NFL 2022 Week 6 Recap
Washington Commanders at Chicago Bears was the Thursday night game. Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together to play a thrilling game for the ages. This was not that game. In the first quarter the Bears moved to a 1st and goal at the 6. Justin Fields was then intercepted. In the second quarter the Bears moved to a 4th and goal at the one. Khalil Herbert got the carry and got stuffed. With 46 seconds left in a horrid first half, Joey Slye broke the 0-0 tie by hitting a 38 yard field goal for the Commanders. In the third quarter the Bears managed to complete one drive. On 3rd and 8 from their own 8, Fields hit Jones for 10. On 3rd and 3 from their own 25, David Montgomery gained 13. On 2nd and 9 from the Washington 40, Fields went deep to Pettis for the touchdown and the 7-3 Bears lead. After a touchback, the Commanders came back with a 13 play, 65 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive. They began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and goal at the 5. A false start was followed by a Carson Wentz incompletion. Slye hit from 28 to get the Commanders within 7-6.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the key play in the game came when the Bears fumbled a punt and the Commanders recovered at the Chicago 6 yard line. Brian Robinson ran for 5 and then the one yard touchdown to give the Commanders a 5 point lead midway through the fourth quarter. After a touchback the Bears moved to a 1st and 10 at the Washington 42. The Bears moved backward and on 4th and 16 Fields threw incomplete. With 1:49 left, this ugly game got worse when Slye missed a 48 yard field goal for the Commanders that would have made it 15-7. The Bears took over at their own 38. On 3rd and 5, Fields hit Montgomery for 13 and ran for a 39 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 5 with 52 seconds left in regulation. A run gained one yard followed by a pair of Fields incompletions. Everything came down to 4th and goal at the 4 with 30 seconds left. Rather than throw past the end zone marker, Fields hit Mooney for a 3 yard gain. Mooney was tackled at the one yard line to end the game. 3 times the Bears were at the Washington 6 yard line or closer and came up with 0 points. League officials would not say if they burned the tape of this game. 12-7 Commanders
San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons — The Falcons have been playing competitive football, but the 49ers on paper were the superior team. Games are not played on paper. The Falcons started the game facing 3rd and 2 at their own 34. Marcus Mariota went to Zaccheaus for a 37 yard gain. On 3rd and 1 from the San Francisco 20, Mariota gained 5. On 3rd and 2 from the Frisco 7, Huntley got the deuce. Mariota hit MyCole Pruitt for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Falcons. Late in the first quarter, the 49ers faced 3rd and 1 at their own 20. Then came a fumble, a mad scramble, and a recovery by the Falcons in the end zone for a defensive touchdown and a 14-0 Falcons lead.
The 49ers took over at their own 21. Jimmy Garoppolo hit George Kittle for 6, Deebo Samuel, and at the beginning of the second quarter, Brandon Aiyuk for 12 and Kittle for 12. Garoppolo went to Aiyuk for Aiyuk for the 12 yard touchdown to get the 49ers within 14-7. A 35 yard punt return gave the 49ers the ball back at the Atlanta 32. Garoppolo hit Kittle for 7, Kyle Juszczyk for 10, and Aiyuk for the 15 yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14.
After a touchback, the Falcons soon faced 3rd and 12 from their own 39. Mariota scrambled for 15. Mariota then hit London for 20. Huntley ran for 16. Mariota ran for a 3 yard touchdown to give the Falcons the 21-14 lead with one minute left in the half. In the third quarter the Falcons took over at their own 35. Mariota hit Zaccheaus for 10. On 3rd and 1 from their own 46, Allgeier gained 8. Mariota ran for 20. On 3rd and 3 from the Frisco 7, Mariota hit Kyle Pitts for the touchdown. Although it was only midway through the third quarter, the Atlanta defense did the rest. 28-14 Falcons
New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns — Bill Belichick loves humiliating the team that fired him over 25 years ago, but this time he would have to win with third string rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe. On the second play from scrimmage, Jacoby Brissett went deep and was intercepted to set the Patriots up at their own 35. The Patriots moved 63 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. 1st and goal at the one saw Raimondre Stevenson get stopped twice. Then Zappe threw incomplete. On 4th and goal at the one on the road Belichick had seen enough. Nick Folk hit the 19 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Patriots. The Browns after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 4 at the New England 21. Out of the shotgun, Karim Hunt got stopped for no gain. York hit the 39 yard field goal for a 3-3 game. The Patriots fumbled on their next drive to set the Browns up at the New England 38. Yet on 4th and 1 from the New England 18, Kevin Stefanski went for it and Brissett got stopped for no gain.
Midway through the second quarter the Patriots took over at their own 13. Zappe hit Hunter Henry for 12 and Meyers for 20. Zappe went to Parker for 14 and Tyquan Thornton for 12. On 3rd and 10 from the Cleveland 31 and the defense smelling pass, Stevenson ran for the first down and the touchdown to make it 10-3 Patriots. The Browns moved from their own 29 to a 2nd and 1 at the New England 29. Rather than run the ball, Kevin Stefanski called 2 passes that Brissett threw incomplete. Stefanski decided not to gamble with only 30 seconds left in the half. York hit from 48. The Browns only trailed 10-6, but the second half was never competitive.
After a third quarter touchback, the Patriots quickly moved to put the game away, On the second play from scrimmage, Zappe hit Smith for a 53 yard gain. Zappe then went to Henry for 13. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Zappe hit Thornton for the touchdown to make it 17-6 Patriots. An interception of Brissett gave the Patriots a short field at the Cleveland 40. On 3rd and 1, Zappe went to Henry for a 31 yard touchdown to make it 24-6 Patriots after three quarters. The Browns moved from their own 19 to a 1st and 10 at the Cleveland 23. Brissett then threw incomplete twice. On the first play of the fourth quarter on 3rd and 10, Brissett was sacked. York hit from 51 to get the Browns within 24-9. After the Patriots missed a field goal, the Browns faced 4th and 2 at their own 43. Brissett went deep to Donovan Peoples-Jones for 37. On 4th and 5 from the New England 15, Brissett went to Amari Cooper for the touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Browns were within 24-15 with a little over 6 minutes left in regulation.
The Browns defense even forced a 3 and out and seemed to get the ball back with 4 1/2 minutes left. Yet the Browns fumbled the punt and the Patriots recovered at the Cleveland 19. One play later, Thornton ran it in to make it 31-15 Patriots. Two plays later Brissett was sacked again and fumbled again. The Patriots recovered at the Cleveland 8 yard line. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Stevenson ran it in. Turnovers killed the Browns, resulting in a blowout. 38-15 Patriots
New York Jets at Green Bay Packers — The Jets have been improving but were not expected to seriously threaten the Packers. An ugly first half saw a scoreless first quarter. The first play of the second quarter saw Mason Crosby’s 47 yard field goal try for the Packers blocked. Midway through the second quarter the Packers faced 3rd and 1 from their own 33. Out of the shotgun, Aaron Rodgers fumbled the snap and the Jets recovered at the Green Bay 34. Greg Zuerlein hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Jets. The Packers went for it on 4th and 3 at the Jets 46. Rodgers threw deep incomplete. With 36 seconds left in the half, Zuerlein missed a 53 yard field goal try. Crosby hit from 29 to end the half with the teams tied 3-3.
The third quarter began with the Jets facing 2nd and 8 at their own 28. Zach Wilson hit Davis for 11 and then again deep for 41. Braxton Berrios ran for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 10-3 Jets. The undoing of the Packers last year was their special teams. They suffered a blocked punt for a touchdown in their home playoff loss. The problems have not been fixed. This time the blocked punt was recovered by Will Parks for a Jets touchdown and a 17-3 lead.
The Packers soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 33. Rodgers threw deep incomplete but roughing the passer kept the drive going. On 3rd and 2 from the Jets 44, Rodgers threw incomplete but defensive illegal contact again bailed the Packers out. Rodgers then hit Aaron Jones for 14 and Allen Lazard for a 25 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 17-10. The Jets soon faced 2nd and 9 from their own 35. Wilson hit Uzomah for 14 and Conklin for 16. On the first play of the fourth quarter Breece Hall ran for a 34 yard touchdown to make it 24-10 Jets. The Packers after a touchback moved 12 plays in 5 1/2 minutes On 2nd and 7 from the Jets 30, offensive holding was a killer. On 4th and 14, Rodgers threw incomplete. On 4th and goal at the one, delay of game killed an attempt to go for it. It didn’t matter. Zuerlein hit a 23 yard field goal to lock up the win. The Packers may be overrated, but the Jets are for real. They are good. 27-10 Jets
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts — A field position game set the Jaguars up at their own 44. Robinson ran for 14. Trevor Lawrence hit Etienne for 22. Agnew ran for 19. On 3rd and goal at the one, Lawrence got in to make it 7-0 Jaguars. The Colts moved from their own 23 on a 13 play, 67 yard, 5 minute drive. The second quarter began with the Colts facing 1st and goal at the 10. Matt Ryan threw 3 straight incompletions. Chase McLaughlin hit from 28 to get the Colts within 7-3. After a touchback, the Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 39. JaMycal Hasty ran for a 61 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Jaguars.
An 18 yard punt return had the Colts taking over at their own 46. Ryan hit Jackson for gains of 22 and 13. On 3rd and 8 from the Jacksonville 17, Ryan threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 9 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Ryan hit Harris Campbell for the touchdown to get the Colts within 14-10. The Colts got it back at their own 39 with 90 seconds left in the half. They moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Jacksonville 24. Ryan threw incomplete. McLaughlin hit from 42 to get the Colts within 14-13.
After a third quarter touchback, Etienne ran for 27. On 3rd and 1 from the Indianapolis 39, Lawrence threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Lawrence hit Farrell for 11 Jones form20. Lawrence ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 21-13 Jaguars. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 28. Ryan hit Granson for 17. On 3rd and 12 from their own 43, Ryan threw incomplete but roughing the passer kept the offense on the field. Ryan hit Pittman for 18 and 10. Deon Jackson ran for 11 and then for the 3 yard touchdown. The 2 point conversion try to tie the game failed but the Colts were within 21-19.
The Jaguars moved from their own 19 to a 3rd and 1 at the Indy 32. Lawrence threw incomplete and Doug Pederson decided to go for it. Etienne got the carry and lost 2 yards. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 37. Ryan hit Campbell for 15 to end the third quarter and for 12 more to start the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 27, Jackson gained 2. Defensive pass interference added 15 more. Ryan hit Jelani Woods for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 26-21 Colts.
The Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 12 at their own 14. Lawrence threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 7 yards and an automatic first down. On 3rd and 13 from their own 18, Lawrence went to Zee Jones for 18. On 3rd and 3 from their own 43, Lawrence gained 6. On 4th and 1 from the Indy 42, Lawrence gained 2. On 2nd and 4 from the Indy 34, a run gained only one yard but defensive holding meant another automatic first down. Lawrence ran for 13 and Etienne added 8 more. Lawrence threw a 4 yard touchdown pass to Christian Kirk.The staggering drive took 18 plays, moved 84 yards, and ate up over 10 minutes off of the clock. The 2 point conversion try failed but the Jaguars led 27-26 with 2:44 left.
The Colts soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 40. Ryan hit Pittman for just enough as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. With 49 seconds left, on 3rd and 10 from the Jags 44, Ryan hit Pittman for 15. With 23 seconds left in regulation, the Colts faced 3rd and 13 from the Jags 32. A field goal from that distance would be 50 yards. The Colts still had 2 timeouts left and could run the ball for a few yards to make the kick shorter. Instead Frank Reich aired it out. Matty Ice went to Alec Pierce for the touchdown. Philip Lindsay ran in the 2 point conversion. The Jaguars took over at their own 25 with 11 seconds left. Lawrence hit Evan engram for 16. With 3 seconds remaining, the hook and laterals from the Jacksonville 41 were fumbled away. 34-27 Colts
Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins have suffered at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa was still out injured. Backup Teddy Bridgewater was injured and listed as the emergency quarterback. Rookie third string quarterback Skylar Thompson got the start. Early in the second quarter of a scoreless game, Thompson went to the locker room injured. Bridgewater played the rest of the game. With 6 minutes left in the half, Jason Sanders hit a 44 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Dolphins. After a touchback, Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen for gains of 14 and 11 and Justin Jefferson for 20. On 3rd and 6 from the Miami 26, Cousins hit Jefferson for 24 . Cousins went to Smith for a one yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Vikings. With 1:45 left in the half, Sanders missed a 52 yard field goal try. With 23 seconds left in the half, Bridgwater was intercepted to give the Vikings the ball at the Miami 41. Defensive pass interference added 20 yards. Greg Joseph hit the 34 yard field goal at the gun as the Vikings took a 10-3 lead to the locker rooms.
The Vikings late in the third quarter faced 3rd and 2 at their own 35. Ham gained 3. On the last play of the third quarter, Cousins went deep to Jefferson for 47. The fourth quarter began with Cousins hitting Thielen for a 2 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Vikings led 16-3. After a touchback, Bridgewater hit Hill for 13 and then for 28 more. Bridgewater hit Gesicki for 13. Bridgewater ran for 10. Bridgewater hit Gesicki for a 4 yard touchdown. With 10 minutes left in regulation the Dolphins were within 16-10. The Dolphins got it back at their own 20 and moved to the Minnesota 38. Offensive holding was followed by a fumble that the Vikings recovered. Dalvin Cook ran for a 53 yard touchdown. Cousins hit Thielen for the 2 point conversion. with 3:15 to play, the Vikings led 24-10. Bridgwater was then intercepted. Bridgwater did throw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Gesicki with 1:24 left, but the pointless 2 point conversion try failed. More importantly, so did the onside kick attempt as Bridgwater failed to beat his old team. 24-16 Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints — A fumbled punt early on set the Saints up at the Cincinnati 32. Three plays later, red Rifle Andy Dalton hit TreQuan Smith for an18 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Saints. After a touchback, runs and short passes had the Bengals facing 2nd and 10 at the New Orleans 38. Joe Burrow threw incomplete, but roughing the passer added 14 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the New Orleans Saints 17, Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for 8. On 3rd and goal from the 9, Burrow went to Joe Mixon for the touchdown to make it 7-7.
After a touchback, the Saints began the second quarter at their own 40. Mark Ingram for 14 and Rashid Shaheed ripped off a 44 yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 Saints. The Saints got it back at their own 25 and Alvin Kamara ran for 24. Taysom Hill came in and out of the shotgun ran for 31 yards. On 3r and 6 from the Cincinnati 16, Dalton threw incomplete. Wil Lutz hit the 35 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Saints.
After a touchback, the Bengals soon faced 2nd and 6 from their own 42. Burrow went to Tyler Boyd for 21. On 3rd and 2 from the New Orleans 29, Burrow hit Boyd for 8. On 3rd and 8 from the New Orleans 19, Burrow rushed for the touchdown himself to get the Bengals within 17-14. After a touchback, the Saints moved 63 yards in 14 plays and 6 minutes. On 1st and 10 from the Cincinnati 16, a pair of runs lost yards. Lutz hit a 30 yard field goal to end the half with the Saints up 20-14. It was more of the same after a third quarter touchback. The Saints held the ball for 8 minutes and ran 14 plays for 56 yards. On 3rd and 25 from his own 23, a completion only gained 9 yards but roughing the passer kept the drive going. On 3rd and 9 from the Cincy 19, Dalton threw incomplete. Lutz hit the 37 yard field goal to put the Saints up 23-14 midway through the third quarter, but they were scoring too many field goals instead of touchdowns.
The Bengals finished their drives. From their own 26, Mixon ran for 10. From his own 48, Burrow went to Chase for 26. . Burrow went to Boyd for 9 and to Chase for a 15 yard touchdown. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Bengals were within 23-21. From their own 21, the Saints again embarked on a long drive. 14 plays netted 66 yards and took 7 1/2 minutes off the clock. Yet again, the red zone saw the drive bog down. 1st and 10 from the Cincinnati 14 led to an incompletion, a loss, and a very short completion nowhere near the first down marker. Lutz hit his fourth field goal from 31 yards out. With 11 minutes left in regulation, the Saints led 26-21.
After a touchback, it was the Bengals who took 7 1/2 minutes off the clock on a 13 play drive. Yet 1st and 10 from the New Orleans 24 saw consecutive sacks of Burrow and 3rd and 27. With 3:42 to play, Zac Taylor opted to kick the field goal and trust his defense. McPherson hit from 52 to get the Bengals within 26-24. Their defense forced a 3 and out. Even worse for the Saints, a shanked 29 yard punt had the Bengals taking over at their own 40. With 2:10 left, they needed only a field goal to win. Yet the Bengals had other ideas. One play and 13 seconds later, a 60 yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Chase had the Bengals up by 4 points. The 2 point try failed. The Saints from their own 30 moved to a 1st and 10 at the Cincy 41. A pair of incompletions followed by a sack had the Saints facing 4th and 17 with 34 seconds left. Dalton threw incomplete as he failed to get a win against his former team. 30-26 Bengals
Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants — The Ravens have blown a pair of double digits leads late. The 4-1 Giants were trying to win over skeptics. A scoreless first quarter ended with Justin Tucker doinking a 56 yard field goal off the upright no good to keep the Ravens off the scoreboard. The Ravens began the second quarter at their own 11. Lamar Jackson ran for 14 and then hit Devin Duvernay for 14 more. Jackson went to Mark Andrews for 17. On 3rd and 8 from the Giants 38, Jackson hit Kenyan Drake for just enough. Drake then ran for a 30 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. A strong kickoff return had the Giants taking over at their own 47. On 3rd and 14, Daniel Jones went to Darrius Slayton for 18 and to Matt Breida for 15 more. On 3rd and 12 from the Baltimore 26, Jones hit Robinson for 15. On 3rd and 4 from the Baltimore 5, Jones hit Wandale Robinson for the touchdown to cap the 10 play, 53 yard, 6 minute drive and make it 7-7.
After a touchback, the Ravens moved to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 16. Jackson threw 3 straight incompletions. Tucker hit from 34 to put the Ravens up 10-7. In the third quarter the Ravens moved from their own 31 to a 1st and goal at the 5. John Harbaugh didn’t try a single run at that point as Jackson again threw 3 straight incompletions. Tucker hit from 23 to make it 13-7 Ravens, but their inability to finish drives cost them. The Giants after a touchback moved 59 yards in 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. This time it was the Giants who had 2nd and goal at the 5. Jones threw incomplete and then was sacked. Graham Gano hit from 34 to get the Giants within 13-10. After a touchback, Jackson ran for 25. Drake added 3 and 7. Jackson hit Likely for 11. Drake ran for 15. Jackson hit Andrews for the 12 yard touchdown. With 13 minutes left in regulation, the Ravens led 20-10. They had another fourth quarter lead. Now they needed to keep it.
The Giants soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Jones hit Johnson for 18 and Robinson for 17. Jones hit Sills for 8 and Barkley ran for 8 more. On 3rd and 1 from the Baltimore 14, Jones gained 3. Jones hit Daniel Bellinger for an 8 yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in the game, the Giants were within 20-17. After a touchback, the Ravens moved to a 3rd and 1 at their own 44. Jackson gained 2 but an illegal formation penalty pushed the Ravens back to 3rd and 5. Jackson fumbled the ball, picked it up, and instead of accepting a loss forced a dangerous pass over the middle that was intercepted. Love returned the pick 27 yards to the Baltimore 13 with 3 minutes left. At the 2 minute warning, the Giants faced 3rd and 3 at the Baltimore 6. Jones was intercepted in the end zone. He blew it. Except he didn’t. Defensive pass interference nullified the pick and meant 1st and goal at the one. Saquon Barkley got in to give the Giants a 4 point lead. The Ravens had blown another late double digit lead. After a touchback, Jackson was sacked and fumbled. The Giants are 5-1. They are not lucky or overachieving. They are good. 24-20 Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers — Tom Brady usually beat the Steelers even when they were good. Mike Tomlin entered this game with a 1-4 squad, his worst. His quarterbacks are rookie Kenny Pickett who lost his first start by 35 points, and Mitchell Trubisky. The Steelers began at their own 34. Pickett hit Pickens for 8, Johnson for 5, and Chase Claypool for 14. On 3rd and 6 from the Tampa 35, Pickett threw incomplete but roughing the passer kept the drive going. On 4th and 1 from the Tampa 11, Tomlin opted to go for it. Warren got the yard up the gut. Pickett hit Najee Harris for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Steelers.
The rest of the first three quarters belonged to the field goal kickers as long drives stalled short of the end zone. Ryan Succop hit from 30 in the first quarter and from 27 in the second quarter to get the Buccaneers within 7-6. The second field goal came after a run on 2nd and goal at the one lost yards followed by a sack. Chris Boswell hit from 55 with 4 minutes left in the second quarter. Succop hit from 54 to end the half and get the Buccaneers within 10-9. Sims returned the second half kickoff 89 yards to the Tampa Bay 12. Yet on 2nd and 5, Pickett threw incomplete twice. Boswell hit from 25 to put the Steelers up 13-9. The Buccaneers after a touchback moved to a 1st and goal at the 4. An ineligible man downfield was followed by a run that lost yards. Succop hit a 24 yard field goal to get the Buccaneers within 13-12 midway through the third quarter.
One play after a touchback, Pickett went deep to Johnson for a 27 yard gain. Yet Pickett got injured on the play. Trubisky played the rest of the game. The Steelers began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 13 at their own 26. Trubisky went to Pickens for 14. On 3rd and 6from their own 44, Trubisky connected with Hayward for a 45 yard gain. Trubisky hit Chase Claypool for a 6 yard touchdown to put the Steelers up 20-12 with 10 minutes left in regulation. The Buccaneers took over at their own 27. Brady went to Chris Godwin for 11. On 3rd and 4 from their own 45, Brady hit Otton for 17. On 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 29 with 6 1/2 minutes left, Fournette gained 7. On 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 13 with 5 minutes left, Brady hit White for 2. Brady then hit Fournette for an 11 yard touchdown with 4 1/2 minutes left. A 2 point conversion would tie the game. Brady threw incomplete.
Yet if the defense could get Brady the ball back, the Buccaneers needed only a field goal to win. After a touchback, the Steelers faced 3rd and 15 at their own 20 with 3 minutes left. Trubisky hit Claypool for 17. With 2:15 left the Steelers faced 3rd and 11 at their own 36. Trubisky went deep to Claypool for 26 yards. Trubisky ran for 9 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. On 2nd and 1, Trubisky ran for 3 and then took a couple of knees. Brady screamed at his offensive line in a season of his temper tantrums. Yet don’t blame his marital woes or idiotic questions to Todd Bowles about race. The real issue is that the Buccaneers are struggling on offense. Bruce Arians was a successful offensive mind and head coach. Todd Bowles is a defensive mind who failed as a head coach in his first stint. 20-18 Steelers
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams — The Panthers fired Matt Rhule and named Steve Wilks interim coach. The defending champion Rams have been struggling on offense. After an opening touchback, the Panthers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 22. An illegal block pushed the Panthers back. Eddie Pieniero hit a 42 yard field goal to put the Panthers up 3-0. In the second quarter, the Rams took over at their own 27. Matthew Stafford hit Allen Robinson for 13. On 3rd and 13 from their own 37, Stafford hit Cooper Kupp for 22 and again for 12 more. On 3rd and 15 from the carolina 31, Darrell Henderson gained 16. On 3rd and 7 from the Carolina 12, Stafford hit Henderson for just enough. Stafford hit Robinson for a 5 yard touchdown to put the Rms up 7-3 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. The Rams got it back and faced 2nd and 7 at their own 23 at the 2 minute warning. Stafford was intercepted by Donte Jackson, who returned the pick 30 yards for a defensive touchdown. In a stunner, the Panthers led 10-7 at the half.
In the third quarter the Rams moved from their own 22 to a 3rd and goal at the 3. Stafford threw incomplete. Matt Gay hit a 21 yard field goal for a 10-10 game. Late in the third quarter the Rams took over at their own 20. Stafford went to Ben Skowronek for 8. Kupp ran for 13. Stafford hit Kupp for 20 and Robinson for 22. Skowronek ran for a 17 yard touchdown as the Rams led 17-10 after three quarters. The Rams got it back at their own 39. Runs and short passes moved the ball to the Carolina 33. Stafford hit Brown for 13 and Powell for 16. Henderson ran for the 2 yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to lock up the win. Yet the Panthers were playing without Baker Mayfield. They struggled to beat a team led by PJ Walker. Sean McVay is an offensive wizard, and he knows that even in victory, his team is out of sync. 24-10 Rams
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks — Neither team is playing good football. The Cardinals moved from their own 19 to a 2nd and goal at the one. Kyler Murray lost 4 yards. Murray then threw incomplete. Matt Ammendola hit the 23 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cardinals. The Seahawks moved from their 20 to a 2nd and 6 at the Arizona 15. Geno Smith threw incomplete and was then sacked. Jason Myers hit a 39 yard field goal tie the game 3-3. The Cardinals after a touchback moved 65 yards in 14 plays and 7 minutes. On 4th and 4 from the Seattle 20 to start the second quarter, Kliff Kingsbury passed up a 38 yard field goal try and went for it. Murray threw incomplete. Myers hit second quarter field goals of 27 and 34. The Cardinals moved to a 4th and 2 at the Seattle 27 in the third quarter. Kingsbury again passed up a reasonable field goal try and went for it. Murray again threw incomplete. Myers hit again from 32 as the Seahawks led 12-3. The Cardinals managed to block a punt for a touchdown. They missed the extra point but only trailed 12-9 after three quarters. After a touchback, Geno Smith hit Fast for 15 and Eskridge for 16 to end the third quarter and DK Metcalf for 17 to start the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 4 from the Arizona 21, Smith hit Tyler Lockett for 10. Kenneth Walker ran for an 11 yard touchdown. The game’s only offensive touchdown was enough. 19-9 Seahawks
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs — The Bills were only 13 seconds from the AFC Title Game, but could not stop Patrick Mahomes in Arrowhead. This was a clash of titans and a possible AFC Title Game preview. The Bills moved 60 yards after a touchback. From the Kansas City 13, Josh Allen fumbled. The Chiefs moved 80 yards in 14 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. 1st and goal at the 9 saw Mahomes throw an incompletion and a run go nowhere. On 3rd and goal, Mahomes went to the end zone and was intercepted. The Bills moved 59 yards in 11 plays. The second quarter began with the Bills facing 3rd and 9 at the Kansas City 21. Allen threw incomplete. Tyler Bass hit a 39 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bills. The Chiefs took over at their own 21. Mahomes hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 9 and Travis Kelce for 25. On 3rd and 10 from the Buffalo 42, Mahomes went to Smith-Schuster for the touchdown to make it 7-3 Chiefs. The Chiefs after a touchback moved 72 yards in 11 plays and 5 minutes. On 2nd and goal at the 3, Allen threw incomplete twice. Sean McDermott passed up a 21 yard field goal try and gambled. Allen threw incomplete.
The first 28 1/2 minutes were quiet. The last 90 seconds were crazy. With 1:18 left in the half, the Bills faced 3rd and 13 from their own one yard line. Rather than a give up run and a punt, Sean McDermott went high risk. Allen hit Gabe Davis for 18 and Stefan Diggs for 30. Allen went to Shakir for 14 and back to Davis for a 34 yard touchdown. The Bills led 10-7 with only 16 seconds left in the half. The Chiefs took over at their own 28 with 12 seconds left. Yet that was only one second less than in the AFC Title Game. Again, Mahomes devoured the Buffalo defense. Mahomes hit McKinnon for 19 and Kelce for 9 and called timeout with one second left. Walrus Andy Reid brought in Harrison Butker for a 62 yard field goal try. Butker delivered as the home crowd erupted in celebration. The teams were deadlocked 10-10. Again, the Bills could not hold a lead with only 13 seconds left. Yet this time the teams still had the second half to play.
The Chiefs in the third quarter moved from their own 16 to a 3rd and 7 at the Buffalo 34. A completion gained only one yard. Butker hit from 62, but this time from 51 he missed wide no good. The Bills took over at theirnown 41. Allen went to Dawson Knox for 20 and Diggs for 13. Allen went back to Diggs for a 17 yard touchdown to put the Bills up 17-10 midway through the third quarter. The Chiefs took over at their own 17. Mahomes went to Kelce for 23 and Smith-Schuster for 41. Mahomes ran for 10. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for the touchdown and a 17-17 game. This heavyweight match was tied after the first quarter, the second quarter and the third quarter.
The Bills after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 1 from the Kansas City 44 to start the fourth quarter. A run lost 2 yards. Sean McDermott gambled on 4th and 3 rather than punt and play field position. Allen threw incomplete. Mahomes then hit Kelce for 10. On 2nd and 13 from the Buffalo 45, Mahomes hit Kelce for 19. The Buffalo defense held after that, but Butker hit a 44 yard field goal to put the Chiefs up 20-17 with 10 minutes left in regulation. With 3:44 to play the Bills faced 4th and 1 at their own 33. McDermott again decided not to punt and rely on his defense. He trusted his quarterback and Allen gained 2. On 3rd and 2 from their own 43, Allen hit Diggs for 11. Allen went to Diggs again for 18 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Allen gained 16. Allen then went to Dawon Knox for a 14 yard touchdown. With one minute left the Bills had the 4 point lead.
Mahomes had already come back with only 13 and 12 seconds left. This time he had an entire minute. Yet those times he needed a field goal to tie the game. This time the deficit was 4 points and the Chiefs needed a touchdown. After a touchback and a defensive holding call, Mahomes was then intercepted. This time there would be no comeback. A rematch in the AFC Title Game would be epic. However, the Bills now have the inside track to play that game in Buffalo after winning this fine, fine football game. 24-20 Bills
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles was the Sunday night game. The Cowboys came in 4-1 with Cooper rush playing very well in place of Dak Prescott. The Eagles entered as the only unbeaten team. The Eagles took over midway through the first quarter at their own 20. Jalen Hurts hit Still for 21 and Dallas Goedert for 8. On 4th and 3 from the Dallas 38, Kevin Sirianni decided to go for it rather than try a 56 yard field goal. Hurts hit AJ Brown for 11. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 9. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 18, Hurts gained 2. On 4th and 4 from the Dallas 10, Sirianni had the offense line up to go for it. Whether it was a bluff or not, it worked as the Cowboys jumped into the neutral zone.
On the first play of the second quarter, Miles Sanders ran for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Eagles. One play after a touchback, Rush was intercepted to give the Eagles a short field at the Dallas 44. Sanders ran for 9, 3 and 8. Boston Scott ran for 2 and 8. On 3rd and 3 from the Dallas 15, Hurts went to Brown for the touchdown to make it 14-0 Eagles. The Cowboys soon faced 4th and 1 from their own 34. Mike McCarthy decided to go for it and Rush threw incomplete. Jake Elliott hit a 51 yard field goal to make it 17-0 Eagles. 5 plays later Rush was intercepted again. The Eagles had another short field at the Dallas 46. Elliott hit a 34 yard field goal as the Eagles led 20-0 with 1:47 left in the half. The Cowboys spent the whole rest of the game in catch up mode.
The Cowboys got a jolt when a 63 yard kickoff return set them up at the Philadelphia 41. On 1st and 10 from the Philly 12, Rush went to Brown for a touchdown. Yet on further review the call was reversed to incomplete. After 2 more Rush incompletions, the Cowboys settled for a 30 yard Brett Maher field goal to trail 20-3 at halftime. The Cowboys took over at their own 21 in the third quarter. Rush hit Ferguson for 9. Pollard gained 8 and 3. Rush went to McKeon for 10 and Ferguson for 22. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 6 and then for the 14 yard touchdown. Midway through the third quarter, the Cowboys were only down 20-10. The Cowboys got it back at their own 7. On 3rd and 2 from their own 15, Elliott ran for 6. On 3rd and 1 from their own 30, Elliott ran for 6. Rush went to Ceedee Lamb for 13, Brown for 10, and Lamb again for 16. Elliott ran for 12. The fourth quarter began with the Cowboys facing 3rd and 2 from the Philly 12. Rush hit Jake Ferguson for 4 and again for a 7 yard touchdown. The 15 play, 93 yard, 7 minute drive had the Cowboys right back in it down 20-17.
After a touchback, Sanders gained 13. On 3rd and 4 from his own 44, Hurts gained 5. On 3rd and 4 from the Dallas 45, Gainwell ran for 5. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 31, Hurts gained 2. Hurts hit Brown for 22. Hurts then hit DeVonta Smith for a 7 yard touchdown. An unexplainable 2 point conversion try failed but the Eagles led by 9 midway through the fourth quarter. After a touchback, the Cowboys soon faced 2nd and 8 at their own 40. Rush was intercepted for the third time. The Cowboys got it back at their own 12 with 2 1/2 minutes left needing 2 scores. They quickly moved to a 1st and 10 at the Philly 41 with 1:22 left. Rush threw 3 incompletions. In desperation mode, Mike McCarthy had Maher try a 59 yard field goal to get the Cowboys within 6. They would still need an onside kick. They never got the chance. Maher was no good. The Eagles got to 6-0. The Cowboys showed plenty of resilience, but so did the Eagles. The rematch will be in Dallas, and the Cowboys are expected to have Prescott back. For now, the Eagles run the NFC East. 26-17 Eagles
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers was the Monday night game. Both teams have been underachieving, with the Broncos offense especially surprisingly underwhelming. Russell Wilson in particular has been struggling. The Chargers after an opening touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Denver 33. Yet a false start pushed them out of field goal range. The Broncos moved from their 21 to a 3rd and 1 at the Chargers 29. Wilson was sacked, but Brandon McManus hit a 51 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Broncos. The Broncos got it back at their own 16 and soon faced 3rd and 13 at their own 24. Wilson went deep to Jerry Jeudy for 37 and then to Greg Dulcich for a 39 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Broncos. That concluded the Broncos end zone experience.
In the second quarter the Chargers took over at their own 18. Justin Herbert went to Sony Michel for 3, Austin Ekeler for 8, and Donald Parham for 24. On 3rd and 4 from the Denver 41, Herbert hit Palmer for 6. On 3rd and 5 from the Denver 19, Herbert hit Everett for just enough. On 3rd and 2 from the Denver 6, Ekeler ran it in for the touchdown to cap the 15 play, 82 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive and get the Chargers within 10-7. That concluded the Chargers end zone experience. The rest of the game belonged to the kickers. Dustin Hopkins hit from 37 to tie the game 10-10 with 53 seconds left in the half.
The Broncos managed to quickly reach 1st and goal at the 9 with 17 seconds left. Wilson threw 3 incompletions. McManus hit from 27 to put the Broncos up 13-10. In the third quarter on 3rd and 1 from the Denver 12, Herbert threw incomplete. Brandon Staley, who gambles all the time, decided to play it safe. Hopkins hit from 31 to make it 13-13. Yet on the first play of the fourth quarter facing 4th and 2 at the Denver 29, Staley gambled and Herbert threw incomplete.An interception of Herbert led to McManus hitting from 48 to put the Broncos up 16-13 with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Hopkins answered from 35 to tie the game 16-16 with 4 minutes left. Midway through overtime, the key play came when the Broncos fumbled a punt and the Chargers recovered at the Denver 28. The Broncos literally gave the game away. Hopkins hit from 39 to end things. 19-16 Chargers