NFL Week 1: 5 issues we appreciated and did not like, together with J.J. McCarthy’s poise, unlikely heroes, unhealthy vibes

Hope springs everlasting till the video games truly depend. And the degrees of hope across the NFL rely on how a lot you need to react to Week 1.

We solely have to rewind one 12 months to remind ourselves how rapidly issues change, for higher and for worse. In Week 1 of 2024, the Commanders misplaced by 17 on the Buccaneers. The 49ers beat the Jets 32-19, and Christian McCaffrey’s accidents had been solely a slight fear. By way of two weeks, the Saints had been the very best group within the NFL.

It may be actually exhausting to inform what’s actual and what’s not this early. Starters play so little within the preseason, and even the starters that do play and do look good can battle in Week 1.

However simply because it is exhausting to parse out that means from this week’s sport does not imply it is unattainable. We will not come to any conclusions, however we are able to determine some developments, stats and occurrences that inform us one thing. Possibly they’re blips that good groups overcome or unhealthy groups cannot sustain. Possibly they’re the beginning of one thing reputable.

Regardless, when surveying the league as a complete throughout, Week 1 had some surprises, a number of nice video games, quite a lot of duds and loads of intrigue relating to what lies forward. Listed below are 5 issues we appreciated — and 5 issues we did not like — from the opening week.

5 issues we appreciated in Week 1

J.J. McCarthy does not crumble

J.J. McCarthy hadn’t performed a sport that counted since Michigan beat Washington for the nationwide championship on Jan. 8, 2024. That was 610 days in the past. And, frankly, it seemed like that. Coach Kevin O’Connell had mentioned he hoped to get McCarthy some simple throws, however nothing was coming simple. After a decide six within the third quarter, it seemed like Minnesota was about to study the trials and tribulations of a younger quarterback the exhausting method.

Then McCarthy acquired going. The bottom sport helped, however the younger quarterback began delivering, too. That included landing strikes to Justin Jefferson — by no means a foul choice to search for whenever you’re struggling — and Aaron Jones.

After which McCarthy confirmed off one of many extra spectacular and underrated elements of his sport: He is an athlete.

The splits are staggering.

J.J. McCarthy vs. Bears	1st 3 Quarters	4th Quarter
Completions-Makes an attempt	7-12	6-8
Passing Yards	56	87
Whole TD	0	3
Yards per Try	4.7	10.9

It wasn’t fairly. The Bears definitely helped. However this was spectacular no matter circumstances and much more spectacular given them.

Jalen Hurts, the scrambler

Jalen Hurts is an excellent runner. A robust runner. A sensible runner. He isn’t a very inventive runner, although. When pockets break down and/or first or second reads aren’t available, issues can get sticky. He can maintain onto the ball too lengthy, drift backward out of the pocket and find yourself taking a variety of sacks that lose a ton of yardage. His 9.5% sack fee final 12 months was the third-highest within the NFL.

Thursday, although, we noticed Hurts exhibit his scrambling skills to the tune of 9 scrambles for 63 yards, two touchdowns and 5 first downs. When passing lanes weren’t open, he constantly stepped up and acquired his legs going.

Jalen Hurts Scrambling		Profession Rank
Scrambles	9	2nd-most
Yards	63	4th-most
Touchdowns	2	T-most
First downs	5	T-most

For context’s sake, Hurts had only one scramble speeding landing in 2023 and 2024 mixed. General, his scrambling Thursday accounted for 7.1 anticipated factors added, his most in a sport since 2022. On an evening through which Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith had been held in test, Hurts’ rediscovered scrambling was a significant growth and a giant cause Philadelphia emerged with a victory.

Justin Herbert’s huge receiver connections

As Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports activities famous, Herbert focused huge receivers on over 82% of his throws in Week 1’s win over the Chiefs, the very best fee in a sport in his profession.

His huge receivers, in flip, got here by means of, one thing that hasn’t all the time been the case. Quentin Johnston reeled in 5 of seven targets for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I appreciated how Los Angeles used him as a horizontal speedster, one thing he actually ought to be used as. Watch him burn throughout the sector on his pair of landing catches.

Then you might have Keenan Allen, who’s again like he by no means left: seven catches, 68 yards and a landing. Six of his seven targets went for a primary down (the opposite was on third and 25).

And I am unable to imagine I am mentioning Ladd McConkey third, however right here we’re. He’s glorious: six receptions for 74 yards, with three receptions from out huge, two from the slot and even one lined up as a decent finish!

Ambiguous backfields in Jacksonville, Washington impress

The time period “ambiguous backfield” has been a preferred one in Fantasy Soccer when attempting to decipher the way to method drafting members of a possible by-committee working again scenario. In each Fantasy and actual soccer, although, the Jaguars and the Commanders acquired nice begins from what gave the impression to be ambiguous backfields.

In Jacksonville, Travis Etienne Jr. made the backfield his, a lot in order that sooner or later after a 26-10 win over the Panthers, the Jaguars traded away Tank Bigsby.

Etienne dealt with 16 carries — greater than he had in any sport final 12 months — for 143 yards, the second-most in his profession. That included this 71-yard burst.

Watch that clip once more and see the tiny lower he makes to get by means of the outlet and ship Tre’von Moehrig (No. 7) to the turf.

Sure, Etienne had a loads of holes towards a Panthers run protection that was traditionally terrible final 12 months and is not off to a significantly better begin this 12 months. However he additionally had some very nice lateral motion, on show on this 14-yard run.

The Commanders backfield, alternatively, stays break up, however it was profitable. 5 totally different gamers registered a minimum of one carry as Washington racked up 220 speeding yards towards the Giants, its second-most in a season opener for the reason that 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way in which with 82 yards on 10 carries, together with this 42-yard burst late:

Washington loves that it may mix his velocity, Austin Ekeler’s move catching and toughness and the non-traditional working of Jayden Daniels and Deebo Samuel to maintain defenses off steadiness. To date, so good.

Unlikely hero tight ends

All 53 roster spots matter, and do not let anybody attempt to inform you in any other case. In the event that they do, present them Jake Tonges and Jackson Hawes.

Tonges, enjoying as a result of George Kittle suffered a hamstring harm earlier, made a Kittle-esque play within the defining second of the 49ers’ Week 1 sport towards the Seahawks, coming again for a Brock Purdy move and high-pointing the ball over Riq Woolen for the game-winning landing.

In keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, it was essentially the most unlikely completion of the week, and never simply due to who caught it. What a play by Purdy as nicely.

There have been many nice moments from the Payments‘ instant-classic 41-40 conquer the Ravens, and loads of unbelievable twists and turns. Instantly after a kind of wild swings — Derrick Henry’s fumble — got here one other: a 29-yard catch from Hawes.

Hawes spent 5 years at Yale earlier than spending final 12 months at Georgia Tech. He was a fifth-round decide who was largely thought to be a standout blocking tight finish. His first NFL catch, although, proved to be an enormous one. Tonges, in the meantime, had zero profession catches since turning professional in 2022. He had three Sunday alone.

Successful groups get profitable contributions from each single particular person on their group. Week 1 was an excellent reminder of that.

5 issues we did not like in Week 1

C.J. Stroud and the Texans nonetheless cannot deal with stress

This offseason, I wrote about how badly C.J. Stroud and the Texans wanted to enhance towards stress and offered causes for hope and skepticism that it could occur.

By way of one week, skepticism is profitable. Stroud took three sacks and was pressured on greater than 41% of his dropbacks. Coming into “Monday Night time Soccer,” the Texans had Professional Soccer Focus’ fourth-worst move blocking grade.

Lest you suppose it is all on the road, Stroud’s unhealthy behavior of ceding floor when he is in bother stays; he misplaced 37 yards on the three sacks he took. Final 12 months, his 7.8 yards misplaced per sack was the fourth-highest mark within the NFL. After all, it is exhausting to flee when your tackles merely crumble like this.

Caleb Williams‘ unhealthy habits rear their ugly head

All through an ugly rookie 12 months, Williams’ two main points had been his tendency to carry onto the ball for too lengthy (68 sacks) and his lack of ability to hit the deep ball (41% of his throws 20+ yards downfield had been off-target).

Then got here the opening drive of 2025. Williams was on time and on track. He ran for a landing. Caleb Williams 2.0 had arrived!

No so quick. Williams took two sacks within the second half and likewise had a brutal intentional grounding that contributed closely to Chicago’s collapse. He missed an open D.J. Moore for a possible landing, too, and the mechanics there weren’t excellent. There have been some positives — notably his scrambling — however it was largely a reminder that he has loads to study and unlearn after his rookie 12 months.

Caleb Williams	1st Drive	After 1st Drive
Completions-Makes an attempt	6-6	15-29
Yards per Try	8.5	5.5
Off-target Share	0%	31%
Sacks Taken	0	2

Kickers

I actually hate to do it, and Chris Boswell nailing a game-winning 60-yard subject objective virtually pushed kickers off this record for me. However I simply could not get there. This is an inventory of the kicking miscues:

• Andre Szmyt missed an additional level within the third quarter and a 36-yard subject objective within the fourth quarter. The Browns misplaced to the Bengals 17-16.
• Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard subject objective that may have compelled time beyond regulation. The Falcons misplaced to the Buccaneers 23-20.
• Cairo Santos missed a 50-yard subject objective within the third quarter. The Bears misplaced to the Vikings 27-24.
• Jake Moody missed a 27-yard subject objective and had a 36-yard subject objective blocked. The 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13, however nonetheless.
• Tyler Loop missed an additional level. The Ravens misplaced to the Payments 41-40.

There have been unhealthy misses earlier than, and there will likely be unhealthy misses once more. However this week felt notably robust.

The Dolphins‘ and the Giants’ vibes

Yikes.

Each groups had their star huge receivers present clear frustration on the sideline. Tyreek Hill was none too completely happy, and Malik Nabers and Brian Daboll had an animated dialog, with Nabers saying the “power wasn’t proper” with all the offense. Each groups failed to attain double-digit factors. Daniel Jones someway made each groups look unhealthy, beating the Dolphins 33-8 whereas his previous group, the Giants, misplaced to the Commanders 21-6 and Russell Wilson accomplished underneath half of his passes.

It feels prefer it might get late early for each groups. The Giants have misplaced their final three season openers and have been outscored 89-12(!) in these three video games. Shedding an opener is OK, however there isn’t any approach to destroy hope for a season faster than to get completely steamrolled — and produce a dull offensive efficiency — in an opener. Jaxson Dart time appears close to.

Scratch that. There is a approach to kill hope faster than that. The Dolphins’ first 4 offensive possessions had been interception, fumble, punt, interception. Tua Tagovailoa was terrible. Jones completely roasted an undermanned secondary. It is all unhealthy.

Saints’ alternate jerseys

I am sorry, however these are usually not good.