NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SUNDAY RESULTS

Each Sunday evening, the National Football League will FAX scores, recaps and standings in order to assist you in your coverage of the 2001 regular season. 

Additional information on this week’s games can be accessed on the NFL’s Internet site for the media.  The dedicated site (www.nflmedia.com) features NFL and team releases and news, rosters, depth charts, injury reports, credential applications, conference-call details and other information.  To register, sign in and follow the simple instructions.  Contact Pete Abitante (212/450-2065) or Leslie Hammond (212/450-2064) for additional information.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE GAME RECAPS

Week 1, Sunday, September 9, 2000

2000 NFL STANDINGS

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

 Early Games

Minneapolis – Panthers QB Chris Weinke threw a touchdown pass to WR Mushin Muhammad midway through the third quarter and ran for a score in the fourth, leading the Panthers to a 24-13 victory over the Vikings.  Weinke, the rookie 29-year-old Heimsan Trophy winner, was 13-of-22 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception.  Vikings AB Daunte Culpepper completed 22 of 38 passes for 236 yards, and ran 12 times for 55 yards and a score.  WR Cris Carter’s touchdown—his 125^th—tied him with Walter Payton for sixth place on the career list. 

Baltimore – Ravens QB Elvis Grbac, who went 24-for-30 for 262 yards, threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to FB Sam Gash with 1:48 left in the third quarter to give the Ravens their first lead, 10-6.  Chicago QB Shane Matthews went 24-for-39 for 138 yards but threw two interceptions, both in the final six minutes. 

Green Bay – Green Bay QB Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes and completed 22 for 28 passes for 260 yards with no interceptions in the Packers victory over the Lions.  Green Bay RB Ahman Green scored two touchdowns, carrying 17 times for 157 yards, 4 yards shy of his career high.  The Packers needed only 10 plays to score 21 points in the first quarter.

New York—Colts WR Terrence Wilkins broke a 78-yard punt return late in the second half, keying Indianapolis’ win over the New York Jets.  QB Peyton Manning, who was 22-for-32 for 231 yards, threw for 180 yards in the first half alone.  RB Edgerrin James rushed for 135 yards.

Cincinnati—Bengals RB Corey Dillon ran for 104 yards and a touchdown, and QB Jon Kitna threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to TE Tony McGee as Cincinnati defeated New England in a 23-17 victory.  WR Darnay Scott caught five passes for 104 yards.  Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe completed 22 of 38 passes for 241 yards.

Buffalo— New Orleans WR Albert Connell’s touchdown catch sparked a second-half comeback in the Saints victory over the Buffalo Bills.  Buffalo QB Rob Johnson finished 16-for-27 for 160 yards in rookie coach Gregg Williams’ regular-season debut.

Kansas City – Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski’s 31-yard field goal with 15 seconds left gave the Raiders a 27-24 win over the Chiefs.  WR Jerry Rice made eight catches for 87 yards and QB Rich Gannon was 31-of-37 for 341 yards. 

Jacksonville –WR Jimmy Smith caught two of QB Mark Brunell’s three touchdown passes, while LB Hardy Nickerson had an interception and forced a fumble to lift the Jaguars to a 21-3 victory over the Steelers.  Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart was 21-for-37 for 181 yards. 

Cleveland –Seahawks K Rian Lindell’s 52-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining gave Seattle the 9-6 win over Cleveland.  Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck, making his first NFL start, finished 20-of-34 for 178 yards, and RB Ricky Watters rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries.

Dallas – Tampa Bay QB Brad Johnson finished 26-of-35 for 196 yards and completed two third-down passes to WR Jacquez Green, including a 25-yarder, in the Buccaneers victory over the Cowboys.  Dallas rookie QB Quincy Carter threw an interception to Tampa S John Lunch at the Buccaneers’ 14 with 1:17 left in the 4^th quarter. 

LATE GAMES

Philadelphia – St. Louis WR Isaac Bruce caught passes of 20 and 27 yards, to set up a 26-yard field goal by K Jeff Wilkins with 7:08 left in overtime as the St. Louis Rams beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17. 

San Francisco – 49ers K Jose Cortez kicked a 24-yard field goal with 10:59 left in overtime as the 49ers rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-13.  QB Jeff Garcia was 16-of-24 for 335 yards.  WRs Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes each had 93 yards receiving, while WR Tai Streets added 83 yards for the 49ers.  Atlanta RB Jamal Anderson rushed for 86 yards.

San Diego –Chargers rookie RB LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 113 yards on 36 carries and scored on runs of 3 and 1 yards in San Diego’s victory over Washington.  WR Tim Dwight scored on an 84-yard punt return just 3:29 into the game and QB Doug Flutie completed 10 of 18 passes for 129 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sunday Night Football

Nashville - The Miami Dolphins, led by QB Jay Fiedler, defeated the Tennessee Titans 31-23 Sunday night.  Fiedler, who completed 12 of 20 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, also rushed for 25 yards and was not sacked.  Miami’s defense contained the Titans’ offense by holding Tennessee RB Eddie George to 49 yards rushing on 18 attempts and intercepting three passes.  In front of a record crowd at Adelphia Coliseum (68,798), the Dolphins became only the second team (Baltimore Ravens) to defeat the Titans in their home stadium since it opened in 1999.  The Dolphins’ win is also the team’s 10th consecutive victory to open a season, the second-longest such streak in NFL history (Dallas, 17, 1965-81).

Monday Night Football