Kris Brown gave the Houston Texans a big kick on Sunday.
Brown kicked his fifth field goal, a 35-yarder with 25 seconds left, as the second-year Texans stunned Miami 21-20. The Texans staged another season-opening upset to leave the Dolphins 0-1 for the first time in 12 years.
Last year, Houston became the first expansion team to win its opening game since 1961 by beating Dallas.
"We're not shocked," Brown said. "We took it as a slap in the face that we were the largest underdogs (14 points) on the opening weekend."
Houston's David Carr went 17-of-31 for 266 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown to Corey Bradford. The Texans limited Ricky Williams to 69 yards rushing and forced the game's only three turnovers, including an interception by Marcus Coleman that set up the winning score.
Brown also made field goals of 50, 36, 24 and 23 yards. He missed from 43 and 54 yards.
"I'm stunned, shocked, disappointed, amazed," said Miami's Larry Chester. "No one could have told me we were going to lose, not with this team."
Titans 25, Raiders 20
In Nashville, Tennessee, Steve McNair threw two touchdowns and punter Craig Hentrich matched his career high by kicking three field goals. Hentrich was doing double duty because Joe Nedney sprained his right knee on the kickoff after he kicked a 50-yard field goal. Hentrich had three field goals in nine years before matching that total Sunday night.
49ers 49, Bears 7
In San Francisco, Jeff Garcia passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns, and Garrison Hearst caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another score as the 49ers sparkled in new coach Dennis Erickson's debut.
Ahmed Plummer returned an interception 68 yards for a score. Jimmy Williams and Brandon Lloyd made exceptional special teams plays in San Francisco's electric debut under Erickson, who replaced Steve Mariucci.
The 49ers took a 33-7 halftime lead with their biggest offensive output in a half since 1992. They punted just twice in the first three quarters.
Falcons 27, Cowboys 13
In Irving, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys bumbled in the debut of new coach Bill Parcells, and Doug Johnson threw two third-quarter touchdown passes to the lead the Falcons.
Johnson, filling in for the injured Michael Vick, also dived 1 yard for a victory-sealing score early in the fourth quarter to spoil Parcells' return to the sideline. He finished 16-of-27 for 228 yards with one interception, while Quincy Carter was 15-of-32 for 268 yards with an interception and a fumble.
Dallas' Troy Hambrick had 53 yards on 14 carries in his debut as Emmitt Smith's replacement.
Seahawks 27, Saints 10
In Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes and Shaun Alexander ran for 108 yards and scored twice to lead Seattle.
The Seahawks held the Saints to 103 yards rushing, meaningful because the they ranked last in the NFL last season, giving up 152.6 yards rushing per game.
Bills 31, Patriots 0
In Orchard Park, New York, Lawyer Milloy and Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo to victory over their former team.
The win snapped Buffalo's five-game losing streak against New England and it capped a hectic, emotional week after the Bills snagged Milloy, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, on Wednesday, a day after the Patriots released him for salary cap reasons.
Milloy not only started despite getting in only two practices with Buffalo, he caused an interception, recorded a sack and took part in five tackles.
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