The NFL season is long and there are sometimes meetings to forget for some players. A quick overview that will make some laugh and cry others.
D’Andre Swift
Difficult beginnings for the running back of the Lions. Swift released the winning ball seconds to the end of the game. The Lions, who led a good part of the meeting, were passed by Chicago in the dying moments.
Able to go up the field, Matthew Stafford had thrown a perfect ball for his runner in order to restore the advantage to Detroit, but it was without counting on the slippery hands of his running back who was rather known for his good contribution out of backfield at the University of Georgia.
D’Andre Swift officially baptized as a Detroit Lion. pic.twitter.com/frvIDdIQld
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 13, 2020
Kickers
As you might expect with the shortened offseason, the kickers weren’t up to speed in this first week. Bills rookie Tyler Bass missed two relatively easy field goals (34 and 38 yards). Rodrigo Blankenship, who takes over from the legendary Adam Vinatieri in Indianapolis, missed a 30-yard field goal. On the Los Angeles side, Sam Sloman missed a 29-yard attempt.
Jake Elliott unscrewed, of course, a field goal of 53 yards, but he did it at the worst time. Washington had just scored 14 consecutive points and pulling off that kick could have put Philadelphia back on track.
It’s been a tough week for the new and old Patriots kicker as well. Nick Folk missed the only field goal he kicked (45 yards). Stephen Gostkowski, now Tennessee Titans kicker, missed the target on 3 of the 4 field goals he attempted. Fortunately, he managed the one that allowed Mike Vrabel’s men to snatch the victory a few seconds from the end of the match.
And that’s not all, Randy Bullock was completely hole and offered victory to the Chargers by missing a 30-yard attempt 7 seconds from the end of the game. Worse, the Bengals kicker was injured on the action and Cincinnati looks destined to find a new kicking specialist.
Mike Williams’ body
The victory is at the end and that is the main thing, but Mike Williams had a very eventful first meeting of the season. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor did him no favors, throwing inaccurate balls so the receiver couldn’t keep his feet in the field. Despite this Williams managed acrobatic receptions without being able to really influence the match.
Taylor on the other hand spoiled his receiver when it came to putting a ball where the receiver had no chance to protect himself after the reception. Williams spent his day running long laps and taking more big bumps than needed. Let’s hope for him that his quarterback sends him less to the coal in the weeks to come.
How did Mike Williams hold on to this catch? ????
(via @Chargers)pic.twitter.com/dd70ATJYuw
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 13, 2020
Jamie Collins
The referee mustn’t have bruised from it the next day, but pushing the referee with his helmet is certainly not the best way to start the season. Yet that’s what Jamie Collins did after a few minutes of the regular season. Matt Patricia will have to reframe his linebacker if he wants his team not to multiply unruly gestures and have a chance to grab the playoffs.
First ejection of the season ????
Jamie Collins gets ejected for hitting a ref with his helmet
(via @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/klM6Cenxgp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2020
Bill O’Brien
We have said it over and over again. DeAndre Hopkins’ exchange with David Johnson is one of the worst in recent years. And for those who weren’t convinced, confirmation was quick to arrive as Hopkins offered himself the 49ers scalp for his first with the Cardinals. He was his team’s superstar and allowed Arizona to regain the lead late in the game.
What about Bill O’Brien in all of this? He presented a very poor copy with his new receivers in week 1 and seems more and more to spoil the enormous talent of Deshaun Watson.
A career-high 14 catches for @DeandreHopkins in his @AZCardinals debut. #AZCardinals
????: #AZvsSF on FOX
????: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5o8cWoN1yf pic.twitter.com/zh3QAsAL5f— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2020
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