NFL Hokies: Week 1 recap

BLACKSBURG – The 2024 NFL season officially kicked off Thursday night, Sept. 5th, with a highly anticipated AFC Championship rematch between the Ravens and the reigning Super Bowl LVIII champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. With 52-man rosters now set, Hokie fans are eager to watch their favorite Virginia Tech alumni back in action at the professional level. In this latest edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola, we’ll recap standout performances from Week 1 and highlight key matchups to watch in Week 2. 

T Christian Darrisaw 
Christian Darrisaw delivered a standout performance for the Vikings, effectively neutralizing the Giants' edge rushers. Alongside teammate Brian O'Neill, Darrisaw's efforts resulted in just two combined pressures and no sacks on 28 dropbacks by Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold. The Hokie alumni received a 79.4 offensive grade with an 80.9 run block grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF).  

K Joey Slye 
Kicker Joey Slye was flawless in his first matchup with the Patriots, delivering a perfect performance. Slye connected on all three of his field goals and converted his lone extra-point attempt, contributing to Sunday’s 16-10 victory over the Bengals. Each of Slye’s field goals came from within 40 yards, with his longest, a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter, securing a crucial nine-point lead for the Patriots. 

QB Tyrod Taylor 
During the Jets' tough matchup against the reigning NFC champion 49ers, Tyrod Taylor entered the game in the fourth quarter and made an immediate impact. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 36 yards, including a touchdown. His scoring pass, a dart in the endzone to wide receiver Allen Lazard, marked the Jets' second passing touchdown of the game. 

CB Kendall Fuller  
After four seasons with the Commanders, cornerback Kendall Fuller impressed in his first week with the Dolphins. In the matchup against the Jaguars, Fuller recorded six tackles, including a TFL for 0.5 yards. His strong performance earned him a 79.1 tackle grade from PFF as he heads into Week 2. The ninth-year veteran also registered two stops and played 100% of the snaps on defense. 

G Wyatt Teller 
Two-time Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller turned in an impressive performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, earning high marks from PFF. He recorded an 84.0 pass-blocking grade and a 78.9 overall offensive grade across 60 pass-blocking snaps, standing out as the top performer on the Browns' offensive line during the game.  

Notable Week 2 Matchups 

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS 
The 49ers will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, with both teams coming off season-opening wins. This will be their first meeting since 2023 when the Vikings secured a 22-17 victory. The game also features a Hokie vs. Hokie showdown between tight end Logan Thomas and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw. In his debut season with San Francisco, Thomas will look to make an impact on a talented offense, while Darrisaw's standout performance in Week 1 sets the stage for an exciting contest. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX 
The Lions will host the Buccaneers to kick off Week 2, featuring an NFL Hokies matchup between tight end James Mitchell and offensive lineman Silas Dzansi. The connection between these two Tech alumni runs deep as the duo were teammates from 2018 to 2021. Tampa Bay will look to flip the script in a rematch of last season's NFC Divisional Round matchup where the Lions edged out the Buccaneers 31-23 at home. 

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC 
The Bears will face the Texans in the Sunday night game, their first matchup since 2022, when the Bears won 23-20. Houston will showcase NFL Hokies Dalton Keene and defensive tackle Tim Settle. They’ll go up against former Hokies on the Bears, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and running back Khalil Herbert. This clash of alumni promises an exciting battle of familiar faces.