Week 1 of the NFL is always a special time, for both me and millions of Americans around the country who have tuned into their TVs and are screaming at them five minutes in. However, the first real week of the National Football League is, in my opinion, the best time of the year for everyone who considers football to be the best sport in the world, and Week 1 signals the start of the most enjoyable sixteen weeks of the year.
Mitch Trubisky Looks Raw and Sloppy
At the beginning of the season, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was a popular bet to win his first-ever MVP.
Yeah, I don’t really know what those bettors were thinking, frankly.
Trubisky, at best, looked extremely raw in his 2019 season debut, and he forced more than several bad throws, and he got somewhat lucky that he only had one INT to his final statline. If the Bears are looking to contend for a Super Bowl, they need Trubisky to play much, much better than he did on Thursday.
Chiefs Pick Up Where They Left Off
The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive fireworks show picked up exactly where it left off last season, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 378 yards and 3 TD passes. Sammy Watkins also had himself a game, catching nine passes for 198 yards and all three of Mahomes’ touchdown passes. The Chiefs, just like last year, look like a legitimate threat to dethrone the Patriots and reach the Super Bowl, but first, they’ll have to do something about that defense. Newly-acquired Frank Clark will help out, but if they want to substantiate that “Super Bowl contenders” claim, they’ll have to hope their defense becomes elite, and soon.
Who Said Lamar Jackson Can’t Throw?
I mean, seriously?
And he was on my bench in fantasy!!!!!
Anyway, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passed for a mind-blowing 324 yards and five passing touchdowns. Five! Yeah, sure, he did it against a Dolphins team that is, just, well, I can’t.
Let’s just leave it at, “They’re tanking.”
NFL scouts and analysts had some doubts about Jackson’s throwing ability coming into this season, but those doubters are at least having second thoughts about their claims after that debut. If Lamar and the Ravens keep this kind of play up, watch out for them in the postseason.
The Browns are Overhyped
Everyone! Cancel the Super Bowl parade!!
Well, maybe it’s too early for that. But, seriously, against a Titans team that they should’ve likely taken care of rather easily, Cleveland absolutely laid an egg against the Titans. They lost 43-13, and quarterback Baker Mayfield looked nothing like the polished field general he was last season. If the Browns want to seriously be in the hunt for a playoff spot, they need to improve, on both sides of the ball, and fast. Yes, I know, it’s only Week 1, but they have had basically an entire offseason to get used to each other’s playing styles!
I just feel like Cleveland could’ve done better than that.
The Patriots are Being the Patriots
I hate that sentence. I hate every part of it.
And, of course, so does everyone else, except for Pats fans. The Patriots absolutely obliterated the AB-less and Le’Veon-less Steelers, 33-3, at Gillette Stadium. The New England defense looks like it’ll be playing on another level this year, as it’s looked more polished and better than it has in a while. Josh Gordon made an underrated-type-of-good return to the field, while Tom Brady was, well, himself. Overall, on both offsense and defense, this team looks how it’s looked for the past, what, 20 years?
And just wait until that Antonio Brown guy comes in.
Texans-Saints Was a Thriller
The Monday Night Football duel between the Texans and the Saints was the perfect end to an amazing Week 1, in my opinion. The game had so many lead changes, my head was beginning to get dizzy by the end of the third quarter (no, not really). Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense (minus the terrible offensive line) looked great, and yet, the Saints defense looked as dominant as they were last year. Watson had his moments in the clutch, no doubt, but you can’t count out a polished veteran like Drew Brees, who led New Orleans down the field, and they finally got the win off of Wil Lutz’s 58-yarder. Like I said, the perfect end to a perfect week.
That’s all I’ve got for Week 1, but stay tuned to The Roundup for more NFL and sports news.
