NFL ROUNDUP \ Sunday’s other games

AFC

Patriots 17, Chiefs 10

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady limped off the field under the worried stares of Patriots fans. The thing they feared most finally happened — losing the NFL’s reigning MVP to injury. Brady hurt his left knee when tackled by safety Bernard Pollard midway through the first quarter and didn’t return. Matt Cassel, who had thrown only 39 passes as Brady’s backup the past three seasons, took over and did surprisingly well, completing 13-of-18 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown. But New England needed solid defense at the end to keep the lead. Damon Huard, playing after Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle left with a shoulder contusion late in the third quarter, completed a 68-yard pass to Devard Darling to the Patriots 5 with 53 seconds left. But they moved no further with two incompletions, a run for no gain by Larry Johnson and a poorly aimed pass toward Dwayne Bowe that sailed to the ground wide of the end zone on fourth down.

Jets 20, Dolphins 14

MIAMI — Six months after Brett Favre decided to call it a career in Green Bay before changing his mind, he made a successful debut with his new team. Broadway Brett threw for two scores. Favre’s new beginning had a happy ending thanks to two late stands by the Jets’ defense. Dwight Lowery batted away a fourth-down pass in the end zone with nine minutes left, and Darrelle Revis intercepted Chad Pennington — again in the end zone — with five seconds left.

Titans 17, Jaguars 10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans sacked David Garrard seven times and Cortland Finnegan intercepted him twice in the meeting between the AFC’s two wild cards in 2007. Jacksonville came in without top backup Richard Collier on the offensive line after he was shot earlier this week. The Jaguars had three more linemen get hurt, and Maurice Williams and Vince Manuwai did not return. That helped Tennessee limit the Jaguars to 187 yards offense, just 33 yards rushing by what was the NFL’s second-best rushing team in 2007.

NFC

Eagles 38, Rams 3

PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie DeSean Jackson had an impressive debut. McNabb was 21-for-33, including a 90-yard TD pass to Hank Baskett. Jackson, the first Eagles rookie wide receiver to start a season opener in 18 years, had six catches for 106 yards and returned a punt 60 yards to set up a field goal. The Eagles racked up 522 total yards and the defense was dominant.

Saints 24, Buccaneers 20

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns, giving fans already jubilant about the Saints’ quick return from Hurricane Gustav a triumph to celebrate as well. Tampa Bay had a shot to win the brutally physical contest until Scott Fujita intercepted Jeff Garcia’s fourth-down pass just inside the Saints 20 with under 40 seconds to go.

Falcons 34, Lions 21

ATLANTA — Matt Ryan threw for a touchdown with his very first NFL pass, Michael Turner set a team rushing record in his Atlanta debut, and the Falcons were off and running. Ryan electrified the crowd with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins before many fans had settled in their seats. Turner rumbled for 220 yards and two TDs after coming to Atlanta from San Diego in the offseason.

INTERCONFERENCE

Bills 34, Seahawks 10

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Roscoe Parrish scored on a 63-yard punt return, and punter Brian Moorman completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to defensive end Ryan Denney on a fake field goal, leading Buffalo to a dominating win. Marshawn Lynch also scored on a 21-yard run as the Bills never trailed.

Panthers 26, Chargers 24

SAN DIEGO — Jake Delhomme threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dante Rosario as time expired, capping a desperation drive for the win. After Philip Rivers rallied San Diego with his third TD pass of the game, Delhomme moved the Panthers to the San Diego 14-yard line with two seconds left before calling his final timeout. Delhomme dropped back on fourth down and found Rosario in the back of the end zone. John Kasay, who had four field goals, added the extra point to set the final score.

Associated Press