NEW YORK -- Opening day of the National Football League was a pure delight for Barry Switzer and his Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile Dan Marino lit up the Patriots in Miami, and Joe Montana, back in the Superdome, was superb once again as well.
Cowboys 26, Steelers 9. This was supposed to be Pittsburgh's strongest team since its four Super Bowl champions of the 1970s. Instead, the two-time defending champion Cowboys looked every bit the powerhouse, not missing a beat with Switzer in charge instead of Jimmy Johnson.
Emmitt Smith ran for 171 yards and a touchdown and Troy Aikman hit 21 of 32 passes for 245 yards, many on timing patterns to Michael Irvin, who made eight catches for 139 yards.
Colts 45, Oilers 21. At Indianapolis, Marshall Faulk was phenomenal. The second pick overall in the draft out of San Diego State, the running back had 174 total yards -- 143 rushing -- and three touchdowns. The Colts opened a 42-0 halftime lead and never let the Oilers back in the game.
Dolphins 39, Patriots 35. At Miami, Marino outplayed Drew Bledsoe five touchdowns to four.
The last one, a 35-yarder to Irving Fryar on fourth down with 3:19 remaining at Miami, gave Fryar 211 yards and three scores. That was just enough to offset Bledsoe's 32 of 51 passing for 421 yards with two interceptions.
Chiefs 30, Saints 17. Montana completed 24 of 35 passes for 315 yards and touchdowns of 11 yards to Willie Davis and 2 yards to Keith Cash. He is 10-0 at New Orleans, including a Super Bowl victory after the 1989 season.
Marcus Allen gained 82 yards on 18 carries and ran a yard for a touchdown.
Jets 23, Bills 3. At Buffalo, the Jets held Thurman Thomas to 5 yards rushing on seven carries and constantly harassed Jim Kelly, who left Rich Stadium with a bandage on his bruised right hand. He also said he hurt his throwing shoulder when he was tackled.
Rams 14, Cardinals 12. The Cardinals outgained the Rams 230 yards to 152 and had the ball for 38:22. But they lost in Buddy Ryan's return to head coaching. Todd Lyght caught a fumble by Arizona's Larry Centers on the fly and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown for the host Rams, who drew only 32,969, the smallest crowd ever at Anaheim Stadium.
Seahawks 28, Redskins 7. At Washington, Terry Wooden ran an interception back 69 yards for a touchdown and recovered a fumble, while Chris Warren rushed for 100 yards.
Lions 31, Falcons 28, OT. Jason Hanson did not let a cramp bother him, kicking a 37-yard field goal to win it.
Barry Sanders rushed for 120 yards on 27 carries and Scott Mitchell threw for three touchdowns for host Detroit. The Falcons got career highs of 14 catches for 193 yards, plus two touchdowns, from Andre Rison. Jeff George was 29 of 37 for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Chargers 37, Broncos 34. At Denver, John Elway could not lift Denver to victory and handed the Chargers three critical turnovers.
Stan Humphries threw three touchdown passes and linebacker Junior Seau recovered a bizarre fumble by Elway in the waning seconds. The San Diego defense converted two interceptions into touchdowns, including safety Stanley Richard's 99-yard return for a score on the final play of the first half.
Packers 16, Vikings 10. Sterling Sharpe did not make good on his walkout, instead coming to terms on a salary adjustment with the Packers. Then he caught a 14-yard touchdown pass among his seven receptions. Packers safety George Teague intercepted two of Warren Moon's passes, spoiling his debut with the Vikings at Lambeau Field.
Browns 28, Bengals 20. Visiting Cleveland had a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns, the first team to do that since Detroit in 1977.
Randy Baldwin ran a kickoff back 85 yards, and Eric Metcalf went a club-record 92 yards with a punt within a three-minute span in the second quarter.
Giants 28, Eagles 23. David Meggett returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown, ran 26 for a TD and recovered a fumble to set up another as the host Giants capitalized on early errors by the Eagles.
Bears 21, Buccaneers 9. At Chicago, Chris Gedney caught his first two NFL touchdown passes and Erik Kramer hit 18 of 25 passes.
Cowboys 26, Steelers 9. This was supposed to be Pittsburgh's strongest team since its four Super Bowl champions of the 1970s. Instead, the two-time defending champion Cowboys looked every bit the powerhouse, not missing a beat with Switzer in charge instead of Jimmy Johnson.
Emmitt Smith ran for 171 yards and a touchdown and Troy Aikman hit 21 of 32 passes for 245 yards, many on timing patterns to Michael Irvin, who made eight catches for 139 yards.
Colts 45, Oilers 21. At Indianapolis, Marshall Faulk was phenomenal. The second pick overall in the draft out of San Diego State, the running back had 174 total yards -- 143 rushing -- and three touchdowns. The Colts opened a 42-0 halftime lead and never let the Oilers back in the game.
Dolphins 39, Patriots 35. At Miami, Marino outplayed Drew Bledsoe five touchdowns to four.
The last one, a 35-yarder to Irving Fryar on fourth down with 3:19 remaining at Miami, gave Fryar 211 yards and three scores. That was just enough to offset Bledsoe's 32 of 51 passing for 421 yards with two interceptions.
Chiefs 30, Saints 17. Montana completed 24 of 35 passes for 315 yards and touchdowns of 11 yards to Willie Davis and 2 yards to Keith Cash. He is 10-0 at New Orleans, including a Super Bowl victory after the 1989 season.
Marcus Allen gained 82 yards on 18 carries and ran a yard for a touchdown.
Jets 23, Bills 3. At Buffalo, the Jets held Thurman Thomas to 5 yards rushing on seven carries and constantly harassed Jim Kelly, who left Rich Stadium with a bandage on his bruised right hand. He also said he hurt his throwing shoulder when he was tackled.
Rams 14, Cardinals 12. The Cardinals outgained the Rams 230 yards to 152 and had the ball for 38:22. But they lost in Buddy Ryan's return to head coaching. Todd Lyght caught a fumble by Arizona's Larry Centers on the fly and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown for the host Rams, who drew only 32,969, the smallest crowd ever at Anaheim Stadium.
Seahawks 28, Redskins 7. At Washington, Terry Wooden ran an interception back 69 yards for a touchdown and recovered a fumble, while Chris Warren rushed for 100 yards.
Lions 31, Falcons 28, OT. Jason Hanson did not let a cramp bother him, kicking a 37-yard field goal to win it.
Barry Sanders rushed for 120 yards on 27 carries and Scott Mitchell threw for three touchdowns for host Detroit. The Falcons got career highs of 14 catches for 193 yards, plus two touchdowns, from Andre Rison. Jeff George was 29 of 37 for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Chargers 37, Broncos 34. At Denver, John Elway could not lift Denver to victory and handed the Chargers three critical turnovers.
Stan Humphries threw three touchdown passes and linebacker Junior Seau recovered a bizarre fumble by Elway in the waning seconds. The San Diego defense converted two interceptions into touchdowns, including safety Stanley Richard's 99-yard return for a score on the final play of the first half.
Packers 16, Vikings 10. Sterling Sharpe did not make good on his walkout, instead coming to terms on a salary adjustment with the Packers. Then he caught a 14-yard touchdown pass among his seven receptions. Packers safety George Teague intercepted two of Warren Moon's passes, spoiling his debut with the Vikings at Lambeau Field.
Browns 28, Bengals 20. Visiting Cleveland had a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns, the first team to do that since Detroit in 1977.
Randy Baldwin ran a kickoff back 85 yards, and Eric Metcalf went a club-record 92 yards with a punt within a three-minute span in the second quarter.
Giants 28, Eagles 23. David Meggett returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown, ran 26 for a TD and recovered a fumble to set up another as the host Giants capitalized on early errors by the Eagles.
Bears 21, Buccaneers 9. At Chicago, Chris Gedney caught his first two NFL touchdown passes and Erik Kramer hit 18 of 25 passes.
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