Big Ben, Steelers rally to stun Bills
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ new-look offense overcame a slow start, Ulysees Gilbert returned a blocked punt 9 yards for a touchdown, and Pittsburgh rallied to a season-opening 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Down 10-0, the visiting Steelers scored on each of their first four possessions of the second half, with Roethlisberger putting Pittsburgh ahead for good by lobbing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson in the left corner of the end zone.
In opening his 18th — and perhaps final — season, Roethlisberger posted his 36th career fourth-quarter comeback to tie Drew Brees for third on the NFL list. He finished 18 of 32 for 188 yards and a touchdown. SAINTS 38, PACKERS 3 >> Jameis Winston and the hurricane-displaced Saints looked right at home in Jacksonville, Fla., rolling to an easy victory over Green Bay. Winston passed for five touchdowns and New Orleans intercepted reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers twice.
CARDINALS 38, TITANS 13 >> Kyler Murray scored five touchdowns and linebacker Chandler Jones had a careerhigh five sacks at Nashville. Jones, who tied the franchise record, had three sacks in a first quarter so good LeBron James chimed in on social media for his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy.
The Steelers’ Ulysees Gilbert (54) celebrates after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown against Buffalo.
SEAHAWKS 28, COLTS 16 >> Russell Wilson threw three of his four touchdowns in the first half as the defending NFC West champions won the 12th of their past 13 games in the early Sunday time slot. Host Indy lost its eighth straight opener.
49ERS 41, LIONS 33 >> Dre Greenlaw returned an interception for a touchdown to help the 49ers score 17 points over two-plus minutes late in the first half at Detroit. San Francisco led 38-10 early in the fourth quarter.
EAGLES 32, FALCONS 6 >> Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes, the first of them to Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, and the visiting Eagles made a winner of Nick Sirianni in his head coaching debut. Now firmly entrenched as the Eagles
starter after Carson Wentz was traded, Hurts certainly looked the part with touchdown passes of 18 yards to Smith, 9 yards to Dallas Goedert and 23 yards to Jalen Reagor.
TEXANS 37, JAGUARS 21 >> Tyrod Taylor threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns filling in for Deshaun Watson as host Houston beat Trevor Lawrence and mistake-prone Jacksonville.
BENGALS 27, VIKINGS 24, OT >> Evan McPherson kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to lift Cincinnati at home. The winning kick was set up by a gutsy call. On fourth-and-inches from the Cincinnati 48, Joe Burrow rolled out and hit tight end C.J. Uzomah in stride for a 32-yard gain and get McPherson well within his range.
DOLPHINS 17, PATRIOTS 16 >> Tua Tagovailoa threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle in the third quarter and Xavien Howard recovered a fumble with New England driving in the fourth to help Miami hold on at Foxborough, Mass. Tagovailoa finished 16 of 27 for 202 yards, a touchdown and one interception, and also had a 3-yard TD run
BRONCOS 27, GIANTS 13 >> Teddy Bridgewater threw two touchdowns in his first start for Denver and the Broncos dominated possession and beat the Giants, spoiling the return of New York running back Saquon Barkley after a long ACL rehabilitation.