Week 1 Recap
Week Record: 2-3-0
Season Record: 2-3-0
❌ LIONS -6.5 — LOSS
Saints 30, Lions 31
I experienced an array of emotions during this game.
When Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a 19 yard touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter to give the Lions a 21-0 lead, I felt good. Then Tyler Shough and the Saints came roaring back (Shough made some incredible passes by the way - that prick), eventually tying the game at 24 in the 4th quarter. I figured at that point we were dead, and I felt not-so-good.
I felt sad as a football fan but happy as a Lions bettor when this play was somehow not ruled a fumble.
And then, because I'm dumb and forgot that the overtime rules changed, I thought a 6.5 point favorite was drawing dead in OT. I had given up. Back in the score-a-TD-and-win days, the extra point wasn't necessary, so the game ended immediately after the touchdown. However, each team now gets a chance at a possession, so the extra point is very much necessary. When St. Brown scored another touchdown in overtime, I felt nothing, but once I realized that I'm a moron and the extra point was coming, I felt good again. There was 5:04 left in overtime and the Lions were up 7.
Then the Saints went on a 10 play, 80 yard drive that ended in a touchdown. They went for 2 and failed, leaving the Lions victorious and us sad, yet again.
❌ TEXANS +1.5 — LOSS
Bills 36, Texans 31
This was a fucking incredible football game.
The Texans defense, considered one of the best in football, struggled to stop Dalton Kincaid ( 5 catches for 130 yards) and DJ Moore (5 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown). Predictably, their offensive line struggled against Greg Rousseau, who finished with 7 pressures. They benefited from a pair of Bills fumbles (Josh Allen and James Cook) as well as an effective run game. Nico Collins was also effective through the air, snagging 7 balls for 75 yards and a touchdown. This game weas a slugfest, and stayed close throughout.
After a Ka'imi Fairbairn 58 yard field-goal, the Texans took a 1-point lead with 6:44 to go in the 4th. Houston then forced a 3 and out, getting the ball back with 5:39 to go. Instead of orchestrating a clock-killing drive, they matched the Bills 3 and out with their own, giving Josh Allen a chance to win it. Allen then led a 96 yard, 7 play drive that ended with a 34 yard touchdown pass to Josh Palmer.
❌ COLTS +3.5 — LOSS
Ravens 41, Colts 23
Derrick Henry scored 3 touchdowns and ran for 144 yards. Zay Flowers didn't play in the 2nd half (hamstring) and still totaled 150 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Colts simply had no answer for whatever the Ravens decided to do. Indianapolis ended up in man-defense at a 65% rate, by far the highest of the week (second highest was Chicago at 51.6%).
✅ JAGUARS -8.5 — WIN
Browns 10, Jaguars 34
Honestly, this game wasn't as close as the score indicated, and the score indicates that the Jags won by 24. The Browns only touchdown was well within garbage time.
Deshaun Watson was sacked 5 times, threw and interception, and fumbled. He had a 34.2 QB rating. Trevor Lawrence threw 4 TDs, had zero picks, and averaged 10.7 yards per attempt.
✅ CARDINALS +9.5 — WIN
Chargers 14, Cardinals 26
I guess we should have taken the moneyline?
The Chargers offensive line stunk. The Cardinals don't exactly have a juggernaut of a pass-rush, but they still had Herbert under pressure on 42.9% of dropbacks. RG Cole Strange surrendered 5 pressures. C Jake Slaughter, a rookie 2nd rounder filling in for an injured Tyler Biadasz (knee/season ender), had a tough debut.
For the Cardinals offense, Trey McBride had 95 yards and a touchdown while Kendrick Bourne caught all 8 of his targets for 75 yards.
