ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be out "several weeks" due to an injury to his thumb that requires surgery, owner Jerry Jones said after Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Prescott jogged to the locker room late in the fourth quarter to get his right hand examined after he hit the hand of Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett and did not return. Jones said Prescott suffered a fracture near the thumb on his throwing hand.

The Cowboys will likely turn to backup quarterback Cooper Rush for next week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"Yeah, it's very disappointing," Prescott said. "But injuries happen. Can't necessarily control it, just unfortunate, I'm going to miss some time, not be there for my team. And that's what hurts more than anything, especially after the start that we just went out there, wouldn't be able respond and not necessarily having that opportunity for several weeks."

Prescott, who is now 2-5 in season openers in his career, completed 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards, was intercepted once and sacked twice while the Cowboys were held without a touchdown in a season opener for the first time since 2001.

The last time the Cowboys scored fewer than 6 points in a season opener was Sept. 10, 1989, a 28-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which was the first game of Jones' tenure as owner and general manager and the debut of Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson.

The injury caps a strange week for Prescott, who was limited in last Thursday's practice because of a sore ankle that he blamed on a new pair of cleats. Prescott kept insisting he was fine and it would not be an issue against the Buccaneers after going through full workouts Friday and Saturday.

Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in the fifth game of the 2020 season against the New York Giants. He returned to start 16 games last season, setting a Cowboys' single-season record with 37 touchdown passes. He missed one start with a calf strain.

On the opening drive Sunday, Prescott completed passes to four different receivers as the Cowboys moved 54 yards on 14 plays to take a 3-0 lead after a 51-yard field goal by Brett Maher. They went three-plus series before they would gain another first down -- on a 12-yard run by Prescott.

CeeDee Lamb caught one pass after the first drive but just one more from Prescott the rest of the way.

Prescott's 134 yards were the second fewest he has had in a game that he has started and finished in his career. He had 102 yards on 11-of-22 passing on Nov. 30, 2017, against Washington.

The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $160 million contract in 2021.

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season -- we saw it all.

Quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business on the road against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled to get anything going against the Bucs' defense. And that was before Prescott left the game late with a right hand injury.

Earlier in the day, turnovers were the name of the game in Cincinnati, with the Pittsburgh Steelers forcing five against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow -- including a pick-six. But the teams went back and forth until the Steelers won it in overtime with a field goal. Speaking of field goals, the Tennessee Titans missed a potential game winner in the late-afternoon window Sunday, allowing the New York Giants to come back from a 13-point deficit and win their first season opener in six years.

Multiple quarterbacks made debuts with new teams in the early window. Baker Mayfield played his first game in a Panthers uniform against his old team, the Cleveland Browns. Matt Ryan -- in his 15th season -- led the Indianapolis Colts to a tie against the Houston Texans. Washington Commanders rookie Jahan Dotson caught his first -- and second -- career touchdown pass from Carson Wentz, leading to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As far as holdovers, Patrick Mahomes looked as good as ever in the late-afternoon window as the Kansas City Chiefs romped to a victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Our NFL Nation reporters react with the biggest takeaways and lingering questions coming out of this week's matchups and look ahead to what's next. Let's get to it.

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LV-LAC | NYG-TEN | TB-DAL

Tampa Bay 19, Dallas 3

Buccaneers

What to know: In Todd Bowles' debut as the Buccaneers' head coach, Tampa Bay held the Cowboys to a field goal and Dak Prescott to a quarterback rating of 47.2. Prescott struggled to complete a pass beyond 5 yards. Dropped interceptions were still an issue, though, but the Bucs managed one interception from Antoine Winfield Jr. Brady, who became the first quarterback in NFL history to start a game at age 45, threw for 212 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to Mike Evans in the third quarter. For as well as the Bucs moved the ball, they struggled on third down (4-of-11) and in the red zone (1-3), although running back Leonard Fournette was a bright spot, rushing for 127 yards on 21 carries. In his much-anticipated Buccaneers debut, Julio Jones produced some wow moments, which included a stunning 48-yard grab when he reached 20.62 mph.

Will the Bucs be doomed by injuries? Left tackle Donovan Smith left the game with a right elbow injury and did not return, and wide receiver Chris Godwin -- who saw action for the first time since tearing an ACL and MCL on Dec. 19 -- left the game because of a hamstring injury. Godwin's injury is less of a concern given the Bucs' depth at receiver, and the Bucs won't have to deal with an outside linebacker like Micah Parsons on a weekly basis, but Josh Wells struggled in Smith's absence, and the Bucs are already missing Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen. Making matters worse is the fact that the Bucs travel to the New Orleans Saints next week -- a defense that's had their number. In fact, the Bucs haven't defeated the Saints in the regular season since 2018. -- Jenna Laine

Next game: at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Cowboys

What to know: The Cowboys kept saying the offense would be fine. No wide receivers Amari Cooper (traded to Cleveland), Michael Gallup (coming back from knee injury) or Cedrick Wilson Jr. (signed with Miami). No offensive tackle Tyron Smith (out until December). No offensive guard Connor Williams (see: Wilson). Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers proved all of that to be untrue. The Cowboys have issues, and it got worse late in the fourth quarter when Dak Prescott went to the locker room with a right hand injury. Before the injury, Prescott had a miserable evening even when not under duress. For the first time since the 2001 season opener, the Cowboys failed to score a touchdown. Their opponent that day? Tampa Bay. But that was former Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter's first career start.

What type of faith do the Cowboys have in Cooper Rush? The Cowboys backup quarterback won his only start of his career last year at Minnesota when Prescott had a calf strain. He threw for 325 yards on 24-of-40 passing, but he doesn't have Cooper or Wilson to throw to this year. "I mean, it sucks obviously [losing Prescott] in Week 1, but we've got a ton of confidence in Coop," Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin said. "He's been in there before with us, won games with us before. So we've got to rally around him and stead the ship until [Prescott] gets back." -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

N.Y. Giants 21, Tennessee 20

Giants

What to know: Saquon Barkley is back! He finished with 194 total yards and had a 2-point conversion with 1:06 remaining that gave the Giants a lead they barely held. The Titans missed a potential winning field goal as time expired, and New York won its opener for the first time since 2016, which also happens to be the last time it made the playoffs. It was possible because Barkley did a little bit of everything. He had a 68-yard run in the third quarter (the Giants' longest play from scrimmage since Daniel Jones' 80-yard stumble and run in Week 7 of 2020), caught six passes out of the backfield and made big plays when needed in the fourth quarter. The performance was vintage Barkley. Explosive and dynamic, and he even ran harder for tough yards than during his eye-popping rookie year. All positive developments for this Giants team and new coach Brian Daboll.

What are the Giants doing with Kadarius Toney? Toney didn't start. He also barely played. When he did touch the ball early in the fourth quarter on a jet sweep, it went for a 19-yard rush. Toney, the Giants' first-round pick last year, was on the field for just seven offensive snaps in the contest, even with rookie slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson leaving in the first half because of a knee injury. It didn't matter. Richie James played ahead of him. The Giants didn't want to play Toney, who needs to earn the trust of the new regime. He finished with two rushes for 23 yards, which left you wondering whether he is really a major part of their plans this season and moving forward. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Titans

What to know: The Titans couldn't move the ball consistently enough to win. The Giants held Derrick Henry to 82 rushing yards, so Tennessee relied mostly on a balanced pass attack. Because the Titans don't have a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, they'll have to rely on a committee approach until someone emerges. This week it was rookie Kyle Phillips, who led the way with six receptions for 66 yards. Dontrell Hilliard had three receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in mismatches against Giants linebackers. Treylon Burks caught three passes for 55 yards. Offseason acquisitions Robert Woods (one catch) and Austin Hooper (one catch) came out on the short end of the stick this week.

Can the Titans' front four hold up against the Bills? The Titans sacked Daniel Jones five times. Four sacks came in the first half, with the Titans blitzing only one time in that span. Jones was under constant duress from Tennessee's front four, led by Jeffery Simmons and Rashad Weaver, who finished with two sacks each. Bud Dupree had the other sack for Tennessee. Dropping seven back in coverage consistently helped keep Jones under 200 passing yards. A similar performance by Simmons and the front four will allow the Titans to blitz less and keep seven guys in coverage next week against Josh Allen and the Bills' potent attack. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Bills (7:15 p.m. ET, Monday)

L.A. Chargers 24, Las Vegas 19

Chargers

What to know: The Chargers' offseason additions, signifying they were all-in for a long playoff run this season, made their presence felt, including newcomer tight end Gerald Everett and receiver DeAndre Carter, who both scored touchdowns. On defense, edge rusher Khalil Mack, whom the Bolts acquired in a blockbuster trade last March, sacked quarterback Derek Carr three times, and cornerback Bryce Callahan, who signed in free agency, grabbed one of three interceptions.

Will the Chargers have key playmakers available in a quick turnaround for Thursday night? Cornerback J.C. Jackson, the NFL's interceptions leader since 2018, was inactive Sunday as he continues to recover from ankle surgery last month. Jackson's timetable to return was two to four weeks, so there's a possibility he'll be ready to play Thursday night against the Chiefs. And receiver Keenan Allen caught four passes for 66 yards before he left Sunday's game in the first half because of a hamstring injury and did not return. -- Lindsey Thiry

Next game: at Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Raiders

What to know: Maybe the Raiders' starters should have played a series, or three, in the preseason? Given how off a few of Derek Carr's throws were, timing was an issue. He missed an early touchdown by throwing behind Darren Waller, and two of his career-high three interceptions were underthrown, to Waller and Davante Adams, while his third was behind Hunter Renfrow. This was something that could have been worked out in actual game situations, especially because the Raiders were learning a new system under coach Josh McDaniels, no?

Is the offensive line a finished product? How about no. Not after Carr was sacked six times and Las Vegas used three different combinations at what is supposed to be one of the more stable units in the game. Starting rookie Dylan Parham at right guard before replacing him with Lester Cotton Sr., and then having Parham return, then having seventh-round rookie Thayer Munford Jr. replace Jermaine Eluemunor, and Eluemunor return late, says this is a fluid situation. -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Minnesota 23, Green Bay 7

Vikings

What to know: New coach Kevin O'Connell had the Vikings ready to play, even after a preseason in which starters played sparingly or not at all and a training camp that prioritized injury prevention over physical reps. The Vikings' defense was especially violent, led by new outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, and battered quarterback Aaron Rodgers with four sacks.

Did the Vikings catch the Packers by surprise, or is this success sustainable? It's a reasonable question, given the Vikings were debuting a new scheme that they had studiously avoided giving any glimpses of during the preseason. Their defensive play can be sustained as long as the Vikings maintain Sunday's level of physicality. Offensively, future opponents will study how O'Connell got receiver Justin Jefferson open for nine catches, 184 yards and two touchdowns. They'll have to continue to evolve there. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Eagles (8:30 p.m. ET, Monday)

Packers

What to know: Season openers don't matter: At least that's the way the Packers seem to treat them. This was almost as bad as last year's 38-3 Week 1 loss to the Saints, and the Packers still managed to win 13 games that season. Most teams devise game plans for regular-season games. It didn't seem like the Packers did much of that, at least not when it came to Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns). It's not like the Packers didn't know they needed to stop No. 18, but it sure looked like they didn't try. He wasn't just open -- he was wide open. And why give cornerback Jaire Alexander a $30 million signing bonus this offseason if you're not going to have him shadow the best receiver in the NFC North?

What's a bigger concern, the Packers' offense or defense? At this point, it's the defense. Coordinator Joe Barry had all 11 of his preferred starters available (12 if you count slot cornerback Rasul Douglas). On paper, this was supposed to be the best defense the Packers had in years. On the field, it looked like a paper tiger. At least Aaron Rodgers & Co. had an excuse: No Allen Lazard (ankle), the presumptive No. 1 receiver, and neither starting tackle, as David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins continue to work their way back from knee injuries. It might have been different early had rookie receiver Christian Watson not dropped a would-be 75-yard touchdown pass on the Packers' first offensive play and had AJ Dillon not gotten stuffed on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter. -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Kansas City 44, Arizona 21

Chiefs

What to know: If the passing game is going to suffer without wideout Tyreek Hill, upcoming opponents are going to need to defend the Chiefs much better than the Cardinals did. Patrick Mahomes said Kansas City would spread the ball around, and he delivered, completing passes to nine different receivers and throwing his five TD passes to four different players.

Will the pass rush be more productive than last year, when the Chiefs were 29th in sacks? The Chiefs have reason to be encouraged after Sunday's game against the Cardinals, even though their stats weren't outstanding. They sacked Kyler Murray twice (they had three total) and pressured him 10 times in 36 dropbacks, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. But the Chiefs didn't put much emphasis on pressuring Murray, either, blitzing him only 10 times. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Chargers (8:15 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Cardinals

What to know: The Cardinals picked up where they left off last season -- and that's not a good thing. Arizona on Sunday lacked discipline, offensive ingenuity, solid tackling and consistent protection of quarterback Kyler Murray. For all the talk this offseason of getting over last year's late meltdown and winning at home, none of it came to fruition in a blowout loss to the Chiefs.

What do the Cardinals fix first? Figuring out where to start feels like a monumental task, as the issues that plagued the Cardinals against the Chiefs aren't new. The fact they've carried over from last season is a huge concern. The first thing Arizona needs to address is the lack of offensive production. Not enough plays were run for A.J. Green, Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz early on, causing the offense to look stuck, which led to Arizona scoring just seven points in the first three quarters. -- Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Miami 20, New England 7

Dolphins

What to know: This is Tyreek Hill's offense. Just in case it wasn't obvious before, the Dolphins made it clear things will run through Hill, as he made his regular-season debut after being traded to Miami from the Kansas City Chiefs. He was targeted five times in his first eight routes, finishing with 94 yards and eight catches on 12 targets.

How concerning was Miami's performance on the ground Sunday? One of the NFL's worst rushing teams a season ago, the Dolphins had 65 yards on 21 carries against the Patriots -- who were the league's 22nd-best run defense in 2021. Miami also struggled to run the ball during training camp and the preseason. The difference Sunday for Miami compared to last season is there is now a competent passing game to carry the offense when things aren't working on the ground. As teams come to respect that passing game, the run game should open up; it's not quite time to panic yet. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Ravens (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Patriots

What to know: Self-inflicted wounds cost the Patriots in a game that was winnable. They were minus-3 in the turnover differential, and they didn't convert on fourth-and-3, which essentially is another turnover. When one of those turnovers is a strip sack that results in a touchdown, and the other comes in the end zone on a 50-50 ball (in which officials easily could have called defensive pass interference), it hurts that much more. It is often said that before a team can learn how to win, it has to learn how not to lose. That holds true for the Patriots after one game.

Can the offense improve fast enough to give the team a chance? The Patriots' offense moved the ball -- which was a promising development based on how the preseason went -- but couldn't close things out consistently enough. It was notable that Kendrick Bourne, who was the team's second-leading receiver last year with 55 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns, didn't play until deep into the fourth quarter. He promptly caught a 41-yard pass down the left sideline. For an offense that is in need of explosiveness, why isn't Bourne playing more? -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Baltimore 24, N.Y. Jets 9

Ravens

What to know: Lamar Jackson isn't distracted by the lack of a contract extension. Jackson dominated like he usually does in a season opener, throwing for three touchdowns with one interception. He played loose, looking off his favorite target, Mark Andrews, over the middle and finding Devin Duvernay 25 yards downfield in the end zone. Jackson then stepped up for a 55-yard touchdown strike to Rashod Bateman (his first on a pass that traveled at least 50 yards in the air). It was the type of performance that the Ravens desperately needed for an offense that is without its top two left tackles (Ronnie Stanley and Ja'Wuan James) and top running back (J.K. Dobbins).

Can the Ravens maintain this relentless pressure on quarterbacks all season? After hearing all offseason how their pass rush was the biggest question (Baltimore ranked 22nd in sacks last season), the Ravens recorded three sacks (another was negated by a penalty) and nine quarterback hits in their reunion with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco. Justin Houston continually crashed the edge, and Justin Madubuike collapsed the pocket from the middle. The Ravens, though, wreaked havoc against a Jets offensive line dealing with injuries. Baltimore still has something to prove in Week 2 against Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was sacked three times against the Patriots in the opener. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Jets

What to know: The seasons change, but the results remain the same: The New York Jets stink in September. They tied an NFL record with their 13th straight defeat in the opening month with a mistake-filled, 24-9 loss to the Ravens at home. The Joe Flacco-led offense fell flat, converting only 2 of 14 third downs. The Jets upgraded their skill positions in the offseason, but you couldn't tell. There were too many dropped passes, a couple of key fumbles and leaky pass protection from the reshuffled offensive line. The defense did some nice things in the first half, but the revamped secondary eventually succumbed to Lamar Jackson, allowing three touchdown passes. The Jets were thoroughly outplayed in the second half, which doesn't reflect well on coach Robert Saleh and his staff. It was a tough assignment, facing the Ravens with a backup quarterback, but the Jets were out of the game by the start of the fourth quarter.

Can Flacco keep the season alive until Zach Wilson returns? That's a big ask, considering the upcoming opponents -- the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, both good defensive teams. Wilson, recovering from knee surgery, is expected to miss at least two more games. The Jets could be 0-3 by then unless they show dramatic improvement. "Joe Cool" was Joe Cold against the team that drafted him, but he got no help from his supporting cast. The fans will scream for Mike White to replace Flacco, but it's too soon for that. The Jets don't have a Flacco problem; they have an everything problem. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Cleveland 26, Carolina 24

Browns

What to know: The Browns drafted Cade York in the fourth round for days like Sunday. With eight seconds left, the rookie out of LSU drilled a 58-yard field goal, lifting the Browns to the dramatic victory. Cleveland will have plenty of issues to address coming out of this game. But after years of struggling on special teams, the Browns finally have a kicker with the confidence to deliver big-time field goals.

Can Cleveland get more from the passing game? Cleveland's powerful running game -- behind RBs Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and an imposing offensive line -- controlled the game. But the Browns could've put Carolina away much earlier had QB Jacoby Brissett capitalized by connecting with open receivers in the first half. Brissett converted on some clutch third-down throws in the fourth quarter. But Cleveland will need more out of its passing attack to stick in the AFC playoff picture. -- Jake Trotter

Next game: vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Panthers

What to know: The Panthers still don't know whether Baker Mayfield can be a long-term solution at quarterback, but they know they have a QB capable of bringing them back in the fourth quarter -- something they haven't had the past few years. While Mayfield was superior to Sam Darnold in training camp, he was horrible against his former team for most of three quarters before bringing the Panthers within striking distance with some fourth-quarter heroics, including a 7-yard scramble for a touchdown and a 75-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Anderson. He then led them to a go-ahead field goal, only to see his efforts thwarted by Cleveland's 58-yard field goal at the end.

Where was running back Christian McCaffrey in the game plan? The talk all offseason was that Mayfield and the Carolina offense can succeed only if McCaffrey stays healthy. The plan was to monitor McCaffrey's snaps to promote his long-term health. But McCaffrey had only nine touches until Carolina's final drive, and 14 for the game. He did come through with a big play on a screen pass (plus a personal foul penalty against the Browns) to set up a go-ahead field goal, but Carolina needs more than 57 yards from their star to win consistently. -- David Newton

Next game: at Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Washington 28, Jacksonville 22

Commanders

What to know: Carson Wentz is a definite upgrade at quarterback, and at times he showed why on Sunday. But he also showed why he has been maddening throughout his career. He threw two touchdown passes in the first half, executing well-designed play calls with pinpoint throws. Washington was rolling. But on consecutive plays in the second half, he threw interceptions, leading to 10 Jacksonville points. He missed some easy throws, sailing passes. While there were questions in the past about how Wentz handled adversity, this is what he did after two miscues Sunday: He threw two more touchdown passes. Give him credit for responding.

Where is the defensive improvement? Washington held Jacksonville to 22 points, but the Jaguars missed some easy opportunities when quarterback Trevor Lawrence overthrew open targets for potential touchdowns. It allowed 383 total yards, but at least the Commanders intercepted a pass to end Jacksonville's hopes. Washington did better on third downs -- the Jags converted 3 of 12 opportunities -- but if the Commanders want to take a step forward, the defense must play better. The Jaguars averaged 6.8 yards per run, the Washington pass rush was inconsistent, and cornerback William Jackson III needs to be better in coverage. -- John Keim

Next game: at Lions (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Jaguars

What to know: The Jaguars were last in the NFL in turnover margin (minus-20) in 2021 but were able to work their way back into this game because they forced three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble recovery) and didn't give the ball away. The two interceptions in the second half set up 10 points. Forcing turnovers -- the Jaguars did that only nine times last season -- was a major push during the offseason, and two of the turnovers were by newcomers: Foyesade Oluokun and Travon Walker. The Jaguars are still trying to find their way offensively, but nothing helps a struggling offense more than a ball-hawking defense. If the defense can continue to do that, the Jaguars will continue to be competitive.

Can Trevor Lawrence help himself and give up on a play? Lawrence was twice flagged for intentional grounding, and in each instance, he was fighting to make a play with someone either hanging on to him or in his face. Sometimes the smart play is to eat the ball and take the sack -- especially since those kinds of throws are usually off target and pretty risky. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Philadelphia 38, Detroit 35

Eagles

What to know: A.J. Brown is in line for a huge year. He erupted for 10 catches for 155 yards against the Lions, setting a record for most receiving yards in an Eagles debut. Quarterback Jalen Hurts targeted Brown 13 times -- nine more than the next-closest receiving option. Hurts and Brown consider each other best friends, and they got together "countless times" during the offseason to work on their connection. It's fair to say that effort paid off.

What's up with the defense? The Lions look to be an improved team, but the Eagles had no business yielding 35 points. Rush defense in particular was a problem, with the Lions rolling up 181 yards on 28 carries (6.5 average). The Eagles played their starters only briefly during the preseason and didn't go live much at training camp. Perhaps that's why the defense looked out of sync. Philadelphia better hope so. -- Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Vikings (8:30 p.m. ET, Monday)

Lions

What to know: Philadelphia-born D'Andre Swift was one of the bright spots for Detroit, rushing for 97 of his career-best 144 yards in the opening half against the Eagles. He became the first player since Barry Sanders in 1996 with 100 rushing yards in a season opener.

Should Lions fans be concerned with the 0-1 start? Not too much. The Eagles made the playoffs last season and nobody is expecting this Lions team to be a postseason contender in 2022. It would be easy to get down after yet another season-opening loss. However, despite glaring defensive issues, Detroit did fight back and make it a game late. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Commanders (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

New Orleans 27, Atlanta 26

Saints

What to know: Michael Thomas is back. The Saints looked like they were in big trouble in the first half with their offense unable to do much of anything, but the wide receiver proved he still has a lot left in the tank despite not playing a game last season. Thomas' two touchdowns in the second half were a major reason the Saints were able to come back despite trailing by 16 points at one point in the second half. Thomas will clearly be a key part of the Saints' offense turning things around from last year.

Do the Saints have issues in the trenches? Neither the Saints' offensive line nor their defensive line will enjoy watching this game film. The O-line's issues protecting quarterback Jameis Winston were one reason the offense struggled so much in the first half. While Winston's four sacks weren't entirely on the line, it certainly contributed. On the other side, the Saints' D-line was not able to sack Marcus Mariota once. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Falcons

What to know: Did that really just happen? What looked like a big debut for quarterback Marcus Mariota in Atlanta and an unexpected win turned into, what else, a double-digit, fourth-quarter collapse. A 16-point lead turned into a loss. How? A reader's digest: The defense went from aggressive to porous. The offense offered two of its least productive drives of the afternoon. And now the Falcons, who had a chance to head to Los Angeles with a huge boost in Week 2, have to lament a real opportunity slipping away.

Yes, that pressure is improved from last season, but is it sustainable? That's going to be an unknown for at least a little while, but defensive coordinator Dean Pees was willing to send rushers from every level of the defense, which helped create problems, including four sacks and eight quarterback hits. New Orleans came back when the Falcons stopped creating pressure (not the best decision considering the fourth-quarter meltdown), but considering the Falcons next face the Rams, who allowed seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits on Thursday, there could be more opportunities coming. -- Michael Rothstein

Next game: at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Chicago 19, San Francisco 10

Bears

What to know: The Bears showed they're capable of fighting back despite a sloppy and ineffective start. In the first half, quarterback Justin Fields went 3-for-9 for 19 yards and an interception. Chicago's pass protection was a mess, and the Bears got past their own 35-yard line only once. It was a totally different story in the second half. Fields had a window to get the Bears back in this game by utilizing his incredible playmaking ability to extend a play for Chicago's first score of the game. Fields ended up going 5-for-8 for 102 yards and two touchdown passes in the second half, and the Bears' offense scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to solidify their first win of the season.

How can the Bears get their skill position players involved sooner? The Bears tried to commit to the run in the first half (19 rushing attempts), and it made sense because of the miserable weather and soggy field conditions, but it took too long for Chicago to open things up against a 49ers secondary that got stuck in cement. Fields didn't connect with a wide receiver until he turned a broken play on third-and-long into a 51-yard touchdown pass to Dante Pettis in the third quarter. He then found wideout Equanimeous St. Brown for an 18-yard touchdown that gave the Bears the lead, and Chicago put the Niners away by capitalizing off a turnover to punch in a 3-yard touchdown run by Khalil Herbert. This offense is a work in progress, but it has to get its best players involved and support Fields far sooner in Week 2 at Green Bay. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)

49ers

What to know: If the 49ers are going to be the contender they believe they can be, they can't afford the type of silly mistakes that cost them Sunday's game against the Bears. On a wet, sloppy field, points always figured to be at a premium, but the Niners piled up a variety of self-inflicted errors that not only kept Chicago in the game but put it in position to win. The Niners finished with 12 penalties for 99 yards. On Chicago's first two scoring drives, the Niners were flagged for two 15-yard penalties, dropped an interception and picked up a holding penalty on a third down to keep the chains moving. Moments later, quarterback Trey Lance threw an interception. Quite simply, the Niners aren't built to overcome so many costly errors, especially with Lance learning on the go.

How much does this loss hurt the 49ers? The Niners were hoping to start faster after they spent the second half of last year desperately trying to get back in the playoff mix. Sure, weird stuff happens in Week 1 all the time and it's a long season, but this is the kind of loss that could be particularly haunting for San Francisco. The schedule is only going to get more difficult as the season goes along, which means the Niners had better get the ship righted soon or they're going to be playing do-or-die games throughout the final half of the year just like they did in 2021. -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Indianapolis 20, Houston 20 (OT)

Colts

What to know: The Colts now haven't won a season opener in nine years. The Colts have found all manner of ways to lose in Week 1 going back to 2014. While they managed a tie Sunday, this game was similar in that the outcome was the product of a long list of miscues ranging from dropped passes to untimely penalties to, most of all, the missed 42-yard field goal attempt by kicker Rodrigo Blankenship in overtime that would have won it. The Colts rallied from a 20-3 late-third-quarter deficit only to come away with nothing to show for it.

Where do the Colts go at kicker? The Colts were not confident in their place-kicking situation to begin with, which is why the team added Jake Verity for preseason competition. Verity performed poorly in training camp and the preseason, giving Blankenship the win in the position battle by default. But he remains a liability for the team, as he has been unreliable in pressure situations for Indianapolis. Blankenship's leg strength has also been an issue. He's 1-for-4 beyond 50 yards in his two previous seasons. The Colts have to avoid getting into a situation like they did in 2019, when veteran Adam Vinatieri's late-career struggles cost the team multiple potential wins. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Texans

What to know: The Texans missed a golden opportunity to beat the division favorite Indianapolis Colts, blowing a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. It's the first tie in Texans history. The Colts had 216 yards and 17 points in the fourth quarter after being held to three points and 232 yards in the first three. The Texans' defense allowed Colts quarterback Matt Ryan to go 12-for-19 for 146 yards and a touchdown, and running back Jonathan Taylor gashed the defense for 70 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Then in overtime the same theme continued, as the Texans' defense allowed the Colts to march into field goal range before Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed a 42-yarder.

Are the first and fourth quarters an indication of what the offense will be? Quarterback Davis Mills completed zero passes in the fourth quarter, as the offense completely disappeared with 12 yards and zero points. That helped the Colts to come back and force overtime. In the first quarter, the Texans produced only 13 yards as Mills completed two passes for 6 yards. The running game was also nonexistent throughout the game, finishing with 77 yards (their average of 83 from 2021 was dead last in the NFL). -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Pittsburgh 23, Cincinnati 20 (OT)

Steelers

What to know: When the dust finally settled on the Steelers' wild overtime win, one thing was clear: This defense is better than advertised, but more impactful than the outcome of the game was T.J. Watt leaving the field with less than 15 seconds left with an injury. He went straight to the locker room and appears to have a torn pectoral, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. QB Joe Burrow committed four turnovers in the first half and another in the second. Minkah Fitzpatrick, who blocked a late Bengals extra point attempt to send the game to overtime, scored the first touchdown of the year when he intercepted Burrow's first pass attempt and returned it 31 yards for a pick-six. The Steelers managed two more interceptions and a fumble recovery in the first half, but the offense scored only 10 points off those turnovers. The defense also sacked Burrow six times. For the Steelers to have success this season, they'll need more offensive support -- whether it's putting points on the board or extending drives to give the defense a break.

Is this truly Mitch Trubisky's team? This will be the biggest question throughout the season -- especially if Trubisky's performance contributes to the offensive stagnation. The Steelers managed only 231 yards of total offense. Trubisky completed 21 of 38 attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown, but many of his passes missed the mark, including a handful that sailed too high. On a crucial third down in the fourth quarter, Trubisky's pass bounced between two receivers, and the Steelers came away from another forced turnover without any points. A lowlight of the preseason, the Steelers' offensive line held up pretty well, and Trubisky was sacked only once and hit four times. But the offense couldn't maintain possession and the Bengals held a 43:43-26:17 edge in time of possession. -- Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Bengals

What to know: Cincinnati's offense picked up right where it left off last season. And that was the main culprit in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener. It featured a slew of sacks and an inconsistent offense. Those things kept the Bengals from winning Super Bowl LVI despite a very strong defensive effort, which the Bengals got again on Sunday. Cincinnati needs to get that issue resolved if it wants to defend its AFC championship.

Should the Bengals be concerned about Joe Burrow? Uh, no. Sure, Burrow objectively played his worst game since entering the league. He committed five turnovers -- four interceptions and a lost fumble on a day when he was sacked six times. But Burrow's history, strengths and the resolve he showed to lead the Bengals down the field at the end of the game show that there should be zero long-term concerns for the third-year player coming off an emergency appendectomy in July. -- Ben Baby

Next game: at Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Thursday

Buffalo 31, L.A. Rams 10

Bills

What to know: The Bills played far from a perfect game and still walked away from the season opener against the defending Super Bowl champions with a 21-point victory. After three first-half turnovers, the offense responded in spectacular fashion with three straight touchdown drives and finished the game converting 9 of 10 third downs, becoming the fourth team in the past 50 seasons to convert 90% of its third downs in a game. In addition to the offensive success, the defensive line lived up to the high expectations, finishing with seven sacks on Matthew Stafford, including two from Von Miller against his former team.

Will the Bills continue to use quarterback Josh Allen as a rusher at this high of a level throughout the season? Once again, Allen finished a Bills game as the team's leading rusher with 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. While his stiff-arm near the sideline was impressive and caught attention, the amount of hits the quarterback is taking through the course of the season is something that the team has talked about trying to minimize, especially early in the year. "Limiting the hits, obviously slide and getting outta bounds -- it's the utmost importance there," Allen said. "The best ability is availability, but again, when I'm called upon to do something for my team, I'm willing to do it." Should Allen be rushing with a two-touchdown lead even if he is effective? Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will have to continue to work on the right balance throughout the season. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: vs. Titans (7:15 p.m. ET, Monday)

Rams

What to know: It's been only one game, but Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't do much to end the questions about his elbow injury and whether it is affecting his game. Stafford was sacked seven times by the Bills and threw three interceptions. He also struggled when targeting any player but wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who accounted for more than half of the Rams' receiving yardage.

Do the Rams expect to see more from two key players, RB Cam Akers and WR Allen Robinson II, going forward? When Rams coach Sean McVay was asked about Akers' involvement in the game, he said, "We really just didn't get in much of a rhythm tonight." Akers played 12 snaps on Thursday to Darrell Henderson Jr. 's 54. In McVay's answer, he also brought up that he wanted to get Robinson more involved in the offense. Robinson was targeted just twice on 45 routes run, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The 4.4% target rate was the lowest of his career. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Falcons (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

There are still weeks left to go in the 2022 MLB regular season, but a few teams -- mainly the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers -- are already looking toward October.

The Dodgers clinched the season's first playoff berth on Sunday night. Now the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves, to name a few teams, are on track to secure their own postseason spots sooner than their counterparts. Meanwhile, clubs such as the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, are battling it out for the remaining wild-card spots.

Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and October begins, such as Seattle's attempt to break a 21-year playoff drought, Aaron Judge's race to 62 home runs and Albert Pujols' quest for 700 career home runs.

Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What series should you be paying attention to in the coming week? When will the Dodgers clinch the NL West? And what does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season winds down.

Key links: Standings | Wild-card standings | Guide to every race (ESPN+)

What are this October's MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?

American League

Wild-card round: (6) Mariners at (3) Guardians, (5) Blue Jays at (4) Rays

ALDS: Mariners/Guardians vs. (2) Yankees, Blue Jays/Rays vs. (1) Astros

National League

Wild-card round: (6) Padres at (3) Cardinals, (5) Phillies at (4) Braves

NLDS: Padres/Cardinals vs. (2) Mets, Phillies/Braves vs. (1) Dodgers*

*Clinched playoff berth

Who is in the 2022 MLB playoff field?

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers became the first team to punch a ticket to this year's MLB playoffs -- L.A.'s 10th straight trip to the postseason -- with a win over the Padres on Sunday night and now have their sights set on the NL West title.

Who can clinch next?

Houston Astros

With a comfortable lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West race, the Astros are counting down to a likely fifth straight division title.

Key upcoming series

Giants at Braves: Sept. 12-14

With their own playoff chances all but gone, San Francisco will try to play spoiler against a Braves team locked in a back-and-forth battle for the top of the NL East standings.

Cubs at Mets: Sept. 12-14

The Mets have regained their stride -- and the NL East lead -- heading into three games against the Cubs.

Brewers at Cardinals: Sept. 13-14

Two games with the NL Central-leading Cardinals is just the beginning for the Brewers as they open up a seven-game stretch against St. Louis, the Yankees and Mets, with their wild-card hopes starting to dwindle.

Playoff schedule

Wild-card round
Best of three, all games at better seed's stadium

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 7
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 8
Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 9*

Division series
Best of five

ALDS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Saturday Oct. 15
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 16*
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 17*

NLDS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Saturday Oct. 15
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 16*
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 17*

Division series
Best of five

ALCS
Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 19
Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 20
Game 3: Saturday Oct. 22
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 23
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 24*
Game 6: Tuesday, Oct. 25*
Game 7: Wednesday Oct. 26*

NLCS
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 18
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 19
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 21
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 22
Game 5: Monday, Oct. 24*
Game 6: Tuesday, Oct. 25*
Game 7: Wednesday, Oct. 26*

World Series
Best of seven

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 28
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 29
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 31
Game 4: Tuesday, Nov. 1
Game 5: Wednesday, Nov. 2*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 4*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 5*

* If necessary

Alfie Hewett beat Shingo Kunieda to win US Open men's wheelchair title and secure his sixth major singles trophy.

It is the 24-year-old's first major singles title of the season and his third at Flushing Meadows.

"I want to dedicate this to my granddad - I hope you haven't turned off the TV because I know you hate when it gets close," Hewett said.

Hewett's victory also ended the 38-year-old Kunieda's bid for a calendar Grand Slam.

Hewett, runner-up to Kunieda in the past two US Open finals, twice trailed by a break in the first set before rallying.

He dominated the eventual tie-break and the second set, finishing the match with 39 winners to Kunieda's 16.

Afterwards he paid his respects to New York on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks across America.

"I know today is a difficult today for a lot of families out there," he said.

"What happened 21 years ago was awful and tragic for your country. I would just like to take this opportunity to pay my respects to all of those that were affected.

"You've got my heart, New York."

Hewett and compatriot Gordon Reid lost the men's doubles final on Saturday.

In the women's final, Diede de Groot of the Netherlands completed the calendar Grand Slam for a second year in a row with a 3-6 6-1 6-1 win over Japan's Yui Kamiji.

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz fulfilled his potential as a future Grand Slam champion and world number one by beating Casper Ruud in the US Open final to achieve both feats.

The 19-year-old is the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005.

Ruud, 23, would have become the new world number one if he had won, but has now lost both of his two major finals.

Instead it is Alcaraz who replaces Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the top, becoming the first teenager to climb to the summit in the 49-year history of the ATP rankings.

After hitting a routine forehand long on his first championship point, Alcaraz took his second with a service winner out wide and instantly fell flat on his back in celebration.

Alcaraz, who saved two set points in the third which would have put Ruud ahead, ran up to his team in the stands and danced with them in a huddle, before returning to his seat where he was crying at the same time as smiling.

"This is something which I dreamt of since I was a kid, being number one in the world and a champion of a Grand Slam," said Alcaraz, who saved a match point against Jannik Sinner in the last eight to reach his first major semi-final.

"It is something I have worked very hard for. It is really, really special."

The first of many for Alcaraz?

Alcaraz, with his powerful hitting and supreme athleticism, has long been tipped for greatness.

Since being identified as a potential superstar aged 11, he has developed under the guidance of former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero and taken his game to new levels this season.

Now Alcaraz has made his breakthrough on one of the biggest stages in the sport.

Over the past fortnight he has shown his talent and heart to win over legions of new fans, demonstrating why he is considered by many as the player best placed to replace Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at the top of the men's game in the coming years.

Alcaraz was the youngest Grand Slam men's finalist since Nadal won the 2005 French Open and the youngest US Open men's finalist since Pete Sampras won here in 1990.

Generally, over the course of a near three-and-a-half hour win over fifth seed Ruud, he looked unburdened by the weight of history.

The pair played to a high level throughout an engrossing match, with Alcaraz playing the bigger points better in front of a 24,000 crowd largely supporting the Spaniard.

A single early break proved the difference in the first set, giving a strong platform to Alcaraz - who had won his previous 21 matches at a major after taking the first set.

After showing signs of frustration as Ruud levelled the match, Alcaraz had to show fight in the third set.

Alcaraz - who had won three epic five-setters in a row to reach the final - looked to be lacking energy on certain shots, but Ruud could not capitalise fully as his opponent stopped him going ahead.

That provided the Spaniard with the impetus to eventually dominate the fourth set, breaking for a 4-2 lead and showing steel to see out victory.

Ruud misses another major - if unexpected - chance

While Alcaraz had already been hyped for several years, Ruud's progression has been much steadier and attracted far less attention.

The 23-year-old reached a first Grand Slam final at the French Open earlier this year, but was outclassed there by Nadal in a one-sided defeat.

Ruud's strength as a clay-courter is also illustrated by the fact he has won eight of his nine career titles on the surface and few would have expected him to make such a deep run on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.

A 65-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, he even admitted himself he had not expected to reach the final.

But the new world number two has an excellent all-round game and proved in New York, in addition to runs to the Miami final in April and the Montreal semi-finals last month, he can be a force on the surface.

Ruud showed that as he fought back to push Alcaraz, but was left to rue his failure to capitalise when he was beginning to get on top in the latter stages of the third set.

"You can say that was the set that maybe decided the match," said Ruud. "He played aggressively and well on those two set points.

"I played a horrible tie-break, unfortunately too many mistakes. I guess I couldn't get those set points out of my head. It was unfortunate."

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Teenage male Grand Slam champions were not an unusual sight in the 1980s. Mats Wilander, Michael Chang and Boris Becker all won their first major title at the age of 17.

But since 1990, as the game has become more physical, winning seven best-of-five-set matches over two weeks as a teenager has been beyond everyone bar Rafael Nadal and now Carlos Alcaraz.

What is so intimidating for the rest of the world is that Alcaraz appears already to be virtually the complete player, even though his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero thinks he has reached just 60% of his potential.

He has lightening quick feet, power, touch, stamina and the self-belief that can turn matches at their pivotal moments. If that is not enough, he also looks to be a natural serve-volleyer.

Or, as his fellow Spaniard Nadal once memorably put it, the 19-year-old has "all the ingredients to make a great salad".

Fiji claimed the men's title and Australia won the women's as New Zealand's dominance in the Rugby World Cup Sevens was ended in South Africa.

Fiji were out of sight by half-time in the men's final, building a 24-5 lead.

Akuila Rokolisoa hit back for New Zealand after the break but Pilipo Bukayaro sealed victory late on.

Victory for Olympic champions Fiji at South Africa 2022 is their first in 17 years but they move level with New Zealand, who won the last two tournaments, on three world titles overall.

The win represented a welcome change in fortune from the disappointment of losing the Commonwealth Games final to South Africa in July.

"It was a huge performance, the boys have been fantastic the whole weekend," Fiji's English coach Ben Gollings said.

"Everyone knows us for an attacking game, but the key for us is also to stop the tries against us. Yesterday and today were huge defensive performances, the players have run themselves into the ground.

"We knew we let ourselves down in the Commonwealth Games final and we targeted this one."

Ireland took bronze in the men's tournament with a 19-14 win against Australia to equal their best finish at the tournament.

"We spoke about the 2009 squad today and doing it for them and for everybody back home," Australia's Charlotte Caslick said. "What we have achieved this year is pretty awesome."

England - who were runners-up in the last two men's tournaments - finished ninth, while Wales were 15th and Scotland 16th.

Like their male counterparts, New Zealand women failed in their bid to win a third successive World Cup.

France took bronze after Ireland beat England 26-10 in the seventh/eighth place play-off.

Sale Sharks held off a late Northampton Saints fightback to deliver a winning start to the new Premiership season.

Sam and Luke James both crossed after the break and Tom O'Flaherty scored on debut for Sale's try bonus.

Ollie Sleightholme added to Tom Collins' double as Saints did enough late on for a losing bonus point.

Before kick-off of a game which was rescheduled following Friday's initial postponement, there was time for reflection and respect in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, following her passing aged 96, with a minute's silence.

Once play did get under way, Northampton posted the first points but it was Sale who showed their mettle by taking a firm grasp of the game.

Alex Sanderson's side finished last season with three wins in a row despite being pipped to a play-off spot by Saints, and ensured a winning start to this campaign with a strong display despite the departure of flamboyant half-back Faf de Klerk.

Having gone behind from Grayson's penalty, Daniel du Preez's linebreak and pass teed up De Klerk's successor Warr to go in, while the forwards crumbled the Saints scrum to give Robert du Preez the chance to slot a penalty.

Three second-half tries in six minutes put Sale in the driving seat in the second-half; Sam James powered over from a scrum move and then brother Luke went in following a cutting break, before O'Flaherty sprinted to a Du Preez kick for his touchdown that secured the bonus point.

Having scored a league-highest 100 tries last season, Northampton were expected to find their way over the whitewash at some point and added three scores in the final quarter.

First, Collins broke the line to score and Sleightholme profited from George Furbank's break to reduce arrears, before the former added his second in the final moments.

However, Phil Dowson's first game having succeeded Chris Boyd as director of rugby ended in a loss, a disappointing start for a Saints side that reached the play-offs for the first time in three years last season.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson:

"We have seen an exciting glimpse of what we're going to be about. There has been a shift in focus in the way we will endeavour to attack opposition teams and there was also lots of physicality in defence I thought.

"We look like we could be hard to stop this season. In previous seasons we have looked under-cooked at times, but today we showed good signs of form and that's encouraging.

"It is good to see Manu [Tuilagi] get that game-time under his belt. Hopefully we will get a full 80 minutes out of him soon. He showed what he's about and he'll keep working hard."

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson:

"I feel like we let too much go in the first hour of the game. We created opportunities to score, but it is frustrating we did not go on to finish off more of them.

"Overall we were not quite as efficient as I know we can be and Sale took advantage of that. It was looking ugly for us at 29-3 behind, but to be fair I thought the lads showed plenty of heart and commitment after that.

"There are lots of things we can look back on and work on making improvements, but it is early days and we will get better as the season progresses."

Sale Sharks: L. James; Roebuck, S. James, Tuilagi, O'Flaherty; R. Du Preez, Warr; McIntyre, Van der Merwe, Schonert, Wiese, Postlethwaite, JL Du Preez, Curry (c), D. Du Preez

Replacements: Taylor, Harrison, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Ross, Simpson, Curtis, Reed

Northampton Saints: Collins; Sleightholme, Proctor, Dingwall, Skosan; Grayson, Mitchell; Waller, Haywood, Hill, Salakaia-Loto, Coles, Scott-Young, Augustus

Replacements: Matavesi, Iyogun, Petch, Moon, Graham, James, Litchfield, Furbank

Referee: Tom Foley.

Gloucester scored 27 unanswered second-half points to recover from 21-0 down and beat Wasps in a memorable Premiership comeback at Kingsholm.

The visitors had two players in the sin-bin as Gloucester scored a penalty try to go 22-21 up, with Freddie Clarke going over for a bonus-point touchdown.

Charlie Atkinson, Brad Shields and Burger Odendaal had scored for Wasps.

There was a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, while black armbands were worn by both sides.

Wasps - who have had well-publicised financial problems over the summer - played all the rugby in the first half, despite losing Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi to injury early on.

Alfie Barbeary thought he had opened the scoring before the television match official (TMO) chalked it off for obstruction, but the excellent Atkinson showed quick feet to dummy the Gloucester defence and cross under the posts.

Shields then went over following a fantastic line-break from John Ryan and Wasps' South African debutant Odendaal, who cut through the home side's defence to put them 21-0 at the break - the first time Gloucester had failed to score in the first half at home since February 2020.

Wasps should have put the game out of sight early in the second half but an error allowed Wales winger Rees-Zammit to sprint clear, angling his run perfectly to repel the chasing Ali Crossdale for a world-class finish.

The visitors were already beginning to lose discipline by the time Tom Willis was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul, and shortly after Biyi Alo followed him off for stopping a guaranteed Gloucester try - also resulting in seven points for the Cherry and Whites.

Clarke's close-range try was initially not given until the TMO showed the ball was grounded, and Gloucester successfully defended the final play to earn a seventh Premiership victory in eight over their opponents.

Gloucester head coach George Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We were off in that first half without a doubt, but we were only marginally off - Wasps were very good.

"The score was not flattering at half-time without a doubt, but actually when you break down the play we were just a little bit off what we've tried to execute.

"Second half we got a little bit sharper and more at peace with how we're trying to play.

[On Rees-Zammit] "He's special from that point of view - he can produce something that can turn a game and sometimes you need that."

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

"I thought first half we were pretty clinical, our discipline was second to none and we looked in full control - we controlled everything.

"Second half, complete opposite - I tell you what, if you bought a ticket on one end of the field you got your money's worth, didn't you.

"There were a lot of things we've worked really hard on and I thought there were some pleasing aspects in it - we've not walked away with the win but we have walked away with a point.

"For the club, after the negativity that's been around the last three or four months, it would've been great to reward the support we've had from our supporters."

Gloucester: Evans; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Atkinson, Thorley; Hastings Chapman; Elrington, Singleton, Balmain, Clarke, Craig, Ackermann (capt), Taylor, Morgan.

Replacements: Socino, Rapava-Ruskin, Ford-Robinson, Jordan, Tuisue, Meehan, Twelvetrees, Moyle.

Wasps: Minozzi; Kibirige, Spink, Odendaal, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; Hislop, Cruse, Ryan, Launchbury (capt), McDonald, T Willis, Sheilds, Barbeary.

Replacements: Frost, Millar-Mills, Alo, Morris, J Willis, Porter, Mills, Crossdale.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe.