After many months without football, it has finally returned. This past weekend saw the first full week of the 2022 NFL Pre-season. While the result may not be as important, there are many key takeaways from each team’s performance. Things kicked off, and the offense was the story across the league.
Nearly every game of Week 1 had a total of 30+ points, which was unexpected according to the spread totals offered by most offshore sportsbooks. While this is exciting from a fan standpoint, it can be a little worrisome for defensive coordinators. The annual Hall of Fame game took place between the Jaguars and the Raiders to start things off. The Raiders came out on top to start the pre-season slate at 1-0.
During the opening weekend, some fresh faces got a chance to perform at the highest level. Pre-season serves as a huge opportunity to earn a roster spot for many guys across the league. Brian Daboll got his first win as head coach for the New York Giants against the New England Patriots on Thursday. Daniel Jones and the first-string offense had an encouraging opening drive, as fans hope for some sort of success in the upcoming season.
The Baltimore Ravens continued on their historic streak of 21 consecutive wins in pre-season games after a 23-10 victory over the Titans. Baker Mayfield caught the eyes of many after his impressive debut with the Carolina Panthers. Headlines were everywhere as fans and writers were ecstatic for the return of football.
One of the most intriguing headlines of the Week 1 slate was the return of Deshaun Watson. Watson was just recently under criminal investigation for over 20 allegations relating to sexual assault. The NFL handed down a 6-game suspension to Watson for the upcoming season, however, an appeal was due, and a settlement has now extended that to 11 games. Watson’s initial showing in the preseason game was underwhelming, and he’s now likely to make his competitive debut against the Texans in Week 13.
