The NFL 2021 season has finally kicked off, and what a week it has been so far. The week 1 games are all over, having kicked off on Friday, 10th September, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, last season’s Super Bowl champions, facing off against the Dallas Cowboys. And it ended this Tuesday, 14th September, with the Las Vegas Raiders taking on the Baltimore Ravens.
There were plenty of results that would have matched NFL expert picks that were discussed before the week kicked off, but there were equally as many upsets on the cards. But before we pick our highlights of the bunch, let’s take a look at Week 1's results first.
Week 1 NFL Results
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Favorite | Score | Spread | Underdog | Over/ Under |
Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | Sep 9, 2021 | 8:20 | @ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 31-29 | L -8.5 | Dallas Cowboys | O 52 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | @ | Atlanta Falcons | L 6-32 | L -3.5 | Philadelphia Eagles | U 49 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | @ | Buffalo Bills | L 16-23 | L -6.5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | U 48.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | @ | Carolina Panthers | W 19-14 | W -4 | New York Jets | U 45 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | Minnesota Vikings | L 24-27 (OT) | L -3 | @ | Cincinnati Bengals | O 47.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | San Francisco 49ers | W 41-33 | L -9 | @ | Detroit Lions | O 45.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 21-37 | L -3 | @ | Houston Texans | O 45 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | Seattle Seahawks | W 28-16 | W -3 | @ | Indianapolis Colts | U 49 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | @ | Tennessee Titans | L 13-38 | L -3 | Arizona Cardinals | U 53.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 1:00 | @ | Washington Football Team | L 16-20 | L -1.5 | Los Angeles Chargers | U 45 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 4:25 | @ | Kansas City Chiefs | W 33-29 | L -5.5 | Cleveland Browns | O 54.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 4:25 | @ | New England Patriots | L 16-17 | L -3 | Miami Dolphins | U 43.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 4:25 | Green Bay Packers | L 3-38 | L -3.5 | @ | New Orleans Saints | U 49.5 | at Jacksonville | |
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 4:25 | Denver Broncos | W 27-13 | W -3 | @ | New York Giants | U 41.5 | ||
| Sun | Sep 12, 2021 | 8:20 | @ | Los Angeles Rams | W 34-14 | W -8 | Chicago Bears | O 46.5 | ||
| Mon | Sep 13, 2021 | 8:15 | Baltimore Ravens | L 27-33 (OT) | L -4 | @ | Las Vegas Raiders | O 50.5 |
The Highlights
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys
What a game to open Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, the reigning champions versus one of the biggest names in American Football, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Dallas Cowboys. If it wasn’t already being built up to be a cracking season opener, the game itself had everything you could want and more. The first quarter ended in a 7-7 stalemate, before the Buccaneers would take the lead into the second half.
But then out came the Cowboys with a point to prove and they ended up winning the 3rd quarter to close the gap down to two points. But alas, they couldn’t complete the comeback, as the Buccaneers held out for another stalemate in the 4th quarter that ended 3-3. It was neck and neck, and a nervy finish, but the Buccaneers defense held strong and kept hold of their narrow lead to start the season, and their title defense, with that all important win.
Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers
This was a tie all set up for Josh Allen and the Bills to get their season off to a great start. They were favorites going into the game, and are also one of the top favorites to make the playoffs this year. But the game didn’t go quite to plan, as the Steelers caused a bit of an upset, taking the win 16-23.
Two of the main highlights of the game that helped the Steelers seal the win, were a touchdown throw from Ben Roethlisberger, who managed to send a rocket through the air that Diontae Johnson caught in the end zone. An all important touchdown that put the Steelers into the lead for the first time in the game. But it was what came after that, which would help seal their win.
On a 4th down and desperate to clear the ball up the field as they sat on their own 10 yard line, the Buffalo Bills were all set up to punt the ball. But the Steelers had other plans, as a special team formation saw Miles Killebrew break through the offensive line to make a block, which Ulysees Gilbert would pick up to carry the ball over the line for a second touchdown, all but securing the win and at the time, putting the Steelers 10-20 up.
STEELERS (+6.5) TAKE THE 20-10 LEAD @PFF_Bet
pic.twitter.com/K8DYw8vBcB— PFF (@PFF) September 12, 2021
Las Vegas Raiders vs Baltimore Ravens
The final highlight of the week came from the very last game, which was very much full of mistakes, interceptions, sacks, you name it, it had it. Both teams were really pushing for the win in the game, but ultimately it would be the Raiders who came out on top, but not without being forced into overtime to get the victory.
The Ravens started off incredibly strong, winning the 1st quarter 0-7, and managed another 7 in the 2nd quarter, which saw the Raiders coming back into the game with 10 points of their own on the scoreboard. In the 3rd quarter, the Ravens would further extend their lead by a further 3 points. But the 4th quarter saw the Raiders win 17-10, levelling the score and forcing overtime.
It was then a case of whose offense could get the points first before the clock ran down. And ultimately, it was the Raiders who would secure the victory to kick their season off with a 1-0 record, as they managed to put 6 points on the board, without the Ravens replying. It really was an exciting game that could have easily gone either way. And next week, the Raiders play the Steelers, another team from this week’s highlights, so that should make another exciting game coming up.
