Friday Night: Eagles 34, Packers 29
Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in his debut for Philadelphia, leading the Eagles past the Green Bay Packers 34-29 on Friday night in the first NFL game in South America.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love limped off the field with assistance after getting injured with 6 seconds left. Backup Malik Willis was sacked by Zack Baun on the final play of the game, preventing him from launching a Hail Mary from the Philadelphia 47.
Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and 2 yards. Barkley spent six seasons with the New York Giants before Philadelphia signed him to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million guaranteed.
He became the first player to score three touchdowns in his Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Jalen Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Eagles. A.J. Brown caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.
Love went 17 of 34 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering what is believed to be a sprained MCL.
Love will undergo further testing to confirm the diagnosis. The Packers hope it is a three-to-four-week injury.
SUNDAY:
Bills 34, Cardinals 28
Josh Allen threw for four touchdown in a Buffalo win over Arizona the Bills outscored the Cardinals 28-3 spanning halftime.
Allen was 18 of 23 for 232 yards and completed 11-yard touchdown passes to Mack Hollins and Khalil Shakir.
Greg Rousseau had a career-best three sacks, including one that forced a fumble. The defense preserved the Bills’ win when Damar Hamlin and Ja’Marcus Ingram broke up Kyler Murray’s pass attempt to Greg Dortch near the goal line on fourth-and-7 from Buffalo’s 29 with 26 seconds remaining.
Murray finished 21 of 31 for 162 yards and a touchdown and also led the Cardinals in rushing with 57 yards on five carries.
Arizona rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth player selected in the draft, had a near-invisible NFL debut while finishing with one catch — on three targets — for 4 yards.
Patriots 16, Bengals 10
Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, Joey Slye kicked three field goals and New England won Jerod Mayo’s debut as coach, beating mistake-prone Cincinnati 16-10 on Sunday.
Jacoby Brissett, the nine-year veteran chosen by Mayo to start over first-round draft pick Drake Maye, held onto the ball and kept the Patriots moving well enough to outlast the slow-starting Bengals.
Mayo, a 38-year-old former Patriots linebacker, was previously an assistant to six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick, who agreed to step down after going 4-13 last season.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow, fully healthy to start a season for the first time since his rookie year in 2020, finished a pedestrian 21 of 29 for 164 yards.
His No. 1 receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, had six catches for 62 yards. Chase said he was sick with food poisoning in recent days but felt fine for the game.
Vikings 28, Giants 6
Sam Darnold threw two touchdown passes in a highly efficient performance and Andrew Van Ginkel scored on a spectacular one-handed 10-yard interception return to lead the Minnesota Vikings to an easy 28-6 victory over the woeful New York Giants on Sunday.
Darnold completed his first 12 passes and had touchdown passes of 3 yards to Justin Jefferson and 21 to Jalen Nailor in making an impressive debut for the Vikings, who are coming off a 7-10 season, He also had a 22-yard pass to Josh Oliver to help set up Aaron Jones’ 3-yard TD run that put Minnesota ahead 7-3 late in the first quarter and got Kevin O’Connell’s team off to a good start.
Darnold, who played in San Francisco last season, was signed as a veteran presence for first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan product injured a knee in training camp and won’t play this season.
Bears 24, Titans
Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, part of a defensive performance that bailed out rookie QB Caleb Williams, and the Chicago Bears beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17 on Sunday.
The Bears rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit, and they did it without a touchdown from their revamped offense. They shut down the Titans over the final two quarters and spoiled the debut of Tennessee coach Brian Callahan.
Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, finished 14 of 29 for 93 yards with a 55.7 passer rating. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Southern California still became the first quarterback drafted first overall to win his initial start since 2002, when David Carr led Houston past Dallas.
Will Levis was 19 of 32 for 127 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions to start his second season. Tony Pollard ran for 82 yards and a TD for Tennessee.
Saints 47, Panthers 10
Derek Carr passed for three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints scored on their first nine possessions in a 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams each ran for touchdowns and Blake Grupe kicked four field goals — two from beyond 50 yards.
The Panthers, who went 2-15 last season, made front office, coaching and key roster changes in hopes of improving this season. But this season opener could not have gone much worse for new coach Dave Canales and second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Young was 13 of 30 passing for 161 yards and was intercepted twice — once each by safeties Will Harris and Jordan Howden.
Steelers 18, Falcons 10
Chris Boswell booted six field goals, three of them longer than 50 yards, to account for all of Pittsburgh’s scoring as Justin Fields and the Steelers grinded out an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Fields stepped in after Russell Wilson‘s debut with the Steelers was put on hold by a calf injury —- getting a big assist from Boswell and a defense that made life miserable for Kirk Cousins in his first game as Atlanta’s quarterback.
Boswell connected from 57, 56, 51, 44, 40 and 25 yards — and even stepped in to handle a crucial punt in the closing minutes after Cameron Johnston was injured.
Johnston went down when an Atlanta player was blocked into him, actually resulting in a penalty on the Steelers. Pittsburgh was forced to punt again, with Boswell handling the duties.
In his first game since Oct. 29, Cousins was just 16 of 26 for 155 yards with two interceptions, including a pick by Donte Jackson and 49-yard return with about 2 1/2 minutes that finished off any hopes of an Atlanta comeback.
Dolphins 20, Jaguars 17
Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired, and the Miami Dolphins rallied past the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 on Sunday to win their fourth straight season opener.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 336 yards and a touchdown and led Miami on an eight-play, 31-yard drive over the final 2:09.
Tyreek Hill started the comeback with 80-yard touchdown catch that sparked Miami’s sluggish offense in the third quarter and got the Dolphins within 17-14. After the score, Hill placed his hands behind his back as if to simulate being handcuffed, hours after he was placed facedown and handcuffed on a street by Miami-Dade Police officers after being stopped for a traffic violation near Hard Rock Stadium.
Hill finished with seven catches for 130 yards. Devon Achane seven catches for 75 yards and ran for 25 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Trevor Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Tank Bigsby had 73 yards on 12 carries.
Texans 29, Colts 27
Stefon Diggs caught two touchdown passes and Joe Mixon ran for 159 yards and another score in their Houston debuts to help the Texans close out a 29-27 victory against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
C.J. Stroud was 24 of 32 with 234 yards and no turnovers as the defending AFC South champs won their ninth consecutive road game in division play.
Diggs caught six passes for 33 yards with two touchdowns — a 9-yard score to give Houston a 12-7 lead it never surrendered and a 2-yard TD reception on fourth-and-goal to essentially seal the victory with 4:42 to play.
Mixon carried a career-high 30 times.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson was 9 of 19 with 212 yards and one interception and ran six times for 56 yards.
Chargers 22, Raiders 10
J.K. Dobbins rushed for 135 yards on 10 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, as the L.A. Chargers rallied in the second half for a 22-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Midway through the fourth quarter and with Los Angeles up 16-10, Dobbins had a 61-yard run to the Las Vegas 14. Three plays later, Justin Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey for a 10-yard touchdown to put it out of reach. The 2-point conversion was no good.
The 8-play, 92-yard drive came after Raiders coach Antonio Pierce elected to punt on fourth-and-1 at the Chargers 43 instead of going for it.
Among Los Angeles’ forced three turnovers was Khalil Mack returning Gardner Minshew’s fumble 22 yards to the Las Vegas 12 late in the first half.
Justin Herbert was 17 of 26 for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Seahawks 26, Broncos 20
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 84 of his 103 yards and a touchdown in the second half and sparked a rally to lead the Seahawks to a 26-20 win over the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos led 13-9 at the half thanks in part to two safeties, but Walker changed the momentum in the third quarter as Seattle recommitted to the ground game. He gained 53 yards on five carries on Seattle’s first drive of the second half, capped by a 23-yard touchdown run. Walker had another TD called back on a penalty, but he still produced the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was part of the early struggles for the Seahawks offense but found a rhythm in the second half. Smith ran for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter — the longest run of his career — and hit Zach Charbonnet on a 30-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave Seattle a 26-13 lead.
Smith finished 18 of 25 for 171 yards.
Denver rookie QB Bo Nix was 26 of 42 for 138 yards and was twice intercepted on careless throws — once by Julian Love at the Seattle 1 and the other time by Riq Woolen in the fourth quarter. The Broncos finished with 231 total yards and committed three turnovers.
Cowboys 33, Browns 17
Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass hours after agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract with Dallas and the Cowboys’ defense roughed up Deshaun Watson in his return, throttling the Cleveland Browns 33-17 in their opener Sunday.
Prescott completed 19 of 32 passes for 179 yards and spent much of the second half relaxing on the sideline.
Brandon Aubrey kicked field goals of 57, 50, 46 and 40 yards for Dallas.
Watson played for the first time since breaking a bone in his right shoulder in November. Cleveland’s QB didn’t play during the preseason and the Browns’ new-look offense didn’t look very good with him running it.
Watson was sacked six times, intercepted twice and the 28-year-old wasn’t sharp. He finished 24 of 45 for 169 yards in just his 13th game for Cleveland since signing a $230 million fully guaranteed deal in 2022.
Buccaneers 37, Commanders 20
Baker Mayfield threw 289 yards and four touchdowns Sunday to lead the three-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers to a 37-20 rout of the new-look Washington Commanders and spoil the pro debut of No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels.
Mike Evans caught two TD passes, and Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan each scored once for the Bucs.
Daniels was more effective running the ball than passing, scoring a pair of rushing TDs for Washington.
Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes without an interception, including TD throws of 1 and 17 yards to Evans, who had five catches for 61 yards. Goodwin scored on a 4-yard reception and McMillan had a 32-yard TD catch in the second half.
Daniels scored on a pair of 1-yard runs after halftime, the last one coming with just under two minutes left. He finished with 88 yards rushing on 16 attempts and went 17 of 24 passing for 184 yards and no interceptions. The Bucs sacked him twice.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Lions 26, Rams 20 OT
David Montgomery’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted the Detroit Lions to a 26-20 win over the Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night in a rematch of their NFC wild-card game.
The Lions lost a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter, but extended the game with Jake Bates‘ tying 32-yard field goal in the final minute of regulation.
Detroit won the coin flip and took advantage of having the ball, gaining at least 9 yards on its first four plays in overtime to set up Montgomery’s winning score.
The Rams were in a position to spoil Detroit’s season-opening party when Stafford threw a go-ahead, 9-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.
They just couldn’t make enough plays on both sides of the ball to hold on for the win.
Stafford completed 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kupp matched a career high with 14 receptions and had 110 yards receiving.
Jared Goff was 18 of 28 for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Jameson Williams tied a career high with five catches and set a personal best with 121 yards receiving.
Montgomery had 17 carries for 91 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs ran 11 times for 40 yards — with both scoring a TD.
Tonight on MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
The New York Jets are in the Bay Area to battle the San Francisco 49ers.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery’s walk-off touchdown seals the Lions’ overtime win at home over the Los Angeles Rams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans’ combine for a second touchdown connection late in the fourth quarter to widen the Bucs already large lead.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix gets his first NFL TD against the Seahawks.
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey’s 57-yard field goal wows Tom Brady on the broadcast.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin burns Cleveland Browns with punt-return score.
Denver Broncos tackle Seahawks in their own end zone for the second safety in one half.
Tom Brady’s film breakdown of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s TD pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks vs. Cleveland Browns blitz.
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders’ 52-yard boot gives the Dolphins the win over the Jaguars.
Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson intercepts Will Levis’ pass to seal the Bears’ win over the Titans.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins to end the game.
First kick-return TD of 2024! Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas burns the Bills for a 96-yard score.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill beats two defenders for an 80-yard TD.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson hits wide receiver Alec Pierce deep for a 60-yard TD against the Houston Texans.
On their opening drive of the 2024 NFL season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr burns the Carolina Panthers with a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
