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Cincinnati Bengals Game Release

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Cincinnati Bengals Game Release

GAME NOTES

 

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern.

Television: The game will air on FOX-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WXIX-TV (Ch. 19) in Cincinnati, WGRT-TV (Ch. 45) in Dayton, WDKY-TV (Ch. 56) in Lexington, and WTTE-TV (Ch. 28) in Columbus. Broadcasters are Chris Myers (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (analyst) and Jennifer Hale (reporter).

Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).

Setting the scene: The Bengals open their 2021 regular season this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium.

“It’s an exciting time right now,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “We feel good about the guys we have on this team and where we are as we head into the regular season. The Vikings provide a significant challenge for us right off the bat, but it’ll be great being back  out there and taking that on in front of a packed Paul Brown Stadium.”

It’s been an eventful offseason for Cincinnati, highlighted by new additions to the roster and the return of numerous healthy starters. When the Bengals take the field on Sunday, only seven of the 22 players who started last season’s finale are expected to line up again as starters. Nearly half (22 of 46) of the players who saw action in that finale, including eight starters, are not on Cincinnati’s current 53-player roster.

Last year was perhaps most infamous, though, for the number of key Bengals whose seasons ended early due to injury. Of the 15 listed starters on this year’s depth chart (see page 17 of this release) who were with Cincinnati last season, six saw their 2020 seasons end early due to injuries — QB Joe Burrow, LOT Jonah Williams, HB Joe Mixon, TE C.J. Uzomah NT D.J. Reader and LB Logan Wilson. Two more — WR Tee Higgins and C Trey Hopkins — left the finale with injuries.

The most anticipated return, though, is that of Burrow, Cincinnati’s second-year QB who missed the final six games of his rookie  campaign due to a left knee injury. After a lengthy rehab process, Burrow was medically cleared in time to take the first snap of training camp on July 28 and has participated fully in every practice since (save for one scheduled rest day). The 24-year old native of Athens, Ohio vowed shortly after the injury that he would start the 2021 opener, and it is expected that he will fulfill that promise when the offense takes the field on Sunday.

“I’m feeling great right now physically,” Burrow said after the preseason finale, during which he played three snaps. It was his only game action of the preseason. “We’re ready to go. I’m excited about this next week, and I’m excited to get a game plan and get ready.
“I’m happy that preseason is over and we can focus on the first game. We’re tired of going against each other — hitting each other and getting into fights in practice each day. It’s going to be nice to get out there and hit someone else when it counts.”

One of the other hotly anticipated storylines this Sunday revolves around the return of Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, who was a  popular and successful defensive coordinator for the Bengals from 2008-13. The Bengals boasted top-10 defenses in four of Zimmer’s six seasons in Cincinnati (’09 and ’11-13), with his defenses helping power the team to the playoffs in each of those years. Sunday will be Zimmer’s first regular-season game back in Cincinnati since he took the Vikings job in 2014.

“Mike Zimmer is one of the best coaches in this league,” Taylor told the media this week. “He was a tremendous defensive coordinator for a long time. I remember we always had trouble with the Bengals when I was on the staff in Miami. And then when I was with the Rams, we played in Minnesota in 2017 and they beat us down pretty good.”

Taylor, whose background is on offense, will lead Burrow and the Bengals against a formidable Vikings defense on Sunday. “They’re going to be well-coached,” Taylor said. “They’re probably one of the smartest defenses you’ll play against. Their front is where you have to start with them, but then you have the intelligence and the talent at that second level with Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr, who are as good a linebacker tandem as any over the last decade or two in pro football. And then you have Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson in the back end — those are two of the smartest DBs you’re ever going to face.”

The game also features a number of other connections beyond Zimmer. Vikings senior defensive assistant Paul Guenther served as Bengals defensive coordinator from 2014-17, after Zimmer left for Minnesota. Vikings co-defensive coordinator Adam Zimmer (Mike Zimmer’s son) was on Cincinnati’s staff in 2013. Two Bengals starters — ROT Riley Reiff and CB Trae Waynes — previously played for the Vikings, while Vikings LB Nick Vigil and CB Mackensie Alexander are former Bengals.

Sunday will also mark a reunion of sorts between three high-profile college teammates — Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. Together at Louisiana State in 2019, Burrow, Chase and Jefferson formed one of the top passing attacks in college football history and helped lead LSU to an undefeated season and national championship.

“We made each other a lot of money (laughs),” Burrow said of the reunion. “I think I made a little more though, based on my draft slot (laughs). “Justin is a great guy and a great player. He was my go-to guy for my first year at LSU, and then Ja’Marr emerged and I could take my pick. Justin is a lot like Ja’Marr — they both are really smart players, and you don’t have to tell him something more than once. People ask me if I was surprised by the year he had last year. No, I wasn’t surprised at all. He’s a great player that works really hard.
I knew exactly what was going to happen.”

The series: Minnesota leads by just one game, 7-6, but the series has been dominated by the home team. The Bengals lead 6-1 in Cincinnati, but have not won in six visits to Minnesota. The Vikings won the most recent meeting in Minnesota in 2017, 34-7. Here are two memorable previous Bengals-Vikings meetings:

● Minnesota’s 29-21 home victory in 1989 was the regular-season finale for both teams, a nationally televised Christmas night contest in which the Vikings clinched the NFC Central title at 10-6, while the defending AFC Champion Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs at 8-8. Former University of Cincinnati kicker Rich Karlis booted five field goals for the Vikings.

● Cincinnati’s 27-24 home victory on Christmas Eve in 1995 featured a Bengals rally from a 21-point deficit, tying the biggest comeback in franchise history. The Bengals trailed 24-3 at halftime, but finished a 24-0 second-half surge on Doug Pelfrey’s 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Team bests from the series:
Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-14 Bengals win in the last meeting, in 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium. LARGEST VICTORY  MARGIN: 29, in a 37-8 victory in 2005 at PBS. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 0 (twice), most recently in a 14-0 win at Cincinnati in 1980.

Vikings — MOST POINTS: 42 (twice), most recently in a 42-7 victory at Cincinnati in 1992. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 35, in the 42-7 win in ’92.

FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 3, in a 24-3 win at Minnesota in 1998. Bengals against ex-coaches: This week’s game will mark the 30th time the Bengals have faced a team whose head coach is a former Bengals assistant coach or head coach. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was Bengals defensive coordinator from 2008-13.

The Bengals own a 16-12-1 record in the 29 previous meetings against their former assistants, including an 8-2-1 in their last 11 meetings. This week’s game will be head coach Zac Taylor’s first contest against a former Bengals coach. Though it is not the case this week, there have been 11 instances in which a former Bengals assistant faces Cincinnati as a head coach against the Bengals head coach under whom he served. The Bengals are 7-3-1 in those 11 meetings.

Below is the listing of the 29 previous games:
DATE OPP. HEAD COACH WITH CIN. RESULT
12-8-74 DET. ………….. Rick Forzano 1968 (AC) Lions, 23-19
12-6-81 S.F. ………………… Bill Walsh 1968-75 (AC) 49ers, 21-3
1-24-82 vs. S.F.* ………….. Bill Walsh 1968-75 (AC) 49ers, 26-21
10-26-82 SEA. ……. Mike McCormack 1976-79 (AC) Bengals, 24-10
11-6-83 @Hou. ……… Chuck Studley 1969-78 (AC) Bengals, 55-14
11-20-83 HOU. ……….. Chuck Studley 1969-78 (AC) Bengals, 38-10
11-4-84 @S.F. …………….. Bill Walsh 1968-75 (AC) 49ers, 23-17
11-3-85 @Buff. …….. Hank Bullough 1980-83 (AC) Bengals, 23-17
9-14-86 BUFF. ……… Hank Bullough 1980-83 (AC) Bengals, 36-33 (OT)
10-5-86 @G.B.** …… Forrest Gregg 1980-83 (HC) Bengals, 34-28
9-20-87 S.F. ………………… Bill Walsh 1968-75 (AC) 49ers, 27-26
12-6-87 K.C. …………… Frank Gansz 1979-80 (AC) Bengals, 30-27 (OT)
11-13-88 @K.C…………. Frank Gansz 1979-80 (AC) Chiefs, 31-28
1-22-89 S.F.*** ……………. Bill Walsh 1968-75 (AC) 49ers, 20-16
9-9-90 NYJ …………… Bruce Coslet 1981-89 (AC) Bengals, 25-20
11-15-92 @NYJ ………… Bruce Coslet 1981-89 (AC) Jets, 17-14
11-21-93 @NYJ ………… Bruce Coslet 1981-89 (AC) Jets, 17-12
10-8-95 @T.B. …………. Sam Wyche 1984-91 (HC) Bucs, 19-16
12-22-96 IND. …………… Lindy Infante 1980-82 (AC) Bengals, 31-24
11-9-97 @Ind………….. Lindy Infante 1980-82 (AC) Bengals, 28-13
12-22-13 MINN. ……….. Leslie Frazier 2003-04 (AC) Bengals, 42-14
10-23-16 CLE. ………….. Hue Jackson ’04-06; ’12-15 (AC) Bengals, 31-17
10-30-16 WASH. ………… Jay Gruden 2011-13 (AC) Tie, 27-27 (OT)
12-11-16 @Cle. ………… Hue Jackson 04-06; ’12-15 (AC) Bengals, 23-10
10-1-17 CLE. ………….. Hue Jackson 04-06; ’12-15 (AC) Bengals, 31-7
11-19-17 @Den. ……… Vance Joseph 2014-15 (AC) Bengals, 20-17
11-26-17 CLE. ………….. Hue Jackson 04-06; ’12-15 (AC) Bengals, 30-16
12-17-17 @Minn. ………. Mike Zimmer ’08-13 (AC) Vikings, 34-7
12-2-18 DEN. ………… Vance Joseph ’14-15 (AC) Broncos, 24-10
AC—Assistant coach. HC—Head coach. *—Super Bowl XVI at Pontiac, Mich.
**—At Milwaukee. ***—Super Bowl XXIII at Miami.

● Mike McCormack was head coach of the Eagles from 1973-75 and was 1-0 against the Bengals, but he had yet to coach in Cincinnati at that time. He coached for the Bengals from 1976-79.
● Richard Williamson was head coach at Tampa Bay (1990-91), but did not play the Bengals. He later served as an assistant coach in  Cincinnati (’92-94).
● Gary Moeller, a Bengals assistant in 1995-96, was head coach at Detroit for eight games in 2000 but did not oppose the Bengals.
● Lindy Infante was head coach at Green Bay from 1989-91 but did not oppose the Bengals, facing them as a head coach only with the Colts in 1996 and ’97.
● Chuck Studley, who coached the Houston Oilers against the Bengals after being a Bengals assistant (games in chart in previous  item), returned to the Bengals as an assistant from 1989-91.
● Bruce Coslet, who faced the Bengals three times as Jets head coach after his 1981-89 tenure as a Cincinnati assistant, later returned to the Bengals, as an assistant from ’94-96 and head coach from ’96-2000.
● Coslet and Dick Jauron are the only former Bengals players to later oppose Cincinnati as head coaches. Coslet was a Bengals TE from 1969-76, and as head coach of the Jets from ’90-93, he was 2-1 against the Bengals. He made his head coaching debut against the Bengals in 1990, losing 25-20 at Riverfront Stadium. Jauron was a Bengals safety from 1978-81. Jauron was 2-1 against the Bengals as a head coach, winning with Chicago in 2001, losing with Detroit in ’05 and winning with Buffalo in ’07.

● Hue Jackson became Oakland Raiders head coach in 2011, following his first stint with the Bengals, but his ’11 Raiders did not play the Bengals. Records vs. Vikings: The longest pass completion in Bengals history was a 94-yarder for a TD from Ken Anderson to WR Billy Brooks on Nov. 13, 1977 at Minnesota.
The Bengals record for most penalties incurred in a game is 17, against the Vikings on Sept. 18, 2005 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Also on Sept. 18, 2005, the Bengals snagged five INTs against Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper, one of four times they have set that  record against an opposing passer. Bengals CB Deltha O’Neal recorded three of those INTs, which tied a team record for most INTs by a single person in a game.
The Bengals tied the biggest comeback in franchise history on Christmas Eve of 1995, when they rallied from 21 down (24-3) for a 27-24 win over the Vikings at Riverfront Stadium. The first and only other time the Bengals came back from a 21-point deficit was in a 27-21 win vs. Seattle on Sept. 6, 1981.
On Sept. 27, 1992, Vikings CB Todd Scott recorded three INTs, which is tied for the most INTs in a game by an opposing player.
Individually vs. Vikings: Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah is the only current Bengal with career offensive statistics against Minnesota. He caught four passes for 24 yards in the 2017 contest.

Los Angeles Chargers Game Release

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Los Angeles Chargers Game Release

Chargers open 2021 season in Nation’s Capitol

The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2021 season at Washington, kicking off at 10:00 a.m. PT from FedExField. Spero Dedes and Jay Feely have the call on CBS while Matt “Money” Smith, Daniel Jeremiah and Shannon Farren will broadcast on the Chargers Radio Network airwaves on ALT FM-98.7. Adrian Garcia-Marquez and Francisco Pinto will present the game in Spanish on Que Buena FM 105.5/94.3.

Sunday marks the third season-opening meeting between the teams, with the squads splitting the two previous matchups. The Chargers won most recently in the 2001 season-opener at home, 30-3. The Bolts have an overall record of 34-27 in season openers. Los Angeles won the last matchup with Washington, 30-13 in a 2017 home win at StubHub Center.

Los Angeles is scheduled to travel 25,467 miles for road games this year, one of five NFL teams in 2021 that will travel around the world (a trip around the world is approximately 25,000 miles). The Bolts will be the only NFL team to have gone ‘around the world’ in each of the last five seasons (2017-21).

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert looks to build off his 2020 season, where he put forth a record-setting rookie campaign. He will still have weapons such as Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler, and will also have newly-signed TE Jared Cook to stretch the defense. Herbert will be playing behind a revamped offensive line, which includes three free agent signings — Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi — and the addition of first-round rookie Rashawn Slater. The defense will again feature Joey Bosa, Derwin James Jr., and Kenneth Murray Jr.

Washington’s defense is led by reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young alongside Montez Sweat. Ryan Fitzpatrick will quarterback for the defending NFC East Champions, who look to repeat as division winners for the first time since 1984.

The Chargers open the home slate of games for the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys. It will be the first matchup between the two teams since the Bolts won on Thanksgiving in 2017. Kickoff is slated for 1:25 p.m. PT from SoFi Stadium.

Notes

The Chargers have won four of the last five matchups in the series with Washington. Every game in the series since 1980 has seen the Bolts top 20 points scored, including the 17-point home victory in 2017 that saw the Los Angeles offense sport a 300-yard passer and a pair of 100-yard receivers.

Chargers-Washington Series History

Series Breakdown
All-Time Series Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 (.364)
Regular Season Series Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 (.364)
Chargers All-Time at Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 (.167)
All-Time at FedExField . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 (.333)
Current Streak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Win, One (1) game
Last Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec. 10, 2017 vs. Was. — W, 30-13
Longest Chargers Win Streak . . . . . . . . . Three games (2001-05)
Longest Washington Win Streak . . . . . . . . . Six games (1973-98)
Last Time at FedExField . . . . . . . . . Nov. 3, 2013 — L (OT), 30-24
Brandon Staley vs. Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-0 (.000)
Staley All-Time at Washington* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 (1.000)
Most Career GP vs. Was. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DL Linval Joseph (11)
*(Including years as assistant coach)

All-Time Games against Washington
Date Opponent Result Venue
Sept. 16, 1973 . . at Washington . . L, 38-0 . . . . . RFK Memorial Stadium
Dec. 7, 1980 . . . at Washington . . L, 40-17 . . . . RFK Memorial Stadium
Oct. 31, 1983 . . . vs. Washington . L, 27-24 . . . . . Jack Murphy Stadium
Sept. 21, 1986 . . vs. Washington . L, 30-27 . . . . . Jack Murphy Stadium
Dec. 10, 1989 . . . at Washington . . L, 26-21 . . . . RFK Memorial Stadium
Dec. 6, 1998 . . . at Washington . . L, 24-20 . Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
Sept. 9, 2001 . . . vs. Washington . W, 30-3 . . . . . . . Qualcomm Stadium
Nov. 27, 2005 . . at Washington . . W, 23-17 (OT) . . . . . . . . . FedExField
Jan. 3, 2010 . . . . vs. Washington . W, 23-20 . . . . . . Qualcomm Stadium
Nov. 3, 2013 . . . at Washington . . L, 30-24 (OT) . . . . . . . . . FedExField
Dec. 10, 2017 . . . vs. Washington . W, 30-13 . . . . . . . . . StubHub Center
Known as Washington Redskins (1960-2019)

Game Recap: Lions roar in dominant win over Redblacks

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Game Recap: Lions roar in dominant win over Redblacks

VANCOUVER — The BC Lions hit an important pair of firsts in their season on Saturday night with their 45-13 win over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

The team is on its first winning streak of the season, having swept the REDBLACKS in a pair of games in a three-week span. With that second win, the Lions are over the .500 mark for the first time this season, now sitting at 3-2. The REDBLACKS are on the other side of that fortune, now sitting at 1-4.

Michael Reilly made 22 of 26 passes for 319 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. He was helped by the Lions’ defence and special teams units, who both added touchdowns on the night.

In his first start of the season, Dominique Davis was 30-51 for 333 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Lions got to work quickly, with Reilly finding Keon Hatcher for an eight-yard touchdown pass just 2:43 into the game. The tone was set for the Lions’ offence, which ran up a lead very efficiently. Reilly found Jovon Cottoy at Ottawa’s 17-yard line and the second-year receiver shed a tackle and found the end zone, with Jimmy Camacho‘s second convert of the night making it a 14-0 game at 6:24.

About four minutes later, Dominique Davis found Ryan Davis for a 33-yard touchdown pass, with Lewis Ward‘s convert cutting BC’s lead in half. The Lions were intent on creating distance, though and struck quickly after.

Reilly closed out the opening quarter with a 39-yard pass to Bryan Burnham for his second touchdown of the year.

In the second quarter, Ward missed a 48-yard field goal attempt and the Lions’ special teams unit made Ottawa pay. Lucky Whitehead ran back a 119-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown and took firm control of the game, going up 28-7 with Camacho’s convert. Ward would add a couple of field goals in the second quarter, connecting from 41 and 51 yards, but the REDBLACKS ran dry from there, while BC continued to pour it on.

Reilly was mad at himself for throwing an end zone interception to De’Chevon Hayes late in the quarter, but the Lions’ defence made it up for him to close out a productive first half. Linebacker Bo Lokombo stepped in front of Davis’ pass and snagged his first interception of the season and ran it back 20 yards for the touchdown. Camacho’s convert gave the Lions a 35-13 halftime lead.

Reilly found Burnham at Ottawa’s 15-yard line and the receiver sidestepped Ottawa’s Antoine Pruneau, which opened up a wide lane to the end zone, giving Burnham his second TD of the night.

The Lions’ defence continued to make life difficult for Davis at QB, with the Lions’ secondary hovering around his targets, hunting more turnovers and trips to the end zone.

Hayes almost had his second end zone pick from Reilly, but wasn’t able to hang onto the ball as it moved toward the Ottawa goal line. The Lions had to settle for a 14-yard field goal from Camacho, who had no problem making his first attempt of the night, making it a 45-13 game.

Lions’ head coach Rick Campbell gave backup QB Nathan Rourke the final two minutes of the game, getting the rookie his first in-game reps since Week 1.

The Lions picked up their first home win of the season in front of 2,000 frontline workers that the organization welcomed to BC Place.

BC will travel to Montreal this week, where they’ll face the Alouettes on Saturday. The REDBLACKS head into their second bye week of the season.

Game Recap: Stamps put the clamp on Elks’ offense for 2nd win

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Game Recap: Stamps put the clamp on Elks’ offense for 2nd win

EDMONTON — A Labour Day rematch game that saw much of the hype go to the quarterbacks turned into a defensive battle instead.

Bo Levi Mitchell made his return from a fractured fibula, but it was the Stamps’ defence that got them a much-needed second win of the season, in a 32-16 triumph over the host Edmonton Elks.

Mitchell didn’t look his usual, accurate self in his first game back, making 22 of 41 passes for 276 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

After steering the Elks’ offence through its best game of the season last week, Trevor Harris made 17 of 25 passes for 221 yards with an interception. Edmonton drops to 2-2 with the loss.

Calgary (2-4) was led by an impressive showing from its defensive line, which sacked Harris seven times, led by Stefen Banks‘ four-sack outing. The normally ferocious Elks’ d-line was only able to get to Mitchell once on the night.

The return of Mitchell and the strong showing by Edmonton’s offence in Calgary on Labour Day didn’t translate to much offensive momentum in the first half. The game’s opening 30 minutes were all about defence and each team’s kickers.

Sean Whyte opened the scoring for the Labour Day rematch with a 30-yard field goal at 8:20 of the first quarter. Rene Paredes responded with a 42-yarder at 13:10, with Whyte opening the second quarter with a field goal from 41-yards out.

Paredes’ 46-yard shot tied the game 6-6 at 7:57 of the second quarter and the veteran Calgary kicker added another field goal, this one from 44 yards out at 13:44, giving his team a 9-6 halftime lead, while bringing a slow moving and penalty-riddled first half to a close. Edmonton was flagged eight times for 60 yards and Calgary took seven penalties for 70 yards.

The game picked up in the second half. It started with Calgary DB Richard Leonard’s interception of Harris. Calgary turned that into a six-play, 49-yard march downfield, culminating in backup Jake Maier forcing his way into the end zone from two yards out. Paredes’ convert and a 35-yard field goal later in the third put Calgary up 19-6.

With Edmonton’s offence still searching for its rhythm, the Elks’ defence made a big contribution to the game. Defensive back Trumaine Washington read a Mitchell pass perfectly, pulling in the interception and running it 47 yards, all the way back to the house, propelling his team back into the game. Whyte’s convert went through 59 seconds into the fourth quarter, making it a 19-16 Calgary lead.

Washington thought he had forced a fumble on Mitchell on Calgary’s subsequent drive, but the command centre determined the play was an incomplete pass. That ruling allowed Parades to line up and connect from 43 yards out at 6:23 of the fourth to put the Stamps up six.

With Edmonton desperate to move the ball upfield in the game’s final two minutes, Banks picked up his fourth sack of the night on Harris, which got the Stamps’ offence back on the field. The unflappable Paredes’ 41-yard field goal made it a two-score game with 56 seconds to play. Shawn Lemon, an Elk for the duration of training camp this year, forced a fumble on Harris to close the game out.

With the ball back in the game’s dying seconds, Mitchell aired out a lengthy TD pass to Kamar Jorden with 10 seconds left on the clock.

Next up for the Stampeders is a trip to Hamilton to face the Tiger-Cats on Friday. The Elks will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday.

Game Recap: Bombers defeat Riders for a second-straight Banjo Bowl Title

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Game Recap: Bombers defeat Riders for a second-straight Banjo Bowl Title

WINNIPEG — A trio of rushing touchdowns by Sean McGuire secured the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ second-straight Banjo Bowl title after defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-9.

The Bomber’s offence built a 12-9 lead early on in the game and relied on the abilities of their defence to hold the Riders off the board. The second half would see no difference as while 21-straight points built a deficit the Riders wouldn’t be able to surmount.

After Cody Fajardo was led to the locker room with an injury in the third quarter, Issac Harker would quarterback the Riders’ offence. In his half played, Harker would record 89 passing yards for the Green and White while William Powell was impactful on the ground, recording 88 rushing yards.

Building off what made them successful just a week ago, the Bombers continued to attack the Riders’ secondary as Zach Collaros finished with 278 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. His top target of the night, Nic Demski racked up 134 receiving yards on five receptions.

With their win, the Bombers secured their second-straight Banjo Bowl in as many appearances and put four points between them and the Riders for first place in the West Divison.

After struggling last week at home in the Labour Day Classic, the deafening noise of a sold-out IG Field appeared to be a non-issue for the Roughriders’ offence who looked confident early.

Saskatchewan struck first after Collaros and the Bombers’ offence stalled out and were forced to punt, Fajardo led his Riders down the field with authority, setting up a field goal which gave them an early lead.

On their second drive of the game, five consecutive throws by Collaros led the Bombers down into Rider territory looking poised to score.

Following a seven-yard completion to Kenny Lawler, it was Andrew Harris‘ time to shine. Collecting the handoff from Collaros, he plunged through the holes generated by his offensive line, getting into the second level all the way down to the Riders’ 17-yard line. Another Harris rush would set a chance for Bombers’ short-yardage specialist, Sean McGuire who found a seam on the goal line for a QB sneak touchdown, giving the Bombers the lead.

Brett Lauther would be called on to tie the game up at six apiece for the Riders following a drive-ending, second-down stop by Deatrick Nichols.

After being sandwiched by the towering Bombers’ defensive end duo of Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, Fajardo would break free from the Bombers’ defence, scampering for a 20 yard gain. The very next play would go the opposite way for Fajardo as Adam Bighill dropped from his native linebacker position deep into secondary and recorded an interception.

Luckily for the Riders, the Bombers would come up empty off the turnover as Marc Liegghio would miss a 48-yard field goal attempt, allowing Jamal Morrow a 22-yard return.

Lauther would finish the ensuing Riders drive off and pad their lead in the process as he knocked down a 30-yard field goal attempt.

Looking to respond, the Bombers would take to the air.

After McGuire came in for Collaros and connected with Demski 50 yards downfield, a shoelace tackle by Blace Brown would save a Bombers touchdown. Collaros would come back in a play later, copying McGuire as he found Lawler for a 15-yard reception whose outstretched hands were inches of the pylon.

McGuire would make his way back onto the field in the Bombers’ goal-line package and as he dove across the goal line for his second touchdown of the game, tempers began to flare. Multiple flags would result in the disqualification of Saskatchewan’s A.J. Hendy and Garrett Marino.

Back-to-back misses, one by Liegghio and one on a game-tying attempt by Lauther, would keep the Bombers up 12-9.

The Riders’ offence would face their first two-and-out of the game which would result in Fajardo heading to the locker room following a thunderous sack from Jefferson.

A pair of costly penalties on Rider defenders Godfrey Onyeka and Christian Campbell allowed the Bombers another goal-line opportunity. For the third time on the day, McGuire would replace Collaros on the goal line, punching in his hat trick touchdown and increased their lead.

With Fajardo still being attended to, Harker would be called upon to man the Riders’ offence. In his first drive under centre, Harker would connect with Kian Schaffer-Baker to get the Riders into Bombers’ territory but Lauther would miss a field goal attempt to bring the Riders within striking distance.

The Bombers would capitalize on the stalling Riders’ offence as a six-play, 67-yard drive finished in the arms of Darvin Adams who beat Brown on a double-move and hauled in a touchdown pass from Collaros.

Collaros would put the final nail in the coffin as he connected with Lawler for a 40-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Next up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be a home game against the visiting Toronto Argonauts for Friday Night Football with kickoff slated for 9:45 p.m. ET. Winnipeg on the other hand will travel to Edmonton to take on the Elks at 9:45 p.m. ET as well.

Red Sox place INF/OF Danny Santana on COVID-19 related injured list

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Red Sox place INF/OF Danny Santana on COVID-19 related injured list

Boston selects INF Jack Lopez from Triple-A Worcester

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today placed infielder/outfielder Danny Santana on the COVID-19 Related Injured List. To fill Santana’s spot on the active roster, the Red Sox selected infielder Jack Lopez from Triple-A Worcester.

Santana, 30, has played in 38 games with Boston this season and batted .181 (21-for-116) with two doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 14 RBI. He has made 12 starts in center field, 11 at first base, four in left field, and two at designated hitter.

López, 28, rejoins Boston for his second stint in the big leagues this year. On September 1 he was added to the roster and made his major league debut at Tampa Bay. Over five games for the Red Sox he started five games at second base, going 2-for-12 (.167) with two doubles and one walk. The right-handed hitter has split the 2021 minor league season between Worcester (60 games) and Double-A Portland (five games), combining to hit .274 (60-for-219) with 20 extra-base hits and 40 RBI.

Red Sox recall RHP Connor Seabold from Triple-A Worcester

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Red Sox recall RHP Connor Seabold from Triple-A Worcester

Boston returns right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock to Worcester roster

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold from Triple-A Worcester. To make room on the active major league roster, the Red Sox returned right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock to the Worcester roster following last night’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

Seabold will start tonight’s game against the White Sox and wear number 67.

Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Seabold, 25, is making his first appearance on an active major league roster. Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on August 21, 2020, the right-hander made his Triple-A debut this season. In eight starts with Worcester, Seabold has gone 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA (17 ER/41.2 IP), 44 strikeouts, 13 walks, a 1.06 WHIP, and a .201 opponent batting average. Ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 12 prospect, he last pitched on September 4 at Rochester, earning the win after allowing only one hit in 6.0 scoreless innings.

Peacock, 33, made two appearances (one start) for Boston after being selected to the major league roster on August 31, allowing nine runs in 5.1 innings (15.19 ERA). The right-hander is 34-31 with a 4.11 ERA (256 ER/560.0 IP) in 183 career major league appearances (84 starts) for the Washington Nationals (2011), Houston Astros (2013-20), and Red Sox (2021).

Twins select contract of left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran

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Twins select contract of left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran

Andrew Albers optioned to Triple-A St. Paul

 

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran from Triple-A St. Paul.

Moran, 24, has split the 2021 season between Double-A Wichita and St. Paul, combining to go 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA (67.1 IP, 18 ER), three saves, 32 walks, 109 strikeouts and a .124 opponent batting average (28-for-225). The 6-foot-1, 167-pound lefty has appeared in 112 minor league games (7 starts) over five seasons in the Twins organization, going 18-10 with a 2.64 ERA (225.1 IP, 66 ER), 11 saves, 107 walks, 333 strikeouts and a 1.05 WHIP. The Mayaguez, Puerto Rico native was selected by the Twins in the seventh round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the Carlos Beltrán Baseball Academy. The club’s 26th-ranked prospect per MLB.com will be in uniform for tonight’s game against Kansas City and will wear uniform number 71.

To make room on the 28-man roster, the Twins have optioned left-handed pitcher Andrew Albers to Triple-A St. Paul. Albers, who was recalled on Thursday, appeared in four games (3 starts) for the Twins this season, going 1-2 with a 7.16 ERA (16.1 IP, 13 ER), seven walks and 10 strikeouts.

To make room for Moran on the 40-man roster, the Twins have transferred right-handed pitcher Randy Dobnak to the 60-day Injured List. Dobnak was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Thursday with a right middle finger strain.

Houston Texans Game Release

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Houston Texans Game Release

WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK

OPENING DAY NOTES
• Houston holds an 9-10 all-time record on opening day, including a 7-5 record when playing at home
• The Texans have opened the regular season once against Jacksonville, a 29-7 Jaguars victory in Houston to start the 2017 season.
• Houston is 1-1 all-time against rookie quarterbacks starting in Week 1, having defeated Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and lost to Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets in 2009.

RUNNING IT UP

The running backs on the Texans active 53-man roster have combined for the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns of any team in the NFL. In fact, Houston has almost 5,000 more rushing yards and 40 more rushing touchdowns amongst their running backs than any other NFL team. Houston is the only team with three players ranked in the top25 in active rushing yards with RB Mark Ingram (first, 7,324), RB David Johnson (ninth, 3,819) and RB Phillip Lindsay (25th, 2,550). RB Rex Burkhead is ranked 52nd among players in active rushing yards with 1,401. The Texans also join the Saints as the only teams with two players ranked in the top-10 in active rushing touchdowns with Ingram (first, 62) and Johnson (seventh, 39). Additionally, Lindsay is tied for 34th with 17 career rushing touchdowns and Burkhead is tied for 43rd with 14.

TEXANS BIG DAYS AGAINST THE JAGUARS

DL Whitney Mercilus helped the Texans clinch the 2015 AFC South title by matching his career-high with 3.5 sacks against the Jaguars in Week 17 (1/3/16). Mercilus also forced a fumble while recovering another in the 30-6 Houston victory. WR Brandin Cooks has surpassed 100 yards receiving in two of three games played against Jacksonville, including 161 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions versus the Jaguars in Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season (10/11). RB David Johnson rushed for a game-leading 96 yards on 17 carries (5.6 avg.) in his first career appearance vs. Jacksonville in Week 5 of the 2020 season (10/11).

ALL TIME SERIES
REGULAR SEASON
Overall: 25-13 Home: 14-5 Road: 11-8
Date W/L Score H/A Venue Texans QB Jaguars QB
10/27/02 W 21-19 A ALLTEL Stadium D. Carr M. Brunell
11/17/02 L 24-21 H Reliant Stadium D. Carr M. Brunell
9/28/03 W 24-20 H Reliant Stadium D. Carr B. Leftwich
12/7/03 L 27-0 A ALLTEL Stadium D. Ragone B. Leftwich
10/31/04 W 20-6 H Reliant Stadium D. Carr B. Leftwich
12/26/04 W 21-0 A ALLTEL Stadium D. Carr B. Leftwich
11/6/05 L 21-14 A ALLTEL Stadium D. Carr B. Leftwich
12/24/05 L 38-20 H Reliant Stadium D. Carr D. Garrard
10/22/06 W 27-7 H Reliant Stadium D. Carr B. Leftwich
11/12/06 W 13-10 A ALLTEL Stadium D. Carr D. Garrard
10/14/07 L 37-17 A Jax. Municipal Stadium M. Schaub D. Garrard
12/30/07 W 42-28 H Reliant Stadium S. Rosenfels Q. Gray
9/28/08 L 30-27 (OT) A Jax. Municipal Stadium M. Schaub D. Garrard
12/1/08 W 30-17 H Reliant Stadium S. Rosenfels D. Garrard
9/27/09 L 31-24 H Reliant Stadium M. Schaub D. Garrard
12/6/09 L 23-18 A Jax. Municipal Stadium M. Schaub D. Garrard
11/14/10 L 31-24 A EverBank Field M. Schaub D. Garrard
1/2/11 W 34-17 H Reliant Stadium M. Schaub T. Edwards
10/30/11 W 24-14 H Reliant Stadium M. Schaub B. Gabbert
11/27/11 W 20-13 A EverBankField M. Leinart B. Gabbert
9/16/12 W 27-7 A EverBankField M. Schaub B. Gabbert
11/18/12 W 43-37 H Reliant Stadium M. Schaub C. Henne
11/24/13 L 13-6 H Reliant Stadium C. Keenum C. Henne
12/5/13 L 27-20 A EverBankField C. Keenum C. Henne
12/7/14 W 27-13 A EverBankField R. Fitzpatrick B. Bortles
12/28/14 W 23-17 H NRG Stadium C. Keenum B. Bortles
10/18/15 W 31-20 A EverBank Field B. Hoyer B. Bortles
1/3/16 W 30-6 H NRG Stadium B. Hoyer B. Bortles
11/13/16 W 24-21 A EverBank Field B. Osweiler B. Bortles
12/18/16 W 21-20 H NRG Stadium B. Osweiler B. Bortles
9/10/17 L 29-7 H NRG Stadium T. Savage B. Bortles
12/17/17 L 45-7 A EverBank Field T. Yates B. Bortles
10/21/18 W 20-7 A TIAA Bank Field D. Watson B. Bortles
12/30/18 W 20-3 H NRG Stadium D. Watson B. Bortles
9/15/19 W 13-12 H NRG Stadium D. Watson G. Minshew II
11/3/19 W 26-3 A Wembley Stadium D. Watson G. Minshew II
10/11/20 W 30-14 H NRG Stadium D. Watson G. Minshew II
11/8/20 W 27-25 A TIAA Bank Field D. Watson J. Luton

SERIES BREAKDOWN
Record vs. Jaguars ……………………………………………………………..Texans lead, 25-13
Last meeting …………………………………………………..Texans 27, Jaguars 25 (11/8/20)
Texans largest margin of victory ………………………24 (Texans 30, Jaguars 6; 1/3/16)
Jaguars largest margin of victory ………………….38 (Jaguars 45, Texans 7; 12/17/17)
Current win streak …………………………………………………………………………..Texans, 6
Texans longest win streak ………………………………………………. 6 (2x: latest 2018-20)
Jaguars longest win streak …………………………………………………………….3 (2009-10)
Most points, Texans …………………………..43 (Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT); 11/18/12)
Most points, Jaguars …………………………………..45 (Jaguars 45, Texans 7; 12/17/17)
Most points, both teams ……………………80 (Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT); 11/18/12)
Fewest points, Texans …………………………………….0 (Jaguars 27, Texans 0; 12/7/03)
Fewest points, Jaguars ………………………………….0 (Texans 21, Jaguars 0; 12/26/04)
Fewest points, both teams ………………………….19 (Jaguars 13, Texans 6; 11/24/13)
Most net yards, Texans …………………….653 (Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT); 11/18/12)
Most net yards, Jaguars …………………………..491 (Jaguars 31, Texans 24; 11/14/10)
Most rushing yards, Texans …………………………244 (Texans 34, Jaguars 17; 1/2/11)
Most rushing yards, Jaguars …………………….244 (Jaguars 37, Texans 17; 10/14/07)
Most net passing yards, Texans …………504 (Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT); 11/18/12)
Most net passing yards, Jaguars ………..372 (Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT); 11/18/12)
Fewest net yards, Texans …………………………….124 (Jaguars 27, Texans 0; 12/7/03)
Fewest net yards, Jaguars ……………………………117 (Texans 27, Jaguars 7; 9/16/12)
Fewest rushing yards, Texans …………………….61 (Jaguars 37, Texans 17; 10/14/07)
Fewest rushing yards, Jaguars ……………………..30 (Texans 30, Jaguars 6; 12/30/18)
Fewest net passing yards, Texans …………………..54 (Jaguars 27, Texans 0; 12/7/03)
Fewest net passing yards, Jaguars ………………..31 (Texans 21, Jaguars 0; 12/26/04)
Most sacks, Texans ………………………………………….8 (Texans 30, Jaguars 6; 1/3/16)
Most sacks, Jaguars ……………………………………..10 (Jaguars 29, Texans 7; 9/10/17)
Most interceptions, Texans ………………………….4 (Texans 13, Jaguars 10; 11/12/06)
Most interceptions, Jaguars ………………………….3 (Jaguars 23, Texans 18; 12/6/09)
Most turnovers, Texans ……………………. 4 (2x – last: Jaguars 29, Texans 7; 9/10/17)
Most turnovers, Jaguars ……………………………….5 (Texans 24, Jaguars 20; 9/28/03)
Most penalties, Texans ……………………….. 14-177 (Jaguars 27, Texans 20; 12/5/13)
Most penalties, Jaguars ……………………… 12-91 (Texans 21, Jaguars 20; 12/18/16))

Green Bay Packers Game Release

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Green Bay Packers Game Release

PACKERS-SAINTS OPEN SEASON IN JACKSONVILLE

The Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints will face off in Week 1 in Jacksonville, Fla., due to the damage caused to New Orleans by Hurricane Ida.

The Packers are 2-0 in Kickoff Weekend games against the Saints. Green Bay won the last season-opening matchup between the two teams, 42-34, on Sept. 8, 2011, when QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three TDs with a 132.1 QB rating to lead the Packers.

This will be the second time Green Bay has opened a season in Jacksonville, having previously beat the Jaguars, 27-23, in 2016. Overall, the Packers are 3-1 in Jacksonville, with both victories coming in the month of September.

Between the Packers and Saints, the winning team has scored 34-plus points in eight of the last 10 matchups, including 37 by the Packers in a victory last season at
New Orleans in Week 3.

Green Bay opens with two of the first three games on the road for the second straight season.

This marks the third straight year and the seventh time in the last nine seasons Green Bay has started the season on the road.

Entering 2021, Green Bay has the fourth-highest strength of schedule (.542, 147-124-1) and leads the league with the most games (10) against 2020 playoff teams. The
Packers face 10 teams who had a .500-or-better record in 2020, tied for the third most in the league.

WR Davante Adams enters Week 1 with a streak of six-plus receptions in each of his last 12 regular-season games. That is the second-longest streak in team history behind only WR Sterling Sharpe (13 in 1993- 94). Adams also has posted at least one TD catch in 10 of his last 11 regular-season games.

K Mason Crosby enters Week 1 with a streak of 18 consecutive FGs made, the third-longest streak in team history (Crosby, 23, 2010-11 / Crosby, 19, 2013-14).

The Packers will return to Green Bay next week to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, the first of three home prime-time games this season against division opponents (Week 14 vs. Chicago and Week 17 vs. Minnesota).

KICKOFF WEEKEND
Green Bay has won 11 of its past 14 Kickoff Weekend games dating back to 2007.

The Packers have won six consecutive Kickoff Weekend games (2015-20), the longest streak in team history and tied with Kansas City for the longest active streak in the NFL. New Orleans has won two consecutive Kickoff Weekend games.

In those six games, QB Aaron Rodgers has completed 136 of 203 passes (67.0 pct.) for 1,552 yards and 14 TDs with just one INT (110.7 rating).

Green Bay’s 58 Kickoff Weekend wins are the most in the NFL.

The Packers’ .595 winning percentage (58-39-3) on Kickoff Weekend ranks No. 3 in the NFL, while the Saints’ .385 winning percentage (19-35) ranks No. 31.

Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay (4-0) and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur (2-0) are the only active head coaches with perfect records on Kickoff Weekend.

Dating back to 2008, Green Bay is 10-3 in Week 1 games, tied for No. 2 in the NFL over that span (New England, 11-2, .846).

QB Aaron Rodgers has started every Week 1 game for the Packers since 2008, throwing for 27 touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 104.3 that ranks No. 2 among active quarterbacks (min. 50 pass att.) from 2008-2020 (Kansas City QB Partick Mahomes, 134.6), according to stathead.com.

Last season, Rodgers set his career best in passing TDs, passing yards, completions and tied his highest mark in attempts in a season opener. Rodgers threw for 364 yards (32 of 44), with four TDs and posted a QB rating of 127.5 in the Packers’ 43-34 win at Minnesota (9/13/20), which was also the most points Green Bay had scored in an opener with Rodgers under center.

Rodgers’ 364 passing yards was the most ever by a Packers QB in a season opener, surpassing the previous high of 333 yards, which was held by Lynn Dickey (1983), Brett Favre (1999) and Rodgers (2013).

WR Davante Adams’ 14 receptions in Week 1 last season at Minnesota was the most receptions ever by a Packer in a season opener, surpassing Vince Workman’s 12 receptions (1992), and tied for the most ever in a game by a Packer.

Adams’ 156 receiving yards ranks second all-time in Packers’ season openers, only behind Billy Howton’s 165 yards (1957). Adams, Howton, and James Lofton’s 154 yards (1983) are the only three receiving performances of over 150 yards in a season opener since 1950.

CB Jaire Alexander registered a sack, an interception and a safety in Week 1 of 2020 against Minnesota. He was the fifth NFL player to record a sack, interception and a safety in a single game since 2000.

LB Za’Darius Smith has registered a sack in each of the last four season openers (2017-20), joining Akiem Hicks and Chandler Jones as the only players in the league to do so over that span.

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:
Packers at Saints:
All-time regular season: 17-9
All-time, at New Orleans: 7-6
Streaks: The teams have each registered five wins in their last 10 regular-season matchups
Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 27, 2020, Caesars Superdome, Packers won, 37-30
Last meeting, regular season, at New
Orleans: Sept. 27, 2020, Caesars Superdome, Packers won, 37-30

COACHES CAPSULES
Matt LaFleur: 26-6-0, .813; (2-2 postseason); 3rd NFL season Sean Payton: 143-81, .638, (9-8 postseason); 15th NFL season Head to Head: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Payton vs. Opponent: LaFleur 1-0 vs. Saints; Payton 4-2 vs. Packers

MATT LaFLEUR…In his third season as the Packers’ 15th head coach.

In his 13th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Football Team, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09). u In his first two seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. For the second consecutive sea- son in 2020, led Green Bay to a 13-3 record and captured the NFC North crown while also earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 2011. It was just the second time in team history that the Packers had won 13-plus games in back-to- back seasons (13-3 in 1996 and 1997). u According to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the sixth head coach since 1970 to lead his team to the conference championship game in both of his first two seasons as a head coach, joining Jim Harbaugh (2011-12), Rex Ryan (2009-10), Barry Switzer (1994-95), George Seifert (1989-90) and Don McCafferty (1970-71). u Became just the second NFL head coach since the league went to a divisional format in 1967 to win 13-plus games and a division title in both of his first two seasons, joining Seifert (1989-90). In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).

SEAN PAYTON…Is in his 15th year as the Saints’ 14th head coach. Has led New Orleans to nine playoff appearances, six NFC South titles and the franchise’s first Super Bowl title following the 2009 season. In 2020, the Saints won the NFC South for the fourth straight season, posting a 12-4 record. They became the only team since the start of the NFC South in 2002 and since that season’s divisional realignment, only the third NFC franchise to capture four straight division titles.

Is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFC and trails only Bill Belichick of New England for the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.

Has won nine postseason games with the Saints since taking over a franchise that had won just once in the postseason in the nearly 40 years prior to his arrival. Before joining New Orleans, he coached for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-05, serving as the assistant head coach/quarterbacks the first two years and the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator in his last year. Began his coaching career in the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997-98
and then coached for the New York Giants from 1999-2002, serving as the offensive coordinator his last three seasons.

THE PACKERS-SAINTS SERIES
These clubs launched their series in 1968, when former Vince Lombardi assistants Phil Bengston (Packers) and Tom Fears (Saints) met in Milwaukee. The Packers, one year after winning Super Bowl II, defeated the second-year Saints, 29-7. Fears, a Packers assistant for five seasons, was New Orleans’ first head coach.

Green Bay and New Orleans are tied for No. 3 in the NFL with a .639 regular-season winning percentage since 2008.

Green Bay and New Orleans last met in a season opener in 2011 at Lambeau Field, in the NFL’s season-opening kickoff game following the Packers’ 2010 Super Bowl season. QB Aaron Rodgers passed for 312 yards and three TDs and Green Bay’s defense made a goal-line stand on the game’s final play to win, 42-34.

LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
Sept. 27, 2020, Caesars Superdome, Packers won, 37-30

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers tossed three TDs, while completing 21 of 32 for 283 yards to lead Green Bay. u WR Allen Lazard posted career highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (146) with one TD to pace Green Bay’s offense.

The turning point of the game came in the fourth quarter when LB Za”Darius Smith stripped Saints QB Taysom Hill and the Packers recovered the fumble near midfield. The turnover set up a go-ahead, 49-yard FG by K Mason Crosby with under nine minutes to play.

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