UNDATED (AP) — Tom Brady could prompt every NFL head coach to bench their starting quarterback for the first four games of the season.
Fresh off a four-game suspension for his involvement in “Deflategate,” Brady connected on his first three passes while engineering a touchdown drive on his opening possession in the New England Patriots’ 33-13 rout of winless Cleveland. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player completed 28 of his 40 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Brady said afterward that there was definite rust in his game following a five-week layoff. However, his numbers would have been gaudier if his receivers hadn’t dropped three passes, or if he hadn’t been pulled with six minutes left and the Pats up by 17.
Tight end Martellus Bennett grabbed the three TD passes, Chris Hogan had four receptions for 114 yards and Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 109 yards.
Meanwhile, the Browns lost yet another starting quarterback to injury. Cody Kessler was knocked out in the first half with rib and chest injuries, making Charlie Whitehurst the fifth QB to take a snap for Cleveland in five games.
The Patriots are 4-1 after bouncing back from last Sunday’s 16-0 loss to Buffalo. The Browns are 0-5.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— At 5-0, the Minnesota Vikings are the league’s only unbeaten team after San Bradford threw for 271 yards two TDs in a 31-13 win over Houston. Adam Thielen caught a touchdown pass from Bradford to cap Minnesota’s opening drive and finished with a career-high 127 yards. The Vikings’ defense proved too much for Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler as he completed just 19 of 42 passes for 184 yards.
— The Broncos hadn’t lost since last Dec. 20 before Matt Ryan threw for 267 yards and a touchdown to lead the Falcons’ 23-16 triumph in Denver. The 4-1 Broncos gave up big plays to Tevin Coleman, who had four catches for 132 yards and a TD to help the Falcons improve to 4-1. Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch was 23 of 35 for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his first NFL start.
— Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz experienced his first pro loss despite throwing for 238 yards and two touchdowns in a tough 24-23 loss in Detroit. Matthew Stafford threw for three touchdowns to stake the Lions to a 21-7 lead, but the Eagles stormed back behind Wentz before Matt Prater hit a 29-yard field goal with 1:28 left to put Detroit ahead for good. Darius Slay intercepted Wentz on the next offensive snap, securing a victory for the 2-3 Lions and dropping the Eagles to 3-1.
— In Green Bay, Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams each had highlight-reel touchdown catches while the Packers built an 11-point halftime lead in a 23-16 win over the New York Giants. Aaron Rodgers was 23 of 45 for 259 and two interceptions for the 3-1 Packers, who also got three field goals by Mason Crosby. The 2-3 Giants were held to three field goals until Eli Manning hit Odell Beckham Jr. for an eight-yard touchdown with 2:54 left.
— The Cowboys leaned on the “Zeek and Dak Show” once again as the rookies led a 28-14 win over Cincinnati. Ezekiel Elliot became the first Dallas rookie with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games, finishing with 134 and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. Dak Prescott threw for a TD, ran for another and finished with 227 passing yards as the 4-1 Cowboys earned their fourth straight win. Andy Dalton finished 29 of 41 for 269 yards as the Bengals dropped to 2-3.
— The Steelers ripped through the Jets’ defense as Ben Roethlisberger passed for 380 yards and four TDs in a 31-13 rout. Sammie Coates caught six of Big Ben’s passes for a career-high 139 yards and two scores for the 4-1 Steelers. Running back Le’Veon Bell racked up 154 yards of total offense, including a career-high nine receptions that helped Pittsburgh drop the Jets to 1-4.
— Marcus Mariota threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Tennessee beat Miami 30-17. Mariota went 20 for 29 for 163 yards with no interceptions and ran seven times for 60 yards. DeMarco Murray furnished 121 yards rushing as the 2-3 Titans handed the Dolphins their fourth loss in five games.
— Buffalo picked up its third straight win since a 0-2 start as Tyrod Taylor threw for two touchdowns and LeSean McCoy shredded the Rams’ defense for 150 yards on 18 carries in a 30-19 win at Los Angeles. The game was tied at 16 until Nickell Robey-Coleman brought back an interception 41 yards for a touchdown that put the Bills ahead to stay. The Bills benefited from turnovers as Robey-Coleman snared a pair of Case Keenum interceptions and Todd Gurley lost a fumble, miscues that dropped the Rams to 3-2.
— The Raiders are 4-1 after Amari Cooper had six receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 34-31 triumph against the Chargers. Michael Crabtree’s 21-yard scoring grab put the Raiders ahead for good late in the third quarter. Philip Rivers was 21 of 30 for 359 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions for the 1-4 Chargers, who botched the snap on a potential game-tying field goal with two minutes left.
— Washington picked up its third straight win since a 0-2 start as Kirk Cousins completed 29 of 41 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown in a 16-10 verdict over the 3-2 Ravens in Baltimore. Jamison Crowder provided Washington’s first punt-return touchdown in eight years by bringing one back 85 yards in the first quarter. The game wasn’t decided until the final minute, when an apparent 23-yard touchdown catch by Baltimore’s Breshad Perriman was overturned by replay.
— Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck threw a 35-yard scoring pass to T.Y. Hilton with 3:43 left in the Colts’ 29-23 win over the Bears. Luck was 28 for 39 for 322 yards and two touchdowns in helping the Colts beat the Bears in Indianapolis for the first time. Hilton had 10 receptions for 171 yards against the 1-4 Bears, who wasted Brian Hoyer’s 397 passing yards and two TDs.
