10 observations from Week 1 of the NFL Preseason

Week One of the NFL preseason is in the books. Here are ten thoughts on what went down throughout the league over the weekend.

1. THE NFL GETS IT WRONG — AGAIN

Let’s start here. On the first play of the fourth quarter in the Detroit-Atlanta game, with the Lions leading 17-10, Detroit safety Morice Norris was severely injured while attempting to make a tackle. He was down on the turf for over 20 minutes until eventually taken away in an ambulance. Players from both teams were visibly shaken, and made it clear that they had little desire to continue playing.

With no direction from the league on how to proceed, the two head coaches — Dan Campbell and Raheem Morris — created a workaround. When play resumed, they had Falcons quarterback Emery Jones take a snap and simply hold the football while the clock ran. Over eight minutes of game time ticked off as players from both teams gathered in a circle near midfield and locked arms. Finally, with 6:31 remaining, word came from the league to end the contest.

Granted, league officials are rarely presented with this sort of dilemma. But why did it take them so long to realize the gravity of the situation and make a call? This is yet another example of the disconnect between the players and coaches who execute the game and the suits and executives who preside over it. To the first group, football is personal. To the second, it is business. Those lines must blur, and players and coaches must understand this. But the league must be quicker to recognize that unique circumstances call for unique responses, and that the human element sometimes outweighs the need for the show to go on. Once again, the NFL failed to demonstrate they understand this.

2. CINCINNATTI’S BIG GAMBLE

The Bengals played their starters for a full quarter against Philadelphia, with mixed results. Joe Burrow and the offense looked great, while the defense, predictably, was bad.

I get why Cincinnati did it. They’ve gone a combined 5-10 the past three years in their first five games of the season, and are trying to develop better early-season chemistry. It’s a bold experiment that could lead to a successful September. But if a key player gets hurt in one of these pre-season games, the second guessing will be unparalleled.

3. ENCOURAGING SIGNS IN CAROLINA

I really like what I saw from the Carolina offense on Friday night. There were some quick throws, some pocket movement to give Bryce Young clean looks, and plenty of targets for Tet McMillan, who looks like he could become a legit #1 receiver in the league. It reminded me of what the Texans did with C.J. Stroud his rookie year. Dave Canales helped Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield revive their careers. He could be the key to unlocking Young as well.

4. SHEDEUR LOOKS STEADY

Cleveland fans who are chiseling a Shedeur Sanders bust for Canton because he led two scoring drives should curb their enthusiasm a bit. Sanders’ success came largely against Carolina’s JV, and one of those “drives” started inside Carolina’s 10-yard line after the Panthers muffed a punt.

That said, Sanders passed his first test. He was mostly composed in the pocket and made good decisions with the football. Kevin Stefanski kept it simple for him, with plenty of quick throws and basic concepts. But Sanders made some nice off-platform plays, including a scramble for a first down on 3rd-and-9 against a blitz. I’ll be shocked if he winds up Cleveland’s opening day starter, but he didn’t look overmatched, which is encouraging for the Browns.

5. THE BEST QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEKEND

Burrow, Young and Sanders were all impressive. But the best quarterback of the weekend may have been Philadelphia’s Tanner McKee. He played into the third quarter against the Bengals and completed 20 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on Philly’s signature “Tush Push” play.

McKee looked comfortable and confident all night. He was on-time with his throws and directed the offense like a veteran. McKee was sharp in the team’s season-finale last year when they rested Jalen Hurts, leading a victory over the Giants. If Hurts is out of the lineup for any reason this season, McKee looks like he can step in and direct that high-powered offense without a hitch.

6. PATRIOTS HAVE A PLAY-MAKER

I’ve been banging the drum for TreVeyon Henderson as a dark horse Rookie of the Year candidate, and his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on his first play as a pro only bolstered that notion. Henderson also had an 18-yard run on his only carry from scrimmage. His explosiveness gives New England’s offense an element they’ve been missing desperately the past few seasons.

7. RED ZONE WRECKER

The Steelers culminated their opening drive of the pre-season Saturday night in Jacksonville with Mason Rudolph tossing a 19-yard touchdown pass to hulking tight end Darnell Washington. That thrilled the Pittsburgh fan base, which has been clamoring for Washington to get more targets, particularly in the red zone. Washington, who is listed at 6’7-270, is a matchup nightmare. But he has just 26 catches in his first two seasons, and has been used almost exclusively as a blocking tight end.

That seems poised to change. Washington has already emerged as a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers, and by losing 25 pounds in the off-season, he’s moving better. Fantasy nerds should remember his name, as he could become a serious red zone weapon for the Steelers.

8. LITTLE MAKES BIG

Jacksonville kicker Cam Little nailed a 70-yard field goal as the first half expired in that game against Pittsburgh, which would have broken the NFL record by four yards had it occurred in the regular-season. We are quickly reaching a point where kickers are becoming too good, and where a “drive” that potentially earns three points doesn’t even need to cross midfield. At what point will the NFL need to re-examine its approach to the field goal? We’re not there yet, but it may not be far down the road.

9. FIELDS DOWN THE FIELD

Justin Fields led a crisp touchdown drive for the Jets offense on Saturday night. It was an interesting mix of play calls and personnel groups, incorporating spread philosophies, bootlegs, play-action passes and some old-school Pro-I offense with a traditional fullback on the field. Fields finished the drive with a 13-yard scramble for the score, showing off his elite mobility. Whether Fields proves the answer the Jets have long-been seeking at quarterback remains to be seen. But it was an encouraging start.

10.  RAVENS RULE (IN AUGUST, AT LEAST)

Is anyone surprised the Ravens opened with a win? They’re 26-5 in the pre-season since 2016. John Harbaugh has been frustrated in the post-season these past few years, but his pre-seasons have been stellar — for whatever that’s worth.

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