Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers held off a late fightback from the Jacksonville Jaguars to run out 27-23 winners at EverBank Field.
Rodgers ran in from six yards to give his side an early lead, but the Jags replied with a touchdown of their own.
Davante Adams' touchdown gave Green Bay a half-time lead after Rodgers remained calm in the pocked and picked out his man.
After a high-scoring first half, in which the Packers led by four points, the two sides both scored field goals in the third quarter.
Time was running out for the Jags as they pressed for a late game-winning touchdown, but the Packers defence stepped up and held their opponents out to hand the visitors an opening day victory.
Coming into the game, Jacksonville were struck by adversity when summer recruit Chris Ivory was taken into hospital, which ruled him out of the game with Green Bay.
Jags respond after going behind
The first scoring play of the game came early on when Green Bay managed to record their first touchdown of the season.
After an impressive drive up the field, Rodgers, who was helped by some good blocking, ran the ball in from six yards.
It didn’t last long, as the Jags were led up in their next drive by Blake Bortles, who earlier had thrown an interception. The quarterback linked up with Marcedes Lewis to pick up 37-yards before TJ Yeldon ran the ball into the end zone from five yards. Gus Bradley’s side added a field goal to go ahead, but the Packers notched up their second touchdown of the game midway through the second quarter.
Nelson touchdown hands Packers half-time lead
Rodgers found Jordy Nelson in the end zone to take his side ahead, but the Jags clawed their way back in front once more soon after.
Julius Thomas caught Bortles’ throw at the back of the end zone, and it looked like the Jags would have the upper hand going in at half-time.
However, Green Bay ensured that this wasn’t the case when Rodgers kept calm under pressure in the pocket and found Adams downfield. Both sides each scored a field goal in the third quarter before the Packers took a 27-20 lead when they scored another three points at the start of the fourth.
Green Bay hold off late fightback
Bortles marched his side up the field, but blunders forced the Jags into taking a field goal with time ticking away.
The home side got the ball back for one more drive upfield, and they pressed for a late touchdown, but with 20 seconds left, Bortles tried to find Allen Hurns and the Packers’ defence held out.
Jacksonville travel to San Diego to play the Chargers in Week Two, while Green Bay are on the road once more as they face off against the Minnesota Vikings.