Pats' Brady throws for 517 yards, 4 TDs

Tom Brady threw his first interception since October, so he wasn't perfect in the Patriots' opener. He was close, though.

Brady threw for a team-record 517 yards and four touchdowns, including a 99-yarder to Wes Welker, and the reigning AFC East champions beat the Dolphins, 38-24, Monday night in Miami.

Defensive end Jared Odrick picked off a deflected pass to set up a Miami touchdown and end Brady's record streak of 358 passes without an interception. Otherwise, Brady and the Patriots picked up where they left off last season, when he threw for 36 TDs and his team led the league in scoring.

New England totaled 622 yards, the most in franchise history and the most allowed by Miami, loser of 10 of its last 11 home games.

Brady, 32-for-48, became the 11th quarterback to throw for at least 500 yards. Norm Van Brocklin set the record of 554 in 1951. Brady's total of 517 ranks fifth on the all-time list.

The capper came with 5:44 left and the Patriots leading 31-17. After they stopped Miami on downs at the 1-foot line, Brady lined up in the shotgun on first down and threw from his end zone to Welker, who had slipped behind Benny Sapp near the 30-yard line.

Welker caught the pass in stride and sprinted untouched for the score.

Brady also hit Aaron Hernandez for an apparent 31-yard score, and when a replay review determined the receiver was down at the 1, Brady threw to him for a TD on the next play. His other scoring passes covered 10 yards to Rob Gronkowski and 2 yards to Welker.

The performance overshadowed Miami's Chad Henne, who threw for a career-high 416 yards.

Patriots newcomer Chad Ochocinco had only one catch for 14 yards. But Welker made eight receptions for 160 yards, and tight ends Hernandez and Gronkowski totaled 189 yards on 13 catches.

Around the league

Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding is out for the year after injuring his left knee on Sunday's opening kickoff . . . Chiefs safety Eric Berry will miss the rest of the season after tearing his left ACL . . . Panthers linebacker Jon Beason is out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon.-- AP