Bears Shut Down Favre and Packers

The Chicago Bears delivered the first shutout of Brett Favre’s 16-year career Sunday, beating the Green Bay Packers, 26-0, at Green Bay, Wis.

For the Bears, shutting out Favre -- who has a 21-8 record against them -- was a big accomplishment.

“That guy is going to be a Hall of Famer, he’s going to have his bust in Canton, Ohio, and I can say that I was a part of that,” defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said.

Favre, who deliberated for months before deciding to return to the Packers, spent much of the first half on the sideline as quarterback Rex Grossman led Chicago on several long drives.

Grossman found wide receiver Bernard Berrian for a 49-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive. It was the Bears’ only offensive touchdown of the day, but Chicago continued to move the ball well enough to keep the ball largely out of Favre’s hands.

And when Favre was in the game, he mostly handed off -- until it was too late. He threw only five passes in the first half, completing all five for 70 yards.

The Bears had 236 yards of total offense in the first half, compared to only 103 for the Packers.

It was the Bears’ first shutout since a victory at Detroit on Dec. 30, 2001.

The loss ruined the debut of new Packers Coach Mike McCarthy, hired after the team fired Mike Sherman.

McCarthy said the Packers’ two rookie guards, a major concern going into the season, performed acceptably in run blocking.

But Favre was sacked three times -- including once when rookie guard Jason Spitz stepped on his foot.

Favre completed 15 of 29 passes for 170 yards.

Philadelphia 24, Houston 10 -- Donovan McNabb threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Donte’ Stallworth at Houston.

The game was Stallworth’s debut with the Eagles after a trade from New Orleans, and McNabb’s regular-season return after sitting out the final seven games of last season after surgery to repair a sports hernia.

No. 1 pick Mario Williams had three tackles but failed to make much of an impact while being shifted up and down the line in his and Coach Gary Kubiak’s first game as Texans.

Stallworth had four receptions for 124 yards by halftime and finished with six for 141 yards for his 10th 100-yard game.

Houston finished with 70 yards rushing. That combined with a quiet game from Williams will continue to fuel talk Houston made a mistake by passing on running back Reggie Bush.

New York Jets 23, Tennessee 16 -- Chad Pennington, returning from two shoulder surgeries in as many years, threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Jets at Nashville.

The Titans had trailed, 16-0, until Travis Henry tied the score by rushing for two fourth-quarter touchdowns within five minutes of each other. His one-yarder with 5:58 left came one play after Pennington was sacked and fumbled.

Pennington needed seven plays to take back the lead after Justin Miller’s 41-yard kickoff return, going ahead on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chris Baker with 2:10 left.

Tennessee had one last chance and drove to the Jets’ 8. But Kerry Collins missed tight end Bo Scaife in the end zone on fourth and six with 35 seconds to go.

Seattle 9, Detroit 6 -- The defending NFC champions got off on the right foot when Josh Brown kicked a 42-yard field goal on the last play of the game at Detroit.

The Seahawks, who led the NFL in scoring last season, started the game-winning drive at their 20 with 3:13 left after the Lions’ new coach, Rod Marinelli, decided against a long field-goal attempt.

Maurice Morris, who shared time with last year’s league most valuable player Shaun Alexander, set up the game-winning kick with a 17-yard run.

The Lions blocked two field-goal attempts in the first 17 1/2 minutes of the sluggish game to give them a chance to pick up a surprising victory in the season opener.