Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season didn’t disappoint. Eight of the 16 games on the opening slate were decided by just one possession, with all but five finishing within two-score margins.
Will Week 2 deliver another exciting football Sunday? As we did last week, let’s take a look at the five games on this week’s slate that look to be the most exciting, have the most interesting storylines, and/or have the highest takes for the teams involved.
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5. San Francisco 49ers (1-0) at Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
(Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX)
Even when the Rams were at their peak in the Sean McVay era, the 49ers always had their number. The Niners have won eight of the last nine meetings between these two California teams, including eight in a row in the regular season going back to 2019. Los Angeles’ only win in that span came in the playoffs in the 2021 NFC Championship Game.
Expectations weren’t as high for the Rams coming into this season compared to the past few years due to talent lost this offseason and with quarterback Matthew Stafford coming off elbow and back injuries. Yet the Rams took down the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in Week 1. Can they surprise people again up against a team they’ve struggled with in the past?
4. New York Jets (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
(Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS)
Just four offensive plays into their season, the Jets’ outlook changed dramatically. With Aaron Rodgers lost to a torn Achilles and Zach Wilson back under center, the Jets now go from a Super Bowl contender to the team they were last year – winning with strong defense and a good run game while trying to navigate the ups and downs of erratic quarterback play.
That strategy worked against the Buffalo Bills last week, as the Jets defense forced four turnovers while Wilson only gave the ball away once in a 22-16 overtime win. Will it work again against a Cowboys team that opened the season by blasting the New York Giants 40-0 in Week 1? It will be really interesting to see how Jets head coach Robert Saleh adapts to the loss of Rodgers.
3. Minnesota Vikings (0-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
(Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video)
Week 2 starts with two teams trying to bounce back on a short week after disappointing performances in Week 1. The Vikings hosted a Tom Brady-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers team and lost 20-17. Meanwhile, the defending NFC Champion Eagles went down to the wire with the New England Patriots, but did pull out an only 25-20 win.
This game also will feature some of the best wide receiver play we’ll see all week. The Eagles offense features A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, while the Vikings lineup with Justin Jefferson and rookie first round pick Jordan Addison, who caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut last week.
2. Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
(Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)
Sticking with the divisional matchups, the Ravens and Bengals hold the first of their two AFC North meetings this Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium. It’s a battle of two teams that had very different Week 1 experiences.
For the Ravens it was the first game after eventful months with former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson missed the final five games of the 2022 regular season as well as the Ravens’ playoff loss against the Bengals in the Wild Card round. Then in the offseason, he and the Ravens went back and forth through contract negotiations and trade requests before agreeing to a five-year, $260 million contact extension. In Jackson’s first game back he led the Ravens to a 25-9 win.
On the other side is a Bengals team that is coming off an AFC Championship appearance and viewed as one of the favorites in the conference. Yet Cincinnati failed to establish itself in a divisional matchup with the Cleveland Browns, falling 24-3 while putting up just 142 yards of total offense. Now taking on the Ravens, the Bengals have to avoid falling in an 0-2 divisional hole.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
(Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)
Now this one will be fun. The Chiefs, with extra time to prepare after their season opening loss and with Travis Kelce and Chris Jones back in the lineup, take on a Jaguars team that is viewed as a dark horse contender in 2023.
The Jags beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-21 to start the season, but this game will be a real test of just how much growth 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence has made entering his third year, and what kind of impact players like running back Travis Etienne and wide receiver Calvin Ridley can make. It wouldn’t be surprising if this game ends up being a playoff preview.
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