The first week of the NFL Preseason is finally here, which means we are just that much closer to the beginning of the season, every team played this weekend with some playing their starters and some giving their second and third team’s a chance to play. Today we will break down each game that happened this previous weekend.

New York Giants 14, Detroit Lions 3

After a already intense week of joint practices between the two teams, with multiple fights and fines from the NFL, most of the starters from the Giants and the Lions did not suit up for the game on Thursday. The Giants we’re able to test all of their rookies, including Malik Nabers, who has been super impressive already so far through training camp. Despite being open on most of the route runs, him and Lock were not able to connect on a single pass. Lock left the game in the first quarter with a hip injury with the Giants coaching staff not being too worried about Lock’s injury. Lions Rookie CB’s looked really good in their limited time on the field on Thursday with both Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr making solid plays and Rakestraw registering two tackles before getting taken out of the game.

New England Patriots 17, Carolina Panthers 3

The Panthers had thirty three players inactive for this game. Including their whole starting defense except CB Dane Jackson. Jake Plummer had a tough day in the office having to play with a struggling 2nd team offensive line which also saw 2 costly drops by Mingo and Marshall Jr. Drake Maye also saw the field in very limited play, with the Patriots fans booing the coaching staff as Zappe was sent out on the field instead of them seeing Maye for the 3rd time. Maye finished his day 2-3 for 19 yards, which Head Coach Mayo saying the reason for Maye’s limited play was that he wants Maye to play behind the first team offensive line.

Miami Dolphins 20, Atlanta Falcons 13

The Rookie draft picks shined in this one with the Dolphins rookies looking the most impressive this game with Patrick Paul showing strong potential as a amazing pass and run blocker, and Safety Patrivk McMorris leading all Dolphins players in tackles but who really shined bright is RB Jaylen Wright who at the first half, already had 40 yards and a touchdown to his name. Siran Neal, veteran free agent signing made his name known to all Dolphins fans by forcing a fumble and recovering it himself. Starters like Tyreek Hill, Tua and Waddle should all be in the lineup come Week 3. Michael Penix Jr, Falcons 1st round draft pick wasn’t impressive or bad this game, with some improvement to be made, as he overthrew easy targets and didn’t see open receivers in time. Penix ended his day 9-16, 106 yards but with no TD’s or INT’s. Falcons fans shouldn’t be worried since Kirk Cousins will be the starter for the Falcons come this Labor Day weekend. Rookie OLB Bralen Trice suffered a leg injury in the second quarter of the game which put him on the IR, seeing the rookie miss his first season due to injury, wishing Trice a speedy recovery!

Philadelphia Eagles 16, Baltimore Ravens 13

Eagles fans should be excited after watching Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Trotter played with incredible speed, change of direction, read plays like a veteran, which helped him net a sack on the Ravens. Mitchell looked impressive as well with his first series as a Eagle, almost getting himself a interception. Rookie Will Shipley and Kenny Pickett we’re able to find the end zone as well in the matchup against the Ravens. Baltimore fans can finally take a deep breath as the Ravens announced that their first round pick, Nate Wiggins’s shoulder injury wasn’t severe and should be ready by Week 1. Up until the point he was walked off the field with the team doctor, Wiggins was playing really well, breaking up three passes and solid coverage on a fourth down try by the Eagles. Wiggins did have a brain blunder and allowed some big separation on Will Shipley who caught a TD.

Houston Texans 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 12

The Steelers’ preseason game on Friday night revealed that the team still needs work before the regular season. Despite some solid efforts from players like quarterback Justin Fields, who completed 5-of-6 passes for 67 yards but struggled with protection and fumbled twice, the first-team offense didn’t score during their three drives. Fields showed potential with a few standout throws to new wide receiver Van Jefferson, although not all plays were successful. Rookie tackle Troy Fautanu had a mixed performance, assisting in a significant run but also allowing two sacks. On defense, rookies like inside linebacker Payton Wilson and safety Ryan Watts made notable contributions, with Wilson recording multiple tackles and Watts nearly securing an interception. The Texans’ key free agent, defensive end Danielle Hunter, made an impact on Friday night with a sack and a quarterback pressure. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, another defensive addition, recorded a few tackles and helped contain the Steelers’ running game, limiting Najee Harris to 3 yards per carry. All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, acquired from Buffalo in the offseason, had no targets in the game. However, the Texans’ offense, led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, scored a touchdown on their second drive, with Stroud connecting with wide receiver Tank Dell after an initial three-and-out. Among the rookies, safety Calen Bullock stood out with his range, nearly intercepting a deep pass from Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen but landing out of bounds.

New Orleans Saints 16, Arizona Cardinals 14

Rookie Quarterback Spencer Rattler had a impressive day, with his first drive of the day, driving the Saints 70 yards down the field, then for a little Rattler Dazzler magic, he runs it in for a 4 yard touchdown run. Rattler finished his day 9-17 with 70 yards. Rookies Kool-Aid McKinstry and Taliese Fuaga also had impressive days with Fuaga showing solid protection for Carr and then Jake Haener. With all the talk of Marvin Harrison Jr this offseason, you’d think that would have been the first play they made this season but that wasn’t the case with Marvin playing only 3 snaps and not getting targeted on a single one of those. Trey Benson also showed that he will be a solid addition to the backfield with James Conner with Conner still getting the main load but Benson showed promise proving that with a couple of games under his belt. He can be a solid RB2 behind Conner.

Jacksonville Jaguars 26, Kansas City Chiefs 13

Rookie receiver from the Jags had a impressive catch on the sideline from a underthrown ball from C.J Beathard, Brian Thomas Jr was able to fight through a defender and make the 41 yard pass which was ultimately his only catch of the game. Devin Duvernay also had a really impressive catch running his route to perfection then running in for a 35 yard touchdown. Jaguars showed promise with being able to pick up big chunk plays, with additions like Devin Duvernay and Gabe Davis, look for the Jaguars to pick up big yards in the air. The Chiefs struggled last season with dropped passes and with additions like Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs are looking to have a impressive season again, unfortunately Brown went down with a injury during the game which today was announced he will miss 4-6 weeks. There is 3 weeks until that opening game on Thursday so look for Brown to return against the Bengals if the rehab goes to plan. Worthy also only played a couple of snaps and not getting targeted a single time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Cincinnati Bengals 14

The Bucs didn’t play too many starters against the Bengals but their rookies did look promising with Rookie running back Bucky Irving and second year RB Sean Tucker combining for 96 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Irving scored his first NFL touchdown on a 5 yard run with Tucker exploding for a chunk play of 26 yards. With Ramon Jefferson securing the win with a 3 yard touchdown run. Tampa’s first round pick C Graham Barton looked really impressive in his showing now allowing a singular pressure on 11 pass attempts. Defensively, not much to talk about other then Keenan Isaac getting a second quarter INT. Bengals RT Trent Brown was cleared for football activities on Aug 4. But still saw Bengals first round pick Amarius Mims get the start who on 15 snaps, only allowed 2 QB pressures which we’re on blitzes by the Bucs 2nd team. Mims got a A+ from Quarterback Joe Burrow in Training Camp who should see him first on the depth chart, come Labor Day weekend. Josh Newton 5th round pick from the Bengals had a impressive interception off of QB Kyle Trask in the second quarter. Jermaine Burton also showed promise hauling in a 37 yard touchdown right on the sideline.

Tennessee Titans 17, San Francisco 49ers 14

In the preseason game, Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley demonstrated his playmaking skills with a key 22-yard gain on a third-and-10, showcasing his chemistry with quarterback Will Levis. New running back Tony Pollard impressed with 35 yards on four carries, including an 8-yard run and a 24-yard burst. Rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. earned a start, contributing three tackles and a pass breakup. For the 49ers, rookie guard Dominick Puni made a strong case for a starting role with effective play on an opening drive, including a push into the end zone for a touchdown. Backup quarterbacks Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen are in competition, with Dobbs throwing for 146 yards and a rushing touchdown, while Allen went 7-of-13 for 98 yards, hindered by dropped passes. Rookie safety Malik Mustapha also stood out with a crucial fourth-down stop, a strong special teams tackle, and three total tackles.

Seattle Seahawks 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3

Quarterback Sam Howell is starting a new job in Seattle after a disappointing Training Camp, Howell improved on his tough camp and was able to complete 16 passes on 27 attempts for 130 yards on 8 separate drives. Howell did not turn the ball over, getting sacked on two occasions with really no chance of being able to extend the play. Howell was able to bring in two touchdown drives, with one of those being off of a 53 yard drive and a short field position gifted to them by the Chargers. The Chargers’ first-round pick, Joe Alt, played 20 snaps at right tackle, performing better than expected with only one pressure allowed on 13 pass-blocking reps. He was beaten once by Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who pressured a pass. Quarterback Luis Perez, recently signed from the UFL, was a surprise standout with a 36-yard completion to Jaylen Johnson, though his subsequent deep passes were incomplete. He finished with 61 passing yards, the highest among Chargers quarterbacks, while Max Duggan and Easton Stick combined for 72 yards. Coach Jim Harbaugh signed Perez to push backups Duggan and Casey Bauman, with Perez’s performance highlighting the competition.

Green Bay Packers 23, Cleveland Browns 10

Packers Evan Williams has continued to impress all throughout camp and didn’t stop in this first game against the Browns. He finished with six tackles plus a forced fumble in 22 defensive snaps played. Evan Williams, Xavier Mckinney and Javon Bullard may all be fighting for the starting spot, but it seems like they will all see the field a lot this season with the Packers running lots of three safety nickel formations. Josh Jacobs also saw his debut with the Packers this weekend with Packers fans having to wait a little bit longer for first round pick Jordan Morgan to see the field, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Browns unfortunately are dealing with tons of injuries and held out on tons of starters playing this week 1 game, not much to say about the Browns.

Minnesota Vikings 24, Las Vegas Raiders 23

Well Vikings fans had this game circled on their calendars since watching Roger Goddell announce that J.J Mccarthy was going to be a Viking. Mccarthy who has continued to turn heads in training camp, put the whole NFL world on high alert that Mccarthy is here and ready to tear it up, Mccarthy ended his day with 2 touchdown passes, throwing for 11 completions on 17 incompletions and 188 yards. His impressive performance almost overshadows that interception he threw. Mccarthy was also able to escape some pressures and scramble for some impressive pickups. Unfortunately after the game, Mccarthy was experiencing soreness in his knee on Monday which saw him sit out practice , which was later revealed to be a torn meniscus. Mccarthy is expected to miss several weeks as he is will undergo surgery for his torn meniscus. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to the media in a unscheduled press conference who revealed the news and said this about a timetable to return. “As far as the timeline of the injury, that will be something determined during the procedure, based upon whether it can just be a cleanup or potentially a repair,” O’Connell said on Tuesday. Sam Darnold will obvisouly be their Week 1 starter now as Mccarthy goes down with a injury. Get better soon J.J! Raiders Quarterback Gardner Minshew, who is competing for a spot with Aidan O’Connell, did well in his second-quarter appearance against the Vikings. He led the Raiders to three scoring drives, completing 6 of 12 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, along with a 7-yard scramble. O’Connell, who started the game, had one series with 7 of 9 passes completed for 76 yards but was sacked on a critical play. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce praised both quarterbacks for their performance and handling of the game situation, noting the team’s 20-7 halftime lead.

Chicago Bears 33, Buffalo Bills 6

In his preseason debut, Caleb Williams demonstrated his playmaking skills over 20 snaps, completing 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards and adding a 13-yard scramble. He led the Bears into the red zone twice, resulting in field goals, and showed poise, pocket awareness, and accuracy while on the run. Notably, he connected with DJ Moore on a crucial third down, extended a play to Cole Kmet, and made a no-look pass to D’Andre Swift, showcasing his ability to evade pressure and make smart decisions. In his first game with a revamped receiver lineup, quarterback Josh Allen’s performance was mixed. He played briefly, exiting after eight plays. Curtis Samuel had a 15-yard screen pass, and 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman had a solid debut, catching a pass from backup Mitchell Trubisky. However, drops were a concern: Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped his only target, and KJ Hamler mishandled a kickoff return. Overall, the team’s performance was inconsistent and sloppy.

New York Jets 20, Washington Commanders 17

Rookie running back Braelon Allen was the standout for the Jets, rushing for 54 yards on six carries and likely securing his role as Breece Hall’s primary backup. Isaiah Davis, another rookie, had a 24-yard reception but had an otherwise quiet game, while third-round pick Malachi Corley had a notable 33-yard kickoff return. First-round pick Olu Fashanu, expected to back up Tyron Smith at left tackle, allowed two pressures and committed one penalty in 24 snaps. Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, starting for Aaron Rodgers, struggled under pressure, completing 1 of 2 passes for minus-1 yard before being pulled after two series. Center Joe Tippmann, the only projected starter to play, continued to struggle with snapping issues. Commanders Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels impressed in his debut, completing 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and scoring a 3-yard touchdown run in one series against the Jets’ second defense. He effectively changed a play on third-and-6 to connect with Dyami Brown on a deep pass. Second-round pick Mike Sainristil had a notable tackle at corner, while rookie tight end Ben Sinnott caught three passes for 57 yards, including a 44-yard play. Linebacker Frankie Luvu also showed strong performance, reflecting his training camp form.

Denver Broncos 34, Indianapolis Colts 30

Rookie Bo Nix, who entered the game as the second quarterback, had a strong performance with the second team against the Colts’ second-string defense. He led four scoring drives, including a field goal before halftime and a touchdown to start the second half. Nix completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown to Marvin Mims Jr. Rookie outside linebacker Jonah Elliss also made an impact, pressuring Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger into an interception. Colts newcomers had a mixed day, with first-round pick Laiatu Latu making one tackle and a few pressures while playing with both the first- and second-team defenses. Latu, expected to play a key role in 2024 due to an injury to Samson Ebukam, showed modest impact. Second-round pick Adonai Mitchell caught one pass for 11 yards in limited action with the second-team offense and is competing for the No. 3 wideout spot, especially after Josh Downs’ recent injury. Quarterback Anthony Richardson, returning after an extended absence, completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards in two series.

Los Angeles Rams 13, Dallas Cowboys 12

The Rams rested their starters, including top picks Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, in their game against the Cowboys. They focused on quarterback Stetson Bennett, who, despite throwing four interceptions, led a game-winning drive and finished 24-of-38 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington was Bennett’s main target, catching six passes for 74 yards. Additionally, rookie kicker Joshua Karty showed promise by making field goals of 28 and 39 yards, along with an extra point. The Cowboys are hoping for significant second-year improvements from defensive tackle Mazi Smith, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Smith and Overshown made first-quarter tackles for loss, with Smith performing well before leaving the game. Schoonmaker was overthrown on an end-zone target, while Eric Scott Jr., a rookie, recorded an interception. The focus was on Trey Lance, who had a mixed debut with three first-down throws, a 19-yard run, and some missed opportunities and indecision, including two sacks.