NFL 2025 Week 9 Recap
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins was the Thursday night game. Both teams were terrible, but the Ravens at 1-5 were expected to get an emotional lift with the return of Lamar Jackson from injury. An early 49 yard Riley Patterson field goal had the Dolphins up 3-0. Yet on their next offensive series, a Dolphins fumble set up the Ravens at the Miami 7 yard line. John Harbaugh gambled on 4th and goal at the 2. Jackson hit Mark Andrews for the touchdown to make it 7-3 Ravens. Patterson then missed a 35 yard field goal. The Ravens took over at their own 25. Jackson went to Bay Flowers for 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 42, Jackson went to Isaiah likely for 35. The second quarter began with Jackson going to Andrews for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Ravens. The Dolphins managed one more field goal before the half, but the second half belonged to the Baltimore defense. The Ravens began the third quarter at their own 32. On 3rd and 6, Jackson ran for 13. Jackson hit Likely for 10 and 15. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 5, Andrews gained 2. Jackson hit Kolar for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 21-6 Ravens. The Ravens got it back at their own 40. Jackson went to Flowers for 39 and to Bateman for a 9 yard touchdown to complete the scoring. The fourth quarter was scoreless. 28-6 Ravens
Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots — The Falcons led 28-3 in the third quarter, 28-9 in the fourth quarter, and 28-12 late in the fourth quarter. They lost that Super Bowl 34-28 in overtime. In this game, the Patriots are a good team and the Falcons are inconsistent. In the first quarter the Patriots faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. Jennings gained 6. Drake Maye went to Henderson for 11. Maye went for 12. Maye went back to Henderson for 19 and to Douglas for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Patriots. The Falcons took over at their own 47. Michael Penix went to Pitts for 22 and to London for 16. Penix hit Bijan Robinson for 12. Penix hit London for a one yard touchdown to make it 7-7 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter the Patriot faced 3rd and 10 at their own 35. Maye went to Hunter Henry for 11. On 3rd and 7 just shy of midfield, Maye went to Henry for 9. Maye hit Austin Hooper for 20. Jennings gained 11 and then the 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Patriots. The Patriots got it back at their own 28. On 3rd and 7 Maye went bombs away to Douglas for a 58 yard gain. Maye went to Stefan Diggs for an 11 yard touchdown and a 21-7 Patriots lead.
The Patriots got it back and were at midfield when Maye was sacked and fumbled. Pearce returned the fumble 27 yards to the New England 6. Penix went to London for a 2 yard touchdown to get the Falcons within 21-14. The Patriots managed a 32 yard Borregales third quarter field goal to make it 24-14 Patriots. Over 21 minutes still remained, but the Patriots offense took the rest of the night off. The Patriots had to rely on their defense to preserve the win.
An interception of Maye gave the Falcons the ball just shy of midfield. Parker Romo hit a 38 yard field goal to get the Falcons within 24-17 one minute into the fourth quarter. The Falcons got it back at their own 15 with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Penix went to Robinson for 10 and then deep to London for a 40 yard gain. On 4th and 4 from the New England 20, Penix went to London for 10. On 4th and goal at the 8, Penix went to London for the touchdown. Yet Romo missed the extra point. Rather than a tie game, the Falcons trailed by a point. With 3 1/2 minutes left, the Falcons got the ball back at their own 19 needing only a field goal to win and get redemption for Romo. At the 2 minute warning on 4th and 20 from their own 42, Raheem Morris opted to punt and trust his defense. Everything came down to the Patriots facing 3rd and 5 at their own 23 with 1:42 left and the Falcons out of timeouts. Maye went to Henry for 17 and then took a couple knees. The Patriots have quietly under mike Vrabel gotten to 7-2 on the year. 24-23 Patriots
Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans — The Chargers perpetually underachieve, but they were expected to steamroll the pathetic Titans. Early on Justin Herbert was intercepted by Barton, who returned the pick 24 yards for a defensive touchdown and a surprising 7-0 Titans lead. The Chargers got it back at their own 24 and a defensive facemask penalty gifted them 15 yards. Herbert hit Harris for 15. Herbert went deep to Gadsden for 34. Herbert hit Matlock for a 2 yard touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame. The Chargers got it back but had to punt on 4th and 15 from their own 7. Chimere Dike returned the punt 67 yards for a special teams touchdown and a 14-7 Titans lead. Yet while the Titans had a touchdown on defense and another on special teams, their offense would not reach the end zone. Their lead after the first quarter was illusory.
In the second quarter the Chargers moved from their own 35 to a 2nd and 8 at the Tennessee 9. Herbert threw incomplete twice. Cameron Dicker hit a 27 yard field goal to get the Chargers within 14-10 one minute into the second quarter. The Chargers got it back at their own 30. Herbert went to Ladd McConkey for 21 and again for 16. Herbert found Johnston for a 19 yard touchdown for a 17-14 Chargers lead. Joey Slye nailed a 49 yard field goal to tie the game 17-17 with 5 minutes left in the second quarter.
Dicker nailed a 52 yard field goal to have the Chargers up 20-17 at the midpoint. The third quarter was scoreless. Midway through the third quarter, the Titans had 3rd and goal at the one. A run went nowhere. Interim head Coach Mike McCoy went for it. Looking for the lead on 4th and goal at the one, Pollard got the carry for the second straight play and got stopped cold again. From their own one, the Chargers got aggressive. Herbert went to Gadsden for 14 and to Keenan Allen for 10. Patterson ran for 6 and 9. Herbert gained 10. On 3rd and 4 from the Tennessee 35, Herbert went to Johnston for 23. On 3rd and 1 from the Tennessee 3, Herbert gained 2. Herbert got the lsat yard to cap the 15 play, 99 yard, 9 minute drive. The Chargers led 27-17 with 13 minutes left in regulation.
Needing 2 scores, Slye hit a 37 yard field goal to get the Titans within 7 with 4:20 to play. On 3rd and 3 from their own 42 with 3 1/2 minutes left, Herbert hit Harris for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Tennessee 46, Herbert gained 2 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and 1 from the Tennessee 35 with 1:10 left, Herbert got the yard and then took a knee. 27-20 Chargers
Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals — Sometimes a pair of boring teams can come together and play a thrilling game. This actually was that game. 11 seconds into the game, the Bengals led 7-0 when Jones returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The Bears began facing 3rd and5 at their own 32. Caleb Williams went to Zaccheaus for 9. On 3rd and 10 from their own 41, Williams was sacked but defensive illegal contact meant a new set of downs. Williams hit Moore for 16 and 19. Ben Johnson gambled on 4th and goal at the 2. Williams hit Moore for the touchdown and the 7-7 tie.
A strong kickoff return had the Bengals at their own 45. That was enough for Evan McPherson to hit a 41 yard field goal to have the Bengals up 10-7. The Bears took over at their own 26. Monanga ran for 13. Williams ran for 13 and 10. On 3rd and 5 from the Cincinnati 43, Monanga gained 9. On 4th and 6 from the Cincinnati 30, Cairo Santos came in for a 47 yard field goal try to tie the game. The kick was no good, but the defense jumped offside. That made it 4th and 1, and Ben Johnson decided to gamble. Monanga gained 5. On the first play of the second quarter, Williams went to Zaccheaus for a 15 yard touchdown, The first lead change of the game had the Bears up 14-10. McPherson hit a 33 yard field goal and Santos countered from 24 to make it 17–13 Bears.
The Bengals took over st their own 37 with 1:24 left in the half. Joe Flacco went to JaMarr Chase for 19. Flacco then went bombs away to Tee Higgins for a 44 yard touchdown. The second lead change of the game had the Bengals up 20-17. Santos came in for a 47 yard field goal try to tie the game at the half. His kick was blocked. The Bears began the third quarter at their own 23, Williams hit Moore for 14, Monangai for 11, Zaccheaus for 14, and Monangai again for 11. On third and goal at the 5, Williams hit Loveland for the touchdown. The third lead change of the game had the Bears up 24-20 midway through the third quarter.
The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 38. Flacco went deep to Hudson for 33 and to Tinsley for 27 more. Flacco found Higgins for a 2 yard touchdown. The fourth lead change and the Bengals up 27-24. The Bears took over at their own 26. Monangai gained 9. Williams went deep to Loveland for 31. On 3rd and 1 from the Cincinnati 25, Brown gained 2. Brown then ripped off a 22 yard touchdown run. The fifth lead change had the Bears up 31-27 after three quarters. As crazy as this game was, the fourth quote was even crazier. The teams would combine for 31 fourth quarter points.
Things started slow as the Bengals fumbled. Santos hit a 36 yard field goal to make it 34-27 Bears. The Bengals reached a 3rd and 3 at the Chicago 26, but an intentional grounding penalty on Flacco cost the Bengals 10 yards. From 54 yards out, McPherson was no no good. From their own 44, the Bears struck quickly. Monangai gained 39. Moore raced for a 17 yard touchdown. With 5 minutes left in regulation, 17 unanswered points had the Bears up 41-27. It appeared this game was finally over. The Bengals moved quickly to a 1st and goal at the 5. Flacco was then intercepted. Only 2:46 remained. From their own 4 yard line, Ben Johnson went ultra conservative with 3 straight runs. For the Bears, this was FCO1. The Bengals got the ball back at their own 45, but they were down by 14 with only 2:24 left and 0 timeouts.
Flacco went to Chase for 11, to Iosivas for 19, and to Fant for a 23 yard touchdown. They took only 30 seconds to score. Zac Taylor went for the nonsensical 2 paint try that coaches are now doing that hey should stop. This time it worked as Flacco hit Higgins successfully. With 1:43 to play, the Bengals were within 41-35. For the Bears, this was FCO2. McPherson then came up big as a perfectly executed onside kick gave the Bengals the ball at their own 43. For the Bears, this was FCO3. Flacco went to Higgins for 12 and again for 23. Flacco found Brown for 15. Flacco then found Iosivas for the 9 yard touchdown. For the Bears, this was FCO4. More importantly, the sixth lead change of the game had the Bengals overcome a 14 point deficit in the final 2 minutes. The Bengals had the 42-41 miracle comeback.
Yet 50 seconds still remained and the Bears from their own 28 needed only a field goal to win. On 3rd and 10, Williams gained 14. Yet Santos would never get his chance at the winning kick. He didn’t need it. In a game with no defense, this game stayed consistent to the end. Williams went bombs away to Loveland for a 58 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Bears after the seventh lead change led by 5 points with 17 seconds left. The Bengals took over at their own 35. From their own 48 with 20 seconds left, there was still time to try one more shorter throw before the Hail Mary. Flacco has a cannon of an arm, but he never got the chance at the Hail Mary. His pass to set up was intercepted at the Chicago 20. After 89 points, it was defense that sealed the win.
The teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. The Bengals had nearly 500 yards of offense while the Bears had nearly 600. Flacco was a ridiculous 31 of 47 for 470 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Williams was 20 of 34 for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. Yet the Bengals only had 46 yards rushing on 15 carries. The Bears on the other hand pounded the ball 37 times for 283 yards, led by Monangai’s 167 yards on 26 carries for nearly 7 yards per carry. This instant classic was worth the watch. 47-42 Bears
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers were coming off an embarrassing home loss to Green Bay. Now the Steelers were at home against the 7-1 Colts and the hottest offense in the league. The Colts began at their own 21. Daniel Jones went to Pierce for 10. On 3rd and 11 from their own 30, Jones went to pierce for 18 and again for 36. Shane Steichen gambled on 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 7. Jonathan Taylor gained 2. Steichen gambled again on 4th and goal at the one. Jones got the yard as the 13 play, 79 yard, 5 minute drive made it 7-0 Colts. In the second quarter the Colts were driving again and faced 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 38. Then the key play came when Jones was sacked and fumbled. The Steelers took over at their own 44.
A defensive facemask penalty gave the Steelers 15 yards. On 4th and 1 from the Indianapolis 20, it was Mike Tomlin’s turn to gamble. Hayward took the direct snap 4 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Indianapolis 13, Aaron Rodgers hit Austin for 11. On 3rd and goal at the one, Warren got in for a 7-7 ballgame. Jones was then quickly intercepted by Wilson, who returned the pick 17 yards to the Indianapolis 14. Two plays later Aaron Rodgers hit Pat Freiermuth for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Steelers. The Steelers got it back and moved all the way to a 1st and 10 at the Indianapolis 12 with 15 seconds left in the half. A sack of Rodgers killed the drive. Chris Boswell hit the 25 yard field goal. The Steelers led 17-7 at the half and by that same score after a scoreless third quarter. Another inception of Jones late in the third quarter gave the Steelers the ball at their own 44. Rodgers hit Washington for 11, Johnson for 9, Austin for 18, and Washington again for 13. The fourth quarter began with Warren running for a 2 yard touchdown. 24 straight points had the Steelers up big 24-7.
Needing 3 scores, the Colts tried to rally as Mike Badgley hit a 52 yard field goal. Yet a Colts fumble in their own territory led to a 46 yard Boswell field goal and a 27-10 Steelers lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 31. Jones went to Warren for 6. Jones hit Pierce for 17 and Pittman for 21 and 16. Jones found Downs for a 4 yard touchdown but the Colts still trailed 27-17 with 4 1/2 minutes left. The onside kick failed. Yet looking to put the game away with a short field, the Steelers fumbled. It didn’t matter as Jones was intercepted again. By the time the Colts got the ball back at their own 12, only one minute remained. Needing 2 scores, Badgley hit a 53 yard field goal with 9 seconds remaining to make the score look respectable. The onside kick failed and Rodgers took a knee as the Steelers closed out a win that was not as close ss the score made it appear. While this was not as big as the Steelers shocking the 1402 Colts in the playoffs 20 years ago, it was still a big win. 27-20 Steelers
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants — These teams played some epic playoff games in the past, with the winner often winning it all. The 49ers came in the much better team but the Giants started hot out of the gate from their own 36. On 3rd and 5, Jaxson Dart gained 6. Dart threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Johnson to make it 7-0 Giants. The 49ers soon faced 4th and 1 at their own 41. Kyle Shanahan gambled on his own side of the field and Mac Jones gained 2. Jones went to Christian McCaffrey for 9 and to Watkins for 19. McCaffrey ran for 16, 4 and 3. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 5, Jones went to McCaffrey for the touchdown to make it 7-7.
The 49ers took over in the second quarter at their own 20. Jones found kyle Juszczyk for 12. McCaffrey ran for 12 and 8. Robinson added 16. Jones found Bourne for 21. On 3rd and 5 from the Giants 11, Jones hit Jennings for the touchdown to make it 14-7 49ers. Eddie Pineiro tacked on a 54 yard field goal to make it 17-7 49ers. Graham Gano wasted a fumble recovery for the Giants by missing a 45 yard field goal try near the end of the half. Pineiro connected again from 33 as 20 straight points had the 49ers up 20-7 in the third quarter.
Midway through the third quarter, the Giants faced 3rd and goal at the 5 with a chance to get back in it. Dart threw a West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass that gained only 2 yards. As the crowd booed, Brian Daboll got them to boo even louder by refusing to go for its on 4th and goal at the 3. Gano hit the 22 yard field goal to get the Giants within 20-10. In the fourth quarter the 49er broke the game open. From their own 24, Jones went to Bourne for 13. McCaffrey ran for 9, 10, 5, 4, ad on 3rd and on1 from the Giants 35, a critical 2. Robinson ran for 10 and then for th 18 yard touchdown to have the 49ers up 27-10. The Giants managed a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter but the 49ers had too much firepower on offense. From their own 41, Jones hit McCaffrey for 39. On 3r and goal at the 3, McCaffrey got in to make it 34-17 49ers with 4 1/2 minutes left. The Giants got one more garbage touchdown. The 49ers got to 6-3 while the Giants fell to 2-7 on the year. 34-24 49ers
Denver Broncos at Houston Texans — Both teams have very good defenses but the Texans lack the offensive firepower. They ere coming off an emotional slugfest win over San Francisco and looking to build with consecutive home wins. Ech team missed a field goal on their opening drive before Kaimi Fairbairn hit from 23 to make it 3-0 Texans. A second quarter interception of Bo Nix led to Fairbairn hitting from 41 to make it 6-0 Texans. The Broncos took over at their own 30. Nix went to Adam Trautman for 21. On 3rd and 7 from the Houston 46, Nix found Bandy for 16. On 3rd and 10 from the Houston 30, Nix went deep to Cortland Sutton for the touchdown to make it 7- 6 Broncos. The Texans would not reach the end zone the entire game but Fairbairn tacked on two more second quarter field goals of 38 and 40 and a third quarter field goal from 41. Fairbairn’s 5 field goals had the Texans up 15-7 after three quarters.
The Broncos took over at their own 39. Nix went to Franklin for 13. The Broncos began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 7 at the Houston 45. Nix went to Bryant for just enough. Nix went deep to Harvey for a 27 yard touchdown. Sean Payton went for 2 and Nix hit Franklin successfully. The game wa tied 15-15 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The defenses dug in as 7 straight punts followed, with 4 by Houston and 3 by Denver. With only 50 seconds left in regulation, the Broncos took over at their own 35. Nix broke free for a 25 yard gain. JK Dobbins ran for 9 and 2 and Nix added 9 more. With 3 seconds left, Wil Lutz came in for a 34 yard try to win it. Lutz was good as the Broncos got the tough road win and the Texans suffered another agonizing loss in a season of them. The Broncos are 7-2 on the year and leading the AFC West. 18-15 Broncos
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions — Last year these were the two best teams in the NFL. Yet sam Darnold is now in Seattle and Carson Wentz is out injured. Despite being in his second season, JJ McCarthy was starting just his third NFL game as he returned from injury. The Lions high octane offense got going right out of the gate from their own 28. Jared Goff went to Sam Laporta for 15 and 11. On 4th and 4 form the Minnesota 40, it was time for an early Dan Campbell gamble. Goff went deep to LaPorta for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Lions. The Vikings got an immediate jolt when Price returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards to the Detroit 36. Aaron Jones ran for 11. On 3rd and 9 from the Detroit 24, McCarthy went to Jones for 14 and to Justin Jefferson for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 7-7.
The Vikings got it back at their own 36. Jones ran for 14, caught a pass from McCarthy for 6, and ran for 5. On 3rd and 9 from the Detroit 38McCarthy went deep to Addison for 31. McCarthy found TJ Hockenson for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Vikings after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Vikings had to punt on 4th and 13 from their own 4. A relatively short punt was returned 13 yards by Raymond to give the Lions excellent field position at the Minnesota 35. On 3rd and 1m Montgomery got the yard. Goff hit Montgomery for 13 and Amra St Brown for 9. On 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 2, Dan Campbell naturally went for it. Montgomery got the touchdown for a 14-14 tie.
Will Reichard hit a 50 yard field goal to have the Vikings up 17-14 at the midpoint. In the third quarter the Lions faced 3rd and 13 at their own 6. Just trying to play field position and punt, Montgomery gained 11 but fumbled the ball away. The Vikings took over at the Detroit 35. McCarthy went to Addison for 17. On 3rd and 8 from the Detroit 9, McCarthy ran for the touchdown to have the Vikings up 24-14. Jake Bates hit a 41 yard field goal for the Lions to end the third quarter, but his 45 yard field goal try with 6:45 to play was blocked and returned 41 yards. The Vikings moved to a 4th and goal at the 2 with 3 1/2 minutes left. Kevin O’Connell was not taking any chances. Reichard hit the 20 yard chip shot to give the Vikings breathing room up 27-17.
The Lions took over at their own 31. Goff went to St. Brown for 19. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 37, Goff went deep to Williams for the touchdown. The Lions were within a field goal with 1:55 left. Everything came down to 3rd and 5 for the Vikings from their own 26. Rather than go conservative, the Vikings put the ball in the hands of McCarthy. He hit Naylor for 16 to seal the upset road win. Both the 4-4 Vikings and the 5-3 Lions have lost more games this year than they did all of last year. 27-24 Vikings
Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers — 30 years ago these teams met in the NFC Title Game. This current game featured a very good Packers team against an overmatched Carolina squad. Both teams had long drives that resulted in turnovers. After a scoreless first quarter, Brandon McManus hit a 49 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Packers. The Panthers took over at their own 24. Rico Dowdle broke off a 29 yard run. On 3rd and 5 from the Green bay 47, Bryce Young went to Leggett for 22. Dave Canales went for it on 4th and 1 at the Green Bay 6. Dowdle got the yard. Dowdle ran for a 5 yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 7-3 with 2:22 left in the half. With 10 seconds left the Packers moved to a 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 8. Jordan Love threw incomplete. McManus hit from 27 to have the Packers within 7-6. In the third quarter McManus’s 43 yard try to give the Packers the lead was no good.
The Packers got it back but an interception of Love gave the Panthers a short field at the Green Bay 38. On 4th and goal at the 4, Dave Canales decided to go for it. Young threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. Dowdle got in for the touchdown. Yet Fitzgerald missed the extra point as the Panthers only led 13-6. Midway through the fourth quarter the Packers took over at their own 29. Love went to Musgrave for 21. On 4th and 3 from the Carolina 43, Love went to Heath for 11. On 3rd and goal at the one, Josh Jacobs got in. With 2 1/2 minutes left, the game was tied 13-13. The Panthers took over at their own 29. Young went to Coker for 9 and to McMillan for 10. Dowdle ripped off a 19 yard gain. With one second left, Fitzgerald came in for a 49 yard field goal try for the win and redemption. Fitzgerald’s kick was good, as the Panthers after the stunning road upset quietly got to 5-4 on the year. 16-13 Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders — Everything about the Raiders over the last 20+ years can be summed up by this one game. The Jaguars had mind-numbing drive that took 17 plays, 81 yards, and drained 10 1/2 minutes off the clock. Trevor Lawrence then went to the end zone and was intercepted for a touchback. The Raiders defense played inspired but got no help from the offense. Pete Carroll gambled with the Raiders facing 4th and 1 from the Jacksonville 37. He wanted to spark his team, but the offense is just not good enough for these kinds of bold gambles. They didn’t convert on 3rd and 1, so it made no sense to try again. Smith threw incomplete. The first quarter was scoreless.
In the second quarter the Raiders took over at their own 5. Smith went to Ashton Jeanty for 13 and to Thomas for 9. On 3rd and 1 from their own 27, Smith gained 2. Defensive gained 12. On 3rd and 3 just shy of midfield, Smith went to Jakobi Meyers for 4 and to Tre Tucker for 10. On 2nd and 13 from the Jacksonville 40, Smith went to Brock Bowers for 21. Smith went back to Bowers for a 7 yard touchdown. The 13 play, 95 yard, 5 minute drive had the Raiders up 6-0. Daniel Carlson missed the extra point. Only 35 seconds remained in the half, but the defense went soft. The Jaguars took over at their own 31. They only made it to midfield with 5 seconds left. Yet rather than try a Hail Mary, Liam Cohen instead went for history.
The NFL record for a field goal was 66 yards, set by former Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker. That kick hit the cross bar and got the favorable bounce. Cam Little was tasked with trying to make a 68 yard field goal. He had made a 70 yarder in preseason, but those do not count for record purposes. Little banged the daylights out of the ball. It might have been good from 75. The Jaguars trailed 6-3 at the half, but Little had just made NFL history. It gave the Jaguars momentum. The Raiders had a chance to blunt that momentum, but Geno Smith was immediately intercepted in the third quarter. Little hit from 33 for a 6-6 game.
The Raiders got a 54 yard kickoff return from Raheem Mostert to start with a short field at the Jacksonville 43. The Raiders moved to a 1st and goal at the one. Jeanty got the carry and got stopped. Then came the false start. Smith then threw incomplete twice. This was typical Raiders. Carlson hit from 24. The Raiders led 9-6 after three quarters. Yet while the first three quarters were a slugfest, the fourth quarter all of a sudden became a track meet. After three quarters the teams combined for 15 points. In the fourth quarter the teams combined for 31 points. The fourth quarter featured four lead changes.
The Jaguars took over at their own 31. Trevor Lawrence went to Washington for 22. On 3rd and 5 from the Raiders 42, Allen gained 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Raiders 23, Trevor Lawrence gained 2. On 4th and 2 from the Raiders 13, Liam Cohen went for it. Travis Etienne gained 6. The second quarter began with Lawrence running for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 13-9 Jaguars. The Raiders took over at their own 31. On 3rd and 1 Smith gained 2. Defensive unnecessary roughness added 15. On 3rd and 9 from the Jacksonville 35, Smith went to Mostert for 14. Smith went to Jeanty for a 15 yard touchdown to make it 16-13 Raiders with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
The Jaguars took over at th eir own 26. On 3rd and 11, Lawrence connected with Thomas for a 34 yard gain. defensive unnecessary roughness added 15. Travis Etienne ran for 20. On 3rd and goal at the one, Tuten got in. The Jaguars led 20-16, which was the exact score when the Jaguars overcame a 16-3 deficit to ruin the final Raiders home game in Oakland. Yet this time 4 minutes still remained. The Raiders took over at their own 38. Smith hit Bowers for a pair of 9 yard gains. Smith went to Mayer for 11 and Tucker for 6 at the 2 minute warning. Smith then found Bowers, who outraced everyone for a 27 yard touchdown. 4 straight touchdown drives, 2 by each team, had the Raiders up 23-20. Yet they scored too early. They left 1:52 on the clock. Because of the earlier missed extra point, the Jaguars needed only a field goal to force overtime. With 16 seconds left, Little delivered from 48. This game was going to overtime tied 23-23.
The Jaguars won the overtime coin toss and Trammell returned the opening overtime kickoff 54 yards. The Jaguars began with a short field at the Raiders 44. Lawrence went to Washington for 13. Etienne ran for 10. Tuten added 11 and 7. On 3rd and goal at the one, Lawrence got stopped. An easy field gaol would give the Jaguars the lead, but the Raiders would have a chance with the ball. On 4th and goal at the one, Liam Cohen wanted it all. With everything on the line, Lawrence got in. The Jaguars led 30-23, but the Raiders would get one chance with the ball and 3 1/2 minutes to do it.
This time it was Mostert returning the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to give the Raiders a short field at the Jacksonville 45. Smith went to Tucker for 22. On 3rd and 6 from the Jacksonville 19, Smith went to Bowers for 10. With 16 seconds left in overtime, Smith found Bowers for the touchdown. The Raiders were an extra point from tying the game. Yet Pete Carroll wanted the win.
No, no, no, no no! Take the tie. I understand that Herm Edwards said “You play to win the games!” Yet he was fired and has not been heard from in ages. It was one thing for Jack Del Rio to go for two in the 2016 Raiders season opener. Del rio had a stud quarterback in Derek Carr. It made sense for Jon Gruden to go for 2 on the final play of the 2020 regular season on the road. He had a bruiser in Josh Jacobs. This 2025 Raiders team has proven over and over again that they are not good enough for these types of gambles. I get that Pete Carroll wanted to spark his team, but heart cannot overcome a lack of talent. The offensive line is awful. There are no running lanes. Geno Smith is not a good enough quarterback. Just take the tie. Carroll was determined to get his team to believe. Smith had a wide open receiver in the corner. Instead he threw over the middle and his pass was batted down incomplete. The Raiders lost again. 30-29 Jaguars
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams — The Rams are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Saints are a mess. Sometimes a really bad team can go on the road and shock a really good team in an upset for the ages. This was not that game. Goliath beat up David and gave him a wedgie. The Rams took over at their own 12. Matthew Stafford went to Puka Nacua for 10 and 9, to Davante Adams for 20., and to Allen for 16. On 3rd and 4 from the New Orleans 27, Williams gained just enough. On 3rd and goal a the one, Stafford went to Higbee for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Rams. The Rams got it back and faced 3rd and 8 from their own 40. Stafford hit Ferguson for 18. The Rams began the second quarter with Sean McVay gambling on 4th and 3 from the New Orleans 35. Stafford threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 5 yards. Stafford went to Adams for a 3 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Rams led 13-0. The Saints managed a field goal but the Rams kept rolling from their own 35. Corum gained 21 and stafford hit Nacua for a 39 yard touchdown to make it 20-3 Rams. The Saints managed a touchdown before the half but this game was over. In the third quarter Stafford went to Adams for a 4 yard touchdown. In the fourth quarter on 4th and goal at the one, Kyren Williams got in to complete the scoring. The Rams are 6-2 while the Saints are 1-8 and getting worse. 34-10 Rams
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills — This is why we watch football. The Bills always seem to win this game in the regular season only for the Chiefs to win the rematch in the playoffs. The Bills began at their own 16. James Cook had runs of 7 and 17. On 3rd and 5 from the Kansas City 34, Josh Allen hit Johnson for 9. On 3rd and 8 from the Kansas City 23, Allen went to Dalton Kincaid for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Bills. The Bills got it back and Sean McDermott gambled on 4th and 2 from the Kansas City 47. Allen threw incomplete. From that spot, Patrick Mahomes went to Rasheed Rice for 20. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 9, Karim Hunt gained 6. Rice ran for a 3 yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter for a 7-7 game. On their next drive Harrison Butker kicked a 46 yard field goal for a 10-7 Chiefs lead.
The Bills took over at their own 30. Allen went to Hawes for 18. On 2nd and 13 from their own 45, Allen connected with Kincaid for a 47 yard gain. Johnson ran for a 3 yard touchdown for a 14-10 Bills lead. Walrus Andy Reid gambled on 4th and 3 from the Buffalo 39. Mahomes threw incomplete. Cook ran for 16 and 3. On 3rd and 2 from the Kansas City 36, Allen found Shakir for 3. Allen then ent deep to Dawson Knox for 30. Allen got in from the one to make it 21-10 Bills with 1:23 left in the half. The Chiefs moved to a 3rd and goal at the one with 9 seconds left. Mahomes threw incomplete, leaving 3 seconds. On 4th and goal at the one, Walrus Andy Reid surprised a lot of people by opting for the field goal. Butker hit the 19 yard chip shot to have the Chiefs within 21-13.
Late in the third quarter the Bills took over at their own 26. Allen went to Shakir for 20 and to Coleman for 11. Allen went to Moore for 28. On 3rd and goal at the one, Allen got in to have the Bills up 28-13 after three quarters. The Chiefs took over at their own 34. On 3rd and 10, Mahomes went deep to Malcolm Hollywood Brown for 33. The fourth quarter began with the Chiefs facing 4th and 17 from the Buffalo 40. Mahomes went to Rice for 29. On 4th and 1 from the Buffalo 2 with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation, this time Walrus Andy Reid was going for it. Hunt got the touchdown. Reid went for 2 and Mahomes hit Kelce successfully to have the Chiefs down by 7. The Chiefs got it back and with 4 1/2 minutes left faced 3rd and 11 at their own 23. Mah9omes was intercepted. With 27 seconds left, a 52 yard field goal try for the Bills to lock up the win was no good. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Buffalo 40, 3 Hail Mary attempts by Mahomes fell incomplete. The Bills beat the Chiefs for the 5th straight time in the regular season. Yet the Chiefs have the Super bowl Rings. The playoffs will tell if the Bills are finally over the hump. 28-21 Bills
Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders was the Sunday night game. The Seahawks are playing good football while the Commanders have regressed. The Seahawks took over at their own 10. Sam Darnold went to Horton for 13. Jackson Smith-Nigba for 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Seattle 47 Darnold went to Barner for 8. Kenneth Walker gained 12, 6 and 3. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 27, Darnold went to Walker for 14. Defensive pass interference added 10. Darnold hit Horton for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Seahawks.In the second quarter an interception of Jayden Daniel set the Seahawks up at their own 40. Darnold went to Smith-Nigba for 17. On 3rd and 3 from the Washington 36, Charbonnet gained 9, 6 and 4. Darnold went to Horton for a 25 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Seahawks. The Commanders fumbled the ensuing kickoff to set up the Seahawks at the Washington 26. One play and 5 seconds was enough for Darnold to hit Arroyo for the touchdown to make it 21-0 Seahawks. The Seahawks got it back at their own 13. On 3rd and 5, Darnold went to Smith-Nigba for 22. Darnold then went bombs away to White for a 60 yard touchdown and a 28-0 Seahawks lead. The rest of the game was pointless. The Commanders scored a second quarter touchdown while the Seahawks added a field goal. In the third quarter the Seahawks scored one more touchdown. In the fourth quarter the Commanders got one more garbage touchdown as the Seahawks got to 6-2 on the year. 38-14 Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys was the Monday night game. In 1998 the Cardinals went into Dallas and shocked the Cowboys in the playoffs. This year the Cowboys have no defense while the Cardinals are a mess relying on a backup quarterback. If there was any game for the Cowboys to right the ship, this was it. Early on the Cowboys moved to a 4th and goal at the 4. Rather than jus take the easy field goal, Brian Schottenheimer went for it. Dak Prescott was sacked. Ryland hit a 48 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cardinals. The Cardinals got it back at the Dallas 47. On 3rd and 14, Jacoby Brissett went to Marvin Harrison Jr for 20. Demercado ran for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 6, Knight gained 2. Brissett hit Harrison for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Cardinals in the second quarter.
The Cardinals were dominating but then had to punt on 4th and 9 from their own 36. The punt was blocked. Marshawn Kneeland recovered the blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown to get the Cowboys within 10-7. The Cardinals took over at their own 26. Brissett went to Higgins for 16 and to Harrison for 16 more. On 3rd and 3 from the Dallas 35, Brissett hit Knight for 12. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 6, Knight gained 5. Brissett got the last yard to make it 17-7 Cardinals. Brandon Aubrey was allowed to try a 68 yard field to end the half and make NFL history. His kick was wide left no good. The Cardinals began the third quarter at their own 26. Brissett immediately went deep to Wilson for 50. Knight gained 17. Brissett went to Terry McBride for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Cardinals. Aubrey hit a 26 yard field goal but Ryland answered from 34 to make it 27-10 Cardinals after three quarters. The Cowboys managed one garbage touchdown in the fourth quarter as their season of misery continued. 27-17 Cardinals