Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all the action on Sunday in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. Use the links below to find out the biggest takeaways from each game:
Washington Commanders 2 8, Jacksonville Jaguars 22
Indianapolis Colts 20, Houston Texans 20 ( OT)
19-3
Summary by Grant Gordon:
Sunday night’s Bucs defense won.Tom Brady isn’t sensational, but he looks good enough Well, that can clear up the doubts that arise from a chaotic offseason. But it was the Buccaneers defense that really won the night for Tampa Bay. Faced with last year’s No. 1 offense, the Buccaneers swarmed and overwhelmed the Cowboys. While Micah Parsons (two sacks) has garnered attention for the Dallas D’s, Tampa Bay has plenty of contributors, from Devin White (8 sacks, 2 sacks) to Antoine Winfield Jr. (6 sacks) , 1 interception) to Shaquil Barrett (6 QB pressure). Todd Bowles’ defense dictated the game, limiting the Cowboys’ total to their lowest total since Week 7 of 2020. Tampa allowed just 244 yards on offense, kept Dallas on 3-for-15 shooting in Game 3, and didn’t give up a point to open possession after Dallas. The match ball goes to TB D in this game.
Dak, the overall attack after his debut is worrying.The wide receiver team lacks talent, and the offensive line is injured by the Cowboys offense End entered the season with the biggest worry. After Sunday night, the whole unit was a problem. The biggest concern is the state of Dak Prescott, as the quarterback will need surgery and miss several weeks after his hand touched Barrett’s helmet. Before that, though, Prescott was struggling. He ended the night with a 47.2 rating after failing 15 of his 29 attempts. He and Cooper Rush were fired four times in total. New No. 1 wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had just two catches. Yes, it’s still early. Yes, the Buccaneers have a great defense, but the Cowboys are still terrible. Everything is bigger in Dallas, and that includes panic — even if it’s just one game.
The first week Lenny shines.
For most of Sunday, the Cowboys Teams have answers for Brady and the passing game, but they rarely find answers for Leonard Fournette. In a low-scoring game, Fournette’s ability to control the clock and bring the Buccaneers into shooting range proved crucial. After his 18th carry, Fournette had 109 yards — equal to all the Cowboys’ offensive output at the time. His night ended with 21 carries for 127 yards — a personal best for the Buccaneers. There were concerns about Laney following reports of weight gain in the offseason, but he started 2022 with a heavyweight performance.
Next Generation Game Data: Leonard Fournet averaged 3.0 yards per rush before contact, his most in a game. the past five seasons.
NFL Study:Cowboys since 2002 The 2021 Packers, which have scored the fewest points at home since Week 16 of the year, are tied for second in the season opener with the first scoring offense in the Super Bowl era.
44-21
Kevin Patt Pull’s summary:
New weapon, same old Patrick Mahomes.No Mount Terek, no problem. The Chiefs quarterback crippled the Cardinals defense in every way. Mahomes threw short darts, passed in buckets in the frontcourt and patented on the move. Arizona tried to pressure Mahomes, bringing a blitz on his 53.8 percent drop. That didn’t work. The QB was unstoppable, completing 76.9 percent of his passes for 360 yards and five TDs with a passer rating of 144.2. Mahomes poised the ball away, hitting nine different targets. By convention, Travis Kelce was the catcher with nine catches for 121 yards. The new duo of JuJu Smith-Schuster (6 catches for 79 yards) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (4/44) have repeatedly won over the middle. KC scored on seven of his first nine possessions for a combined 488 yards and a whopping 7.4 yards per game.
Kyler Murray, the card attack is in a quagmire.Arizona’s offense looks similar to last year’s late-season collapse . Murray was under siege early — 43.8 percent of his dropbacks were under pressure in the first half, according to NextGen stats — and was rarely able to get out and use his legs. The QB didn’t have success down the middle, connecting only on two passes over 15 yards. Sans DeAndre Hopkins and a run that didn’t exist, Kliff Kingsbury’s offense failed to consistently move the chains and keep defenses off the field. The deck failed to secure its first win in four of its first eight games.
Steve Spagnolo’s midseason defense . Breaking into a group of young players, KC D looked quick and locked. The front line wrapped around Murray and surrounded the QB. According to Next Gen Stats, rookie George Karlaftis generated four pressures and two QB hits and added a batting pass. While Chris Jones may not have filled the stat sheet, he lived in the backcourt and destroyed the card’s O-line. The secondary defense was tricky, getting 5 defensive passes while keeping Murray under 200 yards. The Chiefs had a big win in every aspect of the season opener.
Next-gen stats for the game:
Patrick Mahomes has a passer rating of 110.6 while the safety shell is 2 high (2021) The passing rating for such snapshots in 2018 was a career-low 85.8).
NFL Research: Patrick · Mahomes is one of six players in the NFL with at least 6 career games in NFL history and 5 or more passing touchdowns. He has played 64 professional games. Others played at least 240 professional games: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Dan Marino.
24-19
Summary by Nick Shook :
Justin Herbert has dialed in.The third-year quarterback is leaving in 2021 The place restarted, allowing it to tear up early and often for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns. He found his target on the field and stuffed the highlights with jaw-dropping throws, firing a bullet at DeAndre Carter between two defenders for a touchdown before turning left and swooping down to Gerald Everett threw a back shoulder dart, who managed to stumble into the end zone for another point. Herbert was sharp all afternoon, showing little preference in selecting his target receiver, connecting with nine different passers along the way. The score-makers were also unexpected: Carter, guards Zandhowas and Everett all made it through the air to the end zone. Los Angeles’ offense buzzed from the start, scoring in quick and methodical fashion and sealing the win at the end. The end result: a victorious and positive start to the 2022 season.
The Carr-Adams connection is strong…but not enough. Old Fresno State duo showed rapport all afternoon, but a crutch Emergence: Derek Carr targeted Davante Adams nearly three times as often as the second-closest passer on his team (17-to-6). Adams contributed accordingly, catching 10 passes for 141 yards and grabbing a touchdown with his fingertips. But the rest of the offense fell behind enough to put the Raiders in a bind when they absolutely needed to switch. Darrell Waller caught four passes for 79 yards, including a 31-yard catch, but the distribution was too uneven. In the end, the Chargers knew it was time to focus on Adams — forcing Carr to hesitate, and two strips ended the Raiders’ chances.
The re-enacted Chargers defense shines.Los Angeles was aggressive in the offseason, allowing Harry Big names like Le Mack and JC Jackson join an already promising lineup. Jackson (ankle) didn’t play Sunday, but Mike definitely did. All three of his sacks came at crucial moments, and his last pushed the Raiders’ backs against a wall from which they couldn’t escape. Another new pickup, cornerback Bryce Callahan, stole a key interception early in the fourth quarter to end Las Vegas’ possession. It took a whole team effort to limit the Raiders and hold on, and the Chargers did just that, intercepting Karl 3 times and completing 6 sacks. Here’s how you can win the AFC West showdown in 2022.
Next-gen stats for the game: Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa had 16 presses, 4.5 sacks for pressure in Sunday’s win kills and 2 turnovers.
NFL Study: Khalil Mack had 3 sacks, 4 QBs in his Chargers debut Hits and 1 forced turnover, his first 3-sack game since Week 14 of the 2015 season. He is the fifth non-rookie to have more than three sacks in his debut with a new team (since the first individual sack record was recorded in 1982).
23-7
Summary by Eric Edholm:
early woes plagued the Packers offense.Aaron Rodgers wasn’t happy at first – it was for good reason. The Packers looked sluggish and disjointed offensively, taking a conservative approach out of the gate, and Rodgers didn’t hide his anger on the sidelines. He opened with a 1-for-5 pass for 6 yards on his first two drives and was sacked; that included rookie Christian Watson giving up what should have been an easy 75-yard touchdown and 7-0 Green Bay leads. Instead, the Packers trailed 17 yards at the half with just six starts and 100 yards. They had seven more points left on the field after the goal line was stopped, which could change the atmosphere of the game. The understaffed offensive line certainly deserves some blame, as this team has arguably lacked two of its best linebackers, tackle David Bakhtiari and Elgerton Jenkins, who have struggled. But it’s now two years in a row that the Packers’ offense has been underwhelming in the first week. Maybe Matt LaFleur will reconsider not giving his offensive starters any real preseason representation for the past two years, but that’s a 2023 issue now. The Packers opened up something in the second half, but third-quarter turnovers and late turnovers closed the door. They need to get on track with the 1-0 rival Bears, who come to town next week.
a little reward for Zardarius.Vikings Advantage Za’Darius Smith says, at least That’s partly because the team he signed with Minnesota will face the Packers twice a season. It didn’t take long for the former Packer to inflict some pain on his former team. Smith sacked Rodgers late in the first quarter to end a promising Green Bay offense, then tackled AJ Dillon in front of the goal line in a huge stoppage in the fourth quarter of the second quarter and even managed to smash Rodgers in shot after a shot. His second quarter interception. Smith definitely left Green Bay himself, apparently licking his ribs in revenge. Rodgers had a light-hearted exchange with Rodgers when the QB blocked (er, jammed) Smith. But Smith got into business early, and that’s a big reason why the Vikings defense set the tone in the first half.The Packers have no answer for Jefferson.Packers have no 1st half answer to Justin Jefferson. He Sliced ​​them for 158 yards with six catches and two TDs in the first half. Four of those catches were over 20 yards. On nearly every catch, Jefferson felt two or three lengths between him and the nearest DB. The Packers hit a lot of zone coverage when they put top cornerback Jaire Alexander on him. The pregame idea might have been to have Kirk Cousins ​​and the Vikings slowly going downhill on the court, which makes sense in theory. But after Jefferson repeatedly smashed windows at Bank of America Stadium, that plan should die soon. We saw Alexander match Jefferson in the second half, but by then, the game was academic. When the teams meet again in Green Bay on New Year’s Day in Week 17, it would be foolish for them to try the former.
Next Generation Game Data: Since 2020, the Packers are 2-3 in Aaron Rodgers’ start against the Vikings (26-4 in all other games). Minnesota is the only team Rodgers has lost since 2020.
NFL STUDY:Justin Jefferson in The first half accounted for 90.9 percent of the Vikings’ aerial yards. He leads the NFL in 2021 Air Yards share (45.2%).
21-20
Bobby Conak’s Takeaway:
Titans’ passing spree comes without Landry, other teams don’t ‘t.The big question mark going into Sunday’s game is how Tennessee is going He’ll be in charge of the sprint passer after the team’s 2021 sack leader, Harold Landry, tore his ACL during the preseason. According to Next Gen Stats, the Titans’ defensive line answered the call, pressuring Giants quarterback Daniel Jones with a 69.2 percent fallback rate. 2021 fourth-round defensive end Rashad Weaver had just two total tackles last year. On Sunday, he had two sacks. Defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons also had two, including a stripper bag, and linebacker Bud Dupri contributed another. After allowing the Giants to tie the game from a 13-0 halftime deficit, the rest of the Titans would be left scratching their heads before letting a seven-point lead slip again in the closing moments of the game. Of the Titans’ six second-half possessions, one was for 95 yards and a touchdown. Over time, the other five produced a combined 80 yards, four punts and a 47-yard field goal missed by Randy Bullock. It’s not that Tennessee needs to wipe the 2021 return from their memory.
Dabor effect delayed but worth it.The Giants were slow on offense with only 131 yards total and six drives Did not score in the first half. Goose Egg did not last long into the second half. The Blues had 90 yards in four games, their first score of the season, fueled by Saquon Barkley’s 68-yard run. The Giants attacked through the air on their next possession, scoring again on a 65-yard touchdown pass to the wide-open Sterling Shepard to tie the game 13-13. Of course, it’s not always so pretty. Jones threw an ugly fourth-quarter pick in the end zone to Titans safety Armani Hook, which might have tied things up after a sullen punt, but the Giants then bounced back to get Their best of the day was also their last tee. Barkley’s 11 games (six touches) went for 72 yards and reached Tennessee’s 1-yard line. Knowing what to expect from Tennessee, Dabor believes Jones will finish the game by passing the ball to guard Chris Miarick. The next game, the Giants went back to the well for a two-point conversion. Barkley initially looked destined to fall behind on a shuffled pass, but he cut and slid on the edge of the Titans in what proved to be the winning score. At the perfect moment, it was an impressive drive and a brave call. The Giants have won no more than six games since 2016, but the groundwork for optimism has officially been laid.
back is back.Titans running back Derrick Henry missed last year with a foot injury Nine have never played fewer than 15 games in the past five seasons, and Barkley has missed 21 games since 2019. Both had something to prove, and both did it today. For Henry, it’s the ability to withstand a huge workload. He did just that, advancing for 82 yards on 21 carries and 18 long runs. Henry hasn’t had any typical jaw-dropping games with defenders falling behind him, but the Titans will once again be able to rely on him in 2022. Barkley, meanwhile, is a revelation. He delivered the 68-yard wake-up call the Giants needed in the first game of the second half, bouncing from distance and spraying from the sideline. He added another exclamation point to start the Big Blue’s game-winner by driving straight through the teeth of the Tennessee defense at the 33-yard line. He finished the day with 164 18 carries and a TD, plus six catches for 30 yards. Back in the fifth year of his contract, he showed what was possible by offering a glimpse of Barkley from the past few years.
Next-gen stats for the game:Jeffery Simmons and Bud Dupree combined for 12 quarterback pressure, three sacks and a turnover of 21 rushes each.
NFL STUDY: This is Saquon Barkley In the second game of his career, he rushed for more than 150 yards on fewer than 20 carries. Over the past five seasons, the only player who has played in multiple such games is Derrick Henry (who also played twice).
19-10
Summary by Kevin Patra:
Justin Fields, Bears stun the 49ers over a sloppy start.
Fields’ performance was as ugly as the weather, four Shooting guards struggle with accuracy and look nonchalant behind a porous offensive line. Fields had a 2.8 passer rating on interceptions in the first half. Deep in the third quarter, Dante Pettis opened the hibernating Bears offense with a 51-yard TD break. Aside from two TD throws, Fields looked a lot like he did during an up-and-down rookie campaign. The difference on Sunday was that he played a role in getting Chicago to make the right decision and beat Trey Lance at the crunch time. Young offense will have growing pains, but learning with Ws in the win column will be sweeter.
Trey Lance struggles in the wind in City opener.The second-year quarterback flashed some playmaking traits that allowed the 49ers The team’s brass was excited. Lance can put the ball in any hole when he rips it, and he hits a couple of nice shots in the frontcourt. But there was too much negative news on Sunday. Lance missed many passes and threw an ugly INT as he stared out the perimeter. The QB completed just 13 of 28 passes for 164 yards and two sacks. When the 49ers’ game was slowed in the second half by Elijah Mitchell (knee), Lance couldn’t improve his performance in the rain. It’s too early for the murmur of Jimmy Garoppolo to take over, and not just a stirrer-level consideration. But this is not a positive start to the Reims era.
Bears prove more disciplined team . Matt Ebe in the monsoons that break out at Soldier Field The rflus’ team stayed disciplined as the 49ers shot in the foot again and again. Kyle Shanahan’s club was tagged 12 times for 99 yards, including a trooper. Meanwhile, the Bears didn’t take a single penalty in the second half. Chicago forced two big turnovers — Jaylen Johnson’s 49ers’ opener slammed some points to erase some points, and Eddie Jackson’s interception sealed the game. If Chicago can defend and avoid turnovers as it did on Sunday, it could be a more active team than we thought heading into the season.
Next Generation Game Data:Bears generated 13 QB pressures with four or fewer pass rushers (mostly from CHI since 2020).
NFL Study:Sunday was the second straight 49 Time when the Man team was suspended and lost at halftime (other: Week 16 in 2021 at Tennessee).
20-7
Summary by Eric Edholm:
The Patriots’ offensive struggle continued into Week 1.
Throughout the preseason, about the New England offense The reports were all rather grim and bleak. Few believed that titular offensive coordinator Matt Patricia would have a firm grip on game command duties, and the lack of big drama production was imminent. These were the questions that the Patriots lost on Sunday — but wait, there’s more! Three turnovers (two by Mike Jones, including a stripped return for a touchdown) put the Patriots down by eight, not a team built to eliminate a big lead. The Patriots’ best performance of the game came as they trailed 17-0 at the start of the third quarter. Moving the ball is not the biggest problem. They crossed the midfield five times but only scored seven points. Jones looked a little tired at times, hampered by stress. Twice he had to call timeouts in crunch time to stay in line with the coaching staff. Now, it’s a disjointed unit as the Patriots begin to prepare for a Steelers defense that forced Joe Burrow into five turnovers in Week 1.
Terrek’s new role in Miami.Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill doesn’t look like the last five years Patrick Mahomes did the same to Hill. But just because the Dolphins have been inconsistent with Hill’s shooting up front doesn’t mean it’s not a successful debut for his new team. With the exception of a superb jump ball from 20 yards out in the second quarter, Hill caught a short pass most of the time, and quickly reaped it for a nice gain. Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones is no stranger to Hill, having played against him several times before, and Jones has done well for most of Hill’s time. But the Week 1 return — eight catches on 12 targets for 96 yards and six runs — was promising enough. Don’t assume deep balls won’t develop over time. Tagovailoa and Hill have plenty of time to make that happen, and the Patriots just won’t give them that chance in Week 1.
The difference is in aggression.With less than a minute left until halftime, the Patriots Edge Matt Judon fired Tagovailoa to force the Dolphins to third and 19th. Bill Belichick didn’t try to stop the clock with a timeout. The Dolphins scored 12 points in the third down, then took the New England 42 in the fourth and seventh. With 24 seconds left in the half, Mike McDaniel came on — Tagovailoa hit a streak Jaylen Waddle. A touchdown to give Miami a 17-0 lead. It was almost a game. Yes, New England cut the lead to 17-7, but it took 15 games and more than 8 minutes to record one of its TDs. The Patriots showed a lack of trust in their offense at the end of the first half, while the Dolphins did. This makes a big difference in the first week.
The bottom of the game Generation Stats:Mike Jones went 4 for 10, 89 passes yards, intercepting passes over 10 yards.
NFL study: Tua Tagovailoa is now in his 4-0 against the Patriots in his career. During the Bill Belichick era, he was the only QB to remain undefeated in at least four games against New England.
24-9
Summary by Eric Edholm:
Lamar Jackson can still hang it. Betting on himself this season after contract talks stalled, Jackson used his arm to inject some energy into the Ravens’ slow offense. Even when his receiver let him down a few times, Jackson remained patient and kept the passing game buzzing against the Jets’ improved defense. Devin Duvernay had two career touchdown catches coming into the game and two points on Sunday — from 17 yards and 25 yards. Then there was an ugly drop early on from Rashod Bateman, who dusted the Jets in Game 2 for a 55-yard dime from Jackson. Up three-pointers in the fourth quarter, the Ravens kept throwing. This clearly shows that this is the most trusted element of their current offense.
Joe Flacco, the Jets’ offense faced boos.Jets have at least two games left without Zach Wilson , and suddenly there was a pivotal moment in which the offense needed to be found in his absence. Flacco finished with 307 passing yards but needed 59 passing attempts to get there. It wasn’t a pretty game for the Jets’ offense, except that Michael Carter played some. Flacco was sacked 3 times and hit 10 times — bad for any QB, but certainly his second in two seasons for a 37-year-old with limited mobility Starter. Mike White’s chants came in the second half, and maybe the Jets will be forced to make a change before Wilson returns. But White will face the same problems as Flacco: an understaffed attacking line, committing three penalties and allowing too many free rushers.
Raven’s running game is slow.Jackson was the Ravens’ lead rusher at halftime Golfer – Carry 4 yards at a time. The team had eight rushing yards in the first half, the fewest in the Jackson era. He rarely leaves the pocket early, limiting Jackson’s chances of scrambling. But it also speaks to the struggles of the running backs, who combined for 46 yards on 15 carries and 10 yards on long runs. Mike Davis also nearly coughed up a ball late in the third quarter, and the Jets were still within striking distance. The often-injured Jawan James — Ronnie Stanley’s left tackle backup — didn’t either. Helped him go down early in the game with an Achilles injury. The Ravens were limited with RB JK Dobbins inactive as Davis, Justice Hill and Kenya Drake struggled to find daylight. Baltimore has ranked third, first, first and second in the NFL in rushing yards since drafting Jackson, and he’s clearly a big part of that.
Next-gen stats for the game:It was Lamar Jackson’s first career game as he had 3 deep touchdown passes. He has only made four such passes throughout the 2021 season.
NFL Study:With Sunday’s win, the Ravens ended the second-longest losing streak (six games) in franchise history.
38-35
Summary by Kevin Patra:
AJ Brown is always open. The wide receiver proved his worth after being traded from Tennessee in the offseason. Brown was a different maker Sunday, catching 10 of 13 targets for 155 yards. Whenever Jalen Hurts needed a good game, he looked at Brown, who tormented the Lions’ defensive backs. On many routes, Brown’s precision has opened his eyes to easy gains. The Eagles have great offensive weapons, but Brown takes things to another level. Wideout’s chemistry with the Hurts is already in the middle of the season. In 2022, the pair will have a big event.
D’Andre Swift shines for the brave lion.
Running back rushes on his first touch of the game Dash out 50 yards. The only thing that slowed Swift down was when he was on the bench. Swift rushed 15 times for 144 yards (up to 9.6 YPCs) and touchdowns. He also added three catches for 31 yards. The Lions hope to see more from the cunning in Year 3. They saw a lot in the season opener. Swift has shown explosiveness to the hole, a change in space, a third gear on the third level and a willingness to engage. Swift looks like a definite No. 1 guard. While Detroit wants to share the carry, Swift deserves a few extra touches a week.
The eagle is later than the lion . Nick Ciriani couldn’t like his defense to be frequently toppled by the Lions in the second half. But the running game left Detroit in a bind. Philadelphia crushed the Lions with 216 rushing yards and four runs from four different players. Thanks to Dan Campbell’s team for fighting to the end. The Eagles had multiple two-point leads but couldn’t knock Detroit out. This is a Lions team that seems poised for a lot of games, but, like Sunday, has no horses to overcome the talent gap on a team like Philly. Credit to Sirianni for the effort and trusting the Hurts to seal the victory with less than two minutes left. While Philly’s D is doing well in stretches, the secondary looks are sticky and we’ll need to see more in the coming weeks.
Next-gen stats for the game:Jalen Hurts at 48.5% Playbacks (10-16, 112 yards) were used on play moves.
NFL RESEARCH:AJ Brown on The half-court 128 yards was the most in the first half by any non-rookie team debutant since at least 1991.
26-24
Nick Shook’s summary:
The calendar has changed, but Cleveland still dominates the ground.The Browns set the tone early, with a A heavy, relentlessly fast attack that lacks aerial explosiveness, no doubt. in spite of. Nick Chubb pulled for 141 yards on 22 carries, while Kareem Hunter was the Thunder’s lightning bolt for 46 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Cleveland squandered some chances to extend its lead and nearly screwed up the game, but without a sudden offense, it probably wouldn’t have had enough time to win anyway. This will be their operating model for the next three months.
Baker Mayfield brought the fight.
The former Browns passer starts Badly, with a couple of early pass attempts thrown off, he threw an ugly interception that Cleveland fans are all too familiar with. Carolina’s offense was dysfunctional, if not lifeless, for much of the first half. Then, thanks to Christian McCaffrey’s contribution, Carolina woke up — and nearly won the game. Mayfield scored on the ground, fired a 75-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Anderson and led the scoring drive to put the Panthers ahead. Carolina lost, but not entirely because of Mayfield. With the Panthers’ wild comeback, his first-half struggles vanished, and his final stat line — 16-of-27, 235, a touchdown and an interception — stood well and had a chance win. Not a victory, but worthy of praise.
The Browns exorcise a demon.Since the first term of the George W. Bush administration, Cleveland has yet to win its season opener, and its fans have become accustomed to a first-week loss like the sun rises and sets. Sunday seemed to set up a disaster scenario for the Browns, but they managed to build a big enough lead to give themselves a chance. Cleveland’s fourth-round investment in Cade York proved worthwhile when the walls began to fall. His 58-yard bomb saved the day and gave the Browns the victory. After an offseason full of distractions (at their own discretion), the Browns will win on Monday and go 1-0 for the first time since 2004.
Next Generation Statistics Competition Results: Nick Chubb had 112 touchdown yards on Sunday after 141 rushing yards, the fifth-most rushing yards after a touchdown in one game of his career.
NFL RESEARCH:Cade York’s 58 yards The shot helped the Browns win and set the record for the longest field goal by a rookie shooter in his team’s first game in NFL history. York’s game-winner broke records set by Blair Walsh (Minnesota in 2012) and John Hall (New York Jets in 1997).
27-26
Michael Barca’s takeaway:
The Saints had an incredible comeback in the fourth quarter.Three rounds of 17 games for the Saints to complete a thrilling 16 points All that is needed for a comeback is in the fourth quarter. Everything changed for an offense led by James Winston when the Saints decided to run a two-minute practice session in the final inning, during which most of Winston’s 269 passing yards for the day were lost. coming. The tempo was too fast for the Falcons defense, which had dominated three-quarters of the time, and its young second-line eventually succumbed to Jarvis Landry (114 yards, 7 catches), Michael Thomas (57 yards, 5 catches) ball and 2 touchdowns) and rookie Chris Olaf (3/41) as Atlanta’s passing spree subsided. Why the Saints didn’t just start off with this hasty offense is a question for another day, but the Saints escaped what seemed like a stumble for sure.
Michael Thomas, Wil Lutz shine.
Saints star perimeter and kicker Missing all of 2021 due to injury, their presence is necessary to win the 2022 season opener. Thomas didn’t catch the ball in the first half and got off to a slow start, but scored in the fourth-quarter comeback MVP with two touchdowns for the Saints. Thomas did it all against the Falcons’ best screener, AJ Terrell, making his long-awaited return even more impressive. Lutz’s return might have been expected only in the greater New Orleans area, but the veteran made a field goal from 51 yards with 29 seconds left.
Falcon still has trouble closing it.With their team leading 23-10 and in Possession began in the fourth quarter, and Falcons fans looked like they were about to take down what they saw as a hateful opponent in the season opener, toppling the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta relaxed while the Saints scrambled out the back door . While the Falcons’ passing defense was burnt by a fast-paced offense late, Atlanta’s offense didn’t help in three fruitless runs in the fourth quarter. Until then, Dean Pease’s team made Winston’s life difficult (4 sacks, 8 QB hits) but failed to pass when Atlanta needed it most. The same story happened with Atlanta’s offense, despite Cordarrelle Patterson’s 120-yard rush (a TD) and Marcus Mariota’s error-free football as a passer (20-of-33 for 215 yards). In the end, however, the Falcons missed too many scoring opportunities as their 12 points came at the feet of Younghoe Koo.Next Generation Game Data:
Michael Thomas had 3 catches for 33 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 on target beyond the numbers.
NFL STUDY:Atlanta since 2020 has Broke a 15+ point lead 3 times. The rest of the league combined has led by 15-plus points twice.
23-20 (overtime)
Nick Shook’s summary:
Steelers’ stingy The defense started strong.Pittsburgh’s offseason changes and mainstays teamed up to storm out the door, forcing Turned four turnovers in the first half and returned the first (Minka Fitzpatrick pick) for a touchdown. Rather than being forced to chase the explosive Bengals, Pittsburgh dominated the game through its defensive efforts (notably, Alex Highsmith recorded three sacks). That was the case for most of the game, with the Steelers limiting the Bengals to a shot on a trip to the red zone before halftime and a team that stepped up when it mattered most, Stripped Joe Burrow and shot the Bengals out of overtime. There were turnovers in between, but Pittsburgh certainly made a statement with its ferocious performance, which included seven sacks.
Mistakes cost the Bengals.
Burrow in third-fewest career games Broke for 7,500 passing yards, tying Kurt Warner in NFL history (27), but it’s fair to assume he wants to forget about that. Burrow struggled, making four interceptions in the game and facing constant harassment that was all too familiar to the team’s signal callers. Burrow was responsible for all five Cincinnati turnovers, and even after he was able to help the Bengals get back into the game, Cincinnati couldn’t do the job of a special team. A blocked extra-point attempt sent the game into overtime, and a poor fast break resulted in a missed overtime shot that gave the Steelers a new lease of life. They took advantage in the final seconds of the game to open the division opponents 0-1.
The Steelers won, but not without damage.Usual suspect TJ Watt once again becomes victorious in season opener Made a difference, recording a sack and another was wiped out by a penalty kick in the frontcourt. His impressive interceptions gave the Steelers a chance to score (they did on a 1-yard touchdown pass to Najee Harris), and he was a factor throughout the game — that is, until he was worried about Out of the game with a torn pectoral muscle. Harris also didn’t leave unscathed, limping away with a foot injury less than two months after he was injured in training camp. The two are the most important players on Pittsburgh’s roster, and if both miss multiple games, the thrill of winning in Week 1 could be significantly diminished.
Next Generation Stats Competition Rating: The Steelers caught up with Joe Burrow, but didn’t even need extra rushers to do it. Pittsburgh put pressure on Burrow 20 times, but no blitz, at 37.7 percent, well above Burrow’s average pressure last season (28.5 percent) regardless of blitz. NFL STUDY: With Sunday Victory, Mitch Trubisky improved his career record to 4-0 against AFC North opponents. He’s one of three quarterbacks since 2017 (Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees are the others) to go 2-0 against AFC North teams.
28-22
Michael Barca’s takeaway:
Washington quickly experienced Carson Wentz’s life.After Wentz’s first two games as commander, everything seemed All good, beautiful, commanding two guys in their 70s – yard drives and interrupting them with touchdowns. After letting the lead slip away, the commanders didn’t score again until 9:43 of the fourth quarter. Wentz found Terry McLaurin within two on the sideline on a 49-yard TD pass, followed by a 90-yard drive that gave Jahan Dotson the game’s lead with less than two minutes left. Catch the ball. Wentz completed 27 of 41 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns, but his two terrifying interceptions helped the Jaguars get back into the game and attributed to Washington’s 2019 win on Sunday. Incompetent offense most of the time. In the end, Wentz wrapped up his outing with two straight TD kickoffs, telling the story of a rollercoaster quarterback.
The Commander’s Reception Group looks dangerous.Wentz didn’t have his brilliance for his success. After Washington’s first year out, Curtis Samuel burst into eight catches for 55 yards and scoring while adding 17 yards rushing. Wentz’s primary target, McLaurin (2/58/1), got a lot of attention from Jags Middle School, but it allowed Wentz to distribute the ball elsewhere, with running back Antonio Gibson leading all receivers with 72 yards. Dotson is a bunch of rookies with two TD receptions in his NFL debut and rounded out a talented team that includes a passing threat in the backcourt.
Travis Etienne, Traven Walker promising debut in flop .
While the Jaguars had some problems, the most worthwhile Note that Trevor Lawrence has been under duress (two sacks, 10 QB hits), but there are still some promising plays. Most impressive was the No. 1 overall pick Walker, who had a sack and an interception while providing consistent pressure on the edge. Etienne, who missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, provided a huge rhythm change for the Jaguars’ offense with 65 total yards (18 receiving, 47 rushing), but he did make a comeback in the second quarter. Dropped a potential TD in the crucial fourth drop. Jacksonville showed a fight after staggering out of the gate, and while it eventually slipped away Doug Pederson’s first win as head coach, a pair of young cornerstones looked promising.
Stats Contest for Next Generation: Trevor Lawrence was 1 for 6 for 49 yards and an INT deep pass.
NFL STUDY:Jaguars LB Travon Walker is the first draft player since 2021 Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt to have a sack and an INT in his first career game.
20-20 (overtime)
Coral Smith’s takeout:
Overtime errors are costly.
Colts and Texans are in overtime Nearly won in the middle, but in the end it fell short. After stopping the Texans’ opening game with two sacks from Kwity Paye, the Colts had a chance to win on a 42-yard field goal attempt, but kicker Rodrigo Blankenship went wide to the right. The error was the culmination of a turbulent day for the kickers after sending two kick-offs out of bounds earlier in the game. At that point, Houston got the ball with less than two minutes left, with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn ready to kick for the victory. But with third-and-first at Indianapolis’ 47-yard line, running back Rex Burkhead was crammed before he even reached the line of scrimmage, giving the Texans more shooting range. far and pulled down to fourth. Houston is forced to try and expand the drive (potentially giving the Colts a better chance of winning), or play it and basically accept the tie. Lowe Smith once again opted for safety and started his head coaching career with the Texans, whose team gave up a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter before failing to get the job done in overtime .
Indy’s new QB-WR duo.Matt Ryan has arrived in Indianapolis and it appears he has found his new favorite target. Ryan and Michael Pittman had nine catches for 121 yards in a row. Pittman caught more than 1,000 yards last season with Carson Wentz at center, and it appears he hasn’t missed a beat in his transition to the new QB. The pair’s most important connection with two minutes left was when Ryan found his man for a short pass, Pittman kicked a defender and jumped into the end zone to tie the game, the end of the game. The score. While the offense still needs work to fully solidify, with several key passes in the red zone and difficult transition situations, there is clear hope for a combination that we’ll likely see more of throughout the season.
Texans D stay strong.The Texans had several key games that both limited the Colts The ability to find the end zone early in the game, in turn, puts the offense in a good floor position with multiple possessions. Indianapolis kicked off the first quarter and decided to go on the fourth and target at the 2-yard line. Running back Nyheim Hines made a direct steal and pretended to pass the ball to star RB Jonathan Taylor before trying to run into the center himself. But the Texans defense wasn’t fooled, and Jonathan Greenard stopped Hines’ offense and took over. Houston stopped near the goal line again in the second half when rookie Derek Stingley Jr. knocked back a potential touchdown pass on the third. The Colts identified a field goal. The defense also came up with interceptions and turnover recoveries in the game, both of which built the offense for TD drives on the short field. Defensive lineman Jerry Hughes was particularly impressive, finishing with two sacks and a batting interception. While the defense failed to stop the Colts’ comeback late in the final quarter, some early games could bode well for this young team.
Next Generation Stats for this game:Texans quarterback Davis Mills went 6-for-10 for 121 on Sunday with at least 10 passing yards and two touchdowns.
NFL Study:Matt Ryan became the eighth player in NFL history to garner more than 60,000 career passing yards in Sunday’s game. Achieving the feat in his 223rd NFL game, Ryan was the second fastest player to reach the milestone.
