Opening Sunday
Chiefs power past Browns with late rally
More from NFL Week 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs are still the Chiefs. And the Browns are still the Browns.
In a rematch of last year’s divisional playoff meeting, Patrick Mahomes and Co. orchestrated an electrifying fourthquarter comeback, and the Browns did their part as well, to help Kansas City open the season with a 33-29 victory Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The visiting Browns – in search of vindication and badly wanting to open the season with a statement win against the team they described as the class of the AFC – opened the game with an authoritative scoring drive, dominated nearly every statistical category and took a 22-20 lead into the fourth quarter. Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and the rest of the Browns offense even delivered an impressive early fourth-quarter scoring drive to extend their lead to 2920 with 10:24 left to play. But then came the instant offense Kansas City is known for.
Mahomes and Tyreek Hill connected for a 75-yard touchdown pass to pull within two points 14 seconds later. Then the Browns committed the kind of gaffe for which the franchise is known.
A previously lethargic Chiefs defense (playing without starters Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark) stonewalled the Browns, and then punter Jamie Gillan bobbled a snap and tried to run the ball rather than attempt a hurried punt.
The Chiefs tackled him at his own 15 for a turnover on downs. Three plays later, Mahomes went to trusty tight end Travis Kelce for the duo’s second touchdown connection of the day and Kansas City’s first lead of the contest.
The Browns got one last crack at a comeback after forcing a Chiefs punt with 2:49 left. But a Baker Mayfield interception to Mike Hughes with 1:16 left sealed Cleveland’s fate.
– Mike Jones, USA TODAY
SAINTS 38, PACKERS 3
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jameis Winston and the hurricane-displaced Saints looked right at home in northeast Florida against Green Bay – no doubt to the delight of fans rebuilding homes and lives back in New Orleans.
Winston passed for five TDs, New Orleans intercepted reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers twice, and the Saints kicked off the post-Drew Brees era with a strikingly dominant victory.
The game, originally scheduled for the Superdome, was moved while the New Orleans area continues to clean up wreckage left by Hurricane Ida, which struck southeast Louisiana as a Category 4 storm on Aug. 29, 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the same region.
After canceling their final preseason game and practicing two weeks in the Dallas area, the Saints looked as sharp and inspired as any club with such distractions could have hoped.
Winston, who led the NFL with 30 interceptions in his last season as a starter with Tampa Bay in 2019, was largely judicious and accurate in going 14 of 20 for 148 yards without an interception.
Rodgers, who was pulled with nearly 11 minutes left, finished 15 of 28 for 133 yards and no TDs. He led one drive to a field goal at the end of the first half.
SEAHAWKS 28, COLTS 16
INDIANAPOLIS – Russell Wilson threw three of his four touchdown passes in the first half as the defending NFC West champions won the 12th of their past 13 games in the early Sunday time slot. Indy lost its eighth straight opener, the past five with different starting quarterbacks, this time Carson Wentz. Wilson was sensational in his first action with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, shredding a top-10 defense that entered the season with even higher aspirations. Despite taking no preseason snaps, the eighttime Pro Bowler led the Seahawks to TDs on their first two drives.
TEXANS 37, JAGUARS 21
HOUSTON – Tyrod Taylor threw for 291 yards and two TDs in a win over Trevor Lawrence and the mistake-prone Jaguars. Taylor took over at quarterback for Houston with Deshaun Watson’s future with the team uncertain after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment after he requested a trade. Expectations for the Texans were low entering this season with Watson out and star defensive end J.J. Watt gone to Arizona. But Taylor and Houston’s revamped running game were more than enough. It was a bumpy debut for Lawrence. He threw for 332 yards and three TDs but also tossed three interceptions, often overthrew open receivers and was the victim of several drops. It was also the NFL debut for Jaguars coach Urban Meyer.
CARDINALS 38, TITANS 13
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Kyler Murray scored five TDs and linebacker Chandler Jones had a career-high five sacks. Jones, who tied the franchise record and who wants a new contract, also forced two fumbles Arizona turned into 14 points. Murray tormented the Titans throwing for 289 yards with two TD passes apiece to All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk.
49ERS 41, LIONS 33
DETROIT – Dre Greenlaw returned an interception for a TD to help the 49ers score 17 points over two-plus minutes late in the first half. San Francisco led 38-10 early in the fourth quarter and allowed Detroit to score 23 points in three-plus minutes to pull within eight points. But the Lions turned the ball over on downs at the San Francisco 24 with 12 seconds left after getting it back on a fumble by Deebo Samuel.
CHARGERS 20, WASHINGTON 16
LANDOVER, Md. – Justin Herbert threw for 337 yards and a TD in an ugly Week 1 matchup full of turnovers and big penalties. Herbert led scoring drives of 75, 76 and 68 yards, and a go-ahead TD pass to Mike Williams made up for his fumble into the end zone and redzone interception on consecutive possessions. The Chargers went 14 of 19 on third downs. The teams combined for 14 penalties for 151 yards and three giveaways.
EAGLES 32, FALCONS 6
ATLANTA – Jalen Hurts threw three TD passes, the first to Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, and the Eagles made a winner of Nick Sirianni in his head coaching debut. Another Philadelphia rookie, fifth-round pick Kenneth Gainwell, scored his first TD as a pro with an 8-yard run in the third quarter.
BENGALS 27, VIKINGS 24, OT
CINCINNATI – Evan McPherson kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired in overtime. The winning kick was set up by a gutsy call. On fourth-andinches 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. McPherson had a 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati’s Germaine Pratt recovered Dalvin Cook’s fumble to set up the winning drive.
DOLPHINS 17, PATRIOTS 16
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – 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. It was Miami’s second straight win over the Patriots. Tagovailoa finished 16 of 27 for 202 yards, a touchdown and one interception, and also had a 3-yard TD run. Miami’s win spoiled the debut of New England’s Mac Jones, the first rookie quarterback to start for the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. Jones was 29 of 39 for 281 yards and a touchdown. Damien Harris rushed 23 times for 100 yards but had the costly fumble to end New England’s comeback hopes.
BRONCOS 27, GIANTS 13
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Teddy Bridgewater threw two touchdowns in his first start for Denver and the Broncos dominated possession. Acquired in the offseason from Carolina, Bridgewater completed 28 of 36 passes for 264 yards, sharing the ball with nine receivers. The 28-year-old QB hit Tim Patrick on a goahead 2-yard TD pass with 8 seconds left in the half.
PANTHERS 19, JETS 14
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sam Darnold threw for 279 yards and a TD and ran for a score against his former team. Darnold connected on a 57-yard TD pass with fellow ex-Jet Robby Anderson and took full advantage of a healthy Christian McCaffrey, who piled up 187 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches after missing 13 games last season with injuries.