Winner: Michael Penix Jr; Loser: Kirk Cousins
Atlanta’s choice to draft a quarterback in April after the Falcons additionally handed Kirk Cousins a $180m contract the earlier month is a thorny one. On the premise of the veteran signalcaller’s shoddy debut in a loss to the Steelers, the Falcons shall be blissful they drafted a possible alternative for Cousins. Clearly it’s far too early to put in writing off the veteran: the game-wrecking presence of the Steelers’ future Corridor of Fame edge rusher, TJ Watt, and the rust of Cousins’s 10-month layoff are vital mitigating elements. However the nature of such an emphatic cratering on debut can have possession and supporters questioning if Cousins will be the distinction maker they anticipated.
The 36-year-old’s two interceptions on Sunday led to discipline objectives whereas mistimed movement coughed up a fumble. Certain, errors will be cleaned up, however the QB and his teaching workers’s confidence can have been knocked. What’s most painful was the drop off from an honest begin – taking a lead whereas Justin Fields did not land Pittsburgh in something aside from discipline aim territory – to throwing for a grand whole of 1 yard after half-time. Worryingly for Cousins, stiffer checks are on their approach: Philadelphia then Chris Jones and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs observe. Michael Penix Jr may very well be operating issues sooner relatively than later.
Winners: Washington Commanders
Chicago’s rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, emerged victorious along with his protection main the cost after they punched in two second-half touchdowns. The No 1 decide meandered to 93 yards passing, with a mean of three.2 yards per try, a statline that might often finish in defeat. Fortuitously Tennessee’s Will Levis threw one of many ugliest pick-sixes you’re prone to see this season. So Williams emerges to struggle one other day after avoiding a killer meltdown. Child steps and all that.
The rookie QB who popped on Sunday, at the same time as his group misplaced 37-20 to Tampa Bay, was Washington’s Jayden Daniels. He showcased his operating capability with 88 yards speeding and a pair of one-yard scores whereas ending with 184 yards via the air. His passing nonetheless wants quite a lot of finessing – Daniels narrowly missed being picked off on the opening play and overthrew Terry McLaurin on what ought to have been a 70-yard landing. However for a group beginning its eleventh quarterback since 2019 these are minuscule blemishes in a debut through which Daniels calmly and confidently ran his offense.
Losers: European NFL followers
Brazil! Inexperienced Bay Packers v Philadelphia Eagles. Germany … New York Giants v Carolina Panthers. São Paulo had the honour of internet hosting night time two of the season with an exhilarating shootout, whereas Munich’s providing seems relatively extra sarcastic on the premise of the Panthers showing to nonetheless be the worst group in soccer, and the Giants having failed to deal with their want at quarterback. Followers on the NFL’s first recreation within the southern hemisphere have been rewarded with Saquon Barkley’s swashbuckling hat-trick. However these heading to Munich or a London recreation, the spotlight of which a middling contest between the Jets and Vikings, may very well be forgiven for feeling a contact jealous this season.
There are many the explanation why Europe might now not be the first focus for marquee matchups: the NFL has already conquered the market, groups hate the timezone shift, British rest room paper is just too skinny. However dedication within the face of sky-high ticket costs deserves one thing extra enchanting than the skinny gruel of Frankfurt’s Colts v Patriots clunker final yr. Maybe the league anticipated Trevor Lawrence to change into a world title and the stardust would handle itself. That shall be put to check this season with out Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen serving as help acts.
Winner: Redzone viewers
The wilderness of a football-free mid-February to September will be lonely for the NFL obsessive. Blissfully, when the clock hits zero and Scott Hanson winds up for his first marathon Redzone innings, the noise melts away to 1 man in a studio hopping from one pivotal second to the following. The phoenix Sam Darnold rising, Josh Allen roaring again for Buffalo, CJ Stroud clinching a shootout with Anthony Richardson and an enormous upset from Jerod Mayo’s Patriots will in all probability matter little come January. As Hanson calls the pictures although, all of it feels that little extra particular because the presenter weaves narrative threads on the hoof. The motion will solely intensify from right here however, like the primary anticipatory step right into a patch of contemporary snow, the season won’t ever really feel fairly as optimistic as when the primary Sunday landing of a brand new season hits on Redzone. Cheers, Derek Carr.
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Jonathan Wilson brings knowledgeable evaluation on the most important tales from European soccer
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Losers: Jacksonville Jaguars
After an offseason spent making an attempt to neglect final season’s slide from dominating the AFC South to successful one recreation (towards Carolina) in six, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson introduced the recollections flooding again because the Dolphins have been allowed to steal victory from a Jaguars group that held a 17-7 lead on the break. Pederson is accountable for turning the Jags into contenders. However failing to iron out flubs that value his group a playoff spot in 2023 and surrendered victory in Miami is a web unfavorable no matter whether or not the group is now simpler on the attention.
The crucial error arrived within the third quarter with a possible 24-7 benefit at stake. Travis Etienne Jr rumbled his approach via the guts of the Dolphins protection solely to have the ball punched from his paw on the one-yard line. Miami jumped on the fumble, Tua Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill for an 80-yard rating, and Jacksonville have been ultimately swept apart. They’ve been right here earlier than underneath Pederson: within the coach’s first season in cost Etienne fumbled when poised for a landing to assist in giving the Giants a one-score win. There have been good moments since taking cost however Pederson has to determine cease the Jaguars taking pictures themselves within the foot.
