Welcome to the 2023 NFL season! It’s finally here! Each week I will be going over key matchups to watch out for as well as results from the week before. There have been changes to multiple quarterback spots this off season. Tom Brady retired and then unretired. The Browns bet the house on Watson but will be rolling out without him for first 11 games, while their most recent QB, Baker, is set to start for Carolina. Then we have young quarterbacks like Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance trying to take steps forward. Let the games begin!
Week 1 Major Match Ups:
Bills @ Rams: This is an awesome match up to start the 2023 season on Thursday night football. The Rams are fresh of their Super Bowl win and flying high, although someone should hide their helmets from a still unpunished Aaron Donald. The Rams lost Andrew Whitworth who retired and let Odell Beckham walk (he is still injured). They went and grabbed Allen Robinson, which will help with the Beckham departure, and Bobby Wagner for defensive stability.
The Bills had a strong season dashed last year in the playoffs to a Chiefs team that just wouldn’t die.
Bills added Von Miller on defense for some leadership as well as OJ Howard at TE. The Bills have been knocking around the upper tier but can they punch through this year?
Some people think this is a future Super Bowl matchup. Only time will tell.
49ers @ Bears: This is a match up of young QBs. This off season, Kyle Shanahan sat at a microphone and declared this Trey Lance’s team. The Trey vs Jimmy debate has been hanging over them for the past year. The Niners didn’t handle the Jimmy situation very well but have tried to save face by restructuring his contract to only cost them 6 Mil to keep, rather than the original 27 mil. Now how does the season go if Trey struggles early? Are they creating a distraction?
The Niners defense should be very strong this year if the secondary can stay healthy. The secondary was looking stingy in the first part of the pre-season but that group has since gotten banged up. Hopefully all but Jimmie Ward should be good to go Week 1.
The biggest concern going into this season however, is not Trey, it’s the offensive line. How can a team with Trent Williams have offensive line issues? Well they do. It’s pretty much Trent Williams and everyone else. They are replacing both guards and a center the same year they are starting Trey for the first time. And when the backups went in during the pre season, it was pretty terrible. They are going to have to patch it together or Trey might have to pull a Joe Burrow.
On the flip side, the Bears are starting Justin Fields for his second year. Fields is scrappy and you cannot question his effort. What the Bears want to see from Fields this year is a jump in playing within the game and not forcing it too much. They still need to build around him more on the roster as their receiver depth is not an ocean. Mooney seems to be promising but others will need to step up.
It will be very important for both teams to come out strong this season.
Patriots @ Dolphins: The Patriots are always interesting aren’t they? Mac Jones will be looking to take step forward as well. The knock on Jones was that even though he was the most ready out of college for his class, that his ceiling wasn’t very high. He essentially had already peaked. I find a solid comparison for Mac is a Jimmy G Lite. He is who he is. If you have a solid run game and defense, you can win with him. If you need him to win the game for you by throwing it 35 times, it’s unlikely.
The good news for Jones is the fact they are bringing DeVante Parker. This provides an outlet downfield for Jones. You could tell that Mac wanted to throw it downfield more at points of the season but Belichick kept the training wheels on a bit. Maybe with Parker, we will see if Jones is capable of consistent downfield action.
The Dolphins on the other hand, have essentially put a shot clock on Tua. They have given him weapons galore by bringing in Tyreek Hill to pair with Jaylen Waddle. They also added Mostert who is speedy when healthy. If Tua can take advantage of these weapons, he will solidify his spot with Miami for at least a couple of years. If he struggles to connect, they could be shopping for his replacement soon.
Whoever wins this game, puts the division on notice.
Chiefs @ Cardinals: Speaking of Tyreek Hill, what will Patrick Mahomes do without him? Hill was a solid chunk of their offense. The Chiefs still have Kelcee and added some veterans like JJ Schuster, but none of those veterans are Hill. We will have to wait and see how creative Andy Reid gets. Last year, teams were able to give them fits at times if they made them work down the field by not giving up the big plays. The Chiefs eventually got better at this but will Mahomes and Reid be patient enough with a slightly less explosive offense?
On the Cardinals side, Kyler Murray got the bag after a crazy off season. Now he has to go prove he is worth that bag. I am sure he would like to forget his last playoff performance as he looked lost and confused, and the little guy who plays big, suddenly looked little again. Marquise Brown will certainly help, especially with DeAndre Hopkins out due to suspension for 6 games.
Can Arizona take a step forward this year in a tough division?
Raiders @ Chargers: Wrapping up our Week 1 Major Matchup preview is this divisional matchup. Many would argue that the AFC West, just might be the hardest division in the league this year. Both of these teams want to set the tone early by getting a win.
The Chargers almost made the playoffs last year as Herbert led them to a noticeable jump in wins from his rookie season. The Chargers were always in the games, thanks to Herbert, but they also had a couple of glaring flaws that were constantly exposed. Their run defense was atrocious and their running back depth was challenged at times.
What did they do? They pulled a Rams and went all in. Acquiring Khalil Mack, JC Jackson, and Austin Johnson, to help revamp the defense. They picked up Gerald Everett at TE which is key as Herbert loves a solid TE to throw to. They also resigned Mike Williams.
This team is poised to make a run on paper. Can they do it in real life?
The Raiders on the other hand, had a dramatic 2021, and would like nothing more than to get back to football. Acquiring DeVante Adams was one of the largest moves of the off-season. It’s a chance for Adams to show he wasn’t just Aaron Rodger’s go-to guy but an all-pro wherever he goes. It’s also a chance for Derek Carr to have a deep threat to help open up the underneath routes. Carr has always been a polarizing quarterback and having Adams as a security blanket, certainly helps. They also picked up Chandler Jones which gives much needed veteran experience on the defensive line.
This division will be a focus nationally all season and it should be fun to watch.
Other Match Up Side Notes:
- Saints @ Falcons: Can Marcus Mariota find his 2nd chance with the Falcons?
- Steelers @ Bengals: It’s Mitch Trubisky’s Steeler’s for now. How do the Bengals handle the Super Bowl hangover?
- Eagles @ Lions: Jalen Hurts has a prove-it year. Lions just trying to get traction.
- Ravens @ Jets: Lamar Jackson wants the bag. Jets want to get out of the cellar. Zach Wilson might want your mom. Sorry. Couldn’t help it.
- Jaguars @ Commanders: Trevor Lawrence needs to show some progress. Jags drafted well, will it pay off? Commanders need Carson Wentz of old.
- Browns @ Panthers: Revenge tour for Baker Mayfield? Or will he fall flat? I think Panthers will be better than people think. Not playoff better, but better. Browns trying to hang on for dear life for Week 12.
- Colts @ Texans: Matt Ryan trying to find some late career magic. Texans might have a sleeper in Davis Mills. Can he make a sophomore jump?
- Giants @ Titans: Daniel Jones is STILL not the guy, but I said this on draft night a couple of years ago. Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal were solid draft picks. This is a do your thing or move out of the way year for Jones. Ryan Tannehill was not happy the Titans drafted a QB but it was the right move for the Titans for the future.
- Packers @ Vikings: Who does Aaron Rodgers throw to? At this point, they might be looking for people off the street corner. The run game is going to have to help out. The Vikings might be in a solid playoff contention year, as long as Cousins doesn’t overthink it.
- Buccaneers @ Cowboys: The juggernaut offensive line injury bowl. Both teams have had bad off seasons with their offensive line getting injured. Who can overcome that sooner?
- Broncos @ Seahawks: Let’s Ride into Seattle, Russell Wilson. With Seahawks in obvious tank mode, it might take a little off this game. However, the Broncos will want to prove a point. I expect a couple of bombs down field.