Week 1 could expose NFL’s most overrated contenders

September is generous. Every weakness can be called a concern, every injured veteran is supposedly progressing well and every contender is one good break away from the Super Bowl.

Then somebody has to play. Week 1 cannot ruin a season, although it can tear through months of convenient excuses. These four teams may not enjoy what the opening weekend reveals.

Commanders cannot hide their roster problems

Washington’s ugly preseason finale was easy to dismiss because Jayden Daniels and several starters watched from the sideline. The problems surrounding them were harder to explain away.

Cornerback Trey Amos and left tackle Laremy Tunsil will begin the season on injured reserve. Edge-rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson have also dealt with injuries. That leaves a thin roster looking even thinner before Washington visits Philadelphia.

Daniels is good enough to disguise plenty. Expecting him to compensate for shaky protection, an aging roster and a vulnerable defense is asking for weekly magic tricks.

If the Eagles control the line of scrimmage and push Washington around, nobody will care that it happened in Week 1. The offseason warning signs will have their first piece of evidence.

49ers are still living off familiar names

San Francisco looks terrific when the roster is read aloud. The trick is getting those players through an actual game.

George Kittle is returning from a torn Achilles. Nick Bosa is working back from another ACL injury. Both are traveling to Australia for the opener against the Rams, but boarding a plane and being ready for an NFC West fight are not quite the same thing.

The 49ers have earned respect under Kyle Shanahan. They may also be receiving too much credit for what previous versions of this team accomplished.

Los Angeles will test its age, health and depth immediately. A convincing Rams victory would force San Francisco to confront an unpleasant possibility: The championship window may have closed while everyone was admiring the view.

Steelers may miss Mike Tomlin quickly

Apparently, Pittsburgh changed coaches without lowering expectations. Convenient.

Mike McCarthy inherits a strong defensive foundation, but the offense still has to prove it can do more than survive. Meanwhile, Joey Porter Jr. only recently returned from a back injury and has not offered a firm commitment about playing without a new contract.

Atlanta is a dangerous opening opponent because Bijan Robinson can turn a slightly disorganized defense into a long afternoon. The Falcons do not need anything fancy. They can test Pittsburgh’s discipline, tackling and patience until something breaks.

A loss would not condemn McCarthy. A flat, sloppy performance might make Steelers fans appreciate the stability Tomlin provided a little sooner than expected.

Bears have become fashionable too quickly

Chicago reached the playoffs last season, Caleb Williams is entering Year 2 with Ben Johnson and the offense has enough weapons to attract national attention. The jump from promising to legitimate contender, however, has happened awfully fast.

The secondary is already bruised. Kyler Gordon remains on the physically unable to perform list with no clear return date, while Coby Bryant could miss most of the season following knee surgery.

Carolina is not viewed as an NFC heavyweight. That makes this trip more dangerous, not less.

A close win would be forgiven. A loss featuring the same defensive leaks and uneven stretches from Williams would revive every question the offseason hype temporarily buried. Chicago wants to sit at the grown-ups’ table now. Week 1 is the first chance to prove it belongs there.