Crimson Tide in the NFL Spotlight: Week 1
9/13/2023 4:36:00 PM | Football
Former Alabama players make an impact in Week 1 of the NFL season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The National Football League concluded Week 1 of the regular season Monday evening. Below is a look at how former Alabama players performed on the gridiron last week.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa shined in Miami's road matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on his way to AFC Player of the Week honors. Tagovailoa completed 28-of-45 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns in the Dolphins' thrilling 36-34 road win. Tagovailoa's 466 yards through the air were the fifth-most in franchise history and second-most in his career, while he also became the fifth quarterback in NFL history with multiple road games of 450-plus passing yards and three-plus passing touchdowns.
Fellow quarterback Mac Jones completed 35-of-54 passes for 316 yards and three scores in his start for the New England Patriots. Jones completed 65 percent of his passes on Sunday afternoon against the reigning NFC champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. He also added two rushes for 15 yards to begin his third season in the NFL.
Two former Alabama wide receivers led their respective teams to road wins in week one. DeVonta Smith caught seven passes for 47 yards and one score in Philadelphia's 25-20 victory over Jones and the Patriots. Also excelling at wideout was Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ridley caught a team-high eight passes for 101 yards to go with a touchdown in the Jags' 31-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Rookies Brian Branch and Will Anderson Jr. showed out in their NFL debuts. Branch and the Detroit Lions knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 21-20 in the first NFL game of the season. Branch totaled three tackles, one pass breakup, and had a 50-yard pick-six to help seal the victory over the defending Super Bowl champs. Anderson Jr. totaled six total tackles, four of which were solo, while adding one tackle for loss, a sack and two quarterback pressures in his professional debut with the Houston Texans.
Denver defensive back Kareem Jackson continued his consistent ways to begin his 14th year. The Broncos' safety totaled four tackles, one pass breakup and an interception on the day. Jonathan Allen anchored the Washinton defense in a 20-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Allen tallied three solo tackles, two of which were for loss, and added three quarterback hurries to lead the Commanders.
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