Stirring Saints Lift the Spirits

The New Orleans Saints did a little to lift the spirits of the people of Louisiana. In an emotional start to the season, kicker John Carney nailed a game-winning field goal with three seconds left to lift them to a 23-20 win at the Carolina Panthers.

"I know some people around the Gulf Coast were pretty excited today to see the Saints win," said Carney, who made all three of his attempts, including a 48-yarder and a 29-yarder. "We represent some people who are going through some real tough times right now."

Wide receiver Joe Horn, who caught a vital 25-yard pass from Aaron Brooks during the Saints' final drive, added: "Being for real, it's not about the New Orleans Saints; it's about those people sitting on those cots, trying to find their kids.

"We love the people around the nation who have poured out their hearts to us. We're going to do what we have to do to win football games. But the game is the game. Afterwards, our focus is right back on New Orleans."

It was an emotional day in New York too. Exactly four years on from the terrorist attacks that rocked the city, the Giants hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Giants stadium. It was also a poignant time for the Cardinals. Former star Pat Tillman quit the team to join the army following the attacks and was killed on duty in Afghanistan. The two teams served up 61 points, but it was the Giants who came out comfortable winners, 42-19.

Drew Bledsoe made a successful start to life in Dallas as he guided the Cowboys to their first season-opening victory in six years, a 28-24 triumph over the San Diego Chargers.

Two coaches celebrated victories as they made their NFL debuts. The Miami Dolphins gave Nick Saban a 34-10 win over the Denver Broncos, while Mike Nolan saw his San Francisco 49ers edge past the St Louis Rams 28-25.

But while Saban and Nolan celebrated wins, one new head coach was not cracking open the champagne. Romeo Crennel watched his Cleveland Browns slip to a 27-13 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes to veteran Jimmy Smith as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the mistake-prone Seattle Seahawks 26-14.

The Indianapolis Colts kicked off their season with a 24-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Elsewhere on the opening weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers steam-rolled over the Tennessee Titans 34-7, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the New York Jets 27-7 and the Buffalo Bills were comfortable winners over the Houston Texans, 22-7.

The Washington Redskins beat the Chicago Bears 9-7, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 24-13 winners over the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions saw off the Green Bay Packers 17-3.