The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 1

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

September is truly a magical time for just about everyone out there. For the leaves begin to change, the temperature begins to drop, and that chill in the morning air means that fall and winter are right around the corner, along with the wonderful holiday season. But for football fans, September is more than a change of the seasons, it is a sacred time. For this is when 32 teams take the field for seventeen weeks in total, to try and achieve moments of perfection, making opening weekend a truly special event and thankfully, that wonderful time is upon us once again. For today signals the beginning of the 2019 NFL Regular Season, the 100th that the league has enjoyed, meaning that incredible games await us for months to come and well, it’s time we look ahead to the incredible storylines and matchups that await us.
​
Is this the year that Father Time finds Tom Brady?
Okay, I know this sounds like a supremely negative way to start off our weekly summary of the NFL, but this is a question that needs to be asked. Because despite the wonders that Tom has achieved over the course of his illustrious and controversial career in the league, no man can play forever, despite their desire to do otherwise and as we’ve seen time and time again, at some point his body will give out and his ability to play at a high level will diminish. But is this year the year when that happens? Honestly, it’s hard to say but when the Patriots take the field against the Steelers on Sunday, this is something that will be on the minds of every football fan out there because like it or not, we are in the twilight of Tom’s time in the NFL and how he throws the ball this week and every week after, will help us to understand exactly how much football he has left in him.
 
Kyler Murray needs to come out and impress in his first NFL game.
I know the mantra surrounding rookies always involves patience and understanding, since they’ve never played an NFL game before in their life. But let’s be honest, the pressure to win and win early is hanging heavy over the Arizona Cardinals and their new quarterback, Kyler Murray. Because the franchise basically blew up their team and coaching staff in order to make room for Murray and to make him successful and well, what he exhibited in preseason was a tad disappointing to say the least since he struggled with the rhythm of the game and executing something as simple as a snap count. So really, it is on the kid to show the football world that moving mountains to get him drafted to Arizona was worth the team’s while and I do hope he’s up to the task, or the Kingsbury/Murray honeymoon with the fans will come to an end rather quickly.
 
What will the Raiders do with Antonio Brown?
A funny thing happened on the way to publishing this article in that, I had written a whole different blurb on Antonio Brown and his role on Monday Night and then just like that, I had to delete all of it. Because this morning, AB and Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock got into a little altercation (as reported by Adam Schefter), the kind that may lead to Brown being suspended from the team and well, at this point, I guess the overriding question on all of our minds is; what on earth are the Raiders going to do with #84 long term? Because they paid him a king’s ransom to get him to… cause nothing but trouble since his arrival and this is just the icing on a diva-themed cake. So, at this point, do they suspend him? Do they cut their losses and eat whatever money they’ll have to eat? Time will tell of course, but in the here and the now, it’s obvious they got the raw end of the deal with Pittsburgh and I’m fairly certain we can expect plenty more drama from AB before (and after) this mess gets resolved.  

---

The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Thursday Night Football
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

The first game of the 100th season of the NFL should be a magnificent showdown to say the least. Because you cannot go wrong with a matchup that features two of the league’s original teams and I’m expecting this to be one hell of a game. For a healthy Aaron Rodgers is always fun to watch, especially when one considers that he’s executing a new QB friendly playbook, courtesy of a new head coach. But while I think we’re all expecting Rodgers to accomplish some wonders on the field, the Chicago Bears may have something to say about that. Because their talented defense is hungry to avenge a playoff loss, and that offense is eager to prove their worth, meaning this is going to be a knockdown, drag it out fight, the kind that only the NFC North can produce and I cannot wait to watch every single second of it. 

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns
First Energy Stadium – Cleveland, OH
1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

Sure, there are some fascinating storylines surrounding the Tennessee Titans and their quest to return to glory, but let’s be honest, it’s the Browns that have us excited to watch this game. Which is something I never expected to say in this column, but here we are, and rightfully so. Because the Browns collected more weapons for Baker Mayfield to work with this offseason, such as prolific receiver Odell Beckham Jr., along with a new head coach that will likely cater to Mayfield’s strengths and well, that makes this game a must watch. Because if the Browns come out swinging and walk away with a decisive win, the buzz surrounding them will be huge and honestly, I hope that’s the case. Because the good fans of Cleveland deserve a little hope and a little joy after what they’ve been through and honestly, I think this new roster is going to surprise a lot of football fans when all is said and done. 

Monday Night Football
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Oakland Coliseum – Oakland, CA
10:20 p.m. EST – ESPN

​Okay, I know what you’re thinking. We’ve already talked about this game. Well, we only kinda, sorta did. We talked about AB and his ego, and while the Diva of Divas’ silly moment will be a storyline hanging over this game, the real draw is the Denver Broncos. After all, this is a team that’s seen some tough times following their victory in Super Bowl 50, and it was another offseason full of turmoil in the Mile High City as GM John Elway jettisoned another coach and sent another QB packing before remaking the roster yet again and really, everyone is wondering if Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco are the answers to all of Denver problems. Which means that the buzz surrounding the Broncos will become either supremely negative or positive depending on how this game goes and it should be fascinating to see how this new look squad performs on the field come Monday Night.