Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Sunday of Week 1 in the NFL saw many interesting results. Some teams looked in midseason form while others looked very rusty and in some cases downright bad. Here are some winners and losers from Week 1 in the NFL.
Big Winner Of Week 1 In The NFL: Tua Tagovailoa
It was a masterful performance from the Dolphins’ quarterback. Everyone has questions about his health but after yesterday’s game, it is hard to question his game anymore. He finished with 466 yards passing which was fourth-most in league history for a season opener. Many of the throws were perfectly placed and made with conviction. It helps when Tyreek Hill is running wide open down the field but he still has to get the ball to him. His health concerns have been noted but if Tua is on the field, defenses are going to have to watch out. Tua was a big winner in Week 1 of the NFL slate.
Matt Freed/
FR171937 AP
Big Loser Of Week 1 In The NFL: The Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
The hype train was going full steam ahead for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 49ers derailed the train in about five minutes. Kenny Pickett and the offense looked like a mess. The offensive line had trouble all day and Pickett was inaccurate. Between George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth, there is no shortage of offensive weapons. The only silver lining is that the 49ers may have the best defense in the league but it is still not an ideal start.
Winner: Anthony Richardson
Richardson looked like the best rookie quarterback of the bunch. While the Colts did not win the game, Richardson looked like he belonged in the NFL. He completed 24 of 37 passes for 223 yards and was responsible for two scores, one on the ground and the other through the air. His fourth-quarter interception killed any chance of a comeback but it’s good to see him trying to push the issue and make big throws.
Loser: Justin Fields And The Chicago Bears
What a mess. The Bears touted all offseason how this year was going to be different. They got a chance to show how much they improved against their hated rival, the Green Bay Packers. They got shellacked. The offensive line gave Fields no time to throw the ball. Every passing play was a check down and the running game never got off the ground. It looked exactly the same as last year. What does this team do? The game against the Packers was ripe for the taking with young and inexperienced players all over the roster. Instead, they laid an egg and need to figure out something fast for future weeks. The Bears were one of the biggest losers from the Week 1 NFL slate.
Winner: Puca Nacua & Tutu Atwell
With Cooper Kupp on the IR, the Rams needed someone to step up in the passing game. These two young receivers put on a show on Sunday! Nacua caught 10 passes for 119 yards and Atwell added another 119 yards on 6 catches. While neither of them found the end zone, both were able to do whatever they wanted on the field. This may say more about the Seattle Seahawks defense but the Rams have to be happy that both of these players look like solid receivers. If Kupp comes back this year, the Rams could have a dangerous group of pass-catchers.
Loser: Brandon Staley
For a coach on the hot seat, Staley is not doing anything to make it cooler. Staley is a defensive-minded coach but proceeded to give up over 500 yards of offense to the Dolphins. I understand that Miami has one of the most high-powered offenses in the league but Staley should be able to at least slow them down. The fact that Hill was running free all day shows the lack of in-game adjustments. It looks like Staley could be on the fast track to first coach fired if he doesn’t start doing something fast.
Other Winners & Losers From Week 1 Of The NFL Slate
Jordan Love and the Packers are big winners. Dominance over their rivals continues with a new quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys showed dominance in all facets of the game and look to be one of the league’s best. On the losers side, the Bengals looked very rusty and couldn’t sniff the end zone. Daniel Jones and his $160 million contract also look pretty bad right about now.
These are just a sampling of the winners and losers from the week 1 NFL slate. Will the winners keep the momentum going? And will the losers be able to right the ship in 2023 or will they continue their downward spiral?
