Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the Colossus of Week 1

Amid so much offseason talk about other quarterbacks, the Kansas City star slammed the table on opening day with a message: “I’m still here.”

From a wide receiver who tore up the packerseven a safety that did everything against the reigning champions of the AFC; the NFL was packed with fantastic performances in Week 1.

However, an old constant face in our lists, season after season, earned the place of honor with a colossal start against one of the teams that, supposedly, will fight for everything in the NFC.

Without further ado, we present to the Colossus of the Weekfollowed by the names that earned honorable mention spots, as always, in strict alphabetical order, as we recognize the individual best of the first day of regular season action:

Interestingly, only one quarterback made the list of best individual performances on Sunday — remember, we didn’t include those who play on Thursday, so Josh Allen of the buffalo bills he was left out this time — but this one passer got the place of honor.

Mahomes he completed 30 of 39 passes for 360 yards with five touchdown passes, with no interceptions.

What more could you ask for?

In an offseason where the media and fans seemed in a rush to find the league’s next great young quarterback, Mahomes The campaign kicks off with a slap match on the table and the message: “I’m still here”.

Throughout the afternoon, Mahomes dedicated himself to unraveling the coverage schemes of the Cardinalsthrowing touchdown passes to Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman, Jody Fortsonand two for Clyde Edwards Helaire. He completed passes with nine different teammates, and suffered a fumble, but not lost.

Outside of what was achieved Allen on Thursday night, that no one can say was not brilliant, no quarterback overshadowed him on the day Mahomeswho looked fit for half a season.

honorable mentions

Davante Adams, wide receiver, Las Vegas Raiders. No one can blame adams for the defeat of the raiders. In his first official game wearing the black and silver, adams terrorized high school The Angels with 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, while opening up passing opportunities for the tight end Darren Waller. If there is still any doubt about the value of adamsyou just have to see what he suffered Green Bay this day without him.

AJ Brown, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles. Brown showed instant returns in his first game with the colors of Phillycatching 10 passes for 155 yards in the Los Angeles win. eagles Over the Lions, by 38-35. Though he didn’t find the end zone, he was impossible to cover throughout the afternoon, winning with speed and strength against smaller-bodied defensive backs.

Saquon Barkley, running back, New York Giants. It was a breath of fresh air for the giants see to Barkley healthy, first of all, and then playing at such a high level. Barkley he rushed the ball 18 times for 164 yards with a touchdown, and had six catches for 30 more yards. If he manages to stay healthy, there is still a chance that Barkley become that offensive pillar they dreamed of in New York when he was taken second overall in the draft.

Ja’Marr Chase, wide receiver, wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals. chase It was a real nightmare all afternoon for the Pittsburgh Steelerseven when his own teammates didn’t play up to it. The star of Cincy He had 10 passes for 129 yards and a score, and made one of the most spectacular catches of the day, one-handed, in the end zone, which however was determined as an incomplete pass because the tip of his second foot was, barely out of the end zone.

Nick Chubb, running back, Cleveland Browns. Kareem Hunt took home a couple of touchdowns, but Chub was the locomotive that kept the Brown’s. With 22 carries for 141 yards, Chub dismissed any notion of a dominant defense of the panthers with a stunning performance. The hope of his owners in fantasy leagues is that they don’t forget him once they approach the end zone.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety, Pittsburgh Steelers. Fitzpatrick intercepted one of four passes he threw Joe Burrow at the hands of the rival in the afternoon, returning it to the touchdown. Until then, it would have been enough to include it on our list, but that was not all. The star safety of pittsburgh deflected the extra point attempt out of time with which the Bengals intended to win into regular time, sending the game to overtime, where they eventually won pittsburgh. To this we must add that he led his team with 14 tackles, 10 of them solo, and also scored a deflected pass.

Leonard Fournette, running back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay generally looked gray offensively in Dallas, taking the victory by virtue of his counterpart being even worse. However, the most redeeming for the Bucs It was a dominant exit from fournettewho amassed 127 yards on 21 carries, and two catches for 10 yards, in one of his few genuine opportunities as a primary running back since arriving at Tampa Bay. As if that were not enough, one of the outstanding plays of the night was scored, with a violent block on Micah Parsons that will appear in many sports summaries.

Alex Highsmith, linebacker, Steelers. It’s not the name that immediately stands out on the team’s defense. pittsburghbut highsmith complied with three of the seven captures that marked the Steelers against Cincinnati afternoon. The Bengals invested heavily in upgrading their offensive line to better protect Burrowbut for pittsburghit was more of the same as in 2021 in terms of pressure on the quarterback Cincy.

Justin Jefferson, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings. Had it not been for Mahomes, Jefferson it would have been ours Colossus of the Week. No player was more instrumental in his club’s victory than Jeffersonwho spent the afternoon roasting the defensive backs of the packers. There were nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns, with the Vikes quickly putting the game out of reach of their divisional rivals.

Khalil Mack, linebacker, linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers. Another of the players who showed immediate impact on his first outing in new colours, Mack dispatched with three sacks against the team that spurned him a few years ago, after he was named Defensive Player of the Year of the NFL. The third of the catches on Derek Carr –part of a collective six-sack effort– put the final nail in the coffin for the raiders in sofi stadium.

Cordarrelle Patterson, running back, Atlanta Falcons. It no longer makes sense to keep calling him a wide receiver. Patterson, who shone this afternoon on the ground with 22 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown, and only three catches for 16 yards. The question now is how long will they continue to recharge the falcons his ground attack on it, or if it will just be a weapon for a few weeks as part of a rotation.

De’Andre Swift, running back, Detroit Lions. Finally we saw the Swift that projected the Lions when he was selected in the second round of the 2020 Draft: a double threat with explosiveness anywhere on the field. Swift he ran the ball 15 times for 144 yards with a touchdown, and caught three passes for 31 more yards. The Lions they fell short in the comeback attempt, but what they saw of Swift must have left them with a good feeling.

Jonathan Taylor, running back, Indianapolis Colts. Despite playing from behind for most of the match, taylor he received his quota of work by land and, as expected, he responded positively. He carried the ball 31 times for 131 yards with a touchdown, and caught four passes in the afternoon, one that ended in disappointing fashion for indiewith a draw against Houston Texans.

Michael Thomas, wide receiver, New Orleans Saints. There was a triumphant return that we witnessed in the narrow victory of the saints Over the Atlanta Falconswith Thomas scoring two touchdowns in the fourth period to complete the comeback of New Orleans. It was five catches for 57 yards, the two most important at the critical moment, for a wide receiver we’ve missed so much the last couple of years.