Billy Cundiff kicked a 29-yard field goal with three seconds left, giving the Cleveland Browns a 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Cundiff’s kick helped the Browns (1-1) snap a nine-game losing streak in home openers and gave rookie coach Mike Pettine his first NFL win. Cleveland had not won at home since 2004.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer drove the Browns 85 yards in 14 plays in the final 2:46 to set up Cundiff’s game-winner. Hoyer completed several big passes, none more crucial than his 28-yarder to Andrew Hawkins with 13 seconds to go.
The Saints (0-2) rallied from a 13-point deficit to take the lead on Mark Ingram’s 1-yard TD run with 12:12 left.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes to Jimmy Graham and moved one spot up the NFL’s career passing list.
Patriots 30, Vikings 7
Tom Brady and New England took advantage of Adrian Peterson’s absence and Matt Cassel’s four interceptions, and Chandler Jones returned a field goal he blocked for a touchdown in the win over Minnesota.
Brady went 15 for 22 for 142 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers, and Cassel’s first start against his close friend and former mentor was a dud.
Devin McCourty, Darrelle Revis, Logan Ryan and Dominique Easley all picked him off, setting up 17 points for the Patriots and prompting “Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!” chants from the crowd for the rookie Bridgewater. Cassel finished 19 for 36 for 202 yards.
Peterson was shelved for the game after a charge of child abuse was levied against him Friday in Texas.
Redskins 41, Jaguars 10
Robert Griffin III and DeSean Jackson both left with injuries in the first quarter, and Kirk Cousins stepped in and completed 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Washington’s win over Jacksonville.
Griffin hurt his left ankle and was carted to the locker room with his leg in a splint. Jackson injured his left shoulder.
Cousins subbed for Griffin and completed his first 12 passes. Ryan Kerrigan had four of the Redskins’ 10 sacks, and Washington’s defense didn’t allow Jacksonville past midfield until the final two minutes of the first half.
Washington outgained Jacksonville 449-148.
The Redskins improved to 1-1. The Jaguars are 0-2 for the third consecutive season.
Cowboys 26, Titans 10
DeMarco Murray ran for 169 yards and a touchdown, Dan Bailey kicked four field goals, and Dallas routed Tennessee.
The loss spoiled Tennessee first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt’s home debut.
The Cowboys haven’t started 0-2 since 2010 when Wade Phillips was fired midway through the season and Jason Garrett was promoted to head coach.
Dallas scored the first 16 points of the game in the first half.
Even the beleaguered Dallas defense got into the act, coming up with two sacks and two interceptions.
Tony Romo easily shook off his three interceptions in the season-opening loss to San Francisco. With Murray running so well, Romo was 19 of 29 for 176 yards and a TD.
The Titans (1-1) struggled in all areas after winning their opener at Kansas City and missed on their first 2-0 start since 2008.
Bengals 24, Falcons 10
Running back Giovani Bernard picked up a Cincinnati offense missing receiver A.J. Green, turning short passes into big plays in a victory over Atlanta.
The Bengals won their home opener and improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 despite losing several key players to injury, most notably Green.
The Pro Bowl receiver aggravated an injured toe on his right foot, which kept him out of practice last week. He left during the opening series and didn’t catch a pass for the first time in his four-year career.
Cincinnati had more than enough left to handle the Falcons (1-1), who gave up nearly 500 yards for the second straight game. Matt Ryan was 24 of 44 for 231 yards with a touchdown, two sacks and three interceptions.
Cardinals 25, Giants 14
Ted Ginn Jr. ran 71 yards on a punt return for a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown and Arizona beat the error-prone New York Giants despite playing without injured starting quarterback Carson Palmer.
Playing in a regular-season game for the first time since 2010, Drew Stanton led the Cardinals (2-0) on three long scoring drives in helping them win for the ninth time in 11 games.
Jonathan Dwyer scored on a 1-yard run and Chandler Catanzaro kicked four field goals, including one a minute after Ginn’s electrifying return on which the speedster bounced off a tackle and was gone.
The Cardinals got the ball back right away after Quintin Demps fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return.
Eli Manning threw two touchdowns for the Giants (0-2), who turned over the ball four times.
Bills 29, Dolphins 10
C.J. Spiller scored on a 102-yard kickoff return, and rookie receiver Sammy Watkins had a 12-yard touchdown catch in leading Buffalo past Miami.
The Dolphins (1-1) also lost a key offseason addition when running back Knowshon Moreno did not return after hurting his left elbow 11 minutes in.
Spiller and Watkins both scored in the third quarter, putting Buffalo ahead 23-10.
Buffalo is 2-0 start for the first time since 2011, and sixth time since 2000.
The Bills rode the momentum of a charged-up crowd in a home opener that celebrated the franchise’s past and future.
The Bills paid tribute to late owner Ralph Wilson, who died in March. On Tuesday, Wilson’s estate reached a “definitive agreement” to sell the team to Terry and Kim Pegula for an NFL-record $1.4 billion.
Panthers 24, Lions 7
Cam Newton made a successful return to the field, throwing for 281 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s victory over Detroit.
Newton, who missed the season opener with a rib injury, was 22 of 34 and overcame four sacks. Carolina started 2-0 for the first time since 2008.
Trailing 7-6 in the third quarter, the Panthers took advantage of back-to-back Detroit turnovers and scored on three straight possessions.
Carolina’s defense, playing without Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, had three takeaways and held the Lions scoreless in the first half one week after Matthew Stafford and company put up 35 points against the Giants. Hardy, convicted on two counts of domestic violence on July 15, was a surprise inactive.
Stafford threw for 291 yards with one touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked four times.
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