FOR USE AS DESIRED
         NFL-48              9/10/02

HIGHEST-SCORING, MOST COMPETITIVE KICKOFF WEEKEND EVER

The NFL kicked off its 83rd season this past week, and any way you slice it, it was exciting, unpredictable and just plain wild.  The New York Times said, “Never in the 83-year history of the league had there been a Week 1 like this.”  The highlights: 

·      The 16 games of Kickoff Weekend averaged 49.3 points per game, the highest ever for an opening weekend.  A total of 788 points were scored in all -- most ever for any weekend in NFL history. 

·      There were 89 touchdowns scored, the most on a Kickoff Weekend since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.  That total surpasses the 83 TDs of the 1999 Kickoff Weekend.

·      There were three overtime games, tying Week 1 of 1979 for the most ever on a Kickoff Weekend. 

·      Even with all the scoring, 11 out of the 16 games were decided by eight points or less – a Kickoff Weekend record -- 10 by seven points or less, and six by three points or less.

·      Five teams came back from double-digit deficits to win – the Bears, Chiefs, Jets, Packers and Titans.

·      Six games were decided in the final minute or overtime – San Francisco-NY Giants, Kansas City-Cleveland, and Minnesota-Chicago; and three overtimes – NY Jets-Buffalo, Atlanta-Green Bay and New Orleans-Tampa Bay.

·      Jets kick returner CHAD MORTON became the first player in a game to return kickoffs for a touchdown in regulation and overtime.

·      The HOUSTON TEXANS became only the second expansion team in history to win its first game (1961 Minnesota Vikings).

·      Six NFL head coaches won their debuts with their new teams – BILL CALLAHAN (Oakland), DOM CAPERS (Houston), TONY DUNGY (Indianapolis), JOHN FOX (Carolina), MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER (San Diego), and STEVE SPURRIER (Washington).

“If you are in this league long enough, you will see everything,” said New Orleans head coach JIM HASLETT, whose club won in overtime on a touchdown off a botched punt.