Football returns as players like Cam Newton and Tom Brady debut for their new teams

By: Emmanuel Mendez

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose their first game of the season against the New Orleans Saints. Credit: sportsmediawatch.com

The 2020-2021 football season has started with a lot of action in the first two weeks. The first game of the season was between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The 2020 Super Bowl champions defeated the Texans 34-20 with Patrick Mahomes assisting three touchdowns for the Chiefs. Before the game, there was a controversial moment when both teams had a unity silence and locked arms to send the “Black Lives Matter” message. 

Fans present at the game started booing when both teams were locking arms, showing their distasteful disdain.

           The first week of Sunday Night Football had 13 games being played. The Los Angeles Chargers and the Chicago Bears got tight wins in their respective games. 

The San Francisco 49ers started the season with a 24-20 loss against the Cardinals after making the Super Bowl earlier in the year. The Los Angeles Rams’ debut in their new home stadium, the SoFi Stadium, marked a spectacular opener with a win against the Dallas Cowboys.

  The Baltimore Ravens had an amazing game, and destroyed the Cleveland Browns 38-6. For the first time without famed player Tom Brady, the New England Patriots scored a 21-11 win against the Miami Dolphins. Cam Newton, the Patriots’ new quarterback, rushed two touchdowns for the Pats on his debut. 

           It wasn’t a good start for some of the New York teams, such as the Giants and the Jets, who lost their respective games. The Giants lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills. 

Other opening games of entertainment value included the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders, and the New Orleans Saints. Tom Brady was involved in all three of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ touchdowns against the Saints, but it wasn’t enough as the Saints got four touchdowns and won 34-23. 

           The second week also had some great games with big wins from the Browns, the Titans, the Bills, the Ravens, and the Raiders. The Dallas Cowboys got their first win of the season, with a very tight game against the Atlanta Falcons that ended 40-39. 

The LA Rams had another impressive performance, with a satisfying win against the Eagles with a 37-19 scoreline. The Arizona Cardinals, the Chicago Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Green Bay Packers also won back-to-back games.

           The New England Patriots suffered their first loss of the season that ended 35-30 when they played the Seattle Seahawks. Fans witnessed an impressive performance from Cam Newton through three out of four touchdowns that were scored by the Pats. 

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks QB,  assisted each of the Seahawks’ touchdowns, ultimately surpassing the game statistics of the opposing team. Even though it was a defeat for the Pats, it was a close game and the Seahawks wrapped up with  2-0 in the new season while the Pats got 1-1.

           Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got their first win of the season as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 31-17 at home. The Buccaneers were in control for the majority of the game as Brady assisted one touchdown; he had  hoped for more to match his high standards. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 1-1 at the start of the season, while the Panthers lost their second game in a row. 

           As for the teams in New York, they both lose again and go 0-2 into the new season. The Giants lost to the Bears 17-13 away and the Jets got smashed by the 49ers 31-13 at MetLife Stadium. 

While the New York teams look like they will struggle this season, teams like the Packers, the Seahawks, and the Raiders look like they can do huge things this season and only time will truly tell. The restrictions and limits regarding fans may or may not have an impact on overall viewership, as this particular season is nothing compared to past seasons, when roaring fans and cheerful screams filled the stadiums. 

Despite the dramatic changes, there is still hope for an exciting season of NFL Football- with or without fans in attendance.