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Week 1 of the NFL season usually contains plenty of surprises. The road diverges between what we thought we knew about the season to come and what is actually the case.
But Week 1 of the 2022 season was still a jaw-dropper.
Granted, not everything that happened was a surprise. We thought the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be among the best teams in the league in 2022, and all four won their openers. We thought the New York Jets and Detroit Lions would struggle this season, and sure enough, they both lost.
But there were also surprises galore. The Bills winning might not have been surprising, but blowing out the Rams in Los Angeles was. We didn't expect the Cincinnati Bengals to fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in a turnover-marred affair. Or the Chicago Bears to come back and stun the San Francisco 49ers. Or for the Dallas Cowboys to be in scramble mode one game into the season.
The wackiness around the league tossed the NFL's pecking order into a blender. And as they will every week during the season, Bleacher Report NFL Analysts Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have gathered to sift through the mess and slot the league's teams from worst to first.
You can view last week's edition of the power rankings here.
1 of 32
Last Week: 28
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Baltimore 24-9
The New York Jets were probably going to have a long season even if they were at full strength. But with second-year quarterback Zach Wilson sidelined by a knee injury and backup Joe Flacco leading the offense for now, it's only going to get longer.
Flacco wasn't terrible against his old team Sunday, throwing for 307 yards and a touchdown. The Jets also averaged 4.9 yards per carry on the ground and allowed less than 275 total yards of offense.
But while the Jets outgained the Baltimore Ravens by over 100 yards, they couldn't finish drives and score touchdowns. Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters afterward that a lack of offensive rhythm and poor execution cost his team dearly.
"You're not going to beat a veteran team when you're not capitalizing on the momentum that you gain," Saleh said. "From dropped passes to being loose with the football and missed kicks, this is a game, in my opinion, that we absolutely lost."
Next week's road date in Cleveland would appear to be a winnable contest. But if the Jets can't get a win there, it may be a while until they log one. Starting with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, the Jets play six of their next eight games against 2021 playoff teams.
2 of 32
Last Week: 27
Week 1 Result: Lost at Washington 28-22
On Sunday in Washington, the Jacksonville Jaguars offered up an inkling of the progress they've made relative to last year's disaster of a team. However, they also showed how far they still have to go.
The Jaguars amassed more than 380 yards of total offense against the Commanders. They averaged almost seven yards per carry, and they had a lead well into the fourth quarter. New No. 1 receiver Christian Kirk eclipsed 100 receiving yards, and rookie No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker logged a sack and interception in his first game.
But the Jaguars also gave up 390 total yards, allowed more than seven yards per pass attempt and couldn't hang on to that lead.
New head coach Doug Pederson told reporters after the game that the team will try to use this setback as a learning experience.
"I look at the plays that were out there on the field that we could have made," he said. "Little things become big things. That part you take away and you learn from. It's a group of guys that are young a little bit and still understanding some of these situations, and not making these critical errors at these times. There are a lot of positives and things we can take away and learn from."
The Jags had better learn fast. Jacksonville's next three games (vs. Indianapolis, at Los Angeles Chargers, at Philadelphia) are against teams considered playoff contenders by most.
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Last Week: 29
Week 1 Result: Tied vs. Indianapolis 20-20, OT
Despite being a touchdown underdog at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, the Houston Texans avoided a loss on Sunday.
But in frittering away a 20-3 lead, the Texans also avoided a win.
Based on the stats alone, it's difficult to see how the Texans managed even a tie. They allowed more than 500 yards of offense and couldn't manage 300 themselves. The Colts had 13 more first downs than the Texans and almost a 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession.
On some level, the game was a microcosm for what we can probably expect from the Texans this season. Quarterback Davis Mills was OK, throwing two touchdown passes without an interception and posting a passer rating north of 90. But he wasn't great, throwing for a relatively modest 240 yards. Houston's defense played well for three quarters, only to allow 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
The Texans have some fight in them. But their lack of talent is going to lead to a lack of wins.
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Last Week: 31
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. New Orleans 27-26
Yes, the Atlanta Falcons are 0-1, just as most expected after their season opener against the New Orleans Saints. But a funny thing happened as the Falcons were in the midst of blowing their 16-point fourth-quarter lead.
In building that lead, the Falcons showed they might not be as bad as we thought.
Marcus Mariota was solid in his Falcons debut, throwing for 215 yards and picking up another 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Cordarrelle Patterson picked up right where he left off in 2021, piling up 136 total yards and finding the end zone. And for three quarters, Atlanta's defense held the Saints in check.
However, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was in no mood to talk about moral victories in his postgame presser.
"You guys wrote our obituary back in May and you'll continue to write our obituary," Smith said. "Who cares? We've got 16 games to learn from this and get better."
Smith isn't likely to be in a better mood a week from now. In Week 2, the Falcons head to SoFi Stadium to face a Los Angeles Rams team that will be out for revenge after getting blasted at home by the Buffalo Bills in their season opener.
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Last Week: 30
Week 1 Result: Won vs. San Francisco 19-10
There's a saying in sports that an ugly win beats a pretty loss any day. The Chicago Bears' season-opening win over the San Francisco 49ers certainly qualifies.
The Bears were completely stymied offensively in the first half, but a pair of Justin Fields touchdown passes and some timely defensive plays after halftime earned Matt Eberflus a win in his first game as head coach.
After the rain-soaked win, Eberflus lauded his team for not giving up.
"I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised," he told reporters. "I thought the guys executed. I thought that they hung in there. That's what you've got to do in the NFL. It's never going to be perfect, it's always going to be hard. Always. Most times it comes down to the end, just like that. That's the way the NFL is."
A win is a win, and Fields and the Bears absolutely deserve credit for overcoming both a slow start and the elements. But they barely cracked 200 yards of total offense, averaged only 3.6 yards per play and went 5-of-14 on third down.
In other words, temper expectations for the Bears until they can string a few victories together. Although with the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and New York Giants coming up, long-suffering Bears fans might not have to wait long for that to happen.
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Last Week: 32
Week 1 Result: Won vs. Denver 17-16
We owe the Seattle Seahawks an apology.
Downing the Denver Broncos at home doesn't make Seattle a good football team. This was a game the Broncos tried to lose as much as the Seahawks tried to win, whether it was the dozen penalties or a level of red-zone bumbling that would make the Keystone Cops blush.
But to Seattle's credit, it did what Denver could not: avoid mistakes. Geno Smith didn't turn the ball over, threw two touchdown passes and posted a passer rating of 119.5. The Seahawks overcame the loss of safety Jamal Adams to a knee injury, and with the exception of a 67-yard touchdown catch by Jerry Jeudy, avoided giving up big plays.
This isn't a win that's going to propel the Seahawks into the playoffs. Seattle still has as many questions as answers. Guiding this team to a winning record would be the best coaching job of Pete Carroll's career.
But for one week at least, the undefeated Seahawks are all by their lonesome in first place in the NFC West.
Seattle may not be such an easy out after all.
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Last Week: 25
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Cleveland 26-24
There was no shortage of buildup to the Week 1 meeting between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers. Baker Mayfield's first game with his new team was coming against his old one.
After a hard-fought game in which the Panthers started slow but came on late only to fall just short, Mayfield told reporters that the hoopla surrounding the game was a bit overblown.
“Everybody made this out to be the Super Bowl, but despite what everybody’s gonna make of this, there’s 16 more games,” Mayfield said. “The Super Bowl’s not until February. This is the beginning of September.”
Had the Panthers won, Mayfield may well have been singing a different tune.
"I don't know that Mayfield is the long-term answer under center in Carolina," Davenport said. "But Sunday's opener showed he's an upgrade over Sam Darnold and Teddy Bridgewater. If the Panthers are going to earn their first next week in New York against the Giants, the bigger key may be getting Christian McCaffrey more involved. McCaffrey had only 14 touches and 57 total yards against the Browns, and much of that work came when the Panthers were playing catch-up."
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Last Week: 24
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Philadelphia 38-35
Last year, seven of the Detroit Lions' 13 losses were by single digits. Time and again, they were close to winning but came up short.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
In Week 1, the Lions gave the Philadelphia Eagles all they could handle before eventually falling by three points. Head coach Dan Campbell tried to put at least some positive spin on the latest close call while speaking to reporters after the game.
"I'm glad we fought back and I told the guys that we didn't play well and only lost by three, so that's a positive," Campbell said. "But we can't accept that and be happy to lose by three. We have a lot to clean up."
The Lions played hard against the Eagles, but they also made far too many mistakes, falling behind 31-14 before making a game of it late. However, Moton thinks that this Lions team could be on the right track toward respectability.
"The Lions came up short against the Philadelphia Eagles, but similar to last year against the San Francisco 49ers, they made a late-game surge to cut the deficit to one possession," he said. "They have an offensive attack that can rack up points in bunches once it finds a rhythm, and running back D’Andre Swift looks like he’s headed toward a breakout year after a 144-yard performance on the ground. Don’t dismiss the Lions yet. If their offense can figure it out in the first half of games, this team will start to string together wins. For now, it’s a young squad still learning how to get off to a quick start."
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Last Week: 11
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 19-3
No team in the NFL more desperately wants a do-over on Week 1 than the Dallas Cowboys.
It isn't just that the Cowboys got smoked at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a matter of fact, one loss is the least of their problems right now.
The real problem in Dallas is the health of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after injuring his right thumb in the second half of Sunday's loss, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Prescott told reporters after the game that the injury is doubly disappointing after the team's season-opening clunker.
"It's very disappointing, but injuries happen, can't necessarily control it, just unfortunate," Prescott said. "Obviously going to miss some time, not be there for my team and that's what hurts more than anything, especially after the start we just put out there.”
For Sobleski, the injury is a bridge too far. In his opinion, the Cowboys are done.
"The Cowboys are in a downward spiral deserving of a low ranking," he said. "Prescott's injury wasn't their only issue during Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. Their offense lacks explosiveness to create plays down the field. The offensive line is in flux. And the defensive interior is soft. The reigning NFC East champion looks to have a long season in front of it."
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Last Week: 26
Week 1 Result: Won at Tennessee 21-20
If the New York Giants' last-minute win over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday was any indication, then running back Saquon Barkley is back.
Barkley was the driving force behind the Giants' upset win, averaging over nine yards per carry and flirting with 200 total yards. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard said he wasn't the least bit surprised by the monster effort, per Ian O'Connor of the New York Post.
“We got the best back in the league, and he showed it today,” Shepard said. “There’s nothing else to be said. I love the way he’s been running the ball in practice, and he brought it straight to the game field. I’m so proud of him because he’s been working his ass off. He deserves everything, and I can’t wait to see him the rest of the season."
To be clear, the Giants still have a lot of work to do. It took a gutsy two-point conversion call from head coach Brian Daboll and a missed Tennessee field goal as time expired to secure a one-point win.
But beating the AFC's No. 1 seed from a year ago in the Giants' first Week 1 win since 2016 isn't a bad way for Daboll's tenure to start.
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Last Week: 23
Week 1 Result: Won vs. Jacksonville 28-22
Sunday marked the first chapter of the Carson Wentz saga in the nation's capital. It's just one game, and it wasn't a flawless effort, but Wentz topped 300 passing yards and threw four touchdown passes while leading the team to a comeback win in their first game as the Commanders.
Wentz wasn't the only Washington player to have a big game against the Jags. Running back Antonio Gibson parlayed 21 touches into 130 total yards. Rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson caught a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winner. And fellow wideout Curtis Samuel showed what he's capable of when healthy with 72 total yards and a touchdown.
However, a Commanders defense that finished last season 22nd in yards allowed and 25th in points allowed 383 yards of offense. The Commanders also nearly squandered the game with three turnovers.
Against a team like the Jaguars, those miscues weren't a dealbreaker. They might not be against the Detroit Lions in Week 2, either. But if the Commanders are to be viewed as anything but an also-ran in the NFC East, they need to play better defensively and cut down on unforced errors.
However, there's also room for at least some optimism.
"Maybe Wentz isn't the problem," Sobleski said. "Maybe he was asked to do too much at his previous stops and didn't quite fit what they envisioned at the game's most important position. Washington can't complain with his initial performance. A 300-yard, four-touchdown effort is a welcome change of pace with Wentz taking advantage of the weapons on Washington's offense, particularly Dotson. He still has plenty left to prove and clean up, but so far, so good."
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Last Week: 22
Week 1 Result: Lost at Miami 20-7
Throughout his long tenure as the head coach of the New England Patriots, there isn't much that Bill Belichick hasn't seen. So it isn't surprising that despite a disheartening effort from his team in Week 1, he told reporters afterward that he isn't about to push the panic button.
"It's a long season," Belichick said. "I don't think it will be decided after this week's games."
However, the problems we saw in Miami on Sunday aren't new.
The New England offense struggled moving the ball in training camp and the preseason, and those struggles were again evident Sunday. The Patriots gained only 271 yards of total offense, managed only 17 first downs and went just 4-of-10 on third down. Add in three Patriots turnovers, and you have the makings of a lopsided loss.
Given the apparent state of the New England offense, this team will have little margin for error in 2022. Mac Jones can't tun the ball over. The defense can't give up big plays.
"Most teams shouldn’t hit the panic button after a Week 1 loss, but the New England Patriots have a real issue on the offensive side of the ball after a lackluster summer and a flat performance in a 20-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins," Moton said. "On top of that, quarterback Mac Jones suffered a back injury and will undergo further testing, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. With a former defensive coordinator in Matt Patricia making the offensive calls and a second-year signal-caller in Jones, who's already hurt, the Patriots’ season looks like it’s headed in the wrong direction pretty quickly."
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Last Week: 15
Week 1 Result: Lost at Chicago 19-10
At the risk of sounding melodramatic, losing on the road to a bad Chicago Bears team in Week 1 was the nightmare scenario for the outset of the Trey Lance era in San Francisco.
Yes, the game was played in miserable conditions. But the weather isn't the only reason why Lance didn't play well. The second-year pro completed less than half his throws, threw an interception and barely posted a passer rating over 50.
He was the first to admit that he didn't play well while speaking to reporters after the game.
"We made too many mistakes. Defense kept us in the game," Lance said. "... I have a lot of stuff to clean up, for sure. But man, I'm excited. I've still got my head up. I'm excited to get ready to go next week."
There isn't likely to be a quarterback controversy in Santa Clara yet. But Davenport thinks one could be coming soon enough.
"The last thing Kyle Shanahan wanted was to be in a position where he has to consider turning to Jimmy Garoppolo early in the season," he said. "But if Lance stinks it up again in Week 2 against another bad team in the Seattle Seahawks, that's exactly what he's going to have to do.
"Making the playoffs after an 0-2 start is hard enough. Doing so after an 0-3 start is nearly impossible. And nothing Lance showed Sunday indicates he can go into Denver and beat the Broncos in Week 3, especially with running back Elijah Mitchell likely out after injuring his knee against the Bears."
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Last Week: 17
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. New York Giants 21-20
Sunday's season opener against the New York Giants was supposed to be an opportunity for the Tennessee Titans to wash off the stink from last season's playoff meltdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Giants had other ideas.
The Titans run defense was terrible, surrendering 238 yards in total and more than seven yards per game carry. Meanwhile, they couldn't get their own run game untracked, with Derrick Henry averaging less than four yards per carry.
The Titans almost pulled the game out until their last-second field-goal attempt sailed wide. But they were otherwise outplayed by a four-win Giants team in their own stadium.
That flat effort left Davenport unimpressed.
"Maybe the Titans are better than what we saw from them Sunday," he said. "Maybe they are still the class of a division that went oh-fer in the win column in Week 1. But the team we saw against the Giants wasn't especially good on offense or defense. And with the Bills up next, Tennessee is more likely than not staring at an 0-2 hole to start the season."
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Last Week: 13
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Kansas City 44-21
The Arizona Cardinals kicked off the 2021 season by winning their first seven games. They started their 2022 campaign by getting shellacked at home by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs shredded the Cardinals defense to the tune of 488 total yards and 44 points. Meanwhile, Arizona's offense failed to crack 300 yards and did little until the game was already well out of hand.
After the beatdown, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury was the first to admit that the Redbirds got their hats handed to them.
"They beat us in every way," Kingsbury said. "There is no denying it, no hiding from it. We didn't execute in any phase and they played at a high level."
Kingsbury will get no argument from Sobleski on that one.
"After the Cardinals' 44-21 spanking, quarterback Kyler Murray said the Chiefs 'kicked our ass,'" he wrote. "That about says it all.
"The game established a clear championship contender and pretender as the two teams move forward. The Cardinals looked like the team that struggled down the stretch last season instead of the one that began the 2021 campaign with a 7-0 record."
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Last Week: 20
Week 1 Result: Won at Carolina 26-24
After a tumultuous offseason in which they acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson and traded Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers, the Cleveland Browns faced their former signal-caller in Week 1.
With Watson serving an 11-game personal conduct suspension, Jacoby Brissett will lead the offense for most of the regular season. On Sunday in Charlotte, we saw Cleveland's recipe for success.
Brissett was hardly impressive, completing just over half his passes for 147 yards. But the Browns were dominant on the ground, with Nick Chubb's 141 yards keying a running game that peeled off 5.6 yards per carry and posted 217 yards.
It took a 58-yard field goal by rookie Cade York to seal the victory, but the win provided Cleveland with positive momentum during a soft stretch in the schedule. Over the next three weeks, the Browns will face the New York Jets, the injury-plagued Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons.
If Cleveland can emerge from that less-than-imposing slate 3-1, it will buy at least some margin for error.
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Last Week: 21
Week 1 Result: Won at Cincinnati 23-20, OT
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the battle Sunday in Cincinnati. But in doing so, they might have lost the war.
After outlasting the defending AFC North champions on the road Sunday, one would think that the Steelers would be all smiles. Although they managed only 267 yards of offense, the defense was all kinds of opportunistic, forcing five Joe Burrow turnovers, returning one for a touchdown and sacking him seven times.
However, the victory cost Pittsburgh arguably its best players on both sides of the ball.
After managing only 26 yards on 12 touches, running back Najee Harris left the game late after getting his ankle rolled up on and did not return. But the real killer occurred on the other side of the ball. After a monstrous game that included six tackles, a sack and an interception, Reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt left late with what the team fears is a torn pectoral muscle.
If those fears are realized, Watt's season is likely over, And if both he and Harris miss significant time, that could end Pittsburgh's chances of being a factor in the AFC North.
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Last Week: 10
Week 1 Result: Tied at Houston 20-20, OT
Someone really should tell the Indianapolis Colts that Week 1 means the regular season has started.
In 2020, the Colts kicked off the season with a seven-point loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Last year, they began with a 12-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks. And on Sunday, Indy opened the Matt Ryan era by spotting the Houston Texans a 20-3 lead before roaring back for a tie.
At least they didn't lose. That's progress, right?
The Colts piled up over 500 yards of offense and limited Houston to less than 300 yards. They piled up 177 rushing yards and possessed the ball for almost 40 minutes. But thanks to turnovers, special teams gaffes (including a missed 42-yard field-goal attempt in overtime) and a less-than stellar debut from Ryan, all Indy got from that statistical domination was a tie.
"The fact Indianapolis even managed a tie against Houston after playing horribly through three quarters is amazing unto itself," Sobleski said. "The Colts' performance had all the major mistakes: drops, turnovers, penalties at key moments and special teams gaffes. But Matt Ryan and Co. rallied in the fourth quarter to score 17 unanswered points, mainly by riding tailback Jonathan Taylor.
"Maybe Indy will build on the final portion of the game. If not, it won't be tied atop the AFC South for long."
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Last Week: 9
Week 1 Result: Lost at Seattle 17-16
Nathaniel Hackett has some explaining to do.
Granted, it's not all Hackett's fault that his NFL head coaching debut ended in a one-point loss to the Seahawks in Seattle. There was plenty of blame to go around in an effort for which "sloppy" would be a kind description.
The Broncos committed 12 penalties for 106 yards and fumbled twice at the Seahawks 1-yard line. Per ESPN's telecast, it marked the first time since the strike year of 1987 that particular bit of putridity was pulled off.
But Hackett's decision to take Wilson off the field on 4th-and-5 in lieu of a 64-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter was the icing on a cake made of poo. And the whole effort left Davenport with a bad taste in his mouth.
"Given what the Broncos looked like Monday night," he said, "we should be ashamed of ourselves for slotting this team inside the top 10. Griping aside, Denver has no shortage of talent and outplayed Seattle in the second half. But if the Broncos continue to shoot themselves in the foot every chance they get, they won't beat anyone—including the feisty Texans in Week 2."
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Last Week: 14
Week 1 Result: Lost at Los Angeles Chargers 24-19
Davante Adams' debut with the Las Vegas Raiders was a smash hit. Adams was targeted a staggering 17 times against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he hauled in 10 of those passes 141 yards and a touchdown.
However, Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr tied a career-high with three interceptions. As head coach Josh McDaniels said after the game, those miscues turned out to be too much to overcome.
"Obviously, it's difficult to win, and when you lose the turnover margin the way that we did and give them opportunities. They took advantage of some of those (opportunities), especially there in the second quarter," McDaniels said. "I like the way our team fought. I respect the fact that we made it a game. We can do a lot better than what we did."
Despite their mistakes against the Chargers, the Raiders were nearly able to pull it out at the end. But Sunday's loss shows just how little margin for error exists in what's shaping up to be the NFL's toughest division in 2022.
With either the Chargers or Kansas City Chiefs sure to be 2-0 after their Thursday night showdown, the Raiders badly need to get back on track against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Last Week: 7
Week 1 Result: Lost at Minnesota 23-7
The Green Bay Packers have problems.
That Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson roasted the Green Bay defense for 184 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in a 16-point loss is frankly the least of them. The bigger issue is that with Allen Lazard sidelined by an injured ankle, the entire Green Bay wide receiver corps managed just 151 receiving yards. Green Bay's top pass-catcher in the game in terms of both catches and yardage was running back A.J. Dillon.
While speaking to reporters after the game, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made no excuses for the pitiful performance.
"There's expectation for whoever's in there, that they're going to play well. We had a lot of chances today. I'm not taking anything away from their defense, but we hurt ourselves many times, myself included," Rodgers said.
It's not necessarily time to panic—Green Bay got blasted in Week 1 a year ago as well only to go on to win 13 games and capture the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But these Packers didn't look like a Super Bowl contender in Week 1. Or even the best team in the NFC North.
These Packers looked like a deeply flawed team with problems on offense that may be too much for even Rodgers to overcome.
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Last Week: 19
Week 1 Result: Won vs. New England 20-7
After revamping the offense with the addition running back Chase Edmonds and wide receiver Tyreek Hill and bringing in an offensive-minded head coach Mike McDaniel, expectations were high for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
Spurred by solid efforts from Hill (eight catches for 94 yards), second-year wideout Jaylen Waddle (four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown) and Tagovailoa, the Dolphins handled the New England Patriots with relative ease Sunday. However, their new-look offense still needs work. Miami's run game was nonexistent against the Patriots, amassing only 65 rushing yards on 23 carries.
The real star of the game was the Dolphins defense. Miami limited the Patriots to only 271 yards of offense and forced three turnovers, one of which edge-rusher Melvin Ingram returned for a touchdown.
It's difficult to determine from this one game if the Dolphins are good or the Patriots are bad. But it won't take long to find out. Miami travels to Baltimore next week before hosting the Bills and then heading to Cincinnati.
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Last Week: 16
Week 1 Result: Won at Atlanta 27-26
The New Orleans Saints were a hard team to get a read on entering the 2022 season. They appeared to have the pieces to contend for at least a wild-card spot, but they also had quite a few questions.
Most of those questions remain following Sunday's squeaker in Atlanta.
After falling behind the lowly Falcons 26-10, the Saints put on a furious comeback fueled by players making their own comebacks. Quarterback Jameis Winston returned from a season-ending ACL tear, while wide receiver Michael Thomas, who caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, came back from an ankle injury that wiped out his entire 2021 season. Even kicker Wil Lutz, who hit the game-winning field goal, missed a large portion of last season.
The comeback was great, but how the Saints got there wasn't. For most of the first three quarters, they couldn't generate much offense. Star running back Alvin Kamara was a non-factor. And the Saints gave up 416 yards of offense and over 200 yards on the ground.
The Saints will undoubtedly take the win, but with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming to the Superdome next week, there's quite a bit to clean up in the Big Easy.
"The Saints needed three full quarters to jump-start their offense in the post-Sean Payton era, though they managed to pull out a comeback victory over the Falcons," Moton wrote. "Wideout Michael Thomas scored two late touchdowns, which is a great sign for him after a long road to recovery from multiple ankle/foot surgeries. If former defensive coordinator and head coach Dennis Allen can keep the Saints defense within the top five (or at least the top 10) in points allowed, the offense should be able to score enough points to win most of the games this season. With that said, the coaching staff has to get running back Alvin Kamara involved after he registered just 46 scrimmage yards in the season opener."
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Last Week: 18
Week 1 Result: Won vs. Green Bay 23-7
New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell didn't draw an easy debut in his first game as head coach. The Vikes played host to a Green Bay Packers team that has dominated the NFC North in recent seasons.
On Sunday, it was Minnesota's turn to dominate.
The Vikings were in complete control against their NFC North rivals in every facet of the game. Offensively, they got an efficient game from quarterback Kirk Cousins and big outings from running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Defensively, they held Aaron Rodgers under 200 passing yards and allowed only three third-down conversions on nine attempts.
That effort made quite the impression on at least one of our analysts.
"It's important not to overreact to any single game," Davenport said. "But in Week 1, the Vikings looked like the best team in the NFC North. The offense was crisp and aggressive. The defense was stout and put the clamps on Rodgers. If the Vikings can string together a few performances like that, they might not only be a team that can make the playoffs, but one who can do some damage once they get there."
"Minnesota’s new-look offense seems poised to finish in the top 10 in scoring thanks to the Cousins-Jefferson aerial connection," Moton added. "Following the loss, Rodgers praised Jefferson as one of the best players in the game. With Cook in the backfield, the Vikings have a balanced offense that will allow them to beat anyone.
"The Vikings defense can also get after the quarterback with Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. Minnesota put 30 other teams on notice with its blowout victory over Green Bay."
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Last Week: 12
Week 1 Result: Won at Detroit 38-35
Last year, no team in the NFL was better running the ball than the Philadelphia Eagles. If Sunday's opener against the Detroit Lions was any indication, not much has changed in that regard.
Against the Lions, the Eagles averaged 5.5 yards per carry while running the ball 39 times for 216 yards. Four different Eagles players scored rushing touchdowns, and both tailback Miles Sanders and quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for at least 90 yards and a touchdown.
In addition to those 90 rushing yards, Hurts also threw for 243 yards, with new No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown hauling in 10 passes for 155 yards. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni praised his young quarterback while speaking to reporters after the game.
“I thought he was in complete control of checking the plays, getting the different things, knowing what the defense was doing," he said. "Did it work every time we checked to a play? No, but that’s on us as coaches. Like, we’re telling him to get something versus a certain look, and if it doesn’t work—but he had complete control of what was going on out there today."
While the offense had a great game, the defense allowed 386 yards of offense and 35 points. Philly has work to do on that side of the ball ahead of next week's home opener against a loaded Vikings offense.
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Last Week: 3
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Pittsburgh 23-20, OT
If Sunday's matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers was any indication, the Super Bowl hangover is indeed real.
Had you told the Bengals that they would pile up 432 yards of offense, that Joe Burrow would throw for 338 yards and that Joe Mixon would have 145 total yards of offense, they probably would have liked their chances in Week 1.
However, Burrow had a staggering five turnovers, including a pick-six on his first passing attempt of the season. Cincinnati's new-look offensive line played a lot like the old one, surrendering seven sacks. And second-year kicker Evan McPherson had a PAT blocked at the end of regulation and missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime.
Both would have won the game.
"It's hardly time to panic," Davenport said. "The Steelers tend to have success rushing the passer many more weeks than not. But the Bengals offensive line was supposed to be vastly improved after they added three veteran starters in free agency. It certainly didn't look it in Week 1, and with Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys up next, the Bengals need to tighten things up quickly."
27 of 32
Last Week: 8
Week 1 Result: Won at New York Jets 24-9
The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs last year after being decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball. They entered the 2022 season a little beat up as well, especially in the backfield.
That didn't matter in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
The Ravens didn't have their usual success running the ball against the Jets, averaging only three yards per carry on their 21 totes. But three Lamar Jackson touchdown passes and a stout defensive effort were more than enough.
As Jackson told reporters after the game, the offense was a bit choppy because the starters were knocking the rust off after seeing limited action in the preseason.
"It was us feeling it out out there," said Jackson. "We were getting back into the swing of things."
The Ravens need to start faster moving forward, though. Beginning next week at home against the Miami Dolphins, the Ravens' next four opponents all sported winning records last season. Three made the playoffs, including the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
28 of 32
Last Week: 2
Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Buffalo 31-10
The Los Angeles Rams unveiled their Super Bowl LVI championship banner before kickoff of Thursday's season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
But as the Rams found out soon thereafter, staying on top in the NFL can be even harder than getting there.
The Bills dominated the Rams on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They outgained them by 170 yards and outscored them 21-0 in the second half of the game.
Rams head coach Sean McVay admitted that it was an ugly effort all the way around.
"Very humbling night, but one where you look yourself in the mirror and say you have to be better," McVay said. "We weren't ready to go. That's on me. ... There were a lot of decisions I made that didn't put us in the best position to succeed. It was a very humbling night."
The Rams have plenty to fix on both sides of the ball, whether it's the offensive line or the defensive secondary. But next week's home tilt with the Atlanta Falcons offers a prime get-right opportunity.
29 of 32
Last Week: 6
Week 1 Result: Won vs. Las Vegas 24-19
Sunday's AFC West battle between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders was one of the biggest matchups of Week 1. It was an opportunity for both teams to make a case as the top threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the division.
The Chargers took the early lead in that department.
Quarterback Justin Herbert started the season strong, throwing for 279 yards and three scores with a passer rating just south of 130. Pass-rusher Khalil Mack was outstanding in his Chargers debut, logging three sacks, including the one that sealed the game.
For Sobleski, the win gives the Chargers a nice boost of momentum heading into Week 2.
"Aside from a mediocre ground game, Los Angeles looked every bit the part of a Super Bowl contender," he said. "Quarterback Justin Herbert had no turnovers and wasn't even sacked a single time. The defense forced Derek Carr into three interceptions. Mack turned out to be everything the team hoped. The Chargers are dangerous, and an early division win sets them down the right path."
The Bolts will need all the momentum they can get. On Thursday, they travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs.
30 of 32
Last Week: 4
Week 1 Result: Won at Dallas 19-3
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't exactly rack up style points during their win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, especially on offense. But by beating a 12-win division champion on the road, they served notice that they might be the NFC's best team.
The Buccaneers got 127 rushing yards on 21 carries from Leonard Fournette and 86 total yards from newcomer Julio Jones. But Tom Brady had a relatively quiet game, finishing with only 212 passing yards and a single touchdown.
Defensively, however, Tampa was outstanding. The Buccaneers completely shut down the league's No. 1 offense from a year ago in terms of both yards and points per game. Tampa gave up only 244 yards of total offense, and after the Cowboys drove for a field goal on their opening possession, they didn't score again.
Linebacker Devin White told reporters that the defense wanted to set the tone in Todd Bowles' first game as head coach.
"I think it was just about being dominant," White said. "We wanted to set a tone for him as a head coach, for us as a defense as a whole. I think it was a great thing. We still have some things. We left a lot of plays out there."
It's going to take a similar effort to keep the momentum going. Tampa's next five games include four matchups with teams that sported winning records in 2021, including home dates with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.
31 of 32
Last Week: 5
Week 1 Result: Won at Arizona 44-21
Leading up to the 2022 season, some wondered whether the loss of players like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and safety Tyrann Mathieu might finally put a stop to the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance in the AFC West.
Then again, maybe not. In Week 1, the Chiefs went into Arizona and destroyed a Cardinals team that seemed like it could be a legitimate contender in the NFC West.
If quarterback Patrick Mahomes missed Hill, it certainly didn't show. He threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns while finishing with a passer rating over 140. Defensively, the Chiefs dominated the Redbirds until the contest was well out of hand.
In Davenport's opinion, it was a reminder ahead of a big Week 2 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers that the six-time defending AFC West champions remain the team to beat in their division until someone knocks them off that perch.
"Reports of the Chiefs' demise have definitely been exaggerated," he said. "Sunday was more than just an emphatic win over an (allegedly) quality opponent. It was a statement. A reminder that so long as Mahomes is running the offense in Kansas City, he can light up the scoreboard with the best of them. No team had a more emphatic victory in Week 1, not even the Buffalo Bills."
32 of 32
Last Week: 1
Week 1 Result: Won at Los Angeles Rams 31-10
The Buffalo Bills entered the season as the favorites to win Super Bowl LVII. On Thursday night in Los Angeles, they served notice that status was justified by boatracing the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Bills seemingly moved the ball at will, outgaining the Rams 413 to 243. Bills quarterback Josh Allen looked the part of an MVP favorite, pacing the team in rushing yards and throwing for 297 yards and three scores. Buffalo completely stymied Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, logging three interceptions and seven sacks.
If not for three Bills turnovers in the first half, the game would have been that much more lopsided.
The Bills cemented their status as the No. 1 team in these power rankings—and left quite the impression on our analysts.
"To say that the Bills were dominant on Thursday night is an understatement," Davenport said. "Blowing out the defending champs like that should give them confidence as they continue a grueling early slate featuring five straight games against teams that won at least eight games last season."
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2022 B/R NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Entering Week 2? - Bleacher Report
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