Game 1 of 272
September 10, 2021By: Carlos Alvarez
Happy Friday ![\"👋\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f44b/72.png\")
Game 1 of 272 is in the books and the NFL season is officially underway. The Bucs survived a thriller to open their title defense, but the 17-week marathon to the playoffs is just beginning.
Letter Rip!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
NFL
Brady, Bucs Win Opener at the Buzzer
![\"\"](\"https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/h7hivZerYcP0gQphLlNBGsCc6VQV0t-BBSaNkk9VDIeZ5JriSoAQGWxCIPSh3UqRC92X1QoyXmfwnpJM40VGgw9mvzJekGgerSK-SSM3mtQKRKzMVnWFHPDHsOpwraI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://media.sailthru.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-6w8/TB12-091021.jpg\")
Thursday Night Football: Buccaneers Beat Cowboys (31-29) on GW Field Goal in Unforgettable Season-Opener
The 2021 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Bucs and Cowboys in Tampa Bay, and the defending champs won a thriller. The back-and-forth affair came down to who had the ball last, and of course, it was Tom Brady engineering a game-winning drive to set up Ryan Succop’s 36-yard field goal. The Bucs, on the field where they celebrated a Super Bowl title just seven months ago, opened the season 1-0.
QB Battle By The Numbers
Both quarterbacks were sensational on Thursday night. Brady (Bucs) and Dak Prescott (Cowboys) combined for nearly 800 yards and 7 TDs. Each team had two receivers go over 100 yards in the offensive outburst.
Dak Prescott (DAL): 42/58, 403 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Tom Brady (TB): 32/50, 379 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
Pass-Catchers Who Shined
WR Amari Cooper (DAL): 13 rec, 139 yds, 2 TDs
WR CeeDee Lamb (DAL): 7 rec, 104 yds, 1 TD
WR Antonio Brown (TB): 5 rec, 121 yds, 1 TD
WR Chris Godwin (TB): 9 rec, 105 yds, 1 TD
TE Rob Gronkowski (TB): 8 rec, 90 yds, 2 TDs
Watch: Bucs Use Brady’s Drive, GW FG to Beat Cowboys (31-29)
Game 1 of 272 is in the books, but the NFL season has only just begun!
Additional Storylines
USA Today: Winners & Losers of Bucs-Cowboys; Bad Day for Ezekiel Elliot & Other RBs
CBS Sports: Brady-Gronkowski Connect for 100th TD, Pass Jerry Rice & Steve Young on All-Time List
_________________________________________________________________________________________
TENNIS
Teens Take Hold of U.S. Open
![\"\"](\"https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/unL92U-JY5ZXWGlkOlvrpEVahF12KsM6oV9T61nDm15O8n98fsgkIiPHJ-bDpkDThsz4t9fg1WD_X8oQnwFJFAF4Q4aEFd8JtWfuK9MXW9B-DbUUSm7h71fwmh9Y2g5eUaNjRAI2lQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://media.sailthru.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-6w8/Raducanu-USO-091021.jpg\")
Emma Raducanu & Leylah Fernandez Knock Off Ranked Opponents to Reach U.S. Open Finals
The teenage takeover continues! Two unranked youngsters, Emma Raducanu (18) and Leylah Fernandez (19), are heading to a historic U.S. Open final. Raducanu and Fernandez shocked the world on Thursday in Flushing Meadows with gutsy wins in the semifinals. Raducanu steamrolled (17) Maria Sakkari in straight sets before Fernandez escaped (2) Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller. Raducanu hasn\’t dropped a set in the entire tournament, and she had 100-1 odds to win it when the U.S. Open began. Fernandez was a 200-1 longshot.
Young stars have been taking over women’s tennis throughout recent years, from Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff to Bianca Andreescu and Iga Swiatek —all under the age of 24. Raducanu and Fernandez could be next, and one will win their first grand slam on Saturday.
Women’s Semifinals Highlights
E. Raducanu def. (17) M. Sakkari (6-1, 6-4)
L. Fernandez def. (2) A. Sabalenka (7-6, 4-6, 6-4)
Men’s Semifinals Schedule (Today)
(2) D. Medvedev vs. (12) F. Auger-Aliassime (3:00 pm ET)
(1) N. Djokovic vs. (4) A. Zverev (7:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
The Guardian: Emma Raducanu Roars Past Sakkari to Set Up US Open Final With Fernandez
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MLB
Jays Make It 8 Straight
![\"\"](\"https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Epd-hcN-qs8dlSg7Ab2Ni-PeT9OqDBmPrLUpcJNNOMZt5u6Zse6kCOG0B5a8HeUDHkTrwEqNbMH2kgBaK31mlVZ7jzjFof4I3UGwbIxmfNa60hFPpzYNi-dmaZSJGs6cKf_F=s0-d-e1-ft#https://media.sailthru.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-6w8/BlueJays-091021.jpg\")
HRs by Vlad Guerrero Jr. & Bo Bichette Push Blue Jays Within Reach of AL Wild Card
Make it eight straight for the Toronto Blue Jays! The crowded AL East is getting more competitive by the minute. The Jays beat the Yankes on Thursday (6-4) behind a pair of home runs from Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette as Toronto pulled with a half-game of New York in the AL Wild Card race. The Rays still own the division, but both Wild Card bids could come down to the AL East.
AL East Standings
Rays (88-52)
Red Sox (80-62)
Yankees (78-62)
Blue Jays (77-62)
Watch: Blue Jays Beat Yankees (6-4) for 8th Straight Win
MLB Quick-Hitters
Braves Bash 5, Then Walk-Off: The Braves crushed five HRs en route to a 6-6 game with the Nationals that needed extra innings before Joc Pederson walked it off with an RBI single.
Harper Hits 30th HR: Phillies’ slugger Bryce Harper went yard for the 30th time this season in Thursday’s 3-4 loss to the Rockies.
The Fan’s Fanny Pack Catch: On a slow day of baseball highlights, one fan at Oakland Colliseum made the catch of the day when he coralled a foul ball with his fanny pack.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
![\"🎥\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f3a5/72.png\")
THE HIGHLIGHTS
![\"🏀\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f3c0/72.png\")
WNBA: Sun Win 11th Straight to Clinch Double Bye
The WNBA’s top team keeps on winning. The Connecticut Sun took down the L.A. Sparks on Thursday (75-57) behind Jonquel Jones’ 21-point, 14-rebound double-double. With their 11th straight win, the Sun locked up the No. 1 or 2 seed in the upcoming WNBA playoffs and clinched a double bye.
![\"⚽\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/26bd/72.png\")
️ SOCCER: Messi Hat Trick Breaks Pele’s Record
More World Cup qualifying matches took the pitch on Thursday, but Lionel Messi took the highlight of the day as he lit up the stage with a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Bolivia. In the process, Messi passed Pele as the all-time leading South American goal-scorer with 79 international goals.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
THE STORYLINES
![\"🏈\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f3c8/72.png\")
The Ravens’ Cursed Injury Luck
Marcus Peters and Gus Edwards joined a long list of Ravens players who have suffered serious injuries. Why can’t Baltimore catch a break? (The Ringer)
![\"⚾\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/26be/72.png\")
️ 10 Guys Who Will One Day Hit 40 Homers
Forty is a big number, and harder to reach than you might think. Cal Ripken Jr. never did it; Stan Musial never did it. Here are ten guys who one day will… (MLB.com)
️ USMNT Salvaged a Forgetful Week
Illnesses, injuries and a suspension marred the start of World Cup qualifying. A trip to Honduras offered a chance to right the ship. (NY Times)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
![\"📰\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f4f0/72.png\")
THE HEADLINES
Steelers Sign Pass Rusher T.J. Watt to Record-Setting 4-Year, $112 Million Extension
(Yahoo! Sports)
UEFA Chief Ceferin Threatens World Cup Boycott if New Plans Go Ahead
(ESPN)
AAC Commissioner Says Conference Will Expand in Light of Big 12 Realignment
(SI)
DeAndre Jordan Signs With Lakers After Buyout From Pistons
(CBS Sports)
Saints Trade 3rd-Round Pick to Texans to Acquire CB Bradley Roby
(NBC Sports)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
![\"🗓️\"](\"https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f5d3_fe0f/72.png\")
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
NFL fans, rejoice! Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season gets underway this weekend alongside the U.S. Open final rounds and a full boat of fall sports. It’s the busiest sports weekend since the Olympics ended, and it starts now.
U.S. Open (Semifinals)
(1) N. Djokovic vs. (4) A. Zverev (Fri. TBD)
(2) D. Medvedev vs. (12) F. Auger-Aliassime (Fri. TBD)
U.S. Open (Finals)
W: E. Raducanu vs. L. Fernandez (Sat. TBD)
M: TBD (Sunday)
NFL (Week 1)
Steelers at Bills (Sun. 1:00 pm)
Cardinals at Titans (Sun. 1:00 pm)
Browns at Chiefs (Sun. 4:25 pm)
Packers at Saints (Sun. 4:25 pm)
Bears at Rams (Sun. 8:20 pm)
College Football (Week 2)
#12 Oregon at #3 Ohio State (Sat. Noon)
#10 Iowa at #9 Iowa State (Sat. 4:30 pm)
#15 Texas at Arkansas (Sat. 7:00 pm)
MLB
Yankees—Mets Series
Red Sox—White Sox Series
Padres—Dodgers Series
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
Richmond Raceway (Sat. 7:30 pm)
*All Times Eastern
SHARE SPORTS
Get Your Team ID
Share The Sportsletter with family and friends using your unique Team ID to get rewarded with team gear as you rack up points and climb the ranks.
![](\"https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/7F9JGflBNihjw9wOQ89UjSXzqX4EnvlpyUn-l1mtFtW-OwJf6opk8LVtfvkKcpUPsAiPF3qn3Gtm9f3yeBmI2EyCX60T2EE4izC-uJdEiUsnzlrtUvoR1iCHSlTt7jfM2iEaSUfH_HZ7=s0-d-e1-ft#https://media.sailthru.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-6w8/referral_animate_SL_1.gif\")
_________________________________________________________________________________________