Offensive line play, run-pass distribution, insufficient targets to Tyler Lockett, Tedric Thompson’s inexplicably mistimed leap, head-scratching flags, dubious playcalling on downs with high yardage to go — there were plenty of legitimate grievances to be aired after the narrowest of wins in Week 1: Seattle Seahawks 21, Cincinnati Bengals 20.
But the offensive line will get better; it often does. Well, except in 2013, when it was pretty porous the whole way, and somehow didn’t matter.*
Run-pass distribution will even out; it always does. A single game doesn’t mean much in the long term when you have a coaching staff committed to splitting the pass and run selection quite evenly over the course of a season.