Sporting News: NFL Week 1 Overreactions

Sporting News: NFL Week 1 Overreactions

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Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season isn’t finished, but after Sunday’s results, it’s not too early to overreact to what happened in the opening games. Every team that won is not headed to the Super Bowl. Every team that lost is not headed to the No. 1 overall draft pick.

In some cases, there is legitimate cause for panic. In others, there is some reason to celebrate.

The rest lie somewhere in between. Here’s supporting or debunking the most popular overreaction for each team.

MORE NFL: Week 1 results, highlights

GREEN BAY PACKERS 17, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 9
Seahawks: “Their running game still stinks, therefore their offense stinks.”

It was pretty much all on Russell Wilson to try to save the day, and it was a touchdown-less effort. The truth is the Seahawks need to stop forcing the the power rushing issue with Eddie Lacy, Chris Carson or Thomas Rawls when he can get back. They need to feature C.J. Prosise in the uptempo attack that made Wilson thrive in the second half of 2015, now that Doug Baldwin and Paul Richardson are a dangerous receiving pair. It also would help if tight end Jimmy Graham, you know, catches the ball when it’s thrown to him.

Packers: “Dom Capers finally has the pass defense right.”

Mike Daniels and Nick Perry led the team’s strong pressure against Seattle with 1 1/2 sacks each, but there are still real concerns in downfield coverage. Those will be tested against the Falcons next Sunday night.

CAROLINA PANTHERS 23, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 3
49ers: “So much for Kyle Shanahan’s offensive genius away from the Falcons.”

San Francisco lost the debut of its new head coach, but new starting QB Brian Hoyer and the rest of the team’s wholesale new parts at wideout (Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor), tight end (George Kittle), running back (Matt Breida) and fullback (Kyle Juszczyk) weren’t as lost as the score indicates. There were a lot of disconnects, as everything beyond holdover feature back Carlos Hyde was out of sync. The versatile talent and depth will lead to big plays and better days soon.

Panthers: “Cam Newton still looks off in this offense.”

Newton passed the century mark in passer rating and adjusted well to throwing more to a dynamic running back in rookie Christian McCaffrey. But beyond the familiar outside scoring bomb to new deep threat Russell Shepard, he couldn’t get anything going to his wideouts and tight end Greg Olsen. The Panthers didn’t run as efficiently as they can with McCafrrey and Jonathan Stewart. Once that comes, helped by being less tentative with his running, Newton can be more MVP-like overall.

DALLAS COWBOYS 19, NEW YORK GIANTS 3
Giants: “Eli Manning and this offense is clueless without Odell Beckham Jr.”

The line remains is awful, and the running game is non-existent. Turns out their passing game can go into the tank, too, with nobody picking up the pieces for OBJ. Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and Shane Vereen flashed only as checkdowns, and Brandon Marshall was checked out for most of the game. It’s all true.

Cowboys: “Doomsday is back with all their defensive changes.”

Eli and his weapons, even without Beckham, were supposed to have success facing a makeshift front and shaky new-look secondary. But Dallas, anchored by Sean Lee and its linebacker corps, was in position to clean up everything short-to-intermediate. The Cowboys are set to be overachievers again but will struggle against better pass protection units that can push the ball downfield.

IYER: Dak set up for huge Year 2

LOS ANGELES RAMS 46, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 9
Colts: “This team is really nothing without Andrew Luck and Vontae Davis.”

STEELE: Who to blame for Colts disaster

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 29, HOUSTON TEXANS 7
Texans: “They can’t do anything with that offensive line.”

That’s definitely a worthy reaction after Houston gave up 10 sacks and showed a sputtering running game that didn’t help QBs Tom Savage and Deshaun Watson. But there should also be a lot more concern about a pass rush that has J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus not dropping Blake Bortles once.

Jaguars: “That pass defense is the best in the NFL.”

It was already very good last season. It just added A.J. Bouye and Barry Chruch to flank Jalen Ramsey and Tashaun Gipson in the secondary and Calais Campbell to empower Myles Jack and the entire front seven. It is capable of more dominant days, especially when the offense is so conveniently complementary with Leonard Fournette.

MORE: Something different about 2017 Jags

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30, WASHINGTON REDSKINS 17
Redskins: “Kirk Cousins is a big waste of money and is playing his last season in Washington.”

The latter might be true regardless, but Cousins didn’t suddenly forget how to play in a new-look offense. The team needs to help him by actually trying to stick to the power rushing attack Jay Gruden desires with Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine.

Eagles: “Carson Wentz has arrived as an elite quarterback.”

He had a great game, the best of his young career to open Year 2. He made some incredible throws, including the post-scramble 50-yard touchdown to Nelson Agholor, but he also threw a pick six to keep the Redskins in the game and took some heat with little help from the running game. He’s headed in the right direction, but there will be plenty more lumps ahead as a sophomore.

MORE: Wentz triggers Michael Vick nostalgia

BALTIMORE RAVENS 20, CINCINNATI BENGALS 0
Bengals: “Andy Dalton needs to benched for AJ McCarron, effective immediately.”

Dalton used to be reliable in 1 p.m. ET home games at the very least. But he was an absolute mess, looking like a rookie in the headlights vs. Baltimore’s pressure. He was sacked five times and had five turnovers — including four INTs vs. only 16 completions. Now he has to play in his least favorite time slot, at night, on Thursday, vs. the team that’s given him the most trouble: Houston. The whispers may be heard with another meltdown, given the Bengals would then have a long week to prepare McCarron to start in Green Bay.

Ravens: “The defense is about to party like it’s 2000.”

Nothing like a shutout in AFC North play to remind fans of daunting defenses past. Their strong front exploited one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, leaving easy pickings for the secondary. Let’s see how things go when they play the Steelers and Raiders back-to-back in a few weeks.

MORE: Are Bengals NFL’s worst team?

OAKLAND RAIDERS 26, TENNESSEE TITANS 16
Titans: “The running game isn’t working anymore with DeMarco Murray.”

Run-blocking was Tennessee’s huge asset last season, but the team sputtered on the ground, which reined back Marcus Mariota through the air. Murray, who wore down in the second half of last season, looks like the big mileage is catching up to him. It might be time to feature Derrick Henry soon.

Raiders: “Khalil Mack has a big-time defense around him, too.”

Oakland played over its head, given its significant deficiencies at linebacker and in the secondary behind Mack. It will probably look better than it is again vs. the Jets next week.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 21, CLEVELAND BROWNS 18
Browns: “They cannot run the ball to save DeShone Kizer’s life.”

Hue Jackson wants to have a run-first offense, especially to take pressure off his rookie QB. But Isaiah Crowell had only 33 yards on 17 carries. The Steelers, however, have a stonewalling run defense and were geared up to try to make Kizer beat him, which he almost did. Crowell can expect more loaded boxes until Kizer can find his groove on deep shots.

Steelers: “Le’Veon Bell is out of shape and overpaid.”

They were supposed to run away from the Browns with a rested Bell pounding out big yardage all afternoon. So much for volume — he got only 13 touches and managed only 47 yards. Chalk it up more to rust for now, but the heat is on Bell to rebound against a tough Vikings defense at home next week.

MORE: Can Kizer end Browns QB misery?

DETROIT LIONS 35, ARIZONA CARDINALS 23
Cardinals: “Carson Palmer is done.”

Palmer had an awful game against a pass defense he should have lit up. He was thrown quickly out of whack by the ineffectiveness and injury of David Johnson, who could be out for a while. The 37-year-old is one of the league’s most dependent QBs, to the point losing Johnson is a monstrous blow. Arizona is stuck with him, though, as there’s no young upside guy behind him, just Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert.

Lions: “Kenny Golladay is the new Megatron.”

Golladay lived up to every bit of the offseason hype as their big, speedy No. 3 receiver, delivering both a long TD downfield and a short TD in the red zone, both in the fourth quarter as Matthew Stafford led another comeback. Golden Tate is the No. 1, and Marvin Jones Jr. is a solid No. 2. Golladay is just another way for Stafford to earn his money spreading the ball around, a testament to the growth of the Lions’ highly-paid QB.

ATLANTA FALCONS 23, CHICAGO BEARS 17
Bears: “Tarik Cohen, you are ridiculous.”

Jordan Howard had a strong opening to his sophomore season as the lead Bear in the backfield, but he got company from a small-school little guy. Cohen (13 touches, 113 yards, TD) outproduced Howard (16 touches, 62 yards, TD) in his NFL debut. With wideout now a total mess for the Bears minus Cameron Meredith and Kevin White, Cohen will remain the co-focal point of the offense with Howard because of his speed, quickness and versatility for the passing game.

Falcons: “This defense isn’t really good again.”

Brooks Reed saved the game with his second sack of Mike Glennon in the waning seconds with the Bears in position to score the game-winning TD. Given the limitations of Chicago’s offense, it was a little disappointing to see the Bears move the ball so well at times. Still, holding off a comeback was a good start for a young, fast unit that’s closer to jelling.

MORE: Cohen breakout part of Bears’ plan

BUFFALO BILLS 21, NEW YORK JETS 12
Jets: “This looks like the worst team ever.”

Hard to disagree there with the early results living down to expectations.

Bills: “They’re the new favorites in the AFC East.”

With the Patriots losing and the Dolphins not playing, the Bills are alone in first place in the division. Games against the Panthers, Broncos and Falcons — and not the NFL’s junior varsity team — will help curb that enthusiasm.