Week 1 is barely in the rearview, and already a few teams have given their fan bases plenty to sweat over. One game doesn’t define a season, but it can expose problems fast - and these three clubs came out of the opening slate with real questions hanging over them.
The Rams had the roughest kind of opener: a loss that came with an extra layer of bad news. On Thursday night/Friday morning in Australia, Los Angeles was thoroughly handled by division rival San Francisco in what counted as its “home” game.
The travel angle is fair to mention, but it doesn’t explain away how flat the Rams looked. Matthew Stafford never resembled the quarterback who threw for almost 5,000 yards on his way to the MVP award last season, and Brock Purdy and friends had their way with the defense all night.
As if that wasn’t enough, the postgame injury report made things worse. Myles Garrett, the team’s prized offseason acquisition, is injured and will miss at least the next four games.
There’s still a lot of season left, and the Rams have a chance to steady things next Monday night when they’re back home against Jaxson Dart and the Giants. But in a loaded NFC West, this kind of early stumble can matter later, especially when home-field advantage could be decided by a game like this one.
Green Bay walked into Sunday looking like a team in control, and then walked out with a mess on its hands. The Packers had the Vikings on the ropes early, even after knocking out Kyler Murray in the 1st quarter, and it seemed difficult to see Minnesota clawing back with Carson Wentz under center. But the Vikings kept hanging around, and their defense kept the game within reach deep into the 4th quarter.
Then came the moment that changed everything. Up 5 points early in the 4th, Green Bay stalled in Vikings territory and lined up for a field goal on 4th and 6th.
Rookie Trey Smack drilled it to push the lead to 8, but Minnesota was flagged offsides. The 5-yard penalty still didn’t create a first down, and Matt LaFleur chose to erase the points and go for it on 4th and 1.
From there, the game unraveled, and the Packers wound up on the wrong end of a 39-22 loss.
The biggest concern for Green Bay isn’t just the decision-making. It’s the run game, or lack of one.
Josh Jacobs was clearly missed in the backfield, and the Packers couldn’t protect the lead because they couldn’t run the ball. The issues go beyond one absent runner, too.
This offense has to sort out its offensive line soon, or the season could get long in a hurry. Next up is a trip to New Jersey to face the Jets, and another shaky showing would push the worry meter into code red territory.
The Chargers also opened the year with a result that should make plenty of people uneasy. Entering Sunday as nearly a 10-point favorite over Arizona, they were instead pushed around by a Cardinals team that won just 3 games last season. The surprising part wasn’t that Arizona had offensive weapons; it was that the Cardinals’ defense was the unit that stood out.
Justin Herbert never found much rhythm, and the offensive line had its hands full with Arizona’s front. Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell combined for just 52 yards on 16 rush attempts, a modest 3.25 yards per carry. On the other side of the ball, the Chargers had no real answers for Trey McBride or surprise contributor Kendrick Bourne.
Now the attention shifts to next Sunday, when the Chargers host the Raiders in a game that could feel like a road environment with all the Silver and Black in the building. It’s still too early to throw around panic, but the margin for error is shrinking quickly.
If Los Angeles doesn’t respond against Las Vegas, the pressure on Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel will start to build. Beginning the season with two home losses to Arizona and Las Vegas would leave plenty of people concerned.
In Other News...
Chargers Already Face An Ugly Harbaugh Backlash After Week 1
The Chargers season opener at home against the Cardinals did more than leave them with a 26-14 loss. It also put Jim Harbaughs first game back in charge under an immediate spotlight, with the coach making clear afterward that he was disappointed in how his team played, especially on defense. For a team trying to reset expectations, Week 1 brought an ugly start and a fast reminder that patience can be thin when the results are not there.
Breiden Fehoko added to the noise by taking aim on social media at Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz, criticizing the roster decisions that helped shape the opener. The Chargers now have a short week to steady things before facing the Raiders, and the bigger concern is whether the backlash stays as a one-game reaction or becomes part of the conversation around the way this team has been built. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Debut Under Mike McDaniel Raised A Justin Herbert Concern
The Chargers first game under Mike McDaniel at SoFi Stadium did not take long to expose some familiar frustrations. After an opening scoring drive, Los Angeles struggled to sustain offense against Arizona, and the game tilted as the Cardinals stacked up the kinds of plays that usually swing a road win into a comfortable one. Jeremiyah Loves rookie rushing touchdown, a blocked punt by Simi Fehoko that set up another score and an interception by Andrew Wingard all fed into a 26-14 Arizona victory.
For Justin Herbert and the Chargers, the bigger concern was how often the offense stalled after that early burst. Turnovers, limited production on the ground and too many empty possessions left Los Angeles chasing the game instead of controlling it, which is rarely a comfortable formula for a team trying to establish a new identity. The result did not just count as a loss, it raised an immediate question about how quickly this group can find consistency when the margin for error is already this thin. [Read more 🡒]
Ladd McConkey Had Chargers Fans Worried For One Big Reason
Ladd McConkey gave the Chargers plenty to feel good about in the season opener against Arizona before the game took a worrying turn in the third quarter. The rookie wide receiver had already put together a productive afternoon, hauling in five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, showing the kind of impact Los Angeles hoped for when it brought him into the offense.
The concern came when McConkey suffered a chest injury and was listed as questionable before heading to the locker room for further evaluation. With an MRI still needed to determine the full extent of the issue, the Chargers were left waiting on the kind of update no team wants after a player looks to be settling in so quickly. [Read more 🡒]