Tag: Week 1

1 touchdown through 2 weeks of Steelers’ football: Is there cause for concern?

Is it time to hit the panic button on the Steelers’ touchdown efficiency, or is it a product of game-script?

The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines in Week 1 as the Steelers pulled off an unthinkable form of victory: 18 points scored with zero touchdowns to show for it. Week 2’s victory improved upon this concern, but barely, as the Pittsburgh Steelers scored only one touchdown in the first quarter. There is genuine concern for the Steelers’ lack of touchdown efficiency, but there is a possibility that this is an overreaction as well. 

Regarding the concern about a lack of Pittsburgh touchdowns, one can simply see the statistics and shudder: two games, 31 points scored, 15.5 points per game, and Boswell’s leg accounting for 12.5 of those. 

But how much of this is truly game script and necessity? The Steelers want to control the time of possession, which results in a boring, but controlled game. This has worked out for them thus far, holding the football for 35:36 against Atlanta’s 24:24, and again in Week 2 with a possession time of 32:19 against Denver’s 27:41. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to answer these offensive questions as they prepare for the toughest offense they have faced yet: the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, who have scored over 20 points in their last two contests.  

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Monday Night Football schedule: Is there a ‘ManningCast’ tonight?

Peyton and Eli Manning (Bill Belichick) are back with another ‘ManningCast’ tonight for the Falcons-Eagles game.

Peyton and Eli Manning have returned for a fourth season of the ManningCast with the two former quarterbacks set to provide commentary for 11 weeks of Monday Night Football games this fall.

The brothers released a funny 10-minute musical to promote the upcoming ManningCast season earlier this month. The 2024 slate continues tonight with Peyton and Eli providing commentary on the Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles game.

Peyton and Eli will welcome new guests on the program each week, and Bill Belichick will be featured on every ManningCast this fall.

In addition to 10 weeks of regular-season action, Peyton and Eli will also provide commentary for a Wild Card game in January.

Check out the full schedule below.

ManningCast 2024 Schedule

NFL Week Date Game TV
1 Sept. 9 Jets @ 49ers ESPN2, ESPN+
2 Sept. 16 Falcons @ Eagles ESPN2
5 Oct. 7 Saints @ Chiefs ESPN2
6 Oct. 14 Bills @ Jets ESPN2
7 Oct. 21 Ravens @ Bucs ESPN2, ESPN+
7 Oct. 21 Chargers @ Cards ESPN+
8 Oct. 28 Giants @ Steelers ESPN2, ESPN+
9 Nov. 4 Bucs @ Chiefs ESPN2
11 Nov. 18 Texans @ Cowboys ESPN2
12 Nov. 25 Ravens @ Chargers ESPN2
14 Dec. 9 Bengals @ Cowboys ESPN2, ESPN+
Wild Card Jan. 13 TBD ESPN2, ESPN+

The ManningCast is televised on ESPN2. The primary MNF broadcast will continue to feature Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on ESPN.

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Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Panthers in Week 2

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Carolina.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Panthers are the worst team in the NFL and it was on display last Sunday in their loss to the Saints. They lacked offensive production and their defense was a dud. I expect Los Angeles to have success running the ball against Carolina, who surrendered 180 yards on the ground. Additionally, I am forecasting a couple of turnovers for L.A.

Chargers 24, Panthers 10

Alex K:

Los Angeles should be able to move the ball against a Panthers squad that struggled to stop the Saints’ offense last week. Expect a more consistent rushing attack with JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards against a Carolina defense missing defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Defensively, the Chargers’ aggressiveness will likely be enough to confuse Panthers quarterback Bryce Young into a turnover or two, setting up for a big Chargers win.

Chargers 31, Panthers 10

Spencer:

The Chargers shouldn’t have much problem handling business in this one. They should be able to control the line of scrimmage, particularly with Panthers star Derrick Brown out. Look for Justin Herbert to make more big-time throws this week, leading the Chargers to a 2-0 start to the season.

Chargers 24, Panthers 13

NFL fines 2 Broncos players for Week 1 offenses

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for roughing the passer and DB Brandon Jones was fined $11,255 for unnecessary roughness in Week 1.

The NFL has fined a pair of Denver Broncos defenders following offenses committed in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for a roughing the passer penalty against Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in the first quarter, according to The Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel.

Denver safety Brandon Jones was also fined $11,255 for unnecessary roughness after he knocked off the helmet of Seattle wide receiver Jake Bobo in the fourth quarter.

https://twitter.com/mookiealexander/status/1835067710121951296

These mark the Broncos’ first fines of the 2024 season. Last year, former Denver safety Kareem Jackson was the team’s most-fined player. Jackson’s fines and suspensions cost him more than $648,558 in 2023.

After last week’s 26-20 loss in Seattle, the Broncos are preparing to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. Denver’s game against the Steelers will be regionally televised on CBS and available to stream on fuboTV (try it free) for in-market fans at 2:25 p.m. MT. The Broncos are considered betting underdogs despite playing at home.

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Ravens LB blasts Chiefs’ training staff after sustaining injury in Week 1 loss

#Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy blasted the #Chiefs’ training staff after receiving less-than-adequate care in Baltimore’s Week 1 loss at Arrowhead.

The Baltimore Ravens lost their Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, and while the game may be over, linebacker Kyle Van Noy had something to say about his treatment at Arrowhead Stadium during a recent interview.

Van Noy suffered a fractured orbital in the game and will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time as a result. After sustaining the injury last Thursday, Van Noy said that the Chiefs’ training staff didn’t immediately attend to him in the locker room and that he had to wait for an entire quarter to be evaluated.

https://twitter.com/bobbybaltim0re/status/1833647958975492300

Kansas City’s training staff earned a poor grade in the NFLPA’s 2024 team report card, and certainly won’t get a boost from Van Noy’s comments.

Though the Chiefs haven’t issued a statement about Van Noy’s interview at the time of writing, fans should stay tuned to see if they offer any kind of response to the allegations about the linebacker’s care.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy snubbed for NFL’s Rookie of the Week award

Despite his two touchdown performance against the #Ravens, #Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy was snubbed for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week award.

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off an electric win to start the season, where rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy made an impressive debut, posting almost 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

After such an impactful start to his regular season, both fans, pundits, and the NFL itself took notice of Worthy’s outstanding performance.

On Monday, the NFL’s official Twitter opened voting for the 2024 season’s first Rookie of the Week in a showdown between Worthy, Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, Brian Thomas, and Jha’Quan Jackson.

After voting closed on Thursday morning, it was announced that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was Week 1’s Rookie of the Week, shocking Chiefs Kingdom.

Awards like this are largely meaningless, but after such a powerful performance by the former Texas Longhorn, fans are left wondering what it will take for him to be named Rookie of the Week.

Expect the speedster to take note of his snub heading into the Kansas City’s Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury: ‘I called one of my worst plays ever’

Kingsbury took responsibility for one play call he would love to have back.

Not only did the Commanders lose their 2024 opener in Tampa, 37-20, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury declared Thursday he had one of the worst play calls of his career.

Kingsbury, meeting with the local press, voluntarily offered, “I called one of the worst plays I’ve ever called in my entire career. He (Jayden Daniels) just took the ball and ran into the end zone. It was like he was not going to be denied there on the goal line. It showed a lot about him in that situation.”

To which play was Kingsbury referring? Washington trailed Tampa Bay 37-14. Daniels had just completed a ten-yard pass over the middle to Luke McCaffrey, taking the ball to the one-yard line. After two unsuccessful attempts, the Commanders faced a 3rd  & goal from the one with 1:16 remaining.

“I called basically a speed option with no check, and they (Bucs) overplayed it to one side. So he (Daniels) just stuck his foot in the ground and got in the end zone.”

Indeed, the replay shows that it was to be an option, right, with Daniels keeping off-tackling to the right or pitching wide right to Brian Robinson. However, the Bucs defense played the pitch perfectly, and Robinson would have been hit for a loss had Daniels pitched it. Compounding matters was that Daniels was not able to even approach going off tackle, as that was clogged up by the Bucs as well.

Therefore, he stopped instantly, planting and attempting to cut back over the right guard. Two Buccaneer defenders met Daniels, who turned his back, was hit, got away, and backpedaled into the end zone for the final touchdown.

“He just found a way in. So it says a lot about what we knew. He likes to compete, and it definitely showed on Sunday. I didn’t give him a check to get out of it (the play). They had about three guys outside on the option. So, he saw that and ran it anyway, cut back, ran a couple of guys over, and got in the end zone.”

Kingsbury, thinking long term, closed by saying, “If I had that one back, I would rather him not get hit like that.

He is right, of course. Why subject your thin rookie quarterback to unnecessary hits in a game you’ve already lost when there are 16 more games to play?

Related article:

Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury did Jayden Daniels no favors in Week 1

 

Chiefs DB Jaylen Watson showed off sticky coverage vs Ravens

#Chiefs DB Jaylen Watson showed off his exceptional coverage ability in Kansas City’s Week 1 win over the Baltimore #Ravens.

Jaylen Watson has been a standout for the Kansas City Chiefs at the cornerback position since being drafted in 2022, and he put together a stellar showing against the Baltimore Ravens last week.

After being placed on the physically injured list over the summer and missing this preseason, Watson returned to the field last Thursday and helped keep reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in check.

Though the overall performance of Kansas City’s defense was a group effort, the sticky coverage that Watson played against Baltimore’s receivers was a huge advantage for Steve Spagnuolo.

The Chiefs’ official Twitter account posted footage of one pass defended by Watson against Baltimore, which he capably swatted away just in time to end one of the Ravens’ drives in the third quarter.

https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1833178065951719567

Kansas City’s quest to complete an ever-elusive three-peat will continue on Sunday when the Chiefs face off against the Cincinnati Bengals, who lost to the New England Patriots in Week 1.

Chiefs LB Nick Bolton was mic’d up during crucial play vs. Ravens

Check out this video of #Chiefs LB Nick Bolton mic’d up during Kansas City’s win over the Baltimore #Ravens last week.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton has already been part of two Super Bowl victories in his career and will help his team in its effort to win a third consecutive championship this season.

A 2021 draft pick from Missouri, Bolton has been productive with the Chiefs, logging 359 combined tackles and 2 sacks since his start in the NFL.

One of the most impactful players on Kansas City’s defense, the standout linebacker was mic’d up when he made another tackle in a key moment against the Baltimore Ravens last week.

Check out this video of Bolton hyping himself up for a huge play in the red zone that could have led to a Ravens score and threatened the Chiefs’ chances at victory.

At the end of the play, Bolton exclaims “That’s game!” which is something Kansas City’s fans can look forward to hearing in the future as the Chiefs continue working towards their ultimate goal of a Super Bowl three-peat.

The season continues for Kansas City on Sunday when the Chiefs play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 action.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy led rookies in Week 1 touchdowns

#Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy scored more touchdowns in Week 1 than any other player in the 2024 draft class.

The Kansas City Chiefs are riding high heading into Week 2 of the regular season after an exciting 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown still nursing an injury he sustained during the preseason, but the rest of the Chiefs’ receiving corps stepped up to fill the void left in his absence.

Second-year wideout Rashee Rice led Kansas City with 103 receiving yards, but rookie Xavier Worthy stole the show against Baltimore with a two-touchdown performance in his regular season debut.

On Tuesday, KC Sports Network tweeted a touchdown log of rookie wide receivers in Week 1 that showed Worthy leading the pack after his stellar performance last Thursday.

https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1833589517707583532

Worthy was drafted in the first round of the 2024 draft after running the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Draft history, and is has already become a key part of the Chiefs’ offense.

Expect to see more from Worthy and Rice when Kansas City faces off against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 15.