The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 1

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Ah, it’s a glorious day to be a football fan, because this is it ladies and gents. After six long and painful months without football, the game has finally returned to the center stage. Now the games count, and the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy begins anew as thirty-two teams do their best to see if the draft, free agency and all the work they put in this offseason will finally come to fruition and well, I couldn’t be happier. Because Kickoff Weekend is truly a magical time to say the least, one filled to the brim with incredible matchups and stories that leave us talking for days on end and with that in mind, it’s time to preview all of those things as we dissect the top stories from the field and look ahead to which games will truly captivate us as the 2019 NFL Season gets underway.
 
Will the Oakland Raiders play well this weekend after their rough offseason?
I distinctly recall that Raiders fans everywhere rejoiced over the fact that Jon ‘Chucky’ Gruden was returning to helm the team after a decade away from the game since he was regarded as a quality coach for the team back in the day, but it would seem the honeymoon between Raiders fans and Coach Gruden has come to an end. After all, this past week Gruden helped influence a mega trade that sent all-star Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears and while it’s one thing to anger your fan base, the football world has not talked enough about how this kind of move can influence players as well. Because that locker room has to be rattled over the Mack trade and one has to wonder, will this team rise to the occasion and show the football world that one superstar does not make a team? Or will they come out of the gate looking like a shaken squad? Time will tell of course, but this team’s performance will be one to watch this weekend.
 
Can Tom Brady maintain his high level of play this season?
Yes, I fully understand that’s a broader question, one that extends far beyond this first week but it’s one we need to ask now. Because while Brady does still play at a high level, Peyton Manning’s run with Denver serves as a reminder that Father Time finds every player at some point or another and well, considering some of Brady’s errant throws last year and his sub-par performance in Super Bowl LII, one has to wonder if time is starting to creep into his bones. Granted, I don’t expect the Pats to lose against the Texans this weekend since they are far superior talent wise but keep an eye on Brady and his style of play on Sunday. Because if more errant throws show up, or he just outright seems ‘off’, then we might be looking at the beginning of the end of a storied and magical career.
 
Will the Eagles be able to replicate last year’s synergy right out of the gate?
There’s a lot of reasons for Eagles fans to be excited about this year’s team since several key contributors from last year’s championship run are back to defend the title. But considering how the preseason went for this team, one has to be concerned about whether or not this team is going to run like the well-oiled machine it was last year. Nick Foles seemed quite out of sorts all preseason long and something about this team didn’t quite jibe like it did last year. Which means that this team needs to jell and jell quickly against a hungry Atlanta offense and defense and if they can’t find that synergy quickly tonight, then there’s a fair chance tonight’s banner raising opening game will end in sorrow, with the Falcons opening up the season 1-0. 

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
U.S. Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minnesota
1:00 p.m. EST – FOX

This game is fascinating for one reason, and one reason alone…the quarterbacks. Because both of these teams believe they have found their franchise guy in both Jimmy Garoppalo and Kirk Cousins respectively and there’s good reason for both teams to be excited about these guys since they are in fact, dynamic quarterbacks. But this game serves as the rubber hitting the proverbial road and the key to this game is likely going to be which QB shakes off the opening day jitters and lets their inner field general shine. Because that guy is the one who is going to dissect the opposing defense and lead his team to victory and it is going to be quite interesting to see which one of these highly paid quarterbacks figures it out first because when they do, they’re going to put on one hell of a show.   

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
4:25 p.m. EST – FOx

Let’s be honest, when it comes to this game, all eyes are going to be upon the Dallas Cowboys. Because this promising team, where Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott dominated the NFL in their rookie years, took quite the step back last year, going 9-7 and missing the playoffs on inconsistent play from those aforementioned players. Which means that there are in fact, doubts about these stars and in order for them to shake those doubts and make everyone believe that they are in fact, the real deal, they’ve got to come out swinging against the Panthers this weekend. Which means we need to see progress from Prescott when it comes to how he reads a defense and how he responds to pressure and for Elliott, well we simply need to see more of that vision and finesse that we came to know and love his rookie year. If they can both accomplish those goals, then we are in for quite a treat this weekend and if not, well…then we will see how this season goes for Dallas. 

Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
Broncos Stadium at Mile High – Denver, CO
4:25 p.m. EST – FOX

​Speaking of teams/players that have something to prove, let’s take a moment and talk about the Denver Broncos, because this is another team that had quite the disappointing season last year and is in desperate need of a hot start to the season. Because it’s inherently clear that Vance Joseph is in the hot seat and this time around, he’s been given all the tools to succeed since General Manager John Elway brought in last year’s surprise quarterbacking hero Case Keenum and bolstered both the offense and defense with his best draft since 2011. Which means that Broncos fans and the football world are expecting a solid showing this weekend and a win and if Denver dominates the Seahawks at home, all will be right in Broncos Country. But if things go south this weekend, expect people to start calling for Joseph to be replaced and for the turmoil that surrounded this team last year, to continue.