Week 1 of the NFL preseason is in the books, and as always, the overreactions and takes are coming in hot.

In some cases, the developments related to player performances — or lack thereof — are a sign of things to come. Other results shouldn’t be read into too much.

Here’s fighting through the headlines and social media noise to tell you what’s true and most important coming from the league’s first weekend of action.

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NFL preseason Week 1 takeaways and overreactions

Overreaction: Justin Fields can win Steelers’ starting QB ‘battle’

Fields has been faring well in Arthur Smith’s offense in training camp. He carried that over in his passing action vs. the Texans (5-of-6, 67 yards, 11.2 yards per attempt, 2 sacks, 113.2 rating). He didn’t do much running but looked smooth on deeper throws.

The problem was, Fields also fumbled twice, something of which coach Mike Tomlin was quick to remind reporters after the game. Tomlin has been steadfast in sticking with Russell Wilson as the QB1 while Wilson has battling a calf injury. There was plenty of familiar Bears-like, youthful shakiness from Fields to suggest he won’t have time to convince Tomlin otherwise in the short term, even if Wilson remains on the sideline during preseason action.

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Overreaction: Joe Burrow needs more work to prove ‘he’s back’ for the Bengals

Burrow (5-of-7, 51 yards passing, 7.3 yards per attempt, TD, 131.5 passer rating) had a signature series of work against the Buccaneers, his first action since his season-ending wrist injury in 2023. That was key given Burrow was hurt for the preseason a year ago and got off to a slow start last season.

Burrow and the Bengals will feel a little better about his durability going forward after he’s in position to take a few more hits, but just getting that positive, healthy work points to a 2022-like campaign.

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Overreaction: Daniel Jones ‘needed’ to play in the Giants’ preseason opener

Jones, meanwhile, is waiting to make his preseason debut following his season-ending knee injury until Week 2 against the Texans. Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito are no threats to his job, and Jones can look forward to returning to a revamped offense featuring new go-to receiver Malik Nabers.

This is a make-or-break season for Jones post-contract, but there’s no danger of him being usurped short-term for injury recovery concerns. Expect him to play well on Aug. 17.

Overreaction: Dak Prescott can’t waste more time waiting for his big Cowboys contract

Prescott has been lighting up camp even while wide receiver CeeDee Lamb sits out looking for his own lucrative next contract. Unfortunately, Prescott has come up lame with a minor ankle injury, keeping out vs. the Rams. Prescott should still want to wait out the Cowboys and use his leverage as a pending 2025 free agent. This is the same organization that paid him big-time the first time after his scary midseason ankle break in 2020.

Prescott has QB contract power not seen since Kirk Cousins kept playing his game of franchise tag, and Prescott’s previous injury will remind Jerry Jones how valuable Dak is in Dallas’ pass-happy attack.

Overreaction: Jordan Love still hasn’t proven he deserved his big Packers contract

Love, whose Packers beat Dak’s Cowboys in the playoffs, simply completed both of his dropbacks against the Browns for 63 yards and a TD, opening the preseason with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

He looks all the more dangerous with the Packers’ young receiving depth rounding into form. He was worth every penny of his new $220 million contract.

Overreaction: The Vikings should hand their starting job to the rookie QB

First-round pick J.J. McCarthy, despite his camp struggles, looked every bit the franchise passer and runner in his debut against the Raiders, a team that was heavily rumored to draft him at one point.

However, Sam Darnold, also solid in the game, has been the much better QB in camp and has a strong coaching and schematic connection in his favor on top of the obvious experience edge. Darnold remains the favorite to start Week 1 of the regular season, but the brutal early slate opens the door for McCarthy later in the first half of the season.

MORE: Analysis and highlights from McCarthy’s preseason debut

Overreaction: The Raiders shouldn’t hand their starting job to the second-year QB

The Raiders had Aidan O’Connell play first — and play well — instead of Gardner Minshew vs. the Vikings. The competition felt like a draw during the game, but note that O’Connell has done plenty to impress in the new Luke Getsy offense.

Minshew might have seemed like the right bridge path, but O’Connell is turning out to be the better choice for a longer addition before the Raiders dip into the rookie QB pool in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Overreaction: Jim Harbaugh is facing a rough first season with the Chargers

The Chargers are having a major overhaul in scheme and personnel, but Harbaugh has gone through extreme makeovers before and created expedited turn-arounds. Having Justin Herbert (ankle) ailing through the jelling process is difficult, as is working in several defensive players in a new 3-4 scheme.

However, it’s clear Harbaugh’s motivational tactics are changing the vibes in the right direction, which is more important than anything else. A wild-card spot is well within reach.

MORE: 3 takeaways from Harbaugh’s Chargers coaching debut

Overreaction: Jerod Mayo is facing a bumpy head coaching transition with the Patriots

Mayo has been dealt a tough hand in trying to be an immediate success while replacing his former coach, Bill Belichick, but the strong defensive mentality showed up well against the Panthers, as one might expect from the former star leader at linebacker.

There’s definitely some welcome youthful energy for a team that had been so old for so long.

Overreaction: Baltimore’s defense won’t miss a beat

The Ravens’ defense looked strong all-around with good pass-rush pressure and run-stopping against the Eagles. Linebacker Trenton Simpson starred for the now Patrick Queen-less front seven, but Queen is a big loss, as is the ace play-calling of Mike Macdonald, who left to be the head coach in Seattle.

The in-house promotion of Zach Orr will help, but it will be difficult to keep up the same level of playmaking production from last season with key changes.

Overreaction: Seattle’s and Tennessee’s defenses will struggle in the regular season

The Seahawks are now benefitting from Macdonald’s smart, aggressive influence. They will be much improved up front with their sacks and plays on the back end off that pressure. Their preseason dominance against an undermanned Chargers offense wasn’t a total fluke.

The Titans also tapped into the Ravens’ staff, plucking Dennard Wilson to boost their secondary and pass rush. In a copycat league, the Ravens’ versatile hybrid scheme has great appeal, and the effects will be seen right away in Nashville, just like it was against San Francisco’s B Squad in preseason Week 1.

Overreaction: The Jets’ offense limits their upside as post-hype preseason sleepers

The Jets got through the initial wave of rookie QB Jayden Daniels’ dazzling passing and running to put together a typical solid defensive performance against the Commanders. Whatever might be happening with Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson, and the offense, they just need to be above average on that side of the ball to be a serious AFC East title threat.

The Jets might be in position to win a lot of games with scores similar to their 20-17 victory over the Commanders on Friday.

Overreaction: Everything remains so-so for second-year QBs

Stroud and Anthony Richardson, the most hyped from the class of 2023, did their thing for their respective AFC South teams. For the Colts, seeing Richardson get meaningful work against the Broncos and shaking off some rookie injury woes was huge, but it’s more like Stroud and Richardson are simply picking up where they left off in 2023.

Bryce Young didn’t see action for the Panthers in the new offense with higher hopes, while Will Levis had a solid outing. The 2024 class is getting all the buzz, but ’23 might make an equal dent on the league.

MORE: Analysis and highlights from Caleb Williams’ preseason debut

Overreaction: The first-round rookie QB class remains overrated

Jayden Daniels went off in limited action. Caleb Williams immediately tapped into his high ceiling with his improvisation, passing, and running. Michael Penix Jr. matched J.J. McCarthy with some natural big playmaking. Bo Nix got his turn last and blasted off working with the starters for the Broncos despite his silly second-string status. Drake Maye didn’t do much, but he also didn’t get much of a chance to do anything.

There was a lot of skepticism about whether this class deserved so many high picks. Now, there’s a chance five will make meaningful starts at some point in ’24, with Penix on standby in case of another Kirk Cousins injury setback.