Sunday NFL Liveblog: Bucs Try to Shake Saints Curse

NFL Week 2 - So, Week 1 was crazy, right? Losses by both conference champions, missed kicks left and right, losses from five of last year's divisional winners, a tie? Week 2 has some big shoes to fill if it wants to come even a hair's breath towards matching the chaos we saw on opening weekend, and we're here to watch every last second of it. And don't think it's too early to panic about your team, either. Since the NFL expanded to 12 playoff teams in 1990, teams that start 0-2 have only made the playoffs 11.3% of the time, while 2-0 teams punch their ticket 63.0% of the time. Games in September count just as much as games in December, so teams that got off to a slow start last week better get into gear, and fast.

And, because we're live, you can participate in the discussion as well! Join in on the conversation -- either in the comment section in this article, on Twitter by tagging @FBOutsiders or @BryKno, or on our brand new Discord server, where some of your favorite writers will be hanging out and reacting live. Questions, comments, and particularly clever quips will find their way into the liveblog proper as we have a running conversation throughout gameday. 

The Monday night doubleheader drains us a bit, but we still have 12 games happening during the blog today:

Early Window

• Buccaneers (-2.5) @ Saints
• Panthers (+1.5) @ Giants
• Jets (+7) @ Browns
• Patriots (-2.5) @ Steelers
• Dolphins (+3.5) @ Ravens
• Colts (-3) @ Jaguars
• Commanders (+1) @ Lions

Late Window

• Seahawks (+9) @ 49ers
• Falcons (+10) @ Rams
• Cardinals (+5.5) @ Raiders
• Texans (+10) @ Broncos
• Bengals (-7.5) @ Cowboys

The night is capped off with the Bears at the Packers. We won't be liveblogging that -- I'll shift over the the Discord server for the late night window -- but this will serve as the open thread for discussion of that game, too.

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Live updates will begin approximately one hour before game time. You have to refresh to see the latest posts and updates; each will be timestamped so you can quickly find where you left off.

Saturday Night: Early Window Storylines

The best game of the early window, and arguably the best game of the week, is the NFC South matchup between the Buccaneers and Saints.  At 2-0, the winner of this game will have sole possession of the lead in the NFC South, as well as a key head-to-head win in a game between the two teams we expect to actually contend for the divisional crown. Despite the Tom Brady-era Buccaneers being one of the best teams in football, they have yet to beat the Saints in the regular season during Brady's tenure (though they won the most important matchup in the 2020 Divisional round). In fact, the Buccaneers haven't been regular-season winners over the Saints since Week 1 of 2018. Of course, for the Saints to once again pull off an upset, they'll have to get started faster than they did against Atlanta last week; a fourth-quarter flop by Tampa Bay doesn't seem likely. Jameis Winston was limited in practice, but he should play and look to pick up his first ever win against his old team.

While Tampa Bay and New Orleans dominated the FOX airwaves, the Steelers and Patriots will be CBS' prime game in the early window -- a game that seems far less clear than it did a couple week ago. The Patriots preseason offensive woes continued into the regular season, with nothing seeming to go right against the Dolphins. And now, Matt Patricia has to call a game against one of the most aggressive defensive fronts in the game, albeit one that will be missing T.J. Watt. The Steelers also looked terrible for much of Week 1, but they got a win thanks to a backup long snapper and more than their fair share of luck. Can Mitch Trubisky do enough to keep the Steelers offense ticking? Or will Bill Belichick reach deep into his bag of tricks to find some way to give his struggling squad a spark?

Lamar Jackson continues to audition for a new contract after a fairly successful first showing against the Jets -- the Ravens rushed for fewer yards than in any previous Jackson start, and yet Jackson's arm was more than enough to overcome the Jets. The Dolphins should provide somewhat of a stiffer test, bringing the pressure New York simply couldn't provide. We'll see if Mike McDaniel's offense is a little more efficient in their second day out, or if "throw to Tyreek and let him run" remains the order of the day.

Speaking of the Jets, they let Joe Flacco throw the ball 59 times last week. That seems like a bad idea, just on principle. We'll see if he can keep it under 40 this time around -- which might be helped, as the immobile Flacco is likely to meet the ground on a regular basis with Myles Garrett coming off the edge.  Garrett is just two sacks away from setting the franchise's career sack record, beating Clay Matthews. Doing it at home would be a nice moment for Browns fans, and goodness knows they need some.

Even Jaguars-Colts looks interesting. The Colts haven't own in Jacksonville since 2014, and are 0-6 in their last six trips down to Duval. With the Colts offense doing everything possible to trip over their shoes in the first half of last weeks game, and forced to settle for a tie, they'll be looking to clean things up and try to get their first result, positive or negative, on the year. But things have already gone wrong for the Colts, with both Shaq Leonard and Michael Pittman both ruled out before the game began. If the passing game doesn't click again, don't be surprised if the underdog Jaguars pull off the upset; they were a few dropped passes and a fourth-quarter collapse away from beating the Commanders. OK, that's not the most impressive accolade you could give a team, but Jacksonville has to start somewhere, right?

You could also watch Commanders-Lions if you want to see how the Carson Wentz Victimization Index responds to being the first underdogs to Detroit since 2019, or Giants-Panthers if you want insight into where the first pick in the draft is going to end up.

11:06 AM: Patriots at Steelers

Mehnsrea: Can we just say it? Steelers-Patriots is a matchup of two bad football teams in transition. Neither team can score on any defense, let alone a good one. Times are changing before our very eyes. Gone are the days of Big Ben, Belichick and Brady. Time to let it go.

One week might be a little too early to completely throw in the towel for a pair of playoff teams from 2021, both of whom are above 30% in our playoff odds for this year. But it is, at least, a changing of the guard -- first time we've had this matchup since 2004 without either Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, A very strange feeling!

11:32 AM: Early Inactives

The Buccaneers are going to be shorthanded in their attempt to knock off the Saints for the first time in Tom Brady's regular season career in Tampa Bay.  Both Chris Godwin and Julio Jones are out of this one, leaving Mike Evans and Russell Gage as Brady's top targets.

Other big names out include Ravens RB JK Dobbins, Colts WR Michael Pittman, Saints RB Alvin Kamara, Dolphins RB Myles Gaskin, Browns RB D'Ernest Johnson and OT Jack Conklin, Jets TE C.J. Uzomah.

12:00 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

...hey, it's my liveblog, I can talk about the 49ers before the early window if I want to.

For the second straight week, rain is hitting the 49ers game. At least this one is in Santa Clara, so the field may still be usable, but that's bad luck for the start of the Trey Lance era. The over/under has dropped all the way to 39.5 as a response...but the 49ers are still favored by nine points. No faith in the Seahawks out there.

The last time we had a game with an over/under below 40 and a team favored by at least nine points? 2020. Saints-Broncos. Taysom Hill versus Kendall Hinton, the Game Without a Quarterback. The kind of matchup you want to see exactly one time in your life.

TheSlothook, via Discord: Ok I'll post my outlandish pick here. Seattle will win tomorrow! Vince you heard it here first.

You hurt me, Slothook.  You hurt me badly.

ColonialBob, via Discord: All the clouds knew was that they loved him and wanted to be near him, to cherish him, and to water him.

It remains to be seen if Lance is the sort of hoopty frood who really knows where his towel is.

12:12 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

#Saints QB Jameis Winston is playing today with 4 fractures in his back, per @JayGlazer, and he's in a lot of pain. There is no risk of further damage and he's wearing pads to protect the area.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 18, 2022

I'll trust the doctors here, but it feels like four fractures is fairly suboptimal.  At least Winston is playing; with Kamara out, the Saints' offense isn't quite at full speed. I suppose that makes it fair against a Bucs team missing Jones and Godwin.

12:31 PM: Jets at Browns

It's a thing of beauty.

Brownie lookin’ spiffy at the 50 #Browns pic.twitter.com/4GjnhsLE2C

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 18, 2022

The cynic in me says that the Browns only brought back Brownie the Elf to distract from all the stuff. But I'm just happy to see him back in any form.

12:38 PM: Patriots at Steelers

It appears it's not just internet hottakers that sense trouble in New England.

Crisis of confidence? The #Patriots are doing their level best but...my report. pic.twitter.com/QOIj5V04Zj

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 18, 2022

Not great to have players questioning what the plan is just one week into a season. There is one way to quiet those problems, of course -- a nice, big win against a Wattless Steelers. We'll see in three or four hours.

1:01 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

OBJ is just taking a nice tour of the league as he gets ready to come back. He was at Rams-Bills to open the season, but now...

The Rams may be on the clock for OBJ . . . he's in New Orleans chatting with Tom Brady and watching the Bucs. https://t.co/8FurVRIobI

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 18, 2022

We'll see who's actually in the running in November or so.

1:04 PM: Dolphins @ Ravens

Good morning, Baltimore! We're all waiting to see how Lamar Jackson is going to do against the Dolphins' blitz-heavy defense, but we'll have to wait, as Devin Duvernay continues his hot start, bringing the opening kickoff back to the house! Good way to start, there.

DEVIN DUVERNAY RETURNS THE OPENING KICKOFF! @Dev_Duv5

📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LqzAxQaA7Q pic.twitter.com/gwK930d33Y

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Meanwhile, the Panthers fumbled to the Giants on their opening kickoff, which is less optimal.

1:10 PM: Colts @ Jaguars

There's an ongoing bet between Mike Tanier and Derrik Klassen over just how good Matt Ryan will be for the Colts. Through one game and a half quarter, it's advantage Mike.

Didn't take long, Matt Ryan already throws a pick to the #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/M9bwUI01qT

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2022

Dave Bernreuther: Very much a Wentz throw. Terrible decision. Facing pressure and leaning back, to the far sideline, toward Dulin, who was never open and not really even in the area. Just an awful drive killing pick.

TroublesomeCadaver, via Discord: What if it was never Carson Wentz's fault?

0-6 in their last six games in Jacksonville, those Colts.

1:13 PM: Patriots @ Steelers

The Patriots are being fairly efficient on their first drive, but "efficient" isn't the same as "impressive".

Aaron Schatz: Mac Jones is completing passes but every pass seems to require the receiver to stop, turn, jump to catch the ball, and then get going again.

Cale Clinton: Jakobi Meyers would be a fantastic WR2 on any other roster. He and Mac Jones have established a great rapport together over the last season and change. Had the first three catches of the day to New England and has helped the Patriots establish some over-the-middle intermediate passing game that was so absent against Miami last week

Dave Bernreuther: It’s really hard to watch. I want so badly for him to succeed but I cringe at so many of the balls that he throws. I don’t know how it gets better with time either because it’s a physical limitation, not a mental issue.

The Steelers hold, and New England has to settle for a field goal midway through the first quarter.

1:19 PM: Jets @ Browns

The Jets have an unimpressive three-and-out -- I would not have "Joe Flacco bootleg" high on the list of third-down plays, but you do you, New York -- and pin the Browns deep.  No matter, against the Jets defense -- Cleveland marches 90 yards in 14 plays. Methodical, painful, bruising.

Feed Nick Chubb. #Browns

📺: #NYJvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bDdH0uvRfp pic.twitter.com/X2xhKIO6Rn

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

It's 7-0 Cleveland late in the first quarter; the power of Brownie the Elf.

1:25 PM: Colts @ Jaguars

0-6 curse holding strong for the Colts.  Trevor Lawrence was 8-for-8 on the drive following the Ryan interception, as the Jags march down and score a touchdown to go up 7-0 late in the first quarter.

Aaron Schatz: Jags go fourth-and-3 Indianapolis 47 and get it. Love you, Doug Pederson.

It's amazing what having an actual coach can do for you, yeah?

Dave Bernreuther: Jacksonville’s offense and Trevor Lawrence (8-8) looked pretty solid on that scoring drive, but it’s hard for me to know how much of that is them and how much is that the Colts are having one of those “let all the receivers run around loosely covered” days they show from time to time.

1:30 PM: Long Live Fourth Down

Aaron Schatz: A lot of fourth down gos today, nice comeback off Thursday night.

Indeed.  We've already seen the Jaguars, Ravens and Giants go for it on fourth down, and the Jets just did this.

FAKE PUNT 😳 @brgridiron

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/AnqDqUkFZv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2022

That fake punt ends up leading to a touchdown for the Jets.  We also saw the Lions go for it and fail on fourth down on the goal line, but that put Carson Wentz on the goal line, and, well...

We’ve got a safety in Detroit! 🙏 @Charles_AO1 #OnePride

📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pruM2DzLrP pic.twitter.com/ygZ7sVqwZO

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Brandon Staley, THEY may have gotten to you, but your legacy lives on.

1:39 PM: Commanders at Lions

The record for most consecutive games with 8+ receptions is eight.  Amon-Ra St. Brown is at seven coming into today, and, well...

Cale Clinton: Amon-Ra St. Brown well on his way to those 8 receptions. Has three of Detroit’s four receptions at the moment and just cruised for a 49-yard weaving reception through the Commanders defense

The Lions turn the free kick after the safety into points thanks to a 52-yard return by Khalif Raymond; St. Brown has the touchdown. That's a 12-0 lead for Detroit; an odd score if I've ever heard one. But the Lions turned a failed fourth-and-goal into nine points. It's worth taking risks!

Vince Verhei: On a weirdly defensive day, of course it’s the Detroit Lions who are the first team to hit double-digit points. Their last three drives: field goal (set up by a 49-yard Amon-Ra St. Brown catch), Failed fourth-and-goal play (Set up by a D’Andre Swift 50-yard run, and in turn setting up a safety), touchdown (St. Brown catch, set up by a big Khalil Raymond kickoff return).

1:51 PM: Florida Football

OK, it's in Baltimore, but still. We had a 14-point swing in the Dolphins-Ravens game. The Ravens went for it on fourth-and-1 from the goal line, but the snap was mishandled, and Miami recovered. They marched all the way down field and scored a touchdown of their own in a huge swing.

Vince Verhei: Dolphins scoring drive: 94 yards. Tua Tagovailoa passing on that drive: 97 yards on 5-for-5 passing — mostly quick slants or crosses, with the touchdown a screen to Waddle.

Mike Tanier: How the Colts doing? Asking for a friend.

Across the state, the Colts are Colting in Jacksonville.  The Jaguars have now had a 68-yard touchdown drive and a 79-yard touchdown drive, as Trevor Lawrence has started 10-for-11 for 100 yards and a score.  14-0, Jaguars.

1:54 PM: Jets at Browns

Cale Clinton: Jacoby Brissett throws a crazy tight-window touchdown to a falling Donovan Peoples-Jones. Ruled a touchdown, but was overturned upon review. Can’t stress how crazy both the throw and reception were if that stood, though. Maybe the only place Brissett could have put it to allow for a reception. Picked up the touchdown on a throw to Cooper the next play. Brissett’s honestly looked good through three halves for football. Where do we stand on him? The two years he started enough games to qualify (2017 and 2021) his DYAR and DVOA numbers are both bad, but I’m almost ready to throw him in the “top-32 QB in the league but don’t want him starting for your team” basket

1:55 PM: Commanders at Lions

Vince Verhei: We have not seen Dan Campbell play with a lead very often, but now we know he can coach aggressively when he’s winning too. First play of the second quarter, Detroit has a first down at the Washington 35, and he calls for the kill shot — a double pass deep ball to DJ Clark. The Commanders are not fooled, however, and the pass is incomplete, and the Lions settle for a field goal and a 15-0 lead. That’s four scoring plays for Detroit. The Commanders don’t have a first down yet.

1:56 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Cale Clinton: Big Play Bateman! Two weeks of 50+ yard touchdowns!!  Absolute electric factory. This Ravens offense is F-U-N.

Mike Tanier: Dolphins Ravens is NFL Blitz!

 

Woah I knew Bateman was good but I didn't know he was that fast! pic.twitter.com/RumtbxK4Fc

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) September 18, 2022

So much action.

1:59 PM: Jaguars at Colts

Dave Bernreuther: Nothing about the Colts losing in Jacksonville surprises me - the Jags appear to be an actual competitive football team now, the Colts’ injuries (already, in week 2, eye roll) are bad, it’s early, and I’m a massive pessimist with a history of being right (see: 2020 staff picks) - and honestly, not getting it going in three drives when only one play was truly bad (Ryan’s pick) isn’t reason to panic. Heck, the Bucs have had more drives so far today and the same bagel on the scoreboard (man, that Saints D thing continues to be true!)… and also, it’s still the AFC South and entirely winnable after an 0-1-1 start. Buttttttt…. This remains decidedly un-good. Especially because at this point, the Jaguars look, top to bottom, like a better football team than they are. Being down two scores in Houston was a bit unlucky, and they should have won that game. The same is not true at all so far today.

2:06 PM: Commanders at Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown is up to five catches as he seeks the eight-catches-in-a-row record. Hey, a record is a record, right?

Dave Bernreuther: Meanwhile his team is whooping the Commanders. Up three touchdowns, and a 10x advantage in yards. How is this Washington team 1-0, and how much of today is Wentz’s fault? I just turned it on

Wentz has not been good, naturally, but the Lions are just blowing the doors off of the Commanders.  Up 22-0, is the game over?

Dave Bernreuther: We all know that Carson Wentz in down-three-scores mode is a real threat

...Fair.

Vince Verhei: Lions have been explosive all day, but that touchdown drive was a 9-play, 77-yard march. Goff to Reynolds for the touchdown. Detroit has already run over 100 yardsMeanwhile, Washington has given up more sacks (3) and safeties (1) than they have gained first downs (zero).

2:14 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Lamar Jackson: 8-for-9, 154 yards, two touchdowns, 33 yards rushing.  Every other Raven: 25 yards rushing.  One-man show on offense?

Well, maybe not; the receivers are having a good day. But this is a different Ravens team than were used to.  A successful one, too -- they're up 21-7 after a Mark Andrews touchdown.

2:16 PM: Buccaneers @ Saints

Aaron Schatz: Anybody watching Saints-Bucs? What's up with Winston not throwing deep at all? Second straight week... is it him or is it the protection?

Tom Gower: The Saints started off throwing short, but started trying to go with more intermediate/deep shots into the second quarter. They've been more aggressive since, and there have been a couple deep shots for Olave in particular that maybe could have been caught. But they haven't hit anything yet, and the two minute drill has been "Bucs blitz a LB, Winston throws a short flat route to player who goes out of bounds"

2:19 PM: Patriots @ Steelers

Cale Clinton: Can someone explain what is going on with Kendrick Bourne? Only played 2 offensive snaps last week (finished with one 41-yard reception on a Cover 2 hole shot). This week I’ve seen him slightly more, but still no targets. Sprinted out of the huddle on that third-and-1. Didn’t get going last year until Week 3 against the Saints last year, but NE knows what they have now. Led all WRs in both receiving and rushing DVOA (I keep repeating that because it’s still surprising to me). What gives?

Aaron Schatz: The problem is that they have no WR1. They have like a WR2 and four WR3s.

Cale Clinton: Lot of guys who are good at one thing, no one who can do everything (or even most things, or some things)

Aaron Schatz: Compare this to the Bears, who have like a WR2 and two WR3s and a bunch of "who is that guy"

Ah, but may I raise you a Nelson Agholor?

AGHOLOR OVER THE TOP!

📺: #NEvsPIT on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/63C0YRqyqR pic.twitter.com/lWp6hhdQtC

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

That's negative separation, I think, but hey, if it works?

2:26 PM: Colts @ Jaguars

Vince Verhei: Well, since my options are to a) watch Mitchell Trubisky, or b) talk about games I can’t watch, let’s discuss Colts-Jags. Jacksonville was our consensus upset pick this week, and it looks like we knew what we were talking about. Jags up 17-0 at halftime, and that is a well-earned shutout. Colts’ first four drives resulted in an interception and four-three-and-outs; their fifth drive was also a punt, though at least they got a first down. Ryan has been sacked three times, and the Colts have run six times for 7 yards. Combined stats for all Colts wide receivers: one target, zero catches. Life without Michael Pittman is going great! Jags offense is doing fine, nothing special, but this is a defensive win so far. Trevor Lawrence is 14-of-17 so far, but for only 137 yards and seven first downs.

2:33 PM: Patriots @ Steelers

Lots of talk in the Discord about the Weak Arm Bowl

TheSlotHook: A fair and even handed assessment of Mac Jones would say - he has a lot of positives, but he feels so capped ceiling wise. I get a lot of Alex Smith vibes so far.

The Possum: That’s basically the breakdown. The Pats Steelers game is a breath taking duel of unimaginative and bad offense. When Trubisky has time he either throws 3 yards or clutches the ball for 10 seconds. The Pats run the ball OK but still have dumb failures in pass protection.

Cale Clinton: “So capped” feels like a stretch. I still think he’s more Cousins than Garoppolo, but when you deprave him of any offensive creativity it really shows his warts. Playing quarterback has never been easier because of offensive innovation. Make things easy for him, because this isn’t a “we can run vanilla because we’re just better than you” kind of team

2:35 PM: Dolphins @ Ravens

OK, this one is over. Tua throws a terrible interception downfield, Jackson marches the Ravens all the way down the field for a touchdown, and it's 28-7 before the first half ends. The Dolphins won last week despite being unimpressive; they're still unimpressive today.

Marcus Williams with his 3rd INT of the season and his 2nd INT today off Tua.pic.twitter.com/RknCpdvo4k

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2022

Mike Tanier: Dolphins are playing like they've just been called on 6 months of bullshit.

We'll see what his DVOA numbers end up being, but passer rating loves Jackson -- he's a perfect 158.3 today. This one's all over but the final bookkeeping.

Is this a good half? This seems like a good half. pic.twitter.com/xb1oPzMER4

— Vincent Verhei (@FO_VVerhei) September 18, 2022

2:38 PM: Halftime!

Every game in the early window has reached at least the halftime mark.

The Ravens have basically already beaten the Dolphins, up 28-7.

The Colts and Commanders (and Steelers?) are heavily on the ropes, and may not last long.  No touchdowns yet in Bucs-Saints or Giants-Panthers.

So Jets-Browns has been the best game of the day. As we all expected.

2:41 PM: Panthers at Giants

They found the end zone in New Jersey! And by they, of course, I mean the Panthers, because the Giants can't have nice things.

The #Panthers halftime adjustment: maybe target the D.J. Moore vs. Cordale Flott (?) matchup? pic.twitter.com/mcpxHzAMYL

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) September 18, 2022

If you're watching this game, I am sorry.

2:47 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

Dave Bernreuther: The Saints are into their seventh consecutive quarter shutting out Tom Brady... and yet at no point except the very end of that game last year did victory ever even feel likely. Seems to me that if you can shut out that offense, you should be in decent shape, but the Saints have managed only four field goals in total. So far today Jameis is averaging under three yards per dropback, so it still just feels like only a matter of time before the Bucs figure something out. I'm certainly a lot more confident that they will than I am in the Saints...

2:48 PM: Commanders at Lions

OK, Washington may have a chance if the Lions keep putting defensive linemen on receivers.

.@cj_wentz & @CurtisSamuel4__ connect to put the @Commanders on the board! #HTTC

📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pruM2DzLrP pic.twitter.com/hmIO00assA

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Wentz can't lead a comeback two weeks in a row...can he?

2:51 PM: Panthers at Giants

OK, maybe the Giants can actually have a few good things.

Daniel Bellinger’s first career catch is a touchdown! @bellinger_12 #TogetherBlue

📺: #CARvsNYG on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/AsnVnknkw6 pic.twitter.com/GbPjNPaTzA

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Tied at 13-13 in the What's The Meaning of Existence Bowl

2:59 PM: Colts @ Jaguars

Wave the white flag, Colts. This one's over. The Jaguars go for it on fourth and 1 inside the five, and Trevor Lawrence just flips it to Christian Kirk for a touchdown to go up 24-0. I have no idea what it is about Duval that makes the Colts forget how to play football entirely, but it's something. The announcers had to clarify that they didn't mean the Colts' defense was literally melting down, as if the Jaguars had dumped acid on them like a Batman villain, but I'm not sure they would have played much worse if that was the case.  0-1-1 for the Colts, yikes.

Vince Verhei: Fourth-and-1 at the 5, Lawrence fakes a handoff and rolls to his right. Looks like he can run or pass for the score, he opts to loft one to Christian Kirk for the score. 24-0 and I think that’s a KO.

Dave Bernreuther: There wasn't nearly enough misdirection on that play call for FOUR Colts defenders to have been so slow to react to Christian Kirk coming across the formation to the right while Lawrence rolled out. Lawrence likely could've gotten at least the first down himself, but Kirk was wide open, so instead he chose the easy touchdown. It's 24-0 and at this point I kind of hope that it ends in some type of 41-0 embarrassment. I'm not even worried about the offense but this defense is a sieve. And next week they get Mahomes!

.@TrevorLawrencee and @ckirk again! #DUUUVAL

📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9Dbwnh03KL pic.twitter.com/ooCQVpE3U8

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Knockout indeed.

3:02: Commanders @ Lions

Had to share this interception. Yowza.

Tipped. Tipped. And picked! @Jamahl #OnePride

📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pruM2DzLrP pic.twitter.com/lmyqglMEHX

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

As you were.

3:06 PM: Buccaneers @ Saints

Tom Gower: Oof, Saints really got the ground game working for the first time maybe since the opening drive or even better than that, and Logan Ryan punches the ball out at the 10.

Lots of turnovers and frustration in what was billed as game of the week.

Tom Brady after having the same cell phone for eight months pic.twitter.com/iFbTxGEG2u

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 18, 2022

Cythhammer: 70 passing yards on 21 attempts for Winston? That is crazy bad. Maybe those vertebrae are holding him back. The Saints should consider putting in Andy Dalton. I'm not exactly convinced Winston is better than Dalton even when healthy.

It's 95 on 24 now, but the point stands. We'll let you know when something actually happens here.

3:09 PM: Patriots at Steelers

Heck of a turn of events for New England here. Jones, rolling to his right, throws something that absolutely should have been intercepted, but was dropped. That allows New England to punt, but Gunner Olszewski muffs it.  Patriots pick it up inside the 10, score three plays later, and now have a 17-6 lead that doesn't really reflect how the game has been played to this point.

3:13 PM: Commanders at Lions

Don't look now, but the Commanders are making a game of it. They've been moving the ball well, funny interception aside. The Lions have just 25 yards of offense in the second half; the Commanders 184 and two scores. And with the two-point conversion good, it's now just a 22-15 Lions lead.  Detroit can't blow this...right?

Carson Wentz is the best roller coaster ride in the world pic.twitter.com/8makrAm2OZ

— Bussin' With The Boys 🐺 (@BussinWTB) September 18, 2022

...Right?

3:17 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

Aaron Schatz: I'll just point out that the Saints put 12 men on the field when the Bucs were punting on a fourth-and-1. So bad.

Tom Gower: Yeah, the Saints had a great 4&1 stop on Fournette, then lined up with 12 in formation on the punt to extend the drive

Less than ideal, that.

3:19 PM: Commanders at Lions

EXPLAIN.  Someone explain this to me.  The hell.

D’ANDRE SWIFT LOOKING LIKE BARRY SANDERS OUT THERE 🔥

📺: #WASvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pruM2DzLrP pic.twitter.com/cW6NgQjtEl

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Terrible defense. Amazing recovery for Swift. Play of the day by a country mile, and it's 29-15, Detroit late in the third.

3:21 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

We have a full-out brawl! Looks like it started with Lattimore chirping at Brady, and then we had punches thrown..

OH BOY SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN SAINTS BUCS pic.twitter.com/LRhtFwCr1l

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) September 18, 2022

Tom Gower: Lattimore and Evans were both tossed, and the Saints will be starting a drive at their own 45 with the score tied at 3 when play resumes

Goodness.

3:23 PM: Patriots at Steelers

Don't count the Steelers out just yet!  Trubisky marches the Steelers back down, hitting Friermuth in the end zone, and now it's just a 17-14 Patriots lead as we start the fourth quarter.  Finishes heating up...

3:26 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

Mike Tanier: Jameis time!

.@jameldean intercepts the deep pass for Tampa! #GoBucs

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/66qiVbDVnf pic.twitter.com/c5wmEIHcVM

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

If Chris Olave isn't getting deep separation, that's a problem...

Dave Bernreuther: Greg Olsen with the Tony Romo moment, declaring before the snap that the Saints should run a hard play fake and try to flip the game in one single play. Right on cue, Jameis fakes one (I'd stop short of calling it hard, however), steps up in the pocket, and throws a pretty decently placed deep ball to the end zone... Where it was undercut and picked. And indeed the field has been flipped. Just not in the way that Olsen intended.

3:29 PM: Jets at Browns

The Jets are hanging around, but we just had our first touchdown of the second half in Cleveland, and it's the Browns getting back into the lead

Nick Chubb won't be denied! @Browns lead 24-17.

📺: #NYJvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bDdH0uvRfp pic.twitter.com/xwGPBI4ljh

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Just a better team punching the other in the mouth.

3:31: Colts at Jaguars

Yes, someone's still watching this one. Specifically, it's Dave!

Dave Bernreuther: I demoted the Colts game to the bottom lower TV, and since that time they've quickly moved into the red zone twice, with really poor results each time. Maybe the Falcons' red zone issues weren't so much the calls as the QB, as that luck seems to have followed Ryan to Indianapolis. He doesn't look like the same quarterback at all down there with the field shortened, and even with the extra down the Colts have failed on both drives. At a glance, the OPI call against Parris Campbell that hurt them on the first drive seemed a bit sketchy, but this last drive was just poor play.

3:36 PM: Buccaneers at Saints

Aaron Schatz: Saints trying to lose their game with penalties.

A...shall we say "questionable" roughing call extended a drive for the Buccaneers here. It's actually just about even on penalties, six to Tampa and eight to New Orleans, but there were some very painful ones on that last drive for New Orleans. And, with all of the Bucs' starting receivers out, Brady finds Breshad Perriman to take the lead as the end zones in the Superdome finally open for business.

TOM BRADY WHAT A PASS 🎯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/5G6H3v0dro

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2022

And as I'm updating this, Jameis throws ANOTHER interception, and all of a sudden, the Bucs are in business.

Tom Gower: Greg Olsen on that Jameis INT: "you can't make that throw". and he's correct, that was too difficult a throw to attempt in that situation

Dave Bernreuther: Just as I was about to compliment his calmness in the pocket and an excellent throw... it sails ten yards over the receiver's head to Dean

I think that may well be ball game for the Bucs.

3:42 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Vince Verhei: Tagovailoa throws a touchdown to Cracraft, and the Baltimore lead is cut to 35-21. Probably too little, too late, but 21 points early in the fourth seems like a perfectly fine offensive output. Granted, I missed his two interceptions in the Sunday Ticket outage, but this game seems way more like an indictment of the Miami defense than the offense.

3:44 PM: Panthers at Giants

Dave Berenreuther: What an ugly play all around. Right-handed Daniel Jones rolls out to his left, which means he has to twist around in order to set and throw to Shepard, who was settling down uncovered right at the sticks. But Jones's throw forced him to stop and reach a bit, and he then turned back in the other direction, giving the defender time to catch up and hit him to force 3rd-and-1. The Giants converted easily, so it's no big deal in the end, but stuff like that drives me crazy.

3:47 PM: Commanders at Lions

Vince Verhei: Big drive for Jared Goff. Completion down the seam to Wright for 25 yards. Also hit Hockenson for a good gain, and then St. Brown with the touchdown grab. That’s four touchdowns for Goff, and St. Brown is still Detroit’s leading rusher and receiver.

Dave Bernreuther: Not to alarm anybody, but the offensive juggernaut known as the LIONS has tied the Chiefs for the most points scored in the NFL

Two statistical notes from this one: Amon-Ra St. Brown becomes the third receiver with eight consecutive games with at least eight receptions, and the Lions have scored 35+ points in three straight games for the first time since their 1952-1953 NFL Championship teams.  Lions to the Super Bowl confirmed.

3:51 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Vince Verhei: Long touchdown, Tyreek Hill. Tua badly underthrows him, but he’ so wide open it doesn’t matter. They kick the XP, and it’s 35-28 with seven minutes to go.

Mike Tanier: Stop and Wait For It Bombs Still Count.

👏 @cheetah’s first TD as a Dolphin‼️

(via @MiamiDolphins)
pic.twitter.com/uPKNI8rNcJ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 18, 2022

Surely...surely not. The Ravens can't blow this, right?  They still hold a 35-28 lead, but there are 7 minutes left...

3:54 PM: Jets at Browns

I think we can put a -30- on the Jets day, as Nick Chubb is finding the red zone with ease.

👏 @cheetah’s first TD as a Dolphin‼️

(via @MiamiDolphins)
pic.twitter.com/uPKNI8rNcJ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 18, 2022

Chubb is the first three-touchdown player this year. Hope you started him in fantasy and aren't, say, playing against him in two separate leagues. Just, y'know, theoretically.

3:59 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Baltimore HAS, in fact, blown it!

Vince Verhei: Really bad drive for Baltimore. Run for a loss, shoulda-been pick-six, miss of a wide open receiver for a first down. And Dolphins are getting the ball back with a chance to tie.

And then, on the ensuing drive...

TUA TO TYREEK. TD. TIE GAME.

📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LqzAxQaA7Q pic.twitter.com/a0Vflp1HgX

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Tua's up to 429 yards passing and five touchdowns!

Tom Gower: The Ravens top 3 CBs are all injured, I believe

It looks like it!

4:07 PM: Witching Hour

UN -30- those Jets!  A 66-yard pass to Corey Davis put the Jets within six points, and then they produced a miracle: a successful onside kick! That gave Flacco and company 1:20 to try to get the go-ahead score, and Joe Flacco leads a vintage drive, finding Wilson in the end zone for the lead!  31-30 with 22 seconds left.

And the Ravens lean on Justin Tucker, nailing a 51-yard field goal to give the Ravens the lead once again with two minutes left.

4:16 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

Vince Verhei: 49ers easily march down the field, mostly on the ground, and get a first-and-goal against the Seahawks.But they can’t punch it in from there and settle for the field goal. Trey Lance had a couple of runs on that drive (I really liked his run for a conversion on third-and-6, following a pulling guard out of a Wild-Lance set), but he took big hits both times. Young man’s gotta learn to get down.

Find yourself someone who loves 20-yard field goals like Kyle Shanahan.  3-0 49ers early.

4:18 PM: Dolphins at Ravens

Miami comes all the way back from 35-14 down to take a 42-38 lead in the fourth quarter!  Last time a team overcame a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit was 2006. Six touchdowns for Tua! That's a little flattering for him, but those only so much criticism you can give for a six-touchdown day.  Fourteen seconds left, but it'd take a miracle for the Ravens to do anything.  One of the worst losses in franchise history for Baltimore?

4:23 PM: Wow.

I need a drink. I can't believe Miami managed to come all the way back. Lots of talk about that Ravens defense this week, for sure.

4:24 PM: Late Game Storylines

Oh, Cowboys-Bengals, you had such potential. The majority of the nation will be getting this game, but Dak Prescott's injury obviously paints it in an entirely new light. We'll have to see how Cooper Rush can hold together a team that looked fairly shoddy even before the injury; they'll probably have to go .500 or so during the Rush era if they want to stay competitive in the NFC. As for the Bengals, they're hoping last week isn't prologue for a Super Bowl Loser curse-infused season; losing a game thanks to multiple missed kicks after 59:58 or regulation is a rare feat indeed.

Broncos-Texans is also a bit of an interesting matchup, after both teams kicked away chances to win last week. The Texans opted to punt on 4th-and-3 with 26 seconds left in overtime from the Colts 49, ensuring a tie rather than going for the win. The Broncos, of course, decided that attempting the second-longest field goal in NFL history was a good plan to beat the Seahawks. It was not.

But the late slate is a bit weaker than the early slate, at least on paper. If you want to see how Trey Lance looks like not in bad weather, too bad -- Seattle is bringing plenty of wind with them to San Francisco. The Rams try to look like they remember how to play football against the Falcons, who are in midseason form after a fourth-quarter collapse last week. And the Cardinals may well blitz on every play against the Raiders, considering their strategy last week.

4:27 PM: Falcons at Rams

Where have you gone, Allen Robinson, a lonely offense turns it's eyes to you, woo woo woo.
What's that you say, Allen Robinson, you'll score your first touchdown for L.A.  Hey hey hey.

A-ROB. #RamsHouse

📺: #ATLvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bM69Jy3G4O pic.twitter.com/bQH9rxkRMh

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Hey hey hey.

4:30 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

The cart is coming out for Trey Lance. Excuse me while I go panic.

Aaron Schatz: Sports Info Solutions did some research on this at one point and found that mobile QBs do not actually suffer more injuries.

Vince Verhei: Jimmy’s first play is a pass where he gets leveled. Never seen a coach who hates his own QBs like Kyle Shanahan does. (Well, Buddy Ryan.)

Air cast for Lance.  6-0 lead for the 49ers.

4:35 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

Dave Berenreuther: The Cowboys just march on down for a score with the Cooper Rush offense. I don't even know who N. Brown is but that was a pretty good catch

Tom Gower: Veteran special teamer/WR4 Noah Brown, who's been a bit inconsistent as a catcher over his career. looked pretty good on that nice opening drive by the Cowboys

Quarterback controversy in Dallas?! (No.) 7-0 early for the Cowboys.

4:39 PM: Cardinals at Raiders

Mike Tanier's lock of the week was the Cardinals winning, straight up, against Las Vegas. They'll need to be better on defense if they want that to be a thing; Derek Carr was 5-for-6 for 47 yards with a touchdown to Davante Adams from the one yard line. It was mostly the Mack Hollins show before that which is...not how I would expect the Raiders passing game to work. 7-0 Raiders, midway through the first.

4:47 PM: Falcons at Rams

Well, it looks like Los Angeles has woken up from their opening night jitters.  They're up 14-0 already, and are outgaining the Falcons 111-62.  This time, it's Darrell Henderson who scores the touchdown, as he and Henderson and Cam Akers continue to split time in the backfield.  Turns out, defending Super Bowl champions are pretty good!  Who knew.

4:51 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

The Trey Lance debate burns in the Discord, with questions about his health, Garoppolo's readiness, and the future at the position. But, in terms of football...

Vince Verhei: Kyle Shanahan’s whole strategy is “nothing will ever go wrong” and he always seems surprised when things go wrong. But here’s the thing: I’m not convinced Garoppolo is not still better than Lance. This may be an upgrade. Dwelley is wide open and Garoppolo hits him for the touchdown and the 13-0 lead.

There are worse situations to have than Jimmy Garoppolo, backup quarterback.  I suppose.

5:00 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

And, continuing our themes of "backup quarterbacks" and "defending conference champions", uh, the Cowboys aren't rolling over without Dak Prescott! Cooper Rush is 7-for-9 for 116 yards and a touchdown, albeit with most of that yardage being YAC. Bengals have looked lackluster, at best -- and Joe Burrow has already taken a couple sacks.  Upset watch a-brewin?

Tom Gower: Amateur tip: the Bengals should consider trying to block Micah Persons instead of letting him run free at Burrow on third-and-4

5:14 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

The Seahawks ran two different plays on that drive where someone other than Geno Smith threw the ball. The first was called back by a procedural penalty. The second...

.@49ers weren’t fooled on this trick play...

📺: #SEAvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/5seLjDGe69 pic.twitter.com/aj07qUbesx

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

 

The Seahawks putting all 4 of their running backs on the field at the same time just to throw an interception is the funniest thing that's ever happened on an NFL field.

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) September 18, 2022

...Trust your quarterbacks, Seattle.

5:19 PM: Cardinals at Raiders

Getting to this a bit late, but...

Vince Verhei: Meanwhile, after 15 minutes in Las Vegas, the Raiders are up 7-0 and driving into Arizona territory. Their first score took forever, a nine-minute drive, and this is only their second possession. They are balanced with nine runs and nine pass plays, and Davante Adams had the 1-yard scoring grab. Cardinals managed one first down before a sack ruined their only drive.

Since then, things have not gotten better for the Cardinals. Las Vegas has 207 yards to Arizona's 38, and are nursing a 17-0 lead.

Vince Verhei: Carr hits Darren Waller for a touchdown and the Raiders are up 17-0. Their longest play has only gained 23 yards, but they have 13 first downs and have gone 4-of-5 on third downs. Just patiently grinding down the field. Both Cardinals drives ended due to pressure — the big sack on the first drive, an intentional grounding foul on the second.

Aaron Schatz: Our Arizona projections being much lower than conventional wisdom look good today.

Bells tolling for Kliff?

5:21 PM: Falcons at Rams

Allen Robinson has his second touchdown of the day wiped out by a medical timeout as the ball was snapped. Not to be deterred, the Rams just throw it to Cooper Kupp one play later.  21-3, and a lot of calmer moods in Los Angeles today.

5:22 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

Even when the Seahawks do something good, it's not working out. They force a punt on fourth-and-one, but Tyler Lockett muffs it when his own guy crashes into him. 49ers ball inside the red zone, they score a few plays later on a Kyle Juzczyck carry, and it's 20-0 late in the second quarter.

5:33 PM: Texans at Broncos

Dave Bernreuther: Nearing halftimes, it feels a lot like the midpoint of the early games... a lot of yawn and one low-scoring but competitive game: Houston-Denver. The Moo Cows just took a 6-3 lead there in a game that sees Russell Wilson sporting a 3-11 stat line worthy of a "bad throws" montage from the production team. And he follows that with another throw that could've made that tape. What is going on with Russ?

The Broncos are, uh, not looking fantastic through a game and a half. Too much hype, not enough substance?  And now Pat Surtain is out for Denver, which won't help.

Carl Yedor: Russ has always been prone to weirdly ugly stretches of play but the highs more than made up for it. All in all, he was productive in Week 1 and the narrative would be a lot different if not for the goal line fumbles. Lovie Smith is also a major two-high guy and when Jeudy goes down it removes one of his better options for attacking that type of coverage

5:40 PM: Falcons at Rams

Vince Verhei: Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Rams are up 21-3 at halftime. Aside from Stafford’s weekly bonehead pick, none of the problems they suffered in the opener are present today. Looking like that was more a “Yay Bills!” Than “Boo Rams!” Game.

Said so in the Quantum Leap to Conclusions piece. Bad games happen to even good teams. Now, two bad games in a row? Stay tuned next week for the DOOOOOOM Index.

5:42 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

Aaron Schatz: Feeling like the sacks are a lot Joe Burrow's fault. Maybe the guy just takes a ton of sacks no matter who is playing offensive line and it may not be fixable.

Burrow's already been sacked four times today. He's having a very hard time sensing the pass rush, which isn't ideal against Micah Parsons.

5:48 PM: NFC West Blowouts

It's fair to say that the three games involving NFC West teams are more or less over.  The Lanceless 49ers are up 20-0 over Seattle; the Rams are up 28-3 over Atlanta (sorry!), and the Raiders are trouncing Arizona 20-0 at the half. Assuming these scores hold, the 49ers, at 1-1, will be atop the division thanks to their divisional win. That may not be the biggest story in San Francisco this week.

As we reach the half everywhere, the two competitive games in the late window are the Texans-Broncos game where no one has found the end zone, and the 17-3 Cowboys lead over the Bengals which I only really include because, hey, it's Cooper Rush at quarterback for Dallas.

Not a great slate in the late window, I must admit.

5:51 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

Cale disagree with Aaron!

Cale Clinton: I agree that not all of [the sacks] are on the o-line, but this unit is messing up very textbook assignments. There were examples of Pittsburgh disguising some blitzes well, but Pittsburgh got home consistently just rushing their four down linemen. Now this week Parsons has gone unblocked, and when La’el Collins actually does block him, Parsons has won easily and consistently

Honestly? They're both right.  The Bengals offense is in complete shambles.  Burrow can't manage the pocket, the line isn't communicating, and they're not scheming anything to get the pressure away, either.

5:55 PM: Texans at Broncos

...How?  Nathaniel Hackett, how?  After last game's field goal snafu, we have another one -- enough indecisiveness on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 that the Broncos ended up taking a delay of game penalty. First of all, how do you not GO for it from the one, but secondly, how do you not have your decision-making procedures improved after last week's debacle? Learn from your mistakes! Good lord!

6-6 at the halftime in a thrilling game.

5:59 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

Want to know what happens when your quarterback has no practice time? A botched snap on third and goal prevents the 49ers from scoring, forcing them to try a short field goal -- but Seattle blocks it and returns it for a touchdown!  So instead of being 27-0 49ers, it's 20-7!  Game's probably still out of reach, but...

The #Seahawks block the field goal attempt and Mike Jackson takes off running for the TD 🤯💨

(via @Seahawks)
pic.twitter.com/NHIkDKcgV6

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 18, 2022

Vince Verhei: The Seahawsks have never played a normal game.

6:12 PM: Texans at Broncos

The crowd is actively booing the Broncos' new-look, high-expense offense.

Tom Gower: Russell Wilson is now 6/20 for 93 yards and an INT. the all-or-nothing offense seems intact in the move from Seattle

It's still knotted at six all because the Texans are also bad.  A quick poll of the Discord has us rooting for the tie, though we're split as to whether it should be 6-6, 9-9 with a pair of overtime field goals, or 8-8.

6:24 PM: Thrilling Late Game Action

Action is in fact happening.  Kind of.

Vince Verhei: Kyler Murray hits Greg Dortch for the touchdown. He’s going to win the Blake Bortles trophy for garbage-time fantasy production, isn’t he?

Feels like he's a strong contender this year.

Vince Verhei: Seahawks open the fourth quarter by punting on fourth-and-1, down 13. Granted, the ball was at their own 22.

Yeah, that's not great.

In the Discord, we're talking about the 1932 Bears, who still hold the record with six ties in a season. That's how fascinating these late games have been.

6:30 PM: Bengals Sack Woes

Aaron Schatz: You're right Cale. Parsons is ruling this game even on that last coverage sack when Dallas only rushed three.

Cale Clinton: T.J. Watt into Micah Parsons is a hellish way for Cincy to start out the season. Cruel and unusual

Joe Burrow has been sacked six times today; seven times last week. The NFL record for sacks allowed is 104.  The Bengals are on pace for 110.  That's probably not good.

6:39 PM: Texans at Broncos

...Nathaniel Hackett is doing what the hell? On third and inches, they hand the ball to a player who hadn't touched the ball in two years.  And then, for the second time today, they took a delay of game because of indescisiveness lining up for the field goal. And that knocks the Broncos from a 54-yard field goal  to a 59-yarder. And rather than attempt that, with the kicker they felt confident enough to boot from 64 yards in Seattle, they PUNT down 9-6.

This has to be up there as one of the worst coaching days in NFL history. And it's his second week on the job.

6:43 PM: Falcons at Rams

Hey, Atlanta. Has anyone ever come back from down 28-3? Because you're doing a hell of a job!

Here come the #DirtyBirds @AtlantaFalcons blocked punt touchdown!

📺: #ATLvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bM69Jy3G4O pic.twitter.com/QW3atbuyZs

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

The blocked punt comes after the Falcons scored touchdowns on their two previous drives -- one on a short field set up by a terrible Matthew Stafford interception, the other thanks to a big Drake London play, and all of a sudden, it a six-point game.  Good Bad Team alert!

And NOW, Cooper Kupp fumbles, and the Falcons have the ball again!  Down six, with 3:20 left to go!

6:48 PM: Seahawks at 49ers

Vince Verhei: So remember when Seattle punted on fourth-and-1? 49ers took the ball and drove 62 yards to the 1. And then MIGHTY SEATTLE GOAL-TO-GO DEFENSE struck, stuffing runs on first and second down. But the 49ers have eaten up more than 7 minutes of the clock, and at the two-minute warning, they have a third-and-goal from the 1, still up 20-7.

Third down fails, but Jimmy G sneaks in on fourth down to give the 49ers a 27-7 lead and first place in the division. Now the question turns to the future of the quarterback position for the 49ers...

6:52 PM: Texans at Broncos

The offense everyone was expecting when Russell Wilson came to the Broncos has finally arrived, as Wilson hits Courtland Sutton multiple times to move the ball down the field, before finding a nice little touchdown to Eric Saubert

Russell Wilson to Eric Saubert for the @Broncos TD!

📺: #HOUvsDEN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/lKB3gLnjdG pic.twitter.com/8fuoSx12Vn

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Plenty of time left for the Texans, but they haven't found the end zone all day long.

6:54 PM: Falcons at Rams

Jalen Ramsey may have just saved the Rams' bacon, intercepting a wayward Mariota pass in the end zone.  The Falcons still have all their timeouts, so they could get the ball back, but that was huge.

JALEN RAMSEY IS HIM 😤

📺: #ATLvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bM69Jy3G4O pic.twitter.com/gBrFyR9NUa

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Some pretty good endings after a sleepy start to the late window.

7:03 PM: Falcons at Rams

So!  The Rams take the intentional safety, going up four. They then free kick out of bounds, moving the ball to the 50 with six seconds left. Time for one hail mary, with a receiving corps filled with basketball players.  All you need to do is block three guys, and you get a Hail Mary for the win...and the Falcons can't block.  A sack-fumble on a Hail Mary, and the Falcons lose.  Oh, Falcons.

7:05 PM: Cardinals at Raiders

This is the most hilarious two-point conversion of all time.

Craziest 2-point conversion we've ever seen! @K1

📺: #AZvsLV on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/FVZamC6mMP pic.twitter.com/LdwcnQQr8S

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Cardinals now down just eight with 7:38 left...

7:07 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

Not sure an 8:48 drive is what you need down eight points in the fourth quarter; that's putting all your eggs in one basket. But it works out for the Bengals, with a 19-play drive including a fourth-down conversion. It put everything onto the two-point conversion, but it all works out -- it's good, and we're tied at 17 with 3:45 left to play.

Burrow to Higgins!

It's a TIE GAME after the 2-point conversion.

📺: #CINvsDAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/AyfpfGIkql pic.twitter.com/FZalE3ch7F

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

Good ballgame

7:10 PM: Texans at Broncos

The Denver crowd is now audibly counting down their own play clock. That's how things are going for Hackett and company.

7:26 PM: Bengals at Cowboys

After the Bengals touchdown, the Cowboys had a quick three and out, so Cincinnati could run some clock.  But the Cowboys force a quick three-and-out on their own, with the help of a huge stop by Trevon Diggs. That gave Dallas the ball back with 57 seconds left, and Cooper Rush dealt -- three straight completions to set up a game-winning 50-yard field goal.  Cowboys win, 20-17.  Dak who?

7:29 PM: Texans at Broncos

Davis Mills is not good.  Five of his last six pass attempts went incomplete, none of them particularly close, and the Broncos held on to win 16-9.  Broncos avoid the DOOM Index.  The Texans very much do not.

7:33 PM: Cardinals at Raiders

The good!  On fourth down, the Cardinals manage to find the end zone down eight!

Kyler putting the team on his back! @K1

📺: #AZvsLV on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/FVZamC6mMP pic.twitter.com/AJLOXXPp3q

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

The bad!

Aaron Schatz: How on earth do the Cardinals get a DELAY OF FREAKIN' GAME on the game-tying 2-pt try?

But the conversion good, and we'll have overtime in the desert!

Cale Clinton: This team 100% functions because of Kyler Murray

Vincent Verhei: A four-man rush on the two-point conversion

Seth Vanderpool: Ball placement was superb

Carl Yedor: The Cardinals offense remains "Hey Kyler, make it happen"

...But we're in a replay; there's movement on A.J. Green's two-point conversion catch...but the ruling stands, and we're going to overtime.  Wow.

7:49 PM: Cardinals at Raiders

The Cardinals get the opening kickoff, and march into Raiders territory before facing a fourth-and-1. Our numbers say it's a clear go, but a run to pick up a yard, not a deep shot -- 61.9% WP with a run, 57.4% with a pass, 51.2% with a field goal. Arizona goes for it all, and Hollywood Brown just can't quite keep control of it. Raiders ball.

7:57 PM: Chaos Ending to Cardinals at Raiders

Right. So.

Three completions to Hunter Renfrow on the Raiders' last drive.  Two of them resulted in fumbles.  The first was recovered by the Raiders, so bullet dodged.  The second...

SCOOP & SCORE FOR THE WIN!

The @AZCardinals and @byronmurphy secure the W in Vegas 😎

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/roOblR59cU

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 18, 2022

And then there was a LONG review, as it looked like the Cardinals DeSean Jacksoned it -- nearly threw the ball out of the endzone before scoring. After review, though, the touchdown was ruled good, and the Cardinals escape with the comeback. Oh my.

And that will do it for the liveblog; I'm headed over to Discord for Packers-Bears tonight.  If my heart can take it!