New York (AFP) – Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in a triumphant return to New York, and Matthew Stafford joined an elite NFL club in the Rams’ season-opening win on Sunday. Rodgers, a 41-year-old quarterback making his Steelers debut to open his 21st NFL season, led a late drive to secure a 34-32 victory over the host New York Jets. The four-time NFL Most Valuable Player completed 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four scores without an interception against the club he played for the past two seasons, following 18 years at Green Bay.
“I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets,” said Rodgers, who led Green Bay to the 2011 Super Bowl title during his time with the Packers before joining the Jets, missing most of the 2023 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. “I gave as much as I could to the (Jets) and it didn’t work out,” he stated. “Now I maybe didn’t appreciate the way that it went down in the end but that’s in the past and we’re 1-0.”
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New York fans booed Rodgers when he first walked onto the field and cheered when he was sacked on his first play. However, he directed his 37th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime, ending when Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell connected on a career-long 60-yard field goal with 63 seconds remaining.
In Los Angeles, Stafford became just the 10th quarterback in NFL history to reach 60,000 passing yards, achieving this milestone in the Rams’ 14-9 victory over the Houston Texans. Stafford, entering his 17th season, threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, passing the 60,000 milestone with a six-yard completion to Puka Nacua in the fourth quarter.
Defensive standout Micah Parsons, traded from Dallas to Green Bay in a blockbuster move less than two weeks before the season opener, made an impact for his new team in the Packers’ 27-13 victory over Detroit. Parsons applied pressure early and contributed to one of Green Bay’s four sacks of Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw a pair of touchdown passes in the win over their NFC North rivals, who have claimed the division title for the past two seasons.
San Francisco suffered a blow when tight end George Kittle exited in the first half with a hamstring injury. However, backup Jake Tonges stepped up with three catches, including a four-yard touchdown toss from Brock Purdy with 1:34 remaining, lifting the 49ers to a 17-13 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle.
In Denver, Bo Nix shook off three turnovers as the Broncos spoiled the debut of top overall draft pick Cam Ward, winning 20-12 against the Tennessee Titans. Nix had two interceptions and a fumble but managed to throw a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton. Denver’s J.K. Dobbins rushed for a touchdown, and the Broncos defense held Ward to 12-of-28 passing for 112 yards and no touchdowns.
In Atlanta, South Korean kicker Koo Young-hoe missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with six seconds remaining, allowing Tampa Bay to hold on for a 23-20 victory. Evan McPherson’s 35-yard field goal late in the third quarter provided the winning points in Cincinnati’s 17-16 victory at Cleveland.
Daniel Jones threw for 272 yards and a touchdown and ran for 26 yards and two more touchdowns, sparking the host Indianapolis Colts to a 33-8 rout of Miami. The Jacksonville Jaguars achieved a convincing victory in Liam Coen’s coaching debut, defeating the Carolina Panthers 26-10 in a game halted for more than an hour due to lightning.
Baltimore is set to visit Buffalo in a later game, featuring a rematch of last year’s playoff showdown, with star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson of the revenge-seeking Ravens and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, last season’s NFL MVP.
© 2024 AFP
