No more big upsets, but plenty of defensive dominance
A New fter Kansas City’s shocker at England on Thursday, if you were looking for more surprises from Sunday on Week 1 of the National Football League schedule there really weren’t any.
Some of highly touted teams such as the Falcons and Steelers didn’t look so hot while winning and the Titans and Texans didn’t look so hot while winning. The Colts without Andrew Luck, the Bears and the 49ers were about as ineffective as they were expected to be.
It was not a good day for home teams. Only four won including the Rams and Lions as slight underdogs.
GAME OF THE DAY Packers 17, Seahawks 9
The scoop: Green Bay took charge of a 7-6 game when Aaron Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Earlier Ty Montgomery ran six yards for a Green Bay score. Mason Crosby kicked two field goals for the winners. Seattle had no touchdowns. Its points came on three field goals.
Why the Packers won: Led by defensive tackle Mike Daniels who was involved in two sacks and forced a fumble that was recovered at the Seattle 6-yard line, Green Bay’s defense dominated the game. Russell Wilson accounted for 198 of the Seahawks’ 225 yards total offense. Wilson passed for 158 and led Seattle with 40 yards rushing but could not get them to the end zone.
THE TOP DOGS Falcons 23, Bears 17
The scoop: Backed up in their own end and protecting a 13-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Falcons struck on an 88-yard pass from Matt Ryan to tight end Austin Hooper to break it open. It was a 10-10 tie at the half. Atlanta’s offense was not that impressive, three times settling for Matt Bryant field goals. Ryan passed for 321 yards and the one touchdown.
Why the Falcons won: They stopped the Bears on downs at their 5-yard line and took over with three seconds left.
Steelers 21, Browns 18
The scoop: Pittsburgh never trailed but after Cleveland closed to within three points on rookie QB DeShone Kizer’s first NFL TD pass. The Steelers had to kill of the last 3:05 minutes of a game they were supposed to win handily. Rookie T.J. Watt of the Steelers had two sacks and an interception in his NFL debut at linebacker.
Why the Steelers won: In what was an even struggle, the difference proved to be a blocked Cleveland punt and Anthony Chickillo’s recovery in the end zone to give Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead after only 2:16 had been played. Kizer completed 20-of-30 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Raiders 26, Titans 16
The scoop: With long-time Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski sidelined, rookie Giorgio Tavecchio kicked four field goals, including two from 52 yards, in the Raiders’ victory. His first 52-yarder broke a 10-10 tie on the last play of the first half. Derek Carr passed for both Oakland touchdowns. Quarterback Marcus Mariota ran 10 yards for the only Tennessee touchdown.
Why the Raiders won: Carr passed for 262 yards and Marshawn Lynch carried 18 times for 7.6 yards to lead the Oakland running game in a well-balanced attack.
THE WANNABES Cowboys 19, Giants 3
The scoop: Ezekiel Elliott made his presence felt, but the Dallas defense made a greater impact as it shut down New York. Elliott, playing after an injunction filed against the NFL allowed him to start the season despite a six-game suspension, rushed for 104 yards on 24 carries. Dak Prescott tossed to Jason Witten for an 11-yard gain in the second quarter that brought Witten’s career total to 11,890 receiving yards, passing Michael Irvin’s previous team record of 11,888.
Why the Cowboys won: Dallas limited the Giants to 233 total yards. Without Odell Beckham Jr., who sustained a left ankle injury in the preseason and missed the game, Eli Manning passed for 33 yards in the first half in his 200th consecutive start.
Ravens 20, Bengals 0
The scoop: Baltimore intercepted four Andy Dalton passes, three in the first half when the Ravens built a 17-0 lead. Joe Flacco of the Ravens threw only one touchdown pass, a 48-yard strike to newcomer Jeremy Maclin.
Why the Ravens won: The Bengals turned the ball over five times and the Ravens sacked Dalton five times.
Lions 35, Cardinals 23
The scoop: Matt Stafford passed for three touchdowns and Miles Killebrew returned an interception 35 yards for a score during a 26-0 Detroit run in the second half to end a seven-game losing streak against the Cardinals. Stafford completed 29 of 41 for 292 yards and four touchdowns.
Why the Lions won: They picked off three Carson Palmer passes and limited Arizona to 2.5 yards rushing on 18 attempts.
Jaguars 29, Texans 7
The scoop: That old river boat gambler Doug Marrone went for it on fourth down and rookie Leonard Fournette barely managed to break the plane for his first NFL touchdown to give Jacksonville a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. A 53-yard fumble return by Dante Fowler Jr., made it 19-0 at the half. Fournette, the rookie from LSU, carried 26 times for 100 yards. The DeShaun Watson quarterbacking era in Houston began in the second half when the rookie from Clemson replaced the struggling Tom Savage.
Why the Jaguars won: QB Blake Bortles had no turnovers while Savage was sacked six times and lost two fumbles. Texans turnovers led to 10 Jaguars points.
Eagles 30, Redskins 17
The scoop: Philadelphia fell behind 14-13 after taking a 13-0 lead but outscored Washington 14-3 in the second half to snap a five-game losing streak against the Eagles’ NFC East rivals. Carson Wentz passed for two Philadelphia touchdowns.
Why the Eagles won: The Washington offense couldn’t get untracked. The Redskins had four turnovers and could manufacture only two sustained drives in losing their home opener.
Panthers 23, 49ers 3
The scoop: Cam Newton passed for two touchdowns and Graham Gano kicked three field goals in a routine victory by Carolina over the punchless Niners. San Francisco, playing its first game under new coach Ryan Shanahan, the former offensive coordinator of the Falcons, was shut out until Robbie Gould kicked a 44-yard field goal with three seconds left in the third quarter.
Why the Panthers won: The 49ers reached the Red Zone only once and had only 217 yards total offense while losing two turnovers. Carolina’s offense produced a modest 287 yards as Newton passed for only 171.
DOG OF THE DAY Rams 46, Colts 9
The scoop: Trumaine Johnson intercepted Scott Tolzien’s first pass of the game for a touchdown and Rams put on an impressive performance in Sean McVay’s debut as head coach. LaMarcus Joyner returned another pick for a Rams score. LA outgained the Colts, 373-225, and dominated time of possession, 39:13 to 20:47. Second-year QB Jared Goff completed 21 of 39 passes for 306 yards to lead the rout.
Why the Rams won: They sacked Tolzien four times and intercepted him twice. (Buffalo News/TNS)