2024 NFL Preseason Week 1 Reviews

Ladies and gentlemen, football is back! Well, preseason football is back at least, and with that, we have some information to analyze. And thus, fantasy implications.

Preseason wins are no doubt irrelevant. Preseason scores are useless. Preseason stats are meaningless. Player usage, though? Actually pretty important — well, at least if you’re a fantasy football player.

If — for instance — Chase Brown finishes the preseason playing on 70% of the Bengals first-string snaps, you can expect him to catapult up our rankings. If he plays on just 20% of the team’s first-string snaps, he’d surely move down our rankings a bit.

Don’t watch preseason football? Or, rather, didn’t track first-team snap counts by hand? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. That’s what this article is for.

Preseason Game Reviews Week 1

TL;DR

• No surprise: Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker on Patriots third-team offense (for now)

• Tyrone Tracy has the inside edge as the Giants RB2

• Najee Harris (9 snaps) and Jaylen Warren (8) split work right down the middle (out of 17 first-team snaps)

• Cole Kmet’s role trending down? Gerald Everett was on the field ahead of Kmet on three of the Bears 4 third-down pass plays lined up as a big slot receiver

• Aidan O’Connell starts

• A.J. Dillon works as Packers RB2 behind Jacobs; Marshawn Lloyd pulls hamstring

• Marquise Brown in jeopardy of missing Week 1 (shoulder)

• Isiah Pacheco is primed for a massive role

• It just keeps getting worse for Quentin Johnston: The Chargers didn’t have McConkey or Palmer on the field on Saturday night, and Johnston still worked in with the second-team

• Marvin Harrison Jr.’s debut didn’t last long – he played three snaps on the opening drive and then got the night off

• Ken Walker’s stock is up

Thursday, August 8th Games

Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots

Panthers

Carolina rested all of their key starters. The Panthers sat 33 players on Thursday evening.

Patriots

Did not play: TE Hunter Henry (rest), WR Demario Douglas (hand), WR Kendrick Bourne (knee)

New England started Jacoby Brissett and he got the opening drive, but went 0-for-3 passing. Rhamondre Stevenson took the first carry of the game for 11 yards and then was put on ice. He played 4-of-4 snaps with the first-team.

The Patriots “starting” three receivers were KJ Osborn, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Austin Hooper was the starting TE with Hunter Henry getting rest. This is not a surprise or newsworthy at all, but the team is making the rookie wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker earn their playing time.

Brissett got his drive and then Drake Maye got the next possession, which lasted six plays. Maye completed two passes to his running backs and that was about it. Antonio Gibson was stonewalled on his four carries, but he converted a third down screen from Maye for a first down. Maye rested after his one drive.

After the game, HC Jerod Mayo said that this was the plan all along — Brissett and Maye each get a drive, then it’s Zappe time.

The rookie Ja’Lynn Polk didn’t get onto the field until the Patriots third-team offense took over with Bailey Zappe. He got three short targets and caught all of them for 17 yards. Javon Baker entered the game with the third-team offense as well and was targeted four times (2/11 receiving).

Zappe played for most of the game, but the Patriots gave Joe Milton some run to close out the second-half. Milton’s mobility was on display as he extended multiple plays with his legs. He’s a project, but his legs give him some upside. The Patriots know what they have in Zappe.

Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants

Lions

Detroit rested all of their key starters. We didn’t learn anything fantasy-relevant here on Thursday night.

Remember Dononvan Peoples-Jones? Well, he’s in severe danger of being cut by the Lions it seems. Antoine Green and Daurice Fountain played ahead of Peoples-Jones for the entire first half.

Giants

Did not play: QB Daniel Jones, RB Devin Singletary, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton (rest)

We got our first look at Malik Nabers on Thursday night, even though almost all of the Giants starters rested. Nabers played 12 snaps with Drew Lock, but wasn’t targeted. Honestly, this was the best outcome possible for Nabers’ fantasy value. He is already getting steamed up enough. Any highlight reel play would have vaulted Nabers’ ADP even higher.

Lock left the game early with a sore hip.

The only thing we learned about the Giants is that rookie Tyrone Tracy has the inside edge as the team’s RB2 behind Singletary. Tracy played on 11-of-13 snaps on the Giants opening three drives. The rookie is battling Eric Gray for the backup job.

Gray only got two snaps with the Giants “first” team. However, he made the most of his work with Tommy DeVito and the second-team with a nice 48-yard TD run in the second quarter that was set up by great blocking and a sick one-on-one open field cut by Gray.

Tracy’s best ball ADP (192 overall Underdog | 183 overall DraftKings) should rise based on this early usage, though. It’s a great sign for his RB2 stock that he played ahead of Gray this early.

Friday, August 9th Games

Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins

Falcons

Did not play: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, WR Ray-Ray McLoud

We didn’t learn anything about Atlanta this week after they rested all of their starters. #8 overall pick Michael Penix started and went 9-of-16 for 104 yards with the Falcons second- and third-stringers.

Dolphins

Did not play: QB Tua Tagovailoa, RB Raheem Mostert, RB De’Von Achane, WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Odell Beckham (PUP), TE Jonnu Smith, TE Durham Smythe

We also didn’t learn anything about Miami. The talented rookie Jaylen Wright played behind Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed, which should be expected in early-August. Achane played behind those two RBs last preseason, too. I can’t believe the league let the Dolphins get him – it’s a perfect fit between player and scheme. Wright popped for 5.4 Yards Created per carry (second-best in class).

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Texans

Did not play: RB Joe Mixon (quad), WR Noah Brown (shoulder)

C.J. Stroud and the Texans first-team played six snaps on Friday night. Their opening drive ended in a three-and-out, but Stroud found Tank Dell for a long score on the ensuing possession on third-and-8. Dell is like 7/11 – always open.

Houston’s snap counts with Stroud (out of 6 plays): Stefon Diggs (6), Nico Collins (6), Dalton Schultz (6), Dameon Pierce (6), Tank Dell (4)

The Texans are likely to rotate their receivers pretty heavily this season with the addition of Diggs. OC Bobby Slowik used more of a rotation than most teams last year. In their nine full games together, Collins ran a route on 71% of the Texans pass plays while Dell’s route share was 69%. Collins was the first-read 26.4% of the time while Dell’s first-read share was 21.2%.

In these nine games, Collins averaged 16.4 PPR points per game (WR13) while Dell was right behind him at 16.2 FPG (WR14). Collins finished as a top-24 scoring WR on a weekly basis in 6-of-9 outings while Dell did so in 5-of-9 games.

Steelers

Did not play: QB Russell Wilson (calf), WR Roman Wilson (ankle), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (NFI list)

Justin Fields and the Steelers first-team offense played three drives (17 snaps) on Friday night. A botched center-QB exchange and a three-and-out mired what was otherwise a pretty decent opening outing by Fields (5-of-6 for 67 yards).

Unsurprisingly, the Steelers were balanced with Fields. New OC Arthur Smith called 8 runs to 9 pass plays. Najee Harris (9 snaps) and Jaylen Warren (8) split work right down the middle. Warren took an even bigger slice of the pie from teammate Najee Harris last season, going from 32% of the snaps as a rookie up to 48% in 2023.

This will be a true committee once again.

These were the Steelers WR/TE/RB route counts on Fields nine dropbacks: Pickens (9), Jefferson (7), Freiermuth (6), Austin (5), Harris (3), Warren (3), Washington (1). With Roman Wilson (ankle) sidelined, Van Jefferson has emerged as the Steelers WR2 for now.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens

Eagles

The Eagles rested almost everyone with a fantasy pulse except for Ken Gainwell, Will Shipley, and Johnny Wilson.

As expected, Gainwell is ahead of Shipley at this point. Gainwell played the first 11 snaps with the “first-team” offense, and then was put on ice. Shipley took over in the middle of the second drive. The RB2 battle behind Saquon Barkley is very much still on.

Johnny Wilson started and played into the third quarter (1/7 receiving on three targets). He’s way ahead of fellow rookie Ainias Smith, who didn’t get a snap until the middle of the third quarter. As it stands right now, the Eagles depth chart is: 1) Brown 2) Smith 3) Campbell 4) Wilson.

Ravens

As always, the Ravens rested all of their key starters in Week 1. Rookie WR Devontez Walker is behind Tylan Wallace, Malik Cunningham, and Keith Kirkwood right now. All three of those receivers rotated ahead of Walker before he entered the game. He was targeted once in the game on 9 routes.

Saturday, August 10th Games

Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets

Commanders

Did not play: TE Zach Ertz (rest)

Jayden Daniels and most of the Commanders starters took the field on the opening drive and marched right down the field, capped off by a Daniels TD on a zone-read keeper. He overthrew Austin Ekeler on a screen on 2nd down, but other than that, it was a stellar opening drive.

Brian Robinson (6 snaps) and Austin Ekeler (5 snaps) split work on the 11-play drive, and then were put on ice. Robinson and Ekeler both got a chance at the goal-line before Daniels cashed in the TD.

Jahan Dotson lined up in the slot while Dyami Brown worked as perimeter receiver in 3-WR sets with Daniels. Dotson stayed on the field in 2-WR sets.

These were the Commanders WR/TE/RB route counts on Daniels’ three dropbacks: Terry McLaurin (3), Jahan Dotson (3), John Bates (3), Austin Ekeler (2), Brian Robinson (1), and Cole Turner (1),

Rookie WR Luke McCaffrey didn’t get onto the field until the second half. He was targeted three times (2/25 receiving).

Finally, Ben Sinnott is currently fourth on Washington’s depth chart, but that probably won’t last long. Ertz did not play, so John Bates started and Cole Turner rotated in as the second TE in 12-personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR).

Sinnott was the Commanders leading receiver (3/57 on three targets), including this 44-yard highlight reel run and catch up the seam. He was a beast after the catch in college.

He led Kansas State in receiving (49/676/6 in 12 games) last year and posted some pretty strong figures in both yards after the catch (6.8 | fifth-best in class) and missed tackles forced (0.31) on a per reception basis. For reference, Brock Bowers led the TE class in MTF per reception (0.32) per PFF. This is all the more impressive when considering that Sinnott led the TE class with a strong 10.1-yard average depth of target downfield. He was dominating after the catch and making defenders miss on generally deep targets for a tight end. For comparison, Bowers’ aDOT (6.5 yards) was significantly lower. The strong numbers are backed up by Brett Whitefield’s film analysis.

Jets

The Jets rested all of their key offensive and defensive starters.

Braelon Allen is the front-runner to back up Breece Hall in Week 1. Allen played the first 11 snaps of the game on the opening three drives and then was put on ice. Allen had a couple of nice explosive runs through big holes on the third drive and a nice blitz pickup on 2nd and 9 on the first possession. Isaiah Davis took over after Allen, making him the RB3 right now. Israel Abanikanda didn’t get onto the field until the second half.

Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills

Bears

Did not play: RB Roschon Johnson (undisclosed injury | did not practice August 6th-8th per Bears beat reports)

We got our first look at Caleb Williams and the Bears new-look offense over two drives (20 snaps) of work. Williams connected with D.J. Moore on a 3rd and 12 first down conversion and D’Andre Swift had a huge explosive catch and run on the opening drive. Williams made a ridiculous throw on the run to Cole Kmet and had a key first down pickup on 3rd and 9 on the second drive as well.

Swift took the first snap (and carry) of the game and had the big play on the short throw from Williams and that was it. His night was done after two snaps. Khalil Herbert worked as the second RB in rotation with Roschon Johnson (undisclosed injury) out on Saturday.

These were the Bears WR/TE/RB route counts on Williams 10 dropbacks: Keenan Allen (10), Moore (7), Rome Odunze (6), Cole Kmet (5), and Gerald Everett (5).

Everett was on the field instead of Kmet on three of the Bears 4 third-down pass plays lined up as a big slot receiver. New Bears OC Shane Waldron brought over Everett from their time together with the Rams and Seahawks. Kmet was only the TE20 in route share last season at 62% so he can ill-afford a split with Everett if he’s going to remain a streaming TE fantasy option.

Bills

Did not play: Ty Johnson (hamstring)

Josh Allen played the first quarter (8 snaps) and then got the rest of the day off. Mitch Trubisky came onto the field in the middle of the Bills second drive.

These were the Bills WR/TE/RB route counts on Allen’s four dropbacks: Keon Coleman (4), Dawson Knox (4), James Cook (4), Dalton Kincaid (3), Khalil Shakir (3), Curtis Samuel (2), and Marques Valdes-Scantling (1). Coleman is already the top perimeter receiver. The Bills figure to be near the top of the league in 2-TE usage with Kincaid and Knox involved heavily in the passing game. Kincaid will primarily play in the slot while Knox will get more of the traditional in-line TE snaps.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings

Raiders

Did not play: WR Davante Adams (rest)

QB Aidan O’Connell started and played on the opening drive (14 snaps). As expected, Zamir White got the start, and he played on 11-of-14 snaps with the first-team. RB Alexander Mattison worked on three passing plays (2 were on third-down).

TE Brock Bowers lined up as an in-line TE (5 snaps), out of the backfield (3), out wide (2), and in the slot (1) on his 11 snaps on the opening drive. Bowers reeled in both of his targets for 25 yards. He’s talented enough to ding Davante Adams and Meyers’ target share.

Teammate Michael Mayer lined up only as the in-line TE (10 snaps) and in the slot (2). With Adams out, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker worked as the Raiders top two wideouts.

Gardner Minshew was the second in command. Meyers, Mayer, Bowers, and White did not come back out onto the field for the second drive.

Vikings

Did not play: WR Justin Jefferson (rest), RB Aaron Jones (rest), TE Robert Tonyan (back)

QB Sam Darnold got the start and played on the opening drive (12 snaps). Jalen Nailor has won the Vikings WR3 job and worked alongside Jordan Addison in the Vikings 2-WR sets. Nailor and Addison were on the field for all 8 of the Vikings pass plays. Brandon Powell ran 5 routes. TE Johnny Mundt (7 routes) ran ahead of Josh Oliver (3).

J.J. McCarthy took over on the second drive and played into the third quarter. McCarthy threw a bad interception on his first possession on third and 8 where he was late and the CB undercut the ill-advised throw. After that low point, McCarthy settled in. He closed the game 11-of-17 for 188 yards and 2 TDs (1 INT), including this dime to start the third-quarter. McCarthy showed his mobility and ability to extend plays multiple times with two scrambles for 18 yards (one first down pick up on 3rd and 5).

Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns

Packers

Did not play: TE Tucker Kraft (pectoral)

Green Bay’s starters didn’t stay in the game for long because Jordan Love and Dontayvion Wicks only needed one 65-yard play to score a TD. Wicks absolutely roasted his man to get wide open.

These were the Packers WR/TE/RB route counts on Love’s two dropbacks: Luke Musgrave (2), Josh Jacobs (2), Romeo Doubs (2), Christian Watson (1), Dontayvion Wicks (1), and Jayden Reed (1).

A.J. Dillon came in as the second RB in rotation on the second drive and then his night was over after 7 snaps.

The biggest news from this game was that RB Marshawn Lloyd tweaked a hamstring injury and did not return to the game after his one carry in the 3rd quarter. Lloyd missed the start of camp with a hip injury, too.

Josh Jacobs runway to a larger than expected role in Week 1 is clear. HC Matt LaFleur has not given a single RB more than 50% of the team’s carries since 2019 (Aaron Jones – 57%). Since 2020, his lead RB has averaged between 48% to 42% of the total carries.

Browns

Did not play: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Amari Cooper, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Elijah Moore, TE David Njoku, RB D’Onta Foreman, RB Nyheim Hines

The only fantasy-relevant player to suit up for the Browns was RB Jerome Ford. He played all eight snaps with Jameis Winston and the “first-team” on the opening drive, and then got the night off.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Buccaneers

Tampa Bay did not play any of their starters in their preseason opener.

Bucky Irving got the start at RB and rushed for 6/28/1. Chase Edmonds (undisclosed) hasn’t practiced in two weeks.

Bengals

Did not play: RB Zack Moss (illness) and WR Ja’Marr Chase (rest)

Joe Burrow marched the Bengals down the field on their opening drive (5-of-7 passing for 51 yards), capped off by a 10-yard TD to Tee Higgins.

RB Chase Brown got the start and played on all 13 snaps on the opening drive with Zack Moss out sick. Brown got six touches, but only managed 10 yards.

These were the Bengals WR/TE/RB route counts on Burrow’s seven dropbacks: Higgins (7), Trenton Irwin (7), Andrei Iosivas (7), Mike Gesicki (6), Chase Brown (5), and Drew Sample (2).

Rookie WR Jermaine Burton didn’t get onto the field until the second quarter, but he balled out with 3/82/1 receiving on four targets. Burton’s 38-yard TD showcased his speed where he cooked the cornerback and accelerated upfield for the score. Burrow will have his best ever receiving corps this season with Burton’s speed added and Iosivas coming along as a versatile option. In his final season at Alabama, Burton posted a class-high 20.2-yard average depth of target downfield while lining up outside on 81% of his routes (PFF).

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Chiefs

Did not play: WR Kadarius Toney (back) and WR Justin Watson (foot)

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs first-team offense started and played on the opening drive (6 snaps). Unfortunately, Marquise Brown was injured on the opening play after he was tackled down on his side. Brown suffered a sternoclavicular fracture (shoulder) and he will be in jeopardy of missing Week 1. After the game, HC Andy Reid said that this was the same injury that Tyreek Hill suffered in 2019, which caused him to miss four games. We’re 25 days away from Opening Day.

These were the Chiefs WR/TE/RB route counts on Mahomes’ four dropbacks: Rashee Rice (4), Travis Kelce (4), Isiah Pacheco (4), Xavier Worthy (3), Skyy Moore (3), and Noah Gray (1).

My biggest takeaway: Pacheco is primed for a massive role. We got a small glimpse of what this could look like to close out last regular season and into the playoffs. Across eight starts with Jerick McKinnon out (or in a reduced role), Pacheco averaged 19.5 PPR fantasy points per game. This would have made him the RB3 in points per game behind only CMC and Kyren Williams.

Pacheco ran a route on 50.4% of the Chiefs pass plays without McKinnon last season, which was a huge jump up from 34.1% in Weeks 1-11 with McKinnon on the field. If he sustains that route share this season, he’s a back-end RB1 at the absolute worst attached to Mahomes.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire didn’t get onto the field with Mahomes, but he was the second RB in rotation on the following drive with the second-team. He played four snaps (2 carries, 0 yards) and then got the night off. CEH has been battling some mental health issues this summer and has taken a few days off from practice during training camp to get right.

Deneric Prince played on the third, fourth, and fifth drives for the Chiefs, and then didn’t return. Prince took his four carries 18 yards and added 2/10 receiving. Prince is on Edwards-Helaire’s heels for the RB2 job and has been working ahead of CEH in training camp practices, per Chiefs beat reports. It seems like if Prince improves in pass protection, he’ll have a shot to back up Pacheco.

Jaguars

Did not play: RB Keilan Robinson (toe)

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars first-team offense got a short field on their opening drive thanks to a great kick return. Lawrence cashed in with a TD on a nice inside option route by Travis Etienne.

Their second drive ended with Lawrence taking a sack on fourth and 5 while Evan Engram was running wide open over the middle on a China route. It was a sight that Jaguars fans are all too familiar with. Jacksonville’s starters took the night off afterwards.

These were the Jaguars WR/TE/RB route counts on Lawrence’s five dropbacks: Brian Thomas (5), Gabe Davis (5), Evan Engram (5), Christian Kirk (4), Travis Etienne (3), and Luke Farrell (1).

RB Tank Bigsby didn’t get a snap with the Jaguars first-team; Etienne took all nine snaps. Bigsby got on the field for the third drive and took his three carries for 28 yards. His 9- and 19-yard gashes are the two best runs he’s put on film in a Jaguars uniform. Jacksonville needs Bigsby to step up so he can take some of the workload off of Etienne’s shoulders.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans

49ers

HC Kyle Shanahan rested any starter or contributor on offense that will have a pulse in Week 1.

With Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring), and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) all out with injuries, RB Jordan Mason has a clear path to winning the RB2 job according to 49ers beat writer Nick Wagoner. Mason played the opening drive and finished with 6/34/1 rushing. He got the rest of the day off afterwards. RB Cody Schraeder was the following RB in rotation.

Titans

Did not play: WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee)

Will Levis and the Titans got some great starting field position on their opening drive. After three brutal short-yardage play calls at the goal-line, the Titans got bailed out after a 49ers holding penalty gave them 1st and goal from the 1-yard line. Levis snuck in for a TD on the next play.

Tony Pollard was the starting RB and got the first attempt at a goal-line carry, but Tyjae Spears was the one to get the short score on their second and final drive.

Overall, Pollard and Spears split snaps 8 to 6 (out of 14).

These were the Titans WR/TE/RB route counts on Levis’ five dropbacks: Calvin Ridley (5), Treylon Burks (5), Tyler Boyd (4), Tony Pollard (3), Tyjae Spears (2), Chig Okonkwo (3), and Josh Whyle (2).

Ridley had a crucial catch and run on third and 10 on the Titans second possession to keep the drive alive. He looks like he still has a quick top gear in the open field. Pollard then had two gashing runs to set up Spears’ short score. The Titans rested starters afterwards.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Seahawks

Did not play: QB Geno Smith, WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, RB Ken Walker, and TE Noah Fant

Seattle rested most of their crucial starters, but kept WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the field for the opening three drives (22 snaps total). JSN caught his two targets for 13 yards. RB Zach Charbonnet played a handful of snaps (5) on the first drive, and then got the night off.

Starter Ken Walker was rested. New OC Ryan Grubb hyped up Walker’s ability in the passing game, signaling that a larger role might be on tap. More passing game work is all that Walker needs to morph from a low-end RB2 to possibly a low-end RB1. In their 13 games together, Walker saw way more carries than Charbonnet (189 to 60) but the rookie played more in the passing game over Walker. Charbonnet ran 183 routes to Walker’s 152. However, the only running backs that saw a higher share of their team’s carries than Walker (66%) last season were Josh Jacobs (77%), Kyren Williams (69%), and Joe Mixon (67%).

Yards Created readers know that Walker has the talent to excel and we saw his tackle-breaking ability display to the highest degree last season. He finished second in missed tackles forced per touch (0.33) behind only Jaylen Warren (0.35) while Breece Hall (0.31) rounded out the top-3. The Seahawks offensive line is the biggest question-mark here. They ranked a lowly 28th in Scott DiBenedetto’s rankings.

Chargers

Did not play: QB Justin Herbert (foot), RB Gus Edwards, RB JK Dobbins, WR Ladd McConkey, WR Josh Palmer, RB Kimani Vidal (undisclosed)

Even though they didn’t have their starting QB or many of their best skill-players, the Chargers offensive line played on the opening drive.

It just keeps getting worse for Quentin Johnston: The Chargers didn’t have McConkey or Palmer on the field on Saturday night, and Johnston still worked in with the second-team. Johnston is behind DJ Chark, Simi Fehoko, and Brenden Rice right now. Those three receivers played on the first 2 drives, and then Johnston got on the field. He ran 11 routes and wasn’t targeted.

New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals

Saints

Did not play: WR Rashid Shaheed (hamstring), RB Kendre Miller (hamstring), TE Juwan Johnson (foot), WR Bub Means (shin)

Derek Carr played two drives (9 snaps) and went 2-of-6 passing for 12 yards. He targeted Chris Olave four times, connecting once on a 3rd and 5 first down pickup. The Saints went three-and-out on their second drive and Carr, Olave, and Alvin Kamara’s nights were done.

Cardinals

Did not play: QB Kyler Murray, RB James Conner, TE Trey McBride, WR Greg Dortch, WR Michael Wilson, WR Zay Jones, RB Emari Demercado (shoulder)

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s debut didn’t last long – he played three snaps on the opening drive and then got the night off. Trey Benson got eight carries but found no running room (21 yards). He had a 15-yard catch on a screen wiped out due to a penalty. Benson got the night off in the middle of the second quarter while RB Michael Carter played into the third quarter with the third-stringers.

I really hope that you didn’t watch much of this game. I still have PTSD from what Desmond Ridder did to the Falcons offense last year.