Week 1 of the 2023 NFL unparalleled season has come and gone. And as we prepare for Week 2, let’s rob a temperature test of the league with our weekly Energy Rankings.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals started the season off on the homely foot, and the Dallas Cowboys location the tone for the NFC East by shutting out the Contemporary York Giants on Sunday evening. These games shook up the tip 10 in a substantial plot. No group used to be stable in the center of the rankings either, with more than six groups transferring up four or more spots since our preseason energy rankings came out three weeks up to now.
To boot to our Week 2 Energy Rankings, our 32 NFL Nation reporters identified which newcomer — defined as a rookie, offseason acquisition or contemporary coach — on every group impressed of their Week 1 debut. From contemporary coordinators to kickers and quarterbacks, these 32 newbies started the season transferring into the lawful route.
Let’s test out the contemporary 1-32 rankings below, starting with our contemporary No. 1 group — the San Francisco 49ers.
Our energy panel includes more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities who evaluate how NFL groups stack up against every other, then ranks them from 1 to 32.
Old rankings: Preseason
Soar to a group:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
1. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 4
Greatest debut performance: DT Javon Hargrave
Week 1 stats: 3 tackles, 3 pressures, sack
Apologies to rookie kicker Jake Testy, who had a flawless debut, but Hargrave’s presence on the inner sparked a dominant performance by the defensive line. The Niners had the categorical protection in the league closing season with out getting great stress from the inner, but Hargrave and a healthy Arik Armstead look intent on changing that in a first-rate plot. — Reduce Wagoner
2. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 2
Greatest debut performance: DT Jalen Carter
Week 1 stats: 6 pressures, sack
The 2023 No. 9 overall make a choice used to be a disruptive force in the center of the Eagles’ protection, tying for a group excessive in pressures. He sacked Mac Jones on the Patriots’ final possession to attend have the win for Philadelphia. With Javon Hargrave exiting in free agency, the Eagles wanted their contemporary draft picks — Carter and Jordan Davis — to step up. To this level, so just staunch, with Davis registering a forced fumble and a half-sack of his contain. — Tim McManus
3. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 1
Greatest debut performance: WR Rashee Rice
Week 1 stats: 3 receptions for 29 yards, TD
Or no longer it is an especially low bar, however the 2023 second-round draft make a choice led the group’s wide receivers in catches and scored the neighborhood’s completely touchdown in the loss against the Lions. Rice has trot-after-obtain capacity that could well attend provide some substantial performs to an offense that badly needs them. If the alternative wide receivers continue to fight as they did in the opener, the Chiefs ought to continue to give Rice more playing time. — Adam Teicher
4. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 7
Greatest debut performance: CB Stephon Gilmore
Week 1 stats: 4 tackles, 3 passes defensed, INT
With Gilmore and Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys contain their splendid cornerback duo in years. Gilmore matched up with tight discontinue Darren Waller, he matched up with the Giants’ hasty receivers and he used to be ready to earn the higher of all of them. “He’s an unimaginable route reader, staunch the sample of ideas and working out of the stems,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “The formula he sees the game is extra special. I look back at [former cornerback] Charles Woodson and some of these guys that had that special trait, and he unquestionably has that.” — Todd Archer
5. Miami Dolphins (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 6
Greatest debut performance: S DeShon Elliott
Week 1 stats: 13 tackles
There are no longer many contemporary faces on this group, but Elliott made an influence as the Chargers’ running backs again and again reached the second stage of Miami’s protection. When he signed this offseason, it regarded he would rotate with Brandon Jones, but Elliott performed all 76 defensive snaps in Week 1. The security put opposite Jevon Holland aloof figures to be a rotation, but Elliott could well also very smartly be the first man up if he continues to produce cherish that. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
6. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 8
Greatest debut performance: WR Zay Flora
Week 1 stats: 9 receptions for 78 yards
The 2023 No. 22 overall make a choice lived as a lot as the hype in Week 1. He no longer completely location a Ravens file for most catches in a debut, but he dazzled with shifty strikes in the originate arena. Flora’ 54 yards after the obtain were the second most in a rookie wide receiver’s first career game since 2020. With tight discontinue Label Andrews sidelined with a quad damage, Flora grew to alter into Lamar Jackson’s drag-to try, accounting for over half of Jackson’s 17 completions. He used to be one in every of the few luminous spots for an underwhelming performance by Baltimore’s contemporary-look offense. — Jamison Hensley
7. Detroit Lions (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 10
Greatest debut performance: DB Brian Branch
Week 1 stats: 3 tackles, 1 drag defensed, INT, TD
Branch identified that NFL game run used to be sooner than college soccer, however the primitive Alabama significant person looked contented against the Chiefs. He returned an interception for a 50-yard touchdown against one in every of the categorical offenses in the league. “It unquestionably affords me a snatch for my self perception,” Branch said throughout Monday’s command. “Nonetheless every week goes to be a anxious week, and now we contain staunch purchased to raise on preparing how we did against Kansas City and staunch for every week transferring forward, now we contain purchased to scheme the identical part.” — Eric Woodyard
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 11
Greatest debut performance: WR Calvin Ridley
Week 1 stats: 8 receptions for 101 yards, TD
This used to be Ridley’s first unparalleled-season NFL game since Oct. 24, 2021, and his first as a member of the Jaguars. He did most of his work in the first half (seven receptions, 92 yards, one TD) and seamlessly match into an offense already stuffed with playmakers. The Jaguars didn’t rob any deep shots against the Colts’ Quilt 3 protection, in say that’s one thing to explore going forward, but Ridley confirmed that he can be ready to contain the identical roughly influence on Trevor Lawrence that Stefon Diggs has on Josh Allen in Buffalo. — Michael DiRocco
9. Buffalo Payments (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 5
Greatest debut performance: DE Leonard Floyd
Week 1 stats: 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles, 2 QB hits, form out for loss
The Payments were buying for drag-rushers to step up with Von Miller lacking on the very least the first four games aloof bettering from surgical scheme on his lawful ACL. Floyd made an impression for the interval of the opener against the Jets. Floyd repeatedly went after Jets QB Zach Wilson and performed smartly alongside third-year drag-rusher Greg Rousseau, which is candy news for Buffalo defensive line transferring forward — despite the indisputable fact that it used to be against the no longer-as-talented Jets offensive line. — Alaina Getzenberg
10. Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 9
Greatest debut performance: OC Kellen Moore
Week 1 stats: Moore’s trot offense totaled 234 yards on 5.9 yards per raise
Moore kick-started the speeding offense in his first game with Los Angeles. Austin Ekeler benefitted from the contemporary intention, netting 55 more lag yards than expected, in line with NFL Next Gen Stats. RB Joshua Kelley, who had a career-excessive 91 speeding yards, favored Moore’s willingness to follow what used to be working on the ground. “Even as you earn in that rhythm you earn a if truth be told feel for the protection, how the entirety’s going, so he’s calling it, man. I cherish it,” Kelley said. If opposing defenses must commit an additional man to the sphere going forward, it’ll earn the Justin Herbert-led passing game great more harmful. — Daniel Greenspan
11. Cleveland Browns (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 18
Greatest debut performance: DC Jim Schwartz
Week 1 stats: Protection held Joe Burrow to 82 passing yards
Cleveland’s contemporary defensive coordinator came up with a game belief that every and each rattled Joe Burrow and shut down Cincinnati’s passing offense. The rainy prerequisites helped, but Schwartz blitzed Burrow on Fifty three% of his dropbacks in the first half, the absolute most practical price of the quarterback’s career, in line with ESPN Stats & Recordsdata. In flip, Burrow averaged staunch 2.6 yards per strive, the bottom in a half in his career. The Browns pitched a shutout in the first half and by no plot looked back. Below Schwartz, the contemporary-look protection could well well show to be among the many most improved items in the league. — Jake Trotter
12. Contemporary York Jets (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 13
Greatest debut performance: KR/PR Xavier Gipson
Week 1 stats: four returns for 112 yards and a TD
Gipson recorded the game-winning 65-yard punt return TD in beyond unparalleled time for the Jets in his NFL debut, the first participant with a punt return TD of their debut since Tyler Lockett in 2015. Gipson ought to give a spark in the return game for a group that hadn’t had a punt return touchdown prior to Monday evening since 2018. — Prosperous Cimini
13. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 3
Greatest debut performance: S Reduce Scott
Week 1 stats: 11 tackles
Scott had a stable showing as the group’s contemporary free security in an in any other case underwhelming loss to the Browns. He used to be around the ball on the total and had a 14.4% completion proportion allowed as the closest defender. That is a first price signal for a defensive neighborhood that is taking a look to substitute safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell, who signed with other groups in free agency. — Ben Toddler
14. Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 20
Greatest debut performance: Ok Anders Carlson
Week 1 stats: 5-for-5 on PATs, 1-for-1 on FGs
For all the angst over Carlson — from drafting him in the sixth round to transferring on from franchise scoring chief Mason Crosby to an inconsistent preseason and coaching camp — he delivered in a substantial plot with a 52-yard arena aim to close out the first half vs. the Bears. The Packers mismanaged the clock after Jordan Take care of purchased sacked and needed to make use of their closing timeout. “Thank God Carlson made it, so it roughly covers up that mistake a chunk of bit,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. — Rob Demovsky
15. Contemporary Orleans Saints (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 19
Greatest debut performance: Ok Blake Grupe
Week 1 stats: 3-for-3 on FGs, 1-for-1 on PAT
The Saints took a threat after they traded primitive Wil Lutz to the Broncos in make a choice of keeping a rookie. Nonetheless Grupe proved why the Saints took the gamble. He saved them in the game thru three quarters prior to the Saints were ready to gain a touchdown and used to be poised beneath stress with a 52-yard arena aim to tie issues up 9-9 in the third quarter. Quarterback Derek Carr sealed the game unhurried with a 3rd-quarter touchdown, but Grupe quietly bolstered the Saints reasoning for keeping him on the Fifty three-man roster. — Katherine Terrell
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 14
Greatest debut performance: ILB Elandon Roberts
Week 1 stats: 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Hard to search out great just staunch from the Steelers’ blowout loss to the 49ers but Roberts used to be as efficient as he will be against one in every of the league’s splendid running backs, Christian McCaffrey. Despite the indisputable fact that Roberts performed lower than 50% of defensive snaps — the fewest of the contemporary inner linebacker acquisitions — he recorded two tackles for loss, alongside with one when he introduced down McCaffrey in the first quarter. — Brooke Pryor
17. Contemporary England Patriots (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 17
Greatest debut performance: CB Christian Gonzalez
Week 1 stats: 7 tackles, sack, 1 drag defensed
The 2023 No. 17 overall make a choice had a great opening project against Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and he used to be aggressive in protection. Gonzalez started and performed all 66 defensive snaps and appears to be like cherish he has a probability to be CB1 if he continues on his contemporary direction. “We didn’t earn the discontinue result we wished, but there’s loads to learn from it,” he said after the game. — Mike Reiss
18. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 12
Greatest debut performance: LB Bobby Wagner
Week 1 stats: 19 tackles, form out for loss
In his first game back with the Seahawks after a season away, Wagner led all gamers with 19 tackles, tied for second-most in any game in his career. His performance used to be one in every of the few silver linings for Seattle in a dispiriting loss to the Rams. “I believed he performed a extraordinarily just staunch ballgame this day,” coach Pete Carroll said of Wagner, who returned on a one-year, $5.5 million deal in March. “I could well well no longer impart all of it, but I believed he performed if truth be told smartly this day, and it meant loads to him.” — Brady Henderson
19. Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 23
Greatest debut performance: QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Week 1 stats: 20-of-26 passing, 200 yards, 2 TDs, INT
As stable as his stat line used to be, Garoppolo’s huddle presence, leadership and willingness to trot for a game-clinching first down received over the Raiders locker room. Or, as running back Josh Jacobs said, “Man, he’s a dogs. Any quarterback that’s engaging to rob a hit in a substantial moment to stable a win, purchased my admire.” At one level, Garoppolo needed to drag to the medical tent for testing and missed two performs after taking a hit to the head, but then threw a touchdown drag upon returning. After 9 years with Derek Carr as the starter, that is now Garoppolo’s group. — Paul Gutierrez
20. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 15
Greatest debut performance: WR Jordan Addison
Week 1 stats: 4 receptions for 61 yards, TD
The Vikings’ No. 23 overall make a choice scored the first facets of the season, a 39-yard touchdown obtain in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead over the Buccaneers. More importantly, he capitalized on the roughly protection the group most steadily faces. All-Pro Justin Jefferson used to be double-teamed on the play. Addison simply ran past a security that additionally regarded to be keeping his discover on Jefferson, and hauled in a Kirk Cousins drag for one in every of the more straightforward deep touchdown receptions you will eye. — Kevin Seifert
21. Washington Commanders (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 25
Greatest debut performance: CB Emmanuel Forbes
Week 1 stats: 3 tackles, form out for loss, 1 drag defensed
None of Washington’s newbies made a great influence, but Forbes, their first-round make a choice (16th overall), performed a stable game. He dealt alongside with his assignments smartly, didn’t chunk on some double strikes, saved his eyes in the lawful region in zone protection and drove smartly on the few passes thrown to his man. On his TFL, he confirmed just staunch recognition and hasty sped past a lineman headed his plot and made the form out on a trot. — John Keim
22. Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 27
Greatest debut performance: WR Puka Nacua
Week 1 stats: 10 receptions for 119 yards
The rookie impressed in his debut in Seattle, as his 119 receiving yards were primarily the most in a rookie debut in group ancient past. Along with receiver Tutu Atwell, Nacua helped arise for the production the Rams were lacking from Cooper Kupp, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring damage. Kupp will drag away out on the very least the next three games, so Nacua can contain a probability to continue that success early in the season. — Sarah Barshop
23. Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 28
Greatest debut performance: S Jessie Bates III
Week 1 stats: 10 tackles, 2 INTs, forced fumble
The Falcons paid Bates one in every of the largest security contracts in league ancient past to earn back from Cincinnati to Atlanta, and he confirmed every bit of that investment Sunday. He grew to alter into the first participant since Chinedum Ndukwe in 2007 to post double-digit tackles, more than one picks and a forced fumble in a game. Bates offers steadiness in the back line of the protection and is an instinctual participant who ought so that you just can fabricate substantial defensive performs and cease dapper offensive ones. — Michael Rothstein
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Preseason ranking: 30
Greatest debut performance: Ok Walk McLaughlin
Week 1 stats: 2-for-2 FGs, 2-for-2 PAT
With the game tied 17-17 with 5:15 to drag in the fourth quarter, McLaughlin nailed a inner most-splendid 57-yard arena aim to give the Bucs a 20-17 lead that could well well have. The Bucs’ kicking woes are smartly-documented historically. They launched kicker Ryan Succop and signed McLaughlin this offseason thanks to his accuracy from 50-plus yards, and he delivered in one in every of primarily the most subtle locations to play for a avenue group. — Jenna Laine
25. Contemporary York Giants (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 16
Greatest debut performance: CB Deonte Banks
Week 1 stats: Kind out, 2 targets, 2 passes defensed
The No. 24 overall make a choice performed if truth be told smartly prior to his debut used to be slice short thanks to cramps. In 13 protection snaps, he used to be focused twice for no completions with two passes defended, in line with NFL Next Gen Stats. Now, no longer great else went lawful for the Giants, but on the very least their top make a choice had a promising performance. Banks left unhurried in the first half after a kind of passes defended but used to be expected to earn back. It staunch didn’t happen, in all likelihood in segment thanks to the lopsided gain. — Jordan Raanan
26. Denver Broncos (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 21
Greatest debut performance: RB Samaje Perine
Week 1 stats: 8 carries for 41 yards; 4 receptions for 37 yards
When the Broncos handed on a deep class of running backs in the draft and signed Perine in free agency, many were aloof awaiting the Broncos to earn yet one more transfer. They didn’t because, in short, they cherish Perine more than some thought they would. He averaged 5.1 yards per raise in the outlet week loss to the Raiders, had the group’s longest trot of the day (12 yards), confirmed quality energy, caught four passes and used to be their splendid back in drag protection. None of it used to be flashy, but all of this can continue to raise him busy in the Broncos’ offense. — Jeff Legwold
27. Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 26
Greatest debut performance: OLB Arden Key
Week 1 stats: 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits, form out for loss
Key’s explosive first step used to be a first-rate asset against the Saints’ drag protection. He done with 1.5 sacks but almost added a game-changing strip sack when he knocked the ball out of quarterback Derek Carr’s hand prior to it used to be ruled a forward drag. The Titans front will be a force to be reckoned with excited about Key is becoming a member of Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons. There are too many guys that opposing groups will be forced to dedicate extra attend to cease. That is what Key enjoys primarily the most about playing for Tennessee. “It used to be gargantuan because each person used to be playing off every other,” Key said. — Turron Davenport
28. Carolina Panthers (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 22
Greatest debut performance: TE Hayden Hurst
Week 1 stats: 5 catches for 41 yards, TD
Coach Frank Reich said the tight discontinue used to be going to play a substantial role in his offense, and Hurst confirmed that even on a down day for rookie quarterback Bryce Younger. He led the group in catches, targets and receiving yards. He and Younger linked for Carolina’s completely touchdown of the day. Hurst’s completely right mistake used to be throwing Younger’s first touchdown ball into the stands. — David Newton
29. Chicago Bears (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 24
Greatest debut performance: RB Roschon Johnson
Week 1 stats: 5 rushes for 20 yards, TD; 6 receptions for 35 yards
The fourth-round running back used to be the lone luminous put for the Bears in a 38-20 drubbing by Green Bay. Johnson’s touchdown could well also simply contain come too unhurried, but his effectivity as a rusher (4.0 yards per raise) used to be the categorical of any Bears running back. Chicago leaned on the rookie (29 snaps) more than Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, a load fragment that could well well change into heavier for Johnson ought to he continue to give the offense with more than one uses. — Courtney Cronin
30. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 29
Greatest debut performance: QB Anthony Richardson
Week 1 stats: 24-of-37 passing for 223 yards, TD, INT
The No. 4 overall make a choice had a ambitious debut in a shedding effort, mostly warding off huge errors and making several performs alongside with his legs that lifted his group. He used to be just staunch-looking out, ending 65% of his makes an try against Jacksonville. The region transferring forward will be making the development to more explosive performs and throwing with a chunk of more anticipation. The Colts are no longer repeatedly winning matchups down the arena, so they’d well need to earn some runs after the obtain. That will require smartly timed throws from Richardson. — Stephen Holder
31. Houston Texans (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 31
Greatest debut performance: DE Will Anderson Jr.
Week 1 stats: 6 tackles, sack, 2 QB hits
The 2023 No. 3 overall make a choice performed at a excessive stage in his debut, as his six pressures were tied for primarily the most by a rookie in Week 1 since Reduce Bosa and Josh Allen did it in 2019. Anderson additionally made an influence in the trot game with six defensive stops. The Texans will look for more of the identical from him the relaxation of this season. — DJ Bien-Aime
32. Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Preseason ranking: 32
Greatest debut performance: DC Reduce Rallis
Week 1 stats: The protection has 6 sacks, 6 QB hits, INT, 7 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
The Cardinals contain a contemporary defensive coordinator and his unit confirmed out Sunday against the Commanders with a stable performance, nonetheless it sooner or later ran out of fuel by the discontinue of the game after six sacks by 5 assorted gamers. Arizona’s protection, which has four contemporary faces, didn’t seem to contain any ache coping with the transition to a contemporary defensive coordinator. Its front seven used to be impressive, running 5 or more defensive backs on forty eight of its 65 defensive performs. — Josh Weinfuss
