The Sportsletter - The Week 1 Rundown 🏈

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 9, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 🙌

Our team watched 12 straight hours of football yesterday and we're not mad about it. We had a fun summer, Olympics and all, but it’s good to be back in football mode. I'm going to go "touch grass" today and remind myself what outside is all about. Tonight, it’s another banger — the Monday Night Football showdown Jets fans have waited for since Aaron Rodgers... Well, you know. Tonight: Jets at 49ers (8:20 pm ET, ESPN)

Letter Rip!

NFL

The Week 1 Rundown 🏈

Photo: Nick Cammett / Getty Images

Dak Prescott’s Gameday Deal, Tyreek Hill’s Arrest, Tom Brady in the Booth & Close Games Everywhere in Week 1

After football fans saw the Chiefs and Eagles win a pair of one-score games with late drama on Thursday and Friday night, Sunday of Week 1 was much of the same. We’ll tell you about it, along with Dak Prescott’s record-setting new contract, Tyreek Hill’s arrest, and Tom Brady’s first snaps with a headset instead of a helmet. Rewind Week 1 in roughly 60 seconds:

NFL Week 1 Storylines

💰 Dak Prescott’s New Deal

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys gave QB Dak Prescott a record-setting deal on the morning of their season-opener. Prescott’s deal (4 years, $240 million) makes him the highest-paid player annually in NFL history at $60 million per year. He turned around and led the Cowboys to a 33-17 rout of the Browns on the road.

🚔 Tyreek Hill’s Pregame Arrest

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill made headlines early in the afternoon after news surfaced that he was arrested following a speeding violation outside the stadium. Hill was quickly released and helped Miami rally for a second-half comeback over the Jags (20-17). He finished with seven catches for 130 yards and a TD. Hill hit the “handcuffs” celebration after he scored, too.

📺 Tom Brady in the Booth

Fans who tuned in for the Cowboys-Browns game heard a familiar voice on the call. Tom Brady made his first broadcast appearance with FOX alongside Kevin Burkhardt. FOX is spending $375 million over 10 years to put TB12 in the booth. He got mixed reviews from viewers, but he made it clear throughout the afternoon that he’s a rookie again.

👀 Close Games in Week 1

Eight (of 13) Sunday games were decided by one score yesterday. Add that to the Chiefs’ and Eagles’ wins late last week and that’s 66 percent of Week 1 coming down to the wire. It ended, fittingly, with the first overtime game of the year on Sunday night football — Lions beat the Rams (26-20, OT).

Week 1 Scoreboard

Chiefs def. Ravens (27-20): Isaiah Likely’s last-second TD catch overturned.
Eagles def. Packers (34-29): Saquon Barkley scores 3 TDs for Eagles in Brazil game.
Steelers def. Falcons (18-10): Justin Fields starts. Kirk Cousins throws 2 INTs.
Bills def. Cardinals (34-28): Josh Allen (4 TDs) rallies Buffalo from 14 points down.
Bears def. Titans (24-17): Bears force 4 TOs to overcome 17-0 deficit.
Patriots def. Bengals (16-10): Rhamondre Stevenson runs for 120 yards and 1 TD.
Texans def. Colts (29-27): Stefon Diggs scores 2 TDs in Texans debut.
Dolphins def. Jaguars (20-17): Tyreek Hill (130 yards, 1 TD) fuels Miami's comeback.
Saints def. Panthers (47-10): Derek Carr Throws 3 TDs in NFC South rout.
Vikings def. Giants (28-6): Vikings defense holds Giants without a TD.
Chargers def. Raiders (22-10): Jim Harbaugh gets first Chargers win as coach.
Seahawks def. Broncos (26-20): Bo Nix throws 2 INTs in Broncos debut.
Cowboys def. Browns (33-17): Dallas dominates all-around game on the road.
Bucs def. Commanders (37-20): Baker Mayfield shines with 4 TDs.
Lions def. Rams (26-20, OT): David Montgomery punches in overtime TD run.

Tonight (Monday Night Football)

Jets at 49ers (8:20 pm ET, ESPN)

CBS Sports: NFL Week 1 Winners & Losers: Derek Carr Looks Impressive for Saints

FOX Sports: NFL Week 1: What We Learned From All 13 Games on Sunday

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

AP Poll: Horns Up 🤘 Irish Down 🍀

Photo: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images

College Football AP Poll: Notre Dame’s Shocking Upset & A Texas Blowout at the Big House Headline Week 2

It didn’t take long for the new-look SEC to take hold of the college football hierarchy. Texas blew out Michigan at the Big House. Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers (246 yards, 3 TDs) carved up the UM defense. Ole Miss, Tennessee and Missouri are also on the rise in the SEC. The most notable upset of the weekend — you probably heard about it — was the stunner in South Bend. Notre Dame fell to Northern Illinois on a walk-off field goal (16-14). The Irish fell from No. 5 to 18. The latest poll has six SEC teams in the top seven with Ohio State the lone Big Ten team at No. 3.

Best Games of Week 2 (Highlights)

#3 Texas def. #10 Michigan (31-12)

Northern Illinois def. #5 Notre Dame (16-14)

#7 Oregon def. Boise State (37-34)

Iowa State def. #21 Iowa (20-19)

College Football Week 2 Scoreboard

AP Poll (Week 2)

1. Georgia (2-0) | —

2. Texas (2-0) | ↑1

3. Ohio State (2-0) | ↓1

4. Alabama (2-0) | —

5. Ole Miss (2-0) | ↑1

6. Missouri (2-0) | ↑3

7. Tennessee (2-0) | ↑7

8. Penn State (2-0) | —

9. Oregon (2-0) | ↓2

10. Miami (2-0) | ↑2

Full AP Top-25

CBS Sports: Texas Jumps Ohio State as SEC Makes History in CFB Rankings

US OPEN

Sabalenka, Sinner Capture U.S. Open Crowns

Photo: Robert Prange / Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka & Jannik Sinner Win U.S. Open Finals Over American Underdogs, Jessica Pegula & Taylor Fritz

For all the hoopla surrounding Americans at the 2024 U.S. Open, there would be no homegrown celebration at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both 6-seed Jessica Pegula and 12-seed Taylor Fritz made fantastic runs through this year’s tournament, but ultimately ran into superior stars in the final weekend. Women’s 2-seed Aryna Sabalenka and men’s 1-seed Jannik Sinner each won clean sweeps in their final matches. Here’s how they did it:

#2 A. Sabalenka def. #6 J. Pegula (7-5, 7-5)

It was an incredible run for the 30-year-old New York native, but it’s not yet time for Jessica Pegula’s first major. She battled in both sets, but Sabalenka hit crucial shots when it mattered. It’s her third major title, but her first at the U.S. Open.

#1 J. Sinner def. #12 T. Fritz (6-3, 6-4, 7-5)

A slew of surprising upsets throughout the men’s draw opened the door for American Taylor Fritz, but there’s little denying Jannik Sinner’s claim to the World No. 1 ranking. The 23-year-old Italian rolled Fritz with a straight sweep for his second grand slam, both in 2024 (Australian Open & U.S. Open). It’s been 21 years since an American man has won the U.S. Open.

ESPN: No. 1 Sinner Wins U.S. Open, Extends U.S. Men’s Drought

MLB

The 50/50 Founder's Club (?)

Photo: John McCoy / Getty Images

Shohei Ohtani Now 4 HRs & 4 Steals Away From MLB’s 1st 50/50 Season

Among the headlines from a busy weekend of baseball were more steps toward a milestone we’ve never seen before. He’s not there yet, but Shohei Ohtani cranked more home runs and swiped more bags over the last three days. His 46th homer of the year (a single-season career-high) came on Sunday to give him 46 HRs and 46 SBs. There’s never been a member of the 50/50 club in MLB history, and it looks like Ohtani is about to be the founder. The Dodgers beat the Guardians (4-0). Only 20 games to go.

Watch: Shohei Ohtani Rips Career-High 46th HR of the Season

MLB Quick-Hitters

Fire Sale Does It Again: Chris Sale tossed another scoreless gem on Sunday (6 IP, 7Ks, 2 Hits, 0 Runs) to tee up a Braves’ walk-off in extras over the Blue Jays (4-3, 11 innings). Sale is the NL Cy Young favorite, and he has a legitimate shot at the NL’s triple crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA).

Wacha, Royals Sweep Twins: Michael Wacha got his 100th career win on Sunday with a stellar outing (7 IP, 7Ks, 4 Hits, 0 Runs) to lift the Royals over the Twins (2-0). That helped Kansas City sweep Minnesota this weekend and gain a critical 2.5-game advantage in the AL Wild Card race.

Pavin Smith’s 3-HR, 8 RBI Day

The D-Backs desperately needed a win on Sunday to finish an ugly six-game road trip, but who expected this out of Pavin Smith? Arizona’s outfielder had a career day (3 HRs, 8 RBIs) in his first three at-bats yesterday. The D-Backs beat the Astros (12-6).

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚽️ Soccer

Canada Beats USMNT in Friendly (2-1)

USA’s 1st Home Loss to Canada in 67 Years

Alex Morgan Plays Final NWSL Game

Subbed Out in 13th Minute in Honor of No. 13

🏀 WNBA

Liberty Hold Off Aces (75-71)

Breanna Stewart (21 pts, 11 rebs)

Fever Beat Dream in OT (104-100, OT)

Clark (26-12) & Boston (30-13) Get Double Doubles

🏁 NASCAR