Forget what you thought you knew about the NFL.
Just a week after being dismantled by the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way past Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That wasn’t the only upset of the early Monday slate, as the New York Jets ran away with the game against the Green Bay Packers to improve to 4-2, while the New York Giants improved to 5-1 after beating the Baltimore Ravens, and the Atlanta Falcons dealt with the 49ers.
That’s right, nothing makes sense.
All that and more in today’s edition of the NFL Wrap!
ARE THE GIANTS… FOR REAL?
OK, it might be time to take this New York Giants team seriously.
Under new head coach Brian Daboll, the Giants improved to 5-1 on Monday with a come-from-behind 24-20 win against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
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Daniel Jones threw two touchdowns, Saquon Barkley rushed for another, while the Giants forced two fourth quarter turnovers from Jackson, who couldn’t keep up with New York when it mattered most.
Still without a number of starting wide receivers, Daboll just continues to make it work; the first-year head coach welcoming rookie Wan’Dale Robinson into the mix after he missed the start of the season with injury.
Robinson caught a touchdown in his first career start. Tight end Daniel Bellinger hauled in the other.
JETS DO IT AGAIN
Last week it was the Miami Dolphins. This week, the Green Bay Packers.
And all of a sudden, the New York Jets are 4-2, keeping the pressure on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.
On Monday, the Jets managed to hold Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offence to just 10 points at Lambeau Field, while piling on 27 of their own.
Zach Wilson passed for just 110 yards — without a touchdown or interception — but it was the rushing game and special teams that proved the difference.
Rookie Breece Hall rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, while the Jets also took a blocked punt for a score.
Without Davante Adams, Rodgers just hasn’t been able to get the Green Bay offence going; the Packers now 3-3 to start the season.
STEELERS FIND A WAY
Not to be outdone, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who last week dropped to a 38-3 defeat against the Bills, managed to upset Tom Brady and the Bucs.
Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett left the game in concussion protocol, but Mitch Trubisky carried the Steelers home, throwing for 144 yards and a touchdown in an impressive cameo.
Tom Brady passed for 243 yards and a touchdown, but Tampa Bay just couldn’t get going against a Pittsburgh defence that was out to avoid a repeat of last week.
Brady’s decision to come out of retirement is starting to look like a bad one, with the Bucs now 3-3 and the 45-year-old’s offensive line looking less than impressive.
And Brady let them know about it.
In a video that unsurprisingly made the rounds on social media, Brady can be heard yelling at his offensive linemen on the sideline, “You’re so much better than the way you’re f–king playing.”
Warning: Explicit language
Moments before Brady had a fiery heart-to-heart with his linemen, the 45-year-old quarterback was sacked for a loss of 9 yards and fumbled the football. Fortunately, Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin recovered and maintained possession for Tampa Bay.
RESULTS
SAN FRANCISCO 14 — 28 ATLANTA FALCONS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 38 — 15 CLEVELAND BROWNS
NEW YORK JETS 27 — 10 GREEN BAY PACKERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 27 — 34 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 24 — 16 MIAMI DOLPHINS
CINCINNATI BENGALS 30 — 26 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
BALTIMORE RAVENS 20 — 24 NEW YORK GIANTS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 18 — 20 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CAROLINA PANTHERS — LOS ANGELES RAMS
ARIZONA CARDINALS — SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
BUFFALO BILLS — KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
DALLAS COWBOYS — PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
