by Ryan Mercier
Typically, the NFL produces a result in Week 1 so surprising it rocks the football Earth to its core. The start to the 2022 season didn’t quite deliver a stunner, but here are the top two.
Bears Out-slog 49ers
In a muddy rain, Justin Fields overcame a horrible first half to take down the vaunted San Francisco 49ers, 19-10.
Now, this has to be listed as the biggest surprise of the day due to the consensus opinion of Chicago being one of the worst teams in the league. Personally, I had a strange, downright irresponsible belief in this Bears squad coming into the season. Perhaps money was sprinkled on Chicago to win outright today and to go above their projected win total for the year.
What set that feeling over the top in the opener is the inexperienced Trey Lance. The Niners have it all. A defense, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and perhaps the most effective running scheme in the league. However, the cog in the machine right now is their starting QB.
Explained here, colorfully, in my voice over season preview for the 49ers:
Steelers Claw Out Victory at the OT Buzzer
This is the real winner. On a day when Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III booted a whopping 388 yards, Pittsburgh was winning handily. Cincinnati Bengals star QB Joe Burrow threw four interceptions and was sacked seven times.
Then, suddenly, Mike Tomlin’s squad was giving up the would-be game-winning touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase as the clock hit zeros. Instead, he watched the supposed second-coming of Justin Tucker (Evan McPherson) have a kick blocked and miss a gimme in overtime. As the clock was nearing the final whistle in OT, on what could have been the second tie game in Week 1, Chris Boswell’s kick was true following a drive led by Mitch Trubisky, of all people.
These were the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals, heavily favored at home, playing a Steelers team which looked to be a much weaker team heading into 2022. Instead, Pittsburgh won, 23-20, in the game of the day.
Other Tidbits:
- Packers/Vikings almost made the surprising list, but Minnesota was favored. Most surprising was how flat Green Bay looked. Although, of course, the Pack laid a huge egg in Week 1 last season.
- The Cowboys doctor wears a cowboy hat. Big development. Obviously, it is too bad finding out this funny fact with the circumstances which came with it. Get well soon, Dak.
- Excuses are running out for Trevor Lawrence. He was the No. 1 overall pick and highly, highly regarded. Last year was a farce with That Guy as the head coach but it is time for Lawrence to step up and make a game-winning drive in the NFL.
Struggling Actor Sports 