NFL Week One: Winners and Losers
The Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Green Bay Packers in a unique game in Brazil on Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo via Kiel Leggere/Philadelphia Eagles)
Brazil Game, Opening Night Thriller Highlight NFL Kickoff 2024
By Charlie Miller, Staff Writer
The NFL started with a bang, as it always does, as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens 27-20. Or you could say they won by a toe.
Ravens Tight End Isaiah Likely, riding the wave of his breakout game, caught a ball in the end zone with no time left, but replays showed the toe of his cleat out of bounds. This came one play after quarterback Lamar Jackson whiffed on a pass to wide-open Zay Jones that would have tied the game. The thrill of the opening night game continued to Friday but in an unexpected place.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers kicked off their season in a stadium that usually sees a different kind of football in Brazil. The Eagles won another exciting game in Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil 34-29. Their shiny new tailback Saquon Barkley acquainted himself well with Philly fans, running for two scores and catching another. The highly touted free agent infamously left the Eagles’ bitter rival Giants after last season. For the Packers, the news got worse than the loss, as budding star quarterback Jordan Love is rumored to be out for several weeks with an MCL injury in his knee. Newly acquired Malik Willis will have to take the reins for the Cheeseheads.
This was just the beginning of the action in NFL week one, and it continued Sunday Sept. 8 with several intriguing matchups.
Winners
There were several surprise outcomes of week one, with none bigger than the New England Patriots shocking the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow. The Patriots defense stifled the Bengals attack and capitalized on several turnovers by the Bengals. Rhamondre Stevenson paced their offense, rushing for 120 yards and a score, as the Pats escaped with new coach Jerod Mayo’s first career win, 16-10.
There were some big winners in the NFC South, as the bitter rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints both won big (albeit against weaker teams). The Bucs spoiled Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels’ debut, as the resurgence of Baker Mayfield continued into 2024. Mayfield, the former number one overall pick, threw for 289 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions against a lackluster Commanders defense. Meanwhile, Derek Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns, as the Saints crushed the hapless Panthers, 47-10.
Rounding out the winners of week one were the Buffalo Bills. The Bills, led by quarterback Josh Allen, staged a furious comeback against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals, leading 17-3 near the end of the first half, were outscored 28-3 by Buffalo until the first kickoff return touchdown of the year by Arizona’s Deejay Dallas made it 31-28 Bills. Allen threw two touchdowns and ran for another two, including a spectacular hurdle into the end zone. Buffalo’s defense was able to hold on for an exciting week one victory, and despite losing star wideout Stefon Diggs via trade, their offense managed to click.
Losers
One of the biggest losers of week one was the Cleveland Browns, who were blown out by the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott. Prescott, who just hours before kickoff signed a contract with the highest annual average value in NFL history, threw for a score and 179 yards. He was taken out in the second half, while his Browns counterpart quarterback Deshaun Watson struggled mightily. If there is a player who embodies the loser designation for the Browns this week, it is Watson. He was sacked six times, threw two interceptions, and completed just 53% of his throws. His overthrows made Cleveland fans groan, as Watson is in the midst of his publicized $230 million contract, signed amidst ample sexual assault allegations. It later came out that Watson was facing yet another accusation of sexual misconduct, further clouding his murky future on and off the field.
Speaking of tormented quarterbacks, it is hard to find another NFL signal caller who has struggled more in his first few years than Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. Despite being the number one pick in the 2023 Draft, he had a 43% completion rate, only two interceptions and did not pass the eye test. After a rookie year where he and his team were abysmal, Panther fans expected to see improvement from the former Heisman winner. That improvement did not come in week one, as he looked like he regressed. He was booed by Panther fans and has since been benched. It is unclear what the future holds for Young, but he better hope he can improve.
This article originally appeared on page 22 of the No. 1 October 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
