NFL Week 1 stats to know: Packers, Vikings have new looks, Cowboys offense faces tough test vs. Buccaneers

A large part of what makes Week 1 so exciting — aside from the simple fact that football is back — is the unknown. How will offseason additions fit in? Which players and teams will surprise? We just don’t know what to expect. Still, we can look at some past trends to take our best guess.

Let’s break down two of the most anticipated games this week. The numbers present two fascinating matchups.

Packers at Vikings

When the Packers have the ball…

Gone are Davante Adams and his 169 targets from last season. In is… well, we’re not quite sure. Sammy Watkins? Christian Watson? Romeo Doubs? Those three offseason additions, along with holdovers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, are expected to be Aaron Rodgers‘ top wide receivers.

Rodgers indicated last month that he wants both of his top running backs — Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon — on the field at the same time. Last season, Green Bay ran just 29 plays with multiple running backs on the field, 23rd in the NFL. Nearly a quarter of those (seven) came in one game: Jan. 2, 2022 against… the Vikings. In that game, Jones had 106 yards from scrimmage, and Dillon had 83 yards from scrimmage and two scores.

That’s something to keep an eye on. Jones hauled in 52 receptions last year, tied for sixth-most among running backs, and his six receiving touchdowns were second behind only Austin Ekeler. Dillon, meanwhile, caught 34 of his 37 targets; his 92 percent reception rate was second in the NFL behind only James Conner.

It’s hard to know exactly what this Green Bay offense will look like, but we know one thing: Rodgers has absolutely dominated in-division games recently. Over the last two seasons, Rodgers has thrown a mind-blowing 38 touchdowns and ZERO interceptions against NFC North opponents.

When the Vikings have the ball…

The Vikings also have a new look, but for a different reason: They still have their dominant wide receiver (Justin Jefferson), but they have a new coach in Kevin O’Connell, a product of the Sean McVay coaching tree.

One major staple of McVay’s offense is play-action. Last year, the Rams averaged 8.9 yards per play off play-action, second only behind the 49ers. This should fit Kirk Cousins‘ biggest strength perfectly.