Best & Worst NFL Week One

Week One is in the books around the National Football League. We had a wild start to the game in Miami with Tyreek Hill, to New England pulling a major upset over the Bengals. It was an interesting week for rookie quarterbacks. A familiar face in a new place had a massive week on the ground, as did a backup back. So lets dive right into a wild first week. Here's some of the best, and worst, from the opening week around the league.

Best: Joe Mixon, Running Back Houston Texans
There was no doubt in anybody mind that Joe Mixon was a good running back. He showed that again in his first game with the Texans. he was coming off a year in which he rushed for over 1,300 yards last year with the Bengals. This year, he kicked it off with a bang. In the Texans first game, a 29-27 win over the Colts, Mixon had himself a day, with 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. I argue this all the time, for as much of a pass happy league that the NFL has become, there's still plenty of room in this game for a great runner. Mixon is up at that level.

Worst: Cincinnati Bengals
There are some level of concerns starting to creep in and around this Bengals club. They have been notorious for late finishers the last couple of seasons. A deep playoff run back in 2021 gave Bengals fans hope for the future, but it hasn't panned out since then. Big reason is because Joe Burrow can't stay healthy. And the rust on Joe showed in the opener against New England. I mean sure, Burrow went 21 of 29 but it was only 164 yards. No run game and you were outplayed by a rebuilding Patriots team. New England waled away with a 16-10 upset win. Yes it's only week one, but if the Bengals don't show vast improvement, this could be a long year in Cincy.

Best: Jordan Mason Running Back San Francisco 49ers
There had been hope for the Niners running game coming into this season, and it was on full display in week one. just not the way fans originally expected it to be. Christian McCaffery was hurt and missed the opener. So Jordan Mason got the lions share of the touches against what was supposed to be a really good Jets defense. It didn't show up as the Niners walked away with a 32-19 win of the Jets. Sure Brock Purdy had a solid day throwing, but Mason was the story of the day here. He finished with 28 carriers for 147 yards and a touchdown. He almost out rushed the entire Jets team all by himself.

Worst: New York Football
This would be more for the team in Blue overall, than it would be the one in Green. Look there's problems week one with the Jets against the Niners sure. See above. But this is more an inditement on the Giants than anything. They got there rear ends handed to them by the Vikings, to the tune of a 28-6 loss. Sam Darnold outplayed them. Jones threw the ball 42 times and completed half his passes and was sacked five times. No run game, no nothing. This is going to be a very long season for football fans in New York if the Jets don't get their run defense figured out and the Giants don't get everything figured out.

Best: Dak Prescott, Quarterback Dallas Cowboys
Not only did he have a good day on the field, Dak had a good one off it as well. Dallas won their opener 31-17 over the Browns. Dak was solid going 19 of 32 for 179 yards and a touchdown. He didn't turn the ball over. What's going to really stick out about this day though is what happened before kickoff. Dak got PAID. Four year deal worth $240 million, of which $231 million is guaranteed. That's making your money.

Worst: Dave Canales, Head Coach Carolina Panthers
There was supposed to be some semblance of hope in Carolina this year. They got a new head coach in Dave Canales, who was really expected to help out with 2nd year man Bryce Young under center. It hasn't gotten off on the right foot just yet. They hosted New Orleans, and got their doors blown off to the tune of a 47-10 loss. It was the 4th largest margin of defeat in team history. And you'd like to hope that there's a chance that this team can have something to rally around with Bryce Young, but its not there. If this thing is ever going to turn around for the Panthers, a lot of it falls on the ownership and coaching staff as well. Dave has a lot of work ahead of him to get this team back to anything close to relevancy.

Best & Worst: Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins
How could one guy fit into both the best and worst categories on the same week? Well it's possible with the week that Hill had in Miami on opening Sunday. Before their season opener against Jacksonville at home, Hill was pulled over for a traffic violation. Things there escalated quite quickly. That's another thing in and of itself for another time. The good was redeemed in a sense when the two teams actually took the field. Miami beat the Jags 20-17, thanks to a good day from Hill. Tyreek finished the day with seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. That TD score happened to be an eighty yard grab. Yeah that made up for what happened on his way to the stadium.