Week 1 of the 2023 NFL regular season looked a lot like Week 4 of the 2023 NFL preseason for too many teams.
The first Sunday of the season was littered with sloppy performances. Great quarterbacks looked lost. The Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks were defeated by teams who looked like they’d be better off tanking this offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals got beat by some elves.
But interwoven with that disappointment was plenty to like. In some cases it was the silver lining of a losing effort. In others it was an outright domination and statement about their Super Bowl aspirations. And, for what’s likely a couple of these items, it was an aberration that nonetheless sparked hope before the weather got too cold.
Here are the five things I liked the most about Week 1, from Mac Jones’ modest competence (a step forward!) to the Packers’ Jordan Love safety net.
1
Mac Jones might not be broken after all
At its surface, the New England Patriots’ 25-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was extremely familiar. The defense made plays in a timely fashion, the offense struggled to capitalize and eventually the Pats lost a close game that could come back to haunt their playoff chances.
But Sunday’s defeat felt different. Mac Jones, growth stunted by a sophomore year under the non-leadership of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, overcame a rough spot to put his team in position to win. Granted, he also took them out of it in stretches, but the overall result was positive.
After starting his day by completing four of 10 passes for 24 yards and an interception, Jones snapped back toward something resembling a reliable starter over the game’s final 40 minutes. He completed 31 of 44 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns — a pedestrian yards per attempt average (6.7) but a positive overall impact that could have been even better had rookie Kayshon Boutte been able to get both feet down inbounds on his sideline routes.
Nice back shoulder pass from Mac Jones…. but Boutte couldn't keep his 2nd foot in…… 🫤 pic.twitter.com/HNx7Mb0HhM
— Video from: @TSV__1 (@TSV__1) September 10, 2023
A healthy DeVante Parker will help, as will a revitalized Kendrick Bourne — who emerged Sunday from a season-long 2022 doghouse to catch a pair of 10-plus yard touchdowns. Either way, Jones looks capable of putting the ball where it needs to be and getting out of his own way when he needs to the most. That’s a step in the right direction for a player who seemed destined to create Bailey Zappe chants after starting his day with a pick-six and then, after an Ezekiel Elliott fumble, engineering three straight three-and-outs and a 16-0 deficit.
2
The Green Bay Packers' defense gives Jordan Love a chance
Jordan Love’s offense in his first game as the unquestioned starting quarterback went nine of 16 on third down. This was not an Aaron Rodgers-like situation where he made precise throws through tight windows. Instead, he simply found wide open guys and made easy throws to keep the chains moving.
This all contributed to a 245-yard, three touchdown performance on just 27 pass attempts. But this section isn’t about a young quarterback who took advantage of the many opportunities the Chicago Bears created.
the only explanation i have is Soldier Field was constructed on top of several different sacred burial grounds pic.twitter.com/rIr3TJ2geC
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 10, 2023
Instead, let’s focus on a defense already loaded with playmakers that could now be adding some new young stars. Quay Walker’s play as a rookie was overshadowed by his stupid capacity for pushing members of the opponents’ medical staffs. On Sunday, he ensured we remember him for being an absolute psychopath with the ball in his hands.
QUAY WALKER WILL NOT BE DENIED!
PICK-SIX 🙌#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/GjnirpPMqu
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 10, 2023
A potent secondary was rarely tested by the Bears’ downfield passing game, but ensured Chicago’s aerial attack remained quiet until the game had all but been decided in the fourth quarter. While the front seven occasionally struggled with Justin Fields’ running ability, it also sacked him four times and hit him six more. First round pick Lukas Van Ness didn’t get a ton of action, but when he did he showcased just how much athleticism he brings to the Packer pass rush.
oh man Lucas Van Ness wasting no time endearing himself to Packers fans. big time tackle here pic.twitter.com/0RonY8aOmO
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 10, 2023
The Bears’ new and improved offense averaged 4.4 yards per play in Week 1 — significantly worse than the 5.3 YPP they’d averaged last fall. Granted, it’s tough to extrapolate exactly how much of this will translate against an offense not run by Luke Getsy, but it suggests Love will have a margin of error to run with in 2023.
3
Tua Tagovailoa is back at it
2022 was a breakthrough for Tua Tagovailoa. He threw for a career best 272 yards per game — his previous high was 204 — and led the league in passer rating, yards per attempt and touchdown rate. Unfortunately, this was all marred by multiple head injuries that left his football future in question.
On Sunday, Tagovailoa showed up in Los Angeles and proved he’s still a flamethrower. After an early fumble, the fourth-year quarterback led his team down the field to score on seven of their next nine drives — including a game-winning touchdown to Tyreek Hill from four yards out.
📺: #MIAvsLAC on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/U4makPD6VQ
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 10, 2023
That was one of the less exciting Hill moments of Sunday afternoon. Like in 2022, Tagovailoa turned to his cheat code All-Pro wideout to torch a shaky Chargers secondary. He connected with Hill for gains of 29, 28, 19, 30, 35 and 47 yards as the blazing receiver chalked up 215 yards and two touchdowns on 15 targets.
Tagovailoa’s 466 passing yards weren’t the result of dump-offs and big runs after the catch. He attempted 17 passes that traveled at least 15 yards in the air, per Next Gen Stats. He completed 11 of them. His passer rating on these throws? 103.2, which would have been good enough for third place in the NFL last season behind Patrick Mahomes and … Tua Tagovailoa.
It’s getting harder and harder to believe this is a fluke. Sunday marked the fifth time in the last 11 games he’s started and finished where he’s had at least 300 passing yards or three touchdown passes. Tagovailoa isn’t elite yet, but he’s putting together his argument with every deep strike to Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
4
The Browns might have a defense (and they're gonna need it)
Deshaun Watson outdueled Joe Burrow, but it was more a matter of Super Soakers and water pistols than anything resembling heavy artillery. Neither quarterback was especially encouraging.
The credit for Sunday’s win belongs to a Browns unit that may finally equal the sum of its parts. A pass rush led by Myles Garrett sacked or hit Joe Burrow on 12 of his 31 dropbacks, limiting his passing game output to 67 net yards. Behind them, Greg Newsome II and Denzel Ward played like one of the game’s most promising quarterback tandems.
By my count, they had primary coverage on 10 of the 17 throws that went to either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins in Week 1. They allowed three catches for 22 yards (and one 18-yard pass interference penalty). They went up against one of the top wide receiver one-two punches in the NFL and allowed just four net yards per target. Add in Grant Delpit, who was pretty much everywhere, and you’ve got a group that should strike fear into the hearts of AFC offensive coordinators.
Except, well, this group has been here for a while and doesn’t always play this way. Consistency is an issue in Cleveland, where injuries and a lack of cohesion have meant a defense loaded with potential stars has rarely looked like one.
Week 1 was a proof of concept. There are seven players the Browns have drafted in the first three rounds currently starring in their starting lineup. Veterans like Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson exist to help glue those shiny pieces together. On Sunday, they sparkled. Now we wait and see if they can approach this brightness every week.
5
The 49ers took terrifying
The Pittsburgh Steelers were a slight home underdog against the 49ers and a popular straight-up pick in Week 1. This was all nonsense; Kenny Pickett’s crew never stood a chance as San Francisco scattered the Steelers to the wind in a 30-7 victory that didn’t even feel that close.
This game was gruesome. With two minutes to play in the second quarter the Steelers had gained one net yard of total offense. The Niners scored on their first four drives and forced Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin to abandon his gameplan. Kenny Pickett threw the ball 40-plus times in only three games as a rookie; he dropped back 51 times Sunday. Not coincidentally, the Steelers are 0-4 in those games.
Brock Purdy supported San Francisco’s decision to deal a quarterback it once traded three first round picks to acquire (Trey Lance, currently a Dallas Cowboy) by calmly and cleanly dissecting the Pittsburgh secondary, roasting Patrick Peterson with a certain tinge of disrespect in the process.
Brock Purdy is a menace 😂
🎥: @NBCS49ers pic.twitter.com/x3ckigSCDy
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 10, 2023
Brandon Aiyuk played like a man angling for a $125 million contract extension. He had five catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns … in the 49ers’ first four drives of the game.
BA IS A BAD MAN 😤#SFvsPIT on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/EIVzOExcls— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 10, 2023
Drake Johnson made up for any rush Nick Bosa was shedding after his holdout, matching his career total with three sacks (and three quarterback hits. And two tackles for loss). Tanaloa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward each had interceptions. Pittsburgh averaged a minuscule 3.9 yards per play.
There was one glaring weakness. Right tackle Colton McKivitz got beaten like Barry Horowitz against T.J. Watt, who sliced past him for three sacks, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hits. These were not coverage sacks; they were an injection of chaos into Brock Purdy’s life.
i understand the 49ers won't have to face TJ Watt every week (3 sacks, 2 fumbles forced in 40 minutes) but hoooo buddy Colton McKivitz might be a problem pic.twitter.com/KG5F3pLNDn
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 10, 2023
Otherwise, the 49ers look like the Death Star through one road game, albeit against an overmatched opponent. After Week 1, the road to the Super Bowl runs either through San Francisco or Dallas. Of course, there’s still a long way to go before we even hit that turnpike.
