Ryan, Turner burn Detroit
Matt Ryan threw for a touchdown with his very first NFL pass in Atlanta, Michael Turner set a team rushing record in his debut, and the Falcons were off and running Sunday.
The rookie quarterback electrified the crowd with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins before many fans had settled in their seats, while Turner rumbled for 220 yards and two TDs after coming to Atlanta from San Diego in the offseason.
The result was a 34-21 victory over the Detroit Lions, who bickered among themselves on the sideline.
The Falcons scored on their first three possessions for a 21-0 lead. Ryan, the third overall selection in the draft, looked worthy of the starting job bestowed on him after just three preseason games; he completed his first five passes and finished a workmanlike 9-for-13 for 161 yards.
Turner broke off a 66-yard touchdown, scored again on a 5-yard romp and had another TD called back by a penalty. Even with that minor setback, he ran 22 times — averaging 10 yards per carry — to break the team record of 202 yards set by Gerald Riggs in 1984.
Ravens 17, Bengals 10: At Baltimore, the Ravens forced two turnovers and limited Cincinnati to 154 yards to make John Harbaugh a winner in his debut as an NFL coach. Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer was 10-for-25 for 99 yards, and was outplayed by Ravens rookie Joe Flacco, forced into the starting role because of a season-ending shoulder injury to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith’s infected tonsils.
Saints 24, Buccaneers 20: At New Orleans, Drew Brees threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns, and Scott Fujita made a clinching interception in the final minute, lifting the Saints over the Tampa Bay. Brees’ scoring passes went for 39 yards to David Patten, 84 yards to Devery Henderson and 42 yards to Reggie Bush. Bush’s score put the Saints in the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Jets 20, Dolphins 14: At Miami, Brett Favre made a successful debut with his new team, throwing for two scores. Favre’s new beginning had a happy ending thanks to two late stands by the Jets’ defense. Favre finished 15-for-22 for 194 yards and his 161st victory, extending his NFL record for starting quarterbacks.
Patriots 17, Chiefs 10: At Foxborough, Mass., Tom Brady limped off the field and New England held on to beat Kansas City. Matt Cassel, who had thrown only 39 passes as Brady’s backup the past three seasons, took over, completing 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown.
Eagles 38, Rams 3: At Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, rookie DeSean Jackson had an impressive debut and Philadelphia routed St. Louis. McNabb was 21-for-33, including a 90-yard TD pass to Hank Baskett.
Steelers 38, Texans 17: At Pittsburgh, Willie Parker ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns and a near-perfect Ben Roethlisberger threw two scoring passes to Hines Ward in a Steelers rout that began with Houston’s fourth-down failure on its opening possession.
Titans 17, Jaguars 10: At Nashville, Tenn., the Titans sacked David Garrard seven times and Cortland Finnegan intercepted him twice. Tennessee limited the Jaguars to 187 yards of offense, just 33 yards rushing by what was the NFL’s second-best rushing team in 2007.
Cowboys 28, Browns 10: At Cleveland, Terrell Owens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass, Tony Romo effortlessly picked apart the Browns’ secondary and Marion Barber scored on a pair of 1-yard runs. With Romo completing 24 of 32 passes for 320 yards, Dallas’ offense controlled the clock and strung together four long touchdown drives.
Cardinals 23, 49ers 13: At San Francisco, Kurt Warner passed for 197 yards and led three effective drives in the second half of Arizona’s victory over the 49ers. The Cardinals ground out 12 first downs while holding onto the ball for nearly 23 minutes in the second half.