Winners and Losers: NFL Week 1 — Going The Distance Sports

WINNER: Dallas D/ST

CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. *(Nick Cammett/Getty Images)*

In almost every metric, the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys defense shined as the stars of the NFC, smothering opponents through the air and on the ground, plus plenty of turnovers.

For Week 1 of 2024, it’s the same story all over again.

This week’s victims were the Cleveland Browns (at home) in a 33-17 thrashing highlighted by Dallas’ big D that forced two turnovers, earned six sacks and 17 quarterback hits, plus held Cleveland to 2.7 yards per pass.

Besides Deshaun Watson’s abysmal performance regardless of the tough defense, it’s hard to find a better spot for the Cowboys to be in, topped off by a KaVontae Turpin 60-yard punt return score and Brandon Aubrey 5/5 kicking field goals (including a 60-yarder denied by a delay of game penalty).

LOSER: Early Weeks Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) recovers a fumble as he’s hit in the first quarter of the NFL game against the New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. *Albert Cesare/The Enquirer*

Hearing the statistic “Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals are 1-8 in Weeks 1-2 in his career” sounds even worse given they hosted the rebuilding New England Patriots.

The Patriots’ D held Cincy to 4-11 on third downs, 70 total rushing yards and forced two turnovers and three sacks.

How about that for a start for Jared Mayo.

Joe Burrow, hand clearly still bothering him, threw 21/29 passing for just 164 yards and no scores, albeit no interceptions. The absence of Tee Higgins bothering Burow perhaps just as much.

It’s a painful turnover for Cincinnati, they travel to Arrowhead and the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs before a softer hosting of Washington and trip to Carolina.

Lots of time for Burrow to shape up.

WINNER: Sam Darnold and the Vikings’ O

https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/09/sam-darnold-shines-in-his-minnesota-vikings-debut-vs-new-york-giants/

Pregame, the Minnesota vs. New York Giants game seemed like a ho-hum battle of mid, destined to be a war for attrition no one would win.

For the hosts, that would’ve been a far preferable outcome.

Sam Darnold, perhaps in a shade of his USC days, was magical in his performance, leading the Vikings to a dominant 28-6 win where it never looked in doubt.

Darnold’s homecoming to MetLife Stadium seemed to light a fire under him, starting the game 12/12 passing and scoring two passing touchdowns in his Minnesota debut.

Daniel Jones is an honorary loser, throwing two picks (including a pick-six) and under 200 yards. To his credit, his offensive line and weak receiving core did little to limit the damage.

LOSER: Captain Kirk and new-look ATL

T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers hits Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons while Cousins attempts a pass during the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. *Todd Kirkland/Getty Images*

Oh, boy. It is not an easy life following the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins learned that the hard way this weekend, and a lot of the blame lies squarely in his perhaps not-so-healthy Achilles.

The Falcons fell at home 18-10 to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that scored... wait for it... zero touchdowns.

Pittsburgh faithful have Chris Boswell (6/6), George Pickens (6 rec, 85 yds) and TJ Watt (2 TFL, 1 sack) to thank, plus, of course, the surprisingly weak Atlanta offense.

Cousins threw 16/26, 155 yards for a score and two picks, lining up almost exclusively in a shotgun or pistol formation (48 of 50 plays), unusually for Cousins’ history often under center.

Even stranger, Atlanta had a grand total of ZERO play-action plays, the only NFL team to not do this in Week 1. All of these choices limit Cousins’ movement.

Ray-Ray McCloud III, ATL’s WR3, found himself seven targets, more than WR1 Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts combined.

Not good omens for the Falcons heading into Week 2 at Philadelphia.

WINNER: Philly Saquon

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. *(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)*

Speaking of the Eagles, how about one heckuva start for them.

Philadelphia took the extra long flight to São Paolo, Brazil to dispatch the now-Jordan Love-less Green Bay Packers 34-29, and no one quite stole the show like former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley did.

The Bronx native scored three times, running for 24 carries and 109 yards plus two catches for 23 yards.

He helped out an Eagles O that didn’t have the best of days outside of him given quarterback Jalen Hurts’ three turnovers and Philly converting just four of 14 third downs.

Fun fact on that night: Barkley is the second Eagles player with three scores in his debut, paired with 2004 Terrell Owens.

LOSER: Carolina Panthers Fans

For whoever wins the gold medal in the agony Olympics this week, there are plenty of decent options.

None may be as great to choose for this prestigious award as the collective Carolina Panthers fanbase, enduring what is sure to be a truly painful season to come kicking it off with a 47-10 drubbing at the hands of in-division rivals New Orleans.

It was 30-0 before Carolina managed to get anything on the scoreboard, led by second-year quarterback Bryce Young who managed to throw under 50% (13/30), 161 yards and two picks, no passing scores but a three-yard rushing one.

All of this is even more of a disaster considering Carolina finished last year with a 2-15 record, acquired a new head coach/front office staff in the offseason, and gave up three sacks to a defensive back, a feat no NOLA player has accomplished ever.

The good news for the Panthers: no new injuries, and this game is just 1/17 of the season.

More good news: next week’s game against the LA Chargers starts for just $25.