USA TODAY International Edition
40 things we learned,
The 40 things we learned from Week 1:
1. Raiders coach Jack Del Rio … our Week 1 hero. That took, well, you know.
2. As far as first impressions go, Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz couldn’t have asked for a better start — especially against the Browns, who didn’t think he’d develop into a top- 20 quarterback.
3. Jameis Winston > Marcus Mariota.
4. Rex Ryan. Hot seat. Some things never change.
5. That stadium ballot measure in San Diego? Blowing a lead ( and game) like they did in Kansas City isn’t quite the campaign message the Chargers are looking for at this point.
6. Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott talked a big game before Sunday. Not quite the force he thought he would be, huh? This isn’t the Big Ten anymore, Zeke.
7. For the record, the Chiefs were the first team to put points on the board in the early games: a field goal.
8. Philadelphia was the first team to score a TD in the early games, a TD pass from Wentz.
9. Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson for a Packers TD. And all of Green Bay smiles.
10. Ravens fans booed the video message from President Obama to commemorate 9/ 11. Real classy, Baltimore.
11. The Ravens outgained the Bills 114- 2 in the first quarter but led only 3- 0. Didn’t matter, because the Bills are still the Bills.
12. Food for thought: The Seahawks win with 12 points. They call their fans the 12s. When they won the Super Bowl three years ago, they scored 12 points in the opener. Where else can you get this kind of inside info?
13. Another sign it will be another long season for NFL officiating guru Dean Blandino: During a field goal attempt by the Eagles, the ref beneath the right upright signaled no good, but his buddy under the left upright signaled good. It was no good. Wide right. ( At least they got it right without a 10- minute discussion.)
14. Brock Osweiler’s first drive as a Texan: interception. And all Houstonians shook their heads.
15. They felt much better later in the second quarter when he threw a great TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins in the corner of the end zone. 16. Talk about throwing shade. This tweet from former Cowboy Deion Sanders after WR Terrance Williams did not try to get out of bounds and the clock ran out on Dallas: “Everybody ain’t built for the moment. WOW # Truth”
17. Respect for the NFL for the classy 9/ 11 salutes.
18. Respect to the players who chose to join “the Kaepernick protest.”
19. And, yes, it is possible to respect both. # America.
20. Victor Cruz. Salsa. Welcome back.
21. Terrelle Pryor continues to show great potential as a receiver. If you haven’t seen his secondquarter catch that set up the Browns’ first TD, go watch the highlights.
22. We don’t know about you, but we already miss Tom Jackson on ESPN. Doesn’t seem the same.
23. The Chargers used all of their first- half timeouts with more than 11 minutes to go in the second quarter. Andy Reid was the opponent, so maybe it was a nod to him and his clock management.
24. Bucs TE Austin Seferian- Jenkins snagged a beautiful TD catch in the third quarter. Bucs fans were like, “Finally.” But opponents had better watch out if he finally realizes his potential and becomes another weapon for Winston.
25. Some things never change: Kickers still missing easy field goal attempts all over the league. You have one job to do …
26. As if by script, Vikings kicker Blair Walsh — he of the infamous playoff shank — missed his first chance of the season, a 37- yard attempt. Wide left. Laces were out. Walsh also missed a 56yard try, not that you can blame him for that.
27. To his credit, Walsh hit his next four field goal tries to help the Vikings earn a big road win at Tennessee. ( But you better work on those PATs, Blair.)
28. A tip of the helmet: Titans linebacker Avery Williamson wore patriotic spikes despite the threat of being fined.
29. Make sure you catch Aaron Rodgers’ TD throw with Jags rookie Jalen Ramsey hanging on to him. Classic Favre, er, Rodgers.
30. Melvin Gordon touched the ball 219 times in his career before scoring a touchdown. That is fourth most by any player in the last 25 years, according to Elias Sports. But Gordon did get into the end zone twice Sunday.
31. The Bengals- Jets game was a great Week 1 battle. That is all.
32. Speaking of the Jets, they finished with seven sacks ( five in first half ) and Sheldon Richardson didn’t even play. That line is a force. 33. Chargers WR Keenan Allen is injured. Badly. Again. Sad. 34. Drew Brees threw a 98yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. Who dat? indeed. 35. Think this is Russell Wilson’s offense now? Need proof?
Seattle threw 26 times in the first half, the first time he has done that.
36. Giants kicker- for- a- game Randy Bullock missed an extra point attempt.
37. Fun fact from the NFL PR office: Oakland is the fourth team to score game- winning points on a two- point conversion in the game’s final minute ( and the first in a season opener).
38. By the way, maybe Rob Ryan wasn’t the only problem with the Saints defense. Shocking, we know.
39. Of course, there was one of those Eli Manning interceptions you knew was coming. This one led to a Cowboys touchdown and gave Dallas a third- quarter lead. But Manning came back to toss the game- winning TD to Cruz, and the Giants beat the Cowboys in Week 1 for the first time in nine tries dating to 1965.
40. That was a big road win in Indianapolis for the Lions. The kind that could change the course of their season. We’ll see.