Opening Night Filled With Legends, Sloppy Offense

The 2018 NFL season officially kicked off last night in the Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens. This year’s Hall of Fame class includes contributor Bobby Beathard, linebacker Robert Brazile, safety Brian Dawkins, guard Jerry Kramer, linebacker Ray Lewis, wide receiver Randy Moss, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and linebacker Brian Urlacher. All of the inductees, except Terrell Owens who was not present, were honored prior to the game.

Brian Urlacher made his way across the field, slapping the hands of all members of his previous team before Ray Lewis came out with his famous introduction dance. After the stars were honored, the two teams represented by those two hall of famers took to the gridiron to try and get the kinks worked out. Kinks there were plenty.

The game featured six turnovers and twelve sacks, mostly by 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stringers who are looking to secure roster spots and elevate their position on the depth chart. Individuals who took the field of note are:

1. Robert Griffin III: After being out of football for 2017, RG3 was the first quarterback on the field for the Ravens. Griffin finished 7/11 for 56 yards, a touchdown, and a pick.
2. Lamar Jackson: The dynamic quarterback out of Louisville finished the game 4/10 for 33 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. Jackson also had 25 yards on the ground.
3. Javon Wims: The 7th round draft pick for the Bears out of Georgia was the lone bright spot for the Bears offense, hauling in 7 catches for 89 yards.
4. Kamalei Correa: The third-year linebacker out of Boise State was the player of the game for Baltimore. He manhandled the Bears offense all night, finishing the game with 3 sacks, an interception, and forcing a fumble.
5. Adam Shaheen: The 2017 2nd round pick by the Bears is expected to be a dynamic playmaker for years to come. However, Shaheen was unable to register a catch against deep bench players. That does not bode well for Shaheen or the Bears.

Another major story of the night was the officiating. This was the first time we got to see how the officials on the field would try and enact the rules implemented in the offseason, most notably, the use of the helmet. If anything can be learned from the one game last night, it is that the officials will hold the defender responsible for any use of their helmet, no matter the position of the offensive player. This is something that fans are going to be up in arms about all season as this rule is more subjective than the previous “catch” rule. Get ready for an NFL fan mutiny over these calls/non-calls all season.

Overall, football is back and that is all that matters. The interviews with the hall of fame inductees were insightful and humanizing. It is always interesting to hear legends reflect on their career and the people around them who made it possible.