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NFL: Cheerleader flattened by cameraman; Pats headline Week 2 winners

THE NFL’s Los Angeles debacle received another blackeye in week two of the season. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.

James McKernJames McKern
@jLmcKern
6 min read
September 18, 2017 - 3:27PM
Baby steps.
Baby steps.

LAST week pictures began flooding social media timelines showing the Los Angeles Rams crowd as they took on the Indianapolis Colts in front of a lacklustre home crowd.

A dominant win from the Rams ensued and many thought it would help drive attendance numbers.

Around rolls Week Two and it looks like Los Angeles fans are still struggling to get behind both the Rams and the Chargers who took to the field today.

During a Saturday night college game between the USC Trojans and Texans at the Rams home — Memorial Coliseum Stadium — a monstrous crowd of 84,714 rolled in, between them the Rams and Chargers drew a combined crowd of 81,993.

Billionaire owners Alex Spanos (Chargers) and Stan Kroenke (Rams) will be looking at their investments into the teams as an early loss and will be praying the Los Angeles population of 3.9 million people can turn their attention to the struggling NFL teams.

Fans haven’t caught the buzz just yet.
Fans haven’t caught the buzz just yet.

Unfortunately for Spanos it seems like fans have already turned on his tenure as the organisations leader as was highlighted prior to and during the game.

Despite the lowly numbers and the fans seemingly turning on the owner, the Chargers put up a fight against the Miami Dolphins and thanks to a Phillip Rivers led final drive had the chance to steal a late win.

Sadly for the home crowd — while the fireworks and cannon went off — the game-winning field goal sailed wide and handed victory to the Dolphins and sinks the Chargers to 0-2.

Even after opening their season in dominant fashion, Rams fans just aren’t willing to head out to games despite the signs pointing heavily in the right direction. Going toe-to-toe against the much favoured Washington Redskins, the Rams tied the scores with a little over seven minutes to play in the final quarter before a late Kirk Cousins touchdown throw sealed the games fate.

With a combined one win between the two sides — Rams defeated the lowly San Francisco 49ers in Week One — it’s the Rams who can hold Los Angeles bragging rights for the time being but we’re not sure it’s really anything to be bragging about.

WHAT A HIT

Camerman takes out dancer during game
Camerman takes out dancer during game

DURING any NFL game you can expect to see one or two bone-jarring hits that leave players sprawled out on the turf. What you don’t expect is for one of those hits to take place on an unsuspecting cheerleader.

As the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles prepared to head back on to the field for the second half in their Week Two NFL game, the Chiefs cheerleaders stood in the end zone going through their routine when a cameraman charged across field.

The dancer, having just completed a tumble and pirouette, was bulldozed by the cameraman who continued on for a few more yards before realising what had happened and turning back to check on her condition.

Thankfully she was able to get up from the hit and more impressively, continued on with the routine. While not a typical day at the office, it is one that will never be forgotten.

As for the cameraman, he may have a few questions to answer before taking to the field for the next game.

While all of that drama unfolded an enticing battle between the Chiefs and Eagles took place.

Coming off their big season-opening win over the Patriots, the Chiefs got off to a slow start but came alive in the second half for a 27-20 win.

Kareem Hunt got loose for a 53-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left in the third quarter to put the Chiefs up 13-10.

Philadelphia tied the game with 11:57 seconds left in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal from rookie Jake Elliott.

But the Chiefs took the lead for good with a 15-yard TD pass from Alex Smith to tight end Travis Kelce before Hunt plunged over for another touchdown from two yards out.

The Chiefs’ six sacks of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz included three by defensive lineman Chris Jones.

BEAST MODE IS BACK

MARSHAWN Lynch has always provided us with some special moments, be it his infamous “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” press conference or just his devoted love for Skittles.

Lynch returned this season to his hometown side of Oakland and today crossed the line for his first touchdown in Raiders colours.

With the Raiders leading the New York Jets by four points and only 24 seconds remaining in the first half, Derek Carr handed the ball off to Lynch who trucked his way through the defensive line and into the end zone.

The touchdown was Lynch’s first in almost two years — his last TD came on November 15th, 2015 — and highlights his importance to the Raiders’ charge. Their second win also puts them atop the AFC West with a point differential of +35.

Prior to the game however it was a free Skittles giveaway that Lynch used to get the hometown fans excited and then as the game came to a close he showcased his dance moves for the crowd in attendance.

MILESTONE MAN

THE Cleveland Browns haven’t had a lot to celebrate in years gone by — their last winning season came in 2007 when they finished 10-6 — and although they were handed another loss today by the Baltimore Ravens, there was reason to celebrate.

Left tackle Joe Thomas recorded his 10,000th consecutive play and while no official records are kept on snap counts, the Browns believe this streak is unprecedented in NFL history. Thomas has not missed a snap since being drafted third overall in 2007.

What makes the impressive span standout further is that during his time with the Browns, Thomas has blocked for a whopping 19 quarterbacks.

Fans far and wide came out in support of the feat achieved by Thomas and while the man himself prefers to stay away from the limelight, it shone brightly on him today and no bigger name acknowledged the achievement than Cleveland icon LeBron James.

Thomas will be hoping to taste playoff success with the Browns, a feat that hasn’t happened in Cleveland since 2002.

BRADY BALLS OUT

THE New England Patriots’ early-season struggles didn’t last long. Quarterback Tom Brady threw for 302 of his 447 passing yards in a 30-point first-half burst and the Super Bowl champion Patriots bounced back from a season-opening defeat with a 36-20 rout of the Saints in New Orleans.

Brady, who had completed just 16 passes in a 42-27 loss to Kansas City last week, connected on 19 of 25 with three touchdowns in the first half alone.

It was the first time in the 40-year-old superstar’s career that he completed three TD passes in the first quarter.

Brady hit Rex Burkhead for a 19-yard TD, connected with Rob Gronkowski on a 53-yard score and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hogan.

The Patriots led 30-13 at halftime and handed a Saints team led by prolific quarterback Drew Brees their second defeat in as many games this season.

Tom Brady showed the Saints he could do it all.
Tom Brady showed the Saints he could do it all.

BROTHERLY LOVE

GOING head to head with a sibling is nothing new — most kids have battled against an older brother or sister for family supremacy either in the backyard or inside the house.

The Kelce household would have been no different and although being used to playing alongside each other, today marked the first time they took to the field on opposite sidelines.

Chiefs tight end Travis and Eagles offensive linesman Jason played together in high school and college but today family alliances were split and bragging rights were on the line.

While their mother Donna refused to pick a side — instead opting for a custom made jersey that featured both teams — younger brother Travis believed otherwise. “I’m the baby so they love me more” said Travis.

Whether or not that is true, Travis walked out of Arrowhead Stadium the victor as he finished with eight receptions and 103 total yards, which included a touchdown that gave the Chiefs the lead halfway through the final quarter.

FULL WEEK TWO SCORES

Houston Texans defeated Cincinnati Bengals 13-9

Seattle Seahawks defeated San Francisco 49ers 12-9

Washington Redskins defeated Los Angeles Rams 27-20

Denver Broncos defeated Dallas Cowboys 42-17

Oakland Raiders defeated New York Jets 45-20

Miami Dolphins defeated Los Angeles Chargers 19-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated Chicago Bears 29-7

Pittsburgh Steelers defeated Minnesota Vikings 26-9

New England Patriots defeated New Orleans Saints 36-20

Kansas City Chiefs defeated Philadelphia Eagles 27-20

Tennessee Titans defeated Jacksonville Jaguars 36-16

Arizona Cardinals defeated Indianopolis Colts 16-13

Carolina Panthers defeated Buffalo Bills 9-3

Baltimore Ravens defeated Cleveland Browns 24-10

Atlanta Falcons defeated Green Bay Packers 34-23

Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants - Tuesday at 10.30am (AEST)

Originally published as NFL: Cheerleader flattened by cameraman; Pats headline Week 2 winners

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