NFL
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-0) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale) Line: Panthers by 131⁄ 2
Story lines: Despite a decisive win Monday night vs. the Rams, San Francisco will be at a disadvantage, dealing with a short work week and adjustments required to play in the Eastern time zone. It’s the first of four teams the 49ers will visit in the East: the Buffalo Bills (Oct. 16), Miami Dolphins (Nov. 27) and Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 18) are the others. ... Carolina, the three-time defending NFC South champs, opened the season with a crushing 21-20 loss at the Denver Broncos in a Super Bowl 50 rematch. K Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal try with four seconds left. QB Cam Newton got a few extra days to let his body heal after a brutal pounding. It’s possible offensive coordinator Mike Shula will limit Newton’s designed runs and suggest that he curtail, if at all possible, his desire to scramble.
DALLAS COWBOYS (0-1) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver) Line: Redskins by 3
Story lines: After raising expectations in the preseason, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott looked like the talented but raw rookie he is in a Week 1 loss to the New York Giants. While Dallas’ offense moved well at times, the Cowboys got into the end zone once, and that was when a turnover gave them a short field. The most encouraging sign might have been that the defense, last in the NFL in takeaways last season, forced that turnover, CB Brandon Carr’s first interception since November 2013, and sacked Eli Manning twice. ... Redskins QB Kirk Cousins threw two picks against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in a 38-16 loss Monday night. A plus was his 329 yards passing. The defense, ranked next-to-worst in yards per carry allowed last season, gave up 143 yards to DeAngelo Williams. DT Kedric Golston is battling a back injury.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin) Line: Giants by 41⁄ 2
Story lines: The Saints rang up 507 yards, including a teamrecord 98-yard TD pass from QB Drew Brees to WR Brandin Cooks, in their opener. They also showed a leaky defense that let the Oakland Raiders compile 486 yards and come back from a 14-point second-half deficit to win. That script has led to backto-back 7-9 finishes. ... The Giants defense, last in 2015, held Dallas to one TD, 3.4 yards a carry and 19 points to win its opener for the first time since 2010. The Giants didn’t force a turnover or record a sack. ... The Cowboys got 8 yards receiving from WR Dez Bryant.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl) Line: Patriots by 6
Story lines: Miami’s muchmaligned defense played well but couldn’t close the deal in a 12-10 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Led by DT Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins contin- ually harassed QB Russell Wilson, holding him to a 77.5 passer rating. QB Ryan Tannehill, the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback since turning pro five years ago, was brought down five times for 36 lost yards. ... Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in for suspended QB Tom Brady and led New England to a 23-21 win at the Arizona Cardinals in his first start. The win was accomplished without Pro Bowl TE Rob Gronkowski, who didn’t make the trip because of an injured hamstring. His status for this week is unsure. .... The Patriots have won seven in a row between the teams at Gillette Stadium.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Carter Blackburn, Chris Simms) Line: Ravens by 7
Story lines: QB Joe Flacco is back, and the Ravens survived a close one Sunday vs. the Bills. They are playing with confidence and have a real shot to be 2-0. They’ll need more in the running game from Justin Forsett and Terrance West, but Flacco found veteran WR Mike Wallace for a long TD pass. Flacco has beaten the Browns 13 times since becoming the Ravens starter in 2008 and has lost twice. If he gets protection and the secondary holds up, the Ravens should be in the playoff mix. ... The Browns are thin in the secondary and don’t have many proven pass rushers, though rookie DE Carl Nassib started strong. QB Robert Griffin III injured a shoulder in Week 1, so Josh McCown, who had 2,109 passing yards and 12 TDs with four interceptions last season, steps in.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots) Line: Texans by 3
Story lines: Kansas City needed the biggest comeback win in franchise history to beat the San Diego Chargers in Week 1. Playing without RB Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs used a memorable performance by QB Alex Smith in the roaring comeback, and RB Spencer Ware was dynamic. ... The Texans opened the regular season with a solid rushing performance by RB Lamar Miller ( 28 carries, 106 yards) to help set up QB Brock Osweiler, who found rookie WR Will Fuller for five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. Coach Bill O’Brien finally has a capable quarterback and a balanced attack. ... In Kansas City’s two wins vs. Houston in 2015, the Chiefs dominated time of possession by an average of 9:44.
TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS (Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein) Line: Lions by 6
Story lines: The Titans collapsed in the second half en route to a 25-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the opener. The defense was dominant at times against a hamstrung Vikings offense, but the offense sputtered in the second half as QB Marcus Mariota and his supporting cast struggled. Rookie RB Derrick Henry managed 3 yards on five carries. To keep pace with Detroit’s potent offense, the Titans must find ways to move the chains in Week 2. ... Detroit’s dramatic 39-35 victory vs. the Indianapolis Colts answered questions about the offense. QB Matthew Stafford guided the offense to touchdowns from four players, including two by RB Theo Riddick. The defense gave plenty of reasons to be skeptical.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis/Chris Spielman and Peter Schrager) Line: Cardinals by 61⁄ 2
Story lines: Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston is on the trajectory toward NFL stardom. But how much the second-year quarterback has improved will be on display against a blitzhappy defense. Winston spread the ball around in the win vs. the Falcons, passing for 281 yards and four TDs. The biggest reason for concern this week is a Tampa Bay pass de- fense that gave up 334 passing yards and faces one of the best passing games in football. ... Arizona’s defense, which fell apart down the stretch last season, had issues in the opener — most notably the Patriots’ 10for-16 conversion rate on third down. RB David Johnson continues to emerge.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-0) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews) Line: Seahawks by 61⁄ 2
Story lines: The Seahawks face a Rams team that beat them twice in 2015. The big question heading into the week revolves around the sore right ankle of QB Russell Wilson, who played through pain and said afterward that he’d be ready to roll. The defensive line, led by Michael Bennett, put plenty of big hits on Miami’s Tannehill, and the Seahawks are hoping to do similar damage against a Rams O-line that’s a work in progress. ... The 49ers held the Rams to fewer than 200 total yards Monday night. Veteran QB Case Keenum was unimpressive. RB Todd Gurley and the defense likely will have to carry the load again.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson) Line: Broncos by 6
Story lines: Andrew Luck passed for 385 yards and four TDs, but the Colts lost to the Lions on a late field goal. ... The Broncos had three sacks in their opening win against Carolina in the Super Bowl 50 rematch, with OLBs DeMarcus Ware (11⁄ 2) and Von Miller (one) accounting for 21⁄ 2. QB Trevor Siemian had a pedestrian 69.1 passer rating but led the Broncos back from a 17-7 deficit after three quarters.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (0-1)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta) Line: Chargers by 3 Story lines: After improving from three wins to five in 2015, the Jaguars hoped they were on the verge of turning the corner. But a last-minute drive fell short Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. The running game was hampered by the absence of RB Chris Ivory, who was hospitalized Sunday morning for what the team called a general medical issue. ... Last season, the Chargers were 4-12 with nine losses by one score, including six on the road, where they went 1-7. The Chargers picked up where they left off at the Chiefs, finding a way to lose 3327 in overtime after leading 21-3 at halftime and 24-3 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
ATLANTA FALCONS (0-1) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon) Line: Raiders by 5
Story lines: After losing at home to the Buccaneers in Week 1, Atlanta is 2-8 under coach Dan Quinn in its last 10 games. And regrouping in Oakland seems daunting. But that’s the challenge facing an offense struggling in the red zone and a defense that lacks a consistent pass rush. Compounding the problem: Elite WR Julio Jones has a nagging left ankle injury. ... Second-year coach Jack Del Rio and Oakland pulled out a 35-34 comeback win at New Orleans with his bold decision to attempt a two-point conversion instead of a tying extra point. Del Rio’s biggest assignment might be bringing his team back down to earth.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-0)
TV: Sunday, 8:30 p.m., NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) Line: Packers by 2
Story lines: The Packers notched a 27-23 Week 1 road win against Jacksonville with QB Aaron Rodgers totaling three TDs and the new-look run defense appearing stout (1.8 yards a carry). ... No. 1 WR Jordy Nelson, in his first action since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in August 2015, wasn’t explosive, but he found the end zone and seemed to grow more comfortable. ... Two defensive TDs bailed out RB Adrian Peterson and an offense that failed to score a TD in Minnesota’s 25-16 road win vs. the Titans. Coach Mike Zimmer won’t say if he’ll hand the keys to newly acquired QB Sam Bradford after starting Shaun Hill last weekend.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0) AT CHICAGO BEARS (0-1)
TV: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters) Line: Bears by 3
Story lines: Rookie QB Carson Wentz and rookie coach Doug Pederson shined in their debuts, a 29-10 home triumph vs. the Cleveland Browns. Wentz finished with 278 passing yards, a 101.0 passer rating and no turnovers. DT Fletcher Fox and the defense dominated Cleveland on third downs (2for-10), forcing a pair of turnovers and limiting Browns QB Robert Griffin III to 12 completions. ... The Bears’ inability to muster any offense after intermission led to a 23-14 defeat. Chicago managed 71 yards, four first downs and zero points in the second half. ... Coach John Fox and coordinator Vic Fangio must find ways to make Wentz more uncomfortable than Houston’s Osweiler was last weekend.