Following the conclusion of Monday Night Football on Sept. 9, Week One of the 2024-25 NFL season officially came to a close. After months of anticipation, fans were most definitely not disappointed. Some headlines, players and teams deserve a second look after the action-packed weekend.
Dynamic Kickoff: This year in the NFL, kickoffs have been completely revamped. According to NFL Football Operations, the new kickoff’s purpose is “to address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptable injury rate on kickoffs before that.” With the new rules, the return and kick team line up five yards away from each other and can’t move until the ball is touched by the return team. Along with this, touchbacks have been moved from the 25 to the 30 yard line. The kickoff is a success so far – according to Sportsnaut, just 63.5 percent of kickoffs were touchbacks in week one of 2024, down from a record 73 percent in week one of 2023.
Tom Brady: After 23 seasons on the playing field, Tom Brady debuted in the Sunday broadcast booth. According to Cydney Henderson of USA Today, his performance received mixed reviews. However, as the game progressed, Brady became comfortable, his analysis improved and he reminded fans that he’s “still a rookie in [the booth].”
Noteworthy Performances:
Jordan Mason: The unsung hero of Monday Night Football. In his first-ever opportunity being handed the keys to an NFL offense, the running back ran for 147 yards and a touchdown. Although superstar Christian McCaffrey’s inevitable return will take away most of Mason’s workload, he has solidified the backup running back role on this San Francisco 49ers juggernaut offense, earning some snaps, even after McCaffery’s return.
JK Dobbins: A torn ACL, LCL and hamstring in 2021 and ruptured Achilles in 2023 have kept Dobbins out of commission since 2020. Despite this, Dobbins strung an awe-inspiring performance, tallying 135 yards on just ten carries and a score. It will be interesting to watch how the dynamic of this Los Angeles Chargers backfield develops between Dobbins and Gus Edwards, two Chargers newcomers, but Dobbins is undoubtedly starting with the hot hand.
Chicago Bears defense/special teams: This unit struggled in the first half, allowing the Titans to jump to a 17-0 lead. However, in the second half, they completely turned it around, scoring two touchdowns (one off a blocked punt and one off an interception return). The Bears’ offense didn’t score a single touchdown, but it didn’t have to, as their defense willed them to a 24-17 victory.
Tyreek Hill: Hill faced some unforeseen circumstances before the Miami Dolphins game, as police officers detained him on his way to Hard Rock Stadium. Regardless, Hill finished the game with an astounding seven catches and 130 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown grab where he outran several members of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Expect more dominance from Hill and this electric Miami Dolphins offense in the coming weeks.
The Struggle of Rookie QBs:
Caleb Williams: While he has been labeled a “generational talent” by many, his performance on Sunday was not indicative of such a label, as he threw for only 93 yards and didn’t lead the Bears offense to a single touchdown drive. However, this label means something; in the long run, he should be fine. Look for Williams to show week-by-week development throughout the season.
Bo Nix: Many believed the Denver Broncos reached on him in the NFL draft last April with the No. 12 pick. He showed flashes, but Nix simply didn’t look like an NFL quarterback, launching two ugly interceptions and only 138 yards passing. Nix certainly has the talent to turn this around; you don’t just become a Heisman finalist for nothing. But, he doesn’t have the same ability as Williams. Improvement is plausible, but isn’t as surefire as it is with Williams.
In a turn of events nobody saw coming, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo’s first game in his new role turned into a massive week one upset win. The Patriots, ranked near or at the bottom of every NFL analyst’s preseason power rankings, shut down the much more highly touted Cincinnati Bengals and their high-powered offense, pulling out a shocking 16-10 win. New England kept Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase below their yard averages and allowed just one touchdown all day, a five-yard run by Zach Moss. However, it wasn’t just the Patriots defense that won this game. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson contributed 120 rushing yards and a score. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who isn’t known for his running ability, held his own on the ground with some big runs. Even Coach Mayo wasn’t expecting his performance.
“(Brissett) made some plays with his legs, which was surprising,” Mayo said, according to New England Sports Network.
Only time will tell whether this game was a fluke or the Patriots are here to stay. On the contrary, the Bengals have had week-one meltdowns in recent years. Don’t be surprised if a significant turnaround is on the way because this Bengals roster is good enough to compete for a Super Bowl.
