ICYMI in NFL Week 3: Owners, players lock arms for anthems

By HOWARD FENDRICH
Associated Press

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — They were memorable images bookending a day around the NFL that will remain memorable — for absolutely nothing at all to do with football itself.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locked arms with players as "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed before the first game of the morning Sunday in London. Eleven hours later, WashingtonRedskins owner Daniel Snyder did the same before the last game of the night not too far from the White House. It was a symbolic gesture by two of the very men called upon by President Donald Trump to punish NFLers for making any sort of Colin Kaepernick-esque statement during the national anthem.

(Not to get too cynical about how these scenes were orchestrated, but both teams tweeted out images of those owners in the pregame arm-in-arm pose with the one-word caption "Unity." Also worth keeping in mind: Khan and Snyder were among at least seven team owners who gave money to Trump's inauguration committee.)

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, one of the players at Snyder's side Sunday, told a national television audience via NBC's broadcast of Washington's 27-10 victory over the Oakland Raiders that it was "one demonstration I feel, just, we had to do, just because of the tyranny that we face" from Trump.

"It's sad that we have to go through stuff like that," Norman said, "but at the end of the day, (if) we unite as one, nobody's going to divide us."

In the locker room later, Norman said Trump is "not welcome here in Washington" and that the president's remarks in the preceding 48 hours amounted to "taking on 1,800 men" — roughly the number of NFL players.

After Trump drew sports into politics in an unprecedented manner, more than 200 players knelt or sat on a bench or raised a fist or, in the case of most of the Pittsburgh Steelers , remained indoors as national anthems echoed through stadiums. A week ago, a half-dozen players took a stance.

Some spectators applauded the moves.Others booed .

And Norman was hardly the only one offering opinions about the president.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, for example, said the country needs "a little bit more wisdom in that office."

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller referred to Trump's recent words as "an assault on our most cherished right, freedom of speech."

This was, all in all, an unusual day for the NFL, one when the most significant discussion about the nation's most popular sport had nothing to do with concussions or a late TD catch or a blocked kick.

There were still games played, of course. So in case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the season's third Sunday:

NO FAVORITES LEAGUE

Be honest: Who expected Norman's Redskins to shut down Derek Carr and the rest of the Raiders? Or Mike Glennon's Chicago Bears to beat the Steelers 23-17 in OT ? Or Blake Bortles and the Jaguars to wallop the Baltimore Ravens 44-7 ? Or Josh McCown and the New York Jets to top the Miami Dolphins 20-6 ? Or the Buffalo Bills to outscore Miller and the Denver Broncos26-16 ? Or the Tennessee Titans to run at will in a 33-27 win against the Legion of Boom and the Seattle Seahawks?

If you claim you were sure of any of those outcomes, you're a genius ... or you're lying.

This is the sort of "Any Given Sunday" status of the league that helped drive the sport to massive popularity.

SHERMAN'S DAY

The Seahawks' impressive run as a Super Bowl champion and annual contender is looking like it might just be nearing an end, and cornerback Richard Sherman certainly did not have his best performance against the Titans. Late in the first quarter, he drew three penalties on a single play. In the second, he nearly incited an all-out brawlbetween the teams with a late, high hit on QB Marcus Mariota.

JAKE'S MAKE

Jake Elliott is a rookie kicker who just a week ago missed a 30-yard gimme field-goal attempt and shanked an extra point. So it came as quite a surprise to see him paraded off the field on teammates' shoulders after squeezing a 61-yard field goal just inside the right upright as time ran out to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 27-24win over the NFC East rival New York Giants. It was the longest kick in Eagles history and longest ever by an NFL rookie; the longest in league history went 64 yards.

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Memorable displays of unity followed by fantastic finishes

By BARRY WILNER
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — For one of those rare times, the focus at NFL stadiums was on what happened before the games. What occurred on the sidelines, or in the tunnels leading to the locker rooms.

After those extraordinary demonstrations of unity by players, coaches, staff and owners, the action Sunday could have been anticlimactic. Instead, the league delivered some scintillating stuff punctuated by fantastic finishes in Detroit, Foxborough, Green Bay, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Following two weeks of, well, blah, the NFL gave us WOW.

"Awesome, awesome, awesome," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said after Jake Elliott boomed a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants as time expired, 27-24.

Yep.

"I've never seen anything like it," noted Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu after Detroit had a go-ahead touchdown with 8 seconds remaining taken away by replay — and the Lions lost any chance for another play because of a relatively obscure rule requiring a 10-second runoff.

Yep.

"You always dream about stuff like that but it never happens, so it was real crazy,"Bears running back Jordan Howard said following his 19-yard TD to beat Pittsburgh in overtime. That came moments after rookie Tarik Cohen sped 73 yards to win it, only to discover his tip-toeing on the sideline wasn't precise enough. "Definitely, it was a very wacky game but through everything that happened we found a way to win."

Wacky, yep, but given what we'd seen thus far in 2017, very welcome.

The NFL tends to have weekends where about the only predictable thing is that they will actually play the games. Exhilaration usually comes deeper into the schedule, when teams have created an identity — then perform directly opposite of that identity.

This year, it came in September. Consider:

— The Jaguars were blown out by Tennessee in their only game so far in Jacksonville. But they are 2-0 elsewhere after a 44-7 annihilation of previously unbeaten Baltimore in London on Sunday.

— The J-E-T-S got their initial W-I-N over archrival Miami, which looked more like the rebuilding franchise than did New York.

— New Orleans' Swiss cheese defense turned into an opportunistic wall in a 34-13 romp at previously undefeated Carolina.

— Buffalo, which almost never wins if LeSean McCoy doesn't run wild, knocked off unbeaten Denver despite McCoy being mediocre.

But for true excitement, the nail-biters at Ford Field, Soldier Field, the Linc, Gillette Stadium and Lambeau couldn't be beat.

And boy, did the NFL need it.

"Everyone came together to make the plays to help us win," Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski said somewhat breathlessly. Tom Brady had driven New England 75 yards on eight plays and thrown his fifth TD pass of the night, 25 yards to Brandin Cooks , with 23 seconds remaining for the 36-33 victory over Houston. "It just shows how big of a team game this is, NFL football. That was a great NFL football game. After that win I was like, 'That's what NFL football is right there.' You've got great players on both sides of the ball, on the defensive side, the offensive side of both teams and everyone fighting to the end."

Sometimes beyond the end, as they did in Green Bay and Chicago.

The Bengals, now 0-3, were in complete control against the Packers until Aaron Rodgers and crew got really serious. Green Bay tied the game when Rodgers — Brady isn't the only quarterback capable of such heroics — guided the Packers 75 yards in just over three minutes to a 3-yard TD pass to Jordy Nelson. A mere 17 seconds remained, and Mason Crosby then won it in overtime.

Pittsburgh also had to hustle from behind to catch the Bears, doing so in the second half after trailing 17-7. But Chicago, which showed plenty of resilience in an opening loss to Atlanta in which Howard dropped a potential winning TD pass, turned it up in OT.

It was a singular Sunday, one that won't and shouldn't be forgotten. Not only sports lovers were paying attention, but pretty much everyone in America focused on the memorable pregame displays from Philly to Indy, from Music City to the Windy City, from East Rutherford to Southern California. The headlines deserved to emanate from those displays.

And then came the games. If this is the kind of stuff fans can look forward to over the next 3 1/2 months, maybe the action on the field will be drawing those headlines.

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Broncos block late FG, top Chargers 24-21 in Joseph's debut

By ARNIE STAPLETON
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — The rookie head coach iced the rookie kicker.

Shelby Harris got a hand on Younghoe Koo's 44-yard game-tying field goal try with a second left and the Denver Broncos began the Vance Joseph era with a 24-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

BLOCKED. pic.twitter.com/a5D8qTUr3H

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 12, 2017

"It was a little too exciting," Von Miller said after presenting Joseph with the game ball in the jubilant locker room. "But a win is a win."

Koo nailed the kick moments earlier, but Joseph had called a timeout to ice the kicker.

"I had two timeouts and I wasn't going to leave with those in my pocket," Joseph said.

Derek Wolfe had bull-rushed the first field goal and told Harris, a third-year journeyman who made the team largely because of a rash of injuries along the D-line, that he'd get a chance to slice through this time because the guard would lean his way.

Sure enough, Harris got his right hand on the ball, which frittered short of the end zone as the Chargers looked on in dismay and the Broncos dog-piled Harris.

"It's too bad because Koo drilled the first one," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "And they called timeout and I think he drilled the second one, too. At least, that's what it looked like to me because it was going right down the middle. And I think if we get to OT, we would have finished it off, but we didn't get that chance."

Harris got the start only because Jared Crick and Zach Kerr were out with injuries.

"I'm going to be real with you: I have no clue what happened," Harris said of his heroics. "I felt it. I just couldn't tell you where I felt it."

Koo was also at a loss to explain what happened.

"I was just focusing on the kick," he said. "I don't know how it got blocked. It felt good off the foot. I'll just have to watch film."

The ending was reminiscent of last year's opener in Denver, when the Broncos escaped with a 21-20 win over the Carolina Panthers in a Super Bowl 50 reunion when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with 4 seconds left.

Denver took a 24-7 lead into the fourth quarter in this opener and the Broncos were feeling pretty good. And why not? The Chargers were 1-155 in their history when trailing by 17 or more in the fourth quarter and Denver was 175-0-1 with a fourth-quarter lead of 17 or more.

Then came a nightmarish eight-minute stretch in which they had two turnovers that were converted into touchdowns, a missed field goal and a punt.

"The game was in firm control for about three quarters there and we felt good but you turn the ball over twice on the short side of the 50, it's going to be a problem with Philip Rivers," Joseph said.

Before those fourth-quarter foibles, Trevor Siemian threw two TD passes to Bennie Fowler and ran for another score.

The Broncos held Rivers to 115 yards passing through three quarters but let him engineer a comeback when Siemian threw an interception and Jamaal Charles fumbled on plays that were upheld despite video evidence that had the crowd of 76,324 convinced they should have been overturned.

Rivers threw touchdown passes to Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin following the takeaways to make it 24-21.

Back-to-back sacks of Siemian set up a 50-yard field goal try that McManus pushed wide right, giving L.A. the ball at its 40-yard line trailing by three.

But Koo's miss loomed larger in the final seconds.

DENVER'S DOMINANCE: The Broncos led 14-7 at halftime after Siemian threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Fowler and scored on a 1-yard keeper .

Los Angeles' only touchdown drive was aided by a 40-yard pass interference call on cornerback Bradley Roby before Rivers hit running back Melvin Gordon for an 11-yard touchdown toss. Safety Justin Simmons hit Gordon at the 2, but he just somersaulted across the goal line.

Rivers stayed away from the All-Pro tandem of Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr., instead targeting Roby and safeties Darian Stewart and Simmons.

Roby atoned for his crucial penalty with an interception in the third quarter on a pass intended for Allen. That led to Siemian's 6-yard TD toss to Fowler that made it 21-7.

McManus kicked a 20-yard field goal on the last play of the third quarter, capping a 78-yard drive that ate up 8 minutes, 16 seconds.

HISTORIC OPENER: The game presented landmarks on the football field , along the sidelines and in the broadcast booth .

Not since 1960 had the Chargers represented L.A., where they played their inaugural season before bolting to San Diego.

Beth Mowins became the first woman to call an NFL regular season game since NBC's Gayle Sierens in 1987 when she handled play-by-play on the doubleheader nightcap alongside Rex Ryan, who made his debut as an ESPN analyst.

With Anthony Lynn also making his head coaching debut, this marked the first time two black head coaches worked their first NFL game against each other.

MCMANUS'S MILLIONS: McManus was the last restricted free agent to sign his tender this summer, waiting until June 15 to put his signature on a one-year, $2.75 million deal after making $600,000 last season. He did it in hopes of getting a long-term deal, which he finally got Monday just hours before kickoff when he agreed to a three-year extension worth $11.25 million.

BEEFY BRONCOS: The Broncos beefed up their depleted defensive line before kickoff by promoting rookie nose tackle Tyrique "Pot Roast Jr." Jarrett to their active roster and waiving Kyle Peko.

INJURY UPDATES: Chargers backup SS Rayshawn Jenkins left in the second half with a concussion. So did Broncos starting right guard Ronald Leary, who was replaced by second-year pro Connor McGovern. Leary will be in concussion protocol during the week as the Broncos prepare to face his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. Broncos rookie CB Brandon Langley left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and Stewart left in the closing minutes with a strained left groin after collecting six tackles.

UP NEXT: The Chargers host the Miami Dolphins, whose opener was scrubbed by Hurricane Irma. The Broncos are home again to take on the Cowboys.

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Bradford, Vikings cruise past Saints 29-19 in opener

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Bradford set the NFL record for completion percentage for Minnesota last season, his accuracy aided by the volume of short passes under heavy pressure.

With protection from the rush, he showed Monday night he can throw the ball down the field with the best of them.

Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns to help the Vikings beat New Orleans 29-19 and spoil Adrian Peterson's first game with the Saints.

"When I've got time to sit back there and kind of evaluate things, I've got all the confidence in the world that our guys outside are going to win," Bradford said.

Stefon Diggs had seven receptions for 93 yards, two for scores and all in the first half, and Adam Thielen racked up 157 yards on nine catches as Bradford carved up a Saints defense that looked again like one of the worst in the league despite a major renovation. Rookie Dalvin Cook rushed for 127 yards on 22 carries in the formal takeover from Peterson.

Peterson was limited to 18 yards on six carries, in a time share with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and an afterthought once the Saints fell behind. Drew Brees was quiet, too, with 291 yards on 27-for-37 passing padded by the late push to catch up.

"We didn't do anything different or try to out-trick them," Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said. "You know, line up and play, do your job."

Coby Fleener caught the only touchdown toss, after the 2-minute warning. Will Lutz made four field goals, three under 25 yards.

"The bottom line," Brees said, "is you've got to score touchdowns."

Brees and Bradford are both in the final year of their contracts, with the same agent, Tom Condon, who is sure to cash in on both clients. Brees has by far the better resume, nine seasons further into his career, but Bradford stole the show on this prime-time stage.

Behind mostly clean pockets created by a remade offensive line, Bradford completed 27 of 32 passes without a turnover. With three rookies and three free agents in the starting lineup, the Saints tried hard to better a defense that has held Brees and company back since the Super Bowl title eight years ago. The first performance left a lot to be desired, with Diggs and Thielen consistently finding favorable matchups underneath and along the sideline.

"I just try to run a route, catch the pass, but Sam, you know, he's a slinger," Diggs said.

FLAGS FLY

The Saints had three unnecessary roughness calls in the first half. Two of the personal fouls extended a drive that ended with one of three field goals by Kai Forbath. The other 15-yarder was on safety Kenny Vaccaro for head-hunting Diggs during an acrobatic catch in the closing seconds of the first half. Diggs came right back with another highlight-reel grab to give the Vikings a 16-6 lead at the break after a 10-play, 95-yard drive.

Cameron Jordan and A.J. Klein each had their hands on a tipped pass in the end zone that fluttered off Cook's hands, missing a critical opportunity to thwart that drive and keep the deficit at four points.

DECENT DEBUT

Cook became the first Vikings rookie running back to start a season opener since Michael Bennett in 2001. Despite trouble hanging onto a couple of passes thrown his way, he helped salt away the game in the second half. Bradford and Cook were the primary beneficiaries of the work done by an offensive line with four new starters and plenty of old external skepticism after a lackluster 2016 performance.

"In the building, we felt great about those guys," Bradford said. "We've seen what we're capable of doing."

BACK AGAIN

Ten years and two days after Peterson made his NFL debut in purple with 103 yards rushing and a 60-yard touchdown reception on this same block of downtown Minneapolis, albeit in a different stadium, he returned in black, white and gold as a part-time player for the pass-first Saints.

The crowd was really fired up for the reunion with another former Vikings great. Former wide receiver Randy Moss, already on site as an analyst for ESPN, became the 22nd member of the team's Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony punctuated by a passionate speech and shout-out to the fans.

TACKLE TROUBLE

With Terron Armstead still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, rookie Ryan Ramczyk started at left tackle for the Saints. Then right tackle Zach Strief injured his left leg in the second quarter, forcing Senio Kelemete into action. Vikings defensive ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter caused havoc.

UP NEXT

The Saints play Sunday against New England, their only home game in the season's first five weeks.

The Vikings visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, their only road game over the first four weeks of the schedule.

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Giants open against Cowboys for third straight year

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(TSX / STATS) -- In what is becoming a rite of September, the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys will face each other at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday night to open the season for the third straight year.

They split the previous two season openers, but it's difficult to put a value on how much winning the clash means. In 2015, the Cowboys won, but neither team went on to make the playoffs. Last season, the Giants won, then the Cowboys didn't lose again until December, when the Giants completed the season sweep with a home victory. No matter, Dallas still won the NFC East.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott both started as rookies for Dallas a year ago. They made their presence felt as Prescott passed for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdowns and Elliott led the NFL with 1,631 rushing yards.

But now the usual hype that surrounds training camp has been buried under a mountain of Elliott news as he and the NFL Players Association have battled the league in court over a six-game suspension. Elliott was suspended for violating the league's personal-conduct policy in relation to a domestic violence case.

The Elliott saga continued Tuesday as the NFL's arbitrator upheld the suspension. But Elliott will be allowed to play against the Giants on Sunday night because he filed a temporary restraining order against the league; the deadline for that decision is 6 p.m. ET Friday.

The NFL will allow Elliott to play Sunday and, theoretically, serve his suspension from Week 2 to Week 7. That would avoid giving either team a competitive advantage in Sunday night's Cowboys-Giants game.

"(Elliott) seems very focused, locked in on meetings, the walk-through," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told the media on Wednesday. "We'll have a good practice today. He's done an excellent job in his preparation."

In New York, there are questions about whether the Giants' brightest star, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., will play. Beckham has been spotted riding a stationary bike and jogging, though not participating in full practices, this week. He injured his left ankle in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 21.

On Wednesday, Beckham said there's a chance he'll play vs. the Cowboys, despite the fact that the Giants officially listed him as "did not practice."

"I wouldn't count it out," Beckham said. "My heart's just not gonna make this easy."

Even if Beckham doesn't play, Giants quarterback Eli Manning has plenty of weapons to use against the Dallas defense. New York added wide receiver Brandon Marshall and drafted tight end Evan Engram, boosting an offense that averaged 330 yards per game last season.

While the Giants have been coy about Beckham's status, coach Ben McAdoo struck a bold note as he emphasized his team's need to stop the Cowboys on the ground.

"All backs run the same when there's nowhere to run," McAdoo said, referring to the Cowboys' evolving situation at running back.

If anyone in the league can tough-talk a Cowboys team that averaged 376 yards per game last season, it's the Giants. New York held Dallas to 260 yards in defeating the Cowboys 10-7 in December. Furthermore, Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant caught just two passes for 18 yards in two games against the Giants in 2016.

The Giants' secondary's success against Bryant has been a talking point this offseason. The Cowboys' receiver traded barbs with Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins on Twitter, adding intrigue to Sunday night's rematch.

All of it should make for a good show. But if the last two seasons have taught us anything, it's that the opening act can be deceiving.

New-look Newton, Panthers face old foe in Shanahan, 49ers

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(TSX / STATS) -- A new-look Cam Newton is ready for another season, slimmed down to become quicker and ready for a fresh start.

That's what the Carolina Panthers are counting on as they begin the season Sunday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, who have undergone a makeover as well.

It's the head coaching debut for Kyle Shanahan, who joined the 49ers after creating misery at times for Carolina when he was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Panthers last played at Levi's Stadium in a Super Bowl loss to the Denver Broncos two seasons ago. They never really recovered during last year's six-win season.

So, getting Newton, a quarterback who was the NFL's MVP in 2015, back on track is one of the priorities, with that quest stalled at times during the preseason as he came off spring shoulder surgery.

"I'm ready now," Newton said. "I have no concern. ... I think I'm doing every single thing that I could possibly do on my part that I can control."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said there are no restrictions with the passing attack for the opener based on Newton's situation. He's cleared for the full game plan.

Rivera said that with so much attention on Newton's shoulder, other parts of the offense began to click.

"We liked how everything seems to be meshing together as an offense," he said. "We'll see how it goes as we continue to work this week."

San Francisco is coming off a 2-14 season, so there might not be a quick fix in sight. That won't stop Shanahan from holding big expectations.

"We need to learn to develop the habit of winning," Shanahan said.

Shanahan might have a honeymoon of sorts with the 49ers. But defeating a Carolina team so soon removed from an NFC championship would be significant step and perhaps start to create some buzz again for the 49ers.

Shanahan, who's the fourth San Francisco coach in as many years, was on the verge of being part of a winning Super Bowl staff last winter with the Atlanta Falcons. He was Atlanta's offensive coordinator for two seasons after stops in similar roles with Houston, Washington and Cleveland. In six of his nine seasons as a coordinator, his offense ranked in the top 10 in total offense.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer, a ninth-year pro, will make his 49ers debut.

"I know from being in this league it's about what have you done lately," Hoyer said.

While the Panthers are beginning the season without a true fullback, the 49ers unveil one of the best in Kyle Juszczyk, who was an offseason acquisition.

Two of the best players out of nearby Stanford will make their NFL debuts after they were first-round draft picks in the spring. They could collide on the field.

The Panthers have running back Christian McCaffrey, who figures to be used in a variety of ways. For the 49ers, there's Solomon Thomas, a defensive end who's listed as a backup.

The Panthers don't anticipate easing McCaffrey into a prominent role.

"We need him ready to go," Newton said.

Shanahan's Atlanta offense torched the Panthers in the past and so that alone might create uneasiness from the Carolina side. Rivera said with a new coaching staff, there will be unknowns with the 49ers.

"You've got to be able to react to them on the defensive side," Rivera said. "We'll see a lot of stuff that (that staff) did when they were in Atlanta. They'll have some wrinkles. It's usually what happens in the first game, so we have to prepare for anything. But the biggest thing we have to do is prepare for ourselves."

For Shanahan, preseason games held certain value. He said he needed those games to learn what his in-game routine will be like.

"I think it's good. It's all about reps," he said. "I was glad to get four of them before the real ones. ... I've enjoyed it going back and forth (between the offense and defense). Hopefully, the more I do it the better I'll get."

It appears that 49ers safety Jimmie Ward won't be ready for the opener after an extended stretch with a hamstring injury.

The Panthers begin the season with a road game for the sixth time in Rivera's seven seasons.

Carolina won a September meeting with the 49ers last year at home, with the 46-27 outcome marking a season-high in terms of points scored.

Packers, Seahawks prepare for opening clash of titans

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(TSX / STATS) -- The irresistible force paradox is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

It's also what will happen at Lambeau Field on Sunday when the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks in one of the juiciest matchups of Week 1.

The unstoppable force is Green Bay's offense. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers finished third in scoring last season in the NFL. That unit should be even stronger with the offseason addition of tight end Martellus Bennett.

"He's at the peak of his career. He's at the top of his game," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said of Rodgers. "It's hard to imagine what more he can do or how much better he can play.

"All the great players are looking for extraordinary consistency. He is just such a fantastic football player. We really marvel at the way he can throw the football, find guys, move to make guys available and just be a great competitor. We have the ultimate respect for him."

The immovable object is Seattle's defense. After leading the league in scoring defense in 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Seahawks finished third in that category last season. Eight of the 11 starters have been selected for at least one Pro Bowl, including defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets last week.

Rodgers and Co. demolished that defense in a 38-10 victory on Dec. 11 at Lambeau, but Seattle was without injured safety Earl Thomas in that game. Thomas is back, teaming with Kam Chancellor for perhaps the best safety combo in the NFL, and Richard Sherman returns at cornerback after being part of offseason trade speculation.

"He's a difference-maker," Rodgers said of Thomas. "He's been a Pro Bowl player in the past. He covers a lot of ground. They've got studs on the outside at corner, but Earl covers a ton of ground sideline to sideline and makes a lot of plays on the ball. He has very good ball skills and is a good tackler."

On the other side of the ball, Green Bay's revamped defense will be tested right out of the gate by Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. The Seahawks have major questions on the offensive line but signed former Packers standout Eddie Lacy at running back to pair with Thomas Rawls.

After getting shredded for 44 points by Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game, Green Bay added cornerback Davon House and defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois in free agency and used its first four picks in the draft on defensive players, including cornerback Kevin King with the top pick.

The tinkering has continued, with veteran outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, rookie outside linebacker Chris Odom and veteran defensive lineman Quinton Dial signed since Saturday's league-wide roster cutdown.

Any lack of continuity from that group could be exploited by Seattle's new up-tempo attack.

"They're obviously playing a lot faster, huddling 2 yards from the ball and trying to get as many plays as possible," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "They were extremely productive in the preseason."

Both teams are healthy. For Green Bay, right tackle Bryan Bulaga practiced for the first time since injuring an ankle at practice Aug. 23. He had limited participation.

Seattle's Frank Clark, who had 10 sacks last season, was limited by a wrist injury.

Along with this being a matchup of perennial powerhouses, the game will feature a poignant meeting between brothers. On Wednesday, Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett detailed a harrowing incident after the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.

According to Michael Bennett, gunshots were fired and he began running. Bennett said police singled him out, ordered him to the ground and put a gun to his head.

"I felt helpless as I lay there on the ground handcuffed facing the real-life threat of being killed," Michael Bennett wrote on Twitter. "All I could think of was, 'I'm going to die for no reason other than I am black and my skin color is somehow a threat.'"

At his locker Wednesday evening, Packers tight end Martellus Bennett broke into tears at the thought of hugging his brother before the game.

"It gets emotional when you think about it," Martellus Bennett said. "Sometimes a hug is the best thing you can give, you know what I'm saying? You just think, 'What if?' You know? ... Two seconds this way, two seconds that way, the whole thing is different so, for me, I'll just be happy to see my brother because there's a chance I couldn't see him."

Rams, Colts lack key players for opener

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(TSX / STATS) -- The Los Angeles Rams welcome the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in the season opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with both teams cursing their misfortune.

For the Rams, a summer without defensive tackle Aaron Donald, one the NFL's top defensive players, has turned into a regular season with his absence continuing. A contract dispute between the parties lingers.

The Colts' season starts minus Andrew Luck, their star quarterback. A sore right shoulder that derailed his preseason will have him idle Sunday.

When either player will return is anyone's guess. What is clear is that the Rams, under new coach Sean McVay, are looking for improvement on last year's 4-12 record. It was their 12th consecutive losing season.

The Colts, playing in their first game in L.A. since 1991, look to rebound as well from an 8-8 mark that put coach Chuck Pagano on the hot seat. Pagano survived to enter his sixth season. Now he has to see if his team can stand tall without Luck.

Indianapolis will be without more than Luck. Center Ryan Kelly (foot) is out, and Vontae Davis (groin) the Colts' best defensive back, is down, too.

The Rams hope quarterback Jared Goff begins to reach expectations this season. Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, went 0-7 last season and showed little development.

Even so, he is back under center and taking aim at an Indianapolis secondary, hoping year two, with an offensive-minded McVay orchestrating the plays, aids his advancement.

Goff threw for nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions last year.

The receiving corps got a boost with the addition of Sammy Watkins. He was acquired from the Buffalo Bills as the Rams attempt to build around Goff by supplying him with some weapons.

Watkins is a compelling complement to the versatile Tavon Austin. Austin accounted for 1,037 total yards and four touchdowns catching, rushing and returning the ball.

Austin was slowed by a hamstring during camp, but he appeared fit of late.

"He looks explosive, and he looks like the Tavon Austin that we're accustomed to seeing," McVay said.

Unlike Rams receivers Robert Woods, Watkins and Cooper Kupp, Austin also will be used out of the backfield.

"He knows how much we are going to need him," Goff said, "and how much he going to make a difference."

If Todd Gurley can supply the rushing yards, Goff's chances improve. Gurley is another Ram eager to wash away last year, and against a suspect Colts defense, he could roll.

Gurley rushed for 885 yards and six touchdowns last year.

If the Rams stall on offense, there are worse options than turning to Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker. He had the most punts inside the 20-yard line (46) in NFL history last season. Hekker also broke his NFL single-season net punting average (46.0 yards).

Indianapolis's quarterback will be Scott Tolzien, who will make his fourth career start. Like Goff, he is looking for his first NFL win.

Tolzien, a four-year pro, doesn't have a particularly big arm, but he is accurate and smart enough to run the Colts in Luck's stead. What he doesn't have is the ability to throw for 4,240 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, as Luck did last year.

"He's done a great job through spring and training camp of taking control of our offense," tight end Jack Doyle said.

T.Y. Hilton gives Tolzein an inviting target after he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,448) last year.

Tolzien would love to lean on a running game to set up his play-action opportunities. He will look to ageless Frank Gore, after he gave Indianapolis its first 1,000-yard rusher since Joseph Addai in 2007.

Veteran coordinator Wade Phillips, in his 39th NFL season, is newly in charge of the Rams' defense, which was ranked No. 9 last year. He switched it to a 3-4 alignment, but it may have problems minus the imposing Donald plugging holes.

Phillips is also eager to see how outside linebackers Robert Quinn and Mark Barron fit into the scheme. Neither played in the preseason.

The Rams own a 23-18-2 all-time record against the Colts and won the most recent meeting handily, 38-8 in 2013.

Redskins, Eagles out to establish themselves as contenders

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(TSX / STATS) -- LANDOVER, Md. -- While the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are waiting to play their prime-time Sunday night game, two teams that think they can also challenge for the NFC East title will resume their rivalry Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field.

The Washington Redskins, coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in nearly two decades, have won five straight against the Philadelphia Eagles, but four of the five have been by a touchdown or less.

Last December, the visiting Eagles trailed 27-22 and drove to the Redskins' 14-yard line in the final minute, but Ryan Kerrigan sacked then-rookie Carson Wentz to force a fumble and seal the Washington win.

"We just have to learn to finish. We've got to execute," Eagles second-year coach Doug Pederson said. "All part of coming to Washington is how well do teams ... how well can we handle crowd noise, how well can we execute our offense and defense in the game plan. Just try to keep it simple, keep it small, focus on the details."

Wentz (43 of 68 for 493 yards, one touchdown and one interception in two games against Washington) returns to Landover with several new weapons.

In the backfield, LeGarrette Blount had a career-high 299 carries last season with New England and led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns. He'll be part of a running back by committee approach that includes speedy Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood.

After catching 52 passes for the Chicago Bears a year ago, 6-foot-3 wide receiver Alshon Jeffery signed a one-year deal with the Eagles.

"He is a big target, still runs well. Just really excited, obviously excited back in OTAs and through camp and watching he and Carson (Wentz) work," Pederson said. "He is going to have a significant role."

Philadelphia also added wideout Torrey Smith, who had 20 receptions with the 49ers. They join tight end Zach Ertz, who had 70-plus catches each of the past two seasons.

Right tackle Lane Johnson is back after missing last year's games for a suspension and the Eagles, with a healthy offensive line, should be able to cut down on the nine sacks Wentz endured in two games against the Redskins in 2016.

Cousins, once again playing under the Franchise tag rather than a long-term contract, has some new targets as well.

Gone are veteran receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. Replacing them will be free agent signee Terrelle Pryor Sr. and second-year player Josh Doctson, who missed all but two games last year with an Achilles injury. Jamison Crowder (67 catches last season) operates out of the slot.

Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Reed is healthy to begin the season and, when he plays, remains one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league.

The Redskins' offense sputtered in the preseason. They'll try to establish the run with Rob Kelly, but it will likely come down to Cousins. In five games against the Eagles, he has completed 124 of 195 passes for 1,579 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, good for a 102.9 passer rating.

"I've always respected their pass rush, not only their players they have -- which they have great pass rushers -- but also the scheme," Cousins said of the Eagles. "I've always respected Coach (Jim) Schwartz and their defense and the way they come after you. Just constantly put pressure on you, even sometimes with only three or four rushers, you still feel them."

Someone who might provide the Eagles some additional insight on the Redskins is quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who was among Washington's final cuts before being signed to the Eagles' practice squad.

Both teams feature newcomers on defense. For Washington, that includes new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky; defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, a first-round draft pick; and pass rusher Junior Galette, who signed in 2015 but missed consecutive seasons with torn Achilles tendons.

"The important thing is stopping LeGarrette Blount and the running game, and they have a good running game with him," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "When they bring in Sproles and Smallwood and all those guys, we have to somehow figure out how to get them third-and-long, try to make them one-dimensional."

One player missing Sunday will be Washington's Su'a Cravens, the expected starter at strong safety. Cravens, 22, was placed on the exempt/left squad list Sunday after initially shocking the organization by saying he wanted to retire.

Philadelphia endured a distraction of its own this week after former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi called second-year coach Doug Pederson (7-9 a year ago) the least qualified coach in the NFL.

Quarterbacks return for Raiders, Titans

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(TSX / STATS) -- When the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans open the season Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, it will be more than a game matching teams with high expectations.

It will also be a matchup of quarterbacks playing their first meaningful game since sustaining similar season-ending injuries on Christmas Eve.

In the third quarter of a stunning loss at Jacksonville that eliminated Tennessee from playoff contention, the Titans' Marcus Mariota fractured his fibula. Hours later, in the fourth quarter of a win over Indianapolis, Raiders quarterback David Carr crumpled to the turf in Oakland, his season done with a broken leg.

The Raiders' season was done as well. Although they clinched a playoff spot, they were anything but a playoff team after Carr's departure. The sight of third-string quarterback Connor Cook piloting a once-powerful offense in the wild-card round at Houston was enough to make one's eyes bleed.

But the return of Carr, who last year became only the fifth player in NFL history with 80 touchdown passes in his first three seasons, should make the Oakland offense explosive again.

"I think he's a great player, and it showed last season," Mariota said of Carr. "Guy is a great competitor. Makes all the throws, makes it look easy. I think he's one of the better throwers in the league."

The same could be said of Mariota. In 2016, Mariota became a more efficient passer, completing better than 61 percent of his attempts with a 26-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also rushed for 349 yards and two scores.

While the Titans looked spotty for most of their preseason, Mariota fashioned a passer rating of 110.0, completing 20 of 32 attempts for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His mobility did not appear compromised eight months after the injury.

"I've always followed his career, and I've always been a big fan of his," Carr said. "I was definitely praying for him and wishing him well."

Carr and Mariota have gotten pretty familiar with watching each other's work. This is the third straight season the teams will meet, all in Nashville. The Raiders will be going for the sweep after winning close games the past two years.

Oakland's 17-10 win in Week 3 last year was typical of its season: The Raiders didn't blow out a lot of opponents, but they were able to make key plays at the end of close games. They were 9-2 in games decided by one score and were 5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer.

Although there are concerns about the team's focus with a move to Las Vegas on the horizon, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is eager to get the season going.

"I can't wait to watch our guys play," he said. "We've put a lot of time and effort into developing our guys. We recognize (the Titans) are a good football team, we're a good football team, and we need to go in there and battle."

Del Rio and Oakland might have to battle without their best defensive player. End Khalil Mack (knee) landed on the injury report Wednesday after not practicing. The Raiders listed 10 players on the report, including star wide receiver Amari Cooper (knee), who was limited at Wednesday's practice.

First-round draft pick Gareon Conley, a cornerback, was also limited in practice with a shin injury. The Raiders hope he will be able to play against a Tennessee receiving corps that appears to be beefed up by the addition of Eric Decker as well as rookies Taywan Taylor and Corey Davis.

However, the Titans' identity is their ground game. Using a philosophy that coach Mike Mularkey termed "extreme smashmouth" prior to last year, Tennessee pounded opponents with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry and a huge offensive line.

Murray rushed for 1,287 yards and nine touchdowns last season in a return to the form from his Dallas Cowboy glory days, while Henry added 490 yards and five scores in a decent rookie season.

In contrast to the Raiders' lengthy injury list, the Titans put only two names on the injury report Wednesday. But one of them was left tackle Taylor Lewan, who twisted his ankle during practice. Mularkey said he believes Lewan will play on Sunday.

The emotional Lewan, the guy Tennessee often runs behind, will see his fill of Mack on pass plays if Mack plays.

"They'll be matched up at some point," Mularkey said. "I don't know how many reps it will be, but it'll happen in this game."

Texans aim to lift Houston's spirits in opener vs. Jags

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(TSX / STATS) -- HOUSTON -- The final obstacle standing between the Houston Texans and a desired return to normalcy was cleared Monday when the franchise announced that its regular season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars would be played as originally scheduled at NRG Stadium on Sunday.

That proclamation didn't fully distance the Texans from the damage that Hurricane Harvey did to their community. However, it enabled the team to move forward with routine preparations without the specter of a relocation or postponement of the contest, a reality that affected the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Hurricane Irma threatening South Florida.

"(Texans President) Jamey Rootes spoke with (Houston) Mayor (Sylvester) Turner and (Harris County) Judge (Ed) Emmett -- obviously, Bob McNair involved with that -- and everyone agrees that our game will not take resources away from other parts of the city and that this game will be an opportunity to continue to bring us all together as Houstonians and as Texans," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said.

Winning their opener would help advance the Texans' goal of mending their community, but like the Jaguars, Houston opens the season with a curious situation at its most crucial position.

Despite maneuvering in the draft to select Deshaun Watson 12th overall, and then watching the quarterback flash in the preseason some of the considerable talent that enabled him to lead Clemson to the national championship last season, the Texans remain staunchly committed to fourth-year pro Tom Savage, an unheralded career backup, as their starter.

Savage, 27, has just two starts under his belt, both coming last season when starter Brock Osweiler proved too ineffective to maintain the charade of his reliability and trust. Savage has played in five career games and attempted only 92 passes, and for a franchise seeking a third consecutive AFC South title, hitching its wagon to Savage qualifies as an interesting decision.

O'Brien remains adamant that Savage is the best option at quarterback based on his familiarity of the offense and, true to their organizational personality, his players have echoed that sentiment. While there might be a sense of inevitability that Watson will someday supplant Savage, a change won't come anytime soon barring the unforeseen. Savage has ample support.

"I expect him to continue where he left off this preseason," Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who sat out the preseason with a thumb injury but has been cleared to start the opener.

"I'm not big on stats and numbers, but I did see where he was top percentage QB, or something like that. So, I expect him to continue that.

"I think he can be real good. He knows this offense like the back of his hand. He knows the players in this locker room very well, better than everybody. He's been here. So, I think he can be real good."

While the Jaguars, given their string of six consecutive losing seasons, possess more modest expectations, there was cause for offseason enthusiasm following the performance of their defense (which ranked sixth in yards allowed in 2016) and additions of running back Leonard Fournette, left tackle Cam Robinson, and receiver Dede Westbrook via the draft.

Where Jacksonville failed to improve was at quarterback, with Blake Bortles continuing to deliver inconsistent and maddening performances. He was fourth in the NFL with 16 interceptions last season, failed to complete 60 percent of his attempts for a third consecutive year, and posted declines in touchdown percentage and passer rating from 2015.

Considering the burgeoning potential of the defense and the accumulation of young talent offensively, Jacksonville appears only to need solid quarterback play to make the leap. Bortles didn't showcase that improvement in the preseason and, to exacerbate matters, veteran Chad Henne failed to surpass Bortles on the depth chart when presented the opportunity to do so.

Bortles remains entrenched, aware of the chorus supporting his demotion yet focused on blocking out that noise in order to help the Jaguars snap a six-game skid against the Texans.

"I'd rather not think about it," said Bortles, who was a full participant at practice Wednesday despite a minor right wrist injury.

"Maybe someday at the end of my career whenever that is, hopefully a long time from now, there'll be time to look back on it and think about how that stuff shaped me. But as of now it's focus on how we can beat the Texans and how can I help us be as efficient as possible."

Stafford leads Lions into opener against Cardinals

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(TSX / STATS) -- Matthew Stafford agreed to the richest contract in NFL history last week. He'll start earning some of that money in the season opener Sunday at Ford Field against one of the league's premier defenses.

The Detroit Lions quarterback, who received a five-year, $135 million extension, faces an Arizona defense that has given him fits in the past. The Cardinals have won their last seven games against the Lions, a streak that dates to 2006.

Stafford was benched after throwing three interceptions in a 42-17 home loss to the Cardinals two seasons ago, the last time the teams met.

Arizona allowed the second-fewest yards and topped the league with 48 sacks last season.

"They're unique in their scheme," Stafford said. "The guys in the secondary, they're ballhawks out there. No. 21 (cornerback Patrick Peterson) and 32 (free safety Tyrann Mathieu) have done it for years and some of the other guys that are new to the team or their role are playing really well, too.

"And then they have guys who can really rush the passer up front. So they do a really nice job. Traditionally, they've been a very good defense and I don't expect to see anything different."

The Lions reshuffled their line during the offseason to provide better protection for Stafford and open more holes in the running game. They signed right tackle Rick Wagner and right guard T.J. Lang during free agency, then traded with the Los Angeles Rams for left tackle Greg Robinson when Taylor Decker suffered a shoulder injury during minicamp.

Ameer Abdullah returns as the starting running back after playing only two games last season because of a foot injury. Pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick, who was limited to 10 games because of wrist injuries, will back him up.

"When we're healthy, we're obviously better," Stafford said of the running game. "Those two guys are a big part of what we do, as are most backs in this league.

"We have talented guys that can take a handoff and go the distance and make people look pretty foolish trying to cover them in the pass game, too. The more those guys can touch the ball and we can get them in space, the better."

Stafford engineered a series of fourth-quarter comebacks last season that allowed the Lions to reach the postseason as a wild card. Seattle made their postseason stay a short one.

The Cardinals came into last season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl but didn't qualify for the postseason, finishing at 7-8-1.

Arizona got off to a 1-3 start last season and plays its first two games on the road this year. It heads to Indianapolis next weekend.

"We've got to get off to a good start," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "There's no excuses about 10 a.m. (Pacific time start) and all that (nonsense). We all know the schedule. So yeah, we've got to get off to a good start and we've got to get off to a good start in those games. You don't want to get behind on the road in a domed stadium, for sure."

Carson Palmer is back behind center, but the Cardinals' biggest weapon is running back and fantasy football darling David Johnson. He scored a combined 20 touchdowns a year ago while rushing for 1,239 yards and catching 80 passes for an additional 879 yards.

"I've always said, he's the closest thing I've been around to Marshall Faulk," Arians said. "Marshall could start at wide receiver and probably on defense as a safety or corner. They're very smart guys. If a guy isn't real smart, you overload him to where he can't play fast if you put a bunch of things on his plate. Obviously, David's very bright and it's good to see Andre (Ellington) back healthy because he can do a lot of things like that, too."

Ageless Larry Fitzgerald remains Palmer's top target.

Defensively, the Cardinals will be without linebacker Deone Bucannon, who underwent offseason ankle surgery. Rookie Haasan Reddick is expected to start in his place. Defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche is dealing with a calf injury.

Detroit's top pass rusher, Ezekiel Ansah, is expected to play despite missing the preseason with a knee injury. Rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been limited in practice with an ankle issue but is also expected to play.

Browns' Kizer gets first taste of NFL against Steelers

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(TSX / STATS) -- The Cleveland Browns, always with an eye on the future, are hopeful the 2017 season opener will be a glimpse of the future when rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer throws his first pass against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Coach Hue Jackson chose Kizer as his starter because no one else in the competition -- Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler or Kevin Hogan -- did anything to stake a claim to the job.

Kizer's task in the opener is a formidable one. Browns left guard Joel Bitonio is warning the rookie from Notre Dame to expect anything and everything from the Steelers' blitz.

"My first NFL start was against the Steelers in Pittsburgh," Bitonio said. "Pittsburgh is one of those teams you see and a lot of people talk about.

"He's played at Notre Dame. He's played in big games, but when he takes that first snap Sunday, it's going to be a wakeup call, but I think he's going to be ready for it. It's going to be a moment like, 'I'm in the NFL. I'm playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.' But all the work he's put in, all the prep he's done, I think he's ready for it."

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh's starting quarterback since the Steelers drafted him from Miami University in 2004, is 20-2 starting against the Browns. He is 10-1 in Cleveland.

"He is very good above the neck," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday on a conference call. "He knows what's required to be prepared. He aids the growth and development of those around him. He does all of the things that you would expect a guy at his position to do, and he does it very naturally and does it very well."

The defense carried the Browns to a 4-0 preseason record, but the test it faces Sunday will be much sterner than anything faced in August, and Cleveland might be without rookie defensive end Myles Garrett. The first pick in the 2017 draft sustained an ankle injury in practice Wednesday.

"I don't want to make medical decisions," Jackson said. "I'm not very good at them, so we'll see where we are as we move through the week."

Four quarters of Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell will be more challenging than anything the Browns faced in preseason.

There are other plot twists to the opener, too. Joe Haden, the Browns' first-round draft pick in 2010, is now playing cornerback for the Steelers after being cut by Cleveland last week. Wide receiver Sammie Coates is with the Browns after being acquired from the Steelers on Sept. 2 for a sixth-round draft pick.

Coates is one of three receivers added to the Browns' roster after the conclusion of the preseason. The others are waiver additions -- Kasen Williams from the Seattle Seahawks and Reggie Davis from the Atlanta Falcons.

Coates, a 2015 third-round draft choice by the Steelers, had an inconsistent two years in Pittsburgh. He played with two broken fingers last season and was stuck with a label of dropping catchable passes. He acknowledged that but wants to show the Steelers they made a mistake by giving up on him.

"It's just a good time to start over," Coates said. "You go somewhere new, you see new faces, so it's always an opportunity and you have to take advantage of it.

"If somebody trades you, you want to showcase your talent against them, show them what they're missing. If we win, (Tomlin) is going to walk off the field. He's not going to want to see me."

It isn't all bitterness for Coates, though, who shrugged off going from a Super Bowl contender to a team that finished 1-15 a year ago. Coates said he is grateful to the Steelers for giving him the opportunity to play in the NFL.

The Browns head into the opener in good health, excluding the unknown status of Garrett. Bitonio and defensive tackle Danny Shelton missed the final three preseason games with knee injuries, but both are expected to start against the Steelers.

The Steelers listed backup tackle Jerald Hawkins (knee, limited) as the only player on their Wednesday injury report.

Bengals brace for Flacco, Ravens in season opener

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(TSX / STATS) -- While the Baltimore Ravens will have several of their key playmakers back in the lineup, the Cincinnati Bengals are short-handed when the AFC North rivals meet in the season opener Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to start after missing the entire preseason with a back injury. The Ravens also will have receiver Breshad Perriman and running back Danny Woodhead back in the lineup.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are trending in the other direction.

Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict and cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones are serving suspensions. Promising Bengals rookie receiver John Ross also is out with a knee injury.

Despite those losses, Cincinnati remains the favorite and has not lost to Baltimore at home since 2011.

"It is a tough place to play, and they are a good football team," Flacco said. "They have been a good football team for a lot of years now. You guys have seen it. We have a tough time winning there."

The biggest question facing Baltimore is Flacco, who crammed an entire training camp and four preseason games into one week of practice. He has traditionally struggled in Cincinnati, posting a 2-6 mark with five touchdowns and 12 interceptions over his career.

Much of Flacco's success could hinge on the Ravens' offensive line, which has also been hampered by injuries and the sudden retirement of center John Urschel on the first day of training camp.

However, six-time Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda and left tackle Ronnie Stanley are expected to play. This should give Flacco more time to throw downfield and also help Baltimore's running attack.

The Ravens will unveil some playmakers they added in the offseason, including receiver Jeremy Maclin and Woodhead. Baltimore boosted its defense, ranked No. 1 through parts of the 2016 season, with the signing of safety Tony Jefferson and cornerback Brandon Carr.

"It is their home opener," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "They obviously have been preparing for this game ever since we played them last year. It is their home opener, and they want to start off good. Both teams want to start off good, but we are just going to have it out on Sunday."

The Bengals also have plenty of weapons.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has made big plays over the Ravens secondary to A.J. Green, who has caught 41 passes for 726 yards and six touchdowns in eight games against Baltimore. Green missed both games against the Ravens last season.

Tight end Tyler Eifert (knee) was limited in practice this week, but could be active for the game. Running back Giovani Bernard is fully healthy, but starter Jeremy Hill has been dealing with an ankle injury.

Cincinnati, however, will need to do a better job protecting Dalton, who was sacked 41 times in 2016. The offensive line took a hit with the departure of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right guard Kevin Zeitler via free agency. Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Fisher and Trey Hopkins will try to fill the void, but they have combined for 16 starts in the NFL.

Dalton said protecting the ball will be key against the Ravens' aggressive defense.

"One thing is you can't turn the ball over," Dalton said. "Turnovers usually decide the game. Other than that, you've got to hit big plays on them. That's one thing we've been able to do in some of the games we've won. When we needed to make a play, we made it, and it allowed us to score in the fourth quarter to win."

The teams split their regular-season meetings last season, with the home team winning each time.

"Ironically, we are playing the team we ended with last year," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "They're a very strong football team that's put together well. They're familiar, but they have new players as well."

Falcons aim for improvement in season opener at Bears

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(TSX / STATS) -- Few people could argue that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is coming off the best season of his career after he was named NFL Most Valuable Player and led his team to the Super Bowl in 2016.

Yet the 10-year veteran insists he still has room for improvement heading into Sunday's regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

"For me, I think there's a lot of things I can do a lot better," said Ryan, who threw for 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions a season ago. "That has been one of the things that has been awesome this offseason is to try and attack a few of those things. Hopefully, I put in that work. I feel like I have. I feel like I'm in a really good place coming into this season."

That could spell bad news for the Bears, who are looking to bounce back from a miserable 3-13 season. The club retained coach John Fox but parted ways with lightning-rod quarterback Jay Cutler and backup Brian Hoyer. To replace them, general manager Ryan Pace signed Mike Glennon to a lucrative free-agent contract and traded up to draft Mitch Trubisky from North Carolina with the No. 2 overall pick.

Glennon has the edge as the starting quarterback -- for now -- and will make his team debut in front of a curious home crowd. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound signal-caller posted a 5-13 record in 18 career starts with Tampa Bay, and threw only 11 passes last season as the backup to Jameis Winston.

"I think competition is good, but I'm motivated by more than just that particular situation," Glennon told reporters this week when asked about Trubisky peering over his shoulder. "I want to help our team come out and win football games. That's ultimately what motivates me."

The Falcons have their own motivations to seek redemption. After an 11-5 campaign, the Falcons rolled through the NFC playoffs to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1998.

As nearly anyone who owns a television knows, the Falcons built a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots and appeared headed for their first championship in franchise history. But the Patriots reeled off the final 31 points for a stunning 34-28 comeback win in overtime that devastated Falcons players and their fans.

A new season provides the Falcons with a chance to renew their focus. Much of the roster remains intact, with Ryan leading an offense that finished second in the NFL last year with 415.8 yards per game.

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, the passing game is led by monster talent Julio Jones, who nabbed 83 catches for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games last year.

Ryan said he and his teammates must be sharp versus Chicago's front seven, which is the strength of the defense. Bears pass rushers Leonard Floyd, Willie Young and Akiem Hicks each finished with at least seven sacks in 2016.

"Their pass rush is good," Ryan said. "They've got big, long guys on the outside. They've got some really good up-the-field speed rushing. It's certainly something we'll have to account for, but they're also stout in the middle, so they do a pretty good job all over."

The Bears' offense will feature a different look without Cutler and Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Glennon leads a passing attack that includes 2015 first-round pick Kevin White and veteran Kendall Wright, who spent the past five seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Partly because of a thin receiving corps, look for Fox and his coaching staff to emphasize the running game. That could mean another heavy workload for second-year running back Jordan Howard, who turned heads as a rookie with 1,313 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Atlanta returns several stellar playmakers on defense, including linebacker Vic Beasley (15 1/2 sacks in 2016), safety Keanu Neal (five forced fumbles) and linebacker Deion Jones (108 tackles). The Falcons registered 34 sacks, which marked their highest total since 2006.

Glennon is familiar with the Falcons from his days with the Buccaneers in the NFC South.

"They're really fast," he said. "Their linebackers move really well. They have found guys that fit the scheme really well. ... There's a reason why they got to the Super Bowl last year."

Jets, Bills feature youth in season opener

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(TSX / STATS) -- Buffalo hosts the New York Jets on Sunday in what could be one of the few 2017 games in which the Bills will be favored.

The Jets swept the Bills last season, however, and will be looking for an opening-day road win.

This will be the 113th regular-season meeting between the teams, with the Bills holding a 59-53 lead. What was once a bitter, nasty AFC East matchup has turned into a game played for the future. Both the Bills and the Jets are in rebuild mode and looking at the 2017 season to get their young players experience.

Both teams have traded away veteran players in the past month. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins was shipped by the Bills to the Los Angeles Rams. The Bills also moved their best cornerback, Ronald Darby, to the Philadelphia Eagles. Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson was traded to the Seattle Seahawks from the Jets.

"It's going to be a long year," former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, whose 1995 team finished with the second-worst record (3-13) in franchise history, told Newsday on Aug. 30. "Unfortunately for them, the rebuild started two years too late, and they know that."

That quote can be used for the Bills as well, except their rebuilding mode started when general manager Brandon Beane was hired this offseason. The team has moved on from almost all of former general manager Doug Whaley's draft selections and signings. One of the only positives from the Whaley era was the acquisition of running back LeSean McCoy.

The Bills have led the NFL in rushing for the past two seasons. With questions at the quarterback and wide receiver position, McCoy is primed to have another monster year running behind an offensive line that specializes in moving the defenders off the line. Even in the obvious rebuild year, McCoy sounds confident in the team.

"We have the right pieces. It's just a matter of going out there and getting it done," he said. "I think it starts with Tyrod (Taylor, the starting quarterback). And (for) me to be a big contributor. I'm going to be a big part of it."

Despite that confidence, McCoy has been stymied by the Jets in the past. McCoy only rushed for 69 yards on 20 carries in two games against New York last season.

The Jets do return defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson. When playing at the top of their game, they are two of the premier run-stuffers in the NFL. The Jets will need them to come out fired up if New York hopes to shut down the Buffalo rushing attack.

Taylor is on a short leash and may need to use his legs to open up the offense. Taylor did suffer a concussion in the preseason, but has been cleared to play against the Jets. New head coach Sean McDermott, who came from the Carolina Panthers, runs a conservative offense but one where the quarterback needs to be mobile. Taylor fits that mold.

That mold does not include the Jets' starting quarterback, Josh McCown. The 38-year-old NFL veteran is simply extending his career in an offense with few playmakers. McCown has won only two games in the last 22 he has started, and going against the Bills' solid front seven may make getting win No. 3 difficult.

If the Jets are to win, McCown needs to use his leadership and savvy to take advantage of the inexperienced secondary of the Bills. Rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White will be put to the test early and often. The Bills still haven't decided which player will start at the opposite cornerback position, but former Ram E.J. Gaines looks to be the front-runner.

Neither team has much depth or playmaking ability at the wide-receiver position. The Bills trot out Zay Jones and former Eagle Jordan Matthews. Matthews got injured in his first practice with the Bills, but looks ready to play in Week 1. The unit lacks true deep speed and a dominant player.

The same can be said about the Jets receiving corps. Gone are Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Those playmakers have been replaced by Robby Anderson and former Seahawk Jermaine Kearse. They brought back Jeremy Kerley this week after he was cut by the 49ers.

Due to the lack of offensive weapons on both sides, this game looks to be a low-scoring affair.

Super letdown: Patriots routed in 2nd half, Chiefs win 42-27

By BARRY WILNER
Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Winning at New England when the Patriots are coming off an historic Super Bowl victory is worth getting a little wild over.

That's not the Kansas City Chiefs' style. Not even when a rookie is setting records.

Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times and set an NFL mark in a 42-27 stunner Thursday night to open the NFL season. Hunt's 246 yards in his pro debut were a record since the 1970 merger.

"We're going to enjoy the heck out of it," coach Andy Reid said after a superb second half carried his team. "It's one of 16 and something to build on."

Judging by how they won, it certainly is. There were big plays all over the field. The Chiefs, not the Patriots, were making them. Particularly Hunt.

"It started out just a little bit shaky, but it was all heart," Reid said of the third-round draft pick. "He was trying too hard."

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and became the first quarterback with 300-plus yards, four TDs and no interceptions against coach Bill Belichick. The 42 points were the most the Patriots have allowed in Belichick's 17-plus seasons.

Coming off their sensational Super Bowl rally to a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the Patriots faded badly in the second half. A raucous sold-out crowd of 65,878 celebrated the unveiling of yet another championship banner, and there was plenty of talk about Tom Brady leading them to a 19-0 record.

After Week 1, though, they are winless.

"I just think we need to have more urgency and go out there and perform a lot better," Brady said "It's a winning attitude, a championship attitude you have to bring every day. We had it handed to us on our own field."

It was the first time the Patriots lost at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime, a span of 82 games. They were no match for the Chiefs in the last two periods.

Tyreek Hill scored on a 75-yarder and Hunt put the Chiefs in front with a 78-yarder to punctuate Kansas City's charge after trailing 17-14 at halftime. Hunt also had a 58-yard scamper and finished with 148 yards rushing and 98 receiving. Hill had 133 yards through the air, and Smith went 28 for 35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

"To start on your first carry like that and have it go like that, it would be hard to overcome for a lot of guys," Smith said of Hunt, from Toledo. "I thought it was awesome coach coming right back to him.

"There was a good chunk there where we were going as Kareem was going. He was really a big chunk of the offense tonight. For a young guy, we put a lot on him, in all facets of the offense tonight, and he was able to handle it.'

Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, didn't look too spry. He struggled mightily in the second half and didn't throw for a touchdown, finishing 16 for 36 for 267 yards.

"Just a very poor effort and we'll have to do a lot better," Brady said. "Didn't make a lot of plays tonight, actually."

Patriots newcomer Mike Gillislee scored on three short runs, becoming the first player since Terrell Owens of Philadelphia in 2004 to score three touchdowns in his debut with a new team.

And Kansas City aided the Patriots' cause with 15 penalties for 139 yards. Yet, in the end, the Chiefs looked like world-beaters.

At the beginning, it seemed like an extension of February's Super Bowl. Riled up, Brady and the Patriots tore through the opposing defense as if it belonged to, well, the Falcons, scoring in nine plays, with Gillislee surging in from the 2.

One play later, they were at it again as Hunt fumbled. The Patriots took over at the Kansas City 32 and appeared to go up 14-0 on Rob Gronkowski's diving catch. Then a replay review overturned the score, with NFL headquarters — which now makes final decisions on such reviews — determining the ball hit the ground as Gronk came down in the end zone.

Gillislee was stopped on fourth-and-inches at the KC 10 and the Chiefs, looking very much like the host team, marched 90 yards in 12 plays. Hunt made up for his early gaffe by gaining 25 yards on the tying drive, which Smith capped with a sharp 8-yard pass to Demetrius Harris.

The teams traded long touchdown drives, New England going 82 yards to Gillislee's second TD, the Chiefs covering 92 yards at the end of the half before Hunt ran in with a 3-yard swing pass.

Stephen Gostkowski's 25-yard field goal was the margin for New England's halftime edge.

But the crowd's fervor was silenced with Hill's long touchdown on which prized free agent addition cornerback Stephon Gilmore was torched. Hunt sped down the middle behind linebacker Kyle Van Noy and DE/LB Cassius Marsh to put Kansas City in front for good.

SHORT YARDAGE

New England failed twice in the first quarter on short-yardage runs, by Gillisleeand Super Bowl hero James White, and again in the fourth period, by Gillislee. If anyone proclaimed the Patriots were missing RB LeGarrette Blount, who scored 18 TDs last season and was a beast in such situations, well, Gillislee, who came from Buffalo as a restricted free agent, ran in for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and a 1-yarder.

ROGER, ROGER

Not only did the crowd revel in the video highlights from the Super Bowl, the fans booed vigorously when Commissioner Roger Goodell was shown talking on the sideline Chiefs owner Clark Hunt during warmups. A website distributed thousands of towels featuring Goodell's face adorned with a clown nose, and many fans also had T-shirts with the caricature. Goodell watched the game from a suite, but not with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

INJURIES

Kansas City's star safety Eric Berry was carted off with 4:56 remaining with an Achilles tendon injury that Reid feared was a tear that would sideline Berry for the season.

The Patriots lost perhaps their best defensive player, linebacker Dont'a Hightower, in the third quarter with a knee injury. His absence showed on Hunt's long TD reception. ... WR Danny Amendola left in the fourth quarter with a head injury. He's projected as New England's slot receiver with Julian Edelman out for the season.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: Host Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

Patriots: Visit New Orleans on Sept. 17.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

What To Look For - Kickoff Weekend

SUPER STARTERS: History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive toward a Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.

The 51 Super Bowl winners have a 41-9-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. The Super Bowl LI champion NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, who host Kansas City in the season opener on Thursday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC), have won their past eight home openers played on Kickoff Weekend and 12 of their past 13 overall in Week 1.

Since 1978 when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are

victorious in their season openers are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:

• Of the 570 teams which won openers…297 went to the playoffs (179 won division titles).
• Of the 571 teams which lost openers…137 went to the playoffs (79 won division titles).
  
  Note: There are a different number of winning and losing teams in season opening games due to the fact the NFL had 31 teams in each season from 1999 to 2001, which creates an odd number for the total number of results.
  
  In 2016, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Kansas City, New England, the New York Giants, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Seattle – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.
  
  
  -- NFL --
  
  STRONG OUT OF THE GATE: Over the past 10 years, six teams – New England (.758), Denver (.706), Dallas (.676), Green Bay (.676), Baltimore (.647) and Arizona (.618) – have a winning percentage of at least .600 through the season’s first month. Those six clubs have combined for 37 playoff berths and nine Super Bowl appearances – including five Super Bowl championships – during the span.
  
  On Thursday night, the Patriots, who have an NFL-best 25-8 record in the month of September since 2007, host the Kansas City Chiefs (8:30 PM ET, NBC). The Broncos (24-10, .706), who own the second-highest opening-month winning percentage in the NFL over the past 10 seasons, host the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West showdown in the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader (10:20 PM ET, ESPN).
  
  The teams with the best opening month records over the past 10 seasons (2007-16):
  ​

TEAM	W	L	PCT.	PLAYOFF BERTHS	SUPER BOWL BERTHS	SUPER BOWL WINS
New England	25	8	.758	9	4	2
Denver	24	10	.706	5	2	1
Dallas	23	11	.676	4	0	0
Green Bay	23	11	.676	9	1	1
Baltimore	22	12	.647	6	1	1
Arizona	21	13	.618	4	1	0

-- NFL --

OUT OF THE BLOCKS: The DALLAS COWBOYS host the NEW YORK GIANTS on Sunday Night Football (8:30 PM ET, NBC), as the two NFC East rivals meet on Kickoff Weekend for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers. The Cowboys’ .661 winning percentage (37-19-1) is tied with Denver for the highest of any team in NFL history, while the Giants have the third-most wins on Kickoff Weekend (50).

The teams with the best winning percentage on Kickoff Weekend:

TEAM	KICKOFF WEEKEND RECORDS	WIN PCT.
Dallas Cowboys	37-19-1	.661
Denver Broncos	37-19-1	.661
Houston Texans	9-6-0	.600
Chicago Bears	54-38-5	.587
Green Bay Packers	54-39-3	.581
New York Giants	50-37-5	.575
Note: Ties prior to 1972 did not count in winning percentage.

The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:

TEAM	KICKOFF WEEKEND WINS
Chicago Bears	54
Green Bay Packers	54
New York Giants	50
Detroit Lions	47
Pittsburgh Steelers	42

-- NFL --

STARTING STREAKS: Some clubs have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of notable active NFL Kickoff milestones and streaks:

• The CHICAGO BEARS, who host Atlanta to open their 2017 campaign, have the most wins (65) all-time in home openers.

• The DALLAS COWBOYS, who welcome the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, have 32 wins in home openers since 1970, the most in the NFC.  

• The DENVER BRONCOS, who host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, have posted a 43-13-1 (.768) record in home openers, the top mark in the NFL. Denver has won 23 of its past 26 home openers.

• The GREEN BAY PACKERS, who welcome Seattle on Kickoff Weekend, have won their past four home openers. The Packers are tied with the Bears for the most wins (54) on Kickoff Weekend.

• The HOUSTON TEXANS, who host Jacksonville on Kickoff Weekend, have won six of their past seven home openers.

• The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, who host Carolina on Kickoff Weekend, have the NFL’s longest active winning streak (six) on Kickoff Weekend.

-- NFL --

START ME UP: Some players have excelled in openers. Below is a sampling of notable individual performances on NFL Kickoff Weekend:

• New England quarterback TOM BRADY has 3,808 passing yards in 14 career Week 1 games and needs 192 yards to join PEYTON MANNING (4,736) and DREW BREES (4,306) as the third QB with at least 4,000 career passing yards in season-opening games. Brees (33 touchdown passes) and Brady (31) can surpass Manning (34) for the most career touchdown passes in season openers.

• New Orleans running back ADRIAN PETERSON has 885 rushing yards in 10 career season-opening games and needs 115 yards to become the fifth player with at least 1,000 rushing yards in season-opening games. The four players to accomplish the feat are EMMITT SMITH (1,247), WALTER PAYTON (1,067), EDGERRIN JAMES (1,062) and JIM BROWN (1,043). Smith, Payton and Brown are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has 918 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions in 13 career season-opening games and needs 82 yards to become the fifth player with at least 1,000 career receiving yards and eight touchdown catches in season-opening games, joining JERRY RICE (1,385 yards, nine TDs), ANDRE REED (1,225, 10), RANDY MOSS (1,194, 10) and DON MAYNARD (1,025, nine). Rice, Reed and Maynard are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

-- NFL --

MR. 300: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS has 297 touchdown passes with 72 interceptions in 12 career seasons. With three touchdown passes against Seattle on Sunday, Rodgers would become the 11th quarterback in NFL history with 300 career touchdowns passes and the first quarterback in league history to reach 300 career passing touchdowns with fewer than 100 interceptions.

The quarterbacks who reached 300 career touchdown passes with the fewest interceptions:

QUARTERBACK	TEAM(S)	INTERCEPTIONS AT TIME OF 300TH TOUCHDOWN PASS
Tom Brady	New England Patriots	115
Philip Rivers	San Diego Chargers	142
Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	152
Drew Brees	San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints	153
Ben Roethlisberger	Pittsburgh Steelers	160
Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	72*
*Has 297 career touchdowns passes entering Week 1
-- NFL --

START ’EM EARLY: Cleveland rookie quarterback DE SHONE KIZER, a second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft, is expected to make his first career start against Pittsburgh on Sunday. With a start by Kizer on Sunday, at least one rookie quarterback will have started in Week 1 in 10 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.

The rookie quarterbacks to start in Week 1 since 2008:

SEASON	QUARTERBACK		TEAM	STARTING RECORD AS ROOKIE
2008	Joe Flacco		Baltimore Ravens	11-5
2008	Matt Ryan		Atlanta Falcons	11-5
2009	Mark Sanchez		New York Jets	8-7
2009	Matthew Stafford*		Detroit Lions	2-8
2010	Sam Bradford*		St. Louis Rams	7-9
2011	Andy Dalton		Cincinnati Bengals	9-7
2011	Cam Newton*		Carolina Panthers	6-10
2012	Robert Griffin III		Washington Redskins	9-6
2012	Andrew Luck*		Indianapolis Colts	11-5
2012	Ryan Tannehill		Miami Dolphins	7-9
2012	Brandon Weeden		Cleveland Browns	5-10
2012	Russell Wilson		Seattle Seahawks	11-5
2013	EJ Manuel		Buffalo Bills	4-6
2013	Geno Smith		New York Jets	8-8
2014	Derek Carr		Oakland Raiders	3-13
2015	Marcus Mariota		Tennessee Titans	3-13
2015	Jameis Winston*		Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6-10
2016	Dak Prescott		Dallas Cowboys	13-3
2016	Carson Wentz		Philadelphia Eagles	7-9
2017	DeShone Kizer^		Cleveland Browns	0-0
^Expected to start in Week 1
*No. 1 Overall Pick