Browns refuse to lose, but still can’t win
One week in and the Browns are still undefeated. Now that’s progress. Cleveland ended its 17game losing streak yesterday with a 21-21 tie against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, who prevented the Browns from getting their first victory since 2016 when linebacker T.J. Watt blocked Zane Gonzalez’ 43-yard field-goal attempt with 9 seconds left in overtime.
The Steelers, who blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, also wasted their chance to escape with a win when Chris Boswell was wide left on a 42-yard fieldgoal attempt with 1:44 remaining in the extra period.
It was the NFL’s first tie in Week 1 since 1971 and the league’s first overall since Washington and Cincinnati ended in a 27-27 deadlock on Oct. 30, 2016.
“If you don’t win,” Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said, “it feels like a loss.”
The Browns remain winless since Dec. 24, 2016, but at least they have a positive after going 0-16 last season, just the second team in league history to lose all 16 games.
Buccaneers 48, Saints 40 — Ryan Fitzpatrick highlighted a 417-yard, fourtouchdown performance with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards as Tampa Bay outgunned host New Orleans.
Starting for the suspended Jameis Winston, Fitzpatrick completed 21-of-28 passes without an interception and also ran for a short TD.
Bengals 34, Colts 23 — Andy Dalton rallied the Bengals with three scores in the final 19 minutes and Clayton Fejedelem scored on an 83yard fumble return with 24 seconds to go as Cincinnati snapped an eight-game losing streak in Indianapolis.
The loss spoiled the Colts’ season opener — and the return of Andrew Luck, who made his first start in more than 20 months.
Ravens 47, Bills 3 — Baltimore harassed and embarrassed Buffalo quarterback Nathan Peterman on a rainy afternoon, while Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, one to each of the new receivers.
Flacco went 25-for-34 for 236 yards before being replaced in the third quarter by rookie Lamar Jackson.
Chiefs 38, Chargers 28 — Tyreek Hill scored three touchdowns, Patrick Mahomes passed for his first four NFL scores and Kansas City opened the season with a victory over Los Angeles in Carson, Calif.
Hill had a 91-yard punt return for a score and a 58-yard TD reception during the first quarter before adding a 1-yard reception for a score in the fourth quarter.
Redskins 24, Cardinals 6 — Alex Smith carved up the Arizona defense for 255 yards and two touchdowns, Adrian Peterson rushed for 96 yards and a score and Washington spoiled the coaching debut of Steve Wilks in Glendale, Ariz.
Smith, acquired from Kansas City in the offseason to replace Kirk Cousins, completed 21-of-30 passes without an interception.
Dolphins 27, Titans 20 — Jakeem Grant scored on a tiebreaking 102-yard kickoff return with 14 minutes to go, and Miami overcame two weather delays to win the longest game since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, beating Tennessee in Miami Garden, Fla.
Delays for lightning lasted a total of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and the game took 7 hours, 10 minutes to play.
Panthers 16, Cowboys 8 — Cam Newton ran for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Carolina’s defense turned in a dominating performance during a win over visiting Dallas.
Broncos 27, Seahawks 24 — Von Miller sacked Russell Wilson three times, forced two fumbles and recovered one in helping Case Keenum win his Denver debut while holding off visiting Seattle.
Packers 24, Bears 23 — Aaron Rodgers was 20-for30 passing for 286 yards with three touchdowns and bounced back from an apparent knee injury to rally Green Bay back from a 20-point deficit and stun visiting Chicago.