Jayden Daniels felt confident after practicing late in the week that he could start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders against the Chicago Bears, despite a rib injury.
He and the team kept everyone in suspense until just hours before the game. When it was time, Daniels took the field and played bravely in an 18-15 win, ending with a Hail Mary touchdown after taking several hard hits along the way.
“As soon as I stepped on that field, wasn’t even worried about it,” said Daniels, who completed 21 of 38 passes for 326 yards, including the touchdown to Noah Brown with no time remaining.
“You can still feel it, but at the end of the day I started the game. I wanted to finish it, so there was nothing else that was going to take me out of that game.”
Daniels had to leave Washington’s previous game against Carolina after getting injured, which caused him to miss practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He was able to participate in a limited way on Friday, which was crucial for getting the second overall pick in the NFL draft ready to play.
Jayden Daniels leaves the field after the win
“We pushed him on Friday in terms of the different throws,” coach Dan Quinn said. “Once all the markers were hit, then we felt comfortable with him playing. But it was due to all the work that was put in Friday.”
Daniels felt good after that workout and woke up on Sunday ready to play.
However, there was still a chance that veteran Marcus Mariota would start if Daniels felt any discomfort during warmups. The Commanders wanted to wait as long as possible to make a decision regarding their rookie star.
“It was his first injury that we had to go through together this week to find out what would be possible and what wouldn’t be because he also has unique skills and gifts that he’d have to be able to get outside the pocket and run some when he can,” Quinn said.
“I wanted to see him demonstrate that earlier in the week to allow him to play because if he wasn’t able to do that, then he wouldn’t have been able to play. We would not have put him into that spot.”
Daniels was sacked twice and knocked down several more times after releasing the ball. He also ran the ball eight times for 52 yards.
“He took a lot of hits today — probably more hits than I’ve seen him take all season,” running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. “Already dealing with something, he just showed how tough he is. Obviously you want to minimize those hits on him, but he just continues to prove how tough he is.”
Brock Wright celebrates his touchdown in the 1st half
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, but he wasn’t the main star for the Detroit Lions in one of the team’s highest-scoring games ever.
David Montgomery was the first of five Lions players to score in a dominant 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The Lions played well on offense, scoring on all five chances inside the red zone. Their defense was strong, forcing four turnovers, and special teams contributed with Kalif Raymond’s 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. He ended up with 190 yards on five punt returns, while Khalil Dorsey had a 72-yard kickoff return that helped set up another score.
Detroit became only the third team since 1941 to have both a punt return of 90 yards or more and a kickoff return of 70 yards or more in the same game.
“We play with three units, and when a couple of them are working well, it can support the others,” coach Dan Campbell said.
Jahmyr Gibbs runs for a touchdown pass in the 1st half
The NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) now have the best record in the conference after winning five straight games, averaging over 40 points in the last four, and achieving the team’s best seven-game start since 1956.
This scoring total was just shy of the franchise record of 55 points against Chicago in 1997.
The Lions managed well without big-play receiver Jameson Williams, who was serving the first of a two-game suspension for breaking the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance rules.
“We didn’t miss a beat,” Campbell said.
Detroit has been successful with Goff, but at one point, they had more points (42) than his passing yards (28) early in the third quarter. He finished the game 12 of 15 for 85 yards, benefiting from the defense’s takeaways that gave him short fields to work with.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of something like that,” said 30-year-old Goff.
The Lions also executed a trick play, as they often do in games. This time, running back Montgomery threw a touchdown pass after taking a pitch from Goff, connecting with Sam LaPorta from 3 yards out. This gave the Lions a 35-14 lead and marked their highest-scoring half since 1970.
Jahmyr Gibbs had a 70-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, finishing with a season-high 127 rushing yards. Dorsey’s long kickoff return set up Goff’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright early in the second quarter.
Raymond’s 90-yard kickoff return early in the third quarter extended Detroit’s lead to 42-14.
The Titans (1-6) suffered another big loss for the second week in a row and have shown this is a rebuilding year by trading veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins and starting linebacker Ernest Jones Jr.
“You’re going to get blown out by every team in the league turning the ball over four times,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “We just don’t complement each other at all.
Right now, our special teams give up yards, our defense doesn’t get stops, we don’t do anything on offense, and we turn it over. Everything needs to be better.”
Mason Rudolph looks to pass in the 1st half
The Titans continued their streak of throwing an interception in every game when Mason Rudolph was intercepted by linebacker Trevor Nowaske in the first quarter. Rudolph later threw another pass that Kerby Joseph picked off.
Rudolph did manage to rush for his first touchdown, an 11-yarder that fooled Detroit’s defense and tied the game late in the first quarter.
Starting for the injured Will Levis, Rudolph went 22 of 38 for 266 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine early in the second quarter, along with two interceptions.
“I’ve got to protect the ball better and put our defense in a better situation,” Rudolph said. “I thought we did good things in the first half, and we did move the ball, possess the ball, but none of that matters when you get your butt kicked.”
Ridley matched a career high with 10 receptions for a season-high 143 yards, while Tony Pollard rushed for a season-high 95 yards on 20 carries.
Philadelphia Eagle players celebrates after a touchdown
Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley led Philadelphia to another strong showing on Sunday. The Eagles are gaining momentum at the right moment.
Hurts ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, helping Philadelphia defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 37-17 for their third straight win.
“We’re executing at a high level right now,” said DeVonta Smith, who made a fantastic 45-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. “Guys are in the right spots at the right time.”
Hurts completed 16 of 20 passes for 236 yards. He also carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards.
Barkley rushed for 108 yards as Philadelphia (5-2) claimed their fourth win in five games. The Eagles scored the last 20 points of the game.
Saquon Barkley celebrates after a touchdown
“I think today was a great team win, a great showing as a team,” Hurts said. “When you play like that on defense and you’re able to stop an offense capable of playing at a high level and with the star players they have on that team, that’s a great job.”
Hurts’ 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter capped an 85-yard drive that took 7:37 off the clock, giving Philadelphia a 34-17 lead with four and a half minutes remaining. This drive followed an interception by Burrow.
“The team we just played, they’re a really good football team,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “They’ve won a lot of games, and so I thought that was awesome to be able to do that and go get the points off of that and take the time off the clock.”
Nakobe Dean then recovered a fumble by Mike Gesicki, and Jake Elliott added a 47-yard field goal to finish the game.
Smith had six catches for 85 yards, and A.J. Brown caught five passes for 84 yards. The Eagles totaled 397 yards of offense.
Kyler Murray stayed confident even when the Arizona Cardinals were down by two scores in the fourth quarter. He believed he could make the plays needed for his team.
Murray helped the Cardinals set up a game-winning field goal by Chad Ryland as time ran out, marking a second straight week of dramatic finishes. This time, they defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-27, which was Tua Tagovailoa’s return after a concussion.
“I like us,” Murray said. “I want the ball in my hands. I want the ball in our hands. With the guys that we have offensively, as long as we stay on schedule and we execute, I think we can be one of the best offenses in the league.”
Murray led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to bring the Cardinals back from a nine-point deficit. The first drive ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by James Conner, bringing the score to 27-25.
The second drive was a careful 13-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:01 and finished with Ryland’s 34-yard kick. The week before, Ryland kicked a 32-yarder to win against the Los Angeles Chargers 17-15.
Tua Tagovailoa aims to pass in the 2nd half
The Cardinals (4-4) won back-to-back games for the first time since October 2021, and they had two receivers each gain over 100 yards for the first time since September 2021. Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. caught six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Trey McBride had nine catches for 124 yards.
“It feels great,” Harrison said. “It does feel great.”
Tagovailoa threw for 234 yards, and the Dolphins (2-5) had their best offensive game of the season in his first start since being diagnosed with his third known concussion on September 12 against Buffalo.
He was cleared to return on Monday after doctors confirmed it was safe for him to play, and he passed the concussion protocol on Friday after being examined by an independent neurological consultant.
Tagovailoa played well, completing 28 of 38 passes. He did lose a fumble on the first drive, but Miami managed to recover it, and later in the third quarter, a snap went over his head, leading to a safety.
“I would say I felt like myself,” Tagovailoa said. “I’ve been preparing for five weeks as if I were to play while I was on IR, so it felt normal coming out there.”
His first pass was a 16-yard completion to fullback Alec Ingold during Miami’s opening drive, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Raheem Mostert. Mostert also had a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Miami fans cheered loudly when Tagovailoa was introduced and chanted his name after the first scoring drive. The biggest cheer came when Tagovailoa scrambled for a first down in the third quarter and slid to avoid a hit, something he hadn’t done when he got injured in Week 2.
“I think the biggest thing was he knew his teammates were going to give him a chance to play a pretty clean game,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He had a good amount of clean pockets, and when he didn’t, he was decisive and kept himself out of harm’s way.”
Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 72 yards, marking his first game with at least 70 yards receiving since Week 1. De’Von Achane rushed for 97 yards and caught a pass for 50 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown catch.
“He came back and got the offense going. That was a beautiful thing to see,” Hill said. “We scored some points today, so that’s a positive.”
This was the Dolphins’ highest-scoring game of the season; their previous best was 20 points in Week 1.
Murray completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards, throwing a 6-yard touchdown to Michael Wilson and a 22-yard touchdown to Harrison. He also rushed for 19 yards.
Murray showed his quickness, avoiding a blitz from Jalen Ramsey during Arizona’s first scoring drive to keep the play alive and eventually find Wilson open in the end zone. He hasn’t been sacked since Week 5.
Arizona Cardinals players celebrate after winning
“They couldn’t sack him,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He extended plays a bunch, had a couple of free runners, couple (cover) zeros and got out of them. He’s tough back there to get down.”
Harrison outmaneuvered Ramsey and got a knee down in the end zone to bring the Cardinals within 20-18 entering the fourth quarter. A 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
The Dolphins led 13-7 at halftime, but their top-ranked pass defense struggled against Murray and Harrison in the second half.
Harrison made catches of 16, 22, and 18 yards on Arizona’s last two scoring drives.
“I try to be someone we can count on to make plays,” Harrison said. “Any time it’s a two-minute drill or we need a big play, I do my best to get open and catch the ball.”
The Green Bay Packers may have to continue without quarterback Jordan Love for a while.
Love hurt his left groin during the first drive against Jacksonville and had to leave the game in the third quarter. He watched from the sidelines as backup Malik Willis helped the Packers secure a 30-27 win.
Coach Matt LaFleur expressed “high level of concern” about Love’s injury, especially since he had missed two games earlier in the season due to a sprained left knee.
With Love sidelined, Willis completed a key 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed, which set up Brandon McManus for his second game-winning kick in consecutive weeks. Willis finished the game completing 4 of 5 passes for 56 yards, including a touchdown.
“The moment’s never too big for him and he made a lot of big-time plays in this game, not only with his arm,” LaFleur said.
Willis found Reed wide open down the left sideline after safety Andre Cisco fell due to cramping.
“I already knew I was going to be open before the play was even called,” Reed said.
This play was crucial for the Packers (6-2), especially after Trevor Lawrence’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram tied the game.
Engram caught the ball in a crowded area, giving the Jaguars (2-6) a surge of momentum. However, LaFleur called a clever play on the next down that made the difference.
Tucker Kraft celebrates after a touchdown
Jacksonville attempted to let the Packers score, but Chris Brooks went down to help set up McManus’ 24-yard field goal.
Josh Jacobs rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay, including a 38-yard run where he skillfully dodged defenders Ventrell Miller and De’Antre Prince.
“He’s a stud isn’t he?” LaFleur said. “The physicality that he runs with. … He is a pro’s pro. I can’t say enough great things about him. We’re lucky to have a guy like that, the way he comes in and communicates and works and demands it of himself but demands it of others as well.”
Lawrence brought Jacksonville back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 27 with his pass to Engram. However, the Jaguars might not have needed to come back if Lawrence and his teammates hadn’t made so many mistakes.
Lawrence fumbled at the 5-yard line and threw an interception. The Jaguars also kept two Green Bay drives going with penalties.
“We’ve got to play cleaner,” said Lawrence, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards.
Just inches from the goal line and with a final chance to win, the New England Patriots showed they could take down Aaron Rodgers and the struggling New York Jets.
Rhamondre Stevenson charged through the line for his second touchdown with 22 seconds remaining on Sunday, leading the Patriots to a 25-22 victory after first-round draft pick Drake Maye left the game with a concussion early on.
Jacoby Brissett, who started but then became a backup, stepped in for Maye and guided the Patriots (2-6) to two scoring drives in the fourth quarter. This victory ended a six-game losing streak for New England and handed the Jets (2-6) their fifth straight loss.
“There’s chaos going on, he never wavers. That’s why he’s a team captain,” tight end Austin Hooper said about Brissett. “You’ve got two options: You can either fold or you can fight. Thank God Drake’s going to be all right, but when you have a guy like Jacoby, who’s won here, you don’t really blink.”
Drake Maye runs into the endzone for a touchdown in the 1st half
Stevenson also caught a 2-point conversion pass that put New England ahead by three points. Rodgers took control at his own 30 with no timeouts left. He missed one deep throw but then connected with Davante Adams for 16 yards, which wasn’t close to the sideline.
As the clock ran out, the Patriots defense celebrated on the field. This was their first home win in over a year, marking an end to a losing streak that had led their coach to call them “soft.”
“We got a challenge earlier this week. The guys came out and responded well,” Brissett said. “We pushed it in at the end to score the win. I think that encompassed a lot of things throughout the season. Just hoping this is a snowball effect, the start of something special.”
Instead of being at the bottom of the AFC East alone, the Patriots are now tied for last with the Jets, sitting four games behind the division-leading Buffalo Bills. Interim Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich, who is now 0-3 since taking over after Robert Saleh was fired, described the loss as “a moment of darkness,” and Rodgers agreed with him.
“I’ve been in the darkness,” he said. “You’ve got to go in there, make peace with it.”
Brissett, who started the first five games for the Patriots, completed 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards. Maye went 3 of 6 for 23 yards, and he also ran for 46 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown run. He left the game after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood that wasn’t penalized.
“I don’t look at it as redemption,” said Brissett, who has played with five teams over nine seasons and is back with New England for a second time. “I think this is a testament to me believing in myself. … I was very fortunate to have this opportunity. To go out there and get a win with our guys, it was sweet. You can’t put it into words.”
Xavier Gipson celebrates his touchdown in the 1st half
Rodgers completed 17 of 28 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Garrett Wilson five times for 113 yards. Breece Hall ran for 80 yards on 16 carries, and Braelon Allen scored on a 2-yard run to put the Jets ahead with three minutes left.
Greg Zuerlein missed two kicks—badly missing an extra point and also pulling a 44-yard field goal attempt to the left after New England took a 17-16 lead. Star edge rusher Haason Reddick made his Jets debut but did not record any tackles or assists, mostly playing in third-down situations.
A year after losing Rodgers to a knee injury just four plays into his first game with the team, the Jets started the season with high hopes. However, they haven’t won since their victory over the Patriots on September 19, which was their only win after also beating the one-win Tennessee team.
“The NFL is hard. It’s hard to win,” Rodgers said. “Harder when you make it difficult on yourself.”
Including last year’s finale, which was Bill Belichick’s last game as New England’s coach, New York had beaten the Patriots twice in a row after losing to them 15 times in a row. But unlike their Week 3 game, where the Jets won 24-3 and allowed only 139 yards of offense, this time New England fought back.
Maye scored a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter, outpacing Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead. However, the No. 3 overall draft pick had to go to the medical tent after he scrambled for an 18-yard gain and got hit while sliding.
Jeff Ulbrich shouts from the sideline
Brissett came in after Maye, who had not played since being replaced in Week 6 and had not won since the opening game. He set up Joey Slye’s 23-yard field goal, giving the Patriots a 17-16 lead.
Rodgers connected with Wilson for a 22-yard pass and Adams for a 17-yarder to reach the New England 3 before Allen ran it in from there. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Jets ahead 22-17.
With 2:57 left, Brissett took over, scrambled for 14 yards on a third and 9, and threw a 34-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte to the 9-yard line. Boutte caught a third-and-5 pass at the goal line, landing on his knees just short of the end zone.
On the next play, Stevenson barely crossed the line for the touchdown.
“There comes a point in time where they know — everyone knows, the fans know — it’s a run play,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said. “You’ve got to really just defeat the man across from you. Fortunately our guys got movement and we scored.”
Before the game, Jameis Winston gave an emotional speech to his Browns teammates, urging them to have faith. Now, they do.
Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass—his third of the game—to Cedric Tillman with just 59 seconds left, leading Cleveland to a surprising 29-24 win over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, ending a five-game losing streak.
This was Winston’s first start in over two years, stepping in for injured starter Deshaun Watson. He helped the Browns (2-6) achieve an unexpected victory against their AFC North rivals during a tough week.
“It felt amazing,” Winston said, after passing for 334 yards.
This victory came just days after Watson’s season ended due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Browns and their fans were also mourning the death of their beloved play-by-play broadcaster, Jim Donovan, who passed away Saturday after battling cancer.
Lamar Jackson throws in the 1st half
After the game, coach Kevin Stefanski told the team he would give the game ball to Donovan’s family. “This one’s for Jim,” Stefanski said.
The Browns had to fend off a late comeback attempt from Jackson, who moved the Ravens (5-3) to the Cleveland 24-yard line in the final moments. Jackson managed to avoid sacks but threw two incomplete passes into the end zone, with the last one aimed at Zay Flowers as time ran out.
When the game ended, Jackson slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration, marking the end of the Ravens’ five-game winning streak with this unexpected loss.
“You can look at the Browns’ record and say that’s a sorry team, but this is the NFL,” Jackson said. He completed 23 of 38 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. “Any week can be your day. We didn’t make the plays. We didn’t make the calls to win the game.”
Winston completed 27 of 41 passes in his first start since September 25, 2022, when he played for New Orleans. The 30-year-old stepped in for Cleveland’s offense this week after Watson got injured and showed much-needed leadership.
Winston accomplished what Watson couldn’t: the Browns scored their highest points this season, and he passed for over 300 yards, a feat Watson hasn’t achieved in his 19 starts with the team.
“He was very confident in the huddle. He was talking the whole time. Some of the stuff he was saying was a little bit out there, but he was ready to go,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “Obviously, he threw the ball well — 300 yards, three touchdowns. The game-winner. He brought a lot of energy. He’s been like that since he’s been here, so it was expected.”
Derrick Henry’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:36 left gave the Ravens a 24-23 lead, but Winston, who signed a one-year deal as a free agent in March, got some help from Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton on the final drive.
Winston overthrew Elijah Moore on first down, and Hamilton was in the right spot to intercept but let the ball slip through his hands.
“I started praying instantly,” Winston said. “Oh my God!” Moore exclaimed. “The football gods were with us for sure.”
Cedric Tillman makes a catch for a touchdown in the 2nd half
With a second chance, Winston threw a deep pass to Tillman, who also caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Before Cleveland made its last comeback, Jackson led a six-play, 91-yard drive using both his passing and running skills. Henry capped that drive with a touchdown, tying Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for 10th place on the career scoring list.
Winston’s strong performance — which included a 23-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku — gives the Browns some hope in a season that seemed to be going downhill. Last year, Joe Flacco came out of semi-retirement after Watson got hurt and led the Browns to the playoffs.
Winston isn’t making any promises, though. “A win like this is required to change the season around,” Winston said. “We have a long way to go.”
Dustin Hopkins kicked field goals of 28, 33, and 48 yards for the Browns.
Houston Texans players celebrates after an interception in the 1st half
Joe Mixon avoided one defender and dragged a defensive back into the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run, showcasing yet another strong performance that helped the Houston Texans defeat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
When asked to describe the play, Mixon smiled and said, “That’s how we play Texans football.”
He rushed for 102 yards with that touchdown in the 23-20 win. Mixon, now in his first season with Houston after being traded from Cincinnati, became the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown run in four of his first five games with a team.
The only time he didn’t reach 100 yards and score this season was in Week 2 when he missed nearly the entire second half due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for the next three games.
“I’m in my element. I’m in my zone honestly,” he said. “It’s a great thing where I can be able to try to do whatever I can to put the team on my back.”
C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards and a touchdown, bouncing back after a career-low 86 yards passing in a loss to the Packers last week. This performance helped the Texans (6-2) maintain their lead in the AFC South.
Anthony Richardson is sacked in the 1st half
“He made great decisions with the football all day,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “Kept us out of some bad plays. Can’t say enough about what C.J. is doing and how he is leading this offense. So very proud of him.”
Houston’s defense intercepted Anthony Richardson once and pressured him throughout the game as the Texans swept their season series with Indianapolis (4-4) for only the second time in franchise history.
The Colts seemed to have taken the lead with about three minutes left when Mixon fumbled, and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo recovered it.
He jumped up after recovering the fumble and ran 84 yards for what was initially called a touchdown that would have made it 27-23. However, the play was reviewed, and the score was taken away when it was determined he was down by contact.
The Colts struggled to move the ball afterward and had to punt after Danielle Hunter sacked Richardson on third down.
Indianapolis got the ball again late, but Richardson was sacked by Hunter once more and fumbled on the last play, ending the game before he could throw a desperate pass.
Richardson completed 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown in his second game back after missing almost three full games due to a right hip injury. He was sacked five times and hit another eight times.
“We’ve just got to keep working through it,” said coach Shane Steichen. “He’s got a good work effort. He grinds through these things, it’s a process, and we’ll do it together. This ain’t about one guy — it’s about the team. It’s always about the team.”
There was some worry that he got hurt after leaving the game for a play before a field goal in the third quarter, but he was fine.
“I was tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” he said. “That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I’d be able to do that next play, so I told them I needed a break right there.”
Jonathan Taylor had 20 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown for the Colts in his return after missing the last three games with a sprained ankle.
The Texans led 17-10 at halftime, and Ka’imi Fairbairn’s second field goal of the half increased Houston’s lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Richardson connected with Josh Downs for a 25-yard gain that was first called a touchdown, but after review, it was determined he was down at the 1-yard line. Taylor scored two plays later, bringing the Colts within 23-20 with about 8½ minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Joe Mixon celebrates after a 14-yard touchdown in the 1st half
The Texans, already missing Nico Collins, lost Stefon Diggs to a non-contact knee injury in the third quarter. Diggs was running a route when he suddenly stopped, grabbed his right knee, and fell to the ground.
He walked to the locker room on his own and did not return. Diggs, who is in his first season with the Texans after being traded from Buffalo, had five catches for 81 yards before getting hurt.
Coach Ryans said after the game that Diggs was still being evaluated and that more information about his injury would come in the next few days.
The game was tied at 3 when Richardson found Downs for a 69-yard touchdown that made it 10-3 late in the first quarter. The Texans equalized again with Mixon’s touchdown run.
Jalen Pitre intercepted Richardson and returned the ball to the Indianapolis 7-yard line near the end of the second quarter. Stroud then found Tank Dell in the back of the end zone on the next play, putting Houston ahead 17-10.
Darnell Mooney runs with the ball in his hand in the 1st half
Atlanta is still striving to move past its old reputation.
Kirk Cousins passed for 276 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26, taking control of the NFC South race on Sunday.
“It’s always great to get away with a division win,” said coach Raheem Morris, who is in his first season with Atlanta. “We talk about outrunning the South, and the guys have absolutely bought into what we want to do.”
Kyle Pitts scored on receptions of 36 and 49 yards, while Cousins also threw touchdown passes of 30 yards to Darnell Mooney and 6 yards to Bijan Robinson. This victory gave the Falcons (5-3) a two-game sweep over the three-time defending division champion Bucs (4-4).
The Falcons improved to 4-0 within the NFC South and, with the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over second-place Tampa Bay, effectively hold a two-game lead in the division standings.
The Bucs also lost 36-30 in overtime at Atlanta on October 3, when Cousins threw for a career-high 509 yards with four touchdowns.
Baker Mayfield works in the pocket in the 1st half
“This is the first time (since) I’ve been here with us having a division lead this late into the season,” said Pitts, a fourth-year pro who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft. “So, it’s pretty cool for us just to be a new team with a new vision. We’re just taking it week by week.”
Baker Mayfield passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns but also threw two costly interceptions for Tampa Bay. The Bucs had a chance to possibly win after driving to the Atlanta 33 in the final minute. However, Mayfield’s Hail Mary throw from the 38 was caught by Rakim Jarrett behind the end zone as time ran out.
“It just looked like a mosh pit back there. … Kind of one of those things where you get your hopes up, but then you realize it didn’t work out,” Mayfield said. “But for our guys to fight, to get into that situation, you really can’t ask for much else.”
Mayfield, playing with injured receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, threw two touchdown passes to tight end Cade Otton, including a 4-yarder that cut down a 31-17 deficit to just five points with under seven minutes left.
The Falcons then took possession and, with a 13-yard scramble by Cousins and a fourth-down conversion, kept the ball away from Tampa Bay’s offense until Younghoe Koo missed a 46-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining.
“We didn’t get too caught up in the division with how much football there is left to play,” Cousins said.
Bijan Robinson celebrates after his touchdown in the 2nd half
“We understand the importance of winning the South and facing a divisional opponent, but didn’t talk about scenarios. … Right now, we’re just trying to focus on playing our best football and seeing where that leads.”
With Godwin out for the season and Evans expected to miss at least three games, the Bucs are counting on a refreshed rushing attack and a mostly young group of playmakers that includes Otton, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Rachaad White, and Bucky Irving to help Mayfield keep the Bucs in the race for a fourth straight division title.
White scored on an 18-yard reception in the first half but also lost an early fumble that set up Cousins’ first touchdown pass to Pitts.
Mayfield, who leads the NFL with 21 touchdown passes, has thrown seven interceptions in the last three games after having only two through Week 5.
Brian Callahan looks onto the field in the 2nd half
When a team’s head coach has to defend his special teams coordinator, it likely means the day didn’t go well.
That’s what first-year Titans coach Brian Callahan had to do after Tennessee struggled with long returns from the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s 52-14 loss. The Titans gave up 262 yards and a touchdown on returns, ruining any chance they had to stay in the game.
Earlier this season, Tennessee also had punts blocked in two consecutive weeks. This has been tough for first-year special teams coordinator Colt Anderson, who was an assistant special teams coach with Cincinnati for the last four seasons.
After the game, Callahan was asked about Anderson’s job security.
“I think Colt’s a good football coach,” he said. “We haven’t played well enough, we haven’t coached well enough. There’s really nothing else to be said about that.”
The Titans’ offense and defense also played a big role in the heavy defeat.
Mason Rudolph looks to pass in the 1st half
The offense had four turnovers and didn’t force any, negated some big plays with penalties, and failed to score on four consecutive plays from the Lions’ 1-yard line. The defense didn’t force any turnovers and struggled to stop the Lions in the red zone.
It’s not surprising the Titans are 1-6.
“We’ve got to do a lot of things a lot better,” Callahan said. “Right now, it’s not a product people are excited to watch. That’s the way it is. We’ve got to do something about that.”
However, the special teams coverage units were especially noticeable.
After Mason Rudolph’s touchdown pass tied the game at 14-14 in the second quarter, the kickoff team allowed a 72-yard return by Khalil Dorsey. Detroit took the lead for good just three plays later.
The Lions’ fifth touchdown of the first half was set up by Kalif Raymond’s 64-yard punt return.
“We didn’t get down and cover, we missed tackles today,” Callahan said. “We’re putting resources into protection because that wasn’t good enough early, but then we don’t cover very well. Right now, none of it is good enough anywhere.”
The Titans started the second half by committing an illegal formation penalty on a kickoff that wasn’t even returned. After the Titans failed to get a first down, Raymond returned Ryan Stonehouse’s punt 90 yards for a touchdown.
When the Titans tried a trick play against a team known for creative plays, they ended up looking foolish. Running back Tony Pollard took a direct snap and lateraled to Rudolph, who threw what seemed like a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jha’Quan Jackson.
Kalif Raymond celebrates after a touchdown in the 2nd half
However, that was called back because the officials flagged two holding penalties on the offensive line. Another holding penalty also negated a 25-yard pass from Rudolph to Pollard.
Rudolph, filling in for injured Will Levis, threw for 266 yards but was intercepted twice. Calvin Ridley had a strong game with 10 receptions for 143 yards, but he also fumbled on a running play.
Tennessee has 16 turnovers this season.
The Titans’ front office didn’t show much support for the team last week by trading receiver De’Andre Hopkins to Kansas City and sending second-leading tackler Ernest Jones Sr. to Seattle.
Rudolph said that these trades didn’t affect the team’s performance.
“Not a lot,” he said. “It’s human nature (to think about it), but it’s a distraction for an hour or two.”
With receiver Chris Olave, right guard Cesar Ruiz, and versatile playmaker Taysom Hill returning from injuries on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints hoped they had enough offensive talent to avoid their longest losing streak in 19 years.
However, Derek Carr is still injured, and his two younger replacements at quarterback weren’t able to keep the Saints competitive in their 26-8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s uncertain if Carr’s possible return next week could fix the many problems the Saints (2-6) are facing during a six-game losing streak.
“The message is it’s the people in the room in there that are going to have to change it,” said coach Dennis Allen, who is under pressure. “Nobody is coming from outside the building. It’s going to have to be the guys that are in that locker room, the coaches, to fix it.
Jake Haener passes in the 2nd half
That’s what it is, and we have to pay better attention to all the details, and we have to do a better job coaching all the details, because details matter in our league, and we don’t get to pick and choose which ones do and which ones don’t.”
Allen switched quarterbacks during the game for the second week in a row, but it didn’t make much of a difference.
Rookie Spencer Rattler completed 12 of 24 passes for 156 yards in his third straight start for the Saints before Jake Haener took over with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
The Saints were down 16-5 when Haener came in, finishing with 9 of 17 passes for 122 yards while playing from behind.
Neither quarterback could lead New Orleans into the end zone at SoFi Stadium. Eight of the Saints’ nine drives with Rattler ended in punts. Although the offense moved better under Haener, getting into Chargers territory three times, New Orleans managed to score only three points.
Rattler was realistic after his third straight loss as a starter.
“Obviously, we didn’t get any wins, so that’s very unfortunate,” Rattler said about his three-game stint in Carr’s position. “We want to win. Our goal is to come in here and win, get some momentum going before heading into another divisional game next week. Got to get back to work and figure it out.”
Haener also took over for Rattler last week in the fourth quarter of the Saints’ 33-10 loss to Denver.
“I felt like I was very composed,” Haener said. “I felt like I went in there and controlled the game. In those situations, you can’t just be a manager. You’ve got to go try and make some throws to create a spark, some energy.”
When asked if Carr could return from his oblique injury next Sunday against struggling Carolina (1-7), which has lost five games in a row, Allen sounded hopeful: “I think there’s a possibility, yeah.”
New Orleans started the season 2-0, scoring 91 points in those two wins, earning praise for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. That good feeling has faded without Carr leading the team.
The Saints didn’t turn the ball over against Los Angeles, but they still had many offensive problems.
Spencer Rattler throws the pass in the 1st half
They went 2 for 16 on third downs against the Chargers. Six of the Saints’ seven penalties were on the offense, with five on offensive linemen. Olave and Alvin Kamara both had over 100 yards of offense, but the playmakers couldn’t score.
The last time the Saints lost six games in a row was in the 2005 season, which led to significant changes. That year, they fired coach Jim Haslett and hired Sean Payton, who quickly turned the Saints into a playoff team and later a Super Bowl champion.
Allen, who is 18-24 in his third season, knows his job could be at risk. He believes he’s aligned with general manager Mickey Loomis.
“We have conversations every day, and so I don’t feel any more sense of having to have these conversations,” Allen said. “Look, I think we all understand that it’s a results-oriented business, and we need to play better football. I think we all understand that.”
Brian Thomas Jr. catches a pss in fron tof Xavier McKinney
Christian Kirk might have gone from being on the trading block to the injury list in just one play on Sunday.
Kirk seemed to dislocate his left shoulder while attempting to catch a long pass during the fourth quarter of a 30-27 defeat to Green Bay.
He was one of six Jaguars players injured in the game, which included all three starting wide receivers. Gabe Davis also hurt his shoulder, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. left the game late due to a chest injury.
Kirk’s injury looks to be the most serious. He was seen wearing a sling when he exited the locker room. This injury could also affect his future in Jacksonville. The seventh-year veteran has one year left on his four-year, $72 million contract and has been part of trade talks for weeks.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, ever been around, one of the smartest players I’ve been around,” tight end Evan Engram said. “One of the best leaders I’ve been around.
“You saw him cut up today, too. He was rolling. He was getting going. Just a very unfortunate event. God doesn’t make mistakes; there’s a plan. … He’ll be just fine.”
Christian Kirk is helped off the field in the 2nd half
The Jaguars (2-6) also lost cornerback Ronald Darby (hip) and guards Ezra Cleveland (ankle) and Brandon Scherff (knee). Scherff was the only one who managed to return to the game.
Jacksonville has now lost 11 of its last 14 games. Trevor Lawrence brought the team back from a 10-point deficit late in the game after making two turnovers, but the defense fell apart in critical moments for the third time this season.
With Jordan Love (groin) watching from the sidelines and backup Malik Willis in the game, the Jaguars needed to make one stop to regain possession or force the game into overtime. On a second-and-6 play from the 34, Willis connected with Jayden Reed for a 51-yard gain.
The Jaguars fell for the run fake, leaving Reed wide open. They tried to let the Packers score two plays later, but Chris Brooks fell to the ground, which set up Brandon McManus’ 24-yard field goal that ended up being the difference in the game.
“This one is definitely going to hurt because I feel like we had a great game defensively, special teams, offensively,” defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “I think we all made big plays when we needed them the most, but we didn’t get this victory. This one really hurts.”
Coach Doug Pederson added, “They’re devastated. They’re heartbroken. They’ve battled their tails off. They fought until the end, quite frankly. That’s all I can ask for. But I also want them to understand too that these games come down to about two plays, three plays.”
Trevor Lawrence talks in the news conference
Pederson pointed out Lawrence’s fumble at the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter that allowed an easy touchdown for the Packers and his interception in the second quarter that led to another touchdown.
“Definitely affected the game, so it’s disappointing,” said Lawrence, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards. “Playing quarterback in this league, if you don’t play well, you’re not probably going to have a great chance to win.”
Losing six starters doesn’t help the situation either. Pederson did not give any updates on their short-term outlook.
“We can’t be totally dejected by the result today,” Lawrence said. “I do think we’ve come a long way, and we are continuing to come together and become a better team. But we got to find a way to win next week.
All the work is not in vain. We’ve come a long way, and we just have to go find a way to win.”
