Source: NFL.com
Summary
The 2026 NFL season opened with high-scoring games and strategic adjustments. The Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, helped Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry dominate the Colts, with Jackson throwing for 324 yards and a touchdown and Henry rushing for 144 yards and three scores. The 49ers, under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, limited the Rams to fewer than 200 passing yards. The Chiefs used a vintage Single Wing formation to score a touchdown against the Broncos. The NFL is seeing a return to old-school tactics, with more under-center plays and run-based strategies.
Our Reading
This one felt recognizable early.
Jackson and Henry looked unstoppable, with Jackson throwing for 324 yards and Henry adding 144 on the ground. The 49ers’ defense suffocated the Rams, holding them under 200 yards. The Chiefs used a throwback play to score a touchdown. Fans saw the same patterns: explosive starts, late pushes, and old-school tactics. The league is cycling back to run-heavy, under-center plays.
Author: Evan Null
Week 1 NFL Season Highlights
The 2026 NFL season kicked off with a bang, featuring high-scoring games and strategic shifts. The Ravens’ offense, led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, dominated the Colts, with Jackson throwing for 324 yards and a touchdown. Henry added 144 yards and three scores, showcasing the team’s explosive potential under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
The 49ers, under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, shut down the Rams, holding them to under 200 passing yards. The team’s defensive adjustments, including more pre-snap disguise and five-man fronts, proved effective against one of the league’s top offenses.
The Chiefs used a vintage Single Wing formation to score a touchdown against the Broncos, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes executing a counter-shovel pass to Kenneth Walker III. This throwback play, popularized by Glen “Pop” Warner in the early 1900s, highlighted the NFL’s return to old-school tactics.
Offensive coordinators across the league are embracing under-center plays and run-based strategies, with the percentage of under-center plays in Week 1 rising to 23.3%. This trend is part of a broader shift toward traditional formations and play-action passes to counter aggressive defensive schemes.
The NFL’s return to old-school football is evident in the increased use of tight end-heavy formations and downhill running concepts. With six 100-yard rushers in Week 1, the threat of the run is making it easier for quarterbacks and playcallers to succeed this season.
