Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Buffalo’s Josh Allen finally managed his first triumph at Houston, and Lamar Jackson sparked Baltimore to a lopsided victory at Indianapolis on Sunday as most NFL teams began their 2026 campaign. Allen completed 20-of-29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns and ran six times for 23 yards and two more touchdowns, but it was a great defensive stand that gave the Bills a 36-31 victory over the Texans in new coach Joe Brady’s debut.
Allen, the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player, was 0-4 in prior games at Houston but gave Buffalo the lead in the dying seconds on a stunning 34-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer. Houston then drove to the Bills’ nine-yard line and appeared set to push in for the winning score until Buffalo’s Greg Rousseau sacked Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud, forced a fumble, and Buffalo’s Terrel Bernard recovered to ensure the victory. Stroud threw for two touchdowns, and Houston’s David Montgomery ran for two more in the defeat.
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Baltimore’s Jackson completed 17-of-25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown and ran for 40 yards and a touchdown, while Derrick Henry ran 24 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Ravens won their first game under new coach Jesse Minter 41-23. Henry scored on first-half runs of four and 32 yards, and from three yards in the fourth quarter, for 125 career rushing touchdowns, rising to third on the all-time NFL list behind Emmitt Smith’s record 164 and LaDainian Tomlinson’s 145. Baltimore’s Zay Flowers made five catches for a career-high 150 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown reception, before leaving in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Jonathan Taylor ran 19 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns as the Colts fell to 1-11 and one drawn in their past 13 season openers.
Detroit edged visiting New Orleans 31-30 in an overtime thriller. Jared Goff threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown in overtime, but New Orleans answered when Tyler Shough hit Noah Fant on an eight-yard touchdown pass. The Saints passed on a tying conversion kick attempt and went for a two-point conversion and the victory. But Shough’s pass was incomplete and the Lions were winners.
Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers threw for 221 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Watt returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lift the Steelers over visiting Atlanta 20-13. Trevor Lawrence completed 18-of-23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns as host Jacksonville crushed Cleveland 34-10. Joe Burrow threw for 254 yards and a touchdown, and Evan McPherson’s four field goals included kicks of 55 and 58 yards in Cincinnati’s 33-27 victory over visiting Tampa Bay. Geno Smith threw for 215 yards, and Breece Hall ran 22 times for 102 yards and a touchdown to power the New York Jets in a 23-10 triumph at Tennessee.
Chicago’s Caleb Williams threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, while D’Andre Swift ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ 59-37 victory at Carolina. In later games, Arizona will visit the Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay visits Minnesota, Las Vegas hosts Miami, Washington travels to Philadelphia, and the New York Giants entertain Dallas. Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, according to multiple reports, after the Rams lost their opener to San Francisco in Australia.
© 2024 AFP
