NFL football is back, and so are the annual Week 1 overreactions. The Ringer has all the action covered as we try to separate hype from reality. Is the Saints’ defense back to its pre-2017 level, or did it just slip up against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs? Is this as good as it will get for the Browns, or was Sunday’s tie the beginning of new (albeit still winless) era? Have the Bills already squandered the goodwill their playoff appearance last season generated? (Well, probably.) Stay tuned right here for updates, analysis, and highlights from our staff.
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September 12, 2018
Just a Number: How Some of the NFL’s Over-the-Hill Players Dominated Week 1
The league gets younger every year, but there’s still clear value in keeping some veterans around
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September 11, 2018
Five Massive Overreactions to Week 1 of the NFL
The Steelers and Bills look to be in trouble, while the Vikings and Chiefs rolled—which of these early narratives are for real?
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September 11, 2018
Lombardi’s Week 1 Reactions
Who gave the best performances to start the NFL season?
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September 11, 2018
Are the Jets Super Bowl–Bound or Are the Lions Just Trash? A Fan’s Internal Debate.
Sam Darnold and the Jets beat Detroit by 31 points in Week 1. It’s time to dream, baby.
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September 10, 2018
Sam Darnold Looks Like the Quarterback the Jets Have Been Searching For
What pick-six? New York’s rookie passer bounced back in a convincing win over the Lions.
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September 10, 2018
The Starting 11: Which QB First Impressions Are Worth Trusting?
Fifteen NFL teams have a different starter under center than they did at the start of last season. With those passers’ 2018 openers in the books, whose performances were real and whose weren’t?
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September 10, 2018
Aaron Rodgers Hero Ball Is the Bears’ Recurring Nightmare
The greatest QB on the planet delivered a performance for the ages to lift Green Bay past Chicago in Week 1. The game was an all-time effort from an all-time player—and a sign that these Bears have reason to believe.
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September 10, 2018
Aaron Rodgers, Khalil Mack, and What the Game-Changing Plays From Week 1 Tell Us About the NFL
Big Ben is still struggling on the road, but Andrew Luck looks like he’s really back
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September 10, 2018
Rodgers’s Resurrection, the Steelers-Browns Debacle, and Guess the Lines Week 2
Plus: Bill and Sal discuss their fantasy draft
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September 10, 2018
An Instant Classic in Lambeau, Mahomes and the Chiefs Shine, and More Week 1 Takeaways
Robert Mays and Kevin Clark discuss Aaron Rodgers’s legendary comeback and more
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September 10, 2018
But Deshaun Watson Is Back So It’s Fine
The Texans predictably lost to the Patriots in their season opener, yet the return of their talisman quarterback makes Houston fans’ hope spring eternal
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September 10, 2018
The Winners and Losers From NFL Week 1
Aaron Rodgers shocked everyone, but he wasn’t the only winner of the day. Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Ravens, and the Vikings made out well. The Browns and the Steelers? Well … they aren’t technically losers.
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September 10, 2018
Aaron Rodgers Just Staged a Legend-Making Comeback on One Leg
After getting carted off in the second quarter, the Packers QB returned to pick apart the Bears
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September 9, 2018
Patrick Mahomes II Is the NFL’s Must-Watch Player
The second-year passer and the Chiefs put on a show in Los Angeles
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September 9, 2018
The Browns Are Not Going 0-16 Again
After 624 days, Cleveland finally finished a game without being the losers
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September 9, 2018
The Saints Can’t Give Up 500 Yards and 48 Points to the Buccaneers
New Orleans is supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, but a backup quarterback just carved the team’s defense to pieces
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September 9, 2018
The Bills Needed Only One Game to Look Hopeless Again
In a 47-3 loss against Baltimore, Buffalo looked lost on both sides of the ball
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September 7, 2018
‘GM Street’: Philadelphia Outlasts Atlanta, and Which Games to Watch
Lombardi and Tate serve up five recommendations for Week 1 in the NFL
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September 7, 2018
Best Burt Reynolds Movies and Week 1 NFL Gambling With Wesley Morris and Joe House
Plus: Bill and House discuss Tiger’s impressive showing at the BMW Championship
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September 7, 2018
The Five Must-Watch Matchups for NFL Week 1
Jon Gruden takes on the present (also known as "Sean McVay"), while the new class of rookie quarterbacks battles with the past. What will the opening weekend of games teach us?
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September 7, 2018
What Five Game-Changing Moments From the NFL Kickoff Tell Us About the Falcons and Eagles
The Eagles brought back pass catcher Nick Foles while the Falcons’ red zone struggles continued
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September 7, 2018
The NFL Watchability Rankings: Your Guide to Watching Full Football Games on Sunday
If you don’t want to settle for highlights or RedZone, it’s necessary to sort the good games from the bad ones—these ratings can help
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September 7, 2018
Matt Ryan Is a Long Ways From His 2016 MVP Form
The Falcons QB made poor throws and worse decisions against the Eagles
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September 6, 2018
NBC’s “Green Zone” Is the Ultimate Conclusion of Graphics Creep
It shows you how far the team needs to go to get a first down. Now why didn’t anyone think of that before?
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September 6, 2018
NFL Preview Blowout
Predicting various award winners, playoff teams, and the Super Bowl matchup