fare under the big lights of NYC? Well, he handled it very well and looked good in the process. He would finish 16-22 for 218 and a touchdown. RB Breece Hall had a good day running for 107 yards on 19 carries.

So now, the Steelers see what they may have left in Rodgers. With Mike Tomlin, you can be sure the team will plan accordingly now that they have seen what Rodgers can give them in live action.

The Jets lost, and there are no moral victories. But this team sure did look better than last year’s edition. They looked more disciplined, and Fields played well enough for the team to feel good moving forward.

Chargers 27

Chiefs 21

Another player and team with questions gave us some answers in Week 2. The Charges and their QB, Justin Herbert, are another team that has not played up to their potential on paper. Herbert came into this season still looking to make that next jump as an NFL quarterback. What better way to find out if you have taken that next step than to start the season against Patrick Mahomes?

Oh, and add to that the locale for this one, Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. A long trip, but what a nice vacation while you work. Work is what we got from Herbert and the Chargers, as he threw for 318 yards on 25-34 passing with three touchdowns and no picks. But even with the lead, he had one more thing to do. Keep the ball out of the hands of Mahomes. On a third and 14, he found his way for 19 yards, the first down, and the ball game with just over two minutes left.

Mahomes finished 24 of 39 for 258 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Maybe a bit less than the usual stellar play we are used to seeing from him. The Chiefs played from behind, but when they cut it to 20-18, you began to think they would do what they always do. But the Chargers just would not have on this day. An 11-play 74-yard drive was capped off by a 23-yard strike from Herbert to Quentin Johnston, which made it 27-18, and it was smooth sailing from there for LA.

Is this a new and improved Chargers team ready to leap to the top of the AFC West? Did the Chief just find out they have fallen back to the rest of the league? We have many more games to find that out.

Bills 41

Ravens 40

WOW!!!!!! What a game between two of the favorites to play in the Super Bowl. A showcase already worthy of Game of the Year saw the Buffalo Bills come back from 15 points down and get the win when Matt Prater hit a game-winning, 32-yard field goal as time expired.

These two teams are led by two of the best quarterbacks of our generation. The Ravens have Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, whose skill set is hard to stop. Add Derrick Henry and his monster day of 18 carries for 169 yards, two touchdowns, and Zay Flowers with seven catches for 143 yards and a score—a three-headed monster stacked and ready to play for it all.

But in their way is Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. A team that is a touchdown waiting to happen, and they showed that in a big fourth quarter, with Allen scoring two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air in an epic comeback. A classic for sure that will mean a lot come January.

As we look at these two teams and the potent offenses they possess, one has to ask. What if one or both of these teams had a defense to match? I will not put too much stock in this one since we have an entire season to play. But for this week, it was a classic, a heavyweight fight both teams remember if they meet again in the postseason.

Other Scores

Bucs 23

Falcons 20

Baker Mayfield throws for three touchdown passes, two to rookie Emeka Egbuka, to get the win over the Falcons. But not before Tamapa Bay had to sweat out a missed 44-yard field goal by Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo.

Colts 33

Dolphins 8

This was the unexpected beatdown of the day in Week 1. The Dolphins had nothing while new Colts QB Daniel Jones (22-29, 272 yards, TD) ate up Miami and spit them out in the blowout win.