NFL Scores Week 1: Least-Satisfying Victories in Season Opener

A win is a win—until a win is that atrocious.

Week 1 of the NFL season wasn’t rampant with upsets. Looking at the scores, though, at least two teams that won should be upset with their performances. Here they are—the pair of clubs that won’t write home about the outcome of their games despite being on the winning end.

Detroit Lions

After Andrew Luck torched the St. Louis Rams secondary for 188 passing yards and two touchdowns in just four possessions of preseason work, one would’ve imagined Matt Stafford having a career day against them in Week 1.

So much for that.

While Stafford recorded 355 passing yards, he also threw three interceptions. One pick was thrown behind his intended receiver in the end zone. And another Cortland Finnegan returned for a touchdown to give the Rams a 13-7 lead.

Detroit came back to win 27-23, but Stafford’s decision making was such a joke that the Lions can’t be content with their performance.

Philadelphia Eagles

Of course, Detroit can always say, “At least Stafford wasn’t as pitiful as Michael Vick” (or Brandon Weeden).

Vick threw a whopping four interceptions against the lowly Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to be the superior team—and at least its defense looked the part forcing four turnovers and holding Trent Richardson to 39 rushing yards—but it only won by the score of 17-16.

According to Bovada, Philly was 9.5-point favorites over the Browns. They should’ve dominated. They didn’t, though, because Vick is still an interception machine.

He threw 14 interceptions in just 13 starts last season, and this year he’s on pace to finish even worse. Unless Vick begins to look like his 2010 self again, there’s no way the Eagles make any noise this winter.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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