NFL Week 1 Insights: What We Learned About Every Team, Game by Game

Tua Tagovailoa wins a shootout against Justin Herbert, Jimmy Garoppolo spoils Sean Payton’s return, Jordan Love shows why he was ready to take over for Aaron Rodgers, the Eagles survive Mac Jones and the Patriots, and the Cowboys shut out the Giants.

As it always is, the NFL Week 1 schedule has been a roller-coaster.

Everything got kicked off Thursday night, when the Lions beat the Chiefs in a game where Kansas City dropped way too many passes. With one upset already behind us, Sunday became a day of sloppy football, a few hard truths and a bunch of surprises.

Among them? The 49ers’ plowing the Steelers in their own building, to the tune of a 200–1 total yards advantage at one point in the second half.

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, it was the battle of field goals for much of the afternoon with the Saints and Titans trading three-point jabs before New Orleans finally held on. Finally, the Battle of Ohio was a waterlogged affair with both Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow struggling in a divisional duel.

In the latter window, the Patriots tried to rally from a 16–0 deficit against the Eagles, while the Raiders and Broncos tangled in a battle of AFC West foes. At SoFi Stadium, the Chargers and Dolphins combined for 70 points and 969 yards of offense.

Then there were the rookie quarterbacks, with Anthony Richardson shining most among the trio. As for Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, the day was a learning experience with some good moments mixed in.

We break it all down and then some with thoughts on what it all means moving forward for each team.

SUNDAY

Dolphins 36, Chargers 34

Tagovailoa passed for 466 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Dolphins past the Chargers :: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

• What it means for Dolphins: If Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy, the Dolphins have real title hopes. The fourth-year quarterback threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing good placement on a variety of deep balls to Tyreek Hill. Speaking of Hill, the seven-time Pro Bowler showed his wares with 215 yards. on 11 receptions and two touchdowns. He remains the biggest threat in football.
• What it means for Chargers: The defense remains a mess. Despite having all offseason to prepare for the Dolphins, coach Brandon Staley watched his unit allow 536 total yards and 36 points. It doesn’t bode well for a Los Angeles team trying to shake old demons of failure.
• Next week: Dolphins at Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Chargers at Titans, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17.

Cowboys 40, Giants 0

• What it means for Cowboys: The defense is good enough to win the Super Bowl. Dak Prescott did virtually nothing but didn’t have to, with two nonoffensive touchdowns and the defense pitching a shutout behind a dominant effort by Micah Parsons.
• What it means for Giants: That was a five-alarm fire in almost every aspect. New York allowed seven sacks, while Daniel Jones often looked to run even when he had time. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million deal this offseason after throwing for only 3,200 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022. Both Jones and the offensive line must step up, or there’s not much the rest of the club, and the coaches, can do.
• Next week: Giants at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Jets at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Eagles 25, Patriots 20

• What it means for Eagles: Philadelphia won a road game against Bill Belichick despite Jalen Hurts throwing for only 170 yards, the rushing attack producing 97 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and making just two trips to the red zone. The Eagles will be far more explosive most days, but they won in another way in Week 1.
• What it means for Patriots: While the result wasn’t good, the Patriots have to feel all right with some of the game’s aspects. Despite missing multiple starters up front, they allowed only two sacks to last year’s best pass rush. They also saw Mac Jones throw for 316 yards and three touchdowns after an awful start. If Jones plays well behind a solid offensive line moving forward, New England will be competitive.
• Next week: Vikings at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thurs.); Dolphins at Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Raiders 17, Broncos 16

• What it means for Raiders: Jimmy Garoppolo did what was needed, giving some veteran experience to a team lacking it. At some point, Garoppolo will be asked to score plenty if Las Vegas is going to emerge victorious. That might be a big ask, but Garoppolo can manage games well enough when the defense does a solid job.
• What it means for Broncos: Russell Wilson and the offense are still a problem. Against a Raiders’ defense largely bereft of talent, Wilson managed 177 yards on 34 attempts (5.2 YPA) while the offense managed just 4.5 yards per play. If coach Sean Payton can’t get more out of Wilson, it’s going to be another long season for a fan base already exhausted of its patience.
• Next week: Commanders at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Raiders at Bills, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Packers 38, Bears 20

• What it means for Packers: Jordan Love can deal. Making only his second-career start, Love looked confident, throwing three touchdowns, including two to Romeo Doubs. Love also did a nice job spreading the love, targeting eight receivers with six nabbing receptions. Coach Matt LaFleur had to love what he saw.
• What it means for Bears: Even after the summer signing of edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, Chicago’s front has no punch. The big concern around the Windy City was the Bears’ pass rush, and it generated three quarterback hits and one sack (Ngakoue). Otherwise, a very quiet day.
• Next week: Packers at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Bears at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Rams 30, Seahawks 13

• What it means for Rams: Los Angeles isn’t dead yet. Even without star receiver Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford had a 334-yard day with rookie Puka Nacua and third-year man Tutu Atwell combining for 16 receptions and 238 yards. Additionally, the defense did a phenomenal job in the defensive backfield with a host of unproven faces, limiting Geno Smith to 112 passing yards.
• What it means for Seahawks: Smith was a revelation last year, throwing 30 touchdown passes to earn a stunning Pro Bowl berth. The top concern about Seattle being a contender was whether Smith would regress, and early returns are only furthering those questions. Smith had good protection much of the day but couldn’t do the job, rarely threatening the Rams’ secondary.
• Next week: Seahawks at Lions, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; 49ers at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET Sept. 17

49ers 30, Steelers 7

Purdy, making his first start since suffering an arm injury in the NFC championship, tossed a pair of touchdowns in an easy road win :: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports

• What it means for 49ers: Brock Purdy looks the part. After going 5–0 last regular season and then winning two playoff games, as a seventh-round rookie, there were questions abound regarding whether he was a fluke. Against a very talented defense, Purdy torched Pittsburgh, throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns in an easy road win.
• What it means for Steelers: The big question coming into the season was whether Kenny Pickett would be better in his second year. The early results were ugly. He threw a bad interception in the first quarter and another was later dropped by star linebacker Fred Warner. The Steelers have too much talent for Pickett to finish 31-of-46 for 232 yards.
• Next week: Browns at Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (Mon.); 49ers at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Buccaneers 20, Vikings 17

• What it means for Buccaneers: This is the blueprint for the Bucs: play well defensively and don’t make the big mistake. Tampa Bay was plus-three in the turnover ratio and hit Kirk Cousins nine times, forcing a litany of difficult throws. If Todd Bowles’s team can follow that formula, perhaps it can contend in the weak NFC South.
• What it means for Vikings: The Vikings moved the ball and actually played well defensively—allowing only 3.6 yards per play—but were undone by three turnovers by Cousins (two fumbles, one interception). Minnesota should feel good about the defense but worried about the running game, which produced only 41 yards on 2.7 yards per carry.
• Next week: Vikings at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thurs.); Bears at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17
  

Browns 24, Bengals 3

• What it means for Bengals: Cincinnati will bounce back, with the offense having been stuck in neutral all day. However, the more concerning thing is the defense, which permitted 206 rushing yards on 5.2 yards per carry. With the run-heavy Ravens up next on the slate, Cincinnati needs to figure out its issues quickly to avoid an 0–2 start.
• What it means for Browns: Cleveland’s secondary is for real. The Browns blanketed their AFC North rivals all afternoon, limiting the terrific trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd to seven catches for 49 yards. As for Joe Burrow, the $275 million man went 14-of-31 for 82 yards. Ugly.
• Next week: Browns at Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (Mon.); Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Jaguars 31, Colts 21

• What it means for Jaguars: The combination of Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley was on point. Ridley caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Lawrence added another six-point beauty to Zay Jones. While the game was close for much of the day, Jacksonville pulled away with Ridley being the star it traded for last year.
• What it means for Colts: Richardson looked the part of a top pick. The Florida product was terrific, accounting for 263 total yards and two touchdowns. Despite having a porous offensive line and limited weapons, Richardson had Indianapolis in the lead late before the Colts faltered.
• Next week: Chiefs at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Colts at Texans, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Ravens 25, Texans 6

• What it means for Texans: This game only confirmed what we all knew; this is going to be a work in progress for Stroud. Under duress much of the afternoon, Stroud averaged 5.5 yards per attempt while his run game produced just 72 yards. If Houston is going to be decent early, the defense must lead the way.
• What it means for Ravens: It’s a win, but it was costly. Running back J.K. Dobbins is likely lost for the year with a torn Achilles, putting more pressure on Lamar Jackson in a new scheme under coordinator Todd Monken. The good news? Baltimore’s defense looked excellent, sacking Stroud five times.
• Next week: Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Colts at Texans, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Saints 16, Titans 15

• What it means for Titans: Ryan Tannehill is on notice. Yes, it’s one game, but he has a pair of top-100 picks behind him in Will Levis and Malik Willis. Tennessee could have beaten New Orleans in the raucous Superdome, but Tannehill was a mess, throwing three interceptions while being hit 10 times.
• What it means for Saints: Michael Thomas is back, and Chris Olave showed why he’s a second-year star. Thomas caught five passes for 61 yards after playing only three games over the past two seasons. As for Olave, he went over 100 yards in Derek Carr’s debut. If the Saints get that kind of production on the outside, they’ll be tough in the wide-open NFC.
• Next week: Saints at Panthers, 7:15 p.m. ET (Mon.); Chargers at Titans, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17

Falcons 24, Panthers 10

Robinson didn't disappoint in his debut, scoring a touchdown with 83 all-purpose yards :: Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports

• What it means for Panthers: It’s a tough start, but not unexpected. Young ran for his life much of the preseason behind a leaky line, and while the protection was decent Sunday, he struggled to find his weapons. The most concerning thing is Carolina ran for 4.8 yards per carry and 154 yards, and Young still had issues all day.
• What it means for Falcons: Jessie Bates III might have been worth his hefty $64 million deal. Atlanta’s big-ticket offseason addition picked Young off twice along with forcing a fumble. The Falcons need more from the duo of tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London, who combined for two catches and 44 yards, but Bates looked like a game-changer for the defense.
• Next week: Packers at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Saints at Panthers, 7:15 p.m. ET (Mon.

Commanders 20, Cardinals 16

• What it means for Cardinals: Perhaps Arizona won’t be a complete disaster. Going across the country to play Washington, first-year coach Jonathan Gannon watched his defense score a touchdown, notch six sacks and hold the Commanders to 20 points. It’s still a defeat, but the Cardinals have to be encouraged.
• What it means for Commanders: There’s major work to do for the offense. Under new coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Washington totaled only 248 yards while averaging a meager 4.2 yards per play. Quarterback Sam Howell made his second career start and was under siege from those aforementioned sacks, while throwing for 202 yards on 32 attempts.
• Next week: Giants at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Commanders at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET Sept. 17

THURSDAY

Lions 21, Chiefs 20

• What it means for Lions: A huge win for Dan Campbell and the program. The Lions won eight of their last 10 to finish 2022, but still missed the playoffs. Instead of falling flat with big expectations, Detroit showed mettle by piecing together a fourth-quarter comeback at Arrowhead. In what could be a tight NFC North, it’s a major first step for Motown.
• What it means for Chiefs: The Chiefs need to get better gloves. While drops are different for everybody, I counted an astounding nine for Kansas City, including four from Kadarius Toney. If the defending champs get tight end Travis Kelce back next week and hold onto a few easy passes, they’ll be fine.
• Next week: Seahawks at Lions, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17; Chiefs at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET Sept. 17