Courtesy: Bleacher Report
The 2014-15 NFL season is finally underway. So far, Week 1 has been very interesting for a lot of teams. Some critics tend to minimize the results of Week 1 due to the fact that it is just the first game of the season but in the grand scheme of things, the first game carries a lot of weight for how the 16 game season will unfold for a lot of teams. Here is a look at a few things we should all take away from this year’s Week 1 performances.
Seattle Seahawks Look Unstoppable
The reigning Super Bowl champions picked up right where they left off in their 36-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers. In their dominating victory, Seattle was firing on all cylinders both offensively and defensively. The Seahawks were only favored by five points but ended up winning by twenty. Once again, Marshawn Lynch was a big contributor to Seattle’s offense rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns in his season debut. The Green Bay Packers are supposedly a good team and by some consider them to be Super Bowl contenders. The fact that Seattle was able to completely handle Green Bay makes me wonder how badly they will defeat much inferior teams. Their performance was so good that it was hard to find any flaws what so ever. Seattle looks really good this season and I’m thinking that they have all the pieces for a possible undefeated season.
Washington Redskins, Jay Gruden Have A Long Way To Go
With a new coach, new system and new players, the Washington Redskins are trying to bounce back from terrible season last year. Unfortunately, it looks like they still have a long way to go. In Washington’s 17-6 loss to the Houston Texans, the team looked dysfunctional and made a ton of foolish errors including three fumbles (two in the red zone) a blocked extra point attempt and a blocked punt. Washington’s offense looked very bad as well. Washington’s offense allowed four sacks and seemed one dimensional throughout the game. Running back Alfred Morris had a solid game carrying for 91 yards on 14 carries but this small glimmer of light won’t be enough to carry the offense through the season. Washington had zero passing touchdowns and I’m starting to wonder if we will ever see the RG3 from 2012 ever again.
Detroit Lions Have A Potent Offense
Calvin Johnson completely dominated the New York Giants secondary on Monday Night Football. He had seven receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Matthew Stafford was also outstanding. He was consistently making smart plays, quick on his feet and looked to be in the best shape of his life. Stafford threw the ball for 346 yards and had two touchdowns, completing 22 of 32 attempts. Last season, Detroit had some struggles with closing out against opponents. Looking at their performance from Week 1, it appears that the Lions will have much success closing out games, making them a team that should not be slept on come playoffs.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons Are Back
Led by Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons got a huge win during their season opener against their division rivals, the New Orleans Saints. The team was able to come back and get the win from a 20-7 deficit in the second quarter. Last season, the Falcons were plagued with injuries but during their Week 1 victory, the team looked healthy and better than ever. Atlanta’s offense looked great all around, allowing only one sack. Matt Ryan also had a career day. He was 31 for 41, throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns. Atlanta’s running backs also combined for 181 yards and two touchdowns. If Atlanta can keep this up, they have a strong chance of winning the NFC South this season.
Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo Have A Lot To Work On
Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys looked completely awful on both sides of the field in their Week 1 28-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter alone, Romo threw three interceptions giving the 49ers short field position each time. The Cowboys defense, which was the worst in the NFL last season, didn’t show much improvement. They allowed 316 total yards and two legitimate touchdown drives but if not for some poor calls by the referees, this game would have been blown even more out of proportion. If the Cowboys continue to struggle on both sides of the ball, it will be a long season in Dallas.
Miami Dolphins Are Set To Contend
The Miami Dolphins started out the season with a big win over their AFC East counterpart, the New England Patriots. Miami took down the Patriots 33-20 giving New England its first 0-1 start in 10 years. The Dolphins performed great on both sides of the field and with this win Miami fans should be very optimistic about how their season will unfold. Miami’s defense was able to hold New England scoreless in the second half, sack Tom Brady four times and force two fumbles. Their strong offense was the primary reason the Dolphins were able to come back from a 20-10 deficit at halftime. Miami’s offense was fueled by their new running back, Knowshon Moreno, who ran for 134 yards and one touchdown on 24 attempts. With a solid Week 1 performance from all sides of the football, the Dolphins are set to have a positive season.
