Not even the coronavirus can stop the machine that is the NFL. This week, I’ll be taking a look at the league’s first game of the season, a duel between two legendary QBs and the eternal suffering that is the Detroit Lions.
Houston Texans 20 (0-1), Kansas City Chiefs 34 (1-0)
The NFL kicked off the 2020 season with an AFC Divisional Round matchup between the reigning Super Bowl 54 champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texas.
Texans quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson, the top QB in the AFC South, went 20 for 32 with 253 yards and one touchdown against one interception – an admirable performance. The newly accquired running back (RB) led the team in rushing yards with 77 while adding a touchdown as well.
Wide receiver (WR) Will Fuller exceled with eight receptions for 112 yards. Cornerback (CB) Bradly Roby led the team in tackles with six in total. Outside linebacker (OLB) Jacob Martin recorded the team’s only sack.
Reigning Super Bowl MVP QB Patrick Mahomes went 24 for 32, racking up 211 yards and three touchdowns, clearly picking up where he left off. Recently drafted RB Clyde-Edwards Helaire carried the rock 25 times 138 yards and a touchdown – a spectacular debut.
Kansas City’s trio of receivers, WR Sammy Watkins, tight end (TE) Travis Kelce and WR Tyreek Hill, combined for 178 yards. Each player also recorded a touchdown. Safety Tyrann Mathieu racked up eight total tackles while defensive tackle (DT) Chris Jones got 1.5 sacks and safety L’Jarius Sneed sealed the game with one interception.
Mahomes led his offense down the field effortlessly the entire game. Watson played well but faced constant pressure all night, despite the Texans getting on the board first with a 80-yard drive early on.
Just like in the playoffs last season, Houston’s lead didn’t last. When Mahomes and the Chiefs took the lead, the game was pretty much a done deal from then on out. The Texans decreased the deficit during garbage time, but the Chiefs were in control basically the entire game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23 (0-1), New Orleans Saints 34 (1-0)
I was stoked to watch this one. Saints QB Drew Brees against QB Tom Brady playing for a team that isn’t the New England Patriots was a sight to behold.
Despite the hype around both of these squads, the game was kind of a bummer. To be fair, however, the Bucs, I believe, were one of the teams most affected by the lack of a preseason. The Bucs, who boast an offense with plenty of new personnel, went up against a QB, head coach, and a receiving core that are established, with Brees and head coach Sean Peyton going back to 2006.
Brady didn’t perform horribly, going 23 for 36 with 239 yards and a 2-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but it was definitely below his standards. RB Ronal Jones Jr. helped out with 66 yards over 17 carries. Newly acquired RB Leonard Fournette only had five yards over five carries.
WR Chris Godwin led the Bucs in receiving yards with 79 yards on six receptions. Tampa Bay barely utilized star WR Mike Evans, who only had one reception for two yards, really hurting my fantasy team in the progress but I’m sure that wasn’t Tampa Bay’s concern.
LBs LaVonte David and Devin White led Tampa Bay’s defense with 11 total tackles each. OLB Jason Pierre-Paul recorded the team’s only sack.
For New Orleans, QB Drew Brees went 18 for 30, recording 160 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to open up his age 41 season. The Saints’ ground attack was pretty weak this go-around, with the team’s leading rusher, RB Latavius Murray, only had 48 yards over 15 inefficient carries.
Even star RB Alvin Kamara averaged only 1.3 yards per carry over 12 carries, but he did add some receiving yards to pad his stats some.
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Chauncey Gardner 10 total tackles. CB Janoris Jenkins and safety Marcus Williams both recorded an interception. LB Demario Davis and DE Trey Hendrickson both recorded a sack.
In the grand scheme of things, this game was a wash. The Bucs really could’ve used a preseason to get their stuff together due to all the new parts on offense. Realistically, Tampa Bay was at a big disadvantage going into this game, but their ability to put up 23 against the Saints provides some hope for the Bucs going forward.
Chicago Bears (1-0) 27, Detroit Lions 23 (0-1)
The Detroit Lions really can’t have nice things. Their blown lead gives the world more false hope in Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky, who rallied his team after an abysmal first half.
At the end of the day, Trubisky went 20 for 36 with 242 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. RB David Montgomery had 64 yards on 17 carries.
WR Anthony Miller had 76 receptions on four receptions and a touchdown. Combined with WR Allen Robinson, the duo combined for receiving yards.
Safety Tashuan Gipson, LB Roquan Smith and LB Danny Trevathan all tied for the team lead in total tackles with seven each. CB Kyle Fuller had one pick while DE Akeim Hicks recorded the Bears’ only sack.
For the Lions, QB Matt Stafford, who returned from an injury-shortened 2019 campaign, went 24 for 42, recording 297 yards and one touchdown against one interception.
Recent free agent singing RB Adrian Peterson had a solid first outing with the Lions, racking up 93 yards on 14 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. WR Danny Amendola and TE TJ Hockenson combined for 10 receptions and 116 yards.
Safety Tracy Walker III led the Lions with seven total tackles. DE Trey Flowers recorded the team’s only sack.
The big story from this game was Lions rookie RB D’Andre Swift’s dropped touchdown pass that could’ve sealed the game away. Honestly, I really feel for the guy. I’ve been in that situation myself before and it’s one of the most demoralizing things to ever experience, especially in your first NFL game.
Aside from that, the Lions really shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. They couldn’t finish off the Bears and, therefore, put themselves in that situation.
That’s all for week one of the regular season. Check back next week for week two coverage and this week for Titans coverage on Tennessee Sportsball Roundup.
Around the League
Packers 43 (1-0), Vikings 34 (0-1)
Browns 6 (0-1), Ravens 38 (1-0)
Raiders 34 (1-0), Panthers 30 (0-1)
Seahawks 38 (1-0), Falcons 25 (0-1)
Chargers 16 (1-0), Bengals (0-1)
Steelers 26 (1-0), Giants 16 (0-1)
Bills 27 (1-0), Jets 17 (0-1)
Eagles 17 (0-1), Washington 27 (1-0)
Colts 20 (0-1), Jaguars 27 (1-0)
Dolphins 11 (0-1), Patriots 27 (1-0)
Cardinals 24 (1-0), 49ers 20 (0-1)
Cowboys 17 (0-1), Rams 20 (1-0)
Titans 16 (1-0), Broncos (0-1)
