Four and Out: Surprises from the NFL in Week 1

Four and Out: NFL Week 1 surprises

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls the play in the huddle in the second half of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts by the score of 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 13, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s take a look at the biggest surprises from Week 1 of the NFL regular season.

Finally! The NFL regular season is here! Much of Week 1 went according to script. Despite high expectations and hopes that Robert Griffin III would somehow lead the hapless Cleveland Browns to victory, his team lost. Not only did the Browns lose, but RGIII ended up on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury. New team; new body part; same outcome.

Other teams from 2015 continued to struggle in 2016. The Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, and San Diego Chargers were all handed big fat Ls. Meanwhile, many of the league’s powerhouses won their games, including the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos, the defending Super Bowl champions.

So what were the biggest surprises?

4. Minnesota Vikings doesn’t score an offensive touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.

Teddy Bridgewater’s offseason injury left the Vikings without a starting quarterback. It isn’t a complete surprise that the offense didn’t score a lot of points, but considering the team managed to score 25 en route to their victory against the Tennessee Titans, it is surprising that none of them came from offensive visits to the end zone.

Adrian Peterson only had 19 carries for 31 yards, while quarterback Shaun Hill completed 18 of 33 passes for 236 yards. The defense definitely picked up the slack, forcing three turnovers in less than 10 minutes. In the third quarter, Eric Kendricks returned an interception for 77 yards. Then, Danielle Hunter scored a touchdown off of a fumble.

While many fans love a pass-happy NFL, plenty would be happy to see more throwback teams that rely more on their defense than a flashy offense.

Next: 3. The Detroit Lions won

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