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Gary Kubiak did what football fans always beg coaches to do: He went for it in a key short-yardage situation. The problem was the Houston Texans didn't get it -- and, just like that, their chances of beating the Pittsburgh Steelers all but evaporated. The Texans lost a gamble, a challenge and, likely, their opener in the first five minutes of the season.

Tom Brady screamed. The fans went quiet. The seemingly indestructible star of the New England Patriots lay on the ground, clutching his left knee. The NFL's reigning MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion was done for the day -- at least. "He was in a lot of pain. When you hear a scream, you know that," Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard said after hitting Brady on the left leg midway through the...

Brett Favre sank to one knee on the sideline, helplessly watching the Miami Dolphins try to upstage his comeback with one of their own. Six months after Favre began a brief retirement, he made a stirring debut Sunday as Broadway Brett. But in the final minute the Dolphins marched down the field while Favre's New York Jets clung to six-point lead.

Jake Delhomme came back with a jolt that the San Diego Chargers won't soon forget. Delhomme threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dante Rosario as time expired to lift the Carolina Panthers to a shocking 26-24 win over the Chargers on Sunday. It was a heart-stopping capper to a game that swung wildly with a big defensive play by each team in the second half.

T.O. and his talented teammates were way too much for the Browns. Terrell Owens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass, Tony Romo effortlessly picked apart Cleveland's secondary, Marion Barber scored on a pair of 1-yard runs and the Dallas Cowboys opened a season they expect to end with a Super Bowl title by overwhelming the Browns 28-10 on Sunday.

Matt Ryan hopped down the field to celebrate after his first NFL pass, knocking down teammate Todd McClure along the way. That was about the only stumble as the Atlanta Falcons started a new era. The new quarterback did just fine. The new running back looked like an All-Pro. The new coach was beaming. Ryan became the first quarterback in eight years to throw for a touchdown with his first pass,...

Just like a preseason game, Donovan McNabb finished this one early. By the time he went to the sideline, though, he'd turned in a vintage performance. McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, rookie DeSean Jackson had an impressive debut and the Philadelphia Eagles routed the St. Louis Rams 38-3 on Sunday.

Drew Brees delivered on his pledge to give the Saints' storm-weary fans what he thought they deserved. Brees passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, giving fans already jubilant about their team's quick return from Hurricane Gustav a 24-20 season-opening triumph to celebrate as well.

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl with defense and they kicked off defense of that title with more of the same. Playing without Pro Bowl linemen Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, New York limited the new-look Washington Redskins to 11 first downs and 209 total yards and gave indications that these Giants are back for another run in a 16-7 victory that ushered in the NFL season Thursday...