| Week 1 NFL Capsules |
| Games |
Key Stat |
Key to Victory |
MVP
|
Saints 19 (1-0)
Panthers 10 (0-1)
|
The aggressive Saints defense sacked Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein seven times.
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New Orleans held Carolina to 2-of-12 on third-down conversions.
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Saints DE Brady Smith harrassed the Panthers offense, racking up three tackles to compliment his three sacks.
Stats and recap
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Rams 27 (1-0)
Ravens 10 (0-1)
|
Scott Mitchell completed only 43 percent of his passes, going 17-for-40 for only 188 yards.
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The Ravens' offense struggled, committing two turnovers and allowing five sacks, while gaining only 223 total yards.
|
Kurt Warner proved that he can throw a football on a 100-yard field as well, tossing for 316 yards and 3 TDs.
Stats and recap
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Colts 31 (1-0)
Bills 14 (0-1)
|
The Colts had a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers for just the second time in team history.
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Buffalo committed 12 penalties in the game that cost them 90 yards.
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Offseason free-agent acquision Chad Bratzke paid big dividends in his first game, recording four tackles and three sacks.
Stats and recap
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Bears 20 (1-0)
Chiefs 17 (0-1)
|
The Bears' offense executed well in key situations, converting 10-of-18 third-down chances.
|
The Bears scored on all four of their first-half possessions in racing out to a 20-3 halftime lead.
|
Bears QB Shane Matthews overcame a bad turnover to lead his team to the victory in his first NFL start.
Stats and recap
|
Packers 28 (1-0)
Raiders 24 (0-1)
|
Green Bay has won 31 of its last 32 games at Lambeau Field.
|
The Packers scored 21 second-half points, after struggling to move the ball against the Raiders in the first half.
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Brett Favre led the Packers on an 82-yard scoring drive in the final 1:40 to pull out the comeback win.
Stats and recap
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Titans 36 (1-0)
Bengals 35 (0-1)
|
Steve McNair passed for a career-high 341 yards and 3 TDs, and averaged 9.8 yards per passing attempt for the game.
|
The Titans survived a ferocious Bengals comeback, and overcame four turnovers to pull out the last-minute win.
|
Titans' second-year wideout Kevin Dyson had a career day, catching nine passes for 162 yards and 2 TDs.
Stats and recap
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Cowboys 41 F/OT (1-0)
Redskins 35 (0-1)
|
The Cowboys' offense rolled up 541 total yards in this offensive shootout.
|
Dallas averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and managed 13 rushing first downs in the game.
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Cowboys QB Troy Aikman had his first career 5 TD day, throwing for 362 yards on 28-of-49 passing.
Stats and recap
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Patriots 30 (1-0)
Jets 28 (0-1)
|
New England averaged 10.2 yards per pass attempt to the Jets 6.4 yards per pass average.
|
The Patriots' defense forced the Jets into four turnovers, including a big fumble recovery for a TD.
|
Patriots DE Willie McGinest had six tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a TD.
Stats and recap
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Cardinals 25 (1-0)
Eagles 24 (0-1)
|
Cards' Jake Plummer has engineered 10 fourth-quarter comeback victories in 27 career games.
|
Kwamie Lassiter's interception with 1:49 left to go set up the Cards' game-winning drive.
|
Cardinals kicker Chris Jacke booted four FGs, including the 31-yard game-winner as time expired.
Stats and recap
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Lions 28 (1-0)
Seahawks 20 (0-1)
|
The Lions' rushing attack didn't miss Barry Sanders in Week 1, rolling to 167 yards in the opener.
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Detroit held Seattle's new offense to 205 total yards on 52 offensive plays, a measly 3.9 yards per play average.
|
Lions RB Ron Rivers ran for 96 yards on 16 carries in his debut as the Lions' starter.
Stats and recap
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Vikings 17 (1-0)
Falcons 14 (0-1)
|
Vikings kicker Gary Anderson had his NFL record 40 consecutive regular season field goals streak snapped in the first quarter.
|
Falcons kicker Morten Anderson missed a potential game-tying 39-yarder with 3:48 to play in the game.
|
Vikings LB Ed McDaniel had eight tackles and a fumble recovery in his first game back since major knee surgery.
Stats and recap
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Jaguars 41 (1-0)
49ers 3 (0-1)
|
Steve Young completed only 9-of-26 passes for 96 yards, and threw two interceptions before being pulled for Jeff Garcia.
|
The 49ers turned the ball over five times, losing two fumbles and throwing three interceptions.
|
Jaguars CB Aaron Beasley had five tackles, six passes defended and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 90-yard TD.
Stats and recap
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Giants 17 (1-0)
Buccaneers 13 (0-1)
|
Bucs QB Trent Dilfer was pulled after going only 15-of-31 for 174 yards and throwing three interceptions.
|
New York's defense outscored Tampa Bay's offense 14-13, with both an interception return for a TD and a fumble return for a TD.
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Giants LB Cory Widmer led the defense with 10 tackles and recorded one of the Giants' two sacks on Trent Dilfer.
Stats and recap
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Steelers 43 (1-0)
Browns 0 (0-1)
|
Pittsburgh outgained Cleveland 460 yards to 40 yards, and had 32 first downs to just two for the Browns.
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The Browns couldn't get their defense off the field, as Pittsburgh dominated the time of possession battle by keeping the ball for 47:49.
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Steelers backup RB Richard Huntley had 108 combined rushing and receiving yards and scored 3 TDs.
Stats and recap
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Dolphins 38 (1-0)
Broncos 21 (0-1)
|
Terrell Davis was held to 61 yards rushing, the first time he was under 100 yards since the Dolphins limited him to 29 yards in Week 16 last year.
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Dolphins LB Zach Thomas dropped Brian Griese on a 4th-and-1 play early in the fourth quarter to end Denver's comeback hopes.
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Thomas led the aggressive Dolphins' defense with 10 tackles and added a sack for good measure.
Stats and recap
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