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MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1, FC Dallas 1

MLS Editor
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MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1, FC Dallas 1

Quakes now unbeaten in seven straight road matches

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night. The draw extends San Jose’s unbeaten streak on the road to seven matches, tied for the longest such run in club history (2003).

San Jose opened the scoring in the sixth minute when FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges was called for a handball in the box and Oswaldo Alanis converted the ensuing penalty kick.

San Jose retained the lead into halftime, but FC Dallas scored the equalizer just five minutes into the second half. Defender Justin Che sent a cross from the right wing to Ricardo Pepi, who headed the ball just out of reach of JT Marcinkowski outstretched arms.

The Quakes had a couple near chances, including a Chris Wondolowski header that caromed off the crossbar, but couldn’t find the winner.

Marcinkowski made several crucial saves during the match to help secure a point, finishing with six saves total. His six saves are tied for the second most he’s tallied in a single match during his MLS career.

The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 15, presented by Donor Network West. The match kicks off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC Sports California Plus, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.

GAME NOTES

The Earthquakes now hold a 6-8-9 record (27 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference.

The Quakes are unbeaten in seven consecutive road matches, tied for the longest such run in club history (2003). San Jose has now lost just once in their last 12 matches overall (3-1-8).

San Jose is now 29-20-18 all-time against FC Dallas, including a 12-12-9 record on the road. The Quakes now hold a seven-game unbeaten streak against FC Dallas (4-0-3) and a five-game unbeaten streak at Toyota Stadium (2-0-3).

The Quakes have scored first in 9 of their last 12 matches (conceded first twice and had one match finish in a scoreless draw). They have also allowed one or fewer goals in 11 consecutive matches, conceding a total of nine goals during that time.

Defender Oswaldo Alanis scored his second goal of the season and fourth of his MLS career. Both of his goals this year have been penalty kicks against FC Dallas.

Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made six saves, tied for second most in his career.

Forward Benji Kikanovic made his first appearance since July 17, entering as a second-half substitute.

MLS Regular Season

FC Dallas 1 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes

Sept. 11, 2021 – Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas

Attendance: 15,237

Man of the Match: JT Marcinkowski

Scoring Summary: SJ – Oswaldo Alanis (penalty) 6; DAL – Ricardo Pepi (Justin Che) 50.

Misconduct Summary: DAL – Matt Hedges (caution) 4; DAL – Brandon Servania (caution) 41; SJ – Nathan (caution) 48; SJ – Judson (caution) 59.

FC DALLAS: Phelipe; Jose Martinez, Ema Twumasi, Matt Hedges, Justin Che (Nkosi Tafari 83); Quignon, Jesus Ferreira, Brandon Servania (Bryan Acosta 79); Jader Obrian (Szabolcs Schön 67), Ricardo Pepi, Paxton Pomykal (Andres Ricaurte 74).

Substitutes not used: Edwin Cerrillo, Kalil Elmedkhar, Eddie Munjoma, Kyle Zobeck.

SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 18; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Tanner Beason, Oswaldo Alanis, Nathan, Luciano Abecasis (Paul Marie 74); Carlos Fierro (Benji Kikanovic 62), Judson (Jack Skahan 88), Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza (Cade Cowell 61), Chofis; Chris Wondolowski (Andy Rios 74).

Substitutes not used: Jacob Akanyirige, Siad Haji, Tommy Thompson, Daniel Vega.

SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 6

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA

On his talk with the team at halftime:

“In the first half, even though we got the lead, I think the opponent was doing better than us. We were far from our marks and far from the second ball and had little control of the match. I think that has a lot to do with the opponent because they performed well. In the second half, it was totally different, we tightened up our marks and changed the way we pressured. We started to have more control of the match in which we were building up our play out wide. In the second half, we went back to playing in the way we had been playing.”

On scoring first and playing the remainder of the match to win:

“I think the players are giving their max, which is earning points, even if it’s an early point on the road. We had important players sit out on tonight’s match. In every match, things happen that I don’t like. I also think there are virtues in the opponent. In my humble perspective of football, I think we faced the best forward in the league today and he is unforgiving. Other than that, the match was even, each team had a better half. Our work and effort have become this, and that is the reality.”

On JT Marcinkowski’s improvement:

“These are the processes we try to have with the young guys. We’d like to mix these younger players with more experienced players and players that make a difference. I look at how JT has improved, I look at how Tanner Beason has improved, and I look at how Jackson [Yueill] has improved. I see how Cade Cowell and Paul Marie keep improving. Today, Jack Skahan and Benji Kikanovic entered the match and they will keep growing. As a coaching staff, we want to compete for titles and the reality is showing us something else. The development aspect is part of our jobs. We give confidence to the young players because we understand that they will keep growing and are the future of the club. This week, I was able to call up a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old to train with us. We will try to give them the tools that we believe are necessary.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER JT MARCINKOWSKI

On the match:

“I think in the first half, we didn’t execute exactly how we wanted to. I think we sat back a little bit too much and they had the majority of the ball. We came out in the second half, and obviously the first five minutes we were a bit flat, but after that and the goal – it wasn’t a good one to give up – but I thought we played really well in the second half. We had plenty of chances, crossbar, another one off another corner. It’s an away game, Dallas is a really good team, they have a lot of young guys who have really bright futures. So, all-in-all I think it was an okay point but it’s one of those games where you have a bitter taste in your mouth because I think there were three points for the taking. But we can’t dwell on it too much and all eyes on Wednesday.”

On the team’s confidence in road matches:

“I think just knowing we can impose ourselves in any game. We want to play better at home and that’s one area we really need to improve on and we’re going to show it Wednesday. That same confidence we have when we play on the road, we need to have it at home and make PayPal Park our fortress as a really tough place to play and make sure teams don’t want to go there. I think our ability to unite as a group. It’s a really close group inside that locker room and we’re all really good friends and it’s a really cool environment so when we come on the road and we know that there’s a lot of fans against us, the whole crowd’s against us, it’s kind of us against them and we love that mentality. We kind of thrive off it.”

RECAP: Houston Dynamo FC defeat Austin FC 3-0

MLS Editor
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RECAP: Houston Dynamo FC defeat Austin FC 3-0

NEED TO KNOW:

·       FW Griffin Dorsey scored third-fastest goal in Club history

·       FW Fafà Picault scored two goals for the 4th time in his MLS career

·       GK Michael Nelson earned his first career clean sheet

HOUSTON – Houston Dynamo FC defeated Austin FC by a final score of 3-0 this evening at BBVA Stadium. The win marks the largest margin of victory for Houston on the season and ends the team’s 16-game winless streak.

Forward Fafà Picault bagged a brace while goalkeeper Michael Nelson notched his first career clean sheet with assistance from the Dynamo back line. Houston held Austin to just two shots on goal, both of which Nelson saved, while defenders blocked seven shots before they ever got to the target.

The Dynamo did not waste time starting the scoring. The first goal of the game came in just the first minute of the game, when forward Griffin Dorsey blasted the ball into the back of the net after a shot from midfielder Darwin Quintero was blocked. The goal, which came just 48 seconds into the match, was the third-fastest in Dynamo history. It was also the first of Dorsey’s MLS career.

The Dynamo doubled their lead in the 24th minute thanks to the hustle of Picault. The forward ran on to a long ball from defender Teenage Hadebe and picked the pocket of an Austin defender before curling the ball around Austin’s goalkeeper. The assist is the first for Hadebe since joining the MLS.

Picault struck once again in the 64th in a wild sequence that started when Nelson saved an Austin shot and the rebound ricocheted off the post. A long clearance found its way to Picault sprinting down the left side of the pitch on a solo counter attack, before he worked his way in front of goal and knocked the ball into the net.

Picault’s two goals gave him eight on the year, six of which have come in the last eight matches. This marks the fourth time Picault has recorded an MLS brace and the first since Oct. 31, 2020 against FC Dallas.

With the win, the Dynamo evened the season series with their in-state rival and overtook them in the standings. The two teams will face off once again in Austin on Oct. 24.

Prior to the match, the Dynamo took part in a league wide remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which took place on this date 20 years ago. In addition to wearing a commemorative patch, the ceremony included a moment of silence followed by the singing of the national anthem by a Houston-area FBI agent of more than 30 years.

This game marked the coming together of two of the four Texas-based professional soccer teams participating in the Texas Unites fundraiser for Hurricane Ida relief efforts. To donate to the relief efforts, go to https://justgiving.com/campaign/texasunites.

The Dynamo will travel to Los Angeles to take on the LA Galaxy for their next contest. Kickoff for that match is set for 9:30 p.m. CDT and fans can tune in at Quest Texas 55 and MLS Live on ESPN+.

Houston Dynamo FC (4-10-10; 22 pts.) 3-0 Austin FC (5-14-4; 19 pts.)

MLS Regular Season – Week 24

BBVA Stadium – Houston, Texas

Attendance: 14,070

SCORING SUMMARY

TEAM

1H

2H

FT

Houston Dynamo FC

2

1

3

Austin FC

0

0

0

HOU: Griffin Dorsey 1 (Unassisted) 1

HOU: Fafà Picault 7 (Unassisted) 24

HOU: Fafà Picault 8 (Teenage Hadebe 1) 64

LINEUPS:

Houston Dynamo FC: Michael Nelson; Adam Lundkvist, Teenage Hadebe, Tim Parker (C), Zarek Valentin; Matías Vera, Joe Corona (Darwin Cerén 58); Darwin Quintero (Memo Rodriguez 58); Fafà Picault (Sam Junqua 76), Maxi Urruti, Griffin Dorsey (Ariel Lassiter 76)

Unused substitutes: Kyle Morton, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Derrick Jones, Ian Hoffmann, Boniek Garcia

Total shots: 16 (Maxi Urruti 4); Shots on goal: 7 (Fafà Picault 3); Fouls: 16 (Zarek Valentin 3); Offside: 4; Corner kicks: 3; Saves: 2 (Michael Nelson 2)

Austin FC: Brad Stuver; Nick Lima, Jhohan Romaña, Julio Cascante, Hector Jimenez (Zan Kolmanic 69); Tomas Pochettino (Rodney Redes 46), Alex Ring (C), Diego Fagundez, Dani Pereira (Sebastian Berhalter 46); Cecilio Dominguez (Moussa Djitte 69), Sebastian Driussi

Unused substitutes: Andrew Tarbell, Jon Gallagher, Freddy Kleemann, Kekuta Manneh, Jared Stroud

Total shots: 15 (Alex Ring 4); Shots on goal: 2 (Alex Ring, Cecilio Dominguez 1); Fouls: 12 (Alex Ring 4); Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 10; Saves: 4 (Brad Stuver 4)

DISCIPLINE:

ATX: Tomas Pochettino (yellow card, foul) 22

HOU: Fafà Picault (yellow card, foul) 39

ATX: Alex Ring (yellow card, foul) 44

ATX: Sebastien Berhalter (yellow card, foul) 51

HOU: Adam Lundkvist (yellow card, foul) 52

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referee: Jason White

Assistant Referee: Eric Weisbrod

Fourth Official: Armando Villarreal

VAR: Drew Fischer

Weather: 91 degrees, clear skies

SGJ offers up Week 1 of NFL Sports Selections

NFL Editor
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SGJ offers up Week 1 of NFL Sports Selections

Welcome to the 2021 NFL Season…Here are the Editor’s choices for Week 1

 

Carolina – 4

Detroit + 9

Green Bay – 4

Seattle – 3

 

Good Luck

Arizona Cardinals Game Release

NFL Editor
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Arizona Cardinals Game Release

THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW

The Cardinals begin the 2021 campaign with a rare Week 1 road game against an AFC opponent.

Arizona’s trip to Tennessee this week marks the team’s fi rst Week 1 road game against an AFC opponent in 24 years (1997 @ Cincinnati ). It also marks just the second Ɵ me in the last 16 years (2006-21) the Cardinals opened a season playing on the road against a non-division opponent (2017 @ Detroit).

Sunday’s opener will mark the 12th meeting in the series between Arizona and Tennessee, which dates back to 1970 when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis and the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers.

Arizona enters this week’s game holding a 7-4 advantage in the all-Ɵ me series, having won two straight and three of the last four contests. Of the Cardinals seven wins in the series, four have come on the road.

After falling just one win shy of a playoff berth in 2020, the Cardinals begin their 2021 campaign against a Titans team coming off back-to-back seasons in which they earned a spot in the postseason. Although Arizona and Tennessee are infrequent opponents, two of the Cardinals biggest names – WR DeAndre Hopkins and DL J.J. Watt – have long rivalries with the Titans dating back to their Ɵ me in Houston. Hopkins faced the Titans 13 times in his seven seasons (2013-19) with the Texans while Watt played against them 15 times in 10 seasons (2011-20).

Sunday’s game will be the debut of the Cardinals pass-rushing duo of Watt and LB Chandler Jones, who have combined for 198.0 sacks and 451 QB hits. The duo leads an Arizona defense that blends veteran All-Pros (Watt, Jones, S Budda Baker) with a host of young talent including the linebacker tandem of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins – the Cardinals most recent two first round picks. Collins, taken #16 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, makes his NFL debut on Sunday alongside fellow rookie defender CB Marco Wilson (4th round in 2021).

On offense, the Cardinals have past Pro Bowl selections in nearly every position group, including at WR (Hopkins and A.J. Green), QB (Kyler Murray), OL (Rodney Hudson) and RB (James Conner). Added to that mix is dynamic rookie WR Rondale Moore, Arizona’s second round pick who is also set to make his NFL debut in Tennessee.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

The 2021 regular season begins this week as the Cardinals face the Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday. This marks Arizona’s first Week 1 road game against an AFC opponent in 24 years (1997 @ Cincinnati).

Arizona travels to Tennessee this week looking to improve to 8-4 all-Ɵ me vs. the Titans and 5-2 on the road in the series.

Sunday’s game marks just the 12th all-Ɵ me matchup between the Cardinals and Titans. However, two of the Cardinals biggest names have significantly more experience vs. Tennessee. DL J.J. Watt will be playing his 16th game vs. the Titans and WR DeAndre Hopkins will be playing his 14th

Watt has been nearly unstoppable vs. the Titans. In 15 games vs. his former divisional rival, he has 64 tackles, 18.0 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, 38 QB hits, 9 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 9 passes defensed. ï When they take the fi eld together on Sunday, Hopkins (10,009) and A.J. Green (9,430) will become just the eighth WR duo in NFL history – and first since Andre Johnson and Derrick Mason with Houston in 2011 – to enter a season each having 9,000+ career receiving yards.

LB Chandler Jones has 4.0 sacks in three career games against the Titans. He has at least one sack in all three games, including one in Week 1 of the 2012 season at Tennessee in his NFL debut.

Jones has at least one sack in all five season-openers he has played with the Cardinals.

Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds (5) and Titans RB Derrick Henry (7) are the only two RBs in the NFL with at least fi ve TD runs of 20+ yards over the last
two seasons (2019-20).

CARDINALS-TITANS ALL-TIME SERIES

The Cardinals and the Titans meet this week for the 12th time in the history of the series, which dates back to 1970 when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis
and the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers. Arizona enters this week’s game holding a 7-4 advantage in the all-Ɵ me series, having won two straight and three of the last four contests. Of the Cardinals seven wins in the series, four have come on the road. That includes Arizona’s last visit to Tennessee in 2013 when the Cardinals defeated the Titans 37-34 in an overtime thriller.

The last time the teams met – in Week 14 of the 2017 season at State Farm Stadium – the Cardinals earned a 12-7 victory. That continued a trend of close games when these two teams meet. The last three games were decided by a combined 11 points and none were decided by more than five points. Sunday’s season-opener marks just the sixth meeting between the two teams dating back to 1997. It also represents just the Cardinals third-ever regular season visit to Nashville.

CARDS-TITANS REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Overall Regular Season Series: 7-4
Cardinals on the road at Tennessee: 4-2
First Meeting: 11/1/70 vs. Houston, W, 44-0
Last Meeting: 12/10/17 vs. Tennessee, W, 12-7
Last Cardinals Road Win: 12/15/13 at Tennessee, W, 37-34 (OT)

 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE OPENER

WITH A WIN THIS WEEK…
Arizona would improve to 8-4 all-time vs. the Titans and 5-2 on the road in the series.

The Cardinals would push their winning streak vs. Tennessee to three games, which would match the longest winning streak in the history of the series for either team (Cards won three straight from 1970-79). Arizona would also improve to 4-1 in its last five games vs. the Titans.

Arizona would open a season with a win vs. an AFC opponent for the first time since 2014 (home vs. San Diego). The Cardinals would have a Week 1 road win
vs. an AFC opponent for the first time since 1985 (@ Cleveland).

The Cardinals would have Week 1 road wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1972-73.

MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
LB Chandler Jones
With a sack, Jones would have at least one sack in a season-opener for the seventh Ɵ me in his career – including in all six seasons with the Cardinals.

With a sack, Jones would have 5.0 sacks in four career games vs. the Titans. He would have at least one sack in all four games.

WR DeAndre Hopkins
With a reception, Hopkins would extend his streak to 127 consecutive games with a catch. He would have at least one catch in every game of his NFL career.

With 100 receiving yards, Hopkins would have eight career 100-yard outings vs. the Titans. He would have 100+ receiving yards in three straight – and in five of the last six – visits to Nissan Stadium.

With 100+ receiving yards, Hopkins would reach the century mark in a season opener for the third consecutive year.

DL J.J. Watt
With a sack, Watt would have 19.0 sacks in 16 career games against the Titans. He would also have 9.0 sacks in eight career games at Nissan Stadium. ï With two s sacks, Watt (103.0) would pass Jim Jeff coat (102.5) for 30Ǧǚ place on the NFL’s all-Ɵ me sacks list.

WR A.J. Green
ï With 100+ receiving yards, Green would have 34 career 100-yard games – including three in five career outings vs. Tennessee. RB Chase Edmonds ï With 100+ rushing yards, Edmonds would become the first AZ RB with 100+ rushing yards in a season-opener since Edgerrin James (100) in 2008

Tennessee Titans Game Release

NFL Editor
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Tennessee Titans Game Release

Tennessee Titans (0-0) vs. Arizona Cardinals (0-0)
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 • Noon CDT • Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tenn. • TV: CBS

 

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (0-0) begin the 2021 regular season this week at home against the Arizona Cardinals (0-0), marking their first time since 2017 they will play at Nissan Stadium (capacity 69,143) in Week 1. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, Sept. 12.

This is the first time the Titans and Cardinals organizations have faced each other on Kickoff Weekend. The Titans are 32-29 all-time in openers, including a current two-game win streak. They scored road victories to open the 2019 season at Cleveland and the 2020 campaign at Denver.

Additionally, this week’s opener is the Titans’ first regular season game since Dec. 22, 2019 in front of their home crowd without any pandemic-related restrictions on attendance. From that date to this Sunday, 630 days will have elapsed.

THE BROADCAST
Sunday’s contest will be regionally televised on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. The broadcast team includes  play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy and analyst Aaron Taylor.

Fans in the Nashville television market can livestream the broadcast on their mobile devices from the Titans Mobile App (iOS and Android), as well as on desktop computers and mobile web at TennesseeTitans.com. Restrictions apply. For more information on streaming options visit TennesseeTitans.com or NFL.com/ways-to-watch.

The Titans Radio Network and Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone will carry the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Dave McGinnis, sideline reporter Amie Wells and gameday host Rhett Bryan.

TITANS ENTER 2021 AS REIGNING DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Executive vice president/general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel lead the team into 2021 as it looks to defend its AFC South division title and return to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Robinson can become the only general manager in franchise history to begin his tenure with six consecutive winning seasons, while Vrabel can become just the third head coach in team annals to earn a playoff berth in three of his first four years on the job.

In 2020, the Titans finished with an 11-5 record to claim their first division title since 2008. They extended their streak to five consecutive winning seasons under Robinson, who was hired by controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk in 2016. The Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs were the only NFL teams to finish above .500 in each season from 2016 to 2020.

The Titans return an experienced offensive nucleus for the 2021 campaign, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who set a franchise record with 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in 2020; 2,000-yard running back, 2020 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and two-time NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry; and wideout A.J. Brown, who reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his first two seasons. Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan anchors an offensive line that could have four of the five starters in place that it had in Week 1 of 2020.

On defense, Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard is among the veteran leaders set to return, as is defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, outside linebacker Harold Landry III and inside linebackers Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown. Several new additions could make their Titans debuts against the Cardinals. Wide receiver Julio Jones was acquired from Atlanta in an offseason trade, joining a crop of free agents made up of fellow wide receiver Josh Reynolds, outside linebacker Bud Dupree, defensive lineman Denico Autry and cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins.

THE CARDINALS
Arizona, which makes its third regular season appearance at Nissan Stadium and its first since 2013, launches its third year under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. He directed the club to an 8-8 finish in 2020, a five-win improvement from the season before he took the job.

Kingsbury’s arrival coincided with the drafting of Kyler Murray, the first-overall draft pick in 2019. Murray won the 2019 NFL Rookie of the Year Award, and in 2020, he passed for 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns with an additional 11 rushing touchdowns.

 

SERIES AT A GLANCE
Overall series (regular & postseason): Cardinals lead 7-4

Regular season series: Cardinals lead 7-4

Postseason series: None

Total points: Titans 226, Cardinals 259

Current streak: Two wins by Cardinals

Titans at home vs. Cardinals: 2-4

Titans on road vs. Cardinals: 2-3

Longest winning streak by Titans: 2 (1985-88)

Longest losing streak by Titans: 3 (1970-79)

Titans vs. Cardinals at Nissan Stadium: 1-1

Last time at Nissan Stadium: CARDINALS 37 at Titans 34 (OT) (12-15-13)

Titans vs. Cardinals at State Farm Stadium: 0-1

Last time at State Farm Stadium: Titans 7 at CARDINALS 12 (12-10-17)

First time: Oilers 0 at CARDINALS 44 (11-1-70)

Mike Vrabel’s record vs. Cardinals: 0-0

Kliff Kingsbury’s record vs. Titans: 0-0

Mike Vrabel’s record vs. Kliff Kingsbury: 0-0

 

A TITANS VICTORY WOULD …
Give the Titans three consecutive wins in Week 1 games.

Give the Titans their first win over the Cardinals since 2009.

Improve the Titans’ all-time record at Nissan Stadium, including playoffs, to 103-79.

Improve Mike Vrabel’s career record to 32-21 as a head coach, including playoffs.

Improve Mike Vrabel’s career record to 3-1 in Week 1 games.

Give Mike Vrabel his 30th career win in the regular season.

Improve QB Ryan Tannehill’s combined starting record in the regular season and playoffs to 63-56, including a 21-10 record with the Titans

 

SERIES HISTORY

This week’s game renews a rare rivalry. Of all opponents that have been in existence since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Cardinals have played the Oilers/Titans the fewest amount of times—11 games total. The Cardinals lead the series 7-4, including wins in the two most recent matchups in 2013 and 2017.

There have been just four Titans-Cardinals games (2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017) between the clubs in their current incarnations—the Cardinals played in St. Louis from 1960-87 (they played in Chicago prior to that), and the Titans were the Houston Oilers (1960-96) and Tennessee Oilers (1997- 98) prior to taking their current name and opening Nissan Stadium in 1999.

The last two visits by the Cardinals to Nissan Stadium produced two of the most dramatic finishes in the stadium’s history. On Dec. 15, 2013, the Titans erased a 17-point deficit in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, only to watch Jay Feely win it for the Cardinals with a 41-yard field goal in overtime.

Prior to that, on Nov. 29, 2009, the Titans needed a late 99-yard touchdown drive to clinch a 20-17 victory against the Cardinals. Led by
quarterback Vince Young, the Titans converted three times on fourth down on the game-winning drive, including a 10-yard touchdown pass from Young to Kenny Britt with no time remaining on the clock.

The Titans have made only one trip to State Farm Stadium, which opened in Glendale, Ariz., in 2006. On Dec. 10, 2017, Phil Dawson’s four field goals were enough for the Cardinals to escape with a 12-7 win. On Nov. 1, 1970, in the first-ever matchup between the Oilers and Cardinals, the Cardinals won by a score of 44-0. It stood as the largest shutout loss in the history of the Oilers and Titans until 2009 and began a three-game winning streak for the Cardinals against the Oilers (1970, 1974 and 1979). The Oilers then won consecutive games (1985 and 1988) before exchanging victories in the 1990s (Cardinals won in 1994, Oilers in 1997).

The Cardinals were founded in 1898, making the team the United States’ oldest professional football franchise still in existence. In 1920, they became a charter member of the National Football League (then the American Professional Football Association). They share a distinction with the Chicago Bears of being the only two of 11 charter members still operating today. The Cardinals have played as the Morgan Athletic Club, the Normals, Racine Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Phoenix Cardinals and Arizona Cardinals.

 

MOST RECENT MATCHUPS

2005 Week 7 • Oct. 23, 2005 • Titans 10 at CARDINALS 20
Billy Volek starts at quarterback instead of Steve McNair (back injury) … Volek passes for 198 yards, one touchdown and one  interception but departs the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion … Matt Mauck finishes for the Titans at quarterback … The Titans score the game’s first 10 points, including a 38-yard touchdown reception by Brandon Jones, but the Cardinals answer with 20 consecutive points … The Cardinals seal the victory with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Josh McCown to Larry Fitzgerald.

2009 Week 12 • Nov. 29, 2009 • Cardinals 17 at TITANS 20
The Titans cap a late 99-yard touchdown drive with a game-winning, 10-yard touchdown pass from Vince Young to Kenny Britt with no time remaining … The Titans converted three times on fourth down on the game-winning drive … Young passes for 387 yards, and Chris Johnson rushes for 154 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown … Matt Leinart starts at quarterback for the Cardinals in place of an injured Kurt Warner.

2013 Week 15 • Dec. 15, 2013 • CARDINALS 37 at Titans 34 (OT)
Jay Feely’s 41-yard field goal in overtime ends the Titans’ comeback attempt … The Titans score 17 points in the final four minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime … Ryan Fitzpatrick passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns, while Kendall Wright catches 12 passes for 150 yards … Michael Preston records two touchdown receptions … Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason recovers a muffed kickoff and intercepts two passes, including one for a touchdown and one to set up the score in overtime … Rashard Mendenhall rushes for a pair of touchdowns for the Cardinals.

2017 Week 14 • Dec. 10, 2017 • Titans 7 at CARDINALS 12
The Titans take a 7-0 lead after a six-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry but are kept scoreless for the remainder of the game … The Cardinals score 12 unanswered points in the second half on four field goals by Phil Dawson … The Titans defense records eight sacks on Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert … A fake punt by the Titans (direct snap to Eric Weems) is stuffed for no gain by the Cardinals to set up one of Dawson’s field goals … Marcus Mariota is intercepted twice by the Cardinals.

San Francisco 49ers Game Release

NFL Editor
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San Francisco 49ers Game Release

49ERS AT LIONS

 

The San Francisco 49ers open the 2021 regular season as they travel to Detroit, MI, and take on the Lions at Ford Field. San Francisco’s overall record versus Detroit is 38-28-1, as the Niners have won 10 out of the last 11 matchups between the two teams.

The 49ers are visiting the Lions for the first time since 2015, with San Francisco having won two of their three games at Ford Field. This also marks the fifth time Detroit and San Francisco face off in the opening game of the regular season, with the teams splitting the four matchups.

The 49ers finished the preseason with a 2-1 record as their offense averaged 188.3 rushing yards per game which led the NFL. The Niners defense held opponents to 210.7 net yards per game which ranked second in the NFL. The unit also finished tied for the most sacks in the preseason with 12.0.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

16-4 The 49ers have won 16 of the last 20 regular season matchups against the Lions, including 10 of the previous 11.

12 The Niners defense surrendered 12 rushing TDs by opponents in 2020, ranking tied for the 4th-fewest in the NFL (TB – 10; Chi. – 11; NO – 11; Bal. – 12; LAR – 12).

2 According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, RB Raheem Mostert registered the fastest two ball carriers in the NFL last season and the fastest in the NFL since 2016 with a max speed of 22.73 MPH on his 76-yd. TD recept. vs. Arz. (9/13/20) and 23.09 MPH on his 80-yd. TD run at NYJ (9/20/20).

1-0 San Francisco looks to start the season 1-0 for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons.

.750 Over the last 2 seasons under head coach Kyle Shanahan (2019- 20), San Francisco’s 12 victories for a .750 winning percentage  on the road is tied for the 4th-highest in the NFL over that span (KC – 15; Bal. – 13; NO – 13; Buf. – 12; GB – 12; Sea. – 12).

 

ROAD WARRIORS

• San Francisco finished the 2020 season with a 5-3 record on the road. Combined with a 7-1 road record in 2019, it marked the first time since the 2012-13 seasons that the 49ers reached 5-or-more road wins in consecutive seasons.

• From 2019-20 under head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco’ s 12 victories for a .750 winning percentage on the road is tied for the 4th-highest in the NFL over that span.

 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

Matchups: 67
Series Record: 49ers lead series 38-28-1
49ers Home Record vs. Lions: 49ers lead series 24-10-1
49ers Away Record vs. Lions: Lions lead series 18-14
First Meeting: 10/8/50, Lions win 24-7, at Det.
Last Meeting: 9/16/18, 49ers win 30-27, at SF
Current Streak: Won 1
Longest 49ers Win Streak: 9 (12/23/96 – 9/16/12)
Longest Lions Win Streak: 6 (9/23/62 – 12/13/64)
Most 49ers Points: 55 (12/19/93): 49ers win 55-17, at Det. (p)
Most Lions Points: 48 (11/14/54): Lions win 48-7, at Det.
49ers Shutouts: 2 (Last 10/1/61): 49ers win 49-0, at Det.
Lions Shutouts: 1 (11/6/60): Lions win 24-0, at SF

New York Jets Game Release

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New York Jets Game Release

GAME AT A GLANCE
All-Time Record vs. CAR: 3-4
All-Time ROAD Record vs. CAR: 1-3
Last Time vs. CAR: L, 27-35 vs. CAR (11/26/17)
First Time vs. CAR: L, 15-26 vs. CAR (10/15/95)
Current Streak: Lost Two
Most Points Scored: 48 vs. CAR (11/29/98)
Fewest Points Allowed: 6 vs. CAR (11/29/09)
Largest Margin of Victory: 27 vs. CAR (11/29/98)
Coach Exp. W/L Post W/L
Robert Saleh 1st Season 0-0 0-0
Matt Rhule 2nd Season 5-11 0-0

PRESEASON SUPERLATIVES: The New York Jets finished the preseason 2-0-1, their first undefeated preseason since 2002 when they finished 4-0 • Additionally, it marks just the fifth time in franchise history (2021, 2002, 1997, 1992 and 1996) that the team finished without a loss.

• Quarterback Zach Wilson completed 75% of his passes for 9.55 yards per attempt, with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 137.7 passer rating, scoring four times in his six preseason drives, including both opening drives

• Among passers with at least 20 attempts in the preseason, Wilson ranked second in passing rating, third in yards per attempt, and tied for fifth in completion percentage while being one of just nine QBs without a sack in at least 20 dropbacks.

• Additionally, Wilson was not hit in six drives during the preseason behind the starting offensive line of Mekhi Becton, Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, and George Fant/Morgan Moses.

• On defense, the Jets finished the preseason in the top 10 in total defense (273.3 yards allowed per game), passing defense (160.0), sacks per pass attempt (10.1%), goal-to-go defense (50.0%) and opposing time of possession (24:50).

• All four of the team’s takeaways during the preseason came from rookie or second-year players, including an interception from sixth-round cornerback Brandin Echols and a fumble recovery from fifth-round linebacker Jamien Sherwood • Also, sixthround rookie linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen and fifth-round rookie cornerback Jason Pinnock both forced fumbles.

MATCHUP HISTORY
OVERALL: 3-4
HOME: 2-1
AWAY: 1-3

10/15/95 at Carolina L 15-26
11/29/98 CAROLINA W 48-21
10/28/01 at Carolina W 13-12
11/13/05 at Carolina L 3-30
11/29/09 CAROLINA W 17-6
12/15/13 at Carolina L 20-30
11/26/17 CAROLINA L 27-35

New York Giants Game Release

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New York Giants Game Release

Giants vs. Broncos

The New York Giants open the 2021 regular season when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 4:25 p.m. ET in MetLife Stadium. This is the 13th regular season matchup all-time between the two clubs, with the series split 6-6. The Giants hold a 4-2 home record against the Broncos. The Giants look to win their first Week 1 game since 2016 and their first season opening home game since 2010.

GIANTS opening weekend by the numbers
Kickoff Weekend: 50-41-5
Season opening home games: 17-14
Home Openers: 50-43-3
Road Opener: 50-41-5
Polo Grounds: 19-10-2
Yankee Stadium: 9-8-1
Yale Bowl: 0-1
Shea Stadium: 0-1
Giants Stadium: 19-15 (after a 1-7 start)
MetLife Stadium: 3-8

Giants-Broncos breakdown
The New York Giants open the 2021 regular season when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 4:25 p.m. ET in MetLife Stadium. This is the 13th regular season matchup all-time between the two clubs, with the series split 6-6. The Giants hold a 4-2 home record against the Broncos. The Giants look to win their first Week 1 game since 2016 and their first season opening home game since 2010.

Series Meetings: 12
Giants’ Overall Record: 6-6
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
First Game: Giants 29 vs. Broncos 17 (11/5/1972)
Last Game: Giants 23 vs. Broncos 10 (10/15/2017)
Giants Total Points: 213
Broncos Total Points: 245
Most Points, Giants: 29; Giants 29 vs. Broncos 17 (11/5/1972)
Most Points, Broncos: 41; Broncos 41 at Giants 23 (9/15/2013)
Most Points, Both Teams: 64; Broncos 41 at Giants 23 (9/15/2013)
Fewest Points, Both Teams: 21; Giants 14 at Broncos 7 (12/10/1989)
Postseason Meeting: Giants 38 vs. Broncos 20 (Super Bowl XXI victory)

New England Patriots Game Release

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New England Patriots Game Release

GAME SUMMARY

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0) VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-0)
Sunday, September 12, 2021 • Gillette Stadium (65,878) • 4:25 p.m. ET
The New England Patriots will begin the 2021 regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins for the second straight season, and will begin the year with a home game on kickoff weekend for the fifth consecutive season. It will be the 10th time the Patriots open the year against Miami. The last time the Patriots opened the season two years in a row against the same opponent was in 1988 and 1989 against the New York Jets.

The Patriots will open and close the season with Miami, marking the sixth time in team history the team will open and close the season against the same opponent. It also happened in 2003 and 2013 against Buffalo, 1974 and 1987 against Miami and 1981 against the Baltimore Colts.

SERIES HISTORY

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the first of two scheduled meetings and on opening day for the 10th time in team history and for the second straight season after the 21-11 season-opening win vs. Miami on Sept. 13, 2020. The Patriots and Dolphins will meet for the second time in the regular season finale at Miami on Jan. 9, 2022. The two teams have split the series in each of the last four seasons. The Patriots have had the upper hand at home against Miami, holding a 36-18 record in games played in New England in the regular season, including a 16-3 record at Gillette Stadium. But the Patriots are 17-39 all-time in Miami, including two postseason contests. Miami beat New England at Gillette Stadium for the first time in the final game of the 2005 season. The Dolphins and Patriots met for the first time in 1966 and began playing twice a year during the 1967 regular season, except in 1982 during a players’ strike. The two have played three times in the postseason with New England holding a 2-1 advantage.

MIAMI 57, NEW ENGLAND 54
(Including New England 2, Miami 1 in Playoffs)
Record in New England 37-18 (Incl. 1-0 in playoffs)
Record in Foxborough 35-16 (1-0)
Record in Boston 2-2
Record in Miami 17-39 (Incl. 1-1 in playoffs)
Record at Dolphins / Hard Rock 13-21
Record at Orange Bowl 3-18 (1-1)
Record in Tampa* 1-0
Season Sweeps Patriots 10, Dolphins 13
Season Splits 30 (Most recent 2020)
Bill Belichick vs. Miami 26-18 (26-16 with New England)
*A Miami home game was played in Tampa in 1969

QUICK HITS

• Since Bill Belichick became Patriots head coach in 2000, New England is 26-16 (.619) against Miami.

• Since 2000, the Patriots are 96-34 (.738) against AFC East opponents. New England is 26-16 against the Dolphins over that span, 32-10 against the New York Jets and 35-7 against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots were 3-1 against Indianapolis from 2000 through 2001 when they were in the AFC East.

What to look for this Week

IF THE PATRIOTS WIN…
• The Patriots will claim their 36th Kickoff Weekend victory in franchise history, third-most among all AFC teams. Additionally, New England will claim its fourth straight kickoff victory.

• The Patriots will improve their regular season divisional record to 95-28 since 2001, the best mark in the NFL.

• The franchise will earn its 557th overall victory, third-most in pro football since the club began play in 1960.

• And hold the advantage at halftime, the Patriots will improve to 103-1 all-time at Gillette Stadium when leading at the half.

• And a player eclipses 100 yards rushing, the team will improve to 54-3 since the 2000 regular season when a player rushes for at least 100 yards.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR…
• With rookie free agent K Quinn Nordin making the 53-man roster, the Patriots have now had a rookie free agent make the opening day roster for the 18 straight seasons.

• The Patriots have gone 86 straight games (regular season and postseason) scoring in the first half, an NFL record. The Patriots also own the second-longest streak at 82 games with a first half score (2006-11). The last time the Patriots failed to score in the first half was a 16-0 loss at home against Buffalo on Oct. 2, 2016.

• The Patriots are 102-1 all-time at Gillette Stadium in the regular season when leading at halftime. New England’s only loss was on Sept. 7, 2017 when the Patriots held a 17-14 lead at halftime before losing 42-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs on opening day of the 2017 season.

Head Coach Bill Belichick

IF THE PATRIOTS WIN…
• Belichick will improve to 19-8 (.704) on Kickoff Weekend. His 18 wins are the most among active head coaches. Belichick, Kansas City’s Andy Reid (14-8, .636) and Baltimore’s John Harbaugh (10-3, .769) are the only active head coaches with at least 10 Kickoff Weekend wins.

• Belichick will improve his all-time regular season record against the AFC East as head coach of the Patriots to 97-34 (.740).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR…
• Belichick begins his 22nd season as head coach of the New England Patriots with a 274-103 (.727) record (including postseason), the best mark in the NFL over that span.

• Belichick’s 311 career victories as a heads coach (including postseason) are third-most all-time behind George Halas (324) and Don Shula (347).

• Belichick enters his 47th season as an NFL coach in 2021. His 47 consecutive years as an NFL coach are the most in NFL history, passing the 45 by Dick LeBeau. The only other NFL coach with at least 40 consecutive NFL coaching seasons is Tom Moore.

UNDER COACH BELICHICK, QUARTERBACKS ARE 6-0 IN FIRST CAREER STARTS
Under Head Coach Bill Belichick, quarterbacks are 6-0 in their first career starts. Of those six quarterbacks, Eric Zeier and Jacoby Brissett made their first starts in their rookie seasons.

QB Game Score
Todd Philcox Cleveland at LA Raiders (9/20/92) 28-16 (W)
Eric Zeier Cleveland at Cincinnati (10/29/95) 29-26 (W)
Tom Brady Patriots vs. Indianapolis (9/30/01) 44-13 (W)
Matt Cassel Patriots at NY Jets (9/14/08) 19-10 (W)
Jimmy Garoppolo Patriots at Arizona (9/11/16) 23-21 (W)
Jacoby Brissett Patriots vs. Houston (9/22/16) 27-0 (W)

Minnesota Vikings Game Release

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Minnesota Vikings Game Release

Game Summary

The Minnesota Vikings (7-9 in 2020) open the 2021 regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1) with kickoff set for noon at Paul Brown Stadium. Minnesota will play the season opener on the road for the first time since 2016. The contest also marks the first time in franchise history the Vikings have played Cincinnati to open the schedule.

Minnesota last played at Cincinnati in 2013 when Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer served as defensive coordinator for the Bengals. Overall, Minnesota is 5-2 in season-opening games during the Mike Zimmer era (2014-present) and is 4-1 in the past five season openers. The Vikings are also 2-1 under Zimmer in Week 1 road games.

The Vikings offense features a similar look at the skill positions in 2021, with QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson and WR Adam Thielen all returning. Klint Kubiak will take over the play calling responsibility for the first time, serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.

The defense welcomes six new starters – DT Michael Pierce, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Nick Vigil, CB Patrick Peterson, CB Bashaud Breeland and S Xavier Woods – and returns three Pro Bowlers from injuries – DE Danielle Hunter, LB Eric Kendricks and LB Anthony Barr. The new-look Vikings secondary, featuring Peterson, Breeland, S Harrison Smith and Woods, have a combined 419 games started. Smith is the only returning Viking in that secondary and recently inked a long-term contract extension with the club.

Vikings – Bengals game information

Vikings-Bengals series

VIKINGS VS. BENGALS ALL-TIME
Won 7, Lost 6; Home 6-0, Away 1-6

YEAR SITE RESULT

VIKINGS VS. BENGALS SINCE 1973

1973 ……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati…………………………………………..Cincinnati 27-0
1977………………………………………………………………………….. Minnesota………………………………………..Minnesota 42-10
1980……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati…………………………………………..Cincinnati 14-0
1983…………………………………………………………………………. Minnesota………………………………………..Minnesota 20-14
1986……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati…………………………………………Cincinnati 24-20
1989…………………………………………………………………………. Minnesota……………………………………….. Minnesota 29-21
1992……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati………………………………………….Minnesota 42-7
1995……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati………………………………………… Cincinnati 27-24
1998…………………………………………………………………………. Minnesota………………………………………….Minnesota 24-3
2005…………………………………………………………………………..Cincinnati…………………………………………..Cincinnati 37-8
2009………………………………………………………………………… Minnesota………………………………………..Minnesota 30-10
2013……………………………………………………………………………Cincinnati………………………………………… Cincinnati 42-14
2017 …………………………………………………………………………. Minnesota………………………………………….Minnesota 34-7

Vikings-Bengals series notes

• The Vikings play Cincinnati for the 14th (7-6 series) time in franchise history and for the 1st time in the season opener. The lone Vikings win in Cincinnati was
9/27/92, a 42-7 victory.

• The Vikings have a 1-6 record against the Bengals on the road and are undefeated against Cincinnati at home, 6-0.

• Minnesota last visited Cincinnati in 2013 when Mike Zimmer was the Bengals defensive coordinator.

• The Vikings have played in Cincinnati in two stadiums – Riverfront Stadium (5 times) and Paul Brown Stadium (2 times; 2005 & 2013)

• Chris Doleman had 4.0 sacks for the Vikings against the Bengals in the 1989 game at the Metrodome, marking the most sacks by a Viking against Cincinnati in series history.

• In 2017, the Vikings clinched the NFC North by beating the Bengals 34-7 in Week 15. LB Eric Kendricks highlighted the defense performance by picking off Andy Dalton and returning it to the house.

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