Week 1 of the NFL season thrilled fans like it always seems to do. A new season means new looks for most of the teams, and some in particular made a good first impression for the season. The same is the case for some players. Here are my Week 1 top performers/performances of the week.
The Lions
The Chiefs started out with a shock loss to Detroit, who found a way to pull out a victory against Patrick Mahomes. Yes, the receivers on KC were off their game, and Travis Kelce was missing, but the game was still winnable for them. The fact that the Lions held firm is genuinely quite impressive.
Jessie Bates
Kudos to the run game for Atlanta (and Bijan Robinson in particular), but Jessie Bates’ performance deserves appreciation. He picked off Bryce Young twice and forced a fumble. You could not have asked for a better debut performance from Bates, who signed to a massive contract in the spring.
Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett led the way for the Browns defense as they shut down Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Garrett posted a crucial sack late in the game that helped put the nail in the Bengals’ coffin. Honorable mentions to Deshaun Watson, who passed and ran for a touchdown each.
Travis Etienne
The Jaguars pulled off a hard-fought victory against Indianapolis on the road and part of the reason was Travis Etienne. With 77 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, and the game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter, Etienne was one of just a few standout performers on Jacksonville (In the first half, Calvin Ridley also stood out).
Baker Mayfield
On paper, Baker Mayfield’s 21/34, 173-yard, 2-touchdown performance does not look impressive. But, it also shows a clean game, with few mistakes. Against a Vikings offense that looked much better on paper but also turned the ball over multiple times in careless fashion, it is Mayfield’s performance that epitomizes the phrase “slow and steady wins the race.”
The 49ers
The 49ers were the most dominant team in week one. The offense put up 30 points, with two receiving touchdowns from Brandon Aiyuk and over 150 yards on the ground from Christian McCaffrey. The defense held firm against a talented Steelers squad, allowing just 7 points and collecting five sacks, three of which came from Drake Jackson, the second-year player out of USC.
Washington’s Defense
Whilst Sam Howell had a solid game, the defense did well to hold off a surprisingly competitive Cardinals team. They shut down the run game with 11 tackles for loss as a unit and recovered a late fumble to help seal the victory.
Zay Flowers
Zay Flowers showed plenty of flashes in his NFL debut, collecting 9 catches for 78 yards. By the looks of things, this is not a lot, but he made crucial plays that helped advance drives. This created crucial points for the Ravens, in what was ultimately a relatively low-scoring affair.
Saints Secondary
Derek Carr had a very good game, as he passed for the game’s only touchdown, but the New Orleans secondary also played their part, forcing three interceptions and racking up 11 pass breakups. Marshon Lattimore led the way in the latter category with four. Shoutout to Carl Granderson, who harassed Ryan Tannehill all day, hitting him four times.
Tua and Cheetah
If the season opener is a preview of what is ahead for Miami, Dolphins fans should be super optimistic. In a shootout against the Chargers, Tua Tagovailoa passed for 466 yards and 3 touchdowns, with Hill accounting for 215 yards and 2 of the touchdowns himself, helping the Fins come out on top in a game where the lead changed eight times.
Waiver Wire Wideouts
No one could have expected the Rams to absolutely pummel Seattle on the road, nor could anyone fathom both Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua posting 119 receiving yards each. Seems safe to say both men look slated to become hot property amongst fantasy leagues across America.
Kendrick Bourne
I try to include only players from winning teams, but the Eagles barely held on against a resilient New England side that surged in the latter 3 quarters of the game. Kendrick Bourne caught two touchdown passes as the Patriots’ offense looked vastly improved, though it was ultimately not enough. In the end, Bill Belichick’s men lost by five points.
Packers Offense
No Rodgers, no problem (it appears). Jordan Love completed just 15 of 27 passes, but his receivers made the most of each completion. Love wound up passing for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns, two of which went to second-year wideout Romeo Doubs in their 38-20 thrashing of a new-look Chicago Bears.
Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers left New England for Vegas in the offseason, and seems to have made himself comfortable in his new home. His 81 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns powered the Raiders past a Broncos team that showed shades of the offensive weakness that plagued them last season.
Cowboys’ Defense
Only one team managed to post a shutout, force five fumbles, sack Daniel Jones seven times, and score two touchdowns, all while on the road. The Cowboys did it in New York rain, demolishing the Giants 40-0.
Jordan Whitehead
Jordan Whitehead passed his career-high for single-season interceptions in one game. He picked off Josh Allen three times and helped spur the Jets to a major upset victory over the Buffalo Bills. Aaron Rodgers may have gone down with a season-ending injury, but it seems as though the Jets might just be in good hands.
