Three NFL Teams Get Harsh Preseason Wake-Up Calls
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The preseason is supposed to build optimism, but for three NFL teams, the opening week delivered a sobering dose of reality. Two squads appeared alarmingly unprepared, while another discovered that even a win can carry an unbearable price.
Cleveland entered Saturday hoping to find clarity in its crowded quarterback competition. Instead, the Browns watched Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel each commit a turnover during a 34-10 thrashing by the Chicago Bears. Watson posted the strongest numbers of the trio, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards, but his fourth-down fumble handed Chicago the field position needed to erase Cleveland's early 10-point lead. Sanders followed with 79 yards and an interception. Gabriel threw two more interceptions as the game fell apart in the second half. The Browns do not need four quarterbacks who can look competent in flashes. They need one who can win regular-season games. Saturday provided no clear answer, unless the answer is that Cleveland remains dangerously close to entering another season without a reliable starter. Preseason stats can be dismissed, but three quarterbacks turning over the ball in the same afternoon cannot be ignored that easily.
In Atlanta, the Falcons hoped to gain insight into their quarterback battle. Tua Tagovailoa got the first shot, but after five passing attempts, Atlanta knew little more than before kickoff. Tagovailoa completed three passes for 22 yards as the Falcons' first two drives ended in punts. Atlanta eventually lost 27-7 to Denver, managing only 166 total yards and converting just three of 12 third-down attempts. The quarterback did not hide behind the preseason label. "Definitely not up to standard, not even up to par," Tagovailoa said afterward, according to ESPN. Atlanta can point to penalties, a fumbled snap, and limited playing time, but none of that changes what the performance revealed. The offense is being asked to survive while Michael Penix Jr. recovers from another knee injury, and Tagovailoa did nothing Friday to make that arrangement feel comfortable. The Falcons have time to fix it, but they may need every minute.
Minnesota technically escaped its preseason opener with a 13-10 victory over the New York Giants. But nobody inside the organization will care much about that score after Jamal Adams was carted off with a right knee injury. Adams had joined the Vikings in July and was already being moved between linebacker and safety. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores appeared to have found another versatile piece to disguise coverages and create pressure. That plan may have disappeared after only 11 defensive snaps. "You're just crushed for him," coach Kevin O'Connell said on the television broadcast. "The role that he was kind of paving for himself, and then just having a personality and experienced toughness that he brought in such a short amount of time. We're going to miss him and we're going to need to see some guys here step up. But what I told Jamal is our organization, we've got our arms around him. And he's a part of this thing. But you absolutely hate to see that." The Vikings did not lose because of poor quarterback play or a collapsing defense. Their reality check was crueler: a player expected to fill a specialized role could be gone before Minnesota ever had the chance to unveil it. That is the miserable bargain of preseason football. Coaches want answers, but sometimes the price of receiving one is far too high.
Article commentary
The preseason is a delicate balancing act for NFL teams. It offers a chance to evaluate talent, build chemistry, and test schemes, but it also exposes weaknesses and, as the Vikings learned, can inflict devastating injuries. Each of these three teams now faces a distinct set of challenges that will define their trajectory heading into the regular season. Cleveland's quarterback situation is the most glaring. The Browns have invested heavily in Deshaun Watson, yet his performance on Saturday—a fumble on a critical fourth down—did little to inspire confidence. The presence of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel further muddies the picture. Sanders, a rookie, showed flashes but also threw a pick. Gabriel, a veteran, looked shaky with two interceptions. The Browns must decide whether to stick with Watson as the unquestioned starter or open the competition wider. History suggests that quarterback controversies rarely end well, especially when the team lacks a clear hierarchy. Cleveland's offensive line and running game are solid, but without reliable quarterback play, the entire offense could sputter. The preseason is not the time to panic, but the Browns need to see progress soon. Atlanta's situation is more nuanced. Tua Tagovailoa was brought in to stabilize the position while Michael Penix Jr. recovers, but his brief outing was uninspiring. The Falcons' offensive line struggled with penalties, and the play-calling seemed conservative. Tagovailoa's own admission that the performance was "not up to par" shows accountability, but it also underscores the pressure he faces. Atlanta's offense is built around speed and timing, and any disruption at quarterback can derail the entire unit. The Falcons have time to adjust, but they cannot afford to waste the early part of the season figuring out what they already suspect. If Tagovailoa cannot elevate the offense, the front office may need to explore other options, whether through trade or backup development. Minnesota's loss is the most painful because it is not about a lack of talent or preparation. Jamal Adams' injury is a cruel twist for a defense that was just beginning to integrate him. Brian Flores' system relies on versatility and deception, and Adams was a key piece in that puzzle. His ability to play both linebacker and safety allowed Flores to disguise coverages and generate pressure from unexpected angles. Without him, the Vikings will need to adjust their scheme or rely on less experienced players. The emotional toll on the team should not be underestimated either. O'Connell's comments reflected genuine concern for the player, but the organization must also pivot quickly to find a replacement. The Vikings still have a talented roster, but this injury could force them to simplify their defensive plans, which could be exploited by savvy opponents. Overall, these three teams illustrate the unpredictable nature of the preseason. The Browns and Falcons have time to correct their offensive issues, but the Vikings face a more existential problem: the fragility of a season that can change in an instant. The lesson is clear: while preseason games are often dismissed as meaningless, they can reveal truths that no team wants to confront. Whether it's a quarterback battle that remains unresolved, an offense that looks lost, or a key player going down, the reality check is brutal. For these three franchises, the next few weeks will be critical in determining whether they can turn these early warnings into eventual success or if the preseason was merely a harbinger of the struggles to come.