Biggest Stories and Best Highlights from NFL Week 1

Fourteen games are on the NFL slate for Sunday and Monday after a wild Thursday night season opener in which the Kansas City Chiefs upset the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, 42-27.

Here's a look at the biggest storylines and the most notable highlights from Week 1.

Packers Outlast Seahawks in NFC Battle

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers slipped past Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, 17-9, in a defensive battle.

In the low-scoring first half—both teams combined for three points—the big highlight was Seattle rookie defensive lineman Nazair Jones intercepting Rodgers and returning it for a touchdown. The score wound up not counting, though, since teammate Jeremy Lane got ejected for throwing a punch during Jones' return.

Green Bay got on the board in the third quarter, as Ty Montgomery rushed for a touchdown and Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for a 32-yard score to make it 14-6.

The Packers flustered Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson most of the day, sacking him three times. The Seahawks only attempted 18 rushes, and Wilson led the team with 40 yards on the ground (on two carries). Green Bay controlled the pace at Lambeau Field, running 74 plays across more than 39 minutes to Seattle's 48 in just shy of 21.

Martellus and Michael Bennett Protest Anthem

Prior to the Seattle-Green Bay kickoff, Packers tight end Martellus Bennett held up his fist during the national anthem, as ESPN's Josina Anderson relayed: 

Bennett's brother, Michael, is a defensive end for the Seahawks and was involved in an incident with police in Las Vegas after the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight in late August. After TMZ Sports released the video, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement in support of Bennett, via league spokesman Brian McCarthy. The NFL later confirmed it wouldn't investigate Bennett, as there was no allegation of a violation of its personal conduct policy, per ESPN.com.

NFL Stars Injured

Arizona Cardinals star running back David Johnson left the team's season opener against the Detroit Lions after suffering a wrist injury in the third quarter of the 35-23 loss. He did not return to the game.

ESPN's Adam Schefter later revealed what a Monday MRI could mean for one of the league's best running backs:

Losing Johnson for any amount of time would be a huge blow to Arizona, as he was one of the NFL's best offensive players last year. He scored scoring 20 total touchdowns and gained 2,118 yards from scrimmage, both of which led the league.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars lost top wideout Allen Robinson during the first quarter of their 29-7 win against the Houston Texans. 

According to Schefter, Robinson suffered a "significant" knee injury. If Robinson misses extended time, Blake Bortles will have Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee as his top targets. That may place an even bigger emphasis on 2017 No. 4 pick Leonard Fournette, who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in his regular-season debut. 

During the loss, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt left the game with a finger injury. He later told the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson, "I messed up my finger a little bit, but other than that my body felt fine. Just busted the bone through the skin. Nothing bad." 

The injury comes at a precarious time for the Texans, as the team will hit the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.  

Houston Texans Host Home Opener After Hurricane Harvey

An emotional game took place Sunday in Houston as the Texans hosted the Jaguars in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which caused at least 70 deaths and up to $180 billion in damages.

Houston's Watt organized a relief fund for the storm's victims, and donations had exceeded $31 million as of Sunday. The NFL and teams from around the league also made contributions to fundraising efforts, with the Tennessee Titans notably donating $1 million to Watt's fund.

Watt received a loud welcome when he was introduced to the home crowd at NRG Stadium before the contest:

The Jaguars emerged victorious, 29-7.

RB Marshawn Lynch Returns to NFL, Looks Like Old Self

After sitting out the 2016 season following a nine-year NFL run, running back Marshawn Lynch returned to the league Sunday and suited up for his hometown Oakland Raiders in their road matchup with the Titans.

He looked fantastic on his first run, as he gained 14 yards off right tackle:

Lynch finished with 18 carries for 76 yards and one reception for 16 yards in the 26-16 Oakland victory.

The former Cal Golden Bear scored 83 touchdowns in his first nine seasons, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and accruing six 1,000-yard campaigns, per Pro Football Reference.

Best Plays of the Day So Far

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz looked like former Eagles signal-caller Michael Vick when he evaded the Washington Redskins pass rush before firing a 58-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor:

San Francisco 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt put in his early bid for interception of the year, as he went up and snagged a pass from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton intended for Kelvin Benjamin:

Hurricane Irma Forces Game Postponement and Contingency Plans for 3 Florida Teams

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were supposed to play the Miami Dolphins on the road Sunday, but Hurricane Irma forced the game to be rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The NFL considered having the two teams play at a neutral site, according to Rapaport, but both Miami and Tampa Bay had a bye scheduled for Week 11. As such, the two teams will square off then. 

Kickoff time is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the matchup will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Hurricane Irma could be more catastrophic than Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Texas in late August. Irma, a Category 3 storm, was expected to travel over Florida from Sunday through Monday, per CNN.

Sean Breslin and Ada Carr of Weather.com also reported that 7 million people, or about one-third of Florida's population, have evacuated.

The state's three NFL teams have adjusted plans accordingly.

The Dolphins headed to Oxnard, California, where they will practice at the Dallas Cowboys' training camp facility this week before facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The Jaguars, who faced the Houston Texans on Sunday, will stay in Texas on Sunday night and will review the travel situation further Monday. They are scheduled to host the Titans next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported on the Buccaneers' plans, noting the Glazer family, which owns the franchise, flew team personnel and their immediate families to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tampa Bay is on tap to host the Bears on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET.

Several Rookies Make an Early Splash

Titans cornerback and return specialist Adoree' Jackson announced himself to the NFL when he hurdled Raiders kicker Giorgio Tavecchio on a kick return:

However, Tavecchio had a nice day himself, as the rookie drilled four field goals (two of which were from 52 yards):

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, the younger brother of J.J. Watt, was a star for the Pittsburgh defense in its 21-18 win over Cleveland:

His interception of Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer helped end a scoring threat in the third quarter:

Kizer also impressed in his NFL debut, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 17 more and another score:

Houston rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who led Clemson to the College Football Playoff National Championship last season, was inserted in the season opener against Jacksonville after halftime.

The Texans entered the third quarter down 19-0, but Watson led them on a 14-play touchdown drive, which he capped with a four-yard scoring pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins:

Watson finished 12-of-23 for 102 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 16 rushing yards.

On the opposite side, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette showed why he was this year's No. 4 overall pick, as he gained 124 yards from scrimmage and punched the ball in for a one-yard score:

Finally, Chicago Bears rookie running back Tarik Cohen, who is the backup to Jordan Howard, gained 113 yards from scrimmage and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass. However, his most impressive play was this 46-yard run:

Led by Cohen's efforts, the Bears fell just short to the Atlanta Falcons, 23-17.

During the late slate of games, Los Angeles Rams rookie wideout Cooper Kupp announced his arrival to the league with an 18-yard touchdown reception from Jared Goff:

With Kupp and new arrival Sammy Watkins in the fold, Goff's set of surrounding weapons looked much improved as the Rams jumped to a 27-3 halftime lead against the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts.

In the Carolina Panthers' 23-3 win on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, 2017 No. 8 pick Christian McCaffrey gained 47 yards on 13 carries and caught five of his seven targets for 38 yards. The Stanford product had only five fewer carries than veteran Jonathan Stewart and led the team in targets, so fans can expect to see a great deal of the explosive rookie in the coming weeks. 

Still To Come

At 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football on NBC, the Cowboys will host the Giants.

The big news surrounds one star for each side.

Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott will play while battling a NFL-imposed six-game suspension following accusations of domestic violence by his former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson.

The NFL Players Association petitioned the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Elliott's behalf for a temporary restraining order against the suspension. On Friday, Judge Amos Mazzant granted the request, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.

On the opposite sideline, Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. won't suit up, according to Schefter. The fourth-year receiver suffered an ankle sprain in a preseason game against the Browns on Aug. 21, and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reported earlier in the day "multiple sources think it's unlikely he'll play." 

Last year, the teams engaged in two defensive duels: New York won 20-19 in Dallas before it beat the visiting Cowboys 10-7 in December.

The Giants defense should be just as strong as last year's unit, which allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL. But if Beckham can't play, the New York offense may struggle.

Dallas' strength is its offense and its ability to grind out wins through the running game with the help of an elite offensive line.

This should be a close contest. In the teams' last 10 games dating back to the 2012 season, the average margin of victory has been just 4.5 points.