It was an exciting set of performances during the first week of the NFL season. Some shone bright, others did not; some surprising teams won, and other notable teams lost. Sunday’s games were replete with dramatic comebacks, stellar performances, and disappointing outcomes. Here is who emerged as the winners and losers from the day’s action.
Winner: Sam Darnold Shines
Week 1 in the NFL got underway, and Sam Darnold was one of the bright spots. On Sunday, in his return to MetLife Stadium, former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold led the Minnesota Vikings to a convincing 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. He completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception.
After being bounced around to various NFL teams since 2018, Darnold is in a perfect position for the Vikings due to head coach Kevin O’Connell and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. This could finally be the year he sees the completion of his full potential.
Josh Allen and the Bills’ Big Win
Another massive winner was Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. They were able to overcome a deficit of 14 points to get the win. Allen led them with one of his best performances of the season to lead his team to get the win. The ability to make plays when pressure arises seals the elite talent that Allen has, adding to the Bills’ win.
The NFL’s New Kickoff Rule
One of the biggest winners from Sunday was indeed the NFL’s new kickoff rule. This season, it’s already made some changes. Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas returned a kickoff for a touchdown rarity last season. And that’s what the new rule is all about- making kickoffs more exciting and creating more scoring opportunities.
Winner: Baker Mayfield’s Strong Debut
Baker Mayfield’s start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was just fine. He led them to a 37-20 win against the Washington Commanders, throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns. This was the fifth time in his career that Mayfield threw at least four passing TDs. He had great support from receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who themselves were enormous factors in the victory.
Winner: J.K. Dobbins Makes an Impact
Another major contributor in Week 1 was J.K. Dobbins. Given the serious lack of receiving depth for the Los Angeles Chargers, Dobbins had the biggest impact in his team’s 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders as he rushed for 135 yards and a score. He was one of the bright spots and could be vitally important for the Chargers’ offense moving forward.
Loser Bryce Young Struggles
On the opposite end of the spectrum, at least, was Bryce Young, last year’s No. 1 NFL draft pick, and he didn’t exactly get his second season off to a flying start. The young quarterback struggled against the New Orleans Saints, completing just 13 of 30 passes for 161 yards and two picks. The Carolina Panthers had high hopes for Young, but his showing in the 47-10 loss suggests there are still a good number of hurdles to get over.
Loser Deshaun Watson’s Tough Day
Deshaun Watson had a pretty bad day himself. The Cleveland Browns lost 33-17 to the stout opponent known as the Dallas Cowboys. Watson completed 24/45 passes for 169 yards and had one touchdown with two interceptions.
His game was disappointingly terrible, continuing a concerning trend of inconsistency since joining the Browns. Watson has a very expensive contract and a lot of expectations on his shoulders, so to see him struggle this much does raise major concerns for Cleveland.
Conclusion
Week 1 of the NFL season did not disappoint with its highs and lows. Great performances by Sam Darnold and Josh Allen complemented some poor performances from Bryce Young and Deshaun Watson. Excitement abounded due to the new kickoff rule and huge performances from Baker Mayfield and J.K. Dobbins. It will be interesting to see how this start to the season continues into the rest of the year.
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