By Associated Press - Sunday, September 11, 2011

Bears 30, Falcons 12

CHICAGO — Brian Urlacher had an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown, Jay Cutler threw for 312 yards and two scores and the Chicago Bears pounded Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons 30-12 on Sunday.

In a matchup between reigning division champions, it was no contest.

Urlacher picked off Ryan to set up an early 56-yard touchdown catch by Matt Forte, and in the third quarter the linebacker picked up a fumble by Ryan and scored from 12 yards to make it 30-6.

That came on one of two sacks by Julius Peppers. Henry Melton also had two sacks and the Bears got to Ryan (31 of 47, 319 yards) five times in all. Cutler completed 22 of 32 passes.

Cardinals 28, Panthers, 21

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Cam Newton’s NFL debut was as magnificent as they come, except for the outcome. Instead, another rookie scored the game winner when Patrick Peterson returned a punt 89 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in Arizona’s win over Carolina.

Newton completed 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, the first rookie to throw for more than 400 yards in his NFL opener.

Kevin Kolb was 18 of 27 for 309 yards and two touchdowns in his first game for Arizona.

Bills 41, Chiefs 7

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes, two of them to journeyman tight end Scott Chandler, and the Buffalo Bills romped to a season-opening 41-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fitzpatrick finished with 208 yards passing for the Bills.

Fred Jackson added 112 yards rushing for Buffalo. Matt Cassel threw for 119 yards with a touchdown and interception for Kansas City.

It was the most lopsided season-opening loss in franchise history, and the worst home loss by the Chiefs since a 45-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35 years ago.

Lions 27, Buccaneers 20

TAMPA, Fla. — Matthew Stafford threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns Sunday to help Detroit whip Tampa Bay for its fifth consecutive victory dating to the final month of the 2010 season.

Stafford completed 24 of 33 passes, including TD throws of 36 and 1 yards to Calvin Johnson and 11 yards to Tony Scheffler. The only interception he threw glanced off the hands of intended receiver Will Heller and was returned 28 yards by Aqib Talib for a touchdown.

Texans 34, Colts 7

HOUSTON — Indianapolis looked lost without Peyton Manning, and Houston took advantage, with Matt Schaub throwing for 220 yards and a touchdown in a rout.

Ben Tate rushed for 116 yards and another score as he subbed for injured Arian Foster, and the Texans dominated Kerry Collins, Manning’s replacement.

Chargers 24, Vikings 17

SAN DIEGO — Fullback Mike Tolbert’s third touchdown, a 19-yard pass from Philip Rivers with 5:01 to play, lifted San Diego over Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Rivers completed 33 of 48 passes for 335 yards and was intercepted twice. Tolbert also scored on a 7-yard run and had a 1-yard TD catch.

Peterson, who set the NFL single-game record with 296 yards against San Diego as a rookie in 2007, had 98 yards on 16 carries.

Jaguars 16, Titans 14

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Maurice Jones-Drew scored in his return from knee surgery, and Jacksonville used a flawless start and some clutch plays late to edge Tennessee.

Titans star Chris Johnson ran nine times for 24 yards and caught six passes for 25 yards. Tennessee made it close with a pair of second-half touchdown passes from Matt Hasselbeck to Kenny Britt.

Eagles 31, Rams 13

ST. LOUIS — Michael Vick rushed for 98 yards, LeSean McCoy scored twice and DeSean Jackson topped 100 yards receiving as Philadelphia began rolled over St. Louis. Steven Jackson ran for a 47-yard score on the Rams’ first play, but lasted only one more carry before leaving with a quadriceps injury.

49ers 33, Seahawks 17

SAN FRANCISCO — Ted Ginn Jr. returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in a minute’s span late in the fourth quarter, and San Francisco gave Jim Harbaugh a victory over Seattle Seahawks in his NFL debut. Quarterback Alex Smith was 15 for 20 for 124 yards and running for a 1-yard TD.

Bengals 27, Browns 17

CLEVELAND — A.J. Green caught Cleveland’s defense napping for his first career catch, a 41-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, lifting Cincinnati to the win. Colt McCoy threw two TD passes for the Browns, who were disorganized for much of coach Pat Shurmur’s first game.

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