NFL 2018 Week 8 Recap
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans was the Thursday night game. Brock Osweiler again got the start for the injured Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins started 3-0 and faded. The Texans started 0-3 and have not lost since. The Dolphins moved from their own 30 to a 4th and 1 at the Houston 28. Adam Gase decided to go for it. Rather than run the ball, the Dolphins went with a pass and Osweiler threw incomplete. Miami got it back and moved from their 42 to a 4th and 1 at the Houston 24. This time Adam tase decided on a 42 yard field goal. The kick was good, but unnecessary roughness on the defense caused Gase to take the points off the board. On the next play Kenyan Drake ran for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins. After a touchback the Texans answered. On 3rd and 1 from the Houston 44, DeShain Watson ent to Fuller for 34 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Lamar Miller got in for a 7-7 ballgame after the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Osweiler was intercepted by Reid, who returned it 21 yards to the Miami 16. Watson went to Jordan Thomas for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Texans. The Dolphins moved from their 20 to a 3rd and 5 at the Houston 19 with 3 minutes left in the half. Osweiler threw incomplete. Jason Sanders hit a 37 yard field goal to get the Dolphins within 14-10.
In the third quarter after a touchback, Miller ran for 8 yards and then broke free for a 58 yard gain. On 4th and goal at the 2, Bill O’Brien decided to go for it. Watson hit Thomas for the touchdown to make it 21-10 Texans. An exchange of punts had the Dolphins taking over just shy of midfield. Adam Gase went to the bag of tricks. It was Danny Amendola throwing the option pass to Drake for a 28 yard touchdown to get the Dolphins within 21-17. After a touchback the Texans struck quickly. Watson went deep to Will Fuller for a 73 yard touchdown and a 28-17 Texans lead.
The problem for the Dolphins is that they were kicking field goals while the Texans were scoring touchdowns. On 3rd and 11 from the Miami 24, Osweiler threw a pass that resembled the Immaculate Reception but was far less consequential. One receiver briefly caught it, got blasted, saw it doing off another defender’s helmet forward, and land into the arms of Parker for a 46 yard gain. Yet on 3rd and 3 from the Houston 23, Osweiler threw incomplete. Sanders hit the 41 yard field goal as the Dolphins trailed 28-20 after three quarters.
Adam Gase tried a surprise onside kick, but it failed as the Texans took over just past midfield. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Watson went deep to DeAndre Hopkins for a 49 yard touchdown to make it 35-20 Texans. The Dolphins moved from their 26 to a 3rd and 4 at the Houston 28. Osweiler threw incomplete. Needing 2 touchdowns, Adam Gase opted for a field goal with 11 1/2 minutes remaining. Sanders hit the 46 yarder to get the Dolphins within 35-23, but their defense could not get a stop. After a touchback, Watson went to Hopkins for 19 yards. Defensive pass interference added 38 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Watson hit Hopkins for the touchdown to ice the game. Houston has won 5 straight games to get to 5-3. Watson only threw 20 passes, completing 16 of them for 239 yards. More importantly, he had 5 touchdown passes with 0 interceptions. 42-23 Texans
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars was the Sunday early morning game from London. Forget 2017. These teams came in both 3-4 and desperate. The eagles moved from their 25 to the Jacksonville 37. Carson Wentz was sacked and fumbled. The Jaguars moved from their 28 to a 3rd and 1 at the Philly 32. Carlos Hyde got the carry and lost a yard. Josh Lambo hit the 50 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Jaguars. The Eagles moved from their 14 to the Jacksonville 23. Wentz went to the end zone and was intercepted for a touchback. The Eagles got it back and moved from their 23 to a 1st and goal at the 6. A run went nowhere and then Wentz was sacked. Jake Elliott did hit a 31 yard field goal for a 3-3 game midway through the second quarterback.
The Jaguars reclaimed the lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half when Lambo nailed a 57 yard field goal. Philly went 3 and out and the Jaguars got it back at their own 42 with 1:40 left in the half. Blake Bortles hit Cole for 15 yards, but Cole fumbled and Malcolm Jenkins recovered for the defense. The Eagles took over at the Jacksonville 44. For 29 minutes Jacksonville’s defense was solid. The last minute they were not. On 3rd and 11 from the Jags 45, Wentz scrambled for 13 yards. On the next play Wentz went to Dallas Goedert for a 32 yard touchdown and a 10-6 Eagles lead at the break.
In the third quarter a great punt had the Eagles at their own 5, soon facing 3rd and 9 at their own 6. Wentz found Alshon Jeffery for 12 yards. Adams then ran for 21 yards. On 3rd and 2 just past midfield, Wentz hit Matthews for 13 yards. Wentz then found Wendell Smallwood for a 36 yard touchdown as the 5 minute, 95 yard drive had the Eagles up 17-6. After a touchback, Bortles hit Moncrief for 19 and Grinnage for 8. On 3rd and 2 from the Philly 48, Bortles found Grinnage for a 24 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Philly 11, Bortles hit Dede Westbrook for the score. The 2 point try failed as the Jaguars were within 17-12 after three quarters.
The Jaguars got it back at their own 48 and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Philly 15 as the fourth quarter began. Bortles then threw 3 straight incompletions. Lambo hit from 33, but the Jaguars still trailed 17-15. After a touchback, Wentz went deep to Matthews for a 36 yard gain. Adams ran for 17 yards and Wentz hit Zach Ertz for a 5 yard touchdown. With 10 minutes left the Eagles led 24-15. After a touchback, the Jaguars moved to a 2nd and goal at the 6. Bortles threw incomplete twice. Needing 2 scores, Doug Marrone opted for the field goal. Lambo hit from 24, but too many field goals instead of touchdowns had the Jaguars down by 6 midway through the fourth quarter. Jacksonville got it back at their own 27 with 5 minutes left. On 2nd and 2 from the Jags 48, Bortles threw 3 straight incompletions as Doug Peterson won the battle of nondescript white guys named Doug. The Eagles are 4-4 while the Jaguars have fallen to 3-5 with the loss. 24-18 Eagles
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers — A pair of good teams met, but only one of them showed up. The Ravens made it easy at first, going 75 yards in 11 plays and 7 minutes. Alex Collins ran for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. After that it was all Carolina. From their own 46, Cam Newton hit Moore for gains of 7 and 18 and Devon Funchess for 18 more. Christian McCaffrey ran for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. On the first play of the second quarter from the Baltimore 31, Collins got blasted and the Panthers recovered at the Baltimore 12 yard line. On 3rd and 9 Newton hit Greg Olsen for the 11 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Panthers.
The Panthers got it back after a great punt on their own one yard line. Newton hooked up with Moore for a 33 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Carolina 38, Newton hit McCaffrey for 8 yards. Then things got bizarre. On 3rd and 1 from the Baltimore 45, Newton lost 9 yards and fumbled. Yet Moore picked it up and raced 37 yards to the Baltimore 17, just like Newton drew it up in the sandlot. Newton threw a 6 yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey to make it 21-7 Panthers with 4 minutes left in the half. A 99 yard drive against one of the best defenses in the NFL proved to be a back breaker. What happened before the half was even more stunning.
After a touchback, John Harbaugh decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from his own 34. Flacco got the yard. On 3rd and 7 from midfield, a 9 yard completion was wiped out by offensive pass interference. On 3rd and 17, Flacco was intercepted. The Panthers moved from their 29, but with 11 seconds left on 3RD and 2 at the Baltimore 44, Newton threw incomplete. 5 seconds remained. Graham Gano won a game a few weeks ago with a 63 yard field goal, and this kick would have been from 62. Riverboat Ron Rivera decided to become conservative Ron Rivera as he opted to punt. Yet Ron Rivera was Riverboat Ron after all. A fake punt saw Heinicke hit Greg Olsen for a 13 yard gain. Olsen quickly got out of bounds with 2 seconds left. Now it was field goal time. Gano nailed the 54 yarder as the Panthers took a 24-7 lead to the locker room. The second half was a formality.
In the third quarter an interception of Flacco set up the Panthers just past midfield. Gano hit a 44 yarder to make it 27-7 Panthers. Flacco did throw a 9 yard touchdown pass to Javorious Allen to get the Ravens within 27-14, but they would get no closer. The Panthers moved 85 yards and Newton ran for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 33-14 Panthers with 10 minutes left in regulation. The 2 point try failed but it didn’t matter. Gano tacked on a 30 yarder with 3 minutes left to make it 36-14 Ravens. Baltimore got a garbage touchdown but fell to 4-4. Carolina is 5-2 in the very competitive NFC South. 36-21 Panthers
New York Jets at Chicago Bears — Sometimes a pair of uninspiring teams can play a thrilling game for the ages. This was not that game. Cody Parkey missed a 40 yard field goal for the Bears. Chicago got it back at their own 12 and Mitchell Trubisky went deep to Tariq Cohen for a 70 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 bears after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Jets held the ball for 14 plays and 8 1/2 minutes. The Jets managed 51 yards but settled for a 42 yard Josh Myers field goal to trail 7-3 at halftime. In the third quarter the Bears faced 3rd and 10 at their own 45. Cohen ran for 21 yards. 1st and goal at the 9 followed by a pair of incompletions was followed by the Jets jumping into the neutral zone. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Trubisky hit Anthony Miller for the touchdown as the Bears led 14-3 after three quarters.
Chicago got it back at midfield. On 4th and 1 from the Jets 23, Matt Nagy decided to go for it. Trubisky got the yard. Yet on 3rd and 1 from the Jets 13, Howard lost a yard. Parkey hit the 32 yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 17-3 Jets. After a touchback, the Jets soon faced 3rd and 13 at their own 35. Sam Darnold threw incomplete, but unnecessary roughness on the defense kept the drive going. Darnold went to Burnett for 29 yards and hit Chris Herndon for a 16 yard touchdown. The Jets were within 17-10 with 11 minutes left in regulation. There would be no comeback. From the Chicago 21, Trubisky hit Miller for 23 yards and then ran for 12 yards himself. From the Jets 40, Trubisky hit Miller for 10 and Howard did the rest. He ran for 24, 4, and then the final 2 to salt the game away. 24-10 Bears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals — This was a wild one. The Bengals moved from their 25 to a 4th and 1 at the Tampa 20. Marvin Lewis decided to go for it and Joe Mixon got stopped cold. The Buccaneers moved 61 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet from the Cincy 18, James Winston went to the end zone and was intercepted. This would be a common theme throughout the day. With 4 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter, the Bengals took over at their own 37. Red Rifle Andy Dalton went to Franks for a 32 yard gain and Boyd for a 28 yard gain down to the one. This time Mixon got the yard to make it 7-0 Bengals. In the second quarter the Bengals blew the game wide open.
The Buccaneers moved from their 25 to the Cincy 27. On the last play of the first quarter, Winston was intercepted again by Brown, who returned it 18 yards to the Cincy 42. An interception of Dalton was wiped away when the defense jumped offside. On 4th and 3 from the Tampa 36, Marvin Lewis decided to go for it. Dalton hit AJ Green for 10 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Tampa 9, Dalton hit Tyler Boyd for the score to make it 14-0 Bengals. The Bengals got it back at their own 32. Dalton went to Boyd for 19 yards. Mixon ran for 15 more. Dalton hit Boyd for 26 yards and Mixon ran for the 8 yard touchdown. The Bengals were cruising 21-0.
After a touchback, Winston was sacked. Yet unnecessary roughness on the defense advanced the ball to the Tampa 40. On the next play Winston went to DeSean Jackson for a 60 yard touchdown as the Buccaneers were on the board down 21-6 after the failed extra point. The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 10 at their own 25. Dalton threw incomplete but the defense jumped offside. On 3rd and 5 Dalton hit Erickson for just enough. From the Cincy 40, Nixon ran for a 43 yard gain. Dalton then went to Green for a 17 yard touchdown and a 27-6 Bengals lead after the missed extra point. Only 2 1/2 minutes remained in the half. After a touchback the Buccaneers moved to a 1st and goal at the 7. Winston threw 3 straight incompletions. Chandler Catanzaro hit the 25 yard field goal to end the half with the Buccaneers trailing 27-9.
In the third quarter the Bucs quickly faced 3rd and 6 at their own 29. Winston hit Brate for 13 yards. On 2nd and 20 from the Tampa 32, defensive pass interference meant 16 yards and a first down. On 3rd and 13 from the Tampa 45, Winston hit Humphries for 15 yards and Howard for 20 more. Winston went back to Humphries for 16 yards down to the one. Peyton Barber got the last yard as the Buccaneers trailed 27-16. On the next series Winston was intercepted for the third time. The defense held and the Buccaneers soon faced 3rd and 10 at their own 10. Winston was intercepted for the fourth time, and this one was a killer. Jessie Bates returned 21 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals were cruising 34-16 after three quarters. However, the Buccaneers found hope in a disheveled homeless guy sitting on the bench. Winston was benched and Ryan Fitzpatrick and his magic beard entered the game. It was Fitzmagic time.
After a touchback, Fitzpatrick fumbled the ball but somehow recovered it and hit Mike Evans for 12 yards. Pierre Barber then ran for 16 yards. Fitzpatrick then hit Godwin for 20 yards.The fourth quarter began with the Bucs facing 3rd and 21 at the Cincy 38. Fitzpatrick scrambled for 18 yards. Needing a ton of points, Dirk Koetter opted for the field goal. Catanzaro hit the 38 yard field goal and the Buccaneers trailed 34-19 with 13 minutes left in regulation. The Bengals went 3 and out and the Buccaneers soon faced 3rd and 14 at their own 28. Fitzpatrick went deep to Evans for a 72 yard touchdown. Just like that, with 10 minutes left, the Buccaneers were within 34-26.
With 3:16 to play the Buccaneers took o ver at their own 12. On 3rd and 1 from their 21, Fitzpatrick went to Evans for 27 yards and Humphries for 17 more. With 1:05 left, it all came down to 4th and 3 from the Cincy 18. Fitzpatrick went to Howard for the touchdown. With one minute left it was time for the critical 2 point conversion. Fitzpatrick hit Godwin. 18 unanswered points had the game tied 34-34.
With 36 seconds left and the Bengals facing 3rd and 1 at their own 33, Walton gained 3 yards as the Bengals took their second timeout. Dalton then went to Green for 23 yards. As the clock ticked down, a killer delay of game penalty on the defense moved the ball to the Tampa 25. Rather than a 49 yard try, it was a 44 yarder that Randy Bullock was attempting with 5 seconds left. Bullock was good as the Bengals got to 5-3 in what may have been Jameis Winston’s final game starting for the Buccaneers. With the trade deadline on Tuesday, it was questionable whether anyone would take him. Fitzpatrick was 11 of 15 for 194 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in less than one half of football. 37-34 Bengals
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions — The Lions began their first drive at their own 9 yard line. Runs and short passes followed by a pair of incompletions set up 3rd and 10 at the Seattle 39. Matthew Stafford went to Marvin Jones Jr for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Lions. In the second quarter Seattle exploded. On 3rd and 3 from their own 32, Wilson hit Vannett for 16 and ran for 11 more himself. The second quarter began with Wilson hitting Tyler Lockett for a 24 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. The Lions fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Seahawks took over at the Detroit 34. Wilson hit David Moore for a 15 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Seahawks. Seattle got it back and moved 80 yards in 12 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 7 from the Seattle 23, Wilson went deep to Moore for 27 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Detroit 12, Wilson hit Ed Dickson for the score to make it 21-7 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, the Seahawks began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 5 at their own 43. Wilson hit Vannett for 11 and Moore for 45 yards. Chris Carson ran for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 28-7 Seahawks. Detroit got a garbage touchdown but no more. 28-14 Seahawks
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs — The Broncos actually struck first on a drive starting at their own 19. From their 37, Case Keenum went deep to Emanuel Sanders for a 49 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Philip Lindsay got in to make it 7-0 Broncos. The Chiefs moved from their 37 to a 1st and goal at the 3. A false start hurt the Chiefs. On 4th and goal at the one Walrus Lite Andy Reid decided to go for it. Another false start was a killer. Harrison Butker hit the 24 yard field goal. The Chiefs trailed 7-3. In the second quarter Vance Joseph gambled on a 55 yard field goal and Brandon McManus was no good. Taking over at their own 45, the Chiefs immediately took advantage. Patrick Mahomes went to Tyreek Hill for a 40 yard gain and to Travis Kelce for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Chiefs.
The Chiefs got it back at their own 8 yard line. From the 13, Mahomes hit Kelce for 18 yards, Sammy Watkins for 24 more, and Kelce for 11 more. Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 16-7 Chiefs after the failed extra point. The Chiefs were on their way to a blowout after a touchback as Denver only had 54 seconds to work with. Yet things changed when Keenum scrambled for 9 and then hit Sutton for a 42 yard gain. With 10 seconds left in the half the Broncos faced 3rd and 10 at the Chiefs 24. Keenum went deep to Patrick Crane for the touchdown as the Broncos only trailed 16-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Chiefs again tried to put the game away. They began at their own 17. On 3rd and 8 from their own 24, Mahomes hit Hill for just enough. Mahomes then went to Watkins for 24 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Denver 39, Mahomes hit Kelce for 18 yards with 10 more tacked on for roughing the passer. On the next play Mahomes hit Watkins for the 10 yard touchdown to make it 23-14 Chiefs. The Broncos punted on 4th and 19 at their own 10, and disaster struck when a shanked punt of 22 yards had the Chiefs taking over at the Denver 32. On 4th and 1 from the 23, Andy Reid decided to go for it. Pass-happy Andy Reid does not run the ball. However, he now has Mahomes, who hit Hunt for it all as the touchdown had the Chiefs up 30-14 after three quarters. Hunt hurdled a defender and dragged tacklers to the end zone.
Denver tried to make a game of it after a touchback. On 1st and 18 from their own 17, Keenum hit Lindsey for 13 and Lindsey ran for 8 more. Keenum hit Sanders for 16 and Sutton for 21 more. The fourth quarter began with the Broncos facing 4th and goal at the 4. Keenum hit Jeff Heuerman for the touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Broncos were within 30-20. Mahomes was quickly intercepted, and the Broncos moved from their 39 to a 3rd and 9 at the Chiefs 39. Keenum was sacked and fumbled the ball away. The Broncos got it back and Keenum was intercepted. Needing 2 scores, the Broncos moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Chiefs 18 with 2 minutes left. Keenum threw incomplete twice. McManus hit the 36 yard field goal to get the Broncos within 7 with 1:45 to play. The onside kick failed but by the time the Broncos got the ball back at their own 20, only 4 seconds remained. The hook and lateral lost 4 yards. The Chiefs are 7-1, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus Lite indeed. 30-23 Chiefs
Washington Redskins at New York Giants — Jay Gruden quietly has the Redskins at 4-2 atop the NFC Least while the Giants are a 1—6 mess. An awful game saw the Redskins facing 3rd and 1 at their own 47 with 6 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter. Alex smith hit Harris for 16 yards. From the Giants 25, Adrian Peterson did the rest. He ran for 11, with 5 tacked on for defensive holding, then 2 more, and then for the 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Redskins. In the second quarter after the Redskins missed a field goal, Aldrick Rosas hit a 37 yarder for the Giants. In the third quarter Dustin Hopkins hit from 53 to make it 10-3 Redskins after three quarters. The fourth quarter began with the Giants facing 4th and 3 at the Washington 32. Pat Shurmur went for it and Eli Manning threw incomplete. The good field position led to Hopkins hitting from 39 to make it 13-3 Redskins with 10 minutes left. The Giants moved from their 14 to 1st and goal at the 4. A run gained one yard and Manning threw incomplete twice. Rosas hit from 21 to get the Giants within 13-6 with 4 minutes left. After a touchback, Peterson put the game away with a 64 yard touchdown to make it 20-6 Redskins. The Giants got a garbage touchdown with 17 seconds left and the onside kick failed. 20-13 Redskins
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers — Emotions ran high in Pittsburgh with the Saturday murder of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Several Steelers past and present took to social media to show solidarity with the Jews. The Steelers even changed their logo to show a yellow Star of David. Yet once the game started, this was a typical Steelers game against the Browns. The Steelers played down to the level of their competition before finally waking up. Joseph hit field goals of 34 and 45 yards to have the Browns up 6-0 after the first quarter. In the second quarter Joseph missed a 41 yarder that would have put the Browns up 9-0. At that moment reality set in.
The Steelers soon faced 3rd and 11 at their own 30 in a game the Browns defense was winning. Yet Ben Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for 15 yards and then went back to Brown for a 43 yard touchdown. Just like the Steelers led 7-6. The Browns faced 3rd and 8 at their own 44.Baker Mayfield went deep and was intercepted by Joe Haden at the Pittsburgh 13. The Steelers mounted a staggering 16 play, 87 yard drive that took over 7 minutes off the clock. At the 2 minute warning the Steelers were at the Cleveland 42. Ben Roethlisberger hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 19 yards and James Conner added 10 more. With 15 seconds left in the half the Steelers faced 4th and 1 at the Cleveland 4 yard line. Mike Tomlin decided to go for it. Roethlisberger hit Smith-Schuster for 3 yards and Antonio Brown for the one yard touchdown as the Steelers took a 14-6 lead to the locker rooms.
Things got strange in the third quarter. A good punt pinned the Browns at their own 4 yard line. From the 5, holding on Harrison in the end zone meant a safety and a 16-6 Steelers lead. Nobody fielded the free kick, treating it like a punt rather than a live ball. Rice recovered for the Browns at the Pittsburgh 24. On the next play roughing the passer moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 12. On 3rd and 4 from the 6, Mayfield threw incomplete. Yet defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. Mayfield got sacked, but defensive holding meant 1st and goal at the one again. Mayfield hit Antonio Callaway for the touchdown. The extra poi t was not good as the Browns trailed 16-12.
Yet the Browns defense was exhausted and finally broke. After a touchback, Conner ran for 30 and then 16 more. From the Cleveland 27, Roethlisberger hit Brown for 15. Conner then ran for the 12 yard touchdown to make it 23-12 Steelers. The Browns punted in the fourth quarter and the Steelers had excellent field position at their own 45. Big Ben hit Conner for gains of 14 and 13. 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, Chris Boswell hit from 42 to make it 26-12 Steelers. Pittsburgh put the game away with a 10 play, 65 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 3 from the Cleveland 22, Conner ran all the way for the touchdown to make it 33-12 Steelers at the 2 minute warning. Cleveland got a garbage touchdown but no more. 33-18 Steelers.
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders — The 2-5 Colts faced off against the 1-5 Raiders in a battle of dreadful teams. Amari Cooper was traded to Dallas and Marshawn Lynch was injured. The first quarter was all Colts. After a touchback, the Colts faced 3rd and 9 at their own 36. Andrew Luck hit Marlin Mack for 11 yards. Luck hit Mo Alie-Cox for a 26 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Colts. The Raiders went 3 and out and the Colts moved 70 yards in 13 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 2 from the Oakland 8, Luck threw incomplete. Adam Vinatieri hit the 26 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Colts after the first quarter.
In the second quarter the game drastically changed. On 3rd and 8 from the Oakland 27, Derek Carr hit Jared Cook for 9 yards and Brandon LaFell for 15 more. Harris ran for 13 and Carr went to Seth Roberts for a 31 yard touchdown. The Raiders were within 10-7. The Raiders got it back and soon faced 3rd and 2 at their own 29. Carr hit Jordy Nelson for 14 yards. From the Indy 39, Doug Martin ran for 13 yards. Carr went to Cook for a 25 yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in the half the Raiders led 14-10. The Colts mounted a staggering 16 play, 68 yard drive that took nearly 6 minutes. On 3rd and 12 from the Indy 23, Luck hit Pascal for 11 but illegal contact added 5 more. On 3rd and 7 at the Indy 47, Luck hit Inman for 9 yards. Despite 2nd and 4 from the Oakland 7, Luck threw incomplete twice. Vinatieri hit from 25 and entered the record books. That field goal put him ahead of Morton Anderson as the all time NFL leading scorer. Despite holding the ball for over 20 minutes in the first half, the Colts trailed 14-13.
The third quarter began with an illegal shift that had the Raiders facing 1st and 15 at their own 20. Carr hit LaFell for 18 yards and Roberts for 11 more. Martin ran for a 29 yard gain and Jalen Richard added 13 more. On 2nd and goal at the one, Martin got stopped. On 3rd and goal at the one Martin got stopped again. Jon Gruden decided to go for it, and this time he had the right call. Derek Carr had never had a rushing touchdown. He took the quarterback sneak, leapt over the top, and broke the plane of the goal. Initially he was ruled stopped, but Gruden challenged the call successfully. Carr’s first rushing touchdown made it 21-13 Raiders. The offense had shown some life, but they needed their much maligned defense to finally close out a game.
They could not, folding quickly. After a touchback, Mack ran for a 49 yard gain. On 3rd and 4 from the Oakland 20, Luck went to Eric Hebron for the touchdown. Luck hit carlos rogers for the 2 point conversion to tie the game 21-21. after another touchback, the Raiders moved 75 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Martin ran for 10. Carr hit Richard for 9 more. Richard then ran for 10. Carr went deep to Cook for a 30 yard gain. Martin ran for 11 and 4 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Indy 6, Carr hit Lafell for the touchdown. After three quarters the Raiders led 28-21. Yet they were among the worst fourth quarter teams in the league. Could they finally close out a game at home against another bad team?
No. The Colts moved 75 yards in 12 plays and over 5 minutes. On 2nd and 20 from their own 22, Luck hit Inman for 16 yards. On 3rd and 4 Luck hit Doyle for 9 yards. Hines ran for 14 and 4 more, and Luck went deep to TY Hilton for 34 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 4, needing one stop, the Oakland defense could not get it. Mack ran it in and the game was tied 28-28 with 10 1/2 minutes left. As expected, the Raiders went 3 and out. A shanked 25 yard punt had the Colts at their own 43. So the offense and special teams did their part. Now the defense needed to collapse and make it a trifecta. Mack ran for 6. Luck hit Doyle for gains of 14 and 11. On 2nd and 16 at the Oakland 32, Luck hit Doyle for 17. Luck hit Doyle again for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 35-28 Colts with 5 1/2 minutes left.
One play after a touchback, the meltdown was complete. Martin fumbled and the Colts recovered at the Oakland 27. Mack did the rest, running for 2, 7 with a horse collar tackle adding 9, 6, 2, and on 3rd and goal at the one, the last yard. Luck and Carr had almost identical numbers. Luck was 22 of 31 for 239 yards. Carr was 21 of 28 for 244 yards. They both had 3 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. Carr also had the rushing touchdown. Yet the Colts gashed the Raiders for 222 yards on the ground, 132 by Mack and 78 more by Hines. The only turnover the game late was a killer. The Raiders have a short week before traveling across the Bay to face an equally dreadful San Francisco team. Gruden has a 10 year, 100 million dollar contract. The trade deadline is Tuesday. At this point he may wish to trade 44 players and rebuild around Carr since nobody else on the team can play. A 21-0 fourth quarter collapse had the Raiders acting like themselves again. 42-28 Colts.
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals — Both teams are 1-6 and NFL rules banned this game from being canceled. After 11 minutes of scoreless football, On 3rd and 7 from their own 8, the Cardinals got nailed for a safety. The 49ers led 2-0. I don’t do baseball jokes. Baseball is boring. In the second quarter Phil Dawson hit a 31 yard field goal for the Cardinals. After an interception of Rosen, Robbie Gould responded from 27 as the 49ers led 5-3 at halftime. In the third quarter on 3rd and 6 from their own 45, CJ Beathard hit Marquise Goodwin for a 55 yard touchdown to make it 12-3 49ers after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the 49ers mounted an 11 play, 73 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. Yet despite 1st and goal at the 4, three straight runs netted only 2 total yards. On 4th and goal at the 2, Kyle Shanahan played it safe. Gould hit from 20. The 49ers led 15-3 only 90 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Arizona faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Josh Rosen hit Gresham for 6 yards. Rosen then went deep to Larry Fitzgerald for 37 yards. Rosen went back to Fitzgerald for the 13 yard touchdown. With 11 minutes left in regulation the Cardinals were within 15-10. The Cardinals got it back at their own 17 with 7 minutes left and moved to their pwn 40 with 5 minutes left. Rosen hit Gresham for 13 yards, but Gresham fumbled and the 49ers recovered. The Cardinals got it back and with 2:07 to play faced 3rd and 10 at their own 27. Rosen hit Fitzgerald for 11 and again for 20. Rosen then hit Kirk for 19 yards. On 2nd and 15 from the Frisco 28, Rosen hit Seals-Jones for 13. On 3rd and 2, Rosen hit Williams for 7. With 34 seconds left, the Cardinals faced 3rd and goal at the 9. The 2 most frustrated groups in history, the Jews and the Arizona Cardinals, were headed for more defeat. Then it happened. Rosen fired over the middle to Christian Kirk for the touchdown. Rosen fired to Fitzgerald for the 2 point conversion, and Fitzgerald emphatically spiked the ball. Josh Rosen got it done. The Jews and Cardinals finally got a win. 18-15 Cardinals
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams — The unbeaten Rams faced their toughest test of the year as Aaron Rodgers led the Packers in an instant classic. In the first quarter the Packers faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Rodgers went deep to Devontae Adams for 48 yards and Jimmy Graham for 21 yards down to the one. Jamaal Williams got in to make it 7-0 Packers. Green Bay got it back and moved from their 32 to a 4th and 3 at the Rams 23. The second quarter opened with Mason Crosby hitting a 41 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Packers. The Packers were in total control until a great punt pinned the Packers at their own one yard line with 2:47 left in the half. Jones got the carry and got tackled in the end zone for a safety. The Rams took the free kick at their own 28. From their own 40, Jared Goff went to Brandon Cooks for 25 yards and Todd Gurley for 32 yards down to the 3. On 3rd and goal at the one, Goff hit Josh Reynolds for the touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half. The 2 point try failed as the Rams trailed 10-8. The second half was a wild affair.
The Packers took over in the third quarter at their own 27. They moved to a 2nd and 2 at the Rams 26. Rodgers threw incomplete and was then sacked for a 9 yard loss. Mike McCarthy gambled on a 53 yard field goal, and Crosby delivered to make it 13-8 Packers. After a touchback, Gurley ran for 11. On 3rd and 10 from their own 36, Goff hit Everett for 22 yards. Goff went to Gurley for a 30 yard touchdown. Goff hit Gurley for the 2 point try as the Rams had their first lead up 16-13 midway through the third quarter. The Rams got it back at their own 34 and Goff hit Cooks for 17 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Green Bay 42, Goff hit Woods for 12 yards. On 2nd and 19 from the Green Bay 39, Goff hit Woods for the exact amount. Goff hit Reynolds for the 19 yard touchdown as the Rams led 23-13 with only 1:50 left in the third quarter. Yet the pendulum swing back.
On 3rd and 9 from their own 26, Rodgers went deep to adams for a 41 yard gain. Aaron jones then broke off a 33 yard touchdown run as the Packers only trailed 23-20 after three quarters. After a touchback, the Rams soon faced 1st and 10 at their own 38. Goff hit Cooks for a 32 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Green Bay 27, a short pass gained only 2 yards. Greg Zuerlein hit a 43 yard field goal as the Rams led 26-20 with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback the Packers struck quickly. Rodgers hit Adams for 15 yards and again for 20. Rodgers then went bombs away to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 40 yard touchdown. With 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Packers led 27-26. The 1972 Dolphins were preparing to pop the champagne corks that they pop every year when the last unbeaten NFL team loses.
An exchange of punts benefitted the Rams when a shanked Green Bay punt netted only 25 yards and set up the Rams with a short field at the Green Bay 40. On 3rd and 6 form the 36, Gurley ran for 23 yards. Offensive holding killed the drive. Zuerlein came in at the 2 minute warning to try a 34 yard field goal. With everything on the line, Zuerlein delivered. The Rams led by 2, but they had not closed the door. The Packers needed only a field goal to win. Yet Rodgers never got his chance. The Packers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Rams fell on it at the Green Bay 21 with 1:56 left. On 3rd and 10, with 1:05 left, Gurley showed what it means to be an unselfish team player. The Packers needed a stop. Gurley sliced through and was headed toward the end zone. Yet a touchdown would give the Packers the ball back. Gurley refused to score, purposely falling down after a 17 yard gain at the 4 yard line. Goff took a knee to end it. Rodgers was 18 of 30 for 286 yards and 1 touchdown. Goff was 19 of 35 for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns. Nether quarterback was intercepted. Gurley finished with 114 yards on 25 carries. A playoff rematch would be fantastic. For now, the 1972 Dolphins will have to delay their celebration as the Rams are 8-0 and winning big games the hard way. 29-27 Rams
New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings was the Sunday night game. Last year in the playoffs the Vikings led 17-0, fell behind 24-23, and needed a miracle with 10 seconds left. Hoping just to get into field goal range, a deep ball to Stefan Diggs turned into the 61 yard Minneapolis Miracle 29-24 Vikings victory. Now came the long anticipated rematch. The Saints truck first, going 81 yards. On 3rd and 2 from their own 27, Drew Brees hit Thomas for 20 yards. Sean Payton brought in backup quarterback Hill, and Hill went deep to Thomas for a 40 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Brees hit Alvin Kamara for the score and the 7-0 Saints lead.
The Vikings came back 91 yards in 13 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. From their own 9, Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen for 14 yards. On 1st and 20 from their own 24, Latavius Murray ran for gains of 12 and 10. On 3rd and 5 just past midfield, Cousins hit Thielen for 14 yards. Cousins then went deep to Diggs for a 31 yard gain down to the one. Ham got stopped and Cousins threw incomplete twice. Mike Zimmer decided to go for it on 4th and goal at the one. Cousins hit Diggs for the touchdown and the 7-7 tie after the first quarter. The Vikings got it back at their own 35 to start the second quarter. Cousins hit Diggs for 19 and Thielen for 28 more. On 3rd and 7 from the Saints 14, Cousins threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. murray got in. dan Bailey missed the extra point. With 12 minutes left in the half the Vikings led 13-7. Yet from then on, the Saints dominated.
The Saints moved from their own 33 to a 3rd and 3 at the Minnesota 34. Brees threw incomplete, but Wil Lutz hit the 52 yard field goal to get the Saints within 13-10. On the next series Brees was intercepted, and the Vikings moved from their 33 to a 1st and 10 at the Saints 18. Cousins hit Thielen for 4 yards, but Thielen fumbled and the saints recovered. Lattimore returned the fumble 54 yards to the Minnesota 33, with 15 more yards tacked on for unsportsmanlike conduct. With one minute left in the half, Brees hit Kamara for 17 and Kamara then got the last yard on the ground. Rather than a 20-10 Vikings lead, the 14 point swing had the Saints taking the 17-13 lead to the locker rooms.
In the third quarter the Vikings moved from their 25 to a 4th and 1 at their own 45. Mike Zimmer decided to go for it, and Cousins threw incomplete. With the short field, the Saints moved to a 1st and goal at the 9. On 3rd and goal at the 10, Brees was called for intentional grounding. Lutz hit the 42 yarder to make it 20-13 Saints. The Vikings after a touchback moved to their own 44. Cousins was then intercepted by PJ Williams, who took it 45 yards the other way for a defensive touchdown and a 27-13 Saints lead. The Saints then mounted a 15 play, 60 yard drive that took 8:15 off the clock. With 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Lutz hit the critical 42 yard field goal to make it 30-13 Saints. 23 unanswered points had the Saints firmly in command. Minnesota on 4th and goal at the one did get in the end zone when Cousins hit Thielen, but less than 4 1/2 minutes remained. Minnesota got it back at their own 9 with 1:10 to play. They reached midfield but never got the Hail Mary chance or the onside kick. The Saints got their revenge to get to 6-1 as the Vikings fell to 4-3. A rematch would still be worth it, but even though it was not November 1, it was still All Saints Day. 30-20 Saints
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills was the Monday night game. Thurman Thomas had his number returned by the Bills at halftime. 93-year-old Marv Levy and cancer survivor Jim Kelly attended what was a classy display all around. The game was brutal, as the Bills defense gave it everything they had. Stephen Gostkowski hit a 25 yard field goal in the first quarter and field goals of 40 and 38 in the second quarter for a 9-0 Patriots lead. Stephen Hauschka hit from 47 for the Bills and Gostkowski missed from 50 to end the half. In the third quarter Hauschka hit from 51 as the Bills only trailed 9-6. Gostkowski hit again from 25 as the Patriots led 12-6 after three quarters. 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, with the Patriots facing 3rd and 6 at their own 19, Tom Brady hit julian Edelman for 26 yards. On 3rd and 8 at their own 47, Brady hit White for 9 yards. Cordarelle Patterson ran for 22 yards and Brady hit Chris Hogan for 20 yards down to the one. White got the last yard with 10 minutes left in regulation to make it 18-6 after the failed 2 point try. Derek Anderson thought he had a 25 yard touchdown pass to Croom and an 18-13 game with 6 minutes left, but on further review the ball hit the ground. On 3rd and 15 from the Pats 30, Anderson was intercepted by Devon McCourty, who returned it 85 yards for the final dagger. The Bills were game, but their offense did not help their defense. Meanwhile, in a rare switch, New England’s defense carried their offense as well in a game much closer than the final score. 25-6 Patriots