Key events
Bengals 0-0 Texans 6:53, 2nd quarter
The Bengals match the Texans with a huge defensive stop on 4th and inches. They sent David Montgomery packing.
Steelers 0-10 Patriots 8:05, 2nd quarter
Clown car time for Pittsburgh as they go from chip shot territory to 4th and 43 after a huge hit on Aaron Rodgers dislodges the ball then a host of players keep pushing it further and further away from scoring territory. Patriots should have recovered a fumble.
Bengals 0-0 Texans 8:48, 2nd quarter
Beautiful little looped pass from CJ Stroud over the middle to Foster Moreau for 25-yards is followed up by an 11-yard strike to Dalton Schultz. Houston are marching down field.
It’s GOOD! Saints 3-7 Ravens 3:46, 2nd quarter
It’s GOOD! Vikings 6-3 Bears 8:18, 2nd quarter
Minnesota take a small lead as this one continues the trend across the slate today of big defensive showings. No team has scored two touchdowns yet.
Bengals 0-0 Texans 10:38, 2nd quarter
Ouch! Danielle Hunter drops Burrow like a sack of potatoes. Terrific sack brings up 3rd and 22. Another false start pings them back to 3rd and 26. Good luck! A shovel pass fails to get past the line of scrimmage. Punt. Houston swarming on defense, very impressive.
Bengals 0-0 Texans 12:28, 2nd quarter
Nice 21-yard completion from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins gets the chains moving to near midfield for the Bengals. The next effort is just off the mark. Next Cincinnati make a false start and are forced back five yards.
It’s GOOD! Browns 6-6 Buccaneers 13:59, 2nd quarter
The offenses keep spluttering but the kickers are solid gold. The Browns level it up.
Bengals 0-0 Texans 13:20, 2nd quarter
And their won’t be a score still as the Texans botch a snap for a chip shot field goal. Bengals ball.
It’s GOOD! Steelers 0-10 Patriots 14:14, 2nd quarter
Great stand by the Pittsburgh defense to stop the Patriots in the red zone. But can Aaron Rodgers and the offense respond?
Still scoreless between the Bengals and Texans and Packers and Jets. Helloooo?
It’s GOOD! Panthers 10-0 Falcons 4:29, 1st quarter
Carolina take out a handy two-score lead in Atlanta.
PICK! Browns 3-6 Buccaneers 1:19, 1st quarter
Baker Mayfield’s turnover issues continure with an interception that Myles Harden takes to Tampa Bay’s 28-yard line.
PICK! Vikings 3-3 Bears 1:35, 1st quarter
Byron Murphy makes the interception of Chicago’s Caleb Williams who overthrows his receiver on the run. Minnesota take over at their 35-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 7-7 Titans 12:49, 2nd quarter
Tank finishes the drive off. No room for any interceptions from Jalen Hurts. This was all Bigsby.
Eagles 0-7 Titans 14:38, 2nd quarter
Philly are in the redzone and are almost 1st & Goal as they look to level this one up. Tank Bigsby gets a huge push up inside the five-yard line. Tank by name, tank by nature.
Packers 0-0 Jets 7:41, 1st quarter
Jets playing some nasty defense at MetLife Stadium. Maybe they have been studying Argentina’s performances at the World Cup. Packers are punting it away for the second time of the afternoon.
Eagles 0-7 Titans 1:00, 1st quarter
Tank Bigsby currently in as the Eagles starting running back with Saquon Barkley pacing the sidelines but questionable to return.
It’s GOOD! Browns 3-6 Buccaneers 4:10, 1st quarter
Kickers earning their corn in Tampa Bay.
It’s GOOD! Vikings 3-3 Bears 5:03, 1st quarter
The kicker levels it up at Soldier Field.
TOUCHDOWN! Saints 0-7 Ravens 2:51, 1st quarter
They’re coming like London buses now. Derrick Henry takes the direct snap and powers over for Baltimore.
It’s GOOD! Browns 3-3 Buccaneers 7:12, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Eagles 0-7 Titans 4:22, 1st quarter
Quarterback Cam Ward goes solo on 4th down to capitalise on the incredible pick return.
TOUCHDOWN! Steelers 0-7 Patriots 8:22, 1st quarter
The Patriots backing up a rock solid defensive display so far with a storming rush down the middle to take the lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 7-0 Falcons 10:48, 1st quarter
And the first TD of week two Sunday goes to the Panthers who capitalise on some lax defending by the Falcons. Hubbard wide open for the easiest of catches.
PICK! Eagles 0-0 Titans 5:15, 1st quarter
Jalen Hurts is picked off in the end zone by Amani Hooker who runs it back 92 yards for a 1st and Goal for Tennessee. Incredible play.
It’s GOOD! Browns 0-3 Buccaneers 11:10, 1st quarter
Bengals 0-0 Texans 13:20, 1st quarter
It is ruled as not a catch so the Bengals punt it away. Cincy bring up a quick 3rd down on the Texans. CJ Stroud backpedals finds his receiver but the ball is juggled and the Texans have a punt of their own.
It’s GOOD! Vikings 3-0 Bears 11:03, 1st quarter
Wentz goes for it all but Justin Jefferson can’t hold on in the end zone.
Vikings 0-0 Bears 11:21, 1st quarter
Oh no! Chicago aren’t quite so hot on those turnovers this season. Carson Wentz throws a duck straight to a defender but he can’t hold on. Wentz then scrambles for five yards into the red zone for the Vikings. Knocking on the door.
Bengals 0-0 Texans 13:29, 1st quarter
DeMeco Ryans throws the challenge flag early as the Houston head coach believes Ja’Marr chase completed a catch with a bit of turf involved. Looks like he might be right too.
And here we go! Full steam ahead as the Texans boot it away to the Bengals to start the first half in Houston. The return was an excellent one until Dohnte Meyers tripped himself up at the 35-yard line. He might have made it over halfway had he not fallen under his own steam.
Houston blitz Joe Burrow and get to the quarterback who throws it away on the opening play.
Some breaking news regarding veteran star receiver Keenan Allen …
Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen is facing a minimum three-game suspension from the NFL after being formally charged with two misdemeanor counts of drunk driving stemming from his arrest in Indianapolis last month, ESPN reported Sunday morning.
The three-game ban is mandated through the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, however suspensions could be longer if a player’s blood-alcohol level is at a higher number.
Allen’s blood-alcohol level tested at 0.224 on 30 August, per court records obtained by ESPN. That triggered a more serious Class A misdemeanor charge. The OWI charge is a Class C misdemeanor.
Indianapolis police said Allen was parked in a no-parking zone and showed “signs of intoxication” at the time of his arrest.
The NFL is expected to wait for Allen’s legal case to conclude before any potential discipline is levied. The next date on the docket for his case is an 26 October attorney conference.
Allen signed a one-year contract with the Colts. He caught six passes for 32 yards during last Sunday’s season-opening 41-23 loss to the visiting Baltimore Ravens.
He ranks 13th in NFL history with 1,061 career receptions. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has 12,083 receiving yards and 70 touchdown catches in 172 games with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2013-23, 2025), Chicago Bears (2024) and Colts. Reuters
NFC East fans … Russell Wilson has just crowned the New York Giants as division champions this season. How do we feel about this? Strange to see Russ in a TV studio but annoyingly he seems fairly good. Imagine that.
What else are we looking forward to? I reckon Saints v Ravens could catch fire and also keen to see if the Jets can keep rolling with a big home win over the Packers. How the Patriots react after flopping in the season opener also intrigues.
Another potential cracker has another high-octane offense in the Cincinnati Bengals facing a mighty defense in the Houston Texans. Only will Cincy’s QB Joe Burrow be firing on all cylinders? He comes in not completely healthy with a back injury so expect Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr to be hungry to cause Burrow even more discomfort as Houston look to recover from a disappointing start last week.
Anderson has 93 quarterback pressures since the start of last season – second most in the league – with 40 happening in under 2.5sec. His explosive speed cause problems for a QB not exactly known for his mobility already.
Preamble
Hi and hello football fans! Firstly I must apologise for missing the opening Sunday’s action. I was busy beating Andy Burnham in a running race in Newcastle and am now officially three minutes faster than the PM over 13.1 miles.
Secondly, we’re baaaaaaaaack with a bumper slate of eight games at 11am CST/12pm EST/6pm BST (home teams listed second):
(0-1) Carolina Panthers v Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
(0-1) New Orleans Saints v Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
(1-0) Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears (1-0)
(1-0) Cincinnati Bengals v Houston Texans (0-1)
(1-0) Pittsburgh Steelers v New England Patriots (0-1)
(0-1) Green Bay Packers v New York Jets (1-0)
(0-1) Cleveland Browns v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
(1-0) Philadelphia Eagles v Tennessee Titans (0-1)
There are some juicy matchups but by far the most enticing has to be Minnesota heading to Solider Field to take on Chicago for a little NFC North rivalry game. Both teams won impressively last week, the Bears maybe slightly more so as they shared the highest scoring shootout in week one history in their 59-37 win over the Panthers last week.
Look out for Chicago’s quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for two scores and ran in a pair against Carolina, being hunted by the new face of Minnesota’s pass rush Dallas Turner. The linebacker was a nightmare last week recording one sack, 10 pressures, seven hits and forcing a fumble. The Vikings have won on their past six visits to Solider Field. Can their mighty defense chalk up a seventh? Let’s find out.