Week 1 NFL Capsules

49ers at Steelers: Second-year QB Kenny Pickett put up an excellent preseason and graduates to a stern take a look at from a San Francisco protection prone to have DE Nick Bosa within the fold. Bosa signed a monster contract on Wednesday and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year joined the group for the primary time since minicamp. The 49ers reached the NFC title sport behind rookie QB Brock Purdy, whose elbow harm in that sport led to offseason ligament surgical procedure. He threw a number of TD passes in every of the ultimate six video games (5 begins) in 2022 as defenses locked down on RB Christian McCaffrey. With a minimum of two TDs and a win this week, Purdy would develop into the one QB in NFL historical past to go 6-0 with a number of TD passes in his first six profession begins.

Packers at Bears: Welcome Jordan Love to the stage. The Packers intercepted the torch from Aaron Rodgers, buying and selling him to the Jets and inserting Love into the beginning lineup. A rivalry sport at Soldier Field pits two strong defenses and unproven quarterbacks. Justin Fields rushed for 1,143 yards final season, however the Bears need him to show he is a professional passer with new weapon D.J. Moore matched up with Packers CB Jaire Alexander in a popcorn-worthy pairing.

Eagles at Patriots: A coach for twice the lifetime of Jalen Hurts, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick appreciates the distinctive problem the working quarterback presents because the engine of the Eagles’ multi-faceted offense. New England modified offensive coordinators, bringing again Bill O’Brien, who’s tasked with getting greatness out of QB Mac Jones whereas matching wits this week with former co-worker Matt Patricia, an assistant with Philadelphia. The Patriots invested their high three picks on protection, together with CB Christian Gonzalez, and anticipate large issues out of different rookies (DE Keion White, LB Marte Mapu, WR Kayshon Boutte).

Panthers at Falcons: Panthers OLB Brian Burns’ “hold-in” is a elaborate method of claiming he desires more cash however plans to play as Carolina chases Atlanta first-round RB Bijan Robinson and QB Desmond Ridder across the dome Sunday afternoon. The Falcons put up a season-high 37 factors and beat Carolina on Oct. 30 final season however misplaced 25-15 in Charlotte. No. 1 general decide Bryce Young makes his first profession begin for the Panthers, who went 7-10 final season and employed Frank Reich as head coach in January. Carolina’s new look spans the roster. Active constructing the roster within the offseason, the Panthers added versatile RB Miles Sanders and veteran WR Adam Thielen and introduced in SS Vonn Bell to anchor the again finish of the protection.

Jaguars at Colts: A playoff group in 2022 with a 9-8 document, the Jaguars are extensively anticipated to be the very best within the AFC South. They cut up a pair of video games with the Colts final season with a 34-27 loss at Indianapolis, then ended the season with a six-game successful streak, together with the wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, earlier than falling at Kansas City within the divisional playoffs. Indianapolis hit the reset button following a 4-12-1 season, hiring Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and drafting Anthony Richardson No. 4 general to finish a run of musical chairs at QB. The Colts will not have RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle), who was inactive for the 2022 dwelling date with Jacksonville.

Buccaneers at Vikings: No Tom Brady means one thing new, or a minimum of not as outdated, at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield gained the job over Kyle Trask and has a star-studded receiving corps, offered Mike Evans places his contract rift with the membership to mattress. He’ll be working behind a younger offensive line. Both groups made troublesome roster strikes to work from beneath a rising salary-cap burden since they final performed a sport that counted. The Bucs additionally made a change at offensive coordinator, hiring Dave Canales (Seahawks) to switch Bryon Leftwich and shuffling Rachaad White into the featured working again position. Minnesota, a winner of two of the previous three conferences with its former NFC Central rival, has a brand new lead again, too. Dalvin Cook was launched after 4 straight 1,000-yard seasons and changed by understudy Alexander Mattison.

Titans at Saints: Tennessee tries to search out its method again to a successful path on the heels of a season wrecked by accidents that ended with a seven-game shedding streak. Two constants stay for the Titans: Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, who’s trying to carry steadiness to the offense after Tennessee ranked thirtieth in passing final season. DeAndre Hopkins joined Tennessee to make a trio of weapons and will assist the new-look scheme set up steadiness. New is becoming for the Saints. They signed QB Derek Carr, RB Jamaal Williams and TE Foster Moreau and should address the three-game suspension of RB Alvin Kamara. Carr might be busy contemplating the Titans ranked No. 1 towards the run in 2022.

Cardinals at Commanders: Arizona plans to contend, however probably down the street after a cleansing home in January and beginning over from the highest, down. The Cardinals are maintaining Washington guessing as to who’ll begin at quarterback with Kyler Murray (knee) shelved for a minimum of a month. It might be Josh Dobbs, the journeyman with two profession begins, or rookie fifth-rounder Clayton Tune staring throughout at a Commanders’ protection drenched with first-round draft alternatives. If Dobbs begins, it will likely be after simply 5 practices since he was acquired Aug. 24 from the Browns. Washington put its chips behind QB Sam Howell, a second-year quarterback making his second profession begin with new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy planning to boost the assault to spotlight WRs Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin. McLaurin (toe) is anticipated to play.

Bengals at Browns: Perhaps the Bengals pulled the suitable levers within the offseason and the offensive line woes exposing QB Joe Burrow to 100-plus hits the previous two seasons are up to now. Nothing like a face-to-face with Myles Garrett to check that principle. Garrett had 16 sacks in 2022, 3.5 of them in two video games towards Cincinnati. Burrow’s lead receiver, Ja’Marr Chase (2,501 receiving yards, 29 video games), can move Hall of Famer Randy Moss (2,527) for the third-most receiving yards in a participant’s first 30 video games on Sunday. Cleveland turned the protection over to spicy veteran coordinator Jim Schwartz, who emphasizes stress.

Raiders at Broncos: The Raiders (6-11 final season) have crushed the Broncos six straight occasions and purpose to increase the streak beneath new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Denver is placing previous historical past to mattress, or a minimum of that is the plan beneath new head coach Sean Payton. The former boss of the Saints sat out final season and arrived with concepts on find out how to resurrect Russell Wilson from a severe downturn in 2022, his first with the Broncos. Injuries hit at huge receiver in preseason, however Wilson will get a reprieve because of a rebuilt offensive line and the return of RB Javonte Williams from an ACL harm. Garoppolo has two big-time playmakers to work with: RB Josh Jacobs and WR Davante Adams. Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 speeding yards final season whereas Adams had an NFL-leading 14 scoring receptions.

Dolphins at Chargers: AFC wild-card playoff groups final season, the Chargers and Dolphins are related by their 2020 draft choices, when Tua Tagovailoa went to Miami forward of Justin Herbert touchdown with L.A. Tagovailoa confirmed brilliance in moments but additionally skilled a number of horrifying ones with two documented concussions. Tagovailoa was 10 of 28 for 145 yards in a loss to Herbert and the Chargers final season. Chargers RB Austin Ekeler wants one TD reception for 30 in his profession, an achievement solely 5 others at his place have achieved. Marshall Faulk holds the all-time document for RBs with 36 TD catches.

Rams at Seahawks: Eastern Washington product Cooper Kupp was wanting ahead to returning dwelling to play the Seahawks in Week 1. That will not occur because of a hamstring harm in camp, placing the Rams in a gap after a 5-12 season and roster rebuild throughout the offseason. Gone are CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Allen Robinson, LB Bobby Wagner and DE Leonard Floyd. Wagner makes his homecoming by returning to the Seahawks and going through the Rams within the opener. Seattle re-upped with QB Geno Smith after his Pro Bowl marketing campaign in 2022 helped make the Seahawks a shock playoff entry. Seattle gained two video games by a mixed seven factors over the Rams final season. Smith was sacked seven occasions.

Cowboys at Giants: New York crashed the playoffs because of a 7-2 begin final season. But the Giants have just one win up to now 12 conferences with Dallas. The Cowboys roll with Dak Prescott, who confronted criticism after throwing 15 interceptions final season, and anticipated the revamped offense with head coach Mike McCarthy taking up play-calling to be a lift. Tony Pollard replaces Ezekiel Elliott because the RB1 and provides a big-play dimension. Dallas depends closely on protection and revealed plans to maneuver move rusher Micah Parsons right into a extra conventional defensive finish position. He has 9 profession video games with two or extra sacks.

—Field Level Media