After an extremely long offseason, the NFL regular season is finally back and is expected to be just as exciting as the 2023 season. The Kansas City Chiefs look to win a third straight Super Bowl while competition is waiting in the wings for their chance to take up that mantle.
They have had the offseason to improve, bolster the roster, and put their best foot forward in the 2024 regular season. Either way, we at TPS are ecstatic to have the NFL back in action! Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams after week one.
Which NFL teams have the highest grade this season after the first week of action? Arizona Cardinals: B-
Despite a strong first half, the Cardinals didn’t get the win against the Buffalo Bills, losing it in the second half. Kyler Murray threw one touchdown against no interceptions but was sacked four times. James Connor scored a rushing touchdown, Michael Wilson scored a receiving touchdown, and DeeJay Dallas scored a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown.
On defense, the Cardinals had two sacks and two pass deflections, and Justin Jones had a fumble recovery but no interceptions on the afternoon; for the Cardinals to bounce back from this tough and close loss, they need to keep focus for the long run and prevent their next opponents from making noise in the second half.
Atlanta Falcons: D+
The Falcons opened their NFL season with some high energy, but that thunder died out in the second half as they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 10-18. Kirk Cousins threw a touchdown to Kyle Pitts but threw two costly interceptions, and Bijan Robinson had a productive day on the ground with 68 rushing yards. On defense, the Falcons had two sacks and a pass deflection.
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It was great to see Kyle Pitts score his first touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins, but the Falcons’ offense was silenced by the Steelers’ defense throughout the second half despite all the Falcons have done during the offseason. The Falcons have a lot of work to do if they continue to drop key games like they did in week one, especially with the Buccaneers and Saints, which are to worry about in the NFC South.
Baltimore Ravens: B-
Despite a strong performance from the Ravens and an attempted comeback that ended with Isaiah Likely’s toe on the line in the end zone, it was a strong start that came up short. Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown pass with no interceptions but was sacked once and lost a fumble. Jackson led the Ravens in rushing yards, while Derrick Henry rushed for 46 yards and scored a touchdown on the night. He also scored a receiving touchdown on the night despite his toe on the line at the end of the game.
On defense, the Ravens had two sacks, while Roquan Smith had an interception against Patrick Mahomes. The Ravens will bounce back from this loss. They need to find their offensive identity and get back on track. Their play must be competitive throughout, in a very stacked division and league, if they hope to return to the AFC Championship game and potentially get over the hump.
Buffalo Bills: B+
The Bills started the game slow until Josh Allen scored a rushing touchdown before the conclusion of the first half and immediately went to work in the second half. Allen finished the game with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, while James Cook had 71 rushing yards. With Stefon Diggs no longer wearing the Bills jersey, Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins both showed the way and scored touchdowns, while Keon Coleman had 51 receiving yards. On defense, the Bills had four sacks, and Dorian Williams had a fumble recovery but no interceptions on the day.
Despite the lack of superstar wide receivers and Curtis Samuel only having 15 receiving yards, Josh Allen knows how to win games. With all of the talent around him, he is looking to keep the AFC East under Bill’s control. There will be competition from New England and Miami.
Carolina Panthers: F
Talk about Déjà vu. It is 2024, but it looks like we are watching the 2023 Panthers all over again, as they were crushed by the New Orleans Saints 10-47 on the road. Bryce Young opened the season with an interception and was sacked four times. Young ultimately threw two interceptions all game and scored a rushing touchdown. The Panthers rushing attack was held to 58 rushing yards, and Adam Thielen had 49 receiving yards.
The Panthers’ defense only had one sack and three pass deflections. This was an embarrassing game for the Panthers, who look like they’re in mid-season form. If they continue like this, they should just hit the reset button for the 2025 NFL season.
Chicago Bears: C-
As the late author Jim George said, “It’s not how you start but how well you finish.” This applies to the Bears as they came back from behind and defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-17. Caleb Williams may not have thrown a touchdown or interception, but he was a decent game manager throughout.
The rest of the Bears’ offense struggled, but the team’s defense had a strong afternoon, as the team had three sacks, four pass deflections, and two interceptions, including a pick-six from Tyrique Stevenson, a fumble recovery from T.J. Edwards, and a blocked punt from Jonathan Owens, who returned it for a touchdown. Williams will eventually throw his first touchdown pass of the season, but the Bears’ defense was the true MVP of the game and should strike fear in their upcoming opponents.
Also Read: What To Expect From The Kansas City Chiefs In The 2024 NFL Season?
Cincinnati Bengals: D-
One of the biggest shocks of the week was watching the Bengals struggle at home and get humiliated 10-16 by the New England Patriots. Joe Burrow didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions, and Zack Moss scored the Bengals’ only touchdown on the day, but there were too many little mistakes that just added to the dismal play.
Plus, losing DJ Reader in free agency doesn’t help. Defensively, the Bengals had one sack, three pass deflections, and no interceptions against the Patriots. It was a very sloppy and embarrassing game for the Bengals. They need to clean things up on all sides of the ball, fast, because they have to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in week two.
Cleveland Browns: D-
The Browns looked awful in their 17-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown against two interceptions, Jerome Ford scored a rushing touchdown, and Jerry Jeudy scored a touchdown in his Browns debut. On defense, the Browns had three sacks and six pass deflections but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. It looks to be a very long season for the Browns.
They’re missing Nick Chubb’s production as he recovers from a torn MCL and ACL from the 2023 NFL season. On top of that, the Browns may have made a misstep by not keeping Joe Flacco around in case things get worse for Watson moving forward. They do have Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the roster, but is that enough?
Dallas Cowboys: A-
After signing Dak Prescott to a four-year $240 million contract, the Cowboys got to work and cruised to a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Prescott threw a touchdown against no interceptions, Ezekiel Elliot scored a rushing touchdown in his first season back in Dallas, and Brandin Cooks scored a touchdown.
On defense, the Cowboys had six sacks and two interceptions. This was a strong win by the Cowboys, but the Browns were not a true competitive opponent. It is a wait-and-see if the Cowboys can continue to accomplish against more competitive opponents moving forward.
Denver Broncos: D
It was a rough first game for the Broncos in their 20-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Bo Nix threw two interceptions but scored a rushing touchdown. However, the Broncos rushing attack was held to 99 yards, and none of the Broncos’ wide receivers and tight ends topped 50 receiving yards. On defense, the Broncos had two safeties.
They were able to make things painful for Geno Smith in the first half but slowed down in the second half of the game. The Broncos should hit the reset button and learn from this loss. They will need to do so for their week two matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Detroit Lions: B+
The Lions opened the 2024 NFL season with an intense 26-20 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Jared Goff threw a touchdown against an interception, and David Montgomery scored the game-ending rushing touchdown. It felt just as good as Marshawn Lynch defeating the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 Wildcard Round. Jahmyr Gibbs scored a rushing touchdown, and Jameson Williams scored a receiving touchdown.
On defense, the Lions had two sacks, five pass deflections, and an interception on the night. The Lions got the win to start their NFC North crown defense on a great note. Make no mistake, the competition will only continue to get fiercer moving forward.
Green Bay Packers: B
Viva Brazil! In the first-ever game in South America, Brazil was the host. Despite a slow start to the game, the Packers played well but came up short in a very competitive match in São Paulo. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns against one interception but was sacked once and suffered an apparent ankle injury during the game. Josh Jacobs had a very productive day on the ground with 84 rushing yards, while Jayden Reed scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, and Christian Watson scored a touchdown.
On defense, the Packers had two sacks and two interceptions on the night. Love out for three to six weeks may impact the Packers’ chances of becoming a playoff contender for the 2024 season until he returns. Adding Jacobs from the Raiders in the offseason paid off, as he looks to hold down the rushing attack for the Packers in a competitive NFC North.
Houston Texans: B+
The Texans played and won 29-27 in a hard-fought battle against their AFC South foe, the Indianapolis Colts. C.J. Stroud threw two touchdowns to Stefon Diggs against no interceptions, veteran running back Joe Mixon scored a rushing touchdown, and Nico Collins had a solid day as he had 117 receiving yards.
On defense, the Texans had two sacks and an interception and held Jonathan Taylor to 50 rushing yards. With this win, the Texans are starting out razor sharp, as they did last season, and were the only AFC South team to earn a win in week one as the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans all imploded.
Indianapolis Colts: C+
Despite the Colts dropping their home opener 27-29, they played well and kept things very competitive. Anthony Richardson looked good but couldn’t get the job done, as he threw two touchdowns against one interception. Jonathan Taylor’s rushing attack was held to 48 yards, and Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin both scored touchdowns for the Colts.
On defense, the Colts had four sacks and a pass deflection but no interceptions against C.J. Stroud. Yes, the Colts played well, at times, but their run game was slowed down by the Texans’ defense. The Colts’ defense couldn’t stop Joe Mixon and the Texans’ offense. The Colts will undoubtedly bounce back from this loss.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C+
Even though the Jaguars started the game strong, they were shut out in the second half in their close 17-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown against no interceptions but was sacked three times. Tank Bigsby rushed for 73 yards while Travis Etienne Jr. scored a rushing touchdown, and Brian Thomas Jr. scored a receiving touchdown.
On defense, the Jaguars had three sacks and five pass deflections but no interceptions on the afternoon in South Beach. A tough loss nonetheless, but the Jaguars need to learn from their mistakes and not fumble the ball away in the third quarter, especially when they had the lead.
Kansas City Chiefs: A-
The Chiefs began their quest for a potential third straight Super Bowl championship, and they did so in great fashion. Patrick Mahomes threw a touchdown and an interception on the night, while Xavier Worthy stole the show with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, and Isiah Pacheco scored a rushing touchdown. On defense, the Chiefs had one sack but no interceptions. A great performance by the Chiefs, as they look to have another strong NFL season, striking fear in all of their opponents in the league.
Las Vegas Raiders: D+
Not a good start for the Raiders, as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers 10-22. Gardner Minshew threw a touchdown against an interception and was sacked four times. The Raiders’ rushing attack was held to 71 yards, and none of their running backs topped 50 yards. Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers played well, but Alexander Mattison scored the Raiders’ only touchdown.
On defense, the Raiders had one sack, two pass deflections, and no interceptions or fumble recoveries. It was a painful way to begin the 2024 season, but the Raiders have to regroup and turn their attention to the Baltimore Ravens on the road come week two.
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
The Chargers begin the Jim Harbaugh era on a solid note, as they earned a 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Herbert threw a touchdown against no interceptions but was sacked four times, J.K. Dobbins scored a rushing touchdown, and Ladd McConkey scored a receiving touchdown. However, the Chargers’ receiving depth didn’t top 50 yards, as McConkey had 39 receiving yards all game.
On defense, the Bolts had two fumble recoveries, four sacks, and a Poona Ford interception. If the Chargers are going to improve under Harbaugh’s leadership, the passing attack needs to improve. The Chargers want to have a very competitive 2024 NFL season moving forward. Passing attack, “just saying.”
Los Angeles Rams: B-
Despite falling to the Detroit Lions 20-26 in overtime, the Rams played fairly well. Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown against an interception, Kyren Williams scored a rushing touchdown, and Cooper Kupp scored a receiving touchdown. On defense, the Rams had two sacks and one interception.
The Rams and Lions played similarly well statistically, and Stafford made some great throws under pressure, but unfortunately, because of the overtime rules, the Rams never got the ball in the period, and the Lions were able to score and win.
Miami Dolphins: B
Even though the Miami Dolphins started slow, they eventually capitalized on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mistakes and came back to win the game 20-17. Tua Tagovailoa threw a touchdown against no interceptions but was sacked three times. De’Von Achane scored a rushing touchdown.
Tyreek Hill scored a touchdown, even after getting pulled over outside of Hard Rock Stadium earlier in the day. On defense, the Dolphins had three sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. It wasn’t the best game, but the Dolphins came out on top with a victory and look to build on their victory as the NFL season progresses.
Minnesota Vikings: A-
J.J. McCarthy is out recovering from a torn meniscus. Sam Darnold stepped up and played very nicely in the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. Darnold threw two touchdowns against one interception. Aaron Jones scored a rushing touchdown, and both Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor scored touchdowns.
On defense, the Vikings had five sacks and two interceptions (one of them was by Andrew Van Ginkel, who scored a 10-yard pick-six). Despite no McCarthy, Darnold held his own as the team dominated the G-Men for their first win out of the gate of the 2024 season.
New England Patriots: B-
Even though the Patriots were 7.5-point underdogs coming into week one, they stunned the Cincinnati Bengals on the road with their 16-10 week one win. Jacoby Brissett managed the offense fairly well despite not throwing any touchdowns or interceptions. Rhamondre Stevenson scored the Patriots’ only touchdown on the day.
The Patriots’ receiving core had a very quiet afternoon. On defense, the Pats had three sacks and two fumble recoveries. This win is an excellent start for head coach Jerod Mayo as he and the Patriots begin the post-Bill Belichick era on a positive note.
New Orleans Saints: A-
The Saints came ready to play in a loud Caesars Superdome, as they crushed the Carolina Panthers 47-10. Derek Carr threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams both scored rushing touchdowns, and Rashid Shaheed, Foster Moreau, and Juwan Johnson all scored receiving touchdowns.
On defense, the Saints had four sacks and two interceptions, and Tyrann Mathieu had a fumble recovery. The Saints’ blowout victory over the Panthers looked more like a hard-hitting practice than a game, but it shows the Saints are ready for the intense competition in the NFC South.
New York Giants: F
It was another disastrous start for the G-Men, as they were humiliated at home 6-28 by the Minnesota Vikings. Daniel Jones threw two interceptions and was sacked five times, the rushing attack was held to 74 yards, and Malik Nabers had 66 receiving yards on the day. On defense, the Giants had one sack, two fumble recoveries, and an interception by Darius Muasau.
The only points scored by the Giants were from kicker Graham Gano, who kicked two field goals for the team all game. One thing is clear from this embarrassment of a game: the Giants should consider a replacement for Daniel Jones as soon as possible if the Giants want to find some success for the 2024 NFL season.
New York Jets: C-
Well, at least Aaron Rodgers played the majority of the game despite the Jets getting dropped 19-32 against the San Francisco 49ers. Rodgers threw a touchdown against an interception, Breece Hall bulldozed his way into the end zone for a touchdown, and Allen Lazard scored two touchdowns.
On defense, the Jets had three sacks and four pass deflections but no interceptions. For Rodgers, this game was more of a shaking the cobwebs off, even though the Jets should’ve done more offensively despite playing an extremely talented 49ers team.
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
Although the Eagles started their game slowly due to some turf issues in Brazil, things picked up very quickly in the second quarter, and they immediately got to work. Saquan Barkley scored two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in his Eagles debut. Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns against two interceptions on the night, and A.J. Brown had a very productive night and scored a touchdown.
Zach Baun had two sacks on defense, and Reed Blankenship had an interception. Barkley looked extremely electric in his Eagles debut, while Jalen Hurts played well, but he certainly has some cobwebs to shake off as the season progresses.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B-
Even though Justin Fields didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions in his Steelers debut, he and Chris Boswell helped the team secure their first win of the NFL season. Fields rushed for 57 yards, Najee Harris rushed for 70 yards, and George Pickens had 85 receiving yards. On defense, the Steelers had two sacks and two interceptions, and T.J. Watt had a fumble recovery.
With the Steelers’ offensive line ranking 20th, per Sharp Football Analysis, Fields or Russell Wilson should play well in the Steel City. However, the real hero for the Steelers this week is kicker Chris Boswell, who scored six field goals to seal the win. Watch out for the Steelers potentially being the dark horse team.
San Francisco 49ers: A-
Even without Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers looked electric as they cruised to a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Brock Purdy may not have thrown any touchdowns or interceptions, but he managed the game very well. Jordan Mason had an amazing night, scoring a rushing touchdown, and Deebo Samuel scored a rushing touchdown.
On defense, the 49ers had a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The 49ers proved they still have one of the most talented rosters in all of football and may have found another great running back to pair up with McCaffrey when he returns to action.
Seattle Seahawks: C+
The Seahawks started slow, as Geno Smith threw an interception, which led to a Denver Broncos field goal, but got their groove on as the Broncos made their mistakes, resulting in the Seahawks winning 26-20. Geno Smith threw a touchdown against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown but was sacked twice.
Kenneth Walker III scored a rushing touchdown, and Zach Charbonnet scored a touchdown. On defense, the Seahawks had two sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Sloppy start for the Seahawks, as they gave the Broncos two safeties in the game, but they managed to get the win over the young Broncos team, trying to find their identity.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
The Buccaneers came out strong, as they look to potentially repeat as NFC South Champions, in their 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. Baker Mayfield looked elite as he threw four touchdowns against no interceptions, Bucky Irving had 62 rushing yards, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan both scored touchdowns, and Mike Evans scored two touchdowns.
On defense, the Bucs had two sacks but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. The Bucs looked electric as they dominated the Commanders and look to have this energy moving forward in the 2024 NFL season.
Tennessee Titans: D+
Despite starting the game off strong, the Titans were shut out in the second half of the game, as the Chicago Bears came back and defeated them 17-24. Will Levis showed great promise as the full-time starter, as he threw a touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo but threw two costly interceptions and lost a fumble, while Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley had good games offensively.
The Titans’ defense had two sacks and no interceptions or fumble recoveries against the Bears. If the Titans continue to start strong and do not finish the game on a high note, it could be a long and miserable season in the Music City. Luckily for Will Levis and the Titans, there are more football games to be played.
Washington Commanders: D+
The Commanders started the season anew with Jayden Daniels as their signal caller. They started the NFL season with a tough 20-37 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels threw no touchdowns or interceptions but scored two rushing touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. scored a rushing touchdown, and Austin Ekeler scored 52 receiving yards.
On defense, the Commanders had one sack and two pass deflections but no interceptions. A decent start for Daniels, but the rest of the team needs to improve and cover opposing wide receivers moving forward, otherwise, it’s going to be a painful season.
