NFL 2020 Week 1 Recap
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs was the season opener Thursday night game. Chiefs Coach Andy Reid is no longer Walrus Lite. Seven months ago he finally won the Super Bowl and gave the Chiefs the championship 50 years after they won their first Super Bowl. With the win, Reid was upgraded to full walrus status along with Mike Holmgren, Jerry Reuss, Craig Stadtler, and pre-shave Ken Hitchcock.
Before the game there were the political controversies over the National Anthem. Since that has nothing to do with football, it shall be ignored here. Players said and did stuff. Then there were the issue of COVID and how the players would act. That has nothing to do with football, and will be ignored here. Consult your local politics or health blogs for stuff not directly related to the action on the football field. Walrus Andy Reid did look amusing in a full shield that fogged up, but when you are the defending Super Bowl champ, you get a pass.
Then they played football. Last year in the regular season the Texans went into Kansas City and shocked the Chiefs with a comeback win. In the playoffs the Texans stormed into Arrowhead and jumped to a 24-0 lead. Somehow, the Chiefs were winning by halftime as they outscored the Texans 51-7 the rest of the way. Patrick Mahomes is an Alien Life Form, possibly from Melmac. Melmacohomes moved the Chiefs from their own 35 to the Houston 36. Mahomes went deep for a touchdown only 4 minutes into the game. Yet on further review, the ball hit the ground incomplete. Mahomes was then sacked and the Chiefs actually had the punt. The Texans then moved 80 yards with ease. David Johnson ran for a 19 yard touchdown to give the Texans the 7-0 lead. Then reality set in.
After a touchback, the Chiefs faced 3rd and 2 at their own 33. Damien Williams gained only one yard. In the first quarter of the first game, Andy Reid turned from Mr. Conservative to Mr. Riverboat Gambler. When you win a Super Bowl, things change. On 4th and 1 from his own 34, Reid went for it and Sherman gained 2. After that the offense kept rolling. On 3rd and 4 from the Houston 6 less than one minute into the second quarter, Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for the touchdown to tie the game. The Chiefs got the ball back at their own 9 yard line. Rather than go for the quick strike, Mahomes led a mind-numbing 16 play, 91 yard drive that consumed over 9 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins for the score to make it 14-7 Chiefs with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half.
The Texans missed their best chance to make a game of it when Kaimi Fairbairn missed a 51 yard field goal try with 30 seconds left in the half. With only 22 seconds left from their own 41, Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins for 17 yards. An 11 yard completion to Kelce followed by a killer 15 yard horsecollar take on the defense led to a 29 yard Harrison Butker field goal and a 17-7 Chiefs advantage.
The second half was a formality. The Chiefs quickly moved 75 yards in the third quarter in an unexpected way. Pass-Happy Andy Reid actually has a running game. Not a runner who catches passes, but an actual running back who runs the ball. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for a 27 yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Chiefs. An interception of Deshaun Watson set the Chiefs up at the Houston 17. On 4th and 1 from the 8, Reid gambled again. Mahomes was intercepted, but defensive pass interference in the end zone was the final nail in Houston’s coffin. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill for the touchdown to make it a 31-7 Chiefs blowout.
The entire fourth quarter was garbage time. The Texans did get a pair of late touchdowns to get within 31-20, but nothing more. With 2 1/2 minutes left a failed onside kick had the Chiefs at the Houston 20. On 4th and goal at the one with 30 seconds left, this time Reid played it safe. Butker hit the 19 yard field goal to complete the scoring. On the final play with the outcome not in doubt, Watson took a knee rather than risk everyone getting injured on a pointless Hail Mary or hook and lateral. Edwards finished with 138 yards on 25 carries. Mahomes only threw for 211 yards. Again, Andy Reid finally has a running game. He also bookended the last victory of the 2019 season with the first victory of the 2020 season, making him a most happy Walrus indeed. 34-20 Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington non-Redskins — Washington is so bad, the team does not even have a name. From the Washington 46, Carson Wentz hit Desean Jackson for 29, Dallas Goedert for 12, and Zac Ertz for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Eagles. The Eagles got it back and moved 75 yards in 11 plays and 7 minutes. Yet a sack of Wentz in the red zone ended the drive. Elliott hit a 38 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Eagles. A 48 yard field goal try by Dustin Hopkins to get the Redskins on the board was no good. Philadelphia quickly capitalized. On 3rd and 7 from the Washington 44, Wentz went to Ward for 10 yards and then to Goedert for the 34 yard touchdown to make it 17-0 Eagles. This game was over. Somebody forgot to tell the Washington No-names.
The game turned late in the first quarter when an interception of Wentz set up the No-names at the Philadelphia 45. Dwayne Haskins hit McLaurin for 21, Inman for 11 and McLaurin for 7. On 3rd and 3 from the Philly 6, Haskins hit Thomas for the touchdown to get the No-names on the board down 17-7. In the third quarter another interception of Wentz set up the non-Redskins at the Philly 20. Hskins hit Sims for 17 yards. On 3rd and goal at the one, Pierre Barber got in to get the non-Over the Hill Gang to within 17-14. The Eagles were self-destructing, led by Wentz. They moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 7 at the Washington 22. Wentz was sacked for a 13 yard loss. Doug Pederson went for a 53 yard field goal try and Elliott’s kick was no good. The Eagles got it back and moved from their own 12 to a 2nd and 4 at the Washington 45. Wentz threw incomplete twice and Pederson went for it. On 4th and 4, Wentz was sacked.
For the third time on the day, the No-Names started in Philly territory at their 46. Haskins went to Thomas for 19 and Hopkins hit a 38 yard field goal less than one minute into the fourth quarter for a 17-17 tie. Another sack of Wentz had the Eagles punting on 4th and 26 from their own 9. For the fourth time on the day, Washington had a short field at the Philly 48. On 3rd and 8, Haskins hit Thomas for just enough and McLaurin for 14. On 3rd and 9 from the Philly 23, Haskins hit Inman for 10. Midway through the fourth quarter, Washington faced 4th and 1 at the Philadelphia 4 yard line. A field goal would give Washington the lead, but Riverboat Ron Rivera went for it. Barber got the yard and then ran for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 24-17 No-names with 6:13 to play.
With 4 1/2 minutes left and facing 4th and 3 at their own 42, Wentz threw incomplete. Haskins hit Sims for 19 and Hopkins hit a 40 yard field goal to put Washington up by 10 with 3 1/2 minutes left. Wentz was quickly sacked and fumbled. This was a complete meltdown that will have the Eagles fans rapidly losing patience with Wentz. As for Washington, they should absolutely change their name to the Washington Riveras. Ron Rivera was brought in to change the culture. It was not expected that he would do so in only one game. Rivera is battling cancer and had chemotherapy during the week. He required an IV at halftime. For obvious reasons, his team gave him the game ball. 27-17 Non-Redskins No-Names
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots — After 20 years, the Patriots have a new quarterback. Cam Newton is trying to resurrect his career. After a scoreless opening quarter, Newton ran for a 4 yard touchdown himself to make it 7-0 Patriots. The rest of the half was a slog, with Sanders hitting a 46 yard field goal for the Dolphins and Nick Folk missing from 45 for the Patriots at the end of the half. The Patriots went right to work after a touchback to start the second half. Newton hit Julian Edelman for gains of 10 and 16, White for 11 and Edelman for 9. Newton ran for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Patriots after three quarters.
The Patriots had a golden chance to put the game away with a 12 play, 78 yard, 8 minute drive. On 1st and goal at the 10, Newton hit Harry for 9 yards, but at the one yard line Harry fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. The Dolphins began the fourth quarter facing 4th and 2 at their own 42. Brian Flores went for it and Ryan Fitzpatrick and his furry beard threw incomplete. Yet defensive pass interference on Stephan Gilmore meant a 23 yard gain. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 8, Fitzpatrick gained 2. On 3rd and goal at the one, Jordan Howard got in. Fitzpatrick ran for the 2 point conversion. with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Dolphins were only down 14-11.
After a touchback, Edelman took an end around 23 yards with 15 more tacked on for defensive unnecessary roughness. With 6 minutes left, the Patriots faced 4th and 1 at the Miami 5. Evil Hoodie Bill Belichick decided to go for it. Newton gained 4. Sony Michel got the last yard. Down by 10 with 5 1/2 minutes left, Fitzpatrick moved the Dolphins to a 3rd and 6 at the New England 10 with 90 seconds left. Fitzpatrick went to the end zone and was intercepted. It wasn’t pretty, but once again the NFL’s best beat the NFL’s worst at home. Different quarterback. Same Patriots. Same Dolphins. Bill Belichick was so pleased with the win that he almost smiled. 21-11 Patriots
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings — In this series, the home team usually wins. Yet an angry Aaron Rodgers still has not gotten over who the Packers chose in the 2020 Draft. Heck, he has not gotten over being passed up in the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers began the game with a 13 play, 65 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive. The drive stalled at the Minnesota 10 yard line, but Mason Crosby hit a 31 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Packers. After a touchback, Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen for gains of 7 and 25 yards. A defensive facemark added 15 more. On 3rd and goal at the one, Dalvin Cook got in to make it 7-3 Vikings. In the second quarter the Packers moved to a 2nd and goal at the one. Rodgers threw incomplete and Aaron Jones got stopped. Matt LeFleur went for it on 4th and goal at the one, and Rodgers threw incomplete.
Mike Zimmer’s defense had a great goal line stand, but his offense gave it away. A safety had the Packers within 7-5. An 18 yard return on the free kick had the Packers at their own 44. The Packers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Minnesota 12. After a pair of incompletions, Rodgers was called for intentional grounding and a 13 yard loss. Crosby hit the 43 yard field goal and the Packers led 8-7. A short punt had the Packers getting it back at their own 40. On 3rd and 3 from their own 47, the defense entered the neutral zone. On 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 39, Matt LaFleur went for it. Rodgers gained 2. On 3rd and 6 from the Minnesota 33,Rodgers hit Devontae Adams for 8 nd again for a 24 yard touchdown to make it 15-7 Packers with 39 seconds left in the half.
It was still a close game, but Cousins was intercepted to give the Packers the ball at the Minnesota 45 wit 25 seconds left. An incompletion left 14 seconds, but Rodgers went for it all and hit Marques Valdes-Scantling for the score to make it 22-7 Packers. Somehow, 14 seconds from their own 25 was enough time for the Vikings. Mattison gained 21. Cousins hit kyle Rudolph for 22 with a 15 yard defensive penalty tacked on for lowering the head to initiate contact. Dan Bailey hit a 35 yard field goal to get the Vikings within 22-10 at halftime.
Rodgers exploded in the second half. The Vikings faced 4th and 3 at the Green Bay 39, and Zimmer went for it. Cousins threw incomplete, and minnesota never got close in this game. Each team scored a touchdown on their next 3 possessions, but with the Packers up by 11, that was sufficient. Rodgers capped a 61 yard drive with a 61 yard touchdown pass to Adams to make it 29-10 Packers after three quarters. The Vikings moved 77 yards as Cousins hit Thielen for a 37 yard touchdown and Cook rushed for the 2 point conversion to get the Vikings within 29-18 one minute into the fourth quarter.
The Packers moved 75 yards and Rodgers hit Allen Lazard for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 36-18 Packers. The Vikings moved 65 yards and Cook ran for a 3 yard touchdown and another 2 point conversion. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Vikings were within 36-26. Another 75 yard drive came easily and Jones ran for a 5 yard touchdown to put the Packers up 43-26 with 3:19 to play. The Vikings would score one more touchdown and 2 point conversion, but it was not enough. Cousins did not play badly. He was 19 of 25 for 259 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. Yet Rodgers was 32 of 44 for 364 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The man who replaced Brett Favre is not ready to give up his own job. 43-34 Packers
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars — Philip Rivers now quarterbacks the Colts. From the Indianapolis 37, Rovers came out firing. An 8 yard completion was followed by Rivers hitting Campbell for 21 yards. Hines ran for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Colts. In the second quarter an interception of Rivers set up the Jaguars at the Colts 35. Robinson gained 6, 11 and 4. Gardner Minshew hit DJ Chark for a 6 yard touchdown to make it a 7-7 ballgame.
Each team moved the ball 75 yards for a touchdown on their next drive. On 3rd and 7 from their own 28, Rivers hit Campbell for 17 yards. On 3rd and 7 from their own 48, Rivers hit TY Hilton for 14 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Rivers hit Hines for the touchdown to make it 14-7 Colts. Mince from his own 25 hit Laviska Shenault for 18, Cole for 4 and 10 and Chark for 12. On 3rd and 4 from the Indy 25, Minshew hit Cole for 6 and Shenault for the 15 yard touchdown to make it 14-14.
Rivers worked the 2 minute drill well and Blankenship hit a 38 yard field goal to put the Colts up 17-14 at halftime. Yet in the third quarter, Blankenship missed a 30 yarder. A 30 yard defensive pass interference call on the Colts led to a 50 yard field goal by Josh Lambo in the third quarter to tie the game 17-17. The Colts moved from their own 21 to a 4th and 1 at the Jacksonville 36. Frank Reich went for it and Rivers was intercepted. Yet the Colts got it back and moved into the red zone early in the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 10 from the Jacksonville 14, a completion came up 3 yards short Blankenship hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 20-17 Colts with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
After a touchback, Minshew went to Robinson for a 28 yard gain. A defensive horse collar tackle had the Jaguars at the Indy 22. Minshew went deep to Cole for the score. With 6 minutes left in regulation, the Jaguars led 24-20. A third interception of Rivers had the Jaguars at the Indy 31. Lambo hit a 46 yard field goal to put the Jaguars up by 7 with 2:50 to play. Rivers quickly moved the Colts to a 2nd and 5 at the Jags 26 with one minute left. Rivers then threw 3 straight incompletions. Rivers continued his tradition of throwing for plenty of yards and losing. He was 36 of 46 for 363 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions. Meanwhile Minshew Mustache Mania has returned to Jacksonville. He threw only 20 passes but completed 19 of them for 173 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Colts went the whole game without punting, yet somehow lost. 27-20 Jaguars
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions — Sometimes boring teams can come together and play a great game for the ages. In the first half, this was not that game. Each team kicked a pair of field goals for a 6-6 tie after 29 minutes. Then came 31 minutes of stunning events. A field position game had the Lions taking over at the Chicago 48 with 40 seconds left in the half. Matthew Stafford hit D’Andre Swift for 7 and TJ Hockensen for 16 and 24 yards down to the one with 19 seconds left. Swift got in as the Lions took a 13-6 lead to the locker rooms. The Lions rolled to start the third quarter. From their own 36 on 3rd and 2, Stafford hit Danny Amendola for 15, Cephus for 14 and Marvin Jones for 16. Stafford hit Hockensen for the 4 yard touchdown to make it 20-6 Lions. The Lions got it back and moved from their own 10 to a 3rd and 3 at the Chicago 26. Stafford threw incomplete but Matt Prater hit a 44 yard field goal. After three quarters, the Lions had a comfortable 23-6 lead.
Then Cordarelle Patterson exploded for a 45 yard kickoff return to the Chicago 41. On 3rd and 10, Mitchell Trubisky hit Anthony Miller for 18 and Allen Robinson for 22. On 4th and 1 from the 10 to start the fourth quarter, Matt Nagy needing 3 scores decided to go for it. Patterson got around the end for 3. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Trubisky hit Jimmy Graham for the touchdown. Less than 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Bears were wi thin 23-13. With 4 minutes left in regulation, Matt Patricia gambled on a 55 yard field goal rather than punt and trust his defense. Prater’s kick was no good. From his own 45, Trubisky went to Graham for 7, Mller for 18 and 13, and Graham for 16 down to the one. Trubisky hit Javon Wims for the score as the Bears were within 23-20 with 3 minutes left.
The Lions faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30 as the Bears took 2 timeouts on defense. A short pass from Stafford was intercepted by Kyle Fuller. With 2 1/2 minutes left the Bears took over at the Detroit 37. Trubisky threw a 27 yard touchdown to Miller. With 1:54 left, 3 Trubisky touchdowns in the fourth quarter had the Bears up by 4. Had this game had a home crowd, it would have been shocked. Yet Stafford led a comeback after a touchback. On 3rd and 7 from the Chicago 48, Stafford went deep to Amendola for 32 yards. Stafford spiked the ball to stop the clock with 11 seconds left. From the Chicago 16, Stafford found a wide open Swift in the end zone for the win. Swift dropped it. It was right in his bread basket. He just dropped it. With 6 seconds left, Stafford threw into double coverage incomplete. With a fourth quarter for the ages, Trubisky avoided being burned in effigy. On the other sideline, when Matt Patricia gets fired at the end of the year, he will point out that he would have won this game had his receiver caught the ball. 27-23 Bears
Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers — On the second play of the game, Derek Carr went for the bomb and just overthrew speedster rookie Henry Ruggs. The Raiders went 3 and out. Teddy Bridgewater began his first start for the Panthers by torching the Raiders secondary. Moving from their own 38, the Panthers soon faced 3rd and 10 at the Oakland 34. A West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass gained 4 yards. Joey Slye hit the 47 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Panthers. The Raiders after a touchback went right to work. On 3rd and 1, the Raiders went to their bruiser Josh Jacobs, and he banged ahead for the first down. Then Carr went deep again to a wide open Ruggs for a 45 yard gain down to the one yard line. Jacobs banged it in off of the left tackle as the Raiders led 7-3. The first points ever in Las Vegas NFL history came from Jacobs.
The Raiders have spent years trying to fix their secondary and early on it looked like there was no improvement. Bridgewater easily moved the Panthers into the red zone. On 3rd and 1 from the 5, Christian McCaffrey easily made it into the end zone for a 9-7 Panthers lead. Slye missed the extra point. The Raiders kept moving the ball into the second quarter. A 13 yard run by Jacobs was followed by a flea flicker to Ruggs, but he could only get one foot down. On 3rd and 5 from the Carolina 28, Carr fired to Hunter Renfro for a pair of 11 yard gains to make it 1st and goal at the 6. On 3rd and goal at the 5, a short completion to Jason Witten left 4th and goal at the 2. Jon Gruden wisely opted for the field goal. Daniel Carlson hit from 20 and the Raiders led 10-9. Last year the Raiders were plagued down by the goal line. They did not finish drives. This was an unfinished drive.
Midway through the second quarter, neither team had committed a penalty. Yet on a deep ball on 3rd and 6, a defensive pass interference call put the Panthers on the Las Vegas 45. Bridgewater then somehow avoided a sack and gained 13 yards. A dropped pass over the middle had the Panthers facing 3rd and 7 at the Las Vegas 19. Another incompletion meant a 46 yard field goal try by Slye. He delivered and the Panthers led 12-10 with 5 minutes left in the half.
Injuries hurt the Raiders early on. 6 ft 8, 380 pound tackle Trent Brown went out early with a calf injury and did not return. Ruggs was having a great game when his ankle got rolled on in the second quarter. At the 2 minute warning the Raiders faced 3rd and 2 from the Carolina 23. Carr threw a perfect fade to Nelson Agholor for the touchdown as the Raiders led 17-12. The offense had scored on 3 straight possessions. The defense had given up scores on 3 straight possessions. So it was time for the Silver and Black to make a stop before the half. Instead, Bridgewater continued to torch the inexperienced Raiders cornerbacks. With 30 seconds left in the half the Panthers were at the Las Vegas 41. A deep ball should have been intercepted but was dropped. Slye hit his third field goal as the half ended with the Panthers trailing 17-15.
Despite having no penalties in the first half, a penalty on the second half kickoff had the Panthers backed up to their own 11. The Panthers scored on all 4 first half possessions. On 3rd and 8 from their own 13, a completion over the middle only gained 5. Paul Guenther’s defense finally had a stop. Hunter Renfrow returned the punt 24 yards to just shy of midfield. An intentional grounding call on Carr had the Raiders facing 3rd and 21. A completion set up 4th and 6. An attempt to draw Carolina offside failed as the Raiders called timeout. After all of that the Raiders gambled on a 54 yard field goal try. Carlson drilled it as the Raiders led 20-15.
The Raiders defense finally sacked Bridgewater as the Panthers had to punt on 4th and 20 from their own 14. A penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on the Panthers on the punt gave the Raiders great field position at the mid stripe . The gunner went out of bounds and did not reestablish himself inbounds in a reasonable amount of time. On 2nd and 14, a quick pass over the middle to Jacobs went for a big gain. Defensive pass interference on ex-Raider Tamir Whitehead put the ball on the Carolina 16. On 3rd and 1 from the 7 out of the shotgun, Jacobs went straight up the gut untouched for the touchdown. With 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Raiders led 27-15. The offense had scored on 5 straight possessions, and Ruggs being back in the game was a big help. A bigger help was the offensive line. Now it was up to the defense to close out a game rather than engage in another typical nail-biter.
On 3rd and 8 from their own 47, Bridgewater threw another pass that should have been intercepted over the middle. It bounced right through the defender’s hands and was somehow caught for an 18 yard gain. On 3rd and 2, a pass was high and caught short of the first down marker. Matt Rhule went for it on 4th and 1 at the Oakland 24. McCaffrey appeared stopped but on second effort got enough. Yet a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting on Carolina wide receiver DJ Moore had the Panthers facing 2nd and 26 at the Las Vegas 40. The fourth quarter began with the Panthers facing 3rd and 14. Bridgewater easily found McCaffrey for a first down at the Las Vegas 13. On 3rd and 1 from the 4, Armost got the yard. Bridgewater had to waste a timeout. The Las Vegas defense was on its heels with Nick Kwiatkowski exiting in the first half with a pectoral injury. He called the defense. McCaffrey too a pitchout and easily got in. With 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Panthers were within 27-22. The Raiders defense failed to close out the game. Now it was up to the offense to not have a meltdown when it mattered most.
Naturally the Raiders punted and the Panthers got it back at their own 22 with 9 1/2 minutes left. Rivers got it back at their 23. On 2nd and 8 Bridgewater went deep for a 75 yard bomb. Once again the Raiders had blown a double digit lead with horrendous secondary play. Whatever Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is doing is not working. It has not worked for the last three years. Bridgewater’s touchdown to Robbie Anderson was followed by them connecting again on the 2 point conversion. The Panthers led 30-27 with 8 1/2 minutes left. Now it was time to see if the Raiders had any heart whatsoever.
A completion to Jacobs went for 18 yards to the Las Vegas 43. A pair of completions had the Raiders at the Carolina 37. Defensive pass interference was waived off, setting up 3rd and 8 at the Carolina 35. On the next play, defensive pass interference was called to make it 1st and 10 at the Carolina 17. Carr hit Darren Waller for 7 and Jacobs ran for 4 up the middle to set up 1st and goal at the 6. Jacobs then got around the end for the touchdown for his third touchdown of the day. The 7th lead change of the game had the Raiders up by 4 with 4 minutes left in regulation. The offense did its job. Now the defense, which has struggled for the last few years, to finally do its job. General Manager Mike Mayock drafted a ton of high defensive picks. Now it was time to deliver results when it mattered.
McCaffrey ripped off a 15 yard gain to get to the Las Vegas 45. At the 2 minute warning, a pair of runs had the Panthers facing 3rd and 4 just past midfield. McCaffrey too kit up the gut and was inches short. The Raiders took their second timeout on defense with 1:23 to play. With everything on the line, a handoff went to the fullback rather than to McCaffrey. The result was a Silver and Black brick wall that made the stand. The Panthers still had 2 timeouts left on defense. For the Raiders, one first down would end the game. Jacobs carried 3 straight times for 8 yards total. This took the clock down to 14 seconds as the Raiders took an intentional delay of game. Now it was time for a clean punt just shy of midfield with disciplined coverage. With 8 seconds left, the Panthers had one shot from their own 25. An incompletion left 2 seconds. A 20 yard completion meant to be a hook and lateral never got going when the receiver was chucked out of bounds. The offense was magnificent and the defense made one play when it counted. The Raiders got their first win as a Las Vegas franchise. Just Win Baby. 34-30 Raiders.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills — Josh Allen ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bills early on. That 75 yard drive was followed by an 82 yard drive as Allen hit Moss for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bills. The bills got it back at their own 32 in the second quartered soon faced 4th and 1 at the Jets 48. With everything going right, Sean McDermott went for it. Allen gained 3 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 39, Allen threw incomplete. Yet defensive holding kept the drive going. On 3rd and 10 from the Jets 34, Allen hit Stefan Diggs for 11 yards. A 17 yard touchdown pass to John Brown had the Bills rolling 21-0. JETS stands for Just End The Season earlier than usual, and even Adam Gase wondered why and how he was still employed.
The rest of the game was hideous as the Bills just coasted. The Jets managed a field goal before the half and a 69 yard touchdown from Sam Darnold to Jamison Crowder in the third quarter. The Bills kept things close by missing 2 field goals. Despite being within 21-10 after three quarters, the Jets fumbled the ball away in the fourth quarter and Tyler Bass hit field goals of 22 and 19 yards in the fourth quarter to make it 27-10 Bills. The Jets did get a garbage touchdown but no more. 27-17 Bills
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – An early interception of Baker Mayfield gave the Ravens a short field at the Cleveland 49. Lamar Jackson hit Mark Andrews for a 5 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Ravens lead. The Browns fumbled trying to punt and the Ravens took over at the Cleveland 26. Justin Tucker hit a 41 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Ravens. The Browns got the running game going as Nick Chubb ran for 29 yards and Karim Hunt added 22 more. Mayfield hit Njoku for a one yard touchdown to get the Browns within 10-6. The extra point was no good.
The Ravens blew open the game in the second quarter, starting at their own one yard line. Jackson hit Picard for 9, Boykin for 25 and Brown for 21. Jackson hit Willie Snead for a 16 yard touchdown. The 10 play, 99 yard, 6 minute drive put the Ravens up 17-6. With 50 seconds left in the half the Browns had 3rd and 2 at the Baltimore 23. Mayfield threw incomplete. Siebert missed the 41 yard field goal try. Jackson from his own 31 hit Snead for 20, Brown for 13 and 16 and Andrews for 11. With 6 seconds left the Ravens faced 3rd and goal at the 9. John Harbaugh decided to run one more play. Jackson hit Andrews for the touchdown as the Ravens led 24-6 at halftime. The second half was pointless. Jackson threw a 19 yard third quarter touchdown to Snead and JK Dobbins ran for a 2 yard touchdown after a Cleveland fumble. Same Ravens. Same Browns. 38-6 Ravens
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons — The Falcons did get a 49 yard field goal out of Younghoe Koo for a 3-0 lead, but the Seahawks took over after that. On 2nd and 19 from their own 14, Russell Wilson hit Tyler Lockett for 15 and on 3rd and 4 hit Greg Olsen for 9. Wilson hit Chris Carson for 9 and 6. On 3rd and 23 from their own 49 after a sack of Wilson, he threw deep incomplete. Yet a 41 defensive pass interference penalty meant 1st and goal at the 10. Wilson hit Moore for 7 and Carson for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Seahawks. The Falcons faced 4th and 3 at the Seattle 40. Dan Quinn went for it and Matt Ryan threw incomplete. Wilson went to DK Metcalf for 13, ran for 28 yards himself, and fired to Chris Carson for a 19 yard touchdown. The Seahawks led 14-3 after the first quarter.
The Falcons tried to make a game of it. After a touchback, Hill ran for 10 and Ryan hit Hurst for a 27 yard gain, Calvin Ridlet for 15 more, and Gage for another 16. On 3rd and goal from the one, Todd Gurley got in. The 2 point try failed but the Falcons were within 14-9. With 1:33 left in the half Matty Ice moved the Falcons from their own 9 to the Seattle 30. Koo drilled a 49 yard kick to end the half with the Falcons only down 14-12. Yet after halftime, momentum shifted again. The Seahawks began the third quarter after a touchback and faced 3rd and 7 from their own 39. Wilson hit Metcalf for just enough. On 4th and 5 from the Atlanta 38, Pete Carroll decided to go for it rather than try a 56 yard field goal or punt. Wilson went to Metcalf for the score and the Seahawks led 21-12. On 4th and 2 from his own 33, Dan Quinn gambled on a fake punt. Neasman got the 2 yards but then fumbled the ball. The Seahawks recovered at the Atlanta 36. Wilson hit Olsen for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 28-12 Seahawks. After a touchback, the Falcons moved to a 3rd and 2 from the Seattle 11. Gurley got stopped. Quinn went for it and Ryan was sacked. Myers hit a 42 yard field goal to put the Seahawks ahead comfortably 31-12 with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
There would be no comeback. Ryan did throw an 18 yard touchdown to Ridley with 9 1/2 minutes left, but the 2 point try failed. The Falcons got no closer. On 4th and 3 from the Seattle 35, with 6:15 left, Ryan threw incomplete. Carlos Hyde ran for a one yard touchdown to have the Seahawks up 38-18 with 3:45 left. Atlanta got one more garbage touchdown and even recovered an onside kick, but Ryan was intercepted to end a game that was not in doubt. Dan Quinn is already on the hot seat as Pete Carroll gets younger every year. Ryan was a ridiculous 37 of 54 for 450 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. Wilson was a lights out 31 of 35 for 322 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals — Sometimes a pair of bad teams can play a thrilling game for the ages. This was absolutely not that game. The Bengals did begin the Joe Burrow era while the Chargers kept their rookie quarterback on the bench in favor of Tyrod Taylor. It was the first time in 15 years they had a new quarterback. The Chargers wore powder blue socks, yellow pants and white shirts, but their main problem was their offense. A field position game had the chargers punting on 4th and 10 from their own 5. The Bengals took over at the Chargers 44. Joe Burrow ran for an electric 24 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bengals. Then came a ton of boring football. Mike Badgley hit second quarter field goals of 24 and 43 but missed from 50 at the end of the half as the Chargers trailed 7-6. Randy Bullock hit field goals of 50 and 43 in the third quarter to make it 13-6 Bengals.
The Chargers got a spark when Reed returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Chargers 45. On 3rd and 4 just past midfield, Taylor hit Guyton for 16 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Cincy 27, Taylor hit Keenan Allen for 6. Kelley ran for a 5 yard touchdown and a 13-13 game with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Joe Mixon quickly fumbled, and the Chargers took over at the Cincy 24. Despite 1st and goal at the 2, the Chargers could not punch it in. A run lost a yard and Taylor threw incomplete twice. Badly hit from 22 to put the Chargers up 16-13 with 9 minutes left.
With 3:08 left the Bengals took over at their own 18. Burrow showed the poise of a veteran, marching the Bengals down the field. On 3rd and 8 from the Chargers 46, Burrow hit Trevor Boyd for 10. A 10 yard completion to Giovanni Bernard had the Bengals facing 1st and goal at the 3 with 12 seconds left. Burrow fired to the sideline and AJ Green somehow got both feet down. The Bengals had a dramatic win and a “Welcome to the NFL, kid” moment for Burrow. Unfortunately, these are still the Bengals. Green was called for offensive pass interference. With 7 seconds left and no timeouts, Zac Parsons was not about to risk running another play. Bullock came in for the 31 yard chip shot to force overtime. Bullock missed by a country mile and crumpled to the ground. He strained his calf on the play. Burrow looked on helplessly as his first game was a loss. Nevertheless, he is the real deal with a bright future. 16-13 Chargers
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers — Devastating wildfires led to poor air quality that almost led to this game being canceled. The league decided this day wasn’t any more hideous than any other day in the Bay Area, especially for a mismatch few people cared about. The 49ers as expected jumped all over Arizona at the start. Robbie Gould nailed a 52 yard field goal to start the scoring. The 49ers got it back at their own 24 and needed only one play and 12 seconds to strike. Jimmy Garoppolo threw a short pass to Raheem Mostert, who took it for a 76 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 49ers. The 49ers had all the momentum, but one play changed the tone.
The 49ers punted on 4th and 5 at their own 36, and the Cardinals blocked it. The Cardinals took over at the San Francisco 10. One play was enough for Kyler Murray to hit Edmonds for the touchdown. The Cardinals trailed 10-7 midway through the first quarter, but the rest of the half was a slog. In the second quarter the 49ers had 4th and goal at the one but Mostert got stopped cold. Then the Cardinals missed a field goal from 52 yards out. After Murray was intercepted, the 49ers moved to a 4th and 2 at the Arizona 6. This time Kyle Shanahan opted for the field goal. Gould hit from 24 to make it 13-7 49ers. Zane Gonzalez leveled a 56 yard field goal to end the half with the Cardinals down 13-10. In the third quarter from 49 yards out, a Gonzalez field goal try to tie the game was again no good.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Cardinals faced 3rd and 10 from their own 6. Kyler Murray threw incomplete, but defensive holding kept the drive going. On 3rd and 1 from their own 20, Kliff kingsbury brought in Streveler for one play. He took the direct snap 3 yards. Murray came back in and hit Deandre Hopkins for 18 yards. On 2nd and 21 from their own 30, Murray ginned 8 but unnecessary roughness added 15 more. Another defensive pass interference call added another 13. Murray ran for a 22 yard touchdown to give the Cardinals the lead 17-13 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The 49ers took over at their own 22 and Garoppolo went to Kyle Juszczyk for 41 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Arizona 37, Garoppolo was intercepted but defensive pass interference meant a 27 yard gain to the Arizona 10. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Garoppolo hit McKinnon for the touchdown to put the 49ers back on top 20-17 with 8 1/2 minutes left.
After a touchback, Murray hit Hopkins for 11. Kenyon Drake took a direct snap 10 yards and murray ran for 15 more. On 3rd and 6 from the Frisco 34, Murray went to Hopkins for 33 yards down to the one. Drake got the last yard and the Cardinals were up by 4 with 5 minutes on the 3rd lead change of the fourth quarter. Garoppolo after a touchback moved the 49ers to a 1st and 10 at the Arizona 21 with 1:14 to play. It was inevitable that the Cardinals would collapse. Garoppolo went to the end zone, and a brilliant defensive play by Patrick Peterson led to an incompletion. With 33 seconds left on 4th and 5 from the 16, Garoppolo had a receiver past the marker near the sideline. Byron Murphy was the hero, knocking the ball way at the last moment. The 49ers had all 3 timeouts. but Drake ran for 9 and 2 to run out the clock. 7 months after a stunning fourth quarter collapse in the Super Bowl, the 49ers collapsed in their home opener. 24-20 Cardinals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints — This was the game of the day. With Peyton Manning retired, all eyes were on Tom Brady playing Drew Brees. They were in the same division. Brees has been with the Saints 15 years while Brady is starting anew in Tampa Bay after a 20 year stint elsewhere. Brady has the 6 Super Bowl rings. Brees has one ring and the NFL passing record for yards. Brady is on his heels. Manning has the touchdowns record and Favre’s record for interceptions is most likely out of reach. Early on Brady had the advantage. From his own 15, he went right to work. A 29 yard completion to Chris Godwin was followed by an 8 yard pass to Jones. Then came a 22 yard defensive pass interference penalty on 3rd and 2 from the Saints 38. On 3rd and 1 from the Saints 7, Jones gained 2. Brady ran for the 2 yard touchdown. The Patriots led 7-0 after the first quarter, but after that the Saints exploded.
On 3rd and 8 from their own 38, Brees hit Michael Thomas for 18. Taysom Hill came in and gained 13. On 3rd and 3 from the Tampa 22, Brees hit Cook for 10. On 3rd and 10 from the Tampa 12, Brees hit Alvin Kamala for the touchdown to make it 7-7. Brady was then quickly intercepted, setting up the Saints at the Tampa 35. On 3rd and 14 from the Tampa 39, Brees threw deep incomplete. Yet defensive pass interference meant 33 yards and 1st and goal at the 6. On the next play Kamara ran it in to make it 14-6 Saints. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the half on 4th and 19 from the Saints 36, Ryan Succop came in for a 54 yard field goal try for the Buccaneers. The kick was blocked. Wil Lutz hit a 29 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Saints at halftime. Early in the third quarter the Buccaneers faced 2nd and 15 from their own 32. Brady threw to the sideline and Janoris Jenkins jumped the rout. Jenkins returned the interception 36 yards to paydirt as the Saints were winning 24-7. Yet the man who threw a pick 6 to trail 28-3 in the Super Bowl was not going to be fazed.
After a touchback, Brees went deep and quickly drew a 45 yard defensive pass interference call. Then Jones ran for 21. Brady hit OJ Howard for a 9 yard score to get the Buccaneers within 24-14. Late in the third quarter Succop hit a 38 yard field goal to get the Buccaneers within 24-17. The Saints took over at their own 39. Brees went deep to Cook for a 46 yard gain. On 3rd and 6 from the Tampa 11, Brees hit Emanuel Sanders for just enough. Brees went back to Sanders for the 5 yard touchdown. The Saints led 31-17, and a defensive facemask on the touchdown and the Saints kicking off from midfield. Sean Payton called for a short kickoff angled near the sideline, and disaster struck the Buccaneers. The two return men collided into each other and Bennie Fowler recovered for the Saints at the Tampa 18. Lutz hit a 21 yard field goal with 8 minutes left in regulation to have the Saints comfortably ahead 34-17. Brady did throw another touchdown pass with 2:46 to play, but it was not enough. Sean Payton kept his foot on the gas as Brees fired backward to Hill, who hooked up with Kamala for a 38 yard gain. Kamala had a 2 yard touchdown taken off the board at the end of the game on a questionable call, but the outcome was not in doubt. Brees had no turnovers and Brady had 3. That was the difference. 34-23 Saints.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams was the Sunday night game. The Rams opened up their new stadium in front of 0 fans. The Rams went right to work after a touchback. On the first play of the game, the Cowboys jumped into the neutral zone. Jared Goff then hit Robert Woods for 20 yards to midfield and again for 31 more. On 3rd and from the 6, Brown ran for 5 and then got the final yard to make it 7-0 Rams. The Rams got it back and embarked on a mind-numbing 17 play, 72 yard, 9 minute drive. Yet on 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 11, Goff threw incomplete. Sloman dinked the 29 yard field goal try off the upright no good as the Rams missed a golden opportunity to expand their lead.
From his own 20, Dak Prescott hit Michael Gallup for 14 yards. On 3rd and 1 from his own 43, Ezekiel Elliott gained 4. Prescott then went deep to rookie Cee Dee Lamb for 33 yards. Prescott hit Elliott for a 19 yard touchdown to make it a 7-7 game. The Rams moved 58 yards in 11 plays and had 1st and 10 at the Dallas 12. Intentional grounding on Goff killed the drive. Sloman connected from 35 as the Rams led 10-7. The Cowboys moved to the Rams 35 and former Rams kicker Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein tried a 53 yarder to tie the game. The kick was no good. The Rams took over at their own 43 and moved to a 2nd and 4 at the Dallas 13. Goff threw incomplete and Brown only gained 2. At the 2 minute warning on 4th and 2 from the Dallas 13, Sean McVay played it safe. Sloman hit from 31 and the Rams led 13-7.
The Cowboys took over at their own 27 with 1:51 left. Prescott hit Amari Cooper for 9, Jarwin for 12, Lamb for 12 and Gallup for 14 down to the Rms 26. On 1st and 20 from the Rams 22, Prescott hit Lamb for 9. Prescott then ran for 12 yards down to the one. Elliott got the yard and the touchdown. Despite being outplayed the entire first half, the Cowboys somehow led 14-13. The Rams began their first drive of the third quarter at their own 15. On 3rd and 5 from their 20, Got hit Woods for 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 36, Goff got around the end for 8. Goff then went deep to Woods for 30. On 3rd and 3 from the Dallas 19, Goff went to Reynolds for 17. Brown ran for the 2 yard touchdown as the 11 play, 85 yard, 6 minute drive had the Rams up 20-14 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
On 3rd and 7 from his own 30, Goff was intercepted, setting up the Cowboys at the Rams 39. Despite 2nd and 5 at the Rams 14, a pair of Prescott incompletions had the Cowboys settling for a 33 yard Zuerlein field goal to trail 20-17. The Cowboys got it back at the start of the fourth quarter and moved from their own 35 to a 4th and 3 at the Rams 11. Rather than kick the tying 29 yard field goal, Mike McCarthy inexplicably decided to go for it with a full 12 minutes left in regulation. Making matters worse, he called the same West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass that got him kicked out of Green Bay. His offense was boring, and throwing a 2 yard pass on 4th and 3 is a great way to turn it over on downs.
The Cowboys got it back at their own 9 with 2 1/2 minutes left. On 3rd and 13 from their own 18, Prescott gained 12. On 4th and 1, Elliott gained 4. With 30 seconds left and the Cowboys facing 3rd and 10 at their own 34, Prescott went deep to Gallup for a 47 yard gain. All of a sudden the Cowboys were in easy tying field goal range with a shot at a win. However, it was al for naught. Gallup was called for offensive pass interference, negating the gain. On 4th and 20 with 13 seconds left, Prescott threw incomplete. 20-17 Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants was the early Monday night game. For the first time in 15 years, Eli Manning is not starting the season for the Giants. Daniel Jones is the quarterback, and Joe Judge is the new head coach. Ben Roethlisberger returns form injury to helm the Steelers for his 17th season. Early on the Steelers fumbled a punt, setting up the Giants with 1st and goal at the 3. In typical Giants fashion, they kicked a field goal to lead 3-0. Chris Boswell answered from 41 yards out for a 3-3 game after the first quarter.
After a touchback. the Giants early in the second quarter faced 3rd and 12 at their own 47. Jones threw incomplete, but defensive pass interference meant a 12 yard gain. On the next play Jones went bombs away for a 41 yard touchdown to Slayton to make it 10-3 Giants. Yet on his next series, Jones was intercepted to set up the Steelers at the Giants 36. On 3rd and 5 from the 31, Roethlisberger went to Eric Ebron for 18 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Giants 10, Big Ben went to Juju Smith-Schuster for the touchdown. The extra point dunked off the upright no good as the Steelers trailed 10-9. With 90 seconds left in the half the Steelers took over at their own 22. Roethlisberger went to Johnson for 2, Washington for 21 and Smith-Schuster for 17 and 14. Roethlisberger ran for 11 yards to set up 1st and 10 at the Giants 13 with 7 seconds left in the half. Roethoisberger hit Washington for the touchdown. The Steelers led 16-10 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Giants sought to take the lead from their own 9 yard line. They had one of the longest drives in team history. 19 plays. 87 yards. 9 minutes. It was all for naught. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter and facing 2nd and 3 from the Pittsburgh 4, Jones was hit as he threw. The ball popped into the air and was intercepted for a touchback. Roethlisberger moved the Steelers from his own 20 to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 18. A sack go Roethlisberger meant a 12 yard loss. Yet the fourth quarter began with Boswell hitting from 36 to make it 19-10 Steelers. The Steelers got it back and soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 28. Big Ben hit Johnson for 11. On 3rd and 4 from his own 45, Roetholisberger hit Johnson for 11. Snell ran for a 30 yard gain. On 3rd and 4 from the Giants 8, Roethlisberger hit Smith-Schuster for the touchdown to ice the game. With 5 1/2 minutes left, the Steelers led 26-10. The Giants got a garbage touchdown with 1:52 left, but the 2 point conversion pass was incomplete and the Giants were done. It’s rarely pretty, but Mike Tomlin teams win. 26-16 Steelers
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos was the late Monday night game. The Broncos were without Von Miller, lost for the year with an injury. Nevertheless, the first half was a defensive bonelock. In the first quarter Stephen Gostkowski missed a 47 yard field goal try for the Titans. The Broncos took over at their own 37. Runs and short passes led to a 2nd and 16 at the Tennessee 35. Philip Lindsey gained 10, and then there was a personal foul on the defense. Evans was the guilty party, and he was disqualified from the game. On 2nd and 7 from the Tennessee 9, Drew Lock hit Nick Fant for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Broncos. In the second quarter a Broncos fumble set up the Titans at the Denver 23. On 3rd and 5 the Broncos entered the neutral zone. On 3rd and 1, Derrick Henry gained 11. Ryan Tannehill hit Pruitt for a one yard touchdown for a 7-7 game. The Broncos moved 74 yards in 12 plays and 6 minutes. On 2nd and goal from the one, Lock threw incomplete. Then Melvin Gordon got stopped. Vic Fangio went for it on 4th and goal from the one. Lock completed a pass to Butt for no gain as the Titans defense celebrated the goal line stand. The Titans quickly moved from their own one on a 12 play, 73 yard drive. Yet at the end of the half, Gostkowski’s 44 yard field goal try was blocked. His horrendous night continued when he missed a 42 yard try midway through the third quarter.
The Titans got it back at their own 18. On 3rd and 2 from their own 26, Tannehill hit Davis for 7. On 3rd and 3 at their own 40, Tannehill hit McNichols for 4, with a defensive facemark adding 15 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Denver 15, Tannehill hit Humphries for 7. On 1st and goal from the 8, Henry gained 2 and 5. Yet on 3rd and goal form the one, Henry got stopped. Gostkowski had already missed 3 field goals, and Mike Vrabel decided to go for it. With the Denver defense all in to stop Henry, Tannehill found a wide open Smith in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Gostkowski’s nightmare continued as he missed the extra point. One minute into the fourth quarter, the Titans led 13-7. The Broncos finally woke up. After a touchback, Gordon ran for 25 yards to midfield. Lock hit rookie Jerry Jeudy for 21 yards, Patrick for 15 more, and Freeman for another 12 down to the one. Gordon got the last yard as the Broncos led 14-13 with 9 minutes left in regulation.
A field position game had the Titans backed up to their own 4 yard line. They punted and Denver had a golden chance to put the game away. On 3rd and 8, Lock went for it all and overthrew his receiver on the bomb. The Titans got it back at their own 10 with 3 minutes left. Tannehill hit Humphries for 8, Davis for 9, Henry for 6 and Brown for 16. At the 2 minute warning, the Titans had 1st and 10 at their own 49. Defensive pass interference meant a 16 yard gain to the Denver 35. Tannehill hit Humphries for 6, and a perfectly executed draw play to Henry gained 13 to the Denver 16. At this point time was not a factor for the Titans. For some reason Vic Fangio was not taking his timeouts on defense. On 3rd and 1 from the Denver 7 and no confidence in the kicker, Vrabel called a pass play. Tannehill overthrew the receiver in the end zone incomplete. With 20 seconds left, it came down to Gostkowski. Three missed field goals and an extra point. This time he was good as his teammates all rallied around him. The Titans led by 2 and the Broncos had 17 seconds to work a miracle after a touchback. After nearly being intercepted, Lock hi Hamilton for 18 yards with one second left. Under a heavy rush, Lock threw incomplete. 16-14 Titans