Attention all football fans: The NFL season is officially underway. For the past couple of months, fans have been tirelessly anticipating watching their favorite teams. In particular, the New York Giants and Jets have enjoyed the presence of constant buzz. The Giants drafted a superstar in Saquon Barkley, and have a capable player in Odell Beckham. Jr. Meanwhile, the Jets drafted Sam Darnold in the hopes that he can act as quarterback for the next two decades. The hype has been tremendous for both teams, and last week they got to showcase what they have under their belts.

Although the Giants did end up losing in their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they proved to be solid opponents. This game served as a reminder of the Jaguars’ skills; people often forget that the team was once one step away from making the Super Bowl, with its elite defense. While the off-season was largely uneventful, Jalen Ramsey, superstar cornerback of the Jaguars, provided some entertainment with his raw trash-talk, stating that he does not believe Eli Manning is a skilled quarterback. Despite verbal attacks being intense the entire game, all eyes were on the Giants’ outstanding defense. In comparison, the offense looked bleak. Barkley was, on average, 2.2 yards per carry; however, he did impressively score a 68-yard touchdown later in the game. Giants fans were waiting for Barkley to make a big play and, though he stepped up to the plate, the rest of the team did not. The Giants found a ready offensive opponent in Leonard Fournette, but he was injured in the second quarter. The implication of this was that the Giants would have to go against a sub-par quarterback (Blake Bortles) with wide receivers the names of whom most NFL fans would not even know. Still, a victory was just out of reach.

No Giants fan wants to kick off the season with a score of 0-1, but there is still potential for this team to excel. The defense will improve as it plays more games together, and the offense will continue to score points. Beckham did have a great game himself, but with him receiving most of the team’s yards, the offense would have been completely lost without him. Eli Manning, meanwhile, has one of the best cores around him, so he must make sure that his offense continues to pose a threat. A team composed of Beckham, Barkley, and Engram should not be scoring touchdowns, even if the defense is elite.

The Jets told quite a different narrative with their first game. Although they ended with a solid victory, Sam Darnold’s first career play started off horribly. He rolled right and threw the football to a safety, who then ran it into the endzone for a easy pick six. However, the Jets can be commended for bouncing back after the mishap, prevailing over their challenger, the Detroit Lions. The Lions played every facet of the game poorly; their special teams were adrift, their defense was lackluster, and their offense was not up to par. It was quite the opposite situation for the Jets. Sam Darnold played exceptionally after his glaring mistake, extending plays and continuing to convert on third-downs. The running backs transcended expectations and the wide receivers constantly made significant catches to push down the field. The defense, too, was clean; Darron Lee had two interceptions and ran one of them in for a touchdown.

It’s undeniable that both teams show promise. The Giants will only improve from here on out. They can compete for the top spot in their division, but reigning Super-Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, will eventually reveal themselves to be a glaring obstacle. Meanwhile, Jets fans are ecstatic. Without a doubt, their week will be composed of nothing more than boasting to Giants fans. Still, only the following weeks will show what solidifies the Jets’ spot as a playoff contender.

It has only been one week, and there exist hardships ahead for both teams, but fans should remain optimistic. It is going to be a long season—an emotional rollercoaster—but whatever happens, the New York teams will surely be talked about every step of the way.