Latest news from Week 1 of the NFL

September 13, 2021
The GIST: In honor of the first NFL Sunday, here are the top four storylines from the day.
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Latest news from Week 1 of the NFLLatest news from Week 1 of the NFL
Source: SB Nation/Twitter

Worst loss: The Green Bay Packers recorded their worst loss of the 17-year Aaron Rodgers era yesterday with a 38–3 embarrassment at the hands of the Drew Brees–less New Orleans Saints. Maybe all that spicy off-field drama took its toll?

Injuries: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick made his Washington Football Team (WFT) debut...and then made a quick exit after suffering a game-ending hip injury in the second quarter of WFT’s 20–16 loss to the LA Chargers.

  • Meanwhile, Cleveland Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t even make it to the field, with his lingering 2020 knee injury keeping him out of the lineup for the 33–29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Women: History was made during the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets game as line judge Maia Chaka became the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game and joined Sarah Thomas and Shannon Eastin as the only women to do so.

Monday Night Football: Week 1 isn’t over yet. Tonight, the Baltimore Ravens will visit the Las Vegas Raiders for the season’s first edition of Monday Night Football, and after the Ravens lost their top three running backs to season-ending injuries, QB Lamar Jackson will be put to the ultimate test. Don’t miss this one at 8:15 p.m. ET.