Without a normal preseason and preseason, the 101st NFL season got underway Sunday missing perhaps its most important piece…the fans. However, that didn’t stop Week 1 from cranking some very notable moments.

UPSET OF THE DAY:

CARDINALS 24, 49ERS 20: DeAndre Hopkins caught a career-best 14 passes in his debut with the Cardinals to help stun the defending NFC champion in Santa Clara. The 49ers had multiple opportunities to take the lead late but the Cardinals defense held strong.

San Francisco’s defense allowed just one opponent to gain over 400 yards in total offense all season long last season – the New Orleans Saints. Thus, San Francisco’s D is already off to an underwhelming start. Meanwhile, the 49ers offense failed to get on track consistently.

One thing to note…their leading yardage receivers on Sunday were a running back, tight end, and fullback. Their ailing wide receiver corps didn’t deliver. Once their health is restored, the Niners will need a boost from their wide receivers…or else.

By the way, keep your eye on Kyler Murray. Incoming breakout season is on the way…

NOT-SO GOLDEN OLDIES:

SAINTS 34, BUCCANEERS 23: The much ballyhooed Tom Brady/Drew Brees meeting delivered a whimper. Brady threw two touchdown passes but also fired two costly picks in an 11-point loss in his Buccaneers debut while Brees countered with a meager 160 yards passing.

Rather than the league’s all-time top two passers in yardage lighting up the sky, it was Alvin Kamara’s two scores and Janoris Jenkins’s pick-six for a score that defined the Saints victory.

Tampa definitely looks like a team that hasn’t practiced much with all of their offensive talent in tow.

THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH:

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM 27, EAGLES 17: The Eagles jumped out to a 17-0 first half lead but gave up eight sacks and eventually its lead. Washington scored 27 unanswered points in the game’s final 30 minutes to defeat the Eagles for the first time in six games when Kirk Cousins was playing quarterback for the WFT. With the Eagles missing two starters on its offensive line, things likely will not get easier with Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams heading to the Linc next Sunday.

BEARS 27, LIONS 23: This game in a single tweet…

The Bears trailed in this game 23-6 in the second half at one point. God bless Lions fans.

Oh and shoutout to Jamie Collins.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS:

SEAHAWKS 38, FALCONS 25: Despite 450 yards from Matt Ryan, Seattle topped the Falcons thanks to another impressive effort from Russell Wilson. He went 31 of 35 for 322 yards with four touchdown passes and also led the Seahawks in rushing with 29 yards (yeah, that’s going to be a problem eventually).

It’s too bad Wilson’s lone Super Bowl win came as game manager Russ. He needs another to truly get the due he deserves.

PACKERS 43, VIKINGS 34: So the Packers neglected to get Aaron Rodgers a receiver in the first round of the draft and drafted a quarterback instead. His response? A mere 364 yards passing and four touchdown tosses. His most common connection was with Davante Adams, who caught 14 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers isn’t washed quite yet.

PATRIOTS 21, DOLPHINS 11: While Tom Brady struggled in New Orleans, Cam Newton found refuge in New England. The former Panthers quarterback rushed for two scores while leading the Patriots to a win. Oddly enough, things turned awkward at game’s end when Dolphins players trip rip Newton’s gold chain off for some reason.

THE MVP:

RAVENS 38, BROWNS 6: The 2019 NFL MVP LamarJackson tossed three touchdown passes and threw for 275 yards in an emphatic win and didn’t seem to break much of a sweat in doing so. Yes, the Browns are still the Browns…but Lamar Jackson is still Lamar Jackson.

THE REST:

CHARGERS 16, BENGALS 13: Joe Burrow had the Bengals set to tie things up in his debut but the Bengals bungled it.

JAGUARS 27, COLTS 20: The Jaguars were the only team in the NFL yesterday allowed to have fans in its stadium.

RAIDERS 34, PANTHERS 30: A late missed fourth down conversion doomed Matt Ruhle and the Panthers. GIVE THE BALL TO CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY.

BILLS 27, JETS 17: The Jets are going to be bad…really, really, bad. We’ll have to wait another week to see if the Bills are for real.

RAMS 20, COWBOYS 17: Trailing 20-17 late in the third quarter and facing fourth and 3 at the Rams 11, the Cowboys inexplicably went for it. They missed and they eventually lost.