NFL Week 1 preview: 5 essential things to watch, like Joe Burrow’s return, the new-look Falcons, and more

Every year, without fail, the urge for “FOOTBALL” strikes up within me after Labor Day. It’s uncanny.

Don’t get me wrong. I consider myself a football expert who keeps tabs on the league throughout the offseason. Or, at least, I try to. (Please don’t send me angry emails.)

But free agency, the draft, and any anodyne practice news just don’t carry the same weight as tangible games with genuine drama. The juice of offseason and preseason churn isn’t always there for me. That’s because NFL games are soap operas like no other. They’re an eclectic cornucopia of efficient strategy, hard feelings, mind-boggling decision-making, and skin-crawling tension. Sometimes, it really feels like you’re watching a prestige TV show, unsure about the next wild plot twist that will put a deep pit in your stomach.

That prospect in itself makes me much more thrilled about the 2024 NFL opening weekend finally being upon us.

All season long, I will give you a picture of what I’m watching for over the upcoming NFL weekend. To the best of my ability, this preview column will serve as a table-setter, a means to contextualize what you’ve seen so far and what’s most important in the league week by week.

This Sunday is a doozy. We’ve got a hyped rookie quarterback making his debut as the hopeful savior of a tormented franchise. We’ve got established Super Bowl contenders trying to make the best of their likely remaining time together. We even have (formerly) lovable losers who now have to face down one of the most dangerous opponents in the NFL — high expectations.

This is For The Win’s Week 1 preview for the 2024 NFL season. Dearest readers, let’s dive in and have some fun.