Monster QB trade vindicated again as 8-year drought is snapped in ...

The NFL is back for another season and there have already been some shock results, with the New England Patriots pulling off a big upset win while the Carolina Panthers copped an early reality check.

The Lions enter this season with massive expectations, but the Super Bowl fancies needed overtime to down the Rams.

Elsewhere, an Australian rookie starred in his team’s epic comeback.

Read on for a full NFL wrap!

Watch an average of 3 games each week during the regular season, plus every game of the NFL Postseason including the Super Bowl, LIVE on ESPN with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

SUPERSTAR RECEIVER ARRESTED BEFORE SPARKING DOLPHINS COMEBACK

Tyreek Hill scored a spectacular touchdown just hours after being arrested by police as the Miami Dolphins scored a 17-14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dolphins receiver Hill had been at the centre of off-field controversy early Sunday after being arrested by traffic cops near the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami as he drove to the game.

The 30-year-old speedster was filmed lying face down on the road as police officers handcuffed him for what was later described as a minor traffic violation before being released without charge.

Tyreek Hill celebrates his touchdown in hilarious fashion. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Hill shrugged off the incident, though, to help the Dolphins recover from a 14-0 second-quarter deficit, with Miami sealing victory thanks to Jason Sanders’ 52-yard field goal with the final play of the game.

Hill, however, electrified the Miami crowd with a sensational 80-yard third-quarter touchdown that put the Dolphins within 17-14.

The receiver then alluded to his arrest by pretending to be handcuffed by teammate Jaylen Waddle in his touchdown end zone celebration.

Sanders drilled a 37-yard field goal with 4min 22sec remaining to tie the game before nailing his decisive last-gasp kick to give the Dolphins victory.

LIONS SNAP EIGHT YEAR DROUGHT IN OPENING WEEK WIN

The first Sunday Night Football game of the season delivered in spades with the Detroit Lions defeating the LA Rams 26-20 in overtime.

Running back David Montgomery provided the winning play - a one-yard touchdown run.

It was a rematch of last year’s wild card playoff, which saw the Lions narrowly beat the Rams by a point.

Once again, these two sides provided a game that went down to the wire, with the Rams fighting back from 17-3 behind to force overtime.

Detroit were disappointing to cough up a big second half lead, and it would have given their fans flashbacks to last season’s NFC Championship game, when the Lions let a 24-7 lead slip against the 49ers.

This time though, they were able to right the ship in overtime, marching down the field to score and record a walk off win in overtime without the Rams even getting a chance with the ball. It was Detroit’s first overtime win in eight years.

That overtime period showcased the power running game that coach Dan Campbell wants to build this team on, and a feature that helped Detroit reach the playoffs last season.

In what is rarefied air for the Lions, they are the hunted this season rather than the hunter.

Last year’s steller season have them listed in betting markets as one of the Super Bowl favourites, and while there were some shaky moments in their opening week match, a win against another playoff hopeful is nothing to be shirked at.

The win was also further vindication that Detroit made the right move trading away former No. 1 pick Matt Stafford for current quarterback Jared Goff.

It was a huge move, and one that paid dividends for the Rams in the ensuing season, with Stafford leading L.A to a Super Bowl.

However, that’s taking nothing away from Goff’s impact for the Lions.

During Stafford’s 12 year tenure with the Lions, he wasn’t able to lead Detroit to a playoff win.Goff meanwhile has won two playoff games as Lions QB and is now 2-0 against Stafford’s Rams since the trade.

BILLS QB PLAYS DOWN INJURY AFTER INSPIRING FIGHTBACK

Elsewhere, there was a double-digit fightback in Buffalo as Josh Allen led the Bills to a 34-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium.

Bills quarterback Allen rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more to help Buffalo overturn a 17-3 second quarter deficit.

Allen finished with 232 passing yards from 18-of-23 completions in an impressive start to the season for one of the NFL’s most talented quarterbacks.

Allen said post-game that he was set for X-rays after picking up an injury on his non-throwing hand in the win but insisted he would be OK.

MIXED REVIEWS ON HYPED NO.1 PICK AS AUSSIE STARS IN COMEBACK

In Chicago, meanwhile, much-hyped No.1 draft pick Caleb Williams’s NFL career got off to a rocky but victorious start as the Bears defence set up a come-from-behind 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Bears quarterback Williams finished with just 93 passing yards and looked poised to suffer a losing debut as the Titans raced into a 17-0 lead late in the second quarter.

But the Bears came roaring back after half-time, with safety Jonathan Owens -- who is married to US Olympic gymnastics superstar Simone Biles -- scooping up a blocked punt for a touchdown to start the fightback.

The Bears defence then shut out the Titans offence for the remainder of the half and cut the deficit to one point with back-to-back field goals from Cairo Santos early in the fourth quarter.

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson intercepted Titans quarterback Will Levis for a pick six and a successful two-point conversion left Chicago leading 24-17 before the Bears defence then iced the game with another interception in the final moments.

Elsewhere, with Chicago’s offence struggling, Australian rookie punter Tory Taylor was regularly called on and produced a standout performance in his first NFL game.

Taylor recorded six punts in total, landing three inside the 20.

ROCKY START FOR FALCONS’ BIG-MONEY QB ADDITION

In Atlanta, the Pittsburgh Steelers shrugged of the injury absence of quarterback Russell Wilson to grind out an 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, with all of their points coming from six Chris Boswell field goals.

It was a rough start for Kirk Cousins, who the Falcons signed to a four-year, $180 million contract in the hopes he could finally provide high-level, or at least steady, quarterback play.

But Cousins ended up completing 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, mangaging only 19 yards in the second half.

That was the lowest mark of Cousins’ career, with the veteran quarterback telling reporters he was “disappointed” with his effort.

NEW YEAR, SAME OLD PANTHERS AND BRYCE YOUNG

There was optimism heading into a new season that former first overall pick Bryce Young could put a nightmare rookie season behind him.

New coach Dave Canales had back-to-back years of helping Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield put together career years, while Young was also expected to benefit from the arrival of a clear top target in Diontae Johnson and a fortified offensive line.

Instead, it was much of the same for the Panthers. In fact, it was arguably worse given the higher expectations as Carolina made New Orleans look like world beaters in a 47-10 loss.

The Saints had their own question marks on the offensive end heading into the new season but were gifted field position by a turnover-prone Young, who threw an interception with his first pass attempt of the season.

It didn’t get any better from there, with Young tackled by teammate Taylor Moton on one play that summed up a disastrous season opener for the Panthers.

Bryce Young was tackled by his own lineman.Source: FOX SPORTS

Young threw another interception later in the game, this time overshooting an open Adam Thielen. At that point, he was 6 of 14 for 50 yards, no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

On the other side, Derek Carr was poised as he finished with 19 completions for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

BENGALS STUNNED BY PATRIOTS AS JA’MARR CHASE DRAMA DRAGS ON

As if the vibes weren’t already bad enough in Cincinnati, the Bengals suffered a stunning 16-10 defeat to the New England Patriots to open their 2024-25 campaign.

The Bengals were heavy favourites despite being without injured receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring), with the hope that a healthier Joe Burrow and stronger offensive line would mean a return to form and potential Super Bowl contention.

Instead, Cincinnati went three-and-out on its first three possessions while New England, led by experienced veteran Jacoby Brissett, went on a 80-yard drive in the first quarter that was capped off by a three-yard Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run.

The Patriots running back led the way in the upset win, finishing with 120 yards, while Joey Slye kicked three field goals to secure Jerod Mayo the victory in his first game as coach.

Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who held out for the majority of the preseason as he seeks a big-money contract extension, had six catches for 62 yards.

Chase had been questionable for Monday’s game with an illness and when asked by reporters why he only had six targets, the superstar receiver said “You’ve gotta ask Zac”, referring to head coach Zac Taylor.

COWBOYS END PRESCOTT SAGA AND CELEBRATE WITH A BIG WIN

Speaking of contract negotiations, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrated his big payday with a dominant 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns.

It was announced earlier on Monday that Prescott had agreed a mammoth four-year $240 million that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

The Cowboys confirmed the 31-year-old’s Prescott’s extension in a post on social media but did not specify details of the contract.

Reports said Prescott’s new deal would be worth an average of $60 million a season, surpassing previous record deals worth $55 million a year signed by Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence.

Prescott’s deal also comfortably eclipses the $45 million a year earned by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

ESPN reported that $231 million of Prescott’s contract would be guaranteed, beating the fully-guaranteed $230 million deal signed by Deshaun Watson when he joined the Cleveland Browns from the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys defeated the Browns 33-17. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Confirmation of the extension, which runs through the 2028 season, came as the Cowboys prepared to open their season against Cleveland later Sunday.

Prescott’s future had been clouded in uncertainty as he entered the final year of a four-year deal signed in 2021 worth $160 million.

Prescott has played his entire career with the Cowboys since bursting into the league in 2016 when he won NFL Rookie of the Year honors.

However, he has been unable to end the Cowboys 28-year Super Bowl drought and has been criticised for a poor record in the playoffs, winning just two of seven postseason games.

IN OTHER GAMES...

In other early action, rising quarterback star C.J. Stroud threw for two touchdowns and 234 yards in a gripping 29-27 victory for the Houston Texans on the road at the Indianapolis Colts.

In East Rutherford, the New York Giants centenary season got off to a dismal start in a 28-6 pounding by Minnesota as Sam Darnold impressed in his first start for the Vikings.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones threw two interceptions including a pick six and was sacked five times in a torrid opening.

Later on in Monday’s slate, the Jim Harbaugh era at the Chargers began in winning fashion as J.K. Dobbins erupted for 135 yards in a 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Meanwhile, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a rough debut as he threw two picks in a 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.

Fellow rookie Jayden Daniels showed off his rushing upside in defeat for the Washington Commanders, but it was a standout performance from Baker Mayfield that stole the show as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback threw four touchdowns in a 37-20 win.

WEEK 1 NFL SCORES

Chiefs 27 defeat Ravens 20

Eagles 34 defeat Packers 29

Saints 47 defeat Panthers 10

Giants 6 defeated by Vikings 28

Bengals 10 defeated by Patriots 16

Falcons 10 defeated by Steelers 18

Colts 27 defeated by Texans 29

Bills 32 defeat Cardinals 28

Bears 24 defeat Titans 17

Dolphins 20 defeat Jaguars 17

Raiders 10 defeated by Chargers 22

Broncos 20 defeated by Seahawks 26

Commanders 20 defeated by Buccaneers 37

Browns 17 defeated by Cowboys 33