The primary week of the common season is within the books, and it’s time handy out some flowers. The official NFL awards will probably be handed out on Tuesday, making these our picks for who deserves to be acknowledged for his or her contributions.
We are going to add the official NFL awards after they come by way of, however till then there are our picks for coach of the week, rookie of the week, offensive participant, defensive participant, and MVP of Week 1.
Coach of Week 1: Shane Steichen
Shane Steichen was positively getting into the new seat getting into this season, and his daring determination to go together with Daniel Jones at quarterback over Anthony Richardson was the type of transfer that may make or break a coach. Now he’s the one laughing, and everybody else is wanting silly.
The Colts have been sorely missing the big-time offense they assumed they’d get after they employed Steichen away from the Eagles — and that got here to play in Week 1, in an enormous means. Indianapolis completely dominated the Dolphins and thrust them into the doldrums of the NFL briefly order. Jones was spectacular, however greater than even that was a protection that turned Tua Tagovailoa into one of many saddest wanting quarterbacks of Week 1, whereas Tyreek Hill was dropping it on the sideline earlier than halftime.
It’s secure to say that Colts followers hope the Dolphins aren’t one of many worst groups within the NFL. In the event that they’re midway competent in 2025 then it’s a testomony that Steichen has this workforce lastly shopping for in for his third season. Contemplating the AFC South seems pretty weak this season it might be a big-time assertion sport that units the tone for the remainder of the season.
Rookie of Week 1: Emeka Egbuka
“He’s the actual deal. True skilled. Doesn’t play like a rookie. Doesn’t act like a rookie. His head is rarely spinning. He made some unbelievable catches and performs at this time for us. Clearly, going to proceed to lean on him. Hopefully, we will draw some extra protection in direction of him, and Mike [Evans] will get the ball once more.”
That’s what quarterback Baker Mayfield needed to say about rookie vast receiver Emeka Egbuka, who caught a pair of landing passes within the Buccaneers’ 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons. WIth these two scores, Egbuka grew to become simply the second rookie in Tampa Bay historical past to attain a pair of touchdowns of their NFL debut, becoming a member of tight finish Alex Smith who achieved the feat again in 2005.
Egbuka’s first NFL landing got here when he pulled on this excellent throw from Mayfield, splitting the protection en path to a 30-yard rating:
Whereas that landing gave the Buccaneers their first lead, his second rating gave Tampa Bay the lead for good, as he pulled on this 25-yard strike from Mayfield to place the Buccaneers up late:
The rookie completed the day with 4 catches for 67 yards, these two touchdowns and maybe most significantly, the hard-earned belief of his QB.
Finest Offensive Participant of Week 1: Travis Etienne Jr.
Beating up on the Panthers’ run protection is just a little like capturing fish in a barrel. Really, it’s extra like capturing a single fish in a really small barrel that constricts its motion. That mentioned, it’s nonetheless about stepping up and truly executing — which is strictly what Etienne did.
On a really bizarre afternoon in Jacksonville that was stuffed with lightning delays and middling quarterback play from Trevor Lawrence, it was Etienne who put your complete Jaguars’ offense on his again and stepped up. Etienne ran for a ridiculous 143 yards, at a completely surreal 8.9 yards-per-carry. His 71-yard carry within the 2nd quarter cemented him because the characteristic again in Jacksonville, with the Jaguars being assured sufficient in him that they traded away Tank Bigsby the following day.
Working backs struggled everywhere in the league for essentially the most half, apart from Etienne and Derrick Henry. This week he’s the No. 1 offensive participant of the week.
Finest Defensive Participant of Week 1: Harold Landry III
Whereas it got here in a dropping effort, New England Patriots cross rusher led all gamers with 2.5 sacks on Sunday.
That places him on tempo for a staggering 42.5 sacks this season.
Actually that won’t come to fruition, however the Patriots have been capable of generate strain towards the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, sacking Geno Smith 4 occasions throughout the Raiders’ 20-13 victory.
In response to Subsequent Gen Stats, Landry recorded seven pressures on Sunday, in his first sport with the Patriots.
That occurred simply as soon as final season for New England:
Not a foul solution to introduce your self to the Foxborough Devoted.
Particular Groups Participant of Week 1: Matt Prater
Early final week Matt Prater was out of the NFL, regardless of going six-for-six on subject targets final season in a quick stint with the Arizona Cardinals.
Sunday evening the oldest participant in Buffalo Payments historical past was being carried off the sphere after changing a game-winning subject objective towards the Baltimore Ravens.
That’s the lifetime of a kicker within the NFL. Prater, signed by the Payments to their observe squad on Thursday, now has a job for the second. With Tyler Bass out for a minimum of three extra video games after being positioned on Injured Reserve with hip and groin accidents, Prater is again within the league.
And again on high of the world.
MVP of Week 1: Josh Allen
Do we actually want to clarify this one? Josh Allen was transcendent towards the Ravens when the sport mattered essentially the most, and willed Buffalo to their Sunday Evening Soccer comeback win in dramatic. There was functionally nothing that Allen may have accomplished higher within the fourth quarter, as he made large performs, saved the clock transferring — and extra importantly remained cool beneath essentially the most quantity of strain possible. That high quality permeated your complete offense, with everybody rising to the event and preserving cool beneath strain.
Management doesn’t present up on stat sheets, but when it did then Allen would have an ideal rating. No one would have faulted the Payments in the event that they misplaced on Sunday evening, chalking it as much as a detailed sport between nice groups — however as a substitute Allen took them to a different degree and made a press release.
No one else deserves this award in Week 1.
