NFL Week 1 top plays: Jags-Colts, 49ers-Steelers, Bengals-Browns, more

news7g09/10/2023

3 5 minutes read

NFL Week 1 top plays: Jags-Colts, 49ers-Steelers, Bengals-Browns, more

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is in full swing, and we’ve got you covered with all the action from around the league!

Kicking things off, Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions took down reigning Super Bowl champions Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a stunner on Thursday.

The action continues Sunday with a slew of top-tier games. The Carolina Panthers open up at the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South Division showdown, a game where No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young will make his NFL debut. Other star rookies suiting up for the first time Sunday include Indianapolis Colts‘ new starting QB Anthony Richardson, Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, and second overall pick and new Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud, to name a few.

The afternoon card features a rivalry as old as time, with Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears taking on Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, followed by the Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants to close out the day.

Here are Sunday’s top plays!

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Falcons capitalize

Three plays after Jessie Bates picked off Young, rookie running back Bijan Robinson shed a tackle in the red zone and ran in the completion for an 11-yard Falcons score.

Bryce gets TD No. 1

Young hit tight end Hayden Hurst for his first NFL touchdown, getting the Panthers even with the Falcons at seven apiece.

Panthers’ Bryce Young finds Hayden Hurst against the Falcons to record his first NFL TD pass

I’m still here!

Tyler Allgeier gave the Falcons the lead on a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Later in the quarter, he gave the Falcons a two-score lead with another goal-line score.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Remember Calvin Ridley?

Trevor Lawrence hit Ridley in the back of the end zone for the new duo’s first scoring hookup.

I got this

Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson ran in a goal-line score for the Colts, the first of his NFL career.

Colts’ Anthony Richardson punches in his first career touchdown to tie the game against the Jaguars

Jags got some receivers …

Ridley is back, but don’t forget about Zay Jones. The latter reeled in a remarkable catch in the back-corner of the end zone for Jacksonville’s second touchdown.

Second-and-whatever

Faced with a second-and-28, Richardson got the ball out to Michael Pittman Jr., and the wide receiver got some blocks and ran through Jacksonville’s defense for a touchdown.

‘Tis confusion

Lawrence got hit and running back Tank Bigsby picked up the loose ball — which he appeared to think was an incomplete pass. Then Bigsby had the ball knocked out of his hands, and DeForest Buckner ran it back for a Colts touchdown.

Back in front

Bigsby ran in a goal-line score, giving the Jaguars the lead.

San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers

Welcome back, Brock Purdy

The 49ers second-year quarterback hit wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the first touchdown of the Sunday slate.

That ball is mine

Purdy threw it up for Aiyuk, and the San Francisco wide receiver came down with the contested touchdown reception, his second of the game.

49ers’ Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk connect on an UNREAL reception to grab a 17-0 lead over the Steelers

Pittsburgh shows life

After going down 20-0, the Steelers found the end zone right before halftime, as Kenny Pickett connected with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 3-yard score.

See ya!

Christian McCaffrey got the call on the run, shed some tackles, got a downfield block and went 65 yards for the San Francisco touchdown.

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey SPINS his way into an AMAZING 65-yard rushing TD against Steelers

Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders

2022 draft picks connect

Scrambling to his left, Commanders quarterback Sam Howell found running back Brian Robinson near the pylon for the score.

OOPS!

With just 1:02 remaining in the first half, Howell was strip-sacked by Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck, and Cameron Thomas recovered the loose ball for a touchdown. Washington then squeezed out a field goal before halftime, trailing 13-10.

Howell does it himself

Faced with a third-and-goal at the 6-yard line, Washington’s quarterback ran in a touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson takes it himself

Cleveland connected on a field goal early in the first half, and Watson ran in a 13-yard touchdown just before halftime. The Browns led 10-0.

Browns in control

Shortly after Myles Garrett came up with a fourth-down sack of Joe Burrow, Cleveland stretched its lead to three scores when Watson hit tight end Harrison Bryant for a 3-yard touchdown. The Browns then converted a two-point attempt, taking a 24-3 lead.

Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints

Derrick Henry is still strong

Tennessee’s star running back is back stiff-arming defenders into next Tuesday. The two teams combined for five field goals in the first half, as the Titans led 9-6 at the halftime break.

Saints pull ahead

Derek Carr threw his first touchdown pass as a Saint when he hit Rashid Shaheed for the 19-yard score.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

Go deep!

Kirk Cousins had time to throw, and he found rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison open downfield for the 39-yard Vikings touchdown.

Bucs answer

Mike Evans may not have a new contract, but he caught the Buccaneers’ first touchdown of the season, hauling in a 28-yard scoring pass from Baker Mayfield.

Lead change

Tampa Bay connected on a field goal but was gifted a first down thanks to an offside penalty on Jay Ward. Three plays later, Mayfield hit wide receiver Trey Palmer for the go-ahead touchdown.

Vikings strike back

Alexander Mattison refused to go down and ran into the end zone for the Minnesota touchdown.

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Airborne!

Running back J.K. Dobbins went flying for Baltimore’s first touchdown.

Powering it in

Justice Hill thundered into the end zone for Baltimore’s second score early in the second half. After a penalty, the Ravens pulled off a two-point conversion. Then Houston turned it over on downs on its own 42-yard line. Five plays later, Hill ran in another goal-line score. The Ravens led 22-6.

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX)