Senior Reporter Carlos Allen has the latest grades for the American Football Conference following their week one games.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers. D
The Steelers started off as flat as a Dr. Pepper that expired in 2011. Nothing went their way in week one, and it did not help that QB Kenny Pickett threw two interceptions and that RB Najee Harris only got 31 yards rushing.
The Pittsburgh defense was disappointing, and let the San Francisco 49ers and QB Brock Purdy throw two touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk, and allowed RB Christian McCaffrey to rush for 152 yards and score a touchdown on 22 carries.
A big injury in week one for the Steelers was WR1 Diontae Johnson, who left in the middle of the game with a hamstring injury. Johnson stated in a media interview, “I couldn’t walk for the first 48 hours, but now I’m doing some light jogs,” so hopefully he gets back in the game soon or most of the targets will lay on second year WR George Pickens for a good amount of the season.
Loss 30-7
Baltimore Ravens. B-
The Ravens started off the season with a win versus the Houston Texans, and while this win was hardly flashy, starting off 1-0 is always a good thing.
QB Lamar Jackson had a mediocre day by throwing for 169 yards and an interception, but did complete 77% of his passes. The run game was just like that of the Los Angeles Rams where they set their RBs up for a goal-line run each time for a touchdown. The Ravens‘ defense took full advantage of the fact they were facing a rookie QB in C.J. Stroud, as well as a fairly young team, by not allowing Stroud to get comfortable in the pocket.
The Ravens know that harder competition is ahead since they faced a team that is likely going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season.
Won 25-7
Cincinnati Bengals. F
QB Joe Burrow, who just got the richest contract in NFL history a few days prior to the week one game, threw for a disappointing 82 yards and no touchdowns in the season opener. The offensive line, on which the Bengals spent a lot of money on in the past two offseasons, looked pathetic. Cincinnati’s defense was not awful, letting up just 23 points to the Browns, but it is really hard to win a football game in the NFL if one’s offense only gives up three points.
Fans do not have to worry about the Bengals‘ week one performance: the team got a top 5 WR in Ja’Marr Chase and a top 5 QB in Burrow, and will swing it around in the upcoming weeks
Loss 23-3
Cleveland Browns. A-
The Browns started off the 2023 NFL season hot versus the Cincinnati Bengals. QB Deshaun Watson – who has not started a week one game since the 2020 season because of an off-field incident – did not have the best game passing-wise, only throwing for 154 yards, but Watson did have a passing touchdown to Harrison Bryant and a nice 13-yard rushing touchdown.
Cleveland‘s defense stole the show in week one by getting 10 QB hits 2 sacks and holding Joe Burrow to 82 yards: a really strong start for a team that does not have a lot of believers outside the locker room.
Won 23-3
AFC EAST
New York Jets. A
The New York Jets‘ night started as low as it could have with future first-ballot Hall of Famer, 4x MVP, and 1X Champion Aaron Rodgers – whom the team acquired from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason – going down on the fourth play of the game with a torn Achilles, which most likely takes him out for the season.
However, backup QB Zach Wilson showed up and was ready to play. He led his team to an overtime win versus the Buffalo Bills. Wilson threw for 140 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Jets walked off overtime with a Punt return for a touchdown by Xavier Gipson which was the third time in NFL history a regular-season overtime game was walked off by a punt return for a touchdown. Gipson was an undrafted free agent from Stephen F. Austin before getting signed by the Jets, and was fighting for a spot on the practice squad and when he got his time to shine in an NFL game: he took full advantage.
Won 22-16
Buffalo Bills. D-
The Bills’ Monday night performance was the closest score to an F without earning an F. They blew a 13-3 halftime lead to the New York Jets without Aaron Rodgers after he went down on the fourth play of the game with a torn Achilles.
QB Josh Allen threw three bad interceptions to the same defender – all three times – and lost a fumble. Buffalo’s defense was not horrible, but if Jets backup QB Zach Wilson is allowed to cook in the kitchen, fans are in for a burnt meal, and a long season. But just like the Bengals, the Bills and Josh Allen can turn a complete 180 and get back in the winner column where they normally at so often.
Loss 22-16
Miami Dolphins. A-
The Dolphins in the first week were a sight to see. Miami’s offense, led by QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill, looked like they could propel themselves to the top of the AFC this season. Tagovailoa threw for a remarkable 466 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Hill got almost half of those yards with 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. After last year, Tagovailoa did not have a lot of believers in his talent in the NFL, and this week’s performance should shed a little bit of light on what he can do at the NFL level. He was asked in the press conference later in the week “You think anyone is still saying you can’t throw deep?” and Tagovailoa responded by saying, “I mean, I don’t care,” which shows he just is more concerned with being the best player he can, and keeping the critics out of his head.
The Dolphins can be a top five team in the NFL this year if they keep playing as they did in week one.
Won 36-34
New England Patriots. B
Even though the Patriots lost the season opener to the Philadelphia Eagles, they really fought hard in the second, third, and fourth quarters.
The team really shot themselves in the foot in the first quarter by going down 16-0, but they outplayed the Eagles in the rest of the game by only letting Jalen Hurts throw for 170 yards and one touchdown. Nonetheless, the Patriots dug a hole too deep for them to get out of. QB Mac Jones – on paper – had a wonderful day, throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns, but his gains were too small for the Patriots.
It was an encouraging sign for Head Coach Bill Belichick and the team to show they no matter the score, they are going to put up a fight.
Loss 25-20
AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville Jaguars. B+
It was an impressive week one performance by the Jaguars, who beat a division opponent, the Indianapolis Colts.
QB Trevor Lawrence had a solid outing in the season opener by throwing 241 yards and two touchdowns. WR Calvin Ridley served a season-long suspension last season for betting on a sports game in 2021 (which is against the NFL rules), and the Jaguars took a risk on him by trading him from the Atlanta Falcons for a 2023 fifth-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024. The Jaguar’s risk might have paid off, since Ridley went for 101 yards and one touchdown on 8 receptions in his first game over a year.
Another big piece of Jacksonville’s win was RB Travis Etienne Jr., who had a breakout season last year and is looking to take off when he left off, Etienne went for 77 yards and 1 touchdown on 18 carries.
Won 31-21
Indianapolis Colts. B-
Even with a loss in the first week, there was more good than bad in the Colts‘ game. It starts off with rookie QB Anthony Richardson out of Florida University. Richardson had a decent game, with minimal rookie jitters, when he threw for 223 yards, and added in a throwing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and an interception. Richardson did go down with a bruised knee in the last minute of the game on the goal line, so backup Gardner Minshew had to finish the game when the Colts did not score on the goal line. WR Michael Pittman Jr was Richardson‘s favorite target, getting 97 yards and a touchdown on the day on eight receptions.
Good overall game by the Colts, even though the outcome was not what they wanted.
Loss 31-21
Tennessee Titans. C-
The Titans‘ offense didn’t look hot in week one versus the New Orleans Saints: maybe it was because QB Ryan Tannehill threw three interceptions on the day and for less than 200 yards. One would think with a star WR in DeAndre Hopkins and a star RB in Derrick Henry, the offense would be more explosive than their season-opening performance, but Hopkins only had 65 yards on seven receptions which is really not that bad when the QB turns the ball over times.
While the Titans might have earned a lower grade, one has to take into account that if not for those three interceptions, they would have probably won the game. Tannehill just needs to slow the game down and minimize making bad decisions.
Loss 16-15
Houston Texans. D-
A young team being led by a rookie QB does not sound like a key to success, and it sure did not look like one in the first week, either. The Texans‘ only points came from three field goals by kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. Rookie QB C.J. Stroud had an okay outing in his NFL debut, throwing for 242 yards, but no touchdowns. The offensive line did not help Strouds’ performance, letting the Ravens defense sack him five times.
The running game for the Texans was also poor: RB Dameon Pierce only had 38 yards on 11 carries. If this Texans team does not pull out a win in the next few weeks, it is going to be a long season for the Texans.
Loss 25-9
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos. C
Starting off the season with a loss is never a good sign, but there were a few bright spots in the Broncos’ gameplay. The Broncos traded for a new head coach in the off-season, Sean Payton from New Orleans. The Saints received the Broncos‘ 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall), and 2024 second-round pick for Payton and a 2024 third-round draft pick. Last year marked Russell Wilson’s first year in Denver after leaving the Seattle Seahawks, and the move did not go well for him, nor the organization, as the Broncos only won five games.
In week one, the Broncos looked more controlled and organized than last season and Wilson had a solid day, throwing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. The team just could not find the win, though, after just falling short to a division rival the Las Vegas Raiders at home.
Loss 17-16
Kansas City Chiefs. C-
Reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City started their season without star TE Travis Kelce because of a knee injury that he sustained at practice; he was out for the home opener, which clearly set the Chiefs‘ offense back a good amount.
The Chiefs‘ WRs were not good in week one, dropping plenty of passes throughout the game and missing many opportunities to score late in the second half. Kansas City‘s star defensive lineman Chris Jones also did not play because ,- at that time – he and the Chiefs’ front office could not agree on a contract deal, so Jones just sat in the stands watching the 2022 Super Bowl Champion banner get revealed.
The Chiefs‘ defense made the Lions turnover the ball once, but it was not enough to keep the Lions from winning. Next week versus the Jaguars, the Chiefs should have Kelce and Jones back in action.
Loss 21-10
Las Vegas Raiders. B
With a new QB under center this season in Jimmy Garoppolo, the Raiders started off on a strong foot. In week one, Garoppolo threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, which are not a lot of yards, but the Raiders‘ offense is mostly centered around top RB Josh Jacobs. He did not have the best of day, only rushing for 62 yards on 19 carries. That is where veteran QB Garoppolo came in and threw a touchdown to Jakobi Meyers with two minutes left on the clock, evidently winning the game for Vegas.
In post-game press conferences, Garoppolo’s teammates showed that they are ride-or-die with him as their QB, and were impressed with how he took over the game.
Won 17-16
Los Angeles Chargers. B-
The Chargers made the week one contest a nail-biter to the very end, but fell to the Miami Dolphins.
Los Angeles ‘ offense was above average for the most part, with QB Justin Herbert throwing 229 yards and two touchdowns, but also one interception.
Star RB Austin Ekeler made up for some of the slack Herbert was leaving by running for 117 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but the Chargers’ defense let the Dolphins have over 5oo yards of total offense; it is really hard to win a game when the defense lets up that many yards. The Chargers had no answer for Tyreek Hill, so he put up 215 yards and two touchdowns on them.
The defense needs to stay solid if the Chargers want a run at the Super Bowl.
Loss 36-34