Packers 24, Vikings 19

Green Bay, Wis. – Aaron Rodgers passed his first test as the Green Bay Packers’ new quarterback, throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown and scoring on a game-clinching sneak in a victory over Minnesota on Monday night.

Rodgers, who was 18-of-22, got help from the Packers’ special teams, running back Ryan Grant and safety Atari Bigby to beat a bitter division rival in his first regular-season start, which came in the wake of Brett Favre’s offseason unretirement saga.

“I’m happy we won, and that he played well,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “That’s what’s important. I don’t really get caught up in all the other things. And it’s important for him not to, too.”

After scoring on the sneak, Rodgers emphatically spiked the ball and jumped into the stands for a “Lambeau Leap” as Green Bay took a 24-12 lead with 6:03 remaining.

“I’ve been dreaming about that for four years, to be honest,” Rodgers said.

Broncos 41, Raiders 14

Oakland, Calif. – Jay Cutler’s strength and rocket arm are back like never before now that his diabetes is under control.

Cutler threw for 300 yards with long touchdown passes to rookie Eddie Royal and Darrell Jackson that helped the Denver Broncos beat up on their AFC West rivals.

Cutler showed why the Broncos made him a first-round draft pick in 2006, completing 16 of 24 passes and confidently picking apart Oakland’s rebuilt defense in a dominating season-opening performance despite missing suspended big-play receiver Brandon Marshall.

It was a pleasant sight for the Broncos to see after an up-and-down performance last season when Cutler lost 35 pounds and the zip on his throws while struggling with diabetes that was not diagnosed until March. Now he’s back to his healthy self, and the Broncos couldn’t be happier.

For the Raiders, the season couldn’t have gotten off to much worse of a start. They lost their sixth straight season opener and only avoided their third straight shutout on Monday Night Football when JaMarcus Russell threw two meaningless fourth-quarter touchdown passes.