NFL Week 1 Takeaways: Chicago Bears Hold On, Justin Fields Gets Clutch Win, & More

Fans aren’t exactly saying things like, “One down, 17 to go,” today given the NFL’s popularity.

Still, completing the first Sunday of the season unquestionably is a big benchmark. Whether you frequent the office water cooler or work remotely, there’s plenty to gab about—even to yourself.

Veteran quarterbacks enjoyed mixed results, while rookie counterparts mostly showed shakiness. The new kickoff rule blended excitement and confusion, and a storied franchise made history.

Let’s take a pulse on some major Week 1 developments with all but the Monday Nighter in the books.

Bearing to watch: Chicago Bears fans anointed Caleb Williams as savior sometime during the lead-up to the franchise drafting the USC quarterback No. 1 overall in April.

Sunday’s debut wasn’t exactly a crowning. Many Bears backers booed the team off the field after a first half that saw the Bears trailing the retooling Tennessee Titans 17-3 as Williams struggled to gain traction under center.

A special teams and defensive touchdown propelled the Bears to a big second half and a 24-17 victory. TV cameras frequently gauged Williams’ elation after those scores, if only because his own play didn’t inspire much.

Williams was 14-of-29 passing for 93 yards. He fumbled once and was sacked twice, including one for a 19-yard loss that took the team out of field goal range. But it’s simple. Williams, who said all the right things during preseason about the hope and hype surrounding him, must improve.

Bears fans grow weary of hearing about how the ‘D’ and special teams have held uneven QB play aloft for decades.

“Obviously, it’s great to get this first win. We’re all excited,” Williams said. “Went to the locker room, celebrated. I sat down, enjoyed the moment, just watching all the guys celebrate understanding that I need to be better, I will be better.”

Justin time… for now: Justin Fields navigated similar expectations as Fields during his three seasons under center in Chicago. A fresh start in Pittsburgh could be on the horizon, even though it carries drama of its own.

Testing a calf injury he reaggravated, Steelers starting QB Russell Wilson warmed up for a time in Atlanta before coming to grips with the fact he’d be inactive and the keys to the offense belonged to Fields on Sunday.

Fields played dependably enough, going 17-for-23 for 156 yards through the air while adding 57 yards on 14 carries. He didn’t throw or run for a score but steered an attack that produced a half-dozen Chris Boswell field goals in an 18-10 win.

Boswell’s kicks-six included makes of 51, 56 and 57 yards; he’s the first Steeler to connect three times from 50-plus yards in the same game in team history.

In Week 2, the Steelers will visit the team that unceremoniously cut ties with Wilson in the offseason, the Denver Broncos. Who gets the start at QB for Pittsburgh remains to be seen, but Fields certainly availed himself well in surprise starting duty.

“At the end of the day, I came here to win,” he said. “No matter if I was going to throw for 300 yards, 100 yards, no yards, I came here to win. So that’s the only focus I had.”

Mission accomplished.

Joe No: Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow simply didn’t look right in a 16-10 home loss to the Jerod Mayo-led New England Patriots.

With last year’s season-ending wrist injury seemingly in the rear view, Burrow didn’t throw many deep balls, an issue in preseason.

The Bengals struggled to handle the Pats’ pass rush while working through issues at wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase played in the game despite ongoing contract squabbles, while Tee Higgins missed the opener with a hamstring injury.

Cincinnati has sloughed through a number of recent season openers before getting off the mat, but the urgency has to be accelerated for the hole not to deepen.