MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tight end Charles Clay outran a pursuing linebacker, juked past two defensive backs and left them all sprawling as he scored the Buffalo Bills’ first touchdown barely three minutes into the game.
The rout was on.
Sunday's top performers
PASSING
• Tom Brady, Patriots: 33 of 42, 358 yards, 2 TDs
• Andy Dalton, Bengals: 20 of 32, 383 yards, 2 TDs
• Joe Flacco, Ravens: 32 of 49, 362 yards, 2 TDs
RUSHING
• Devonta Freeman, Falcons: 30 carries, 141 yards, 3 TDs
• Alfred Blue, Texans: 31 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD
• Latavius Murray, Raiders: 26 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD
RECEIVING
• A.J. Green, Bengals: 10 catches, 227 yards, 2 TDs
• Steve Smith, Ravens: 13 catches, 186 yards, 2 TDs
• Julio Jones, Falcons: 12 catches, 164 yards, 2 TDs
DEFENSE
• Dwight Lowery, Colts: Had two interceptions and returned one 69 yards for a touchdown
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Tyler Lockett, Seahawks: Returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown
Tyrod Taylor threw for 277 yards and three scores in his first NFL road start, and the Bills embarrassed the Miami Dolphins 41-14 Sunday.
The Bills totaled 429 yards, intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times in the first half, and led 27-0 before Miami scored late in the third quarter.
Taylor said the fast start was critical.
“We definitely know the challenges of the first road game – taking the crowd out of it,” he said. “Mostly it was just going out there and executing.”
Buffalo (2-1) bounced back from a dismal loss at home to New England. The Dolphins (1-2), who began the season with high hopes of ending a seven-year playoff drought, fell into last place in the AFC East with their second consecutive loss.
“It certainly starts with me, the accountability,” said Miami Coach Joe Philbin, who began the year with little job security. “I take responsibility. … We’ll look at everything we’re doing. There’s no magic potion. If I had a magic potion, I would have brought it out earlier.”
It was the most lopsided loss in a home opener for the Dolphins, who are in their 50th season.
BRONCOS 24, LIONS 12: Peyton Manning converted a fourth down with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas with 5 seconds left in the first half and threw an 11-yard TD pass to Owen Daniels with 2:28 remaining, lifting Denver (3-0) to a win at Detroit (0-3).
FALCONS 39, COWBOYS 28: Matt Ryan and Julio Jones connected for two touchdowns, Devonta Freeman ran for 141 yards and three scores, Atlanta (3-0) won at Arlington, Texas, in the Cowboys’ first game without quarterback Tony Romo.
Freeman’s third score early in the fourth quarter capped a rally from a trio of 14-point deficits for the Falcons.
The Cowboys (2-1) had a six-game winning streak in the regular season snapped in backup quarterback Brandon Weeden’s ninth straight loss as a starter.
EAGLES 24, JETS 17: Darren Sproles returned a punt 89 yards for a score and added a 1-yard touchdown run, sparking Philadelphia (1-2) to a win over the Jets (2-1) at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
BENGALS 28, RAVENS 24: Andy Dalton threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 2:10 left, and visiting Cincinnati (3-0) remained unbeaten while Baltimore dropped to 0-3 for the first time in franchise history.
STEELERS 12, RAMS 6: Le’Veon Bell scored from a yard out in the first half in his first game back after a suspension, and Pittsburgh (2-1) overcame an injury to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a win at St. Louis (1-2).
SEAHAWKS 26, BEARS 0: Tyler Lockett returned the second-half kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown, Russell Wilson connected with Jimmy Graham on a 30-yard TD, and Seattle (1-2) routed the visiting Chicago (3-0).
CARDINALS 47, 49ERS 7: Carson Palmer threw for 311 yards and Arizona (3-0) returned two of Colin Kaepernick’s first four passes for touchdowns in a win over San Francisco (1-2) at Glendale, Arizona.
TEXANS 19, BUCCANEERS 9: Ryan Mallett threw for 228 yards and a touchdown and Alfred Blue had 139 yards rushing as Houston (1-2) beat Tampa Bay (1-2) at home.
RAIDERS 27, BROWNS 20: Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, Latavius Murray rushed for 139 yards and Oakland (2-1) held off a late comeback by Cleveland (1-2) to snap an 11-game road losing streak.
COLTS 35, TITANS 33: Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes 56 seconds apart in the fourth quarter, rallying Indianapolis (1-2) to a win at Nashville, Tennessee.
The Titans (1-2) have lost 13 of 14 against their AFC South rival.
PANTHERS 27, SAINTS 22: Cam Newton threw for 315 yards and a pair of touchdowns to tight end Greg Olsen and also ran for a score as Carolina won at home, improving to 3-0 for the first time since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2003 season.
Luke McCown, starting in place of the injured Drew Brees, completed 31 of 38 passes for 310 yards, but it wasn’t enough to save the Saints (0-3).
VIKINGS 31, CHARGERS 14: Adrian Peterson plowed through San Diego’s defense for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and Chad Greenway scored on a 91-yard interception return as Minnesota (2-1) beat visiting San Diego (1-2).
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