The 2021 NFL season has officially kicked off to the delight of many. As several Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, this year brings back the excitement and energy of being at a football game, including full capacity stadiums for fans to enjoy. For this reason, fans are anxious and hopeful for their favorite teams this season.

     This first week displayed great play overall: there was shocking play from players and disappointing play from supposed “playoff contenders.” Teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders were able to overcome the Vikings and the Ravens powerful offensive attacks to win their first games of the season. 

     “Both teams were able to fight off their opponent’s elite offense by playing strong defense. I was very impressed,” says Joe Gaetano, an avid football fan, as both teams had their share of criticisms for weak defensive play heading into the season. 

     One stand-out player from this week includes QB Mac Jones for the New England Patriots. “While I am not a Patriot’s fan, I do think that Mac Jones was impressive in his debut. Rookie QB’s are coming into the league more ready to see playing time early. Mac Jones looked poised and comfortable in the pockets,” says Coach Drew, who is the head coach of the Foran football team.

     “We can expect Mitchell to get the majority of the carries as Sam Francisco’s new RB1 for the time being, and with a big performance against the Lions, we can expect more to come from the first year running back,” says Joseph DeFreitas. According to ESPN, Mitchell tallied a total of 104 rushing yards and even added a touchdown, making for a solid start to his career. 

     Unfortunately, other teams did not have the same amount of fortune in week one. Top Super Bowl contenders in the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers both fell to their opponents. The Saints capped off a dominant 38 to 3 victory, with a laughable play from the Former league MVP Aaron Rodgers, who was eventually benched towards the final drives of the game. 

     Week one of the football season was truly exciting for fans, who should be excited to see how these players and teams do as the season progresses.