Drink water and mind your business

The GIST: The first week of NFL action is always full of surprises, like Indianapolis Colts quarterback (QB) Daniel Jones’ stunning redemption arc. Pull out your best celly, because there were plenty of other highlights from a show-stopping start to the season.

🦬 Buffalo Bills use fourth-quarter rally to stun Baltimore Ravens: Much of the talk ahead of last night’s primetime tilt centered on two MVP–caliber QBs: The Bills’ Josh Allen and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, and for good reason. But even the best football analysts couldn’t have predicted the 15-point fourth-quarter comeback reigning MVP Allen authored in the Bills’ thrilling 41–40 win.

• Allen led three touchdown (TD) drives in the fourth quarter alone, ultimately erasing a dominant offensive performance from the Ravens as newly-acquired Bills kicker Matt Prater sealed the deal with a game-winning field goal. Never say die.

⏰ Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers turns back the clock in debut: Well, sort of. Though noticeably less mobile than he was before his 2023 Achilles tear, the 41-year-old Rodgers was as efficient as ever, throwing four TD passes in the Steelers’ 34–32 win over his scorned ex, the NY Jets.

• That’s not to say NY’s on the losing end of this messy breakup though: Their new QB, former Steelers signal caller Justin Fields, was also a force in his Jets debut, throwing a TD and running in two more in the narrow loss.

❤️‍🩹 Injury list already growing: Week 1 isn’t even over yet, but rosters across the league are already feeling the pain. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy played just three snaps before dislocating his shoulder on Friday, and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle injured his hamstring yesterday. Not great, Bob.

The GIST: In the face of one presidential distraction, this weekend belonged to the US Open stars, with repeat winners crowned in the grand finale at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

🏆 Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner, rises to world No. 1: The 22-year-old became the second-youngest player to capture six Grand Slam titles yesterday, dropping his only set of the tourney as he overpowered Sinner in four sets.

• The Spaniard played with his signature flair and speed, closing the match with a powerful ace. Alcaraz and Sinner evenly split this year’s four major titles, competing against each other in the final three. The Big Two aren’t going anywhere.

🍾 World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defends her title: Sabalenka soundly defeated now–No. 4 American Amanda Anisimova 6–3, 7–6 on Saturday to become the first back-to-back US Open women’s champ since Serena Williams in 2014. The win marks Sabalenka’s fourth career Grand Slam victory, a very worthy cause for champagne celebrations.

• And last but not least, on Friday, No. 3 Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe upset top-seeded Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková in the women’s doubles final, clinching their second US Open title just one year after Canadian Dabrowski battled breast cancer. Incredible.

🚨 Attention bracketeers, buzzer-beater believers, and hoops fans: The women’s pro basketball playoffs are right around the corner. And we’re teaming up with FanDuel to bring you our free-to-play Women's Pro Basketball Bracket Challenge.

• That’s right, you’ll get to fill out your very own bracket (or three!), choosing winners for each round until you crown your women’s hoops champ.

• The eight-team bracket will be finalized on September 11th, but you can click here to pre-register. Then, we’ll send you a reminder email to submit your picks before the deadline.

✨ Supporting women in sports? Check. Winning sweet prizes? Check. Having fun with a like-minded community of GISTers? Check, check, check. We can’t wait to see your name on the leaderboard.