Week 1 is firmly behind us, however the reactions (and overreactions) are nonetheless reverberating as we strategy Week 2. And what’s extra enjoyable than to behave like Disco Stu pointing at a graph of disco gross sales going up perpetually and extrapolate the primary showings of NFL groups on this younger 2026 season?
I highlighted a half-dozen items and gamers that made a robust first step in Week 1, and clarify why we have to preserve eyeballs on them all through the season.
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Contents
Offenses within the Huge Apple (or Huge Apple adjoining)
I had an inkling that the Jets would have extra competence to them in 2026, even when I wasn’t fairly certain what which may appear to be.
Effectively, apparently it’s going to appear to be a bevy of tight ends and a burly, well-coached, and simply straight bodily run recreation. Geno Smith, who had cleaner pockets to work from in Week 1 than he did in his current experiences in Las Vegas and Seattle, launched throws downfield and to the surface to create area within the offense.
Kenyon Sadiq was utilized in artistic methods, together with a jet sweep for a landing and a package deal that featured 14 personnel (1 RB, 4 TEs, 0 WRs. The working again was really fullback Andrew Beck) and Sadiq within the backfield as a working again.
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The Jets’ passing assault used ideas like “Flood” to overload the Titans’ protection, a optimistic signal that offensive coordinator Frank Reich is conscious of how one can assault a protection in 2026.
Mason Taylor appears to be like like a robust starter as an in-line tight finish who can block and supply receiving worth. The offensive line incorporates a star in Armand Membou at proper sort out and Olu Fashanu wanting manner higher with out quarterbacks behind him creating their very own strain. And there may be sufficient juice at broad receiver and working again (Breece Corridor and Braelon Allen had been sturdy runners Sunday) that there’s a excessive ceiling of explosive performs on this offense.
Sure, it is the Titans. However the Jets utterly outclassed them in Week 1. I am wanting ahead to checking on this offense and the stuff Reich has in retailer each week.
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The Giants, too, confirmed off their bully ball offense within the season opener, utterly steamrolling the Cowboys’ protection with heavy personnel and Cam Skattebo treating each sort out try like an insult.
Pat Ricard led the best way on loads of runs behind the Giants’ gifted offensive line Francis Mauigoa had exhibiting in his first NFL motion at proper guard, together with the sturdy sort out pairing of Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor.
I used to be impressed by the Giants’ auxiliary blockers on the talent positions, too. Isaiah Doubtless caught the passes, however the different Giants tight ends confirmed as much as set the sting and create area for the working backs to choose their spots. And rookie Malachi Fields, among the finest blocking prospects on this 12 months’s broad receiver class, picked up the place he left off in school, offering a number of crack blocks on the sting and the willingness and talent to insert inside.
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The Giants put collectively 4 drives of 10 or extra performs in opposition to the Cowboys. The early-down success led to extra tolerable third-down distances, and Jaxson Dart performed his best (and calm) recreation of his younger profession. The Giants went 9-for-10 on third down earlier than taking a knee on their ultimate drive.
The Giants’ passing recreation had exhibiting and can nonetheless must move the check in much less favorable recreation scripts, however their offense, and higher coached protection with Abdul Carter rising as a star, will make them a tricky out in opposition to groups not ready to buckle up their chinstraps for 60 minutes.
And, would not you recognize it, the Giants’ Week 2 opponent, the preseason Tremendous Bowl favourite Rams, had points in 2025 in opposition to heavier personnel groupings. L.A. allowed 5.9 yards per play on early downs in opposition to offenses with two or fewer broad receivers.
Let’s examine if the Giants can deflate the soccer once more and management the gamescript in opposition to a protection now with out Myles Garrett.
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Jags offense
Huge “they performed the Browns” caveat right here.
However wow the Jaguars’ offense, and Trevor Lawrence, seemed wonderful in Week 1. Lawrence completed together with his second-best single-game success price of his NFL profession (a whopping 68%, per TruMedia). Lawrence was consistently getting the ball out on one hitch, whereas nonetheless pushing the ball over 10 air yards per move try. His offensive line seemed prefer it acquired a lift with Anton Harrison transferring to the left facet and rookie Emmanuel Pregnon slotting subsequent to him at left guard.
The Jaguars are deep at move catcher, with a enjoyable mixture of talent units, too. Even rookie sixth-rounder Josh Cameron confirmed up as a blocker and made an amazing catch on one of many tightest window throws you will ever see from Lawrence for a landing.
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There’s even the flexibility for this offense to pivot when it must get larger our bodies on the sphere. Nate Boerkircher had exhibiting as an in-line blocker and new addition Chris Rodriguez brings a a lot wanted thumper to this run recreation to maintain the Jaguars on monitor. Boerkircher and Rodriguez are excellent enhances to Brenton Unusual (a dynamic move catcher and no slouch as a blocker in his personal proper) and the explosive Bhayshul Tuten.
Liam Coen and his offensive workers have proven they will dial up performs with one of the best of them, and Lawrence has by no means performed with extra confidence. The offensive line is not a top-end unit, nevertheless it has sufficient to be above board, and a training workers that is aware of how one can work across the group.
The Jaguars have an amazing check in entrance of them, touring to Denver in Week 2 to face a Broncos protection that I am certain can be equipped after chasing Kenneth Walker all around the discipline on Monday night time.
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Chiefs protection
The Chiefs invested in Kenneth Walker and it appears to be like like a run-first philosophy this season (which was encouraging to see). Even Emmett Johnson had some sturdy touches in his first NFL regular-season motion.
What was additionally encouraging was simply how quick the Chiefs’ protection seemed. Nohl Williams is rising as the subsequent star cornerback to graduate from the Faculty of Spags. Mansoor Delane seemed nice within the preseason and got here down with an interception on the primary third down of the season earlier than bowing out with a shoulder damage. Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas injected some a lot wanted juice into this entrance, assuaging the eye (and general snaps performed) by Chris Jones. Even returnee L’Jarius Sneed seems to have shored up the slot place for the Chiefs and permits the opposite defensive backs to play on the backend.
All in all, it was an amazing exhibiting from the Chiefs’ revamped working recreation and protection. And I feel the protection has all of the makings of a top-10 unit already, that ought to get solely higher as its younger gamers play extra.
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Extra particularly, Coker as an outdoor broad receiver.
Coker has already proven off his energy and QB-friendly route working when working as an influence slot in his younger profession with the Carolina Panthers. However, starting with the tip of final 12 months, Coker’s work from the surface has him rising up in simply the place I stack him among the many league’s move catchers.
Coker ran 19 routes in opposition to the Bears when aligned as an outdoor broad receiver, essentially the most of his NFL profession, per NextGenStats; 59.4% of his routes got here from the surface, an enormous soar when in comparison with his profession charges that hovered round 37%.
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And it is not simply alignment, it is how he produced on the surface, too. Coker completed with 5 receptions on 5 targets for 108 yards and a couple of touchdowns when aligned on the surface in opposition to the Bears. That yardage doubled his earlier career-best single-game complete.
Coker and Tetairoa McMillan make for a robust (and huge) 1-2 punch at broad receiver. With each in a position to function on the within and outdoors and with big catching ranges that appear to be the Vitruvian Man drawing. They’re paired with a strong group of tight ends in Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans and Darren Waller. And it is an fascinating group of massive our bodies for Bryce Younger to throw to (Younger additionally had an encouraging Week 1 in opposition to the Bears’ iffy protection).
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The Panther’s protection seems to have extra work to do, nevertheless it was exhibiting from Carolina’s younger offense, particularly their former undrafted, and lately prolonged, broad receiver.
Bears offense
I imply, 59 factors. And that is with a turnover and getting stopped on fourth down, too. The run recreation seemed nice. Each single talent participant confirmed a willingness to dam and open up alternatives for his or her teammates. The offensive line seemed in midseason type regardless of a few new faces at left sort out and heart. (Braxton Jones performed nicely at left sort out. Garrett Bradbury stays the weak hyperlink of this group, although).
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Caleb Williams seemed calm within the pocket, and has already proven improved timing on his passes and willingness to work over the center. There’s the added bonus of Williams being among the finest creators and playmakers when issues go askew.
Ben Johnson’s offense was clicking on all cylinders, and the designs within the run recreation and play-action ideas off of them are top-tier stuff.
From the massive performs, like creating an I formation run out of 11 personnel, exhibiting an consciousness on how one can manipulate the Panthers’ protection:
To even shorter features exhibiting off fascinating change-ups for defenses to take care of, like this wind-back run idea within the purple zone:
Johnson says he desires to set the factors report this season. 59 factors, the second-most ever by an NFL offense in Week 1, is a giant first towards being a kind of offenses that will get slapped with a nickname when it is all mentioned and completed. We would have to begin workshopping a pair.
