THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

NFL 2015 Week 1 Recap

The wait is over. As Jews prepared for Rosh Hashanah 5776, leatherheads prepared for Holy Thursday and Holy Sunday as the NFL turned 95.

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No more would we suffer the affliction of the offseason. No more would we have to hear about Michael Sam, Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III or any other potential Brock Osweiler Award winners dedicated to guys receiving too much exposure despite doing nothing on the field. Jimmy Garroppollo returned to this list, although one of these guys would soon be off of it.

With that, the greatest sport in the history of games and competition returned. Here is the NFL 2015 Week 1 Recap.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots was the Thursday night game. Tom Brady played with a chip on his shoulder, because Super Bowl Champions married to supermodels who get caught cheating have a ton to complain about. Deflategate lives on, but for now Brady can play. Just ask the Pittsburgh defense.

After a scoreless opening quarter, brady led a 13 play, 90 yard, 7 minute drive. He hooked up with Rob Gronkowski for touchdown passes of 16 and 6 yards to make it 14-0 Patriots. The Steelers never recovered. Josh Scobee hit a 44 yard field goal for Pittsburgh, but Brady’s third touchdown pass to Chandler made it 21-3 Patriots in the third quarter.

After Pittsburgh got within 21-13, Brady’s fourth touchdown pass, his third connection with Gronk from one yard out put the game away. The Steelers added a garbage touchdown to get within seven points but this game was not close.

Big Ben Roethlisberger finished 26 of 38 for 351 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Brady went 25 of 32 for 288 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions as fans chanted “Where is Roger (Goodell).” Their was an even an incident that affected pittsburgh’s headsets. Mike Tomlin was none too pleased as “The Patriot Way” continued to involve suspicious behavior and winning with no class. 28-21 Patriots

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills — Andrew luck brought the high octane offense. Rex Ryan brought the defense. Since the Bills have no quarterback, the Colts were supposed to run and throw wild. Instead it was Tyrod Taylor connecting with Percy Harvin for a 51 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Bills lead in the second quarter. Dan Carpenter tacked on a 41 yard field goal as the Bills led 10-0. Adam Vinatieri missed from 52 as the Colts could not get on the board.

With 20 seconds left in the half Williams broke free for a 26 yard touchdown run as the Bills had a 17-0 halftime lead in front of a fired up home crowd. Rex Ryan did not predict a Super Bowl 50 victory.

The Bills poured it on in the third quarter. Fitzpatrick led Buffalo 80 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes as Dixon got in from the one to make it 24-0 Bills.

In the third quarter Andrew Luck moved the ball as an 18 play, 65 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive reached the Jets 2. Luck threw incomplete on 3rd and goal. Chuck Pagano decided to go for it on 4th and goal. Luck hit Moncrief for the touchdown over the middle. The 2 point conversion from luck to Hasselbeck got the Colts to within 24-8 with one minute left in the third quarter.

The final dagger came with 10 minutes left in the game as the Colts fumbled a punt. Carpenter hit a 45 yard field goal to put the game out of reach with the Jets up 27-8. The Jets got soft on defense as Luck quickly moved them 80 yards. A 6 yard touchdown pass to Allen was followed by a 2 point pass that was dropped. The Colts were within 27-14 with 6 minutes left.

Luck kept firing but another deflected pass meant the final interception as Rex Ryan’s defense got the job done. Ryan still is not predicting a Super Bowl trip but the chance to end the NFL’s longest playoff drought is possible. 27-14 Bills

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears — As great as Aaron Rodgers is, he can’t score without the ball. John Fox was determined to keep Rodgers off the field. While Jay Cutler was reduced to being a game manager, Fox was going to make sure Cutler was not a liability. Cutler moved the Bears 70 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. The Bears settled for a 28 yard Robbie Gould field goal, but the tone was set early.

Rodgers responded with a 10 play 77 yard drive and a 13 yard touchdown pass to James Jones. Yet in the second quarter the Bears kept moving glacially but effectively. 15 plays, 80 yards and 8 minutes later, Matt Forte got in from one yard out to make it 10-7 Bears. Mason Crosby would hit from 37 to tie the game 10-10.

The Bears took over at their own 21 with 2:25 left in the half.  A strong running game had the Bears facing 3rd and 10 at the Green Bay 32 with 13 seconds left. Without a timeout, Fox took no chances. Gould nailed the 50 yarder as the Bears had the surprising 13-10 lead.

In the third quarter Rodgers went right to work, and quickly found James Jones for a one yard touchdown to make it 17-13 Packers. The Bears responded as Gould hit hit third field goal to get the Bears within 17-16.

In the fourth quarter it was Green Bay playing keep away. Rodgers led a staggering 16 play, 78 yard drive that consumed 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. A 5 yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb had the Packers up 24-16 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation.

Jay Cutler had gone almost the whole game without an interception, and Cutler haters knew he was due. A perfect pass to Clay Matthews meant a 42 yard interception return with 3 minutes left to lock up the tough Green Bay win. Eddie Lacy added the 2 yard explanation point. Cutler would throw a 24 yard touchdown pass to Bennett but it was way too little, way too late. Unlike in the 2014 NFC Title Game, this time the Packers recovered the onside kick. Rodgers finished a superb 18 of 23 for 189 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. 31-23 Packers

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans — Bryan Hoyer’s first pass as a Texan came with Houston at their own 7. It was complete to Hopkins, who plays defense for the Chiefs. Alex Smith completed a 10 yard pass to Kelce, who also plays for the Chiefs, as Walrus Lite Andy Reid saw his team take a 7-0 lead. Smith then threw a short pass to Kelce that turned into a 42 yard touchdown as the Chiefs led 14-0. Reid vowed to have Smith dink and dunk for the rest of their lives.

Hoyer would come back and throw a 4 yard touchdown. Ryan Bullock missed the newly exciting extra point as the Texans trailed 14-6. However, Carlos Santos would hit field goals of 27 and 48 to make it 20-6 Chiefs. Hoyer’s day got more miserable. On 3rd and 14 from the Houston 16, Hoyer was sacked and fumbled. The Chiefs took over at the Houston 7 and Smith found Houston for the touchdown and the 27-6 lead. Andy Reid decided that the strategy of starting drives in the red zone was effective. The Texans added a third field goal to trail 27-9 at the break.

For some reason, the second half was played. Ryan Mallett threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to Hopkins with 3 1/2 minutes left to make the final score look like less of a blowout. A 47 yard field goal try with 1:23 to play dunked off the upright but caromed in good as the Texans were only down 7. The onside kick failed as the Chiefs dominated the whole game, let up late, but hung on. 27-20 Chiefs

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars — 20 years ago these teams played their very first preseason game in franchise history in the Hall of Fame Game. 2 decades later they are just a pair of below average teams who each kicked a first quarter field goal. Cam Newton found Jerricho Cotchery for a 7 yard touchdown with one minute left in the half for a 10-3 Panthers lead. With only 1:46 left in the half at their own 35, Blake Bortles finally got going. A one yard touchdown pass to Greene with 15 seconds left had the Jaguars down 10-9 at halftime due to a missed extra point.

In the third quarter Bortles was intercepted by Norman, who returned the pick 30 yards for a 17-9 Panthers lead. In the fourth quarter Newton led a 15 play, 64 yard, 8 minute drive that led to a 47 yard Graham Gano field goal late to lock up the Carolina win. In 1995, it was a 20-14 Panthers win. 20 years later, 20 was still the magic number for Carolina. 20-9 Panthers

Cleveland Browns at New York Jets — As the Browns famous backup held a clipboard, starter Josh McCown had Cleveland on the move. From the 14, McCown took a draw and raced toward the goal line. Rather than slide, he went airborne. It was a gutsy move that backfired as McCown got blasted by 2 Jets short of the goal. The resulting fumble was recovered in the end zone by Gang Green for a touchback.

McCown went from the brink of a touchdown to the bench. On the next Cleveland drive to start the second quarter, Johnny Manziel shed his role as Johnny Clipboard. On 3rd and 19 from the Cleveland 46, Manziel went for the bomb and found benjamin for a 54 yard touchdown. Manuel’s first NFL touchdown pass meant he was no longer eligible for the 2015 Brock Osweiler Awards given to guys who get talked about without playing. Mike Pettine’s Browns led 7-0.

The Jets soon faced 3rd and 10 after a touchback. Ryan Fitzpatrick went deep to Owusu for a 43 yard gain. From the Cleveland 37, Fitzpatrick went deep again and was intercepted by Gipson. Rather than go down, Gipson tried to run it back. Instead, Brandon Marshall ripped it out of Gipson’s hands as the Jets had 1st and goal at the 9 just as they drew it up on the sandlot. Chris Ivory ran it in from 10 yards out as the game was tied 7-7.

The Jets faced 3rd and 7 at their own 26 when a fumble out of the shotgun had the Jets punting on 4th and 30 from their own 3. The Browns took over after a punt at the Jets 35. Manziel had a wide open receiver but the throw was high as the receiver could not get both feet down inbounds. Cleveland settled for a 26 yard Coons field goal and a 10-7 lead. Fitzpatrick bounced back and threw a 15 yard touchdown to Eric decker with 26 seconds left in the half to make it 14-10 Jets.

In the third quarter a poorly thrown ball had Manziel becoming Johnny Interception. From the Cleveland 28, the rest came easy. Fitzpatrick hit Marshall from one yard out to make it 21-10 Jets. On their next series Nick Folk hit a 34 yard field goal to have the Jets up 24-10.

Things got worse for Manziel as Todd Bowles unleashed his defense. Manuel was being sacked, but was deliberately held up so another defender could strip the ball out. It was not bad play by Manziel, just smart defense. Starting at the Cleveland 19, Chris Ivory pounded it in from the 3 to make it a Jets romp with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. 31-10 Jets

Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams — Tyler Lockett returned a punt 57 yards for a 7-0 Seahawks lead. In the second quarter speedster Tavon Austin ran it in from 16 yards out to tie the game. Russell Wilson was then intercepted to set up the Rams at the Seattle 26. Greg Zuerlein hit a 33 yard field goal to put the Rams up 10-7.

With 1:49 left in the half Wilson moved the Seahawks from their 35 to a 3rd and 2 at the Rams 7 with 8 seconds left. Wilson threw incomplete to Marshawn Lynch as the Seahawks settled for a 25 yard Steve Hauschka field goal and a 10-10 halftime tie.

In the third quarter Nick Foles fumble from the shotgun gave Seattle the ball at the Rams 39. On 2nd and 1 from the 9, Lynch lost a yard. On 3rd and 2 Wilson hit newly acquired tight end Jimmy Graham, but the play only gained one yard. On 4th and 1, Pete Carroll took no chances against Jeff Fisher’s defense. Hauschka hit a 27 yarder to make it 13-10 Seahawks.

This time Foles came right back, as a pair of deep completions aided by defensive unnecessary roughness led to Foles taking it in from the one to make it 17-13 Rams. Then came the special teams as Tavon Austin returned Seattle’s opening salvo by taking a punt of his own 75 yards for a 24-13 Rams lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Rams are a young team that still needs to learn how to close out games. The Seahawks are two time NFC Champions, and champions do not go down without a fight. Wilson hit Graham for a 7 yard touchdown on 3rd and goal and Lynch added the 2 point conversion as the Seahawks got within 24-21 with a full 12 minutes left in regulation.

The Rams moved to the Seattle 28 but a critical fumble gave it back to Settle at their 25. Seattle tied the game with a 35 yard field goal with 5 minutes left. After a touchback Foles was sacked and fumbled. From the Rams 8 yard line, Williams ran it in as the Seahawks now had the 31-24 lead. 

Just when it looked like the Rams were done, Foles led them 84 yards in 12 plays. A 37 yard touchdown to Kendricks tied the game 31-31 with one minute to play.

In overtime, a deep completion by Foles led to Zuerlein hitting a 37 yard field goal. Seattle still had one chance with the ball and with 9 minutes left in overtime everything came down to 4th and 1 at the Rams 42. Beast Mode got the carry and lynch got blasted backward for a one yard loss. The Rams learned how to win a big game. 34-31 Rams, OT

Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins — Kirk Cousins got the start, Colt McCoy was the backup, and Robert Griffin’s grandson was left to rot as the third stringer. Kai Forbath would make a 45 yard field goal and miss a 46 yarder as the Redskins led 3-0. These teams played in the Super Bowl twice as players from both teams would be embarrassed at the 2015 matchup.

In the second quarter Cousins led a staggering 17 play, 88 yard drive that consumed nearly 9 minutes. Cousins hit Reed from 4 yards out and the Redskins had the 10-0 lead. After a touchback, Miami had only 1:49 to work with. Aided by a critical roughing the passer penalty, Ryan Tannehill found Ryan Matthews for a 3 yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half as the Dolphins trailed 10-7.

With 12 minutes left in a terrible game, Franks hit a 22 yard field goal to tie things 10-10. The Redskins then punted and Landry returned it 69 yards for the go ahead score as Miami led 17-10 with 10 1/2 minutes left.

With 2:22 to play, the Redskins faced 4th and 7 at the Miami 20. Cousins threw incomplete. With one minute left the Dolphins faced 3rd and 8 at their own 38 with Washington out of timeouts. Miller gained just enough as the Dolphins ran out the clock. The Redskins name may or may not be offensive to certain segments of society, but the Redskins team is offensive to anyone who likes quality football. 17-10 Dolphins

Due to Rosh Hashanah starting midway through the afternoon games, religious Jews had to wait until Tuesday night to know the final scores. Thank you all for showing solidarity with us by waiting.

New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals — Carson Palmer is healthy, and he led an 80 yard drive that culminated in a 10 yard touchdown to Brown for a 7-0 Cardinals lead. New Orleans answered with a 37 yard Hocker field goal to get within 7-3.

In the second quarter the Cardinals faced 3rd and 2 from their own 34. Palmer went deep to Fells for a 48 yard gain. Andre Ellington got in from the one to make it 14-3 Cardinals. Drew Brees came back again as a 12 play, 80 yard, 6 minute drive meant a 12 yard touchdown to Coleman to get the Saints within 14-10.

The third quarter was a war of attrition into the fourth quarter as the Saints sandwiched a pair of field goals around an Arizona field goal to trail 17-16. Arizona stayed aggressive on offense and drew a defensive pass interference penalty to set up a 17 yard touchdown from Palmer to Darren fells for a 24-16 Cardinals lead with 10 1/2 minutes left.

Bree hit Mark Ingram on a dumpoff pass that went for a 59 yard gain but the Saints gain struggled in the red zone. Hocker hit his fourth field goal of the game from 33 yards out as the Saints trailed 24-19 with 6:45 to play.

With 1:44 left and the Cardinals facing 2nd and 8 at their own 45, they could have run the ball to force the Saints into using their last timeout. instead Bruce Arians went for all the marbles, and Palmer hit David Johnson for the 55 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach. 31-19 Cardinals

Detroit Lions at San Diego Chargers — 80 yards came easily as Abdullah burst for a 24 yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Lions lead. San Diego moved 73 yards in 13 plays in 7 minutes, but had to settle for a 32 yard Lambo field goal. In the second quarter Rivers completed a pass to Glover Quinn, who plays defense for the Lions. Quinn’s 31 yard interception return touchdown put the Lions up 14-3. The Lions got it back at the Chargers 46 and Matthew Stafford hit Eric Ebron for an 18 yard touchdown for a 21-3 Lions lead. Jim Caldwell was so excited he almost made a facial expression.

Danny Woodhead ran it in from 9 yards out to cap off an 80 yard drive and get the Chargers within 21-10. In the third quarter the Chargers drove to a 4th and 1 at the Detroit 7. Mike McCoy decided to go for the field goal to get the Chargers within 21-13.

Then the game got ugly as Stafford was intercepted, the Chargers fumbled it back, and Stafford was intercepted again to set up the Chargers at the Detroit 16. On 3rd and 6 Rivers hit Stevie Johnson for the 12 yard score to get the Chargers within 21-20.

The Chargers got it back at their own 30 and began the fourth quarter by moving straight down the field as Rivers hit Ladarius Green for the 13 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Chargers led 26-21. The Chargers got it back at their own 14 and Rivers led a brilliant 11 play, 86 yard drive that consumed nearly 6 1/2 minutes. Rivers was a killer on third down, including a 3rd and 19. Woodhead eventually crashed in from the one to make it 33-21 Chargers with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Stafford did manage to throw a 21 yard touchdown to Theo Riddick with one minute left, but the onside kick failed. 30 straight unanswered points gave the Lions an unforgivable loss. 33-28 Chargers

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos — The Gary Kubiak era began, but even bigger than him and Peyton Manning is the Rocky Mountain air. Kubiak let Brad McManus try field goals of 57 and 56 yards, and McManus drilled them both into a 6-0 Broncos lead. In the second quarter Justin Tucker hit from 52 and McManus answered from 43 to give the Broncos a 9-3 lead into the locker rooms.

The third quarter saw the defenses continue to dominate as Manning had an interception by Jimmy Smith run back 24 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-9 Ravens. The Broncos remained stymied on offense as Baltimore got it back and went up 13-9 when Tucker hit from 44.

Baltimore had all the momentum late in the third quarter when Denver’s defense turned the tables. Alibi Talib returned a Joe Flacco interception 51 yards for a touchdown to make it 16-13 Broncos entering the final quarter.

Denver got the ball back at their own 4 yard line and Manning led a mind-numbing drive that consumed 11 minutes off the clock. 17 plays moved the Broncos 81 yards, but the Broncos got no further than the Baltimore 15. McManus hit his fourth field goal from 33 as the Broncos led by 6 with 3 minutes left in regulation.

After a touchback, Flacco calmly moved the Ravens 64 yards in 14 plays as Manning watched helplessly. With 36 seconds left, Baltimore faced 3rd and 10 at the Denver 16. Flake fired to the end zone and was intercepted by Gillmore. These are the new Broncos, winning with defense. 19-13 Broncos

Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders — These were supposed to be the new Raiders. On 3rd and 8 from their own 22 Derek Carr threw a West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass that was completed far short of the marker. If Jack Del Rio wants to invite Dennis Allen back, he can. If he wants Matt Leinart back as quarterback, he can bring him back. Otherwise, the Raiders may wish to stop drinking and dunking before the fans walk away in disgust. Raider Nation did not wait 8 months for that.

The Bengals took over at their own 41 with Red Rifle Andy Dalton. The Raiders looked as awful on defense as they did on offense. On 3rd and 1 from the Oakland 3, the Raiders got a big stop on defense. Marvin Lewis decided to go for it on 4th and 1, and this time Hill easily got in the end zone for the 7-0 Bengals lead.

After a touchback and a pair of short incompletions, Carr rolled out on 3rd and 10 and fired complete just at the marker. On 3rd and 14, Carr threw another short pass over the middle that was nowhere near the first down marker. The Bengals began at their own 31.

The Raiders got it back at their own 7. A taunting penalty on the defense moved Oakland to their 30. on 3rd and 1 from their 39, a false start came next. on 3rd and 6, Carr found Amari Cooper, who joked his way for a 26 yard gain. An offensive personal foul for unnecessary roughness moved them back, but it was still 1st and 10 at their own 45. They would punt again. The Bengals were at their own 9, but Dalton moved them easily. Mike Nugent hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Bengals.

Carr tried to get the Raiders going and a scramble on 3rd and 9 appeared to give them hope. It was for naught. Carr was hit at the marker and fumbled the ball backwards. Instead of 1st and 10 it was 4th and 1. Carr then headed to the locker room as the Raider nation worried that he injured his same finger again. Jack Del Rio decided to go for it near midfield. Matt McGloin came in and handed off the ball as a brick wall stopped the Raiders cold.

That was the play that turned a close game into a route. The short field allowed Jeremy Hill to get in from the 2 to make it 17-0 Bengals with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. Oakland again went 3 and out and the Bengals got it back at their own 39 with 1 minute left. That was more than enough time against the lifeless Oakland defense, as a 13 yard touchdown on 3rd and 7 from Palmer to Tyler Eifert made it 24-0 Bengals at halftime.

The second half was a formality. Another touchdown from Palmer to Eifert made it 30-0, and another field goal extended the 33-0 blowout. In the fourth quarter McGloin threw a pair of touchdown passes long after anybody cared. The Raiders had 8 months to prepare for this game. They failed in every aspect of football. They may be the worst team in the league right now. 33-13 Bengals

Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — A pair of 2-14 teams from 2014 both started rookie quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota’s first touchdown pass was a 52-yard thing of beauty to Kenny Wright as the 89 yard drive put the Titans up 7-0. Jameil Winston’s first touchdown pass was a 26 yarder to Sensabaugh, who also plays for the Titans. The interception return made it 14-0 Titans. Mariota then moved the Titans 63 yards and threw his second touchdown pass, a 12 yarder to Bishop Sankey. with both quarterbacks throwing to Titans players, Tennessee built a quick 21-0 first quarter lead.

Winston moved the Buccaneers in the second quarter 68 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. He hit Seferian-Jenkins for a 5 yard touchdown, and seferian-Jenkins does not play for the Titans. After throwing a touchdown pass to each team, Winston had the Buccaneers within 21-7.

Marietta appeared to fumble near his own goal line but the refs ruled the play over just outside the plane of the goal. It was a rare mistake by Mariota, who would rebound to throw a 4 yard touchdown pass to Harry Douglas to lead 28-7. Winston was intercepted again to set up Tennessee at the Tampa 32 A one yard touchdown from Mariota to Delanie Walker had the Titans up 35-7 at halftime.

Bishop Sankey got in from the one in the third quarter to make it 42-7 Titans while Winston threw a garbage time touchdown pass late. Mariota only threw 16 passes, completing 13 of them for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Winston threw a pair of touchdowns but was also intercepted twice. 42-14 Titans

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys was the Sunday night game. This one may be talked about forever in New York. An ugly start had both teams kick a first quarter field goal and Dallas tack on another one for a 6-3 second quarter lead. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-6 Giants. They also tacked on a second field goal to lead 13-6 at intermission.

In the third quarter on 3rd and 2 from the Dallas 12, Eli Manning threw incomplete. Another field goal made it 16-6 Giants. Dallas finally got going as Romo moved the Cowboys 80 yards. A 2 yard touchdown pass from Romo to Gavin Escobar had the Cowboys within 16-13 after three quarters.

Romo then showed his worst as he was intercepted by McBride, who returned it 19 yards to the Dallas one. Rashad Jennings got in to make it 23-13 Giants midway through the fourth quarter.

Romo quickly moved the Cowboys 76 yards and threw a one yard touchdown to Jason Witten to get the Cowboys within 23-20 with 5 1/2 minutes left. Things then got bizarre.

Manning moved the Giants to a 1st and goal at the Dallas 4 with 1:54 to play. A touchdown would have iced the game but Manning ordered Jennings to not score. this forced the Cowboys to use their timeouts. Yet on 3rd and goal at the one with 1:43 left and Dallas out of timeouts, the Giants went with a pass play. The incompletion saved Dallas 40 seconds of clock. Then on 4th and goal from the one, Tom Coughlin went with the field goal. The Giants led 26-20, but Dallas got it back at their own 28 with a full 90 seconds.

Romo fired to Dunbar for gains of 24 and 16, Witten for 13, and Williams for 11. on 3rd and 2 from the 11, Romo delivered the dagger to Witten for the winning touchdown with 7 seconds left. The home crowd was elated, but this was the worst play calling by a Giants coach and quarterback since the original Miracle at the Meadowlands. 27-26 Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons was the first Sunday night game. Sam Bradford is healthy, and he threw the ball 52 times in his first game with the Eagles. He completed 36 passes for 336 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions. Matt Ryan was 23 of 34 for 298 yards, 2 touchdown, and also 2 interceptions.

The first half was all Atlanta as a first quarter field goal was followed by a 4 yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Julio Jones for a 10-0 Falcons lead. Philadelphia did get a field goal of their own, but Atlanta added another one for a 13-3 lead. With one minute left in the half, Bradford had a ball intercepted by Moore as the Falcons took over at the Eagles 27. Ryan was sacked and fumbled, but a defensive penalty gave Atlanta another chance. Ryan went deep to Jones for a 22 yard touchdown as the Falcons were cruising 20-3 at halftime.

The third quarter saw the Eagles roar right back. On 3rd and 4 from the Atlanta 12, Ryan was intercepted to give the Eagles the ball at the Atlanta 8. DeMarco Murray got in to get the Eagles to within 20-10. Philly got it back at their own 5 and Bradford moved the Eagles 95 yards in 13 plays and 6 minutes. Bradford hit Murray for the 5 yard touchdown as the Eagles only trailed 20-17 after three quarters.

The Falcons kept the ball for 8 minutes into the fourth quarter but settled for a 44 yard Matt Bryant field goal to lead 23-17. Bradford kept firing and 80 yards came quickly. With 9 minutes left from the one, Ryan Mathews got in as the Eagles had come all the way back to lead 24-23. 

Matty Ice immediately went deep after a touchback and connected with Jones for a 44 yard gain. With 6 1/2 minutes left the other Matty nailed the 47 yard field goal as the Falcons retook the 2 point lead. Bradford did his job in rapidly moving the Eagles again. With 2 1/2 minutes left Chris Parkey came in for a 44 yarder to this time put the Eagles back on top. The kick was no good, wide right. The Eagles got it back with 1:49 left but this time Bradford was intercepted as the Falcons hung on. 26-24 Falcons

Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers was the second Monday night game. The Vikings were supposed to be up and coming while the 49ers were supposed to be headed into the garbage can. Neither team got the memo. Initially it was hideous as the 49ers had a field goal try blocked from 28 and Minnesota from 44 saw Blair Walsh just miss. Walsh struggled in the preseason.

A scoreless tie was finally broken with 80 seconds left in the half when Carlos Hyde ran it in from 10 yards out to make it 7-0 49ers. Phil Dawson hit a 30 yard field goal to make it 10-0 49ers after three quarters. 12 seconds into the fourth quarter Walsh hit from 37 to get Minnesota within 10-3.

Yet the Minnesota defense could not stop Hyde, as a 17 yard scamper made it 17-3 49ers. An interception of Teddy Bridgewater led to another San Francisco field goal to complete the scoring. Carlos Hyde had 168 yards on 26 carries while Adrian Peterson had 31 yards on 10 carries. 20-3 49ers

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NFL 2015 Week 1 Prequel

http://www.commdiginews.com/sports/nfl-week-1-preview-and-bettors-guide-48216/

eric

NFL 2015 Predictions

http://www.commdiginews.com/sports/nfl-preview-2015-48156/

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