Week One NFL Recap 2023
The 2023 NFL season is finally here, and with week one in the books, it’s time for an NFL recap. This start of the NFL season has been like none other, and in case you missed it or need an in-depth breakdown of some of the latest in gridiron action, you've come to the right place. From shocking upsets to standout performances that had fans on the edge of their seats, week one had it all. The following highlighted games and moments from week one will give you a taste of the drama and excitement that unfolded on the gridiron. As teams took their first steps toward championship glory, they faced challenges and made statements that set the tone for the coming weeks. So, without further ado, let's break down some of the most intriguing week one matchups in the NFL.
Chiefs Vs. Lions
The first game of the 2023 NFL season started with Detroit vs. Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. The reigning Superbowl champions looked poised to win the game with ease. However, a few days prior to this matchup, the Chiefs lost one of their star players, Travis Kelce, after hyperextending his knee in practice. Despite this, the majority of football fans still believed the Chiefs should come up with the victory in week one. The Lions had other plans. The Lions upset the Chiefs 21-20 last Thursday, proving they are nothing to scoff at. Kansas City’s receivers looked lost and played a horrible game. Kadrius Toney dropped a pass and mishandled another pass from Patrick Mahomes, which resulted in a 50-yard pick-six. Toney could only secure one of the passes thrown his way.
Additionally, Skyy Moore’s sophomore year in the NFL is off to a rocky start. He caught only one pass for four yards despite having plenty of playing time. Everything about this Kansas City offense looked off without Travis Kelce in the mix. Next week should bode better for the Chiefs, as Kelce is expected to make his return.
As for the Lions, they still have some things to work out, but the upset win is a good start for Detriot. Surprisingly, running back David Montgomery was the lead back in this matchup, with 21 rushing attempts for 74 yards and a touchdown. I was excited to see what rookie Jahmyr Gibbs could do in this backfield, but he didn’t get many chances to prove himself. He ended the game with only seven attempts but managed to rack up 42 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry. His ability to break tackles and catch passes should be something we see all season long. Expect him to become the leadback at some point during the season. As expected, Amon-Ra St. Brown had a day with six receptions, 71 yards, and a touchdown. Lastly, Rookie TE Sam Laporta had a decent outing with five receptions for 39 yards. I am hoping he can carve out a significant role in this offense.
Buccaneers Vs. Vikings
All offseason, there were talks on how bad the Buccaneers would be this season with QB Baker Mayfield at the helm—this week proved that Tampa can hang with the best of them. Their defense looked stout, with two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. On the other side of the ball, Tampa had no turnovers, which likely was why they beat Minnesota 20-17. Mike Evans and Trey Palmer both had touchdowns, with kicker Chase McLaughlin scoring the remainder of the points. As for the Vikings, QB Kirk Cousins threw two touchdowns. One to rookie Jordan Addison and another to running back Alexander Mattison. Minnesota’s WR 1, Justin Jefferson, ended the game with nine receptions and 150 yards. While the Vikings played well, it wasn't enough to beat Tampa. The Buccaneers face off against the Bears next, while the Vikings are set to challenge the Eagles on Thursday night.
Browns Vs. Bengals
This game came as a huge surprise. The Bengals had a terrible week-one performance to what looked like a solid matchup on paper. The Browns quickly changed the narrative with their victory in this Ohio showdown. The game ended 24-3, with what typically is a high-powered Bengals offense becoming non-existent. Joe Burrow threw for only 82 yards at below 50% completion percentage. One of the biggest surprises was that wide receiver Tee Higgins ended the game with no catches, and Ja’Maar Chase was held to only 39 yards on five receptions. While many blamed the bad weather for this performance, this didn’t stop Browns QB Deshaun Watson from throwing for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also ran in a TD himself, adding to his totals. Nick Chubb also heavily contributed to this victory with 18 carries for over 100 yards. Even though this was a bad start for the Bengals, don’t expect this to be commonplace. Joe Burrow is coming off a calf injury, so there should be brighter days ahead for this offense, especially with stars like Joe Mixon and Ja’Maar Chase in the lineup.
Giants Vs. Cowboys
This game was practically over in the blink of an eye. The Cowboys came out blazing with 16 points in the first quarter and another 10 in the second. The New York Giants had no answer for this Cowboys Defense. The Giants allowed seven sacks, and QB Daniel Jones threw two interceptions, making it one of the worst games in franchise history for Big Blue as they lost 40-0 in the opening week.
On the other hand, the Cowboys seemed to have hit the ground running, displaying an impressive level of cohesion and execution that will undoubtedly keep their fans eagerly awaiting the next showdown. Offensively, the Cowboys had their work cut out for them. Dak Prescott ended the game with 143 yards, while Runningback Tony Pollard rushed for 70 yards and scored two touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb also had 77 yards on four receptions. If this first game indicates how either of these teams will perform for the rest of the season, it's safe to say that the Cowboys are off to a blazing start, while the Giants have some serious adjustments to make.
Jets Vs. Bills
Unfortunately, this highly anticipated game didn't go exactly to plan. Nevertheless, it was a game to remember. Aaron Rodgers made his debut with the Jets, and NFL fans worldwide were eager to witness how this star-studded team would perform with a new quarterback at the helm. But just four snaps into the game, Aaron Rodgers went down and had to be carted off the field for the remainder of the game. It was later found out that he suffered from a season-ending Achilles tendon tear. It was time to default back to Zach Wilson, the 2nd year QB out of BYU. This offense looked pretty bad under Wilson. Fortunately, there were flashes of talent on offense, so not all hope was lost.
RB Breece Hall rushed for 127 yards in just ten attempts. Garrett Wilson also brought in 5 receptions and had one of the most epic touchdown catches you’ll see all season. The Jets defense also looked spectacular, causing Bills Quarterback Josh Allen to throw three interceptions. Buffalo’s kicker Tyler Bass was able to kick a game-tying field goal, which hit the goalpost and went in from 50 yards out. The Bills elected to receive in overtime; however, they could not finish the game on their first drive as the Jets forced the Bills to punt. Punt returner Xavier Gipson immediately returned the kick, ending the game as the Jets team stormed the field. While it was unfortunate what happened to Rodgers, it’s safe to say the Jets were extremely happy for the victory despite the tragic injury their star QB suffered.
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