The Unstoppable Connection: Unveiling the Top QB-WR Powerhouses Dominating the 2023 NFL Season
It’s time to finish up some positional rankings before the start of the new year because the NFL season is just around the corner.
As many quarterbacks and receivers profited from the person they were either passing the ball to or receiving it from, the 2022 season saw numerous exceptional air game duos. Here are the top tandems in ascending order.
Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs
In 49 regular-season games together, the standout tandem of the Bills connected for 338 catches on 484 targets for 4,189 yards and 29 touchdowns. Diggs had at least 100 catches with Allen’s assistance in his three seasons with Buffalo. Diggs, a three-time Pro Bowler, set NFL records for catches and receiving yards in his debut year with Allen in 2020, catching 127 passes for 1,535 yards.
Due in part to Diggs, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Allen improved statistically and cemented his position as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Last season, Allen was second in throwing touchdowns (35) and eighth in passing yards (4,283). In the previous three seasons, he has never come in lower than sixth in throwing yards or seventh in passing touchdowns.
Diggs developed into an All-Pro type player ever since Allen and Diggs hooked together. The resume of Josh Allen speaks for itself. He is going to be a candidate for MVP.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown
The youthful Eagles stars had a fantastic debut season. In the 15 games they played, Brown caught 78 passes (on 128 targets) from Hurts for 1,296 yards and 10 touchdowns. With 1,496 receiving yards, Brown was fourth in the league. Hurts’ passes to Brown averaged 16.6 yards per catch, and 66.7% of those catches resulted in first downs.
Hurts was one of the league’s top passers in 2022, finishing 10th in passing yards (3,701) and fourth in passer rating (101.5) while doing most of his damage on the ground.
You all witnessed what they did the previous year. It wasn’t an accident. Everything they did during the season truly culminated in the greatest game of the season, if you only watched the Super Bowl.
Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill
The QB-WR combination for the Dolphins in 2022 also had a strong debut season. In their 13 games together, Hill had 88 catches (on 126 targets) from Tagovailoa for 1,299 yards and seven touchdowns. Big plays frequently resulted from connections between Hill and Tagovailoa. Hill caught 21 passes from Tagovailoa that traveled for at least 20 yards, and three of those passes went for at least 50 yards. With 1,710 receiving yards, Hill came in second place this past season.
Hill’s relocation to Miami in 2022 enabled Tagovailoa to improve statistically. Last season, Tagovailoa had the highest passing rating (105.5) and yards per attempt (8.9) in the league.
Just recall what Tyreek Hill contributed as a receiver last year. Over 1,700 yards were his. He was widely expected to surpass the single-season receiving mark. I think he can do it this year.
Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson
In their first three seasons together, cousins and Jefferson have been the most dominant team statistically. Jefferson has 318 catches from Cousins (on 465 targets) for 4,767 yards and 25 touchdowns in 50 games since the Vikings selected him in 2020. With five career 50-plus receptions and a 66% first-down conversion rate on all of his Cousins catches Jefferson has frequently had significant gains. He dominated the league in receiving last season with 1,809 yards, which is why. The pair has also been difficult to stop in the end zone, where Jefferson has scored 16 touchdowns from his quarterback over the previous three seasons.
In the three seasons he has played for Jefferson, Cousins has finished in the top five among quarterbacks in throwing yards and touchdowns, placing fourth in yards (4,547) and fifth in touchdowns (29) last year.
Since entering the National Football League, Justin Jefferson has been a complete beast. According to a recent article I read, many believe he might go down in history as either one of the best receivers or the greatest receiver ever. He has had incredible support from Kirk Cousins in helping him succeed in his profession, and vice versa.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase
When Chase hit the field for the first time in the NFL in 2021, the pair resumed their domination from LSU. In 28 games, Chase has 165 catches (on 256 targets) for 2,452 yards and 22 touchdowns. Burrow and Chase frequently advance the chains when they connect, as evidenced by the fact that 67.9% of the catches from Burrow that Chase has made have resulted in first downs. Chase was fourth in receiving yards (1,455) as a rookie thanks to seven catches that went for 50 yards or more since 2021.
With Chase by his side, Burrow has developed into one of the league’s top quarterbacks, finishing second in passing touchdowns (35) and seventh in passing yards (4,475) last season on the way to Cincinnati’s second consecutive AFC North championship.
It’s extremely easy. They had maintained their friendship throughout college. Joe Burrow sends Ja’Marr Chase a basic signal whenever he notices him out in the open and engages in a one-on-one conflict. That cue indicates that the ball is about to be sent your way. Ja’Marr Chase always manages to catch it.
