Jets 20, Dolphins 14

Miami – Six months after Brett Favre decided to call it a career in Green Bay before changing his mind, he made a successful debut with his new team. Broadway Brett threw for two scores.

Favre’s new beginning had a happy ending thanks to two late stands by the Jets’ defense. Dwight Lowery batted away a fourth-down pass in the end zone with nine minutes left, and Darrelle Revis intercepted Chad Pennington – again in the end zone – with five seconds left.

Favre finished 15-for-22 for 194 yards and his 161st victory, extending his NFL record for starting quarterbacks.

Panthers 26, Chargers 24

San Diego – Jake Delhomme threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dante Rosario as time expired, capping a desperation drive for the win. After Philip Rivers rallied San Diego with his third TD pass of the game, Delhomme moved the Panthers to the San Diego 14-yard line with two seconds left before calling his final timeout. Delhomme dropped back on fourth down and found Rosario in the back of the end zone. Carolina coach John Fox raised his arms and clenched his fists as the offensive players mobbed each other between the goal posts and the stands.

Cowboys 28, Browns 10

Cleveland – Terrell Owens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass, Tony Romo effortlessly picked apart Cleveland’s secondary, and Marion Barber scored on a pair of one-yard runs.

Bears 29, Colts 13

Indianapolis – Rookie running back Matt Forte ran for 123 yards and one touchdown in his NFL debut, and Kyle Orton committed no turnovers to help Chicago beat Indianapolis in the first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Cardinals 23, 49ers 13

San Francisco – Kurt Warner passed for 197 yards and led three monotonously effective drives in the second half. Anquan Boldin had all of his eight catches for 82 yards in the second half of the Cardinals’ third straight opener against the 49ers, who beat them twice last year to ruin their playoff hopes.

Titans 17, Jaguars 10

Nashville, Tenn. – The Titans sacked David Garrard seven times, and Cortland Finnegan intercepted him twice in the season opener between the AFC’s two wild cards in 2007.

Steelers 38, Texans 17

Pittsburgh – The Texans lost a gamble, a challenge and, likely, their opener in the first five minutes of the season. Willie Parker and the Steelers made certain Houston didn’t get a second chance. Parker ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, and a near-perfect Ben Roethlisberger threw two scoring passes to Hines Ward in a Steelers rout that began with Houston’s fourth-down failure on its opening possession.

Eagles 38, Rams 3

Philadelphia – Donovan McNabb threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie DeSean Jackson had an impressive debut. McNabb was 21-for-33, including a 90-yard TD pass to Hank Baskett.

Saints 24, Buccaneers 20

New Orleans – Drew Brees passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns, giving fans already jubilant about the Saints’ quick return from Hurricane Gustav a triumph to celebrate as well.

Falcons 34, Lions 21

Atlanta – Matt Ryan threw for a touchdown with his very first NFL pass, Michael Turner set a team rushing record in his Atlanta debut, and the Falcons were off and running. Turner rumbled for 220 yards and two TDs after coming to Atlanta from San Diego in the offseason.

Bills 34, Seahawks 10

Orchard Park, N.Y. – Roscoe Parrish scored on a 63-yard punt return, and punter Brian Moorman completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to defensive end Ryan Denney on a fake field goal, sparking Buffalo to a dominating win. As if that wasn’t enough, kicker Rian Lindell recovered a fumble on a kickoff, setting up Trent Edwards’ 30-yard touchdown pass to Robert Royal.

Ravens 17, Bengals 10

Baltimore – The Ravens forced two turnovers and limited the Bengals to 154 yards to make John Harbaugh a winner in his debut as an NFL coach. Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer was 10-for-25 for 99 yards, and his interception ended the Bengals’ deepest foray into Baltimore territory – except for a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Johnathan Joseph.