NFL 2018 Week 4 Recap
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams was the Thursday night game. Both of these teams began the season as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Only one of them has acted like it, as Minnesota was shocked last week at home. As 17 point favorites, they were blown out by 27 points in the first half. Minnesota played down to their competition, but in this game they rose up to it in a legitimate NFC Title Game preview. Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff lit up the Los Angeles night sky in a spectacular aerial display.
The Vikings got the offensive shootout going with a 75 yard, 13 play drive that took 7 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 10 from the rams 16, Cousins fired to Robinson for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Vikings. The Rams came back 75 yards in 12 plays and 6 minutes. Goff hit Todd Gurley for an 8 yard touchdown. The teams were tired 7-7 after the first quarter, but things were just warming up.
The Vikings came back in the second quarter with another 7 minute drive. After a touchdown was nullified, the Vikings faced 3rd and 2 at the Rams 19. Cousins threw incomplete. Dan Bailey is the newly signed kicker who is one of the most accurate kickers of all time. He was brought in to cure Minnesota’s awful kicking woes. From 37 yards out, Bailey doinked it off the upright but got the lucky bounce as it caromed inside the upright good for a 10-7 Vikings lead. 30 seconds later the Rams were back on top 14-10 as Goff went deep to Cooper Kupp for a 70 yard touchdown.
After a touchback the Vikings needed only 3 plays. Cousins hit Stephan Diggs for 34 yards, Kyle Rudolph for 24 yards, and Robinson for the 17 yard touchdown and the 17-14 Vikings lead. After 5 straight scoring drives combined, each team actually punted once. The Rams took over at their own 29 and struck briefly. Gurley ran for 5 yards and Goff hit Kupp for 11 more. Goff then went deep to Woods for 36 yards and then back to Kupp for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 21-17 Rams.
The Rams got it back at their own 27 with 1:41 left in the half. Goff hit Kupp for 11 yards, with unsportsmanlike conduct on the defense added 15 more. On the next play Goff went deep to Brandon Cooks for a 47 yard touchdown. to put the Rams up 28-17. Minnesota quickly moved from their 30 to a 4th and 1 at the Rams 36 with 39 seconds left. Mike Zimmer decided to go for it rather than try a 54 yard field goal.Cousins snuck for 2 yards. With 6 seconds left, Bailey had an easier 39 yard try. The kick was good, as the Vikings trailed 28-20 at halftime.
After an exchange of punts to start the third quarter, the Rams took over at their own 16. Gurley ran for 9 yards and then took a pass from Goff for a 56 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Minnesota 16, Goff threw incomplete. With Greg Zuerlein injured, backup kicker Ficken made the 34 yard field goal to make it 31-20 Rams with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. Minnesota again struck back quickly. On 3rd and 10 from their own 25, Cousins hit Diggs for 24 yards and again for 6 more. On the next play Cousins went deep to Adam Thielen for a 45 yard touchdown. Cousins hit Latavius Murray for the 2 point conversion as the Vikings were within 31-28 with a full 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a touchback, the Rams too their turn. Gurley gained 8 and Goff hit Woods for 13 more. Gurley gained another 8 and Goff went back to woods for 15 more. Goof then went deep to Woods for a 31 yard touchdown as the Rams led 38-28 after three quarters. The game finally slowed in the fourth quarter. The Vikings punted and the Rams mounted a 5 1/2 minute drive from their own 15 to a 1st and goal at the 6. Looking for the knockout blow, they started with a fumble but retained possession. Gurley lost a yard and Goff threw incomplete. Ficken then missed a 28 yard field goal try. A stunned Sean McVay saw the Rams leave the Vikings an opening.
The Vikings moved from their own 20 to a 2nd and 6 at the Rams 14. Cousins threw incomplete and then on 3rd and 6 was sacked for an 8 yard loss. Bailey hit the 40 yard field goal to get the Vikings within 7 points with 3:45 to play in regulation. After a touchback, the Rams faced 3rd and 7 at their own 28 with 3 minutes left. A completion from Goff to Woods came up one yard short as both teams took their first timeout. The Vikings got it back at their own 34 with 2:20 left. With 90 seconds to play the Vikings had 1st and 10 at their own 48. In a game that was almost all offense, defense made the decisive play. Cousins was sacked and fumbled, and the Rams recovered to lock up the win.
In 1998, Dennis Green’s Vikings offense torched the league. In 1999, Mike Martz had Just Warner lead the Greatest show on Turf. On this night, we saw flashes of both of them. The Rams have a flashy offense, but they also have Michelin Man Wade Phillips’s defense. At 4-0, the Rams really are that good. Neither quarterback was intercepted. Cousins was a spectacular 36 of 50 for 422 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He only lost because Goff was even more sensational, going 26 of 33 for 465 yards and 5 touchdown passes. A rematch of this game cannot come coon enough. Whether anyone can stop the Rams is debatable. If Minnesota can turn their season around, this would be a fantastic NFC Title Game. 38-31 Rams
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots — The 3-0 Dolphins faced the 1-2 Patriots. No, this game was not being played in 1972. This game would either be a changing of the guard or the restoration of order. Josh Gordon started for the Patriots. The Patriots held the ball for 13 plays and 6 1/2 minutes to move 74 yards. From their own 24, they had 2nd and goal at the one. A run lost a yard. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Brady fired over the middle and was lucky not to be intercepted. Stephen Gostkowski hit the 20 yard field goal for the 3-0 Patriots lead. In the second quarter the Patriots took over at their own 33 and struck quickly. On 3rd and 4 from their own 45, Tom Brady went deep to Cordarelle Patterson for a 55 yard touchdown and a 10-0 Patriots lead. Midway through the second quarter from the Miami 36, Ryan Tannehill fumbled and the Patriots recovered at the Miami 22. One play later White ran up the middle for the touchdown to make it 17-0 Patriots. New England got it back at their own 15 and held the ball for 15 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Brady hit Dorsett with only seconds left in the half to complete the 85 yard drive and make it a 24-0 Patriots mauling at the break.
The onslaught continued in the second half. The Patriots moved 59 yards and Brady hit White for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 31-0 Patriots. In the fourth quarter the Patriots moved 90 yards in 12 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Michel ran for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 38-0 Patriots. Things got so bad that Tannehill was benched for Brock Osweiler. Osweiler led a stirring comeback that netted one touchdown but came up 31 points short. Order was restored to the AFC East. 38-7 Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans — This game brought a pair of quarterbacks returned from injury in Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota. After a touchback, the Titans faced 3rd and 3 at their own 45. Mariota hit Davis for 28 yards. Ryan Succop hit a 42 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Titans. Defense ruled this game early but then the Eagles mounted a 97 yard drive. Wentz threw a 56 yard touchdown to Matthews as the Eagles took a 7-3 lead with 4 minutes left in the half. With 41 seconds left in the half, the Titans took over at their own 20. Mariota went deep and was immediately intercepted by Maddox, who returned it 23 yards to the Tennessee 17 yard line. On 3rd and 3 from the 9, Jay Ajayi only gained one yard. The defense bailed out the offense but Elliott hit the 27 yard field goal as the Eagles took a 10-3 lead into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter the Eagles moved 75 yards in 12 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and goal from the 16, Wentz threw a touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery to make it 17-3 Eagles. The Titans finally got going with a 75 yard drive of their own. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Mariota hit Davis for 20 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Philly 41, Mariota hit Sharpe for 16 yards. Mariota scrambled the last 2 yards to get the Titans within 17-10 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with the Eagles facing 3rd and 20 at their own 40. Wentz got blasted and fumbled. The Titans took over at the Philly 35. On 4th and 1 from the Philly 26, Mike Vrabel decided to go for it. Mariota hit Lewis for 11 yards. Yet on 2nd and 6 from the 11, a pass to Henry lost 6 yards. The Titans settled for a 33 yard Succop field goal to trail 17-13 with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
Tennessee got it back 90 seconds later at their own 25. mar iota went deep to Davis for a 51 yard gain. Mariota found Sharpe for an 11 yard touchdown. With 5 minutes left in regulation, the Titans had a 20-17 lead over the defending champs. With 3 minutes left, on 3rd and 4 from their own 42, Wentz threw incomplete. Doug Pederson decided to punt and trust his defense. At the 2 minute warning, on 3rd and 3 from their own 27, a mar iota completion gained 0 yards. The Eagles got a big spark when Carter returned the punt 42 yards to the Tennessee 39. With 26 seconds left, the Eagles faced 3rd and 3 at the Titans 12. Wentz threw incomplete. Elliott hit the 30 yard field goal and the teams were headed to overtime tied 20-20.
In overtime after a touchback the Eagles moved to a 1st and 10 at the Tennessee 17. A run lost 2 yards and Wentz threw incomplete twice. Elliott hit the 37 yard field goal to give the Eagles the lead, but the Titans would still get one chance with the ball. After a touchback, the Titans soon faced 1st and 10 at their own 36. Mariota went deep and threw a perfect bomb to Jennings, who dropped it. It went right through his hands. With 5 minutes left in overtime, the Titans were down to 4th and 15 at their own 36. One defensive stop would end the game. Mariota found Taylor for 19 yards to midfield. With 3 minutes left, the Titans faced 4th and 4 from the Philly 44. One defensive stop would end the game. Mariota threw incomplete, the Eagles celebrated, and it was all for naught. Defensive pass interference meant 4 yards and an automatic 1st down. At the 2 minute warning, the Titans faced 3rd and 19 just past midfield. Mariota scrambled for 17 yards to set up 4th and 2. One defensive stop would end the game. Didn’t we say that already? Mariota hit Lewis for 17 yards. With 17 seconds left, the Titans faced 3rd and goal at the 10. One defensive stop would at least force a field goal try. Mariota under heavy pressure off his back foot threw a jump ball to the end zone into double coverage. Davis came down with it for the miracle touchdown as the home crowd erupted. 26-23 Titans, OT
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons — The opening kickoff was returned 53 yards, allowing the falcons to start at midfield. Smith ran for a 7 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Falcons lead. The Bengals quickly faced 3rd and 7 at their own 36. Red Rifle Andy Dalton found AJ Green for a 38 yard gain and then went to Tyler Eifert for a 15 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. After taking over at their own 9 yard line, the Falcons moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Cincy 44. After Matt ryan threw incomplete, Dan Quinn decided to go for it. Ryan was sacked for a 5 yard loss as the Bengals took over just shy of midfield. On 3rd and 6 from the Atlanta 35, Dalton hit Giovanni Bernard for a 17 yard gain. Bernard then ran for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Bengals.
In the second quarter the Falcons moved 75 yards in 10 plays. Ryan hit Logan Paulsen for a 17 yard touchdown for a 14-14 ballgame. The Bengals came right back 75 yards. Dalton went deep to John Ross for a 39 yard touchdown and a 21-14 Bengals lead. The Falcons came back 79 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Ryan fired over the middle to Calvin Ridley for an 11 yard touchdown and a 21-21 game. Yet neither defense showed up today and the Bengals quickly responded again. After a touchback, Dalton hit Boyd for 10, Green for 16 and Eifert for 9 with unnecessary roughness adding 15 more. From the Atlanta 26, Dalton hit green for 11 and Bernard for 14. Bernard for the last yard on the ground to make it 28-21 Bengals with 45 seconds left in the half. After a touchback, Ryan went to Julio jones for 15 yards and again for 13 more on 3rd and 4. Matt Bryant drilled a 55 yard field goal to get the Falcons within 28-24 at the intermission.
After a pinball machine first half, the game slowed considerably in the second half. The Bengals punted from their own 19 and Huber’s punt was blocked. The Falcons took over at the Cincy 8 but could not punch it in. 2nd and goal at the 4, saw a run lose 2 yards and then a sack of ryan. Bryant hit the 28 yard field goal to get the Falcons within 28-27. The Falcons began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 3 at the Cincy 42. Ryan went to Jones for 12 and then to Ridley for the 30 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Falcons led 33-28. The Bengals got an immediate spark when Erickson returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the Cincy 48. The Bengals moved to a 1st and goal at the 9. Dalton hit Green for the score, but illegal use of hands on the offense nullified the touchdown. On 3rd and 5 from the 9, Dalton was sacked and fumbled and the Falcons recovered. On further review the turnover was reversed because Dalton’s knee was down. After all of that, Bullock hit a 36 yard field goal to get the Bengals within 33-31 with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
After a touchback, Ryan went to Mohammed Sanu for a 32 yard gain. On 3rd and 13 from the Cincy 46, Ryan found Hooper for 19 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Cincy 24, Ryan found Jones for 15 yards. On 1st and goal at the 9, an offensive holding call killed the drive. With 4 1/2 minutes left, Bryant came in for a 37 yard field goal to extend the lead. The kick was blocked. However, the defense jumped offside and Bryant got another try from 5 yards closer. The 32 yarder was good. The Falcons led 36-31 but they did not close the door.
On 3rd and 6 from their own 29, Dalton hit Boyd for 9 yards. With 80 seconds to play, the Bengals faced 4th and 8 at the Atlanta 35. Dalton found Boyd for 11 yards. With 22 seconds left, the Bengals faced 4th and 6 at the Atlanta 20. Dalton found Boyd for 7 yards. Dalton fired a 13 yard touchdown to Boyd in front of a disbelieving home crowd. One defensive stop on multiple occasions would have ended the game. Dan Quinn’s unit never got it. The 2 point try failed but the Bengals led by one point with 6 seconds left. From the Atlanta 23, Ryan hit Jones for 17 yards. With 2 seconds left from the Atlanta 40, a Hail Mary was caught well short of the end zone. 37-36 Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears — The Bears moved 75 yards to start and Mitch Trubisky threw a 39 yard touchdown pass to Burton for a 7-0 Bears lead. Jameis Winston was back from his 3 game suspension, but for obvious reasons he stayed on the sideline. Despite last week’s loss, Ryan Fitzpatrick and his magic beard got the start. The Bears got it back at their own 27 and moved easily. Trubisky hit Allen Robinson for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bears. The Bucs soon faced 2nd and 3 at their own 35. Fitzpatrick fired over the middle to DeSean Jackson, who split the seams for a 48 yard gain. Yet despite 2nd and 5 from the Chicago 12, Fitzpatrick threw incomplete twice. The second quarter began with Chandler Catanzaro hitting a 30 yard field goal to get the Buccaneers on the board.
Yet the Bears came back from their own 23. Trubisky found Gabriel for a 33 yard gain and Tariq Cohen for 35 more. Trubisky hit Cohen for the 9 yard touchdown to make it 21-3 Bears. The Bears got it back again at their own 20 and kept rolling. Trubisky hit a wide open Bellamy for a 20 yard touchdown as the Bears were blasting the Buccaneers 28-3. The Bears just kept coming, with a 70 yard drive on their next series. Trubisky found Gabriel for 30 yards and then ran for 26 yards down to the one. Trubisky hit Gabriel for a 3 yard touchdown. Trubisky was a ridiculous 12 of 15 for 254 yards and 5…yes, 5…touchdown passes. This was not in a whole game. This was with 5 minutes left in the first half as the Bears were carpet-bombing the Buccaneers 35-3. Cody Parkey ended the half with a 50 yard field goal to make it 38-3 Bears. This game resembled the 1985 Bears against the 1976 Buccaneers.
Dirk Koetter benched Ryan Fitzpatrick at halftime, but he should have benched his entire defense. Jameis Winston came in, got hit as he threw, and was intercepted. The Bears took over at their own 40. Defensive pass interference moved the Bears 29 yards. Trubisky then Cohen for 28 more. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Trubisky threw his 6th touchdown pass to Gabriel to make it 45-3 Bears. While Trubisky would not tie Sid Luckman’s club record of 7 touchdown passes, which is also the NFL record, the Bears would get the blowout win. The defense eventually gave up a garbage touchdown, but the offense added another field goal to complete the annihilation. 48-10 Bears
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys — Twice the Lions passed midfield but came up short of field goal range. The Cowboys then took over at their own 10. Dak Prescott went to Swain for a 31 yard gain and to Gallup for 37 more. On 2nd and 9 from the Detroit 14, Prescott threw incomplete twice. Maher hit the 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cowboys. The Lions quickly came back 77 yards as Matthew Stafford went to Golden Tate for a 45 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Lions. In the second quarter the Cowboys moved 50 yards in 12 plays but settled for a 43 yard Maher field goal to trail 7-6. The Lions held the ball for 8 minutes and moved 60 yards in 13 plays. Yet again finishing a drive was tough. Matt Prater hit a 33 yard field goal to make it 10-6 Lions. Late in the half the Cowboys finally did finish a drive, going 75 yards. Prescott found Ezekiel Elliott, who outraced the defense and dove just past the pylon for the touchdown. The Cowboys took the 13-10 lead to the intermission.
In the third quarter the Cowboys moved 64 yards. From their own 36, Elliott rumbled for a 41 yard gain. He carried it again for 9 more yards. On 4th and 1 from the Detroit 3, Jason Garrett decided to go for it. Elliott got the carry, got the yard, fumbled, and the Cowboys recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. However, since Elliott himself did not recover it, the ball went back to the one. Prescott hit Swain for the touchdown as the Cowboys led 20-10 after three quarters. After a touchback, Stafford hit Marvin Jones for 17 yards and Kenny Golladay for 22 more. The fourth quarter began with the Lions facing 3rd and 3 at the Dallas 30. Stafford hit Golladay for 22 yards again and Johnson ran for the 8 yard touchdown to get the Lions within 20-17.
In the fourth quarter the Cowboys mounted a staggering 16 play, 85 yard drive that took 8 1/2 minutes off the clock. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 4, Prescott threw incomplete twice. Maher hit the 22 yard field goal but the Cowboys only led by 6 with 6 minutes left. The Lions faced 2nd and 16 from their own 29 with 4 minutes left. Stafford went deep to Tate for a 35 yard gain. On 2nd and 12 from the Dallas 38, Stafford went to Tate again for the score. With 2:17 to play after a touchback, the Lions had the one point lead on the road.
At the 2 minute warning on 2nd and 3 from the Dallas 32, Prescott was sacked and fumbled. Somehow Prescott recovered his own fumble and threw the ball deep incomplete. So rather than 3rd and long, it was only 3rd and 3. On the next play Prescott hit Alex Turns for 9 yards. Prescott then went deep to Elliott for a 34 yard gain. The Cowboys were in field goal range as the Lions took their timeouts on defense. Prescott took the clock down to 4 seconds. With Dan Bailey now in Minnesota, Brett Maher came in for the kick to decide who would win the game. Jerry Jones debated blowing up his Taj Mahal stadium and firing everyone if the kick was no good. The kick was good, Jerrah let everyone live, and Matt Patricia could not will his team to a road win one week after blasting New England. 26-24 Cowboys
Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers — A field position game had the Packers starting their second drive at their own 44. On 3rd and 4 from midfield, Rodgers went deep to Ty Montgomery for a 43 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Rodgers found a wide open jimmy Graham in the flat for the score. Mason Crosby doinked the extra point off the upright no good as the Packers led 6-0. In the second quarter the Packers moved 83 yards in 5 1/2 minutes. From the Green Bay 31, Jones ran for a 30 yard gain to end the first quarter. On 2nd and 13 from the 30, Rodgers hit Jones for 17 yards. Jones ran for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 13-0 Packers. Mason Crosby and the Green Bay defense did the rest. Crosby tacked on a 52 yard field goal to end the half, a 36 yarder in the third quarter, and a 52 yarder late in the game as the Packers got an efficient, suffocating win. 22-0 Packers
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts — The Colts moved 75 yards and Andrew Luck threw a 7 yard touchdown to Pascal for a 7-0 Colts lead. The Colts got it back at their own 2 yard line. For some reason, Frank Reich had Luck line up in the shotgun. The snap was fumbled and Jadavean Clowney recovered in the end zone for a defensive touchdown and a 7-7 game. The Colts went backward again and punted on 4th and 24 form their own 10. The Texans took over at their own 48. Deshaun Watson hit Coutee for 12 yards and Deandre Hopkins for 30 more. On 3rd and goal from the 3, Watson rolled out and rifled a pass over the middle to Will Fuller. Watson split the defense perfectly for the 14-7 Texans lead.
With 1:53 left in the half and the Colts at their own 12, Luck was sacked and fumbled. The Texans recovered at the Indy 8 yard line. Watson hit Hopkins for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Texans. The Colts did move from their 30 to the Houston 24 with 6 seconds left in the half. Adam Vinatieri made the 42 yard field goal. The Colts trailed 21-10 at halftime, but history was made. With that field goal, Vinatieri passed Morton Anderson for most field goals all time in the 99 year history of the NFL. He will be the third kicker to make the Hall of Fame along with Anderson and Jan Stenerud if he ever retires.
In the third quarter the Texans held the ball for 8 1/2 minutes and 15 plays to move 79 yards. Watson ran for a 5 yard touchdown to put the Texans comfortably in front 28-10. This time the Colts quickly came back 75 yards. Luck hit Hines for a 14 yard touchdown to get the Colts within 28-17. The Colts faced 1st and 20 at their own 17 on their next series. On 2nd and 14, Luck hit Ebron for 12 and Rogers for 5 on 3rd and 2. The Colts again faced 1st and 20 at their own 42. On 2nd and 15 Luck hit Hines for 11. On 3rd and 14 from their own 48, Luck hit Rogers for 15 yards. From the Houston 23, Luck hit Pascal for 18 and Ebron for the 5 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Colts were within 28-23 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Texans soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 27. Watson went deep to Hopkins for 24 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Indy 45, Watson scrambled for 18 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Indy 22, under heavy pressure, Watson threw incomplete. Fairbairn hit the 40 yard field goal but the Texans only led by 8 with 3 minutes left. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 22. Luck hit Rogers for 22 yards at the 2 minute warning. Luck then found Pascal for 17 more. From the Houston 19, Luck hit Rogers for 10 and Hines for the 9 yard touchdown. Luck hit Rogers for the 2 point try as the game was tied 31-31 with 45 seconds left in regulation. After blowing an 18 point lead, the Texans still had a chance in regulation. Watson hit Hopkins for 30 yards. Fairbairn came in with 4 seconds left for a 59 yard field goal try. The kick was no good.
In overtime the Colts got the ball first and faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. Wilkins gained 7 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Indy 47, Luck hit Pascal for 7 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Houston 46, Luck hit Hines for 13 yards. On 3rd and 2 from the Houston 25, Luck threw incomplete. Frank Reich opted for the field goal. Vinatieri hit from 44. The Colts led 34-31 with 6 minutes left in overtime, but the Titans would get one chance with the ball.
Houston took over at their own 30. Watson hit Coutee for 19 yards to midfield. Watson hit Hopkins for 11 more. On 3rd and 9 from the Indy 36, Watson hit Coutee for 13 and again for 12 more. At the 2 minute warning on 3rd and 10 from the 11, Watson threw incomplete. Bill O’Brien opted for the field goal and the tie rather than going for the win. It was the right call. Fairbairn hit from 29 and the game was tied 34-34. The Colts took over, gained a first down, and then saw a sack of Luck set up 3rd and 21 at the Indy 26. Luck hit Alie-Cox for 17 yards. With 27 seconds left in overtime, on 4th and 4 from their own 43, the only sensible thing to do was punt the ball. Frank Reich chose to go for it.
This was not a bluff. In his own territory, Reich gambled the entire game. Luck threw incomplete and the Texans took over at the Indy 43 with 24 seconds left. Watson then fired to Hopkins for 24 yards and raced to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock with 3 seconds left. Fairbairn had a 37 yard chance to win it. The kick was good, and Bill O’Brien saw his resilient squad pull out a road win. Frank Reich is a rookie coach, and his decision was a terrible one that cost his team the game. 37-34 Texans, OT
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars — The up and down Jaguars blasted New England but then lost at home to Tennessee. The Jets looked like world beaters in an opening 31 point road win but have looked like egg beaters since. The Jaguars held the ball for 15 plays and 8 1/2 minutes, moving 80 yards. They moved from their own 6 to the Jets 10, but offensive holding killed the drive. Josh Lambo hit a 32 yard drive to make it 3-0 Jaguars. In the second quarter the Jaguars again mounted a time consuming drive, going 73 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 7, a completion from Blake Bortles to Grant came up one yard short. Doug Marrone played it safe and Lambo hit from 22 to make it 6-0 Jaguars. Jacksonville got it back and moved 78 yards. Bortles hit TJ Yeldon for a 31 yard touchdown and a 13-0 Jaguars lead. With one minute left in the half the Jaguars took over at their own 35. Bortles found Westbrook for 24 yards. Lambo nailed a 54 yard field goal for a 16-0 Jaguars lead at the break.
The third quarter saw a punt pin the Jets at their own 2. Crowell was tackled in the end zone for a safety by Calais Campbell to make it 18-0 Jaguars. The Jets eventually got a 27 yard field goal from Josh Myers, but Bortles then went to Dante Moncrief for a 67 yard touchdown to make it 25-3 Jaguars after three quarters. With 13 minutes left in regulation, on 4th and 8 from the Jaguars 20 and down by 22, Todd Bowles inspired the football world by opting for a field goal. Myers hit from 38 to get the Jets within 25-6. One play after a touchback, Yeldon fumbled and Johnson returned it 25 yards to the Jags 5 yard line. On 3rd and goal from the 2, Sam Darnold hit Leggett for the touchdown. The 2 point try failed by the Jets were within 25-12 with 11 1/2 minutes to play. They got no closer as a 65 yard drive was capped by a one yard Yeldon run to ice the game. Bortles finished 29 of 38 for 388 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception. The win was so decisive that Captain Grumpy Tom Coughlin almost smiled. 31-12 Jaguars
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals — Josh Rosen got his first NFL start. In the first quarter the Seahawks moved 62 yards. Davis took a handoff and went for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Seahawks. After a touchback the Cardinals immediately fumbled and the Seahawks took over at the Arizona 26. The defense held and Sebastian Janikowski missed a 38 yard field goal. The Cardinals moved the ball from their 28 to a 3rd and 3 at the Seattle 4 to start the second quarter. Rosen threw incomplete but old reliable Phil Dawson hit the 23 yard field goal to get the Cardinals within 7-3. An 18 yard punt return by Tyler Lockett had the Seahawks starting at the Arizona 48. Janikowski came in for a 52 yard field goal try. Again, he was no good. From the Arizona 42, Johnson gained 21 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Seattle 24, Rosen hit Larry Fitzgerald for 6. Defensive pass interference put the ball on the one and David Johnson got in to make it 10-7 Cardinals. With 34 seconds left in the half, Pete Carroll chose to go for it on 4th and 1 at the Arizona 44. Wilson was sacked for a 6 yard loss. Yet Dawson missed a 50 yard field goal to end the half. In the third quarter the Seahawks moved 57 yards in 14 plays and 8 minutes, but settled for a 40 yard Janikowski field goal try. This time Seabass was good for a 10-10 deadlock.
A field position game in the third quarter saw the Seahawks return a punt 19 yards with 15 more tacked on for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Cardinals. The Seahawks took over at the Arizona 47. Russell Wilson went to Moore for a 30 yard gain. Defensive pass interference put the ball on the one. After penalties on both teams moved the ball back and forward, Davis got the last yard to put the Seahawks up 17-10 with one minute left in the third quarter. With 12 minutes left in regulation, on 3rd and 1 from their own 44, Wilson threw incomplete. Pete Carroll decided to play it safe and punt. From the Arizona 20, Rosen hit Seals-Jones for 31 yards. Rosen found Johnson for 30 more yards. On 2nd and 13 from the Seattle 22, Rosen fired to Williams for the touchdown. Celebration turned to concern for both teams as Legion of Boom stalwart Earl Thomas stayed down. Players from both teams huddle in prayer before the extra point, which was good for a 17-17 game with 9 minutes left.
Seattle went 3 and out and out and the Cardinals took over at their own 24 midway through the fourth quarter. Rosen led a time consuming drive that had the Cardinals facing 3rd and 6 a the Seattle 27 at the 2 minute warning. Steve Walks played it safe and smart, running the ball up the middle to force the Seahawks to take their final timeout with 1:55 left. Dawson came in for the 45 yard field goal try to give the Cardinals the lead. In a shocker, the kick was no good. The Seahawks took over at their own 35 with 1:50 left. Davis ran for 13. Wilson hit Lockett for 9. With 4 seconds left, Janikowski came in for a 52 yard try to win it. Despite 2 earlier misses, Seabass nailed this one at the gun. 20-17 Seahawks
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders — The Browns finally got a win last week for the first time in 2 years and the 2nd time in 3 years, but they have lost their last 22 road games. However, they er playing the Raiders, who had lost 7 straight overall going back to last year. Hue Jackson badly wanted revenge against the team that fired him. Baker Mayfield started his first NFL game against a Raiders team that finds ways to lose. On the first Oakland series on 3rd and 1 from the Oakland 34, Lynch got the carry and got stopped. Cleveland has a much better defense than most teams. Cleveland went 3 and out and the Raiders did as well as neither team had a first down . 5 minutes into the game, from the Cleveland 25, Mayfield had a pass ricochet into the arms of cornerback Gareon Conley. Conley returned it 36 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 7-0 Raiders lead.For the fourth straight week the Raiders had scored first. They led in all 3 games at halftime and the last 2 weeks after three quarters. They lost them all. At least this time the Raiders collapsed much quicker.
The Browns moved the ball after a touchback. On 4th and 6 from the Oakland 39, Hue Jackson decided to go for it. Mayfield scrambled for 7 yards and the Browns moved to 3rd and 12 at the Oakland 34. Mayfield hit Higgins for 21 yards. The Browns soon had 1st and goal at the one. Mayfield threw incomplete and Carlos Hyde got stopped. On 3rd and goal at the one, Hue Jackson got way too cute. He was going to pull out all the stops in this game, but a trick reverse was blown up in the backfield for a 6 yard loss. Brett Joseph hit the 25 yard field goal to get the Browns within 7-3.
After a touchback the Raiders in the second quarter moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Cleveland 29. Carr then threw incomplete. Kicker mike nugget is on injured reserve, so a rookie named McCrane was brought in for a 487 yard try. McCrane’s kick was no good. One play later, from the Cleveland 37, Chubb got the carry, broke some pathetic attempts at tackling, and rumbled for a 63 yard touchdown. Hue Jackson clearly let his ego cause him to go for a 2 point conversion for no reason. It failed, but the Browns led 9-7. The Browns for the ball back and soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 36. Mayfield went to Jarvis Landry for 15 yards. On the next play Mayfield went deep to Brandon Fells, who broke more mistackles for a 51 yard touchdown. This time Johnson broke 2 horrible tackle attempts for the 2 point conversion and a 17-7 Browns lead with 9 minutes left in the half.
This time after a touchback the Raiders moved the ball. Carr hit Smith for 6 and Jared Cook for 16 more. From the Oakland 47, Carr went bombs away to a wide open Martavius Bryant. The ball was slightly under thrown but landed right in Bryant’s arms. He dropped it. Lynch gained 12 yards to keep the drive going. Carr hit Smith for 10 and Lynch for 17. Carr hit Amari Cooper for an 8 yard touchdown to get the Raiders within 17-14 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the half.The Raiders got it back at their own 18 with 1:53 left in the half. They moved to a 2nd and 5 at the Cleveland 35 with 30 seconds left. Carr went for it all and a pass sailed high and was intercepted.
The Raiders spent most of the third quarter continuing to self-destruct. The Browns moved from their 25 to a 2nd and 6 at the Oakland 13. Mayfield threw incomplete, and on 3rd and 6 a completion gained only 3 yards. Joseph hit a 28 yard field goal to make it 20-14 Browns. Carr came back and hit Bryant for a 26 yard gain near midfield. On the next play he went deep into double coverage and was intercepted again by Randall, who returned it 50 yards to the Oakland 31. Mayfield went deep on the next play and defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the 7. Mayfield threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Landry. On the 2 point try, Johnson was clearly stopped, but an inability to tackle gave him a chance to lunge just past the pylon. The refs ruled that Johnson’s knee was down first. Hue Jackson challenged the call successfully and it was reversed as the Browns led 28-14 midway through the third quarter. The only question was whether the gutless, heartless Raiders would fold immediately.
They did. After Lynch gain d14, A dump-off pass to Jared Cook was dropped. On 3rd and 9 from the Oakland 40, a pass over the middle to a wide open Seth Roberts was dropped. Since nobody on the Raiders could catch a football or make a tackle, it is no surprise that the Raiders were well on their way to 0-4. They desperately need a break and got one because of hue Jackson’s obsessive need to be overly aggressive rather than run the clock down. Mayfield was hit and fumbled, and the Raiders recovered for 1st and goal at the 7. A pass to Lynch was dropped. Then under heavy pressure Carr had a pass batted down. On 3rd and goal, Carr fired a laser over the middle to Cook, who caught the ball. Despite all their bungling, the Raiders were only down 28-21 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Raiders held on defense and got the ball back with excellent field position at their own 42. A quick pass to Bryant was dropped. On 3rd and 5, Carr, threw to Roberts but only for a 3 yard gain as the Raiders squandered the opportunity. Oakland held again on defense and got the ball back at their own 31. Lynch took a lateral around the left end, picked up some blocks, and rumbled for a 52 yard gain. The defense then jumped offsides. The Raiders had 1st and 5 at the 12 as the third quarter wound down. On 2nd and 3, Carr had Cooper wide open and overthrew him. On 3rd and 3, a pitchout lost a yard. McCrane hit the 29 yard field goal. The raiders had been outscored in the fourth quarter this season 37-3. Now they are only outscored in the fourth quarter 37-6. More importantly, they were within 28-24 with pretty much the entire fourth quarter to play.
The Browns took over at their own 12. From their 20, Mayfield fumbled and the Raiders recovered at the same spot. Carr fired a laser over the middle to Jordy Nelson for a 19 yard touchdown. The Raiders now had the 31-28 lead. The Browns went 3 and out and Harris returned a punt 49 yards to the Cleveland 29. The Raiders again squandered the great field position. At least McCrane hit a 44 yard field goal off the dirt. 20 unanswered points and the Raiders up 34-28. The Browns appeared in total self-destruction mode when they fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Raiders recovered. Yet on further review, the call was overturned and the Browns retained possession at their own 23. It was one thing for the Raiders to get every break in the game from a Browns team giving the game away. It was another thing to actually have to play football on a regular drive.
First the Oakland defense melted. On 3rd and 5 from their Cleveland 28, Mayfield found Higgins for 11 yards. Then Mayfield went deep to Callaway for a 59 yard gain down to the Oakland one. Carlos Hyde got the yard and the Browns had the 35-34 lead with 8 minutes left. Then the Oakland offense melted in going 3 and out. Then the Oakland special teams melted in committing a personal foul for interfering with a fair catch. The Browns took over at their own 37. Hyde gained 16 yards and then 6 more. Chubb raced through miserable tackles for a 41 yard touchdown, The Raiders collapse was pretty much complete as they trailed 42-34 with 4:20 to play.
After a touchback, Carr found Bryant for 28 yards, Cooper for 5, and Cooper for 31 more to make it 1st and 10 at the Cleveland 11. A pair of mindless West Coast Offense dink and dunk passes would have been better off if dropped. Instead the clock hit the 2 minute warning as the Raiders faced 3rd and 8. Carr threw incomplete twice and the Browns took over with 1:51 left. The Raiders had all 3 timeouts, but did anyone think the Raiders defense would get a stop when it mattered? Teams without heart play without heart when it matters most. Everything came down to 3rd and 2. Hyde got the carry, appeared stopped just short, got a favorable spot, and awaited the chains. Replay showed that when Hyde’s elbow hit down he was just short. A first down would end the game. The officials reversed the call. Hyde was short. The Raiders had a speck of life as they took their last timeout with 1:38 to play.
Harris returned the punt 10 yards as the Raiders had excellent field position at their own 47. With one minute left, the Raiders faced 3rd and 1 at the Cleveland 44. Carr threw incomplete but defensive holding meant an automatic first down. Carr then hit Cook for 19 yards. On 2nd and 15 from the Cleveland 25, Carr hit Jalen Richard for 18 yards. Richard smartly got out of bounds to set up 1st and goal at the 7 with 34 seconds left. Carr went to Cook in the end zone and cook caught the touchdown. Everything came down to the 2 point conversion. Carr went to Jordy Nelson who out-fought, out-jumped, and out-wrestled the defender for the catch. The home crowd erupted as the game was tied 42-42.
Now after a touchback the Raiders defense had to not collapse as they have in previous weeks. Mayfield hit Njoku for 11 and Johnson for 15. With 14 seconds left, the Browns were at the Oakland 49. They still had one timeout. One more first down would mean a long field goal try and another Oakland loss. Mayfield went deep but was intercepted by Reggie Nelson at the Oakland 14 yard line. The Raiders had survived and were headed to overtime.
The Raiders won the toss and soon faced 3rd and 6 at their own 29. Carr went deep to Cooper for 36 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Cleveland 28, another run would have been helpful. Instead Carr went back to pass and got sacked. Now rookie McCrane would be facing a 50 yard field goal try off the infield dirt. Jon Gruden made the mind-boggling decision to punt. The Raiders then burned a timeout to talk it over. They did go with the field goal option, but were now out of timeouts to challenge anything that may go against them. McCrane came in and the kick was no good.
The Browns took over at their own 40. A couple first down and the Raiders defense would be finished. Instead, on 3rd and 5, Mayfield went for it all and the play was well defended incomplete. The Raiders took over at their own 19 with 5 1/2 minutes left in overtime. On 3rd and 3 from their 26, Carr went deep to Cook for 24 yards to midfield. On 3rd and inches, Carr snuck for 2 yards. Carr then hit Cooper for 14 and Lynch banged for 11 more. At the 2 minute warning, the Raiders were at the Cleveland 14. Lynch carried a couple more times as the Browns took their timeouts in case of a miss. With 1:50 left in overtime, McCrane came in for a 29 yarder. He had made 2 and missed 2. In one of the craziest games in the history of these teams, McCrane was good.
Jon Gruden finally got his first win in his second stint as Raiders coach. It was far from a thing of beauty. Carr threw 58 passes, completing 35 of them for 437 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Mayfield was 21 of 41 for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both signal callers were intercepted twice, and Mayfield also lost 2 fumbles. Lynch had 130 yards on 20 carries against a fairly stout defense. Chubb had 105 yards on only 3 carries. Hyde had 82 yards on 22 carries. Just win baby. 45-42 Raiders, OT
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers — Jimmy Garoppollo is out for the year with a torn ACL. CJ Beathard, the grandson of Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard, is now the 49ers quarterback. The Chargers were still without Joey Bosa due to an injured foot. Philip Rivers immediately threw a 32 yard touchdown pass to Exum, who plays defense for San Francisco . The 49ers got it back at their own 44. Beathard hit hit Bourne for a 2 yard touchdown. The 49ers led 14-0 after catching a touchdown pass from quarterbacks on both teams.
The Chargers came back 75 yards. Rivers hit Antonio Gates for a 5 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good as the Chargers trailed 14-6. In the second quarter the 49ers had a mind-numbing 11 minute drive that took 21…yes, 21…plays and moved 72 yards. After all of that, on 3rd and goal at the 3, Beathard threw incomplete. Robbie Gould hit the 21 yard field goal to make it 17-6 49ers. After a touchback Rivers found Keenan Allen for 16 and Melvin Gordon for 16 more. On 3rd and 3 from the San Francisco 22, Rivers went to Ekeler for the touchdown. Rivers hit Gordon for the 2 point conversion as the Chargers only trailed 17-14. With 34 seconds left in the half, the 49ers faced 3rd and 2 at their own 33. Beathard threw incomplete, stopping the clock. A punt was returned 56 yards to the San Francisco 32 with 31 seconds left. Caleb Sturgis hit a 48 yard field goal as the teams were tied 17-17 at the half.
In the third quarter special teams killed the 49ers again as a 21 yard punt return had the Chargers starting just shy of midfield. Rivers went to Williams for a 24 yard gain. On 3rd and 4 from the 6, Rivers hit Gordon for the touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Chargers led 23-17. The 49ers rapidly moved from their own 10 to a 1st and goal at the 8. Beathard fired a pass to Greg Celek. It bounced of Celek’s hands into the arms of williams at the Chargers 2 yard line. Williams returned it down the sideline 86 yards to the San Francisco 12. On 2nd and 8, Rivers hit Gordon, who got nailed and fumbled the ball. The ball was headed to the end zone for a touchback but one of the 49ers players tried to recover it. The 49ers thought they had a fumble recovery, but their defender had stepped out of bounds before recovering the ball. That mistake meant that the Chargers retained possession. On 3rd and 5 from the 7 Rivers threw incomplete. Sturgis did hit the 25 yard field goal as the wild swing in momentum had the Chargers up 26-17.
Momentum swung back again after an exchange of punts. Beathard went deep to Kittle for an 82 yard touchdown as the 49ers were within 26-24 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The 49ers faced 3rd and 1 at their own 45 on the last play of the third quarter when Beathard gained 2. Breida gained 12 and Beathard hit Bourne for 17 more. On 4th and 1 from the Chargers 15 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Kyle Shanahan opted for the field goal. Robbie Gould hit the 33 yarder as the 49ers led 27-26.
After a touchback Rivers hit Allen for 8 and again for 11. Gordon ran for a 34 yard gain to set up 1st and goal ate the 4. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Rivers threw incomplete. Sturgis hit from 21 to put the Chargers back up by 2 midway through the fourth quarter. The 49ers faced 2nd and 3 at their own 24 when Beathard threw incomplete twice. The Chargers faced 3rd and 2 at the San Francisco 38. Ekeler only gained one yard. Rather than go for it or try a 55 yard field goal, Anthony Lynn opted to punt and trust his defense. The 49ers took over at their own 7. From their 31, Beathard was intercepted. With 2 1/2 minutes left the Charges took over at the Frisco 19. After the 49ers took their final timeout, Rivers hit Green for 10 yards and a first down. Rivers took 3 knees to preserve the win. 29-27 Chargers
New Orleans Saints at New York Giants — The Saints pinball offense should have rolled the anemic Giants. In the first quarter it was the Giants moving 75 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. Eli Manning hit Sam Shepard for a 2 yard touchdown as the Giants led 7-0 after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Saints moved the ball up and down the field but could not crack the end zone. They even had a 15 play drive that took 8 1/2 minutes. They did have Wil Lutz, who hit field goals of 42, 34, 37 and 26. Forr field goals in the second quarter had the Saints up 12-7 at halftime. In the third quarter the Saints moved 80 yards and finally reached the end zone. Alvin Kamara ran for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 19-7 Saints. The Giants did move 75 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes, but bogged down in the red zone. Rosas hit the 33 yard field goal as the Giants trailed 19-10 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter the Saints mounted a 14 play, 74 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. Alvin Kamara ran for a 4 yard touchdown and barely stretched the ball over the pylon before his knee came down to make it 26-10 Saints. After a touchback, the Giants tried to rally. Eli Manning hit Saquon Barkley for 11 and Ellison for 43 more. Manning found O’Dell Beckham for 27 more yards. On 3rd and 9 from the the saints 21, Manning found Sam Shepard for 19 more. Barkley got in from the one. Manning hit Shepard for the 2 point conversion as the Giants were within 26-18 with 3:40 to play. The Saints were expecting an onside kick but the Giants kicked it deep. The Saints fumbled the kick and were lucky to retain possession at their own 3 yard line. Brees went to Hill for 21 yards. On 3rd and 8 from their own 26 with 2 1/2 minutes left, Brees threw incomplete. However, defensive pass interference meant 14 yards and a killer first down. With 2:16 to play, Kamara ran for a 49 yard touchdown to salt away the win. 33-18 Saints
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers was the Sunday night game. These bitter rivals play physical games where home field rarely matters. The Ravens got the early jump, going 75 yards on their first drive. Joe Flacco went to Brown for a 33 yard touchdown for a 7-0 Ravens lead. Steelers faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Ben Roethlisberger completed a pass for no gain that was fumbled. Baltimore recovered at the same spot. Flacco went to Moore for 19. On 3rd and 1 from the 3, Flacco hit Alex Collins for the touchdown as the Ravens led 14-0. The game changed in the second quarter. The Steelers had drives of 12 plays, 69 yards and 5 1/2 minutes and then 14 plays, 79 yards and 6 minutes. Yet both times the Steelers bogged down and settled for Chris Boswell field goals of 34 and 39 yards to get within 14-6. The Steelers got it back and moved 76 yards and this time finished the drive. Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a 26 yard touchdown. Big Ben hit Conner for the 2 point try as the hated rivals were tied 14-14 at halftime. The second half belong to the Baltimore defense and their kicker Justin Tucker. Neither team reached the end zone. Tucker had a third quarter field goal of 47 yards and fourth quarter field goals of 49, 28 and 31. Roethlisberger finished 27 of 47 for 274 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Flacco was 28 of 42 for 363 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. 26-14 Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos was the Monday night game. The unbeaten Chiefs faced off against a Denver team desperate to keep the AFC West race from getting out of hand. Early on the teams slugged it out. Brandon McManus hit a 42 yard field goal for the Broncos and Harrison Butker responded from 33 for a 3-3 game after the first quarter. In the second quarterPatrick Mahomes moved the Chiefs 89 yards in 12 plays and 5 12 minutes. Mahomes ran for an 8 yard touchdown for a 10-3 Chiefs lead. The Broncos came back 78 yards. Freeman ran for a 14 yard touchdown for a 10-10 deadlock. Denver moved 60 yards in 12 plays at the end of the half. McManus hit from 34 to put the Chiefs up 13-10. Yet in the third quarter it was the Chiefs moving 72 yards in 12 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Denver’s defense held inside the 5. Butker hit from 21 as the game was tied for the third time at 13-13.
The Broncos came back 80 yards and Lindsay ran it in from one yard out to make it 20-13 Broncos. Denver’s defense held and in the fourth quarter, McManus hit from 46 to make it 23-13 Broncos with 13 minutes left in regulation. Yet the Chiefs would not go away. After a touchback, the Chiefs soon faced 3rd and 16 at their own 31. Mahomes hit Tyreeq Hill for 15 yards. On 4th and 1 from the Chiefs 46 with 10 1/2 minutes left, Walrus Lite Andy Reid decided to go for it. Mahomes found Kareem Hunt for a 22 yard gain. On 3rd and 1 from the Denver 23, Mahomes hit Conley for 5 y yards and Travis Kelce for 9 more. Mahomes went back to Kelce for a 2 yard touchdown. With 6 1/2 minutes left, the 12 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive had the Chiefs within 23-20.
Denver went 3 and out, and a short 35 yard punt had the Chiefs taking over at their own 40. On 3rd and 5 from their 45, Mahomes hit Hill for 6 yards. A pair of killer offensive penalties had the Chiefs facing 2nd and 30 from their own 31 with 3 minutes left. The crowd was fired up. Von Miller and the defense was fired up. Yet Mahomes was icy cool. He hit Robinson for 23 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the denver 46, Mahomes went deep to Harris for 35 yards. Hunt ran for a 4 yard touchdown to put the Chiefs up by 4 with 1:40 to play. With one minute left the Broncos faced 4th and 11 at their own 24. Case Keenum hit Emanuel Sanders for a 12 yard gain and Heuerman for 36 more yards. 3 Keenum incompletions set up 4th and 10 at the Chiefs 28 with 16 seconds left. The Chiefs were out of timeouts but the Broncos still had one left. Keenum found Sutton for 9 more yard, but Sutton fumbled and Houston recovered for the Chiefs with 12 seconds left. Great teams win tough road games in hostile environments. The Chiefs are a great team. This is not the Chiefs of years past. Mahomes really is that good. Keenum was 21 of 33 for 245 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 interception. Mahomes was 28 of 45 for 304 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. The Chiefs are 4-0, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus Lite indeed. 27-23 Chiefs