Starting with a bang on Thursday, with Buffalo’s victory over the LA Rams (31-10), the first day of the NFL continued on Sunday, with 14 games, and already great sensations. Patrick Mahomes, the prodigious quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, didn’t miss the start. He completed 30 of his 39 passes for 360 yards and most of all five touchdown passes, and his team easily won on the Arizona Cardinals (44-21).
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For Joe Burrow, the little NFL prodigy who took Cincinnati to the Super Bowl last season, it was much more painful. The QB Bengals had a nightmare at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers: seven sacks, four interceptions and a fumble. His first pass was also returned for a touchdown. The offensive line, the weak point of last season’s attack, still doesn’t know how to protect Burrow.
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However, Cincinnati could have won. With two seconds left in the match, Ja’Marr Chase scored the TD for the equalizer (20-20), but the conversion kick was wrong. In extra time, the Bengals then missed a field goal, imitated by the Steelers (Chris Boswell’s shot hit the post). But, on another three-point attempt, Pittsburgh finally snatched the decision (23-20).
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Prescott (Dallas) injured his thumb and stretched
The match was not without breakdowns. Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins suffered a concussion in the first period. On the Steelers side, linebacker TJ Watt and runner Najee Harris injured their chest and feet respectively during the final quarter.
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The Dallas Cowboys have also been hit. In front of their audience they lost against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19-3), but above all they lost, indefinitely, Dak Prescott, their quarterback, injured in the thumb and who will have to undergo surgery. Tom Brady, the NFL legend, made a sober copy for the ” Buccs ”: 212 yards and a touchdown. He has been sacked twice by Cowboys star defender Micah Parsons.
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The Green Bay Packers missed their debut, losing to the Minnesota Vikings (23-7). Aaron Rodgers disappointed (195 yards, one interception, one fumble). Justin Jefferson, the Vikings catcher, was suspended (184 yards, two TDs). The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders (24-19), with a great pass from Justin Herbert. In the first period he had completed 17 of his first 20 passes.
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Mack (Chargers) and Barkley (Giants) shine
Derek Carr, the Raiders QB, suffered (three interceptions, two fumbles). The stellar rookies from both teams performed well. Khalil Mack, the new Chargers linebacker, split three sacks. Stellar receiver Davante Adams, who spent this summer at Green Bay in Las Vegas, gained 141 yards. Led 10-26 in the last quarter, New Orleans managed to win in Atlanta (27-26).
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The New York Giants surprised Tennessee at home (21-20). Back at 19-20 in scoring, with one minute to go, they took the lead, thanks to a two-point TD conversion. The Titans then missed a field goal. Saquon Barkley, the Giants runner whose recent seasons have been marked by injuries, galloped 164 yards. He hadn’t attended such a party since December 2019.
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Houston and Indianapolis were tied (20-20), not being able to decide in extra time. The Colts missed a three-point kick. The first day of the NFL will conclude on Monday, with the Denver Broncos moving to the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson, Denver’s new QB, will return to the team he played with for 10 years (and won a Super Bowl in 2014).
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