NFL - Week One Recap

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense had a huge day in the season opening win.

High scoring was the order of the day around the NFL and the Chicago Bears routed the host Carolina Panthers, 59-37 to set a  record for most combined points scored in a season opening game. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had 269 passing yards with two passing scores and scored twice on the ground, including a 29-yard touchdown run. Bears running back D'Andre Swift rushed for three touchdowns and piled up 124 yards on 18 carries along with RB Kyle Monangai going for 100 yards on just ten carries and he scored on a 61 yard touchdown run. Panthers QB Bryce Young had three TD passes and one rushing score along with 361 passing yards and one interception thrown in the loss. The Bears and Panthers combined for over 1,000 yards in offense in this game as the Bears gained 552 total yards in offense and Carolina amassed 478 yards.

Jacksonville rolled past the visiting Cleveland Browns, 34-10 as Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence had four touchdown passes and 245 passing yards in the easy win. Browns QB Deshaun Watson was sacked five times in the loss as he had one TD pass and one interception.  

In the season opening game last Wednesday night, the Seattle Seahawks rallied for a 13-10 win over the visiting New England Patriots. The Seattle defense intercepted Pats QB Drake Maye (178 passing yards, one TD) three times in the fourth quarter, including a pick in the end zone in the final seconds to seal the win. Seahawks QB Drew Lock, playing in place of injured starter Sam Darnold, threw a 45-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba that tied the game 10-10 early in the fourth quarter. Seattle kicker Jason Myers 26-yard field goal with 5:50 left to go provided the final score. 

In Minnesota, the Vikings rolled up 22 points in the fourth quarter and toppled the Green Bay Packers, 39-22 behind three TD passes by QB Carson Wentz, who came into the game for Minnesota after starter Kyler Murray left with a concussion. The Packers led 22-10 in the third quarter as QB Jordan Love had two scoring passes (along with one interception and 387 passing yards) and Trey Smack drilled three field goals. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson hauled in two touchdown passes to help lead the way even with the Vikings being out gained by 419 to 239 in total yardage. 

The San Francisco 49ers served notice they also reside in the mighty NFC West division as they crushed the Los Angeles Rams, 27-7 with Brock Purdy throwing three TD passes in the game played in Melbourne, Australia on Friday. The Rams lone score was a five-yard run by RB Kyren Williams. 

Cincinnati held off the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 33-27 as Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw a scoring pass to tight end Mike Gesicki and the defense scored on a 27-yard fumble return by Demetrius Knight, Jr. and RB Chase Brown added a five-yard scoring run to go with four field goals by Evan McPherson. The Bucs linebacker Josiah Trotter had a "pick six" interception touchdown and QB Baker Mayfield and RB Bucky Irving scored rushing touchdowns in the loss. 

 

Ravens RB Derrick Henry scored three times in big win. 

The Baltimore Ravens routed the host Indianapolis Colts, 41-23 behind big games from RB Derrick Henry (144 rushing yards, three TD) and QB Lamar Jackson (324 passing yards and one rushing TD), who connected with wide receiver Zay Flowers (five receptions for 150 yards) for a 54-yard touchdown pass. The Colts were out gained by Baltimore 506-251 in yardage as running back Jonathan Taylor (98 rushing yards) scored twice on the ground in defeat.

The Buffalo Bills went into Houston and punched the Texans and their rugged defense in the mouth en route to a 36-31 win behind a huge game from QB Josh Allen, who had 334 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns along with two scoring passes, including the game winner of 34 yards to WR Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining in the game. The Texans turned the football over twice on fumbles and were penalized for 106 yards in the loss as RB David Montgomery scored three times, including a seven-yard TD pass from C.J. Stroud (274 passing yards), who also threw a 12-yard scoring pass to WR Niko Collins. But a strip sack fumble recovery in the final minute by the Bills defense stopped the Texans drive and clinched the victory. 

The Sunday night game saw the New York Giants knock off the visiting Dallas Cowboys, 28-20 behind a balanced offense (165 rushing yards, 229 passing yards) with RB Cam Skattebo (81 rushing yards) scoring on a three-yard run and QB Jaxson Dart throwing for three touchdowns along with 230 passing yards. The Cowboys offense managed just 244 yards as Dak Prescott had two TD passes and running back Javonte Williams scored twice in defeat.  

The Las Vegas Raiders won at home, 27-13 against the Miami Dolphins with running back Ashton Jeanty scoring twice on receptions and gaining 102 rushing yards. Raiders QB Kirk Cousins had three TD passes to overcome two interceptions to help lead the way as well. The Dolphins also had a pair of turnovers and QB Malik Willis ran for a score and was sacked five times in the loss.  

The Philadelphia Eagles squeaked out a 24-22 home win against the Washington Commanders as they stopped a two-point conversion try after Commanders QB Jayden Daniels threw for his second touchdown in the game with just 1:01 left to play in the game. The Eagles got three scoring passes from QB Jalen Hurts to lead the way to the win. 

The surprise of the day was the Arizona Cardinals beating the host Los Angeles Chargers, 26-14 behind four field goals by Chad Ryland and a blocked punt that led to a three-yard scoring pass from QB Jacoby Brissett (277 passing yards) to tight end Trey McBride early in the fourth quarter for a 23-14 edge. The Chargers had two turnovers on offense and QB Justin Herbert had a TD pass with one interception thrown in defeat. 

The Detroit Lions held on for a 31-30 overtime win at home against the feisty New Orleans Saints. Detroit took a 31-24 lead in the OT session when QB Jared Goff threw his second TD pass to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown with 5:04 remaining. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored twice and had 156 rushing yards on 29 carries and the defense registered five sacks to help out in the win. The Saints came back from a 21-0 deficit behind three scoring passes from QB Tyler Shough, who had 410 passing yards and two interceptions, but the effort fell short in overtime as the Lions thwarted the two-point attempt. 

In Pittsburgh, the Steelers won a yawner, 20-13 against the Atlanta Falcons behind T.J. Watt returning an interception 35 yards for a touchdown and one TD pass from QB Aaron Rodgers. Falcons QB Cooper Rush started in place of injured Tua Tagovailoa and was sacked four times along with two interceptions thrown, which offset his one scoring pass in the loss. 

The New York Jets won, 23-10 on the road against the Tennessee Titans as their defense limited the Titans to only 195 yards in total offense and they held the ball for over 38 minutes in the win. Jets running back Breece Hall (102 rushing yards) had a TD run and wide receiver Kenyon Sadiq added a three-yard scoring run. Titans QB Cam Ward threw a TD pass in the loss. 

 

WEEK ONE RESULTS 

Seattle 13, New England 10

San Francisco 27, L.A. Rams 7  

Chicago 59, Carolina 37 

Jacksonville 34, Cleveland 10 

N.Y. Jets 23, Tennessee 10 

Buffalo 36, Houston 31

Detroit 31, New Orleans 30 (OT) 

Cincinnati 33, Tampa Bay 27

Pittsburgh 20, Atlanta 13

Baltimore 41, Indianapolis 23 

Arizona 26, L.A. Chargers 14 

Las Vegas 27, Miami 13 

Philadelphia 24, Washington 22

Minnesota 39, Green Bay 22  

N.Y. Giants 28, Dallas 20