Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season, which began Thursday with the Eagles' opening-night win over the Falcons, continues Sunday with the season's first full slate of games. And the optimism around the league is real for good reason.
Five of the eight divisions in 2017 were won by a team that finished in third or fourth place in the division the previous season. Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
With that promise as the backdrop, the harsh reality is the fact that half the league will exit Week 1 with a shot of disappointment.
Below are Week 1 scores and stats from around the NFL, plus highlights and notable injury updates.
NFL scores: Week 1
NFL Week 1: Highlights, injury updates
Dolphins WR Kenny Stills left Malcolm Butler in his dust on the way to a 75-yard TD:
ZEKE!@EzekielElliott is in for the @dallascowboys TD!
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
📺: FOX #DallasCowboys #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/O7FsmZ237f
Double trouble wasn't a problem for Demaryius Thomas:
The @Cheetah just scored ANOTHER TD...
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
And now he's doing backflips too. 😏
Unstoppable.
📺: CBS #ChiefsKingdom #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/QdfuBmrQr6
Emmanuel Sanders didn't quite stick the landing, but his 43-yard TD/front flip combination was still impressive:
TOUCHDOWN, #Seahawks! @BMarshall ties it! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qfs4ofs7EY
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 9, 2018
Bradley McDougald, anotha one ☝️. #SEAvsDEN pic.twitter.com/nXH7q45R3S
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 9, 2018
WR Doug Baldwin (knee), will not return. #SEAvsDEN
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 9, 2018
That was easy 👀 @datblackmomba13
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
📺: CBS #ChiefsKingdom #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/l0XaXi2IRE
This effort by @Real_JordanReed to get six... 💯💯💯
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
📺: FOX #HTTR #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/Th5P2J77bn
.@Mac_BZ records his 1st INT as a member of the @titans. #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/Sklu5xIX14
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
Greg Olsen (foot) will not return.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) September 9, 2018
THIS ENDING!
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 9, 2018
Browns gonna Browns. pic.twitter.com/uq5MXBDwXb
He's GONE. AGAIN!
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
You're really not going to stop the @cheetah.
📺: CBS #ChiefsKingdom #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/lz5ty7RMEV
Tyreek Hill took it 91 yards to the house on his first touch of the season:
JOSH GORDON. 😱
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
Unreal. @JOSH_GORDONXII
📺: CBS #Browns #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/XuTsnhhZtr
Fumble.
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
Scoop.
SCORE!
Clayton Fejedelem is GONE!
📺: CBS #SeizeTheDEY #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/2Wjgc94wvS
WR DeSean Jackson has a concussion and will not return to the game.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) September 9, 2018
Giants rookie Saquon Barkley had a nice "Welcome to the NFL" moment:
Fitz to DJax Part 2! Bucs now lead 48-24!!!#GoBucs | #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/MvXRTZ7Iua
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 9, 2018
What was better: the escape job from Garoppolo, or the beautiful catch from the rookie Dante Pettis? #SFvsMIN pic.twitter.com/ohiLkDH0mx
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 9, 2018
Leonard Fournette (hamstring) is OUT.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 9, 2018
.@AB84...
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
Just incredible. 👏👏👏
📺: CBS #HereWeGo #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/RoxtITffJp
#Texans RT Seantrel Henderson suffered a broken bone in his ankle, sources say. Henderson was ruled out earlier. Unclear how long he’ll be out at this point.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 9, 2018
🚨WEATHER UPDATE🚨
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 9, 2018
3:00 PM - Players Return To Field
3:10 PM - Resume Play
We will play the remaining 1:11 of the 2nd quarter and then have a 6:30 halftime break. #TENvsMIA
Vikings Injury Update: CB Trae Waynes is questionable to return with a knee injury. #SFvsMIN
— Vikings PR (@VikingsPR) September 9, 2018
.@TyrodTaylor WILL DO IT HIMSELF!
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
TOUCHDOWN @BROWNS! #Browns
📺: CBS #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/I8e1tOvx55
Trae Waynes is questionable to return with a knee injury, the Vikings announce. He had a sleeve on his right knee at the end of the first half.
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) September 9, 2018
Marquise Goodwin is still in uniform, but his quad is still clearly bothering him. The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff. He’s on the bike behind the 49ers bench.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 9, 2018
First scoop-n-score of the 2018 season! #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/Jn054ga574
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 9, 2018
Goodwin's injury is to his quadriceps. he's questionable to return. Dante Pettis has been filling in.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 9, 2018
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette has a hamstring injury and is questionable to return to the game.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 9, 2018
Texans OT Seantrel Henderson is getting carted from the sideline to the tunnel.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 9, 2018
Brees finds Ted Ginn Jr. for a wide open 28-yard touchdown! #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/QmYihZmNV1
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 9, 2018
.@denzelward picks off Big Ben! #Browns
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
📺: CBS #Kickoff2018 pic.twitter.com/U8SQd7nWHU
It's the Smoke Show.@Jwalk_back12 pic.twitter.com/WpZBSeAfln
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 9, 2018
First ejection of the new helmet rule comes in the first quarter of the very first Sunday. pic.twitter.com/XFgEsXRZ2L
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 9, 2018
Fitz goes DEEEEEEEP to DJax for the TD!#GoBucs | #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/QqhcJsDfGj
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 9, 2018
GRONK IS SCORING TOUCHDOWNS! #GoPats #HOUvsNE pic.twitter.com/2dg6gBSnsi
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
Kamara draws blood first with a 5-yard touchdown run! #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/vnjxb6pfLr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 9, 2018
Yup. #GoPats | #HOUvsNE pic.twitter.com/IgtxOr6JH5
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 9, 2018
Just a little game of catch before #HOUvsNE…
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2018
With @JJWatt! 💪 pic.twitter.com/5StlNdLcyW
#Buccaneers rookie RB Ronald Jones is inactive. #TBvsNO
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 9, 2018
