Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday to lead San Francisco to a 34-28 season-opening triumph over Green Bay in an NFL playoff rematch.
Frank Gore's one-yard touchdown gave the 49ers the lead late in the fourth quarter on the first Sunday of the season as San Francisco - who fell to Baltimore in February's Super Bowl XLVII - launched their bid to return to the NFL's championship spectacular.
Kaepernick completed 27-of-39 passes and became the first 49ers signal-caller to throw for more than 400 yards since Tim Rattay in 2004.
Anquan Boldin emerged as Kaepernick's favourite target, catching 13 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown.
"We knew they were going to come in ready to play after what happened in the playoffs," Boldin said. "We had to come out and match their intensity."
The Packers won the NFC North division last year but were ousted from the playoffs by San Francisco.
The New Orleans Saints welcomed coach Sean Payton back after a season-long ban over the pay-for-injury "bounty" scandal with a 23-17 victory over NFC South division rivals Atlanta.
Drew Brees threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns, and the Saints' defence - which surrendered a record 7,042 yards last season - held the Falcons scoreless over their last four drives.
Stephen Gostkowski booted a game-winning 35-yard field goal with five seconds left to lift perennial powerhouse New England to a 23-21 victory at AFC East division rivals Buffalo.
New England wide receiver Danny Amendola caught two passes from superstar quarterback Tom Brady in the drive that set up Gostkowski's field goal.
Seattle opened their NFC season with a 12-7 victory over Carolina.
Indianapolis signal-caller Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and ran for the go-ahead TD as the Colts rallied to beat the Oakland Raiders 21-17.
The Tennessee Titans shocked Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh 16-9, the defeat proving even more costly for the Steelers after injuries to Pro Bowl centre Maurkice Pouncey and linebacker Larry Foote.
Kansas City, trying to turn things around after a dismal 2-14 campaign in 2012, opened with a convincing 28-2 win at Jacksonville.
In Dallas, the Cowboys forced six turnovers in a 36-31 victory over NFC East foes the New York Giants.
New York Jets and rookie quarterback Geno Smith emerged with a thrilling 18-17 victory over Tampa Bay.
In other games, Miami defeated Cleveland 23-10, Chicago edged Cincinnati 24-21, Detroit beat NFC North Rivals Minnesota 34-24 and St. Louis beat Arizona 27-24 in a clash of NFC West division rivals.
