simmytbone
09-21-2018, 04:17 AM
Hey guys,
The 1st 2 Weeks of the NFL have been CRAZY!
3 Florida Teams have won their 1st 2 Games, however, 2 of those Florida Teams have not only won their 1st 2 Games, but the've also def. 2 Super Bowl Winning Quarterbacks BACK TO BACK
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Buccs with the Fitz Ryan Fitzpatrick def. Drew Brees and the Saints in NOLA and Nick Foles and the Eagles @ Home
Meanwhile....
The Jags lead by Blake Bortles def. Eli Manning and the GIANTS @ NYC and the great Tom Brady and the Patriots to get their 1st Home Win of the Season in a MIGHTY BIG WAY!
Here are the stories:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180909_TB@NO/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/-faf3cb3d5b6402e7_zpsatikzets.jpg
Fitzpatrick, Bucs stun Saints 48-40
STATS AP Sep 10, 2018
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Ryan Fitzpatrick backpedaled giddily for about 20 yards as he watched DeSean Jackson come down with a 36-yard touchdown pass over the middle. The journeyman quarterback then turned toward the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sideline and triumphantly thrust his arm in an upward arc.
Time will tell if the Bucs are on a similar trajectory this season, but there's no denying they're off to an encouraging start.
Fitzpatrick highlighted a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards, and the Buccaneers stunned the Saints 48-40 on Sunday.
''I'm happy to announce: FitzMagic is alive and well,'' Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said of his 35-year-old reserve quarterback, who was starting for suspended 2015 first-overall draft choice Jameis Winston. ''Quite a start, huh?''
Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 28 passes without an interception and also ran for a short touchdown, bowling over free safety Marcus Williams on his way into the end zone.
''I hope somebody had him in fantasy because he went crazy today,'' Bucs receiver Mike Evans said of Fitzpatrick. ''And he was running the ball - phenomenal game. One of the most complete games I've seen.''
Coming off a playoff appearance and hosting a team that won only five games last season, the Saints were among the more heavily favored teams in Week 1. But some of the Saints' defensive players who were instrumental in New Orleans' success a season earlier had a miserable start to 2018.
Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the 2017 defensive rookie of the year, had trouble covering Evans, who caught seven passes for 147 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that put the Bucs up 41-24 late in the third quarter.
''It isn't going to get me down. Everybody gets beat,'' Lattimore said. ''We needed to get slapped in our face one good time to see we're not on a level we think we're on.''
A season ago, Evans was so frustrated with coverage by Lattimore that he hit him after the whistle and wound up being suspended a game for it. After this latest meeting, Evans said, ''I like my odds against anybody, not just him.''
Jackson caught scoring passes of 58 and 36 yards to highlight his five-catch, 146-yard day before leaving with a concussion.
Fitzpatrick also threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin.
''The talent level in that huddle, with guys that can go up and make plays, it's a pretty special group,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''I'm glad we showed it today, but now it's about consistency.''
COMEBACK BID
The Saints put together a frantic offensive flurry in the fourth quarter, scoring twice on touchdowns by Alvin Kamara - the first a 1-yard run and the second a 7-yard catch, both followed by 2-point conversions. That cut the Saints' deficit to eight points with 3:31 to go.
On third-and-11, Fitzpatrick needed to make one more play - and did. He scrambled to his left for 12 yards at the two-minute warning. With New Orleans out of timeouts, Fitzpatrick was able to run out the clock.
''That's the type of game we've played in year's past as a .500 team,'' Saints coach Sean Payton said, alluding to three straight 7-9 seasons from 2014-16 before the Saints returned to the playoffs with 11 wins in 2017. ''Nothing carries over from last year. I've said it a millions times.''
STATS AND TRENDS
The combined 88 points set an NFL record for a regular-season opener, narrowly eclipsing Philadelphia's 45-42 victory over Washington in September of 1947.
New Orleans' Drew Brees was 37 of 45 for 439 yards and three TDs. Kamara, the 2017 offensive rookie of the year, caught nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown to go with two touchdown runs. Receiver Michael Thomas set a single-game franchise record by catching 16 passes for 180 yards and a TD, but turned the ball over on a fumble across midfield in the third quarter.
Tampa Bay scored on six of its first seven possessions. The only Bucs drive of the first half that did not produce points was when they ran out the final 55 seconds before halftime. Tampa Bay did not punt until their eighth drive about halfway through the third quarter. The Bucs finished with eight passing plays of 20 or more yards.
The Saints punted only once in the first half and trailed 31-24 at halftime after Thomas' 6-yard touchdown catch.
FUMBLED OPPORTUNITY
With Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension for use of a banned substance, the Saints brought in running back Mike Gillislee after he was cut by New England. In his Saints debut, Gillislee fumbled in the second quarter on a hit by Vernon Hargreaves. Cornerback Justin Evans scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a 34-yard TD.
INJURIES
Buccaneers: Hargreaves was helped to the locker room with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter.
Saints: New Orleans did not announce any injuries.
Meanwhile....
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180909_JAC@NYG/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/EliManningBlakeBortlesNewYorkGiantsfsn_wYt7L4ql_zpseuygafa0.jpg
Jack interception return leads Jags over Barkley, Giants
STATS AP Sep 09, 2018
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding their defense once again, and hope it takes them beyond the AFC title game.
Linebacker Myles Jack scored on a 32-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter and the Jaguars spoiled the New York Giants debuts of coach Pat Shurmur and second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley, and the return of Odell Beckham Jr. with a 20-15 win on Sunday.
Coming off a season in which they were ranked No. 2 overall and scored seven touchdowns on turnovers, the Jaguars' defense showed no slippage - with the exception of a spectacular 68-yard run by Barkley . The had two sacks, six quarterback pressures, eight tackles for losses, stopped a 2-point conversion run Barkley and didn't give up the lead late, stopping a New York drive with 1:55 to play.
A season ago, the Jaguars blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Patriots in the conference championship.
''We feel we're so talented on defense,'' said Jack, who scored on a pass deflected by backup nose tackle Abry Jones and finished with a game-high 10 tackles. ''We've got DBs that can score, linebackers can score. Even D-linemen who can strip sack fumbles and score. We don't put any pressure on the offense. If the offense scores, it puts even more onus on us. We try to create points.''
The Jags' offense did just enough playing without top running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) most of the game.
Blake Bortles, who was 18 of 33 for 176 yards, threw a short touchdown pass and led two other first-half field goal drives.
The Jaguars gained 310 yards in total offense and didn't score as a unit in the second half. The team also had 11 penalties for 119 yards.
''Our defense bailed us out and played pretty well,'' Bortles said. ''For us to find a way to win is a good start.''
The Giants, who were 3-13 last season, had their chances after falling behind 19-9 on Jack's touchdown.
Held in check much of the game, Barkley (18 carries for 106 yards) brought the sellout crowd to its feet less than a minute after Jack's score with a spectacular run. He took an inside handoff, broke to the outside, got a great block by receiver Sterling Shepard and scored, getting New York within 20-15 with 10:39 to play. His 2-point conversion was stopped.
It proved costly when passes of 19 and 21 yards to Beckham (11 catches for 111 yards in his first game since -October) got New York to the Jacksonville 34. Instead of attempting what could have been a tying fourth field goal from Aldrick Rosas, Eli Manning (23 of 37 for 224 yards) threw a fourth-down incompletion.
A muffed punt cost the Giants a final possession in the last minute.
''I'm encouraged just because I have seen the way we work and the men we have in this locker room,'' Manning said. ''The talent that we have and guys taking care of each other. Just encouraged by the whole situation. We can get things going and we can play at a high level. We will make it work.''
The Jaguars led 13-6 at the half as Bortles methodically took his team on three scoring scores. Josh Lambo capped the first two with 39-yard field goals, and Bortles hit backup running back T.J. Yeldin from 1 yard for a 13-3 lead.
Beckham, who broke an ankle on Oct. 8 and did not play in a preseason game, drew two pass interference penalties on the ensuing drive. Rosas closed the gap to a touchdown with a 31-yard field goal with :04 left in the half. He added a 44-yarder on the opening series of the third quarter on a drive helped by a ugly facemask penalty by Yannick Ngakoue against Barkley.
BECKHAM BACK
Manning targeted Beckham 15 times and connected on 11. The NFL's highest-paid receiver also drew pass interference penalties of 30 and 15 yards late in the first half, setting up a Rosas field goal.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Telvin Smith Sr. stood for the anthem. They stayed in the locker room in the preseason. Both teams stood.
INJURIES
Jaguars: Fournette was hurt in second quarter. He finished with 41 yards.
Giants: Backup RB Wayne Gallman left in the second half with a knee injury. He said he was OK after the game.
However, the following week:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180916_PHI@TB/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/RyanFitzpatrickNickFolesPhiladelphiaEaglesANpKOuWrD6gl_zpsfhirhhae.jpg
Fitzpatrick shines again, Buccaneers stun Eagles 27-21
STATS AP Sep 16, 2018
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Courtesy of DeSean Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick rocked a pair of sunglasses and a partially zipped warmup jacket revealing a couple of gold chains and a large pendant resting on his chest.
''It's nothing,'' the Tampa Bay quarterback said of the garb after throwing four touchdown passes and topping 400 yards for the second straight week, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-21 victory over the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
''I think we just have to stay humble,'' Fitzpatrick added, a smile crossing his face. ''We've got to make sure we know how to handle success and all those things. We can't change who we are.''
Filling in for suspended quarterback Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick completed 27 of 33 passes for 402 yards and has the suddenly explosive Bucs off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2010.
Jackson scored on a 75-yard reception on the first play of the game, giving him three TDs in two games after having three all last season.
O.J. Howard also had a 75-yard TD catch in the first half for Tampa Bay, which stunned New Orleans 48-40 on the road in its season opener.
''I think we just developed a lot of confidence in the offseason and through training camp with how we worked, and the way things were going, and the rapport with the guys,'' the 35-year-old Fitzpatrick said. ''I think that confidence has carried over into the season.''
Nick Foles threw for 334 yards for the Eagles (1-1), who rallied from a 20-point, third-quarter deficit.
The Super Bowl MVP's 2-yard TD pass to Nelson Agholor on fourth down trimmed Tampa Bay's lead to 27-21 with 2:46 remaining. Fitzpatrick didn't give the Eagles' injury-decimated offense a chance to finish the comeback.
''We didn't win every single game last year. I think people forget that,'' Foles said, trying to put the loss in perspective. ''There's a lot of expectations for us, but we can't put that kind of pressure on ourselves.''
Fitzpatrick, a 14-year veteran and one of four players in NFL history to throw TD passes for seven franchises, produced a couple first downs on Tampa Bay's last possession to drain all but 19 seconds off the clock.
''We had our shots. I just feel like if we had got that ball back one more time, we would have a chance to try to win it,'' Eagles tackle Jason Peters said. ''But we were pinned back there with 20 seconds left and we didn't have a lot of options.''
Chris Godwin and Mike Evans had TD receptions of 8 and 4 yards, respectively, for the Bucs. Jackson, who had two TD receptions before leaving the season opener with a concussion, finished with four catches for 129 yards.
The Eagles opened the season with Foles throwing for just 117 yards in an 18-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
They drove 78 yards in 13 plays to pull even with Tampa Bay in the second quarter, only to watch Howard turn a short pass into another long TD by eluding two defenders and turning up the left sideline. Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby was unable to chase down the 6-foot-6, 251-pound tight end.
Foles finished 35 of 48 with no interceptions. Corey Clement scored on a 15-yard run in the first half, and Jay Ajayi's 2-yard TD run began Philadelphia's rally from a 27-7 deficit.
FITZMAGIC
Fitzpatrick threw for a career-best 417 yards and four TDs in the season opener. He also ran for a touchdown against the Saints, meaning he's thrown for 819 yards and accounted for nine TDs in two weeks. He improved to 4-1 as a starter in two seasons with the Bucs.
TOUGH DAY
Philadelphia's defense, coming off sacking Matt Ryan four times and holding the Falcons quarterback to his lowest completion percentage in seven years, was torched for 271 yards passing and three touchdowns in the first half alone.
Fletcher Cox and Nigel Bradham had sacks Sunday. The Eagles also forced two turnovers, including a second-half fumble that helped them stay in the game.
INJURIES
Eagles: The Eagles were already without receiver Alshon Jeffery and running back Darren Sproles, and Foles' job got tougher when running back Jay Ajayi (back), receiver Mike Wallace (ankle) and tackle Jason Peters (quad) left in the first half. Ajayi returned at the start of the second half, finishing with 23 yards rushing on seven carries.
Buccaneers: With Brent Grimes (groin) missing his second straight game and Vernon Hargreaves III (shoulder) on injured reserve after getting hurt at New Orleans, the Bucs played without both starting cornerbacks. Defensive tackle Beau Allen (foot) and safety Chris Conte (knee) left the game in the second half.
FAST START
The Bucs, who haven't made the playoffs since 2007, are 2-0 for only the second time in 13 years. They also won their first two on the way to a 10-6 finish under former coach Raheem Morris in 2010.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Host Indianapolis next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Pittsburgh at home next Monday night, final game of Winston's suspension.
and finally....
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180916_NE@JAC/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/bortlesbrady_zpsuugqgglg.jpg
Bortles throws 4 TDs, Jaguars beat Patriots 31-20 in rematch
STATS AP Sep 16, 2018
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Eight months later and with much less on the line, the Jacksonville Jaguars found a way to close out Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The significance of it might not be known for some time.
Not even the bold, brash Jaguars would acknowledge it was anything more than a Week 2 win. Others would disagree.
Blake Bortles threw four touchdown passes, three in the first half, and the Jaguars beat Brady and the Patriots 31-20 Sunday in a rematch of last season's AFC championship game.
The victory - Jacksonville's first in nine tries against Brady - could signal a new favorite in the AFC.
''Every week is about us,'' Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. ''We feel like if we're at the top of our game, we can't be beat. They were our opponents, so that's what we prepared for.''
Bortles threw for 377 yards in the best game of his five-year career.
He threw perfect TD passes to Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole and Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the first half, the second time Bortles has accomplished that feat. Bortles sealed the victory with a 61-yard pass to Dede Westbrook in the fourth quarter.
Westbrook took a short pass on a crossing route, made one defender miss and outran another down the sideline and into the end zone. Cole delivered the key block.
Cole finished with seven receptions for 116 yards and a score. He made a spectacular, one-handed catch on Jacksonville's second drive and beat Eric Rowe for a 24-yard touchdown three plays later. Rowe was benched.
Westbrook's catch-and-run put the Jaguars (2-0) ahead 31-13, allowing them to start celebrating their second victory in franchise history against New England (1-1) and first in the regular season. They hadn't beaten the Pats since January 1999.
''You have a bad day against a good team, it's a recipe for losing,'' Brady said. ''And we certainly had a bad day.''
Brady completed 24 of 35 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, both to Chris Hogan. He was sacked twice.
Brady pleaded with teammates on the bench early. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels appeared to deliver stern words, too.
Just when the Patriots started showing signs of life - they were down 11 and in field-goal range early in the fourth quarter - Dante Fowler stripped Brady. Fowler was making his season debut after being suspended for the season opener.
''We just obviously didn't do anything well enough or close to well enough to be able to take a win today,'' Pats coach Bill Belichick said. ''It's disappointing to have the kind of day that we had today, but that's what it was, so we'll live with it, own it and move on.''
STAYING AGGRESSIVE
Unlike the previous meeting, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone didn't sit on the lead late.
Jacksonville kept throwing, even in the final minutes, and put it on the offense to close out the game.
Marrone was widely criticized for getting conservative in the title game. The Patriots trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter of that one before rallying to win 24-20 and advancing to the Super Bowl.
RECORD HEAT
The teams played in the hottest game in Jaguars history. Temperature at kickoff was 97 degrees, with a heat index of 107 degrees. According to the NFL, it was the warmest game since Green Bay played at Arizona in 2003.
NO FOURNETTE
The Jaguars improved to 4-0 in two seasons without running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette sat out while recovering from a sore right hamstring he tweaked in the season opener at the New York Giants.
T.J. Yeldon started in his place and ran 10 times for 58 yards.
GROUND GAINS
Patriots rookie Sony Michel, a first-round draft pick from Georgia, carried 10 times for 34 yards in his NFL debut. Michel is expected to give New England some much-needed help in its running attack.
KEY INJURIES
Patriots: Defensive end Trey Flowers and safety Patrick Chung, two of the team's top defenders, were ruled out with concussions. Flowers was injured in the first quarter when he collided with teammate Keionta Davis. Chung was injured in the second half.
Jaguars: Left tackle Cam Robinson left in the first quarter after injuring his left knee and was later ruled out. Receiver Donte Moncrief, who caught a touchdown pass on Jacksonville's opening drive, left with a knee injury in the third quarter. Defensive end Calais Campbell, questionable to play because of a sore right knee, left after getting poked in his right eye. He later returned.
UP NEXT
Patriots: Play at Detroit, where former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is now the head coach.
Jaguars: Host AFC South rival Tennessee in the second of three straight home games.
Buccaneers vs. Saints from Week #1
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Drew Brees
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Eagles vs. Buccaneers from Week #2
Nick Foles vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick-Battle of the Back-Ups
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Jaguars vs. GIANTS from Week #1
Blake Bortles vs. Eli Manning-Tom Coughlin Returns to MetLife
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Patriots vs. Jaguars from Week #2
Tom Brady vs. Blake Bortles
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The 1st 2 Weeks of the NFL have been CRAZY!
3 Florida Teams have won their 1st 2 Games, however, 2 of those Florida Teams have not only won their 1st 2 Games, but the've also def. 2 Super Bowl Winning Quarterbacks BACK TO BACK
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Buccs with the Fitz Ryan Fitzpatrick def. Drew Brees and the Saints in NOLA and Nick Foles and the Eagles @ Home
Meanwhile....
The Jags lead by Blake Bortles def. Eli Manning and the GIANTS @ NYC and the great Tom Brady and the Patriots to get their 1st Home Win of the Season in a MIGHTY BIG WAY!
Here are the stories:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180909_TB@NO/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/-faf3cb3d5b6402e7_zpsatikzets.jpg
Fitzpatrick, Bucs stun Saints 48-40
STATS AP Sep 10, 2018
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Ryan Fitzpatrick backpedaled giddily for about 20 yards as he watched DeSean Jackson come down with a 36-yard touchdown pass over the middle. The journeyman quarterback then turned toward the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sideline and triumphantly thrust his arm in an upward arc.
Time will tell if the Bucs are on a similar trajectory this season, but there's no denying they're off to an encouraging start.
Fitzpatrick highlighted a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards, and the Buccaneers stunned the Saints 48-40 on Sunday.
''I'm happy to announce: FitzMagic is alive and well,'' Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said of his 35-year-old reserve quarterback, who was starting for suspended 2015 first-overall draft choice Jameis Winston. ''Quite a start, huh?''
Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 28 passes without an interception and also ran for a short touchdown, bowling over free safety Marcus Williams on his way into the end zone.
''I hope somebody had him in fantasy because he went crazy today,'' Bucs receiver Mike Evans said of Fitzpatrick. ''And he was running the ball - phenomenal game. One of the most complete games I've seen.''
Coming off a playoff appearance and hosting a team that won only five games last season, the Saints were among the more heavily favored teams in Week 1. But some of the Saints' defensive players who were instrumental in New Orleans' success a season earlier had a miserable start to 2018.
Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the 2017 defensive rookie of the year, had trouble covering Evans, who caught seven passes for 147 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that put the Bucs up 41-24 late in the third quarter.
''It isn't going to get me down. Everybody gets beat,'' Lattimore said. ''We needed to get slapped in our face one good time to see we're not on a level we think we're on.''
A season ago, Evans was so frustrated with coverage by Lattimore that he hit him after the whistle and wound up being suspended a game for it. After this latest meeting, Evans said, ''I like my odds against anybody, not just him.''
Jackson caught scoring passes of 58 and 36 yards to highlight his five-catch, 146-yard day before leaving with a concussion.
Fitzpatrick also threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin.
''The talent level in that huddle, with guys that can go up and make plays, it's a pretty special group,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''I'm glad we showed it today, but now it's about consistency.''
COMEBACK BID
The Saints put together a frantic offensive flurry in the fourth quarter, scoring twice on touchdowns by Alvin Kamara - the first a 1-yard run and the second a 7-yard catch, both followed by 2-point conversions. That cut the Saints' deficit to eight points with 3:31 to go.
On third-and-11, Fitzpatrick needed to make one more play - and did. He scrambled to his left for 12 yards at the two-minute warning. With New Orleans out of timeouts, Fitzpatrick was able to run out the clock.
''That's the type of game we've played in year's past as a .500 team,'' Saints coach Sean Payton said, alluding to three straight 7-9 seasons from 2014-16 before the Saints returned to the playoffs with 11 wins in 2017. ''Nothing carries over from last year. I've said it a millions times.''
STATS AND TRENDS
The combined 88 points set an NFL record for a regular-season opener, narrowly eclipsing Philadelphia's 45-42 victory over Washington in September of 1947.
New Orleans' Drew Brees was 37 of 45 for 439 yards and three TDs. Kamara, the 2017 offensive rookie of the year, caught nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown to go with two touchdown runs. Receiver Michael Thomas set a single-game franchise record by catching 16 passes for 180 yards and a TD, but turned the ball over on a fumble across midfield in the third quarter.
Tampa Bay scored on six of its first seven possessions. The only Bucs drive of the first half that did not produce points was when they ran out the final 55 seconds before halftime. Tampa Bay did not punt until their eighth drive about halfway through the third quarter. The Bucs finished with eight passing plays of 20 or more yards.
The Saints punted only once in the first half and trailed 31-24 at halftime after Thomas' 6-yard touchdown catch.
FUMBLED OPPORTUNITY
With Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension for use of a banned substance, the Saints brought in running back Mike Gillislee after he was cut by New England. In his Saints debut, Gillislee fumbled in the second quarter on a hit by Vernon Hargreaves. Cornerback Justin Evans scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a 34-yard TD.
INJURIES
Buccaneers: Hargreaves was helped to the locker room with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter.
Saints: New Orleans did not announce any injuries.
Meanwhile....
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180909_JAC@NYG/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/EliManningBlakeBortlesNewYorkGiantsfsn_wYt7L4ql_zpseuygafa0.jpg
Jack interception return leads Jags over Barkley, Giants
STATS AP Sep 09, 2018
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding their defense once again, and hope it takes them beyond the AFC title game.
Linebacker Myles Jack scored on a 32-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter and the Jaguars spoiled the New York Giants debuts of coach Pat Shurmur and second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley, and the return of Odell Beckham Jr. with a 20-15 win on Sunday.
Coming off a season in which they were ranked No. 2 overall and scored seven touchdowns on turnovers, the Jaguars' defense showed no slippage - with the exception of a spectacular 68-yard run by Barkley . The had two sacks, six quarterback pressures, eight tackles for losses, stopped a 2-point conversion run Barkley and didn't give up the lead late, stopping a New York drive with 1:55 to play.
A season ago, the Jaguars blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Patriots in the conference championship.
''We feel we're so talented on defense,'' said Jack, who scored on a pass deflected by backup nose tackle Abry Jones and finished with a game-high 10 tackles. ''We've got DBs that can score, linebackers can score. Even D-linemen who can strip sack fumbles and score. We don't put any pressure on the offense. If the offense scores, it puts even more onus on us. We try to create points.''
The Jags' offense did just enough playing without top running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) most of the game.
Blake Bortles, who was 18 of 33 for 176 yards, threw a short touchdown pass and led two other first-half field goal drives.
The Jaguars gained 310 yards in total offense and didn't score as a unit in the second half. The team also had 11 penalties for 119 yards.
''Our defense bailed us out and played pretty well,'' Bortles said. ''For us to find a way to win is a good start.''
The Giants, who were 3-13 last season, had their chances after falling behind 19-9 on Jack's touchdown.
Held in check much of the game, Barkley (18 carries for 106 yards) brought the sellout crowd to its feet less than a minute after Jack's score with a spectacular run. He took an inside handoff, broke to the outside, got a great block by receiver Sterling Shepard and scored, getting New York within 20-15 with 10:39 to play. His 2-point conversion was stopped.
It proved costly when passes of 19 and 21 yards to Beckham (11 catches for 111 yards in his first game since -October) got New York to the Jacksonville 34. Instead of attempting what could have been a tying fourth field goal from Aldrick Rosas, Eli Manning (23 of 37 for 224 yards) threw a fourth-down incompletion.
A muffed punt cost the Giants a final possession in the last minute.
''I'm encouraged just because I have seen the way we work and the men we have in this locker room,'' Manning said. ''The talent that we have and guys taking care of each other. Just encouraged by the whole situation. We can get things going and we can play at a high level. We will make it work.''
The Jaguars led 13-6 at the half as Bortles methodically took his team on three scoring scores. Josh Lambo capped the first two with 39-yard field goals, and Bortles hit backup running back T.J. Yeldin from 1 yard for a 13-3 lead.
Beckham, who broke an ankle on Oct. 8 and did not play in a preseason game, drew two pass interference penalties on the ensuing drive. Rosas closed the gap to a touchdown with a 31-yard field goal with :04 left in the half. He added a 44-yarder on the opening series of the third quarter on a drive helped by a ugly facemask penalty by Yannick Ngakoue against Barkley.
BECKHAM BACK
Manning targeted Beckham 15 times and connected on 11. The NFL's highest-paid receiver also drew pass interference penalties of 30 and 15 yards late in the first half, setting up a Rosas field goal.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Telvin Smith Sr. stood for the anthem. They stayed in the locker room in the preseason. Both teams stood.
INJURIES
Jaguars: Fournette was hurt in second quarter. He finished with 41 yards.
Giants: Backup RB Wayne Gallman left in the second half with a knee injury. He said he was OK after the game.
However, the following week:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20180916_PHI@TB/
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb296/tnawrestlingfan/RyanFitzpatrickNickFolesPhiladelphiaEaglesANpKOuWrD6gl_zpsfhirhhae.jpg
Fitzpatrick shines again, Buccaneers stun Eagles 27-21
STATS AP Sep 16, 2018
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Courtesy of DeSean Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick rocked a pair of sunglasses and a partially zipped warmup jacket revealing a couple of gold chains and a large pendant resting on his chest.
''It's nothing,'' the Tampa Bay quarterback said of the garb after throwing four touchdown passes and topping 400 yards for the second straight week, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-21 victory over the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
''I think we just have to stay humble,'' Fitzpatrick added, a smile crossing his face. ''We've got to make sure we know how to handle success and all those things. We can't change who we are.''
Filling in for suspended quarterback Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick completed 27 of 33 passes for 402 yards and has the suddenly explosive Bucs off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2010.
Jackson scored on a 75-yard reception on the first play of the game, giving him three TDs in two games after having three all last season.
O.J. Howard also had a 75-yard TD catch in the first half for Tampa Bay, which stunned New Orleans 48-40 on the road in its season opener.
''I think we just developed a lot of confidence in the offseason and through training camp with how we worked, and the way things were going, and the rapport with the guys,'' the 35-year-old Fitzpatrick said. ''I think that confidence has carried over into the season.''
Nick Foles threw for 334 yards for the Eagles (1-1), who rallied from a 20-point, third-quarter deficit.
The Super Bowl MVP's 2-yard TD pass to Nelson Agholor on fourth down trimmed Tampa Bay's lead to 27-21 with 2:46 remaining. Fitzpatrick didn't give the Eagles' injury-decimated offense a chance to finish the comeback.
''We didn't win every single game last year. I think people forget that,'' Foles said, trying to put the loss in perspective. ''There's a lot of expectations for us, but we can't put that kind of pressure on ourselves.''
Fitzpatrick, a 14-year veteran and one of four players in NFL history to throw TD passes for seven franchises, produced a couple first downs on Tampa Bay's last possession to drain all but 19 seconds off the clock.
''We had our shots. I just feel like if we had got that ball back one more time, we would have a chance to try to win it,'' Eagles tackle Jason Peters said. ''But we were pinned back there with 20 seconds left and we didn't have a lot of options.''
Chris Godwin and Mike Evans had TD receptions of 8 and 4 yards, respectively, for the Bucs. Jackson, who had two TD receptions before leaving the season opener with a concussion, finished with four catches for 129 yards.
The Eagles opened the season with Foles throwing for just 117 yards in an 18-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
They drove 78 yards in 13 plays to pull even with Tampa Bay in the second quarter, only to watch Howard turn a short pass into another long TD by eluding two defenders and turning up the left sideline. Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby was unable to chase down the 6-foot-6, 251-pound tight end.
Foles finished 35 of 48 with no interceptions. Corey Clement scored on a 15-yard run in the first half, and Jay Ajayi's 2-yard TD run began Philadelphia's rally from a 27-7 deficit.
FITZMAGIC
Fitzpatrick threw for a career-best 417 yards and four TDs in the season opener. He also ran for a touchdown against the Saints, meaning he's thrown for 819 yards and accounted for nine TDs in two weeks. He improved to 4-1 as a starter in two seasons with the Bucs.
TOUGH DAY
Philadelphia's defense, coming off sacking Matt Ryan four times and holding the Falcons quarterback to his lowest completion percentage in seven years, was torched for 271 yards passing and three touchdowns in the first half alone.
Fletcher Cox and Nigel Bradham had sacks Sunday. The Eagles also forced two turnovers, including a second-half fumble that helped them stay in the game.
INJURIES
Eagles: The Eagles were already without receiver Alshon Jeffery and running back Darren Sproles, and Foles' job got tougher when running back Jay Ajayi (back), receiver Mike Wallace (ankle) and tackle Jason Peters (quad) left in the first half. Ajayi returned at the start of the second half, finishing with 23 yards rushing on seven carries.
Buccaneers: With Brent Grimes (groin) missing his second straight game and Vernon Hargreaves III (shoulder) on injured reserve after getting hurt at New Orleans, the Bucs played without both starting cornerbacks. Defensive tackle Beau Allen (foot) and safety Chris Conte (knee) left the game in the second half.
FAST START
The Bucs, who haven't made the playoffs since 2007, are 2-0 for only the second time in 13 years. They also won their first two on the way to a 10-6 finish under former coach Raheem Morris in 2010.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Host Indianapolis next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Pittsburgh at home next Monday night, final game of Winston's suspension.
and finally....
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Bortles throws 4 TDs, Jaguars beat Patriots 31-20 in rematch
STATS AP Sep 16, 2018
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Eight months later and with much less on the line, the Jacksonville Jaguars found a way to close out Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The significance of it might not be known for some time.
Not even the bold, brash Jaguars would acknowledge it was anything more than a Week 2 win. Others would disagree.
Blake Bortles threw four touchdown passes, three in the first half, and the Jaguars beat Brady and the Patriots 31-20 Sunday in a rematch of last season's AFC championship game.
The victory - Jacksonville's first in nine tries against Brady - could signal a new favorite in the AFC.
''Every week is about us,'' Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. ''We feel like if we're at the top of our game, we can't be beat. They were our opponents, so that's what we prepared for.''
Bortles threw for 377 yards in the best game of his five-year career.
He threw perfect TD passes to Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole and Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the first half, the second time Bortles has accomplished that feat. Bortles sealed the victory with a 61-yard pass to Dede Westbrook in the fourth quarter.
Westbrook took a short pass on a crossing route, made one defender miss and outran another down the sideline and into the end zone. Cole delivered the key block.
Cole finished with seven receptions for 116 yards and a score. He made a spectacular, one-handed catch on Jacksonville's second drive and beat Eric Rowe for a 24-yard touchdown three plays later. Rowe was benched.
Westbrook's catch-and-run put the Jaguars (2-0) ahead 31-13, allowing them to start celebrating their second victory in franchise history against New England (1-1) and first in the regular season. They hadn't beaten the Pats since January 1999.
''You have a bad day against a good team, it's a recipe for losing,'' Brady said. ''And we certainly had a bad day.''
Brady completed 24 of 35 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, both to Chris Hogan. He was sacked twice.
Brady pleaded with teammates on the bench early. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels appeared to deliver stern words, too.
Just when the Patriots started showing signs of life - they were down 11 and in field-goal range early in the fourth quarter - Dante Fowler stripped Brady. Fowler was making his season debut after being suspended for the season opener.
''We just obviously didn't do anything well enough or close to well enough to be able to take a win today,'' Pats coach Bill Belichick said. ''It's disappointing to have the kind of day that we had today, but that's what it was, so we'll live with it, own it and move on.''
STAYING AGGRESSIVE
Unlike the previous meeting, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone didn't sit on the lead late.
Jacksonville kept throwing, even in the final minutes, and put it on the offense to close out the game.
Marrone was widely criticized for getting conservative in the title game. The Patriots trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter of that one before rallying to win 24-20 and advancing to the Super Bowl.
RECORD HEAT
The teams played in the hottest game in Jaguars history. Temperature at kickoff was 97 degrees, with a heat index of 107 degrees. According to the NFL, it was the warmest game since Green Bay played at Arizona in 2003.
NO FOURNETTE
The Jaguars improved to 4-0 in two seasons without running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette sat out while recovering from a sore right hamstring he tweaked in the season opener at the New York Giants.
T.J. Yeldon started in his place and ran 10 times for 58 yards.
GROUND GAINS
Patriots rookie Sony Michel, a first-round draft pick from Georgia, carried 10 times for 34 yards in his NFL debut. Michel is expected to give New England some much-needed help in its running attack.
KEY INJURIES
Patriots: Defensive end Trey Flowers and safety Patrick Chung, two of the team's top defenders, were ruled out with concussions. Flowers was injured in the first quarter when he collided with teammate Keionta Davis. Chung was injured in the second half.
Jaguars: Left tackle Cam Robinson left in the first quarter after injuring his left knee and was later ruled out. Receiver Donte Moncrief, who caught a touchdown pass on Jacksonville's opening drive, left with a knee injury in the third quarter. Defensive end Calais Campbell, questionable to play because of a sore right knee, left after getting poked in his right eye. He later returned.
UP NEXT
Patriots: Play at Detroit, where former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is now the head coach.
Jaguars: Host AFC South rival Tennessee in the second of three straight home games.
Buccaneers vs. Saints from Week #1
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Drew Brees
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Eagles vs. Buccaneers from Week #2
Nick Foles vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick-Battle of the Back-Ups
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Jaguars vs. GIANTS from Week #1
Blake Bortles vs. Eli Manning-Tom Coughlin Returns to MetLife
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Patriots vs. Jaguars from Week #2
Tom Brady vs. Blake Bortles
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