Read the NFL game reports from Sunday, September 8.
Big day at the office for kicker Chris Boswell
With Russell Wilson’s debut delayed due to a calf injury, Justin Fields led the Pittsburgh Steelers to an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
It must be said that Fields had a lot of help from kicker Chris Boswell, who scored all of his team’s points with field goals of 57, 56, 51, 44, 40 and 25 yards.
And meanwhile, the Steelers’ defense made life miserable for quarterback Kirk Cousins in his early days with the Falcons.
Wilson was sidelined before the game but was on the sidelines working closely with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was fired in January after three seasons as the Falcons’ head coach.
Smith got a little revenge against his former employer, while new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has had a tough start to the season with expectations high in Atlanta after six straight losing campaigns.
Cousins didn’t look like a quarterback who signed a four-year, $180 million deal. In his first game since Oct. 29, he completed just 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards and was intercepted twice.
The second interception ended all hope for the Falcons with just two and a half minutes left.
The game ended as it should, with a quarterback sack on Cousins.
Paul Newberry, Associated Press
Sam Darnold throws two touchdown passes as Vikings beat Giants
PHOTO JOHN JONES, USA TODAY SPORTS
Sam Darnold scores two touchdowns in Vikings’ win
Sam Darnold threw two touchdown passes and the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants 28-6 on Sunday.
Darnold, who has played his home games at MetLife Stadium for three seasons after being selected third overall in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets, joined Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor in the end zone. He was making his Vikings debut.
Darnold also threw a 22-yard pass to Josh Oliver to set up Aaron Jones’ 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Vikings are off to a strong start as they look to erase a disappointing 7-10 record in 2023.
Andrew Van Ginkel got into the game with a spectacular one-handed interception and returned it 10 yards to the end zone.
His third-quarter larceny of Daniel Jones put the exclamation point on a great performance by Brian Flores’ defense.
Darnold, who signed as a free agent, completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards. He was intercepted after a pass was deflected.
Darnold is the Vikings’ starter due to JJ McCarthy’s knee injury. The team’s 2024 first-round pick will miss the remainder of the campaign.
Tom Canavan, Associated Press