Kirk Cousins kicked off his season in style, flashing a thumbs up to the Las Vegas crowd after leading his Raiders to a convincing 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins on September 13. It was a strong Week 1 showing for the veteran quarterback, and hey, good for him. But not every former Minnesota Viking found the same kind of success on opening weekend. Turns out, some guys hit the ground running, while others? Well, let’s just say Week 1 wasn’t pretty.
The Big Wins and Standout Performances
While Cousins was basking in victory, a few other familiar faces were seriously balling out. Take Za’Darius Smith over with the Falcons. Even with just 17 defensive snaps, the dude posted an 83.9 PFF grade, a serious standout. That’s efficiency, baby! Troy Dye, now a Chargers linebacker, also had a solid day, grabbing 5 total tackles, 3 solo, and even chipping in 0.5 sacks across his 39 snaps. He earned a 73.1 PFF grade, which is nothing to sneeze at. And don’t forget Ameer Abdullah with the Jaguars; he ripped off 32 yards on just 4 rushes, showing he still has that burst. Danielle Hunter, now with the Texans, made his presence felt on defense with a pass defensed and a strong 79.3 PFF grade from his 44 defensive snaps. Ed Ingram held things down on the Texans’ offensive line, playing 81 snaps and notching a 67.8 PFF score. These guys definitely proved they’re still forces to be reckoned with.
Rough Starts and Disappearing Acts
Then there were the guys who probably want a do-over on Week 1. This one hurts to watch. Garrett Bradbury, the Bears’ offensive lineman, played all 77 offensive snaps but only managed a dismal 49.9 PFF grade. Yikes, dude. But he wasn’t alone in the struggle. James Lynch, a defensive lineman for the Bears, had an even tougher go, logging 3 total tackles but finishing with a shocking 36.6 PFF on his 22 defensive snaps. And Jonathan Bullard over with the Cowboys? His 30 defensive snaps only got him a 33.8 PFF, even with 0.5 sacks. Ouch! Quarterback Nick Mullens, getting 8 snaps for the Jaguars, actually rushed for minus-3 yards. That’s just not gonna cut it. And some guys barely saw the field, like Akayleb Evans with 13 special teams snaps for the Panthers or Mekhi Blackmon with a mere 2 special teams snaps for the Browns. It’s only Week 1, sure, but you gotta wonder what’s going on there.
Week 1 is in the books, and for some, it was a triumphant return. For others, it was a stark reminder that this league is no joke. The stakes are already high, even this early in the season. We’re looking forward to seeing who steps up their game in Week 2 and who starts fading from the spotlight. This NFL season is just getting warmed up, and you know we’ll be here for every single snap!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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