Week One in the AFC North; what did we learn?

AFC North football is back, the highest paid quarterback in the league (Burrow), the highest total money guaranteed quarterback in the league (Watson), a former MVP quarterback (Jackson) and a second year quarterback with star potential (Pickett). 

Let’s see how they got on.

Joe Shiesty feeling the weight of his new crown?

Box score: Browns 24 – 3 Bengals

The first of the AFC North matchups this year and few would have predicted the result. A resurgent Deshaun Watson who I will come to in a little while, and Joe Burrow ending the day as QB30 on the day (ESPN stats).

On a wet day in Cleveland you could perhaps forgive a few mishaps but the Bengals simply didn’t turn up for the majority of the game, with HC Zac Taylor benching most of his starters with 5 minutes left to go in the game to avoid any further punishment. 

Burrow ended the day with 82 passing yards, 45.2 completion rate, 0 TDs and a passer rating of just 52.2. Combine that with just 39 receiving yards for Jamar Chase and you are part of the way to explaining the lacklustre start to the campaign. 

Will Deshaun Watson really better his 2019-2020 season performance?

In short, no. Not on current form anyway.

The Browns overcame the weather and Watson’s equally poor showing. Don’t let those fantasy points fool you, this was not the return of the Texan gunslinger we saw early in his career. He showed flashes of what we know he can do as a starter but anyone with Nick Chubb in the backfield has a chance on play-action.

I have Watson in my offGrid NFL fantasy team this year, so I hope more than most I eat my words but I am yet to be convinced by Sunday’s performance.

Lamar makes it through opening Sunday, but ball handling issues remain

Box score: Ravens 25 – 9 Texans

A rare early season outing of OBJ, Lamar Jackson back in contention and CJ Stroud making his first NFL start, this game had a lot of storylines. 

However, Zay Flowers might just have stolen the show, his 9 receptions, 78 yards may seem relatively pedestrian, but watch the tape, he balled out on Sunday. The Ravens have questions on offense but Flowers was not one of them.

“I feel like next game, it’ll be way better. The operation will be smoother,”  – all aboard the Flowers OROY train.

Offensive Coordinator’s Greg Norman’s play calling left a lot of fans wondering why they bothered making the coaching change over the summer. It seemed that Jackson was holding onto the ball longer being sacked on 4 occasions, and when he did set off on his trademark runs he exhibited ball security that left a lot to be desired.

But for all those NFL lovers and primarily OBJ lovers: seeing him haul in a deep bomb, with a defender on his back evoked memories of 2015. Here’s praying we see a healthy OBJ x Lamar Jackson combo in 2023.

Tough start for Pittsburgh, long year ahead?

Box score: Steelers 7 – 30 49ers

TJ Watt was a rare bright spot in a bleak week 1 matchup for the Steelers. It is early, but Kenny Pickett’s 2 picks in the game only further emphasised the dominance of the 49ers defense.

Fresh off signing a new contract Nick Bosa et al showed no mercy, holding the Steelers to 0 first downs on their first 5 drives, with their first coming with less than 2 minutes left in the first half. If the Steelers are to compete in the so-called “toughest division in the league” they will need to take the rough with the smooth this year. 

One glimmer of hope… they only have to play the 49ers once this year.

If the quarterback play in week 1 is anything to go by, I’m not sure the AFC North will be holding the “toughest division in the league” crown too long.