The old saying of 'That is why they play the games' rings true every season and in Week One of the 2023 NFL season, that was definitely the case.
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| The Lions got it done in Kansas City in the season opener. |
On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns blasted the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 24-3 behind great defense that stymied Bengals QB Joe Burrow, limiting him to just 82 passing yards and allowing a meager 142 yards in total offense. Browns QB Deshaun Watson scored a rushing TD and passed for another to lead the offense.
The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the host Indianapolis Colts, 31-21 with QB Trevor Lawrence tossing two TD passes and RB Travis Etienne going 26 yards for a rushing score. The Colts held a 21-17 lead entering the final quarter behind a TD pass and scoring run from rookie QB Anthony Richardson, but the defense couldn't stop Jacksonville from taking over and getting the win. The Jags defense forced three turnovers to help aid the victory.
In Pittsburgh, the host Steelers were dismantled by the San Francisco 49ers, 30-7 with RB Christian McCaffrey rambling 65 yards for a touchdown while finishing with 152 rushing yards. 49ers QB Brock Purdy had two TD passes while the defense sacked Steelers QB Kenny Pickett five times and had two interceptions in the easy win.
The New Orleans Saints outlasted the visiting Tennessee Titans, 16-15 in a yawner as the only touchdown came on a 19-yard scoring pass from Saints QB Derek Carr to WR Rashid Shaheed in the third quarter. Saints kicker Blake Grupe made three field goals and Titans kicker Nick Folk hit five kicks to account for all the scoring in the loss.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised the host Minnesota Vikings, 20-17 as kicker Chase McLaughlin made a 57-yard field goal with 5:10 remaining to provide the winning margin. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield had two TD passes and the defense limited the Vikings to just 41 rushing yards. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins passed for two TD and 344 yards in the loss.
For the first time since 2017, the Atlanta Falcons won their season opener as they beat down the visiting Carolina Panthers, 24-10. Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier had a pair of scoring runs and QB Desmond Ridder had a TD pass to pace the offense. Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young had a TD pass, but was also intercepted twice in defeat.
The Baltimore Ravens won at home, 25-9 against the Houston Texans but also lost as their top running back J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. The Ravens got three rushing touchdowns (two by Justice Hill and one from Dobbins) and the defense limited the Texans to three field goals while getting five sacks on rookie QB C.J Stroud.
Washington beat the visiting Arizona Cardinals, 20-16 with QB Sam Howell passing for a TD and also rushing for another. The Commanders trailed 16-10 entering the fourth quarter as Cards linebacker Cameron Thomas scored on a two-yard fumble return. Howell went six yards for a TD and kicker Joey Slye made his second field goal (33 yards) to provide the final score.
The Green Bay Packers rode the passing of QB Jordan Love (245 yards, three TD) and two scores from running back Aaron Jones to beat the host Chicago Bears, 38-20. Packers linebacker Quay Walker took an interception back 37 yards for another score as Green Bay built the lead t0 24 points in the fourth quarter. Bears QB Justin Fields had a TD pass but also two turnovers (one INT and fumble) and was sacked four times.
The Miami Dolphins won the most exciting game of Week One as they outscored the host Los Angeles Chargers, 36-34 with QB Tua Tagovailoa (pictured right) passing for 466 yards and three TD (and one INT) with two of the scoring passes going to WR Tyreek Hill (11 receptions for 215 yards) and kicker Jason Sanders making three field goals. The Chargers had a chance to pull it out late, but the Miami defense sacked 'Bolts QB Justin Herbert twice on the final drive, including on fourth down to seal the win. Herbert passed for a TD and ran for another one and Chargers RB Austin Ekeler scored a TD and rushed for 117 yards in the loss.
The Las Vegas Raiders won a yawner in Denver, 17-16 against the Broncos to spoil the debut of Denver's new head coach Sean Payton. Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo hooked up for two TD passes with WR Jakobi Meyers. Denver QB Russell Wilson also threw for two touchdowns, but a missed PAT (Will Lutz) in the first quarter proved to be the difference in the outcome.
In Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams pulled off the stunner of the day as they clobbered the host Seahawks, 30-13 by completely dominating the second half. The Rams trailed 13-7 at the half but took over from there as QB Matthew Stafford passed for 344 yards and running back Kyren Williams scored twice on the ground to lead the rout. The Seahawks managed just 180 yards in total offense and the Rams dominated by having the football for nearly 40 minutes.
The Philadelphia Eagles held off the New England Patriots, 25-20 to earn the road victory as Jake Elliott drilled four field goals and Darius Slay took an interception back 70 yards for a touchdown and QB Jalen Hurts had a scoring pass. The Patriots stormed back after trailing 16-0 behind three TD passes from QB Mac Jones (316 passing yards and also one INT), but the rally fell short as the Eagles defense tightened the clamps in crunch time.
On Sunday night, it was no contest as the visiting Dallas Cowboys crushed the New York Giants, 40-0 behind a stifling defense that limited the Giants to 171 yards in total offense while also scoring on a "pick six" interception return (22 yards) from DaRon Bland. Cowboys RB Tony Pollard scored two rushing touchdowns and Noah Igbinoghene took a blocked field goal back 58 yards for the first TD of the game as the rout was on.
In the Monday night game, the New York Jets defeated the visiting Buffalo Bills, 22-16 in overtime when Xavier Gipson took a punt return back 65 yards for the winning score. However, they also lost starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury for the remainder of the season. The Jets defense forced four turnovers (all by Bills QB Josh Allen) with three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Safety Jordan Whitehead had all three picks for the Jets. Meanwhile, Jets backup QB Zach Wilson had a TD pass (three yards to WR Garrett Wilson) and an interception while RB Breece Hall rushed for 127 yards. The game went into OT when Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 50-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
WEEK ONE RESULTS
Detroit 21, Kansas City 20
Cleveland 24, Cincinnati 3
San Francisco 30, Pittsburgh 7
Atlanta 24, Carolina 10
New Orleans 16, Tennessee 15
Jacksonville 31, Indianapolis 21
Washington 20, Arizona 16
Tampa Bay 20, Minnesota 17
Baltimore 25, Houston 9
Las Vegas 17, Denver 16
Philadelphia 25, New England 20
Green Bay 38, Chicago 20
L.A. Rams 30, Seattle 13
Miami 36, L.A. Chargers 34
Dallas 40, N.Y. Giants 0
N.Y. Jets 22, Buffalo 16 (OT)
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