After a surprise entry defeat for the reigning champion, it’s now time for the rest of the NFL. This week, we are obviously interested in Aaron Rodgers. The neo Jets has just changed teams for the first time in his career and starts with a big game against the Bills. This is THE match not to be missed this week.
We also talk about Bryce Young, Sean Payton, TJ Watt in front of Nick Bosa, new coaches as well as divisional duels. Here is precisely the program for week 1.
The match: Jets-Bills
Kick-off on the night of Monday to Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
New York Jets (0-0) – Buffalo Bills (0-0)
This is clearly one of the attractions of this season. Aaron Rodgers is no longer a Packer and everyone is waiting to see if the mayonnaise will take off in New York. On paper, all the ingredients are there. The defense is solid. The return of Breece Hall and the arrival of Dalvin Cook make the ground game dangerous. And having a multiple MVP in your ranks definitely helps in the air. We now have to prove it on the ground. And if the situation internally seems ideal for the pitcher, Aaron Rodgers arrives in one of the toughest divisions in the league. Between the Patriots, the Jets’ bête noire, the Dolphins, in progress since the arrival of McDaniel and the ogre Bills, we will have to find a place.
And it starts on Monday, with Monday Night Football which will set the tone for this division. Buffalo is now the team to beat in this AFC East, but the emergence of solid candidates pushes Josh Allen’s teammates to be on their guard from this week 1. By postponing this meeting until the very end of the weekend, the NFL was not mistaken. She knows that there are many expectations on both sides. Hoping that the stakes will not be at the expense of the game.
The duel: TJ Watt and Nick Bosa
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) – San Francisco 49ers (0-0)
Once is not customary, honor to the defense in this section with a clash between the last two winners of the title of best defender of the year. On one side TJ Watt, elected in 2021, on the other Nick Bosa, title holder. The two “brothers of » have managed to make a name for themselves in the NFL. And not least. However, we came close to not having this duel. The 49ers defensive end, dissatisfied with his salary situation, was on strike and his status for this meeting was uncertain.
Since the 49ers have taken out the checkbook and Bosa is ready to play. The two men are in any case the keystones of their defense. They single-handedly raise the level of their squad and put constant pressure on the opposing attack. Kyle Shanahan and Mike Tomlin know it, they must include these two pass-rushers in their offensive game plan. It now remains to be seen which will have the most impact in a meeting that promises to be heated.
The statistic: 145.8 yards
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) – Miami Dolphins (0-0)
It is always difficult to analyze a team even before the start of the season. Will it be different from its 2022 version? Will she have succeeded in filling in her shortcomings? In the case of the Chargers, it is truly in the ground game that these questions arise. Last year, the Californians cashed in 145.8 yards in the race not meeting. It’s too much when you have the ambition of Los Angeles. This first match will thus be an opportunity to show that the problem has been identified and resolved.
The good news is that Brandon Staley’s men are facing an offense that struggled on the ground last year (99.2 rushing yards per game, 25th in the NFL). The Dolphins find Tua Tagovailoa, but also want to focus on this sector to diversify. In any case, this will have to be done without Jeff Wilson Jr. Which of these two teams will have progressed? Response from Sunday.
The player: Bryce Young
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (0-0) – Carolina Panthers (0-0)
Welcome to the big leagues! On Sunday, Bryce Young, first pick in 2023, will make his debut with the Panthers. He will be the 18th player chosen first in the draft to start in week 1 since 1970. The bad news for Carolina is that the previous 17 have a record of 3 wins for 13 losses and 1 draw. Frank Reich knows that the road will be long for the young pitcher, but he has decided to throw him into the deep end as soon as possible. In any case, he will be able to measure himself from the start against a division opponent, Atlanta, in a NFC South which seems completely open.
Coach: Sean Payton
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Denver Broncos (0-0) – Las Vegas Raiders (0-0)
Unlike the new coaches recruited this season (see below), is well known to him. Sean Payton is a reference in this big league. This is also why he was called to the rescue in Colorado. The Nathaniel Hackett experiment was a failure in 2022 and the leaders decided to take a 180 degree turn. Exit the young, inexperienced coach. Welcome to the experienced coach. Sean Payton now needs to get this offense and Russell Wilson back on track. It kicks off Sunday with a divisional game against the Raiders.
An opponent against whom the Broncos have had a lot of difficulty lately. It’s simple, their last victory against Las Vegas dates back to December 29, 2019. A series of six consecutive defeats that Sean Payton hopes to break to mark his territory upon his arrival. Against them, Josh McDaniels’ Raiders don’t really inspire confidence this season, but will already have the opportunity to prove the skeptics wrong.
The 3 new coaches
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (0-0) – Houston Texans (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Washington Commanders (0-0) – Arizona Cardinals (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts (0-0) – Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0)
As we have said, this season, five teams have changed coaches. Among them, three decided to give new coaches a chance. This is the case of Arizona and Indianapolis who went to Philadelphia. As a result, the defensive coordinator of the Eagles, Jonathan Gannon, as well as his offensive counterpart, Shane Steichen, arrive respectively at the Cardinals and the Colts.
Obviously, they will be particularly observed. For the first, it will be a trip to the federal capital to start, while the second will welcome the Jaguars. Finally, the other new kid will be in Texas. DeMeco Ryans has arrived in Houston and will be the franchise’s third coach in three seasons. He is here to stay, but he knows, he will need results. This Sunday it will be a trip to Baltimore which already promises to be difficult for the Texans, with CJ Stroud making his NFL debut.
Division duels
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland Browns (0-0) – Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Chicago Bears (0-0) – Green Bay Packers (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks (0-0) – Los Angeles Rams (0-0)
Kick-off during the night from Sunday to Monday 2:20 a.m.
New York Giants (0-0) – Dallas Cowboys (0-0)
In the first part of the evening, head to the AFC North with a match between the Bengals and the Browns. Cincinnati will be, once again this season, one of the favorites for the final victory and we will have to assume it from this first game at home. Later, NFC will be in the spotlight.
The Bears and the Packers will open the ball in the North, while the Seahawks and the Rams will kick off hostilities in the West. Finally, we don’t lose old habits with an NFC East-style end to Sunday. Sunday Night Football will allow us to gauge the Cowboys and the Giants at the dawn of a season that will require confirmation from these two teams compared to 2022.
The other matches
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings (0-0) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New Orleans Saints (0-0) – Tennessee Titans (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
New England Patriots (0-0) – Philadelphia Eagles (0-0)
In the rest of the matches of this inaugural week, two teams in the playoffs last year face each other in Minnesota. The Vikings and Buccaneers will face each other to kick off their season. If Kirk Cousins’ partners still have great ambitions for this new exercise, it is more complicated for the Floridians. Tampa Bay attacks the season with Baker Mayfield starting at quarterback, but above all few certainties.
The Saints will also be looking for guarantees with Derek Carr now in charge. New Orleans hosts the Titans at 7:00 p.m. this Sunday. Later in the evening, the outgoing winner of the NFC travels to Massachusetts to face New England. The Eagles want to continue their momentum from last year in a den where it is always complicated to win.
All posters
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (0-0) – Carolina Panthers (0-0)
Baltimore Ravens (0-0) – Houston Texans (0-0)
Cleveland Browns (0-0) – Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)
Indianapolis Colts (0-0) – Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0)
Minnesota Vikings (0-0) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
New Orleans Saints (0-0) – Tennessee Titans (0-0)
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) – San Francisco 49ers (0-0)
Washington Commanders (0-0) – Arizona Cardinals (0-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Chicago Bears (0-0) – Green Bay Packers (0-0)
Denver Broncos (0-0) – Las Vegas Raiders (0-0)
Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) – Miami Dolphins (0-0)
New England Patriots (0-0) – Philadelphia Eagles (0-0)
Seattle Seahawks (0-0) – Los Angeles Rams (0-0)
Kick-off during the night from Sunday to Monday 2:20 a.m.
New York Giants (0-0) – Dallas Cowboys (0-0)
Kick-off on the night of Monday to Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
New York Jets (0-0) – Buffalo Bills (0-0)
