2018 NFL PRESEASON WEEK 1

QUICK TAKEAWAYS FROM THURSDAY

The Thursday games of Week 1 of the 2018 NFL preseason concluded with plenty of subplots being furthered as a result.

Fans for the first time got to see top draft choices, new free agent acquisitions, and first-year head coaches see game action. Sure it was simulated game action but it’s still valuable experience for a lot of people. There were unfortunate injuries to some big names and others didn’t even suit. Nonetheless, it was an eventful evening that opened a lot of eyes. Here are some rapid-fire takes from the action.

IT’S STUPID HOW GOOD THE STEELERS ARE WITH WIDE RECEIVERS

Year after year, no team has done a better job at cultivating the wide receiver position than the Pittsburgh Steelers. They lose guys to free agency? No big deal. They have others waiting in the wings. It’s happening again. JuJu Smith-Schuster had a 71-yard bomb in his first action and looks like a budding star. Rookie James Washington also had a 35-yard catch of his own. Ben Roethlisberger has been so spoiled throughout his career.

JOSH ALLEN, THE GOOD AND BAD, WAS AS ADVERTISED

People knew Josh Allen had a big arm but it still can be awe-inspiring when he truly cuts it loose. The Bills top draft choice unloaded it down the field on his first pass of the night. The ball was completed out of bounds but the absurd thing is it looked so effortless. While he did throw for 119 yards and a touchdown, Allen also completed just 9-of-19 passes. So all the good and bad about him coming out of Wyoming were on display.

IT’S GOING TO BE HARD FOR THE BROWNS TO KEEP BAKER MAYFIELD ON THE BENCH

His night was far from perfect, but one thing was for sure. Baker Mayfield knew how to excite a crowd. He made some really impressive passes that should be expected of the #1 overall pick. This leads to the inevitable reality the Browns face. Can they justify keeping him on the bench? They may believe Tyrod Taylor should be the starter, but the writing is on the wall. This will be Mayfield’s team sooner than later. Why even bother playing out the string?

THE BENGALS SECONDARY LOOKS TALENTED AND DEEP

One of the more overlooked groups in the NFL this year is the Cincinnati Bengals secondary. It’s a young, talented bunch at both cornerback and safety. They showed why against Chicago, frustrating their receivers while snagging two interceptions and forcing a fumble. This shouldn’t be a surprise given how many high draft picks they’ve poured into it the past couple years. If that defensive line brings the rush this year, it could be a feast for them.

GET TO KNOW THE NAME TAYSOM HILL

Drew Brees is still the main man of the New Orleans Saints offense, but Sean Payton may be getting ready to throw in a new wrinkle to this already stacked unit. A dual-threat offensive weapon named Taysom Hill. The rookie went 8-of-9 passing for 72 yards and also rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown. His versatility was telling and could be a valuable weapon to making the Saints offense even harder to stop this season.

JAMEIS WINSTON IS OUT OF EXCUSES

The Buccaneers offense is loaded. There’s just no other way to put it. They have playmakers at every position from wide receiver to tight end and now running back. Jameis Winston will be back in week 4 from his suspension this year. At that point, the team will be watching him closely. If he can’t elevate his play to top-tier levels with the list of weapons they have now? Then it might be time to seek out an alternative.

THE RAMS ARE A GOOD TEAM BUT LOOK LIKE A TOP-HEAVY ONE

There’s no question the Los Angeles Rams are a talented team. Their furious offseason work assured that as they have studs on both sides of the ball. That’s not the problem. The problem may lay with their overall depth. It was given a chance to play in the opener and was largely embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens in a 33-7 rout. The biggest concern was how much the defense struggled to get a stop all night. Something Aaron Donald no doubt saw.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE STILL HAS BIG PROBLEMS

They may have won the game 26-17, but the New England Patriots defense doesn’t seem to have solved the problems that haunted them in the Super Bowl as they were once again dominated by a backup QB. Colt McCoy carved them up in the first half for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Washington was up 17-0 by the second quarter. It’s hard to see how this unit will get significantly better from where it was last year, meaning it will be on Tom Brady even more.