The Opening Week of the National Football League is officially complete, and it was anything but normal: players spitting on each other, upsets, and thrilling matchups.
We start with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, two bitter rivals to kick off the season. It didn’t take long, only six seconds, for controversy.
Eagles defensive back Jalen Carter spits on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and is now facing a fine. Also, the Eagles’ secondary just couldn’t seem to do anything right. Adoree Jackson was flagged for pass interference and let up five catches for 103 yards.
The outcome would have been worse if CeeDee Lamb hadn’t dropped the ball frequently. For Dallas, there was a positive outcome even though they lost on their home turf 24-20.
No one thought that Dallas was going to win or actually have a good game, since they lost multiple-time Pro Bowl player Micah Parsons. The defense started late, with the Eagles running for 123 yards in the first half, but only allowed 3 points in the second half against the Super Bowl champs. My takeaway is that Dallas may not be as bad as people think.
Speaking of Micah Parsons, let’s bring it on to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the Packers shocked everyone by beating the Detroit Lions 27-13.
But this question is on everyone’s mind: How much is Micah Parsons really going to bring to this team? Parsons had one sack by the fourth quarter but pressured Jared Goff to throw an interception and also helped Lucas Van Ess get his first sack of the season.
Should the Lions be concerned about their offense? It was horrible; they could barely even reach the red zone, and when they did, it would result in a field goal. My only upside for the Lions was Issac TeSlaa’s one-handed toe tap grab for the first touchdown of his career. My takeaway is that the NFC North runs through Green Bay.
Finally, the best Week 1 game of this season and possibly in recent memory was between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills’ offense played well, but the defense did not. The defense gave up big runs and big plays and couldn’t finish plays. I do want to give credit where credit is due because Ed Oliver knocked the ball out of Derrick Henry’s hands and caused a turning point.
But Josh Allen can’t do everything. Allen helped the Bills stay close, going 33/46 for 394 yards and two passing and two rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Ravens had the biggest collapse in the league since 2017, losing a 15-point lead with four minutes left to go.
Personally, I don’t think this will slow down the Ravens. I think it was a bad game, that’s all. My takeaway is that Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson will be MVP contenders.
