Quote:Winner: The Sam Darnold experience

One simply can’t hear about how Sam Darnold plays — you have to experience it, man. It’s now time for the Vikings to ride the Darnold rollercoaster, and after Week 1 there’s no other reaction than being pumped as hell.

Darnold utterly dismantled the Giants in Minnesota’s 28-6 win. Did he throw an interception? Sure, but my man also completed 19-of-24 passing, finding eight different receivers, masterfully avoiding pass rushers in a purple suit of Teflon, and ostensibly doing everything that Kirk Cousins has done for the Vikings up to this point.

Don’t get me wrong: The Darnold ride always falls off the rails. Nobody in the league is better at getting hopes up and then destroying them than this modern-era Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will play for 20 years in the NFL and earn hope starts from teams around the league, only to let them down too.

For now, the Vikings can be thrilled they’re still in the great part of the Darnold experience. We’ll let them bask in this one a while longer.


Loser: Hope

It was a terrible, no-good, very bad day for mediocre teams in the NFL who just hoped to get better this season. Bryce Young and the Panthers played like wet farts in New Orleans, Bo Nix proved that preseason was fool’s gold, the new-era in Atlanta looks a lot like the old one, the Bengals still think it’s preseason, the Jaguars fumbled a game away, and sure, the Bears technically got the dub, all while Caleb Williams played like hot garbage, and the Giants, well... they have Daniel Jones.

There is nothing as exquisitely humbling as waiting for months to see your favorite team play with anticipation only to have every ounce of excitement drain from your body in three hours like you’ve been stuck in a room with an energy vampire. The NFL has gifted that us to us.

Some of these teams should really be able to bounce back. The Bengals aren’t as bad as they showed, the Jaguars can shore things up, and Atlanta can get on track. As for other teams in the league: It’s already looking like a long season.


Winner: Baker the dream maker

I’ll be the first to admit I thought the Baker Mayfield extension by Tampa Bay was a massive mistake. To me this was a guy who has been mediocre his entire career, had one amazing season under a hotshot offensive coordinator, and to pay him based on that with the offensive braintrust gone was a massive mistake.

How wrong I was.

Mayfield looks every bit like the same quarterback he ended 2023 as, and that’s a monumental boon to the Buccaneers. To be fair: Dismantling the Commanders is a little bit like being proud you can beat a toddler in arm wrestling, but it’s still significant. At no point did the game look too big for Mayfield, who was masterful throwing the ball and deserves every bit of praise.

Maybe keep an eye on the Buccaneers, because they could be a sneaky team this year.


Loser: Passing the football

We’ve never been in an era with this many good quarterbacks, while also being in an era where this many good quarterback can play poorly. There are at least 20 teams in the league right now who should be disappointed with their quarterback play, while defenses around the league are feasting.

Entering Sunday Night Football the league-average for passing yards in Week 1 was 185 yards. We had full game starters who couldn’t even manage to break 100 yards passing. Defense is back in a big way, baby — and it’s clear that most of the league can’t really handle it right now.

This will be a trend to watch as the season progresses.


Winner: The Saints, who went marching in

Another game which requires the “shitty opponent” caveat, there’s still a ton to like about this Saints team. Offensively they look completely rejuvenated under OC Klint Kubiak, whose masterful offensive play calling allowed Derek Carr to shine with efficiency.

I think we can look a little past the Panthers being terrible and see that there’s a nugget of something special here. New Orleans is far from a perfect team, but they’re hungry, opportunistic, and thriving on both sides of the ball.


Loser: The new NFL kickoff

Sorry, but I hate this thing. I’m very glad players are being kept safe, which is the entire goal of the rule change — but man, this is so boring. It’s bad when you’re pretty much rooting for a flag as the only way to ensure a team is pinned deep, otherwise you’re just locked watching four quarters of touchbacks.

I don’t think there’s any perfect way to handle kickoffs, but this ain’t it. It’s a shame we’re going to have to watch this all season long.

(09-10-2024, 07:55 AM)OceanPanther Wrote: Losers :  the Panther faithful fans.
At least in 2001 season , with Heisman Trophy Winner Chris Weinke at the helm , we won the first game.  The odds say we will  win at least 1 game.  But the odds didn't watch how MY Panthers played it's first game this year.