What the hell was going on? That Steelers and Bengals game could fuel a whole season’s worth of chaos just off of the missed field goals. I mean, did you see that Ja’Marr Chase catch that didn’t count? Ridiculous. Despite my Patriots putting up a quite sad performance I’m truly happy that football is back. Let’s get into it.
1. The Buffalo Bills are still a very good football team
Josh Allen & Co. decided to completely ruin the Ram’s Super Bowl victory party as they won Thursday night by a whopping score of 31-10. Despite turning over the ball four times from two interceptions and two fumbles, the reigning AFC East champions still found a way. Josh Allen was electric throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns, despite only throwing five incompletions. One player that stood out for the Bills besides Allen was the one and only Stefon Diggs. Diggs had a field day against a good Rams secondary, catching eight passes for 122 yards which included a 53 yard touchdown over Rams star corner Jalen Ramsey. Obviously, it’s still only week one, but this Bills team looks scary. And what was up with Matthew Stafford? He just looked off all night. The Bills host the Titans on Monday night while the Rams host the Atlanta Falcons.
2. The Eagles offense was clicking on all cylinders
455 total yards, 216 rushing yards and zero turnovers. Those are numbers that good offenses put up. The Eagles are my pick to win the NFC East this year and they showed why yesterday. Despite giving up 35 points to the Detroit Lions, they brought home the W. Four different players scoring on rushing touchdowns (Hurts, Sanders, Gainwell and Scott). Both Hurts and Sanders had over 90 yards rushing but that wasn’t what was being talked about all day on Sunday. The debut of A.J. Brown did not disappoint, as the former Titans wideout caught 10 passes for 155 yards. In the first half alone he had already recorded six catches for 128 yards. With the way this offense performed you wouldn’t even know that Devonta Smith recorded zero catches for zero yards. However, I do want to take the time to emphasize how impressed I am with this Detroit Lions team. Dan Campbell has these boys playing hard-nosed football and they will surprise a lot of people this year. The Eagles will host the Vikings on Monday night and the Lions will host Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders.
3. Saquon Barkley is back
Besides the entire New York Giants fanbase, I feel like I was the only one pushing the “let Saquon get healthy” narrative. In his first two years in the league, the former Penn State star ran for 2,310 yards and 23 total touchdowns. After two injury-riddled seasons people were writing him off and calling him a bust. Yesterday, Barkley showed why he was Rookie of the Year, running for 164 yards on 18 carries. Barkley ran with a purpose all day, lowering his shoulder at the end of every single run. The most important one was the two-point conversion to give the Giants the victory in Tennessee. A victory that I predicted on my YouTube channel on Friday. The football world is a better place when Saquon Barkley is healthy. Let’s hope he continues this form next week as the Giants host Baker Mayfield and the Panthers while the Titans travel to Buffalo on Monday night.
4. Justin Jefferson gave the Packers crazy work
Nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. The definition of “crazy work” (shout out Shady McCoy). Aaron Rodgers and the Packers just couldn’t get anything going as the Vikings won 23-7 to open the season. No mater who they put on Jefferson he was going to make his presence felt. Big shout out to the Vikings defense for holding Aaron Rodgers to zero touchdowns. Now if we are going off of last year, when the Packers lost to the Saints week 1, Aaron Rodgers is going to throw four touchdowns next week. The Vikings travel to Philadelphia on Monday night to face the Eagles while the Packers host Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears.
5. Patrick Mahomes made the Cardinals defense look silly
While I had a great take with the Giants victory over the Titans, I also said that the Chiefs would miss the playoffs this year. Obviously that is still possible, but Patrick Mahomes made me look like a fool. Just like the Arizona Cardinals defense. Mahomes threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns, putting up 44 points in the process. While the Chiefs did lose one of the best receivers in the league in Tyreek Hill this offseason, the offense looked like they didn’t lose a single step. Travis Kelce showed why he’s one of the best tight ends to ever do it and Clyde Edwards-Helaire made some plays catching passes out of the backfield. The Chiefs will host Justin Herbert and the Chargers on Thursday night and the Cardinals will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders on Sunday.
Usually I wait until Tuesday to write these articles but I don’t think anything crazy will happen during Russell Wilson’s homecoming. If it goes according to plan, he should make the Seahawks look like idiots for letting him go. However, with all the craziness that happened this weekend you truly never know. The Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to take on Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers next Sunday after a disappointing loss in Miami this week. Lord I just want to see a Patriots victory, since you took Liverpool away from me because of the Queen dying. We have no other choice, but to move. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
