The NFL season is officially back, and with that comes one of the best traditions in football: the annual Week 1 panic.
Every year, we are told not to judge teams too quickly after the first game of the season. And every year, we completely ignore that advice.
One game does not make a season, although Week 1 can certainly expose some concerns. Whether it is a struggling offense, a quarterback who looks overwhelmed, a defense that has not improved from last season or a team simply getting punched in the mouth, there were plenty of reasons for fans to start worrying.
With that in mind, it is time to break out the NFL Panic Meter.
5/5 — Sound the alarms.
4/5 — Serious concerns.
3/5 — Keep an eye on it.
2/5 — Not great, but relax.
1/5 — Probably nothing to worry about.
Here are the teams I am most concerned about following Week 1:
NFL Panic Meter – Week 1
Tennessee Titans – Panic Meter: 4/5
The Tennessee Titans had a fresh start.
New head coach Robert Saleh. New uniforms. New-look roster. New expectations.
Unfortunately for Tennessee, Week 1 looked a lot like some of the Titans teams we have seen in recent years.
The Titans lost 23-10 to the New York Jets, a team that finished with the No. 2 overall pick last season, while their offense managed just 195 yards.
If Tennessee really is ready to turn the page, this was a pretty discouraging first chapter.
Second-year Quarterback Cam Ward was under pressure throughout the game and couldn’t consistently move the ball downfield. He finished with 140 passing yards, and Tennessee’s offense struggled to create any sort of rhythm.
The defense may actually be the bigger concern.
Saleh is supposed to be a defensive guru who turns this unit into one of the strengths of the team. Instead, the Titans allowed 367 yards to a Jets offence that has not exactly been known for lighting up the scoreboard.
New York was able to run the football, control the clock and consistently put Tennessee’s defense in uncomfortable situations.
It is only Week 1, but the Titans were supposed to look different this year.
They didn’t.
Panic Meter: 4/5
Green Bay Packers – Panic Meter: 4/5
The Green Bay Packers appeared to be in control against the Minnesota Vikings, taking a 19-10 lead into halftime. Then, everything fell apart.
The Vikings scored 29 unanswered points from late in the third quarter through the end of the game, including 22 in the fourth quarter, to complete a stunning comeback. Carson Wentz stepped in and led Minnesota after Kyler Murray exited the game, helping the Vikings turn the game completely around.
For Green Bay, the collapse was especially concerning because this was not simply a case of the defense getting torched.
There were problems everywhere.
Jordan Love was sacked four times, the Packers’ committed 12 penalties, and the offensive line struggled to consistently protect their quarterback. Love actually put together some impressive numbers through the air; still the offence could not maintain its effectiveness when the game mattered most.
And once again, the fourth quarter became the Packers worst enemy.
Giving up 22 points in the final quarter after holding a 12-point lead is the kind of thing that can stick with a team.
Green Bay has enough talent to recover from this. Nevertheless, if the Packers continue to struggle protecting Love and closing out games, this could become a much bigger issue than one ugly Week 1 collapse.
Panic Meter: 4/5
Los Angeles Chargers – Panic Meter: 3/5
The Los Angeles Chargers did not exactly inspire confidence in their season opener.
Los Angeles lost 26-14 to the Arizona Cardinals, and the offence struggled to find any sort of consistency. The Chargers finished with 268 total yards and just 81 rushing yards despite finally entering the game with a completely healthy offensive line.
That is a tough number to look at for an offence that should have plenty of firepower.
Third down was another problem. Los Angeles converted just 2-of-8 opportunities and failed to convert any of its fourth-down attempts.
Mike McDaniel’s arrival as offensive coordinator was supposed to bring creativity and explosiveness to the offence. Instead, Los Angeles looked stagnant for long stretches.
Then the defense started to crack.
Arizona consistently found ways to move the ball, and the Chargers were unable to get off the field when they needed to. The Cardinals eventually pulled away late after a blocked punt and an interception helped put the game out of reach.
Still, there is plenty of reason not to overreact.
This is a team with Justin Herbert, a talented roster and plenty of time to figure things out. One bad offensive performance does not erase what this team is capable of.
There are just enough warning signs to keep an eye on.
Panic Meter: 3/5
Dallas Cowboys – Panic Meter: 3/5
New year, same defense.
That might be the biggest takeaway from Dallas Cowboys‘ Week 1 loss.
The Cowboys entered the season hoping their revamped defense would finally put last year’s struggles behind them. Instead, the New York Giants walked away with a 28-20 victory while piling up 394 yards of offence.
Dallas struggled to stop the run, struggled to generate consistent pressure and repeatedly had communication issues in the secondary.
Sound familiar?
The offense did not exactly pick up the defense either. The Cowboys managed only 244 total yards, a disappointing number for a unit expected to be among the league’s better offenses.
Dak Prescott was under pressure throughout the night, while the running game failed to establish itself.
What stood out most, though, was the lack of adjustments.
The Giants continued attacking the same weaknesses, and Dallas struggled to find answers. That is especially concerning for a team that made significant changes to its coaching staff and defensive personnel during the offseason.
The talent is there. That is not really the question anymore.
The question is whether this group can finally turn that talent into a defense that holds up when the game gets tight.
Until the Cowboys prove they can actually put it together, the concerns from last season are not going away.
Panic Meter: 3/5
New England Patriots – Panic Meter: 2/5
Talk about a brutal way to start the season.
The New England Patriots had the opportunity to avenge their Super Bowl LX loss against the Seattle Seahawks.
Instead, Seattle walked away with a 13-10 victory in a game that New England will probably be thinking about for a while.
The biggest concern has to be Drake Maye.
Maye played well for much of the game, but his fourth quarter was one to forget. He threw three straight interceptions on fourth-quarter drives, ultimately giving Seattle the opportunity to close out the game.
Then there was the quarterback situation on the other side.
Sam Darnold left the game with an injury, forcing backup Drew Lock into action. Lock proceeded to lead Seattle to the victory.
Losing to a backup quarterback is never ideal, especially when you have Super Bowl aspirations.
There is also the concern surrounding receiver A.J. Brown, who suffered a high ankle sprain and was placed on injured reserve.
The Patriots have questions to answer, particularly when it comes to whether Maye can consistently perform against the better teams in the league.
Still, I am not ready to hit the panic button.
New England was right there until the final moments, and one loss is not enough to erase the optimism surrounding this team entering the season.
For now, this is more of a warning light than a five-alarm fire.
Panic Meter: 2/5
Denver Broncos – Panic Meter: 2/5
I know a lot of Denver Broncos fans probably want to put this one higher.
I don’t.
Was Denver’s Week 1 performance ugly? Absolutely.
The Broncos were dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs in a 31-10 loss, with the offence producing just 176 total yards. Bo Nix struggled, the offensive line had issues throughout the game, and the defense missed a ridiculous 28 tackles!
That’s a lot of problems for one game.
Still, there is one thing that gives me some confidence in Denver: Head coach Sean Payton.
This was also the first game with Davis Webb calling the plays on offence, and it is completely reasonable to think there will be an adjustment period. Payton handed over play-calling duties for the first time since taking over in Denver, and the results were far from ideal.
Nix was not good, but I am not ready to completely write him off based on one game.
The offensive line needs to improve. The tackling needs to improve. The offence needs to find an identity.
There is a lot to clean up.
But if there is one coach I would trust to eventually figure things out, it is Payton.
For now, Broncos fans can breathe.
Panic Meter: 2/5
Main Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
