The first game day of the NFL preseason is over. From a poignant comeback to rookie power to stumbling offenses.

Bears offense runs away from everyone

The Chicago Bears’ offense upgraded in the offseason and tested the new arsenal in the first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans (23:17).

Newcomer D.J. Moore converted a screen pass into a 62-yard touchdown, running back Roschon Johnson (a fourth-round pick this year) gained yard after yard and rookie tackle Darnell Wright was allowed back on the bench after one drive, probably securing his starter’s spot.

Justin Fields’ work record at the end of the game included three completions (on three pass attempts) for 129 yards and two touchdowns. A big part of that was the ability of the pass receivers after the catch.

A positive offensive development for the Bears, who came out of the bottom of the league in most relevant passing categories last year, driven by a number of newcomers and young talents.

From too small! Rookie playmakers playing big

Numerous rookies made their NFL debuts over the weekend. Among them were Deuce Vaughn (running back, Dallas Cowboys), Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (wide receiver, Houston Texans) and Derius Davis (wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers).

During the NFL Draft, there were concerns about the small stature of all three youngsters – and all three firmly countered that criticism in their first preseason game.

Vaughn showed off his agility and contact balance as a runner, leaving rows and rows of Jaguars defenders standing like slalom poles. Dell showed quick and clean route running as a receiver and collected many yards on his own after the catch. Davis showed his breakthrough top speed, scoring a touchdown as a punt returner.

Damar Hamlin makes comeback

Damar Hamlin is back on the football field after suffering a heart attack last season. The safety made his comeback in the Buffalo Bills’ preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts (23:19).

Hamlin is not only a player with a touching story, but also added sporting value directly on the turf.

The 25-year-old made three tackles and stopped the Colts’ fourth attempt with a hit on running back Evan Hull before the ball carrier could even get another first down.

Ravens extend historic record

The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, continue to add to their historic winning streak.

A touchdown pass from quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Tyler Huntley and two field goals from kicker Justin Tucker gave head coach John Harbaugh’s team a 20-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Thanks to the win, the Ravens have extended their winning streak in the preseason – Baltimore has won the past 24 games.

“This was a good start. We played with a lot of energy and urgency. We’ll use these games to improve and learn,” Harbaugh said. Maybe the Ravens will also use the games to continue making history.

Rams confirm question marks

The Los Angeles Rams have been in a state of flux since their Super Bowl victory about a year and a half ago. Several stars have left the team, seasoned veterans are struggling with injuries and the roster is particularly thin on depth.

37 rookies are currently under contract with the Los Angeles Rams. Accordingly, the first game of the new season was chaotic for Head Coach Sean McVay’s team.

The Californians went down 17-34 to the Los Angeles Chargers. “We were expecting it. A lot of players dipped their toe in the water for the first time today and I’m looking forward to us improving week by week,” McVay said after the game.

Offenses of 49ers and Panthers stumble

There is room for improvement for the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers offenses as well. Both enter the upcoming season with high expectations, and neither has been able to live up to their potential.

The 49ers, with many starters sitting out, are still searching for a starting quarterback. In the absence of Brock Purdy, however, the other options failed to convince in the 7:34 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Trey Lance’s stat sheet looks decent, but somewhat clouds the picture of a quarterback who has all the physical assets, but still lacks the accuracy and decision-making necessary to best utilise the offence. It should be noted, however, that the 49ers’ offensive line didn’t have much to counter the Raiders’ pass rush.

For the Panthers, the offense never got going and didn’t score a single point in a 27-0 loss to the New York Jets. The offensive line also struggled and didn’t look good for long stretches – even at the start of the game with the potential starter line-up. Bryce Young’s debut was entertaining and unspectacular – which is not wrong per se.