Advertisement
Trevor Lawrence looks frustrated on debut. Eric Christian Smith

Lawrence and Jaguars mauled in NFL bow

The No1 draft pick was intercepted three times on his NFL debut.

LAST UPDATE | 12 Sep 2021

TREVOR LAWRENCE’S NFL career got off to a losing start as the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a season-opening 37-21 mauling by the Houston Texans.

Number one draft pick Lawrence, one of the most highly rated college quarterbacks in years, was intercepted three times as the Jaguars were outplayed by a Texans line-up missing DeShaun Watson, who is battling sexual assault allegations.

With Watson sidelined, it was left to Texans back-up quarterback Tyrod Taylor to lead the AFC South side to a comfortable win.

Taylor threw for 291 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Texans made a winning start to the season.

Lawrence meanwhile finished with three touchdowns and 332 passing yards from 28-of-51 completions.

In other early action on Sunday,  the Pittsburgh Steelers jolted the Super Bowl hopeful Buffalo Bills with a 23-16 victory on the road.

The Bills, aiming to build on a successful 2020 campaign which saw them reach the AFC Championship game, started smoothly as they edged into a 10-0 lead at half-time.

But Ben Roethlisberger’s pass to Diontae Johnson for a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter helped the Steelers take a 13-10 lead and then a blocked punt recovered by Ulysees Gilbert III in the endzone put Pittsburgh 10 points clear.

Steelers veteran quarterback Roethlisberger finished with 188 yards and one touchdown while the Bills offense managed just one score, with quarterback Josh Allen sacked three times.

Elsewhere, Evan McPherson kicked a 38-yard field goal in overtime to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 27-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

The game saw a successful return from injury for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who finished with 261 yards and two touchdowns after suffering torn knee ligaments in November last year.

In Detroit, the San Francisco 49ers held off a furious late rally from the Lions and new quarterback Jared Goff to claim a 41-33 victory.

The Lions fought back from 41-17 down early in the fourth quarter to move within one score of tying the game, but Detroit’s final drive stalled when Goff was unable to convert a fourth and long opportunity.

San Francisco’s rookie quarterback Trey Lance bagged the first touchdown pass of his career early in the first quarter before giving way to Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo threw for 314 yards and one touchdown.

Kyler Murray lived up to the pre-season hype as he led the Arizona Cardinals to a 38-13 rout of the Tennessee Titans.

Murray is among the favourites to be named MVP this season and quickly laid down a marker as he threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another, all in the opening three quarters, to put the game beyond doubt.

But not all of Murray’s brilliance showed up in the statistics as the 24-year-old’s scrambling left the Titans defence flailing around.

Author
View 5 comments
Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Willie Murphy
    Favourite Willie Murphy
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:34 PM

    I’m so exited bout this game I really feel if we win it we can do back to back championships. especially now that ferris is back for ulster great to c him back! with him an seanie o brien back in this squad for next season we are a serious outfit! targeting a World Cup final I dare to dream…

    132
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caoimhe Fitzgerald
    Favourite Caoimhe Fitzgerald
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:29 PM

    I think it would actually benefit Ireland if England beat Italy by 10/20 points because then France absolutely HAVE to throw the kitchen sink at Ireland and go all out which would hopefully mean they make more mistakes etc etc WISHFUL THINKING I KNOW BUT I WANT TO WIN

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Em
    Favourite Em
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:16 PM

    You just can’t help but get sucked in by his inner belief in his and his teams own ability, on a GAA comparison Jim Gavin is identical in his mindset and approach.
    If the result goes against us on Saturday it will be on fine margins based on the belief he seems to have instilled in this group of players.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keano
    Favourite Keano
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:25 PM

    Davy Fitz is a much better comparison!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Em
    Favourite Em
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:27 PM

    Yeah, but he is a hot head and also equally impressive.
    Gavin and Schmidt both manage to keep a lid on their emotions though.

    66
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keano
    Favourite Keano
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 4:41 PM

    Don’t mind what Davy is like on the line, it’s in the lead-up to a match and beforehand that games are won and lost – that’s where Davy comes into his own. The sideline stuff is Davy doing a ‘Mourinho’ on it.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Em
    Favourite Em
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 4:44 PM

    So he is no different then the other two so………..?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elizabeth Gibson
    Favourite Elizabeth Gibson
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 3:46 PM

    The French know that the championship is all but beyond them at this stage, I fully expect them to come out and play well on Saturday, they may not have a trophy to go for but don’t discount the desire for better table position to spur them on, second place sounds much better than fourth which is where they will end up if Wales beat Scotland well, England beat Italy and we beat France.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Potts
    Favourite Andrew Potts
    Report
    Mar 13th 2014, 8:31 PM

    Trying to keep a lid on the optimism is difficult because this team is good enough to win there, we all know it. France have so many good players and we all also know they can throw together a great performance. Anyway good luck to all I just know every pub and club will have the telly on come Sat. Woop

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hodge
    Favourite Brian Hodge
    Report
    Mar 14th 2014, 12:51 AM

    Title of this thread captures the sentiment though a tad inaccurately.

    Should read Leinster instead of Ireland.

    Rest is accurate. This is Schmidt’s team and an insult to the concept of Ireland.

    What happened to his promises of 27-30 new starts and rotation?

    The most egotistical selection in the history of Irish International rugby and sure as Hell makes little of IRFU’s “Stay Home” stance.

    Sign for Leinster, more likely.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colmán Stanley
    Favourite Colmán Stanley
    Report
    Mar 14th 2014, 3:22 PM

    As a Leinster fan, I do agree with you to an extent, although I think you’re being a little ott.

    Zebo, Marmion, and Henshaw should have seen game time this 6N, and Marshall and Jackson should have been used more. After being beaten by England was more than a victory for them but a victory for youth and having the confidence to play guys who have been the best in their league/cup, regardless of their age.

    However, if Schmidt wins the 6N and integrates new players this summer, you can hardly argue too much with him.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel