NFL 2023 Week 7 Recap
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints was the Thursday night game. After an opening touchback the Jaguars went right to work. Trevor Lawrence hit Evan Engram for 21 and Travis Etienne for 15. Lawrence ran for 9. On 3rd and 7 from the New Orleans 23, Lawrence hit Christian Kirk for 7 and Agnew for 14. Etienne ran in the 2 yard touchdown to complete the 10 play, 75 yard, 5 minute drive and make it 7-0 Saints. After a touchback, the Saints moved to the Jacksonville 32. They failed to get on the board when Grupe missed a 51 yard field goal try. The Saints got another break when the Jaguars fumbled a punt and the Saints recovered at the Jacksonville 17. On 2nd and goal at the 5, Derek Carr threw incomplete twice. Grupe hit a 23 yard field goal to get the Saints within 7-3. The Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 32. Lawrence hit Kirk for 9 to end the first quarter and to Agnew for 9 to start the second quarter. Lawrence ran for 28 with defensive holding adding 5 more. Etienne got around the end for a 17 yard touchdown run to make it 14-3 Jaguars.
A field position game in the second quarter gave the Saints a short field at the Jacksonville 46. Yet on 2nd and 8 from the Jacksonville 20, Carr’s incompletion was followed by him running for only 3. Grupe hit from 35 to get the Saints within 14-6 at the 2 minute warning. That was enough time for the Jaguars after a touchback to move to a 3rd and 2 at the New Orleans 25. Lawrence through incomplete but Brandon McManus hit from 43 to make it 17-6 Jaguars with 30 seconds left. The Saints after a third quarter touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Jacksonville 23. Yet offensive holding killed the drive. Grupe hit a 42 yard field goal to get the Saints within 17-9. Things got ugly for the Saints when they got the ball back and faced 3rd and 10 from their own 13. Carr was intercepted by Oluokun, who returned the pick 24 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it 24-9 Jaguars.
The Saints got it back after a touchback and finally began to show signs of life. Carr went to Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara for a pair of 8 yard gains. Carr went to Shaheed for 12 and to Taysom Hill and Olave for 7 apiece. On 4th and 2 from the Jacksonville 25, Kamara got around the end for a 10 yard gain. On 3rd and 3 from the Jacksonville 8, out of the shotgun Hill gained 4. The fourth quarter began with the Saints facing 4th and goal at the one. Hill got in for the touchdown. The 16 pay, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive had the Saints within 24-16. midway through the fourth quarter Doug Peterson gambled on 4th and 1 from the New Orleans 47. Etienne got stuffed for no gain. The Saints struck quickly as Carr hit Thomas for 17, Hill for 19, and Thomas again for the 17 yard touchdown. Carr hit Kamara for the 2 point conversion. With 6 1/2 minutes left the game was tied 24-24 and the Saints had all the momentum.
A field position game set up by a short 39 yard punt gave the Jaguars gift field position at the New Orleans 46 with 3:45 to play. Two plays later, Lawrence connected with Christian Kirk for a 44 yard touchdown. The Jaguars had the lead with 3 minutes left. After a touchback, the Saints calmly moved down the field to a 1st and goal at the 6 with 40 seconds to play. The Saints had all 3 timeouts. They could run any plays they wanted. They had 4 shots at the end zone. Carr threw 4 straight incompletions. The third down throw was a perfect pass to a wide open Foster Moreau, who just dropped it. The Saints are underwater at 3-4 while the Jaguars escaped to get to 5-2 on the year. 31-24 Jaguars
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens —This was supposed to be a battle between two very good teams, but only one of them showed up. After an opening touchback, Lamar Jackson went to Odell Beckham for 11 and to Zee Flowers for 46. On 4th and 1 from the Detroit 7, John Harbaugh gambled. Jackson got the first down and the touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. The Ravens got it back and soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 35. Jackson went to Batemen for gains of 16 and 20. On 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 22, Jackson gained 3. On 3rd and 3 from the Detroit 12, Jackson went to Nelson Agholor for the touchdown to make it 14-0 Ravens. The Ravens got it back at their own 8. Jackson went to Beckham for 20. On 3rd and 11, Jackson went to Flowers for 22. On the first play of the second quarter, Jackson went to Ricard for 28, Mitchell for 9, Flowers for 3, and Mark Andrews for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 21-0 Ravens. The Ravens got it back at their own 20. Jackson gained 9. Edwards added 20. Hill gained 27. Jackson hit Andrews for 22. Edwards got the last 2 yards. 4 drives meant 4 touchdowns and a 28-0 Ravens lead. The second half was pointless. In the third quarter the Ravens took over at their own 6. Jackson connected with Edwards for an 80 yard gain and with Andrews for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 35-0 Ravens. The Lions got a fourth quarter touchdown to avoid the shutout. Justin Tucker tacked on a field goal for the Ravens to complete the scoring. 38-6 Ravens
Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears — Everyone outside of Josh McDaniels’s own family knew that the 3-3 Raiders were frauds. They had won 2 straight, but their wins came against 3 of the worst teams in the league. Before a brutal stretch of games against good teams, the Raiders had won more easy game. They just needed to beat the worst team in the league. They call themselves the Chicago Bears, but they had playing like the Bad News Bears. The Raiders had a chance to get their third straight win and get to 4-3. Matt Eberflus is uber-flustered against everyone else. Without Justin Fields, The Bears started a quarterback named Bagent who had never started NFL game before. Until last week, he had never played in an NFL game. This was the game for the Raiders to win. Instead, the Raiders made the Bad News Bears look like the 1985 Bears.
Josh McDaniels gets plenty of things wrong, but he started out doing two things right. With Jimmy Garoppolo out injured again, McDaniels resisted the urge to start rookie Aidan O’Connell. Bryan Hoyer is a veteran with a stronger arm than Garoppolo. McDaniels also went with a heavy run-first offense with Josh Jacobs. McDaniels has been fairly criticized for 2 years for not doing this. On this day, he did. It is not McDaniels’s fault that Jacobs got no help from his blockers. The offensive line was awful. Hoyer had little time to throw. When he did, he was uncharacteristically off the mark on too many throws. The Raiders had plenty of chances early. The Bears quickly went 3 and out when they dropped an easy third down pass. An 18 yard punt return had the Raiders starting at their own 43. They moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Chicago 23. Hoyer threw incomplete. Normally reliable kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 41 yard field goal try. None of this was McDaniels’s fault.
The Bars soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 40. Donta Foreman gained 4. Bagent hit Scott for 13. Foreman gained 13 more. Bagent ran for 10. Foreman gained 9. Foreman ran for a 2 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 69 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive made it 7-0 Bears. In the second quarter Hoyer was intercepted to set up the Bears at the Raiders 34. On 3rd and 1, Scott gained 6. Bagent hit Marcedes Lewis for 16. Foreman ran for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bears. After a touchback, the Raiders moved to a 2nd and 6 at the Chicago 21 at the 2 minute warning. Hoyer threw incomplete twice. Carlson hit a 40 yard field goal to get the Raiders on the board. In the third quarter the Raiders offense kept malfunctioning. The Bears faced 1st and 15 at their own 7, but then moved forward. Foreman ran for 14 and 9. Bagent ran for 12. Bagent hit Foreman for 17. On 3rd and 6 from the Raiders 25, Bagent hit Evans for just enough. Bagent hit Foreman for 9. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Bagent hit Foreman for the touchdown. With 4 minutes left in the third quarter, the Bears were dominating 21-3. This was not Jim McMahon and Walter Payton. This was a 1-5 team gashing the pathetic Raiders defense for big gains on almost every play.
After a touchback, the Raiders moved 60yards in 15 plays and nearly 7 minutes. The fourth quarter began with the Raiders facing 2nd and 4 at the Chicago 9. Rather than feed Jacobs, it was Zamir White getting the carry and getting nothing. Then on 3rd and 4 Hoyer appeared to hit Jaocbs for the touchdown. Yet on further review it was reversed to an incompletion. Since most of the entire fourth quarter remained, a field goal decision would have been justified. Yet the normally ultra-conservative McDaniels decided to go for it. It was the right decision. Hoyer hit Davante Adams for just enough. On 1st and goal at the 5, an ill-advised pitchout to Jacobs lost 5 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Hoyer had an open Adams in the end zone. Adams just dropped it.It bounced right off his fingertips. Now with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation, going for it was the right call. Why bother going for it before only to give up now? Yet McDaniels makes gutless decisions, and again he surrendered. It was a horrendous uninspiring decision. He has no confidence in his offense down by the goal line. Yes, the offense is inept. Yet it’s his offense. Carlson hit the 25 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 21-6, but that was it.
The Beats from their own 27 at cup 7 minutes of clock on a 12 play drive against the pathetic Raiders defense. Cairo Santos hit a 54 yard field goal with 6 minutes left to put the game out of reach. On the very next play from scrimmage, Hoyer was intercepted by Jaylon Johnson, who returned it 39 yards for a defensive touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but the Bears were winning a 30-6 beatdown. with the gan out of reach, Hoyer was benched and O’Connell was thrown to the wolves. He was then also intercepted by Johnson. The Raiders did get a 9 yard garbage time touchdown pass from O’Connell to Jakobi Meyers with one minute left, but this game was an embarrassment. Somehow, Josh McDaniels was not fired after the game. Any chance of the Raiders being a playoff team are done, and the season is not even half over. McDaniels’s job is to prepare his team. They were woefully unprepared, and it obviously showed. 30-12 Bears
Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts — This game became an instant classic. On the third play of the game on 3rd and 2 from their own 31, Ford ran for a 69 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. The Colts came right back. On 3rd and 3 from their own 32. Gardner Minshew went to Downs for 6. On 3rd and 7 from their own 41, Minshew went deep to Downs for a 59 yard touchdown for a 7-7 game. The Colts got it back at their own 43. Minshew went to Jonathan Taylor for 18. Minshew ran for 8 with defensive holding adding 5 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Cleveland 17, Minshew ran for the first down and the touchdown to make it 14-7 Colts.The Colts got it back but Minshew was sacked and fumbled. The Browns took over at the Indianapolis 36. Kareem Hunt gained 11 and 5. Goodwin ran for 17. The second quarter began with Hunt running for one and then the 2 yard touchdown for a 14-14 game.
Deshaun Watson was injured in the second quarter. PJ Walker finished the game. After a touchback the Colts moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Cleveland 26. Minshew gained 7 but offensive holding wiped out the gain. A short pass then lost 6 yards. Shane Steichen decided to have Matt Gay try a 60 yard field goal, a ridiculous decision at this point in the game. The kick was blocked. The Browns took over at the Indianapolis 26 and went nowhere. Dustin Hopkins hit a 44 yard field goal for a 17-14 Browns lead. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 27. Minshew went to Downs for 34 yards. Taylor ran for 24. On 3rd and 7 from the Cleveland 12, Minshew hit Pittman for 8. Minshew ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 21-17 Colts.
The Colts got it back at their own 11. Minshew was sacked. On 2nd and 15 from their own 6, Minshew was sacked again, this time forcing a fumble. The Browns recovered in the end zone for a defensive touchdown to make it 24-21 Browns. The Browns got it back at their own 30 with 1:17 left in the half. Walker hit Ford for 8, David Njoku for 5, Moore for 9, and Ford again for 12. Hopkins ended the half with a 54 yard field goal for a 27-21 Browns lead. In the third quarter on 3rd and 2 from his own 41, Minshew was intercepted. Ward returned the pick 20 yards to the Indianapolis 42. Hopkins hit another 54 yard field goal for a 30-21 Browns advantage.
After a touchback, Minshew hit Downs for 20. Minshew hit Pittman for 7 with defensive holding adding 5. Taylor gained 9 and 6. On 3rd and 4 from the Cleveland 35, Taylor gained just enough. Minshew hit Taylor for 20. Taylor gained 6 and then ran for the 5 yard touchdown to get the Colts within 30-28. The Browns after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 2 from the Indy 41. A pair of runs went nowhere. Kevin Stefanski went for it. On 4th and 2, Walker fumbled and the Colts took over at midfield. Gay hit a 27 yard field goal one minute into the fourth quarter to put the Colts back up 31-30. A deep ball by Walker was intercepted but it pinned the Colts at their own 2. The defense held and the Browns got it back at their own 43. With 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Stefanski gave Hopkins a shot at a 58 yard field goal try to put the Browns back in front. Hopkins delivered for a 33-31 Browns lead.
Two plays after a touchback, Minshew connected with Pittman for a 75 yard touchdown. Just like that, the Colts led 38-33. With 2 1/2 minutes left, the Browns faced 3rd and 10 from their own 20. Walker went deep to Moore for 30. Strong gained 13. Walker hit Donovan Peoples-Jones for 17. On 3rd and 4 from the Indy 13 with 47 seconds left, chaos ensued. Walker was sacked and fumbled. He tried to argue that his arm was going forward but it was clearly the empty hand rule. It was definitely a fumble. The Colts recovered all the way back at their own 39 and began celebrating. Yet it was all for naught as illegal contact on the defense meant 5 yards, an automatic first down, and 1st and goal at the 8. Walker threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 7 yards and 1st and goal at the one. 3 straight Walker passes were all incomplete. It all came down to 4th and goal at the one with 15 seconds left. Hunt got the carry and was stopped right at the goal line. Both sides celebrated, thinking they had won. It was close, but officials got the call right. Hunt barely got the nose of the ball across the plane of the goal. That is all that is required. The touchdown gave the Browns the one point lead. The 2 point try failed but the Colts needed a miracle. Minshew was sacked and fumbled to end the game. Brian Sipe and the 1980 Browns are long retired, but this was a Cardiac Kids classic. 39-38 Browns
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots — The Bills are a very good team. The Patriots are awful. Rumors have been swirling that Evil Hoodie Bill Belichick’s 24th season in New England would result in his being fired after the season. The Patriots were 1-5 and getting worse. The Bills could put the final nail in the coffin of their hated rivals. After an opening touchback, the Patriots moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Buffalo 14. A run out of the shotgun gained only 2 yards. Belichick decided not to gamble on 4th and 2. Ryland hit the 30 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Patriots. On the very next Buffalo play from scrimmage, Josh Allen was intercepted to give the Patriots a short field at the Buffalo 45. Mac Jones hit Buffalo for 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 26, Jones went to Douglas for 16. Ezekiel Elliott gained 8 and then the 2 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Patriots. After a touchback, the Bills moved to a 3rd and 7 at the New England 8. On the last play of the first quarter, a touchdown pass from Allen to Dawson Knox was nullified by offensive pass interference. The second quarter began with Allen throwing incomplete. Tyler Bass hit a 36 yard field goal to get the Bills on the board. Ryland answered with a 24 yard field goal to make it 13-3 Patriots. The Bills missed a chance to get closer when Bass missed from 42.
The Bills began the third quarter facing 2nd and 12 at their own 17. Allen went to Stefan Diggs for 17, Kincaid for 8, and Harty for 10. Roughing the passer on an incompletion added 15 more. James Cook ran for 20. Allen hit Knox for 10. On 3rd and goal from the 8, Allen hit Cook for the touchdown. The 10 play, 81 yard, 5 minute drive got the Bills within 13-10. The Patriots after a touchback moved to the Buffalo 25. A completion lost 2 yards and Jones was sacked to ill the drive. Ryland hit from 49 to make it 16-10 Patriots.The Bills after a touchback moved to a 4th and 2 at the New England 33. Sean McDermott gambled on a 4th and 1 earlier in the drive, which the Bills converted. He went for it again. This time Allen threw incomplete. Jones quickly went to Brown for 26. On 3rd and 3 from the Buffalo 33, jones was sacked and fumbled. Yet defensive illegal contact gave the Patriots a new set of downs. Elliott lost one, gained 10, and on 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 29, got the tough yard. Jones went to Douglas for 19. Jones hit Kendrick Bourne for a 4 yard touchdown The 2 point conversion try failed but the Patriots were winning a shocker up 22-10 midway through the fourth quarter.
After a touchback, Allen went to Kincaid for 12 and Diggs for 7. Roughing the passer added 15 more. Allen went to Sherfield for 5, Shakir for 11, and Diggs for a 25 yard touchdown to get the Bills within 22-17. The Patriots quickly faced 2nd and 15 from their own 20. Jones hit Bourne for 9 but Bourne fumbled and the Bills recovered at the New England 29. Allen hit Shakir for 13. On 4th and 2 from the New England 8 with 2:40 to play, the Bills could have kicked a field goal and played defense. That is gutless football. Either you trust your offense to make 2 yards by the goal line or you don’t. Sean McDermott trusts his players. Allen hit Kincaid for 4. On 3rd and goal at the one, Allen got in. Allen hit Knox for the 2 point conversion. At the 2 minute warning, the Bills had stormed back for a 25-22 lead. New England put up a fight, but they were about to go to 1-6 on the year.
After a touchback, a short completion from Jones to Raimondre Stevenson went for 34 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the Buffalo 39, Jones went to Hunter Henry for 14. Jones hit Parker for 8, Stevenson for 10, and Douglas for 6 down to the Buffalo one yard line. 15 seconds remained. After an incompletion, Jones hit Mike Gesicki for the touchdown. With 12 seconds left, the Patriots had the miracle 4 point lead. After a touchback, Allen ran for 7 yards but then fumbled the ball away as the clock hit double zeroes. In thrilling fashion, Bill Belichick won his 300th regular season game and 331st overall win. Belichick is 16 games behind the late Don Shula for most overall wins. As ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman reminds us, “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES!” 29-25 Patriots
Washington Commanders at New York Giants — Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game for the ages. This was not that game. Early on Graham Gano missed a 42 yard field goal for the Giants. In the second quarter, Tyrod Taylor hit Robinson and Darrius Slayton for a pair of 22 yard gains. Taylor hit Darren Waller for 13. Taylor ran for 20. On 3rd and goal at thE 15 to start the second quarter, Taylor hit Waller for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Giants. An interception of Sam Howell gave the Giants a short field at the Washington 48. Taylor hit Waller for 16 and Saquon Barkley for a 32 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Giants. The Giants were in total control in the third quarter until they fumbled a punt. The Commanders recovered at the Giants 21. On 4th and 1 from the Giants 12, Riverboat Ron Rivera went for it. Howell went to Dotson for 8. Robinson ran for a 4 yard touchdown. The Commanders were down by 7 and had a full 25 minutes left in the game to tie it. Early in the fourth quarter, Rivera decided not to go for it on 4th and 3 from the Giants 9. Joey Slye’s 27 yard field goal try was blocked. The Giants moved from their own 20 to a 1st and goal at the 10. Barkley gained 3 and then fumbled the ball away. This was the Stop or Bowl. The Commanders from their own 8 embarked on a 17 play drive. On 3rd and 5 from the Giants 7 with one minute to play, Howell threw incomplete twice. May the tape of this game be burned. It was a battle of who wanted it least. 14-7 Giants
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Early on Todd Bowles gambled on 4th and 5 from the Atlanta 41. Baker Mayfield threw incomplete. Desmond Ridder quickly hit Hodge for 19, Smith for 7, and Smith again for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Ridder got in to make it 7-0 Falcons. The Buccaneers took over at their own 33. Mayfield hit Cade Otton for 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Atlanta 42, Mayfield gained 2. Mayfield then went deep to Mike Evans for a 40 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game. Each team scored a touchdown in the first quarter. Each team failed to reach the end zone in the final three quarters. In the second quarter, Younghoe Koo hit a 24 yard field goal for the Falcons. Chase McLaughlin answered for the Buccaneers from 24. When not exchanging field goals, the teams exchanged turnovers twice. Koo hit from 41 late in the third quarter. Mclaughlin hit from 36 with 45 seconds remaining in regulation. The game was tied 7-7 after one, 10-10 at the half, and 13-13 in the final minute. After a touchback, Ridder went deep to Pitts for a 39 yard gain. With 4 seconds left, Koo came in for a 51 yard field goal try for the win. If ever a game did not deserve overtime, this was it. Koo spared the viewers. His kick was good. 16-13 Falcons
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams — The first quarter was a scoreless defensive bonelock. Brett Maher’s 53 yard field goal try for the Rams doinked off the upright no good. The second quarter began with Chris Boswell hitting his 53 yard field goal try to make it 3-0 Steelers. Maher did hit a 41 yarder for a 3-3 game. The Rams faced 3rd and 3 from their own 19 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. Matthew Stafford went to Nacua for 36. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 36, Darrell Henderson went for 5. Stafford went to Tutu Atwell for a 31 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Rams led 9-3 with 17 seconds left in the half. Yet on the first play of the third quarter from his own 26, Stafford was intercepted by TJ Watt. He returned the pick 24 yards to the Rams 7. On 3rd and goal at the one, Kenny Pickett got in for a 10-9 Steelers lead. The Rams soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 32. The defense jumped offside. Stafford went deep to Nacua for 32. On 3rd and 7 from the Pittsburgh 28, Stafford went to Nacua for 20. On 3rd and goal at the one, Henderson got in. Sean McVay went for the 2 point conversion and Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp for a 17-10 Rams lead after three quarters.
Late in the third quarter the Rams had a chance to go up 20-10, but from 51 yards out Maher missed again. The Steelers began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 8 from their own 43. Pickett went to Johnson for 39. Warren ran for 5 and then for the 13 yard touchdown for a 17-17 tie. The Steelers got it back and faced 3rd and 1 from their own 32. Pickett gained 2. Pickett hit George Pickens for 21. Harris gained 10. Pickett hit Johnson for 11 and Hayward for 11 more. Harris ran for the 3 yard touchdown to put the Steelers up by 7 midway through the fourth quarter. The Steelers got the ball back at their own 14 with 5 1/2 minutes left. On 3rd and 3, Pickett went deep to Pickens for 31. Everything came down to the Steelers facing 4th and 1 at the Rams 39 with the Rams out of timeouts. Mike Tomlin went for it. Pickett got the yard and then took 3 knees. This was shrouded in controversy as Pickett appeared short of the first down. He was given a very generous spot by the officials. Sean McVay could not challenge the spot because the Rams were out of timeouts. Just like the 1979 season when these teams met in the Super bowl, the Rams led after three quarters but the Steelers won the fourth quarter 14-0 and the game. By next week, that statistic will be useless and this game will be forgotten. 24-17 Steelers
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks — In the first quarter from their own 39, the Seahawks made it look easy. Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett for 8. Kenneth Walker III ran for 25. Smith hit his non-relative Smith-Nigba for a 28 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Seahawks. The Seahawks soon fumbled a punt and the Cardinals recovered at the Seattle 30. On 3rd and 6, Joshua Dobbs threw incomplete. Matt Prater hit a 44 yard field goal to get the Cardinals within 7-3. The Cardinals got it back at their own 20. From their 33, Demercado gained 18. On 3rd and 7 from the Seattle 46, Dobbs hit Wilson for 11. Moore gained 15. An interception of Dobbs was wiped out by roughing the passer. Dobbs ran for a 25 yard touchdown to have the Cardinals up 10-7 in the second quarter. The Seahawks took over at their own 24. Smith hit non-relative Smith-Nigba for gains of 12 and 13. On 3rd and 10 from the Arizona 46, Smith hit Lockett for 15. On 3rd and 5 from the Arizona 26, Smith went to Lockett for 8 and to Jake Bobo for an 18 yard touchdown to put the Seahawks up 14-10. After a touchback, the Cardinals reached 2nd and 2 at the Seattle 27 with 37 seconds left in the half. Offensive holding and a sack pushed them out of field goal range. The second half was an unwatchable slog. Jake Myers hit field goals of 21 in the third quarter and 48 late in the fourth quarter to lock up the win. The Cardinals missed a third quarter field goal and turned the ball over twice on downs on the fourth quarter. The Cardinals are a 1-6 mess. 20-10 Seahawks
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos — Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game for the ages. Again, this was not that game. However, it was interesting late. Wil Lutz hit field goals of 32 in the first quarter and 29 and 35 in the second quarter to give the Broncos a 9-0 halftime lead in a game deserving no further elaboration. Anders Carlson missed from 43 late in the half to set up Lutz’s last kick. Carlson did hit from 29 in the third quarter. After a touchback, Russell Wilson went to Jerry Jeudy for 18. Williams ran for 21 and 9. On 3rd and 4 from the Green Bay 18, Wilson went to Cortland Sutton for the touchdown. with 6 minutes left in the third quarter, the Broncos had a comfortable 16-3 lead.
After a touchback, Jordan Love went deep to Watson for 23. On 3rd and 6 from the Denver 48, Love threw incomplete but defensive holding meant an automatic first down. On 3rd and 7 from the Denver 40, Love went to Reed for 12. Aaron Jones gained 11. Love went to Romeo Doubs for a 16 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 16-10. The Packers got it back at their own 24 to start the fourth quarter. Love went to Musgrave for18 with a defensive personal foul resulting in a disqualification and 15 more yards. On 4th and 1 from the Denver 29, Matt LaFleur went for it. Love went to Sims for 2. AJ Dillon gained 15. Love gained 10. With 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation the Packers faced 4th and 2 from the Denver 4. LaFleur went for it again. Love hit Reed for the touchdown to put the Packers up 17-16. After a touchback, the Broncos moved to a 2nd and 5 at the Green Bay 34. Wilson threw incomplete and got tackled for no gain. Lutz hit a key 52 yard field goal to put the Broncos up by 2 with 4 minutes left. After a touchback, the Packers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Denver 44 with 2:22 left. A few more yards would mean long field goal range and a shot at the lead. Offensive holding was a killer. On 4th and 20, Love went deep and was intercepted. 19-17 Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs moved from their own 17 to a 3rd and 7 at the Chargers 17. Patrick Mahomes threw incomplete. Harrison Butker hit a 35 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Chiefs. After a touchback the Chargers moved to a 2nd and 8 at the Kansas City 24. Justin Herbert was sacked to kill the drive. Cameron Dicker nailed a 55 yard field goal for a 3-3 game. In the second quarter the game turned into a track meet.
After a touchback, Mahomes went to Toney for 13. The second quarter began with the Chiefs facing 3rd and 3 at their own 45. Mahomes went to Travis Kelce for 9 and deep to Marques Valdes-Scantling for a 46 yard touchdown and a 10-3 Chiefs lead. The Chargers soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 27, Herbert went to Donald Parham for 9. Kelley ripped off a 49 yard touchdown for a 10-10 game. The Chiefs came right back. On 2nd and 7 from their own 28, Mahoems went to Kelce for 13 and again for 53. Mahomes went to Rice for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Chiefs. After a touchback the Chargers struck back just as fast. Herbert went deep to Palmer for a 60 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Herbert hit Everett for a touchdown and a 17-17 deadlock.
With 2:48 left in the half, the Chiefs were pinned at their own 4 yard line. Rather than run the ball, Walrus Andy Reid went big and bold. Mahomes connected with Rice for 37 and Kelce for 15 and 5. Mahomes went to Valdes-Scantling for 28. On 2nd and 23 from the Chargers 24, Mahomes went deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one with 15 seconds left in the half. Mahoems hit kielce for the touchdown as the Chiefs led 21-14 at the intermission. After a second quarter explosion, the second half was all defense. One play made the difference. With 6 minutes left in regulation, a 60 yard punt return gave the Chiefs a short field at the Chargers 35. Mahomes went to Rice for 12. On 3rd and 6 from the Chargers 14, Mahomes hit newly reacquired Mecole Hardman for just enough. Mahomes went to Pacheco for an 8 yard touchdown with 3 1/2 minutes left to lock up the win. The Chiefs are 6-1 and already running away with the AFC West for the 8th straight year, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 31-17 Chiefs.
Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles was the Sunday night game. A potential Super Bowl matchup between a pair of 5-1 teams offered a good football game. The Eagles took over at their own 23 and moved 71 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. On 1st and goal at the 6, a sack and a pair of failed runs ended the drive. Jake Elliott hit a 24 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Eagles. The eagles got it back and faced 3rd and 8 from their own 33. Jalen Hurts was sacked and fumbled. The Dolphins recovered at the Philadelphia 23. On 2nd and goal at the 7, a swing pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill lost 5 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 12, a touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Hill was nullified by offensive holding. After an incompletion, Sanders hit a 40 yard field goal for a 3-3 game.
The Eagles took over at their own 39. The second quarter saw the Eagles get stopped on 3rd and 1 at the Miami 37. Nick Sirianni went for it on 4th and 1. Hurts gained 2. Roughing the passer on an incompletion added 15. Hurts went to Dallas Goedert for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 10-3 Eagles. The Eagles got it back at their own 20. Hurts went to AJ Brown for 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 36, Hurts gained 5 with defensive holding adding 5 more. Hurts hit Smith for 13. On 4th and 3 from the Miami 33, Nick Sirianni gambled. Rather than just move the chains, Hurts went deep tp Brown for a 32 yard gain down to the one. Hurts got in as the Eagles led 17-3 with 3 minutes left in the half.
The Dolphins soon faced 3rd and 18 from their own 20. Tagovailoa went deep to Wilson for 29 and Hill for 15. On 3rd and 8 from the Philadelphia 27, Tagovailoa went deep to Hill for the touchdown. With 40 seconds left in the half the Dolphins were within 17-10. In the third quarter the Dolphins moved from their own 36 to a 4th and 3 at the Philadelphia 21. Mike McDaniel passed up a 39 yard field goal try and went for it. Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Yet on the very next play, Hurts was intercepted by Baker. Baker returned the pick 22 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 17-17 game.
After a touchback, Hurts kept going. He ran for 12 and went deep to Smith for 25. On 3rd and 7 from the Miami 24, Hurts went to Goedert for 10. Hurts went to Brown for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 24-17 Eagles after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Dolphins moved from their own 31 to a 3rd and 8 at the Philly 24. Tagovailoa went for it all to tie the game and was intercepted by Darrius Slay at the one yard line. Slay returned the interception 16 yards to his own 17. With 10 minutes left in regulation, Nick Sirianni appeared to lose his mind. He went for it on 4th and 1 from his own 26. Everyone from Barry Switzer to Brandon Staley to even Bill Belichick have been roasted for this. Yet nobody does the tush push like Hurts, and he gained 2. Midway through the fourth quarter Sirianni played with fire again, gambling on 4th and 1 from his own 37. Another tush push by Hurts gained 2. On 3Hurts then went deep to Brown for 42. rd and 4 from his own 45, the defensive jumped offside. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 5 and then the 3 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach with 5 minutes left. 31-17 Eagles
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings was the Monday night game. The 49ers were knocked from the unbeaten ranks last week but were expected to steamroll the faltering Vikings. The Vikings got the ball first. On the third play from scrimmage, Kirk Cousins threw an interception. The 49ers moved from the Minnesota 48 to the Minnesota 15. Christian McCaffrey got the carry and fumbled the ball back to the Vikings. The Vikings soon faced 3rd and 12 from their own 9. Cousins hit TJ Hockenson for 16 and Jordan Addison for 11. From midfield, Cousins went to Hockenson for 22. On 3rd and 2 from the San Francisco 20, Cousins went to Addison for the touchdown. The 10 play, 89 yard, 6 minute drive made it 7-0 Vikings. After a touchback, the 49ers moved 53 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. On 2nd and 5 from the Minnesota 22, a pair of plays went nowhere. The second quarter began with Moody missing a 40 yard field goal try. The Vikings from their own 30 moved 67 yards in 13 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. On 1st and goal at the 2, Mattison lost a yard and Cousins threw incomplete twice. Greg Joseph hit a 24 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Vikings.
THE 49ers soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 28. Brock Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk for 25. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 38, McCaffrey gained 3. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 26 at the 2 minute warning, McCaffrey gained 8. Purdy hit Dwelley for 12. McCaffrey ran for 3 and then for the 3 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive had the 49ers right back in it down 10-7 with one minute left in the half. After a touchback, the Vikings faced 3rd and 6 at their own 40 with 17 seconds left. What came next was not the Minneapolis Miracle, but it still had Paul Allen and Skol fans going crazy. Forget the field goal. Cousins went to Addison for a 60 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Vikings led 16-7 at halftime in front of an electrified home crowd. Despite a relatively low score, neither team punted in the first half. The 49ers began the third quarter with their first and only punt of the game. The Vikings from their own 21 moved 77 yards in 11 plays and 5 minutes. Despite 1st and goal at the one, a run got stopped followed by a false start. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Cousins threw incomplete. Kevin O’Connell was not in a gambling mood. Joseph hit the 20 yard field goal to make it 19-7 Vikings.
After a touchback, the 49ers struck quickly. Purdy hit McCaffrey for 12, George Kittle for 28, and McCaffrey again for a 35 yard touchdown. The 49ers were right back in it down 19-14. The Vikings took over at their own 14 and moved 50 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Joseph nailed a 54 yard field goal to put the Vikings up 22-14 after three quarters. The 49ers began the fourth quarter quickly moving from their own 32 to the Minnesota 37. Yet on 2nd and 6, Purdy threw incomplete twice. Kyle Shanahan decided not to go for it, trusting Moody with a 56 yard field goal try. Moody delivered to get the 49ers within 5 points. The Vikings took over at their own 28 and moved to a 3rd and 4 at the San Francisco 42. Cousins threw incomplete. Kevin O’Connell was not in a gambling mood in going for it or trying a 60 yard field goal. For the first and only time all game, the Vikings punted. The 49ers moved from their own 20 to just past midfield. Purdy went deep and was intercepted at the Minnesota 30. The Vikings moved to a 4th and 6 at the Minnesota 32 with 1:16 to play. Jospeh came in for a 50 yard field goal try to make it an 8 point game. His kick was no good. The 49ers took over at their own 40 needing a touchdown to win. From the Minnesota 40 with 30 seconds left, Purdy went deep and was intercepted again. The 49ers lost their second straight. 22-17 Vikings