On your mark, get set, slay

The GIST: From stunning catches to shocking upsets, they’re having the time of their lives on the NFL Week 2 gridiron.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver (WR) Marvin Harrison Jr. has arrived: The rookie shined in the Cardinals’ 41–10 rout of the LA Rams yesterday, hauling in two touchdowns (TDs) and accumulating 130 receiving yards. Bird’s gotta fly.

Kansas City Chiefs top Cincinnati Bengals in nailbiter: Despite KC quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes’ two uncharacteristic interceptions, the red and gold came out on top at Arrowhead, beating QB Joe Burrow and the Bengals 26–25 behind a game-winning field goal from controversial kicker Harrison Butker.

New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings record massive upsets: Saints QB Derek Carr outshined Dallas Cowboys signal caller Dak Prescott yesterday, leading his squad to a lopsided 44–19 W, while the Raiders stunned the Baltimore Ravens 26–23, pushing the Ravens to 0-2 for the first time since 2015.

• But no team turned more heads than the Vikings, as WR Justin Jefferson notched a jaw-dropping 97-yard TD in their 23–17 win over the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers. On that note…

Week 2 injury list grows: Jefferson exited the game in the third quarter with a quad contusion, injured on the same play as 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who left the game with an apparent ankle issue, but later returned.

• Prior to kickoff, the 49ers placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve for at least the next four games, citing calf soreness and Achilles tendinitis — two injuries that have previously plagued the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. Not great.

• Meanwhile, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa — who suffered his fourth diagnosed concussion in five years during Thursday’s 31–10 loss to the Buffalo Bills — says he has no intention of retiring ahead of meeting with a neurologist this week.

The GIST: Home is definitely where the wins are for Team USA, who beat Team Europe 15.5-12.5 to claim their first Solheim Cup victory in seven years. There are plenty of standout moments from the BFD tourney, so let’s drive right into it.

Team USA built a four-point lead through the first two days: Powered by the chemistry and energy of good friends Nelly Korda and Megan Khang, the Americans started off strong in foursome and four-ball play on Friday, jumping out to a 6-2 lead, tied for the United States’ largest lead after the second session in tournament history.

• Then on Saturday, Korda and 2023 US Women’s Open winner Allisen Corpuz became the first duo to win four straight Solheim Cup foursome matches, fending off a European charge.

Team Europe mounted a final day comeback, American Lilia Vu sealed the deal: The last day of play featured 12 singles matches and the Europeans came out firing, collecting two early wins from British stars Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.

• Team USA saw their lead shrink with only four matches to go, but world No. 2 and two-time major champion Vu delivered a game-winning birdie putt that gave the red, white, and blue the 14.5 points they needed to claim the Cup.

• The victory is oh-so sweet for Team USA, who ended their three-Cup losing streak on home soil, improving their overall record vs. the Europeans to 11-7-1. Teamwork does make the dream work.

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• Want to be a part of the movement? Find your club, make a deposit on season tickets, and start your countdown to April’s official kickoff. The best $50 you’ve ever spent.

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