NFL predictions: What will happen on the first drive for each team in Week 1?
Fast or slow starts?
The NFL season kicks off this week and each of the 32 teams hopes to make the most of the first and every opportunity with the ball. Some squads are better than others, which we know. So, what might happen each time the team’s offense has the ball for the first time?
Arizona Cardinals
This team starts it run for the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft with a three-and-out against Washington.
Atlanta Falcons
Neither the Panthers nor the Falcons are great guns. If Brian Burns doesn’t take the field due to his contract hassles, this will help Atlanta. Let’s go with an 8-play, 50-yard drive and a Younghoe Koo field goal.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson immediately pays dividends for Ravens management as he hits a couple of nice passes to Mark Andrews and Odell Beckham Jr. before finishing the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills would love to take the Jets’ crowd out of the game on Monday and douse some of the Aaron Rodgers excitement. If the Gang Green defense can stifle Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense, MetLife will be roaring. Look for the Bills to notch a few first downs before having to punt.
Carolina Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons welcome Bryce Young to the NFL by thwarting his passes early and then picking one off to set back the Panthers quickly.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears no longer will be haunted by No. 12 in Green Bay. And they will show how they shed their demons by having Justin Fields lead a 75-yard touchdown drive that concludes with a short pass to Cole Kmet.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow’s health — calf — will be tested early as Myles Garrett gets to the Cincy QB for a sack. The Bengals may wind up in the AFC Championship Game but it won’t be because of their first drive, which ends in a punt.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have one of the best running backs in the game in Nick Chubb. he will gain chunks of yardage again for Cleveland early, and that will set up a TD pass to David Njoku versus the Bengals.
Dallas Cowboys
Well, the only fitting way for the first Dallas drive to start will be the way many ended last season, with Dak Prescott throwing a pick.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton shows he has fixed some of the problems Russell Wilson had last year as he has the veteran QB direct a balanced drive between runs and passes that concludes with a Wil Lutz field goal of about 45 yards.
Detroit Lions
The Lions catch a break with Chris Jones still at odds with the Chiefs (as of this writing). Jared Goff is given enough time to survey Kansas City’s secondary and he eventually hooks up with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a touchdown pass.
Green Bay Packers
What’s Love got to do with it? Jordan Love has everything to do with whether the Packers thrive or nosedive in 2023. Let’s start with a drive that has a couple of short runs and an incompletion before a punt to Chicago.
Houston Texans
Sorry, C.J. Stroud and Houston. The Ravens’ defense will feast on the rookie from Ohio State and sack him before forcing an early turnover.
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson delivers some false hope to the Indianapolis Colts with an exciting first drive, featuring his legs and arm. The rookie from Florida finds Michael Pittman Jr. with a TD pass.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Look out Indy, here comes Travis Etienne and there he goes on a long touchdown run as the Jaguars start their AFC South title defense.
Kansas City Chiefs
It would be far too easy to suggest Patrick Mahomes throws a TD pass here. Let’s go with moderate success and KC gets a Harrison Butker field goal after a 54-yard march.
Las Vegas Raiders
Jimmy Garoppolo’s first drive as Raiders QB isn’t memorable. Josh Jacobs earns one first down before Las Vegas has to punt to Denver.
Los Angeles Chargers
In a game that will see a pinball-type scoreboard, Justin Herbert connects with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen before finding Austin Ekeler with a short pass the great running back corrals and dashes to the endzone.
Los Angeles Rams
No Cooper Kupp, no dice for Matthew Stafford. It’s 1, 2, 3 and kick.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins know they have to score early and often against the Bolts. However, nothing comes of their first drive after Joey Bosa sacks Tua Tagovailoa early.
Minnesota Vikings
Take your pick: Kirk Cousins will either hit Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison with a TD pass on Minnesota’s first drive.
New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium won’t be thrilled when Mac Jones is unable to deliver any points as the Patriots run into a stiff Eagles defense that is ready to soar.
New Orleans Saints
The temptation to say Derek Carr will throw a pick is great. However, the Saints are playing a Tennessee team that lost its way at the end of last season and hasn’t found it at the start of this one. Carr and Chris Olave connect a couple of times before Jamaal Williams shows he can score in the Big Easy the way he did in the Motor City.
New York Giants
There won’t be much excitement from the Giants’ offense against the Dallas defense to open the season. Daniel Jones will find it rough going and after a first down it will be time to punt.
New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers is at QB. The fairytale script has a pass landing in the hands of Garrett Wilson, Randall Cobb, or Allen Lazard for a score. Remember, though, these are the Jets and some things never change. P-U-N-T, Punt, Punt, Punt.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown reconnect for a long TD pass as the Eagles’ offense shows it hasn’t missed a beat.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers don’t come out with risky plays and after a running play and two short passes, they are faced with a punting situation against the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers
The sophomore season of Brock Purdy gets to off an uneventful start. Pittsburgh’s defense is for real and it manages to muffle Christian McCaffrey and the Niners for one drive, at least.
Seattle Seahawks
It will be a running score for the Seahawks against the Rams but it won’t be Kenneth Walker III. Look for Zach Charbonnet, the rookie from UCLA, to pick up a quick six points.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There will be three plays and out as Baker Mayfield finds out that replacing Tom Brady isn’t going to be easy.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans make the most of an offseason pickup on their first drive when DeAndre Hopkins catches three passes, the final one going for 21 yards and a score.
Washington Commanders
Sam Howell couldn’t ask for a better team to face as the Commanders open their second season. A long drive concludes with Antonio Gibson’s short run to the end zone.
