This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
It wasn't ideal -- I had the Pats plus seven from before we knew Cam Newton had COVID -- and they probably should have covered anyway. But more importantly, I had the Packers minus seven in the Supercontest and as my Survivor pick, and they took care of business nicely.
- Brian Hoyer was terrible. The sack at the end of the first half that cost them a field goal was unconscionable, and the sack-fumble in the red zone where he held the ball for 10 minutes was arguably worse. It's one thing when a young, mobile QB tries too hard to make a play, but an old, slow vet just needs to get rid of it.
- Jarrett Stidham wasn't much better. It's funny it was ever even considered a competition between him and Cam Newton. I saw a take (which sounds plausible) that the Pats talked up Stidham to get more leverage in acquiring Cam on the cheap: "Hey, we're set with our franchise QB for the next 10 years, so we're not going to offer you much, but sure, if you want a shot at a ring, we'll sign you for cheap and let you compete for a job."
- I mocked the attention given to Damien Harris all preseason, but he looked legitimately good, rushing for 100 yards on 17 carries. Cam Newton will still see most of the goal-line work when he returns, James White (8-7-38) is the preferred pass catcher and Rex Beasthead is still around, so the ceiling is modest, but Harris seems like a player.
- The Pats defense kept the Chiefs in check -- KC scored 26 points, but one of the TDs was on a pick six, and the Pats DBs dropped two would-be interceptions. The referees also chipped in with a cheap personal foul on an out-of-bounds hit on Patrick Mahomes and an early whistle on what should have been a fumble and return for New England.
- Nearly all of the Chiefs key skill players contribute every week, but none has had a monster game yet. It's coming.
- Harrison Butker missed another PAT. He's more Greg The Leg than Justin Tucker.
- Julio Jones aggravated a hamstring injury and had to leave the game. Big receivers don't typically age well, and the older you the harder it is to shake off injuries. I'd expect him to miss some time.
- Calvin Ridley failed to catch any of his five targets, including a near-TD thrown behind him. Olamide Zaccheaus (9-8-86) led the receivers, but the Packers didn't give up big plays.
- Todd Gurley still has good vision, and his effort was good, but there's no explosiveness anymore. At least he scored twice.
- The Packers top three WR heading into camp were Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Devin Funchess. Aaron Rodgers had none of them available, his No. 4 Marquez Valdes-Scantling (8-4-45) did little and yet Rodgers still threw for 327 yards on 9.9 YPA with four TDs, no picks and only one sack. Russell Wilson and Josh Allen are having great years, but Rodgers should be in the MVP discussion too.
- Aaron Jones (15-71-0, 5-5-40-1) didn't have to work that hard as Jamaal Williams (8-10-0, 8-8-95) was also heavily involved.
- Robert Tonyan (6-6-98-3) was the fantasy star of the game, and that's probably not a fluke, as he's scored in three straight games and now has five TDs on the year. Apparently he also worked out with George Kittle this offseason. He's easily a top-10 TE already and probably closer to top five.
- Now that Bill O'Brien broke the seal, so to speak, maybe Falcons coach Dan Quinn will be next.
