Explosive plays, spectacular feats of athleticism, and collective breath-holding invaded in mass this weekend as a much anticipated NFL weekend kicked off. Don’t miss my Monday Night Football prediction at the bottom of the article!
Cowboys def. Giants (40-0)
Punt blocks, interceptions, fumbles oh my! Simply put, the Cowboys dismantled the division rival Giants from whistle to whistle. The Dallas defense/special teams totaled seven sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and two touchdowns. Despite the pouring rain, Dallas receivers managed to catch most of the balls thrown their way and running backs managed five yards a carry.
For reference, the largest defeat in 2022 came in Week 11 when the Cowboys thrashed the Vikings by 37 points. The Eagles certainly didn’t look sharp in Week 1 and the Commanders are far from challenging the Cowboys, it’s early but the path is there. The New York Giants will no doubt have an easier time executing versus the Arizona Cardinals next week, I expect the Giants to pop next week after such a rough Week one.
49ers def. Steelers (30-7)
Despite their recent success, there were questions about the 49ers coming into Week One, the Steelers had amassed an absurd amount of preseason hype. Brock Purdy can still throw (220 yds 2 tds), the 49ers roster dwarfs all 31 other rosters, and they showed it Sunday. To add insult to injury, the Steelers saw multiple key starters leave the game with injury.
Dolphins def. Chargers (36-34)
Barnburner of the week award goes to…
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns, Tyreek Hill accounted for 215 yards and two of those touchdowns. The Chargers found offensive success in balance, but succumbed to sacks in the final drive of the game. Both teams have plenty of success to take with them into Week Two.
Packers def. Bears (38-20)
The Windy City was fueled by exasperated Bears fans realizing the reign of the Packers would continue under the helm of Jordan Love (245 yards, 3 tds). Head Coach Matt LaFluer’s system was run to a T thanks in part to leading rusher and receiver Aaron Jones. Like the Steelers, the Bears were a team that picked up hype through the preseason and were dumped into a rude awakening in Week One. Next week’s matchup with the Buccaneers is a must win if the Bears want to keep the hopes of fans alive.
Browns def. Bengals (24-3)
The Brown’s defense might just be the most underrated unit coming into the 2023 season. Miles Garrett leads a disruptive pass rush that compliments the best young secondary in the league. Safety Grant Delpit shined in a defense that presented no holes for Joe Burrow (88 yds). The Browns registered 10 quarterback hits and seemed to own real estate behind Cincinnati’s O-line.
These struggles culminated in the young head coach Zac Taylor going for it on his own side of the field on 4th and four with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, throwing in the towel following the failure to convert. Weather played a large factor for wonky quarterback play and little should be taken from offensive struggles that persisted. Expect the Bengals to come out hot offensively and set a tone not set in Week One.
Rams def. Seahawks (30-13)
The Rams 2023 offensive debut began with a 16 play drive ending with a touchdown, completed without the help of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Both teams would trade missed field goals midway through the second before the Seahawks fell into a scoring drought in the second half, allowing the Rams to score 16 unanswered points. Sean McVay has a tough road ahead if he wants to return to the postseason.
Eagles def. Patriots (25-20)
Defense ruled the day in Foxborough as the Eagles built an early lead with back-to-back takeaways. The Patriots would score a pair of second quarter touchdowns and end the half down, 14-16. A lackluster half offensively allowed the Eagles to hang on and win despite only getting three field goals to finish the gamer. Both teams will need to see better performances offensively in order to compete in their divisions, doubly so for the Patriots.
Ravens def. Texans (25-9)
Early regular season wins continue to be bittersweet for the Ravens as their win feels marred with the loss of running back J.K. Dobbins for the year. Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers caught nine balls on 10 targets, seven more targets than any other Raven’s receiver. The Ravens came into the game as 10 point favorites at home and did the job expected of them.
Buccaneers def. Vikings (20-17)
The Vikings paid the “no Dalvin Cook” tax early, successor Alexander Mattison rushed just 11 times for a total of 31 rushing yards and just 10 receiving yards. Justin Jefferson did not disappoint fantasy owners with the first pick, racking up 150 yards rushing on the day. The Buccaneers have to be encouraged going into a Week Two home matchup versus the Bears.
Raiders def. Broncos (17-16)
Sean Payton looks to have solved the Russell Wilson problem, now onto the whole “winning” thing. Wilson looked more composed and accurate, and even got hot completing 14 straight passes before spiking to stop the clock late in the first half. The Raiders offense certainly had its fair share of success, former Patriot Jakobi Meyers caught nine balls for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Often this success came from isolating Broncos corners opposite of Patrick Surtain. The Raiders managed sustained drives in the second half and for a change and for a change, it felt as if the Broncos’ weakness was now defense and special teams. Former Saints kicker Will Lutz missed both a field goal and an extra point, possibly shadowing more struggles ahead.
Jaguars def. Colts (31-21)
If I was to pick one of the strangest games every year, it’s the Jaguars versus the Colts hands down. There were some bothersome throws on both teams that you don’t want to see, the difference is I expected that from the Colts but wanted to find the Jaguars as a safer bet this season. This division will be neck and neck and the winner of this division will likely be hanging around .500 throughout the regular season.
Falcons def. Panthers (24-10)
Commanders def. Cardinals (20-16)
Saints def. Titans (16-15)
Grouping these games together may speak to my aspirations for their 2023 seasons. The Falcons keep it simple and run the ball well. Their ceiling with Desmond Ridder at quarterback is too low to garner my interests. I had hoped for a stronger performance from the Saints, the division is begging to be taken and the Saints have talent that can only be rivaled by the Buccaneers in the division. I imagine the Buccaneers feel much better about themselves heading into Week Two.
Teams in Peril in Week Two: Vikings, Bengals, Chargers
Each of the teams picked above lost in Week one, belong to competitive and tough divisions, and are generally expected to be in the playoffs this year. The general consensus would be that these teams failing to reach the playoffs would be a disappointment, yet the near may already be neigh.
Since 1990, only about 11% of teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs that same year. The Titans could find success running the ball, the Ravens are a tough draw for an already roughed up Joe Burrow, and the Vikings see a high ceiling Eagles team that got a win but clearly were not content with their performance.
Monday Night Football Preview: Bills at Jets
There are a lot of eyes on the skills positions in this matchup, but the route to each team’s success is to dominate the lines of scrimmage. Both offensive lines have questions, yet the Jets defensive line can claim status as the best pass rushers in the stadium. Aaron Rodgers is much safer with the football historically, while Josh Allen is prone to high-risk plays. I expect the Jets pass rush to force a turnover or two that ultimately decide the game.
Stay classy Columbia.