The first day of the NFL preseason is over. ran looks at the most exciting storylines. From a gripping comeback to rookie power to stumbling offenses.
Bears offense is outrunning everyone
The Chicago Bears offensive upgraded properly in the offseason and tested the new arsenal of weapons in the first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans (23:17).
New signing DJ Moore converted a screen pass into a 62-yard touchdown, running back Roshon Johnson (a fourth-round pick this year) gained yard after yard, and rookie tackle Darnell Wright was benched after a drive, he has probably secured its starting place.
Justin Fields’ proof of work showed three completions (in three pass attempts) for 129 yards and two touchdowns at the end of the game. A large part of this was due to the skills of the pass recipients after the catch.
A positive offensive development for the Bears, who greeted from the bottom of the table in most relevant passing categories last year, driven by a number of newcomers and young talents.
Everything about the NFL preseason
Not too small! Rookie playmakers are playing it big
Numerous rookies made their NFL debuts over the weekend. Also included were Deuce Vaughn (running back, Dallas Cowboys), Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (wide receiver, Houston Texans) and Derius Davis (wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers).
All three youngsters had concerns about their small stature as part of the NFL Draft – and all three firmly countered the criticism in their first preseason game.
Vaughn showed his agility and contact balance as a runner, leaving rows and rows of Jaguars defenders standing like slalom poles. Dell showed fast and clean route running as a receiver and collected many yards on his own after the catch. Davis showed his breakthrough top speed, scoring a touchdown as a punt returner.
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Damar Hamlin celebrates comeback
Damar Hamlin is back on the football field after suffering a heart attack last season. The safety made his comeback in the Buffalo Bills preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts (23:19).
Hamlin is not only a player with a gripping story, but also brought sporting added value directly to the pitch.
The 25-year-old set three tackles and stopped the fourth attempt of the Colts offensive with a hit against running back Evan Hull before the ball carrier could get a new first down.
More on Damar Hamlin’s comeback
Ravens extend historic record
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens continue to build on their historic winning streak.
A touchdown pass each from quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Tyler Huntley and two field goals from kicker Justin Tucker brought head coach John Harbaugh’s team a 20:19 win in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Thanks to the success, the Ravens have continued their winning streak in the preseason – Baltimore has won the last 24 games.
“It was a good start. We played with a lot of energy and urgency. We will use these games to improve and learn,” said Harbaugh. Perhaps the Ravens will also use the games to continue making history.
Rams confirm question marks
The Los Angeles Rams have been in a state of upheaval since winning the Super Bowl about a year and a half ago. Several stars have left the team, seasoned veterans are struggling with injuries and the squad has thinned out, particularly at depth.
The Los Angeles Rams currently have 37 rookies under contract. Accordingly, the first game of the new season was chaotic for the team of head coach Sean McVay.
With 17:34 the Californians got under the wheels against the Los Angeles Chargers. “We expected it. A lot of players put their toes in the water for the first time today and I’m looking forward to seeing us improve week by week,” said McVay after the game.
49ers and Panthers offenses stumble
There is also room for improvement for the offenses of the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. Both are going into the coming season with high expectations, both have not yet been able to exploit their potential.
The 49ers, with many starters sitting out, are still looking for a starting quarterback. In the absence of Brock Purdy, however, the other options at 7:34 against the Las Vegas Raiders were not convincing.
While Trey Lance’s stat sheet looks decent, it clouds the picture of a quarterback who has all the physical abilities but still lacks the accuracy and decision-making needed to make the best use of offense. However, it’s important to note that the 49ers’ offensive line didn’t have much to counter the Raiders’ pass rush.
The Panthers never got going on the offensive and didn’t score a single point in the 27-0 loss to the New York Jets. The offensive line also struggled and didn’t look good for long stretches – not even at the beginning of the game with the potential starter line-up. Bryce Young’s debut was entertaining and unspectacular – which is not wrong per se.
2023-08-14 13:01:00
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