Allen rallies Bills to 41-40 comeback win over Ravens as NFL season bursts into life

The Buffalo Bills staged a dramatic late comeback to beat the Baltimore Ravens 41-40 on the opening Sunday of the NFL season, with Josh Allen accounting for four touchdowns and veteran kicker Matt Prater sinking a 32-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired.

Buffalo trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter and many fans had left Highmark Stadium before Allen led a 16-point surge in four minutes to complete the victory. Allen finished with 394 yards from scrimmage, two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores in a game that renewed focus on his MVP credentials. "Our team didn't quit. I think there's some people who left the stadium and that's OK, but have some faith next time," Allen said to NBC.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens had built a sizable lead earlier, helped by a strong performance from Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Baltimore's charge unraveled late, however, when Henry fumbled at a critical juncture and Buffalo capitalised. The comeback marked the first time since 1967 that the Bills erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, and it came as Buffalo begins its final season playing in its current stadium.

Prater, 41, had only signed with the Bills on Thursday and his last-second kick completed Buffalo's turnaround. Allen's late-game heroics and Prater's sudden clutch kick combined to cap a contest between the previous two league MVPs that lived up to its billing.

Sunday's slate delivered several other high-profile storylines. Aaron Rodgers made a winning debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 34-32 victory over the New York Jets, throwing four touchdown passes against his former team. Playing in MetLife Stadium in front of a largely hostile crowd, Rodgers said he relished the reception and targeted doubters. "There were probably people in the organisation that didn't think I could play any more, so it was nice to remind those people that I still can," he said.

The Jets' chances were undone by a costly fumble, and a late 60-yard field goal by Chris Boswell sealed the thriller for Pittsburgh. Rodgers became the first player in 15 years to throw four touchdowns against a former team in his debut there.

Micah Parsons made an encouraging first appearance for the Green Bay Packers after being traded from the Dallas Cowboys about 10 days before the season. Parsons, who played 29 of 65 snaps, recorded a sack and applied regular pressure on Detroit quarterback Jared Goff as the Packers beat the Lions 27-13. Parsons said the quick trade and move were "outrageous and rough," but his presence immediately bolstered Green Bay's defence.

The Indianapolis Colts ended a long opening-day drought, winning their first Week 1 game since 2013 with a 33-8 triumph over the Miami Dolphins. Quarterback Daniel Jones, acquired in the offseason from the New York Giants, threw for 272 yards and one touchdown and added two rushing scores. The Colts scored on all seven of their possessions in the game, a sequence the NFL said had not occurred in at least 47 years.

Rookies and late finishes provided further drama across the league. The Cincinnati Bengals eked out a 17-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns as their defence made a crucial stop late. Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka became only the second rookie since the 1970 merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute when he helped the Bucs edge the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. Las Vegas rookie running back Ashton Jeanty scored a decisive touchdown in a 20-13 win at New England, and Washington's Jacory Croskey-Merritt produced an 82-yard outing with a score in the Commanders' 21-6 defeat of the New York Giants.

Matthew Stafford reached a career milestone, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to surpass 60,000 passing yards as the Los Angeles Rams beat the Houston Texans 14-9. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-13 but lost tight end George Kittle to a hamstring injury. Jackson, who had shone for Baltimore, will also be monitored after the Ravens' narrow loss.

Headline rookie Travis Hunter made his much-anticipated debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching six passes for 33 yards and seeing a few snaps on defence in a 26-10 win over Carolina. Top overall draft pick Cam Ward lost his first game as the Tennessee Titans fell 20-12 to the Denver Broncos.

Across the weekend, the NFL produced a mix of blowouts, cliffhangers and notable individual performances that underscored the league's depth and the potential for storylines to emerge early in the season. Results from Week 1 included the Los Angeles Chargers beating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-21 on Friday, the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 on Thursday, and other Sunday outcomes such as San Francisco 17-13 Seattle, Denver 20-12 Tennessee, Los Angeles Rams 14-9 Houston, Green Bay 27-13 Detroit, Tampa Bay 23-20 Atlanta, Cincinnati 17-16 Cleveland, Indianapolis 33-8 Miami, Jacksonville 26-10 Carolina, Las Vegas 20-13 New England, Washington 21-6 New York Giants, Pittsburgh 34-32 New York Jets, Arizona 20-13 New Orleans, and New Orleans' Friday result.

The opening weekend suggested the season will be shaped by veteran stars capable of sudden returns to form, high-impact midseason trade additions and a steady flow of rookie contributions. Teams and players will now turn quickly to preparations for Week 2 as coaches assess injuries, lineups and adjustments after a full and eventful opening day of the NFL season.