The List: Several exciting finishes in Week 3, but the Titans are affected by COVID-19
Teams are starting to show improved play in Week 3 of the NFL season, and that created some compelling finishes around the league. However, the major story is one that developed on Tuesday. A total of 13 members of the Titans, including seven players, received positive coronavirus tests over the past week, leading to both Tennessee and Minnesota closing their facilities and suspending team activities. Due to the news, Sunday’s Titans-Steelers game was moved out of Week 4.
THE GOOD
Seahawks top Cowboys to stay unbeaten:
Russell Wilson threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns as the Seahawks held off the Cowboys, 38-31, on Sunday to improve to 3-0. With 14 touchdowns so far in 2020, Wilson has set an NFL record for the first three games of a season
Wilson was robbed of a sixth scoring pass when second-year receiver DK Metcalf got careless with the ball on his way to the end zone late in the first quarter. Wilson hit Metcalf with a beautiful deep throw that would have been a 63-yard touchdown if not for rookie Trevon Diggs knocking it out of his hand and out of the back of the end zone for a Dallas touchback.
Seattle went up 30-15 early in the third, but two Dak Prescott touchdown passes and a Greg Zuerlein field goal put the Cowboys up by a point with 3:59 remaining. Wilson led the Seahawks on an eight-play drive and Metcalf made up for his earlier mistake, catching a 29-yard scoring strike. Prescott led the Cowboys into Seattle territory and evaded a sack on 3rd-and-14, but his pass to the end zone was intercepted by Ryan Neal.
Tyler Lockett caught nine passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns, and Metcalf caught four passes for 110 yards. Prescott threw for a league-high 472 yards and three scores, becoming the first Cowboys quarterback to register back-to-back 400-yard passing games. Dallas was led by a trio of receivers that included Michael Gallup (six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown), Cedrick Wilson (5-107 and two scores), and Amari Cooper (9-86).
Seahawks running back Chris Carson suffered a minor knee sprain after Dallas defensive tackle Trysten Hill rolled over his leg late in the game, a play which angered Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.
“Fitz-Magic” beats “Minshew Mania” on Thursday night:
The Dolphins-Jaguars matchup was one that featured quarterbacks who are known for their solid play, big personalities and, most notably, their facial hair. Miami’s Ryan Fitzpatrick put his full beard up against Jacksonville star Gardner Minshew and his iconic mustache.
The pair traded barbs in pregame interviews, with Fitzpatrick stating “The mustache versus the beard … I think the beard is cooler. Guys that grow mustaches have patchy sides.” The 24-year-old Minshew responded with “I’m going to have respect for my elders, especially when they’re much, much older.” I hope the trainers had some Neosporin on hand for those burns.
Miami took the early lead in the game and never looked back, pulling away for a 31-13 win. The “much, much older” Fitzpatrick (age 37) threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Minshew threw for 275 yards, but the Dolphins defense forced an interception and sacked him four times.
Late in the third quarter, Jacksonville left tackle Cam Robinson was ejected after making contact with an official after a Minshew fumble.
For more on Thursday night’s game, read this story by Richie Dordas.
Steelers win the battle of the Watt brothers:
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and James Conner had 109 yards and a score as the Steelers defeated the Texans, 28-21. The game featured all three Watt brothers for the first time.
Deshaun Watson had 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Texans defensive star J. J. Watt had four tackles, but his younger brother, T. J., made four stops and also sacked Watson. Derek Watt was Pittsburgh’s starting fullback, but he suffered a pulled hamstring that could cause him to miss several weeks.
Girl power! Women making history in Cleveland:
Women have been making great strides in the NFL recently. Jen Welter became the first female assistant coach when she joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2015. On Sunday, there was another first. The game between Washington and Cleveland featured female assistants on both sidelines, as well a female official.
Jennifer King spent the past two seasons with the Panthers as an intern under Ron Rivera and joined him in Washington to work with running backs. King became the first African-American female coach when she was hired by the then-Redskins in February. Callie Brownson was a coaching intern with the Bills in 2018 and a scouting intern with the Jets last year before she was hired to be Cleveland’s chief of staff. Sarah Thomas became the first female NFL official in 2015. She currently works as a down and line judge.
As for the game, Nick Chubb ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns, and Baker Mayfield threw for two scores as the Browns picked up a 34-20 win over the Artists Formerly Known as the Redskins.
Best of the Rest:
Future Hall of Famers Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees both had solid performances, but Rodgers’ one-yard pass to Robert Tonyan with two minutes left was the difference in the Packers’ 37-30 win over the Saints on Sunday night.
Rodgers threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, and Alan Lazard caught six passes for 146 yards and a score. Brees had 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Alvin Kamara put together a top-notch game. Kamara ran for 58 yards and had 13 receptions for 139 yards and two scores in a losing effort.
For more on this game, read Juan Guarin-Camargo’s story.
Patrick Mahomes showed why he is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL today, outplaying Lamar Jackson in the battle of the last two league MVPs. Mahomes threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns in Kansas City’s 34-20 victory over Baltimore on Monday night. Each of Mahomes’ scoring passes went to a different receiver, including a two-yard pass to offensive tackle Eric Fisher midway through the fourth quarter.
Although Jackson ran for a team-high 83 yards, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense held the 2019 NFL MVP to just 97 yards and a touchdown passing. The one bright spot for the Ravens was Devin Duvernay, who returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score early in the second quarter.
Read Juan Guarin-Camargo’s story for more on this game.
Rex Burkhead ran for two touchdowns and caught a third from Cam Newton as the Patriots defeated the Raiders, 36-20. Newton threw for 162 yards and Sony Michel had 117 yards on just nine carries for New England. Derek Carr led Las Vegas with 261 yards and two touchdowns.
Teddy Bridgewater threw for 235 yards and a touchdown as Carolina won its first game, 21-16 over Los Angeles. Justin Herbert, making his second career start, threw for 330 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Chargers. Keenan Allen had 13 catches for 132 yards in a losing effort.
The Buccaneers improved to 2-1 with a 28-10 win over the Broncos. Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, and it looks like he is getting comfortable with his new team. Jeff Driskel struggled in his first start for the Broncos after replacing the injured Drew Lock. Brett Rypien played later in the game and will start on Thursday night against the Jets.
Tampa Bay got another piece of good news when it was announced the team would have fans for the first time this season in their Week 4 game against the Chargers.
Finally, Matthew Stafford threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, and Matt Prater kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 26-23 win over the Cardinals. Kyler Murray threw two scoring passes and rushed for a touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions for Arizona.
Statistical leaders:
For the second week in a row, Prescott led the NFL in passing after his 472-yard performance in a loss to the Seahawks. Joining him in the 300-yard club were Mahomes (385), Herbert (330), Wilson (314), and Allen (311). Rounding out the group were San Francisco’s Nick Mullens, who threw for 343 yards against the Giants, Jared Goff (321) and Josh Allen (311) in the Rams-Bills game, Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill (321 in a win over the Vikings), and 2020 top pick Joe Burrow, who threw for 312 yards in a tie with the Eagles.
Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook was the league’s top rusher by far, gaining 181 yards in a loss to Tennessee. Other 100-yard rushers include Titans star Derrick Henry (119), New England’s Sony Michel (117), Darrell Henderson Jr. (114 for the Rams), Pittsburgh’s James Conner (109), and Cleveland’s Nick Chubb (108).
Vikings rookie Justin Jefferson led all receivers with 175 yards, followed by Green Bay’s Alan Lazard (146), New Orleans star back Alvin Kamara (13 catches for 139 yards), Dallas’ Michael Gallup (138), Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins (137) and Keenan Allen, who had 132 yards for the Chargers in a loss to the Panthers. Allen and Kamara both had a league-high 13 receptions in Week 3.
FOX announcer wins award:
During the Sept. 24 game between the Browns and Bengals, FOX Sports NFL play-by-play commentator Joe Buck was surprised by Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker, who announced that Buck will receive the Pete Rozelle Award. The honor, which was first awarded in 1989, is given to broadcasters for “longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.” Buck began calling NFL games on FOX in 1994 and he also announces baseball games for the network
Buck will join the 20-member Centennial Class of the Hall of Fame for their induction in Canton, Ohio, on August 8. He joins a list of Rozelle Award-winners that includes Pat Summerall, John Madden, Frank Gifford, Dick Enberg, Al Michaels, Jim Nantz, Tom Jackson, Chris Berman, Andrea Kremer, NBC Sports president Dick Eberson, and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol. Joe Buck also joins his father, Jack, making them the first father-son duo to win the award.
THE BAD
Titans win the game, but several players contract coronavirus:
For the third straight week, Stephen Gostkowski won a game for Tennessee. This time, his 55-yard field goal with 1:44 left lifted the Titans to a 31-30 win over the Vikings. However, the big story is what happened after the game.
The teams both suspended activities after three Tennessee players and five team personnel tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The Titans placed starting nose tackle DaQuan Jones, long snapper Beau Brinkley and practice squad tight end Tommy Hudson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The league announced on Wednesday morning that Sunday’s game against the Steelers will be pushed back by a day or two. Later on Wednesday, Tennessee announced a fourth player tested positive during Tuesday’s round of testing. In all, seven Tennessee players and six team personnel registered positive tests, leading to the postponement of this week’s game. Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen tested positive last Saturday and did not travel to Minnesota. There was a bit of good news, as none of the Vikings players tested positive throughout the week and the club reopened its facilities on Thursday..
Ryan Tannehill passed for 321 yards, Kalif Raymond had 119 yards receiving and Derrick Henry ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tennessee. Kirk Cousins threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, rookie receiver Justin Jefferson caught seven passes for a league-high 175 yards and Dalvin Cook ran for an NFL-best 181 yards.
Unfortunately, the Titans news was not the only new development on the coronavirus front. Falcons rookie cornerback A. J. Terrell tested positive for the disease on Saturday. After the positive tests, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a league-wide memo about COVID-19 protocols to teams. In the memo, Goodell states that players and staff who have tested positive will be isolated and monitored, and he also urges teams to minimize close contact, especially while traveling.
Bills take advantage of questionable call:
The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to late-game heroics. After all, they were down 35-3 in the Wild Card round against the Oilers in 1993 before outscoring Houston 38-3 the rest of the way to win 41-38 in overtime in a game that is now simply referred to as “The Comeback.”
On Sunday, Buffalo went up, 28-3, midway through the third quarter, thanks to four touchdowns from Josh Allen (three passing and one rushing), but Los Angeles came charging back. Jared Goff ran for a score and passed for two, with a two-point pass to tight end Tyler Higbee cutting the deficit to 28-25. The Bills drove into Rams territory on their next possession, but All-Pro Aaron Donald sacked Allen twice, including one in which he both caused and recovered a fumble. Los Angeles took a 32-28 lead on a Darrell Henderson Jr. scoring run with 4:30 left.
On the final drive, Allen completed three first-down passes to Cole Beasley to bring his team deep into Rams territory. A facemask penalty pushed the Bills back, but Allen hit Stefon Diggs with a 17-yard pass that set up a 4th-and-8 on the Los Angeles 13 with 25 seconds left. Allen’s pass to wide receiver Gabriel Davis fell incomplete, but Rams cornerback Darious Williams was flagged for pass interference. On the next play, Allen found tight end Tyler Kroft with a three-yard scoring pass to give Buffalo a 35-32 win.
Although officials should never decide a game, the reason this is in the “Bad” category is because of the reaction this call received from sportswriters and personalities. In looking up the rule, pass interference is an act that “significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.” Williams clearly grabbed onto Davis’ shoulder pads and did not let go for a good five yards, thus preventing him from even turning into his route. Someone, please tell me how this call is controversial.
The Bills lead Richie Dordas’ list of Week 3 winners and losers.
Falcons fall apart again:
For the second straight week, the Falcons lost a double-digit lead in the final quarter. Last week, Atlanta held a 39-24 lead with less than eight minutes left, only to see Dak Prescott rally Dallas to a 40-39 victory. This week, the Falcons led the ineffective Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears, 26-10, heading into the fourth quarter.
Enter Nick Foles, who led the Eagles to a title over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Foles threw for 188 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the go-ahead 28-yard pass to Anthony Miller with 1:53 remaining. Matt Ryan moved his team into Chicago territory, but threw an interception to Tashaun Gipson Sr., giving the Bears a 30-26 win.
Allen Robinson had 10 catches for 123 yards and tight end Jimmy Graham caught two touchdown passes for Chicago. Ryan threw for 238 yards for Atlanta, and Calvin Ridley had five catches for 110 yards. However, for all their offensive weapons, the Falcons are known for squandering leads. Their most famous collapse was in Super Bowl LI, when they held a 28-3 in the third quarter against the Patriots but lost the game in overtime.
First NFL tied game in more than a year:
Anyone want to hear a joke? The NFC East! The division is by far the worst in football this season, with an Eagles tie against the lowly Bengals serving as a lone “bright spot” in Week 3.
Carson Wentz scampered into the end zone from seven yards away with 21 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 23, but both offenses sputtered in the extra session. Cincinnati and Philadelphia combined for just 49 yards and four first downs, with the lone highlight being a 30-yard pass from Wentz to tight end Zach Ertz midway through overtime.
The game is the first tie in the NFL since the Cardinals and Lions played to a 27-27 result on Sept. 18, 2019. This is the second tie between the Eagles and Bengals, who played to a 13-13 draw on Nov. 16, 2008. The game was best remembered for Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb saying afterward that he didn’t know games could end in ties.
As for my initial shot against the NFC East, Dallas and Washington are tied atop the division with a 1-2 record, followed by the 0-2-1 Eagles and 0-3 Giants (more on them later).
Patriots running back loses father in a car crash:
James White was not with the Patriots when they faced the Seahawks last Sunday night. His father, Tyrone, was killed in a two-car crash earlier in Florida in the day. Tyrone White, a Miami-Dade Police Department Captain, was involved in the accident on Sept. 20, which left one car flipped over and the other on fire. His wife (James White’s mother), Lisa, is still in critical condition.
White’s former quarterback, Tom Brady, took to Twitter and wrote: “So heartbroken to hear the news of the tragedy of my great friend and forever teammate @SweetFeet_White. There are few people that come into your life that do EVERYTHING the right way. James is one of them. Kind, gentle, loving, fiercely competitive, and hardworking.”
Bears legend Sayers passes away:
Gale Sayers, an all-time great running back, died on Sept. 23 at the age of 77. Known as the “Kansas Comet,” Sayers was a two-time All-American with the Jayhawks and was drafted by the Bears with the fourth overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft (with fellow Chicago great Dick Butkus being taken one spot before him). Sayers was a quick and elusive runner who went over the 1,000-yard mark twice, leading the league both times and posting a high of 1,231 in 1966. The four-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro ranks in fifth team history with 4,956 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, sits fifth on Chicago’s all-time list with 2,781 punt return yards, and was also a receiving threat out of the backfield. In his 1965 rookie season, Sayers set the NFL’s single-season touchdown record with 22 (14 rushing, six receiving, and one each on punt and kickoff returns).
Sayers suffered several torn ligaments in his right knee, ending his 1968 season early. Two years later, he suffered bone bruises to his left knee and his 1971 season ended prematurely due to an ankle injury. He retired during the 1972 preseason.
Although known for his playmaking ability during his career, Sayers developed an even greater fanbase after the release of the 1971 movie, Brian’s Song, which chronicled the friendship between Sayers and backup running back Brian Piccolo. The two became the first interracial roommates in NFL history and the movie focuses on the pair dealing with race relations during the Civil Rights movement while also supporting each other through tragedy. Piccolo helped Sayers through rehab after his knee surgery, and Sayers supported Piccolo after he was diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma, cancer that ultimately led to his death in 1970.
Sayers was the Athletic Director at Southern Illinois from 1976-81 and was the interim AD at Tennessee State in the mid-1980s. In 1984, he founded the Crest Computer Supply Company in Chicago (now called Sayers 40, Inc.) and served as its longtime president. Sayers was diagnosed with dementia in 2013 and the following year, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL for its treatment of players with head injuries (the case resulted in a $765 million settlement). The member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame continued to suffer the effects of the condition until his death.
Cardinals Hall of Fame safety Wilson dies:
Larry Wilson, a Hall of Fame safety who spent his entire year with the Cardinals, passed away on Sept. 17 at age 82. Wilson was a Utah product who was drafted in the seventh round by the Cardinals in 1960 and made the team for its first season in St. Louis. He spent the next 13 seasons patrolling the defensive backfield, first at Sportsman’s Park and then Busch Stadium. Wilson’s best season was 1966, when he led the NFL and set a career-high with 10 interceptions while also earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. The eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro is the Cardinals’ all-time leader with 52 interceptions and ranks second with five returned for touchdowns (Aeneas Williams has six).
Wilson retired after the 1972 season and stayed with the organization for the next 30 years as defensive backs coach (1973), scouting director (1973-76), personnel director (1977-87), general manager (1988-93), and vice president (1988-2002). He even had a stint as head coach in 1979, posting a 2-1 record after replacing the fired Bud Wilkinson.
Wilson was named a member of both the 1960s and 1970s NFL All-Decade Teams, was selected to the league’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, is a member of the Cardinals Ring of Honor and had his Number 8 retired by the club, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
Injury Report:
While Week 3 did not see as many devastating injuries as the previous week, several teams knew they would be without star players even before games began. In addition to the five 49ers that were injured last week, the following players were declared out before their games: Jacksonville receiver D. J. Chark (chest and back), Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle), Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram (knee), Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs (knee and hamstring), Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith (neck) and Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring).
Several players suffered injuries during Week 3 games, including Eagles rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who will miss at least three weeks with a thumb injury; defensive end Chase Young, the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is expected to miss at least one game for Washington after suffering a moderate groin strain; Ruggs was joined on the injury report by fellow Raiders rookie wide receiver Bryan Edwards, who will be out the week due to an ankle sprain.
Chargers cornerback Chris Harris Jr. will miss up to six weeks with a foot injury; Titans tackle Taylor Lewan suffered a shoulder injury; Falcons cornerback Darqueze Dennard was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury; News for the 49ers got worse as the team announced that tight end Jordan Reed could miss nearly two months with a sprained MCL; Washington put defensive tackle Matthew Ioannidis on IR with a biceps injury; Broncos tackle Elijah Wilkinson will be placed on IR with a leg injury and Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will miss several weeks after sustaining a fracture in his ankle.
Jaguars linebacker Leon Jacobs, Ravens cornerback Tavon Young and Bears running back Tarik Cohen both will miss the rest of the season after suffering torn ACLs in Week 3 games. Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey will miss the rest of the season after he sustained a torn biceps.
Other players injured in Week 3: Packers linebacker Christian Kirksey (pec), Saints guard Andrus Peat (high ankle sprain), Giants safety Jabrill Peppers (low ankle sprain), Buccaneers wide receiver (hamstring) and Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo (groin strain).
Meet your new mascot, Robby:
Robby Anderson spent his first four years with the Jets before signing a two-year, $20 million contract with the Panthers in late March. However, Anderson may still not be used to his new team. During most of Week 1’s games, fans were not allowed at stadiums, and cheerleaders and mascots could not be at field level. Anderson, who was wearing a microphone during the game, looked up into the stands and saw Carolina’s mascot dancing among the empty seats. That mascot is Sir Purr, a giant black cat with light blue paws and ear flaps who wears a blue Panthers jersey with a big white paw print instead of a logo. Anderson was heard on his mic asking fellow receiver D. J. Moore “What’s that bear doing?”
Despite not knowing about his new mascot, Anderson has put together three good games, totaling 20 receptions for 278 yards and a touchdown, but Carolina is just 1-2. Thankfully, Sir Purr has a good sense of humor about the whole thing, changing his Twitter handle to I’M THAT BEAR.
THE UGLY
Giants and Jets lose again:
The New York Jets and Giants might just be jockeying for the first overall pick in next April’s NFL Draft. Both dropped to 0-3 after suffering awful losses on Sunday.
The Giants were unable to stop Steelers backup running back Benny Snell Jr. in Week 1 and took the Bears to the wire before failing at the end in Week 2. On Sunday, the Giants, without star running back Saquon Barkley, fell flat in a 36-9 loss to a 49ers team that was without five starters due to injury.
Nick Mullens, replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, threw for 343 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco also ran for 93 yards and three scores, and former Giant Robbie Gould kicked three field goals. Daniel Jones passed for 179 yards and an interception, and he also led the Giants with 49 rushing yards. All of New York’s points came from three Graham Gano field goals.
I have been a Giants fan for 35 years, and it is safe to say that this season has the makings to be one of the worst I have ever seen. The Giants have yet to learn the value of having talented backups at skill positions, as evidenced by the complete absence of a running game when Barkley is unable to play. Top receiver Sterling Shepard is out with turf toe and the starting pair of Golden Tate and Darius Slayton has just not produced so far. The 3-4 defense resembles the unit from the 1980s in name only, but the worst part is the zone being used by the secondary. Pittsburgh has JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chicago has Allen Robinson, but there is NO WAY New York should be beaten by the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, and Ross Dwelley. If the Giants let some of these low-level receivers take control, imagine what will happen when they face the Rams’ talented offense this week.
As for the Jets, they played a fairly close game against a clearly better Bills team in Week 1, then fell last week to the 49ers, 31-13, despite San Francisco losing player after player to injury. On Sunday, New York got squashed by Indianapolis, 36-7.
The Jets are also without their top running back, LeVeon Bell, but their receivers are so inconsistent. That fact does not help former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold, who has been given a raw deal by having to lead this lost team, but didn’t help matters by throwing two pick-sixes against the Colts. There are even rumors that, if the Jets can’t defeat the also-winless Broncos on Thursday night, head coach Adam Gase might be out of a job (an end that would, I’m sure, be pleasing to most Jets fans). This team is also terrible and probably needs a total roster overhaul in the offseason.
What is going on with the New York teams? Maybe Sam Kirk knows.
NFL pushing drastic measures for mask violations:
Apparently, five coaches and teams getting fined nearly $2 million in total was not enough for the NFL to get its point across about proper mask protocols. The league sent out another memo on Wednesday, this one warning teams that “a failure to adhere to the negotiated protocols or to government directives” could lead to a suspension or even a loss of a draft choice.
Although the protocols have been mostly successful in the NFL, the Titans’ situation, as well as the five coaches improperly wearing masks during games, makes this new memo and potential punishments necessary. It’s a shame that children around the country are capable of wearing a mask for six hours during the school day, but these coaches who are making millions of dollars cannot seem to follow the rules, even when the NFL said they could pull them down to call plays as long as they pull them back up afterward. Even more upsetting is that Raiders coach Jon Gruden was one of the five who were fined in Week 2 after admitting he actually contracted COVID-19 over the summer.
NFL WEEK 2 RECAP
Since the Week 2 edition of The List did not run, here is a recap of the NFL games.
In a battle of NFL Draft top picks, Baker Mayfield and the Browns held off Joe Burrow and the Bengals, 35-30. The league’s Ohio teams met on Sept. 17, which was the 100th anniversary of the formation of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which was renamed the NFL in 1922.
The Colts defense led the way last Sunday, holding Kirk Cousins to 113 yards passing and forcing three interceptions in a 28-11 win over the Vikings.
San Francisco defeated the New York Jets, 31-13, but the 49ers lost several players to injury. Already without star tight end George Kittle due to a knee injury, San Francisco also lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) and running backs Tevin Coleman (knee) and Raheem Mostert (sprained MCL). Two players on the other side of the ball suffered much more serious injuries. Star end Nick Bosa and starting tackle Solomon Thomas both sustained torn ACLs and will miss the rest of the season.
The Giants also lost star running back Saquon Barkley to a torn ACL early in the game, but almost came back to beat the Bears. Daniel Jones could not connect with Golden Tate on the game’s last play and Chicago escaped with a 17-13 win.
Stephen Gostkowski made three of four extra points and both field goals, including a 49-yarder with 1:36 left, giving the Titans a 33-30 win over the Jaguars. Ryan Tannehill threw four touchdown passes, including a pair to tight end Jonnu Smith. Gardner Minshew threw for 339 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, and rookie running back James Robinson ran for 102 yards and a score in a losing effort.
Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns, but Aaron Jones was the star of Green Bay’s 42-21 win over Detroit. Jones lit up the Lions for 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and he added 68 yards and a score receiving.
Jared Goff threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, all of them to tight end Tyler Higbee, in a 37-19 win over the Eagles. Darrell Henderson Jr. added 121 total yards and a rushing score for Los Angeles. Miles Sanders totaled 131 yards and a rushing score for Philadelphia.
Tom Brady threw for 217 yards and a touchdown to win his first home game as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30-17 over the Panthers. Former Jaguar Leonard Fournette ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Evans had 104 receiving yards and a score in the victory. Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey ran for two touchdowns, but will miss the next four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, and James Conner added 106 rushing yards in a 26-21 Steelers win over the Broncos. Jeff Driskel had 256 yards and two scores in relief of an injured Drew Lock for Denver. Lock suffered a shoulder injury that will cause him to miss several weeks.
The Falcons blew another large lead, coughing up a 29-10 halftime advantage against the Cowboys. Dak Prescott threw for 450 yards and had four touchdowns (one passing and three rushing) in a 40-39 Dallas win. Atlanta got caught watching a spinning onside kick, then watched some more as Prescott led a drive that set up Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard field goal as time expired.
Josh Allen threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns, including a 46-yard strike to John Brown with 3:09 remaining, and the Bills scored a 31-28 victory over the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick had 328 yards and two touchdowns for Miami. Tight end Mike Gesicki was the Dolphins’ leading receiver with eight catches for 130 yards and a score.
Kyler Murray threw for 286 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for two scores as Arizona defeated Washington, 30-15. Kenyan Drake ran for 86 yards and DeAndre Hopkins had 68 yards and a touchdown receiving for the Cardinals. Terry McLaurin caught seven passes for 125 yards and a score for Washington.
The Chargers have played the Chiefs tough over the past three seasons, but Kansas City escaped with a 23-20 overtime win in Los Angeles. Patrick Mahomes threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns, and he led two drives late in the game that was very different. Using the two-minute offense, Mahomes and the Chiefs tied the game on Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter. After the Chargers went three-and-out in overtime, Kansas City went on a 13-play, an eight-minute drive that ended with Butker’s 58-yard field goal.
Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, but the Ravens defense starred in a 33-16 win against the Texans. Baltimore held Houston to 51 yards rushing and L. J. Fort returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown.
The Patriots and Seahawks met in Super Bowl XLIX, and the game was best known for Seattle choosing to pass on the one-yard line late in the game, rather than use Marshawn Lynch to try and run in the game-winning touchdown. One Malcolm Butler interception later and New England held on for a 28-24 win.
Last Sunday night, the team’s met again. Russell Wilson threw for 288 yards and five touchdowns, but New England had a chance to win late. Despite Cam Newton throwing for 397 yards in the game, he decided to try and run the ball in from the one himself, but the Seahawks’ defense stopped him behind the line of scrimmage to preserve a 35-30 victory.
Also of note in this game: Seattle’s Pete Carroll (age 69) and New England’s Bill Belichick (68) had the highest combined age (137 years, 162 days old) for opposing head coaches in a game. The previous record was 135 years, set in a Dec. 30, 1995 game between 70-year-old Bills coach Marv Levy and 65-year-old Dolphins coach Don Shula.
Finally, the Raiders came back from 17-7 down to win their first game in Las Vegas by a 34-24 score over the Saints on Monday night. Derek Carr completed 28 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, with tight end Darren Waller registering 12 catches for 105 yards and a score.
Derek Carr completed 28 of 38 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, with tight end Darren Waller registering 12 catches for 105 yards and a score. Drew Brees threw for 312 yards, one touchdown, and one interception for the Saints. Alvin Kamara ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and also had nine catches for 95 yards in a losing effort.
After the game, both head coaches (New Orleans’ Sean Payton and Las Vegas’ Jon Gruden), along with three others from Sunday’s games (Denver’s Vic Fangio, Seattle’s Pete Carroll, and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan) were punished for not following the NFL’s mask-wearing protocols. Each coach was fined $100,000 and their respective teams were docked $250,000.
The contest took place on Sept. 21, which was the 50th anniversary of the first Monday Night Football game, a 31-21 win by the Browns against the Jets in 1970.
Week 4 games of note:
Although the Steelers-Titans matchup was postponed, there are still three big games involving undefeated teams. The 3-0 Bills face the 2-1 Raiders, the 3-0 Chiefs battle the 2-1 Patriots and the surprising 3-0 Bears take on the 2-1 Colts.
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