(Image via sports.yahoo.com)
Staff Writer: Aidan Danforth
Email: adanforth@umassd.edu
The wait is finally over! The 2024 NFL season is now underway after an eventful offseason that has seen each team make changes to their teams in hopes of achieving the ultimate goal of hosting the Lombardi Trophy.
There’s plenty to take away from this week, including the winners and losers of the many games played. Some teams keep their identity as a team bound to rise above all, while others have begun to step into the basement of the NFL.
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
Remember when people cheered the day the Patriots dynasty ended? Once again, the Chiefs are proving they are the next dynasty of the NFL after an impressive performance against the Ravens.
Patrick Mahomes continues to look like the next Tom Brady with another great performance, and the Chiefs defense had no problems stopping Lamar. Just when we thought the offense couldn’t get any better, wide receiver Xavier Worthy and tackle Kingsley Suamataia had jaw-dropping rookie debuts.
A Super Bowl three-peat is still something no NFL team has ever achieved, but if the Chiefs keep playing like they did, they may change NFL history.
Loser: New York Giants
It’s hard to imagine that this team won a playoff game after witnessing such a dumpster-fire performance. They played so badly that fans flooded the exits halfway through the third quarter.
The offense could get nothing going with Daniel Jones, who looked clueless as he repeatedly made bad throws. The defense didn’t help, as they made Sam Darnold look like an elite quarterback, given the lack of effort they displayed.
It’s still early in the season, and the Giants have some bright spots like rookie Malik Nabers and Brian Burns, but it will take them a lot more to dig themselves out of their hole.
Winner: Detroit Lions
Statement! That’s the one thing that can describe the Lions epic toe-to-toe victory against a competitive Rams team.
Although a slow day for some notable stars, the offense continued to play well, with Jared Goff and the running game doing enough to keep the game close. To make things better, wide receiver Jameson Williams finally had a breakout game where he had five catches, 121 yards, and a touchdown. Even the defense improved from last year after having some impressive red zone stands.
A game like this proves the Lions can win in multiple ways, which is essential if Detroit wishes to erase their old identity and be recognized as one of the elite teams.
Loser: Carolina Panthers
Not only did Carolina get embarrassed by their rival, but quarterback Bryce Young, who they traded so much for, looked even worse than last year. It wasn’t just him—all around, the team seemed lost.
The Panthers tried everything to improve their offense, from bringing in a new coach to additional offensive talent, but Young still played badly. Now, fans are beginning to question if Young could ever develop into what he was at Alabama and not another failed bust.
They also lost star defensive player Derrick Brown to a potential season-ending injury, which will hurt their underrated defensive unit. People didn’t believe Carolina could get worse from last year’s disaster, but there’s a chance if they can’t rebound from here.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
No Christian McCaffrey, no problem. The 49ers vanquished the Jets elite defense and continued their ownership of Aaron Rodgers in an impressive 32-19 victory.
The offense looked elite with a ground-breaking performance from Jordan Mason who perfectly filled the role of their offensive anchor. The defense picked up where they left off by keeping the Jets from taking over even when they had the lead.
San Francisco had nothing but drama this offseason with contract and holdout problems. Starting with this performance was needed to increase their fans hopes that this will be the year the Niners finally stop choking in big moments and finally win the Super Bowl.
Loser: Cleveland Browns
This is what happens when a player sits out a year and is involved in multiple off-the-field issues. Since joining Cleveland, Deshaun Watson has come nowhere near returning to form after leaving Houston. Not only have the fans lost faith in the quarterback but so have the players.
Watson wasn’t the only problem. Their seemingly elite defense from 2023 couldn’t stop a nosebleed against an elite Cowboys offense. The Cowboys offense didn’t need to do much, as the Browns offense practically handed Dallas the game.
Cleveland suffered a ton of injuries last year and still made the playoffs. With everyone back in full health, fans were expecting the team to improve; instead, they looked worse and will need an incredible bounce back to prevent falling behind in a loaded AFC.