The NFL season is about to kick off, and it feels like everything is falling back into a familiar rhythm.
Every first week, overreactions are rampant, and here at Skinny Post, we aim to stay grounded. Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa understand that this is a long season—like a marathon, really—and we want to keep everything steady.
Here’s what we’ve been thinking about what we’ve seen so far:
Which teams exceeded expectations in the opening week?
They might not have won convincingly, but I came into the season with quite a few questions about the Las Vegas Raiders. We should probably avoid jumping to conclusions based on just this week, but I genuinely find some things promising.
Honestly, though, it felt like they weren’t putting in their maximum effort. Pete Carroll’s leadership looked solid—Geno Smith seemed at ease, and Ashton Jeanti played like we hoped he would. But let’s face it, the Raiders have a history of letting their fans down, and it’s likely they’ll do it again.
For now, I’m pleasantly surprised.
But about my charger—does it really keep my demons at bay in the Southern Hemisphere? The Indianapolis Colts and Daniel Jones managed to score 33 points against the Dolphins, limiting Miami to just eight points.
Jones completed 22 out of 29 passes with a touchdown for 272 yards, also scoring two rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Colts shut down Tua Tagovailoa, who only passed for 114 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill was limited to just four catches for 40 yards on six targets.
This performance against one of the top offensive coaches in the NFL (Mike McDaniel) left me curious—was this a fluke, or an indication of two very different paths for the season?
Which teams seemed overwhelmed at the start of the season?
The Bengals faced a narrow 17-16 loss to the Browns, but honestly, I don’t think they played well enough to earn that game. Miles Garrett and the Cleveland defense contained Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase, allowing just seven yards to that powerful offense in the second half.
It was a disappointing game for the Browns, but I wouldn’t fully blame the Bengals. They made it far into the playoffs last year, led by Burrow and Chase. These guys are incredible, but the team has a history of slow starts. I think they’ll bounce back, but it’s just week one for them.
The Houston Texans, on the other hand, really fell flat. Sure, they’re dealing with injuries and offensive line troubles, but it’s definitely worrying.
Houston showed promise in the early years of CJ Stroud, but now they need him and DeMeco Ryans to elevate the franchise. One loss doesn’t seal the deal for the season, but they still need to step it up, especially with Tampa Bay next.
What teams caught you by surprise?
I had low expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. I honestly thought their games would be rather dull.
Neither Buffalo nor Baltimore particularly impressed, yet the games were entertaining. I believe both the Steelers and Jets could have an intriguing season ahead.
Aaron Rodgers certainly has Hall of Fame potential, and despite a rocky start with the Jets, I think he might find his groove.
But then there’s Justin Fields—many have written him off repeatedly. Sunday may have just been a spark, but he was exciting to watch.
The Dolphins scored a mere eight points even with healthy skill position players. How does that happen? They still have a speedy lineup featuring Hill, Jalen Waddle, and Devon Achane. Mike McDaniel is seen as a rising mastermind in the league, but the season opener against the Colts raises big questions about his coaching abilities.
Miami’s defense typically isn’t their strongest suit, but if the offense can’t outscore Daniel Jones, that’s a much larger problem.
What overall thoughts do you have?
The Ravens-Bills matchup has consistently been one of the week’s most exciting games, and it turned into another thrilling face-off between two strong AFC teams. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry played well for Baltimore, while Josh Allen did what you’d expect from an MVP contender.
If the Ravens fell asleep with a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, then shame on them. They missed witnessing some incredible football from two talented teams.
There’s quite an upbeat vibe surrounding the Green Bay Packers after the Mika Parsons trade. Watching them at Lambeau Field made me feel like they’d capitalize on that momentum.
Conversely, the Detroit Lions played for the first time without Erlong Wren (who looked great with the Jets) and Ben Johnson (who hadn’t played yet at the time of writing).
The Packers might have crushed the Lions and set the tone for the NFC North, but it felt too easy—almost boring.
