The first week of 17 is in the books for the 2021-22 NFL season. And a whole lot happened on Sunday. We’ll begin with the LA Rams’ clash with the Chicago Bears in prime time. It was Matthew Stafford’s first time out for his new team, and he did not disappoint. The former Lion’s QB went 20-26 for three touchdowns and 321 yards as they eased to a decisive 34-14 victory at home to begin their season. They led by as much as 13-0 in the first half and never really let the Bears in with a shot at it.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught seven passes for 108 yards and a TD. Aaron Rodgers’ season didn’t happen to start so well, however. He and his Green Bay Packers took a beating at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, forced to play their ‘home game in Jacksonville, by a score of 38-3. Jameis Winston threw for five touchdowns in the dominant display while Rodgers was picked off twice by the Saints’ defense as they gave their city something to be proud of after a difficult couple of weeks. Perhaps the most brilliant performance of the weekend came from none other than Kyler Murray. The Arizona Cardinals quarterback put on a magical showing on the road in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one. He had over 300 total yards of offensive production, with 86 of those coming as he hooked up with DeAndre Hopkins six times. Hopkins had two touchdowns on 86 yards receiving as well. On the defensive side of the ball, Chandler Jones had five sacks, showing it’s not just an offensive show that led the Cardinals to crush the Titans 38-13. Lastly, Urban Meyer’s debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t go so well as they fell to the Houston Texans 37-21. Trevor Lawrence had three touchdowns and over 300 yards, but he also was intercepted three times in the defeat.
