What We Saw: Preseason Week 1

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Packers @ Bengals

Final Score: Packers 36, Bengals 19

Writer: Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)

Cincinnati’s offense spent 29 minutes on the field, which was about 28 minutes too many. That unit really struggled in this game. Their lone TD came in the form of a pick-six, and Evan McPherson was money nailing four field goals. Without Joe Burrow or their starting skill players, this offense is bad. Obviously.

On the other side, both Jordan Love and Sean Clifford were really impressive in this game. They both made multiple throws that were right on the money and made me literally gasp. Rookie RB Emanuel Wilson also stood out with two TDs on the ground, including an 80 yard run. He was untouched on both. Green Bay’s new kicker, Anders Carlson, started hot but shanked two XPs in the 2nd half.

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

Jordan Love: 7/10, 46 yards, TD

I’ve got to say, I’ve been a Jordan Love doubter all offseason. However, I was really impressed with his touch on a couple of throws in this game. It wasn’t perfect, as he did miss a wide open Luke Musgrave on their first drive, but I was encouraged. I’m excited to see how he’ll look next weekend against a Patriots defense that had constant pressure on the Texans this week.

Notes

Threw a great ball to Christian Watson, safety made a nice play to bat it away. If it were thrown a little closer to the sideline it likely would have been a reception
Next play overthrew a wide open Musgrave, high and wide
Play-action roll out to his left, threw a bullet to Doubs for the 1st. Really nice play
Next play similar but to opposite side, Watson was open but took too long to throw. Defender knocked it loose, incomplete. Would have liked to see the ball out sooner
Beautifully lofted TD pass to Doubs. Play-action

Missed Opportunities

The missed connection with Watson downfield and the overthrow of Musgrave

Sean Clifford: 20/26, 208 yards, TD, 2 INT | 2 carries, 27 yards

Despite throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, Sean Clifford was actually really impressive in this game. He threw five near perfect passes in either tight coverage or down the sideline in the frist half alone. After Green Bay got the ball back with under a minute to go in the 1st half, Clifford drove them down the field in four plays for 66 yards and a score. Decision making could use some work, but he ultimately looked good and, most importantly, accurate.

Notes

Threaded the needle between two defenders for a completion to Toure. Dangerous throw, but it worked out.
Threw a nice deep ball to Jayden Reed in the end zone, knocked away by a defender but earned a DPI call. Had he led the receiver a little more it likely would have been a score
Quick release
Hit as he threw, pick-six. Probably should have just eaten it. Defender read his eyes and jumped the route
Threw a dime to Toure on the sideline while rolling out to his left. Really nice throw
Tried to throw a seam down the sideline on 4th and 5, jump ball. Put too much air under it and the defender made the play. Not what you’re looking for in that situation
3rd and 8 at the 11, delivered another perfect ball to a receiver for a 20 yard gain
2nd pick was into triple coverage, intercepted by Tycen Anderson for the second time. Out-battled the receiver for the ball.
Threw a rocket between two defenders to Dontayvion Wicks, went for a 47 yard gain. Yet another gorgeous ball
Next play also tried to thread the needle to a receiver in the end zone but the defender knocked it away
Scrambled for a 14 yard gain to get GB a first and goal situation with 25 seconds left
Shortarmed a wide open TE in the flat. Was rolling out to his left

Running Back

Aaron Jones: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Jones caught the ball out of the backfield on his only snap of the game, which also happened to be the very first play of the game.

AJ Dillon: 2 carries, 14 yards

Notes

Barrelled through a hole for a good gain. Tough to bring down

Emanuel Wilson: 6 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD

I was super impressed by Wilson. He was tough to bring down and has good feet, as well as a 2nd gear that I was not expecting. At 5’11”, 226lbs he’s built to play the position in this league. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a name for himself at some point. Keep an eye on him.

Emmanuel Wilson with ANOTHER TD 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/RyKu00TS3W

— HBCU Gameday (@HBCUGameday) August 12, 2023

Emmanuel Wilson IG post from 3 days ago. pic.twitter.com/m17Wr3Lups

— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) August 12, 2023

Notes

1st TD hesitated behind the line, waited for the hole to open then hit it hard. Did a good job of following his lead blocker. Untouched. Well executed play by the entire offense
Tough to bring down, good feet, low center of gravity.
Juked a guy to free himself for an 80 yard TD run. Untouched again

Missed Opportunities

Another 20+ yard run negated by a hold

Patrick Taylor: 6 carries, 19 yards | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 8 yards

Notes

13 yard run came on 3rd and 25, defense playing prevent

Missed Opportunities

30 yard run negated by a hold

Nate McCrary: 4 carries, 13 yards

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Christian Watson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 6 yards

Nearly connected with Love on a deep ball but the safety came over to make a great play on it. Were the ball thrown a little more to the sideline it likely would have been a huge gain, if not a TD.

Romeo Doubs: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards, TD

Love did most of the heavy lifting with his near perfect pass to Doubs for the score, but Doubs still had to contend with the defender draped all over him and concentrate on making the catch.

Luke Musgrave: 3 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards

Overthrown by Love when he was wide open downfield. Did play with the starters, and three targets in two drives is encouraging for his fantasy prospects.

Samori Toure: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 56 yards

Notes

Nice catch and run, concentration. Ball was thrown perfectly between two defenders, could have easily been thrown off by that

Missed Opportunities

Bobbled a kickoff at the goal line, scrambled to pick it up and got slammed to the ground at the 9. Tough look.
Made up for it on his next kickoff opportunity, returned it to midfield

Dontayvion Wicks: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 68 yards

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback

Jake Browning: 10/17, 95 yards, INT, sack | 2 carries, 5 yards

If Joe Burrow gets hurt and has to miss time, we know the Bengals will be, for lack of a better term, screwed. Jake Browning played the first half and he was not good. Overthrows and bad decisions abound.

Notes

Faced first team defense on first possession, got dominated
Nearly intercepted on a jump ball to Iosivas. Connected with him on basically the same play, just to the other side, on the very next play
Lobbed a screen, nearly picked by a DL. Bad decision
INT was bobbled by a receiver at end of 1st half, throw was high and went through receiver’s hands. Could have come down with it but it was Browning’s fault.

Trevor Siemian: 15/28, 121 yards, INT

Trevor Siemian played in the 2nd half. That is all.

Notes

INT was on a ball tipped at the line
Threw a nice ball to Iosivas in the end zone, couldn’t come down with it
Had another INT go through the hands of a diving safety on the sideline. Terrible throw into triple coverage

Running Back

Chris Evans: 7 carries, 49 yards | 1 target

Had a huge 33 yard carry where he navigated his way through the defense and then turned on the jets. He’s elusive and quick, he just needs an opportunity to show off what he can do. This was a good start.

Chase Brown: 8 carries, 12 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 33 yards

Notes

Tried to hurdle a defender, didn’t go so well
Nice catch and run for 21 yards, put some moves on a couple defenders to gain an extra 5-7 yards at the end of the play. Nice

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Andrei Iosivas: 10 targets, 4 receptions, 50 yards

I recall seeing a lot of hype for Iosivas around draft time as a sleeper dynasty pick. He was fed target after target in this one but thanks to bad QB play it was tough to really evaluate him. Balls thrown his way generally weren’t within his catch radius.

Notes

24 yard catch and run on inside slant. Gave up too quickly at the end, walked out of bounds instead of turning the ball upfield and trying to gain a few extra yards. He had a blocker in front of him. Curious decision.

Missed Opportunities

Went up to get a ball in the end zone, nice catch over a defender but couldn’t get both feet down in bounds.
3rd and 3, open on sideline, ball thrown behind him but he got his hands on it. Couldn’t come down with it

Trent Irwin: <WR3 Stats>

Notes