NFL Week One does not disappoint

“Any given Sunday.” The phrase has entered the general lexicon of the sports world to describe the unpredictable nature of the NFL each and every week. This chaos is always amplified the opening week of the season, when teams are still adjusting to the plethora of changes that occurred in the offseason. No team returns the same roster from the season before, as attrition and aging have ushered out a generation of veterans. Into the vacancy steps a talented, but inexperienced rookie class looking to acclimate to the professional level.

We’ve seen players shuffle around in free agency. Quarterback Brock Osweiler is now a Texan, and running back Lamar Miller joins him from Miami. Defensive end Olivier Vernon now strikes fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks in the Big Apple. Safety Eric Weddle spurned San Diego for the comforts of Charm City, and dynamic corner Josh Norman was unexpectedly released from the NFC Champion Panthers and decided to take his talents to the Washington Redskins.

This shuffling of players is what makes Week One of the NFL season oftentimes the hardest to predict; This is the first time we are seeing these new faces suit up for their squads in real game action. While many of the “usual suspects” burst out strong with opening week victories, Week One as a whole was filled with nail-biting action, frenetic finishes and some wild upsets.

On Thursday night, the NFL kicked off with a rematch of the 2016 Super Bowl. The defending Champion Denver Broncos played host to the Carolina Panthers, with one important caveat. The Broncos were without future Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning, who rode off in the sunset following his second Super Bowl title.

Trevor Siemian admirably stepped into some massive shoes in his first NFL start displaying poise and confidence. He routinely extended drives with his legs and was able to navigate the pocket successfully.

After an explosive first half, Cam Newton was largely contained during the final two quarters, throwing a costly interception and taking a lot of nasty hits from the swarming Broncos defense. In the waning moments of the game, the Panthers seemed primed to pull off the victory on a late field goal. However, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak smartly burned a timeout as the ball was being snapped. On the 2nd attempt, Graham Gano’s kick arched wide to the left, preserving the win for the Broncos.

The slate of matchups on Sunday provided similar thrilling finishes. The Seattle Seahawks looked anemic on offense for much of the day against an impressive Miami Dolphins defense, but Russell Wilson  proved once again that you cannot give him time to operate in the waning seconds of a close game.

He predictably drove the Hawks down the field, all the while hobbling with a twisted ankle. A fade to Doug Baldwin with under a minute remaining would ensure that Seattle avoided a surprising and rare upset at home.

In New Orleans, the Saints and Raiders traded blows in what quickly materialized into a thrilling game. Drew Brees diced the Raiders defense for over 400 yards and four scores, and it appeared that Oakland’s coming-out party would need to wait a week.

However, this young and talented Raiders squad displayed the kind of moxie that was lacking from them last season as they roared back with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. With the score knotted at 34-33 and less than a minute on the clock, Raiders’ head coach Jack del Rio made the gutsiest call of the week, opting to go for the extra point and the win instead of kicking and heading into overtime.

The Raiders defense had been unable to stop the onslaught of Brees and Brandin Cooks all game, and del Rio saw the chance to seize the victory and went with it. Derek Carr took the snap for the Raiders, dropped three steps and flung the ball up to Michael Crabtree on the fade. Crabtree jumped and extended for the ball, corralling it securely and signaling to the rest of the NFL that the Raiders have arrived.

In Dallas, the Cowboys and Giants squared off in what would become yet another classic in their historic rivalry. The NFC East powerhouses exchanged blows in the first half, as the Cowboys unleashed a rush heavy attack and long drives to keep the Giants dynamic offense off the field.

Although the Cowboys were able to control the ball for almost 12 minutes during the first quarter, the Giants were able to seize the lead at 7-6 when Eli Manning hit Odell Beckham down the sideline for a massive 45-yard gain. Manning then delivered a strike to the lumbering Larry Donnell to push the Giants out in front. A costly interception on a botched route and a stagnant offense would see the Giants trailing 19-13 with only minutes to go in the game.

However, Eli Manning would display his championship pedigree as he calmly led his team down the field. The drive was capped off with a three-yard strike from Manning to Cruz, signaling the return of the famous salsa touchdown dance once more. The Giants would snuff out a late Dallas rally as the clock expired on their chance to win the game.

In the night cap, the Patriots once again made the miraculous appear routine through the strength of their schemes and system. Without Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and two starters on the offensive line, the Patriots were forced into the unfriendly confines of Glendale, Ariz. Facing a Championship contender on the road without their best stars would surely guarantee the Patriots an early loss, right? Not so fast.

Jimmy Garoppolo displayed the poise, of — dare I say it — a young Brady, and the defense consistently harassed Carson Palmer into an erratic showing. As Chandler Catanzaro’s kick sailed well wide to the left, the entire NFL was reminded that the Patriots are a well run machine that can cope without even their most valuable players on the field. Like them or hate them, it is indisputable that the Pats pulled off the statement victory of Week One.

While it does not appear that this week’s slate of games can possibly be topped, stay tuned because the NFL is sure to deliver more juicy finishes and dazzling displays in Week Two.