Offensive Highlights
You’ve heard the buzz all offseason. Texans rookie running back Dameon Pierce had impressed throughout training camp and preseason. Appearing in two preseason games, Pierce garnered 86 yards on the ground and one rushing score, averaging 7.8 yard per carry.
His work done before the season earned him the starting running back job during the season, and that’s where his career began Sunday in Houston. Pierce finished with 39 yards from scrimmage in a tie with the Colts.
Defensive Highlights
Two Gator rookie defenders made their debut in week one: Bills’ cornerback Kaiir Elam and Bengals’ defensive lineman Zachary Carter.
Both Elam and Carter excelled in preseason, earning playing time in their first game. Elam, a first round pick in April, finished with three tackles, helping lift the Bills over the defending Super Bowl Champion Rams 31-10 on opening night.
Another young Gator defender picked up right where he left from last year: Texans’ third-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard. Greenard led Houston with eight sacks last season.
On Sunday, he made a game-changing 4th-down stop to keep it a one-score game.
GOAL LINE GREENARD 😤 @jongreenard7
📺 » @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/9OVWHxJY38
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 11, 2022
A veteran Gator defensive lineman also made a huge play Sunday. Chiefs’ Carlos Dunlap, now in his 13th season, brought down Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for a huge 3rd-down sack. Dunlap is now just three sacks away from a milestone 100 in his illustrious career.
Special Teams Highlights
A pair of Gator kickers made a pair of big-time kicks Sunday.
Trailing by two with just over a minute left, Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro nailed a 34-yarder to give Carolina the lead late. Pineiro was perfect on the day, going 3-for-3 on extra points and connecting on his lone field goal attempt.
In Cincinnati, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson crushed a career-long 59-yarder to give the Bengals their first points of the 2022 season.
Money Mac from 59 yards out! 💰@McPherson_Evan | #RuleTheJungle
📺: #PITvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pHwdeoOMZE pic.twitter.com/GUG0YKarNK
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022
Now in year two, “Money Mac” is 10-12 of field goals beyond 50 yards in his career. His nine field goals of 50 yards or more led all kickers last…
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