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Monday Night Football

MNF: Sleepless in The Meadowlands

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown and had two of Seattle’s 11 sacks as the Seahawks continued their Monday night mastery with a 24-3 victory against the New York Giants in New Jersey.

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Kenneth Walker III rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown and Geno Smith threw a TD pass to DK Metcalf as the Seahawks (3-1) improved to 29-12 all-time on “Monday Night Football,” with their .707 winning percentage the best in league history.

Seattle’s sack total tied the franchise’s single-game record.

The Giants (1-3), who played without star running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), managed just 248 yards of total offense.

New York quarterback Daniel Jones completed 27 of 34 passes for 203 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. He also rushed for a team-high 66 yards on 10 carries.

With the Giants trailing 14-3 late in the third quarter, Jones scrambled for a 10-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from the Seattle 16 on New York’s lone trip into the red zone. Two plays later, Jones tried to hit Parris Campbell, but the throw was behind the receiver and was picked off by Witherspoon.

Smith finished with 110 yards on 13-of-20 passing. He missed the final 9:28 of the second quarter while being evaluated for a knee injury. Drew Lock stepped in under center and led a TD drive in Smith’s absence.

The Seahawks opened the scoring on the final play of the first quarter. Smith scrambled to his right and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to a diving Metcalf in the back corner of the end zone. That capped a two-play drive set up by Mario Edwards Jr., who sacked Jones and forced a fumble that was recovered by Jordyn Brooks at the New York 15-yard line and returned to the 7.

The Giants, who have yet to score a first-half touchdown this season, got a 55-yard field goal from Graham Gano with 3:05 remaining before intermission.

Lock led the Seahawks on a seven play, 75-yard drive, capped by Walker’s 1-yard scoring run, to make it 14-3 with 1:39 left in the second quarter. Walker’s TD plunge came after a third-and-10 screen pass to tight end Noah Fant, who broke a tackle and tight-roped down the sideline for 51 yards to the 1.

Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, playing in his first game since tearing his quadriceps in the 2022 season opener, lasted just nine plays before sustaining a concussion when getting kneed in the head while trying to make a tackle on a scrambling Jones. Adams didn’t return.

–Field Level Media

Sports Biz: MNF Sets ESPN Record

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The “Monday Night Football” game between the visiting Buffalo Bills and New York Jets drew more than 22.6 million viewers, the most since ESPN began airing the NFL broadcast in 2006.

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The game featured the much-anticipated Jets debut of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who exited after tearing his left Achilles tendon on his fourth snap.

Despite Rodgers’ early departure, the Jets beat the Bills 22-16 in overtime on Xavier Gipson’s 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Jets announced on Tuesday that Rodgers would miss the rest of the season.

The game, which aired on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes, broke the network’s record that was set in 2009, when the Green Bay Packers faced their former quarterback Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. That game drew 21.8 million viewers.

The viewership total for this year’s season opener of “Monday Night Football” was up 14 percent from last year’s opener (Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks) that drew a then-record 19.8 million viewers for a Week 1 Monday night contest.

The breakdown for the Monday viewership included 11.7 million watching on ABC, 9.4 million on ESPN and 1.52 million on ESPN2, which aired the “ManningCast” alternate feed featuring Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.

Sports Business Journal noted that the total MNF viewership this week topped the most recent totals for the College Football Playoff final, the men’s NCAA Tournament final, the Kentucky Derby, the Oscars and the Grammy Awards.

–Field Level Media

MNF Preview: Bills at NY Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Week One of the 2023 NFL regular season comes to a close with a marquee “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Buffalo Bills at the New York Jets.

It’s a season-opening tilt between AFC East rivals who both harbor realistic Super Bowl aspirations.

QUICK PICK
The Bills opened as 1.5-point favorites and the line has held steady with Buffalo backed by 68 percent of the spread-line bets and 69 percent of the money. However, the Jets’ +110 moneyline has also been a popular play as it has drawn 63 and 60 percent of the action, respectively.

There are still a lot of unknowns in terms of how the Jets’ offense will exit the gates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm. But New York also has a stout defense that gave Bills quarterback Josh Allen fits in two meetings last year, so we’re taking the points with the Jets at home.

Prediction: Bills 23 – Jets 17

THE NEWS
Josh Allen was 9 years old when Aaron Rodgers was drafted by Green Bay. Allen said he’s mimicked a lot of Rodgers’ movements and looks up to him. Rodgers wants the Bills looking up at the Jets in the standings when the dust settles Monday.

At 39, Rodgers relocated for the first time in his career following a prolific run with the Packers. Unpacking Super Bowl and MVP credentials in New Jersey, Rodgers said he’s grown comfortable in a new shade of green in part because of the level of talent around him.

“I think we’re ready,” Rodgers said. “I played in a great spot for 18 years. We had a great home-field advantage, place was always sold out. I’m expecting a big crowd, a loud crowd. It’s going to be electric — ‘Monday Night Football’ — last game of the first week. It will be a pretty special moment to take the field against a division rival and a great quarterback, really good football team. It will be a special environment to start off my career with the Jets.”

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson was the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and created a quick connection with Rodgers, who compared his new No. 17 — Wilson — to former Packers teammate and All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. The Jets also signed free agent Dalvin Cook to a one-year deal and added familiar Rodgers cronies Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.

There’s depth here, too. New York wants to co-feature running back Breece Hall with Cook and brought in wide receiver Mecole Hardman from the Chiefs.

KEY STAT
Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, a rare All-Pro selection at cornerback in his first season, and the Jets’ defense have an established track record of mortalizing Allen.

Gardner made sure Allen’s favorite target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, didn’t have his hands full in their two matchups in 2022. Allen had 147 passing yards in the Bills’ 20-12 win on Dec. 11 — when Diggs was held to three receptions for 37 yards — and New York’s defense sacked him eight times with two picks in those two games. Allen had three rushing TDs.

In the Nov. 6 meeting, Gardner intercepted Allen and broke up a late pass on fourth-and-21 that ended Buffalo’s final drive and preserved the Jets’ 20-17 win.

“They’re a pretty good group — really good group for that matter,” Allen said. “They’ve got rushers that have motors, they sub those guys in and out so they’re fresh. Their DBs are smart. They game-planned pretty well for us the last couple times we’ve played them and we’ll have our hands full come Monday night.”

PROP PICK
Two of the most bet player props for Monday night involved Wilson, the Jets’ second-year wideout.

No. 1 has been Wilson at +145 to score a touchdown in the game, while Wilson topping 68.5 receiving yards at -115 is No. 4.

The Jets signed Hardman and long-time Rodgers running mate Lazard to help keep defenses honest. Wilson will still be the primary focus of Buffalo’s secondary, but the Bills will be hard-pressed to keep the playmaker in check for four quarters so we like the Over on 68.5 receiving yards.

INJURY REPORT
Despite safety Micah Hyde dealing with a back injury, the Bills are still expected to make Damar Hamlin inactive Monday night and go with Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis as the primary backups. Hamlin, 25, made the 53-man roster as the latest awe-inspiring mile marker of his progress returning from on-field cardiac arrest at Cincinnati in January.

The Jets are expected to be at or very close to full strength, with everyone taking part in Saturday’s final practice of the week.

THEY SAID IT
–“That first game, I feel like it’s also finding yourself, what kind of team you’ve got, figuring out your identity.” –Diggs on being ready for the Jets in Week 1.

–“Having a guy like Aaron come in, the type of caliber player and person he is, he elevates everyone. You have to elevate your standards and your level of play. And across the board, we have so much talent. It is probably the most talented team I have been on and a great mixture of youth and veteran leadership.” –Jets OT Duane Brown on Rodgers’ presence.

–Field Level Media

NFL Desk: Fully Charged

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Field Level Media Wire Report) – Quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 235 yards and RB Austin Ekeler ran for two touchdowns to help the Los Angeles Chargers clinch a playoff berth with a 20-3 win against the host Indianapolis Colts Monday night.

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With their third straight victory, the Chargers (9-6) qualified for the postseason for the first time since the 2018 season.

Nick Foles took over as the starter at quarterback for Indianapolis this week and finished 17-for-29 for 143 yards and three interceptions. He was also sacked seven times.

Matt Ryan was benched after the Colts blew a 33-0 halftime lead on Dec. 17 in a 39-36 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Indianapolis (4-10-1) was held to 173 total yards in its fifth straight loss.

The Chargers did not record a first down on their first three drives, but they marched 70 yards on 13 plays on their fourth and took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ekeler with 8:41 left in the second quarter.

The Chargers intercepted two passes in the first quarter, including one by All-Pro safety Derwin James, who had missed the previous two games with a quad injury.

James was involved in a helmet-to-helmet tackle on Ashton Dulin with 5:19 left in the first half. James was disqualified from the game and Dulin was later ruled out with a concussion.

Chase McLaughlin capped the drive with a 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 with 4:21 left in the half.

Cameron Dicker booted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Chargers a 10-3 halftime lead.

Asante Samuel Jr. intercepted the third pass for Los Angeles on its first defensive series of the second half, and the Chargers cashed that in with a 21-yard field goal by Dicker for a 13-3 lead with 6:01 left in the third quarter.

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Ekeler scored on another 1-yard run to extend the lead to 20-3 with 8:20 left in the game.

The Colts played without running back Jonathan Taylor, the leading rusher in the NFL last season, who was put on injured reserve last week after sustaining a high ankle sprain early in the loss to Minnesota.

–Field Level Media and Digital Sports Desk

NFL Sports Desk: Cowboys Rally in Second Half, Defeat NY Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and wire Service Report) – Cowboys’ reserve QB Cooper Rush passed for 215 yards and one touchdown and Tony Pollard rushed for 105 yards as the Dallas notched a 23-16 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.

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Cee Dee Lamb caught one-yard TD Pass with one hand in fourth quarter (Getty Images)

Rush completed 21 of 31 passes and guided Dallas (2-1) to its second consecutive win while starting in place of Dak Prescott (fractured right thumb) for the second straight game. Rush threw the tie-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter to CeeDee Lamb, who caught eight passes for 87 yards.

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown and DeMarcus Lawrence matched his career high of three sacks as the Cowboys defeated the NFC East rival Giants for the 10th time in the past 11 meetings.

Daniel Jones connected on 20 of 37 passes for 196 yards and one interception and added 79 rushing yards for the New York football Giants (2-1). Saquon Barkley rushed for 81 yards and one touchdown.

Dallas took a 20-13 lead on Rush’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Lamb with 8:30 remaining. The two teamed up for a 26-yard pass play to the 1 prior to the score. The Cowboys drove 89 yards on 11 plays.

The Dallas defense then forced a Giants punt, and KaVontae Turpin‘s 28-yard return placed the ball on the New York 35-yard line. The return set up Brett Maher’s 44-yard field goal that made it 23-13 with 5:58 remaining.

New York moved within seven on Graham Gano‘s 51-yard field goal with 3:37 remaining. The Giants had another chance, but Trevon Diggs intercepted Jones and Dallas took over at the New York 29 with 1:11 left and ran out the clock.

The Cowboys out-gained New York 391 yards to 336. Dallas sacked Jones five times.

Barkley gave the Giants a 13-6 lead when he scampered 36 yards for a touchdown with 5:31 left in the third quarter. Barkley started up the middle and veered to his left for the score to cap a six-play, 77-yard drive.

Dallas answered with a crisp nine-play, 75-yard excursion to tie the score on Elliott’s 1-yard run late in the third period.

Dallas struck first on Maher’s 26-yard field goal with 2:09 left in the opening quarter.

The Giants tied the score on Gano’s 42-yard field with 11:17 left in the second quarter. Just over two minutes later, Maher kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 6-3 advantage.

New York knotted the score when Gano booted a 51-yard field goal with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media