Yardbarker's NFL Week 1 game-by-game analysis

STEELERS: Not that it would have mattered, but it was odd that Pittsburgh played a lot of depth players, especially on defense, very early in this embarrassing game in New England. There were constant substitutions and players well down the depth chart who got a lot of playing time. Were they worried about fatigue? Were the Steelers just overthinking it and trying to “throw a lot” at New England and Tom Brady? Well, clearly it didn’t work, and not only did Brady abuse the Steelers' blitz, he and this passing game spread the ball around with great precision and once again killed Pittsburgh’s defense with crossing routes off play action against man coverage. And the Steelers' tackling was putrid. On paper, Pittsburgh looked much improved on defense, but it looked awful in reality Sunday, and it didn’t help that the Steelers didn’t always have their best players on the field to combat Brady. And it was actually worse when Pittsburgh had the ball. NEXT: Vs. Seattle

-- Matt Williamson

PATRIOTS : Known to use September to tinker – a luxury of ruling the AFC East – the Patriots have seen premature obituaries written about their dynasty. This season may not feature a setback like the kind they’ve endured against the Chiefs or Lions in recent years. The Pats had gone seven years since winning an opener by more than one score. Sunday night marked probably the premier Week 1 performance of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. New England supplementing an offense featuring Brady and Antonio Brown with a defense that may be even better than last season’s is particularly terrifying. The Steelers did not produce a play of at least 10 yards until 27 minutes elapsed. Through nine drives, Pittsburgh posted two such gains. Stephon Gilmore and the McCourty twins led a muzzling effort of Ben Roethlisberger (5.4 yards per attempt before garbage time). The experienced Steelers offensive line paved the way for 21 James Conner rushing yards. After the exits of Matt Patricia and Brian Flores, Belichick operates as a de facto defensive coordinator. A scary proposition, if Sunday is any indication. NEXT: at Miami

-- Sam Robinson

COWBOYS: Zeke may have gotten the payday, but it was Dak proving his worth in Week 1. Elliott, who rushed for 53 yards, had a decent enough day in the wake of his new deal. However, the Cowboys' quarterback lit it up, throwing for four touchdowns and 405 yards. That’s a considerable progression over what fans have been accustomed to with Prescott , who used to reliably put up roughly 200 yards and a touchdown per game after his scintillating rookie season. Think new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has anything to do with that? Prescott is on the upward trend again, and he may finally be paid like it with a few more weeks like this. NEXT: at Washington

-- Mike Tunison

GIANTS: Saquon Barkley put up 120 yards rushing on just 11 carries. Even if the first went for 59 yards, that’s plenty impressive for that limited workload. The Giants trailed for most of the game, so Barkley couldn’t have put up truly remarkable numbers, but it’s a reminder of what could be if their quarterback situation could be settled. Daniel Jones came in for reps in the fourth quarter, replacing Eli Manning, so that shift could be coming sooner rather than later. Still, Barkley may have to wait until next year until he can really go off. NEXT: Vs. Buffalo

-- Mike Tunison

LIONS: Many thought the Lions would be extremely run-heavy. That still might be the case, but in Arizona, the passing attack was clicking, especially in the middle of the field. New additions Danny Amendola and TJ Hockenson who really shined. As he so often has, Amendola nickeled and dimed his way out of his typical slot role. But it was great to see the Lions get first-rounder Hockenson involved. He stretched the field and made plays when the original script didn’t go to plan. Hockenson is an outstanding mover for his size. Amendola and Hockenson racked up a combined 235 receiving yards in a game the Lions probably never should have let get to overtime. NEXT: Vs. Los Angeles Chargers

-- Matt Williamson

CARDINALS: Considering how it began for the Cardinals and  Kyler Murray , they must feel like winners. Murray’s debut was ugly for three quarters, as the Cardinals trailed 24-6 early in the fourth. Though the final stats weren’t all that impressive, Murray (29-for-54, 308 yards) looked in the fourth quarter like a guy worthy of being picked first overall. He put the ball on target, hit a beautiful deep ball to Larry Fitzgerald in overtime and showed the kind of raw playmaking ability that made him so appealing to Kliff Kingsbury. The Lions’ defense was overhauled and revamped this offseason, and it was pretty good to begin with last year. In 2018, it ranked 10 ^th in yards allowed and eight^h  in passing yards allowed, which makes Murray’s rally all the more impressive. Also encouraging for Cardinals fans was the fact that David Johnson looked like a big-time threat again. There will be plenty of growing pains, to be sure, but the fourth quarter should be cause for optimism in the desert.  NEXT: at Baltimore 

-- Chris Mueller

49ERS: No team in the league was worse at forcing turnovers than last year’s 49ers, who had seven all season. Jameis Winston proved a perfect tonic for that, as the Niners pick-sixed him twice. The interceptions were nice, but they masked a Niners offensive performance that was sloppy in its own right. Jimmy Garoppolo threw a pick-six of his own, and San Francisco was largely unable to get out of its own way offensively, either turning the ball over or never generating much of anything dynamic to begin with. That’s particularly troublesome against a Bucs team that had the second-worst defense in the league last year and was about equally bad against the run and pass. Russell Wilson and Jared Goff are established stars, and Kyler Murray showed a flair for the dramatic in rallying the Cardinals to a tie, so San Francisco will need much more from Garoppolo if it's going to justify its preseason status as a potential playoff team in the NFC West. NEXT: at Cincinnati

-- Chris Mueller

BUCS: Jameis Winston is in a contract year and needs to perform for his next deal, either for the Buccaneers or whichever his next team will be. After starting 9-for-19 for 80 yards and two interceptions, Winston had a chance to bounce back in a game the 49ers were keeping winnable, but he could only add one touchdown and was picked again. Add two more fumbles and it was a regrettable outing overall for Winston, indicative that he may be elsewhere in 2020. First-year Bucs coach Bruce Arians, who has drilled into Winston the importance of avoiding turnovers, cannot be pleased. NEXT: at Carolina (Thursday)

-- Mike Tunison

SEAHAWKS:  Jadeveon Clowney’s debut was eventful, as he notched one of the Seahawks’ five sacks of Andy Dalton. But Pete Carroll’s team was fortunate to escape with a win against an opponent picked by many to finish in the AFC North basement. Earl Thomas’ absence was felt on two long touchdowns by Cincinnati’s John Ross, as safety misplays directly contributed to one — and arguably both of the scores. The pass defense was generally porous against Dalton, who threw for 418 yards. On the plus side, Russell Wilson played mistake-free, though the Seahawks were far from crisp overall on offense, with Chris Carson losing a fumble and the running game never getting any traction against a stout Bengals front. Seattle did make plays offensively when it needed to, and its defense did rise to the challenge during a third quarter where the Bengals had golden opportunities for points on multiple possessions but came away empty.   NEXT: at Pittsburgh

-- Chris Mueller

BENGALS: It was an encouraging performance on the road, especially from receiver John Ross, who scored on a 33-yard flea-flicker and a 55-yard pass from Andy Dalton just before the end of the first half. Ross will probably never be a consistent chain-moving-type receiver; he was drafted for his immense big-play ability. Ross showing that off in AJ Green’s absence (and in a game where Cincinnati lost running back Joe Mixon) is an excellent sign for the passing game. New head coach Zac Taylor should use him much as his former employer, the Rams, used Brandin Cooks: quick-hitting routes at the line of scrimmage. Ross finished with seven receptions for 158 of Dalton’s whopping 418 yards. NEXT: Vs. San Francisco

-- Matt Williamson

CHARGERS: Ezekiel Elliott’s holdout ended because of the two-time rushing champion’s leverage against a team dependent on his skill set. As is the case for most running backs, Melvin Gordon does not have comparable leverage. His path became murkier, with Austin Ekeler  enjoying the game of his NFL life. The fourth player this decade with three touchdowns and 150 scrimmage yards (154) in a season opener, Ekeler showed how replaceable running backs have become. Gordon’s explosive (and league minimum-salaried) backup averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2018. The Chargers deployed Ekeler in a variety of ways, and the former undrafted free agent displayed a smoothness in the passing game that made the biggest difference in the Bolts’ opener. Gordon almost certainly does not have a role in Los Angeles in 2020 and may need a high-profile running back to go down in order to salvage his holdout. NEXT: At Detroit

-- Sam Robinson

COLTS: Perhaps rumors of the Colts’ demise post-Andrew Luck were greatly exaggerated. Moral victories aren’t a thing, but Indianapolis went on the road and pushed a talented opponent to overtime. It did so with an impressive final drive, marching 80 yards in 7:52 to tie the score with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Indy’s deep roster was on full display, as Marlon Mack gashed the Chargers for 174 yards and Malik Hooker picked off Philip Rivers to set up the tying drive. The AFC South still looks very muddled, and the Colts missed a chance to steal a victory, but the front office’s faith in Jacoby Brissett was rewarded, as he looked calm and in command of the pocket. His numbers weren’t eye-popping (190 yards passing), but he let his playmakers make plays in front of him. If the Colts can carry this steady approach week to week, they should be able to stay in contention all season, particularly because Adam Vinatieri doesn’t figure to miss two field goals and an extra point often.   NEXT: At Tennessee.

-- Chris Mueller

TITANS: The Browns were the NFL’s "it" team in offseason, but the Titans were the team that looked like a Super Bowl contender. Tennessee manhandled the Browns. The Titans responded in a big way after Cleveland’s game-opening touchdown drive and even more emphatically when the Browns cut the Titans’ lead to 15-13 in the third quarter. Marcus Mariota was sharp and in command, and after finishing 23 ^rd in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage in 2018, the Titans cashed in for three touchdowns when they got in close, two of them to Delanie Walker. Tennessee physically punished Cleveland, consistently winning at the point of attack on both sides of the ball and pressuring Baker Mayfield relentlessly. Derrick Henry routinely ran several yards before being touched, and the Titans’ pressure forced the Browns into frequent mistakes. With the Colts shifting from contender to also-ran and the Jaguars now without Nick Foles for an undetermined length of time, Tennessee could pave a path to top of AFC South with such balanced efforts. NEXT:  Vs. Indianapolis

-- Chris Mueller

BROWNS:  Penalties (18 for 182 yards!) and blocking were huge problems for the Browns. This team must play with more discipline — many of the calls against Cleveland resulted from too much exuberance rather than losing one-on-one battles. No one questions the talent on this roster, but we aren’t building fantasy football teams here. The offensive line looks like a potential problem area and makes you wonder if trading guard Kevin Zeitler to the Giants was the correct decision. Cameron Wake beat tackle Chris Hubbard for a sack and safety. Cleveland’s run blocking might have been even worse than the pass protection against an underrated Titans defensive front. Starting left tackle Greg Robinson was kicked out of the game in the second quarter after kicking safety Kenny Vaccaro. First-year head coach Freddie Kitchens has his work cut out for him to get this team playing smarter. NEXT: at New York Jets (Monday) 

-- Matt Williamson

CHIEFS:  Sammy Watkins ’ $16 million-per-year contract remains out of step with his production. The injury-prone former No. 4 overall pick totaled 593 receiving yards in a Rams contract year, received an unexpected offer and accumulated 519 (88th in 2018) in his first Chiefs season. Overpaid or not, the Chiefs need him now. Watkins delivered his finest game as a pro — a nine-reception, 198-yard, three-touchdown shocker against the Jaguars’ top-end secondary — doing damage before and after Tyreek Hill left the game with an injury. A Jags coverage bust on a 49-yard score helped inflate Watkins’ career-high yardage total, the No. 5 single-game mark in Chiefs history, but Kansas City’s WR2 dominated on short- and mid-range targets and after the catch. He vexed Jalen Ramsey on his third touchdown. With Hill out for the Chiefs’ next few games, Watkins will receive more attention. His work not only showed he’s up to the task; it may begin enticing teams for the future. Hill’s new deal will make the Chiefs retention of both starting wideouts difficult in 2020. NEXT: At Oakland

-- Sam Robinson

JAGUARS:  It's hard to imagine a first game going much worse. A search for a silver lining would yield Gardner Minshew’s performance, which was surprisingly good in relief of injured starter Nick Foles. That’s where the good news ends, though. Foles, the source of so much optimism in Jacksonville, is out indefinitely after fracturing his clavicle. Equally alarming, but in a different way, was the way the defense fell apart against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ air attack. Last year’s 5-11 season masked the fact that Jacksonville’s defense was still a top-five outfit. It didn’t look the part at all, and it wasn’t just a case of being outplayed; the Jaguars blew coverages and missed tackles all game. The defense should recover, but for the offense, the question is an ominous one: What now? NEXT: At Houston

-- Chris Mueller

RAVENS: How do we not talk about Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Antonio Brown's cousin? The rookie’s first two catches went for 130 yards total and two TDs. What stands out about Brown is his Tyreek Hill-like rare speed. If Brown gets a step on any cover man in the league, there is no catching him. But Brown brings more to the table than just his amazing wheels and acceleration. He has the skills to develop into a well-rounded route runner. With the way Baltimore runs the ball, defending his amazing deep-ball skill is going to prove difficult for every defense the Ravens face. Lamar Jackson (17-for-20, 327 yards) was exceptional passing as well. NEXT: vs. Arizona

-- Matt Williamson

DOLPHINS: Although the Dolphins are not designed for 2019 success, their secondary profiled as arguably their most competent facet. Miami’s back line features the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback (Xavien Howard), 2018 first-rounder Minkah Fitzpatrick and former Patriots corner Eric Rowe. This unit stunk in Lamar Jackson’s stunning showing. The league’s most run-oriented quarterback threw five touchdown passes, eclipsing his NFL career high by three. Miami’s anemic pass rush, led by a defensive line group entering Week 1 with 5.5 career sacks collectively, didn’t help. Fitzpatrick and Rowe were in coverage on Brown’s two long touchdowns, plays when the Dolphins’ pass rush did not remotely disrupt Jackson. Even when Miami rushers invaded Jackson’s throwing space on touchdown toss No. 4, he found a wide-open Miles Boykin on an end zone coverage bust. Week 1 went worse than even the most pessimistic of Dolphins fans could have anticipated, and the nature of this blowout shows signs 2019 will be uglier than expected. NEXT: Vs. New England

-- Sam Robinson

VIKINGS:  Many expected the addition of offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, along with some offensive line upgrades, would pay off huge for Minnesota’s running game while taking some pressure off Kirk Cousins . Those expectations were high for sure but maybe not high enough after watching Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison run all over a helpless Falcons defense. Minnesota got up early at home and was able to stick with this running game all afternoon as Cousins threw just 10 passes (completing eight of them for 98 yards). Cook and Mattison combined for 160 yards on the ground. Paired with an exceptional defense, this is a winning formula and the best use of Minnesota’s personnel. NEXT: at Green Bay

-- Matt Williamson

FALCONS:  The Atlanta offensive line looked porous against a formidable Minnesota defensive front. The Vikings had four sacks and didn’t give up any points until the fourth quarter, when the game was no longer in doubt. Atlanta’s offense has an embarrassment of riches in quarterback Matt Ryan, receiver Julio Jones and other skill players. If they don’t get time, it almost doesn’t matter. This is the result you’ll get. Dropping Steve Sarkisian and bringing back Dirk Koetter was supposed to fix these issues ... and yet they remain. NEXT: Vs. Philadelphia. 

-- Mike Tunison

RAMS: Perhaps the most important development besides the win was an effective debut for the team’s planned job share at running back. Todd Gurley was effective with his 14 carries, totaling 97 yards. Malcolm Brown was a finisher, with two touchdowns. Along with Jared Goff and Aaron Donald, Gurley’s health is most integral to Los Angeles successfully defending its NFC title. There was one troublesome trend from 2018 that continued in this game, however, and that was the Rams’ run defense hemorrhaging yards. The Rams were worst in the league in yards per carry against last season, and Christian McCaffrey ran all over them for 128 yards on only 19 carries. Additionally, safety Eric Weddle said he is “good as gold,” despite being in the concussion protocol. If he misses any significant time, the defense will struggle even more. NEXT: Vs. New Orleans

-- Chris Mueller

PANTHERS: There was once a time when the experts chided the Panthers for taking Christian McCaffrey with a top-10 pick in 2017. Not so much these days, especially Sunday, when the Panthers' running back went for 209 yards from scrimmage and two scores. With the Panthers struggling for contributions from skill players, they’re going to have to lean on McCaffrey. D.J. Moore had 76 yards receiving on seven catches, but they’ll need to open up the offense beyond two options to be a threat in the NFC. Losing to the defending NFC champs at home is hardly a crusher, but an opening loss is still a loss. The defense — which held Jared Goff to 186 yards passing — in Week 2 will go against turnover machine Jameis Winston, who was intercepted three times against the Niners. NEXT: Vs. Tampa Bay (Thursday)

-- Mike Tunison

EAGLES: DeSean Jackson  shined in his return to Philly, scoring on a 51-yard pass late in the first half to open scoring for the Eagles. He ended up with eight catches for 154 yards and two scores. The slow-starting Eagles needed his services to get going as they found themselves down 17-0 at one point in the first half. The 32-year-old speedster posted nearly three times as much yardage as any other Eagles skill player. Philly could have used less of a scare against what was supposed to be its weakest division foe. "I couldn't stay calm," Jackson told reporters. "I was overly excited like a kid before Christmas, knowing what I mean to the city and what the city means to me. I couldn't think of it being any other way." NEXT: At Atlanta

 -- Mike Tunison 

REDSKINS:  Cornerback Josh Norman has been inconsistent since coming over from the Panthers as a high-priced free agent, but when he’s looked bad, he’s been real bad. On Sunday, he was torched by Jackson for the Eagles' opening score and didn’t play much better rest of the way. Washington is making an effort at competitive play before committing to rebuild mode. But the rebuild may come faster than the Redskins think if they are going to waste a solid effort like Sunday's. Washington, which led 17-0, got decent play from QB Case Keenum (380 yards passing), which will make the team take its chances for a little while. Once that gives out, it'll be Dwayne Haskins time.  NEXT: Vs. Dallas.

-- Mike Tunison 

BILLS: Wide receiver John Brown,  the Bills’ $9 million-per-year investment, was the key chain-mover in the franchise’s biggest comeback in eight years. Most assumed Brown’s deep-threat profile would fit well with Josh Allen (#armtalent). Brown looked like the player who posted 601 yards with Joe Flacco rather than the one who compiled 114 in seven games playing with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore last season. He resurfaced with seven catches for 123 yards and the most important Bills touchdown in two seasons. But what stood out most: The receiver used as more of a boundary burner in Arizona and Baltimore worked well in the mid-range and over the middle for Allen. Brown’s winning touchdown featured a nice adjustment against overmatched Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts. On a day when fellow free-agent Bills add Cole Beasley struggled, Brown was great.   NEXT: at New York Giants

-- Sam Robinson

JETS: Twenty-three of the top 24 field goal accuracy percentages are held by kickers who began their careers after 2001 or are still kicking. This era marks the kicker position’s apex. Yet 2019 has seen more than a fourth of the league shake up their kicker spots. After letting 2018 Pro Bowler Jason Myers defect to Seattle in free agency, the Jets are likely set for a fourth change this year. They’ve gone from Chandler Catanzaro to Taylor Bertolet to Kaare Vedvik in barely a month’s time. Despite the Jets winning the turnover battle 4-0 and holding the Bills to 16 points, they lost. New York’s offensive struggles aside, Vedvik played a key role in today’s loss. He missed an extra point and his only field goal try, a 45-yarder. Those sequences were obviously key in a one-point defeat. Traded from the Ravens to the Vikings in August and waived at preseason’s end, the Jets kicker is 0-for-5 on field goals since leaving Baltimore. Adam Gase’s comments point to the Jets signing yet another kicker before Week 2. NEXT: Vs. Cleveland (Monday)

-- Sam Robinsin

TEXANS: No team and no head coach may be under more pressure to win than the Texans and Bill O’Brien . Houston has been operating without a GM since its failed pursuit of New England’s Nick Caserio, and as a result, the Texans gave up a huge draft haul to acquire Laremy Tunsil from Miami and received comparatively little from Seattle in the Jadeveon Clowney trade. QB Deshaun Watson, still on his rookie deal, is going to get more expensive soon, inhibiting the Texans’ ability to surround him with higher-priced veterans. Houston was 28 ^th  in pass defense last season despite finishing fourth overall in points allowed. Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara figure to test Houston’s secondary early and often. While Tunsil will be an immediate improvement to the offensive line, Watson could help his own cause by getting rid of the ball quicker and trusting his secondary receiving threats more. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Watson had the fourth-longest average time to throw in 2018, averaging 3.01 seconds from snap to pass attempt.  NEXT: vs. Jacksonville

 -- Chris Mueller

SAINTS:  New Orleans is facing a sudden unexpected meeting against former teammate Kenny Stills, as the receiver is among the new faces joining Houston after its flurry of trades a week ago. Top cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be locked on DeAndre Hopkins, certainly a matchup to watch, meaning Stills could present a challenge for the less- heralded members of the Saints’ secondary. The Superdome has provided one of the better home-field advantages in the NFL in recent years, though the Saints had a better record on the road in 2018 and ended up losing the conference championship at home, albeit in controversial fashion. They'll be fired up to defend the dome after an offseason spent stewing over a costly non-call.  NEXT at LA Rams

 -- Mike Tunison

BRONCOS: Denver added Bryce Callahan and Kareem Jackson to supplement four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris, returns its top three defensive linemen and has one of the game’s premier edge-rushing tandems: Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Going from overmatched coach Vance Joseph to a more experienced defensive mind in Vic Fangio should strengthen the Broncos’ best unit. The Broncos have ranked 26th, 31st and 22nd in tight end yardage allowed per game over the past three seasons. They bottomed out with George Kittle’s 210-yard half last December. Top coverage linebacker Brandon Marshall became a cap casualty in March, and the Broncos did not replace him in the draft or free agency. Top off-ball linebacker Todd Davis is doubtful for Monday night’s game. Both he and Marshall successor Josey Jewell, a 2018 fourth-round pick, are better as run defenders. NEXT: vs. Bears

-- Sam Robinson

RAIDERS: With Antonio Brown gone, the offense features  Tyrell Williams as its No. 1 wide receiver. He has a 1,000-yard season to his credit, but that came in a year (2016) when the Bolts lost Keenan Allen in Week 1 and then-slot receiver Stevie Johnson in training camp. The production also came with a better QB in a then-34-year-old Philip Rivers. Defenses can now shift coverage to Williams, who posted 653 receiving yards last season. His supporting cast consists of a sporadically used ex-Cardinal deep threat (J.J. Nelson), a player who barely survived cutdown weekend (Ryan Grant) and fifth-round rookie slot Hunter Renfrow. With the Raiders also going from Jared Cook (68 catches, 896 yards in 2018) to Darren Waller (18 receptions in four seasons) at tight end, Derek Carr’s aerial crew does not look much better than the post-Amari Cooper version the Raiders saddled him with last season. NEXT: Vs. Kansas City 

-- Sam Robinson

BEARS:  The defense could again be the league's best, but don't sleep on the Chicago receivers. Allen Robinson was (102 yards receiving) spectacular. He should have racked many more yards if Mitch Trubisky hit him when he was open. We know Tarik Cohen is a top receiving running back, but we also saw quite a bit out of Mike Davis and especially rookie David Montgomery, whose role really must grow. Davis and Montgomery are underrated route runners. Jordan Howard is a good runner, but the Bears are so much more difficult to defend because all their backs also are above-average receivers. NEXT: at Denver 

-- Matt Williamson

PACKERS : The defense looks like it could be one of the most improved in the NFL. As expected, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine wasn’t bashful with his play-calling, dialing up the pressure on Trubisky. New outside linebackers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith played well, especially setting the edge in the run game and pressuring Trubisky. Rookie safety Darnell Savage, a first-round pick, showed off playmaking ability and physicality. So did strong safety Adrian Amos, an ex-Bear.  Aaron Rodgers has himself a defense, and that should terrify the rest of the NFL. NEXT: vs. Minnesota

-- Matt Williamson