NFL Week 1 scores, highlights, updates, schedule: Mac Jones throws first-career TD; Winston has Saints on top

It’s the first Sunday of the 2021 season and we’re keeping you updated on all the action and biggest storylines throughout the day. The Week 1 slate has some fantastic matchups and storylines, and we’re here to help you watch it unfold. Check back often to find out everything you need to know.

Schedule

Thursday

Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 29 (Recap)

Sunday 

Cardinals 38, Titans 13 (Recap)
Jaguars 37, Texans 21 (Recap)
Chargers 20, Washington 16 (Recap)
Bengals 27, Vikings 24 (Recap)
Panthers 19, Jets 14 (Recap)
Eagles 32, Falcons 6 (Recap)
Steelers 23, Bills 16 (Recap)
Seahawks 28, Colts 16 (Recap)
49ers 41, Lions 33 (Recap)
Browns 33, Chiefs 29 (Recap)
Broncos 27, Giants 13 (Recap)
Saints 38, Packers 3 (Recap)
Dolphins 17, Patriots 16 (Recap)
Bears at Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET (Preview)

Monday

Ravens at Raiders, 8:15 p.m. ET (Preview)

Last-minute pick seals Chiefs win

Mike Hughes for the victory! The Chiefs corner sealed Kansas City’s tight 33-29 win over the Browns with an interception that came with just over a minute to play at Arrowhead Stadium, spoiling an otherwise promising day for Cleveland.

Gordon runs by entire Giants defense

The New York “D” could not keep up with Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos, and Melvin Gordon all but sealed Denver’s big Week 1 win with a 70-yard gallop past every Giant on the field to put the home team up 27-7.

Jameis launches fifth TD to bury Packers

If you bet on Jameis Winston to win MVP this year, your season is off to a brilliant start. Winston unloaded a bomb to Deonte Harris for his fifth (yes, fifth) touchdown to put New Orleans up 38-3 against the Packers, who have since pulled Aaron Rodgers for Jordan Love in a white-flag moment nobody predicted going into this weekend.

Mac Jones’ first-career TD pass

Down 7-3 late in the first half against the Dolphins, the Patriots’ rookie quarterback stood firm in the pocket in the face of pressure and delivered a strike to a wide-open Nelson Agholor on a slant, putting New England ahead.

Jameis throws alley-oop on fourth-and-goal

Who said the Saints can’t score points without Drew Brees? Jameis Winston put New Orleans up 17-0 on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with a fourth-and-goal shot to tight end Juwan Johnson, who went up high for the highlight-reel grab.

Mahomes shows off his legs

The Browns had little trouble moving the ball against the Chiefs early at Arrowhead Stadium, with Nick Chubb’s touchdown run making it three TDs in three red-zone trips to open the game. But Patrick Mahomes kept Kansas City within reach with a nice razzle-dazzle score on the ground.

Burrow’s 4th-down beauty

Cincinnati almost blew a 14-point lead hosting the Vikings, with Minnesota roaring back to send Sunday’s opener to overtime. After failed drives for both sides, Joe Burrow threw a pretty floater to Drew Sample on fourth-and-inches from midfield, with just a minute to play, setting up rookie Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal.

Goff’s clutch two-point throw

The Lions trailed the 49ers 41-17 in the fourth quarter, only to storm back in the waning minutes. San Francisco held on for the victory, but Jared Goff’s pinpoint two-point throw to Quintez Cephus pulled the game within eight in the final minute.

Steelers scoop-and-score

The Steelers are sniffing upset in Buffalo. This blocked punt turned scoop-and-score gave Pittsburgh a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. 

Zach Wilson’s first NFL TD toss

Wilson’s pro debut has not been one to remember, but he did finally throw his first NFL touchdown in the third quarter — hooking up with his new No. 1 receiver in Corey Davis. 

Kyler Murray’s insane third TD pass

This is a throw of the week candidate. Murray is balling out in Nashville this Sunday, and his third touchdown pass was pretty incredible. Off his back foot, fading away, 26 yards right in the bucket. That’s backyard football right there.

How about these Bengals? They currently have the lead against the Vikings and it’s thanks to their passing attack. Much of the praise will be given to rookie Ja’Marr Chase, but don’t forget about Tee Higgins. He’s a rising star in this league, and a great route runner as well. Look how much separation he got on this play.

It’s Taylor Heinicke at quarterback after Ryan Fitzpatrick exited due to a right hip injury, and he has this Washington offense moving. Check out this incredible catch by Terry McLaurin. Make sure you watch the second angle of this play as well. If this doesn’t prove McLaurin is one of the best receivers in the NFL then I don’t know what does.

Chase struggled with drops in the preseason, but we all knew this LSU connection between he and Burrow was going to be dynamic. That showed itself in the second quarter, as Chase hauled in his first score — a 50-yard touchdown to give the Bengals the lead just before halftime.

He’s leading Cincy in receiving at the halftime break, with three catches for 80 yards and a score. 

Kyler Murray is one of the most electric playmakers in the NFL, even if he doesn’t have a winning record as a starter. That could change in 2021, as he and the Cards have been dominating the Titans. Check out this play, as he runs back and forth in the backfield before finding his receiver downfield.

Wilson-Lockett x2

Wilson and Lockett connected for their second long touchdown of the game right before halftime — this one going for 69 yards. The Colts can’t do anything to stop the long ball, and their defensive backs have been left shaking their heads. Lockett has caught three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

49ers’ pick six

The 49ers have blown it open in Detroit. After JaMycal Hasty punched it in from three yards out to take an 11-point lead, Dre Greenlaw recorded a 39-yard pick six a few plays later! 

A defensive matchup is taking place in Buffalo, which is just fine if you’re the Steelers. Earlier this week, the Steelers made T.J. Watt the highest-paid defender with a huge, $112 million extension, and he rewarded them with a strip-sack in the second quarter.

Trevor Lawrence throws his first NFL TD pass

Things aren’t going incredibly well for the Jaguars in Week 1 against the Texans, but No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence did throw his first NFL touchdown in the second quarter. He’s just getting warmed up.

Trey Sermon was a surprise inactive for the 49ers, and then Raheem Mostert went down with a knee injury in the opening half. That apparently didn’t bother Kyle Shanahan too much, because he has another rookie in Elijah Mitchell who looks sharp. He rushed in a 38-yard score in the second quarter to reclaim the lead for San Francisco. 

Chandler Jones has three sacks in the first quarter

The boo birds were out early in Tennessee, as Arizona’s defensive front dominated early. Chandler Jones recorded a whopping three sacks in the first quarter by dominating left tackle Taylor Lewan, who is coming off of a torn ACL.

Tyler Lockett and Russell Wilson have a special kind of chemistry. All Wilson has to do is throw it up to him if he’s in single coverage. Check out the catch on this 23-yard touchdown, what an adjustment! Arguably the best part about this play was the celebration, however, as Lockett did a full referee routine. 

It’s early, but the Cardinals are rolling Nashville! After stripping Ryan Tannehill, the Cardinals were set up with excellent field position. It took three plays to punch it in from five yards out, but Hopkins came through on third down with a clutch catch.

We knew Jimmy Garoppolo would start this Sunday, but we also knew we would see No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance at some point. When the 49ers got into the red zone in the first quarter, Lance entered the game, and his first pass attempt resulted in a touchdown. 

Garoppolo is the starter as of now, but this just puts more pressure on him.  

It was fair to expect that Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith would make an immediate impact with the Eagles, but this immediate? Smith’s first NFL catch was an 18-yard touchdown from his former college teammate Jalen Hurts! He’s a special kind of player with a special kind of speed. 

First touchdown of NFL Sunday!

Justin Herbert and the Chargers are facing a tough test in Washington’s defense, but they dominated on their first drive of the game. The second-year signal-caller marched the Chargers offense 75 yards down the field in 10 plays, and Austin Ekeler finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown. 

Ekeler practiced just once this week, and was labeled as questionable due to a hamstring injury. He rushed for 14 yards on the first drive, however. 

Excited for the biggest NFL schedule in history? Follow along on the CBS Sports app and get the latest insights from our team of NFL insiders, plus news from our team of experts, as well as data insights on every player. If you already have the CBS Sports app, make sure to favorite the your favorite team so you don’t miss a thing!

Isaiah McKenzie takes the opening kickoff 75 yards

Steelers at Bills is going to be a Week 1 matchup everyone has eyes on, and Buffalo got off to a hot start at home. Isaiah McKenzie took the opening kickoff 75 yards into enemy territory. Just listen to the roar of the crowd! 

Three rookie QBs set for Week 1 start

Five quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft five months ago, and today three of them will be starting. First-overall pick Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars are favorites in Houston despite Jacksonville winning just one game a year a year ago (while the Urban Meyer era is beginning amid discord). Zach Wilson, who had the most impressive preseason of the group, will try to lift the Jets to an upset against Sam Darnold’s Panthers in Carolina. And Mac Jones is, of course, the surprise rookie QB1 for the Patriots after they stunningly cut Cam Newton.

But those won’t be the only three rookie QBs to see the field. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports that Trey Lance will see some playing time for the 49ers in Detroit as San Francisco looks to transition to the rookie. And while Justin Fields may not play for the Bears, it should be interesting to see what happens if Andy Dalton struggles against the Rams in the night game.