Week 1 of the NFL season is where months of offseason and preseason theories are put to the test. While this provides the evidence that will shape a season, it also creates a wondrous vacuum for overreaction.
Is Brian Daboll, fresh off a stunning upset of the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, the rising star capable of shaking off the curse of Bill Belichick’s coaching tree? Is Belichick, who oversaw a low-energy, seven-point outing in the New England Patriots’ debut, en route to his worst season in two decades? Is Justin Jefferson about to have a 3,000 yard receiving season?
There’s plenty of big storylines demanding our attention after one weekend of pro football. Here are the five biggest stories — and whether they deserve a second look or if they’re merely outliers stemming from Week 1 discombobulation.