We’re officially in the second half of the NFL 2023 regular season. Some teams are rising in draft position while others inch closer to the playoffs. Postseason hopefuls want higher seeding further into November. Without further delay here are the winners and losers after week nine.
Winners: Jahan Dotson
Two weeks ago receiver Jahan Dotson faced heavy criticism for dropping a fourth down pass that would have kept Washington’s potential game-winning drive alive. Since that loss, Dotson’s stepped up and is a reason the Commanders almost won two straight games.
On Sunday, the wideout caught the game-tying touchdown against New England midway through the third quarter. Washington’s only other touchdown drive came earlier when Dotson caught two passes for 12 yards and picked up a first down. Since the loss in New York, he’s caught 12 passes for 177 yards and two scores.
Washington’s sixth ranked passing offense is most dangerous when Jahan Dotson’s the number two receiving threat opposite Terry McLaurin. Viewers have questioned his consistency against tougher defenses. Dotson’s shown progress with a rookie quarterback throwing his direction more, quieting some doubters.
Tank Dell and Noah Brown
The NFL world is dousing rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud IV with a lot of praise after Houston’s exciting home win versus Tampa Bay. While deserved, there are two new receivers flourishing and helping the rookie each week. They are fellow rookie Tank Dell and sixth year wideout Noah Brown.
Dell is the 2023 second overall pick’s favorite target. In Sunday’s win the rookie wide receiver caught six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning score with ten seconds left. Tank Dell has six touchdowns, over 600 yards receiving and averages 16 yards a catch. The third round draft pick could be the number one option the rest of the season.
Veteran Noah Brown is finally on a team that gives him a chance to play more, and he’s having a breakout season. Brown caught all six passes thrown his way for 153 yards and a touchdown. His career long 75 yard score cut Houston’s deficit by four to start the third quarter. He’s averaging a career high ten yards a catch and should surpass his career high in yards before Thanksgiving.
Texans fans complained about the lack of talent at receiver last year. The fanbase should be relieved management’s found at least three good options for a young and growing offense.
Las Vegas Raiders and Antonio Pierce
The Raiders finished October on a dismal note and either fired or replaced most of the staff and roster personel. The changes came at the right time and Las Vegas is back in the playoff bubble.
While it could be an anomaly (like last year’s win for former Indianapolis interim coach Jeff Saturday), one wouldn’t know by how excited, energized and competitive the Raiders were Sunday. Interim coach and former linebacker Antonio Pierce led a rout at home against New York. Vegas’ defense made life miserable for whoever was quarterbacking the Giants (more on that later). They forced a fumble, two interceptions and recorded eight sacks. New York didn’t score until early in the fourth quarter.
On offense, rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell looked more prepared and played better in his second career start. Last year’s NFL leader in rushing yards Josh Jacobs had his best game of the season running for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The Raiders have lost a lot of close games the past season and a half. Even former coach Josh McDaniels said confidence was low top to bottom. Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, expect the former Tom Coughlin coached linebacker to have an easier time leading a team that wants to win.
Losers: Arizona Cardinals
It took nine weeks for Arizona to be the worst team in the league. Many wondered how bad their loss in Cleveland would be after trading quarterback Joshua Dobbs to Minnesota. It didn’t take long to figure out.
The Cardinals were shutout in the most lopsided game for week nine. Rookie Clayton Tune made his first start and went eleven of 20 for 58 yards and two interceptions. 30 of the 58 yards came in the fourth quarter. Tune was the leading rusher with 28 yards and Marquise Brown led all receivers with 24 yards on four catches.
There was a lot to feel good about after week three’s win against Dallas. The only positive for Arizona since is the return of franchise star Kyler Murray next Sunday. Many will say the on-field production is terrible but poor roster building and the hiring of incompetant coaches could doom this team to a bottom three league ranking past this season.
Daniel Jones
Last week I wrote about how exceptional Kirk Cousins’ career has been. If one wanted to find the opposite of Cousins, look no further than Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones. To be fair, Jones’ best season last year wasn’t just because there was a new coach. There was needed stability for both the organization and former first round pick. It’s an understatement 2023 has been anything but stable.
Many felt the four year, $160 million contract extension Daniel Jones signed in the offseason would one day backfire. Few anticipated it would start week one on Sunday night. When New York’s franchise quarterback was again pulverized by an opposing defense late Sunday afternoon, Jones hit a new low. The quarterback was sacked by Raiders defensive star Maxx Crosby at the end of the first quarter for a seven yard loss. He got up slowly and tried to start the second quarter extending New York’s possession, but fell when the play began. That play wound up being the easiest sack of defensive end Malcolm Koonce’s career.
Sports news outlets ESPN and NFL Network have confirmed Daniel Jones tore his ACL. There was a lot to build on after last season’s success with a playoff win, more scoring on offense and key additions at tight-end and receiver. Both New York and the starting quarterback they extended now have to decide what the best options are moving forward after falling back to last in the NFC east.
Bryce Young
It’s possible years from now we’ll have the debate of who’s the better, elite quarterback between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud IV. Until that day comes, it’s safe to say the former of the two is a disappointment.
Carolina’s blowout home loss to Indianapolis began with Young’s turnovers. The 2023 number one pick threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns by cornerback Kenny Moore II (the first time a defensive player has recorded this in the Colts’ 70 year history). The rookie’s 173 yards passing and 48.3 quarterback rating are the tip of a dreadful performance.
The alarming part of Bryce Young’s play is his disconnect with the surrounding offensive talent and what Carolina gave up to acquire him. After week nine, the Panthers have the second worst record in the league. Yet their 2024 first round draft pick is with the Chicago Bears (who are the third worst team in the league and are favored to beat Carolina this Thursday) because they traded up in the last draft to pick Young. Carolina also traded away star receiver D.J. Moore, who’s having a career season in the Windy City and enjoys playing with quarterback Justin Fields.
Bryce Young does have a solid supporting cast of Adam Theilen, Miles Sanders, DJ Chark Jr., Chuba Hubbard and Tommy Tremble. They’ve shown in previous years there’s potential, and most are good depth players. This makes Young’s struggles in accuracy, reading defensive coverages and figuring out who’s open worse. The Panthers offense hasn’t scored more than 24 points when he starts.
It won’t get easier for either the passer or the team. The Panthers’ schedule gets harder the next few months. It’s difficult to see how they win more than one game before 2024. Young could improve, but it looks like using the first overall pick on him was a bad move.
Note: NFL’s Winners and Losers will not be published for the rest of November due to the writer, editor and publisher having personal reasons and time off. Publications will resume around the conclusion of week 13.
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