NFL results: Broncos win Super Bowl re-match and Patriots prevail without Tom Brady in thrilling week 1 

Broncos Panthers
Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) intercepts the ball against the Carolina Panthers Credit: Joe Mahoney/AP

The NFL came back in style this week with close games, big plays and plenty of intriguing storylines. Our week one roundup will get you caught up on all the action

1. New season, same result

The season opened with a Super Bowl rematch, and it came down to the wire. For the Broncos, Trevor Siemian stepped in at quarterback for the legendary - and now retired - Peyton Manning. Cam Newton, the Panther's quarterback and reigning league MVP, took some brutal hits from the swarming Denver defence, but Carolina kicker Graham Gano still had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds. His kick drifted wide, and the defending champion Broncos picked up where they left off.

Cam Newton
Cam Newton lunges for a touchdown Credit: Mark Rebilas/USA Today

2. No Brady, no problem

Tom Brady, the Patriot's star quarterback, was not even allowed in the stadium on Sunday night due to his "Deflategate" suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo made his first career start in Brady's place, and drove underdog New England to victory even without injured tight end Rob Gronkowski. Carson Palmer led what looked like the game winning drive for the Cardinals, but a missed field goal gave the Patriots the win.

3. Rookie QBs start strong

Last year, Philadelphia's Carson Wentz was playing for North Dakota State in college football's second tier. He executed the jump up to the NFL with aplomb, making some pinpoint throws and leading the Eagles to a comfortable win over Cleveland. Dak Prescott, filling in for the injured Tony Romo, looked sharp even as the Cowboys came up just short against the Giants.

Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott throws a pass against New York Credit: AP

4. Close games across the board

Only three games this week have been decided by more than a touchdown, and several came down to the last play. One of those came in Dallas, when with his team trailing by one with less than ten seconds to go receiver Terrance Williams failed to get out of bounds to stop the clock, leaving his team to watch in anguish as the game came to a close. The Chiefs trailed by 17 in the fourth quarter but rallied to force overtime before finishing off the Chargers in the biggest comeback in franchise history, and a last minute field goal propelled the Bengals to victory over the Jets.

5. 9/11 anniversary marked 

This week's actions came on the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and pre-game ceremonies twere held across the league to mark the occasion.

George W Bush, the former president, took the field in Dallas, while Joe Biden, the vice-president, helped unfurl the American flag in Philadelphia.

Bush football
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush participate in the coin toss as New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys team captains look on Credit: James Smith/AP

Full results

  • Denver 21-20 Carolina
  • Minnesota 25-16 Tennessee
  • Philadelphia 29-10 Cleveland
  • Kansas City 33-27 San Diego
  • Tampa Bay 31-24 Atlanta
  • Green Bay 27-23 Jacksonville
  • New York Giants 20-19 Cowboys
  • Cincinnati 23-22 New York Jets
  • Houston 23-14 Chicago
  • Baltimore 13-7 Buffalo
  • Oakland 35-34 New Orleans
  • Seattle 12-10 Miami
  • Detroit 39-35 Indianapolis
  • New England 23-21 Arizona

Monday night games: Pittsburgh @ Washington, Los Angeles @ San Francisco

 

Good Sunday  

Aaron Rodgers played like a man possessed in Green Bay's surprisingly tight win against the improving Jacksonville Jaguars. The Packers' quarterback was channeling Russel Wilson, a man five years his junior, with his adroit movement around the pocket, finding eye of the needle passes for a couple of implausible first-half touchdowns. With his favourite receiver Jordy Nelson back in the team after missing last year with a knee injury, Rodgers showed early signs of the form that made him MVP in 2014. 

Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers scampers in for a touchdown Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today

Bad Sunday 

Keenan Allen. There are few sadder sights than a player being carted off forlornly on a modified golf vehicle during the first game of the season, but it's especially tragic when it happens to one of Allen's quality. The San Diego Chargers wideout had his 2015 cut short with a kidney complaint but looked back to his best against the Kansas City Chiefs, registering six catches for 63 yards. Disaster struck with two minutes remaining the first half, as Allen went down with a dreaded non-contact injury. Early talk is that he's suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

Play of the day

Jack Del Rio's Oakland Raiders are one of a few fashionable dark horses this season (see also: Bucs, Jags). If they're to deliver on that promise they will need some gutsy play-calling and wise old heads on their predominantly young shoulders. Both were in evidence when Derek Carr led his team on a fourth quarter drive which culminated in a neat touchdown pass to Seth Roberts to tie the game with 47 seconds left on the cross, assuming they made the extra point. No. That was not the Raider way. Carr frantically signalled the Raiders would go for two against the Saints. He pulled off a calm, looping completion to give his team the lead. Even with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the aftermath, the Raiders held the Saints back far enough that their rookie kicker Wil Lutz missed the field goal that would have won it for New Orleans. Opting for the two-point conversion was a deeply risky, arguably reckless move. But it was also ridiculously exciting. Hats off to all involved.  

Jack Del Rio
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio Credit: Bill Feig/AP

Fantasy football hero of the day 

Carson Wentz. An impressive two touchdowns and 278 yards in the number two draft pick's first NFL start, the Eagles's 29-10 victory over the Browns. Have you got him on your team? Of course you haven't. But he's almost certainly available. What are you waiting for?

 

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