Two-Time Pro Bowl WR Makes Debut This Sunday on 'NFL GameDay Morning' at 9:00 AM ET Former Super Bowl champion wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has joined NFL Network as a studio analyst, it was announced today.
Sanders will make his NFL Network debut on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday at 9:00 AM ET, joining Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Ian Rapoport, Cynthia Frelund and Rachel Bonnetta on the most comprehensive pregame show on television.
In his role with NFL Network, Sanders will appear regularly on NFL GameDay Morning throughout the season, in addition to various other NFL Network programs and live coverage of such events as Super Bowl. Sanders will also co-host a new podcast to be developed for the NFL Podcast Network.
"We got to see a glimpse of what Emmanuel could bring several years ago when he was a guest analyst on NFL GameDay Morning on Championship Sunday," said Charlie Yook, NFL Network Vice President, Executive Producer. "We are excited to have him join our family and create memorable content in the linear and digital space."
"After 12 years in the NFL, I am excited to take what I have learned on the field and be able to provide my insight and opinions about the game I love on NFL Network," said Sanders. "I can't think of a better place to start my post-playing career."
Sanders (@ESanders_10) joins NFL Network following a 12-year NFL career in which he amassed 9,245 total receiving yards and 51 receiving touchdowns. A third-round draft pick in 2010 out of SMU, Sanders spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following the 2013 season, Sanders signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent and spent five full seasons in Denver, during which he was named to the Pro Bowl twice and became a Super Bowl champion when the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. During the 2019 season, Sanders was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, after which he spent the final two years of his career with the New Orleans Saints (2020) and Buffalo Bills (2021). On September 7, 2022, Sanders announced his retirement as a member of the Broncos.
Sanders currently lives in Denver with his wife and two kids. | AFC Players of the Week - Week 2 | DOLPHINS QB TUA TAGOVAILOA, CHIEFS CB JAYLEN WATSON & JETS P BRADEN MANN NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2 Quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA of the Miami Dolphins, cornerback JAYLEN WATSON of the Kansas City Chiefs and punter BRADEN MANN of the New York Jets are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 of the 2022 season (September 15, 18-19). OFFENSE: QB TUA TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS - Tagovailoa completed 36 of 50 attempts (72 percent) and set career highs in passing yards (469), touchdown passes (six) and passer rating (124.1) in leading the Dolphins from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Baltimore in Week 2. At 24 years and 200 days old, he became the third-youngest player in NFL history with six touchdown passes in a single game.
- This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Tagovailoa and he is the first Dolphins quarterback to earn the honor since Week 16 of the 2019 season (Ryan Fitzpatrick).
- Tagovailoa joins Jeff Rutledge (Week 9, 1990) as the only former Crimson Tide quarterbacks to earn Offensive Player of the Week
DEFENSE: CB JAYLEN WATSON, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Watson registered a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the longest go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown scored by a rookie in NFL history.
- This is Watson’s first career Defensive Player of the Week award and he joins Marcus Peters (three times) and Mike Hughes as Chiefs cornerbacks to earn the honor in the past 10 seasons.
- Watson is the fourth former Washington State defensive back to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors, joining James Hasty (Week 7, 1999), Marcus Trufant (Week 14, 2007) and Brian Walker (Week 11, 2000).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P BRADEN MANN, NEW YORK JETS - Mann executed the first successful onside kick of the season with 1:20 remaining as the New York Jets overcame a 13-point deficit inside the final two minutes to defeat Cleveland in Week 2. He also converted a fake punt attempt in the first quarter with a 17-yard completion in addition to four punts, two of which he placed inside the 20-yard line.
- This is Mann’s first-career Special Teams Player of the Week award and he becomes the third Jets punter to earn the honor, joining Ryan Quigley (Week 9, 2015) and Tom Tupa (Week 7, 2001).
- Mann joins Shane Lechler (four times) and Drew Kaser as former Texas A&M punters to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
2022 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Wk 1 Wk 2 | QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami | S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh CB Jaylen Watson, Kansas City | K Cade York, Cleveland P Braden Mann, N.Y. Jets |
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| NFC Players of the Week - Week 2 | LIONS WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN, EAGLES CB DARIUS SLAY & GIANTS K GRAHAM GANO NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2 Wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN of the Detroit Lions, cornerback DARIUS SLAY of the Philadelphia Eagles and kicker GRAHAM GANO of the New York Giants are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 of the 2022 season (September 15, 18-19).
OFFENSE: WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN, DETROIT LIONS - St. Brown registered nine receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing attempts for 68 yards in the Lions’ Week 2 win over Washington. St. Brown’s 184 scrimmage yards led all NFC players in Week 2 as he became the first player in NFL history to record at least eight receptions and a touchdown in six consecutive games.
- This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week award for St. Brown and he becomes the sixth Lions wide receiver to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (four times), Herman Moore (twice), Germane Crowell, Richard Johnson and Brett Perriman.
- He is the third former USC wide receiver to win Offensive Player of the Week, joining JuJu Smith-Schuster (Week 8, 2017) and Robert Woods (Week 11, 2020).
DEFENSE: CB DARIUS SLAY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Slay recorded a career-high five passes defensed along with his first two interceptions of the season in the Eagles’ Week 2 victory against Minnesota. He became the first player since 2019 (Pierre Desir) to record five passes defensed and two interceptions in a single game.
- This is Slay’s fifth-career Defensive Player of the Week award, the most among all defensive backs since 2016. He is the first Eagles defensive back to win a Defensive Player of the Week award in consecutive seasons since Malcolm Jenkins (Week 13, 2015 and Week 16, 2016).
- 2016 (with Detroit): Week 5
- 2017 (with Detroit): Week 15
- 2018 (with Detroit): Week 14
- 2021 (with Philadelphia): Week 10
- 2022 (with Philadelphia): Week 2
SPECIAL TEAMS: K GRAHAM GANO, NEW YORK GIANTS - Gano converted a league-high four field goals, including the game-winning 56-yard field goal with 3:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, and led all kickers in points scored (13) in the Giants’ Week 2 win over Carolina.
- This is Gano’s fifth-career Special Teams Player of the Week award and marks the third-consecutive season in which he has won the award.
- 2010 (with Washington): Week 16
- 2018 (with Carolina): Week 5
- 2020 (with N.Y. Giants): Week 9
- 2021 (with N.Y. Giants): Week 7
- 2022 (with N.Y. Giants): Week 2
- Gano joins Brad Daluiso (four times) as the only Giants kickers to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors at least three times.
2022 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Wk 1 | RB Saquon Barkley, N.Y. Giants | LB Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle | CB Zech McPhearson, Philadelphia | Wk 2 | WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit | CB Darius Slay, Philadelphia | K Graham Gano, N.Y. Giants |
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| BOBBY HART SUSPENDED ONE GAME | BOBBY HART SUSPENDED ONE GAME Bobby Hart of the Buffalo Bills has been suspended without pay for one game for violations of unsportsmanlike conduct rules following Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 which prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct and applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship including throwing a punch at an opponent.” In a letter to Hart, Runyan wrote: “As both teams were heading to the tunnel, you walked directly across the field to seek out your opponent. You approached him near the end zone and a coach had to hold you back as others shook hands. Once you and your opponent were in the end zone near the tunnel, you confronted him and immediately swung at him with a closed fist, striking the head of a Tennessee coach. Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional.” Hart will be eligible to return to the Bills’ active roster on Monday, September 26, following the team’s September 25 game against Miami. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Hart may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.
| The Starting 11 -- Comebacks are contagious, Rodgers-Brady, Bills-Dolphins on tap in Week 3 |
MATT LAFLEUR made sure his team had the correct mentality in the Lambeau Field locker room on Sunday night. “We’ve gotta have the mindset that it’s zero-zero,” Green Bay’s coach told NBC at halftime, his team leading 24-7. “I think you could see it all across the league this week. So right now, one play at a time; it’s zero-zero.” No lead is safe in the NFL. That was never more evident than last week when, for the first weekend in 30 years, three teams overcame fourth-quarter deficits of 13-or-more points to win. And games are extremely close. This year, 12 games have already been decided by three points or fewer, more than any previous NFL season through two weeks. So don’t let a comeback sneak up on you like a no-look pass from MATTHEW STAFFORD. It’s a hallmark of the NFL. Comebacks and close games are contagious. Which games will showcase that excitement this week? The Starting 11 entering Week 3… 1. HARDWARE HEAVEN: No game in NFL history has featured starting quarterbacks with six combined Super Bowl MVPs … until Sunday. AARON RODGERS (MVP of Super Bowl XLV) leads the Packers into Raymond James Stadium (4:25 PM ET, FOX) to play TOM BRADY (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, LV) and the Buccaneers. - The game also will be just the third in NFL annals to pair starting quarterbacks with seven combined Associated Press MVPs (Rodgers won the honor in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021; Brady earned it in 2007, 2010 and 2017). Rodgers played in the last such game, against Pro Football Hall of Famer and five-time MVP PEYTON MANNING on Nov. 1, 2015. Brady played in the first contest, against Manning on Nov. 2, 2014.
- Including the postseason, Rodgers and Brady have squared off as starters on four prior occasions. The winner of each of the last two regular-season meetings (Brady in 2018 and 2020) has gone on to win the Super Bowl.
- Rodgers, the reigning back-to-back MVP, will face the league’s top scoring defense through two weeks. Head coach TODD BOWLES and the Buccaneers are allowing only 6.5 points per game.
2. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 75: Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON last week became the first player in NFL history to record both a rushing touchdown and touchdown pass of at least 75 yards in the same game. This week, the Ravens (1-1) meet NEW ENGLAND (1-1) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Since Jackson entered the league in 2018, New England’s defense has allowed just 18.5 points per game, best in the NFL. 3. HOPE IS ALIVE AND WELL: This week, a quartet of teams that finished last season with four-or-fewer wins – DETROIT (1-1), JACKSONVILLE (1-1), the NEW YORK GIANTS (2-0) and the NEW YORK JETS (1-1) – have an opportunity to start 2-1 or better. That has not happened in 21 years. The last time four teams that finished the previous season with four-or-fewer wins rebounded the following season to win at least two of their first three games was 2001 (Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland and the San Diego Chargers). - With a home win over Dallas (1-1) on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), the Giants can improve to 3-0. Since 2006, five teams have started 3-0 the year after winning four-or-fewer games. Four of those five teams made the playoffs. The last to do it, the 2019 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, advanced to the Super Bowl.
4. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Since the Dolphins selected XAVIEN HOWARD in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Miami cornerback leads the NFL with 27 interceptions. On Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Howard lines up opposite STEFON DIGGS, who ranks third in the NFL over the same time with 563 receptions. - Only six remaining teams are undefeated entering Week 3, including BUFFALO (2-0) and MIAMI (2-0).
- Dolphins quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA leads the NFL with 739 passing yards and Miami ranks first in the AFC with 427.0 yards per game.
- Last week, Miami’s TYREEK HILL and JAYLEN WADDLE became the first teammates in NFL history to each record at least 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two TD receptions in the same game.
- Buffalo, meanwhile, has allowed the fewest yards in the AFC, 215.0 per game.
5. SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: The LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) are tied for the NFL lead with seven takeaways. On Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), they travel to face the ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1), who have only one giveaway, tied for fewest in the league. 6. STREAK SPEAK: This week, each NFC East club plays a division game. PHILADELPHIA (2-0) is at WASHINGTON (1-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) and the 2021 division winner DALLAS (1-1) is at the NEW YORK GIANTS (2-0) on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC). The NFC East has had a different division champion in each of the last 18 seasons (2004-21), the league’s longest streak since the 1970 merger. The AFC West had 14 different division champions from 1987-2000 and the NFC South had 12 different division champions from 2002-13, the second- and third-longest streaks since 1970, respectively. 7. DID YOU KNOW?: LOVIE SMITH returns with the HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1-1) to face the franchise he led to a Super Bowl berth in 2006, the CHICAGO BEARS (1-1). Smith and Bears head coach MATT EBERFLUS are members of the coaching tree of Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY DUNGY. That tree also includes current head coaches MIKE TOMLIN and FRANK REICH as well as former NFL head coaches JIM CALDWELL, ROD MARINELLI and LESLIE FRAZIER, currently Buffalo’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. 8. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: SAN FRANCISCO (1-1) visits DENVER (1-1) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC). Niners head coach KYLE SHANAHAN was a wide receiver at Cherry Creek High School in suburban Denver when the Bruins captured the 1996 Colorado Class 5A state championship. Growing up, Shanahan three times lived in the Denver area, where his dad Mike was a Broncos assistant on two occasions and head coach from 1995-2008. … General manager JOHN LYNCH and seven members of San Francisco’s current coaching staff also have Centennial State connections, having either played or coached for the Broncos or played or coached at Colorado State University. 9. TREND TIME: DETROIT (1-1) travels to MINNESOTA (1-1) for an NFC North showdown on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Each of the last three games in the series have been decided by two points. 10. THIS WEEK IN NFL HISTORY: Sept. 17, 1972 (50 years ago) – Nine months after their epic Christmas playoff classic, the MIAMI DOLPHINS and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS meet again, this time to open the season in the first official game at Arrowhead Stadium. BOB GRIESE throws a touchdown to MARLIN BRISCOE and LARRY CSONKA bullies his way to 118 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown as the Dolphins begin the road to the only perfect season in NFL history with a 20-10 victory. 11. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) enter the week leading the AFC South. They also lead the NFL in takeaway ratio (plus-five) heading into their Week 3 trip to SoFi Stadium, where they face the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-1) on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS). WEEK 3 NFL SCHEDULE (All times Eastern) Thursday, September 22 | Pittsburgh at Cleveland | Prime Video | 8:15 | Sunday, September 25 | New Orleans at Carolina | FOX | 1:00 | | Houston at Chicago | CBS | 1:00 | | Kansas City at Indianapolis | CBS | 1:00 | | Buffalo at Miami | CBS | 1:00 | | Detroit at Minnesota | FOX | 1:00 | | Baltimore at New England | FOX | 1:00 | | Cincinnati at New York Jets | CBS | 1:00 | | Las Vegas at Tennessee | FOX | 1:00 | | Philadelphia at Washington | FOX | 1:00 | | Jacksonville at Los Angeles Chargers | CBS | 4:05 | | Los Angeles Rams at Arizona | FOX | 4:25 | | Atlanta at Seattle | FOX | 4:25 | | Green Bay at Tampa Bay | FOX | 4:25 | | San Francisco at Denver | NBC | 8:20 | Monday, September 26 | Dallas at New York Giants | ESPN/ABC | 8:15 |
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| Pro Football Hall Of Fame Defensive Back Rod Woodson Featured On NFL Network's A Football Life | 'Rod Woodson: A Football Life' Premieres Friday, September 23 at 9:00 PM ET & PT on NFL Network "I've gone on record saying, 'Who's the best player that I've ever coached?' I always end up going back to Rod Woodson." – Bill Cowher The 11th season of the Emmy-nominated and highly acclaimed NFL Films-produced series A Football Life continues Friday, September 23 at 9:00 PM ET and PT on NFL Network with a profile of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson. The one-hour show features sit-down interviews with Woodson, former players such as Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin and Carnell Lake, former coaches Bill Cowher, Dick LeBeau and Tony Dungy, and others.
Among the topics discussed in Rod Woodson: A Football Life include:
- Growing up in Fort Wayne, IN where he dealt with racism and violence towards his family
- His outstanding athletic career at Purdue where he became one of the best football players and track stars in the nation
- Being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and earning Pro Bowl berths in three different positions in his career, as a returner, a cornerback, and a safety
- Helping the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV behind one of the best defenses in league history
- Being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility
Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.
Rod Woodson: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:
- Rod Woodson
- Nickie Woodson – Wife
- Joe Woodson – Brother
- Jamie Woodson– Brother
- Carnell Lake – Pittsburgh Steelers teammate & former All-Pro wide receiver
- Bill Cowher – Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach
- Tony Dungy – Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach
- Ray Lewis – Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker & Baltimore Ravens teammate
- Marvin Lewis – Former NFL head coach
- Ray Sherman – Former Purdue assistant coach
- Dick LeBeau – Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback & former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator
- Michael Irvin – Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver
- Carl Pickens – Former All-Pro wide receiver
- Kenneth Shropshire – Author of "Agents of Opportunity"
Provided below are some select quotes from Rod Woodson: A Football Life:
- "I've gone on record saying, 'Who's the best player that I've ever coached?' I always end up going back to Rod Woodson." – Bill Cowher - "He was everything that I thought an athlete or man should be. He is so amazing." – Ray Lewis - "Basketball player, football player, track-star. I remember telling Coach Burtnett, 'This guy is a pro already.'" – Ray Sherman on Rod Woodson's play in college - "I saw him and saw his commitment to what greatness is and I said, 'I need to figure out how to mimic that.'" – Ray Lewis - "In the fourth quarter I was looking for my family, trying to find them in the stands. As soon as the whistle blew, I walked back up to the stands to kiss my wife. The kids got to be there to see it. It was nice to share with them." – Rod Woodson on being able to celebrate his Super Bowl win with his family. - "To make it into a place that you're enshrined forever as one of the best players to ever put on a uniform is kind of crazy." – Rod Woodson on being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame All NFL Network programming is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app and NFL Network app for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers, and with NFL+. Visit NFL.com/watch for more information on how to watch and visit NFL.com/plus/learn-more for more information on NFL+.
Below is a broadcast schedule for remaining episodes of A Football Life this season:
- November 18 – Edgerrin James
- November 25 – Julian Edelman
- December 23 – Franco Harris
- December/January (exact premiere date TBD) – 1972 Miami Dolphins
ABOUT NFL MEDIA NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app, NFL+ and streaming service, the NFL Channel.
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.
For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL app and NFL Network app on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork. – NFL MEDIA –
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| Thursday Night Capsule - Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns | THURSDAY NIGHT PREVIEW:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1) Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season gets underway on Thursday, September 22 (8:15 PM ET, Prime Video) as the Cleveland Browns (1-1) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) in an early season AFC North clash. Pittsburgh holds a 77-60-1 all-time regular-season advantage in the series, including a sweep of both meetings last season. In Week 8 of the 2021 season, the Steelers defeated the Browns in Cleveland, 15-10, as tight end PAT FREIERMUTH caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. In Week 17, Pittsburgh earned a 26-14 home victory over Cleveland on Monday Night Football, as running back NAJEE HARRIS set a career high with 206 scrimmage yards. The Browns have won each of their past four games on Thursday Night Football.
Pittsburgh quarterback MITCH TRUBISKY is expected to make his fifth-career start against the AFC North, having totaled five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) with no interceptions in his previous four starts against the division. In his last start on Thursday Night Football (December 5, 2019 vs. Dallas, with Chicago), Trubisky recorded four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and a 115.5 rating. Harris had 89 scrimmage yards (49 rushing, 40 receiving) in Week 2 and he aims for his third in a row against Cleveland with at least 120 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown. Wide receiver DIONTAE JOHNSON led the team with six catches last week, his 14th-consecutive game with at least five receptions, the second-longest active streak in the league (COOPER KUPP – 23 games). Johnson had a touchdown reception in the teams' last meeting and has at least 95 receiving yards in two of his past three against Cleveland.
Safety MINKAH FITZPATRICK is one of two players in the league (MARCUS WILLIAMS) with an interception in each of the first two weeks of the season. He enters Thursday night aiming for his sixth in a row overall and sixth in a row against Cleveland with a pass defensed. Cornerback CAMERON SUTTON had an interception in Week 1 and has recorded an interception in each of his past two division games. Linebacker MYLES JACK leads the team with 23 tackles and is one of seven players in the league with at least 10 tackles in each of the first two weeks. Defensive tackle CAMERON HEYWARD had a sack in last year's Week 17 meeting.
Cleveland quarterback JACOBY BRISSETT completed 22 of 27 attempts last week for an 81.5 completion percentage, a career high as a starter. In two career starts against Pittsburgh, Brissett has a 102.8 rating. In four career starts on Thursday Night Football, he has no interceptions with three rushing touchdowns. Running back NICK CHUBB led the team with 113 scrimmage yards (87 rushing, 26 receiving) last week and tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns, his ninth-career game with multiple rushing touchdowns. He is the only running back in the league with at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first two weeks of the season. In four career games on Thursday, running back KAREEM HUNT has 522 scrimmage yards (130.5 per game) and five touchdowns (three receiving, two rushing). Wide receiver AMARI COOPER led the team with nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, his 26th-career game with at least 100 receiving yards and first with Cleveland. Cooper has a touchdown catch in two of his past three games on Thursday Night Football.
Defensive end MYLES GARRETT has recorded a sack in each of the first two weeks of the season and now has 61.5 sacks in 70 career games, the third-most sacks by a player in his first 70 NFL games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. He had a sack in the teams' last meeting in Cleveland and has a sack in five of his past six division games. Linebacker JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH led the team with nine tackles in Week 2 and recorded his third-career forced fumble. He leads Cleveland with 14 tackles entering Thursday night. Linebacker ANTHONY WALKER had two tackles for loss and two passes defensed last week and aims for his sixth in a row against the division with at least seven tackles.
Prime Video will stream 15 Thursday Night Football games this season (Weeks 2-17, excluding Thanksgiving). The game will feature Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung on the call.
For the Week 3 Pittsburgh-Cleveland capsule, click here.
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| MIKE EVANS SUSPENDED ONE GAME | Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been suspended without pay for one game for violations of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) which prohibits “unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who is out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead,” as well as Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 which prohibits any act which is “contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.” In a letter to Evans, Runyan wrote: “After a play had ended, you were walking toward your sidelines. When you noticed your teammates engaged in a confrontation with Saints’ players, you ran toward that area on the field and violently threw your body into and struck an unsuspecting opponent who was part of that confrontation. You knocked your opponent to the ground and a melee ensued involving players from both teams. Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury to your opponent and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional.” Evans will be eligible to return to the Buccaneers’ active roster on Monday, September 26, following the team’s September 25 game against Green Bay. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Evans may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline. # # # | For more from NFL Communications, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345.
| Seven From Sunday - Week 2 | A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, September 18, the second week of the 2022 season.
- With three games yet to be completed in Week 2, there have been 12 games decided by three points or fewer this season, the most such games through the first two weeks of a season in NFL history.
There have been five games this season decided by one-or-fewer points, tied with the 2016 (five games) and 1923 (five) seasons for the most such games ever through the first two weeks.
With three games yet to be completed in Week 2, there have been eight games this season decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, tied for the third-most such games through Week 2 all-time. Only 2013 (10 games) and 1979 (nine) had more.
Eleven of 13 games (84.6 percent) completed in Week 2 have been within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter.
Four teams – the MIAMI DOLPHINS (21-point deficit), ARIZONA CARDINALS (20), NEW YORK JETS (13) and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10) – overcame deficits of at least 10 points to win in Week 2.
With Miami and Arizona each overcoming 20-point halftime deficits, it marked the first time in NFL history that multiple teams overcame a 20-point halftime deficit to win on the same day and the first time that two teams overcame a deficit of at least 20 points at any point to win in the same week since Week 4 of the 2011 season.
With three games yet to be completed in Week 2, eight teams have overcome a deficit of at least 10 points to win or tie this season, the second-most such teams through Week 2 all-time, trailing only the 1987 season (nine teams).
The MIAMI DOLPHINS overcame a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Baltimore, 42-38, becoming the first team to do so since Philadelphia overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the New York Giants in Week 15 of the 2010 season.
The NEW YORK JETS overcame a 13-point deficit inside of the final two minutes remaining to defeat Cleveland, 31-30, becoming the first team to overcome a deficit of at least 13 points inside of the final two minutes of regulation to win since Chicago overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Cleveland in overtime in Week 8 of the 2001 season.
Arizona defeated Las Vegas, 29-23, in overtime. After two games went to overtime in Week 1, this marks the third time in the past five seasons a game has gone to overtime in each of the first two weeks of the season.
- The NEW YORK JETS and CLEVELAND BROWNS combined for three touchdowns inside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, marking the first time since Week 10 of the 2016 season (Pittsburgh and Dallas) that two teams have combined for three touchdowns in the final two minutes of regulation.
There have been three special teams touchdowns in Week 2 (103-yard kickoff return touchdown by Baltimore wide receiver DEVIN DUVERNAY, 86-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown by Seattle cornerback MIKE JACKSON and a 26-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown by Atlanta linebacker LORENZO CARTER). It marks the first time since Week 4 of the 2010 season that there was a kickoff return for a touchdown, blocked field goal return for a touchdown and blocked punt return for a touchdown in the same week.
- Miami quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA, who is 24 years and 200 days old, recorded career highs in passing yards (469) and touchdown passes (six), while wide receiver TYREEK HILL registered 11 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver JAYLEN WADDLE recorded 11 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the Dolphins' 42-38 comeback win over Baltimore.
Tagovailoa is the third-youngest player ever with six touchdown passes in a single game, trailing only PATRICK MAHOMES (22 years and 364 days old on September 16, 2018 and 23 years and 63 days old on November 19, 2018) and MITCH TRUBISKY (24 years and 41 days old on September 30, 2018).
Tagovailoa became the fourth-youngest player in NFL history with at least 450 passing yards and five touchdown passes in a single game, trailing only PATRICK MAHOMES (23 years and 63 days old on November 19, 2018), MATTHEW STAFFORD (23 years and 328 days old on January 1, 2012) and JARED GOFF (23 years and 348 days old on September 27, 2018).
Hill and Waddle are the first pair of teammates in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in the same game.
Hill recorded touchdown receptions of 48 and 60 yards in the fourth quarter of the victory, becoming the first player since TED GINN JR. (September 11, 2011) to record two touchdowns of at least 45 yards in the fourth quarter of one game.
Hill, who had 94 receiving yards in Week 1, has 284 receiving yards in his first two games as a Dolphin, the fourth-most receiving yards by a non-rookie in his first two games with a new team in NFL history, trailing only ANTHONY ALLEN (306 receiving yards with Washington in 1987), Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (288 receiving yards with New England in 2007) and LAVERANUES COLES (286 receiving yards with Washington in 2003).
- Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns for a 142.6 rating and added 119 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on Sunday, including a 79-yard touchdown run and a 75-yard touchdown pass. Baltimore wide receiver DEVIN DUVERNAY returned the opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown and the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to record a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown and return touchdown each of at least 75 yards in the same game.
Jackson is the first player in NFL history to record both a rushing touchdown and touchdown pass of at least 75 yards in the same game.
Jackson has 11 career games with at least 100 rushing yards, surpassing MICHAEL VICK (10 games) for the most such games by a quarterback in NFL history.
Jackson has three career games with at least three touchdown passes and 100 rushing yards. No other player in league history has more than one such career game.
- Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN registered nine receptions, 184 scrimmage yards (116 receiving, 68 rushing) and two touchdown receptions, while rookie defensive lineman AIDAN HUTCHINSON recorded his first three career sacks in the Lions' 36-27 win over Washington.
St. Brown, who is 22 years and 329 days old, became the third player all-time under the age of 23 to record a touchdown reception in at least six consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (seven consecutive games in 1998) and ROB GRONKOWSKI (six consecutive games in 2011).
St. Brown became the third player in league history to record at least eight receptions in eight consecutive games, joining ANTONIO BROWN (eight consecutive games in 2014) and MICHAEL THOMAS (eight consecutive games in 2019).
Hutchinson, who is 22 years and 40 days old, became the fourth-youngest player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record three sacks in a game, trailing only VERNON MAXWELL (21 years and 321 days old in Week 2, 1983), NICK BOSA (22 years and four days old in Week 8, 2019) and GREG TOWNSEND (22 years and 24 days old in Week 13, 1983).
Hutchinson is also the first player since 2002 (CARLOS HALL, BEN LEBER and JULIUS PEPPERS) to record at least three sacks in one of his first two career games.
- New York Jets rookie wide receiver GARRETT WILSON registered eight receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception with 22 seconds remaining, in the team's 31-30 comeback victory over Cleveland.
In Week 1, Washington rookie wide receiver JAHAN DOTSON registered the game-winning touchdown reception with 1:46 remaining. With Wilson's game-winning touchdown catch in Week 2, 2022 is the first season since 1970 that a rookie has recorded a game-winning touchdown reception in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in each of the first two weeks of the season.
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP had 11 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 31-27 win over Atlanta.
Kupp has at least five receptions in 23 consecutive games, tied with DEANDRE HOPKINS (23 consecutive games from 2018-20) for the second-most consecutive games with at least five receptions in NFL history. Only ANTONIO BROWN (36 games from 2013-15) has a longer such streak.
- Other notable performances from Sunday included:
- Dallas linebacker MICAH PARSONS, appearing in his 18th career game, recorded two sacks in the Cowboys' 20-17 win over Cincinnati.
Parsons has five career games with at least two sacks and is the sixth player since 1982 with at least two sacks in five of his first 20 career games, joining MARK ANDERSON, JOEY BOSA, ELVIS DUMERVIL, CLAY MATTHEWS and ALDON SMITH.
- Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT, appearing in his 70th career game, registered one sack on Sunday against the New York Jets.
Garrett has 61.5 career sacks and he surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DERRICK THOMAS (61 sacks) and J.J. WATT (61) for the third-most sacks by a player in his first 70 NFL games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.
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| HOUSTON, (TX) AND MIAMI, (FL) PRODUCE MOST NFL PLAYERS ON KICKOFF WEEKEND ROSTERS | There were 19 players each from Houston (TX) and Miami (FL) high schools on Kickoff Weekend rosters, tied for the most of any city. Detroit (MI) produced the third-most players (16) in 2022 followed by Tampa (FL) with 15 players. "Coming from Miami--the competition is just different,” said Cleveland Browns wide receiver AMARI COOPER. “There is a high-level of competition, so by the time you get to college a lot of guys from other states have a huge adjustment period because the game speeds up for them. What I have noticed from my experience and talking to a lot of other Miami guys is that they never have that adjustment period going into college. As a matter of fact, some guys say that when they get to college, things get a little bit easier because they played against so many rising stars from other states growing up as opposed to just playing against people in the Miami area. The high level of competition playing football in Miami prepares us for the next level." “High school football is the foundation for the development of our sport,” said ROMAN OBEN, NFL Vice President of Football Development and Gonzaga College High School (Washington, DC) & Fork Union (VA) Military Academy Alum. “We are excited to see the growth of players coming to the NFL from the traditional states that produce many college and NFL players, but extremely excited to see athletes making teams from the nontraditional regions, because it takes talent from all areas to make up the Kickoff Weekend roster.” HIGH SCHOOL CITIES WITH MOST NFL PLAYERS Hometown | NFL Players | Hometown | NFL Players | Houston, TX | 19 | Cleveland, OH | 12 | Miami, FL | 19 | Plantation, FL | 11 | Detroit, MI | 16 | Austin, TX | 10 | Tampa, FL | 15 | Cincinnati, OH | 10 | Bradenton, FL | 14 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 10 | Atlanta, GA | 13 | Philadelphia, PA | 10 | New Orleans, LA | 13 | St. Louis, MO | 10 |
With 14 cities producing at least four players on Kickoff Weekend rosters, Texas surpassed Florida to lead the league in home states. More NFL players (199) graduated from Texas than any other state. Florida (185), California (166) and Georgia (151) each produced over 100 NFL players.
STATES WITH MOST NFL PLAYERS State | NFL Players | State | NFL Players | Texas | 199 | Pennsylvania | 58 | Florida | 185 | Illinois | 56 | California | 166 | New Jersey | 50 | Georgia | 151 | Michigan | 46 | Ohio | 74 | Maryland | 45 | Louisiana | 65 | Virginia | 41 | Alabama | 58 | Tennessee | 37 | North Carolina | 58 | Mississippi | 36
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IMG Academy in Bradenton FL produced the most NFL players on 2022 NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters. South Florida continues to produce a plethora of NFL talent as well, as the top four high schools with the most NFL players each hail from the region.
HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST NFL PLAYERS High School, City, State | Number | NFL Players | IMG Academy; Bradenton, FL | 14 | Andre Cisco, JAX; Grant Delpit, CLE; Daniel Faalele, BAL; Hjalte Froholdt, CLE; Robert Hainsey, TB; K.J. Hamler, DEN; Tony Jones, NO; Joshua Kaindoh, KC; Tre’ McKitty, LAC; Kellen Mond, CLE; Evan Neal, NYG; Greg Newsome, CLE; K.J. Osborn, MIN; Cesar Ruiz, NO. | American Heritage; Plantation, FL | 9 | Brian Burns, CAR; Tyson Campbell, JAX; Khalil Herbert, CHI; Isaiah McKenzie, BUF; Sony Michel, LAC; Anthony Schwartz, CLE; Tedarrell Slaton, GB; Pat Surtain II, DEN; Marco Wilson, AZ. | Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; Fort Lauderdale, FL | 9 | Giovani Bernard, TB; Nik Bonitto, DEN; Joey Bosa, LAC; Nick Bosa, SF; Phillip Dorsett, HOU; Bobby Hart, BUF; Lamarcus Joyner, NYJ; Elijah Moore, NYJ; Josh Palmer, LAC. | Miami Northwestern Senior High School; Miami, FL | 7 | Tutu Atwell, LAR; Teddy Bridgewater, MIA; Artie Burns, SEA; Amari Cooper, CLE; Lavonte David, TB; Demetrius Taylor, DET; Rachad Wildgoose, WAS. | Allen High School; Allen, TX | 6 | Bobby Evans, LAR; Jalen Guyton, LAC; Jaylon Jones, CHI; Greg Little, MIA; Kyler Murray, AZ; Jonathan Williams, WAS. | Desoto High School; Desoto, TX | 6 | A.J. Green, CLE; Ed Ingram, MIN; Von Miller, BUF; Jalen Mills, NE; James Proche, BAL; Laviska Shenault, CAR. | Neville High School; Monroe, LA | 5 | Justin Ellis, NYG; Rashard Lawrence, AZ; Phidarian Mathis, WAS; Max Mitchell, NYJ; Kavontae Turpin, DAL. | Westlake High School; Austin, TX | 5 | Calvin Anderson, DEN; Sam Ehlinger, IND; Nick Foles, IND; Kylen Granson, IND; Justin Tucker, BAL. |
24 high schools had four players on NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters this year:
High School; City, State | High School; City, State | Bingham High School; South Jordan, UT | Lakewood High School, Saint Petersburg, FL | Cass Technical High School; Detroit, MI | Long Beach Poly High School; Long Beach, CA | Deerfield Beach High School; Deerfield Beach, FL | Loyola High School; Los Angeles, CA | Dematha Catholic High School; Hyattsville, MD | Miramar High School; Miramar, FL | Don Bosco Preparatory High School; Ramsey, NJ | Norcross High School; Norcross, GA | East Lake High School; Tarpon Springs, FL | Peachtree Ridge High School; Suwanee, GA | Glenville High School; Cleveland, OH | Riverdale Baptist High School; Upper Marlboro, MD | Greater Atlanta Christian; Norcross, GA | Saint Louis High School; Honolulu, HI | Hebron High School; Carrollton, TX | St. Augustine High School; New Orleans, LA | Hillgrove High School; Powder Springs, GA | St. Ignatius High School; Cleveland, OH | Hillsborough High School; Tampa Bay, FL | Stephenson High School; Stone Mountain, GA | Klein High School; Spring, TX | Wylie High School; Wylie, TX |
Overall, NFL players hail from high schools in 47 states and the District of Columbia, four countries – Australia, Canada, England and the United States – and a U.S. territory (American Samoa). The totals are based on the 1,728 players on Kickoff Weekend rosters.
NFL PLAYERS PER CAPITA: Georgia, with one NFL player for every 70,940 residents, leads the list of NFL players per capita. Louisiana (one in 71,658) and Mississippi (one in 82,258) round out the top three. The national average is one NFL player per 191,811 U.S. residents. STATES WITH MOST NFL PLAYERS PER CAPITA State | Population * | NFL Players | NFL Players Per Capita | Georgia | 10,711,908 | 151 | 1 NFL player per 70,940 people | Louisiana | 4,657,757 | 65 | 1 NFL player per 71,658 people | Mississippi | 2,961,279 | 36 | 1 NFL player per 82,258 people | Alabama | 5,024,279 | 58 | 1 NFL player per 86,626 people | Florida | 21,538,187 | 185 | 1 NFL player per 116,423 people | Utah | 3,271,616 | 25 | 1 NFL player per 130,865 people | Maryland | 6,177,224 | 45 | 1 NFL player per 137,272 people | Delaware | 989,948 | 7 | 1 NFL player per 141,421 people | Texas | 29,145,505 | 199 | 1 NFL player per 146,460 people | South Carolina | 5,118,425 | 34 | 1 NFL player per 150,542 people | United States | 331,449,281 | 1,728 | 1 NFL player per 191,811 people |
*Based on most recent published U.S. Census Data (2020) NOTE: To obtain a complete list of NFL players' high schools, states and hometowns, click here.
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| INICIATIVA “POR LA CULTURA” DE LA NFL CELEBRA LA HERENCIA HISPANA DURANTE TODA LA TEMPORADA | Un nuevo video titulado "The Celebration" ("La Celebración") da comienzo al Mes de la herencia hispana, al incluir al actor y artista intérprete, Anthony Ramos, jugadores y equipos de la NFL
Serie musical "Por La Cultura" incluye conciertos y actividades en las regiones con equipos de la NFL, así como el primer Mixtape con la primera canción titulada "Rómpela" de Yandel, El Alfa y Will.I.Am
Contenido en redes "El Snap NFL" realza la conexión entre la cultura y el futbol americano todo el año, presentando nuevo contenido para esta temporada
NEW YORK, 15 de septiembre de 2022 - La National Football League celebra el Mes de la herencia hispana con su campaña titulada "Por La Cultura" toda la temporada, al realzar jugadores, entrenadores y personal de ascendencia hispana, celebrar la excelencia hispana y relatar historias auténticas de esta comunidad. La iniciativa incluye una variedad de actividades culturales y comunitarias a nivel nacional y local, y esta temporada, la Liga presenta nuevas asociaciones, colaboraciones y activaciones para celebrar la cultura latina. Al contar con una fanaticada hispana numerosa y apasionada, así como un número creciente de jugadores, personal deportivo y Leyendas hispanas, la NFL y sus clubes se comprometen a celebrar la diversidad de culturas que componen la comunidad hispana.
Para comenzar la temporada con "Por La Cultura," la Liga lanzó un nuevo video, titulado en inglés "The Celebration" ("La Celebración"). El spot televisivo incluye al actor galardonado, artista intérprete y fanático de la NFL Anthony Ramos, y resalta cómo el futbol americano acoge a distintas culturas, une a la sociedad e inspira a la juventud. Abogando por la diversidad y resonancia de aficionados de la NFL, jugadores y personal, el video "The Celebration," apoyará varias iniciativas de mercadeo durante toda la temporada.
Por segundo año al hilo, la Liga se une a Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF – Fundación de la herencia hispana) como patrocinador exclusivo de la categoría de premios Youth Sports & Fitness (Premios al deporte y acondicionamiento físico de la juventud), reconociendo a jóvenes hispanos que han contribuído a las áreas de acondicionamiento físico y deportes. Los ganadores, quienes serán anunciados más adelante durante esta temporada, recibirán becas para apoyar su educación universitaria y/o apoyar sus esfuerzos de servicio a la comunidad. Con el apoyo de Anthony Ramos, la Liga y equipos de NFL, difundirán la existencia de las becas y promoverán nominaciones locales de candidatos, paralelo a una campaña nacional publicitaria que aumentará el reconocimiento de la existencia de estas becas. Para acceder a más información acerca de nominaciones o inscripciones, visite NFL.com/PorLaCultura.
Además, la NFL se enorgullece de unirse con la organización hispana sin fines de lucro Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE-Alianza hispana para mejorar carreras) como parte de la campaña "Por La Cultura." HACE produce y disemina contenido de alto impacto y culturalmente sensible a grupos corporativos grandes y pequeños, empoderando a empleados hispanos a convertirse en mejores líderes en su profesión, hogar y comunidad.
"Es crítico que nuestro contenido, mercadeo y asociaciones reflejen, celebren y sirvan cada aspecto de la diversidad de nuestra población", dice Marissa Solís, Vicepresidente senior de marca global y mercadeo al consumidor de la NFL. "Somos afortunados que contamos con una de las fanaticadas hispanas más grandes de cualquier deporte en nuestro país. Y es por eso que nos emociona tener contenido enfocado que realza las contribuciones e impacto que tienen los latinos en nuestro deporte".
"La campaña 'Por La Cultura' habla de la vitalidad, denominadores comunes y diferencias dentro de nuestra fanaticada", comenta Javier Farfán, Estratega de mercadeo cultural de la NFL. "Nuestro propósito es amplificar las voces de la comunidad hispana dentro y fuera del campo de juego. Con una campaña de marca auténtica y asociaciones con individuos y personalidades claves en nuestra comunidad como vehículos, queremos inspirar entusiasmo, actividades y avidez todo el año – por la cultura".
"Como enorme aficionado a la NFL, me honra formar parte de la campaña 'Por La Cultura' esta temporada", añadió Anthony Ramos. "La pasión, diversidad y compromiso con la comunidad hispana de la NFL viene creciendo tremendamente en años recientes, y los impactos culturales de estas iniciativas harán mella por años en el porvenir".
CONTENIDO DE REDES SOCIALES A DESTACAR Para conectar a la comunidad hispana al futbol americano regularmente, la NFL lanzó la cuenta El Snap NFL on Instagram en 2021. Esta temporada, una nueve serie de contenidos en El Snap comenzará a revelarse, incluyendo una colaboración con Marcus Rivero (@solesbysir), el diseñador de calzado deportivo para celebridades, quien diseñará una serie de calzado y tachones para jugadores y cuerpos de entrenadores de un número de equipos. Cinco equipos, incluyendo los Chargers de Los Angeles, Steelers de Pittsburgh y Commanders de Washington subrayarán las posiciones de los jugadores de la NFL en español con el parche del escudo de la NFL "Por La Cultura" como un tributo a la cultura latina.
El Snap es "el lado latino de la NFL," enmarcando cómo la música, video-juegos, comida, tradiciones, lenguaje y gente pueden mejorar la experiencia del fanático de la NFL y realzando cómo equipos de NFL alrededor del país acogen la diversidad de sus comunidades locales. Forma parte de la oferta de contenido de NFL diseñado para fanáticos hispanos, incluyendo MundoNFL en YouTube, MundoNFL en Twitter, www.NFL.com/Mundo, y contenido de muchos clubes de la NFL. Además, la Liga y sus distribuidores mediáticos ofrecen cobertura en vivo de partidos en español por ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, Universo, Telemundo, Amazon Prime Video y Entravision (oprima aquí para ver cómo puede ver los partidos de NFL en español).
A lo largo de la temporada 2022, equipos de NFL darán vida a la campaña "Por La Cultura" a través de reconocimientos públicos dentro de partidos, eventos en sus comunidades, y promociones en redes sociales.
LA SERIE MUSICAL "POR LA CULTURA" Inmediatamente tras la actuación memorable de J Balvin y Trueno en el partido inaugural NFL Kickoff, y con fanáticos y equipos más ávidos y entusiasmados que nunca antes a conectarse de maneras más dinámicas, la NFL lanzará la Serie musical "Por La Cultura." Comenzando este mes, esfuerzos junto a equipos locales brindarán conciertos y experiencias musicales únicas a fanáticos en mercados claves. Entre los reconocidos intérpretes musicales hallamos a Piso 21, Dímelo Flow, DJ Camilo, Sofía Reyes, y Gera MX, entre otros.
Más adelante durante este otoño, la NFL difundirá su primer "Por La Cultura Mixtape" junto a la poderosa productora NEON16, encabezada por los creativos multiplatinos One Six y el súper-productor Tainy. La colaboración contiene una serie de canciones exclusivas, incluyendo "Rómpela" con Yandel, El Alfa y Will.I.Am, que es la primera canción en el mixtape y el tema del vídeo inicial de la campaña "The Celebration." Además del comercial televisivo, "Rómpela" será incluida en activaciones a nivel de Liga y sus equipos, y en contenido que se distribuirá durante la temporada 2022.
LA COLABORACIÓN DE INDUMENTARIA NFL x CHITO Esta temporada, la NFL continúa su colección "Por La Cultura" al colaborar con CHITO en dos jerseys 'Legacy' de edición limitada Mitchell & Ness. Una serie de nueve cascos oficiales pintados con aerógrafo en despliegue en el Estadio Azteca durante el partido internacional en Ciudad de México el 21 de noviembre complementará este lanzamiento al mercado.
CHITO es un artista mexico-estadounidense oriundo de Seattle, con una práctica internacional enraizada en México. Los jerseys no pierden su enfoque en portabilidad mientras realzan la estructura clásica de un jersey de futbol americano con el estilo de aerografía que tanto distingue a este artista. La historia detrás de estos estampados rinden tributo al águila y la serpiente de la bandera nacional de México y nos conecta al futbol americano. Los jerseys también incluyen el parche del escudo que celebra la excelencia hispana. Es una marca del compromiso de la Liga a la excelencia, dentro como fuera del campo, en las comunidades hispanas que continúan forjando, influyendo y propulsándola hacia adelante. Esta colaboración será lanzada el 14 de octubre por NFLShop.com.
MÁS SOBRE LA NFL Y HISPANIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION La NFL y Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) se unen para apoyar el premio Youth Awards (Premios a la juventud) de este año en la categoría de Sports & Fitness (Deportes y acondicionamiento físico). Fundado en 1998 por HHF, los premios Youth Awards honran a estudiantes hispanos en su último año de escuela preparatoria que sobresalen en el salón de clase y en su comunidad por su excelencia en varias categorías incluyendo: Negocios y finanzas, Servicio a la comunidad, Emprendimiento, Educación, Cuidado de salud y ciencias, Medios de comunicación y entretenimiento, Servicio público, Justicia social, Tecnología, así como Deportes y acondicionamiento físico.
Estos esfuerzos son parte del compromiso de la NFL a usar su plataforma y poder de convocatoria para celebrar las comunidades hispanas. Realzar y apoyar esfuerzos de la juventud en nuestras comunidades es un punto de enfoque de la iniciativa contínua de "Por La Cultura."
Junto a HHF, premios en las categorías de oro, plata y bronce se distribuirán en la categoría de Deportes y acondicionamiento físico. Estos jóvenes recibirán una beca para financiar su educación universitaria o un esfuerzo de servicio a la comunidad que encara un tema social.
Contacto de los Medios: Sammi Liang
Sammi.Liang@nfl.com
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| NFL “POR LA CULTURA” INITIATIVE CELEBRATES LATINO HERITAGE ALL SEASON LONG | New Video Called "The Celebration" Kicks off Latino Heritage Month, Featuring Actor and Recording Artist Anthony Ramos, NFL Clubs and Players
"Por La Cultura" Music Series Includes Concerts and Activations in NFL Club Markets, As Well As First-Ever Mixtape Track "Rómpela" from Yandel, El Alfa and Will.I.Am
"El Snap NFL" Social Content Highlights Intersection of Culture and Football Year-Round, Introduces New Series for Season
NEW YORK, September 15, 2022 - The National Football League is celebrating Latino Heritage Month with the season-long campaign "Por La Cultura" (For the Culture), which highlights Latino players, coaches and staff, celebrates Latino excellence and tells authentic stories of the community. The initiative features a variety of cultural and community-driven activities at both the national and local level, and this season, the league is introducing new partnerships and activations that are designed to celebrate "la cultura Latina." With a large and passionate Latino fanbase, as well as a number of Latino players, personnel and Legends, the NFL and its clubs are committed to celebrating the diverse cultures within the community.
To kick off "Por La Cultura," the NFL released a new video, titled "The Celebration." The spot features award-winning actor and recording artist Anthony Ramos and highlights how football embraces culture, unifies people and uplifts youth. Championing the diversity and vibrancy of NFL fans, players and personnel, "The Celebration" will run all season long and support various marketing initiatives.
For the second year in a row, the league is partnering with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) as the exclusive sponsor of the Youth Sports & Fitness Awards category this season, recognizing Latino youth who have contributed to the sports and fitness arenas. Winners, who will be announced later this season, will receive grants in support of their college education and/or to enhance their community service efforts. With support from Anthony Ramos, the league and NFL clubs will spread the word and encourage local nominations, along with national advertising that will help drive awareness of this opportunity. For more information on nominations and sign-ups, visit NFL.com/PorLaCultura.
Additionally, the NFL is proud to partner with the non-profit organization, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), as part of the "Por La Cultura" campaign. HACE delivers impactful and culturally sensitive learning content to small and large corporate groups, empowering Latino employees to become better leaders at work, at home and in their communities.
"It is critical that our content, our overall marketing and our partnerships reflect, celebrate and serve every aspect of our fanbase," said Marissa Solis, NFL SVP Global Brand and Consumer Marketing. "We are fortunate to have one of the largest Latino fan bases of any sport in this country. That is why we are excited to have focused content that showcases the contributions and impact Latinos are having on our sport."
"The 'Por La Cultura' campaign is about the vibrancy, commonalities and differences within our fan base," said Javier Farfan, NFL Cultural Marketing Strategist. "We are here to amplify the voices of the Latino community on and off the football field. Through an authentic brand campaign and partnerships with key players and personalities in the community, we want to inspire excitement, engagement and avidity all year round – por la cultura."
"As a huge fan of the NFL, I'm honored to be a part of this season's 'Por La Cultura' campaign," added Anthony Ramos. "The NFL's passion, diversity and commitment to the Latino community has grown tremendously as of late, and the cultural impacts of these efforts will be felt for years to come."
SOCIAL CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS To connect the Latino community with the sport of football on an ongoing basis, the NFL launched El Snap NFL on Instagram in 2021. This season, a new El Snap content series will roll out, featuring a collaboration with celebrity cleat designer, Marcus Rivero (@solesbysir), who will design a series of footwear for players and coaching staff from a number of teams. Five clubs, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders will highlight NFL player positions in Spanish with the NFL Por La Cultura shield as a tribute to Latino culture.
El Snap is "el lado Latino de la NFL" and showcases how music, gaming, food, traditions, language and people can enhance the NFL fan experience. El Snap NFL highlights how NFL teams across the country are embracing diversity within their local communities. It forms part of the roster of NFL content designed for Latino fans, alongside MundoNFL on YouTube, MundoNFL on Twitter, www.NFL.com/Mundo, and content from many NFL clubs. In addition, the league and its partners offer live Spanish language game coverage on ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, Universo, Telemundo, Amazon Prime Video and Entravision (click here for ways to watch the NFL).
Throughout the 2022 season, NFL teams will bring to life the "Por La Cultura" efforts through in-game recognitions, community events and social media amplification.
"POR LA CULTURA" MUSIC SERIES On the heels of a memorable NFL Kickoff performance by J Balvin and Trueno, and with fans and Clubs more excited and eager than ever to connect in dynamic ways, NFL will launch the "Por La Cultura" Music Series. Starting this month, partnerships with clubs will bring unique local music concerts and experiences to fans in key markets. Celebrity musical talent participating include Piso 21, Dimelo Flow, DJ Camilo, DJ Livia, Sofia Reyes and Gera MX, among others.
Later this fall, the NFL will release its first-ever "Por La Cultura Mixtape" in partnership with production powerhouse, NEON16, led by multi-platinum selling creatives One Six and hitmaker, Tainy. The collaboration will comprise a series of exclusive tracks, including "Rómpela" featuring Yandel, El Alfa and Will.I.Am, which is the first track on the mixtape and backdrop of the campaign kickoff spot "The Celebration." In addition to the TV spot, "Rómpela" will be included in league and local level activations and content throughout the 2022 season.
NFL x CHITO MERCHANDISE COLLABORATION FEAT. LIMITED-EDITION JERSEYS This season, the NFL continues its "Por La Cultura" collection by collaborating with CHITO on two limited-edition Mitchell & Ness Legacy jerseys. Complementing this release will be a series of nine official airbrushed helmets that will be displayed at Azteca stadium for the upcoming international game in Mexico City on November 21.
CHITO is a fine artist of Mexican-American heritage, hailing from Seattle with an international practice making roots in Mexico. Utilizing the artist's signature airbrush style, the jersey garments maintain a focus on wearability while highlighting the structure of the iconic football jersey. The story of the prints pays homage to the eagle and serpent of the Mexican flag and connects the community to the American sport of football. The jerseys also feature the patch of the shield celebrating Latino excellence, marking the league's commitment to the Latino communities who continue to shape, influence and push it forward both on and off the field. The collaboration will launch on October 14 on NFLShop.com.
MORE ON NFL & THE HISPANIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION The NFL and Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) have partnered to support this year's Youth Awards in the Sports & Fitness category. Founded in 1998 by the HHF, the Youth Awards honor Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community for their excellence in various categories including: Business & Finances, Community Service, Entrepreneurship, Education, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, Public Service, Social Justice, Technology, along with Sports & Fitness.
These efforts are part of the NFL's commitment to utilize the league's platform and amplification power to celebrate Latino communities. Elevating and supporting the efforts of youth in the community is a focus for the continuation of the "Por La Cultura" initiative.
Through the partnership with the HHF, gold, silver and bronze awards will be distributed for the Youth Sports and Fitness category. These youth will receive a grant to fund their college education or to fund a community service effort that tackles a social issue.
For more information, contact: Sammi Liang
Sammi.Liang@nfl.com
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| NFL and German Football League DFL Sign Collaboration Agreement | - NFL and DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga to collaborate in various business areas in the future
- Work to cover areas of shared expertise including production, broadcasting and programming, digital innovation and marketing
Düsseldorf, xy.08.2022 - The National Football League (NFL) and the German Football League (DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga), organizing body of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, have signed an agreement to collaborate in key business areas with a particular focus on the U.S. and German markets.
The NFL and the Bundesliga – which are among the most prominent sports leagues in the world – have cooperated in the past, sharing expertise in various areas since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bundesliga was the first major sports league to return to the field during the pandemic while the NFL completed two full seasons without cancellations during this time. Both leagues have supported other sports organizations around the world during the pandemic by sharing their expertise and best practices.
With this agreement, the NFL and DFL will increase communication and collaboration in the areas of production, broadcast and programming, digital innovation and marketing. The partnership agreement was signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DFL CEO Donata Hopfen.
Roger Goodell: "Our first regular season game in Germany this fall also presents an opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most successful sports leagues around the world. The Bundesliga has long been regarded as the leading league in Germany and one of the finest throughout Europe. We look forward to collaborating with the DFL in a process that we believe will be mutually beneficial."
Donata Hopfen: "The DFL has always worked openly and cooperatively with leagues and organizations around the world to promote the development of sport worldwide. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues from the NFL on a variety of issues and gaining new insights, particularly with regard to sports in the U.S."
In 2018, the DFL opened its New York office, which covers the North and South American region and serves as a point of contact for media and marketing partners, as well as aiding clubs with local market initiatives. The partnership with the NFL marks another step in the DFL's dynamic internationalization strategy and supports the approach to grow the Bundesliga's popularity globally, ensuring that even more fans around the world can experience the best of German football.
For its part, the NFL will play its first regular-season game in Germany on Nov. 13, 2022 at Munich's Allianz Arena between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks. Germany will host one regular season NFL game in each of the next four years, alternating between Munich and Frankfurt.
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| A Look at 2022 NFL Kickoff Weekend Rosters | CRIMSON TIDE PACES ALL COLLEGES FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT SEASON TIDE ROLLING INTO NFL: For the sixth consecutive season, Alabama had the most or tied for the most players (58) on active NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters, the league announced today. The Crimson Tide also placed the most active NFL players on season-opening rosters in 2018 (44), 2019 (56), 2020 (53) and 2021 (54), and shared the league lead in 2017 (39). LSU (52) and Ohio State (52) ranked tied for second in 2022, followed by Georgia (44). A total of 224 colleges were represented on Kickoff Weekend active rosters. The colleges with the most NFL players: COLLEGE | PLAYERS |
| COLLEGE | PLAYERS |
| COLLEGE | PLAYERS | Alabama | 58 | | Michigan | 33 | | Auburn | 24 | LSU | 52 | | Oklahoma | 32 | | Miami (Fla.) | 24 | Ohio State | 52 | | Iowa | 31 | | UCLA | 24 | Georgia | 44 | | Clemson | 29 | | South Carolina | 23 | Notre Dame | 37 | | Texas | 26 | | Stanford | 23 | Penn State | 35 | | Washington | 26 | | Tennessee | 23 | Florida | 33 | | Wisconsin | 26 | | Texas A&M | 23 |
A breakdown by position of colleges with the most players in the NFL: POS. | SCHOOL | PLAYERS |
| POS. | SCHOOL | PLAYERS | C | Missouri | 4 | | DT | Alabama | 10 | G | LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State | 4 | | DE | Michigan | 7 | T | Alabama, Florida | 5 | | LB | Georgia | 10 | TE | Notre Dame | 5 | | DB | Alabama | 14 | QB | Missouri, North Dakota State, Oklahoma | 3 | | P | North Carolina State, Penn State | 2 | RB | Alabama | 6 | | K | Florida, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Memphis | 2 | WR | Ohio State | 7 | | | |
QB BREAKDOWN: A by-the-numbers look at the 32 starting quarterbacks in Week 1. 5 | Second-year | Fields, CHI; M. Jones, NE; Lance, SF; Lawrence, JAX; Mills, HOU | 23 | First-round draft picks | Allen, BUF; Burrow, CIN; Fields, CHI; Flacco, NYJ; Goff, DET; Herbert, LAC; Jackson, BAL; D. Jones, NYG; M. Jones, NE; Lance, SF; Lawrence, JAX; Mahomes, KC; Mariota, ATL; Mayfield, CAR; Murray, ARI; Rodgers, GB; Ryan, IND; Stafford, LAR; Tagovailoa, MIA; Tannehill, TEN; Trubisky, PIT; Wentz, WAS; Winston, NO | 1 | Drafted in the sixth round or later, or undrafted | Brady, TB (sixth round) | 7 | No. 1 overall picks | Burrow, CIN; Goff, DET; Lawrence, JAX; Mayfield, CAR; Murray, ARI; Stafford, LAR; Winston, NO | 5 | Drafted No. 75 overall or later, or undrafted | Brady, TB; Brissett, CLE; Cousins, MIN; Prescott, DAL; Wilson, DEN | 22 | Younger than 30 years old | Allen, BUF; Brissett, CLE; Burrow, CIN; Fields, CHI; Goff, DET; Herbert, LAC; Hurts, PHI; Jackson, BAL; D. Jones, NYG; M. Jones, NE; Lance, SF; Lawrence, JAX; Mahomes, KC; Mariota, ATL; Mayfield, CAR; Mills, HOU; Murray, ARI; Prescott, DAL; Tagovailoa, MIA; Trubisky, PIT; Wentz, WAS; Winston, NO | 6 | From Texas, most from any state | Hurts, PHI; Mahomes, KC; Mayfield, CAR; Murray, ARI; Stafford, LAR; Tannehill, TEN
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THE TALL AND SHORT OF IT: On NFL Kickoff rosters, there were 304 players weighing under 200 pounds, 288 players under six-feet tall and 337 players weighing over 300 pounds.
The Buffalo Bills had 15 players weighing less than 200 pounds, the most in that category. Arizona had the most players under six-feet tall with 14, while the New York Giants had the most players weighing over 300 pounds with 14.
A team-by-team player dimension breakdown based on 2022 Kickoff rosters:
AFC
| TEAM | UNDER 200 LBS. | UNDER 6-FEET | OVER 300 LBS. | Baltimore | 9 | 7 | 13 | Buffalo | 15 | 10 | 11 | Cincinnati | 7 | 9 | 12 | Cleveland | 9 | 7 | 9 | Denver | 9 | 12 | 8 | Houston | 9 | 13 | 12 | Indianapolis | 8 | 5 | 10 | Jacksonville | 10 | 10 | 9 | Kansas City | 8 | 9 | 12 | Las Vegas | 7 | 9 | 10 | L.A. Chargers | 9 | 9 | 11 | Miami | 13 | 12 | 10 | New England | 9 | 10 | 10 | N.Y. Jets | 11 | 11 | 11 | Pittsburgh | 10 | 8 | 10 | Tennessee | 6 | 11 | 7 | | | | | NFC | TEAM | UNDER 200 LBS. | UNDER 6-FEET | OVER 300 LBS. | Arizona | 12 | 14 | 10 | Atlanta | 11 | 7 | 10 | Carolina | 9 | 10 | 13 | Chicago | 9 | 8 | 11 | Dallas | 9 | 4 | 12 | Detroit | 7 | 7 | 11 | Green Bay | 7 | 8 | 13 | L.A. Rams | 11 | 11 | 10 | Minnesota | 7 | 6 | 10 | New Orleans | 12 | 8 | 9 | N.Y. Giants | 13 | 10 | 14 | Philadelphia | 11 | 10 | 10 | San Francisco | 8 | 6 | 9 | Seattle | 11 | 12 | 11 | Tampa Bay | 7 | 7 | 10 | Washington | 11 | 8 | 9 |
HEIGHT, WEIGHT & AGE AVERAGES AMONG WEEK 1 ROSTERS, 2022 AFC | Team | Height | Weight | Age (Years) | Experience | Rookie & 1st year | Players Age 30 & Over | | Baltimore Ravens | 6.20 | 250.33* | 26.15 | 4.44 | 9 | 10 | | Buffalo Bills | 6.17 | 241.23 | 26.66 | 4.94 | 7 | 12* | | Cincinnati Bengals | 6.18 | 248.04 | 26.04 | 4.28 | 5+ | 4 | | Cleveland Browns | 6.22 | 242.73 | 25.16+ | 3.76 | 10 | 3+ | | Denver Broncos | 6.17 | 243.43 | 26.26 | 4.00 | 9 | 10 | | Houston Texans | 6.15+ | 244.98 | 26.64 | 4.71 | 9 | 9 | | Indianapolis Colts | 6.24* | 246.31 | 26.00 | 3.96 | 10 | 5 | | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.19 | 238.21+ | 25.43 | 3.58+ | 10 | 4 | | Kansas City Chiefs | 6.20 | 244.48 | 25.65 | 3.93 | 11* | 6 | | Las Vegas Raiders | 6.18 | 244.20 | 26.04 | 3.93 | 11* | 7 | | Los Angeles Chargers | 6.20 | 243.62 | 26.04 | 4.15 | 8 | 10 | | Miami Dolphins | 6.17 | 238.67 | 26.22 | 4.49 | 6 | 6 | | New England Patriots | 6.15+ | 245.22 | 26.98* | 4.95* | 10 | 12* | | New York Jets | 6.16 | 240.74 | 25.83 | 4.04 | 9 | 6 | | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6.19 | 245.08 | 25.89 | 4.08 | 6 | 4 | | Tennessee Titans | 6.17 | 244.43 | 26.25 | 4.28 | 11* | 7 | | AFC average | 6.18 | 243.86 | 26.08 | 4.22 | 8.81 | 7.19 | | NFC average | 6.19 | 243.63 | 26.00 | 4.12 | 9.75 | 7.69 | | All NFL average | 6.19 | 243.74 | 26.04 | 4.17 | 9.28 | 7.44 | | * AFC high; + AFC low | | | | | | | | NFC | Team | Height | Weight | Age (Years) | Experience | Rookie & 1st year | Players Age 30 & Over | | Arizona Cardinals | 6.14+ | 240.24 | 26.87 | 5.05 | 8 | 12 | | Atlanta Falcons | 6.20 | 244.79 | 25.85 | 3.81 | 11 | 7 | | Carolina Panthers | 6.20 | 245.39 | 25.80 | 4.30 | 6 | 5 | | Chicago Bears | 6.19 | 241.13 | 25.76 | 3.52 | 16* | 8 | | Dallas Cowboys | 6.23* | 244.20 | 25.55 | 3.62 | 13 | 7 | | Detroit Lions | 6.21 | 244.26 | 25.07+ | 3.41+ | 7 | 1+ | | Green Bay Packers | 6.23* | 248.24* | 25.96 | 4.18 | 13 | 6 | | Los Angeles Rams | 6.15 | 238.28+ | 25.87 | 3.77 | 9 | 6 | | Minnesota Vikings | 6.20 | 244.31 | 25.83 | 3.83 | 11 | 9 | | New Orleans Saints | 6.19 | 242.83 | 27.06 | 5.07 | 3+ | 10 | | New York Giants | 6.20 | 245.31 | 25.38 | 3.67 | 13 | 8 | | Philadelphia Eagles | 6.14+ | 241.11 | 25.67 | 3.78 | 9 | 6 | | San Francisco 49ers | 6.22 | 243.60 | 26.05 | 4.22 | 8 | 8 | | Seattle Seahawks | 6.16 | 245.89 | 26.24 | 4.30 | 10 | 10 | | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6.21 | 246.94 | 27.15* | 5.41+ | 10 | 13* | | Washington Commanders | 6.20 | 241.58 | 25.92 | 3.92 | 9 | 7 | | NFC average | 6.19 | 243.63 | 26.00 | 4.12 | 9.75 | 7.69 | | AFC average | 6.18 | 243.86 | 26.08 | 4.22 | 8.81 | 7.19 | | All NFL average | 6.18 | 244.56 | 26.08 | 4.20 | 9.63 | 8.13 | | * NFC high; + NFC low | | | | | | | |
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| NFL PRO ERA, FIRST-EVER NFL AND NFLPA-LICENSED VIRTUAL REALITY GAME IS AVAILABLE NOW | Become the quarterback of your favorite NFL team with the release of NFL PRO ERA, available on Meta Quest 2 and Sony PlayStation VR platforms Miami, FL and New York, NY – September 15, 2022 – Today, the National Football League, the National Football League Players Association and StatusPRO, Inc., a sports technology and gaming company that uses NFL game data to create authentic extended reality experiences, announced the release of NFL PRO ERA, the first-ever NFL and NFLPA-licensed virtual reality (VR) simulation gaming title. Available globally on Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation® VR platforms, NFL PRO ERA will bring fans closer to NFL players' point of view with a first-person 3D immersive football gaming experience. NFL PRO ERA will feature the NFLPA group license to allow fans to play the current NFL roster in the game. "The NFL is excited to partner with StatusPRO, which has developed cutting-edge VR technology and leveraged their expertise as former football players to create an incredibly immersive NFL experience," said Ed Kiang, VP of Video Gaming at the NFL. "NFL PRO ERA will enable fans to connect with the game and their favorite teams in a whole new way." Featuring a new one-of-a-kind player simulation, including the ambient sounds and stadium atmosphere that NFL players would experience in a live game, NFL PRO ERA was developed by former football players who worked with a team of best-in-class developers to replicate a quarterback's on-and-off field perspective, putting the fan in the driver seat of authentic gameplay action. "At StatusPRO, we are excited for football fans and anyone curious to know what it is like to be an NFL quarterback, to play NFL PRO ERA. We are offering a wide variety of gameplay modes for players of all levels to really experience what it feels like on the field," said Troy Jones, StatusPRO Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and former DI quarterback. "For new VR users, I encourage them to check out Mini Games and Practice Mode to build up their skills. For a more casual experience, our Multiplayer Sandbox allows gamers to play catch with friends in any NFL Stadium, while our Two-minute Drill offers a fast-paced simulation experience and lets them compete against other gamers for the top spot on our leaderboard. Once they are ready for game day, they can quickly advance to play full 11-on-11 games in the Exhibition Mode and rack up trophies as they play a full NFL schedule and take their team all the way to the Super Bowl in our Season Mode," added Jones. Through a combination of NFL game data and StatusPRO's athlete-led technology, NFL PRO ERA presents a new level of football video gaming. Gamers can engage one player at a time or choose up to eight participants to experience games together. In Multiplayer mode, gamers can play a game of catch in their favorite stadium, regardless of where they are in the world.
NFL PRO ERA is available for $29.99 at the Official PlayStation™Store and the Quest Store. Fans can check out the official game play trailer here and see what it is like to play NFL PRO ERA from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's perspective, who was recently named the cover athlete of NFL PRO ERA.
"We are excited for fans to feel how fun it is to make the plays and game decisions of an NFL quarterback, just like our cover athlete Lamar Jackson. Getting to relish in the energy of thousands of cheering fans, in your favorite stadium, as you get a glimpse of what it takes to compete at the highest level in our game is truly something I feel every football fan is going to remember forever. It's one thing to experience sports games from a broadcast point of view, it's another to step into the shoes of your team's quarterback and choose from more than a hundred plays and then successfully run a shotgun normal quick slants 86 or a pistol ace wide receiver comebacks while the defense is coming right at you. NFL PRO ERA is the future of the field," said Andrew Hawkins, Co-Founder and President of StatusPRO and former NFL wide receiver.
"For fans to be able to experience everything that I do, from a quick slant to a long bomb while trying not to get sacked, is next level," Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson added. "This is unlike any other game you've experienced. As the quarterback, you take the snap, and you feel the pressure of what it's like to make a big play. The gameplay action is as close to reality as you can get! I'm proud to be the brand's first ever cover athlete."
"Andrew and Troy competed at the highest levels themselves, and that experience shows in what they've created with NFL PRO ERA, where the value of feedback and involvement from actual NFL players is fully embraced," said Terése Whitehead, Vice President, Consumer Products & Strategy at NFL Players Inc., the marketing, and licensing arm of the NFLPA. "By integrating professional athletes' POV, starting with Lamar Jackson, the game provides a true feel and authentic football experience."
For more information, visit https://www.status.pro.
OneTeam, the group licensing partner that leads the NFLPA's video games business, will leverage its roots in video games and marketing, supporting the product with player procurement and production resources.
ABOUT STATUSPRO: StatusPRO, Inc. is a sports technology company that combines data with augmented, mixed, and virtual reality to provide a suite of training and gaming products that revolutionize the way coaches, players, and fans experience their favorite sport. Headquartered in Miami, FL, StatusPRO is minority-owned and led, where almost half of its employees in the United States are former athletes. StatusPRO's ties to the NFL and the NFLPA began in its club locker rooms when co-founders and former elite football players Troy Jones and Andrew (Hawk) Hawkins had a vision to develop Pre Game Prep, a tool that would bring the brand's proprietary technology to NFL teams with the goal of improving the athlete training experience, which is now being utilized by NFL teams. The company's investors include notables such as Naomi Osaka, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Paul Wachter, Drake, Jimmy Iovine, along with investment groups Greycroft, TitleTown Tech, Verizon Ventures, Haslam Sports Group, 49ers Enterprises and SC Holdings.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Liana Bailey, National Football League (NFL), liana.bailey@nfl.com
Kristi Roehm (StatusPRO), 8 Degrees LLC, kristi@8degreespr.com ###
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| What To Look For - Week 2 | NO NEED TO PANIC: Since 2002, 145 of the 244 playoff teams (59.4 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including nine teams and six division champions last season. Since 1990, 63 percent of teams (165 of 262) that started 2-0 advanced to the postseason, while 42 percent of teams that began 1-1 (193 of 460) made the playoffs. Out of the 265 teams that began a season 0-2, 30 advanced to the postseason (11.3 percent). Last year, the LOS ANGELES RAMS became the second eventual Super Bowl winner in the past five years to begin the season 2-0. Of the 56 total Super Bowl champions, 35 (62.5 percent) won their first two games of the season. After Week 2, the records of teams that made the playoffs, won divisions and won Super Bowls since 1990: RECORD | MADE PLAYOFFS | WON DIVISION | WON SUPER BOWL | 2-0 | 63.0% (165/262) | 40.5% (106/262) | 7.6% (20/262) | 1-1 | 42.0% (193/460) | 24.1% (111/460) | 2.0% (9/460) | 0-2 | 11.3% (30/265) | 5.7% (15/265) | 1.1% (3/265) |
A look at how playoff clubs in 2020 and 2021 began their seasons (teams to begin 1-1 or 0-2 in bold): 2020 2021 Team | After 2 games | Playoff Result |
| Team | After 2 games | Playoff Result | Baltimore | 2-0 | Advanced to Divisional |
| Arizona | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card | Buffalo | 2-0 | Advanced to AFC Champ. |
| Buffalo | 1-1 | Advanced to Divisional | Chicago | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Cincinnati | 1-1 | Advanced to Super Bowl LVI | Cleveland | 1-1 | Advanced to Divisional |
| Dallas | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card | Green Bay | 2-0 | Advanced to NFC Champ. |
| Green Bay | 1-1 | Advanced to Divisional | Indianapolis | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Kansas City | 1-1 | Advanced to AFC Champ. | Kansas City | 2-0 | Advanced to Super Bowl LV |
| Las Vegas | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card | L.A. Rams | 2-0 | Advanced to Divisional |
| L.A. Rams | 2-0 | Won Super Bowl LVI | New Orleans | 1-1 | Advanced to Divisional |
| New England | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card | Pittsburgh | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Philadelphia | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card | Seattle | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Pittsburgh | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card | Tampa Bay | 1-1 | Won Super Bowl LV |
| San Francisco | 2-0 | Advanced to NFC Champ. | Tennessee | 2-0 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Tampa Bay | 2-0 | Advanced to Divisional | Washington | 1-1 | Advanced to Wild Card |
| Tennessee | 1-1 | Advanced to Divisional |
-- NFL --
TOP PASSERS ON THURSDAY NIGHT: The Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) on Thursday Night Football in the first-ever NFL regular-season game to air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video (8:15 PM ET). It will be a pivotal early season AFC West clash and will feature two of the league’s top passers. Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (302.4 passing yards per game in 64 career games) and Los Angeles’ JUSTIN HERBERT (291.8 in 33 career games) rank first and second, respectively, all-time in passing yards per game (minimum 1,000 pass attempts). The players with the most passing yards per game in NFL history (minimum 1,000 pass attempts): PLAYER | TEAM(S) | PASSING YPG | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 302.4 | Justin Herbert | L.A. Chargers | 291.8 | Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers, New Orleans | 280.0 |
On Kickoff Weekend, Mahomes earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after recording five touchdown passes and 360 passing yards, his sixth-career game with at least five touchdown passes, tied for the fourth-most ever. It also marked his 32nd-career game with at least 300 passing yards. With at least 300 passing yards on Thursday night, Mahomes will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (32 games) for the most games with at least 300 passing yards by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history. The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first six seasons in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 32* | | Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 32 | | Kurt WarnerHOF | St. Louis Rams | 30 | | *In sixth season | | | | | | | |
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Herbert passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s Chargers victory, his 14th-career game with at least three touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (13 games) and KURT WARNER (13) for the third-most such games by a player in his first three career seasons in NFL history. With at least three touchdown passes against Kansas City, Herbert will tie Mahomes (15 games) for the second-most such games by a player in his first three seasons ever. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (18) has more. The players with the most games with at least three touchdown passes in their first three seasons in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | | Dan MarinoHOF | Miami | 18 | | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 15 | | Justin Herbert | L.A. Chargers | 14* | | *In third season | | | | | | | |
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Herbert also enters Thursday with at least 300 passing yards in 17 career games and can surpass Mahomes and Warner for the second-most games with at least 300 passing yards by a player in his first three seasons ever. Only ANDREW LUCK (19 games) has more. The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first three seasons in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | | Andrew Luck | Indianapolis | 19 | | Justin Herbert | L.A. Chargers | 17* | | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 17 | | Kurt WarnerHOF | Miami | 17 | | *In third season | | | |
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-- NFL -- CATCHING RECORDS: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP followed up his record-breaking 2021 season with 13 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown on Kickoff Weekend. Going back to Week 13 of the 2020 season, Kupp has now recorded at least five receptions in 22 consecutive regular-season games.
With five catches against Atlanta on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Kupp will tie DEANDRE HOPKINS (23 consecutive games from 2018-20) for the second-most consecutive games with at least five receptions in NFL history. Only ANTONIO BROWN (36 games from 2013-15) has a longer such streak. The players with the most consecutive games with at least five receptions in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM(S) | SEASONS | GAMES | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh | 2013-15 | 36 | DeAndre Hopkins | Houston, Arizona | 2018-20 | 23 | Cooper Kupp | L.A. Rams | 2020-22 | 22* | *Active streak |
Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN ranked second among rookies with 90 receptions last season and, from Weeks 13-18, became the first rookie all-time with at least eight receptions in six consecutive games. On Kickoff Weekend, he picked up where he left off and had eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. With at least eight catches against Washington on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), St. Brown will become the third player in league history to record at least eight receptions in eight consecutive games, joining ANTONIO BROWN (eight consecutive games in 2014) and MICHAEL THOMAS (eight consecutive games in 2019). The players with the most consecutive games with at least eight receptions in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON(S) | GAMES | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh | 2014 | 8 | Michael Thomas | New Orleans | 2019 | 8 | Anquan Boldin | Arizona | 2005 | 7 | Travis Kelce | Kansas City | 2020 | 7 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit | 2021-22 | 7* | *Active streak |
-- NFL -- DOMINANT DEBUTS: Philadelphia wide receiver A.J. BROWN tied a career high with 155 receiving yards last week in his Eagles debut, the second-most among all players in Week 1, while Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS totaled 141 receiving yards in his Raiders debut, the third-most in the NFL on Kickoff Weekend.
Each player has a chance to rank among the most receiving yards ever by a non-rookie in his first two games with a new team. The non-rookies with the most receiving yards in their first two games with a new team in NFL history: PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | RECEIVING YARDS | Anthony Allen | Washington | 1987 | 306 | Randy MossHOF | New England | 2007 | 288 | Laveranues Coles | Washington | 2003 | 286 | Art Powell | Oakland Raiders | 1963 | 272 | Randy MossHOF | Oakland Raiders | 2005 | 257 | | | | | A.J. Brown | Philadelphia | 2022 | 155* | Davante Adams | Las Vegas | 2022 | 141* | *Through first game | | | | | | | |
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-- NFL -- GEAUX-ING FOR YARDS: Last year, former LSU wide receivers JUSTIN JEFFERSON (1,616 receiving yards) and JA’MARR CHASE (1,455) ranked second and fourth, respectively, in receiving yards across the league. Chase recorded the most receiving yards by a rookie in the Super Bowl era, while Jefferson’s 3,016 career receiving yards were the most-ever by a player in his first two seasons.
Last week, Jefferson led the NFL with a career-high 184 receiving yards in Minnesota’s victory over Green Bay. It marked his 15th-career game with at least 100 receiving yards and his fifth-career game with at least 150 receiving yards, both among the most such games by a player in his first three seasons in the Super Bowl era. The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards in their first three seasons in the Super Bowl era: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | | Odell Beckham Jr. | N.Y. Giants | 19 | | Randy MossHOF | Minnesota | 19 | | T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis | 16 | | John Jefferson | San Diego Chargers | 16 | | Anquan Boldin | Baltimore | 15 | | Justin Jefferson* | Minnesota | 15* | | A.J. Green | Cincinnati | 15 | | *In third season | | | | |
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The players with the most games with at least 150 receiving yards in their first three seasons in the Super Bowl era: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | Randy MossHOF | Minnesota | 6 | Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 5* | 6 others | - | 5 | *In third season | | | |
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Chase totaled 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on Kickoff Weekend. In 18 career games, he now has 1,584 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions. With a receiving touchdown at Dallas on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Chase will become the second-fastest player ever (19 games) to record 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in his career, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (20 games). Only ODELL BECKHAM JR., another former LSU Tiger, reached the milestone quicker (17 games). The players to reach 1,500 career receiving yards and 15 career touchdown receptions in the fewest games in the Super Bowl era: PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES | | Odell Beckham Jr. | N.Y. Giants | 17 | | Randy MossHOF | Minnesota | 20 | | Charlie Brown | Washington | 21 | | | | | | Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati | 18* | | *Has 1,584 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions | | | | | | | |
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-- NFL -- SACK ATTACK: Last week, a total of 11 players across the league recorded at least two sacks, tied for the most such players to do so in Week 1 since 2000 (11 players in 2011 and 2006).
Among those players with multiple sacks on Kickoff Weekend was Cleveland’s MYLES GARRETT, who now has 60.5 sacks in 69 career games. With a sack against the New York Jets on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Garrett will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DERRICK THOMAS (61 sacks) and J.J. WATT (61) for the third-most sacks by a player in his first 70 NFL games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. With two sacks, Garrett will surpass T.J. WATT (62) for the second-most sacks in his first 70 NFL games. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (79) has more. The players with the most sacks in their first 70 NFL games since 1982: PLAYER | TEAM | SACKS | | Reggie WhiteHOF | Philadelphia | 79 | | T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh | 62 | | Derrick ThomasHOF | Kansas City | 61 | | J.J. Watt | Houston | 61 | | Myles Garrett | Cleveland | 60.5* | | *In 69 career games | | | | | | | |
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Dallas’ MICAH PARSONS, who led all rookies with three multi-sack games last season, also recorded two sacks in Week 1. With another two-sack performance against Cincinnati on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Parsons will become the sixth player since 1982 with at least two sacks in five of his first 20 career games, joining MARK ANDERSON, JOEY BOSA, ELVIS DUMERVIL, CLAY MATTHEWS and ALDON SMITH. Jacksonville’s TRAVON WALKER was selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft and recorded both a sack and interception in his NFL debut last week. He joined AUNDRAY BRUCE, TOM COUSINEAU, STEVE EMTMAN and MYLES GARRETT as players selected first overall in the NFL Draft to record a sack in their first career games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. He was also the first top-pick to record both a sack and interception in his first-career game since 1982. With a sack against Indianapolis on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Walker will join Garrett as the only No. 1 overall picks to record a sack in each of their first two career games.
-- NFL -- | For more from NFL Communications, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345.
| OVER 121 MILLION FANS WATCH NFL GAMES DURING KICKOFF WEEKEND TO OPEN 2022 SEASON | Average viewership for all games during Kickoff weekend was 18.5 million, best since 2016 Over the course of one of the greatest Kickoff weekends in memory, over 121 million NFL fans watched games filled with comebacks and thrilling finishes over television and digital platforms. The 121 million figure represents a 5% increase from the opening weekend of the 2021 season. With seven games decided by a field goal or less (the most on Kickoff weekend in NFL history), five games decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, and four teams (Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, NY Giants) rallying from deficits of 10 or more points to win or tie, fans simply couldn't get enough of the NFL during its opening weekend of the 2022 season. "It was an incredible Kickoff weekend, highlighted by a Sunday afternoon filled with exciting finishes and thrilling comebacks," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "As the viewership numbers would indicate, our fans are obviously excited to have the NFL back. We're looking forward to Week 2 which will start with a historic game in Kansas City on Amazon Prime Video." Viewership metrics from the weekend include: - Over 121 million fans watched games during the 2022 Kickoff weekend – up +5% vs. 2021
- Nearly 83 million fans watched games on Sunday afternoon of Kickoff weekend, the highest total since 2016 and up +7% vs. 2021
- The nearly 83 million fans who watched games on Sunday afternoon of Kickoff weekend watched over 12 billion minutes of NFL action, the highest total on record and up +6% vs. 2021
- Average viewership for all games during Kickoff weekend was 18.5 million, the best opening weekend since 2016 and up +3% vs. 2021
The NFL's viewership growth to start the 2022 season is the result of a combined effort from the League's broadcast partners, representing the finest in live game sports video production across the industry. Viewership highlights from the NFL's broadcast partners over the 2022 Kickoff weekend include: Looking ahead to Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season, the week will start with the debut of Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, representing the first time the NFL has placed a package of games on a new platform (streaming) since 1987 when the League first moved into cable television with ESPN. The first Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video is an AFC West showdown between the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-0) and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0) at 8:15 PM ET.
Then, to bookend the week, the NFL presents two Monday Night Football games with staggered starts for the first time with TENNESSEE (0-1) at BUFFALO (1-0) kicking off at 7:15 PM ET on ESPN and MINNESOTA (1-0) at PHILADELPHIA (1-0) at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.
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| National Football League to Host 3rd Annual Madden NFL x HBCU Tournament with Finalists to Compete during Super Bowl LVII Week for a Chance at Cash and Prizes | Madden NFL 23 x HBCU Tournament Registration is Now Open; Live Finals to Broadcast on the NFL YouTube Channel NEW YORK, NY, September 14, 2022 —The National Football League today announced registration is now open for the third annual EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL x HBCU Tournament designed to reach students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that have a passion for gaming and football. This year's tournament is intended to maintain the tradition of providing students at HBCUs a chance to not only compete but to learn the intricacies of the business of sports through practical learning and job shadowing experiences at the NFL, during Super Bowl LVII week in Glendale, Arizona. Last year, HBCU student player participation tripled from the previous year and the NFL is focused on even greater participation this year by adding additional online qualifiers and a women's bracket to reflect the growing segment of women gamers. This would be the first-ever women's bracket for an EA or Madden tournament, and it is open for anyone to opt-in to play. "We look forward to inviting back players to the Madden NFL x HBCU tournament, which has become an incredible platform for students to compete in their favorite video game while learning the business of sports at the NFL's largest event," said Ed Kiang, VP of Video Gaming at the NFL. "We are proud to expand participation through the first-ever women's bracket and are thrilled to see so many new and returning partners joining this exciting program." Arthur McAfee, SVP of Football Operations at the NFL also stated, "We hope the participating students in the Madden NFL 23 x HBCU Tournament can use this experience to further shape their career perspectives in the sports and gaming industry."
REGISTER TO COMPETE IN THE MADDEN NFL 23 X HBCU TOURNAMENT HERE
All registered students will receive a chance to compete in one of several online qualifiers offered with the top fourteen finalists advancing to a live finals broadcasted from Glendale, AZ, home of Super Bowl LVII. Additionally, over $70,000 in cash, travel and prizes will be awarded from the NFL and NFL partners including STARTER (G-III Apparel Group), New Era Cap LLC, FANATICS, SOAR, Igloo Products Corp., Zipchair, Fan Creations, Sporticulture, Rico Industries, Inc., and Zippo. Online Qualifier Schedule:
- October 15 – Kickoff Qualifier
- October 20
- October 23 – Women's Bracket
- October 27
- November 5
- November 11
- November 13
Also, for the second year in a row, the NFL partnered with GCN (Gaming Community Network), a GameSquare Esports company that will be managing the marketing, qualifiers, registration, online tournament execution, and broadcast. The finals will air on the NFL YouTube channel Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET. For more information about the Madden NFL 23 x HBCU Tournament, visit HBCUTournament.NFL.com. About the NFL HBCU Initiative
In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two prominent HBCU athletic conferences — the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The initiative has since expanded to also include other conferences and schools to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. Through these relationships, the NFL has developed several HBCU-focused programs to educate and connect students to careers in football administration and the sports industry at large. About Gaming Community Network
GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network) is the only independent media group completely dedicated to gaming and esports across community sites, content producers, influencers and tournament/event operators. Bridging the gap between traditional media and gaming with a "Gamer First" promise, GCN's aggregated & integrated proprietary media network reaches 65M+ MAU's in the US (115M+ MAUs globally) driving scale for premium content designed to provoke and share conversations. GCN builds bespoke strategy solutions from content creation to full-scale tournaments for any endpoint be it social, broadcast TV or live stream. As a GameSquare Esports Inc. (stock: GSQ, Canadian Stock Exchange) subsidiary, GCN collaborates with its partners to deliver memorable experiences for gamers and brands. To learn more, visit GCN.gg or follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/GamingCommunityNetwork/ About GameSquare Esports Inc.
GameSquare Esports Inc. is an international gaming and esports company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is seeking to acquire additional assets and entities serving the gaming and esports markets and, more broadly, in sports and entertainment. GameSquare owns a portfolio of companies including Code Red Esports Ltd., an esports talent agency serving the UK, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles, USA., NextGen Tech, LLC (dba as Complexity Gaming), a leading esports organization operating in the United States, Swingman LLC (dba Cut+Sew and Zoned), a gaming and lifestyle marketing agency based in Los Angeles, USA, and Fourth Frame Studios, a multidisciplinary creative production studio
| | AFC Players of the Week - Week 1 | CHIEFS QB PATRICK MAHOMES, STEELERS S MINKAH FITZPATRICK & BROWNS K CADE YORK NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 1 Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES of the Kansas City Chiefs, safety MINKAH FITZPATRICK of the Pittsburgh Steelers and kicker CADE YORK of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend 2022 (September 8, 11-12). OFFENSE: QB PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Mahomes completed 30 of 39 pass attempts (76.9 pct.) for 360 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for a 144.2 rating in Kansas City’s 44-21 win at Arizona. It marked the most passing yards, touchdown passes and passer rating of any player in Week 1 and was his sixth-career game with at least five touchdown passes, tied for the fourth-most such games all-time.
- This is the eighth-career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Mahomes, and third on Kickoff Weekend:
- 2018: Weeks 1-2
- 2019: Week 2
- 2020: Weeks 3, 8
- 2021: Weeks 1, 10
- 2022: Week 1
- Mahomes is now tied with Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas for the most Player of the Week awards in Chiefs history.
DEFENSE: S MINKAH FITZPATRICK, PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Fitzpatrick tied a career high with 14 tackles and recorded a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s victory over Cincinnati. He also blocked a point after attempt to send the game into overtime.
- He became the fourth player ever with at least one interception-return for a touchdown in four of his first five career seasons.
- This is the first-ever Defensive Player of the Week award for Fitzpatrick. He becomes the first Pittsburgh safety to earn the honor since Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu (Week 12, 2013).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K CADE YORK, CLEVELAND BROWNS - York converted both of his point after attempts and all four of his field goals in his NFL debut, including the game-winning 58-yarder to secure Cleveland’s 26-24 victory. It marked the second-longest game-winning field goal by a rookie in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in NFL history, trailing only Jake Elliott’s 61-yarder in 2017. York also converted field goals from 26, 34 and 36 yards.
- He becomes the third Browns kicker to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors, joining Phil Dawson (Week 3, 2001 and Week 15, 2005) and Matt Stover (Week 9, 1995).
- This marks the second-consecutive season in which a rookie kicker has earned Special Teams Player of the Week on Kickoff Weekend, after Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson did so in 2021.
2022 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Wk 1 | QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City | S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh | K Cade York, Cleveland |
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| NFC Players of the Week - Week 1 | GIANTS RB SAQUON BARKLEY, SEAHAWKS LB UCHENNA NWOSU & EAGLES CB ZECH MCPHEARSON NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 1 Running back SAQUON BARKLEY of the New York Giants, linebacker UCHENNA NWOSU of the Seattle Seahawks and cornerback ZECH MCPHEARSON of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend 2022 (September 8, 11-12).
OFFENSE: RB SAQUON BARKLEY, NEW YORK GIANTS - Barkley rushed for 164 yards with one touchdown and added six receptions for 30 yards and converted the go-ahead two-point conversion with 1:09 remaining in the Giants’ 21-20 comeback victory over the Titans. His 164 rushing yards and 194 scrimmage yards both led the league for Week 1.
- This is the third-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Barkley, second-most by a Giants running back (Tiki Barber, seven):
- 2018: Week 11
- 2019: Week 16
- 2022: Week 1
- He joins quarterback Kerry Collins (five) and running backs Larry Johnson (four) and Gary Brown (three) as offensive players from Penn State to win the award at least three times.
DEFENSE: LB UCHENNA NWOSU, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Nwosu, making his Seahawks debut, registered seven tackles, one sack, one pass defensed and one forced fumble in Seattle’s Monday Night Football win over Denver.
- This is Nwosu’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week award.
- He is the first linebacker from USC to be named Defensive Player of the Week since Clay Matthews (Week 9, 2010).
SPECIAL TEAMS: CB ZECH MCPHEARSON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - McPhearson recorded two special teams tackles and an onside kick recovery in the third quarter in Philadelphia’s Week 1 win in Detroit.
- This is the first Special Teams Player of the Week Award for McPhearson and he is the first Eagles player since DeSean Jackson (Week 1, 2009) to win the award in a Kickoff Weekend game.
- He joins Jakeem Grant (three times), Byron Hanspard and Wes Welker as former Texas Tech players to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
2022 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Wk 1 | RB Saquon Barkley, N.Y. Giants | LB Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle | CB Zech McPhearson, Philadelphia |
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| The Starting 11 -- NFL Looking to Make More Exciting Statements in Week 2 | The National Football League sure knows how to write a season-opening statement with an exclamation point.
Seven games were decided by three points or fewer, more than any opening week in league history. A sampling from morning headlines following Week 1 games: Furious fourth-quarter rally, crazy, stunning, gutsy, thrilling, jaw-dropping, wild, blistering, historic debut. Week 2 brings even more historic debuts. This week the NFL unveils its first new broadcast partner since 1994. Amazon Prime Video is the new home of Thursday Night Football and the package’s initial game is an AFC West showdown between the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-0) and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0) at 8:15 PM ET. Then, to bookend the week, the NFL presents its first staggered Monday Night Football doubleheader, with TENNESSEE (0-1) at BUFFALO (1-0) kicking off at 7:15 PM ET on ESPN and MINNESOTA (1-0) at PHILADELPHIA (1-0) at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. The Starting 11 entering Week 2… 1. PRIMETIME PROMINENCE: JUSTIN JEFFERSON (184 yards on nine receptions) and A.J. BROWN (155 yards on 10 receptions) enter Week 2 leading the NFL in receiving yards. They play Monday at Lincoln Financial Field (8:30 PM ET, ABC). Jefferson also leads the NFL with 3,200 receiving yards since entering the league in 2020.
- JALEN HURTS squares off with Jefferson in their first meeting since the 2019 Peach Bowl, when they combined for six touchdowns (LSU’s Jefferson caught four and Oklahoma’s Hurts ran for two).
2. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – .952: The Bills’ winning percentage (20-1) when quarterback JOSH ALLEN rushes and passes for at least one touchdown in the same game. Including last week’s win, Allen’s 21 games with at least one rushing TD and one-or-more passing TDs are the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2018.
- TENNESSEE (0-1) and BUFFALO (1-0), who play Monday (7:15 PM ET, ESPN), are two of four teams with playoff berths in each of the past three years (also Green Bay and Kansas City).
- Buffalo has not punted in three of its last four regular-season games, the first team since 1939 (when the league began tracking punting statistics) with three zero-punt performances over a four-game stretch.
3. NOTE THAT MATTERS: Ten teams that missed the 2021 playoffs won their Week 1 games, including MIAMI (1-0) and BALTIMORE (1-0), who meet Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
- Last week, Ravens quarterback LAMAR JACKSON improved to 38-12 over his first 50 NFL starts, matching TOM BRADY (38 wins) and DANNY WHITE (38) for the third-most victories by a quarterback in his first 50 career starts since the 1970 merger. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (40 wins) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KEN STABLER (40) had more.
4. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Linebacker FOYESADE OLUOKUN, who signed with Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, led the NFL with 192 tackles in 2021. On Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Oluokun and the Jaguars host Indianapolis and running back JONATHAN TAYLOR, who led the league last year in both scrimmage yards (2,171) and rushing yards (1,811).
5. SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: In 18 of the last 19 seasons (2003-21), at least two teams have won their divisions the year after missing the playoffs, including CINCINNATI (0-1) and DALLAS (0-1) in 2021. Those teams meet Sunday at AT&T Stadium (4:25 PM ET, CBS). Each team features a reigning Associated Press Rookie of the Year (the Bengals’ JA’MARR CHASE won the offensive award and the Cowboys’ MICAH PARSONS took the defensive honor), marking the third consecutive season that the league’s top offensive and defensive rookies from the previous season meet in Weeks 1 or 2.
6. STREAK SPEAK: NEW ORLEANS (1-0) hosts TAMPA BAY (1-0) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) with seven consecutive regular-season wins over the Buccaneers, including four against TOM BRADY. It’s the longest regular-season winning streak by an NFL team against Brady as a starting quarterback. Prior to the Saints’ current streak, Brady had only lost three consecutive games to a single opponent on one occasion, to the Broncos from 2005-09 … JACKSONVILLE (0-1) hosts INDIANAPOLIS (0-0-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), having won its last six against the Colts in Jacksonville. FRANK REICH was DOUG PEDERSON’s offensive coordinator when Philadelphia won the Super Bowl in 2017.
7. DID YOU KNOW?: This week, seven teams that have not been 2-0 since at least 2016 have that opportunity, including the CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-0). With a win Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS) against the Jets (0-1), the Browns would be 2-0 for the first time since 1993, when their head coach was BILL BELICHICK. WASHINGTON (last 2-0 record in 2011), the L.A. CHARGERS (2012), NEW ORLEANS (2013), MINNESOTA (2016), the N.Y. GIANTS (2016) and PHILADELPHIA (2016) also can get off to their best starts in at least six years this week.
- Tampa Bay’s TOM BRADY has an opportunity to begin a season 2-0 as a starting quarterback for a 10th time and break a tie with Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (nine) and DAN MARINO (nine) for most 2-0 starts in NFL history.
8. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: Former quarterback KERRY COLLINS holds a significant place in the histories of the CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1) and NEW YORK GIANTS (1-0), who meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium (1:00 PM ET, FOX). The first-ever draft selection in Panthers history, Collins led the franchise to the NFC Championship Game in only his second season, 1996. Four years later, Collins led the Giants to a berth in Super Bowl XXXV, where the starting quarterback for his opponent was the Ravens’ TRENT DILFER. Both Collins and Dilfer are now high school football coaches in the Nashville area.
9. TREND TIME: The PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-0) have led the league in sacks each of the past five seasons (2017-21), an NFL record. They enter Sunday’s game against NEW ENGLAND (0-1) at Acrisure Stadium (1:00 PM ET, CBS) tied for the 2022 lead (with Buffalo) after a seven-sack performance in a dramatic win last week.
10. THIS WEEK IN NFL HISTORY: Sept. 15, 2002 (20 years ago) – Future Pro Football Hall of Famer BRIAN URLACHER sacks 22-year-old MICHAEL VICK twice in the fourth quarter to preserve a 14-13 Chicago win at Atlanta, dropping the Falcons to 0-2. Vick, who had taken over as Atlanta’s starter prior to the season, would then lead the Falcons to wins in eight of their next 10 games to springboard the team into the playoffs.
11. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Defensive coordinators VANCE JOSEPH and PATRICK GRAHAM face off at Allegiant Stadium Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS) when Arizona travels to Las Vegas. Each coach is a former Dolphins defensive coordinator. And, each has tutored four-time Pro Bowler CHANDLER JONES, now with the Raiders. Jones had 30.5 sacks in three Cardinals seasons under Joseph (2019-21). Earlier, Graham was Jones’ first NFL position coach with New England from 2012-13, when Jones recorded 17.5 sacks over his first two seasons in the league. Since 2014, only AARON DONALD (99) has more sacks than Jones (90).
WEEK 2 NFL SCHEDULE (All times Eastern) Thursday, September 15 | Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City | Prime Video | 8:15 | Sunday, September 18 | Miami at Baltimore | CBS | 1:00 | | New York Jets at Cleveland | CBS | 1:00 | | Washington at Detroit | FOX | 1:00 | | Indianapolis at Jacksonville | CBS | 1:00 | | Tampa Bay at New Orleans | FOX | 1:00 | | Carolina at New York Giants | FOX | 1:00 | | New England at Pittsburgh | CBS | 1:00 | | Atlanta at Los Angeles Rams | FOX | 4:05 | | Seattle at San Francisco | FOX | 4:05 | | Cincinnati at Dallas | CBS | 4:25 | | Houston at Denver | CBS | 4:25 | | Arizona at Las Vegas | CBS | 4:25 | | Chicago at Green Bay | NBC | 8:20 | Monday, September 19 | Tennessee at Buffalo | ESPN | 7:15 | | Minnesota at Philadelphia | ABC | 8:30 |
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| Super Bowl Champion Quarterback Joe Theismann Featured on NFL Network's 'A Football Life' | 'Joe Theismann: A Football Life' Premieres Friday, September 16 at 9:00 PM ET & PT on NFL Network "There are certain guys that I think are born to play quarterback and that's Joe Theismann." – Rick "Doc" Walker The 11th season of the Emmy-nominated and highly acclaimed NFL Films-produced series A Football Life premieres Friday, September 16 at 9:00 PM ET and PT on NFL Network with a profile of Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann. The one-hour show features sit-down interviews with Theismann, former teammates such as Rick "Doc" Walker, Art Monk and Mark Moseley, former head coach Joe Gibbs and others.
Among the topics discussed in Joe Theismann: A Football Life include:
- Growing up in South River, NJ where he was a three-sport athlete in high school
- His prolific collegiate career at Notre Dame and the famous "Theismann for Heisman" campaign
- Early struggles in Washington and his relationship with head coach Joe Gibbs
- Leading Washington to its first Super Bowl title and winning the 1983 NFL MVP Award
- A conversation between Lawrence Taylor and Theismann about his infamous 1985 career-ending leg injury in a game against the New York Giants
- His post-football career as an NFL broadcaster for over 20 years
Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.
Joe Theismann: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:
- Joe Theismann
- Robin Theismann – Wife
- Joe Gibbs – Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach
- Rick "Doc" Walker – Washington teammate
- Art Monk – Washington teammate & Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver
- Mark Moseley – Washington teammate
- Lawrence Taylor – Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker
- Michael Wilbon – Former Washington Post sportswriter
- Drew Pearson – High school teammate & Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver
Provided below are some select quotes from Joe Theismann: A Football Life:
- "There are certain guys that I think are born to play quarterback and that's Joe Theismann." – Rick "Doc" Walker - "I loved the game. I was a guy that had a chance to play with a great football team. I walk out on that football field and the memories come back like yesterday." – Joe Theismann - "We were the best in the NFL and you have to have a great quarterback to do that. Joe was that quarterback." – Joe Gibbs - "I think he's been overlooked as one of the best quarterbacks to play in the NFL. Why he's not in the Hall of Fame, I don't know." – Mark Moseley - "He was not that big. But what was big was his heart and his ego. You could not keep Joey down." – Drew Pearson - "People say 'What is it like to win a Super Bowl?' It's almost indescribable because it's an experience that you have in your life that very few people are able to go to." – Joe Theismann - "Theismann was the guy that was most notably going to go right into the booth and be great at it." – Michael Wilbon on Theismann's transition to the broadcast booth All NFL Network programming is available across multiple devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app and NFL Network app for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers, and with NFL+. Visit NFL.com/watch for more information on how to watch and visit NFL.com/plus/learn-more for more information on NFL+.
Below is a broadcast schedule for remaining episodes of A Football Life this season:
- September 23 – Rod Woodson
- November 18 – Edgerrin James
- November 25 – Julian Edelman
- December 23 – Franco Harris
- December/January (exact premiere date TBD) – 1972 Miami Dolphins
ABOUT NFL MEDIA NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app, NFL+ and streaming service, the NFL Channel.
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.
For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL app and NFL Network app on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.
| Thursday Night Capsule - Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City | THURSDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-0) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0) Week 2 of the 2022 season gets underway with the first-ever NFL regular-season game to air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. On Thursday, September 15 (8:15 PM ET), the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers in a pivotal, early-season AFC West showdown. This will mark the first of 15 Thursday Night Football games to air exclusively on Prime Video this season (Weeks 2-17, excluding Thanksgiving). The game will feature Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung on the call. The Chiefs lead the all-time regular-season series, 65-57-1, including a 34-28 overtime victory on Thursday Night Football in their last meeting in Week 15 of the 2021 season. Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES threw the game-winning 34-yard touchdown to tight end TRAVIS KELCE on the first drive of overtime. It was the third touchdown pass of the game for Mahomes – second to Kelce – as he totaled a season-high 410 passing yards in the win. Kelce posted a career-high 191 receiving yards on 10 catches.
Each team enters Thursday coming off Week 1 victories. The Chiefs went on the road to defeat Arizona, 44-21, as Mahomes threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns for a 144.2 rating. It marked his sixth-career game with at least five touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (six) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (six) for the fourth-most games all-time. Only DREW BREES (11), TOM BRADY (nine) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (nine) have more. Kelce led the team with eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, his 30th-career game with at least 100 receiving yards, joining ROB GRONKOWSKI (32 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (31) as the only tight ends with at least 30 such games in NFL history.
Running back CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE caught a career-high two touchdown passes in Week 1, while rookie running back ISIAH PACHECO rushed for his first-career touchdown. On defense, defensive tackle CHRIS JONES recorded his 11th-career forced fumble last week. He has totaled four sacks in his past two Thursday games. Defensive end CARLOS DUNLAP had a sack in his Chiefs debut on Kickoff Weekend and has 5.5 sacks in six career games against the Chargers. Linebacker NICK BOLTON, who led all rookies with 112 tackles in 2021, posted a team-high 10 tackles in Week 1.
The Chargers defeated the Raiders at home last week, 24-19. Quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 297 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 129.4 rating. It marked his ninth career game with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Mahomes for the most-ever by a player in his first three seasons. In four career games against Kansas City, Herbert has 13 touchdowns (10 passing, three rushing) and a 108.3 rating. He finished the 2021 season with at least 300 passing yards in each of his final five road games. Wide receiver MIKE WILLIAMS aims for his third in a row at Kansas City with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. Running back AUSTIN EKELER tied for the league lead with 20 touchdowns last season and aims for his fourth in a row against the Chiefs with a score. Rookie fullback ZANDER HORVATH recorded a touchdown catch last week in his NFL debut.
Linebacker KHALIL MACK led the team with three sacks and had a forced fumble in his Chargers debut in Week 1. Since entering the league in 2014, Mack ranks tied for second among all players with 24 forced fumbles. Linebacker JOEY BOSA also recorded a forced fumble last week and added 1.5 sacks. He posted a sack and forced fumble in the teams' last meeting and aims for his fifth in a row in primetime with a sack. Safety DERWIN JAMES tied for the team lead with six tackles in Week 1 and posted a sack, while cornerback ASANTE SAMUEL JR. recorded his third-career interception in the win. Samuel also had an interception in last year's Week 3 meeting in Kansas City.
The Chiefs are looking to begin 2-0 for the fifth time in the past six years, while the Chargers are aiming to win their first two games of a season for the first time since 2012.
For the Week 2 Los Angles Chargers-Kansas City Chiefs capsule, click here. | Seven From Sunday - Kickoff Weekend | A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, September 11, the first week of the 2022 season.
- With two games remaining in Week 1, there have been five games decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, tied for the third-most such games in Week 1 all-time. There hasn't been more such games on Kickoff Weekend in 20 years (six games in 2002).
Additionally, seven games have been decided by one score or less (eight points) and 10 games have been within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter.
For the third time in the past four years, multiple Kickoff Weekend games went to overtime as Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati, 23-20, while Indianapolis and Houston tied, 20-20, marking the fourth Week 1 tie since 1970.
Four teams – Indianapolis (17-point deficit), New Orleans (16), the New York Giants (13) and Chicago (10) – overcame deficits of at least 10 points to win or tie in Week 1. There haven't been more such comebacks to win or tie on Kickoff Weekend in 20 years (five in 2002).
2022 marked the fourth time ever that multiple teams overcame a deficit of at least 16 points to win or tie in Week 1, joining 2019 (three teams), 2020 (two) and 1999 (two). It also marked the second time in the past three seasons that a team overcame a deficit of at least 16 points in the fourth quarter to win on Kickoff Weekend (Chicago overcame a 17-point deficit to win in Week 1, 2020).
- Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 360 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for a 144.2 rating and tight end TRAVIS KELCE had eight receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown in the Chiefs' 44-21 win over Arizona.
Kansas City became the sixth team in the Super Bowl era to win eight consecutive season-opening games, joining the 1966-81 DALLAS COWBOYS (16 consecutive wins), 1992-2002 MIAMI DOLPHINS (11), 2004-13 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10), 1984-92 CHICAGO BEARS (nine) and 2003-10 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (eight).
Mahomes recorded his sixth career game with at least five touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (six) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (six) for the fourth-most such games all-time. Only DREW BREES (11), TOM BRADY (nine) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (nine) have more.
Kelce recorded his 30th career game with at least 100 receiving yards and joined ROB GRONKOWSKI (32 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (31) as the only tight ends with at least 30 such games in NFL history.
- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 129.4 rating in the team's 24-19 win over Las Vegas.
Herbert has 14 career games with at least three touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (13 games) and KURT WARNER (13) for the third-most such games by a player in his first three career seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (18 games) and PATRICK MAHOMES (15) have more.
Herbert has nine career games with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with PATRICK MAHOMES (nine) for the most such games by a player in his first three career seasons all-time.
- Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON recorded nine receptions for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 23-7 win over Green Bay.
Jefferson, who has 205 receptions in 34 career games, tied ANQUAN BOLDIN (34 games) and REGGIE BUSH (34) as the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 200 career receptions. Only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (30 games), MICHAEL THOMAS (32) and JARVIS LANDRY (33) reached the mark in fewer games.
Jefferson recorded his fifth-career game with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (five) and VICTOR CRUZ (five) for the second-most such games by a player in his first three seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (six) has more.
- Making his 50th career start, Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON recorded three touchdown passes in the Ravens' 24-9 win over the New York Jets.
Jackson compiled a 38-12 record in his first 50 career starts, tied with TOM BRADY (38 wins) and DANNY WHITE (38) for the third-most wins by a quarterback in his first 50 career starts since 1970. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (40 wins) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KEN STABLER (40) had more.
- Making his 20th career start, Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS totaled 333 yards (243 passing, 90 rushing) and a rushing touchdown in the Eagles' 38-35 win over Detroit.
Hurts recorded his 14th career rushing touchdown, tied with JOSH ALLEN (14 rushing touchdowns) and STEVE GROGAN (14) for the second-most ever by a quarterback in his first 20 career starts. Only CAM NEWTON (17) had more.
Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN recorded eight receptions in Week 1 and became the fifth player ever to record at least eight receptions in seven consecutive games, joining ANTONIO BROWN (eight consecutive games in 2014), MICHAEL THOMAS (eight in 2019), ANQUAN BOLDIN (seven in 2005) and TRAVIS KELCE (seven in 2020). St. Brown recorded at least eight receptions in each of his final six games of the 2021 season.
- Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT registered two sacks and a forced fumble and rookie kicker CADE YORK kicked a game-winning 58-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the Browns' 26-24 win at Carolina.
Garrett, appearing in his 69th career game, has 60.5 career sacks and became the fifth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 60 sacks in his first 70 NFL games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (79) and DERRICK THOMAS (61), as well as T.J. WATT (62) and J.J. WATT (61).
York's 58-yard game-winning field goal marked the second-longest game-winning field goal by a rookie in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in NFL history, trailing only JAKE ELLIOTT (61-yard field goal with no time remaining on September 24, 2017).
- Other notable performances from Sunday include:
- Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW passed for 338 yards in Week 1. He has 7,637 passing yards in 27 career games, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (27 games) as the third-fastest player to reach 7,500 career passing yards in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (24 games) and JUSTIN HERBERT (26) reached the mark in fewer games.
- Indianapolis quarterback MATT RYAN passed for 352 yards with one touchdown in the team's 20-20 tie at Houston.
Ryan, who ranks eighth in league history with 60,087 passing yards in 223 games, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (226 games) as the second-fastest player ever to reach 60,000 career passing yards, trailing only DREW BREES (215).
Ryan has 74 career games with at least 300 passing yards, surpassing PHILIP RIVERS for the fourth-most such games in NFL history. Only DREW BREES (123 games), TOM BRADY (108 entering Sunday Night Football) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (93) have more.
- Pittsburgh safety MINKAH FITZPATRICK recorded a 31-yard interception-return for a touchdown and linebacker T.J. WATT recorded his fifth-career interception in the Steelers' 23-20 overtime win over Cincinnati.
Fitzpatrick, who had one interception return for a touchdown in each of his first three career seasons (2018-20), became the fourth player ever with at least one interception-return for a touchdown in four of his first five career seasons, joining NATE CLEMENTS, Pro Football Hall of Famer KEN HOUSTON and DEION JONES.
Watt, who also registered his 73rd career sack since entering the NFL in 2017, became the first player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least 70 sacks (73) and five interceptions (five) in his first six career seasons.
- Jacksonville rookie linebacker TRAVON WALKER, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, recorded a sack and interception in his NFL debut in Week 1 and joined AUNDRAY BRUCE, TOM COUSINEAU, STEVE EMTMAN and MYLES GARRETT as players selected first overall in the NFL Draft to record a sack in their first career games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Walker is the first top-pick to record both a sack and interception in his first-career game since 1982.
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