The opening week of the NFL season featured an actual uplifting experience involving one of the two NY/NJ metro area teams with a rejuvenated Saquon Barkley leading the Giants to a comeback win in Nashville.
The Jets, for now, remain another matter entirely, especially with second-year quarterback Zach Wilson still likely to miss another couple of games due to a preseason knee injury.
After the baffling Broncos lost Russell Wilson’s debut on Monday night to wrap up Week 1, let’s go around the rest of the league and see what questions emerged or even began to be answered with an opening slate littered with surprises and eye-opening results.
How does Dak Prescott’s injury affect the NFC East?
Only two divisions produced three winning teams in Week 1: the AFC North (Steelers, Ravens, Browns) and the NFC East, in which the Cowboys were the only team to be defeated.
Of course, the far deeper implications from Dallas’ 19-3 loss to Tom Brady and the Bucs was Dak Prescott’s departure with a thumb injury that will require surgery and sideline him for at least six weeks.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush steps in for now, but might the Cowboys decide to take a flier on a quarterback such as former league MVP Cam Newton or attempt to coax well-traveled Ryan Fitzpatrick out of retirement? What about 2021 New York fill-ins Josh Johnson and Mike Glennon? (Too soon, Jets and Giants fans?) There also are sure to be rumors about Jimmy Garoppolo, though the Niners signed him to a one-year, $16 million deal as a hedge against second-year starter Trey Lance, who was mediocre at best in Sunday’s surprising loss to the Bears.
Remember, Prescott missed 11 games in 2020 following a gruesome ankle injury, and the Cowboys finished the season 6-10, albeit just one game behind first-place Washington in the sorry NFC East.
Prescott’s injury doesn’t completely torpedo the Cowboys’ chances, but their three division rivals pulled off impressive wins — with the Eagles outlasting the seemingly improved Lions and the newly dubbed Commanders downing the Jaguars behind four touchdown passes from Carson Wentz.
Prescott’s absence could benefit the Giants in the short term, however. The Cowboys will come to MetLife Stadium in Week 3 for the second of three consecutive home games for Big Blue beginning Sunday against Baker Mayfield and the Panthers.
How impressive were the Bills?
Matthew Stafford and the Rams looked Thursday night as if they were still suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, but much of that had to do with the Bills bursting out of the starting gates in dynamic form behind quarterback Josh Allen and a revamped defense that now also features eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller, who registered two of Buffalo’s eight sacks.
Combined with the Chiefs’ crushing of the Cardinals behind five TD passes by Patrick Mahomes, I’m already envisioning a rematch of the Bills-Chiefs shootout from last year’s divisional playoffs (won by KC in overtime, 42-36).
Against the Rams, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to post at least 250 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and a completion percentage of at least 80 percent in a victory. He also posted a perfect passer rating in the second half.
The Bills were my pick last week to finally win the elusive first Super Bowl title in franchise history, and I saw nothing from them in a dominant performance against the defending champions to alter or hedge that prediction.
Will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers rebound again?
The Packers tried to convince themselves the departures of star receiver Davante Adams (to the Raiders) and to a lesser degree, Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs), could be overcome seamlessly, but Rodgers threw for only 195 yards and no touchdowns in Sunday’s 23-7 loss to the Vikings.
Remember, the Pack attack was similarly horrid in a 38-3 season-opening blowout loss to the Saints one year ago before they rebounded to post eight consecutive wins en route to a 13-4 record and a second consecutive league MVP award for Rodgers.
Holdover receiver Allen Lazard also was sidelined with an ankle injury, and Rodgers’ other wideouts combined for only 12 catches for 120 yards, including unproductive days for Sammy Watkins (3-18) and Randall Cobb (2-14).
It’s hard to believe the 38-year-old Rodgers won’t figure it out with the altered cast, so I fully expect the rival Bears to pay on Sunday night.
What was that from Joe Burrow?
Speaking of Super Bowl hangover, Burrow and the Bengals are off to a rocky start following their loss to the Rams in February in the title game.
Burrow committed five turnovers — with four interceptions for the first time in his career — even if he drove the Bengals to a game-tying touchdown on the final play of regulation before they fell at home, 23-20, to the Steelers in overtime.
The defending AFC champs have a chance to get righted quickly, however, with a visit to Dallas (without Prescott) this week followed by a Week 3 visit to the Jets at MetLife, where Cincinnati dropped a 34-31 loss last year in Mike White’s stunning starting debut.
What can the Browns do for you?
The Browns will be without suspended $230 million acquisition Deshaun Watson for the first 11 games, but they are 1-0 for the first time since 2004 (!) after a rollicking 26-24 Week 1 win over their former quarterback, Baker Mayfield, and the Panthers on a 58-yard field goal by rookie kicker Cade York in the closing seconds.
Backup QB Jacoby Brissett threw for only 147 yards, but limited his mistakes (no interceptions, one sack) and let running backs Nick Chubb (141 rushing yards) and Kareem Hunt (70 yards from scrimmage) carry the offensive load. That will be the formula — along with a Myles Garrett-led defense — necessary for the Browns to stay afloat until Watson returns in Week 13 against the Texans, his former team.
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An Open and shut case
Novak Djokovic wasn’t here due to his unvaccinated COVID status and Serena Williams was ousted in the third round in her likely final appearance at the U.S. Open, but the annual tournament in Flushing Meadows still was filled with interesting and exhilarating developments, most notably the coming-out party for the sport’s new superstar, Carlos Alcaraz.
The 19-year-old Spaniard was so impressive in grabbing the first Grand Slam title of his career with Sunday’s four-set victory over Caspar Ruud, making him the youngest men’s Open winner since Pete Sampras (also 19) in 1990 and the youngest player ever to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings.
Alcaraz endeared himself to the New York throngs with both overpowering and imaginative play, not to mention remarkable endurance in five-set marathons against Jannik Sinner and American fan favorite Frances Tiafoe.
After watching the majors on the men’s side dominated for two decades by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with 63 combined Grand Slam trophies, it was enthralling to watch Alcaraz emerge as the leader of the long-awaited next wave.
Where’s the Boston buzz?
A Yankees-Red Sox series in September — and October, especially — usually has the New York and Boston fan bases riveted and frothing with anticipation, but there hasn’t been as much buzz about the next two nights at Fenway as there normally would be at this time of year.
While the Sox have tumbled to last place in the AL East at 69-72, the Yankees stemmed some of the immediate panic surrounding their second-half swoon by taking two of three over the weekend against the charging Rays at the Stadium.
Their 10-3 and 10-4 decisions behind home runs in both games by Giancarlo Stanton helped the Yankees maintain distance in the standings — their lead is now 5.5 games over the Blue Jays and six over the Rays, though it’s five games in the loss column over both teams. The Yankees’ trip continues with three weekend games in Milwaukee before they home for two with the Pirates and four more with the Red Sox next weekend.
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