FOOTBALL IS BACK, BABY!!
Man, it feels good to say that. However, I pressed the panic button almost immediately when Ryan Fitzpatrick got injured and had to leave the game.
Taylor Heinicke came in, and the offense moved better with him under center. But we still struggled to put up any meaningful points. The running game was good but not as dynamic as I expected; Antonio Gibson ended up with 90 yards. Still, both Jaret Patterson and J.D. McKissic were not as involved as I expected them to be — we need more balance here and mix things up in the running game.
Terry McLaurin was insanely good, as always — and even made an incredible highlight catch. Logan Thomas was only targeted 3 times and had 1 TD — He needs to be targeted a lot more. Adam Humphries had a decent debut but needs to be utilized a lot more. Dyami Brown also needs more targets.
My biggest concern is the Offensive line. Charles Leno is shaky at best. Sam Cosmi struggled against Bossa, which was somewhat expected. Scherff is our best linemen by far, and the front office needs to pull up a dump truck full of cash to pay him and get him to stay in Washington.
The defense looked tired and gassed for most of the game. I really hope this was just rust.
Fitzpatrick is now on IR and out for 6-8 weeks. So next up, Heinicke will be the starter, and Kyle Allen will back him up.
We host the NY Giants on Thursday Night. This is a must-win game for Washington. We cannot afford to go 0 and 2 to start this season.
WFT 16 – LA CHARGERS 20
And for the rest of the league…..
EAGLES 32 — FALCONS 6
Philly is the only NFC EAST team coming up with a victory on week 1. They looked very good, albeit against the pitiful Falcons. Next week will be a different story against the 49ers: advantage, San Francisco.
Atlanta is in rebuilding mode — they still have a very capable Matt Ryan, and Kyle Pitts looked really good. They have solid pieces in place, and they will be competitive this season, but don’t expect many wins. Nevertheless, Atlanta should be more dangerous than what they showed in the season opener game. Next week, they take on Tom Brady. Advantage, Tampa Bay.
COWBOYS 29 — BUCCANEERS 31
More smoke and mirrors from Dallas. The story here isn’t how close the score was — the story here is how bad and inconsistent Tampa Bay was all game. Dak looked good, although most of his completions were short passes and screens, so I’m not reading much into his stats. The next game for Dallas is with the Chargers, and they are better than I expected — Justin Herbert is a legit starting QB. I’m pretty sure Dallas will struggle in this game. Advantage, LA Chargers.
The Bucs made costly mistakes that kept Dallas close in this game. If Tampa Bay wants to repeat as Super Bowl champs, they need to clean up a lot of stuff. The next game should be easier for Tampa against Atlanta. Advantage, Tampa Bay.
GIANTS 13 — BRONCOS 27
Danny Dimes did what he always does; Try way too hard and cost his team the game. NY Giants struggled against a rebuilding Denver team, which means they will have a more challenging time dealing with Washington. Advantage, Washington.
Denver has another easy mark when they take on Jacksonville Sunday. advantage, Denver
49ERS 41 — LIONS 33
San Francisco looked formidable. Jimmy G played a solid game throwing for over 300 yards. Deboo Samuel was a fantasy standout. The entire NFC WEST looks like the best division in football. Next up for the 49ers in Philly, they should expose them for how bad the Eagles are. Advantage, San Francisco
Detroit looked pretty good with Jared Goff as their new starting Quarterback. However, next week they have a huge divisional game against Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers needs to have a bounce-back game at Detroit’s expense. Advantage, Green Bay.
CHIEFS 33 — BROWNS 29
Kansas City is the most dangerous team in the NFL, and even though their defense looks shaky at times, they have so much firepower on offense to make things happen. Next Sunday, they take on Lamar Jackson and a Baltimore team looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss in overtime to the Raiders. Advantage, Kansas City.
Cleveland’s most significant obstacle to getting far into the playoffs will be to figure out hot get past Kansas City. Next week, things get easier for Baker Mayfield and company against Chicago on Sunday. Advantage, Cleveland.
RAMS 34 — BEARS 14
Matthew Stafford looks like a brand new quarterback under Sean McVay’s offense. The Rams are my NFC pick for the Super Bowl this season, and so far, they look the part. The Rams take on Indianapolis and their weak offensive line next Sunday. Advantage, LA Rams.
Andy Dalton played most of this game, but when Justin Fields came in for a few plays here and there, he seemed to be as good as advertised. He will need a few seasons of building around him to get Chicago back to their winning ways. Next Sunday is the duel of the young Quarterback between Joe Burrow and Fields. Advantage, Cincinnati.
RAIDERS 33 — RAVENS 27
This was an excellent game to start the 2021 season on Monday Night Football. It was exciting and full of twists and turns. Las Vegas needs to get Josh Jacobs healthy to become a more significant threat in the AFC. The Raiders have to visit Pittsburgh next Sunday. Advantage, Pittsburgh.
Lamar Jackson is electric, but sometimes he tries to do too much for his team. Baltimore needs to figure out ways to get Latavius Murray more involved and take some pressure off Jackson. Next week, things do not get easier for Baltimore as they take on Patrick Mahomes. Advantage, Kansas City.
DOLPHINS 17 — PATRIOTS 16
Brian Flores and his Miami Dolphins team are pure Kryptonite for Belicheater. Tua doesn’t inspire confidence as a starter yet. This is a make-or-break year for this young Quarterback, or Miami will need to get back in the market for a new QB. I think if Tua struggles early this season, Miami needs to reach out to Cam Newton. Next Sunday, Miami Hosts a wounded Buffalo team that needs to avoid going 0 and 2 for the start of the season. Advantage, Buffalo.
Mac Jones had a decent game, but I’m not sold on him as a starter yet. Next Sunday, New England takes on a rebuilding NY Jets team with a rookie Head Coach and a rookie Quarterback. Advantage, New England.
STEELERS 23 — BILLS 16
Big Ben looks renewed and re-energized behind a crop of young players. The Steelers shocked all the talking heads on sports media by beating Buffalo. Next Sunday, Pittsburgh takes on a tough Raiders team, but with questions at running back and tons of injuries. Advantage, Pittsburgh.
Buffalo self-destructed with costly mistakes against Pittsburgh. Next Sunday, they’ll have a chance to get things right against a divisional foe in Miami. Advantage, Buffalo.
BENGALS 27 — VIKINGS 24
Joe Burrow and rookie Wide Receiver Ja’marr Chase were effective and will only get better together as the season progresses. The next game against Chicago will be an exciting game to watch. Advantage, Cincinnati.
Kirk Cousins wasn’t the issue here; the defense could not stop Joe Burrow from putting Cincinnati in good scoring positions throughout most of the game. The Vikings’ strength was supposed to be their defense, and next Sunday, they have a tougher test against a dynamic and dangerous QB in Kyler Murray. Advantage, Cardinals.
CARDINALS 38 — TITANS 13
The combination between Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins is becoming a lethal one. Next week, they will get a solid test against what is supposed to be a good Minnesota defense. Advantage, Cardinals.
Tennessee was a playoff team last season, and this is not the ideal way to open up their season. Next week, another tough challenge against Seattle. Advantage, Seattle.
SEAHAWKS 28 — COLTS 16
Russell Wilson looked better than ever here, in a game where he threw for 4 TD’s and reminded everyone just how elite he still is. Seattle plays a Tennessee team next week that will try to get back to their playoff form from late last season. Advantage, Seattle.
Carson Wentz had a nice debut for Indy; however, the protection was horrible, and Wentz spent most of the game running for his life. The Colts have got to protect him better if they want to get back to the playoffs. Next Sunday, the LA Rams are visiting, and it is going to be a long and miserable day for Wentz if Indy cannot protect him. Advantage, LA RAMS.
PANTHERS 19 — NY JETS 14
Sam Darnold, surrounded with better weapons, looks like a pretty competent QB. McCaffrey seems to be back to his old form. I like what I see from this Carolina team. Next Sunday, Carolina hosts New Orleans for a tough divisional game. Advantage, New Orleans.
Zach Wilson had a mixed debut, throwing for over 250 yards with 2 TDs and 1 Interception. Not bad, not great, and not much should be expected from this rookie QB and this entire rebuilding NY Jets team. Next Sunday, Belicheater is coming to visit NY. Advantage, New England.
TEXANS 37 — JAGUARS 21
No Deshaun Watson? No problem. Tyrod Taylor had a solid game, throwing for almost 300 yards with 2 TDs and zero interceptions. Mark Ingram looked great running for 85 yards and 1 TD. Let’s see how they play against Cleveland and Baker Mayfield next Sunday. Advantage, Cleveland.
Trevor Lawrence threw for over 300 yards with 3 TDs and 3 Interceptions. Unfortunately, Jacksonville has a tough schedule ahead of them. I don’t think the offense around Lawrence is built for success, but we’ll see how the season goes. Next Sunday, Jacksonville hosts Denver. Advantage, Denver.
SAINTS 38 — PACKERS 3
New Orleans put a historic beating on Green Bay and made Aaron Rodgers look awful. James Winston threw 5 TDs and looked like the best QB in the NFC SoUTH (looking at you, Tom Brady). Next week, New Orleans has a critical divisional game against Carolina. Advantage, New Orleans.
Green Bay was embarrassed, and the talk on Aaron Rodgers being done has already begun. Next Sunday, Green Bay has a chance to right the ship by making a statement against Detroit. Advantage, Green Bay.
Rod Rioja 