5 offseason myths dispelled in Week 1

After a seven-month offseason spent dissecting free-agent additions and draft picks, it's easy to confidently predict how teams will look and perform, but until they kick off, no one actually knows.

An opening-night shocker from the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots sent out a sharp reminder that even the top experts don't know what's going to happen on game day. Here are five myths that were built up over the offseason and crumbled before the end of Week 1.

Myth: Bengals' offense is stocked with firepower

Instead of reinforcing the offensive line, Cincinnati opted to beef up its weapons, expecting to become a wide-open, fast-paced scoring machine.

Despite the addition of Joe Mixon as well as a healthy A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert, the Bengals could not muster a point in their 20-0 loss to the division-rival Ravens. A lack of protection played a major role in Andy Dalton's inability to throw the ball to his own team as the seventh-year quarterback notched four interceptions and a lost fumble, the most turnovers he's ever committed in a single game.

Green was the only one to put up a respectable scoreline with 74 yards on five catches. Meanwhile, Mixon grabbed 9 yards on eight carries and first-rounder John Ross was out with injury. Getting excited about the Bengals' firepower may have been jumping the gun.

Myth: Browns still can't compete with good teams

After a 1-15 season a year ago, the Browns made plenty of roster improvements this offseason, but they couldn't have gotten that much better, right? And they'd gone 4-30 against the defending division champion Steelers since 2001. So there's no way Cleveland could compete with Pittsburgh, right? Especially not with the third-youngest Week 1 starting quarterback ever.

Wrong. Dead wrong. DeShone Kizer, 22, showed no fear in the face of the Steelers' defense, completing 20-of-30 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Pittsburgh barely edged the Browns 21-18. That's Pittsburgh, a team many picked as top-three material this season and a Super Bowl contender with the likes of Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown leading the offense.

Brown definitively balled out for the Steelers, accounting for 182 of their 263 passing yards, including a game-sealing catch in triple coverage. But few teams have a playmaker like AB, so if that's what it takes to stop the Browns, Cleveland should have plenty more than one win in 2017.

Myth: Marshawn Lynch won't be the same after year of retirement

Most human beings would not be able to take a year away from sports, return at age 31, and play as physically as Lynch typically has throughout his career. But there's only one Beast Mode.

Despite his year away from the game and the abundance of injuries he suffered before his initial retirement, Lynch looked as good as anyone could expect. He ran for 76 yards on 18 carries along with 16 yards receiving, leading the game in rushing and having a great time doing it.

Myth: NFL defenses know the book on Carson Wentz

Wentz began the 2016 season as one of the best quarterbacks in football through three weeks. After a Week 4 bye, though, he began declining into a mediocre-to-poor performer, routinely attempting the same throws to the same receivers.

However, Wentz came out on fire in his second season. While the Eagles added receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, the former second overall pick used some familiar targets Sunday to suggest he's more than a three-game wonder. Wentz passed for 307 yards, completing 26-of-39 passes for two touchdowns and relying on 2016 teammates for most of his production.

*Player wasn't on 2016 Eagles roster

Myth: Jaguars can't win with Blake Bortles

How could the Jaguars possibly beat the league's top 2016 defense with a quarterback who can't help but turn the ball over?

Run the ball and play defense, apparently.

Despite sticking with Bortles as their starter, the Jaguars easily handled the Texans, who returned J.J. Watt to the field after missing 13 games in 2016 but lost 29-7. Bortles only needed to complete 11-of-21 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown as the Jaguars' defense absolutely dominated the Texans, notching 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Quarterback play is overrated.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)