Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara scored four touchdowns, and the Saints ran roughshod over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday as Tampa Bay and Seattle won tight contests to remain unbeaten in the young NFL season. Kamara’s three rushing touchdowns included a five-yarder on the Saints’ opening drive in Dallas, where New Orleans roared to a 44-19 victory and ended the Cowboys’ 16-game regular-season home winning streak.
After their rout of Carolina in week one, the Saints have opened the season with back-to-back 40-point games for just the second time in franchise history. The other was in 2009 when they would go on to win the Super Bowl. The Saints scored on their first six possessions against the shell-shocked Cowboys. Kamara added touchdowns on runs of 12 and seven yards, and he added another on a 57-yard catch and run. A Cowboys defense that dominated in week one was helpless against the Saints.
Rashid Shaheed had four catches, including a 70-yard touchdown reception, as Saints quarterback Derek Carr threw for two touchdowns and grabbed another on a quarterback sneak. “When you’re able to go out there and execute, limit the self-inflicted wounds, have explosive plays, man, it’s like the sky’s the limit,” Kamara said. “So it feels good right now. The receivers did their thing. The O-line did what they were supposed to do. It was easy for me,” he added. “I didn’t even have to run, really.”
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 185 yards and a touchdown and ran for another TD, while the Bucs defense came up big in a 20-16 victory over the Lions in Detroit. The Lions were in the red zone seven times but had just one touchdown — on David Montgomery’s one-yard run late in the third quarter. They were in scoring range on their final three drives but came up empty, and the Bucs improved to 2-0.
The Seattle Seahawks denied the New England Patriots a second straight upset victory, with Jason Myers booting his third field goal of the day in overtime to seal a 23-20 victory. DK Metcalf caught 10 passes, including a 56-yard touchdown for the Seahawks. Seattle quarterback Geno Smith connected on 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards, piloting a game-tying drive at the end of regulation.
In other early games, the Minnesota Vikings led wire-to-wire in a 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Justin Jefferson starred for Minnesota, reeling in a 97-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter before departing late in the third with a quadriceps contusion. The New York Jets, with two touchdown passes from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, bounced back from a week one defeat with a 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
© 2024 AFP
