Brady bounces back
Bouncing back with a vengeance from a seasonopening loss, Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter for the first time in his career and eclipsed 300 yards passing in the first half for only the second time to lead the New England Patriots to a 36-20 win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday.
Brady’s maiden Super Bowl triumph in the Superdome back in February 2002 is bound to be one of his fondest memories. But the 18-year veteran looked like a superior QB in his latest visit. He finished 30 of 39 for 447 yards without an interception — at least not one that counted. Saints defenders caught Brady’s passes twice, but both plays were wiped out by New Orleans penalties.
Brady joined Warren Moon as the only QBs age 40 or older to pass for at least 400 yards and three TDs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Rob Gronkowski had a 53yard catch and run to highlight his six-catch, 116-yard performance, but left the game in the second half with a groin injury.
DOLPHINS 19, CHARGERS 17
CARSON, Calif. — Cody Parkey hit his fourth field goal from 54 yards with 1:05 to play, and the Miami Dolphins rallied in the fourth quarter to spoil the Los Angeles Chargers’ home opener with a victory.
Younghoe Koo missed a 44yard field goal attempt with 5 seconds left after Philip Rivers manoeuvred the Chargers (0-2) into scoring range in the final minute before a crowd of 25,381 in their first home game since relocating to the Los Angeles area after 56 seasons in San Diego.
SEAHAWKS 12, 49ERS 9
SEATTLE — Russell Wilson avoided two potential sacks and found Paul Richardson in the front corner of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown with 7:06 left.
It was an offensive nightmare as both teams had combined for 14 total quarters without a touchdown this season before the Seahawks finally broke the seal on the goal line. Wilson avoided Arik Armstead in the pocket and got his pass away before DeForest Buckner could pull him down. Seattle (1-1) snapped a streak of more than 112 minutes without a touchdown, despite missing on opportunities twice inside the 49ers’ 10-yard line earlier in the game.
RAIDERS 45, JETS 20
OAKLAND, Calif. — Marshawn Lynch ran for a touchdown in his first home game with Oakland and Derek Carr threw three TD passes to Michael Crabtree.
Cordarrelle Patterson and Jalen Richard added long touchdown runs to help put the game away and give the Raiders (20) wins in the opening two games of the season for the first time since their AFC championship season in 2002.
REDSKINS 27, RAMS 20
LOS ANGELES — Kirk Cousins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Grant with 1:49 to play to give the Redskins the victory against their former assistant coach, Rams and rookie head coach Sean McVay.
CHIEFS 27, EAGLES 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs rookie Kareem Hunt reached the end zone twice, Travis Kelce took a shovel pass 15 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and Kansas City held on.
CARDINALS 16, COLTS 13, OT
INDIANAPOLIS — Carson Palmer’s late rally got the Cardinals into overtime and Tyrann Mathieu’s interception set up Phil Dawson for a 30-yard field goal to win it.
STEELERS 26,VIKINGS 9
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes, Le’Veon Bell ran for 87 yards and the Steelers kept Minnesota in check.
BUCCANEERS 29, BEARS 7
TAMPA, Fla. — Jameis Winston threw for 204 yards and one touchdown, helping the Buccaneers return from an unscheduled bye week forced by Hurricane Irma.
RAVENS 24, BROWNS 10
BALTIMORE — Baltimore relentlessly harassed two Cleveland quarterbacks, Joe Flacco ramped up his production with a pair of touchdown passes and the Ravens breezed.
TITANS 37, JAGUARS 16
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Derrick Henry, Delanie Walker and Jalston Fowler each ran for touchdowns, and the Titans dominated the Jaguars.
PANTHERS 9, BILLS 3
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina’s defence allowed only three points for the second straight week, and Graham Gano converted three field goals.