Football is Back
After what seemed like forever, the NFL is finally back and Week 1 started off with one hell of a Thursday Night Football game, as the Detroit Lions beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 21-20, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Even Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes couldn’t overcome the myriad of drops from his receivers, while the absences of Travis Kelce and Chris Jones were felt. But all credit goes to Detroit, who proved that the Lions are, in fact, legit.
Detroit entered the fourth quarter down 17-14. The defense, which was pretty fantastic Thursday night, held up, and it was a David Montgomery 8-yard rushing TD that gave the Lions the lead and the win.
The Rest of the NFL Week 1 Schedule
Sunday
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, CBS
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, CBS
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, FOX
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, FOX
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, FOX
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commanders – 1 pm ET/10 am PT, FOX
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos – 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT, CBS
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers – 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT, CBS
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots – 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT, CBS
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT, FOX
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks – 4:25 pm ET/1:25 pm PT, FOX
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – 8:20 pm ET/5:20 pm PT, NBC
Monday
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – 8:15 pm ET/5:15 pm PT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
The Cincinnati Bengals
The highest-paid player in NFL history will play on Sunday. Bengals’ coach Zac Taylor said on Friday the quarterback Joey Burrow, who has been dealing with a calf strain since late July, will play in Sunday’s season-opener against the Browns. It was reported Thursday night by Adam Schefter that Burrow is signing a 5-year, $275 million contract extension.
Meanwhile, WR Tee Higgins is going into the season with no such extension and said Friday that he has “no clue” if that’s going to change. Here we go.
Week 1 Injury Updates
- Browns’ CB Denzel Ward is out of the concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Bengals.
- The Commanders’ WR Terry McLaurin (toe) will play in Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
- After a tumultuous week, Raiders’ DE Chandler Jones is not expected to play in Sunday’s game against the Broncos.
- 49ers’ TE George Kittle (groin) and CB Charvarius Ward (heel) are both questionable for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
- The Packers will be without WR Christian Watson for their season-opener against the Bears.
Walker Buehler
Although he was hoping to be back on the mound this month, Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Walker Buehler, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022, will not be back until next season. It was Buehler’s second reconstruction of his ulnar collateral ligament, with the first happening in 2015.
The news is disappointing for an already beleaguered pitching staff. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are out due to injury, while Clayton Kershaw is dealing with shoulder issues. Julio Urías was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of felony domestic violence. He is on administrative leave and will most likely not pitch again this season (nor should he if these allegations are true).
It could be up to the young arms of Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan to get through a playoff run.