NFL Week 1 2018 is now in the books, so it’s time for your boy “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley to take a look back and sort out the best, or most hilarious, moments from the week that was.
Big Natural’s Best of the NFL: Week 1 2018
Oh, how good it feels to have football back on our screens on Sundays. We had egg rolls, corn dogs, All-Dressed chips (look ’em up. Try ’em. Your life will change), buffalo chicken sliders, garlic cheddar beer bread, and Oktoberfests going. It was a bona fide #FootballSunday for sure.
But, more so than the buffet and the subsequent near-overdose of Tums, the actual football action was hot and heavy.
I don’t know if I’m willing to commit to running this column weekly, by the way. Just trying it out for a bit and we’ll see what happens.
Bizarre Titans-Dolphins showdown
Obviously, because we’re primarily a Titans site, I have to start here. This game was an outright shit show. Sloppy play from both teams, horrible officiating, four hours of weather delay, and terrible announcing. Like, anything and everything that could go wrong in this game for the Titans went wrong.
And, I’m sorry, but it’s been three years now – can someone please hold a class or something on how to pronounce Marcus Mariota’s last name?!?!?
Delanie Walker was called for holding on a play that negated a 62-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry. The only problem with that is that he wasn’t actually holding and was BEING FACEMASKED on that play. Later in the game, Walker dislocated and fractured his ankle in a gruesome injury. He’s since been ruled out for the year. Brutal. Taylor Lewan got knocked out of the game with a concussion on a dirty play that only yielded a handful of taunting penalties. The officials should be held accountable.
But, I’m honestly surprised people aren’t talking about what a bizarre confluence of events this game brought about yesterday. So weird.
Pat Mahomes has arrived
I took the Los Angeles Chargers to win the AFC, and boy, how is that pick looking this morning? But, man – those Kansas City Chiefs have some firepower. I criticized the move from the safe and reliable Alex Smith to the sophomore Patrick Mahomes in the offseason. But, at least in his debut, Mahomes has shown us exactly why Andy Reid and company have so much faith in him.
Sure, he has plenty of help – Tyreek Hill split the Chargers in half alone…what happens when Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins actually get involved? But, Mahomes showed a sort of explosiveness and a dynamic that Smith doesn’t possess. He finished the game 15/27 for 256 yards and four touchdowns as the Chiefs beat the Chargers, 38-28.
Adrian Peterson gets 100th rushing TD
If Derrius Guice doesn’t get hurt, is Adrian Peterson even playing anywhere in 2018? I don’t know, but man – what a shame that would’ve been. The Arizona Cardinals look to be a well below average team, so I don’t know how much to really read into the performance. But, for the time being, the Redskins are riding high with what could be the steal of the offseason. Peterson finished the game with 96 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 26 carries.
Quit trying to make Nathan Peterman happen
I don’t want to kick a man when he’s down, but you can’t help but laugh at the Buffalo Bills because they did this to themselves. Tyrod Taylor became their excuse for terrible offense, and so, they ran him out of town. They pick up A.J. McCarron, then trade him to the Oakland Raiders. They draft a guy who was widely viewed as long-term project with a huge potential payoff. At the very least, we could agree that Josh Allen wasn’t the day one starter type of quarterback.
So, that leaves second year man Nathan Peterman to man the ship. He might’ve been a promising long-term quarterback prospect if he didn’t land in Buffalo, but he’s here, and the Bills haven’t done him any favors.
The dude went 5/18 for 24 yards and two interceptions as the Baltimore Ravens ate the Bills alive on Sunday. Peterman had a QBR of 0.7…..0.7!!! After throwing five interceptions in a half against the Chargers last year, it’s obvious Peterman is not the guy in Buffalo. Quit trying to make Nathan Peterman happen. He’s never going to happen.
At least not in Buffalo. My hope, for Peterman’s sake, is that he lands a gig elsewhere where he can actually develop his game.
James Conner’s breakout
Le’Veon Bell was a no-show amid a controversial holdout. So, James Conner got the nod as the starting running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sure, it was against the Cleveland Browns, but Conner had a big day, running for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Nothing but happy for the guy after an offseason of hearing people wonder just what on Earth the Steelers would do without Bell. He lost some weight, slimmed down, and now he’s shown that the Steelers can count on him for production. His offensive line likes him, and they make for one hell of a unit. Whether or not there’s a committee this year, it looks like this job could be Conner’s full time next season.
Ryan fuckin’ Fitzpatrick
Dude, what?!?! Has anyone ever had a career like Ryan Fitzpatrick? I mean, this guy just keeps hanging around the NFL. Every now and then, he gets a shot, and just murders someone. On Sunday, that “someone” was the New Orleans Saints defense. That’s a team that some have picked to win the Super Bowl *ahem* behind their “much improved” defense. Yeah, so much for that..
Fitzpatrick rocked the Saints to the tune of 417 yard and four passing touchdowns. He also recorded 36 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Unbelievable.
Quarterback controversy brewing in Tampa Bay? Hehehehe…..
Aaron Rodgers is back
Holy shit, what a Sunday night game! The Chicago Bears jumped out to a 20-0 lead, and I loved the way Matt Nagy was calling that game. I said that the Bears could be this year’s San Francisco 49ers, and halfway through that game, I was thinking maybe they’d arrived a year earlier than I expected.
Khalil Mack played out of his damn mind. Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game, and it sure looked like it was going to be Chicago’s coming-out party. It was just absolute insanity….but, then…
[glass shatters]#CHIvsGB pic.twitter.com/IftxXC9OpQ
— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) September 10, 2018
Rodgers returns and engineers a HUGE second half comeback! He’s striking everything that moves, passing out Stone Cold Stunners to everyone in a Bears uniform.
The Packers won 24-23 in an incredible game. Rodgers is showing why he’s an absolute lock for the Hall of Fame and one of if not the best quarterback in the business.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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