NFL Week 1 Recap: Bears-Packers Groundhog Day and Tua's Statement Game
Football is officially back, and while the energy in the room should be high, Big Cat is already staring into the abyss after one week of the 2023 season. The Fastest 2 Minutes kicked things off with the usual blend of niche pop culture references and Boomer-isms, setting the stage for a Sunday that saw some massive performances and even bigger overreactions. Between the Dolphins putting up track star numbers and the Giants forgetting to show up for a home game, Week 1 reminded everyone why we both love and loathe this sport.
The AFC North and the 49ers Statement
The early window featured a rain-soaked mess in Cleveland where the Browns absolutely dismantled the Bengals. Joe Burrow looked like he hadn't played football in months, which makes sense considering his preseason calf injury, but Big Cat isn't ready to bury Cincinnati just yet despite the ugly 24-3 loss.
The Bengals will still be there at the end of the year despite their slow start
I fully expect the Bengals to be there at the end of the year. It's just ex like, I also expected this to be a slow start for them. And they played about as bad as you can play.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the 49ers showed why they are the most terrifying team in the league when healthy. Brock Purdy looked like he never left, and Brandon Aiyuk was unguardable. Big Cat was left marveling at the sheer speed and violence of the San Francisco defense, which made the Steelers look like a JV squad for most of the afternoon.
The 49ers have the best roster in professional football
When you watch the 49ers play defense, and when they're humming they are so violent and so fast. Everything like every hole is just, is completely stuffed in a second. They're flying around. It just was a nice reminder like, oh yeah, the 49ers when they have a quarterback who can actually, who has an arm and I'm talking about literally an arm because Brock Purdy didn't have won the NFC championship game. They're the best roster in, in pro football.
PFT is also officially on the Purdy train, noting that the "system quarterback" label might be doing the kid a disservice after he navigated the pocket with poise and precision all day.
Brock Purdy is a good quarterback on any team, not just the 49ers
I I I'm upgrading my Brock Purdy take from not just being good on the 49ers to just being a good quarterback. Yeah. I think he'd be, I think he'd be okay on any team. He wouldn't be as good obviously as he is on the Niners. 'cause he fits that system perfectly and it's a very quarterback friendly system. But I think he's just a good quarterback.
Florida Man Excellence and the QB Carousel
The game of the day was undoubtedly Dolphins vs. Chargers. It was the shootout we were promised a year ago but never got. Tua Tagovailoa threw for over 460 yards, and Tyreek Hill looked like he was playing at 2x speed compared to every other human on the field.
The Dolphins vs. Chargers game was the greatest Week 1 game of all time
This is the greatest week, week game ever. This this was the greatest week one game of all time. By far. Dolphins 36. Chargers 34 Tua. All the Tua haters out there. T Anon expect us 466 yards, three touchdowns.
In the NFC South, Baker Mayfield started his Buccaneers career with a gritty win over the Vikings. While everyone spent the offseason talking about how the Bucs would be tanking for Caleb Williams, they showed a veteran toughness that could actually keep them relevant in a wide-open division.
Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback that nobody wanted this offseason
I feel like Baker [Mayfield] was the best quarterback that nobody wanted this off-season. I think people threw him under the bus way too soon. They put him on the junk heap too soon. I don't think he's gonna be like a top five, top 10 quarterback, but I think he'll be, he could be a good quarterback.
Big Cat thinks the Bucs' defense and their duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are enough to make them a real threat to take the division crown.
The Buccaneers can absolutely win the NFC South this year
The Bucs defense looked very good. I mean they were all up in Kirk Cousins's face all, all game... and then Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, like they, they absolutely can win the NFC South. And they proved it today. They went into Minnesota, which isn't an easy place to play it. It is. And kickers hitting 57 Yarders bombs... good job Todd Bowles.
Groundhog Day in Chicago
Then there was the Bears. Big Cat had all the hope in the world, only for the Packers to walk into Soldier Field and do the exact same thing they've done for three decades. Jordan Love looked comfortable, the Bears' offensive line got bullied, and the screen-heavy play-calling from Luke Getsy drove Big Cat to the brink of insanity. It was a demoralizing reminder that no matter who is under center for Green Bay, the result in this rivalry remains the same.
The Bears are going to suck for the rest of my life and the Packers will be good
This is probably the lowest I've felt in a very, very long time. Yeah, that was terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible. I, it's the same as it ever was. I am, I'm living in the worst version of Groundhogs Day possible. I had all the hope, all the expectations. I knew the defense was gonna suck. So I'm not that surprised that Jordan Love looked good. ... but yeah, that was really, really bad. And everything I was hoping for, I know it's a long season, but it feels like it's, the Bears are just gonna suck for the rest of my life. And the Packers are gonna be good for the rest of my life and there's nothing I can do about it.
Despite the misery, Big Cat is already trying to talk himself back into a winning season, swinging from total despair to predicting a massive turnaround in the span of about ten minutes.
The Bears will finish 11-5 and beat the Chiefs
I do think the Bears are still gonna be good this year. And Justin Fields, he's, they're gonna open it up. They're gonna beat the Bucs. I'm now, I'm back. They're gonna beat the Bucs. And guess what? They're gonna be beat the Chiefs. They are. Chris Jones won't be playing still. The Bears are gonna be 11 and five this year.
Who's Back and Hologram Jerry
The show wrapped up with Who's Back, featuring a salute to Novak Djokovic's 24th Grand Slam and a very weird discussion about Jerry Jones. The Cowboys owner has unveiled an interactive AI hologram of himself at AT&T Stadium, leading Big Cat to theorize about the morbid reasons behind such a move.
Jerry Jones only made a hologram of himself because he is about to die
I also feel I, you know, I'm not like a huge Jerry Jones fan, but good for him because I think Jerry Jones is about to die. ... In at and t stadium, Jerry Jones unveiled a hologram Jerry Jones that's interactive. ... AI hologram. You don't make that unless you're about to die.
With a massive Monday Night Football matchup between the Bills and the Jets looming, Memes is feeling the nerves, but he's ready to put his faith in Aaron Rodgers to start the New York era with a bang.
The Jets will beat the Bills on Monday Night Football
Pretty nervous, but I think we're gonna win. ... I'm just going for it.
At least we still have the Water Dogs and another PLL Championship appearance to look forward to.

