Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, New Orleans Saints 40
Tampa Bay quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for 417 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions and rushed for a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 48-40 win at New Orleans during week 1. With his performance, Fitzpatrick joined Washington’s Mark Rypien (November 10, 1991 against Atlanta) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for at least 400 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions and rush for a touchdown in a single game. Fitz was 8/13 on his third downs and was not sacked.
Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson had 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yard touchdown catch, in the week one win over the Saints. Jackson has 27 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers Lance Alworth and Terrell Owens for the third-most in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (36) and Randy Moss (29) have more in league annals.
Carolina Panthers 16, Dallas Cowboys 8
Cam Newton ran for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Carolina’s defense turned in a dominating performance as the Panthers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-8 in the season opener Sunday. Luke Kuechly had 13 tackles, Kawann Short sacked Dak Prescott twice and Mario Addison had a huge strip-sack of the Cowboys quarterback with 1:23 left to seal the victory.
Tight end Greg Olsen left in the first half with a foot injury and did not return. He was on the sideline in the second half on crutches with his right foot in the boot. It is the same foot Olsen broke last season. Coach Ron Rivera said Olsen didn’t suffer the same injury, but offered no other updates.
Updates compiled by Itoro Umontuen, statistics courtesy of NFL Media and the Associated Press.
