“It’s only one week.”
That is the common sentiment among people in the know after week 1 of the NFL season, especially when dealing with teams that struggled mightily out of the gate. However, one week can sometimes be predictive of the future, and differentiating between a three-hour mirage and a season-long trend can be quite difficult.
Let’s tackle five situations in which it is “safe” to assume that the result of the season opener is a strong indicator of what to expect in the future. Some of the following five teams should be quite pleased with their performance, providing an optimistic tone to things, while for others, the first week serves as a brutal reminder of what could be a long season.
The NFL is incredibly unforgiving, and the schedule simply doesn’t let up for anyone. Context is important here, ranging from the type of opponent was on the opposite side of the field to injury woes that vastly affected game plans across the league. Without additional delay, let’s take a look at the five trends that will continue for the remainder of the 2015 campaign.
Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers