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Football

Three quarterback battles to watch out for in Week 1 of 2023 NFL season

Philip Marsh
Three quarterback battles to watch out for in Week 1 of 2023 NFL seasonBrian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A lot is riding on these players on Sunday.

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is upon us, and although most teams are yet to throw a football there are still plenty of interesting storylines to follow this weekend.

This offseason has seen numerous changes, none more important than those at the quarterback position.

DAZN takes a look at three of Week 1's most interesting quarterback battles.

Justin Herbert vs. Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins DAZN NFL

Perhaps the most exciting game of Week 1 is the Miami Dolphins' trip to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.

Two high-powered offences takes on two defences which last season failed to perform on a consistent basis.

But all eyes will be on quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa. Back in 2020 both these franchises were after a new quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft, and the Dolphins selected Tagovailoa fifth overall - one pick before the Chargers took Herbert.

The pair have since met twice in their careers, with Tagovailoa steering the Dolphins to victory in his rookie season before Herbert and the Chargers got revenge last year.

This weekend both have the opportunity to get one up on the other, and begin the season for their ambitious franchises with a win.

Bryce Young vs. Desmond Ridder

young-20230812-getty-ftr(Getty Images)

Sunday will see the number one overall pick in this year's draft play a competitive game in the NFL for the first time.

The Carolina Panthers traded up to get Bryce Young, who has been named the starter for the franchsie for the 2023 season.

Up against him is Desmond Ridder and the Atlanta Falcons. Both of these NFC South sides will believe they have a shot at the divison this season making this opening game of the season even more important.

Ridder, a sophomore, took over as the starting quarterback for the tail end of the 2022 and showed enough to earn the Falcons' trust going forward.

Outside of the quarterback battle, the Falcons will also have on display one of the most anticipatied rookies in running back Bijan Robinson, who will also provide a helpful receiving option for Ridder.

Sam Howell vs. Joshua Dobbs/Clayton Tune

Sam Howell Commanders_2022Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

In his three years in charge of the Washington Commanders, head coach Ron Rivera has used eight different starting quarterbacks.

Among them is Sam Howell, who this offseason beat out veteran Jacoby Brissett to the starting role for Week 1.

There is plenty of optimism surrounding Howell from the Commanders camp, and his performances in preseason suggest they may be onto something with the 22-year-old.

The quarterback battle of interest in this match-up however is less about Howell, and more between two different Arizona Cardinals.

With regular starter Kyler Murray still recovering from an ACL injury, veteran Joshua Dobbs and rookie Clayton Tune are both vying for the job.

The Cardinals have refused to publically name their starter for the game, with head coach Jonathan Gannon saying that will give them a "competitive advantage."

We will have to wait until Sunday to see who starts, but whoever does will know the other is on the sidelines waiting to take advantage should they not perform.