Monday’s 6-pack:
— Arizona 12, Astros 6- Pavin Smith hit 3 homers, had 8 RBI.
— White Sox 7, Red Sox 2- Chicago scored five runs in last inning.
— Royals 2, Twins 0- Michael Wacha tossed seven shutout IP.
— Reds 3, Mets 1- Loss snaps Mets’ 9-game winning streak.
— Dodgers 4, Guardians 0- Shohei Ohtani hit his 46th home run.
— Braves 4, Blue Jays 3 (11)- Sean Murphy had game-winning RBI
Quote of the Day
“Have you thanked a (Cleveland) Brown lately? Thank ’em for all of our players.”
Hannah McNair, Houston Texans vice president, wife of team owner Cal McNair
She is referring to the bonanza Texans got in the Deshaun Watson trade in 2022.
Monday’s quiz
Before Sunday, who was the last rookie QB to start.a game for the Washington Redskins/Commanders?
(Hint: It happened in 2012)
Sunday’s quiz
When Bryce Harper broke into the major leagues, he was on the Washington Nationals.
Saturday’s quiz
Ron Jaworski was quarterback for the Eagles, the first time they played in a Super Bowl.
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Bills 34,
Cardinals 28
First three drives, Arizona ran 36 plays, 191 yards, 17 points.
Rest of game, Arizona ran 25 plays, 80 yards, 3 points.
Cardinals’ only TD in second half was a 96-yard kick return.
Last 5 years, Arizona is 2-3-1 SU/5-1 ATS in Week 1.
Cardinals are 21-11-1 ATS in last 33 games as a road underdog.
Arizona led 17-10 at halftime.
Bills scored four TD’s, kicked FG on their first seven drives.
Cardinals were 7-13 on 3rd down, Buffalo 3-9.
Bills were 3-9 on 3rd down conversions, but 2-2 on 4th down.
Bufflo averaged 8.9 yards per pass attempt.
Patriots 16,
Bengals 10
Stevenson carried ball 25 times for 120 yards.
Joey Slye kicked three field goals (35-35-37 yards)
Bengals outgained New England, 324-290.
Last 10 years, Patriots are 7-3 ATS in road openers.
There were 14,206 entries in the Circa Survivor Pool in Las Vegas; 4,895 people had the Bengals, more than any other team.
Bengals went 3/out on first 3 drives (9 plays, 19 yards)
On their fourth drive, Bengals lost a fumble in red zone.
Cincinnati was minus-2 in turnovers, converted only 4-11 on 3rd down.
Last nine years, Bengals are 2-7 SU/ATS in home openers.
Since 2016, Cincinnati is 0-6 ATS as a favorite in a home opener.
Vikings 28,
Giants 6
Vikings had an 11-play, 99 yard TD drive that took up 6:44.
LB Andrew Van Ginkel scored on a 10-yard pick-6.
Vikings outgained the Giants, 312-240
First time in eight years Minnesota won their road opener.
Under is 14-7 in Vikings’ last 21 road openers.
Giants averaged only 3.5 yards/pass attempt.
Giants were minus-2 in turnovers, had 9 penalties for 95 yards.
Last 14 years, Giants started season 0-2 12 times.
Since 2012, Giants are 2-11 SU/1-12 ATS in home openers.
QB Jones is 23-38-1 as an NFL starter.
Bears 24,
Titans 17
Tennessee led 17-0 with 2:00 left in first half.
Bears scored two TD’s; a blocked punt, and a pick-6.
Teams combined to convert only 5-27 third down plays.
Tennessee averaged 3.0 yards/pass attempt.
QB Levis is 3-7 as an NFL starter.
QB Williams was 14-29/93 in his NFL debut, but his team won.
Bears averaged only 2.1 yards/pass attempt.
Titans outgained Chicago, 244-148.
Bears outscored Tennessee 14-0 in 4th quarter.
Three teams didn’t score an offensive TD; two of them won.
Steelers 18,
Falcons 10
Steelers won without scoring a TD; they kicked six FG’s.
Last 2+ years, Steelers outgained Atlanta, 270-226.
Steelers OC Smith was Atlanta’s head coach the last three years (21-30 W-L)
Since 2017, Pittsburgh is 23-12-1 as a road underdog.
Pittsburgh won/covered its last five road openers.
Falcons in second half: 21 plays, 45 yards, two turnovers.
Atlanta was 2-9 on third down, Steelers 8-17.
Falcons were minus-3 in turnovers (0-3).
Raheem Morris is 21-39 as an NFL head coach.
Last 4+ years, Atlanta is 4-14-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Dolphins 20,
Jaguars 17
Jason Sanders kicked a 52-yard FG at the gun for a walk-off win.
Tagovailoa threw a 80-yard TD pass to Tyreek Hill in third quarter
Dolphins were 8-16 on third down, Jaguars were 2-10.
Tagovailoa is 33-20 as an NFL starter.
Under McDaniel, Miami is 4-6 ATS in games with spread of 3 or fewer points.
Jaguars led 14-0 with 2:00 left in first half.
Miami outscored the Jaguars 13-0 in second half.
QB Lawrence is 21-31 as an NFL starter.
Last eight years, Jaguars are 3-5 SU/6-2 ATS in road openers.
Under Pederson, Jaguars are 9-7 ATS in games with spread of 3 or fewer points.
Texans 29,
Colts 27
Houston’s first 3 drives: 22 plays, 145 yards: FG-FG-TD
Texans led 12-7 at halftime.
Houston outgained the Colts, 417-303.
Fairbairn made three FG’s: 50-51-51 yards.
2nd-year QB Stroud is 11-7 as an NFL starter.
Colts’ first six drives: 30 plays, 160 yards, 7 points.
Colts’ last three drives: 13 plays, 143 yards, TD-TD-TD
Indy completed only 9-19 passes, but averaged 23.5 yards/completion.
Last 10 years, Colts are 0-10-1 SU/2-8-1 ATS in Week 1.
Texans won their third straight visit to Indianapolis.
Saints 47,
Panthers 10
Saints scored on their first nine drives (5 TDs, 4FGs)
New Orleans led 30-3 at halftime.
Saints were 7-13 on third down, Carolina 1-10
Carolina averaged only 3.9 yards/pass attempt.
New Orleans outgained the Panthers, 379-193
Last 3+ years, Carolina is 7-16-1 ATS as road underdog.
2nd year QB Young is 2-15 as an NFL starter.
Last six years, Carolina is 1-5 SU/ATS in Week 1 games.
Since 2009, Panthers are 5-11 ATS in road openers.
Last nine years, Carolina is 11-16-1 ATS in NFC South road games.
Chargers 22,
Raiders 10
Chargers outscored Las Vegas 16-3 in second half.
Raiders in 2nd half: 32 plays, 183 yards, 3 points, 2 turnovers.
Chargers were 9-15 on third down, Raiders 5-14.
QB Minshew is 15-23 as an NFL starter; Raiders are his 4th team.
Riaders’ only TD was 31-yard pass from Minshew to Mattison.
Chargers ran ball for 176 yards, Raiders 71.
JK Dobbins rushed for 135 yards on 10 carries, including a 12-yard TD.
Cameron Dicker kicked three FG’s (53-25-24 yards).
Home team won last seven series games.
Chargers won their season opener five of last six years.
Seahawks 26,
Broncos 20
Denver scored two safeties in first half, led 13-9 at halftime.
Seattle’s first three drives of 2nd half: 22 plays, 178 yards, 17 points.
Rookie starting QB’s went 1-2 this week.
Broncos averaged only 3.0 yards/pass attempt.
Seahawks outgained Denver, 304-231.
RB Walker carried ball 20 times for 103 yards and a TD.
Seahawks won four of their last five games against Denver.
QB Smith is 31-37 as an NFL starter, 19-18 with Seattle.
Seattle is 3-6 ATS in its last nine home openers.
So far this week, NFC teams are 3-2 vs AFC opponents.
Cowboys 33,
Browns 17
QB Prescott signed a 4-year, $240M contract Sunday morning.
KaVontae Turpin ran a punt back 60 yards for a TD.
Brandon Aubrey kicked FG’s of 57, 50, 46 and 40 yards.
QB Prescott is 76-46 as an NFL starter.
Last 2+ years, Dallas is 7-4 ATS vs AFC opponents.
Cleveland went 3/out on seven of first eight drives.
Cowboys led 20-3 at halftime.
Dallas outgained the Browns 216-54 in first half.
Cleveland was 2-15 on third down, Cowboys were 4-14.
Over is 4-1 in Browns’ last five home openers.
Buccaneers 37,
Commanders 20
Bucs had ball eight times; scored four TD’s, kicked three FG’s.
QB Mayfield threw for 289 yards and four TD’s.
Mayfield is 43-28 as an NFL starter, 11-9 with Buccaneers.
Last five years, Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU/4-1 ATS in Week 1 games.
Over is 4-1 in their last five home openers.
Buccaneers outgained Washington, 392-299.
Rookie QB Daniels had 88 of Washington’s 138 rushing yards.
Commanders were 2-8 on third down, Tampa Bay 9-13.
Last 6 years, Washington allowed 30+ points in road openers (1-5 SU/2-4 ATS)
Over was 5-1 in those six road openers.
Lions 26,
Rams 20 OT
Detroit tied game 20-20 on 32-yard FG with 0:20 left in regulation.
Lions drove 70 yards for game-winning TD on first drive of overtime.
Detroit ran ball for 163 yards, Rams ran for 83 yards.
Under Campbell, Lions are 10-4 ATS as a home favorite.
QB Goff is 27-24-1 as Detroit’s QB (was 44-30 with Rams)
Rams had ball and 20-17 lead with 4:10 left, but couldn’t run out the clock.
Cooper Kupp caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a TD.
LA gained 181 yards in first half, but scored only three points, trailed 10-3.
LA in second half: 37 plays, 237 yards, 17 points.
Rams WR Nacua hurt his knee in first half, didn’t return.
