NFL 2023 Week 1 Recap
Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs is the season opening Thursday night game. Despite being an improved team, the Lions were expected to be a sacrificial lamb as the defending champion Chiefs began their quest to establish a dynasty. After a rousing National Anthem and the jets flying overhead, Walrus Andy Reid actually decided to defer. Even more surprising was the Chiefs, after facing a 3 and out, going 3 an out themselves. Then came the game’s first big shock. On 4th and 2 from his own 17, Dan Campbell called a fake punt. Yes, you read that correctly. From his own 17. It worked as a run straight up the gut got the first down. Jared Goff then got in a rhythm, hitting Amon St. Brown for 13 and Joshua Reynolds for 21. Gibbs then banged out a tough 17 yard run. On 3rd and 6 from the Kansas City 9, Goff, found St. Brown in the flat for the first first score of the 2023 NFL season. The 13 play, 91 yard, 8 minute drive was sparked by several hard runs. Dan Campbell’s Big Balls of Steel in calling that fake punt was why the Jumbotron read 7-0 Lions.
The Lions carried that lead into the second quarter, but the Chiefs then moved 75 yards in 15 plays and 6 minutes. On 3rd and 8 from his own 27, Patrick Mahomes went to Watson for 19. On 3rd and 6 from midfield, Mahomes scrambled for just enough. Mahomes hit Marques Valdez-Scantling for 14 and ran for 16 more. On 3rd and goal at the one, Mahomes fired over the middle of the end zone to Bell for the touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame. The Lions after a touchback continued to move the ball well, reaching a 1st and 10 at the Kansas City 17. Then bad snap out of the shotgun led to a 10 yard loss. On 3rd and 10, a simple dum-off pass turned disastrous when a short completion to Jones saw jones get belted and cough up the football. The Chiefs recovered the fumble at their own 7 yard line as the game remained deadlocked with 6 minutes left in the half.
The Lions again forced a 3 and out and got the ball back with 3:47 left in the half at their own 41. Yet a takedown of Goff meant a 3 and out for the Lions as well. The Chiefs took over at their own 18 with 2:02 left. The Chiefs got a break when a false start was not called. Mahomes rolled out and found Rice for a 25 yard gain. With one minute left in the half, a very clean game saw an offensive holding call against the Chiefs be the game’s first penalty by either team. On 3rd and 17 from his own 36, Mahomes went deep to Valdez-Scantling for a 34 yard gain. Mahomes then went deep to Watson for 26 more down to the 4. Mahomes fired to Bell for the touchdown. The Lions had battled the entire first half, but the Chiefs with their 92 yard drive took the 14-7 lead with 34 seconds left in the half.
The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half but did not quickly deliver the knockout blow. The Detroit defense remained stout, but a great punt had the Lions starting their first drive of the third quarter at their own 7 yard line. The Chiefs held and got the ball back at their own 42. Then came the play of the game up to that point. On 3rd and 6, Mahomes threw a simple pass in the flat to Toney near the first down marker. Yet the ball bounced off of Toney’s hands and was corralled out of the air by safety Brian Branch at midfield. Branch immediately raced the other way for a 50 yard touchdown. In front of a stunned home crowd at Arrowhead, this dogfight of a game was now tied 14-14.
The Lions defense was fired up as they forced the Chiefs to punt again. The Lions took over at their own 17 but ended up punting as well. The Chiefs took over at their own 10 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. From his own 34, Mahomes went bombs away incomplete. Yet with 3 minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions first penalty of the game was a killer. A 41 yard defensive pass interference call had the Chiefs sitting pretty. On 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 17, Mahomes had a wide open receiver over the middle for an easy first down. Yet one receiver cut in front of the other one, deflecting view and leading to a drop. Walrus andy Reid was taking on chances. Harrison Butker hit the 35 yard field goal to give the Chiefs the 17-14 lead.
The Lion first offensive penalty on the next series was another killer as a tripping call set the Lions back 15 yards. Yet on 2nd and 22, Goff fired over the middle to Raymond for 20. On 3rd and 2, Goff threw incomplete. On the last play of the third quarter with the Chiefs facing 2nd and 6 at their own 40, a short pass from Mahomes to gray followed by mistackles led to a 24 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 21, Mahomes somehow escaped a sack and threw an off-balance pass just before he was sacked that should have been caught. Instead, another dropped pass meant a 39 yard field goal by Butker and a 20-14 Chiefs lead with 12 minutes left in regulation.
The Lions soon faced 3rd and 12 at their own 23. Goff just before being sacked found Reynolds over the middle for 18. On 3rd and 1 from midfield Montgomery gained 3 off right tackle. Goff on a perfect play-action went to Reynolds again for 33 more. Montgomery busted up the gut for an 8 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 80 yard, 5 minute drive had the Lions leading 21-20 in a shocker midway through the fourth quarter.
On 3rd and inches from their own 34, Walrus Andy Reid went to his bag of tricks. Bell lined up at quarterback and Mahoems was in the backfield. Bell tried the hard count. The Lions defense jumped, but Bell did not snap the ball. by the time Bell did snap it and hand it off, the defense blew up the play for a 3 yard loss. The Lions got the ball back at their own 31 with 5:15 to play. They needed to continue playing smash mouth and not let Mahoems back on the field.
Instead a false start right out of the gate made things tougher. Gibbs ripped off a 15 yard gain. On 4th and 2 from the Chiefs 45 with 2 1/2 minutes left, punting the ball back to Mahomes was not an option. It wad time for a dan Campbell gamble. Goff’s pass was batted down. Mahomes had a wide open receiver deep but the ball was just dropped on a night where several drops occurred. Offensive holding, another pair of incompletions, and a false start had the Chiefs facing 4th and 25 at their own 30. Mahomes threw incomplete again as the Lions took over in long field goal range at the 2 minute warning. The Chiefs still had all 3 timeouts. This game was not over. On 3rd and 2 from the Kansas City 22, Montgomery got the carry straight up the gut and got the deuce for the first down. Goff took 3 knees and now it was over. This game says less about the Chiefs than it does about the Lions. The team that beat Green Bay to lose out 2022 is for real. The expectations are legitimate. Dan Campbell deserves to receive the game ball. On a deeper level, this was a phenomenal way to kick off the 2023 NFL season. 21-20 Lions
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons — The top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft Bryce Young had a rough start in his rookie debut. The Falcons started with Desmond Ridder at the helm. If nobody knows who coaches these teams, don’t worry. Neither do they. After a scoreless first quarter, an interception of Young gave the Falcons a short field at the Carolina 17. On the first play of the second quarter on 3rd and 4 from the Carolina 11, Ridder hit Robinson for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Falcons. Yet Young stayed calm. On 3rd and 2 from his own 33, Young hit Hurst for 11 and Marshall for 11 more. On 3rd and 8 from the Atlanta 41, Young hit Mingo for 9. Young went to Hurst for 14 more and to Hurst again for a 4 yard touchdown. Young’s first ever NFL touchdown pass capped the 12 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive and tied the game 7-7. In the third quarter Eddie Pineiro hit a 43 yard field goal to give the Panthers the lead, but an interception of Young led to a 49 yard Younghoe Koo field goal. The game was tied 10-10 after three quarters.
The Panthers got it back after a touchback and moved to a 1st and 15 just past midfield. Miles Sanders gained 10 yards but then fumbled the ball. The Falcons recovered at their own 39. Tyler Allgeier ran for 12. Ridder hit Pitts for 10 and Allgeier for 12. On the last play of the third quarter, Robinson ripped off a 25 yard gain down to the 4 yard line. The fourth quarter began with Algeier running for one and then the 3 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Falcons. Midway through the fourth quarter, a punt pinned the Panthers at their own one yard line. They punted it back to give the Falcons excellent field position at their own 44. Allgeier ran for 11. Ridder went deep to Pitts for 34. Allgeier did the rest, running for 4 and then the 3 yard touchdown to ice the game with 5 minutes left. The Falcons ran for 130 yards on 26 carries, 5 yards per carry. 24-10 Falcons
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts — Anthony Richardson began his NFL career as the Colts looked to shed predictions of being bottom dwellers. The Jaguars were bottom dwellers 2 years ago, but Doug Pederson quickly turned Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars around. In the first quarter the Jaguars moved 61 yards, aided by a 24 yard pass from Lawrence to Ridley. On 3rd and 7 from the Indianapolis 9, Lawrence went to Ridley for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Jaguars. After a touchback, Richardson went to Granson for 11, Jackson for 8, and on 3rd and 2 from his own 45, back to Granson for 7. Richardson then ran for 12. Richardson hit Downs for 22. On the first play of the second quarter, Richardson ran 2 yards for his first NFL touchdown and a 7-7 game.
After an interception of Lawrence, Shane Steichen twice gambled on 4th down and twice came up snake eyes The Jaguars took over at their own 43. On 3rd and 1, BIgsby got the yard. Lawrence went to Ridley for 29 and then to Zee Jones for an 18 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Jaguars. Early in the third quarter the Colts took over at their own 37. Richardson went to Pittman for 16. Defensive unnecessary roughness added 15 more. Richardson connected with Pittman for 9 more but an illegal blindside block penalty on the offense followed by a loss on a run had the Colts facing 2nd and 28 from the Jacksonville 39. A short pass from Richardson to Pittman turned into Richardson’s first NFL touchdown pass and a 14-14 game.
The Jaguars moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 1 at the Indy 25. A run was blown up for a 2 yard loss. Brandon McManus hit a 45 yard field goal to make it 17-14 Jaguars. Late in the third quarter the Jaguars had the ball back at their own 46. A 24 yard completion was wiped out by offensive holding. On the next play disaster struck as a fumble was returned 26 yards for a defensive touchdown by DeForest Buckner. The Colts led 21-17 after three quarters and were smelling upset. early in the fourth quarter a 48 yard punt return gave the jaguars a short field at the indy 46. Lawrence scrambled for 11 and hit Evan Engram for 9. midway through the fourth quarter the Jaguars faced 4th and 2 at the Indy 15. Doug Pederson decided to go for it. Lawrence hit Jones for 4. Bigsby ran for a one yard touchdown with 5 minutes left. The Colts were game, but the Jaguars got the win. 31-21 Jaguars
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns — The Bengals are the elite team with franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. The Browns have Deshaun Watson to start a season. Yet as talented as Watson is, the Bengals were expected to cruise. Instead, the Dawg Pound rocked as their defense rolled over, around and through Burrow. After a scoreless first quarter, Dustin Hopkins hit a 42 yard field goal early in the second quarter for the Browns. After 28 1/2 minutes of a defensive slugfest, The Browns took over at their own 33. Moore gained 19. Watson hit Amari Cooper for 11 and Donovan Peoples-Jones for 12. With 17 seconds left in the half, Watson ran for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Browns.
In the third quarter the Bengals got some momentum with a 42 yard field goal from Evan McPherson and an interception of Watson. Yet Watson missed another try from 51 and the momentum evaporated. The Cleveland defense suffocated Burrow and knocked him around. Hopkins hit field goals of 34 late in the third quarter and 43 early in the fourth quarter for a 16-3 Browns lead. With 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation, a desperate Zac Taylor went for it on 4th and 4 from his own 31. Burrow was smothered for a 13 yard loss. Watson threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Harrison Bryant and ran the 2 point conversion in himself to complete the scoring. Last year the Bengals started 0-2 before reaching the AFC Title Game again. Time will tell if this was a harbinger or an aberration for both teams. 24-3 Browns
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints — This was a tale of 2 quarterbacks. Derek Carr arrived to the Saints after being run out of town by the Raiders. Ryan Tannehill is constantly on the verge of being run out of town by the Titans. Pre-game, emotions ran sky high at midfield. Former Saints player Steve Gleason and former Titans player Tim Shaw both have ALS, and they showed up in their wheelchairs to adulation from the crowd. Gleason will forever be remembered for the most meaningful blocked punt in NFL history. Much of the game was a slog. The Saints fumbled the opening kickoff and the Titans took over at the New Orleans 24. The Titans went backward but were bailed out by Nick Folk hitting a 50 yard field goal. Rookie kicker Blake Grupe responded from 26. Folk hit again from 27 for a 6-3 Titans lead. In the second quarter, the Saints faithful went crazy. With Gleason watching, the Saints blocked a punt to set up a short field. Grupe hit from 33 for a 6-6 game. The Titans came back and Folk connected again from 31. In the third quarter Grupe hit from 52 for a 9-9 deadlock.
Late in the third quarter an interception of Tannehill set up the Saints at the Tennessee 33. On 3rd and 7 from the Tennessee 19, Carr went to Shaheed in the end zone. The game’s only touchdown had the Saints up 16-9 after three quarters. The Titans moved the ball up and down the field but could not crack the end zone. In the fourth quarter Folk hit from 45. With 2:17 to play in the game, the Titans had 4th and 6 at the New Orleans 11 yard line. Mike Vrabel opted for a field goal and to trust his defense. Folk hit from 29 and the Titans trailed by one point. With 1:55 left the Saints faced 3rd and 6 at their own 33. Dennis Allen is a West Coast Offense guy, so everyone was expecting a dink and dunk with Dennis and Derek 2 yard pass. Not on this day. Carr wanted it all. He went bombs away to Shaheed for a 41 yard gain. With 1:39 left, it all came down to 3rd and 4 at the Tennessee 20. Williams got the carry and gained 11 yards. Carr knelt twice to get his first win in the Big Easy. 16-15 Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings — The Buccaneers were supposed to be a mess as Bruce Arians and Tom Brady are now both retired. Todd Bowles is supposed to be a defensive mind who cannot run an offense. The Vikings were supposed to be one of the better teams in the league, especially at home. The Vikings fumbled on consecutive first quarter drives, with the latter one setting up a short field and a 36 yard Chase McLaughlin field goal to make it 3-0 Buccaneers. The Vikings finally got going in the second quarter from their own 17. Kirk Cousins went to Justin Jefferson for 25 yards and to Chandler for 18 more. On 3rd and 11 from the Tampa 39, Cousins went deep to Addison for the touchdown and a 7-3 Vikings lead.
The Vikings got it back at their own 31 and moved to a 1st and goal at the 6 with a chance to take a commanding lead. Yet a pair of incompletions were sandwiched around a run that lost a yard. Greg Joseph hit a 25 yard field goal as the Vikings led 10-3 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half.
At the 2 minute warning, the game changed. Facing 3rd and 7 at their own 42, the Buccaneers caught a break the the Vikings jumped into the neutral zone. On 3rd and 2, Baker Mayfield hit Chris Godwin for 14. With just over one minute left in the half, Mayfield went deep to Mike Evans for a 28 yard touchdown and a 10-10 ballgame. The Buccaneers began the third quarter with a staggering 16 play, 75 yard drive that consumed 9 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 6 from their own 29, Mayfield hit Evans for 11. On 3rd and 6 from the Minnesota 29, Mayfield hit Thompkins for 8. On 4th and 2 from the Minnesota 13, Todd Bowles played it safe and opted for the field goal. The kick was good but the Minnesota defense jumped offside. Bowles took the points off the board. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Mayfield hit Palmer for the touchdown. With 6 minutes left in the third quarter, the Buccaneers led 17-10.
The Vikings responded with an almost identical 16 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive of their own. On 3rd and 3 from their own 32, Cousins hit TJ Hockenson for 8. Cousins found Oliver for 18. On 3rd and 13 from the Tampa Bay 33, Cousins found Addison for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Tampa 11, Mattison gained 2. The fourth quarter began with the Vikings facing 3rd and goal at the 5. Cousins threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a new set of downs. Cousins hit Mattison for a 4 yard touchdown. 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the game was tied 17-17. The Buccaneers moved from their own 23 to a 4th and 3 at the Minnesota 39 with 5 minutes left in regulation. Todd Bowles took a major gamble with a 57 yard field goal try. mcLaughlin delivered to give the Buccaneers the lead. The Vikings quickly went 3 and out and the Buccaneers took over with 4 minutes left at their own 30. The Vikings took their last timeout on defense with 3 1/2 minutes left and the Buccaneers facing 3rd and 3 at the Minnesota 43. Mayfield scrambled for 4 yards. At the 2 minute warning on 3rd and 10 from the Minnesota 39, Mayfield hit Godwin for 11 and then took 3 knees for the upset win. 20-17 Buccaneers
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers — Both of these teams were hyped as very good teams before the start of the season, but only one of them came to play this game. Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance were both shipped out of town, and Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy became the best feel-good story since Kurt Warner, taking the 49ers to the NFC Title Game last year. Purdy was back in the saddle and ready to prove last year was no fluke. A short 34 yard punt had the 49ers taking over at their own 46. Purdy went right to work. After getting stopped on 3rd and 1, Kyle Shanahan gambled on 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 45. Purdy hit George Kittle for 11. Christian McCaffrey ran for 9 and 17. Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 49ers. An interception of Kenny Pickett gave the 49ers a short field at the Pittsburgh 46. Moody hit a 41 yard field goal to make it 10-0 49ers.
The 49ers took over at their own 32. Christian McCaffrey ran for 5 and 11. The second quarter began with the 49ers facing 1st and 15 at the Pittsburgh 39 Purdy hit Deebo Samuel for 22 and Aiyuk for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 17-0 49ers. The 49ers got the ball back at midfield and Moody added a 32 yard field goal to make it 20-0 49ers. The Steelers somehow managed in the final 1:35 of the half to quickly go 95 yards for a touchdown, but nothing more. The 49ers defense clamped down in the second half. On the second play of the third quarter, McCaffrey raced for a 65 yard touchdown. Moody tacked on a fourth quarter field goal to complete the blowout. 30-7 49ers
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders — Neither of these teams were supposed to be any good, but they put on a relatively decent game. The Commanders began a drive at their own 9 and got a break when a defensive personal foul for lowering the head to initiate contact added 15 yards. Shockingly, a second Arizona defender committed the same penalty 3 plays later for 15 more yards. Defensive pass interference added 37 more yards. Sam Howell hit Robinson for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Commanders. 67 yards on the 91 yard drive came on penalties. After a touchback, the Cardinals moved to a 3rd and 9 at the Washington 11. Joshua Dobbs, filling in for the injured Kyler Murray, threw incomplete. Matt Prater hit a 28 yard field goal to get the Cardinals on the board. On the second play of the second quarter, Howell was intercepted by Collins to set the Cardinals up at the Washington 37. The Cardinals offense went nowhere but Prater nailed a 54 yard field goal to get the Cardinals within 7-6.
With one minute left in the half the Commanders moved from their own 12 to a 3rd and 10 at their own 26. Howell was sacked and fumbled. Thomas recovered the ball for the defense all the way back at the Washington 2 yard line and rumbled into the end zone. The Defensive touchdown made it 13-7 Cardinals. The Commanders took over at their own 19 with only 49 seconds left. Howell quickly hit Samuel for 18, Logan Thomas for 19, and Samuel again for 32. Joey Slye hit a 30 yard field goal to get the Commanders within 13-10 at the break. After a third quarter touchback, the Cardinals moved 56 yards in 11 plays and nearly 5 minutes. On 3rd and 11 from the Washington 19, Dobbs threw incomplete. Prater hit from 37 to make it 16-10 Cardinals.
The Washington offense was going nowhere but the Arizona offense kept giving up the ball. On the last play of the third quarter facing 3rd and 15 from their own 35, Dobbs was sacked and fumbled. Payne recovered for the defense at the Arizona 29. On 3rd and goal from the Arizona 6, Howell ran it in. With 12 minutes left in regulation the Commanders reclaimed the lead 17-16. The Cardinals took over at their own 21 and moved to a 1st and 15 at their own 40 with 4 1/2 minutes left to play. Dobbs fumbled again and the Commanders recovered again. Additionally, another defensive penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct added 15 more yards to the Arizona 22. The Arizona defense held. Slye hit from 33 to put the Commanders up by 4, but they did not close the door. After a touchback, the Cardinals still had 2:23 to work with. Yet on 4th and 10 from their own 37, Dobbs threw incomplete as the rally fell short. 20-16 Commanders
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens — CJ Stroud’s first ever NFL game came on the road against one of the better teams in the league. The first half was surprisingly competitive. A field position game saw the Ravens eventually take over at their own 42. On 3rd and 1, Lamar Jackson got the yard and then ran for 11 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 32, Jackson went deep to Flowers for 21. JK Dobbins ran for a 4 yard touchdown as the Ravens led 7-0 after the opening quarter. Houston’s defense was stingy in the second quarter. Kaimi Fairbairn hit field goals of 35 and 38 yards as the Texans only trailed 7-6 at the midpoint.
In the third quarter the Ravens turned out the lights. From his own 29, Jackson found Flowers for 20. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 46, Jackson went back to Flowers for 19 more and to Bateman for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Justice Hill ran it in. John Harbaugh went for a 2 point conversion to make it a 2 score game. Edwards got in as the Ravens led 15-6. Yet the Ravens suffered a major blow on the drive as Dobbins went down with a torn achilles tendon. He is most likely out for the season. The entire Ravens business model is winning with hard running and defense. Harbaugh will turn to a committee of backs, with Jackson always being a threat.
Demeco Ryans is a first time head coach in his rookie season with the Texans. To try and spark his team, he gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 42. The Baltimore defense stopped a run cold. With a short field, Edwards ran for 3 and 13. Defensive pass interference added 17. Hill ran for 4 and then for the 2 yard touchdown to make it 22-6 Ravens. The teams exchanged field goals in a quiet fourth quarter. 25-9 Ravens
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks — The Rams fell apart after winning it all 2 years ago, and this was supposed to be another rebuilding year. The Seahawks escaped the rebuilding mode and made the playoffs last year. Sean McVay knows offense and Pete Carroll knows defense. Home field rarely matters in this series, but the Seahawks on paper were supposed to win this one without much difficulty. After a touchback, the seahawks moved to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 12. A sack of Geno Smith killed the drive. Jason Myers hit from 36 to make it 3-0 Seahawks.
The Rams soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Matthew Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for 7. Cam Akers ran for 12 and 2 On 3rd and 4 from the Seattle 44, Williams ran for 9. On 3rd and 10 from the Seattle 35, Stafford hit Van Jefferson for just enough. On 3rd and 4 from the Seattle 19, Stafford hit Higbee for 12. A 16 yard pass from Stafford to Nacua got the bay down to the one. Williams ran it in to cap the staggering 16 play, 75 yard drive that consumed over 9 minutes and put the Rams up 7-3.
After a touchback the Seahawks mounted a long drive of their own. Smith went to Will Dissly for 10 and DK Metcalf for 9. Walker ran for 13. Smith culminated the 12 play, 75 yard 6 1/2 minute drive with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Metcalf to make it 10-7 Seahawks. The Seahawks got back just shy of midfield and moved in position for Myers to hit from 42. The Seahawks led 13-7, but the rest of the half was ridiculous. Just past the 2 minute warning, Brett Maher lined up for a 57 yard field goal try for the Rams. The kick was blocked. The Seahawks took over with a short field at the Rams 42. With 36 seconds left Myers came in for a 39 yard field goal. The kick doinked off the upright no good. The Rams took over at their own 29 with 30 seconds left and quickly moved to give Maher another shot from 56 yards out. He was no good again as the half ended.
The Rams began the third quarter facing 3rd and 4 at their own 30. Stafford hit Nacua for 5 and again for 11. On 3rd and 8 from his own 48, Stafford went deep to Atwell for 44. Williams then ran for a 7 yard touchdown to cap the 10 play, 76 yard, 6 minute drive and give the Rams the 14-13 lead. The Rams got it back at their own 20 and moved to a 2nd and 6 at the Seattle 20. A run went nowhere and Stafford threw incomplete, but Maher hit from 38 to make it 17-13 Rams. The Rams got it back and on the last play of the third quarter faced 3rd and 1 at their own 30. Stafford gained 2. Stafford began the fourth quarter by going to Atwell for big gains of 15, 21 and 14. On 3rd and 11 form the Seattle 13, Stafford threw incomplete but defensive illegal use of hands meant a new set of downs. On 3rd and goal at the one, Stafford threw incomplete. Sean McVay gambled and on 4th and goal, Akers got around the left end for another touchdown and a 24-13 Rams lead. Maher tacked on field goals of 54 and 45, the latter coming with 11 seconds left. The Rams scored on all 5 second half drives to turn a deficit into a blowout win. 30-13 Rams
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos — The Raiders had beaten the Broncos 6 straight times, but this was expected to be an easy win for the Broncos. Josh McDaniels was in the process of destroying the Raiders as he had previously done with the Broncos. He replaced Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo, angered Josh Jacobs and Devontae Adams, and alienated Chandler Jones to the point where he refused to play and may leave the team. The Broncos on the other hand brought in Sean Payton, who was expected to immediately revive Russell Wilson. The Broncos ownership has more money than virtually anyone to lavish on future free agents. With the home crowd, the Broncos were ready to roll over the hapless Raiders. Instead, the game turned out to be a typically ugly Raiders-Broncos matchup that both teams did everything they could to lose.
Sean Payton decided to start his tenure with the Broncos in the biggest way possible. He began the season with a surprise onside kick. This worked for him in the Super Bowl that made him a champion. This onside kick also was recovered by his team, but it was all for naught as one of the Broncos players was ruled to have touched the ball before it went the full 10 yards. It was a very close call, but the Raiders began their season with a short field at the Denver 44. On 3rd and 1, Josh McDaniels was supposed to just hand the ball off to Josh Jacobs. Instead, Garoppolo to t he quarterback sneak and was stopped cold. McDaniels then gambled on 4th and 1. Again he refused to call a handoff. A high risk, low percentage play worked when Garoppolo found Dams for 13 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Denver 19, Garoppolo gained 8, with defensive unnecessary roughness adding 6 more. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Garoppolo hit Jakobi Myers for the touchdown. The Raiders were gifted a 7-0 lead.
Naturally, this was supposed to be the year that the Raiders finally fixed their defense, which has been awful for over a decade. Instead, the Broncos marched 86 yards in 14 plays, taking nearly 9 minutes off the clock. Wilson hit Adam Trautman for 6 and Johnson for 21 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Raiders 43, Wilson threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 5 yards and a new set of downs. Same old dumb Raiders mistakes. On 3rd and 10 from the Raiders 38, Wilson hit Dulcich for 13. On 3rd and 3 from the Raiders 18, Wilson hit Trautman for 15. Lil-Jordan Humphrey ran for a 5 yard touchdown. Wil Lutz, who was personally brought over by Sean Payton from New Orleans,missed the extra point. The very popular Brandon McManus was jettisoned by Payton, and the Broncos trailed 7–6.
The Raiders actually mounted a real offensive drive after a touchback, moving to a 3rd and goal at the 5. Yet Garoppolo threw incomplete. Daniel Carlson hit from 24 to make it 10-6 Raiders. The defense had played well enough, but the Broncos took over at their own 25 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half and quickly shredded that defense. Wilson hit Dulcich for 9 and Perine for 6 and 10. On 3rd nd 6 from the Raiders 37, Wilson threw incomplete but defensive pass interference added 17 yards. More dumb Raiders mistakes. With 12 seconds left, Wilson hit Cortland Sutton for a 5 yard touchdown. The Broncos led 13-10 at the half and had all the momentum. The Broncos took that momentum in the third quarter and moved from their own 26 to a 4th and 3 from the Raiders 37. Lutz came in for a 55 yard field goal try. The kick was no good.
The Raiders from their own 45 mounted a mind-numbing 18…yes, 18…plays. They took 7 1/2 minutes loonily go less than 50 yards. They had 1st and goal at the one. Naturally, Garoppolo fumbled the snap. He was lucky enough to recover. On 2nd and goal at the one, rather than hand the ball to Jacobs, McDaniels for some imbecilic reason called a pass play. The imbecilic reason is his own ego. He worships West Coast Offense dink and dunk passes, which is Garoppolo’s specialty. Garoppolo doesn’t have Derek Carr’s arm strength. Garoppolo threw incomplete, but an illegal formation moved the raiders back. On 2nd and goal at the 6, McDaniels called another pass play. He is allergic to smash mouth football. Garoppolo threw incomplete. On 3rd and goal at the 6, even another incompletion could be followed by the tying field goal. That was too much to ask. Carlson never got a chance. Garoppolo’s pass was batted in the end zone high in the air and intercepted. The entire drive was for nothing.
The Broncos mounted their own ridiculous drive of 16 plays, 75 yards, and over 8 minutes. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 5, it was Sean Payton refusing to play ground and pound. Wilson threw incomplete twice. Lutz hit the 24 yard field goal as the Broncos led 16-10 midway through the fourth quarter. After a touchback, Garoppolo found Adams for 18 yards. Then he went to Meyers for 16 more. A rouging the passer call added 15 more. This time it was the Broncos being dumber than the Raiders. Garoppolo hit Austin Hooper for 20. Then Garoppolo hit Meyers for a 6 yard touchdown. With 6 1;/2 minutes left in regulation, the Raiders actually had a one point lead. Now it was up to the defense to fold in typical fashion.
Yet they didn’t. With 5 minutes left, Payton on 4th and 3 from his own 32 opted to punt. The Raiders took over at their own 31. The smart money was on them giving the ball back again. This time after one short pass, McDaniels did the right thing and gave the ball to Jacobs, who gained 6 and 5. On 3rd and 8 from their own 44, Garoppolo hit Meyers for only 7. Yet Meyers got belted in the head. The play call was awful because McDaniels did not have Garoppolo throw past the first down marker. Yet the Broncos penalty was much dumber. Instead of 4th and 1, the Raiders were gifted another 15 yards and another first down. At the 2 minute warning the Raiders fa ed 3rd and 7 at the Denver 31. Garoppolo rolled out and appeared to be trying to push the Raiders out of easy field goal range. Yet rather than pass, Garoppolo did the smart thing. He tucked the ball, ran, gained 8 yards and a first down, and slid inbounds. It was over. He took 3 knees. The Raiders got the hideously ugly win, but Al Davis’s maxim is still true. Just win baby. The Raiders are 1-0 and in sole possession of 1st place in the AFC West. Enjoy it while it lasts. 17-16 Raiders
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears — For 30 years the Packers tormented the Bears with superior quarterback play from Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. With Favre on his Mississippi ranch and Rodgers forcing his way out to a trade to the Jets, the entire world wondered if Jordan Love could play. For the first time in 30 years, the Bears had hopes of finally turning the tables. The Bears began at their own 12 and moved to a 3rd and 1 at their own 40. Matt Eberflus had Cole Kmet take the direct snap and get stopped cold. So Eberflus gambled on 4th and 1 in his own territory. This time Fields kept it himself and also got stopped cold. The Packers took the short field and soon faced 3rd and 13. Love then hit Doubs for just enough. Aaron Jones ran for 7, 3, 6, and on 3rd and 2 from the Chicago 12, 7. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Love hit Doubs for his first touchdown as the starting Packers quarterback. It took 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes to go a mere 40 yards, but the Packers led 7-0. The rest of the half belonged to the kickers as Cairo santos hit from 47 and in the second quarter from 29 to get the Bears within 7-6.
Carlson nailed a 52 yarder at the gun as the Packers took a 10-6 lead to the locker rooms. Then they broke the game open in the third quarter. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Love got the yard. Jones gained 7 and then took a short pass from Love 51 yards. On 3rd and goal at the one, Jones got in to make it 17-6 Packers. A 35 yard punt return gave the Packers a short field at the Chicago 42. Matt LaFleur gambled on 4th and 3. A short pass from Love to Jones went for a 35 yard touchdown and a 24-6 Packers lead. Justin fields did throw a 20 yard touchdown pass and with a 2 point conversion got the Bears within 24-14. Yet in the fourth quarter the Packers turned out the lights. On 3rd and 8 from their own 41, a short pass from Love to Reed went for 18. Love then went deep to Musgrave for 37. Love hit Doubs for the 4 yard touchdown to make it 31-14 Packers. 3 plays later with the bears facing 3rd and 11 at their own 24, Fields was intercepted by Walker. Walker returned the pick 37 yards for the defensive exclamation point touchdown to make it 38-14 Packers. The Bears got a garbage touchdown, but the results were the same. New quarterback. Same Packers. Same Bears. 38-20 Packers
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers — Last year the Dolphins missed the playoffs and the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead in the Wildcard round to get bounced out on the final play. Tua Tagovailoa was drafted one spot ahead of Justin Herbert. Herbert has been brilliant, but Tagovailoa has been hobbled by injuries. When healthy, he has shown flashes of greatness as well. This game was not as big as Dan Fouts and Don Strock in the 1981 season’s epic playoff match, but it was still a thrilling battle to the finish between 2 teams with lots of promise. The Dolphins after a touchback quickly moved to a 1st and goal at the 2. Tagovailoa fumbled the snap and the Chargers recovered at their own 6.
On 3rd and 4, Herbert gained 5. Herbert went deep to Keenan Allen for 36 yards. On 3rd and 2 from the Miami 35, Herbert again gained 5. Austin keeper ran for 6 and Kelley added 6 and 10. The 9th consecutive running play came on 3rd and goal at the one. Ekeler got in. The 14 play, 94 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive made it 7-0 Chargers. After a touchback, Tagovailoa went to cracraft for 24. Raheem Mostert gained 10. On 3rd and 8 from the Chargers 39, Tagovailoa hit Braxton Berrios for 11. A defensive facemark penalty on Joey Bosa added 14. Mostert gained 12 and then scored the 2 yard touchdown for a 7-7 game.
The Dolphins got it back at their own 23 to start the second quarter and Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill for 29 and again for 28. Tagovailoa then hit Alec Ingold for 15. Yet on 1st and goal at the 5, Tagovailoa threw 3 straight incompletions. Jason Sanders hit a 23 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Dolphins. After a touchback and a couple of short runs, Ekeler ripped off a 55 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Herbert hit Donald Parham for the touchdown to make it 14-10 Chargers. The Dolphins took over at their own 20. Tagovailoa went to Smythe for 18 and again for 16. With 3 minutes left in the half, Mike McDaniel decided to gamble on 4th and 7 from the Chargers 42. Tagovailoa hit Smythe for 10. Tagovailoa then found hill for gains of 19, 4, and 8 down to the one. Tagovailoa hit Cracraft for the touchdown to put the Dolphins up 17-14 with 1:42 left in the half.
The Chargers moved quickly after a touchback. With 9 seconds left in the half, Cameron Dicker hit a 50 yard field goal to tie the game 17-17. Yet after a touchback, Mike McDaniel was not about to take a knee. Tagovailoa hit Jalen Waddle for 22, leaving only 2 seconds. The desperation pass fell incomplete, but in a rarely called penalty, defensive pass interference gifted the Dolphins 30 yards. Sanders hit from 41 to end the half with the Dolphins back on top 20-17. The second half was even wilder.
After a third quarter touchback, runs and short passes had the Chargers facing 2nd and 5 at the Miami 47. Kelley then ran for 14 and Ekeler added 11. Defensive pass interference added 13 yards down to the 5. Another defensive pass interference penalty put the ball on the one. Herbert got in to finish the 11 play, 75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and make it 24-20 Chargers. The Dolphins moved from their own 25 as Tagovailoa went deep to hill for 30 yards. Yet on 3rd and 12 from the Chargers 26, Tagovialoa was intercepted. The Chargers had to punt on 4th and 13 from their own one. A short punt meant a short field for the Dolphins at the Chargers 35. One play was enough for Tagovailoa to hit Hill for the touchdown and reclaim the lead for the Dolphins 27-24.
After a touchback, Herbert connected with Ekeler for a 35 yard gain. Herbert hit Everett for 11. The fourth quarter began with the Chargers facing 3rd and 1 at the Miami 10. Kelley gained 3. Kelley ran for a 2 yard touchdown to again give the Chargers the 31-27 lead in this topsy turvy game. The Dolphins moved after a touchback to a 1st and 10 at the Chargers 30. A swing pass to Hill was blown up for a 5 yard loss, killing the drive. Sanders hit from 45 to get the Dolphins within 31-30. The Chargers after a touchback moved all the way to a 3rd and 5 at the Miami 7 with 4 minutes left in regulation. They had a chance to ice the game. Herbert threw incomplete. Dicker hit the 25 yard field goal as the Chargers led 34-30. Yet they left the door open. This wild game was headed for a wild finish.
On 3rd and 10 from his own 25, Tagovailoa went deep to Hill for 47 yards. Tagovailoa then hit Cracraft for 15. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Tagovailoa hit Hill for the touchdown. Sanders missed the extra point, so the Dolphins only led by 2 points. The Chargers had 1:45 left needing only a field goal to win. Yet an intentional grounding penalty and a sack had the Chargers facing 4th and 12 at their own 33. Herbert was sacked again as the Dolphins survived this instant classic. The Chargers rushed for 234 yards. Herbert played mistake-free football. Yet Tagovailoa threw for a mind-boggling 466 yards and 3 touchdown passes with one interception. More importantly for him, his last touchdown pass was decisive. A playoff rematch between these teams would be eagerly anticipated. 36-34 Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots — These teams met in 2 Super Bowls, with each team winning one. The names of the Eagles change, but Bill Belichick is still coaching the Patriots. Tom Brady is long gone, and Mac Jones regressed last year. The Eagles are the defending NFC champions, and early on they looked it. After an opening touchback, they drove to a 3rd and goal at the 6. Jalen Hurts was sacked. Jake Elliott hit the 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Eagles. Jones moved the Patriots from their own 24 to a 3rd and 5 at the Philadelphia 42. Jones then threw a pass meant for Kendrick Bourne that was intercepted by Darrius Slay and returned 70 yards the other way. The defensive touchdown made it 10-0 Eagles. One play after a touchback, a short completion by Jones was fumbled and recovered by the Eagles at the New England 26. Four plays later Hurts found Davonta Smith for a 5 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Eagles were dominating 16-0 after the first quarter.
For those wondering if Bill Belichick would get blown out 64-0 at home, he would not. In the second quarter the Patriots faced 3rd and 6 at their own 33. Jones went to Mike Gesicki for 9. On 3rd and 10 from his own 42, Jones hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 15, Douglas for 23, Ty Montgomery for 11, and Hunter Henry for a 9 yard touchdown to get the Patriots on the board with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half. The Patriots got it back at their own 37 with 2 1/2 minutes left. Jones went to Henry for consecutive 13 yard gains. With 25 seconds left, Jones found Bourne for a 19 yard touchdown. After getting blown out early, the Patriots only trailed 16-14 at the intermission.
The second half was uglier. It looked like the Eagles would slowly grind down the Patriots with field goals. Elliott leveled a 56 yarder in the third quarter and then connected from 48 and 51 in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 25-14 lead with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Yet the Patriots fought back. After a touchback, Jones went to Stevenson for a 32 yard gain, to Douglas for 16, to Stevenson again for 11, and to Bourne for an 11 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Patriots were very much alive down by 5 with 3 1/2 minutes left. The Eagles took over at their own 27 and disaster immediately struck. Hurts fumbled and the Patriots recovered at the Philadelphia 41. They had plenty of time and a short field to grind out a win themselves. They went backward and on 4th and 17, Jones threw incomplete. Yet the eagles could not put the game away either. Just past the 2 minute warning, Nick Sirianni gambled on 4th and 2 at the New England 44 rather than punt the ball. Hurts threw incomplete and again the Patriots had life and great field position. With 27 seconds left, the Patriots had 4th and 11 at the Philly 20. Jones went to Boutte for 12 and the home crowd celebrated. Yet on further review, Boutte was ruled to not have both feet inbounds. It was a brutally close call and a tough home loss for the Patriots. 25-20 Eagles
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants is the Sunday night game. In the first week of the 1995 NFL season, the Cowboys went into Giants stadium on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys scored on the first play and humiliated the Giants 35-0 en route to their most recent Super Bowl title. This Game in 2023 kicked off the season on Sunday Night Football. With the 9/11 anniversary one day away, the Giants wrapped themselves in the American flag. The drove straight down the field after a touchback to a 3rd and 2 at the Dallas 8 yard line. Then came a false start. Then came a bad snap, a fumble, and a 14 yard loss. Yet a makable field goal of 45 yards would still give the Giants the lead. Instead the kick was blocked and returned 58 yards for a touchdown the other way by Noah Igbinoghene. The extra point was no good, but the Cowboys led 6-0 in front of a shellshocked crowd at Metlife Stadium.
The Giants misery was just getting started. After going 3 and out, the Giants punted and the Cowboys moved from their own 26 to a 3rd and goal at the 2. Dak Prescott threw incomplete, but Aubrey made the 21 yard field goal. The Cowboys led 9-0, but the defensive stand seemed like moral victory for the Giants.Yet 3 plays after a touchback, this game was effectively over. On 3rd and 19 from his own 16, Jones was intercepted by Bland, who returned the pick 22 yards for another touchdown. The Cowboys led 16-0 after the first quarter and were just getting started. In the second quarter Aubrey hit again from 38. One play after a touchback, Jones was intercepted again to give the Cowboys a short field at the Giants 34. Tony Pollard ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 26-0 Cowboys. The last chance for any dignity evaporated when Graham Gano missed a 36 yard field goal try for the Giants. The uneventful second half saw Pollard cap off a 75 yard drive with a one yard touchdown in the third quarter and Turpin run for a 7 yard fourth quarter touchdown to conclude the Royal Blue black and blue beatdown over not-so-Big Blue. The Giants were so bad that New Yorkers were debating whether to claim the G-Men were from New Jersey. As for the Cowboys, Jerry Jones hypes them every year. This year Jerrah’s hype might be real. 40-0 Cowboys
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets is the Monday night game. In the first Monday night football game after the September 11th attacks, the Jets were supposed to inspire the home crowd. They lost. 22 years later, they were playing on Monday Night Football on the anniversary of 9/11. For the first time since 1999, the Jets were talked about as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. After the 1998 Jets reached the AFC Title Game, the 1999 Jets deserved to be the favorite. In the first quarter of that game, Vinny Testaverde went down without being touched. He suffered a ruptured achilles tendon and was out for the season. The Jets were done and Bill Parcells left after the season. This 2023 Jets team acquired Aaron Rodgers. He was still playing at a Hall of Fame level. Yes, the Bills had emotion on their side as well. Damar Hamlin’s miracle journey saw him return to football after nearly dying on the field in a game last year. Yet the Jets had the home crowd at Metlife Stadium and all the 9/11 hometown goodwill. Rodgers was the last piece of the puzzle. Then the game started.
The Jets began their first possession at their own 12 yard line. On the 4th play from scrimmage with the Jets facing 1st and 10 at their own 43, the entire AFC East landscape changed. Rodgers was sacked. He was in terrible pain and managed to walk to the sideline. Yet he did not return to the game. Even worse he had ruptured his achilles tendon. After only 4 snaps with the Jets, Rodgers was out for the season. Now the Jets had to try and win with Zach Wilson, who regressed so badly last year that Rodgers was brought in to replace him. Yet now the team had to try and rally around Wilson.
On his first drive, the Jets punted and the Bills took over at their own 23. They moved to a 4th and 2 at the Jets 22. Sean McDermott decided not to gamble on the road. Tyler Bass hit the 40 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bills. Yet Allen had a very tough night. Early in the second quarter, Allen was intercepted on deep ball. The Jets were pinned at their own 4 yard line, but Are Hall gashed the defense to an 83 yard gain. His effort was wasted when Wilson on 3rd and 5 from the Buffalo 8 threw incomplete. Greg Zuerlein hit from 26 for a 3-3 game.
The Bills soon faced 2nd and 15 at their own 20. Allen hit Stefan Diggs for 18. On 3rd and 2 from his own 46, Allen gained 6. Cook added 12 more. Allen went deep to Davis for 26. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 5, Allen hit Diggs for the game’s first touchdown. With less then 5 minutes left in the half, the Bills led 10-3. Three plays later, Wilson was intercepted. The Bills took over at midfield. Bass hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 13-3 Bills at the half. This game seemed over.
The Jets were resilient, especially Robert Saleh’s defense. On 3rd and 10 from their own 25, Wilson hit non-relative Wilson for 12. Wilson then went to Cook for 7 and Hall for 20. The drive stalled but Zuerlein hit from 43 to get the Jets within 13-6. The Bills moved after a touchback to a 2nd and 13 at the Jets 41. Allen went deep to the end zone and was intercepted again. Early in the fourth quarter the Bills moved from their own 15 to a 3rd and 2 at their own 43. Allen was intercepted a third time to give the Jets the ball at their own 43. On 3rd and 5, Wilson hit newly acquired Rodgers teammate Allan Lazard for 24. On 3rd and 5 from the Buffalo 23. Wilson hit non-relative Wilson again for 14. Wilson finally went to non-Wilson for a 3 yard touchdown. The game was tied 13-13 with 5 minutes left. It was about to get completely crazy.
On the first play from scrimmage after a touchback, Allen followed up his 3 interceptions by fumbling the ball away. The jets recovered with gift field position at the Buffalo 27. They tried to take down as much clock as possible. Yet they settled for a 30 yard Zuerlein field goal. The Jets led 16-13, but 1:48 still remained. The Bills after a touchback still had one timeout left. Allen hit Davis for 6 and Diggs for 15 and 10. A spike and a pair of incompletions left 2 seconds on the clock. Bass came in for a 50 yard field goal try to tie the game. As everyone held their breath, Bass’s kick doinked off the upright but got a favorable carom through. The kick was good. This game was headed to overtime. Yet barely one minute into overtime, the game was over. The Bills punted, and Xavier Gipson retuned it 65 yards through traffic for the winning touchdown. The Bills screamed about the officials missing a clipping penalty, but the score stood. The worst news about Rodgers was confirmed the day after the game. He is out for the year. Wilson is the guy this year. For those again claiming JETS stands for Just End The Season, they won this game. On 9/11 of 2023, the Jets delivered for the FDNY, NYPD, and the whole city. The game will be remembered here forever. 22-16 Jets, OT