Back In Action
At last. At long, long last. The NFL as we remember it.
Not preseason games. Not glorified scrimmages that are essentially job tryouts. Real games. Games that count.
And the first is a rematch of the last – Super Bowl 50.
The Carolina Panthers visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday night (NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET), looking to salve the wounds from their 24-10 loss in the NFL title game in February. This is the first time since 1970 that the two Super Bowl opponents meet to open the season.
“A lot of people are going to make it a rematch, but it’s not a rematch,” says Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. “This is not the Super Bowl. This is not revenge for the Super Bowl. That’s not our focus. We’re just trying to win a game. It just happens to be the same team.”
You may not recognize the Broncos. Peyton Manning retired after winning the a second Super Bowl to cap his stellar career. His would-be successor at quarterback, Brock Osweiler, took off for the Houston Texans as a free agent. The well-traveled Mark Sanchez, acquired in a trade, didn’t even make the team. No. 1 pick Paxton Lynch will need time to develop.
So the Broncos will open the defense of their crown with Trevor Siemian taking the snaps. His experience in games that count amounts to one snap last year – taking a knee. He was a seventh-round draft pick in 2015. This should be interesting against a hungry, solid Panthers defense.
Count down the minutes until kickoff. Then revel in the season. Welcome back, NFL.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
-
The Rams’ victory may provide an opportunity for the Lakers and Dodgers to make up for lost time. Following...
-
The Chinese tennis player is leaving the sport. Back in November, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai suddenly disappeared from...
-
James and Durant will be going head-to-head. After both demonstrating consistent skills on the court and receiving overwhelming fan...
-
The Cowboys QB took back his previous comments. On Sunday, following the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the San Francisco...
-
Judge is out after two seasons. Joe Judge has been the head coach of the New York Giants for...
-
The nameless team will receive its new moniker next month. Back in 2020, Washington’s official NFL team, the Washington...
-
The Dolphins have had both a winning streak and losing streak in the same season. Yesterday’s Monday Night Football...
-
The Broncos QB was removed from the game after a nasty fall. During the third quarter of Sunday’s game...
-
The Lakers coach thinks the team’s eye isn’t on the ball. Last night saw a close game between the...
-
Hill injured his finger on an incomplete pass. Yesterday was a rough day for the New Orleans Saints as...
-
The Sacramento Kings are coming off a nasty losing streak. Yesterday, the Sacramento Kings, the official NBA team of...
-
Sandy Alderson is looking for new staff. At the beginning of October, the manager for the New York Mets,...