Patriots bounce back in a big way
PATRIOTS 36 SAINTS 20 — At New Orleans, if Tom Brady and the Patriots were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, it looks as though a trip to New Orleans pulled the defending champions out of it.
Bouncing back with a vengeance from a season-opening loss, Brady threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter yesterday for the first time in his career, eclipsed 300 yards passing in the first half for only the second time, and New England scored 30 first-half points en route to a victory over the winless Saints.
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 in NFL history to pass for at least 400 yards and three TDs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
PANTHERS 9 BILLS 3 — At Charlotte, N.C., Carolina’s defence allowed only three points for the second straight week, and Graham Gano converted three field goals as the Panthers held on to defeat Buffalo.
The Panthers (2-0) held Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy in check all day, limiting the Bills (1-1) to 176 yards and 10 first downs. McCoy had nine yards on 12 carries and Taylor had 125 yards passing. The Panthers had three sacks, two by Julius Peppers.
TITANS 37 JAGUARS 16 — At Jacksonville, Fla., Derrick Henry, Delanie Walker and Jalston Fowler each ran for touchdowns, and Tennessee dominated Jacksonville in the second half.
Henry finished with a careerhigh 92 yards on the ground for the Titans (1-1), including 87 in the final two quarters.
Marcus Mariota, returning to the place where he broke his right leg last December, completed 15 of 27 passes for 215 yards.
BUCCANEERS 29 BEARS 7 — At Tampa, Fla., Jameis Winston threw for 204 yards and one touchdown, helping Tampa Bay return from an unscheduled bye week forced by Hurricane Irma to open the season with a rout of mistake-prone Chicago.
The defence stymied former teammate Mike Glennon with four turnovers. Robert McClain returned one of the quarterback’s two interceptions for a TD, and the Bucs didn’t let the Bears into the end zone until Deonte Thompson scored on a 14-yard reception with 1:43 remaining.
RAVENS 24 BROWNS 10 — At Baltimore, the Ravens relentlessly harassed two Cleveland quarterbacks and Joe Flacco ramped up his production with a pair of touchdown passes.
Building on their season-opening shutout at Cincinnati, the Ravens picked off four passes and forced a fumble — giving them 10 takeaways in two games.
STEELERS 26 VIKINGS 9 — At 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.
Roethlisberger finished 23 of 35 for 243 yards and the two scores as the Steelers (2-0) improved to 10-1 in home openers under Mike Tomlin.
CHIEFS 27 EAGLES 20 — At Kansas City, Mo., Chiefs rookie Kareem Hunt reached the end zone twice, Travis Kelce took a shovel pass 15 yards for the goahead touchdown and Kansas City held on to beat Philadelphia.
CARDINALS 16 COLTS 13 (OT) — At Indianapolis, Carson Palmer’s late rally got the Arizona Cardinals into overtime and Tyrann Mathieu’s interception set up Phil Dawson for a 30-yard field goal to help them leave Indianapolis with a win.