Brock Purdy regarded superb as a rookie remaining season. There used to be additionally no ensure he may just repeat it.
Purdy used to be handed over 261 occasions within the 2022 NFL draft prior to memorably going with the remaining select. 5 regular-season begins, as excellent as they had been, wasn’t a large pattern dimension. Defensive coordinators would have an offseason to check his weaknesses. On most sensible of it, he used to be coming off elbow surgical treatment after struggling an damage within the NFC championship sport. There have been reputable causes to wonder whether Purdy would regress.
It kind of feels there used to be no reason why to doubt Purdy in spite of everything. He would possibly have even been underrated heading into the season.
Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers regarded implausible in Week 1. They blew out the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-7 at the street and left surely they are Tremendous Bowl contenders once more. At one level, the yardage within the sport used to be 157 to -3 in prefer of the 49ers. Pittsburgh wasn’t a foul group remaining season, they more than likely would possibly not be a foul group this season, however the 49ers made them glance terrible.
Purdy used to be picked 242 alternatives after Kenny Pickett in remaining 12 months’s draft, however you would have by no means guessed it observing Sunday’s sport. Pickett used to be caught on 9 yards passing till Pittsburgh’s ultimate power of the 1st part. Purdy already had two touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk by means of then. Purdy has the luxurious of now not enjoying in opposition to the San Francisco protection, which seems to be nice once more, however the starkest distinction between the groups on Sunday used to be the quarterback play. Purdy gave the impression of the first-round select. Pickett gave the impression of the seventh-rounder simply seeking to make his manner. Purdy used to be 19-of-29 for 220 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 111.3 passer ranking. He can have submit larger numbers if the Steelers had been extra aggressive.
If Purdy performs like he did Sunday — and there is no reason why to consider he would possibly not, making an allowance for what he did remaining season and that he carved up a excellent Steelers protection to start out his season season — the 49ers will probably be very difficult to overcome. Now that Nick Bosa has his extension, the protection will have to be one of the best within the NFL. Purdy has a really perfect staff of skill-position gamers round him. And San Francisco turns out to have hit the lottery with their Mr. Inappropriate choose from a 12 months in the past. The 49ers nonetheless blew the Trey Lance resolution, however nailing the Purdy select erases a large number of that.
There used to be no group that regarded higher during the early video games on Sunday than the 49ers. And few quarterbacks regarded as excellent as Purdy. If there have been any doubts about Purdy going into his 2d season, the ones will have to be responded already.
Listed below are the remainder of the winners and losers from Week 1 of the NFL season:
WINNERS
Jim Schwartz: It is onerous to confuse Joe Burrow. There is a excellent reason why he is the best paid participant in NFL historical past.
And at halftime of Week 1, the Bengals had extra punts (seven) than Burrow had completions (six). Credit score to Schwartz, the Cleveland Browns’ new defensive coordinator. Schwartz has been an excellent defensive thoughts for a few years, and it used to be a sensible rent for the Browns this offseason.
Schwartz’ competitive method used to be dangerous for the Bengals on Sunday. Cincinnati would possibly not have many dangerous days on offense however they had been inept in Cleveland’s 24-3 win. When the Bengals felt the want to opt for it on fourth-and-four from their very own territory within the fourth quarter, trailing 16-3, Burrow went again to cross and Myles Garrett sacked him. That summed up the day for the Bengals offense. Cleveland scored the knockout landing proper after that.
Week 1 used to be a large alternative for the Browns to make a commentary within the AFC North. Their protection spoke the loudest.
Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield: Whats up, take note when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Mayfield their starter and social media made unending jokes of the way they had been tanking for Caleb Williams?
Perhaps that used to be a little bit overstated. The Buccaneers were given an enormous 20-17 win as Bowles and Mayfield get started a pivotal season of their careers, frightening the Minnesota Vikings. Mayfield wasn’t prolific however he made performs when he needed to. One of the crucial largest performs of the sport used to be a run by means of him on third-and-two with about 3 mins left. He put his shoulder down to verify he were given the 1st down, which drew a large reaction from the Bucs sideline. He hit an enormous cross proper after that on third-and-10, with Chris Godwin making a really perfect catch for a large first down. The Buccaneers ran out the clock after that.
Kirk Cousins had the type of sport his critics all the time level to when ripping him. He threw for 344 yards however did not make sufficient performs to win. He became it over 3 times. Quite a few survival pool alternatives went by means of the wayside within the opener.
The Buccaneers is probably not nice this season, however they regarded significantly better than many figured they’d on Sunday.
Anthony Richardson: Richardson threw a key interception within the fourth quarter, proper after the Jacksonville Jaguars took a lead. However do not let that overshadow what used to be a good day for the Indianapolis Colts rookie.
Richardson did not have a large number of faculty revel in however he gave the impression of he belonged on Sunday. He ran for a landing early, which everybody knew could be a power of his sport in an instant. He used to be additionally efficient throwing it, finishing 24-of-37 passes for 223 yards. The Jaguars gained 31-21, however the important thing takeaway for the Colts will have to be that Richardson regarded excellent. He used to be shaken up on the finish when he took a large hit plowing ahead on a run for a primary down, however confidently for the Colts it is not anything primary.
Richardson did not lead a win on Sunday. However he’s going to have various wins in his long term. The Colts need to be proud of what they noticed.
Washington Commanders, slightly: The excellent news for the Commanders is that they gained. As a result of a loss would were in reality onerous to take.
The Commanders beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-16 however did not glance excellent doing it. The Cardinals led in the second one part, thank you largely to a defensive landing off a Sam Howell fumble. Arizona will probably be one of the vital worst groups within the NFL, possibly the worst, however Washington had a troublesome time placing the Cardinals away.
However a minimum of it used to be a win, although it used to be unsightly. Washington must play significantly better to overcome groups above Arizona at the pecking order despite the fact that.
LOSERS
Mike Vrabel: Vrabel is a in reality excellent trainer who made a in reality dangerous resolution on Sunday.
The Tennessee Titans trailed 16-12 to the New Orleans Saints with not up to 3 mins left. On a third-and-12 they picked up six yards to the Saints’ 11-yard line, making it an glaring go-for-it scenario. However it wasn’t glaring to Vrabel, who kicked the sphere purpose.
The Titans by no means were given the ball again. New Orleans hit a large cross play for a primary down, were given every other first down and ran out the clock after that. It used to be a surprisingly dangerous resolution to kick the sphere purpose at that time within the sport. The Saints gained 16-15. The truth that Vrabel, one of the vital absolute best coaches within the NFL, made that decision made it much more complicated.
Houston Texans: Do not disregard as this season performs out that the Texans would not have their 2024 first-round select. That went to the Arizona Cardinals when the Texans traded as much as draft Will Anderson Jr. 0.33 total.
That select may well be very early within the draft. The Texans struggled to get a lot performed on offense in a 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans fought onerous and saved it shut for some time, however as the sport went at the Ravens’ skill distinction took over. It will take new Texans trainer DeMeco Ryans a while to show issues round. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will have to be excellent however that can take a while too.
That is why April’s industry used to be more than likely a foul thought. Anderson will probably be a excellent cross rusher. However the associated fee to get him seems like it’ll be heavy.
Bryce Younger: The shedding streak of No. 1 total alternatives beginning in Week 1 continues. Younger began for the Carolina Panthers and misplaced, the 9th immediately first total select to start out within the season opener and lose. The remaining time a No. 1 select gained within the opener used to be David Carr again in 2002.
Younger did not lend a hand his group a lot. He threw a few alternatives. The Panthers did not have a cross longer than 14 yards. The Falcons gained 24-10.
Younger can have various excellent days as a professional. However his opener, like various first alternatives, wasn’t the begin to his occupation he was hoping for.
