Despite losing Aaron Rodgers just four plays into his Jets debut, New York rallied to stun the Buffalo Bills 22-16 with a walk-off punt return touchdown in overtime on Monday night.After forcing a three-and-out on Buffalo's first possession in overtime, rookie receiver Xavier Gipson called game by returning the opposition's punt 65 yards for a game-ending touchdown.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.With the first week of the 2023 NFL season in the books, it's time to overreact about the state of each team.1. San Francisco 49ers (1-0) Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 3Brock Purdy will be a top-15 QB at season's end. Purdy deserves more respect, and it's time to stop looking at him as someone who only succeeded as a rookie because of the stellar supporting cast around him. The 2022 seventh-round pick is the first quarterback in NFL history to post a passer rating of 95 or better in each of his first six career regular season starts.2. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)Previous Rank: 6Dallas will finally return to the NFC title game. The Cowboys humiliated the Giants 40-0 in a rivalry matchup between playoff teams that was supposed to be close. With one of the league's most balanced rosters, the Cowboys should feel good about their chances of making a playoff run and returning to their first NFC title game since January 1996.3. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)Previous Rank: 2Jalen Carter will receive DPOY votes. Carter posted a league-high eight pressures and was one of not very many bright spots in Philly's ugly win over the Patriots. The first-rounder is among the main candidates to win the NFL's top rookie honors this year, but we should expect Carter to potentially receive some Defensive Player of the Year consideration.4. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)Previous Rank: 1Even Patrick Mahomes might not be able to carry K.C. With Travis Kelce sidelined due to injury, the Chiefs' skill-position players struggled with drops and couldn't get anything going in the run game in a home loss to the Lions. The Chiefs, who lost offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy in the offseason, now hope Mahomes' brilliance and the return of Kelce will be enough to put the team's offense back on the right track.5. Miami Dolphins (1-0) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 9Tyreek Hill might become the first WR to win the MVP. Hill said one of his career goals is to top 2,000 receiving yards, and after catching 215 yards and two TDs in Week 1, he should feel good about hitting that number. Topping the 2,000-yard mark would not only give Hill the single-season receiving yards record, but it should also make him the first receiver ever to be named NFL MVP.6. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)Previous Rank: 7Zay Flowers will be in the running for OROY. The 22nd overall pick this year, Flowers was a major part of Lamar Jackson's offense in his NFL debut and led the team with nine receptions and 78 yards. As the Ravens' new No. 1 target, he'll be a front-runner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.7. Buffalo Bills (0-1)Previous Rank: 5This Bills team can't win it all. Bad Josh Allen turnovers, a big need for offensive weapons, and a weak run defense. The Bills' loss to the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets exposed Buffalo's major issues, and unless coach Sean McDermott can make big adjustments, the club's chances of playing in the Super Bowl this season are extremely low.8. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)Previous Rank: 4Cincy's O-line will be a major problem again. The offensive line has been one of Cincinnati's main concerns in recent years, but there were high expectations surrounding the unit after the team signed left tackle Orlando Brown in free agency. However, Joe Burrow was sacked twice and hit a whopping 10 times during the Bengals' Week 1 loss to the Browns.9. Detroit Lions (1-0)Previous Rank: 13The Lions will finally win the NFC North. Led by a promising rookie class, Detroit stole a victory against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. The Lions, who've never won their division since it was renamed the NFC North in 2002, are one of the NFC's best teams this year and should feel great about finally winning the North.10. Cleveland Browns (1-0) Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 14The defense will be the next No-Fly Zone. Cleveland didn't just limit Joe Burrow and Co. on Sunday, the team practically forced the Bengals' high-octane attack into submission. Burrow completed less than half his passes and produced just 82 yards in the air while no Bengals receiver eclipsed 40 receiving yards.11. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)Previous Rank: 11Calvin Ridley is going to be a top-five WR in football. It didn't take very long for Ridley to remind the NFL's audience just how good he is. Eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown is nothing to ignore. With Trevor Lawrence feeding him, Ridley is poised to enter an exclusive club of the game's top wideouts.12. New York Jets (1-0)Previous Rank: 8The Jets are cursed. Yes, the overtime win over the Bills was exciting, but we have to think long-term here. The Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers hoping to end the franchise's 12-season playoff drought and possibly return to the Super Bowl. But the four-time NFL MVP's debut ended after just four snaps as he suffered a torn Achilles that will end his season, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.13. Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)Previous Rank: 10Chargers' defense holds them back again. The Chargers put up over 400 yards of offense and didn't turn the ball over once - and yet they still lost. The culprit for that is the 500-plus yards of offense they allowed to the Dolphins. The defense looks to be the team's worst enemy again.14. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)Previous Rank: 12Geno Smith, Seahawks come crashing back down to earth. The 2022 season was a fun one for the Seahawks and reigning comeback player of the year Geno Smith. Unfortunately, 2023 is a different story, with Week 1 foreshadowing a long year.15. Green Bay Packers (1-0)Previous Rank: 20 Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyJordan Love is the next great Packers QB. It wasn't perfect, but Love played very well in Week 1. Three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a steamrolling victory over the Bears. It sounds like he's already got all the makings of a typical Packers quarterback.16. New Orleans Saints (1-0)Previous Rank: 18Derek Carr will lead the Saints back to playoffs. Dennis Allen seems to have another stout defense, but the difference this time is he has a proven, veteran quarterback like Carr leading the way. A 300-yard performance in Week 1 is a good sign that Carr is the missing piece that can end a Saints playoff drought that dates back to 2020.17. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)Previous Rank: 15The Steelers finish with the NFL's worst offense. Forget the preseason optimism. The Steelers' offense looked downright bad in Week 1. Granted it was against the mighty 49ers defense, but the unit failed to get any momentum going while Pickett struggled massively with his accuracy.18. New England Patriots (0-1)Previous Rank: 19Bill O'Brien has fixed the offense. The nightmare duo of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge running the Patriots' offense has dissipated quickly following a dream start for Mac Jones. The former first-round quarterback threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns as New England battled hard against the reigning NFC champion Eagles.19. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)Previous Rank: 17Major regression coming as good luck runs out. The Vikings were undefeated in one-score games in the regular season last year. They're already 0-1 in that department this season. Without another unprecedented year of good luck, Minnesota's roster may not have what it takes to win a wide-open NFC North.20. Washington Commanders (1-0) The Washington Post / The Washington Post / GettyPrevious Rank: 21New ownership motivates the Commanders into a playoff team. Washington certainly left a lot on the table as the club squeaked by the lowly Cardinals. Still, the Commanders found a way to win, which isn't something they did often under the previous regime.21. New York Giants (0-1)Previous Rank: 16Daniel Jones' contract was a mistake. It's early, sure, but this has to be a legitimate fear after the Giants got embarrassed by the Cowboys in the Sunday night opener. Quarterbacks getting paid $40 million per year don't get to make excuses about the supporting cast.22. Los Angeles Rams (1-0)Previous Rank: 29Sean McVay is back. Last season was a rough one for the Rams, and nobody would have predicted a turnaround based on the roster alone. But the star head coach completely outclassing the Seahawks in Week 1 provides some hope that the offense might regain some of its previous magic.23. Atlanta Falcons (1-0)Previous Rank: 23The Falcons don't trust Desmond Ridder. No one could blame them if this was indeed the case, as the second-year quarterback is still extremely short on experience. But you can only go so far in today's NFL if you downright refuse to throw the ball.24. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)Previous Rank: 26Jimmy Garoppolo is an upgrade at QB. Derek Carr may be the better player overall, but it only took one game for Jimmy G to look more comfortable in Josh McDaniels' system than his predecessor did all last year.25. Tennessee Titans (0-1) David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24It's time to sit Ryan Tannehill. Will Levis and Malik Willis may not be completely ready, but are they really going to be worse than the 35-year-old was in Week 1? Tannehill's three interceptions were ultimately the difference in a 16-15 loss to the Saints.26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)Previous Rank: 28Don't count the Bucs out in the NFC South. It sounds crazy. It probably is crazy. But Sunday's win over the Vikings was a reminder that Tampa Bay still has plenty of playmakers on defense. The offense really wouldn't have to do much to help this team compete in the NFL's worst division.27. Denver Broncos (0-1)Previous Rank: 22New coach, same Broncos. All that hype for the arrival of Sean Payton and Denver opens the season with its seventh consecutive loss to the Raiders. The Broncos need a whole lot more than incremental offensive improvements to be a competitive team.28. Carolina Panthers (0-1)Previous Rank: 25The Panthers are setting Bryce Young up to fail. Putting together a strong supporting cast is easier said than done when you trade away your No. 1 receiver, along with a collection of top picks, for the right to draft your franchise quarterback. But surely they could have done better than this group of receivers.29. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)Previous Rank: 31Anthony Richardson is rookie QB1. The Colts starter looked more comfortable than any other first-year passer in his NFL debut, and it's already easy to see how the offense is going to make use of his athletic abilities in the early stages of his development.30. Houston Texans (0-1) Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 30The Texans are going to win seven games. DeMeco Ryans' defense gave Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense some real trouble in the opener, despite what the box score says. This team isn't going to be a pushover any longer.31. Chicago Bears (0-1)Previous Rank: 27Justin Fields might not have it. This was supposed to be the year the former first-round pick finally took a step forward as a passer, complementing the dynamic athletic ability we saw throughout his sophomore campaign. Looking like the exact same quarterback in a loss to the Packers is a major concern.32. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)Previous Rank: 32Week 1 will be as good as it gets for Arizona. The Cardinals nearly pulled off an upset over the Commanders on Sunday, but we're not about to conclude that this team is being underestimated. The roster remains the worst in the NFL, and it's not even close.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets believe star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles tendon injury during Monday night's 22-16 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Robert Saleh announced postgame."MRI's probably going to confirm what we think. ... It's not good," Saleh said, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.Rodgers was helped off the field after taking a sack on the first drive of his New York debut. The 39-year-old spent time in the medical tent before leaving the field on a cart. The team later announced that his X-rays were negative. Zach Wilson entered the game under center to replace Rodgers, who attempted one pass and played four snaps before exiting.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is expected to be out for "a few weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Johnson exited the game in the third quarter after getting hurt attempting to cut inside on a 26-yard catch-and-run. He finished with three catches on six targets for 48 yards.The loss of Johnson is another blow for a Steelers offense reeling from a poor performance in the 30-7 blowout Week 1 defeat.Following an offseason full of hype, Pittsburgh had its first five drives end with four three-and-outs and one interception. Kenny Pickett threw a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth to end the first half and cut the deficit to 20-7, but the Steelers failed to score for the remainder of the game.With Johnson sidelined, Allen Robinson II and Calvin Austin III are in line for bigger roles behind George Pickens Jr.The Steelers also lost defensive tackle Cameron Heyward to a groin injury that'll reportedly require him to go on injured reserve, which mandates a four-game absence.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have their star defensive tackle back in uniform after Chris Jones agreed to terms on a new one-year deal, the team announced Monday.The revised agreement doesn't include any additional years, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter."Chris is an elite player in this league, and over the last seven years, he's really developed into a leader on our team," general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. "He's been instrumental to our success and Super Bowl championship runs and it was a priority for us to keep him in a Chiefs uniform."The four-time Pro Bowler was set to enter the final season of a four-year, $80-million extension signed in July 2020. He was due $19.5 million in 2023 under the previous terms of his deal, according to Spotrac.In the revised agreement, Jones can earn the following incentives to take his deal up to $25.17 million, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio:

After running back Derrick Henry only got five touches in the second half of the Tennesee Titans' season opener against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the three-time Pro Bowler is still vital to the offense."Everybody (is) making sure that we get into a rhythm and that we figure out things we can do consistently," Vrabel said, according to Nick Suss of The Tennessean. "Derrick will be a huge part of that, I can assure you."Vrabel added Henry's usage was "probably" an outlier in terms of what fans should expect from him for the remainder of the season.Henry ran for 63 yards on 15 carries and added 56 yards on two receptions. But he was out-snapped by rookie running back Tyjae Spears, who had 34 while Henry only had 30.The 29-year-old Henry had a seven-yard carry on the second play of the second half but didn't touch the ball again until the final 90 seconds of the third quarter.Spears, 22, was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tulane. He finished the game with three carries for 27 yards and one reception for 1 yard."Certainly his average when he carried the football would lend itself to tell us that he has to carry it more," Vrabel said of Spears, per Suss. "We'll try to continue to find ways to get both of them involved. At the same time, in the same package, whatever it may be."The Titans will take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite being just 10 months removed from a torn ACL, Breece Hall looked better than ever during his team's overtime win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.The New York Jets running back ran for 120 yards on 10 carries, including an 83-yard scamper in which he showed off his pre-injury explosiveness. He also had one catch for 20 yards."Once I got on the field, I was like, 'I'm still that dude. Anytime I touch the ball, I can do whatever I want with it,'" Hall said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "I always had that mentality, but I was just happy the coaches stuck with me today."They said I was going to have a pitch count before the game, but I told them I don't want a pitch count, but if I have to, I will. So, they kind of just rolled with me, Dalvin (Cook), and MC (Michael Carter) carrying it. So, it was cool."

Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill stole the show Sunday, leading the Dolphins to a thrilling 36-34 victory on the road over the Chargers.Following his 466-yard, three-touchdown performance, Tagovailoa flew up the MVP oddsboards. He entered Sunday's game +2000 to win the award. Now, he is the favorite at +600.MVP OddsPlayerOddsImplied ProbabilityTua Tagovailoa+60014.3%Patrick Mahomes+65013.3%Joe Burrow+90010%Justin Herbert+90010%Trevor Lawrence+10009.1%Josh Allen+12007.7%Jalen Hurts+12007.7%Lamar Jackson+14006.7%Dak Prescott+16005.9%Brock Purdy+25003.8&Deshaun Watson+30003.2%Jared Goff+30003.2%Odds via theScore Bet. Players priced above +3000 are not listed.Tagovailoa's implied probability jumped 9.5% thanks to his jaw-dropping performance. His 466-yard total was the fourth most on an opening game in NFL history.

The final step of Damar Hamlin's miraculous recovery will have to wait at least another week.The Buffalo Bills safety is a healthy scratch for Monday night's matchup with the New York Jets, the team announced.Hamlin won't suit up for Buffalo's opener due to "a numbers crunch in the defensive backfield," sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. He could reportedly see action for Buffalo in the coming weeks.Cornerback Kaiir Elam, the Bills' 2022 first-round pick, is also inactive despite having no injury designation. Elam appeared in 13 games as a rookie, making six starts.Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and had his heartbeat restored by medical staff on the field during last season's Week 17 Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals.The 25-year-old has since made a full recovery. He was able to participate in training camp and the preseason after being cleared to resume football activities by three specialists.The 2021 sixth-round pick racked up 91 tackles and one forced fumble last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses his Week 1 takeaways from NFC teams, recaps the latest injuries, and goes over the top players available on the waiver wire.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won't have one of their top defenders as they try to bounce back from Sunday's blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.Six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is expected to miss multiple weeks and will likely land on injured reserve after suffering a groin injury in his team's 30-7 defeat to San Francisco in Week 1, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Landing on IR would sideline the 34-year-old for at least four weeks. He's evaluating his options and could possibly undergo surgery, according to Rapoport.Heyward's injury is a big blow to a Steelers defense that just allowed 30 or more points for the first time since Week 11 last season.The 2011 first-round pick, who's been a team captain for nine consecutive years, led Pittsburgh with 23 QB hits and ranked second with 10.5 sacks in 2022. He's spent his entire NFL career with the AFC North club, amassing 78.5 sacks across 184 appearances.With Heyward sidelined, second-round defensive lineman Keeanu Benton will presumably handle more snaps. The Steelers also roster defensive linemen Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams, among others.Pittsburgh's defense is led by 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, who racked up three sacks and two forced fumbles against the 49ers.The Steelers host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 2.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens' offensive line could be without starters Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum for their Week 2 matchup against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals.Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that both Stanley and Linderbaum are week-to-week with a knee sprain and an ankle sprain, respectively.Stanley has struggled to stay healthy since being named a first-team All-Pro left tackle in 2019. He's appeared in 18 games over the past three seasons, including one in 2021 and six in 2020.Backup offensive tackles Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele are next up on the depth chart, while sixth-round rookie Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu is also a candidate to earn snaps.Linderbaum is likely to be replaced by Sam Mustipher while he's on the shelf. The 2022 first-rounder played in all 17 games as a rookie.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Week 1 finale is the opening act of a new chapter in Aaron Rodgers' Hall of Fame career. Rodgers' Jets debut comes on Monday Night Football against a divisional foe: the Bills.Despite the expectation surrounding the Jets and the buzz expected at MetLife Stadium Monday night with a star-studded list of celebrities in attendance, New York is 2.5-point underdogs against the Bills, who have the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl.While football is the ultimate team sport, Monday's contest is about one man. Rodgers is two years removed from back-to-back MVP awards but had one of the worst years of his career last season. However, he's seemingly refreshed and determined in a new city. Monday is the first chance for the world to see whether that translates to his on-field performance.So, what are reasonable expectations oddsmakers have set for Rodgers in his debut?Aaron Rodgers MNF propsPropTotal(O/U)Passing yards232.5 (-115/-115)Passing touchdowns1.5 (+115/-155)Passing attempts33.5 (-110/-120)Completions21.5 (-120/-110)Longest completion35.5 (even/-130)The Jets' defense was terrific last year. However, their quarterback situation was a huge reason - Jets fans may argue the sole reason - they missed out on the playoffs.Rodgers' pedigree flipped that notion for this season. He's also back with Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers' offensive coordinator when he won two straight MVPs.Rodgers' weapons are plentiful in New York. Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson is the top target, along with Mecole Hardman Jr. and Rodgers' former Packers teammate Allen Lazard.The biggest concern is keeping the quarterback upright. The Jets offensive line ranks 23rd in the league, according to PFF. There's nothing more important than protecting Rodgers. While the offensive line was reportedly a concern throughout training camp, we'll find out soon whether it'll derail a potentially magical season.Rodgers eclipsed 232 passing yards just six times in 2022, but he had a down year. However, he broke 232 yards in 11 out of 16 games in 2021 - his last campaign alongside Hackett. Rodgers also had more than 22 completions in 13 contests that season and threw multiple passing touchdowns in every game except two.Even last season, Rodgers threw at least two touchdowns in most matchups.Hackett likes to put the ball in Rodgers' hands consistently. Who wouldn't with a signal-caller as cerebral and gifted as Rodgers?The Jets have an explosive backfield with Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall, even though Monday is Hall's first game back from a torn ACL. New York's rushers could take opportunities away from Rodgers, although it would ultimately help the team.The Bills have an elite defense, which makes an already pressure-filled debut even more challenging for Rodgers.Oddsmakers are expecting Josh Allen to outperform Rodgers, with his passing yards set at 251.5. The market expects a close game, but all signs point toward a Bills win in the oddsmakers' eyes.But our eyes say otherwise. The Jets have a difficult first six games with matchups against the Bills, Eagles, Cowboys, Chiefs, Patriots, and Broncos. It'll be a successful stretch to make it through 3-3.The first win of the season and of Rodgers' Jets career will come tonight. Despite Allen's presence, Buffalo still has question marks offensively.This might be the most highly anticipated Jets game at MetLife in over a decade. Expect an electric atmosphere. There's no doubt Rodgers can and will meet the moment. Great quarterbacks elevate the play of everyone around them. Rodgers' greatness will be on full display.In addition to Jets moneyline, theScore Bet is offering a special for Rodgers to throw over 1.5 passing touchdowns and the Jets to win at +240.Entering this season, divisional home underdogs were 15-2-1 against the spread and 10-6-2 straight up in Week 1 since 2012. That trend failed to provide dividends Sunday as the Browns were the only home underdog that won in a divisional matchup - the Giants lost to the Cowboys and the Colts lost to the Jaguars in the other two games that qualified.Despite the 1-2 record Sunday, it's still a profitable trend over the long run and will hold true Monday night as the Jets enter as slight underdogs.As I outlined earlier, Rodgers has multiple touchdown games more often than not. He tossed two touchdowns last season when the Packers played at Buffalo.After months of anticipation as he paraded around the New York scene, the day when Rodgers dons the sleek green and white has finally arrived.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa applauded San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's performance following Sunday's 30-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers."Purdy shut some haters up," Bosa said Sunday, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I think whenever a guy comes back from an injury, people kind of don't expect them to make another leap in the second year. I'm just happy for him. He's exactly who we thought he was."The Week 1 victory marked Purdy's return after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow nearly six months ago. Sporting a captain's "C" on his jersey, the second-year signal-caller completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a rout over Pittsburgh.San Francisco selected Purdy with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Iowa State product has been a key factor since becoming the Niners starting passer last campaign, posting a 6-0 regular-season record over his short tenure.Despite missing most of the 49ers' offseason rehabbing from surgery, Purdy said his elbow ailment didn't cross his mind during his Week 1 performance."This is what we expect out of ourselves, and once I hit that touchdown, I wasn't thinking about surgery or anything like that," he said.Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he was impressed with the second-year quarterback's season-opening outing, adding that Purdy has "taken this whole offseason as good as you can as a quarterback being injured."The 23-year-old quarterback also said it "felt good" throwing a touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk in the second quarter with Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson in coverage.Peterson made waves leading up to the season opener when he said on his "All Things Covered" podcast that the Niners have "tell signs" that give away what plays they're going to run in certain situations and predicted he'd record an interception Sunday.Purdy praised Peterson as a "competitor" and said he has "nothing but respect" for the veteran defensive back.Purdy will aim to lead the Niners to a 2-0 start on Sept. 17 when they visit the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin will miss the rest of the 2023 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the team's Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 29-year-old has also torn his patellar tendon tear and ACL in years past.Conklin has been among the game's best tackles when healthy, earning first-team All-Pro nods as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 2016 and again with the Browns in 2020.The former first-round pick played in 14 contests in 2022. He parlayed his performance into a four-year, $60-million extension that runs through 2026.Conklin was replaced by fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones versus Cincinnati. Jones or James Hudson will likely start opposite Jedrick Wills moving forward.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Brian Burns in his fifth season in the NFL, as well as his first as an impending free agent, the Carolina Panthers outside linebacker says he's learning how to separate business from football."Just understanding it, just understanding how things work," Burns said, according to team reporter Darin Gantt. "Like this was my first rodeo, but still, I know business is business, and you've got to leave your emotions at the door."The two-time Pro Bowler is in the midst of contract negotiations while in the final year of his rookie deal. Burns missed two practices prior to Carolina's season opener, and he admitted that he'd considered sitting out Week 1 at one point, Gantt notes. He would've lost $900,000 for every missed game, The Associated Press' Charles Odum reports.However, after participating in three straight practices before Sunday, Burns tallied seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss against the Atlanta Falcons."I think Brian played today like he practiced, and that's hard," head coach Frank Reich said postgame Sunday, per Gantt.Burns credits fellow pass-rusher Justin Houston for telling him to "just cut off the world" during the season. The 25-year-old defender also said he decided not to hold out in part because his teammates had his back."That was one of the main reasons why I came to camp and did everything, (which) is to ... show them that I got them," Burns said.The Florida State product has tallied 203 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, and 39.5 sacks during his career.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.The Browns are here Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyJoe Burrow missing significant time during the preseason was undoubtedly a major factor in the Bengals starting the year with a blowout loss in Cleveland. The powerhouse offense was bizarrely out of sync en route to the 24-3 loss, with protection issues and some uncharacteristic misses from Burrow resulting in one punt after another.But this was also about much more than the Bengals putting up a Week 1 stinker - the Browns are legitimate contenders.We've been here with this organization before, getting excited about the names on the roster only to be let down in the end, so you'd be forgiven for having a hard time buying in. Browns fans would probably be the first to tell you to relax. But the talent in place has become overwhelming, and Cleveland just may have the coaching staff to make the most of it.New defensive coordinator and longtime pass-rush guru Jim Schwartz having an edge duo of Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith feels wildly unfair for opposing offenses. Cleveland's dynamic duo lived in the backfield in the opener, combining for eight quarterback hits and a sack. Their consistent efforts up front, in tandem with those of a quietly stacked defensive backfield, held Burrow to a career-worst 83 passing yards.The offense is still a work in progress, to be sure, but having Nick Chubb behind one of the league's premier offensive lines is a cheat code in the run game. Such consistent, seemingly unstoppable production on the ground takes some major pressure off Deshaun Watson. And while a Super Bowl ceiling may depend on Watson recapturing the level of play he enjoyed in Houston, his performance against the Bengals was a notable improvement over the borderline bench-worthy play we saw last year.The physical skills have never been in doubt. If the Browns can continue to build the offense around what he does best, with a dominant front helping him settle in the pocket, this becomes a team that can compete with anyone in the AFC.No Rodgers, no problem Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyCan't you just feel the rest of the NFC North collectively rolling their eyes at the idea of the Packers somehow doing this again?Seamlessly transitioning from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers will forever stand as the greatest example of good fortune at the quarterback position. It only seemed fair that Rodgers' messy exit would result in Green Bay, after an incredible 32 years of Hall of Fame production, now facing at least one season of uncertainty under center. Alas, maybe next time.While Jordan Love will almost certainly never reach the level of his legendary predecessors, the Packers couldn't have asked for much more from his first look as the full-time starter. Love was in complete control as Green Bay cruised to a win over the division-rival Bears, throwing for 245 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.There were some misses he'd like back, and that'll likely continue to be a theme in the still-early stages of his development. But the natural gifts that made him a first-round prospect were abundantly clear, and he also demonstrated more poise than you might expect from a quarterback with such limited experience.It's an extremely promising sign that Love looks this comfortable with an equally young receiver corps missing top target Christian Watson. The Packers might be a better team than they were last year with Rodgers.Steelers' hype train stalls Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyPreseason hype can sure create some unrealistic expectations.You couldn't find a single negative headline about the Steelers in the lead-up to the regular season. A star-studded draft class brought some much-needed energy to the organization, and Kenny Pickett was impressive in both training camp and preseason action. Slowly but surely, the Steelers became a popular playoff pick and a not-so-dark-horse AFC North contender. They even somehow entered Week 1 as mere one-point underdogs to the 49ers.One game won't define this team, nor any other, but starting the season with a blowout loss at home is the ultimate buzzkill for Pittsburgh. It's more than fair to wonder if the majority of the football world got a little carried away with the optimism.The rookies that were the source of so much excitement currently aren't even factoring into game days. First-round left tackle Broderick Jones is Dan Moore Jr.'s backup. Second-round corner Joey Porter Jr. couldn't get on the field even with the starting secondary getting picked apart. Second-rounder Keeanu Benton is starting out as a rotational defensive lineman, and third-round tight end Darnell Washington is stuck behind Pat Freiermuth.Make no mistake: These picks will have every opportunity to make an impact in the long term. If improved depth is the only payoff in the short term, though, it's hard to see a 9-8 Steelers team suddenly competing in a gauntlet AFC playoff picture - especially if Pickett doesn't have that sophomore jump in his future.The former first-rounder's struggles against the 49ers were more concerning than anything the Steelers' defense did. Pickett was always going to need to improve his pocket presence to become an above-average starter. While he may have shown flashes of that development in a stellar preseason, it turns out things get a little more difficult against real defenses in the regular season.The opponent is a factor here - the 49ers are a well-balanced team with superstar talent all over the field. But the Steelers play in a division with three more of the NFL's best rosters. Next week's Monday night matchup with the Browns just got a whole lot more interesting.Giants embarrassed on SNF Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / GettyDaniel Jones ranked 23rd in our preseason quarterback rankings, which probably wasn't all that well received. Fresh off a contract extension, and with some much-needed additions to his receiving corps, the former first-rounder was the subject of some considerable hype heading into Year 5.We won't take a victory lap after one game against an extremely good Cowboys team, because there's plenty of season left. It's entirely possible Jones ends up working out long term. But he's not there yet, and the pathetic performance we saw from the Giants' offense highlighted many of the obvious concerns about his game and new deal.Jones received his four-year, $160-million extension on the heels of a 2022 campaign in which he threw for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns. He minimized turnovers, to his credit, but how much of that was because he'd so often either hit a first read or take off running?Some upgrades to his supporting cast, highlighted by star tight end Darren Waller, were supposed to help Jones level up and truly break out. Instead, the Giants kicked off the season with a 40-0 loss in which Jones had nearly as many rushing attempts (13) as completions (15) while also throwing two interceptions and taking seven sacks.The pass protection didn't help matters in this one, and we won't be counting Jones out. But how can you not look back to the contract decision after getting so thoroughly embarrassed at home on national TV? Jones has a $47.1-million cap hit next year. The Giants have to find a way to make this work, and the excuse of having bad receivers isn't going to fly any longer.Quick slantsLawrence-Ridley connection Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyAdding Calvin Ridley at last year's trade deadline was a genius move from the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence checked in at the No. 7 spot on our preseason quarterback rankings after an enormous leap forward last year, and the arrival of a true lead receiver should only help him reach greater heights. Ridley was the clear focal point of the Jacksonville passing game in a Week 1 win over the Colts, recording eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, more than all other Jaguars wide receivers combined.Zay Flowers WR1It's probably going to take some time for the revamped Ravens offense to start firing on all cylinders, but the early returns at wide receiver are promising. First-round rookie Zay Flowers, most notably, already looks like a potential top target. He displayed his unique movement skills in a nine-catch, 78-yard debut. Watch out for this unit when Mark Andrews returns and Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman have some time to shake off the rust.McVay back?The Rams making relatively easy work of the Seahawks without Cooper Kupp probably isn't something many of us had on our Week 1 bingo cards. But it's a welcome development that the offense produced with this kind of rhythm given its disastrous 2022 season. Matt Stafford looked fresh, and young wideouts Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell were regularly schemed into space en route to matching 119-yard days. Head coach Sean McVay finding some answers for the offense after reimagining his approach in the offseason could make the Rams far more feisty than expected.Aiyuk taking offLast season, it turns out, was just a small taste of what's ahead for Brandon Aiyuk. The former first-rounder carved up the Steelers' secondary throughout Sunday's rout, racking up eight catches for 129 yards and two scores. Aiyuk taking another step toward superstar status gives the 49ers four elite playmakers on offense. There may not be a defense in the league that can match up with that kind of talent.Tyreek 2KTyreek Hill made headlines over the summer when he vowed to become the first receiver to break the 2,000-yard mark in a season. One game in, is anyone even considering doubting him? The same Chargers defense that became the first to solve the Dolphins' passing game last year had no such luck in the rematch, with Hill on the receiving end for 215 of Tua Tagovailoa's 466 passing yards. Unguardable playmakers in a masterfully designed passing game - good luck containing the Dolphins' offense.Bryce getting no help Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyTrading up to get your franchise quarterback should be considered a no-brainer. It's worth pointing out, however, that parting with so many premium assets can make things difficult for your young passer in the early stages of his career. Bryce Young looked decently comfortable in his debut against the Falcons - it's already easy to see his vision and natural feel for the position translating to the NFL - but the supporting cast remains a major concern. Asking a rookie quarterback to be everything for your offense, no matter the draft pedigree, isn't a recipe for success.A silver liningThe Chargers can and should look at their shootout loss against the Dolphins as a missed opportunity. Though it's frustrating that the new offensive scheme didn't yield immediate results in the passing game, don't overlook the value of that run-game production. Kellen Moore starting his OC tenure with 234 yards on the ground against a defense that ranked fourth against the run last year is a promising sign. It's only a matter of time before the passing attack comes together with a talent like Justin Herbert under center. Complementing that phase with a strong ground game could put the Chargers' offense over the top.Bad businessThe Vikings apparently made an effort to extend Justin Jefferson before the season began. He's not going anywhere either way, but perhaps they could've tried just a little bit harder. Jefferson recorded another 150-yard game in Minnesota's opener, surpassing Jerry Rice (!) and Randy Moss (!) for the second-most in a player's first four seasons. The price was already going to be astronomical. It's only going to go up the longer the Vikings wait.Fields strugglesJustin Fields was one of several young quarterbacks expected to make a jump this year, with the hope being that some development as a passer would complement his abilities as a runner. That may still happen, but we've got a long way to go. Processing speed, pocket presence, and turnovers remained glaring issues in a rather uncompetitive loss to the Packers. Offseason trade acquisition D.J. Moore was supposed to help this offense take the next step, and he finished the day with two catches for 25 yards. This could be another long year for the Bears.A moral victoryYou wouldn't know it looking at the scoreboard - not this week, and perhaps not all that often this season - but the Texans showed us something in their loss to the Ravens. The arrival of DeMeco Ryans as head coach and some savvy roster moves have given this team a new identity. Getting to Lamar Jackson for four sacks and 10 quarterback hits, while limiting him to 169 passing yards and 38 yards on the ground, showed incredible growth on the defensive side. C.J. Stroud struggled at times in his debut, often trying to do too much, but he battled hard and made his share of impressive throws. This season could end up laying the foundation for future Texans teams, no matter what the final record says.Stat of the week

The New York Giants aren't sugarcoating Sunday night's 40-0 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys."It's embarrassing, but it's over with now," safety Xavier McKinney said, via the team's transcript. "We got a long way to go. It's that simple."Quarterback Daniel Jones also expressed his dismay at the prime-time defeat."We are certainly frustrated and extremely disappointed with how we performed tonight," he said. "I know I certainly am with myself, so a lot to work on and clean up. We are going to be critical of ourselves and look to correct it and get back on the right page."Jones finished the contest 15-of-28 with 104 passing yards and a pair of interceptions. He also fumbled twice, although New York recovered both.However, Giants players weren't the only ones disappointed with their performance."We just got skunked here, 40 to nothing," head coach Brian Daboll said. "When you play a game like that and coach a game like that, there's nothing that's good enough. Our job is to go back and look at it with a critical eye, just like we would do in any game. But 40 to nothing is not a good score, obviously. So, a lot to work on, and that's what we'll do."Daboll, the reigning Coach of the Year, was outdone by Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. In McCarthy's first game as Dallas' play-caller, the Cowboys outgained the Giants by nearly 100 total yards and won the turnover battle."I'm focused on trying to improve, and there's a lot to improve on," Daboll said.He added: "It was a bad game, and that's on me. We'll work to get the things we need to get fixed, which is certainly plenty of things."The Giants will hope to rebound in Week when they travel to Arizona to face the 0-1 Cardinals."This was a wake-up call for us," McKinney said. "It's definitely humbling, but we'll figure it out. We'll be a lot better next week. We won't look like this next week."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each Monday, we'll finish off the week that was in the NFL with a look at value spots in the remaining game under one condition: you promise not to chase. Whether Sunday provided a boost to the accounts or left a little to be desired, Monday Night Football provides an opportunity to show responsibility in your betting, as you can always get lost in another wild Sunday.Having a team representing New York City play on 9/11 was a scheduling no-brainer for the NFL. Now, after Aaron Rodgers greenlit a trade to the Jets, we have the most interesting divisional game of Week 1 capping the first mega-weekend of the season.Bills @ Jets (+2, 45.5)The line has crept toward Buffalo after beginning as a pick'em. The initial excitement about Rodgers has been tempered by some concern about the Jets' ability to protect him with a shaky offensive line that's already got injury concerns at both tackle spots. While Von Miller starts the season on the physically unable to play list, the Bills are still deep at defensive end with Leonard Floyd joining Greg Rousseau, Shaq Lawson, and A.J. Epenesa.Josh Allen should have his hands full as well, though. In two games against the Jets' defense last season, he completed 55.7% of his throws for 176 yards per game and a total of one touchdown, two interceptions, and eight sacks. New York was second in opponents' yards per pass attempt and had a top-10 run defense in 2022. Its success against Allen wasn't a fluke.A 45.5-point total is above average in the NFL and captures key numbers of 41, 43, 37, and 44. However, it's likely only that high because of the game's quarterbacks. Given the likelihood that both might have trouble finding time for explosive plays, the under is the look here.With a 2-point spread and a game we think could be relatively low-scoring, the Jets (+8) provide a good teaser leg to pair with any Week 2 point spread that can be teased across key numbers. In fact, there's one primed for a tease Thursday night since you can bring the Eagles under a field goal against the Vikings.Pick: Under 45.5 points

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith felt the Los Angeles Rams wanted it more in their Week 1 meeting that resulted in a lopsided 30-13 defeat for Seattle."It just looked like they were playing harder," Smith said postgame, according to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune.Wide receiver DK Metcalf echoed Smith's comments, saying the Rams "played harder," according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.Seattle carried a 13-7 lead into halftime but failed to score in the second half while allowing Los Angeles to record 23 points. The Seahawks were held to just 12 yards in the second half.Smith said he hopes the Week 1 loss serves as a wake-up call for a Seahawks club that made a playoff appearance in 2022."We don't lose at home," he said. "We can't do that, let alone in that fashion. So, for a lot of guys around here, including myself, we gotta look ourselves in the mirror (and) point the finger at ourselves and figure out how to get better."Smith finished with 16 completions for 112 yards and one touchdown."We just didn't execute. ... I'll be the first to say that, as always, put that on me," he said, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "It's my job to make sure that we're always prepared, we're always competing, and I just feel like we didn't do that to the best of our ability in the second half."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence offered Indianapolis Colts rookie Anthony Richardson some advice following their Week 1 meeting Sunday.Richardson, the 2023 fourth overall pick, had a solid NFL debut in his team's 31-21 loss. The 21-year-old finished with 223 yards and one touchdown against one interception. He added 40 yards and one score on the ground."Great game, you made some unbelievable plays," Lawrence told Richardson postgame, according to Zak Keefer of The Athletic. "But try and protect yourself."Lawrence added: "The hits add up in this league, and they're a little different than in college."Richardson had 10 rushing attempts and was slow to get up on multiple plays after being tackled, including one in the final minute of the game that resulted in backup Gardner Minshew entering the contest under center for the Colts.The rookie, who was sacked four times, suggested he had a left knee bruise but said he'd "ice it and be alright," according to Kevin Bowen of 1075 The Fan.Lawrence struggled as a rookie, leading the NFL with 17 interceptions while playing for a Jacksonville team that underperformed on both sides of the ball under head coach Urban Meyer. However, the Clemson product improved in Year 2 and led the Jaguars to the playoffs with the help of new coach Doug Pederson.The 23-year-old completed 24 of 32 pass attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns to one interception Sunday. He carried the ball seven times for 41 yards and was sacked twice.Richardson, meanwhile, became the first rookie quarterback in Colts history to rush and pass for a touchdown in a season opener. The Florida product said he learned "how different it is from college" during his NFL debut."Every possession matters, every down matters, every play matters," Richardson said, according to Ben Arthur of Fox Sports. "You can't just take off one play because you think it's all right. You can't take off one quarter because you think you've got the lead and think you're going to get the W."The Colts visit the Houston Texans in Week 2.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is active for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys despite a hamstring injury, the team announced.Waller was listed as questionable after being a limited participant in practice.The 30-year-old was the Giants' major addition of the offseason, with the NFC East club acquiring him from the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick.Waller excelled with the Raiders, producing back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020. He struggled with injuries last year, finishing with 388 yards in nine appearances.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn Achilles during Sunday's 25-9 win over the Houston Texans, head coach John Harbaugh announced, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic."I'm crestfallen for him. He will be back. He's a young guy," Harbaugh said.Dobbins limped off the field after getting tackled inside the red zone in the third quarter. He went to the locker room and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson couldn't finish Sunday's 30-7 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers due to a hamstring injury.Johnson exited after suffering the ailment while making his third catch of the Week 1 matchup. Johnson ended the game with three grabs for 48 yards.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is inactive for the team's Week 1 contest with the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Andrews was listed as questionable with a quad injury.The 28-year-old was the team's leading receiver last year. Andrews had 73 receptions, 847 yards, and five touchdowns in 15 games.Isaiah Likely is set to replace most of the three-time Pro Bowler's snaps. Charlie Kolar and fullback Patrick Ricard could also see snaps at tight end.Andrews has been Baltimore's top passing threat for several seasons. The club signed Odell Beckham Jr. and drafted Zay Flowers to complement Andrews and 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman this offseason.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets explored making a trade for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford when their pursuit for former Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers lagged, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.New York was uncertain what Rodgers wanted or if he'd even play in 2023 before the quarterback expressed his interest in March in joining the club, Rapoport reports. The Rams were adamant Stafford wasn't available, and trade talks reportedly didn't progress.The Jets weren't the only ones to inquire about Stafford, as many quarterback-needy teams reached out to Los Angeles looking to acquire the 35-year-old, Rapoport adds.A rash of injuries limited Stafford to just nine games in 2022. He rehabbed an elbow ailment during the offseason and suffered a spinal cord injury and a concussion that forced him on injured reserve in December.Stafford is now fully healthy. However, the Rams will be without star wide receiver Cooper Kupp after placing him on injured reserve earlier in the week with a hamstring injury.The former first overall pick is 89-101-1 in 191 career starts, throwing for 52,082 yards and 333 touchdowns.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is healthy and would likely pass a physical today, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Taylor was placed on the PUP list in late August, meaning he must miss the season's first four games. All options are still on the table, and the Colts still could look to move the 2021 rushing champ, Rapoport added.When the team tried to trade him in August, the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers were the two main suitors for Taylor. The Packers offered two mid-round picks, but now that the season has started, those talks are over, per Rapoport. Indianapolis asked for second-year wide receiver Christian Watson in the trade, but the Packers declined, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.Miami and Indianapolis had extensive talks, but no deal grew imminent, Rapoport added. The Dolphins are reportedly expected to remain interested."I can say there was no exchange of offers from either one of us, it was just general talks," Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters in August, according to Kevin Patra of NFL Network. "In terms of being close or anything, there was nothing really close."Tensions grew between Taylor and Indianapolis this summer when the team refused to offer him a contract extension. There is a slim chance Taylor could resume playing for the Colts when his four games are up. However, that would likely require a contract extension, according to Rapoport.The 24-year-old is on the final year of his rookie contract. He has 3,841 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in 43 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 1.Half PPR

New Orleans Saints rookie running back Kendre Miller is not expected to play in the team's Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, a source told NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.Miller didn't practice this week and is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.New Orleans' backfield will also miss Alvin Kamara as the dual-threat back will serve the first game of his three-game suspension as the result of a February 2022 altercation.Jamaal Williams, who signed a three-year, $12-million deal with the Saints in free agency, will likely handle the bulk of running back snaps. The team also elevated Tony Jones Jr. from the practice squad ahead of the game.The Saints selected Miller out of TCU in the third round of April's draft. Miller had 1,515 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns in his last season with the Horned Frogs.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star pass-rusher Brian Burns is expected to play in the Carolina Panthers' Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Wide receiver Adam Thielen is also expected to participate after being listed as questionable with an ankle issue, per NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.Burns' status had been uncertain due to his desire for a new contract. The 25-year-old has skipped several practices as he and the team negotiate.Head coach Frank Reich said Friday that he hopes Burns suits up, but the team will "do everything (they) can to go out there and win a football game" with whoever is available, according to The Associated Press.The 6-foot-5 defender is currently slated to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and make just over $16 million, per Over the Cap. Burns, the No. 16 pick in the 2019 draft, has tallied 38 sacks, 43 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles in 64 career games.Thielen, meanwhile, signed a three-year, $25-million pact with the club in free agency this offseason and is expected to be one of rookie quarterback Bryce Young's most reliable targets.The 33-year-old wideout has accumulated 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns in his NFL career.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson isn't expected to sign an extension ahead of the Minnesota Vikings' Week 1 contest, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Jefferson and the team will revisit negotiations after the season.The 24-year-old is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal after being selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Jefferson is under contract through 2024 after Minnesota picked up his fifth-year option in April.Jefferson has got off to a historic start since entering the league. He's hauled in 324 receptions for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns in 50 career games. The reception and yardage marks are the most ever through a player's first three seasons.The three-time Pro Bowler led the league in receptions (128) and yards (1,809) in 2023. His efforts earned him a first-team All-Pro nod and Offensive Player of the Year honors.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams placed star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, meaning he'll be sidelined for a minimum of four games, the team announced Saturday.Kupp had already been ruled out of the Rams' Week 1 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. He'll now also miss games against the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts before being eligible to return.Rams head coach Sean McVay had acknowledged Kupp could land on IR when he ruled him out of the season opener.Kupp initially sustained the injury at practice Aug. 1 before suffering a setback Aug. 31.Losing the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year is a significant blow to a Los Angeles offense that lacks other established pass-catchers. In Kupp's absence, the Rams will roll with Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, and Ben Skowronek at receiver.Kupp earned the receiving triple crown and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2021 but was limited to nine games in 2022 due to an ankle injury.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints and guard Cesar Ruiz agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season, the team announced Saturday.Terms of the deal weren't officially disclosed. Ruiz's pact is worth up to $46 million, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It reportedly also has a base value of $44 million and contains $30 million guaranteed.The 24-year-old has been a mainstay on the Saints' offensive line since being drafted in the first round in 2020. He has started 40 games and appeared in six more over the last three seasons.Ruiz's 2022 campaign was cut short due to a foot injury, but he's on course to be healthy for the start of the 2023 season.The guard was set to become a free agent in 2024 after New Orleans opted not to pick up his fifth-year option.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If we learned anything from Thursday night's season opener in Kansas City, it was that things like player usage, matchup success, and performance all teeter on a balance beam of luck. David Montgomery got 21 touches to Jahmyr Gibbs' nine, the Chiefs' defense held up pretty well without Chris Jones, and none of Kansas City's receivers were able to catch, except Marquez Valdes-Scantling.As we start our season of 10 player props to play each Sunday, we're also reminded that without any data points, we're largely guessing on how coaches will use players, and what players will do with that opportunity.Sam Howell: Over 212.5 passing yardsIn Sam Howell's one game last year, he didn't need to do much with his arm in a win over the disinterested Cowboys in January weather. Perhaps that's why this line is as low as it is for a quarterback who had no problem slinging it around for three years at North Carolina. Now that Terry McLaurin is good to go, Howell will have a full complement of targets for an above-average day against a Cardinals secondary that is, outside of Budda Baker, below average.Miles Sanders: Under 55.5 rushing yardsSure, the Falcons believe in running the football. But if you look at their offseason transactions, it's clear they want to stop the run, too. Calais Campbell comes from the Ravens (third in opponents yards per rush in 2022) and David Onyemata comes over from the Saints (first in OYPR in 2021) to join Grady Jarrett on the defensive line.This number would've been easy to clear for Miles Sanders with Philadelphia last year - a great offensive line and big leads to run with - but there's no added value to his opportunity to run for Carolina.Derrick Henry: Longest rush over 16.5 yardsDerrick Henry is fresh, which is interesting since he had a run over 16.5 yards in six of his first eight games last year (with Ryan Tannehill healthy) but just twice in his final eight. The Saints' run defense slipped to 21st last season in OYPR, so there should be room to get downhill.Brock Purdy: Under 232.5 passing yardsBrock Purdy was a pleasant surprise last season, but not if you bet the over on his passing yards each game and went 3-5. A road game against the Steelers' defense now has Purdy with the second-highest total of his young career. Even without injury issues cropping back up, and even if George Kittle plays, a big yardage day is a tough task.Anthony Richardson: Over 45.5 rushing yardsJalen Hurts carried the ball 165 times last season and 12 times per game in the playoffs. His offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, is now the Colts' head coach and was involved in drafting Anthony Richardson, who was considered something of a reach at the time of the draft. He knows what he wants Richardson to do in his debut on Sunday, especially if the rookie's first read isn't there, and we do, too.Baker Mayfield: Over 232.5 passing yardsThe Vikings allowed 7.4 yards per pass attempt last season, and while Tom Brady's no longer around, I don't envision the Buccaneers changing their offense. They throw it more than any team in the league. As an underdog, the assumption is that Tampa will either be trailing or in the Vikings' usual game state of wild back-and-forth swings. Both should see Baker Mayfield throw more than 32+ times and be enough to hit the over.Jordan Love: Longest rush over 8.5 yardsAaron Rodgers takes the snap in the shotgun and runs a fake read option, handing it off and casually pretending to run the other way. Now imagine that occurrence but with 24-year-old Jordan Love pulling it from the mesh and taking off. In limited preseason action, he ran the ball five times, and two of those were for 11 yards. Look for him to steal a first down with his legs against the Bears to cash this bet.Cam Akers: Under 64.5 rushing yardsAfter being a top run defense in 2021, the Seahawks allowed 4.9 yards per carry in 2022. As a result, they jettisoned the whole defensive line, brought back Jarran Reed, and spent big on Dre'Mont Jones. Bobby Wagner is back, too, to get everyone in the right place. Cam Akers had a strong finish to a rough season, but Seattle has its first chance to prove this year's different on defense.Mike Williams: Over 58.5 receiving yardsMike Williams is under the radar, probably because it's hard to rely on him to stay healthy. Last year, he missed four games and left three others early. In the other 10 games, Williams averaged 83.8 yards and went over 58.5 yards eight times, including a game in which he tallied 116 yards against the Dolphins.CeeDee Lamb: Over 70.5 receiving yardsImagine suggesting that CeeDee Lamb is a dark horse to win Offensive Player of the Year who could lead the league in receiving yards and touchdowns, and not taking the over on his yardage total. Lamb's total of 70.5 resembles last year, but this is a new year and hopefully a new pass-happy era for the Cowboys' offense.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders pass-rusher Chase Young won't play in Sunday's season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals and will likely be sidelined until Week 3 due to a neck injury, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.Young was hopeful of playing in Week 1 but wasn't given clearance to play after a check-up Friday, adds Standig.The 2020 No. 2 overall pick suffered a stinger during the Commanders' preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 11.Young only played the last three games of the 2022 campaign after suffering a torn ACL midway through the 2021 season. He has suited up for 12 games over the last two years.The Commanders declined the fifth-year option in Young's rookie contract ahead of the 2023 season, setting him up to hit free agency in 2024.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Burrow's charmed NFL career has been disrupted by injury - torn knee ligaments, an appendectomy, and his recent calf strain have sidelined him at various points - and marred by postseason heartbreak.Burrow's Bengals rank third in the AFC in victories over the past two seasons. Only the Chiefs and Bills won more games, and Kansas City alone climbed higher in the playoffs. In February 2022, Burrow sprung Tee Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown on the first snap after halftime in Super Bowl LVI. But he absorbed seven sacks, Cincinnati's offense sputtered, and the Rams found the end zone with 1:25 left to win 23-20.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2023 season with a lot of question marks after Tom Brady's retirement, but quarterback Baker Mayfield likes his team's chances of defying the naysayers."The key pieces that were a huge part of that Super Bowl run, and their success recently, they're all still here," Mayfield said, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "It's a different hunger because, unfortunately, the narrative is that Tom's gone and we suck."The Bucs turned to Mayfield - who beat out Kyle Trask for the QB1 role this year - after making the playoffs three times and winning one Super Bowl title with Brady under center from 2020-22. Tampa Bay won the NFC South last season despite its 8-9 record.But many see the Buccaneers as the NFC South's fourth-best team to start the year, largely thanks to their quarterback situation. Mayfield, who signed with the club this past offseason to revive his career, wants to use the negative predictions to fuel his team."That's fortunate for us because that makes our guys have a different type of motivation they might have not had recently," the quarterback said. "It puts them into a different level of competition and trying to prove that our locker room is more than capable of keeping that success."The Bucs are Mayfield's fourth team in the last three seasons. The 2018 No. 1 pick began his career with the Cleveland Browns and led the team to the playoffs once. However, he couldn't replicate that success in the following years and was traded to the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 offseason.The 28-year-old started six games with the Panthers and four with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, finishing the campaign with 10 touchdown passes against eight interceptions.The Bucs visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is ready to play as many snaps as possible despite being back with his team for only two days after signing his record extension."I'm confident," Bosa said Friday ahead of San Francisco's Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I'm not sure what (coach) Kyle (Shanahan's) plan is, but I would be up for (a) normal workload, for sure."Bosa held out this past offseason while negotiating a new contract with the team. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year inked a five-year, $170-million deal to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.The 25-year-old officially signed his new contract Friday."I'm so excited to be a Niner for life," Bosa said in a video posted by the team. "Let's go win as many rings as we can."Despite Bosa not being with the team during training camp, Shanahan said on Wednesday that he expects Bosa to face the Steelers, jokingly adding that the only way the All-Pro defender wouldn't be on the field is if he showed up at practice with a "beer belly.""He looked exactly how we were expecting him to look," Shanahan said Friday, according to Wagoner. "Looks in real good shape. Looks ready to go. We got an idea how we're going to use him and I think he'll do all right."Bosa was the best player in a 49ers defense that allowed the fewest points in the league in 2022.The Ohio State product led the NFL with 18.5 sacks despite missing one game due to injury. Bosa has racked up 43 sacks in 51 appearances since being drafted second overall in 2019.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone goes over the notable injury updates heading into Week 1.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's recent comments regarding the Browns didn't sit well with Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett ahead of their Week 1 matchup.The Browns have beaten the Bengals in eight of their last 10 meetings, and Chase - who's only defeated Cleveland once since being drafted in 2021 - was asked on Thursday if he's tired of the noise regarding his rivals."I don't really hear it. If you ask me, I don't really pay attention to it because Cleveland is Cleveland," Chase said, according to Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19."It feels like a regular game to me. It don't feel no different. It's just the hooping and hollering about the Cleveland ... Browns. I was about to call them the (elves)," added Chase while taking a shot at the revived logo the Browns are using at midfield in 2023.Garrett addressed the remarks, calling them "disrespectful.""He didn't have to go there," Garrett said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. "The elves was probably ... he knew better. We might have to have a discussion before or after the game, maybe during if I see him. But yeah the elves is a little bit too far."This isn't the first time a divisional rival chirped Cleveland. In January 2021, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said "The Browns is the Browns" when asked if that Cleveland team had a different vibe after snapping the franchise's long postseason drought. The Browns went on to beat the Steelers 48-37 in the wild-card matchup that year."I was asking that myself yesterday, why everybody wants to talk about the Browns is the Browns and Cleveland is Cleveland," Garrett said Friday, per Cabot. "I don't know what that means. My interpretation is that teams feel like the way the media looks at us is we've improved pretty much every year, at least coming up. We're trending in the right direction and they don't want to look at it any differently than any other team."The All-Pro defender added: "I don't care where I'm at. I just want to play ball. So I mean, I don't really take offense to it, but I will say I do have a sack on Ja'Marr Chase. I wouldn't mind adding to it."Chase didn't play in one of Cincinnati's two matchups versus Cleveland in 2022. He caught 10 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown in their Week 14 contest, helping the Bengals claim their first win over the Browns in the Joe Burrow era.Meanwhile, Garrett has racked up 11 career sacks against the Bengals, the most against any opponent he's faced since entering the NFL as the No. 1 pick in 2017.In addition to their Week 1 game in Cleveland, the Browns and Bengals will also face off in Week 18 this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A day after the Cincinnati Bengals reportedly signed quarterback Joe Burrow to the richest contract in league history, receiver Tee Higgins is unsure when his new deal will arrive.The two sides are unlikely to reach a long-term deal during the season, a source told ESPN's Ben Baby. Higgins said he's uncertain if extension talks will heat up ahead of the Bengals' season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday."I have no clue," Higgins said. "My job is to come in every day and do what I do best - work and catch the ball from No. 9."He added, "As a competitor, I want to play the game and also set myself up for the future."The 24-year-old wideout is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He's set to earn $2.9 million as a base salary in 2023, according to Spotrac. The Bengals can place the franchise tag on Higgins next offseason to keep him on the roster for an additional year. The franchise tender for wide receivers is projected to be $22.9 million in 2024, per Over the Cap.On Thursday, Cincinnati rewarded Burrow with a record-setting $275-million contract that features $219.1 million guaranteed. The Bengals will also be eligible to sign star wideout Ja'Marr Chase to a lucrative extension next offseason.Higgins has been a reliable target for Burrow in the passing game through his first three seasons in the league. The Clemson product has hauled in 215 receptions, 3,028 yards, and 19 touchdowns since being selected in the second round of the 2019 draft. He also posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns over the past two seasons.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not plan on offering veteran wide receiver Mike Evans a contract extension at this time, sources told Dianna Russini of The Athletic.Evans reportedly set a Saturday deadline for the two sides to get a deal done. His agent, Deryk Gilmore, released a statement last week regarding the contract negotiations."Despite our efforts over the past two years - and the professionalism of Bucs general manager Jason Licht and assistant general manager Mike Greenberg - we have not received an offer to stay in Tampa," Gilmore said, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network."This is disappointing to Mike as he sees other teams step up to keep key pieces and players that are important to their organization."He added: "We are giving the Bucs until the start of the regular season to make him a Buc for life, and if that cannot happen, 100% of Mike's focus will be on football and his future and where he can continue to make an impact."The 30-year-old is in the final year of a five-year, $82.5-million extension he signed in 2018. The Bucs are projected to have $58.1 million in cap space in 2024, according to Over The Cap.Evans has been with the team since he was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He set an NFL record with nine straight 1,000-yard receiving campaigns to begin a career.The four-time Pro Bowler has 10,425 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns in 137 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was ruled out for the team's season opener against the Chicago Bears due to a hamstring injury. Watson hasn't participated in practice all week.Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is also battling a hamstring ailment and is listed as questionable. The 23-year-old didn't practice Wednesday but has been a limited participant the last two days. Doubs suffered his injury before Green Bay's final preseason contest.The injuries leave the Packers thin at the wide receiver position; the depth chart includes rookie Jayden Reed, Samori Toure, Malik Heath, and Dontayvion Wicks. None of Green Bay's wide receivers are over 25.Watson was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 14 games as a rookie, racking up 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns.Doubs, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, hauled in 42 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is listed as questionable for Sunday's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys due to a hamstring injury.Waller appeared on the team's injury report for the first time this week after being listed as a limited participant.New York acquired the 30-year-old from the Las Vegas Raiders in a March trade. The 2020 Pro Bowler is expected to be a reliable target for quarterback Daniel Jones this season.Waller posted 28 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last season with the Raiders. The Georgia Tech product flourished during his tenure with the Silver and Black, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2019 and 2020.If Waller is unavailable, Daniel Bellinger and Lawrence Cager could fill in for the injured pass-catcher.The Giants are not expected to have the services of wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson for Sunday Night Football. The 2022 second-round pick is listed as doubtful as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions last season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Lions pulled off an impressive upset at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night, defeating the reigning-champion Chiefs 21-20 to open the season.As a result, oddsmakers are giving Jared Goff and Co. a little more respect in the futures market even though the Chiefs were missing stud tight end Travis Kelce and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.The Lions' odds shortened from +2200 (bet $100, win $2,200) to +1600 following the victory. They are now the eighth favorite to win the Super Bowl, ahead of highly touted teams like the Ravens and Chargers.Super Bowl OddsTeamOddsImplied probabilityChiefs+65013.3%Eagles+65013.3%Bills+85010.5%49ers+90010%Bengals+10009.1%Cowboys+14006.7%Jets+15006.3%Lions+16005.9%Ravens+18005.3%Chargers+22004.3%Dolphins+25003.8%Odds via theScore Bet. Teams above +2500 are not listed.While it was only a small 1.6% increase in implied probability for the Lions to win the Super Bowl, the move is still substantial this early in the season.Detroit's odds to win the NFC North also shortened from +140 to +100, an implied probability shift of close to 10%.As for the Chiefs, they were the Super Bowl favorites at +550 but now share the top spot with the Eagles.Kansas City's odds of winning the AFC West took the most noticeable hit. The team moved from -175 to -120, indicating the market believes it has nearly a 10% lower chance of winning the division after the loss to the Lions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Know what you're good at - it's as good of a piece of advice for betting as there is.Last year, we tested the hypothesis that I'm way better at spreads, sniffing out underdog moneylines and finding valuable teasers instead of trying to bet over/under point totals. This year, we've gladly passed on totals on, trimming the best bets down to elements which went 27-21-4 (56.3%) against the spread, broke even on underdog moneylines, and netted +2.6 units on 6-point teasers.Week 1 is a different beast, as the lines have been up for months instead of days, and the true definition of value is almost impossible to capture. We've also discussed each team in every which way, so it's our first chance to back those offseason opinions in a game.Best bets ATSFalcons -3.5David (not Derek) Carr was the last quarterback to be drafted first overall and cover on the road in Week 1. It's been a while.This game doesn't set up well for Bryce Young and the Panthers, with a receiving corps that was hard to get excited about in the first place and has questionable injury designations all over it.The Falcons have a plan - run the ball aggressively and create easy throws for Desmond Ridder to his young weapons. Atlanta put up 400+ yards and scored 37 points in this game last year with leading rusher Caleb Huntley and leading wide receiver Damiere Byrd. The team also gave up 400 yards defensively but has made strides to improve that side of the ball.Titans +3I wish this situation happened more often - where a team you feel is undervalued faces an opponent that you feel is overrated in Week 1, and we're getting a field goal for our side.Tennessee's core, with one of the best coaches in the NFL, went 27-13 from the start of 2021 until the middle of last season, when the team was forced into playing without a bona fide quarterback. DeAndre Hopkins now provides a reliable target that Ryan Tannehill hasn't had since those good times in Nashville.I don't expect the Saints to be able to run the ball against a defensive line with Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry bookending Teair Tart. Mike Vrabel will find the edges to keep it close enough, and with Dennis Allen on the other side, the spread doesn't matter at all.Buccaneers +5No one had any chill.With the Vikings opening at -6.5 in the spring, I waited patiently for it to tick up to +7. But +6.5 and +6 were good enough for like-minded, impatient bettors with market influence. It's up to you whether you want to take the worst of the number, but this is the healthiest the Buccaneers' veteran defense will be all season. A group featuring Vita Vea should stuff the Minnesota run, neutralizing the effectiveness of Kirk Cousins' play-action passing.Steelers +2.5Nick Bosa returns, but that doesn't make the 49ers invincible, and Brock Purdy faces the biggest challenge of his career outside of the NFC Championship, where he didn't make it past the first quarter. Following an offseason that was more about rehabilitation than development, expect San Francisco's offense to be out of sync - especially if George Kittle can't go - while Kenny Pickett and the Steelers are ready. Pittsburgh hasn't lost an opener to a team other than Tom Brady's Patriots since 2013.Packers +1This is another line that's gotten away from peak throughout the summer, when it was Packers +3. But the Bears are still getting far more credit than I ever thought possible after not winning any of the games on Justin Fields' highlight tape. Even with toss-up odds, I like the Packers to win and explain why I'm high on Green Bay ad nauseam in the lead-up to the season.Seahawks -5.5We've got one rule this season - if either Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, or Aaron Donald are ruled out of a game, and the line doesn't move in a meaningful way off of projection, we're fading the Rams.The Seahawks made a point to fix their sieve-like run defense this offseason, and Cam Akers wasn't scaring anybody in the first place. What's left for Stafford without Kupp in Seattle? Not much. The Hawks' offense should be able to make up this number, with the Rams unlikely to crack 20 points on the road.Moneyline upset of the weekOur defined parameter for this section is underdogs paying at least +150.Colts (+180)One theme we'll continue to have this year is betting on uncertainty. High variance is the name of the game in betting underdog moneylines, and who knows what to expect from the Colts' offense? Why would they show anything they plan to do with Anthony Richardson's athletic ability in the preseason?Meanwhile, the least-discussed absence in Week 1 is Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson. An already shaky offensive line gets worse. So would a low-scoring game, where a big play or two from Richardson via his legs is the difference, be all that surprising?Best 6-point teaserSteelers +8.5 / Jets +8.5Let's not overcomplicate things. We like the Steelers a lot, so doubling down with Pittsburgh is fine this week, and we can capture the key numbers of 3, 6, and 7, setting us up to do the same with Monday Night's AFC East showdown. Regardless of how you feel about Aaron Rodgers, he's in New York to make sure the offense is good enough that big games from the defense don't go to waste. The Jets have given Josh Allen fits, so a road win for Buffalo by double digits seems unlikely.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 1 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 1 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartGeno Smith, Seahawksvs. Rams Jane Gershovich / Getty Images Sport / GettySmith finished with the eighth-most fantasy points per game last year among qualified quarterbacks, including top-12 weekly results (QB3, QB12) in both matchups with the division-rival Rams.The talent around Rams' superstar Aaron Donald has dropped off dramatically this season, while Smith and the Seahawks' offense continued to add to their arsenal.Don't overthink this one - Smith is a strong QB1 fantasy play in the opener.Boone's projection: 279 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 14 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

Washington Commanders star wideout Terry McLaurin will be active for Sunday's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Friday.McLaurin has been rehabbing a turf toe injury suffered during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He returned to practice Wednesday but was listed as a limited participant. He was upgraded to a full participant for Thursday's practice session."I'm confident with where things are right now," McLaurin said, according to team reporter Zach Selby. "I'm just gonna continue to try to have a good day tomorrow and see how I feel waking up after today and take it from there."McLaurin led all Washington pass-catchers last season with 77 receptions and 1,191 receiving yards to go along with five touchdowns.The Commanders also listed defensive end Chase Young as questionable for Sunday. The former Pro Bowl pass-rusher is working his way back from a stinger suffered in the team's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.Young, who has been limited in practice throughout the week, is set to visit with a doctor Friday to determine his availability for Week 1. Head coach Ron Rivera said "if he's cleared, he'll go."The Ohio State product has played in 12 games over the past two seasons after tearing his ACL during the 2021 season and beginning last season on the physically unable to perform list.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 1 of the NFL season is here. Thursday Night Football kicked things off, and we now have a full slate Sunday. Seven hours of commercial-free football while sweating out bets, eating on the couch, and enjoying the sport we've been yearning for since February. After a long summer, we made it.We've got you covered with a round-robin underdog parlay and teaser picks to lock in some Sunday tickets. Now, we'll break down our favorite total bets from this weekend's slate.Week 1 totals are challenging. Everyone enters the season with hope, thinking their team's reinvented offense will top the league. Predicting matchups and specific unit improvements is much easier with a sample size as the season goes on than relying on last year's results, so it's wise to tread lightly.Week 1 totalsMatchupTotalCardinals @ Commanders38.5Panthers @ Falcons39.5Titans @ Saints41.5Jaguars @ Colts45.5Bengals @ Browns48.5Bucs @ Vikings45.549ers @ Steelers41.5Texans @ Ravens43.5Eagles @ Patriots45.5Rams @ Seahawks45.5Packers @ Bears41.5Raiders @ Broncos43.5Dolphins @ Chargers51.5Cowboys @ Giants46.5Bills @ Jets46.5Best betsPanthers @ Falcons under 39.5 pointsThis game could get ugly. It's the second-lowest win total of the weekend, and for good reason. Both teams are starting inexperienced quarterbacks, which could lead to some lousy offense. The Panthers, in particular, are throwing Bryce Young into the fire for his debut. Even if Young eventually becomes the second coming of Peyton Manning, there are going to be bumps at the beginning of the ride.The Panthers have a solid defense, which was a big reason why they won seven games last year. The jury is still out on second-year Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, who only started in four games last year. He'll have a difficult time navigating the Panthers' defense.This number opened at 43.5, and sharp bettors pounced on the under, which is why it fell four points. Even at 39.5 now, fading these quarterbacks and taking the under is still the play.Chargers team total over 26.5 pointsDolphins at Chargers is one of the best games of the weekend as two Super Bowl contenders meet up in Week 1. Expect a ton of points in Los Angeles. The over/under of 51.5 is the highest total of the day. The game features two offensive-minded coaches - Mike McDaniel and Brandon Staley - and two prolific quarterbacks with a plethora of stars on the outside.The Chargers are favored by three, and while I like the game to go over, I'll go with the Chargers team total instead. The Dolphins' defense has the potential to be elite this season, but it's do or die for Staley. The Chargers have missed the playoffs two of the three years Justin Herbert's been under center, which is unacceptable with a quarterback that gifted.Herbert's weapons are as elite as ever this year with a healthy Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, rookie Quentin Johnston, and, of course, running back Austin Ekeler. The Dolphins' defense will have no answers for the playmakers all over the field.This game will be played into the 30s in an intense fourth-quarter finish, but the better play is the Chargers over points.Commanders team total over 23.5 pointsThe Commanders are playing the Cardinals - the worst team in the NFL - at home. For Washington, this is the extension of the preseason - that's how bad this Arizona squad is without Kyler Murray. The spread is at a touchdown in favor of Washington.Sam Howell is still a mystery at quarterback, but he showed flashes of excellence throughout the preseason. He's also surrounded by weapons in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel - not to mention two young backs: Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson.Howell's also working with new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, a respected offensive mind. That whole unit is going to pour it on Arizona in their opener.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones doesn't feel this season is a Super Bowl-or-bust campaign."I feel strongly that we should aspire and, frankly, do anything at any time that can make us better right now to compete at that level," Jones said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer."I think I'm saying a lot when I say that. This isn't about years in the future. The good news is you can make the decisions that can help you right now first and foremost but can also be additive for the future. Those are the ones I'm looking for and trying to compromise on every day."Dallas ended the 2022 season with a 12-5 record and a second-place finish in the NFC East. The Cowboys defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs but were bounced in the divisional round by the San Francisco 49ers for the second straight postseason.The Cowboys have won five Super Bowl titles over the course of their illustrious history. Their last championship victory took place during the 1995 season. With "America's Team" nearing 28 years since its last title run, Jones believes that Dak Prescott is the right quarterback to lead the franchise back to the grandest stage."I think that we first of all have to realize how few Super Bowls that even the greatest quarterbacks attain," Jones said when asked what Prescott needs to show he's a Super Bowl-quality QB. "And it's never too late to start. And so that if Dak should start this year with a Super Bowl and tack one or two more on, then he would be right there with the best that have ever played for the Dallas Cowboys."Among the changes made to the Cowboys' offense this offseason was head coach Mike McCarthy taking over offensive play-calling duties following the departure of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The team also let staples Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz become free agents and acquired Brandin Cooks over the past several months."There are parts of this team that we're in as good shape as we've ever been in since I've been a Dallas Cowboy," Jones said.Dallas will kick off its 2023 campaign against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.