NFL ROUNDUP
Actual football games were supposed to provide some respite for the NFL from off-field headlines created by Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and drug policies.
Instead, there was a rash of injuries to stars grabbing attention.
Robert Griffin III, Jamaal Charles, A.J. Green, Knowshon Moreno and DeSean Jackson were sidelined Sunday, with Griffin's injury appearing the most long-term.
RG3 dislocated his left ankle and receiver Jackson sprained his left shoulder in the first quarter. Luckily for Washington, Kirk Cousins came in and threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-10 romp past Jacksonville.
Griffin was carted to the locker room with his leg in a splint and could be out for two months. The quarterback will undergo X-rays to determine if the ankle is broken.
“It's an excruciating pain,” Griffin said. “Anytime you look at your ankle and it's going in a strange direction, you don't want to get up.”
Kansas City All-Pro running back Charles left with a left ankle injury in Denver after being brought down in the first quarter. The Broncos won 24-17.
Green aggravated a right toe problem early in Cincinnati's 24-10 victory over Atlanta. The receiver was blanked for the first time in his three-plus pro seasons.
Moreno hurt his left elbow 11 minutes into Miami's 29-10 loss at Buffalo. The running back didn't return.
<B>Redskins 41, Jaguars 10</B>Cousins subbed for Griffin and completed his first 12 passes. Ryan Kerrigan had four of the Redskins' 10 sacks, and Washington's defense didn't allow Jacksonville (0-2) past midfield until the final two minutes of the first half.<B>Broncos 24, Chiefs 17</B>At Denver, Terrance Knighton batted away Alex Smith's fourth-and-goal pass to Dwayne Bowe with 15 seconds left to move the Broncos to 2-0.The Chiefs (0-2) converted 11 of 16 third-down opportunities overall, even without Charles.<B>Bengals 24, Falcons 10</B>At Cincinnati, running back Giovani Bernard picked up the depleted offense by running for 90 yards as the Bengals (2-0) won their home opener despite Green's absence.Cincinnati also lost tight end Alex Smith (left biceps), right guard Kevin Zeitler (right calf), and Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict (pinched nerve in his neck).<B>Bills 29, Dolphins 10</B>The Clemson connection was decisive in lifting Buffalo (2-0): C.J. Spiller scored on a 102-yard kickoff return, and rookie receiver Sammy Watkins had a 12-yard touchdown catch.<B>Bears 28, 49ers 20</B>A downer for the 49ers (1-1) as they made their regular-season debut at Levi's Stadium by blowing a 17-0 lead.Jay Cutler passed for three fourth-quarter touchdowns after much of Chicago's starting defense went down.<B>Chargers 30, Seahawks 21</B>At San Diego, Antonio Gates was unstoppable with three touchdown catches. A 21-yarder in the third quarter saw the tight end split two defenders and extend for Philip Rivers' pass, reaching out with his left hand to gather it in. Flat on his back, made the super catch.<B>Cardinals 25, Giants 14</B>Ted Ginn Jr. ran 71 yards on a punt return for a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown for Arizona (2-0), which was without its starting QB.Playing in a regular-season game for the first time since 2010, Drew Stanton replaced the scratched Carson Palmer and led the Cardinals on three long scoring drives. Arizona won for the ninth time in 11 games.<B>Browns 26, Saints 24</B>At Cleveland, Billy Cundiff kicked a 29-yard field goal with 3 seconds left and the Browns (1-1) snap a nine-game losing streak in home openers.Rookie coach Mike Pettine's first NFL win was secured when Brian Hoyer drove the Browns 85 yards in 14 plays in the final 2:46.<B>Packers 31, Jets 24</B>At Green Bay, the Packers (1-1) stormed back from an 18-point hole as Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns. Jordy Nelson had a career-high 209 yards receiving, including an 80-yard TD.Strangely, New York (1-1) appeared to tie it with about five minutes left on a 37-yard catch by Jeremy Kerley on fourth down. But someone on the sideline had called a timeout just before the snap.<B>Patriots 30, Vikings 7</B>At Minneapolis, Tom Brady's former backup, Matt Cassel, was picked off four times. Chandler Jones returned a field goal he blocked for a touchdown right before halftime, too.<B>Cowboys 26, Titans 10</B>At Nashville, DeMarco Murray ran for 167 yards and a touchdown and Dan Bailey kicked four field goals to ruin Ken Whisenhunt's home debut as Titans coach.<B>Panthers 24, Lions 7</B>At Charlotte, Cam Newton was back and threw for 281 yards and a touchdown. Newton, who missed the season opener with a rib injury, was 22 of 34 and overcame five sacks for Carolina (2-0).<B>Texans 30, Raiders 14</B>At Oakland, J.J. Watt caught a 1-yard touchdown pass, Arian Foster ran for 138 yards and a score.<B>Rams 19, Bucs 17</B>At Tampa, Greg Zuerlein's fourth field goal, a 38-yarder with 38 seconds remaining, gave the Rams (1-1) a tight win.
