NFL 2020 Week 3 Recap
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars was the Thursday night game. In a game nobody outside of Florida cared about, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s beard took on Gardner’s Minshew mustache mania. This game was over after the first quarter. The Dolphins began with a 12 play, 84 yard, 7 minute drive. Fitzpatrick hit Smythe for 7, Parker for 20 and Grant for 19. Gaskin had runs of 9, 5, 6, 7, 2, and on 2rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 9, 4. On 3rd and goal from the 3, Fitzpatrick hit Preston Williams for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins. Miami got it back at their own 20 and 80 yards came easy. Fitzpatrick hit Gaskin for 11 with 15 tacked on for a horsecollar tackle. On 3rd and 4 from the jags 48, Fitzpatrick gained 13 and Grant added 29. Defensive pass interference added 5 yards down to the one. Howard got the score to make it 14-0 Dolphins.
After a touchback the Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 41. Minshew hit Shenault for 16 and ran for 16 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Miami 22, Minshew hit Cole for 11. James Robinson ran for the 11 yard touchdown to get the Jaguars within 14-7. The Dolphins responded with an 11 play, 75 yard 7 minute drive. Fitzpatrick hit Parker for 17 and Ford for 11. On 4th and 1 just past midfield, Brian Flores decided to go for it. Fitzpatrick gained 2. On 3rd and 6 from the Jags 43, Fitzpatrick hit Parker for 8. On 3rd and 5 from the Jags 30, Fitzpatrick threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 15 yards. Fitzpatrick then hit Sanders for the 15 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Dolphins at the half. In the third quarter the Jaguars began at their own 3 and faced 3rd and 13 at their own 12. Minshew was sacked and fumbled. The Dolphins recovered at the Jags 5 yard line. On 3rd and goal from the one, Fitzpatrick got in to make it 28-7 Dolphins. The Jaguars finally reached the end zone with 9 minutes left, but on this miserable night they even missed the extra point. Miami added a field goal for the few people who were still awake. 31-13 Dolphins
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants — 3 years ago these teams played 2 of the greatest games ever played. Today they did not. Nick Mullen started in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Robbie Gould hit a 52 and 32 yard field goals to put the 49ers up 6-0 after the first quarter. Graham Gano hit second quarter field goals of 52 and 42 sandwiched around a miss by Gould from 55 for a 6-6 game. After that, reality set in.
From their own 25, Mullens hit Kevin Bourne for 14 and 17. On 3rd and 22 from the their own 44, a completion gained only 7 yards but illegal contact on the defense meant an automatic first down. That was the turning point in the game. Mullens hit Dwelley for 20 and 14. McKinnon gained 11 and then the 10 yard touchdown. After nearly three quarters, the game finally had a touchdown as the 12 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minus drive put the 49ers up 13-6. A quick interception of Carlson led to a 26 yard Gould field goal and a 16-6 49ers lead.
The Giants moved to a 1st and 10 at the San Francisco 30, but nothing more. Gano hit a 47 yard field goal to get the Giants within 16-9, but that was it. Mullens hit Aiyuk for 14, 19 and 6. On 3rd and 2 from the Giants 24, Mullens hit McKinnon for 5. Aiyuk ran for a 19 yard touchdown for a 23-9 49ers advantage. The Giants went for it deep in their own territory and failed. The 49ers took over at the Giants 30. Mullens hit Wilson for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 29-9 Giants. The 49ers got it back and embarked on a game killing 15 players, 92 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive. Wilson ran for a 2 yard touchdown to complete the blowout. The Giants are only 13 games away from being an 0-16 team. 36-9 49ers
Washington Deficits at Cleveland Browns — The non-Redskins began after a touchback with Gandy-Golden running for a 22 yard gain. Dwayne Haskins hit McLaurin for 21 more. On 3rd and 1 from the Cleveland 20, McLaurin gained 3. On the next play Haskins hit Dontrelle Inman for the 17 yard touchdown to put the No-Names up 7-0 after the first quarter. The Browns in the second quarter faced 3rd and 6 at their own 38. Baker Mayfield hit Jarvis Landry for 10. On 4th and 7 from the Washington 37, Kevin Stefanski decided to go for it. Mayfield hit Austin Hooper for 8. Yet on 3rd and 5 from the Washington 24, Mayfield threw incomplete. Cody Parkey hit the 42 yard field goal to get the Browns within 7-3. Haskins was intercepted by Joseph, who returned it 49 yards. The Browns took over at the Washington 28. Mayfield hit O’Dell Beckham for 11 and Nick Chubb ran for a 16 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Browns. An interception of Haskins set up the Browns at the non-Redskins 24. Mayfield hit Karim Hunt for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 17-7 Browns at the half.
A 19 yard punt return in the third quarter had the non-Redskins taking over just past midfield. Haskins hit McLaurin or 15, Gandy-Golden fo 14 and McKissic for 26. Gibson ran for a 2 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Riveras were within 17-13. A field position game had the Deficits getting the ball back at their own 46. Runs and short passes had the almost-Riveras facing 4th and 2 at the Cleveland 8. Ron Rivera decided to go for it and Haskins hit Thomas for 4. On 3rd and goal at the 11, Haskins hit inman for the touchdown for the 20-17 No-Names lead. Washington dominated the first quarter, Cleveland dominated the second quarter, and Washington dominated the third quarter. Unfortunately for Washington, the fourth quarter was all Cleveland.
The Browns faced 3rd and 12 from their own 23. Mayfield hit O’Dell Beckham for 15 and Janovich for 13. Chubb ran for 25 and 9. On 3rd and 1 from the Washington 9, Hunt gained 4. Mayfield hit Bryant for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 24-20 Browns with 12 minutes left in regulation. Yet another interception thrown by Haskins set up the Browns at the Washington 35. Chubb ran for 15 and then for the 20 yard touchdown to make it 31-20 Browns. With 6 1/2 minutes left near midfield, Haskins was sacked and fumbled. The Browns took over at the Washington 41. Parkey hit a 30 yard field goal with just over one minute remaining to close out the scoring. Haskins threw 3 interceptions and fumbled once, the difference in this game. 34-20 Browns
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles —Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game for the ages. This was not that game. The second quarter began with Elliott hitting a 27 yard field goal fo the Eagles. Bullock responded from 48 for the Bengals for a 3-3 game. Then Elliott responded from 42 for a 6-3 Eagles lead. After a touchback, Joe Burrow hit Boyd for 15, Tate for 19, and Higgins for 16. Defensive pass interference added 14. down to the one. Burrow hit Higgins for the touchdown as the Bengals led 10-6 with 90 seconds left in the half. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds to set the Eagles up at their own 40. Sanders gained 19. Carson Wentz hit Burnett for 10 and Hightower for 8. With 21 seconds left in the half, the Eagles faced 3rd and 8 at the Cincy 29. Wentz went deep to Ward for the touchdown. The Eagles took a 13-10 lead to the locker rooms. For some reason, the second half was played. Something about NFL rules and contractual TV obligations.
After a touchback to start the third quarter, the Eagles moved 10 plays and took 6 1/2 minutes. After reaching the Cincinnati 30, a run was blown up for a 6 yard loss. Elliott hit a 54 yard field goal to make it 16-10 Eagles. The Bengals soon face 3rd and 2 from their own 32. Burrow hit Boyd for 5. On 3rd and 6 from their own 41, Burrow hit Boyd for 13 and again for gains of 17 and 25. Burrow hit Higgins for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 17-16 Bengals. An interception of Wentz put the Bengals at the Philly 44. The Bengals reached the Philly 13 and the drive died there. To start the fourth quarter, Bullock hit from 31 to make it 20-16 Bengals.The Bengals got it back at their own 12 and embarked on a 12 play, 81 yard drive that took 7 minutes. From the Cincy 27, Burrow hit Boyd for 18. On 3rd and 15 from the Cincy 40, Burrow went to Giovanni Bernard for 42 yards. Yet despite 1st and goal at the 4, a false start and a sack killed that drive. Bullock hit from 25 as the Bengals led 23-16 with 3 minutes left in the game.
The Eagles quickly faced 2nd and 12 from their own 23. Wentz threw incomplete but defensive pass interference on 2 of the next 3 plays meant gains of 19 and 9 yards. With 90 seconds left, On 3rd and 6 from the Cincy 28, Wentz scrambled for 9. On 3rd and 3 from the Cincy 12, Wentz hit Ward for 5. With 28 seconds left, Wentz scrambled for a 7 yard touchdown. Doug Pederson decided not to go for 2. The extra point was good. If ever a game did not need overtime, this one was it. In 2008, these two teams who only play once every 4 years played to a hideous 13-13 tie. After that game, Donovan McNabb admitted that he did not know a tie game was possible. The 2020 overtime version saw a bunch of punts. With 1:41 left in overtime, the Eagles took over at their own 45. With 19 seconds left, Doug Pederson decided to have Elliott try a 59 yard field goal for the win. Elliott never got the chance. An awful game meant a false start. 64 yards was too much to ask for. The Eagles punted. The losing team would have been 0-3. Instead these teams are both 0-2-1 and both losers. Thankfully these teams don’t play each other again until 2024. 23-23 Tie, OT
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots — Jon Gruden returned to the scene of the crime 19 years after the Tuck Rule ended his first run with the Raiders. This time the Raiders moved from their own 10 to a 2nd and 5 at the New England 12. Josh Jacobs got the carry and fumbled. Replay clearly showed that Jacobs recovered his own fumble. Yet somehow officials called it a turnover and gave New England the ball as the entire Raider Nation’s collective head exploded. This time it did not hurt them as the Patriots took over and soon faced a 3rd and 8 from their own 29. Cam Newton avoided a sack and was intercepted by Jonathan Abram. The Raiders took it over at the New England 14. On 3rd and 2 from the 6, a completion for the first down was nullified by an illegal man downfield. On 3rd and 7, Derek Carr threw incomplete. Daniel Carlson hit the 29 yard field goal as the first quarter ended. The Raiders were dominating in the trenches but only led 3-0.
As expected, the Patriots finally got going in the second quarter after a touchback. They moved to a 1st and 10 at the Raiders 15, but newton then threw 3 straight incompletions. Nick Folk hit the 33 yard field goal for a 3-3 game. After a touchback, Booker ran for a 23 yard gain and the Raiders were at their own 48. On the next play Carr went back to pass and had the ball stripped out of his hand. Although his arm appeared to be going forward, do not expect the Raiders to ever receive a correct ruling on a fumble vs an incomplete pass. The deal that Evil Hoodie Bill Belichick made with the devil still exists. The Patriots took over at the Raiders 42. They managed to reach a 2nd and goal at the 5, but Newton threw incomplete twice. Gostkowski hit from 23 to make it 6-3 Patriots.
The Patriots got it back at their own 14 and Sony Michel gashed the defense for gains of 8 and 13 and catch a pass for 9. Newton hit Byrd for 23. On 3r and 4 from the Raiders 25, Rex Burkhead gained 7. On 3rd and 3 from the 11, Newton threw a swing pass to Burkhead, who escaped a tackle, got the first down, and from the 4 yard line leapt in the air over 3 defenders to get the touchdown. The 12 play, 86 yard drive had the Patriots up 13-3 with only 34 seconds left in the half. It appeared the Raiders were done. After a touchback, the Raiders still had all 3 timeouts. Carr hit Edwads for 14. Then a deep ball drew a 28 yard defensive pass interference call. A 6 yard completion to Renfrow was followed by a 26 yard completion to Renfrow down to the one yard line with 9 seconds left in the half. Carr found a wide open Foster Moreau for the score as the Raiders only trailed 13-10 at the break.
The Raiders began the third quarter facing 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Carr threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Carr then hooked up with Edwards for a 34 yard gain. Yt the drive bogged down and Carlson missed a 41 yard field goal as the Raiders were determined to give the game away. The Patriots were happy to oblige them. They easily moved 69 yards as Burkhead ran all over the place. Burkhead’s 5 yard touchdown run made it 20-10 Patriots. The Patriots got it back at their own 25. From their 39, Michel raced for a 48 yard gain. Despite 1st and 10 from the Raiders 13, the drive died there. Folk hit from 32 to make it 23-10 Patriots rates after three quarters.
After a touchback, Carr hit Moreau for 24 yards. The Raiders moved to a 2nd and 7 from the New England 9. Carr threw incomplete. On 3rd and 7, a completion gained only 2 yards. With 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Jon Gruden opted for the field goal. Carlson hit from 25 as the Raiders trailed 23-13. In a very odd set of circumstances, the Patriots burned all 3 timeouts on defense. It didn’t matter. On 2nd and 8 from they own 16, Newton threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Newton hit Harry for 27 yards and Burkhead for 11 more. Newton ran for 21. Burkhead added 14 and then the 2 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Patriots led 29-13. The dagger came when Carr was sacked in his own end zone and fumbled. The Patriots recovered for the score to make it 36-13 Patriots. The Raiders got a garbage touchdown. Carr did not have a bad game. He was 24 of 32 for 261 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The Raiders gained 126 yards rushing, including 71 from Jacobs on 16 carries. Yet the Raiders were destroyed on defense as the Patriots pounded them with 250 yards rushing. Michel had 117 yards rushing on only 9 carries. 36-20 Patriots
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons — The Bears entered the worst 2-0 team in some time while the Falcons were 0-2 after blowing a 20 point lead last week. They even led by 15 late in the fourth quarter and somehow lost. This game continued those trends. Cairo Santos missed a 46 yard field goal, giving the Falcons good field position a tie own 36. Matt Ryan immediately went deep to Calvin Ridley for 63 yard down to the one. Ryan hit Hurst for the touchdown. The extra point was no good as the Falcons led 6-0. The Bears moved from their own 25 to a 1st and 10 from the Atlanta 18. On 3rd and 9, Mitch Trubisky threw incomplete. Santos hit from 35 to get the Bears on the board. The Falcons moved from their own 36 to a 2nd and goal at the 4. Matt Ryan threw incomplete and then was sacked. Yonghoe Koo hit from 29 to make it 9-3 Falcons. With 5 minutes left in the half the Falcons faced 3rd and 3 from their own 45. Ryan was sacked and fumbled, but roughing the passer kept the Atlanta drive going. On 3rd and 10 from the Chicago 40, Ryan threw incomplete but the defense jumped offside. On the next play Brian Hill ran for a 35 yard touchdown as the Falcons led 16-3.
The Bears soon faced 2nd and 13 from their own 22. Trubisky hit Robinson for 17. On 2nd and 15 from their own 34, Trubisky hit Robinson for 16 t midfield. Trubisky then scrambled for a 45 yard gain. Trubisky hit Graham for a 2 yard touchdown as the Bears only trailed 16-10 at halftime. The Falcons began the third quarter facing 3rd and 2 from their own 33. A 2 yard completion followed by another roughing the passer penalty had the Falcons at midfield. Todd Gurley ran for 16. Ryan hit Ridley for 24. Gurley ran for the 10 yard touchdown and the Falcons led 23-10. A quick interception of Trubisky had the Falcons at the Chicago 19. Yet despite the golden field position, the Falcons settled for a 36 yard Koo field goal to lead 26-10. Trubisky was then intercepted again but the defense bailed the Bears out again. For the third week in a row, the Bears looked terrible for 3 quarters and the Falcons look great for 3 quarters. Matt Nagy had seen enough. Trubisky was done for the day.
90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Falcons had a chance to extend the lead to 19 points. A 48 yard field goal try by Ko was no good. Trubisky was benched, and Nick Foles played the fourth quarter. On 4th and goal from the 17, Foles hit Miller for the touchdown. Yet on further review it was reversed to incomplete. Yet the Falcons took the rest of the day off. With 8:17 left, the Bears were down to 4th and 6 at their own 42. One defensive stop would end things. Foles went deep to Ted Ginn for 29 yards. On 3rd and goal from the 3, Foles hit Graham for the touchdown and it stood. The 2 point try was no good and the Bears were still down 26-16 with 6:20 to play.
The Falcons went 3 and out and took only one minute off the clock. The Bears got it back at their own 45. Foles threw a 37 yard touchdown to Robinson. With 4:20 to play the Bears were now within 26-23. Another 3 and out by Atlanta took only 20 seconds off the clock. An unnecessary roughness penalty on the punt had the Bears taking over at the Atlanta 44. With 1:53 to play, the Bears faced 3rd and 8 at the Atlanta 28. Foles went deep to Miller for the touchdown. Since the super Bowl loss 4 years ago, the Falcons under Dan Quinn find new ways to have epic fourth quarter collapses. In this game they quickly moved from their own 25 to a 2nd and 4 at the Chicago 44 with 1:06 left. Ryan went deep and was intercepted. Foles threw 3 touchdowns in the fourth quarter as football fans wondered why Trubisky still had a job as a starting NFL quarterback. Fans also wondered how Dan Quinn managed to remain an NFL head coach. So did he. The Bears are now the worst 3-0 team in football. 30-26 Bears
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills — The Rams missed a field goal to set up the Bills at their own 43. On 3rd and 2 just past midfield, Singletary ran for 16. Josh Allen hit Davis for 12 and Singletary for 5. Singletary ran for 13 to set up 1st and goal at the one. Twice Allen threw for the touchdown and twice it was reversed. Out of the shotgun, Singletary got stopped. Sean McDermott decided to go for it on 4th and goal at the one. Allen hit Smith for the touchdown and this time it stood as the Bills led 7-0. An interception of Jared Goff set up the Bills at their own 34. Allen went deep to Davis for a 39 yard gain and again for 9 more. From the Rams 11, Allen ran for 6, 4, and then the one yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bills early in the second quarter. The Rams moved to a 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 12 but nothing more. Sam Sloman hit a 30 yard field goal to get the Rams on the board. After a touchback, TY Yeldon ran for gains of 9 and 8. Allen hit Davis for 21 and Cole Beasley for 29 more. Allen hit Croft for a 3 yard touchdown to have the Bills dominating 21-3 at the half. In the third quarter the Rams went for it on 4th and 4 from the Buffalo 48 and Goff threw incomplete. Allen went to Singletary for a 34 yard gain. On 3rd and 6 from the Rams 14, Allen hit Kroft for 13. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Allen hit Stefan Diggs for the touchdown. Midway through the third quarter, the Bills led 28-3.
Then the game changed. After a touchback, Henderson ran for 14. Goff hit Tyler Higbee for 9. Henderson ran for 7 and Goff hit Cooper Kupp for 20 and Greg Everett for 18. Goff ran for a one yard touchdown to get the Rams within 28-10. A quick interception of allen had the Rams at their own 41. Goff went deep to Higbee for 31 and to Robert Woods for a 25 yard touchdown. The third quarter ended with the Rams only down 28-17. The Rams got it back to start the fourth quarter at their own 3 yard line. Goff hit Reynolds for 17. On 3rd and 11 from their own 19, Goff hit Kupp for 17. Woods gained 15. On 3rd and 8 from the Buffalo 47, Goff went to Woods for 31, to Kupp for the 16 yard touchdown, and to Higbee for the 2 point conversion. With 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Rams were within 28-25. The Bills quickly moved from their 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 30. Yet a sack and a false start set up 3rd and 22 from the Rams 42. Allen was sacked again and fumbled. The Rams took over at the Buffalo 37. Goff went to Reynolds for 23. On 3rd and goal at the one, Henderson got it. 29 unanswered points had the Rams up 32-28 with 4 1/2 minutes to play.
In 1992, the Bills overcame a 35-3 deficit to win in overtime. This time they had blown a 28-3 third quarter lead, as Atlanta did in the Super Bowl. Yet they still had time for redemption. After a touchback, Allen hit Beasley for 18. A sack and an incompletion had the Bills facing 3rd and 22 at their own 31. Allen found Beasley for just enough. A 19 yard completion to Beasley had the Bills facing 1st and 10 from the Rams 15. Yet in a bizarre turn of events, Allen was called for a facemask penalty on a play where he threw an incompletion. It is very rare for a quarterback to be called for a facemask. On 3rd and 25 from the Rams 30, Allen went to Diggs for 17 yards. With 25 seconds left it came down to 4th and 8 from the Rams 13. Allen threw incomplete, but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the 3. On the next play Allen hit Kroft for the touchdown. This game was a thriller, and the Bills got to 3-0 the hard way. Meanwhile, even in defeat, Sean McVay knows he has an offense that can score at will in ways not seen since the Greatest Show on Turf from 2 decades earlier. 35-32 Bills
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers — Houston was better than their 0-2 record but had another tough test. The Texans moved from their own 22 to a 3rd and 2 at the Pittsburgh 16. Samuels only gained one yard. On 4th and 1 from the 15, Mike Tomlin played it safe. Kaimi Fairbairn hit the 33 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Texans. 11 plays, 63 yards and 5 minutes were not enough to get to the end zone. The Texans soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 33. Deshaun Watson hit Cooks for 20 and Will Fuller for 17 more. On 3rd and 8 from the Pittsburgh 28, Watson went deep to Randall Cobb for the touchdown and the 7-3 Texans lead. The Texans took over at their own 46 to start the second quarter. Watson hit Johnson for 20 yards and Fuller for 9 down to the 2. Johnson got the touchdown to make it 14-3 Texans.
The Steelers came back after a touchback with a 12 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. McFarland ran for 20. Ben Roethliberger hit Vance McDonald for 15. On 3rd and 1 from the Houston 31, Bennie Snell got the yard. Roethlisberger hit Eric Ebron for 17. On 3rd and goal from the 10, Roethlisberger hit Ebron for the touchdown. With 5 minutes left in the half the Steelers were within 14-10. The Steelers got it back and at the 2 minute warning faced 3rd and 3 from their own 44. Roethlisberger hit Juju Smith-schuster for 6, Conner for 12, Ebron for 6, Washington for 6, and Smith-Schuster for a 26 yard touchdown. With 1:14 left in the half, the Steelers led 17-14.
Yet Watson fired back quickly. He hit Cooks for 8, Cobb for 18, Akins for 20, Cobb for 15, and Fuller for the 14 yard touchdown as the Texans had the 21-17 halftime lead. The second half was mostly defense. In the third quarter the Steelers moved from their own 30 and converted twice on 4th down. Mike Tomlin’s bold gambles led to the red zone but not the green zone. Chris Boswell hit a 26 yard field goal to get the Steelers within 21-20. Early in the fourth quarter the Texans faced 3rd and 15 from the Pittsburgh 43. Watson went deep and was intercepted. The Steelers soon faced 3rd and 5 from their own 26. Big Ben went to Ebron for 14. Conner gained 11 and 8. On 3rd and 1 from the Houston 40, Snell gained 2. On 3rd and 2 from Houston 30, Roethlisberger hit McDonald for 14. Conner ran for a 12 yard touchdown and Big Ben hit Smith-Schuster for the 2 point conversion. The Steelers led by 7 with 6 1/2 minutes left. The Texans went 3 and out and the Steelers took over at their own 31 with 4:47 left. With 3:11 left on 4th and 1 from the Houston 35, Mike Tomlin went for it and Roethlisberger hit Washington for 7 yards. With 2:19 left the Steelers had 3rd and 9 at the Houston 27. Roethlisberger found Claypool for a 24 yard gain. Bill O’Brien’s defense could not get a stop, which is why they are 0-3 and the Steelers have the 3-0 record. 28-21 Steelers
Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings — This is not a typical Mike Zimmer Vikings team. The defense is not getting it done. Early on Ryan Tannehill hit Raymond for a 44 yard gain. Stephen Gostkowski hit a 39 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Titans. The Vikings fumbled and the Titans recovered at the Minnesota 20. Despite 2nd and 3 at the Minnesota 13, Tannehill threw incomplete twice. Gostkowski hit from 31 to make it 6-0 Titans.
The Vikings finally woke up and decided to play football. From their own 24, Calvin Cook gained 11 and Kirk Cousins hit Jefferson for 1 more to midfield. Cook ran for a 39 yard touchdown to make it 7-6 Vikings. The Titans moved from their own 29 and at the start of the second quarter were at the Minnesota 29. Tannehill went to the end zone and was intercepted in the end zone. The Vikings took over at their own 12. Cousins hit Jefferson for gains of 12 and 8. On 3rd and 3 from the Minnesota 42, Cook gained 4. On 3r and 3 from the Tennessee 47, Cousins went to Jefferson for 31 and to Adam Thielen for the 16 yard touchdown to make it 14-6 Vikings.
The Titans mounted a 12 play, 63 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive but bogged down in the red zone. For the third time they settled for a Gostkowski field goal from 30 yards out to get the Titans within 14-9. The Vikings moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 7 at the Titans 23. Cousins threw incomplete. Dan Bailey hit the 41 yard field goal to make it 17-9 Vikings. Things got bizarre in the third quarter. The Vikings moved from their own 12 to a 4th and 13 at the Tennessee 31. Dan Bailey came in for a 49 yard field goal try. The came a false start. Now it was a 54 yard try. The kick was blocked. However, the defense jumped offside, making it a 49 yard try again. After all of that, take 3, the kick was no good. From their own 39, Tannehill hit Smith for 21 and Gostkowski nails a 51 yard field goal. The man who struggled miserably in the opener and was almost cut had nailed 4 field goals in this game as the Titans trailed 17-12. Two plays later, the Vikings were on the board again. Cousins went deep to Jefferson for a 71 yard touchdown as the Vikings led 24-12 midway through the third quarter.
After a touchback, Derrick Henry gained 12, 5 and 6. Tannehill hit Davis for a 38 yard gain. On 3rd and goal from the one, Henry got in. The Titans trailed 24-19 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. The Titans got it back at their own 35 and struck quickly. Tannehill went deep to Raymond for a 61 yard gain. Henry gained 3 and then the one yard touchdown. The 2 point conversion try failed but the Titans led 25-24 after three quarters.
After a touchback, Cook gained 13 and Cousins ran for 14 more. Cousins hit Ham for 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Titans 29, Cook gained 10 and Mattison added 15. Cousins hit Kyle Rudolph for a 3 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Vikings led 30-25 with 10 1/2 minutes left in this see-saw game. After a touchback, Henry ran for gains of 5, 12, 5 and 3. On 3rd and 2 from the Minnesota 44, Tannehill hit Davis for 8 yards. Despite 1st and 10 from the Minnesota 36, a run went nowhere and Tannehill threw incomplete twice. Gostkowski came in for a 54 yard field goal try. For the 5th time on the day, he was good. With 6 1/2 minutes left, the Titans were within 30-28. The Vikings could not close out the game and the Titans took over at their own 19 with 3:42 to play. Henry gained 5. Tannehill hit Smith fo gains fo 11 and 14 and Davis for 8. With 1:44 to play, Gostkowski came in for a 55 yard try. A couple weeks ago he was perhaps the worst player in the league. Rumors had him been cut. Today he was among e best. He was good for the 6th time on the day as the Titans had the one point lead. Cousins was sacked and fumbled, and on 4th and 24 from his own 26, his desperation heave was intercepted. The Vikings are 0-3 and Mike Vrabel has a resilient 3-0 team. 31-30 Titans
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers — This game was all about Panthers kicker Joey Slye. He hit from 29, and after a Chargers fumble, hit again from 24 as the Panthers led 6-0. Justin Herbert was starting his second NFL game in place of Tyrod Taylor, who was determined to be injured to an error by the Chargers team trainer. On 3rd and 2 from their own 33, Herbert hit Hunter Henry for 16. On 1st and 19 from their own 40, Austin Ekelerran for 9 and caught a pass for 28 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, facing 3rd and 5 from the Carolina 18, Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 6. Ekeler ran for the 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-6 Chargers.
After that it was all Slye. He hit from 30 to make it 9-7 Panthers. Then a Chargers fumble set up the Panthers at their own 43. Teddy Bridgewater hit Robbie Anderson for 14. On 3rd and 4 from the Chargers 37, Bridgewater hit Anderson for 13. On 4th and 4 from the 18, Slye came in for a 36 yard try. The kick was good, but the Chargers were called for a defensive illegal formation. Matt Rhule took the points off the board. On the next play Bridgewater hit Davis for the 13 yard touchdown. Slye’s extra point was blocked but the Panthers led 15-7 with 3 minutes left in the half. The Chargers after a touchback moved from their own 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Carolina 38 with 22 seconds left in the half. Herbert was intercepted by Jackson, who returned it 66 yards to the Chargers 8 yard line. 8 seconds remained. A short pass only gained 4 yards, so Slye hit his fourth field goal of the half from 22 yards out to make it 18-7 Panthers.
The second half belonged to the defenses. The Chargers moved from their 40 to a 1st and goal at the 10. A penalty led to 4th and goal from the 23. Mike Badgley hit a 41 yard field goal near the end of the third quarter to get the Chargers within 18-10. In the fourth quarter the Panthers responded by doing 62 yards in over 5 minutes. On 3rd and 3 from the Chargers 14, a false start killed the drive. Slye hit his 5th field goal from 21 yards out to make it 21-10 Panthers the hard way. with 11 minutes left.
Herbert after a touchback led a staggering 16 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 4 from their own 31, Herbert hit Henry for 6 and 7. On 3rd and 4 from the Carolina 46, Herbert hit Ekeler for 10. On 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 32, Herbert ran for 11. On 3rd and goal from the Carolina 14, Herbert hit Allen for the touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Chargers were within 5 points with 1/2 minutes left in the game. The Panthers from their own 25 to a 3rd and 5 at the Chargers 32 at the 2 minute warning. They were in field goal range for Slye’s 6th field goal try. Then Bridgewater was sacked for an 8 yard loss. The Chargers took their final timeout with 1:55 left as the Panthers had to punt. A perfect punt coverage had the Chargers backed up to their own one yard line with 1:46 left. On 3rd and 3 from their own 8, Herbert hit Ekeler for 5 and Hill for 15. An 11 yard completion to Ekeler was followed with a defensive roughing the passer penalty. With 30 seconds left from the Carolina 44, Herbert went to Allen for 21 yards. With 5 seconds left it came down to one play on 3rd and 15 from the Carolina 28. Rather than throw Hail Mary to the end zone, Anthony Lynn opted for the hook and lateral. Herbert hit Allen over the middle for 14 yards, and Allen lateraled to a wide open Weatherly. Weatherly could have waltzed into the end zone for a shocking win. Yet the lateral was behind Weatherly, and the Panthers recovered. Matt Rhule got his first NFL head coaching win as the Chargers suffered another agonizing loss. 21-16 Panthers
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts — League rules prevented this game from being canceled. It was expected to be a blowout and it was. The Jets began at their own 21. On 3rd and 6 from their own 36, Sam Darnold threw a pass complete to Xavier Rhodes, who plays defense for the Colts. The 44 yard interception return has the Colts up 7-0. The Jets responded with a 14 play, 88 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive. Darnold hit Braxton Berrios for a 16 yard touchdown. The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter, but after that reality set in.
After a touchback, Philip Rivers hit TY Hilton for 10 and Zach Pascal for 20. On 3rd and 6 from the Jets 40, Rivers hit Pittman for 9. Hones gained 11 and Taylor added 12. Rivers hit Moe Alie-Cox for the one yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Colts. The Colts got it back at their own 23 and Rivers went deep to Alie-Cox for a 45 yard gain. Blankenship hit a 42 yard field goal to put the Colts up 17-7 at recess. In the third quarter the Colts took over at their own 45. Rivers hit Hines for 12 and Hilton for 17. Taylor ran for 6 and 10. On 4th and goal at the one, Frank Reich decided to go for it. Taylor got in to make it 24-7 Colts. On the last play of the third quarter, the Jets faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Darnold went deep and found TJ Carrie, who also plays defense for the Colts. Carrie’s 47 yard interception return had the Colts up 31-7 after there quarters. The Colts added fourth quarter field goal and safety to complete the blowout. Adam Gase remains mystified as to why he still coaches the 0-3 Jets, who are already chanting Just End The Season. The Jets are 13 games from an 0-16 season. 36-7 Colts
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks — These teams both won thrillers last week. The Cowboys overcame a 20 point deficit including a 15 point deficit in the final few minutes to pull off a miracle win. The Seahawks needed a goal line stand at the one yard line to preserve their 5 point win. Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson put on an aerial show that went down to the wire. The Cowboys began at their own 20 and moved 55 yards in 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 2nd and 9 from the Seattle 25, Prescott threw incomplete twice. Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein hit from 43 to start the scoring. 90 seconds later after a touchback the Seahawks were in the lead. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Chris Carson ran for 23. Wilson went to Tyler Lockett for a 43 yard touchdown for a 7-3 Seahawks lead. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff pinned the Cowboys at their own one yard line. On the next lay the Seahawks defense recorded a safety for a 9-3 Seahawks lead. Seattle did not capitalize on the free kick.
The Cowboys would take over and soon face 3rd and 6 at their own 39. Prescott went to Lamb and Cooper for a pair of 28 yard gains. On 3rd and goal at the one, Ezekiel Elliott got in. Zuerlein’s extra point doinked off the upright no good for a 9-9 game after the first quarter. After a touchback came a play that will live in Seahawks infamy. This was not the interception at the goal line in the Super Bowl, but it was disgraceful. From his own 38, Wilson went for the bomb and found DK Metcalf for what should have been a touchdown. Metcalf did catch the ball inside the 5 and coasted into the end zone. However, he turned into Leon Lett, jogged very slowly the last few feet, and had the ball knocked out his hand by Diggs. It rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. There was no excuse for it. Metcalf was not showboating like Lett was in 1992. He just got lazy and it bit him. Rather than a 7 point Seahawks lead, it was still 9-9.
The Seahawks got it back at their own 29. Wilson ran for 4 and and Carson added 11. Wilson hit Metcalf for 10. On 3rd and 10 from the Dallas 46, Wilson was sacked. However, illegal contact on the defense kept the drive going. Wilson then hit Lockett for 15. On 2nd and 9 from the Dallas 23, Willow as intercepted. However, defensive pass interference meant an 8 yard gain. Another defensive pass interference call aded 14 yards down to the one. Wilson hit Lockett for the score. This time the Seahawks led 16-9, and it was official. The Cowboys struck back quickly after a touchback. Prescott hit Cooper for gains of 13 and 22 and then found Cedrick Wilson for a 4 3rd touchdown. Zuerlein’s extra point try was blocked as the Cowboys trailed 16-15.
The Cowboys got it back at their own 20 with one minute left in the half. From their 25, a short pass by Prescott was intercepted by Griffin. With 36 seconds left in the half the Seahawks took over at the Dallas 34. Wilson hit Metcalf for 9, Greg Olsen for 8, and Olsen again for 16 down to the one with 12 seconds left in the half. Wilson went to Lockett as the Seahawks led 23-15 at the intermission. After a touchback to start the second half, Prescott was immediately sacked and fumbled. Mayowa picked it up for the defense and rumbled 13 yards to the Dallas 5 yard line. Wilson hit Jacob Hollister for a one yard touchdown two plays later. 2 touchdowns within one minute broke open a close game and had the Seahawks leading 30-15.
With 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Cowboys were pinned at their own 6 yard line. Prescott went deep Gallup for 52 yards and then to Wilson for a 42 yard touchdown. 94 yards took only 39 seconds as the Cowboys were within 30-22. The Cowboys got it back at their own 11. Prescott went to Lamb for 20 and 10 as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter saw the Cowboys getting stopped on 3rd and 1 from the Seattle 48 when Prescott threw incomplete. Mike McCarthy decided to go or it and Prescott gained 2. Prescott then went to Gallup for a 43 yard touchdown. With a full 13 minutes left in regulation, McCarthy went for the 2 point conversion to tie the game. Prescott threw incomplete and the Cowboys were within 30-28.
The Cowboys got it back at their own 6 with 10 minutes left. Defensive holding moved them 5 yards. Prescott hit Gallup for 19. On 3rd and 8 from their own 33, Prescott hit Gallup for 10 and Wilson for 8. Prescott ran for 9. Elliott ran for 5 and caught a pass for 6. On 3rd and 4 from the Seattle 26, the defense jumped to give the Cowboys another first down. The defense finally held, but with 4 minutes left Zuerlein came in for a 42 yard field goal try to give the Cowboys the lead. Zuerlein was good, and for the second straight week the Cowboys overcame a 15 point second half deficit to take a one point lead. 16 plays, 70 yards and 6 minutes still left 4 minutes for the Seahawks, who needed only a field goal.
After a touchback, Wilson hit Olsen for 21. O 3rd and 3 from he Dallas 47, Wilson threw incomplete. With 2:37 left, on 4th and 3, Wilson hit Olsen for 11. With 1:47 left, on 3rd and 3 from the Dallas 29, Wilson went to Metcalf for the touchdown. This time Metcalf took the ball with him. He redeemed himself and Wilson hit Hollister for the 2 point conversion to put the Seahawks up by 7. After a touchback, Prescott hit Elliott for 10 and 6. Prescott then ran for 6. On 3rd and 4 from the Seattle 47, Prescott hit Schultz for 8. On 2nd and 7 from the Seattle 36, Prescott hit Wilson for 14. A sack of Prescott had the Cowboys take their final timeout with 16 seconds left. They were facing 3rd and 14 from the Seattle 26. Prescott rolled out and looked like he was going to be sacked. Somehow he broke free, used his hand to keep his body from hitting the ground, steadied himself, and threw to the end zone. It was all for naught as Neal intercepted the ball for a touchback. For the second straight weeks, the Seahawks survived on the final play. This time, the Cowboys luck ran out. Prescott was a ridiculous 37 of 57 for 472 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Wilson was a lights out 27 of 40 for 315 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Pete Carroll again has a 3-0 ball club that fights to the very last play. 38-31 Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos — This game was a mismatch from the start. The Broncos punted on 4th and 4 from their own 43. The punt was blocked, and the Buccaneers took over at the Denver 10 yard line. On 3rd and goal, Brady hit Chris Godwin for the 10 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Broncos. The Buccaneers got it back at their own 46. On 4th and 1 from the Denver 45, Bruce Arians decided to go for it. Leonard Fournette gained 2. On 3rd and 1 from the Denver 24, Brady threw incomplete. This time Bruce Arians opted for the field goal. Ryan Succop hit the 43 yarder to make it 10-0 Buccaneers after the first quarter. Brandon McManus did hit a 56 yard field goal in the second quarter but the Buccaneers offense kept rolling. On 3rd and 8 from their own 27, Brady went deep to Miller for 47 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Denver 21, Brady hit Godwin for 6. On 3rd and 4 from the Denver 9, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for 6. On 3rd and goal at the one, Brady hit Mike Evans for the touchdown for the 17-3 Buccaneers lead. The Buccaneers got it back at their own 44 with 5 minutes left in the half. Brady hit OJ Howard for 33, Gronk for 9 and Evans for the one yard touchdown. The Patriots were dominating 23-3. Denver did manage a touchdown near the end of the half but nothing more. The Bucs tacked on a third quarter field goal and safety and the defense did the rest. 28-10 Buccaneers
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals — The Lions entered 0-2 as expected, while the Cardinals were a surprising 2-0. Last year in the season opener, the Lions blew an 18 point fourth quarter lead as Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray’s first NFL game ended in a tie. The Lion began by moving from their own 25 to a 3rd and 6 at the Arizona 9. Matthew Stafford was sacked for a 10 yard loss. Matt Prater hit the 37 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Lions. Kyler Murray was then intercepted, but the Lions did not capitalize. On 2nd and 5 from their own 25, Murray hit Edmonds for 6, Andy Isabella for 26 and 4, ran for 7 himself, and hit Daniel for 15. On 2nd and 9 from the Detroit 16, defensive pass interference on an incomplete pass meant 6 yards and 1st and goal from the 10. On 2nd and goal from the 13, Murray hit Isabella for the touchdown to make it 7-3 Cardinals.
In the second quarter the Cardinals took over at their own 10. From their 20, Murray was intercepted to set up the Lions at the Arizona 27. Adrian Peterson gained 5, 8 and 8. On 4tH and 1 from the 5, Matt Patricia decided to go for it. Stafford hit Jesse James for the touchdown to make it 10-7 Lions. The Cardinals took over at their own 26. Murray hit Deandre Hopkins for gains of 18 and 11 and Arnold for 11. Kenyon Drake ran for 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Detroit 16, Murray hit Edmonds for 15. Murray got the last yard himself.. With 1:53 left in the half the Cardinals led 13-10 after the failed extra point. After a touchback, Stafford hit Agnew for 20, TJ Hockensen for 11, Kenny Golladay for 10, Swift for 19, and Golladay for the 15 yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the half. The 4th lead change of the half had the Lions up 17-13 at the intermission.
In the third quarter the Cardinals moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 15 at the Detroit 45. Murray hit Johnson for 14. Kliff Kingsbury decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from the Detroit 31. streveler came in at quarterbacked for the one play. A false start killed the try. Kingsbury brought in Zane Gonzalez for a 54 yard field goal try. It was good and the Cardinals were within 17-16. The Cardinals got it back at their own 14. On 3rd and 12 from their own 38, Murray was intercepted. Okudah returned the interception 36 yards to the Arizona 22. Despite 1st and goal at the 6, a run went nowhere and Stafford threw incomplete twice. Prater hit the 24 yard field goal to make it 20-16 Lions. The Cardinals soon faced 2nd and 6 from their own 29. Murray hit Hopkins for gains of 15 and 12. On 3rd and 5 from the Detroit 39, Murray gained 13 and hit Hopkins for 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Detroit 6, Drake gained 2. Murray hit Isabella for the 4 yard touchdown. The 5th lead change of the game had the Cardinals up 23-20 after three quarters.
A field position game in the fourth quarter pinned the Cardinals at their own 2 yard line. They punted from their 4, and a 19 yard return by Agnew gave the Lions great field position at the Arizona 36. Yet on 3rd and goal from the 8, Stafford was sacked. Prater hit from 35 for a 23-23 tie with 6:44 to play. The Cardinals took over at their own 23 and moved to a 2nd and 9 at midfield. Murray threw incomplete twice and the Cardinals punted. With 4:49 to play, the Lions were pinned at their own 9 yard line. Peterson gained 3 and 10. Stafford hit Jones for 20. A 52 yard bomb by Stafford was nullified by offensive holding. On 2nd and 15 from their own 37, Stafford threw incomplete. This time, it was defensive pass interference that gave the Lions a 13 yard gain to midfield and new downs. Stafford hit Golladay for 11 and Jones for 20. With 4 seconds left, Prater came in for the 39 yard try to win it. A miss would mean overtime for these clubs for the second straight year. There would be no overtime, only a 6th and final lead change. Prater was good, and beleaguered Matt Patricia got his first win of the year and gave the Cardinals their first loss. The league’s longest losing streak of 11 games dating back to last year was snapped. 26-23 Lions
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints was the Sunday night game. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were expected to offer fans a shootout, and that is what they did. The Packers scored 85 points in their first two games. The Packers took over at their own 31. Rodgers hit Allen Lazard for 9. On 3rd and 7 from their own 47, The Saints jumped into the neutral zone. On 3rd and 2, Rodgers hit Lazard for 5. A sack of Rodgers had the Packers facing 3rd and 22 from the Saints 43. Rodgers hit Tonyan for 9. Mason Crosby nailed the 52 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Packers. The Saints moved quickly from their own 23. Latavius Murray gained 10 and Alvin Kamala broke free for a 49 yard gain. Murray gained 7 and Brees hit Kamala for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Saints.
After a touchback, Rodgers hit Tonyan for 10. On 3rd and 1 from their own 44, Williams gained 4 and 6 more with 15 added for a horsecollar tackle. On 3rd and 12 from the Saints 3, Rodgers ran for 13. On 3rd and 5 from the Saints 15, Rodgers threw incomplete. Crosby hit from 33 bu after 12 plays, 60 yard and 6 minutes, the Packers still trailed 7-6 one minute into the second quarter. A short punt and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Saints had the Packers taking over at midfield. Rodgers went deep to Lazard for a 48 yard gain. and again to Lazard for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 13-7 Packers.
The Saints faced 3rd and 15 from their own 20. Brees hit Kamala for 21 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Green Bay 27, a short pass from Brees to Taysom Hill gained only one yard. On 4th and 2, Sean Payton opted for the field goal. With 4 1/2 minutes left in the half, Lutz hit from 45 to get the Saints within 13-10. The Saints got it back but a sack of Brees had them facing 2nd and 17 from their own 32 at the 2 minute warning. A pass only gained 3 yards but defensive holding meant a new set of downs. Brees hit Cook for 8 and Smith for 7. With one minute left in the half the Saints faced 3rd and 6 from the Green Bay 44. Brees hit Kamala for 7, 12 and 8. With 6 seconds left in the half, the Saints faced 3rd and 2 at the Green Bay 10. Brees hit Emmanuel Sanders for the touchdown as the Saints led 17-13 at the midpoint.
At the start of the the third quarter, the Packers faced 3rd and 10 at their own 25. Rodgers unleashed a bomb to Lazard for a 72 yard gain. It should have been a touchdown but Lazard slowed up just enough to be caught at the 3 yard line. On 3rd and goal at the one, Rodgers threw incomplete. Matt LaFlaeur decided to go for it on 4th and goal from the one. Jones got in to make it 20-17 Packers. The Saints soon faced 3rd and 5 from their own 30. Brees hit Sanders for 10 and Cook for 13. On 3rd and 1 from the Packers 38, Murray gained 5. On 3rd and 9 from the Packers 18, a completion to Kamala only gained 6 yards. On 4th and 3 from the Green Bay 12, Sean Payton lined up to go for it. The attempt to draw the defense offside failed and a false start meant a field goal try. Lutz hit from 35 and the game was tied 20-20 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a touchback, Rodgers hit Tonyan for 16 and Valdes-Scantling for 5. Jones ran for 9 and defensive pass interference added 19 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Saints 18, Rodgers hit Marcedes Lewis for the touchdown. With 2:17 left in the third quarter, the Packers had a 27-20 lead. A touchback and defensive holding had the saints at their own 30. Brees went to Sanders for 18. From their own 48, Brees anted to go deep but was forced to check down to Kamara on a sideways pass that should have gone for one yard. instead, Alvin Kamala broke 5 tackles and very patiently followed his blockers down the sideline and back toward the middle. He actually had to slow down to let his blockers clear a path, and his weaving meant a 52 yard touchdown and a 27-27 game after three quarters.
The Packers moved from their own 25 to a 4th and 1 at their own 48. Jones got the carry and ran into a black and gold brick wall. Although a horrendous spot gave him a first down, Sean Payton challenged the spot and it was reversed to short of the marker and a turnover on downs. Two plays later Taysom Hill came in for 2nd and 3 from the Green Bay 41. Whenever Hill comes in, something special happens. However, this time Hill fumbled and the Packers recovered at their own 43. Rodgers hit Lazard for 7, Williams for 3 and Sternberger for 12. On 3rd and 7 from the Saints 32, a completion gained only one yard. Crosby hit the 49 yard field goal to make it 30-27 Packers with 8:47 to play.
The Saints went 3 and out and the Packers took over at their own 36 with 6 1/2 minutes left. Rodgers went to Sternberger for 23. Aaron Jones ran for 19, 5 and 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Saints 15, Rodgers threw incomplete. However, defensive pass interference was a killer. On 2nd and goal from the one, Rodgers threw incomplete but another defensive pass interference penalty meant 1st and goal at the one again. On 2nd and goal from the one, the Saints defense finally broke. Rodgers found a wide open Tonyan in the flat for the touchdown and the 37-27 Packers lead at the 2 minute warning. Needing 2 scores, Brees led a furious rally. With 30 seconds left, Lutz hit a 34 yard field goal to get the Saints within 7. The onside kick only went 8 yards before trickling out of bounds. The Packers are 3-0 while the Saints are 1-2. They need Michael Thomas back in a big way. 37-30 Packers
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens was the Monday night game. They did not meet in last year’s AFC Title Game, but they very well could this year. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson both create video game highlights. Early on the Ravens faced 3rd and 2 at their own 30. Jackson ran fo a 30 yard gain. Baltimore ran it down Kansas City’s throat. However, on 3rd and 3 from the Chiefs 8, a completion went nowhere. Justin Tucker hit the 26 yard field goal to cap the 11 play, 67 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and make it 3-0 Ravens. The Chiefs responded quickly after a touchback. Tyreek Hill raced for a 22 yard gain. Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for 11 yards and Hill for 33 more. On 2nd and goal at the 3, Mahomes ran it in. The extra point was no good but the Chiefs led 6-3.
The Chiefs got it back and soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 37. Mahomes hit Edwards-Helaire for 15 and Kelce for gains of 11 and 13. The second quarter began with the Chiefs facing 3rd and 9 at the Baltimore 23. Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins for 15. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Mahomes threw an underhanded pass over the middle to Sherman for the touchdown. The Chiefs led 13-3 after the 13 play, 68 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. The Chiefs seemed to be in total control, but 12 seconds later the Ravens were in the end zone. Duvernay took the ensuing kickoff, split the seam, got tot he sideline, and raced for a 93 yard touchdown to get the Ravens within 13-10.
The Chiefs got it back at their own 27 and Mahomes hit Kelce for 29, Watkins for 5, and Hardman for 18. On 2nd and 14 from the Baltimore 25, a sack of Mahomes forced a fumble. However, the defense jumped offside. On 2nd and 9, Mahomes floated a rainbow to Hill for the 20 yard touchdown. Midway through the second quarter, the Chiefs led 20-10. With 4 1/2 minutes left in the half the Chiefs took over at their own 16. Edwards-Helaire gained 9. Mahomes hit Watkins for 10 and ran for 4. Edwards-Helaire ran for 16. With 1:48 left in the half, the Chiefs faced 3rd and 14 just past midfield. Mahomes went for the bomb and got belted right after he threw it. The perfect pass to a wide open Hardman went for a 49 yard touchdown and had the Chiefs cruising up 27-10. After a touchback, the Ravens soon faced 2nd and 4 from midfield. Jackson got sacked and fumbled as the Chiefs took over at their own 49 with 45 seconds left. The Chiefs still had all 3 timeouts. Butker missed a 42 yard field goal at the end of the half that would have extended the lead.
The Chiefs had another chance to put the game away early in the third quarter. The offense was clicking. The Chiefs quickly moved from their own 20 to a 2nd and 3 at the Baltimore 31. Thompson gained 11 more and then got blasted and fumbled, and the Ravens recovered at their own 21. On 2nd and 9 from the Chiefs 26, Jackson threw a bomb to an open receiver in the end zone that was catchable but dropped. Baltimore settled for a 42 yard Justin Tucker field goal to trail 27-13. The Chiefs after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield. A run got stopped and Walrus Andy Reid decided to go for it on 4th and 1. Sherman got the carry and ran into a brick Baltimore wall. This time the Ravens capitalized on the golden field position. On 2nd and 5 from the Chiefs 32, Edwards gained 24. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jackson hit Boyle for a 5 yard score. The touchdown got the Ravens within 27-20.
The Chiefs soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Mahomes hit Edwards-Helaire for 18 and Hill for 13. On 3rd and 10 from the Baltimore 39, Mahomes ran for 12. Edwards-Helaire ran for 5 and 3. Mahomes hit Watkins for 11. From the 2 yard line, Mahomes went to Eric Fisher on a tackle eligible for the touchdown. Andy Reid had to love a fellow big man getting a touchdown. The 13 play, 75 yards and 6 1/2 minute drive left 8:14 to play and gave the Chiefs a commanding 14 point lead. A desperation drive after a touchback had the Ravens facing 2nd and 6 at the Chiefs 13. A sack of Jackson meant 3rd and 14 from the Chiefs 21. Another sack meant 4th and 24 from the Chiefs 31. With 5 minutes left, John Harbaugh had to go for it. Jackson went to the end zone incomplete. The Chiefs are 3-0 and looking every bit as good as the team that won it all last year, The Chiefs racked up over 500 yards of offense and the defense gave up less than half of that, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 34-20 Chiefs