NFL Week 1 Recap: Welcome Back

Football is back! And what a return it was! The 2021 NFL season began with so many thrilling games, so much excitement, and most importantly, so many fans. Though the NFL wasn't badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, protocols still had to be followed, with some states being more stricter than others. The result saw some teams with minimal fans, some others with no fans until later in the season, and a few with none throughout the whole season. But thanks to the proper procedures, stadiums are packed again, and millions of fans saw some very thrilling games to kick off the 2021 season.

It began with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrating their Super Bowl Championship before starting their defense against the Dallas Cowboys. This was quite a thrilling game that featured 60 total points, two touchdowns from Rob Gronkowski, and Amari Cooper please fantasy owners who had him in their starting lineups (I was one of the lucky ones who did have him), while also frustrate those who had to play against him. The Bucs ended up winning 31-29 due to a game-winning drive that had a questionable offensive pass interference non-call, though it could also be said that Greg Zuerlein missing a chip shot FG and an extra point ended up costing the Cowboys.

The first football Sunday of the season featured 14 games, including the first overtime game of the season. The Cincinnati Bengals hosted the Minnesota Vikings, with Joe Burrow starting his second season in the league. To the surprise of many (including myself), the Bengals were relentless against the Vikings, jumping out to a big lead until the Vikings came back and tied it up. It was 24-all after sixty minutes, resulting in the game heading to overtime. All ten minutes were needed, but Cincy got the field goal to win it; this was the Upset of the Week. Yes, it's Week 1. Yes, it's a clean slate. But the Bengals aren't expected to really do anything. So this win over a team that quite a few expect to be in the playoffs is a surprising one.

Trevor Lawrence's NFL debut saw him on the receiving end of a blowout loss to the Houston Texans. The Pittsburgh Steelers got a huge win over last year's runner-up in the American Football Conference, the Buffalo Bills; winning a game that many said that they had no business winning. Only 54 total yards of offense in the first half for Pittsburgh, but they managed to comeback and beat the Bills on the road. The Detroit Lions nearly came back from 28 down against the San Francisco 49ers, and Sam Darnold started his 2021 season with a "revenge win" over his former team, the New York Jets.

I'm just going to flat out ask: what in the blue blazes happened to Aaron Rodgers? This Packers fan truly believed that Rodgers' head was not in the game; I truly think that his mind was still occupied by what was plaguing him during the offseason. That and the fact that the game against the New Orleans Saints was Rodgers' first time on the field since the NFC Championship, IMO, served as factors in what was a disastrous performance from the Packers. That 38-3 loss was a team effort--no one was really gelling. But what I saw from Aaron Rodgers was absolutely uncharacteristic; it was not the GOAT I've watched and marvelled over for nearly a decade and a half.

Elsewhere in the late window, the Cleveland Browns jump to a huge lead over the Kansas City Chiefs--a double-digit lead. But as anyone who watches Patrick Mahomes knows, that's where he shines. Yet another comeback win, 33-29, and Cleveland's Opening Week woes continue: no Week 1 wins since 2004.

Sunday Night Football began in Sofi Stadium for the second straight year, but this time, there were fans. Sofi Stadium had been long announced as the new stadium for the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, and it was set to open in the 2020 season. Of course, no one can predict the weather, let alone a global pandemic, and the result saw no fans at the stadium for the entire year. As a result, the game between the Rams and the Chicago Bears at Sofi Stadium was a grand re-opening of sorts, as thousands of Rams fans watched their team defeat the Bears by a score of 34-14.

Another new stadium that suffered through the pandemic was Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The arena played host to this year's SummerSlam, which allowed fans inside, and those same fans would be in attendance for the Monday Night Football opener. It didn't look good for the Raiders, as the Baltimore Ravens jump to a 14-0 lead. It was 14-10 at the half, and the Raiders completed the comeback and tied it at 17. Each team traded a TD and a FG, resulting in a 27-27 tie after regulation. A crazy overtime originally ended with a Raiders touchdown on the opening drive, but it was ruled just short: down at the one. At 3rd and Goal, David Carr threw an interception, giving Baltimore the chance to get to FG range and win it. However, Lamar Jackson coughed up the ball, giving the Raiders a good chance. They planned to kick a FG, but after a Delay of Game penalty, the offense returned and Carr connected with a wide open TD pass. Raiders win, 33-27, in overtime, capping off a wild Opening Week.

So of course, when there are no ties, Opening Week has 16 winning teams and 16 losing teams. Here are the 16 winners (by conference):

AFC: Miami, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Houston, and the entire West

NFC: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, and the entire West

Notice something missing? That's right. No one in the NFC North won in Week 1. That's literally the only silver lining for Packers fans. So who is the first place team in the North? The Minnesota Vikings. The reason is simple: they were the only team who didn't play a conference game, so they are in first place at 0-1, though they nearly ended up in sole possession of first place at 0-0-1.

Week 2 starts with the Washington Football Team hosting the New York Giants, the Sunday Night game features the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs, and Monday Night Football will be in Lambeau Field; the Packers' home opener against the rival Detroit Lions.

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