ESPN breaks down NFL Week 1: Dak, Parsons lead way to 33-17 win, Caleb Williams beat Titans

kick Dak Prescott got a deal and I mean a deal 4 years $240 million with 231 coming in guarantees four more years of Prescott wow under the star and we'll see if they can finally get over that postseason hump that had many clamoring for a change at quarterback but you pay the man on the outside you want to pair him with a quarterback and if you're penciling in for 10 plus wins like Dak has as of late hard to argue he is the highest paid player in the history of this league we love 60 million per the price just went up at the quarterback position all right let's help those dollars make sense Cowboys There He Go the that does that's an expensive I know you got that suit you got that suit no can't afford silk what is that vuna Cowboys empty in the vault between that QB wide receiver Duo but there are other targets including Brandon Cooks who calls that one in mi Heen Watson sack six times in this loss Jerry Judy did score his first touchdown with the Browns in this game not pictured as deck Prescott with some long-term commitment now behind his name starts this season in the win column Dallas's questions not going to be answered till [Music] [Applause] January all right there are teams like we saw the Chargers they get out of the gates we know that under Harbaugh no Le and then there are other teams that just can't seem to wake up for week one Cleveland now 30 22 and one since 1999 there were some there were some dark years there was a decade and a half there of when look at the winning per us not knowing what was going on but uh Cleveland care to join us in week [Music] two always joined by the incomparable Bryant mcfaden I'm your host Joe muso ma yes sir was a big day for Dak Prescott no question you get paid to the tune of 60 million per you're feeling some sort of way but there's also a pressure that comes with all that money to go out there and perform they get a win on the road what stood out to you uh just how relaxed he was now to dak's you know point for him he didn't need to do a lot today uh but he did make some plays and it was good just seeing Dak throw the football to uh CD lamb it was good seeing Dak hand the football off to Ezekiel Elliott both guys had a heck of a day as well both guys scored touchdowns for uh the Cowboys offense so just seeing these guys all together on the grass is something that we haven't seen in quite some time and Dak made timely plays you didn't need to have dak's best effort today and that's the thing I like about what I watched today with the Dallas Cowboys they weren't pressing they allowed the game to flow organically and they work within that game outside of that Prescott getting paid walking in with the high price suit managing the system we got to give some praise and some shots out to their defense yeah their defense made dak's day easy even though he got the big time bag look at some number seven yards passing they made the Cleveland Browns offense look like a JV Squad and the thing about this Cowboys defense that I would like to highlight remember we saw how opportunistic they were a year ago under Dan Quinn especially earli on in the year sacking quarterbacks creating turnovers scoring touchdowns but the one element that surface throughout the year was the inability to stop the ground attack today when you factor in who the Cleveland Browns yes they didn't have Nick chub but this is a team that loves to do what establish the game in the line of scrimmage not today because the Cowboys they have a new DC who does things the old way and coer when you look at kmer on the sideline you see him with those glasses on on that nose tip of that nose that pencil and these papers he he's not with the new school with the iPad and things like that more old school with the papers he is devoted to stopping the ground game first and then allowing everything else to work itself out and that's what we saw now can they keep this up because we saw this same timeline when it comes to production with them a year ago second quarterbacks creating turnovers and then the running issue surface but I believe we will see a different mentality within their defense because of who their DC is and how he coaches the game of football when I played in Pittsburgh the first thing dick Leos tell us all the time as a defense our first job is to stop the run because if you cannot stop the run you cannot stop anything in this league everything else will work itself out so guys in the back end just understand we're devoting all of our attention to stopping whoever we play offensively that ground and pound attack and you better believe success will follow we believed and we were very very successful let's see what the Cowboys can do because it was a very very easy day for Dak Prescott and CD lamb but the guys who make the tackles who win championships the defense they stood up held that rushing attack shy of triple digits you just you could smell coach Zimmer's back like the paper old leather yeah he got the old got 20 Seasons no interception six incompletions for Mayfield as a stutely pointed out by my colleague Bryant mcfaden 24 of 30 Mayfield just about as good as you're going to get 289 4 and0 Buccaneers 1 and0 with 37 on the board in week [Music] one all right Baker Mayfield career in week one maybe maybe it does have something to do with where you're playing your maybe situation does dictate success from time to time they're not good in week one matchups still I got two teams that lost here in week one once again Cleveland and Carolina 0 and four did have that stint with the LA Rams that reignited his career in the last two years in Tampa week one wins Baker out to a one and0 start in 2024 Sunday night football is on the way Rams and the lions in the Motor City you know since being traded for each other in March of 2021 Matthew Stafford Jared gof same number of regular season wins both with 24 that will change tonight with the two head-to-head with these NFC hopefuls Sunday is for Lovers Sunday night is for football I love this man Bryant mcfaden here to talk some football between these two we saw it on the highest stage playoff football a year ago and it was really the step forward for Dan Campbell's team that we needed to see to believe yes what's between these two tonight in their first go in this season I guess for Detroit you know trying to find some of the success they had in the postseason matchup against the Rams and for Sean McVey and his staff finding ways to make the plays they did not make in that one loss playoff game right now for me this is a new look for the Rams defensively no more Aaron Donald he was the Catalyst for a lot of what they did impac in all three levels with his play can they get similar like production not from one guy because one guy cannot replace and give you the production that Aaron Don provided but multiple guys right a lot of young guys will be called upon especially when it comes to putting pressure on Jared G can they answer that call and do so for four quarters and then when it comes to Detroit the balance that they were so known for a year ago running the football well had two running backs that surface over a th yards from scrimmage not to mention double dig double digit touchdowns Amar ra St Brown The Catalyst when it comes to the passing game and then of course the offensive line the way they protected Jared G the way they paav things for the running backs when they had the football in their hand the thing I love about Detroit going back to a year ago was they can play in different styles some teams have only one style they're one trick pony for Detroit they can get down and dirty and do it the hard ugly way with running in between the tackles or they can throw it around the yard well they have that same mentality on display tonight in Detroit and that's sort of where I want to take you next here is that mentality that intensity that we've come to know this team and this head coach for maybe it's easy to replicate the personnel and the execution because that's the standard you keep but let's say in your Pittsburgh days when you had those teams that got to the playoffs and you sniffed it and then you get back for the next season and you're looking up at that mountain saying I got to climb this thing again how do you maintain that intensity a second year after you got so close last year just the element of competition because when you play the game of football or play whatever it is that you're involved in or just trying to be successful as an adult you love to compete because you love to find a way to taste what V to taste that taste of victory and then for Detroit they got very very close but they didn't get to the promised land they should be highly motivated starting tonight to be able to Showcase to the NFL world on a national stage we're the same team that we were last year but we're better and we're highly motivated and it starts on a prime time stage there in Detroit Eminem may be in the building I don't know but guess what everyone will have their eyes on this game because it's the only show in town so let see exactly how Dan Campbell and his team they come out because I can tell you one thing about Shawn McVey it doesn't matter who is in uniform for them they're going to compete I consider sha McVey to be one of the best coaches in the game he has the ability to do more with less and he will have to have that same mentality in tonight's matchup based on the team they're playing against in Detroit home atmosphere you better believe they're going to be crazy and excited so it's imperative for the Rams to get up to the fast start and the same thing could be safe for the Detroit Lions and to your point about that pressure up the middle that was the Hallmark of Aaron Donald's football throughout his entire career Jared G 19 of 19 with a clean pocket in that wild card meeting between these two teams you got to pressure the quarterback to say what you want about Jared gof he's grown in his role as well and seems to be the man that Detroit has fallen in love with as a city let's talk about the offensive side here for LA because there's a ton of weapons there a running back and kyen Williams who emerged in a big way last year puka akua made us all open our eyes and think maybe Cooper cup is actually wide receiver too where does this offensive attack start with so many things at your disposal Karen Williams I think it starts with him because the play action is something that Shawn McVey he loves to call on when it comes to getting the running game going and then having window throwing windows open so I think the play action is super important and it starts with Kye Williams I wouldn't be surprised to see Blake horm get some opportunities as well because you look at how Shawn McVey loves to have running backs involved it's not just going to be one guy you better believe it's going to be a few guys could be Blake km you know understanding and knowing he's a part of this team he can be a very very effective Runner but you talk about the pass catchers you talked about Sean MC uh Matthew Stafford it starts with the ground and pound attack because if they can get that element of their offense going then you can go ahead and warm up the play 60 armor of Matthew Stafford and throw it around the yard just a little bit in that building that he slung it for so long in Detroit i w I won't call it house that he built but he has something to do with it he put some of those foundational bricks there no doubt at Ford Field we'll see what Matthew Stafford can do in his return once again it's where the season ended a year ago it's where it will begin for him this year season didn't end there for the Lions they took that step forward got so close and if not for that second half of football against San Francisco we could be talking about a team obviously an NFC champ maybe a Super Bowl champ who is uh to say but it's an offense that needs to take another step forward as well how do you think the share between the two tail backs goes because a year ago it was still David Montgomery sort of your feature back but as jir Gibbs caught his footing undeniable what he brings to this offense who's the first mouth you feed in that back field this year that's a great question uh regardless who the first mouth is I would love to see the same rotation that we saw a year ago and the reason why I feel that way guys is because it's very effective and the and why it's it's effective is because both guys they coexist nicely together they're different styles complimentary in their Styles yeah you got a Bruiser and David mcgomery who loves to lean on people lean on people and he has very very precise Vision in regards to making people Miss couldn't catch it if it stuck to his number either yeah but that's when you have that's what the other guy does jir gibs come in great pass catcher out of the backfield one cut Runner and he's a guy if you're not playing with the right Gap Integrity he can take a five yard run and turning 60 or 70 so when you talk about those two style of backs it's very very difficult for the vendors because when mcgomery is in the game we try to attack him a different way and then when you started getting the feel for him here comes the other guy now you got to quickly make adjustments in how you attack jir Gibbs as a running back so I would love to see the same type rotation because it worked so good both guys had over a thousand yards from scrimmage both guys had 10 double digit touchdowns a year ago so clearly the way they were moving and shaking in the back field made a lot of magic for them offensively so let's keep the same moves and keep the same shaking going on so you can get some of the same magic that you had in 2023 not to mention one of the most prolific Seasons by a rookie tight end we've ever seen in S I know you like I know you like some Sam leaport I don't have him on fantasy team you didn't get him the McMan Mac this was a game that gave us answers to some of the longstanding questions what the Seahawks team would look like under new tutelage but most importantly the rookie quarterback on the other side 26 of 42 138 two ints Bon knck had three interceptions his entire season last year at Oregon I know we're comparing apples to oranges there but what did you make of this first statement by Nicks well I think early on in the ball game the moment was a little too big for him uh you look at some of the Exotic pressures he were seeing from Mike McDonald defensively it can confuse some of the best experienced quarterbacks in the National Football League and they had success what I liked about bck in the fourth quarter he settled down and he gave the Broncos hope you know they became uh within one possession of winning that ball game fought and that's something that you want to see especially in the midst of a ball game when things are not going as well as you would like them to go playing in that type of environment what happens when you calm can you calm down and can you kind of gather the troops and find a way to get put us in direction to potentially try to pull it out and we saw that now defensively for for the Broncos they got to find ways to be better against the Run uh Kenneth Walker had a successful day and of course you talked about the long touchdown run by Gino Smith they kind of jump started the scoring efforts for the Seahawks but in all I understand when you look at B Knicks you see the two interception interceptions something that you don't want to have to be a part of your game but I love what he did in the fourth quarter to get the Broncos within one possession of winning it three rookie quarterbacks got their starts their debut here in week one Caleb Williams the only one to walk away with the win and his effort left plenty to be desired as well it's going to be a tough jump no matter who you are taking that step to the next level and we saw that here from Nicks in his first game at the NFL level on the other side Mike McDonald he's the youngest coach in the NFL right now he's three years in change older than his starting quarterback he had a play caller in Shane walren that's not there anymore he's in Chicago working with Caleb Williams it's a whole lot of new and it looked like the same Seahawks team that has been competitive these last couple of years is that Gino is that the standard what do you attribute this consistency to I think just the culture that has been establish when you go back to the Pete Carol days you know Pete Carol the longl lasting Seahawks coach for quite some time winning coach is no longer there but the culture the foundation is still there and then you can bring in some young energy and Mike MCD Mike mcdonal a guy who's been around football for quite some time and clearly the players they respect what he brings to the table now you're starting to see the foundation being recreated all over again but under his tutelage so I can't wait to see exactly what he has in store but just hearing Gino talk about his young head coach tells me that he really respects him as a head coach and he believe he has the the Mind Set to be able to put them in the best positions to win ball games and it started today against the Broncos McDonald was at the helm of those nasty Ravens defenses here in recent memory we'll see if some of that nasty comes to reignite those TW who love some defensive football as show showed up just got to make the time he plays when they're there that's the Steeler style of football now one would think you know once Russell is back under the saddle as a starting quarterback the offense will do more lively especially taking shots down the football field and just the throwing game and that could open up running opportunities as well but to today Justin made plays with his legs he was getting out in space a lot of play actions a lot of boots and you know he he established a connection with George picking so this was a huge game for Pittsburgh just to kind of see what they could be defensively more than anything because I felt like the defense would have to carry this team knowing that Russell would not be starting the ball game knowing what we know now and seeing what we saw out of Justin Fields week two if Russ is a go what's the decision Russ Colts back in Action they got their starter Anthony Richardson's rookie campaign was cut short Colson season openers usually not good Texans trying to build off of their freshman QB from a year ago in CJ final the Colts now winless their last 11 season openers dating back to 2014 that's the second longest streak in NFL history Browns did it 17 straight year so you'll have to wait a bit longer but problem with the CT is it's been a different starter year after year after year Richardson looking solid in this one downfield nine of seven maybe back in this one now 16-7 mid fourth Patriots defense bringing pressure down goes burrow that's been the story of the career can they keep that Talent upright Bengals settling again for a field goal 1610 games next Drive bur dumps it off to Moss tackled well short of a first down on Third and long so another three and out for burrow in the Bengals defense needs a stop now suing Pat's possession wearing down on that clock ra Andre Stevenson sealing the deal the upset of the day Patriots shock the Bengals in week one and how about some Gatorade for the new headman Gerard Mayo leading his team in a gritty personality type win here as the Patriots get their eighth win in the last nine meetings with the Bengals Bengals and burrow they struggle early on 21 of 29 for a buck 64 and those week one week two struggles continue for Cincinnati which Kobe this stadium is stunned I'll be honest I'm a little stunned too what did we not know about this team that you guys put on display over the course four quarters our heart you know what I mean um y'all don't know the work that we put in through these last couple months you know and obviously everybody's counting us out going into you know a really good opponent and and I think we came out here and showed them what a good team we are know you know I mean we got good players but we also got a good team you know we executed our plan uh you know I mean I could be more proud of the guys you know it's it's it's one in this uh this chapter that we're doing but you know hell of a win on the road in a hostile environment versus a good team this is a players league but how would you describe as you laid out the plan the work that gerro and this staff your coordinator Alex fenel did to prepare you guys for this yeah I think I mean it it showed look we I don't know how many yards we rushed for and I know we stopped him on a run on defense you know what I mean the plan was to own aine scrimmage uh you know we got behind our big dogs up front and I think we did a good job with that you know sticking to the plan even when it got a little scary for for a little bit you know certain things weren't working we stuck with our plan because we know the work that we put in and you know like I said I could be more proud of the guys on both sides of the ball what makes from Andre Stevenson special just look at him look at him run um you know I mean he's tough he can I mean he's shaking people running downhill you know he's smart you know he's on the sideline telling us what type of runs he want to run uh you know I mean he he's he's a complete back you know I'm I'm I'm lucky to be on his team I know he's going to say that those guys up front did a hell of a job cuz they did you know our receivers and tight ends you know we probably didn't throw for a lot of yards but you know what they did in the Run game today showed what type of team we are you've had an incredible journey enjoy this one appreciate it man thank you thank you lot of stops on that Journey for the 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