Houston Chronicle

Browns end losing streak by tying Steelers

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CLEVELAND — Well, the Browns didn't lose.

Cleveland ended its 17-game losing streak Sunday with a 21-21 tie against Pittsburgh, but the Browns missed a chance at their first victory since 2016 when kicker Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field-goal attempt with nine seconds left in overtime was blocked by T.J. Watt, who also had four sacks.

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 42yard field-goal attempt with 1:44 remaining in the extra period.

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 to lose all 16 games.

DOLPHINS 27, TITANS 20

Jakeem Grant scored on a tie-breaking 102-yard kickoff return with 14 minutes to go as Miami overcame two weather delays at home to win the longest game since the 1970 NFLAFL merger.

Delays for lightning lasted a total of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and the game took 7 hours, 10 minutes to play. The previous longest game since 1970 was a Bears overtime victory against the Ravens in 2013 that took 5 hours, 16 minutes.

Grant's touchdown triggered a late flurry of big plays in an opener that was lackluster for the first six hours.

After his score, Ryan Tannehill hit Kenny Stills deep for a 75yard touchdown. Darius Jennings returned the ensuing kick- off 94 yards for a Titans score, and they were driving when Miami's Reshad Jones helped to clinch the win with a 54-yard return after he intercepte­d Blaine Gabbert.

Titans starting quarterbac­k Marcus Mariota threw two intercepti­ons in the third quarter and then came out of the game with an elbow injury.

BUCCANEERS 48, SAINTS 40

Ryan Fitzpatric­k highlighte­d a 417-yard, four-touchdown performanc­e with two scoring strikes of more than 50 yards in Tampa Bay’s wild win at New Orleans.

Starting for the suspended Jameis Winston, Fitzpatric­k completed 21 of 28 passes without an intercepti­on and also ran for a short touchdown, bowling over free safety Marcus Williams on his way into the end zone.

BENGALS 34, COLTS 23

Andy Dalton rallied Cincinnati to victory with three scores in the final 19 minutes, and Clayton Fejedelem scored on an 83-yard fumble return with 24 seconds to go as the Bengals snapped an eight-game losing streak at Indianapol­is.

The loss spoiled the Colts' season opener — and the return of Andrew Luck, who made his first start in more than 20 months. He finished 39-of-53 passing for 319 yards and two touchdowns.

Dalton was 21-of-38 passing with 243 yards, two touchdowns and one intercepti­on.

JAGUARS 20, GIANTS 15

Linebacker Myles Jack scored on a 32-yard intercepti­on return early in the fourth quarter, and Jacksonvil­le won at East Rutherford, N.Y., spoiled the debuts of New York coach Pat Shurmur and second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley, and the return of Odell Beckham Jr.

Blake Bortles threw a short touchdown pass and led two other first-half field goal drives. The Jaguars dominated, with the exception a Barkley-induced hiccup, in opening a season by living up to the Super Bowl hype.

VIKINGS 24, 49ERS 16

Kirk Cousins passed for two touchdowns in his much-anticipate­d Minnesota debut, and the Vikings forced four turnovers to win at home and stick San Francisco quarterbac­k Jimmy Garoppolo with his first loss in eight games as an NFL starter.

Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs in the second quarter and Kyle Rudolph in the third quarter for scores, and the defense finished the job with three sacks and three second-half intercepti­ons of Garoppolo. Mike Hughes turned one pick into a 28-yard touchdown return.

RAVENS 47, BILLS 3

Baltimore harassed and embarrasse­d Buffalo quarterbac­k Nathan Peterman, while Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, one to each of the new receivers, in the Ravens’ victory at home.

Flacco was 25-for-34 passing for 236 yards before being replaced in the third quarter by rookie Lamar Jackson, who did little more than hand off after entering with a 40-0 lead.

CHIEFS 38, CHARGERS 28

Tyreek Hill scored three touchdowns, and Patrick Mahomes passed for his first four NFL scores as Kansas City opened the season with a victory at Carson, Calif.

Hill, who also had 169 yards on seven receptions, had a 91yard 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 to put the game out of reach.

BRONCOS 27, SEAHAWKS 24

Von Miller sacked Russell Wilson three times, forced two fumbles and recovered one in helping Case Keenum win at home in his Denver debut.

Keenum threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns but was also intercepte­d three times.

Wilson threw for 298 yards and three TDs but was picked off twice and sacked six times.

WASHINGTON 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 as Washington won at Glendale, Ariz., to spoil the coaching debut of Steve Wilks.

Smith, acquired from Kansas City in the offseason to replace Kirk Cousins, completed 21 of 30 passes without an intercepti­on and had TD throws of 13 yards to Chris Thompson and 4 yards to Jordan Reed.

Peterson, who played for Arizona a year ago and signed with Washington as a free agent on Aug. 20, finished his day with a 52-yard reception, but fumbled at the end of the play.

PACKERS 24, BEARS 23

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in the second half after returning from a knee injury, and Green Bay overcame a 20-point deficit for a thrilling victory over visiting Chicago.

Rodgers, who was carted off in the first half, connected with receiver Randall Cobb for a catch-and-run through the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score with 2:13 left in the game.

Nick Perry sacked the Bears' Mitchell Trubisky on fourthand-10 with 58 seconds to complete the comeback.

 ?? Ron Schwane / Associated Press ?? Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt spent a lot of time in the Cleveland backfield Sunday, sacking Browns quarterbac­k Tyrod Taylor four times.
Ron Schwane / Associated Press Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt spent a lot of time in the Cleveland backfield Sunday, sacking Browns quarterbac­k Tyrod Taylor four times.

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