Sunday Observations

by Vegas Writer

Monday, Sep 12, 2022
Heading into Monday night, seven NFL games have been decided by one score or less (eight points) and 10 games have been within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter.

For the third time in the past four years, multiple Week 1 games went to overtime with Pittsburgh defeating Cincinnati, 23-20, and Indianapolis ending in a tie with Houston, 20-20. It was the fourth Week 1 tie since 1970.

Four teams – Indianapolis (17-point deficit), New Orleans (16), the New York Giants (13) and Chicago (10) – overcame deficits of at least 10 points to win or tie in Week 1. We haven't seen more comebacks to win or tie on Week 1 in 20 years (five in 2002).

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 360 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for a 144.2 rating and tight end Travis Kelce had eight receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown in the Chiefs' 44-21 win over Arizona. The Chiefs became the sixth team in the Super Bowl era to win eight consecutive season-opening games.

Mahomes recorded his sixth career game with at least five touchdown passes. Kelce recorded his 30th career game with at least 100 receiving yards, joining Rob Gronkowski (32 games) and Tony Gonzalez (31) as the only tight ends with at least 30 such games in NFL history.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 129.4 rating during a 24-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Herbert now has 14 career games with at least three touchdown passes, surpassing Peyton Manning (13 games) and Kurt Warner (13) for the third-most such games by a player in his first three career seasons in NFL history. Herbert is chasing only Marino (18 games) and Mahomes (15). Herbert has nine career games with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied for most-ever with Mahomes (nine), by a player in his first three career seasons all-time.

Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson recorded nine receptions for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 23-7 win over Green Bay. Jefferson recorded his fifth career game with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception.

In his 50th career start, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson (38-12) recorded three touchdown passes in the Ravens' 24-9 win over the New York Jets. His 38 wins are tied with Tom Brady and Danny White for the third-most wins by a quarterback in his first 50 career starts since 1970.

In his 20th career start, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts tallied 333 yards (243 passing, 90 rushing) and a rushing touchdown in the Eagles' 38-35 win over Detroit. Hurts scored his 14th career rushing touchdown, tied with Josh Allen and Steve Grogan for the second-most ever by a quarterback in his first 20 career starts.

Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in eight passes to become the fifth player ever to record at least eight receptions in seven consecutive games.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Browns' 26-24 win at Carolina. Garrett, who has now played in 69 career games, has 60.5 career sacks and became the fifth player since the individual sack became an official statistic (1982) with at least 60 sacks in his first 70 NFL games

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 338 yards in Week 1, improving to 7,637 passing yards in 27 career games. He tied Kurt Warner as the third-fastest player to reach 7,500 career passing yards in NFL history.

Indianapolis quarterback Matt Ryan passed for 352 yards with one touchdown in the Colts' 20-20 tie at Houston. Ryan ranks eighth in league history with 60,087 passing yards in 223 games. He has 74 career games with at least 300 passing yards.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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