Week 1 NFL players to watch: Lamar Jackson, Micah Parsons launch award campaigns

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is finally here. Here are the must-see players on Sunday:

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY |  Lamar Jackson begins 2023 MVP campaign with a bang

Jackson has impressed in his first four season openers, throwing for 12 touchdowns and one interception and posting a quarterback rating of 82.7, which ranks second only to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' (90.5), per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. The 2019 NFL MVP opens at home against the Texans, who allowed the third-most yards per game in 2022 (379.5). With a new arsenal of weapons, which includes WR Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round WR Zay Flowers, and a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, Jackson should get his second MVP candidacy off to a strong start.

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Sam Howell brings optimism to new era in Washington

A new era has begun in Washington following the $6.05B purchase of the team by Josh Harris from the despised Daniel Snyder. The Commanders also have a new QB1 in Howell, the team's 2022 fifth-round pick. Howell impressed in Week 18 of the 2022 season, leading Washington to a 26-6 win over Dallas in which he threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Now he begins this season at home with a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who are expected to start veteran journeyman Josh Dobbs at quarterback. 

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Kenny Pickett picks up where he left off

Pickett heads into year two after a preseason in which every drive he led resulted in a touchdown. The 25-year-old completed 13-of-15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns and had a perfect passer rating (158.3). Those who still doubt him because of the level of talent he faced in the preseason will eat their words when he continues to impress against the vaunted 49ers defense that will have DE Nick Bosa, the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Earlier this week, he agreed to a record-breaking deal. The Terrible Towels will be out in full force in Pittsburgh.

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Justin Fields gives Packers tough Love

In his 18 seasons in Green Bay, QB Aaron Rodgers owned the Bears, winning 24 of the 29 games he started against them. Expect his successor, Jordan Love, to get outplayed by Justin Fields at Soldier Field in Chicago. This isn't to say that Love won't be Green Bay's next franchise quarterback, but it won't be as easy a transition as it was when the team went from Brett Favre to Rodgers. With a re-tooled offense that includes a stellar WR1 in D.J. Moore, Chicago has a chance to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018.

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Justin Herbert outduels Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins vs. Chargers could easily be the game of the week. Both teams have one of the league's top receiving units, but the difference in this game in LA should be quarterback. Herbert, with the additions of first-round WR Quentin Johnston and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, should put on a clinic. Tagovailoa won't keep up as the Chargers are rewarded for paying Herbert a five-year, $262.5 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.

SUNDAY'S POST-GAME HEADLINE TODAY | Micah Parsons sets sights on DPOY

Parsons has come up just short for Defensive Player of the Year the past two years, finishing second both times. Expect a dominant performance from the linebacker against the New York Giants on "Sunday Night Football" at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. With extra reinforcements on defense, including CB Stephon Gilmore — the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year — and 2023 first-round DT Mazi Smith, Parsons is primed for his best season yet. And that's saying something. He had 13 and 13.5 sacks in his first two seasons.