After the incredible slate of games played in the opening week, the NFL proved why it is the best product the sporting world has to offer. The week started off with two AFC West powerhouses colliding with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. The superstar quarterback matchup of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert was not the all-out shootout that we expected, but it was still a fantastic game with the Chiefs coming out on top 27-24.
The first three quarters were slow scoring, but the contest picked up steam in the fourth. Herbert had the better performance for the majority of the game until Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson baited the Chargers quarterback and ran it back 99 yards for a pick-six with just over 10 minutes to go. On the other side, Mahomes didn’t have his typical performance, only throwing 235 yards and two touchdowns. The difference was Herbert’s back-breaking interception, who finished with 334 yards and three touchdowns.
The New England Patriots got their first win of the season after a low scoring 17-14 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though neither team scored many points, the Pats moved the ball pretty well for big chunks of the game, ending with 376 total yards. Pittsburgh, however, was very sloppy for most of the day, with only 243 total yards of offense and committed two turnovers. Nelson Agholor had his best game as a Patriot, bringing in six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Mac Jones had a decent performance. Despite their performances, it took former Patriot and current Steeler Gunner Olszewski fumbling a punt in Pittsburgh territory to seal the game for the Patriots. Damien Harris’ ensuing touchdown proved to be the deciding factor for New England.
This week we saw multiple insane fourth-quarter finishes and comebacks. The biggest comeback, or collapse if you want to look at it that way, was the Miami Dolphins taking down the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagavailoa had a day to remember and one for the record books. He passed for 470 yards and six touchdowns. That ties Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the most touchdowns in a game in Miami history. He was aided in this accomplishment by his two superstar receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who combined for 22 catches, 361 yards, and four touchdowns. The Ravens were up in this game 35-14 to start the fourth quarter, as their quarterback Lamar Jackson had a fantastic day himself. Jackson had great air and ground stats, posting a stat line of 318 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 119 yards and another touchdown on the ground. However, the Ravens’ defense absolutely fell apart in the fourth quarter. The Ravens’ once-legendary defense has been in shambles for the past few years. Their performance on Sunday would have made the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs collectively sick.
Another multiple-possession comeback was the Arizona Cardinals’ win over the Las Vegas Raiders, ending with a score of 29-23. The Raiders led 23-7 with eight minutes to go before Kyler Murray took over the game. The Cardinals scored two touchdowns and two conversions in a short time. They got the ball to start overtime but had a turnover on downs. The Raiders got the ball and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow fumbled not once, but twice on their drive. The second fumble was returned all the way back to the house for a 59-yard scoop and a touchdown by Arizona cornerback Byron Murphy.
Other games of note include the New York Jets erasing a 13-point deficit in the final two minutes to stun the Cleveland Browns. The Detroit Lions picked up their first win of the year after beating the Washington Commanders, and don’t look now, but the Lions have the second highest scoring offense in the NFL at this moment. The Philadelphia Eagles had a resounding statement win over the Minnesota Vikings, proving that they are one of the elites in the NFC, as well as that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins cannot win primetime games when the lights are on him.
