49ers stave off Packers’ rally

GEEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — San Francisco’s defense smothered Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense for most of the game, then made one last stand to stop a late rally in the 49ers’ 30-22 win.

The Packers rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and pulled within eight points when Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to James Jones with 6:05 left, but the 49ers defense held the Packers in the final minute to come away with a big win to open the season.

Randall Cobb’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter cut the 49ers lead to 23-15. But Rodgers threw an interception to linebacker NaVorro Bowman and Frank Gore ran for a 23-yard touchdown.

David Akers tied an NFL record when he kicked a 63-yard field goal to the end the first half, with the ball bouncing off the crossbar and going through the uprights.

Redskins 40, Saints 32

NEW ORLEANS — Robert Griffin III began his NFL career by connecting on 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, and the Washington Redskins handed the Saints a 40-32 loss in their first game since the bounty scandal that overshadowed New Orleans’ offseason.

Rookie running back Alfred Morris rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Aldrick Robinson, making his NFL debut, had a touchdown catch among four receptions for 52 yards.

Bears 41, Colts 21

CHICAGO — Jay Cutler threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Bush added a pair of scoring runs to spoil quarterback Andrew Luck’s debut.

Brandon Marshall had nine catches for 119 yards and a touchdown in his first game since being reunited with Cutler, and Matt Forte ran for 80 yards and a score.

Luck finished his first NFL game 23 of 45 for 309 yards with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Donnie Avery early in the fourth quarter.

Eagles 17, Browns 16

CLEVELAND — Michael Vick overcame four interceptions by throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Clay Harbor with 1:18 left in the nerve-racking win.

Vick led the Eagles on a 91-yard scoring drive, capping it with his short toss to Harbor on his career-high 56th pass.

Vick went 29 of 56 for 317 yards and two TDs.

Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw four interceptions, the last to Kurt Coleman with 1:05 remaining.

Lions 27, Rams 23

DETROIT — Matthew Stafford threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Smith with 10 seconds left.

Stafford made up for a shaky game by leading an 80-yard, nine-play, game-winning possession that included three passes of at least 18 yards.

Sam Bradford directed a go-ahead drive that set up Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard field goal and put the Rams ahead 23-20 with 1:55 left.

Stafford had three interceptions before halftime for the first time in his four seasons. Cortland Finnegan had a 31-yard interception return for a TD that gave the Rams a 13-7 lead late in the first half.

Jets 48, Bills 28

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mark Sanchez threw three touchdown passes, including two to rookie Stephen Hill, and the Jets eased concerns about their offense.

Jeremy Kerley had a touchdown catch and a punt return for a score. Antonio Cromartie also took one of New York’s three interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick to the end zone.

Mario Williams, the Bills’ big free agent signing, was quiet as the Jets’ offensive line protected Sanchez all game.

Texans 30, Dolphins 10

HOUSTON — Arian Foster had two touchdown runs, Matt Schaub threw a TD pass to Andre Johnson, and Houston’s defense dominated rookie Ryan Tannehill and Miami.

Tannehill threw three interceptions in a 6-minute stretch late in the first half.

Schaub threw for 266 yards in his first action since fracturing his right foot in Week 10 last year, and Johnson finished with 119 yards receiving.

Patriots 34, Titans 13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tom Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and the defending AFC champions won easily.

The Patriots ruined Jake Locker’s debut as Tennessee’s starter, sacking him twice and forcing two turnovers. Rookie Dont’a Hightower returned Locker’s fumble 6 yards for a TD in his own debut, and Stevan Ridley ran for 125 yards and a TD.

Falcons 40, Chiefs 24

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, one of them to Tony Gonzalez in his return to Kansas City.

Ryan also ran for a TD, while Julio Jones caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores.

Kansas City matched Atlanta most of the first half, trailing 20-17 at the break. But a missed field goal by Ryan Succop early in the third quarter proved to be the turning point.

Matt Cassel finished with 258 yards passing for Kansas City, but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

Buccaneers 16, Panthers 7

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s rejuvenated defense came up with two interceptions against Cam Newton and the Buccaneers won their debut under coach Greg Schiano.

Josh Freeman threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams and Connor Barth kicked three field goals to help the Bucs stop a 10-game losing streak that prompted the firing of former coach Raheem Morris.

Newton threw for 303 yards and one touchdown.

Cardinals 20, Seahawks 16

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kevin Kolb replaced injured John Skelton and led Arizona on the deciding touchdown drive, throwing 6 yards to Andre Roberts for a score with 4:59 to play.

Aided by two pass interference penalties, Seattle drove to the Arizona 4 in the final seconds. But rookie Russell Wilson threw three straight incompletions and the Cardinals held on.

Adding to the confusion, Seattle appeared to have called a timeout when it had none remaining, but that turned out to be a mistake by the replacement officials working the game.

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