It’s finally here.
32 teams fighting for their Lombardi. One team trying to keep theirs and perhaps add another. For the other 31 teams, they’re the hunters, which makes Tampa Bay prey.
This time, it’s not win and you advance; lose and your next game is next year. This IS next year. Win or lose, your next game is next week.
Welcome to the first Sunday of the 2021 NFL regular season.
Tampa Bay began their defense of the Lombardi Trophy with a win in their contest Thursdsay night against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys in the Sunshine State. The 2021 season is underway and fans will actually be allowed to enter stadiums. That means that places that didn’t have fans in the seats will be able to do so. Granted, America is still in the grip of COVID but with the vaccine and those that have already gotten their shots, the grip is loosening somewhat and includes all 32 teams, who have COVID protocols in place.
The 2021 National Football League regular season got to see daylight in Tampa to open things up and concludes January 9. 276 games on the schedule and all 32 teams are involved. There are games in London for the first time since 2019 but no games in Mexico and this time, there’s a 18th week to the season, which means that everyone plays 17 games instead of 16 (there’s still the BYE week, so don’t panic!)
“Life starts all over again,” wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald, “when it gets crisp in the fall.”
And this fall in the National Football League, that initial autumn breeze means an enhanced 18-week, 272-game regular-season schedule. Each team is playing 17 regular-season games for the first time, providing fans an extra week of action. It marks the first change to the season structure since the 1978 campaign ushered in an era of 16 regular-season and four preseason games.
Life starting all over again also means 32 clubs are tied for first place and that means every NFL coach, player and fan has insatiable hope. Why so much hopeful optimism entering 2021?
Currently, the average team has waited just 1.8 years since its last playoff berth. Three quarters of the league’s teams, 24 of 32, have been to the playoffs at least once in the past four seasons.
Over the past 18 seasons (2003-20), the average number of division winners that missed the postseason the year prior is 3.3 – including 26 division champions that finished last the year before. Both Pittsburgh (AFC North) and Washington (NFC East) won their divisions in 2020 after missing the postseason in 2019, and at least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 years.
Since 1990, 5.8 teams per year have qualified for the playoffs after missing the postseason the previous year. Over that stretch – a streak of 31 consecutive seasons – at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before. Seven teams that missed the postseason in 2019 – Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington – accomplished the feat in 2020 and no team has won consecutive Super Bowls since the 2003-04 New England Patriots, the longest stretch in NFL history without a repeat Super Bowl champion.
ROOKIE RESPECT: In 13 consecutive seasons, at least one rookie quarterback has started a Week 1 game, the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.
The top two overall selections in the 2021 draft – Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (Number 1 – Jacksonville) and Brigham Young’s Zach Wilson (Number 2 – New York Jets) – are expected to extend the streak early in the afternoon on Sunday. Both signal-callers will be on the road; the Jaguars meet the Texans and the Jets travel to Carolina to play their former quarterback Sam Darnold, acquired by the Panthers in an offseason trade. Darnold’s new teammates include rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn (selected Number 8 overall), expected to make his NFL debut for Carolina.
The last two starting quarterbacks at the University of Alabama will square off in New England Sunday when Patriots rookie Mac Jones (Number 15 overall) opens his NFL career against the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa, the fifth overall selection in the 2020 draft. Both players joined the Alabama program in 2017 and combined to lead the Crimson Tide to a berth in three of the past four national championship games. The AFC East showdown is also expected to feature the debut of former Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the sixth-overall selection in the 2021 draft.
Elsewhere this weekend:
Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris (24th overall) is expected to make his NFL debut when Pittsburgh makes the short trip to open the season Sunday at reigning AFC East champion Buffalo.
Two potential offensive stars – Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts (Number 4 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft – the highest selected tight end in the common-draft era) and Philadelphia wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Number 10, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner) – will be on opposite sidelines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Pitts’ Falcons host the Eagles on Sunday.
In Cincinnati on Sunday, Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (Number 5 overall) will line up for the first time with his college quarterback, Joe Burrow (Number 1 overall in 2020), when the Bengals host former LSU teammate Justin Jeffersno and the Vikings. The last time the trio was on the same field, the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship, Burrow threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns while Chase had nine catches for 221 yards with two touchdowns and Jefferson nine receptions for 106 yards.
Several rookie offensive linemen, including Lions tackle Penei Sewell (Number 7 overall), Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater (Number 13), Jets guard Alijan Vera-Tucker (Number 14) and Las Vegas tackle Alex Leatherwood (Number 17), are expected to make their NFL debuts on Sunday.
On the defensive side, rookie linebackers Micah Parsons (Number 12, Dallas), Zaven Collins (Number 16, Arizona) and Jamin Davis (Number 19, Washington) are expected to anchor the middle of their respective defenses this weekend, while cornerback Pat Surtain (Number 9, Denver) and defensive end Kwity Paye (Number 21, Indianapolis) will also make their first NFL appearances.
YOUTH MOVEMENT IN AFC EAST: All four quarterbacks expected to start for their AFC East teams this weekend, including Tua Tagovailoa (23 years old) and Mac Jones (23) in New England on Sunday, are under the age of 26 to open the season. If Josh Allen (25) starts for Buffalo and Zach Wilson (22) opens for the Jets, it will mark the first time in 36 years that four starting quarterbacks in the same NFL division were under the age of 26 at the start of a season. In 1985, Tony Eason (25) of New England, Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (23) of Miami, Ken O’Brien (24) of the Jets and Art Schlichter (25) of Indianapolis began the year under center in the AFC East. The Dolphins, Jets and Patriots reached the playoffs that season and New England earned a berth in Super Bowl XX.
CONSISTENTLY PRODUCTIVE: When Green Bay meets New Orleans for a Sunday showdown between 2020 NFC division winner, two of the NFL’s most consistently productive players will be in action. Only six individuals have rushed for at least 700 yards in each of the past three seasons (2018-20), including the Packers’ Aaron Jones and the Saints’ Alvin Kamara.
The players with at least 700 rushing yards in each of the past three seasons:
PLAYER-TEAM; RUSHING YARDS (2018-20)/SCRIMMAGE YARDS (2018-20)
Nick Chubb – Cleveland; 3,557/4,134
Gus Edwards – Baltimore; 2,152/2,346
Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas; 3,770/5,095
Derrick Henry – Tennessee; 4,626/5,045
Aaron Jones – Green Bay; 2,916/3,951
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans; 2,612/4,610
PLAYOFF TEAMS FACE OFF: That Packers-Saints contest is one of five games on the Week 1 docket featuring two teams that qualified for the 2020 playoffs.
Included in that group is a rematch of an AFC Divisional game between Cleveland and Kansas City on Sunday at Arrowhead. Including the postseason, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is 8-0 against the Browns, 4-0 with Philadelphia and 4-0 with Kansas City. Kansas City defeated Cleveland, 22-17, last postseason and became the first team since Reid’s 2002-04 Philadelphia Eagles to host three consecutive championship games. Both the Packers and Chiefs will be looking to extend the league’s longest active winning streak on Kickoff Weekend. Each club has won its first game in six consecutive seasons.
Another tilt on the Kickoff Weekend card features Seattle traveling to the Hoosier State to take on Indianapolis on Sunday. Including the playoffs, Seattle in the Eastern Time Zone has won 12 of its past 13 games. Quarterback Russell Wilson in those 13 games is 12-1 with a 117.9 passer rating, 3,598 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
In a marquee early game Sunday, Pittsburgh – who ranked third in the NFL last year in total defense (305.8 yards per game) and finished second in scoring defense (19.5 points per game) – faces Buffalo, whose offense was second in the league in both yards per game (396.4) and points per game (31.3).
The Los Angeles Rams will welcome fans to SoFi Stadium for the first time when Chicago pays a visit on Sunday Night Football. Chicago has 55 wins on Kickoff Weekend, the second-most in NFL history, while the Rams have won four consecutive Week 1 games.
REIGNING ROOKIES OF THE YEAR: For the second straight season and fourth time in NFL history, the defending Associated Press rookies of the year will clash on Kickoff Weekend. At FedExField on Sunday, 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert will lead the Chargers against 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young and Washington. Last season, Herbert recorded the most touchdown passes (31) and most completions (396), and second-most passing yards (4,336) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. Young, meanwhile, led all rookies with 7.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss and tied for the lead among rookies with four forced fumbles.
Last season, 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray guided the Cardinals to a season-opening win at San Francisco against defending Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa.
Prior to 2020, the last time defending rookies of the year met in Week 1 was September 10, 1989, when the Patriots and running back John Stephens defeated the Jets and defensive back Erik McMillan 27-24, at Giants Stadium. The first time it happened was September 21, 1975, when San Diego Chargers running back Don Woods and Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert met at Jack Murphy Stadium, where the Steelers won 37-0, en route to a Super Bowl X championship.
RAVING ABOUT THE RAVENS: Las Vegas also welcomes fans to their home, Allegiant Stadium, for the first time, hosting Baltimore on Monday Night Football. Since 2016 in Week 1 games, Baltimore is 5-0 and has outscored its opponents 177-26. The Ravens haven’t allowed more than 10 points in any of those five Kickoff Weekend games.
OPTIMISTIC STATE OF MIND: New leaders and new outlooks will dot the NFL’s landscape this weekend.
Seven new head coaches enter the 2021 season – Dan Campbell in Detroit, David Culley in Houston, Urban Meyer in Jacksonville, Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, Nick Sirianni with Philadelphia, Arthur Smith with Atlanta and Brandon Staley with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Over the last four seasons, seven head coaches in their first year with a new club have led their teams to the playoffs: Ron Rivera (Washington) and Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland) in 2020, Matt LaFleur (Green Bay) in 2019, Matt Nagy (Chicago) and Frank Reich (Indianapolis) in 2018 and Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams) and Sean McDermott (Buffalo) in 2017.
Two games this weekend will feature first-year head coaches on opposite sidelines: Meyer and Culley will meet in Houston on Sunday while Sirianni and Smith will battle in Atlanta. Coaches in their first year at the reins of an NFL team have played a Week 1 game only five times over the past 38 seasons and never twice in the same opening weekend.
The last five meetings of rookie NFL head coaches on Kickoff Weekend:
DATE: WINNING COACH – TEAM/LOSING COACH – TEAM (FINAL)
September 7, 2014: Bill O’Brien – Houston Texans/Jay Gruden – Washington (17-6)
September 3, 2000: Al Groh – New York Jets/Mike Sherman – Green Bay (20-16)
September 12, 1999: Dick Jauron – Chicago/Gunther Cunningham – Kansas City (20-17)
September 6, 1992: Dennis Green – Minnesota/Mike Holmgren – Green Bay (23-20 in OT)
September 4, 1983: John Robinson – Los Angeles Rams/Bill Parcells – New York Giants (16-6) (Parcells is a member of the HOF)
SAME FACES, NEW PLACES: Several notable players were on the move since the end of the 2020 season, including quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater (Denver), Andy Dalton (Chicago), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Washington), Jared Goff (Detroit), Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams), Tyrod Taylor (Houston) and Carson Wentz (Indianapolis); running backs James Conner (Arizona), Mike Davis (Atlanta), Kenyan Drake (Las Vegas), Phillip Lindsay (Houston) and Sony Michel (Los Angeles Rams); wide receivers Corey Davis (New York Jets), A.J. Green (Arizona), Julio Jones (Tennessee) and Kenny Golladay (New York Giants); tight ends Hunter Henry (New England) and Jonnu Smith (New England); offensive linemen Orlando Brown (Kansas City), Trent Brown (New England), Corey Linsley (Los Angeles Chargers), Alex Mack (San Francisco) and Joe Thuney (Kansas City); defensive linemen Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati), Yannick Ngakoue (Las Vegas) and J.J. Watt (Arizona); linebackers Bud Dupree (Tennessee), Justin Houston (Baltimore) and Haason Reddick (Carolina) and defensive backs Kyle Fuller (Denver), Mike Hilton (Cincinnati), John Johnson (Cleveland) and Patrick Peterson (Minnesota).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2021 (PLAYERS, TEAMS AND COACHES)
DaVante Adams (Green Bay), Green Bay, can become the fourth player since 1970 to lead the league or tie for the lead in touchdown receptions in consecutive seasons, joining Jerry Rice (1986-87; 1989-91), Terrell Owens (2001-02) and Larry Fitzgerald (2008-09). Adams led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in 2020. Adams also needs at least 12 TD receptions to become the fifth player with 12 in four of his first eight seasons, joining Jerry Rice (five seasons), Calvin Johnson (four), Randy Moss (four) and Terrell Owens (four). Adams needs at least 110 receptions and 1,300 receiving yards to become the fourth in NFL history with 110 and 1,300 in three seasons, joining Antonio Brown (three seasons), DeAndre Hopkins (three) and Wes Welker (three).
Josh Allen (Buffalo) needs nine rushing touchdowns to surpass Cam Newton (33) for the most by a quarterback in his first four seasons. Allen has 25 career rushing touchdowns and also needs eight rushing TDs to become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for at least eight in four consecutive seasons. Allen needs four games with both a passing and rushing touchdown to join Cam Newton (24 games) as the only quarterbacks with at least 20 such games through their first four seasons. Allen has 16 such games
Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers) needs 95 receptions to join Antonio Brown (six seasons, 2013-18) as the only players with at least 95 in fiveor-more consecutive seasons in NFL history.
Bill Belichick (New England) ranks third all-time with 311 total victories and needs 14 to surpass George Halas (324) for the secondmost by a head coach in NFL history. Belichick can Can tie Don Shula (19) for the most postseason berths as a head and is currently tied with Tom Landry (18) for second.
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay) needs 1,155 passing yards to surpass Drew Brees (80,358) for the most career passing yards in NFL history. Brady ranks second all-time with 79,204 and also needs 4,000 passing yards to join Peyton Manning (14 seasons) as the only players with at least 4,000 passing yards in 13 seasons.
Brady needs 25 TD passes to tie Peyton Manning (16 seasons) for the most seasons with at least 25. Brady ranks second with 15 such seasons, needs 40 TD passes to join Aaron Rodgers (three seasons) as the only players with at least 40 in three seasons and can also join Brees (2011-12) as the only players in NFL history to record 40 touchdown passes in consecutive seasons.
Brady needs 365 completions to surpass Drew Brees (7,142) for the most in NFL history. Brady ranks second all-time with 6,778 career and one game with at least 300 passing yards to join Brees (123 games) as the only players with at least 100 career games of 300-or-more passing yards in NFL history, needs five games with at least three touchdown passes to surpass Drew Brees (97 games) for the most such games in NFL history and five games with at least four touchdown passes to surpass Drew Brees (37 games) for the most such games in NFL history.
Antonio Brown (Tampa Bay) needs 22 receptions in his first 11 games to surpass Marvin Harrison (907) for the most by a player through his first 150 career games. Brown has 886 in 139 career games.
Joe Burrow (Cincinnati) needs five games with at least 300 passing yards to become the third quarterback in NFL history with 300 in 10 games during his first two seasons, joining Patrick Mahomes (10) and Dan Marino (10). Burrow had five as a rookie in 2020.
Derek Carr (Las Vegas) needs 3,104 passing yards to become the fifth player with at least 30,000 through his first eight seasons in NFL history. Carr has 26,896 career passing yards and also needs 3,000 passing yards to become the fourth player with at least 3,000 in each of his first eight seasons.
Nick Chubb (Cleveland) needs at least 950 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to become the sixth player to do so in each of his first four seasons.
Dalvin Cook (Minnesota) needs at least 1,500 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to become the fifth player to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons. Cook also needs at least 13 rushing touchdowns to become the seventh player to accomplish the feat in three consecutive seasons.
Amari Cooper (Dallas) needs at least five receiving touchdowns to become the eighth player with five in each of his first seven seasons.
Kirk Cousins (Minnesota) needs at least 25 touchdown passes to become the fifth player to accomplish the feat in seven consecutive seasons, joining Peyton Manning (13 seasons), Drew Brees (11), Philip Rivers (11) and Tom Brady (10). Cousins also needs 10 touchdown passes in his first four games to become the fifth-fastest player (113 games) to reach 200 career TD passes. Cousins has 190 touchdown passes in 109 career games.
Stefon Diggs (Buffalo) needs at least 125 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards to join Antonio Brown (2014-15) as the only players to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons in NFL history.
Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams) needs 14.5 sacks to become the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with 100 sacks in his first eight seasons, joining Reggie White (124 sacks), DeMarcus Ware (111) and Jared Allen (105). Donald has 85.5 sacks in his first seven seasons and needs eight sacks to become the fourth player since 1982 with at least eight sacks in each of his first eight seasons, joining Derrick Thomas (10 seasons), DeMarcus Ware (eight) and Reggie White (14).
Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles Chargers) needs two TD receptions to surpass Danny Woodhead (17) for the most by an undrafted running back in the common-draft era. Ekeler has 16 career touchdown receptions and needs six touchdown receptions to surpass Chuck Foreman (21) for the most by a running back in his first five seasons and needs 884 receiving yards to surpass Priest Holmes (2,962) for the most by an undrafted running back in the common-draft era. Ekeler has 2,079 career receiving yards.
Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas) needs at least 1,250 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns to join LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players to accomplish the feat in each of their first six seasons.
Zach Ertz (Philadelphia) needs 39 receptions to become the ninth tight end with at least 600 career receptions in NFL history.
Mike Evans (Tampa Bay) needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the first player with at least 1,000 in each of his first eight seasons.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh) needs one interception-return touchdown to become the fourth player since 2000 to return an interception for a TD in four consecutive seasons, joining Charles Woodson (six seasons), Nate Clements (four) and Aqib Talib (four).
Melvin Gordon (Denver) needs eight rushing TDs to become the fifth running back in NFL history with at least eight in six consecutive seasons, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (nine seasons), Jim Brown (seven), Adrian Peterson (seven) and Emmitt Smith (seven).
Jimmy Graham (Chicago) has 8,339 career receiving yards and needs 661 to become the fifth tight end in NFL history with at least 9,000. Graham also has 699 career receptions and needs 44 to surpass Greg Olsen (742) for the fifth-most by a tight end in NFL history.
Rob Gronkowski (Tampa Bay) needs 516 receiving yards to become the fifth tight end with at least 9,000. Gronkowski has 8,484 career receiving yards. Gronkowski also needs 1,000 receiving yards to join Travis Kelce (five) as the only tight ends in NFL history with five career 1,000-yard seasons. Gronkowski needs three games with at least 100 receiving yards to surpass Tony Gonzalez (31 games) for the most such games by a tight end in NFL history. Gronkowski (29) ranks second all-time among tight ends.
Derrick Henry (Tennessee) needs 1,500 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to become the first player to accomplish the feat in three consecutive seasons. Henry also needs 15 rushing TDs to join LaDainian Tomlinson (four, 2004-07) as the only players to accomplish the feat in three consecutive seasons. Needs 2,000 rushing yards to become the first player to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons. Henry needs two games with at least 200 rushing yards to surpass Adrian Peterson (six) and O.J. Simpson (six) for the most in NFL history and can join Steve Van Buren (1947-49), Jim Brown (1957-61, 1963-65), Earl Campbell (1978-80) and Emmitt Smith (1991-93) as the only players to lead the league in rushing yards in three consecutive seasons. Henry can also join Steve Van Buren (1947-49) as the only players in NFL history to lead the NFL in rushing yards, rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns for three consecutive seasons.
Justin Hebert (Los Angeles Chargers) needs 38 touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (68) for the most by a player through his first two seasons. Herbert had an NFL-rookie record 31 in 2020. Herbert also needs 30 touchdown passes to become the first in league history to accomplish the feat in each of his first two seasons and needs 3,861 passing yards to surpass Andrew Luck (8,196) for the most by a player through his first two seasons.
Hebert needs 4,000 passing yards to join Jameis Winston as the only players to reach 4,000 in each of their first two seasons in NFL history, needs three games with at least 300 passing yards to surpass Patrick Mahomes (10 games) and Dan Marino (10) for the most by a player in his first two seasons and needs 10 games with at least two touchdown passes to join Dan Marino (22 games) as the only players with 20 in their first two seasons.
Tyreek Hill (Kansas City) needs three games with at least two touchdowns to surpass Bob Hayes (16) for the third most by a wide receiver in his first six seasons. Hill has 14 games with at least two touchdowns in his first five seasons.
T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis) needs 640 receiving yards to reach 10,000 career and become the third player in franchise history to reach the mark, joining Marvin Harrison (14,580) and Reggie Wayne (14,345). The Colts would become the first team to have three players reach 10,000 career receiving yards.
DeAndre Hopkins (Arizona) needs 99 receptions to surpass Marvin Harrison (845) for the most receptions by a player through his first nine seasons in NFL history. Hopkins has 747 career and needs 100 receptions to become the third player in NFL history with at least 100 in four consecutive seasons and needs 991 receiving yards to become the seventh in NFL history with at least 11,000 receiving yards through his first nine seasons. Hopkins has 10,009 through his first eight seasons.
Hopkins needs 800 receiving yards to become the third in NFL history with at least 800 in each of his first nine seasons, joining Jerry Rice (12 seasons) and Gary Clark (nine).
Xavien Howard (Miami) can become the third since 1970 to lead the NFL or tie for the lead in interceptions in three seasons, joining Ed Reed (2004, 2008, 2010) and Everson Walls (1981-82, 1985). Howard is tied for the lead with seven in 2018 and led with 10 in 2020 and also needs seven interceptions to join Ed Reed (three seasons) as the only players with at least seven interceptions in three of their first six seasons since 1990.
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia) needs one game with at least 100 rushing yards to join Lamar Jackson (2018-19) as the only quarterbacks to record a 100-yard rushing game in each of their first two seasons.
Lamar Jackson (Baltimore) needs 25 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns to become the first quarterback in NFL history to reach those marks in three consecutive seasons. Jackson also needs three games with at least 100 rushing yards to surpass Michael Vick (10) for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. Jackson ranks second all-time among QBs with eight 100-yard rushing games and needs 2,915 passing yards and 594 rushing yards to become the first quarterback to throw for 10,000 and rush for 3,500 in his first four seasons. No QB has reached those marks in his first five seasons.
Justin Jefferson (Minnesota) needs 1,356 receiving yards to surpass Odell Beckham Jr. (2,755) for the most by a player through his first two seasons. Jefferson also needs 1,250 receiving yards to join Beckham and Randy Moss as the only players to reach 1,250 in each of their first two seasons.
Chandler Jones (Arizona) needs 17 sacks to become the third player since 1982 with three career seasons of at least 17. Jones had 17 in 2017 and 19 in 2019.
Deion Jones (ATLANTA) needs one interception-return touchdown to become the fourth since 2000 to return an interception for a touchdown in four consecutive seasons, joining Charles Woodson (six seasons), Nate Clements (four) and Aqib Talib (four).
Julio Jones (Tennessee) needs 802 receiving yards to surpass Marvin Harrison (13,697) for the second-most through a player’s first 11 seasons in NFL history. Jones has 12,896 career. Jones also needs 95 receptions to surpass Jerry Rice (942) for the second most through a player’s first 11 seasons in NFL history. Jones has 848 career and needs two games with at least 100 receiving yards to become the third player in NFL history with 60 career 100-yard receiving games, joining Jerry Rice (76) and Randy Moss (64).
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans) needs 33 receptions to surpass Roger Craig (358) for the most by a running back in his first five seasons. Kamara has 326 career. Kamara also needs 80 receptions to join Marshall Faulk (five seasons) as the only running backs with at least 80 in five consecutive seasons.
Kamara needs 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards to become the third player to accomplish the feat in five consecutive seasons, joining Marshall Faulk (five seasons) and Lydell Mitchell (five). Kamara needs 176 receiving yards to become the third running back with at least 3,000 in his first five seasons, joining Lenny Moore (3,509) and Roger Craig (3,234). Kamara has 2,824 career and needs 18 touchdowns to become the fifth player with three career seasons of at least 18.
Travis Kelce (Kansas City) needs 85 receptions and 29 receiving yards to surpass Jason Witten (696 receptions, 7,909 receiving yards) for the most receptions and most receiving yards by a tight end in his first nine seasons. Kelce has 612 receptions for 7,881 receiving yards in his first eight seasons and also needs seven touchdown receptions to become the sixth tight end with at least 55 in his first nine seasons. Kelce has 48 career and he needs 1,000 receiving yards to become the first tight end in NFL history with six career seasons of at least 1,000. Kelce has at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past five seasons.
Kelce needs 80 receptions to become the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 80 in six consecutive seasons. He has at least 80 in each of the past five seasons and also needs six games with at least 100 receiving yards to tie Tony Gonzalez (31) for the most by a tight end. Kelce ranks third all-time among tight ends with 25 career 100-yard games.
George Kittle (San Francisco) needs 85 receptions to surpass Jason Witten (348) for the second most by a tight end in his first five seasons. Kittle has 264 career. Kittle also needs 921 receiving yards to become the third tight end with at least 4,500 in his first five seasons, joining Jimmy Graham (4,752) and Kellen Winslow Sr. (4,513). Kittle has 3,579 career.
Jarvis Landry (Cleveland) needs 70 receptions to become the first player in NFL history to record at least 70 receptions in each of his first eight seasons. Landry also needs 64 receptions to become the sixth with at least 700 receptions through his first eight seasons. Landry has 636 career.
Darius Leonard (Indianapolis) needs three interceptions to become the fourth linebacker since 2000 with at least 10 in his first four seasons, joining Luke Kuechly (11), Sean Lee (11) and Cato June (10). Leonard has seven interceptions in his first three seasons.
Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City) needs 4,000 passing yards to join Peyton Manning (four seasons) as the only quarterbacks with at least 4,000 in four of their first five seasons. Mahomes has at least 4,000 in each of the past three seasons. Mahomes also can become the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 15,000 career passing yards in 50-or-fewer games. Mahomes enters 2021 with 14,152 in 46 career games.
Mahomes needs four games with at least 300 passing yards to surpass Kurt Warner (29) for the most by a quarterback in his first five seasons. Mahomes has 26 career games with at least 300 passing yards. Mahomes needs 35 TD passes to become the first with at least 35 in three of his first five seasons. Mahomes had 50 in 2018 and 38 in 2020 and needs 25 touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning (138) for the second-most touchdown passes by a quarterback in his first five seasons. Mahomes has 114 career.
Mahomes needs one game with at least three touchdown passes to surpass Kurt Warner (21 games) for the second most such games by a quarterback in his first five career seasons. Mahomes has 21 career games with at least three touchdown passes and needs 10 games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher to surpass Russell Wilson (38) for the most by a quarterback in his first five career seasons. Mahomes has 29 such career games.
Baker Mayfield (Cleveland) needs 3,500 passing yards to join Peyton Manning (1998-2001) as the only players with at least 3,500 in each of their first four seasons. With 3,885 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes, Mayfield can join Dan Marino and Peyton Manning as the only players with at least 15,000 and 100 through their first four seasons. Mayfield has 11,115 career passing yards and 75 career touchdown passes.
Christian McCaffrey (Carolina) needs 39 receptions to surpass Roger Craig (358) for the most by a running back in his first five seasons. McCaffrey has 320 career. McCaffrey also needs 80 receptions to become the fourth running back with at least 80 in four different seasons, joining Marshall Faulk (five), Larry Centers (four) and Alvin Kamara (four). McCaffery needs 328 receiving yards to become the third running back with at least 3,000 in his first five seasons, joining Lenny Moore (3,509) and Roger Craig (3,234) and also needs one game with both a rushing and receiving touchdown to surpass Chuck Foreman (nine) for the most such games through a player’s first five seasons.
D.K. Metcalf (Seattle) needs 1,250 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns to become the fourth player to accomplish the feat in at least two of his first three seasons in NFL history, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (three), Randy Moss (three) and A.J. Green (two).
Von Miller (Denver) can become the fifth player since 1982 with at least 120 sacks in his first 150 career games, joining Reggie White (145), DeMarcus Ware (125), Jared Allen (122) and Bruce Smith (121). Miller has 106 sacks in 135 career games.
Kyler Murray (Arizona) can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history with at least 3,500 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first three seasons. Murray also needs 500 rushing yards to become the third quarterback since 1970 with 500 in each of his first three seasons.
Murray needs 637 rushing yards to become the third quarterback since 1970 with 2,000 through his first three seasons. Murray has 1,363 career and needs five rushing touchdowns to become the third quarterback since 1970 to rush for at least 20 through his first three seasons. Murray has 15 career and needs 10 rushing touchdowns to become the first quarterback since 1970 to rush for at least 10 in consecutive seasons.
Cordarrelle Patterson (ATLANTA) needs one kickoff-return touchdown to surpass Josh Cribbs (eight) and Leon Washington (eight) for the most in NFL history.
Dak Prescott (Dallas) needs three rushing touchdowns to join Cam Newton as the only quarterbacks with at least three in each of their first six seasons. Prescott also needs six rushing touchdowns to join Cam Newton (48) as the only quarterbacks with at least 30 through their first six seasons in the Super Bowl era. Prescott has 24 career.
Calvin Ridley (ATLANTA) needs seven receiving touchdowns to become the fourth in NFL history with at least seven in each of his first four seasons.
James Robinson (Jacksonville) needs 1,000 scrimmage yards to become the fourth undrafted player with at least 1,000 in each of his first two seasons in the common-draft era. Robinson had 1,414 as a rookie in 2020. Robinson also needs 1,000 rushing yards to join Phillip Lindsay (2018-19) as the only undrafted players with at least 1,000 in each of their first two seasons in the common-draft era. Robinson had 1,070 in 2020 and needs 10 touchdowns to become the first undrafted player with at least 10 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in the common-draft era. Robinson had 10 (seven rushing, three receiving) in 2020.
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) needs nine touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (420) for sixth in NFL history, and 10 to surpass Philip Rivers (421) for fifth. Rodgers ranks seventh all-time with 412. Rodgers also needs 40 touchdown passes to join Drew Brees (2011-12) as the only players with at least 40 in consecutive seasons. Rodgers led the NFL with 48 in 2020 and his three seasons with at least 40 (2011, 2016, 2020) are the most in NFL history.
Rodgers needs 30 touchdown passes to become the fifth in league annals with at least 30 in eight seasons. He needs 4,000 passing yards to become the sixth in NFL history to reach 4,000 in 10 seasons, needs 755 passing yards over his first three games to become the fourth with at least 52,000 in his first 200 career contests. Rodgers has 51,245 passing yards in 197 games and needs seven games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher to surpass Peyton Manning (112) for the third-most such games in NFL history. Rodgers ranks sixth all-time with 106.
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh) needs 3,093 passing yards to surpass Philip Rivers (63,440) for fifth most in NFL history. Roethlisberger ranks seventh all-time with 60,348. Roethlisberger also needs four games with at least 300 passing yards to become the fifth in NFL history with 70 career 300-yard games. Roethlisberger ranks sixth all-time with 66. Roethlisberger needs four touchdown passes to become the eighth with 400 career. Roethlisberger ranks eighth all-time with 396.
Matt Rtyan (ATLANTA) needs 4,000 passing yards to join Drew Brees (12 seasons from 2006-17) as the only players with at least 4,000 passing yards in 11 consecutive seasons. Ryan also needs 4,500 passing yards to tie Drew Brees (eight) for the most seasons with at least 4,500. Ryan ranks second all-time with seven, needs 4,233 passing yards to become the eighth with 60,000. Ryan ranks ninth all-time with 55,767 career and needs 3,721 passing yards to surpass Peyton Manning (59,487) for the most through a player’s first 14 seasons.
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) can become the eighth in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes in 175-or-fewer games. Stafford has 282 touchdown passes in 165 career games. Stafford needs 3,733 passing yards to surpass Dan Marino (48,841) for the fourth most by a quarterback in his first 13 career seasons. Stafford has 45,109 career.
Michael Thomas (New Orleans) needs 55 receptions to surpass Jarvis Landry (564) for the most by a player in his first six seasons. Thomas has 510 receptions in 70 career games. Thomas also can become the fastest to reach 600 career receptions, surpassing Keenan Allen (96 games) and Antonio Brown (96). Thomas needs two games with at least 10 receptions to become the third with 20 such games, joining Antonio Brown (22) and Andre Johnson (22). Thomas has 18 career games with at least 10 receptions.
Justin Tucker (Baltimore) needs 108 points to surpass Stephen Gostkowski (1,330) for the most through a player’s first 10 seasons. Tucker also needs six games with multiple field goals made to surpass Stephen Gostkowski (95 games) for the most such performances through a player’s first 10 seasons.
Darren Waller (Las Vegas) needs 90 receptions to join Travis Kelce as the only tight ends with at least 90 in three consecutive seasons. Waller also needs 100 receptions to become the first tight end to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons. Waller had 107 receptions in 2020. Needs 1,100 receiving yards to join Travis Kelce as the only tight ends with at least 1,100 in three consecutive seasons.
DeShaun Watson (Houston) needs 4,461 passing yards to become the fifth player with at least 19,000 through his first five seasons. Watson has 14,539 career. Watson also needs 35 touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning (138) for the second most by a player through his first five seasons in NFL history. Watson has 104 career and needs 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes to join Peyton Manning (five seasons) as the only players to accomplish the feat in at least four of their first five seasons in NFL history.
J.J. Watt (Arizona) needs nine sacks to become the eighth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to reach 110 in 145-or-fewer games. Watt has 101 sacks in 128 career games.
T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh) needs 13 sacks to become the second player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least 13 in four consecutive seasons, joining Reggie White, who did it twice (1985-88 and 1990-93). Watt led the NFL with 15 sacksbin 2020. Watt also needs 15.5 sacks to become the fourth player since 1982 to record at least 65 sacks over his first five seasons, joining Reggie White (81), J.J. Watt (74.5) and Derrick Thomas (66). Watt has 49.5 sacks in 62 career games.
Russell Wilson (Seattle) needs eight wins to surpass Peyton Manning (105) for the most by a starting quarterback in his first 10 seasons. Wilson has won 98 starts in his first nine seasons. Wilson also needs six wins to surpass Peyton Manning (112) for the most victories, including postseason, by a starting quarterback over his first 10 seasons. Wilson has won 107 starts, including postseason, since entering the NFL in 2012.
Wilson needs 3,000 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns to join Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach those marks in each of their first 10 seasons and needs 40 touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning (306) for the most by a player through his first 10 seasons. Wilson has 267 career, needs 30 touchdown passes to become the third in NFL history with at least 30 in five-or-more consecutive seasons, joining Drew Brees (nine) and Brett Favre (five).
Wilson also needs 1,835 passing yards to surpass Joe Flacco (35,780) for the fifth most by a player through his first 10 seasons. Wilson has 33,946 career. Needs a season passer rating of at least 105 to become the first to accomplish the feat in four consecutive seasons (min. 250 attempts), needs 11 games with at least three touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (48) and Peyton Manning (48) for the most such games by a player through his first 10 seasons and needs three games with at least four touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (17) and Peyton Manning (17) for the most such games by a player through his first 10 seasons.
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: Below is a list of the estimated round-trip distance for every regular-season road game, including International Games, for each team in 2021. (Please return your trays to the upright position and follow the flight attendant’s instructions.)
TEAM – MILES TO TRAVEL
- San Francisco – 28,260
- Seattle – 28,050
- Jacksonville – 26,707
- Los Angeles Rams – 25,760
- Los Angeles Chargers – 25,467
- Miami – 23,459
- Arizona – 22,186
- Las Vegas – 21,224
- ATLANTA – 20,306
- Dallas – 18,779
- New York Jets – 18,428
- New York Giants – 18,350
- New Orleans – 17,367
- Houston – 16,749
- New England – 16,746
- Denver – 16,538
- Minnesota – 16,032
- Tampa Bay – 16,010
- Chicago – 14,999
- Tennessee – 14,651
- Indianapolis – 14,416
- Detroit – 14,073
- Kansas City – 14,012
- Washington – 13,934
- Philadelphia – 13,810
- Carolina – 13,509
- Green Bay -13,333
- Baltimore – 12,963
- Buffalo – 12,631
- Cleveland – 9,880
- Pittsburgh – 9,776
- Cincinnati – 9,462
• The total distance traveled by all teams during the regular season will be 558,287 miles.
• The teams of the NFC West (104,676) have the highest combined mileage total of all divisions.
• The remaining division totals ranking from highest to lowest are the AFC West (83,648), AFC South (72,523), AFC East (71,264), NFC South (67,192), NFC East (64,873), NFC North (58,437) and AFC North (42,081).
• Five teams – San Francisco (28,680), Seattle (28,050), Jacksonville (26,707), the Los Angeles Rams (25,760) and the Los Angeles Chargers (25,467) – will “travel around the world” at least once. A trip around the globe is 25,000 miles.
IT’S HARD TO GET ON TOP, IT’S EVEN HARDER TO STAY THERE: Not all Super Bowl winners fared well the following season, as eight teams that won the Lombardi repeated, while six teams that won the Super Bowl the year before lost. Seven teams (Green Bay, Miami, San Francisco, Dallas, New England, Denver, Pittsburgh) were repeat winners, while six teams were losers the following season. 16 teams that won the Lombardi the year before won their season openers the following season.
KICKOFF WEEKEND NOTES: Kickoff Weekend began on Thursday, as the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcomed Dallas to Raymond James Stadium. Below is a sampling of notable active NFL Kickoff streaks:
Kansas City hosts Cleveland on Kickoff Weekend. The defending AFC champions have won their past six Kickoff Weekend games, the longest active streak in the AFC and tied for the longest active streak in the NFL.
Baltimore visits the Las Vegas Raiders in the desert on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Ravens have won their last five Kickoff Weekend games, the AFC’s secondlongest active streak. Since 2016, Baltimore has outscored their opponents 177-26 on Kickoff Weekend and haven’t allowed more than 10 points in any of their previous five Week 1 games.
Reigning NFC Division champs meet in Jacksonville, not New Orleans as Green Bay (NFC North) takes on New Orleans (NFC South) at EverBank Stadium. Green Bay has won 58 games on Kickoff Weekend, Weekend, the most in the NFL. The Packers have won their past six Kickoff Weekend games, tying them with Kansas City for the longest active streak in the NFL.
Chicago heads west to visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. Chicago has 55 wins on Kickoff Weekend, the second-most in the NFL, while the Rams have won four consecutive Week 1 games, the second-longest active streak in the NFC.
HEAD COACHES: New England’s Bill Belichick is 18-8 (.692) on Kickoff Weekend and his 18 wins are the most among active head coaches. Belichick, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh (10-3; .769) and Kansas City’s Andy Reid (14-8; .636) are the only active head coaches who have won at least 10 Kickoff Weekend games. Reid has won six consecutive games on Kickoff Weekend, the longest current streak among active head coaches. Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay (4-0 and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur (2-0) are the only active head coaches with perfect records on Kickoff Weekend.
Seven head coaches – Detroit’s
DAN CAMPBELL, Houston’s David Culley,
Jacksonville’s URBAN MEYER, New York
Jets’ ROBERT SALEH, Philadelphia’s NICK
SIRIANNI, Atlanta’s ARTHUR SMITH and the
Los Angeles Chargers’ BRANDON STALEY –
make their Kickoff Weekend debuts
PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE: The 2021 NFL season was expanded by one game as each team will now play 17 games instead of 16. Fear not, fans. The bye week is still in effect, so don’t worry.
Here’s how things work out or how the 2021 regular season schedule came into being (pay attention, there’s going to be a quiz afterward).
Under the scheduling formula, every team plays 17 regular-season games with one bye week.
Clubs will host 10 games overall – either nine regular-season games and one preseason game or eight regular-season games and two preseason games.
• Home and away against its three division opponents (six games).
• The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (four games).
• The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (four games).
• Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (two games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.
• One interconference game based on the prior year’s standings on a rotating four-year cycle (one game). These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite coference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are matched in the same way each year. The home conference for this game will rotate each season.
NFL Kickoff Weekend began Thursday night with the regular season coming to an end Sunday, January 9, 2022. The 2022 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and the season will conclude with Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2022.
The enhanced season will ensure that beginning in 2022, all 32 clubs will play internationally at least once every eight years. The scheduling of up to four neutral-site games per year in a country outside the United States will focus initially on Canada, Europe, Mexico, South America and the United Kingdom. In addition, interested clubs can continue to volunteer to play home games internationally, as is currently the case.
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE HOPE, YOU HAVE A CHANCE: New teams making the playoffs and winning divisions, consistent teams excelling once again, records falling and young players making their mark all combined to help shape the story of the 2020 season. Week 17 once again came right down to the wire as seven playoff spots and two division titles – the AFC South and NFC East – were decided on the last day of the season. The excitement of Week 17 was due in part to having 16 divisional games played on the season’s final day, a tradition instituted in 2010.
Every team enters the 2021 season with a trip to Los Angeles and Super Bowl LVI in mind and below are a few reasons why.
• Both Pittsburgh (AFC North) and Washington (NFC East) won their division after missing the postseason in 2019 and at least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 years.
Teams to win their division a season after missing the postseason since 2003:
SEASON AND NEW DIVISION WINNERS AFTER MISSING POSTSEASON THE PREVIOUS SEASON
2020 – Pittsburgh, Washington*
2019 – Green Bay, San Francisco
2018 – Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston
2017 – Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia
2016 – ATLANTA, Dallas*
2015 – Houston, Minnesota, Washington*
2014 – Dallas, Pittsburgh
2013 – Carolina, Philadelphia
2012 – Washington*
2011 – Denver, Houston, New York Giants, San Francisco
2010 – ATLANTA, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle 2009 – Cincinnati, Dallas, New England, New Orleans
2008 – Arizona, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota 2007 – Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
2006 – Baltimore, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego 2005 – Chicago, Cincinnati, New York Giants, Tampa Bay*
2004 – ATLANTA, Pittsburgh, San Diego
2003 – Baltimore, Carolina, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis Rams
*worst to first
Since 1990 – a streak of 31 consecutive seasons – at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before. Seven teams that missed the postseason in 2019 – Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington – accomplished the feat in 2020.
The teams since 1990 to make the playoffs a season after failing to qualify:
SEASON AND PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON’S PLAYOFFS
1990 – 7 (Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles Raiders, Miami, New Orleans, Washington)
1991 – 5 (ATLANTA, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New York Jets)
1992 – 6 (Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco)
1993 – 5 (Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants)
1994 – 5 (Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, New England, San Diego)
1995 – 4 (ATLANTA, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Philadelphia)
1996 – 5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England)
1997 – 5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay)
1998 – 5 (Arizona, ATLANTA, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets)
1999 – 7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2000 – 6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia)
2001 – 6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)
2002 – 5 (ATLANTA, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee)
2003 – 8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle)
2004 – 5 (ATLANTA, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego)
2005 – 7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington)
2006 – 7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego)
2007 – 6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2008 – 7 (Arizona, ATLANTA, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia)
2009 – 6 (Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets)
2010 – 5 (ATLANTA, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle)
2011 – 6 (Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York Giants, San Francisco)
2012 – 4 (Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington)
2013 – 5 (Carolina, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego)
2014 – 5 (Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh)
2015 – 4 (Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington)
2016 – 6 (ATLANTA, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, New York Giants, Oakland)
2017 – 8 (Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tennessee)
2018 – 7 (Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle)
2019 – 5 (Buffalo, Green Bay, Minnesota, San Francisco, Tennessee)
2020 – 7 (Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! The NFL will be celebrating historic milestones in 2021.
125th – The Allegheny Athletic Association fields the first completely professional team (1896).
115th – The first authenticated forward pass completion is recorded as George (Peggy) Parratt of Massillon throws a completion to Dan (Bullet) Riley (10/25/1906).
100th – A.E. Staley turns the Decatur Staleys over to player-coach George Halas, who moves the team to Cubs Park in Chicago (1921).
100th – Fritz Pollard of the Akron Pros becomes the first black head coach (1921).
85th – The Eagles make University of Chicago HB and Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger the first player ever selected in the NFL Draft (2/8/1936).
80th – The official NFL Record Manual is published for the first time by the league (1941).
75th – The Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles (1946).
75th – Kenny Washington (March 21) and Woody Strode (May 7) sign with the Los Angeles Rams to become the first African-Americans to play in the NFL in the modern era (1946).
75th – Bill Willis (August 6) and Marion Motley (August 9) join the Cleveland Browns, becoming the first African-Americans to play in the All-America Football Conference (1946).
75th – The Cleveland Browns, coached by Paul Brown, win the All-America Football Conference’s first championship (1946).
70th – The NFL Championship Game is televised coast-to-coast for the first time on the DuMont Network. The Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cleveland Browns 24-17 (12/23/1951).
65th – CBS becomes the first network to broadcast NFL regular-season games to selected television markets across the nation (1956).
55th – A series of meetings regarding a possible AFL-NFL merger takes place in the spring between Lamar Hunt of Kansas City and Tex Schramm of Dallas. On June 8, Commissioner Pete Rozelle announces the merger of the AFL and NFL (1966).
55th – Atlanta and New Orleans are awarded an NFL franchises to begin play in 1967 (11/1/1966).
50th – The Miami Dolphins defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in sudden-death overtime in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The contest lasts 82 minutes, 40 seconds, making it the longest game in NFL history (12/25/1971).
45th – The first NFL game outside of North America is played before 38,000 fans at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, Japan as St. Louis defeats San Diego 20-10 in a preseason contest (8/16/1976).
30th – The NFL launches the World League of American Football, the first sports league to operate on a weekly basis on two separate continents (3/23/1991).
20th – NFL owners unanimously approve a realignment plan and new scheduling format for the league starting in 2002. Seven clubs change divisions and the Seattle Seahawks switch conferences (5/22/2001).
15th – Roger Goodell becomes the eighth chief executive of the NFL when he is chosen to succeed Paul Tagliabue as commissioner by a unanimous vote of the clubs at a three-day meeting in Chicago (8/8/2006).
15th – The NFL Network broadcasts its first-ever regular-season game as the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Denver Broncos 19-10 at Arrowhead Stadium on Thanksgiving night (11/23/2006).
10th – The NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee announced a new standardized sideline concussion assessment protocol for team medical personnel. The new protocol includes a symptom checklist, limited neurologic examination and balance assessment (2/25/2011)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEEK ONE:
SUPER STARTERS: History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive toward a Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.
The 55 Super Bowl winners have a 44-10-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. The Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hosted Dallas in the league’s annual primetime Kickoff Game Thursday night, became the first eventual Super Bowl winners to lose the opening game of their championship season since New England in 2014.
Kansas City, appearing in each of the past two Super Bowls, hosts Cleveland in an AFC Divisional playoff rematch on Sunday. Kansas City has won its past six Kickoff Weekend games, the longest active streak in the AFC and tied for the longest active streak in the NFL (Green Bay).
Since 1978 when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious in their season-openers are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than those that lose an opening game. This season will feature a 17-game schedule for each team for the first time ever.
Of the 633 teams that won openers, 333 went to the playoffs (204 won division titles).
Of the 632 teams that lost openers, 151 went to the playoffs (86 won division titles).
Note: There are a different number of winning and losing teams in season-opening games due to the fact the NFL had 31 teams in each season from 1999-2001, which creates an odd number for the total number of results.
In 2020, the 14 playoff teams compiled an 11-3 record on Kickoff Weekend, with the eight division winners going a perfect 8-0.
STARTING STREAKS: The Chiefs aren’t the only team to have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of other notable active NFL Kickoff Weekend milestones and streaks:
Baltimore, who visits Las Vegas on Monday Night Football in Week 1, has won their last five Kickoff Weekend games, the AFC’s second-longest active streak. Since 2016, Baltimore has outscored its opponents 177-26 on Kickoff Weekend and hasn’t allowed more than 10 points in any of its previous five Week 1 games.
Reigning NFC North division champion Green Bay opens their season on the road on Sunday against reigning NFC South division champion New Orleans at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Packers have won 58 games on Kickoff Weekend, the most in the NFL. Green Bay has won its past six Kickoff Weekend games, tied with Kansas City for the longest active streak in the NFL.
Chicago visits the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. Chicago has 55 wins on Kickoff Weekend, the second-most in the NFL, while the Rams have won four consecutive Week 1 games, the second-longest active streak in the NFC.
START ’EM EARLY: Jacksonville rookie quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, New York Jets rookie quarterback ZACH WILSON (No. 2), and New England rookie quarterback MAC JONES (No. 15), are each expected to make their first career starts on Sunday, when Jacksonville travels to Houston, the Jets visit Carolina and New England hosts Miami.
With a start by any of the three players, at least one rookie quarterback will have started in Week 1 in 14 consecutive seasons, extending the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.
This season is expected to join 2012 (five rookie quarterbacks) as the only seasons since 1970 in which at least three rookie quarterbacks started in Week 1. It can also become the first time that multiple rookie quarterbacks each start in Week 1 since 2016 (DAK PRESCOTT and CARSON WENTZ).
The rookie quarterbacks to start in Week 1 since 2008:
SEASON – QUARTERBACK, TEAM (STARTING RECORD AS ROOKIE)
2008 – Joe Flacco, Baltimore (11-5)
2008 – Matt Ryan, ATLANTA (11-5)
2009 – Mark Sanchez, New York Jets (8-7)
2009 – Matthew Stafford, Detroit (2-8)*
2010 – Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (7-9)*
2011 – Andy Dalton, Cincinnati (9-7)
2011 – Cam Newton, Carolina (6-10)*
2012 – Robert Griffin III, Washington (9-6)
2012 – Andrew Luck – Indianapolis (11-5)*
2012 – Ryan Tannehill, Miami (7-9)
2012 – Brandon Weeden, Cleveland (5-10)
2012 – Russell Wilson, Seattle (11-5)
2013 – E.J. Manuel – Buffalo (4-6)
2013 – Geno Smith, New York Jets (8-8)
2014 – Derek Carr, Oakland (3-13)
2015 – Marcus Mariota, Tennessee (3-9)
2015 – Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay (6-10)*
2016 – Dak Prescott, Dallas (13-3)
2016 – Carson Wentz, Philadelphia (7-9)
2017 – DeShone Kizer, Cleveland (0-15)
2018 – Sam Darnold, New York Jets (4-9)
2019 – Kyler Murray, Arizona (5-10-1)*
2020 – Joe Burrow, Cincinnati (2-7-1)*
2021 – Mac Jones, New England^
2021 – Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville*^
2021 – Zach Wilson, New York Jets^
*No. 1 overall pick
^Expected to start Week 1
TITANS DEBUT: Tennessee wide receiver Julio Jones enters his first year as a Titan with 848 receptions for 12,896 receiving yards and 60 receiving touchdowns in 135 career games.
Jones needs two receptions on Sunday against Arizona to become the second-fastest player (136 games) to reach 850 receptions in NFL history, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison (140 games).
The players to reach 850 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history:
PLAYER – TEAMS (GAMES TO REACH 850 RECEPTIONS)
Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh, New England and Tampa Bay (133)
Marvin Harrison – Indianapolis (140)(HOF)
Andre Johnson – Houston Texans (142)
Julio Jones – ATLANTA (135)*
*Has 848 receptions entering Sunday
With at least 104 receiving yards, Jones can also become the fastest player ever to reach 13,000 career receiving yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (154 games).
Additionally, Jones enters this season with at least 100 receiving yards in 58 career games. With at least 100 receiving yards on Sunday, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison (59 games) for the third-most such games in NFL history.
The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history:
PLAYER – TEAMS (GAMES WITH 100+ REC. YARDS)
Jerry Rice – San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle (76)(HOF)
Randy Moss – Minnesota, Oakland and New England (64)(HOF)
Marvin Harrison – Indianapolis (59)(HOF)
Julio Jones – ATLANTA (58)*
*Active
DUAL-THREAT BACKS: Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey has totaled 5,817 scrimmage yards (3,145 rushing, 2,672 receiving) and 45 touchdowns (29 rushing, 16 receiving) in his first four seasons, while also recording nine games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown, the most ever by a player through his first four seasons.
With both a rushing and receiving touchdown against the Jets on Sunday, McCaffrey will surpass Chuck Foreman (nine games) for the most such games by a player through his first five seasons in NFL history. New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara, who is also entering his fifth season, has eight such career games and can tie Foreman when New Orleans takes on Green Bay Sunday in Jacksonville.
The players with the most games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown in their first five seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER – TEAM (GAMES)
Chuck Foreman – Minnesota (9)
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina (9)*
Abner Haynes – Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (8)
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans (8)*
*Entering fifth season
ROOKIES NO MORE: The 2020 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and the 2020 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year, Washington defensive end Chase Young, will meet in Week 1, when the Chargers travel to Landover to visit Washington.
It will mark the fourth time in NFL history and second-consecutive season, that the two reigning Rookies of the Year will meet on Kickoff Weekend. In 2020, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray and San Francisco defensive lineman Nick Bosa met in Week 1.
The Kickoff Weekend matchups featuring the reigning Associated Press Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year in NFL history:
SEASON – REIGNING OROY (TEAM)/REIGNING DROY (TEAM)(WEEK 1 RESULT)
2021 – QB Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)/DE Chase Young (Washington)(???)
2020 – QB Kyler Murray (Arizona)/DL Nick Bosa (San Francisco)(Arizona 24, San Francisco 20)
1989 – RB John Stephens (New England)/DB Erik McMillan (New York Jets)(New England 27, New York Jets 24)
1975 – RB Don Woods (San Diego Chargers)/LB Jack Lambert (Pittsburgh)(Pittsburgh 37, San Diego 0)$
$Lambert is a member of the Hall of Fame
Since this is week one, we’re going to make all the games this Sunday and Monday “DRILL WORTHY!” (For those of you that know what The Drill is, you are excused. Everyone else, pay attention. We don’t want any rookie mistakes here, k?) After you go to the 9:30 mass on Sunday (the 4:30 vigil mass on Saturday counts as a Sunday mass attended, people! Don’t make us send the nuns after you! If we do, it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OVER!), head to your favorite store (a trip to Wal Mart, Target, K-Mart or Costco counts) and get the vittles and the beverages (soda, beer, wine, coffee, et al… if you live in a state that allows the purchase of the items in question) and invite the co-workers, the neighbors (including that really cute kindergarden teacher that knows what to do with a cover-2 defense) and your cousin Connie (remember her? She’s the one that’s been married twice that’s just turned 62 last June and dates a 46-year old ex-Marine, who’s now the principal at the high school in your town. She’s also the one that ate an entire Oreo cheesecake, two bags of Cool Ranch Doritos, two bacon cheeseburgers with blue cheese and chugged two 2-liter Cokes at your Super Bowl party last year and didn’t gain a pound. You look at her and say to yourself, “what the hell?”)
Last season, we went 167-83, which wasn’t bad, given that we had to deal with games being moved because of COVID-19. Having said all of that, here are the Sunday and Monday picks for week one.
Philadelphia (4-11-1) at ATLANTA (4-12), 1 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV xxx. The first Sunday game of the 2021 season gets underway in the Big Peach with cheesesteak meeting chicken and waffles as Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons host the Philadelphia Eagles in the Big Peach. The Sunday opener features the debut of two new coaches (Philadelphia – Nick Sirianni and Atlanta – Arthur Smith). Both clubs look to improve from their 2020 seasons.
Philadelphia leads the series 17-14-1 and have outscored the Falcons 690-598. Their last meeting? 2019 in the Big Peach and Ryan and the Falcons prevailed 24-18, while Philadelphia’s last win in the series came in 2018 in the City of Brotherly Love by a final of 18-12. Atlanta’s favored by 3 1/2 in the Big Peach with the over/under at 48. Both numbers make a lot sense as the two clubs have new coaches roaming the sidelines. Falcons win in the Big Peach but expect the Eagles to make it closer than 3 1/2.
Pittsburgh (12-4) at Buffalo (13-3), 1 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 712. Two playoff teams meet in upstate New York as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills host Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh holds a 14-10 lead in the series and have outscored the Bills 535-434. Their last meeting was last year in week 14. Pittsburgh’s last win in the series came along the shores of Lake Erie by a final of 27-20 in 2016, while the Bills have won the last two meetings, including a win last year in upstate New York. They met in the Steel City in week 14 and after winning their first 11 contests, Buffalo gave Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger their second loss in as many weeks, taking down the Steelers 26-15 Sunday night in upstate New York. Buffalo trailed 7-0 early in the second quarter (the two clubs played a scoreless first quarter), then took a 9-7 lead at the intermission, using a Tyler Bass field goal and a Taron Johnson 51 yard interception return with 52 seconds left before the break. The Bills then pulled away from the Steelers in the last 30 minutes of action, outscoring Pittsburgh 17-8 in the final two periods at Bills’ Stadium.
Buffalo out-rushed the struggling Steelers 104-47 with Bills RB Zack Moss leading the way with 43 yards. Allen threw for 238 yards with a pair of TDs, connecting with Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis on both tosses, with a sack and an interception, while Roethlisberger threw for 187 yards, throwing TDs to JuJu Smith-Schuester and James Washington (both men were sacked once, Allen threw an interception, while Roethlisberger threw two). The Bills were 7 for 14 on third down and they ruled the clock, holding the ball for 35:15, while the Steelers were a dismal 1 of 10 on third down, keeping the ball for 24:45. The Steelers were favored by 1 1/2 and the Bills covered in upstate New York, leaving 11-point winners but the two clubs missed the 47 1/2, tallying 41 points. The Bills are favored by 6 1/2 with the over/under 49. Pittsburgh’s looking for revenge, while the Bills want to prove that the first time was not a fluke. Bills win this one in upstate New York but expect the Steelers to make it closer than 6 1/2.
New York Jets (2-14) at Carolina (5-11), 1 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 706. A pair of struggling teams meet in the Tar Heel State as the New York Jets make their way down I-95 to take on the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina leads the series 4-3, have outscored GangGreen 160-143 and have taken wins in the last two meetings, including a 35-27 win in the Meadowlands in 2017, while the J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS! last win came in the Meadowlands in 2009 by a final of 17-6. The boys and girls in Vegas like the Panthers as 5-point favorites in the Tar Heel State and the over/under’s 45. Normally, we would tell you to take a pass on games like this one but since this is week one, every game this week is “Drill Worthy.” Panthers are finer in Carolina and take the win at home, covering the 5.
Minnesota (7-9) at Cincinnati (4-11-1), 1 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV 710. A healthy Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals play host to the Minnesota Vikings along the shores of the Ohio River at Paul Brown Stadium. Both teams are hoping to make the post-season after somewhat disasterous campaigns in 2020, with Burrow leaving after tearing his ACL and MCL in his left knee against Washington in week 11.
The Vikings lead the series 7-6 and have outscored the Bengals 287-243. They last met in the Twin Cities in 2017 and the Vikings would prevail 34-7 (Cincinnati’s last win came in 2013 along the shores of the Ohio River by a 42-14 final. Minnesota’s favored by 3 with a 48 over/under. This might be one of the more entertaining games this week. Vikings win in Cincy and cover the 3.
San Francisco (6-10) at Detroit (5-11), 1 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV 711. Dan Campbell makes his regular-season head coaching debut as the Detroit Lions welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Ford Field. Lions fans are hopeful that he can get the team into the post-season and challenge Green Bay for the NFC North crown.
Including contests at Tiger Stadium, Keezar Stadium, the Silverdome and Candlestick Park, the 49ers lead the series 37-27-1 and have outscored the Lions 1,425-1,361. They last met on the West Coast in wine country in 2018 and San Francsico came away with a 30-27 win, while Detroit’s last win in the series came in the Motor City in 2015 by a final of 32-17. San Francisco’s favored by 7 1/2 and the over/under’s 46. While the 49ers won’t cover the 7 1/2, they’ll take the win in the Motor City.
Jacksonville (1-15) at Houston (4-12), 1 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 711. A pair of new head coaches, Urban Meyer (Jacksonville) and David Culley meet in the Lone Star State as AFC South bottom-dwellers meet at NRG Stadium. Both teams are looking for better seasons than they had in 2020. Jacksonville went on a 15-game losing streak after winning their season opener, while the Texans are looking to end a five-game losing streak to close their season out.
Houston carries a 25-13 lead in the series, have outscored Jacksonville 843-732 and have won the last six meetings in a row, including sweeping last year’s series (Jacksonville’s last win over Houston? 2017 by a final of 45-7 in the Sunshine State and the Jaguars swept the series that year).
Jacksonville and Houston met twice in the 2020 season and the Texans prevailed in both meetings. Their first meeting was in week five in the Lone Star State and Houston picked up their first win of the 2020 season under interim head coach Romeo Crennel, taking down their AFC South rivals 30-14 at NRG Stadium. Jacksonville actually led 10-7 at the intermission after the two teams played a scoreless first quarter before Houston took charge of things in the second half, outscoring the Jaguars 20-7. Houston out-rushed Jacksonville 129-75 in the win and Texans RB David Johnson led all rushers with 96 yards on the ground. Passing-wise, DeShaun Watson threw for 359 yards in the win with three TDs, while Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew threw for 301 yards and a pair of TDs (Minshew was sacked three times, Watson was sacked once and threw a pair of interceptions). Houston was 5 of 10 on third down tries (the Texans were 1 of 3 on fourth down) and kept the ball for 28:01, while Jacksonville actually ruled the clock, holding the pigskin for 31:59, going 8 for 16 on third down, 1 of 3 on fourth down.
Houston swept the series, this time traveling down I-10 to Jacksonville and left the Sunshine State 27-25 winners at TIAA Bank Field in week nine. Houston led 20-16 at the intermission in north Florida, then took a 27-19 lead into the final 15 minutes of play as Jacksonville scored twice in the half, once on a Josh Lambo field goal late in the third quarter and then again when backup QB Jake Luton scored on a 13-yard run with 90 seconds left in the contest. Jacksonville missed the try for two to even things up and hopefully send the contest into overtime and tried an onside kick, which Houston recovered and the Texans would run out the clock to take the win. Jacksonville out-rushed Houston 115-107, with Jaguars RB James Robinson leading all rushers with 99 yards and a rushing TD, while Watson led the Texans with 50 yards. Watson threw for 281 yards with TD passes to Willie Fuller and Brandon Cooks, while Luton threw for 304 yards with a TD pass to D.J. Chark Jr. (Luton threw the game’s only interception, while both men were sacked twice). Houston was 6 for 15 on third down and held the ball for 27:53, while the Jaguars would actually rule the clock and keep the pigskin for 32:07, going 6 for 14 on third down, 0 for 1 on fourth down.
Housotn covered the 5-point spread in the week five contest in the Lone Star State with the 16-point win but both teams missed the 54 over/under by 10 points. As for the week nine contest in the Sunshine State? While Houston won, they did not cover the 7-point spread, winning by 2 but the two clubs covered 50 1/2 over/under, tallying 52 points. Jacksonville’s favored by 3 and the over/under’s 45. Both clubs are looking to right their ships in 2021. As Yogi Berra once said, “when you’re down, the only place you can go is up.” Jacksonville keeps it interesting but Houston prevails at home with the win and could cover the 3.
Seattle (12-4) at Indianapolis (11-5), 1 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV 713. They were both in the post-season last year and both were bounced out in the first round. Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks make their way to the Hoosier State for a 10 a.m. Seattle time kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts lead the series 7-5 and have outscored Seattle and have outscored Indy 294-259. Their last meeting was in 2017 in the land of Grunge, Salmon and Starbucks and the Seahawks came away 46-18, while the Colts’ last win in the series came in the Hoosier States in 2013 by a final of 34-28. Seattle’s favored by 3 in the Hoosier State and the over/under’s 48. Seattle takes care of business in the Hoosier State and covers the 3.
Arizona (8-8) at Tennessee (11-5), 1 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 708. A couple of contending teams meet in the Music City as Tennessee hosts Arizona at Nissan Stadium in the Music City. Arizona barely missed the playoffs last year, while the Titans look to erase their post-season loss at home to Baltimore last year.
Including contests played in Houston (when the Titans were known as the Oilers) and in St. Louis, the Desert Angry Birds lead the series 7-4 and have outscored the Titans 259-226. The teams last met in 2017 in the desert and the Desert Angry Birds were 12-7 winners, while Tennessee’s last win in the series came in the Music City in 2009 by a final of 20-17. The Titans are 3-point favorites in the Music City and the over/under’s 51 1/2. Tennessee covers the 3 in the Volunteer State and takes the win at home.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-9) at Washington (7-9), 1 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 709. They were both 7-9 last year but one made the playoffs and won their division while the other made a change in the head coaching position. Washington and Ron Rivera, winners of the NFC East, host the Los Angeles Chargers and new head coach Brandon Staley to FedEx Field in Landover.
Including contests that were played in San Diego and at RFK Stadium, Washington leads the series 7-4 and have outscored the Bolts 268-239. The Chargers would win the last meeting in the series, which took place on the West Coast in 2017 by a final of 30-13, while Washington’s last win came in Landover in 2013, when they needed overtime to take a 30-24 win. The Chargers are favored by a point and the over/under’s 44 1/2. Both numbers sound reasonable. Hail To The Football Team! Washington covers the 1 in Landover and takes the win.
Cleveland (11-5) at Kansas City (14-2), 4:25 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 714. It’s an AFC Divisional rematch as Patrick Mahomes and the defending AFC champions welcome Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns to Arrowhead in a late Sunday afternoon contest in the Show-Me State.
The defending AFC champions lead the series 13-11-2, have outscored Cleveland 537-518 and have won the last three regular season meetings, including a 17-13 win at Arrowhead in 2015, while Cleveland’s last win in the series came in 2012 along the shores of Lake Erie by a final of 30-7. They met last year in the post-season and it was a contest for the ages, as the Chiefs would advance to the AFC Championship Game, dashing Cleveland’s playoff hopes in the process.
Mahomes and Mayfield met in the AFC Divisional Round and the Chiefs survived a late charge by Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns, coming away 22-17 winners. Kansas City led 6-3 at the end of the first quarter, then proceeded to scored 13 second-quarter points unchallenged, thanks to a 20-yard TD pass from Patrick Mahomes to TE Travis Kelce and a pair of Harrison Butker field goals to lead 19-3 at the half. After Mayfield and WR Josh Landry connected on a 4-yard TD toss to pull Cleveland to within nine, Butker would push the Chiefs back to a 12-point lead with 4:24 left in the third. Cleveland was not about to go away quietly and the Browns would cause some angst for Chiefs fans, as they would use an 18-play, 75-yard drive that used 8:17 of clock with Kareem Hunt getting some measure of revenge on his old team, scoring from three yards out early in the final quarter.
The Chiefs would find themselves in a bind as Mahomes would be knocked out of the contest with a concussion, putting backup QB Chad Henne into the contest. After holding off the Browns and forcing a Cleveland punt, Kansas City would get the ball back with 4:09 left in the contest and it would be the last time the Cleveland would see the ball, as Henne would run out the clock, throwing a 5-yard pass to WR Tyree Hill to basically end the contest. Kansas City out-rushed Cleveland 123-112 with Darrell Williams leading the way with 78 yards, while Cleveland was led by Nick Chubb with 69 yards on the ground; Mahomes threw for 255 yards with the TD pass to Kelce and had a rushing TD of his own to open the scoring in the contest before leaving, while Mayfield threw for 204 yards with the game’s only sack and had an interception (Henne threw for 66 yards with a sack and an interception). Kansas City went 5 for 10 on third down but had success on fourth down, going 2 for 2 (including the fourth down try that sealed the contest) and were rulers of the clock, holding on to the ball for 30:37, while the Browns, who kept the pigskin for 29:23, went 6 of 13 on third down, 3 for 3 on fourth down.
The Chiefs were favored by 10 in the AFC Divisional contest but would win only by 5 and both teams missed the 56 over/under, tallying just 39 points. Vegas likes the Chiefs as 6-point favorites at Arrowhead and the over/under 53. Cleveland and Mayfield are seeking revenge, while Mahomes and the Chiefs want to remind the Browns who runs the Show-Me State. Will it be close? Yes… but the Chiefs prevail at Arrowhead and cover the 5.
Miami (10-6) at New England (7-9), 4:25 p.m. on CBS and DirecTV 715. AFC East rivals meet in Foxboro as former Alabama QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones meet in a late-afternoon contest in western Massachusetts. Both teams look to knock Buffalo out of the top spot in the division. Miami came close to making the post-season, while New England struggled to stay out of the AFC East basement.
While Miami holds a 56-52 lead in the series (which includes contests that took place at Fenway Park, the Orange Bowl and in Tampa), New England has outscored Miami 2,368-2,299. Miami and New England met twice last year, each winning in their home facilities and spliting the series in the process.
In the week one meeting in Foxboro, Miami found themselves being taken to task by Cam Newton and the New England Patriots in Foxboro, as the Pats took care of the ‘Fins 21-11 at Gillette Stadium. New England led 7-3 at intermission, then took control of things in the second half, outscoring Miami 14-8 in the final 30 minutes of play. New England out-rushed Miami 217-87 and Newton (155 yards, two sacks) ran for a pair of TDs and led all rushers with 75 yards, while Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 191 yards with three interceptions and a sack. Miami went 4 of 11 on third down conversion and held the ball for 25:11, while the Patriots were kings of the clock, holding on to the pigskn for 34:49 and went 5 of 10 on third down and 1 of 1 on fourth down.
Miami ended New England’s string of playoff appearances in the Sunshine State in their week 15 rematch, as Newton and the Pats found themselves staying home for the post-season after their 22-12 loss at Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Using a pair of Nick Folk field goals, New England led 6-0 at the intermission before Miami took the lead for the first time on a 1-yard run by Saheed Ahmed with 10:32 left in the third, before Folk added another field goal to reclaim the lead at 9-7. That lead would not last long as Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa took matters into his own feet, scoring on a 3-yard TD run, then hooking up with Ahmed on the two-point conversion. Folk would then add his fourth field goal of the day, putting New England to within three with 9:03 left in the contest before Tagovailoa scored his second rushing TD of the day from a yard out.
Ahmed led all rushers with 122 yards and the TD as Miami out-rushed New England 250-117 (Sony Michel led New England with 74 yards) and Tagovailoa threw for 145 yards, throwing the contest’s only interception, while Newton threw for 209 yards (Newton was sacked three times, Tagovailoa was sacked twice). Miami was 7 for 12 on third down, 1 for 1 on fourth down and were rulers of the clock, holding the ball for 37:26, while the Patriots were 22:34 in time of possession, going 2 for 9 on third down, 0 for 1 on fourth down.
New England, who waived Newton before the season started, covered the 6-point spread in their week one contest in Foxboro winning by 10 but the two clubs missed the 43 over/under with 32 points. As for the week 15 rematch in the Sunshine State? The ‘Fins covered the 2-point spread, winning by 10 but the teams missed the over/under (41 1/2), tallying 32 points at Hard Rock. New England’s favored by 3 in Foxboro and the over/under’s 43. Given how good both QBs are, the over/under could be reached by halftime. The winner may or may not have a clear shot at the AFC East but the loser will have to make up ground. (In case you’re wondering, Miami’s last win in Foxboro came in 2019 when they beat Brady and the Pats 34-33 in week 17.) Miami gets revenge in Foxboro and leaves with the win on the road.
Green Bay (13-3) at New Orleans (12-4) in Jacksonville, 4:25 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV 716. Drew Brees is retired and the Jameis Winston era begins as the New Orleans Saints take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Cheese, meet gumbo. The site for this contest was going to be New Orleans but after Ida hit the Big Easy, the NFL moved the contest to Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium.
The Packers lead the series 17-9 (includings contests played in Milwaukee and at Tulane Stadium) and have outscored the Saints 734-618. New Orleans’ last win in the series came at Lambeau by a final of 26-17 in 2017, while Rodgers and the Packers prevailed against Brees and the Saints last year in the Big Easy.
Brees and the Saints watched Green Bay wipe away a 17-13 halftime lead at New Orleans Sunday night in week three, holidng off the Saints and leaving the Big Easy 37-30 winners. Using a 49-yard field goal by Mason Crosby and a 1-yard TD toss from Rodgers to TE Robert Tonyan, the Packers would take the lead back for keeps before Saints K Will Lutz made it a 7-point affair with 32 seconds left. The Saints would try an onside kick, which Green Bay recovered. The Packers then ran out the clock and left the Big Easy with the win. While New Orleans did out-rushed Green Bay 122-98, Rodgers threw for 283 yards, while Drew Brees threw for 288 yards (both men threw three TDs without an interception and Brees was sacked twice, while Rodgers was sacked once). Both teams wer4e 5 of 11 on third down tries (the Packers were 1 of 2 on fourth down, while the Saints went 1 of 1) and Green Bay ruled the clock and kept the ball for 31:40 to New Orleans’ 28:20.
New Orleans was favored in the week three meeting in the Big Easy by 3 but the Packers covered, winning by 7 and the two clubs covered the 51 1/2 over/under with 67 points. Vegas likes the Packers by 4 in the Big Easy with a 50 over/under. The Saints are seeking revenge, while Rodgers and the Packers look to take two wins in a row. GO PACK GO! Green Bay covers the 4 and takes the road win.
Denver (5-11) at New York Giants (6-10), 4:25 p.m. on FOX and DirecTV 717. A pair of teams that played better than their records would indicate meet in upstate New Jersey as the New York Giants welcome the Denver Broncos into MetLife Stadium for a late Sunday afternoon affair along the Jersey shore.
The two teams have met 12 teams and each team has six wins to their credit, with Denver outscoring Big Blue 242-213. Their last meeting was in 2017 in the Mile High City and the Giants left Denver 23-10 winners, while Denver’s last win in the series came in 2013 in upstate New Jersey by a final of 41-23. Denver’s favored by 2 1/2 and the over/under’s 42 1/2. Both numbers make a ton of sense. The Giants were one of those teams that could have won the NFC East last year, while Denver’s looking to get back into the AFC West spotlight and take it from Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes in the process. Giants pull off the upset in the Meadowlands and take the win in upstate New Jersey, covering the 2 1/2.
Chicago (8-8) at Los Angeles Rams (10-6), 8:20 p.m. on NBC. They meet again on the West Coast again. Da Bears make their way west to take on Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood in prime time.
Including games played in Cleveland, at Wrigley Field and in St. Louis, Da Bears lead da series 53-37-3 and have outscored Los Angeles 2,133-1,870. Chicago’s last win in the series came in 2018 in the Windy City by a final of 15-6, while the Rams have won the last two meetings, including their meeting last year at SoFi Stadium.
They met in week seven on the West Coast and the Rams prevailed 24-10 on the West Coast. Los Angeles led 10-3 at the break, then pulled away from Chicago in the second half to take the win in prime time. Los Angeles out-rushed Chicago 161-49 and Nick Foles threw for 261 yards but was sacked four times and picked off twice, while Rams signal caller Jarred Goff threw for 219 yards and a pair of TDs (one to TE Gerald Everett). Da Bears were 4 of 14 on third down, 1 of 4 on fourth down and kept the ball for 27:25, while the Rams were clock hogs, keeping the ball for 32:35, going 4 of 13 on third down tries. The Rams were favored by 6 in the Monday night week seven contest and covered, winning by 14 but both clubs failed to cover the 45 over/under, tallying a mere 34 points. The Rams are favored again, this time by 7 1/2 and the over/under’s 44 1/2. History has a way of repeating itself and this will be the case. While the Rams win this one, expect Da Bears to make it closer than the 7 1/2.
Baltimore (11-5) at Las Vegas (8-8), 8:15 p.m. Monday on ESPN/ABC. Week one closes out in the desert as the Baltimore Ravens make their way to Sin City for a Monday night contest with the Las Vegas Raiders at Alligent Stadium. The Ravens were in the post-season in 2020, while the Raiders look to return to prominence in the 2021 campaign.
Baltimore leads the series 8-3 and have outscored the Silver and Black 301-192. The Ravens have won the last two meetings in the series, including a 34-17 win in 2018 in Charm City, while Las Vegas’ last win came in 2015 when they were on the Eastern side of San Francisco by by a final of 37-33. On Monday nights, the Ravens are 14-12 and split their two meetings last year. As for the Silver and Black? Including games in Los Angeles and Oakland, they’re 22-25 and the Raiders lost their only MNF contest last year. Baltimore’s favored by 4 1/2 with a 51 1/2 over/under. It may not be the best Monday night game of the year but it’s better than nothing. Ravens prevail in the desert by taking the win and covering the 4 1/2.
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