Betting Odds – Graffiti Wall

(Sunday, September 13th)

Final Score: Boston 3, Tampa Bay 1 (Game One) Final Score: Boston 4, Tampa Bay 0 (Game Two)

Boston, MA – Jon Lester hurled eight scoreless innings and Jason Varitek drove in two runs, as Boston downed reeling Tampa Bay, 4-0, in the back end of a day-night doubleheader from Fenway Park. Jason Bay homered and Mike Lowell knocked in the other run for the Red Sox, who took the opener by a 3-1 count thanks to Dustin Pedroia’s game-winning two-run homer in the eighth and have won five in a row. Lester (13-7) won his third consecutive start, yielding only two hits while fanning seven with three walks for Boston, whose lead in the AL wild card race increased to four games over Texas, which split a doubleheader with Seattle. Evan Longoria doubled for the Rays, who extended their losing streak to 11 consecutive games. James Shields (9-11) was tagged for six hits and three runs with six strikeouts and three walks over six full frames.

Final Score: New York 13, Baltimore 3

Bronx, NY – Hideki Matsui singled home the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning and belted a three-run homer to highlight an eight-run eighth, as the New York Yankees salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a 13-3 rout of Baltimore. Matsui finished 3-for-5 and Melky Cabrera knocked in four runs for New York, which had lost two in a row for the first time since August 16-17. The Yankees haven’t dropped three straight since losing the first three of a four-game set at Chicago from July 30-August 1. Derek Jeter went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Robinson Cano chipped in three hits with a pair of runs scored in the victory. Jeter now has 101 runs scored this season, the 12th time he has reached the century mark. CC Sabathia (17-7) was the beneficiary of the late offensive surge, improving to 7-0 in nine starts since his last defeat on July 28. He gave up three runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout in seven innings to become the American League’s first 17-game winner. Jeremy Guthrie (10-14) took the loss for Baltimore after allowing five runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Orioles were bidding for their first three-game sweep in the Bronx since June 6-8, 1986.

Final Score: Kansas City 7, Cleveland 0

Cleveland, OH – Kyle Davies tossed six innings of one-hit ball, and Kansas City took the rubber match of a three-game series from Cleveland, 7-0. John Buck connected for a home run and RBI double for the Royals, who had a five-game win streak broken on Saturday. Mitch Maier and Willie Bloomquist had a pair of hits each and knocked in a run while Billy Butler doubled and had two RBI. Davies (8-9) won his fourth straight start and fifth in the last six outings, walking six with three strikeouts. Roman Colon tossed two innings of relief and Carlos Rosa one. Carlos Carrasco (0-2) lasted six innings and yielded five runs — four earned — on eight hits, marking his longest outing in what was his third career start.

Final Score: Detroit 7, Toronto 2

Detroit, MI – Rookie Rick Porcello was solid on the hill and Brandon Inge had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-2, in the third installment of a four- game set. Porcello (13-8) got the win after going six innings and giving up two runs on four hits with two punchouts and as many walks. Zach Miner, Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney combined to throw the final three innings, and yielded one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Marcus Thames and Aubrey Huff drove in a run each for the Tigers, who snapped a five-game slide. Gerald Laird had two RBI and Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Tigers have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Twins for the lead in the AL Central. Fellow rookie Ricky Romero (12-8) took the loss after surrendering four runs on 10 hits in six innings of work. Aaron Hill and Edwin Encarnacion drove in a run each for Toronto, which saw its three-game winning streak halted.

Final Score: Minnesota 8, Oakland 0

Minneapolis, MN – Brian Duensing worked seven scoreless innings and Joe Mauer went 3-for-4 with a home run and knocked in two, as Minnesota avoided a potential untimely three-game sweep by Oakland with an 8-0 victory. Duensing (3-1) scattered eight hits, walked three and struck out six. The lefty hurler was plucked from the bullpen and inserted into the rotation in late August and has allowed three runs or fewer in five starts since, going 3-0. Michael Cuddyer collected three hits and drove in two while Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run double and scored twice for the Twins, who had dropped three straight and four of five coming in. Denard Span was 2-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and scored a pair of runs. Minnesota remains 5 1/2 games back of the Tigers while the White Sox have also jumped into the fray. Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez (5-6) was rocked for eight hits and seven runs in three-plus innings. Rajai Davis had three hits and Bobby Crosby two for the A’s, who were winners in five of six entering play.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 3, Chicago 2

Anaheim, CA – Torii Hunter’s leadoff homer in the seventh inning proved to be the difference, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim edged the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game set. Maicer Izturis went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Angels, who have won five of six. Bobby Abreu had a sacrifice fly in the triumph. Scott Kazmir lasted six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits to get a no-decision. Darren Oliver (5-1) got the win after tossing an inning of perfect relief for the Angels, who lead the AL West. Carlos Quentin drove in both runs for the White Sox, who have alternated wins and losses for the last eight games. Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko both had two hits and scored in the setback. Mark Buehrle (12-8) took the loss after yielding three runs — two earned — on five hits over seven frames. The White Sox are six games behind the Tigers for the lead in the AL Central.

Final Score: Texas 7, Seattle 2 (Game One) Final Score: Seattle 5, Texas 0 (Game Two)

Arlington, TX – Ichiro Suzuki’s record-setting night overshadowed a dazzling performance by Felix Hernandez, as the Seattle Mariners blanked Texas, 5-0, to split a doubleheader with the Rangers. With an infield single in the second inning that plated Josh Wilson, Suzuki became the first player in major league baseball history to compile nine consecutive 200-hit seasons, breaking the all-time mark previously owned by Willie Keeler since 1901. In the process, he also tied Ty Cobb for the American League record for most 200-hit seasons in a career. The all- time major league record is 10 by Pete Rose. Hernandez (15-5), meanwhile, scattered four hits, walked one and fanned five batters over seven tremendous innings. Adrian Beltre clubbed a two-run homer for the Mariners, who won for just the second time in their last eight tries. Franklin Gutierrez collected two hits and scored twice, while Jose Lopez and Jack Wilson each knocked in run. Julio Borbon had three hits in four plate appearances for Texas, which took the opener, 7-2, behind Tommy Hunter’s first career complete game. Texas is four games back of Boston in the AL wild card standings and trails the Angels by six games in the AL West. Derek Holland (7-11) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs and eight hits over six full frames.

Final Score: Washington 7, Florida 2

Miami, FL – Pete Orr went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and scored twice, as the Washington Nationals earned a 7-2 rain-shortened win over the Florida Marlins in the rubber match of a three-game set. The game was delayed for a combined three hours and three minutes and was finally postponed after 8 1/2 innings in the books. Elijah Dukes added a two-run single, while Cristian Guzman had three hits and a run batted in for Washington, which has won three of four. John Lannan (9-11) earned the win after working five solid innings. The left-hander allowed one run on six hits, struck out three and walked one. It was his first win since August 5, which also came against Florida. Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross knocked in the runs for the Marlins, who lost for only the third time in their last 11 games. Florida dropped to 6 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL East after the Phillies swept a day-night doubleheader against the Mets. Chris Volstad (9-12) took the loss after getting roughed up for five runs — four earned — on five hits in three frames. The right-hander walked five and fanned two.

Final Score: Philadelphia 5, New York 4 (Game One) Final Score: Philadelphia 1, New York 0 (Game Two)

Philadelphia, PA – It was Pedro Martinez circa 1999 on the mound for the Phillies, as the veteran right-hander twirled a gem to help Philadelphia sweep a day-night doubleheader with a 1-0 win over the New York Mets. In his longest outing of the season, Martinez (5-0) scattered six hits, walked two and struck out seven over eight strong innings, throwing a mind-boggling 130 pitches — 80 for strikes — in the process. Ryan Madson overcame a one-out single by Brian Schneider in the ninth to notch his eighth save. In the opener, Kyle Kendrick made his first start of the season and gave up two runs in 7 1/3 innings, as the Phillies escaped with a 5-4 win. Chase Utley knocked in the game’s lone run in the nightcap’s opening frame for the Phillies, who have won five of their last seven games. Philadelphia leads the Marlins by 6 1/2 games in the NL East. Schneider and Anderson Hernandez both had two hits for the Mets, who have dropped seven of nine. Tim Redding (2-6) was the hard-luck loser after allowing a run and three hits over six full frames. He retired 14 batters in a row and 15 of the last 16 he faced following a leadoff double by Pedro Feliz in the second inning.

Final Score: Atlanta 9, St. Louis 2

St. Louis, MO – Adam LaRoche went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, three runs batted in and two runs scored, while Javier Vazquez tossed his 25th career complete game, as the Atlanta Braves dominated the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-2, to sweep a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Vazquez (13-9) allowed just two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts to take the win for the Braves, who swept the Cardinals in St. Louis for the first time since August, 1999. Vazquez, who tossed his second complete game of the year, improved to 9-2 in 15 starts on the road this season. Matt Diaz and Yunel Escobar drove in a pair of runs for Atlanta, which swept its sixth series of the season. Chris Carpenter (16-4) got rocked in six frames, giving up seven runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks to take the loss for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, who had won five of six entering the series. Matt Holliday drove in the only two runs for St. Louis. Skip Schumaker went 3-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Cincinnati 2

Chicago, IL – Ted Lilly threw six innings of shutout ball to lead the Cubs past the Reds, 5-2, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Lilly (12-8) scattered six hits and two walks, striking out seven for the Cubs, who have won five of six. Derek Lee went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, while Andres Blanco had a two-run single during his three-hit performance. Homer Bailey (5-5), who had allowed five earned runs in his last four outings combined, was touched for three runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings for Cincinnati, which has lost six of seven. Drew Stubbs went 2-for-5 while driving in both of the club’s runs in the loss.

Final Score: Pittsburgh 2, Houston 1

Houston, TX – Paul Maholm threw eight shutout innings and Ryan Doumit hit a key solo homer, as the Pirates snapped their 13-game road losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Astros. Maholm (8-8) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two to take the win for Pittsburgh, which had not won a road contest since August 11 at Colorado. The Pirates snapped a five- game losing skid overall and avoided being swept in this three-game set. Felipe Paulino (2-9) took the loss despite giving up just a run on six hits and a walk in five frames. He also struck out seven for Houston, which lost for just the third time in its last 10 games.

Final Score: Milwaukee 5, Arizona 3

Phoenix, AZ – Alcides Escobar drove in a pair of runs, as the Milwaukee Brewers used a four-run seventh inning to defeat Arizona, 5-3, and complete a three-game sweep at Chase Field. Prince Fielder finished 2-for-4 with a home run for the Brewers, while Felipe Lopez and Mike Cameron had successive run-scoring singles in the aforementioned seventh. Chris Narveson, making just his second start in the majors, gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in three-plus innings. Carlos Villanueva (3-10) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings of relief. Chris Young belted a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped nine of their last 10 games. Max Scherzer came away with a no-decision after allowing one run and three hits over six solid innings. Daniel Schlereth (0-4) was credited with the loss.

Final Score: San Francisco 7, Los Angeles 2

San Francisco, CA – Juan Uribe went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, and Brad Penny tossed seven strong innings, as the Giants dealt the Dodgers a 7-2 defeat and avoided being swept in the three-game series. Penny (3-0), making his third start for the Giants since joining the team in late August, gave up two runs on five hits and two walks. He also struck out two for San Francisco, which snapped a four-game losing streak overall. With the victory, combined with Colorado’s loss to San Diego on Sunday, the Giants pulled to within 4 1/2 games of the Rockies in the NL wild card race. They still trail the first-place Dodgers by 7 1/2 games in the NL West. Travis Ishikawa had three hits for San Francisco, while Freddy Sanchez added two hits and two runs batted in. Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley (12-10) took the loss after giving up three runs on eight hits in four frames. He also fanned six but received his fourth loss in his last five starts. The Dodgers had won four of five and still lead the Rockies by three games in the division.

Final Score: San Diego 7, Colorado 3

San Diego, CA – Chase Headley drove in two runs as the San Diego Padres took the rubber match against the Colorado Rockies, 7-3. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and a run scored while Will Venable hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Padres, who have won four of their last five games. Clayton Richard started on the hill but did not factor into the game as he was charged with three runs on three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over five innings. Adam Russell (2-0) got the win for throwing a scoreless sixth inning. Garrett Atkins hit a two-run triple while Ryan Spilborghs drove in the other run for the Rockies, who dropped the last two games of this series after winning eight straight. Jason Marquis (15-11) was saddled with the loss as he was charged with five runs on eight hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. The loss, coupled with San Francisco’s win over Los Angeles on Sunday, cut Colorado’s lead in the NL Wild Card to just 4 1/2 games over the Giants. Also, Colorado trails the Dodgers by three games for first place in the NL West.

Final Score: Atlanta 19, Miami 7

Atlanta, GA – Matt Ryan threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 19-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the season-opener for a pair of surprising 2008 playoff teams at the Georgia Dome.

Tony Gonzalez, in his first game with the Falcons after 12 outstanding years with Kansas City, caught five passes for 73 yards and a score in the victory. Michael Turner ran for 65 yards for Atlanta (1-0), which rebounded from a 4-12 finish in 2007 with an 11-5 turnaround and a wild card berth in 2008.

“The thing that I’m happy about is getting a victory,” said Gonzalez. “It’s been awhile for me. Out there in KC last year [2-14], unfortunately, we didn’t have that good of a season. Getting a victory, it feels so good to be in a locker room, the guys are hooting and hollering. The coach is happy, even the negative plays you kind of look at them and say we have to improve on them.”

Miami’s about-face was even better last year, winning the AFC East at 11-5 in the first year under Tony Sparano after a 1-15 disaster in 2007. The Dolphins (0-1) committed just 13 turnovers last season, but on Sunday gave it away four times.

Chad Pennington completed 21-of-29 passes for 176 yards in defeat, throwing one touchdown pass and one interception. He was also sacked four times and fumbled once. Miami tight end Anthony Fasano fumbled twice after each of his two receptions.

The Wildcat offense that the Dolphins introduced to the NFL last season produced just three yards on four plays.

“I was really proud of how our football team played,” said Atlanta head coach Mike Smith. “We played with a lot of energy. They were very enthusiastic and I think our defense really attacked the football with the four turnovers.”

Atlanta took the opening kickoff and marched to the Miami 24, but the drive stalled there and Jason Elam missed a 42-yard field goal try. Miami then fumbled on just its third play from scrimmage, as Pennington was sacked and lost the ball, but with a first down at the Miami 37, the Falcons were unable to convert, thanks in part to a personal foul penalty, and punted it away.

The next Atlanta possession began at its own 11 and Ryan directed a time- consuming march for the first points of the game. Last season’s top offensive rookie keyed the 14-play drive that ate up nearly 7 1/2 minutes with a 22-yard pass to Michael Jenkins on 2nd-and-15. He then hit Roddy White for 14 yards on 3rd-and-11 from near midfield and connected with Gonzalez for 15 more on 3rd- and-8. Gonzalez then made a nice catch for 19 yards to set up a first down at the Miami one and fullback Ovie Mughelli hauled in Ryan’s next pass in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

After a trade of punts, the Dolphins appeared set to put points on the board with a first down at the Atlanta 16. However, on the first play after the two- minute warning, Fasano was drilled by linebacker Mike Peterson after a reception and coughed up the ball at the 10-yard line.

The Falcons, after a 53-yard fumble return, quickly responded with a five-play series that ended with an Elam field goal from 36 yards for a 10-0 lead in the final minute of the opening half.

After a series of punts to start the third quarter, the Dolphins moved from their own 20 to the Atlanta 47, but Peterson stepped in front of a Pennington pass and returned the interception 39 yards to the Miami 20.

Ryan and Gonzalez converted the turnover into a touchdown just three plays later. The quarterback read the blitz and found Gonzalez in the flat, and the future Hall of Fame tight end eluded a tackle and raced to the end zone for a 16-0 lead after Elam missed the extra point.

Fasano fumbled on Miami’s next series, but Elam missed a 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. He connected from 50 yards away on Atlanta’s next series for a 19-0 cushion with 7:35 remaining.

The Dolphins then put together a 12-play, 76-yard drive against Atlanta’s prevent defense and scored when Pennington hit Ricky Williams with a short pass that turned into a nine-yard touchdown with 3:22 to play.

“We have talked about staying committed,” said Sparano, whose team started 0-2 last year. “Our mentality was tested today. I thought we fought real hard. The team played hard, but we didn’t do smart things. That’s one of the things this football team prides itself on and I don’t think a person in that locker room right now will tell you anything different. We know how to win and lose in this league, and tonight we did things that will force you to not win in this league.”

Game Notes

Gonzalez became the 21st player in NFL history with 11,000 career receiving yards…Elam has 39 career field goals of 50-plus yards…John Abraham had two of Atlanta’s sacks. He has 86 career sacks and recorded his 19th multiple-sack game…The Dolphins have never been shut out in a season opener…It marked the most turnovers for Miami since committing five in a December 9, 2007 game at Buffalo.

Final Score: Baltimore 38, Kansas City 24

Baltimore, MD – Joe Flacco threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton with 2:06 to play, and Willis McGahee added his second TD of the day to sew up the Baltimore Ravens’ 38-24 win over the feisty Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season opener for both teams from M&T Bank Stadium.

Flacco led a rare offensive assault for the defensive-minded Ravens (1-0), with Baltimore’s 501 yards of total offense marking a single-game franchise record.

The second-year quarterback out of Delaware completed 26-of-43 passes for 307 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, breaking a 24-24 tie with the deep scoring lob to Clayton. Ray Rice led the ground game with 19 carries for 108 yards.

“We had a great game,” said Flacco of the offensive display. “We have to continue to get better. We didn’t really convert some of our drives into touchdowns early on in the game. If we had done that, it would have been a much better game for us.”

Prior to the scoring strike to Clayton, Flacco helped the Ravens overcome a surprising deficit by hitting Todd Heap with a nine-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-14 with 3:57 to play in the third.

But the Chiefs (0-1) refused to die, tying the game at 17-17 on a 53-yard field goal by rookie Ryan Succop with 11:57 to play in the fourth quarter.

After Baltimore broke back ahead on a one-yard scoring run for Le’Ron McClain with 8:10 to play in the fourth quarter, Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle — subbing for the injured Matt Cassel (knee) — led a six-play, 80-yard drive culminating with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Ryan with 5:21 to play.

The Chiefs hung in for nearly four quarters despite the absence of Cassel, who was injured in the team’s third preseason game, and the team couldn’t muster a win in their initial foray under head coach Todd Haley.

“I made it very clear to the team that for us to win the game it was not going to be a pretty game,” said Haley. “For us to win the game or have a chance to win the game, it was going to be downright ugly. And really, that’s the type of game we played until the [go-ahead play] that they had when they had the big play for the touchdown on [Clayton's] post.”

Haley also handled play-calling duties for Kansas City after firing offensive coordinator Chan Gailey late in the preseason, and the Chiefs accrued just 188 total yards and 11 first downs in Week 1. Croyle finished 16-of-24 passing for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the running game led by Larry Johnson’s 20 yards on 11 carries generated a mere 29 yards.

“Brodie Croyle gave us a chance to win today, and that’s all I’ll ever ask my quarterback to do,” said Haley. “I don’t know what his numbers were. I know at some point there it was not pretty, but he was completing the ball where he had to, and most importantly he was not turning it over.”

Despite leading just 10-7 at the half, the Ravens dominated the first-half statistics, outgaining the Chiefs, 215-56, with 12 first downs to Kansas City’s three, and limiting Johnson and the running game to just 19 yards on 11 carries.

Baltimore looked to be in command after scoring on each of its first two drives.

After Kansas City went three-and-out to open the game, Flacco led Baltimore on a nine-play, 54-yard march culminating with a 44-yard field goal for Steve Hauschka at the 10:19 mark of the first quarter.

The next time Baltimore got the ball, after another Kansas City three-and-out, Flacco orchestrated a 13-play, 70-yard drive consuming 6:44 and ending with a three-yard touchdown pass to McGahee following a lengthy scramble for the QB.

Kansas City was not moving the ball with similar proficiency. The Chiefs did not have a first down in the first quarter, going three-and-out on each of their first four drives. Their initial first down came on a pass from Croyle to Bobby Engram with less than three minutes to play in the second quarter.

But a blocked punt at the 9:55 mark of the second quarter kept the Chiefs in the game, as Jon McGraw both blocked and recovered a Sam Koch punt in the end zone to cut the score to 10-7.

With just under 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, Derrick Johnson intercepted a Flacco pass and returned it all the way to the Baltimore six- yard line. Two plays later, Croyle hit Derrick Bowe with a two-yard pass that gave the Chiefs a 14-10 lead with 8:52 to play in the third.

Game Notes

The Chiefs lost in Baltimore for the first time since the 1975 season, when they fell to the Colts at Memorial Stadium…Croyle is now 0-9 as an NFL starter…McGahee scored his 40th and 41st career touchdowns, but the first- quarter TD was just the second scoring reception of his career. The other was against the Jets on September 16, 2007, McGahee’s first touchdown as a Raven…The Chiefs are now 2-24 in their last 26 regular season games dating back to the 2007 season, including 1-12 on the road over that stretch…McGraw’s blocked punt for a touchdown was the first such score against the Ravens since November 1, 1998, when Jacksonville’s Alvis Whitted scored off a block…Hauschka, who is attempting to replace Ravens all-time leading scorer Matt Stover, also missed a 41-yard field goal wide left in the second quarter.

Final Score: Philadelphia 38, Carolina 10

Charlotte, NC – Donovan McNabb accounted for three touchdowns in Philadelphia’s 38-10 drubbing of Carolina in the season opener, but it was his rushing TD in the third quarter that may cost the Eagles down the road.

Deep in Carolina territory, McNabb couldn’t find an open receiver and decided to tuck the ball and run. With the only thing between him and the end zone being Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall, McNabb lowered his shoulder and took a big hit before spinning across the goal line.

There was no touchdown celebration, as McNabb grimaced on the ground and stayed there for several minutes before trainers came to his aid.

The QB walked off the field under his own power but exited toward the locker room shortly thereafter, finishing with 79 yards through the air and two touchdowns on 10-of-18 completions. He added 27 yards on the ground.

McNabb came back to the sideline during the fourth quarter but was clearly in pain with what was revealed to be a fractured rib.

“I’ll know more as we go,” Eagles head coach Andy Reid said of McNabb’s status going forward. “I know he has a fracture rib. We’ll see how he does.”

The events overshadowed a dominating effort for the Eagles (1-0), who last season lost their fourth NFC Championship Game this decade. Brian Westbrook didn’t show signs of offseason ankle surgery, rushing for 64 yards on 13 carries and catching a touchdown.

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who took over for the late Jim Johnson, had a strong showing in his first game, as his unit forced seven turnovers, recorded five sacks and held the Panthers to 169 yards.

Jake Delhomme, fresh off signing a contract extension this offseason, had a forgettable start for Carolina (0-1), throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble that resulted in an Eagles touchdown. The veteran signal-caller finished 7-for-17 for 73 yards and was benched midway through the third quarter for Josh McCown, whose knee injury forced the team to use emergency QB Matt Moore.

“I wasn’t getting anything going for us,” Delhomme said. “It’s frustrating to open the season this way. We still have a long way to go.”

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were held to 37 and 35 yards, respectively. Williams scored the only TD for the defending NFC South champion Panthers, who won all eight of their regular-season home games in 2008.

Carolina meticulously drove down the field on the game’s first possession. Stewart got enough for a first down on 4th-and-1 from the Eagles’ two-yard line, and following two false start penalties, Williams showed off his speed around the left end, dashing to the end zone to cap the eight-minute march.

The rest of the game didn’t go as well for the Panthers.

The Eagles punted on their first touch of the game, and Sheldon Brown got the ball back with a diving interception in enemy territory to set up a 49-yard David Akers field goal with under a minute to play in the opening quarter.

Philly then scored three touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second frame despite running just one offensive play.

On the first snap of the frame, Trent Cole came in untouched and knocked the ball out of Delhomme’s hands, and fellow defensive lineman Victor Abiamiri recovered at the two yard-line and rolled into the end zone for the score.

A little later, DeSean Jackson fielded a punt at his own 15, made one tackler miss and danced down the left sideline to paydirt.

On the ensuing drive, Brown picked off another inadvertent Delhomme pass and returned it 37 yards to the Carolina nine, where Brent Celek took a dump pass and rumbled in for a 24-7 lead with 9:55 left in the half.

Westbrook capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive later in the second, taking a shovel pass from McNabb four yards for a touchdown. A promising Carolina drive stalled in the red zone, with John Kasay’s 22-yard field goal making it 31-10 at halftime.

The third quarter started with the quarterbacks trading interceptions, and the Eagles converted Delhomme’s pick with McNabb’s three-yard touchdown run that finished his afternoon.

Delhomme’s next attempt through the air was intercepted by Asante Samuel, ending his frustrating day.

With Michael Vick’s suspension not getting lifted until Week 3 this season, Kevin Kolb took over for the Eagles and didn’t lead the team to any points while throwing for just 23 yards on 7-of-11 throws and losing a fumble.

“If it comes to [Kolb starting next week], I have trust in Kevin to do the job,” Reid said. “With the No. 2 guy, they don’t get a chance to get a lot of reps during the week. If he has a chance to get a little more reps, I think you’ll see a little more production.”

Philly finished off an uneventful fourth quarter and a thorough beating with a goalline stand with under a minute left.

Game Notes

Delhomme turned the ball over six times in his previous game, a playoff loss to Arizona…Carolina’s Julius Peppers blocked an Akers 51-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter…Panthers starting safety Chris Harris did not play due to a knee injury he aggravated in pregame warmups…Brown doubled his interception total of a year ago…Moore finished with 63 passing yards and an interception on 6-of-11 attempts…Darren Howard had two sacks for the Eagles…Next week, Philadelphia hosts New Orleans, while Carolina heads to Atlanta to meet the Falcons.

Final Score: Denver 12, Cincinnati 7

Cincinnati, OH – Brandon Stokley grabbed a tipped pass off a Cincinnati defender’s hands and sprinted the distance for an 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter as the Denver Broncos shocked the Bengals, 12-7, in the season opener for both teams at Paul Brown Stadium.

After the Bengals grabbed a 7-6 lead on Cedric Benson’s one-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left, Denver started on its own 13-yard line. Kyle Orton’s first pass fell incomplete, then on the next play, the former Chicago signal- caller threw to the far sideline and his underthrown pass was batted in the air by Leon Hall.

“So much went through my head,” Stokley said of the game-winning score. “I didn’t know if somebody was right behind me. I thought just get what you can and then I started thinking if you get caught in bounds, I forgot if we had timeouts left and then when I got by the goal line I saw one of their players kind of pull up so I just decided to take it down to the goal line and waste some time.”

Stokley picked the ball out of mid-air and sprinted down the sideline, but before crossing the goal line, the heads-up wide receiver slowed down to deliberately take extra time off the clock. After the two-point conversion failed, Denver was up 12-7.

Carson Palmer’s desperation heave on the final play of the game was intercepted by Tony Scheffler as time expired.

“We didn’t do enough things correct to win this football game,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “So we need to come out about 4:00 tomorrow a better football team than we are. That means playing with poise throughout all the adverse situations that occur in a game.”

Orton, who was acquired along with two first-round draft picks from Chicago for Jay Cutler in the offseason, passed for 243 yards on 17-of-28 efficiency.

Matt Prater connected on two field goals for Denver (1-0), which finished the 2008 season with an 8-8 record. Correll Buckhalter rushed for 46 yards on eight carries and Daniel Graham had three catches for 40 yards in the win.

It marked the first career win for 32-year-old head coach Josh McDaniels, who took over for the fired Mike Shanahan.

Palmer, who missed the majority of the 2008 campaign with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow, finished 21-of-33 for 247 yards and two interceptions.

Chad Ochocinco had five receptions for 89 yards, while Benson rushed for 76 yards and a score for the Bengals (0-1), who ended last season at 4-11-1.

Cincinnati could have taken a lead late in the opening quarter on a short field-goal attempt, but holder Kevin Huber let the snap go through his hands and Denver took over near midfield. Each team continued to struggle offensively afterward.

The Broncos opened the scoring on the last play of the half when Prater booted a 48-yard field goal, capping a nine-play, 52-yard drive. Starting at its own 18, Denver quickly moved it to the 48, then Orton connected with Jabar Gaffney for 21 yards down to the Bengals 31. After an incompletion and one-yard run by Buckhalter, Denver had to settle for the three as time expired.

Offensive ineptitude continued in the third, but another Prater effort, this time from 50 yards away, put Denver in front 6-0 with 14 seconds left in the period.

Starting at their own nine with 6:21 to play, Palmer guided the Bengals down to the Denver 32 at the two-minute warning, then found Brian Leonard for 18 yards. Two short passes to Andre Caldwell took it to the one-yard line before Benson banged in for the score. The extra point allowed Cincinnati to go ahead 7-6 with 38 seconds remaining.

Game Notes

The Broncos have won 17 of 25 lifetime meetings…Denver will play its 2009 home opener against Cleveland next Sunday, while Cincinnati visits Green Bay…Antwan Odom finished with two sacks.

Final Score: Minnesota 34, Cleveland 20

Cleveland, OH – Adrian Peterson ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns and Brett Favre threw a touchdown pass to rookie wideout Percy Harvin, as the Vikings started out a very different 2009 season with a convincing 34-20 win over Cleveland.

Favre was a bit rusty early on, mostly completing underneath routes to members of the backfield and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. The grizzled veteran finished 14-of-21 for 110 yards and a six-yard TD toss to Harvin, who made three catches for 36 yards.

Peterson, though, stole the show with a bruising 64-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter after a pair of short TDs early on for the Vikings (1-0), who ended a three-year playoff drought in 2008.

“I haven’t played with a running back like that. He’s pretty awesome but I guess that’s an understatement,” Favre said of Peterson.

Minnesota wasn’t the only team with a quarterback storyline heading into Sunday as Brady Quinn led Cleveland’s offense, ending a rather poorly kept secret of who would quarterback the Browns in the opener.

First-year head coach Eric Mangini, who guided the Jets and Favre last season before being dismissed, chose to keep his decision secret until gametime, although the former Notre Dame standout could be seen leading the first-team offense in practice during the week.

The clandestine strategy did little to bolster a stagnant offense as Quinn ended 21-for-35 with 205 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

However, much of that damage came on the Browns’ final possession — a nine- play 80-yard drive capped by a 26-yard TD pass to tight end Robert Royal. It was the first offensive touchdown for Cleveland since Week 10 of the 2008 season on November 17.

Cleveland’s other score came on special teams, when return man Josh Cribbs brought back a punt 67 yards to the end zone.

The Browns (0-1) went 4-12 under former coach Romeo Crennel last season and missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.

Minnesota was facing a 13-10 deficit at halftime but came out firing in the second half, scoring on both of its first two series.

The biggest gain on the first scoring march came on a 16-yard pass interference call, but Favre managed the offense effectively, hitting Shiancoe for 13 yards on 3rd-and-10. Harvin also came out of the wildcat formation for an 11-yard gain. Peterson had three chances for the end zone from the Cleveland four and plunged in on 3rd-and-1 to give the visitors a 17-13 lead.

“I didn’t see them stuffing the box that much. We knew what kind of defense we were facing,” said Peterson. “We knew they would be giving us a couple different looks. It’s more about how we execute.”

Cedric Griffin picked off a deep ball from Quinn to regain possession and Favre helped orchestrate an 82-yard scoring drive in 13 plays. Eight of the calls were runs, but Favre connected with Harvin for 21 yards on 2nd-and-18 deep in Vikings territory and capped the drive with a six-yard TD pass to the versatile Harvin, Minnesota’s first-round selection in this year’s draft.

“Workmanlike, there were no blips,” Vikings head coach Brad Childress said of Favre. “Not to make it sound like unspectacular was bad thing, but he made the routine plays routinely. I talk about that all the time.”

The Browns’ offense continued to misfire through the second half and Ryan Longwell’s 37-yard field goal increased the margin to 27-13 with a shade under seven minutes left to play.

“It’s hard to pinpoint right now but I think the change was an accurate assessment of what happened,” stated Quinn. “We didn’t do the things we needed to and personally I didn’t take care of the ball like I needed to.”

Peterson then put the game away for Minnesota with a 64-yard touchdown run that began off left tackle and took him up the near sideline. He crossed the goal line under a minute later for a comfortable 34-13 advantage.

“When you haven’t played extended snaps together it takes a little time to play off each other. That is what a first game looks like,” said Childress. “I’m happy to be able to get out of there with a win.”

Childress elected to go with an unsuccessful onsides kick to start the game and Cleveland began its 2009 season at midfield.

The Browns quickly flashed a wildcat formation with Cribbs picking up five yards. Quinn then hit Royal for an 18-yard gain to the 22-yard-line, but the drive stalled as Phil Dawson kicked a 37-yard field goal.

That meant it was time for Favre to make his regular-season debut, but the much-anticipated beginning to his tenure wasn’t exactly fluid as the Vikings went three-and-out.

On their next series, though, the Vikings moved 46 yards in 12 plays, and Longwell split the uprights from 21 yards out to tie the game. The Vikings put Harvin in motion in the backfield for an 11-yard run to reach the Browns three-yard-line, but Peterson was stuffed on the first two downs and Favre failed to connect with Sidney Rice on third-and-goal.

Favre and company were the recipients of terrific field position following a quick three-and-out by the Browns, and an 18-yard catch-and-run by Peterson set up his own one-yard score as Minnesota gained a 10-3 lead four minutes into the second quarter.

Cleveland responded with its first sustained drive of the game, a nine-play 73-yard movement that was not without controversy.

Quinn appeared to hit Braylon Edwards on a deep ball up the left sideline for a 34-yard touchdown. Childress challenged the play and it was overturned after replays showed Edwards had stepped out of bounds prior to the catch. In another twist, a pass interference call was levied on the Vikings and the Browns took over at the six. Three plays netted only five yards, though, including two wildcat runs by Cribbs. Dawson then converted a chip shot 20- yarder to cut the deficit to 10-6.

Minnesota sputtered on the next two possessions and punted from deep in its own territory, resulting in a 67-yard return by Cribbs for a touchdown to vault the Browns in front 13-10.

Game Notes

Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian, who was questionable for Sunday with a hamstring injury, suited but went without a catch…Minnesota has won the last four head-to-head meetings with Cleveland…The Browns have lost five straight season openers…Cleveland opened the season at home for the 11th straight campaign, the longest active streak in the league…Cribbs, a special teams Pro Bowl selection last season, has seven career return TDs.

Final Score: NY Jets 24, Houston 7

Houston, TX – Mark Sanchez enjoyed a solid pro debut, completing 18-of-31 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown as the New York Jets shut down Houston, 24-7, in the season-opener for both teams from Reliant Stadium.

“We wanted to get a win under our belt. That meant the world to me,” Sanchez noted. “I wanted to play well for the veteran defense, my offensive line and also for coach Ryan. This is just Week 1 of 16, and I gotta keep things in perspective.”

Thomas Jones had 107 rushing yards and two scores on 20 attempts for the Jets (1-0), who gave Rex Ryan a victory in his head coaching debut. Jerricho Cotchery had six receptions for 90 yards, Dustin Keller hauled in four balls for 94 yards and Chansi Stuckey caught four for 64 yards and a TD.

Matt Schaub struggled under center, throwing for 166 yards on 18- of-33 attempts with an interception for the Texans (0-1), who were 8-8 a season ago. Owen Daniels caught four balls for 44 yards, but Steve Slaton was limited to 17 rushing yards on nine attempts.

The visitors got rolling on a 16-play, 68-yard scoring drive at the end of the first quarter, ending on Jay Feely’s 24-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.

Slaton’s fumble at the Jets’ 17 on Houston’s longest drive of the first half fell into the hands of Mike Devito at the 15 for a seven-yard return. New York then marched 78 yards in 10 plays and took a 10-0 lead when Sanchez connected with Stuckey on a 30-yard TD pass.

The Jets went up 17-0 on a Jones one-yard run, after holding the ball for the first 7:25 of the third quarter and going 87 yards in 12 plays.

Houston finally got on the board early in the fourth. Sanchez threw a pass intended for Keller right into the hands of the Texans’ John Busing. He fumbled on the run back, but the ball was picked up by Dominique Barber and taken the final 48 yards for a touchdown.

New York responded on the ensuing drive, as Jones burst through the right side on a 38-yard TD run. The score was set up on the previous play when Sanchez hit Keller for 40 yards into Texans territory.

Houston’s final possession of the contest fell into the hands of Jets cornerback Lito Sheppard with 7:20 left, and the Jets ran off the remainder of the clock aided by three first downs.

“It’s hard for me to pinpoint just one thing. I was most disappointed offensively, how we played,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. “The lack of offense gave us no chance.”

Game Notes

The Jets have won all four meetings since the Texans entered the league in 2002…Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter was inactive for the contest. New York hosts New England next Sunday, and Houston travels to Tennessee…Slaton was held to one yard rushing on six attempts in the first half as Houston ended with just 38 total yards on the ground, compared to 190 for New York…The Jets racked up 462 yards total offense to 183 for the Texans.

Final Score: Indianapolis 14, Jacksonville 12

Indianapolis, IN – Peyton Manning threw for 301 yards and a key third-quarter touchdown to Reggie Wayne, as Indianapolis took a 14-12 win over Jacksonville in the debut of new Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.

Manning completed 28-of-38 passes and was intercepted once, while Wayne caught 10 passes for 162 yards.

The Colts (1-0) notched the win in the debut of Caldwell, who took over for longtime head coach Tony Dungy after serving as the team’s associate head coach.

Caldwell has big shoes to fill in regards to Dungy, who compiled an 85-27 record in seven years at the helm of the Colts, a span that included a Super Bowl title following the 2006 season.

Joseph Addai ran 17 times for 42 yards and score in the victory, Indianapolis’ 10th in a row in the regular season. The Colts haven’t dropped a regular season contest since October 27 of last year, against Tennessee.

“We thought it would be a grind and it indeed was,” Caldwell said. “Every time we face Jacksonville it’s a tough, hard-nosed battle.”

Maurice Jones-Drew had 21 carries for 97 yards and the only touchdown for the Jaguars (0-1), who are coming off a 5-11 season in 2008. David Garrard completed 14-of-28 passes for 122 yards in the setback.

Already holding a one-point lead, the Colts got some breathing room with a score on their first drive of the third quarter.

Manning helped sustain the 86-yard march with a 10-yard throw to Donald Brown on 3rd-and-9, which brought the Colts to their own 40. They made it across midfield and had a first down at the Jacksonville 35 when Manning aired out a pass on the left side for Wayne, who had raced past the Jaguars secondary.

Safety Sean Considine could not get over in time to cover the pass, which Wayne caught for a touchdown, giving Indianapolis a 14-6 edge just past the midway point of the quarter.

“Yes, it was a little bit of a coverage bust,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said.

But Jacksonville got the score back after a series of punts and a missed 52- yard field goal try by Adam Vinatieri.

That set the Jags up at their own 42, and the drive spanned into the fourth quarter. They got to the Indianapolis seven and faced a 4th-and-2 there before deciding to go for it. Jones-Drew took a short pitch to the left side around the end, turned upfield and powered into the end zone with 11:07 on the clock.

Jacksonville went for two, but the direct snap to Jones-Drew failed, keeping the Jaguars’ deficit at 14-12.

The teams again had to punt on their next touches, and, late in the quarter, the Colts failed on a 4th-and-1 at the Jacksonville 35. The Jaguars took over just after the two-minute warning but faced tremendous pressure from the Colts’ defense.

On a 4th-and-8, Garrard scrambled in the backfield, avoiding would-be sackers before eventually hurling up a weak pass to no one in particular. Indianapolis took over and ran the clock out to seal the win against its AFC South rival.

“You want to be in that two-minute drive,” Garrard said. “Well, you really want to be up a bunch of points and let the game be out of hand, but if it’s not, you want to be in that situation. You want the ball in your hands and I wanted to try to get it to my receivers as best I could. They have some good players over there, and we just have to execute better.”

The Colts had the ball first and progressed to the Jacksonville four-yard line for a 1st-and-goal, but on the second play of that series Derek Cox picked off Manning’s intended pass to Wayne on the left side of the field.

Indianapolis later took over at its own 12 and put together a long drive that bridged into the second quarter. However, that drive, too, resulted in a turnover, as Addai fumbled deep in Jaguars territory.

Cox was there again to pounce on it, and the Jaguars took advantage of the opportunity, advancing to the Colts’ six-yard line. The drive stalled there, though, and Jacksonville settled for a 24-yard field goal from Josh Scobee.

Indianapolis had an answer in the form of a 78-yard scoring drive. Manning converted a 3rd-and-13 with a 39-yard toss to Wayne that put the Colts into Jaguars territory, and later found Dallas Clark for 21 yards on third down.

Addai finished the drive with a three-yard run, cutting back near the line of scrimmage before plunging across the goal line with 3:39 remaining to put the Colts in front.

Jacksonville countered with a 46-yarder from Scobee with a minute to play, and he missed a 63-yard attempt wide right with time expiring to keep it a 7-6 game at the break.

Game Notes

The game was played with Lucas Oil Stadium’s roof open…Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez left Sunday’s game after suffering a right knee injury late in the opening quarter, when he went down without contact shortly after the snap…Jacksonville defensive end Reggie Hayward suffered an undisclosed injury late in the fourth quarter…Indianapolis played without strong safety Bob Sanders (knee)…The Colts have won 10 consecutive games six times in franchise history — four of which have come since 1999…Indianapolis leads the all-time series vs. Jacksonville 13-4.

Final Score: New Orleans 45, Detroit 27

New Orleans, LA – Drew Brees continued where he left off from last season as he threw a career-high six touchdowns for New Orleans while Detroit continued where it left off from a year ago as the Saints defeated the Lions, 45-27, in the season opener at the Superdome.

Brees, the 2008 offensive player of the year, went 26-for-34 with 358 yards and a pick for the Saints (1-0), who finished last season 8-8. Brees threw for 5,069 yards last season and fell just 15 yards shy of Dan Marino’s record for a single season.

“I wasn’t keeping track,” Brees said of his eye-popping numbers on Sunday. “It’s just funny how it adds up if you take it one play at a time. I had a lot of opportunities out there, a lot of guys made some big plays in this game.”

Jeremy Shockey caught two touchdowns while Devery Henderson hauled in five catches for 103 yards and a score for New Orleans, which has won its past two games against Detroit. Mike Bell had 28 carries for a career-high 143 yards in the win.

Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick of this year’s draft, had an inauspicious start as he was picked off three times and went 16-for-37 with 205 yards. However, he did have a rushing touchdown for the Lions (0-1), who are coming off the only 0-16 season in NFL history and have dropped their last 18 games.

Kevin Smith had a rushing touchdown while Calvin Johnson added three catches for 90 yards for Detroit, which has also dropped 13 straight road games.

Detroit coach Jim Schwartz made his NFL coaching debut.

“[Stafford] didn’t play well enough for us to win, but he wasn’t the only one out there,” Schwartz said of his young QB. “We made it very difficult on him.”

Trailing by 18 points at the start of the second half, Detroit began the frame with the ball and was able to cut into its deficit.

Facing a 3rd-and-6 at its 33-yard line. Stafford dumped the ball over the middle for Johnson, who broke a tackle and raced down the left sideline for what appeared to be a touchdown. However, the line judge ruled Johnson out at the three-yard line. Stafford later punched the ball in from a yard out to make it a 28-17 game.

The Saints responded with a 10-play drive that covered 64 yards and was finished with a 39-yard field goal off the foot of John Carney for a 31-17 lead.

Detroit was able to answer with a 24-yard field goal from Jason Hanson to again make it an 11-point game, but, on the first play after getting the ball back, Brees hit Henderson over the middle and the receiver took it into the end zone from 58 yards out for a 38-20 lead with 3:03 to play in the third.

Stafford was intercepted by Scott Shanle on the Lions’ next touch, but Bell fumbled the ball on the next snap and Louis Delmas rumbled into the end zone from 65 yards out to make it a 38-27 game with 1:29 to play in the third.

The Saints, though, essentially sealed the win on their next possession as a drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters and lasted 13 plays was finished when Brees found Heath Evans in the end zone from 13 yards out for a 45-27 lead with 8:29 to play.

New Orleans got the ball to start the game and a 42-yard kickoff return from Robert Meachem gave the team the ball near midfield. Just five plays later, Brees stepped up in the pocket and fired the ball to the back of the end zone where Marques Colston made a leaping grab for a nine-yard score less than three minutes in.

After holding Detroit to a three-and-out, the Saints again got good field position thanks to a 28-yard punt. On the third play, Brees used a play action fake and hit Meachem wide open in the end zone on a 39-yard score for a 14-0 lead with 9:34 to play in the first.

The Lions put together a successful drive on their ensuing touch. A nine-play drive that covered 51 yards was capped on a Hanson 47-yard field goal through the uprights with 5:12 to play in the first. The big play of the drive was also the first play of the drive as Stafford connected with Johnson on a 21- yard catch-and-run.

Thanks to a 43-yard punt return from Dennis Northcutt, Detroit had the ball at the New Orleans 19 late in the first. Facing a 4th-and-1 at the four-yard line, Stafford pitched the ball out to the left for Smith, who went into the end zone unopposed to make it a 14-10 game less than a minute into the second.

New Orleans tried a flea-flicker play, but Brees was picked off by Anthony Henry Henderson deep in Detroit territory. However, the Lions were unable to move the ball and had to punt it away.

On a methodical 10-play drive that took a bit over five minutes and covered 65 yards, the Saints made it a 21-10 game as Brees again used play action, rolled out to the right and threw a soft toss to Shockey, who caught the ball from a yard out with 3:45 left in the first half.

New Orleans held Detroit on the next touch and quickly marched down the field to score again. A four-play drive that covered 59 yards was capped on a leaping 15-yard catch in the back of the end zone by Shockey for a 28-10 lead with 1:10 to play until the break.

After getting held again, Detroit had to punt the ball away, but Reggie Bush fumbled it and the Lions recovered at the New Orleans 15. Stafford, though, was picked off by Darren Sharper on the first play and Sharper took it 51 yards and, combined with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct on Detroit, the Saints had the ball at the Detroit 30.

However, the Lions defense held and the Saints lined up for a 34-yard field goal, but Carney’s attempt was blocked.

Game Notes

Harper had two INT’s in the game and now has 56 in his career, which is the most among active players…The Lions had one interception all last season…New Orleans plays in Philly next week…Detroit hosts Minnesota next Sunday…Smith finished the game with just 20 yards on 15 attempts…New Orleans is now 10-9-1 in the series against Detroit…Detroit allowed 517 points last season, the second most in NFL history…The Saints had 515 yards compared to just 231 for Detroit. Also, New Orleans had 28 first downs and controlled the ball for 36:30…The Lions were flagged for eight penalties for 80 yards while the Saints had seven penalties for 36 yards…Brees’ six TD passes tied a team record set by Billy Kilmer in 1969 and were the most ever in the opening week in NFL history.

Final Score: Dallas 34, Tampa Bay 21

Tampa, FL – Tony Romo threw for a career-high 353 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-27 passing to lead the Dallas Cowboys past the Buccaneers, 34-21, spoiling the head coaching debut of Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris in the season-opener for both teams.

Marion Barber added 79 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries for the Cowboys (1-0), who finished last season at 9-7 and will host the Giants next week. Patrick Crayton tallied 135 yards and a TD on four catches. Roy Williams had three catches, going for 86 yards and a score, while Miles Austin also had a 42-yard TD grab.

Byron Leftwich went 25-of-41 for 276 yards and a touchdown for the Bucs (0-1), who finished last season 9-7 and will play at Buffalo next week. Carnell Williams totaled 97 yards and a TD on 13 carries, while Derrick Ward amassed 62 yards and a score on 12 carries. Kellen Winslow had a touchdown catch in the setback, while Michael Clayton gained 93 yards on five catches.

“I was pleased with the coaches’ communication and how we handled situations,” said Morris. “On offense we put some big plays together, we just gotta score touchdowns.”

Trailing 20-7 early in the fourth quarter, Ward ran in a one-yard score to cap an 84-yard drive and close it to 20-14.

However, on Dallas’ next touch Romo hit a wide-open Crayton, who dashed 80 yards unscathed into the end zone to balloon the Cowboys’ advantage to 27-14.

“Sometimes you gotta push the ball downfield a little,” said Romo. “We just were taking what the defense gave us. We executed some pretty good plays today.”

Barber added a six-yard TD run later in the fourth, but Winslow hauled in a two-yard scoring reception to account for the final margin.

Nick Folk hit a 51-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the opening stanza.

Dallas blocked Tampa Bay’s 38-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing drive, and Mike Jenkins ran it back to the Tampa Bay 48. The Cowboys drove down the field but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal as the drive stalled.

Williams’ 35-yard run down to the Dallas five highlighted a 11-play, 78-yard drive. Ward ran the next two plays before Williams punched in a one-yard TD to give the Bucs a 7-6 edge with just under 10 1/2 minutes left prior to the half.

With about a minute left in the half, Dallas started at its own 44. On the second play, Romo hit Austin on a pass and the receiver juked, spun and dashed 42 yards down the right sideline to the end zone to make it 13-7 at the break.

“Miles got overthrown on one (pass) and the other one he made a catch for a touchdown,” said Williams. “That’s one of the things we wanted to do, we wanted to pound it and just make it hurt.”

Tampa Bay was stopped on the first drive of the second half, and Dallas responded with a three-play drive that ended with Williams’ 66-yard TD reception from Romo. The scoring strike down the middle of the field gave the visitors a 13-point lead, which held up through the third quarter.

Game Notes

Romo’s 80-yard TD pass to Crayton was the longest of his career…Dallas improved to 27-4 when Barber has 11-plus carries…Winslow and Ward made their Bucs debuts.

Final Score: San Francisco 20, Arizona 16

Glendale, AZ – Frank Gore scored a total of two touchdowns, including the eventual game-winning TD catch halfway through the fourth quarter, as the San Francisco 49ers hung on to beat the Arizona Cardinals, 20-16, in the season opener for both clubs at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Gore rushed for 30 yards and a score on 22 carries for the 49ers, who finished the 2008 season with a 7-9 record. Gore also caught three passes for 18 yards and a score. Shaun Hill completed 18-of-31 passes for 209 yards and a TD. Isaac Bruce led the receiving corps with 74 yards on four catches.

Kurt Warner connected on 26-of-44 passes for 288 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown for the Cardinals, who ended last season with a gut-wrenching loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII. Tim Hightower caught 12 passes for 121 yards to go along with 15 rushing yards. Larry Fitzgerald caught a TD pass, and Beanie Wells rushed for 29 yards on seven carries in defeat.

After Neil Rackers drilled a 43-yard field goal with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter to put the Cardinals ahead, 16-13, the 49ers responded in a big way.

Hill and the San Francisco offense started its ensuing possession on its own 20. The 49ers were faced with a 3rd-and-7 at Arizona’s 42, but Hill was able to find Bruce on a 13-yard completion to get a fresh set of downs. A few plays later, the 49ers were faced with a 3rd-and-goal at the three. Hill stayed poised in the pocket and was able to find an open Gore in the endzone for a 20-16 lead with 7:26 remaining.

“As far as everyone doing their assignments, it was probably the best drive of the game,” Hill said. “As far as all that, not making the big mistake, and just converting on third downs. We had some third-and-managables, and we were able to move the chains.”

San Francisco buckled down on defense, forcing Arizona to punt after they gained just one first down on its next possession. A perfect punt from Ben Graham backed the 49ers up to their own two-yard line.

The 49ers went three-and-out and were forced to punt the ball away. Antrel Rolle’s 27-yard return set the Cardinals up at San Francisco’s 38.

Two consecutive penalties — a false start and offensive holding — forced Arizona into a 1st-and-25. The Cardinals faced a 4th-and-5 at the 49ers’ 33 after the two minute warning, but San Francisco’s rush got to Warner, who went falling to the ground as he threw an incomplete pass.

After taking over, the 49ers again went three-and-out, and Arizona used its final two timeouts to regain possession with 43 seconds to play. After the punt, the Cardinals were faced with the daunting task of advancing the ball 88 yards for a touchdown. They managed one first down before Warner was sacked on the final play of the game to give San Francisco the victory.

“I still feel like we’re just a little bit off,” Warner said. “We’re not just rolling, it’s not just smooth — it’s a lot more work than it should be. I don’t know what it is; I can’t put my finger on it.”

A pair of Joe Nedney field goals gave the 49ers a 6-0 edge after one quarter of play. Patrick Willis intercepted a Warner pass and returned it four yards to the Arizona 36 with about eight minutes left in the period. The 49ers, though, had to settle for a 37-yard Nedney field goal.

After forcing the Cardinals to punt, San Francisco started its next drive on its own 44. Hill drove the offense down the field to the 32, and Nedney capped the set with a 50-yard make with 1 1/2 minutes left.

Arizona cut its deficit in half on a six-play drive that lasted from the end of the first quarter and into the second, as Rackers drilled a 44-yard field goal with over 14 minutes to play until halftime.

With 2:23 left in the second quarter, Gore capped a seven-play, 68-yard drive with a six-yard TD run to put San Francisco ahead, 13-3. The 49ers got the ball back after an interception, but Hill then fumbled to give Arizona a chance to score before the half.

Hill dropped back to pass on a 3rd-and-20 and was hit right before he was about to release the ball. The ball went flying to the ground and the Cardinals picked it up, thinking it was a fumble. The ruling on the field was an incomplete pass, but it was ruled a fumble after a review.

Arizona took over, and Rackers nailed a 29-yard field goal before the half to cut the margin to 13-6.

The Cardinals tied the game when Warner and Fitzgerald connected on a five-yard TD pass with 4:11 left in the third. Warner’s 23-yard pass to Hightower gave Arizona a 1st-and-goal at the 49ers’ four-yard line. On second down, Warner scrambled to his right and fired a bullet into Fitzgerald’s arms to cap off a seven-play, 69-yard drive.

San Francisco’s offense sputtered in the third quarter, going three-and-out on all three of its drives in the frame.

Game Notes

San Francisco holds a 20-16 lead in its all-time series with the Cardinals but was swept in last year’s two games…Arizona went 9-7 during the regular season last year…Larry Centers was the last Arizona running back to have more than 100 yards receiving in a game. Centers accomplished the feat on September 1, 1996 at the Colts…Arizona had a seven-game winning streak against NFC West opponents snapped.

Final Score: NY Giants 23, Washington 17

East Rutherford, NJ – Lawrence Tynes hit all three of his field goal attempts and Eli Manning tossed for 256 yards and a touchdown, as the Giants began their post-Plaxico Burress era with a 23-17 win over Washington in a feisty NFC East battle.

Manning had an interception and lost a fumble but was 20-of-29 while spreading the ball around to his new-look receiving core. Steve Smith led the club with six grabs for 80 yards, and Mario Manningham added three receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown for the reigning division-champion Giants (1-0).

Ahmad Bradshaw led New York with 60 yards on 12 carries, and Osi Umenyiora returned from a one-year absence with a forced fumble he turned into a 37- yard return for a touchdown.

Jason Campbell threw for a pedestrian 211 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 19-of-26 efficiency for the Redskins (0-1), whose offense Sunday looked eerily similar to the unproductive unit that stumbled to a 2-6 record over the second half last year.

Chris Cooley ended with seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Clinton Portis was held to 62 yards on 16 carries.

Washington made it a one-possession game with a field goal late in the third quarter, but New York embarked on a pair of time-consuming drives in the fourth that all but sealed the game.

Tynes’ wobbly 45-yard field goal found its way through the uprights with 11:03 remaining in the game for a 20-10 lead. Following a three-and-out from Washington, Tynes booted a 28-yarder to cap a 10-play, 66-yard drive with just 3:12 left.

Campbell hit Cooley for a 17-yard score with 1:30 to go to keep Washington’s chances alive, but New York recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve the win.

“I think our guys did what we asked them to do coming out,” Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said. “The positive thing is we played positive the whole game. We just didn’t have the poise in situations where we needed to.”

The Giants moved right down the field on their first drive. After Bradshaw was stuffed on 3rd-and-1, the club settled for a 28-yard Tynes field goal to cap the 12-play, 67-yard march midway through the opening frame.

Another good-looking drive for the hosts was halted with back-to-back stuffs of Brandon Jacobs at the Washington three-yard line, the second a fourth-down stop for the ‘Skins on the first play of the second quarter.

Manning went to the air the next time the Giants had the ball, which was culminated in a 30-yard TD toss to Manningham five minutes into the stanza.

“Really, the touchdown pass, that was just all [Manningham],” Manning said. “It didn’t work as planned but he improvised and made a guy miss and got the touchdown so that’s…something that’s good to see some of these receivers do. Just make some plays after the catch, make some guys miss and that was great to see that.”

The teams traded turnovers in enemy territory, and another Washington giveaway directly resulted in points for the Giants.

Umenyiora, who missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, raced into the backfield and stripped Campbell as he was going back to pass. The ball bounced around for several moments before Umenyiora picked it up and raced untouched down the right sideline 37 yards for a touchdown.

“It felt good,” Umenyiora said. “I’m just happy I was able to make a play and just happy this team won. They deserve it.”

Just before the half, an incompletion on third down from the Giants’ eight brought out Washington’s kicking unit, and holder Hunter Smith kept the ball and sprinted unabated into the end zone for the successful fake, getting the Redskins on the board.

With three minutes left in a punt-filled third quarter, DeAngelo Hall picked off a Manning pass and returned it 18 yards to the New York 11. The Giants defense hung tough, though, and held the ‘Skins to a 27-yard Shaun Suisham field goal.

Game Notes

New York’s Danny Ware dislocated his elbow on the opening kickoff. Their first-round pick, wide receiver, Hakeem Nicks also went down in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury…Jacobs had 46 yards on 16 carries…Antwaan Randle El finished with seven catches for 98 yards, while Santana Moss was silenced with just two catches for six yards for Washington.

Final Score: Seattle 28, St. Louis 0

Seattle, WA – Matt Hasselbeck overcame some early turnovers to throw for three touchdowns, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the St. Louis Rams, 28-0, in the season-opener for a pair of clubs looking to erase the memories of disappointing seasons with new head coaches patrolling the sidelines.

Hasselbeck completed 25-of-36 attempts for 279 yards and two interceptions for the Seahawks (1-0), who gave Jim Mora, Jr. a victory in his coaching debut. Seattle posted a 4-12 record last year under Mike Holmgren.

“I was proud of the way we overcome the early adversity,” Mora noted. “It was a sloppy start but guys hung in there and showed character. We will get better. This was an emotional win for the team and me as well. Wins are tough to come by so I am happy for our fans and the team.”

John Carlson caught six passes for 95 yards and two scores, Nate Burleson had 74 yards on seven receptions, including a touchdown, and newcomer T.J. Houshmandzadeh hauled in six balls for 48 yards.

Julius Jones ran 19 times for 117 yards and a score for Seattle, which posted its biggest opening-game victory since a 38-0 rout at Philadelphia in 1998.

Marc Bulger struggled under center, throwing for 191 yards on 17-of-36 efficiency for St. Louis (0-1), which closed out the 2008 campaign on a 10-game slide and finished 2-14.

Steven Jackson gained 67 yards on 16 carries.

It was not the debut new head man Steve Spagnuolo had envisioned. Spagnuolo joined the Rams following a stint as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

“Obviously, disappointed in the result. I’m not disappointed in the effort,” Spagnuolo said. “I know the passion in those guys’ eyes.”

There was a sloppy start to the game, with the Rams’ Donnie Avery fumbling the opening kickoff. On the third play of the subsequent drive Hasselbeck’s intended pass to Houshmandzadeh was picked off by James Butler in the end zone.

Later in the first quarter, Burleson fumbled after an 11-yard toss and Hasselbeck was intercepted by Oshiomogho Atogwe.

St. Louis took over at its own 33 and orchestrated a long drive that extended into the second quarter. The Rams moved inside the red zone, where the drive stalled. Josh Brown came on and hooked a 37-yard field goal wide right.

Seattle then converted three third downs on the ensuing series to produce the first points of the game. Hasselbeck’s one-yard TD pass to Carlson capped the 13-play drive with 5:45 remaining.

A costly penalty on a blocked field goal wiped out a touchdown for the Rams.

C.J. Ah You penetrated the middle of the line and negated Olindo Mare’s 49- yard attempt. Quincy Butler scooped up the loose ball and scampered 51 yards for the score. However, replays showed that St. Louis had 12 men on the field and the infraction gave Seattle a fresh set of downs.

Hasselbeck then delivered a strike to Burleson for a 12-yard scoring reception in the waning moments of the first half.

Following the break, Seattle put together an impressive drive that originated from the shadow of its own end zone. Starting at the one-yard line, Hasselbeck connected on all four of his pass attempts, including a 33-yard completion to Carlson that increased the lead to 21-0 with five minutes to go in the third quarter.

Less than two minutes had elapsed when Jones broke off a 62-yard TD run to cement the win.

Game Notes

Seahawks linebackers Leroy Hill (groin) and Lofa Tatupu (hamstring) both left the game…Laurent Robinson accumulated 87 yards on five catches for St. Louis, while Avery had six receptions for 46 yards…The Rams were 2-of-12 on third downs…Seattle outgained St. Louis, 446-247.

Final Score: Green Bay 21, Chicago 15

Green Bay, WI – After seven of the Packers’ 10 losses in 2008 came by four points or less, Aaron Rodgers made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself, throwing a 50-yard go-ahead touchdown strike to Greg Jennings with 1:11 remaining to propel Green Bay to a 21-15 victory over the rival Chicago Bears and spoil Jay Cutler’s debut with his new team.

On a 3rd-and-1 play from midfield, Rodgers used a perfect play-action to draw the defense away and found a streaking Jennings behind the defense for an easy throw-and-catch touchdown. Jennings then made an excellent catch on the two- point conversion attempt to account for the final margin.

“(Jennings) ran a great route. He’s tough to guard,” Rodgers said. “I was off all game; I didn’t play very well until the last throw, I guess, but it was important for us to get a win like this tonight.”

Cutler, who orchestrated seven game-winning fourth-quarter drives in three seasons with the Broncos before being traded to Chicago in the offseason, couldn’t add an eighth. His next play from scrimmage turned out to be his fourth interception of the contest — a new career-high. Rodgers took a knee twice to seal the victory.

Rodgers finished with 184 yards and the lone score on 17-of-28 passing without throwing an interception for the Packers (1-0), whose aforementioned bad luck contributed to a 6-10 finish last season. Jennings caught six passes for 106 yards and the go-ahead tally, while Ryan Grant added 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground in 16 carries.

“Winning boosts confidence for every member of our football team,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. “No difference for a quarterback. To have a two-minute win under his belt definitely just gives you gratification for the extra time that we put in.”

The big story for the Packers was their new-look 3-4 defense under new coordinator Dom Capers. Capers’ group kept Cutler to under 50 percent on his pass attempts — 17-for-36 — and held Matt Forte to 55 yards on 25 carries. Last season, Forte became the second player in league history to post 1,000 rushing yards and 60 receptions in his rookie year, but the Tulane product didn’t register a catch in the contest.

Cutler, who finished with 277 yards through the air, did throw one touchdown pass — a 36-yard strike to Devin Hester, who finished with four catches for 90 yards. But the Bears (0-1), who nearly made the playoffs last season with a 9-7 record, couldn’t hold Green Bay in the end.

Holding a 12-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Bears attempted a fake punt on 4th-and-11 at their own 26. The move backfired, as Garrett Wolfe was tackled after a four-yard gain.

Green Bay took over on Chicago’s 30 but couldn’t move the ball effectively, and Mason Crosby drilled a 39-yard field goal with just over 10 minutes left in the game for a narrow 13-12 advantage.

Facing a deficit on the road in the first game with his new team, Cutler was up to the task, guiding the Bears down the field in a 14-play drive to retake the lead.

Starting from the Chicago 28, Cutler found Earl Bennett for 11 yards on the first play, then a defensive illegal contact gave the Bears a first down on their own 45 three plays later.

Cutler found Hester on a short pass on the next play, and the speedy receiver raced for 24 yards down to the Green Bay 31 before being pushed out of bounds. Consecutive eight-yard completions to Greg Olsen and Jason McKie set up a first down at the 15, and the drive made it all the way down to the three-yard line before stalling. Robbie Gould put the Bears back on top, 15-13, with a 21-yard field goal with 2:35 to play.

Facing a two-point deficit, Rodgers was given the task to complete his first fourth-quarter winning drive, something his predecessor, Brett Favre, was able to do many times in his illustrious tenure with the team.

Starting from the Packers’ 28-yard line, Rodgers handed off to Grant for a six-yard gain and then completed a seven-yard pass to Jennings, leading to the two-minute warning. Two plays later, Rodgers scrambled for nine yards to set up 3rd-and-1 from midfield.

After taking a timeout, Rodgers faked a handoff to Grant and saw Jennings streaking behind the defense. He hit Jennings perfectly in stride for the touchdown to take a four-point lead, and the two-point conversion pass to Jennings was successful for a six-point edge with 1:11 left.

The Bears set up their offense at their own 38-yard line, but the comeback effort was short-lived, as Al Harris picked off Cutler’s first pass attempt to seal the win.

A good kickoff return to open the game gave the Packers the ball around midfield, but Crosby couldn’t turn the drive into points after missing a 49- yard field goal attempt.

Cutler’s initial drive was just as unsuccessful, as he threw two incompletions in a three-and-out.

After another Green Bay failed drive, Cutler had Chicago in opposing territory on the 36. Two straight incompletions were nearly intercepted, and then Nick Collins finally picked off a Cutler pass at the 12-yard line to keep the game scoreless.

The game remained without points until the second quarter, when Crosby atoned for his earlier miss by drilling a 52-yard field goal to cap a nine-play drive with about eight minutes until halftime.

On the next Chicago offensive play, Cutler found Johnny Knox streaking down the middle for 68 yards down to the Green Bay eight-yard line. The play went for naught, however, as defensive lineman Johnny Jolly dove to make a spectacular diving interception at the 12 to keep the Bears off the board.

The shutout wouldn’t last long, as Danieal Manning sacked Rodgers in the end zone three plays later for a safety that made it 3-2 with six minutes left in the half.

The Bears looked to go in front on their next drive, but Cutler was intercepted for the third time — this time by Tramon Williams, who took the ball down to Chicago’s one-yard line. Grant punched it in from there to give the Packers a 10-2 lead that would hold until halftime.

“It was a rough first half. The three turnovers put the defense in a hole,” Cutler said. “They gave us a chance, and we kind of bounced back, but ultimately the turnovers got us in the end. It is tough — I’m sure the city of Chicago is disappointed.”

Cutler and the offense finally got on the board in the third. Starting from his own 21, Cutler orchestrated a 79-yard drive in 10 plays, and he used his strong arm to find Hester in the end zone from 36 yards away to make it a one- point game, 10-9, five minutes into the quarter.

Gould gave Chicago its first lead on the Bears’ next drive, drilling a 47-yard field goal to finish an eight-play drive with four minutes left in the third for a slim 12-10 advantage heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

These two teams have played more games against each other than any other, and the Bears now hold a 91-81-6 edge over the Packers. They split two meetings last season…Chicago had only one passing play over 30 yards in all of 2008; they had two in this game…The Bears registered four sacks in the game, while the Packers recorded two…Chicago suffered several injuries in the game: linebacker Brian Urlacher left with a wrist injury; tight end Desmond Clark left with a back injury; and left guard Frank Omiyale left with an ankle injury.