What We Learned from Week 1
A few things learned from the first 16 games of the season
Josh Allen Is Quarterback 2
This is not Lamar Jackson slander. Lamar was unstoppable in the run game against the Chiefs. In fact early in the game on a third and short, it seemed as if Chris Jones had him dead to rights and he ended up getting the ball to Justice Hill for a first down. But late in the game not only did he miss Zay Flowers for a potential game-tying touchdown, the play before that he almost got Isaiah Likely hurt on a hospital ball. Lamar is a great player and one of the best QBs in the league but this is more a testament to how great Josh Allen is.
All off-season the talk was about how Josh Allen lost his two best weapons in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Pundits and fans alike were saying Josh Allen's regression was imminent, that he would be doomed without a clear-cut WR1 on the team. Instead, Allen had 232 passing yards (10th most in Week 1) just one yard shy of a CJ Stroud who has three WR1s. He was one of just seven QBs to throw for two or more touchdowns and was one of only two touchdowns to throw for and rush for a touchdown in Week 1. His four total touchdowns is tied most with Baker Mayfield through one week, and Mayfield has much more proven weapons than Allen.
Allen is prone to the boneheaded decision and has a high amount of turnovers, but his numbers are comparable to Patrick Mahomes, who is far and away the best Quarterback in the NFL.
People also forget that not only did Josh Allen lead his team to the second seed in the AFC just last year, but he also led the NFL in total touchdowns (was the only QB with more than 40) and set an NFL record (tied with Jalen Hurts) for most rushing touchdowns by a QB in a single season with 15.
Anthony Richardson has a Top 3 Arm in the NFL
Anthony Richardson had not one but two 50+ yard bombs for touchdowns in Week 1. The first one was a thing of absolute beauty. Off his backfoot he slings it 60 yards with ease to hit Alec Pierce in stride for a touchdown. OFF HIS BACKFOOT. That is madness. Honestly, the only person in the NFL with more arm strength than Richardson is Josh Allen. While concerns about Richardson's accuracy still remain, one thing is certain: his arm strength cannot be doubted.
Kirk, Rodgers not 100%
Kirk Cousins, a 13-year NFL vet who is primarily known to be a pocket passer, was forced to operate out of the pistol formation for most of Sunday's game.
Very odd to see and the only reasonable explanation can be that he is not 100% healthy. On none of his throws did Cousins plant his right foot (the one that was injured last season) or step into his throws. On the play action to Kyle Pitts for a touchdown, Cousins looks uncomfortable setting his feet, and his right foot is not planted as he throws the pass.
For Rodgers, he looks a lot better and healthier than Cousins, but he does not look near his former self. Of course, Rodgers is two years older than he was the last time he played a full season, and is now 40 years old, but in 2022 he made a LOT of plays with his legs. This season was characterized by his desire to play hero ball, and in Week 1, he did not seem as comfortable with his legs. He played well enough but does not seem to be operating at 100% health.
Bears Defense is Legit
The Bears not only came back from down 17-0 to beat the Titans, but they did it without scoring a single offensive touchdown. Jaylon Johnson who was a sneaky great corner last year (should have been selected to the NFL top 100) had probably the best game of his career, and gave up -2 yards. Yes, -2.
The defense as a whole held Levis to 127 total yards (on 59% completion%) and 3.0 yards per pass. Star Deandre Hopkins had just one catch for eight yards. The Titans were just 3-14 (21%) on third down and averaged just 4.0 yards per play. The run game did get somewhat of a footing, but it wasn't enough to win the game. The defense also registered three sacks, eight tackles for loss, four passes defended, 10 QB hits, and two touchdowns. A truly stellar performance.
Read More NFL News From Stadium Rant Here: NFL News
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!