The return of the football season got off to an amazing start, as there were plenty of highlights and lowlights to go around in the opening week of the new campaign. From untimely injuries to massive upsets, NFL fans were treated to a memorable Week 1 experience that will be hard to top in the coming weeks.

Nitrobetting is here to take your bets into the end zone this 2023 NFL season. Let’s briefly recap the biggest headlines and takeaways from the Week 1 action on the gridiron, and what we should expect from the upcoming thrills of Week 2.

Top 5 Takeaways from Week 1 of the 2023 NFL Season

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— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023

Rookie QBs with Whimpering Debuts

Three out of the first four picks in the 2023 NFL Draft were quarterbacks and these three QBs made their respective NFL debuts in Week 1, albeit to lackluster results. Carolina’s Bryce Young (first overall pick), Houston’s C.J. Stroud (second overall), and Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson (fourth overall) each lost their maiden starts but still displayed flashes of promise.

Out of the three, Richardson looked more equipped for the pros right out of the gate. The 21-year-old out of Florida completed 24 of his 37 passes for 223 yards to go with a passing touchdown and one interception, while also scoring another TD on the ground for another 10 carries and 40 rushing yards. Richardson and the Colts will face Stroud and the Texans in Houston in Week 2 for this AFC South divisional matchup that will put both newcomers back into the spotlight and against one another for the very first time in the pros.

Bengals Back to Bungling?

Last season, Cincinnati got off to a slow start by losing their first two games of the season. Their 2023 campaign is off to another sluggish start, and this time around, it’s way worse than the team had expected. The Bengals scored only a single field goal during their 24-3 beatdown at the hands of the Browns.

Many Bengals fans would be quick to blame the bad rainy weather in Cleveland for their team’s mishaps. However, the Browns managed to put points up on the board just fine, while Cincy merely mustered up 142 yards of offense as a whole that afternoon. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will have another crucial divisional showdown on tap in Week 2 as they host the Ravens, with Cincinnati still seen as a slight (-3.5) favorite to bounce back from this loss and win its home season opener.

Purdy Fine Back Under Center

After suffering a scary elbow injury in the playoffs last year, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy still ended up winning the starting job in the Bay Area this offseason. “Mr. Irrelevant” looked just as spectacular in his breakout rookie campaign as in his first game back from injury, throwing for 220 yards, two passing TDs, and no picks on the road against a stout Pittsburgh defense.

The 49ers routed the Steelers, 30-7, as one of the top teams in the NFC looks to recover from its heartbreaking, QB injury-riddled postseason run. Purdy and Co. stay on the road and pay a visit to the Rams in Week 2, with Los Angeles stunning the Seahawks in its own season opener. The Niners are currently heavy (-8.0) favorites to beat the Rams this coming Sunday.

Dallas Dominates the G-Men

In the biggest blowout victory of the week, the Cowboys blanked the Giants on the road in a 40-0 massacre that sent NYG fans into a deep depression. Dallas’ defense racked up seven sacks against New York’s Daniel Jones, who also threw a pair of INTs in the Giants’ worst home opener in history.

Dak Prescott didn’t need to throw the ball as much as necessary to secure the victory for America’s Team in primetime, as new starting running back Tony Pollard took control of the game clock extremely well. Pollard ran 14 times for 70 rushing yards and two rushing TDs, as the Cowboys’ offensive line proved once more that any back will find running lanes to pass through this top-tier O-line. Dallas is currently tied with reigning NFC champion Philadelphia and Washington for the division lead in the crowded NFC East, as the Eagles and Commanders also won their respective Week 1 contests.

Jets Crash and Burn Only to Soar in the End

The league certainly saved the best game of Week 1 for last, as the Monday Night Football showdown between the Jets and the Bills did not disappoint in defying expectations. The most notable takeaway out of this game is that new Jets starting QB Aaron Rodgers suffered an ankle injury just four plays into his New York debut. Rodgers is feared to have torn his Achilles, which could put the four-time MVP on the shelf for an extended amount of time, if not the entire season.

However, this only inspired the Jets to beat the odds that have been stacked against this downtrodden franchise. New York took a three-point lead with under two minutes left in regulation but Buffalo scored a quick field goal to send the game into overtime. The Jets defense, which forced four turnovers off of Buffalo’s star QB Josh Allen, made a quick three-and-out stop before sealing the game with a walk-off punt-return touchdown. Gang Green will be a fascinating team to keep an eye on this entire season, that’s for sure, and even without A-Rod as the centerpiece of the attention for the foreseeable future.

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