Reaction to the NFL’s Season Opener

First of all, what a game! The NFL could not have gotten a more intense ending to a game with two of the best teams in the league. Entering into this matchup, the Ravens were on a quest to dethrone the back-to-back Super Bowl Champions. They would come up just a few inches out-of-bounds short of sending the game to overtime. With such an thrilling ending to this matchup, what are the key takeaways for NFL fans?

Derrick Henry struggled, but it’s not his fault

All offseason people loved the move for Derrick Henry going to the Ravens because of the combination of him in the backfield with Lamar Jackson. I was skeptical and a little confused by the scheme fit for Henry and sure enough, I was proven right in this game. In this matchup, Lamar did run wild, except for the few times that the Chiefs put a QB spy on him. However, Derrick Henry was extremely inefficient as he finished with 13 carries for only 46 yards. He did get a touchdown in the first quarter, which saved fantasy managers who had Henry in their lineups. The biggest problem for the Ravens is that they are a zone-run scheme team that works with Lamar’s skill set to utilize the QB read-option, however, Henry doesn’t fit this scheme as he is a downhill power back. Now there is hope for the Ravens and Derrick Henry, as they are committed on the offensive side to running the ball. They are even one of the few teams in the NFL to carry a dedicated fullback on their roster. This running game will take time to develop, so don’t expect Henry to put up a lot of yardage in this offense early on in the season.

Rashee Rice is Patrick Mahomes’ Guy

For those who have Rashee Rice on their fantasy lineup, congratulations you have gotten a steal. The Chiefs had Rashee Rice operate out of the slot for the vast majority of this game and Patrick Mahomes heavily favored throwing it to him in that area. Juju Smith Shuster was in this same role a few years ago and it was so beneficiary that it got him a contract with the Patriots. Rashee Rice got so many targets in the middle of the field, and even with the Ravens having some of the best linebackers in the league, Rice was still wildly productive. Mahomes loves to get the ball out fast and Rice will be the main beneficiary of this offensive style.

This Chiefs Defense is legitimate

Chris Jones is absolutely worth every penny the Chiefs gave him this past offseason. Chris Jones all night long demanded a double team and yet he was still able to make a massive impact in both the run and passing game. He was able to get around a double team and still get a strip sack on Lamar forcing a crucial turnover for the Chiefs early on in the game. However, it isn’t just the defensive line. Trent McDuffie and this secondary prevented Lamar and this offense from pushing the ball downfield all night long. With a stout defense like this, the Chiefs won’t be going down in my rankings anytime soon.

Lamar Jackson still has a chip on his shoulder

This was Lamar Jackson’s chance to finally beat Mahomes in Arrowhead and he couldn’t capitalize on it. He had the chance on the goal line to tie the game up in the final seconds but he missed Zay Flowers in the back of the endzone and then Isiah Likely couldn’t pull off a miracle with zeros on the clock. Lamar Jackson will now likely have to wait for the playoffs until he can attempt to get his revenge on Mahomes and the Chiefs.