TJV Sports: NFL Week 1 Recap

By Marvin A Azrak

Week one of the 2022 NFL season is done, and it didn’t disappoint; as the Bills shredded the reigning champs in front of a National audience, the Seahawks bested the Broncos in Russel Wilson’s return to Seattle, and the Chiefs obliterated the Arizona Cardinals in an offensive onslaught worthy of Patrick Mahomes receiving early considerations for the MVP award. Let’s get right into our takeaways from an enthralling weekend of action.

NO HILL, NO PROBLEM FOR MAHOMES:

Doubters of the lethal KC offense were vanquished on Sunday, as Patrick Mahomes went 30-39 for 360 yards and threw for five touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 44-21 demotion of Kyler Murray and the Deandre Hopkins-less Cardinals. The prequel garnered him player of the week honors, which shouldn’t come as a surprise because of how he’s revolutionized the game. The playoffs should still be in the crystal ball for the Cards, especially with the two-month hand injury to Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in Dallas’s 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON VIKES GREEN BAY:

The purple eaters gobbled up the Packers 23-7 in game one, and while the defense stifled Aaron Rodgers, sacking four times and holding him to 195 yards, WR Justin Jefferson stole the show. The man who publicly stated his desire to win MVWR at the end of the season went for 186 yards on nine catches with two touchdowns, certainly getting that pursuit started in the best fashion.

RAMS “BILL’D” BY BUFFALO:

The route wasn’t only a convincing win but a statement to the rest of the league. The Bills see it as their year to break through and elusively bring the Lombardi to their starved “mafia .”Josh Allen passed for 297 yards and four touchdowns, while Von Miller led the defense and sacked Mathew Stafford four times in his return to LA since winning last year’s Super Bowl, as the Bills used a 21-0 second half to humble the Rams. Gabe Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, and Stefan Diggs caught touchdown passes, and one had Josh take it himself. Under offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Bills will let it fly early, often making for significant success.

“THEY WROTE ME OFF; I AINT WRITE BACK”

Geno Smith lucked into the starting role due to the faults of newly acquired Drew Lock from Denver in the Russel Wilson trade, then promptly went out and defeated the super bowl champion man Seahawks fans now love to hate. They booed in anguish for him wanting out, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll let him live it down. Entrusted as the piece of avenges, Smith went for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while Russ threw for a score and 340 yards; however, he was tamed by a stingy Seattle defense. Ultimately, the axe fell on Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett who decided to have Brandon McManus attempt a 64-yarder late in the contest, which he missed for the 17-16 loss, instead of rolling with his star QB. Even if Brandon made it, he, to his credit, took to Twitter to take the fault, stating, “46-yard line left hash was my line to get to. They got it there. Need to make the kick”.

STEELERS STOLE ONE IN CINCY:

Pittsburg went into the house of the reigning AFC champion and division rival Bengals for the first time in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era yet still emerged victorious. The defense picked off Joe Burrow four times each, sacked him seven times, and then withstood Cincinnati’s furious rally by blocking the potential game-winning extra point as time expired to force overtime. In the different frames, kickers Evan Mcpherson and Chris Boswell exchanged missed Field goals in what was a rough week for kickers league-wide before Boswell’s 53-yarder as time expired salvaged the Pittsburg victory and kept up from our second 20-20 tie of week one after the Colts and Texans played to a draw in Houston. However, the loss of TJ Watt due to injury means the defensive clinic could go down as abnormality by the season’s end.

ONE GIANT UPSET:

Saquon Barkley looks like his old self again, which could propel the Giants to a bright fortnight and signs of a rebirthed offensive foundation. The super-nova RB ran for 164 yards on 18. carries, including one 68-yard breakthrough, a touchdown, and the go-ahead two-point conversion, as the Giants stunned the powerhouse Titans 21-20 in the music city. But more importantly, the team limited 2019 and 2020 running back of the year Derrick Henry to a mere 82 yards despite the 21 carries, as Brian Daboll earned his first victory as head coach in his Big Blue debut. The triumph didn’t come without luck, as it took a missed 33-yarder from Ryan Bullock for the visitors to begin celebrating.