NFL Opening Weekend Doesn’t Disappoint
By John Menton
Well, have you calmed down yet? What an opening weekend of ups and downs! The pre-season cobwebs have been blown away and the NFL has returned and it has lived up to every expectation! The season has truly begun in earnest, and we were treated to some high class entertainment! This week’s review follows the Chiefs on their journey for the first ever NFL threepeat: the Eagles are out to prove they are STILL a force to be reckoned with and Caleb Williams earns his stripes in his debut.
Defending Champions Begin Threepeat Quest Undefeated
The Chiefs and Ravens’s game kicked off the season and the ending was RAZOR CLOSE! Fans were treated to a nail-biting conclusion that epitomised just why this game is beloved by seasoned fans all over the world! If you don’t believe me, just take a look for yourself:
The slightest of margins, mere millimetres, saw the Chiefs begin their title defence 1-0. QB Patrick Mahomes summed up the victory “it’s (truly) a game of inches.” Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy wrote his own headlines on the night: a scintillating performance with impressive receptions and carries. Neutral fans watching for their first glimpse of football in months would have felt distinct sympathy for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. The native was impressive in the pocket and rushing: providing his team with a fighting chance with 273 yards through the air and 122 yards on the ground. An impressive showing from both teams: even with the finest of margins, the Chiefs found their route to win 27-20.
Barkley Provides Masterclass as NFL Debuts in Brazil
Are the Eagles for real? If Saquon Barkley consistently performs like he did on his Eagles debut on Friday night/Saturday morning, then you may consider the Eagles a legit threat.
Despite having to deal with a less than perfect surface, both teams treated local fans and those watching at home to an entertaining game. Both QBs found their feet early: Jalen Hurts powered the Eagles forward relentlessly with an impressive 2TDs and 20 for 34. Jordan Love went 17 for 34 with 2 TDs, the $220 million dollar man went down following contact from Jalem Carter and Josh Sweat. He limped from the field with assistance from the Packers’ sideline. When asked about Love’s future availability, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur responded with a dejected “I just don’t know.”
The Eagles left Sao Paulo Brazil’s storied Arena Corinthians victorious 34-29: the Packers left with a worry over Jordan Love’s immediate availability.
Williams Passes Litmus Test
2024 First Round pick Caleb Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for a steady start to his NFL debut against the Tenessee Titans. The Heisman Trophy winner completed 93 yards of passing: and was a Keenan Allen drop away from completing a TD pass in his debut.
Instead it was the Bears defence that helped their rookie win the game with a number of key plays: the most important was Tyrique Stevenson: who returned an interception 43 yards to ensure the Bears won 24-17. An inauspicious yet compised debut for Williams. The Bears fandom will have had their appetites whetted for an exciting future.
There we have it … the NFL is back with its familiar roar, glampur and pyrotechnic grandeur: week one will be concluded tonight as the hungry 49ers kick off their superbowl quest against the New York Jets, lead by the returning Aaron Rodgers. Game One week has already given us so many drops, near misses and close calls! I, for one, am thrilled it is back, and can’t wait for more!