NFL 2022 Week 3 Recap
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns is the Thursday night game. Both of these teams lost at home last week. The Browns led by 13 with 1:55 left and lost in gut-wrenching fashion. A field position game saw the Browns kick a 25 yard punt to give the Steelers a short field at the Cleveland 48. Yet the Steelers failed to capitalize when Chris Boswell missed a 49 yard field goal. Kevin Stefanski then decided to gamble with the Browns facing 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. Jacoby Brissett gained 3. Nick Chubb then ripped off a 36 yard gain. Brissett hit Amari Cooper for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. After a touchback, Mitchell Trubisky hit Johnson for 11 and Pickens for a 36 yard gain. The ground game did the best as Warren gained 7, 6 and 7. Najee Harris ran for the 5 yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter for a 7-7 game.
The Browns soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 27. Brissett hit David Njoku for 13. On 3rd and 9 from their own 41, Brissett hit Donovan Peoples-Jones for 10. Brissett then went to Karim Hunt for 11 and Cooper for 18. On 3rd and 3 from the Pittsburgh 13 out of the shotgun, Hunt ran for 6. Brissett hit Njoku for a 7 yard touchdown. York’s extra point doinked off the upright no good, giving the Dawg Pound heartburn. A missed extra point last week was the margin of defeat. Nevertheless, the 12 play, 79 yard, 6 minute drive had the Browns up 13-7. After a touchback, Trubisky hit Johnson for 8 and Johnson for 16. Warren gained 18. Chase Claypool gained 11, Harris gained 10 and 4, and Trubisky got the last yard. With 4 minutes left in the half, the Steelers led 14-13 after the 10 play, 75 yard, 5 minute drive. The Browns moved from their own 12 to a 4th and 2 at the Pittsburgh 31. A field goal would have been 49 yards, but Kevin Stefanski saw his kicker struggling and opted to go for it with 34 seconds left in the half. Brissett hit Cooper for 3 yards, but on further review it was reversed to an incompletion.
The Steelers began the third quarter with a 10 play drive that ate up 5 1/2 minutes. Yet they only managed 38 yards. On 4th and 5 from the Cleveland 41, Mike Tomlin was not in the mood to try a 59 yard field goal. He opted to punt. The Browns from their own 14 moved 70 yard in 14 plays and 7 minutes. On 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 36, Kevin Stefanski again opted against a 54 yard field goal try. This time his gamble paid off as Brissett gained 2. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Pittsburgh 16, Brissett threw 3 straight incompletions. York it from 34 as the Browns retook the lead 16-14 after three quarters. The Browns got it back and soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 29. Brissett went deep to Cooper for 32. Chubb ran for 16 and Hunt added 8 and one. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 14, Brissett gained 6. Hunt gained 5 and 2, but on 3rd and goal at the one, Hunt got stopped. Now Stefanski had a major decision to make. With 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation, he opted to go for it. On 4th and goal at the one, Chubb got in to make it 23-14 Browns.
The defenses then dug in as both teams punted twice. The Steelers got it back at their own 20 with 3:13 left. With 1:48 to play, the Steelers faced 4th and 1 at the Browns 17. Needing 2 scores to win, Mike Tomlin opted for the field goal. Boswell hit from 34 to get the Steelers within 23-17. The onside kick failed, but the Steelers defense did the best they could. With the Browns facing 3rd and 1 at the Pittsburgh 37, Chubb got the yard. Yet on further review, officials reversed the call to inches short. A 55 yard field goal would wrap up the win, but a miss would give the Steelers a shot at a Hail Mary. This time on 4th and 1, Kevin Stefanski played it very safe. A coffin corner punt pinned the Steelers at their own 4 yard line with time for one more play. The Steelers needed 96 yards, but the hook and laterals quickly backfired and were recovered in the Pittsburgh end zone for another Cleveland touchdown. 29-17 Browns
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers — This game was about defense. After nearly 10 minutes of scoreless football Alvin Kamara fumbled. Marquis Haynes recovered the ball and returned it 44 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers. Eddie Pineiro hit second quarter field goals of 45 and 48. The half ended with Wil Lutz having his 30 yard field goal try blocked. Lutz also missed from 48 in the third quarter. On the last play of the third quarter with the Saints facing 3rd and 100 from their own 10, Jameis Winston hit Olave for 12. Winston began the fourth quarter hitting Olave for 8, Michael Thomas for 16, Trautman for 9, Smith for 11, Kamara for 6, and Smith for 23. Mark Ingram ran it in for a 5 yard touchdown. The 10 play, 89 yard drive had the saints only down 13-7 with 12 1/2 minutes left. Yet 2 plays later, Baker Mayfield connected with Shenault for a 67 yard touchdown to make it 19-7 Panthers. Winston then had a pass deflected and intercepted, allowing Pineiro to hit from 34 to make it 22-7 Panthers. The Saints reached the end zone again with 2:22 to play, but by the time they got the ball back at their own one yard line, only 17 seconds were left. Winston’s Hail Mary reached midfield and was intercepted. 22-14 Panthers
Houston Texans at Chicago Bears — A pair of uninteresting teams actually played a decent game. Cairo Santos hit a 47 yard field goal to get the Bears on the board first. The Bears got it back at their own 19 and St. Brown got around the end for a 41 yard gain. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 35, Khalil Herbert gained 8. Herbert then gained 11 and finally another 11 for the touchdown to make it 10-0 Bears. The Texans soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 28. Davis Mills went deep to Moore for a 52 yard gain. Damon Pierce had gains of 7, 5 and 2. Mills hit Akins for the 4 yard touchdown to get the Texans within 10-7. In the second quarter the teams traded interceptions and then played field position as a 31 yard punt return by King gave the Texans a short field at the Houston 41. Pierce ran for 24, 9, 7, and the one yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Texans.
The Bears took over at their own 18 and moved 50 yards in 12 plays and nearly 6 minutes. On 3rd and 6 from the Houston 23, Justin Fields was sacked. Santos hit from 50 to get the Bears within 14-13. The Texans after a third quarter touchback moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Chicago 27. Yet a completion gained only 6 yards. Lovie Smith played it safe on 4th and 2 as Kaimi Fairbairn hit form 39 to make it 17-13 Texans. After a touchback, Herbert ripped off a 52 yard gain. Fields hit St. Brown for 20. On 3rd and goal at the one, Herbert got in to make it 20-17 Bears. After a touchback the Texans moved 70 yards in 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. Yet on 3rd and 1 from the Chicago 2, Pierce got taken down for a 3 yard loss. Fairbairn hit from 23 as the game was tied 20-20 after three quarters. The game came down to one play. With one minute left and the Texans facing 3rd and 1 at their own 26, Mills was intercepted by Roquan Smith. Smith returned the pick 12 yards to the Houston 18. With 3 seconds left, Santos came in for the 30 yard chip shot to win it. Santos was good as Smith failed to beat his former team. It was not pretty, but Herbert 157 yards on the ground were the difference. 23-20 Bears
Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts — All the Chiefs had to do to remain unbeaten was crush an awful Colts team. Someone forgot to tell the Colts. One minute into the game, the Chiefs fumbled a punt and the Colts recovered at the Kansas City 4. On 3rd and goal at the one, Matt Ryan hit Woods for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Colts. Late in the first quarter Frank Reich gambled on 4th and 1 just past midfield after Jonathn Taylor got stopped on 3rd and 1. Ryan was sacked and fumbled as the Chiefs took over at the Indianapolis 35. Patrick Mahomes went to Travis Kelce for 29 and again for a 3 yard touchdown. Matt Amendola missed the extra point as the Chiefs trailed 7-6.
The Colts took over at their own 29 and and held the ball for 6 minutes and 11 plays. Yet on 2nd and 7 from the Kansas city 23, an incompletion was followed by Ryan getting sacked. Chase McLaughlin hit the 43 yard field goal to make it 10-6 Colts. The Colts got it back at their own one yard line and Ryan went deep to Pierce for 30 yards. Yet 2 plays later Ryan was sacked and fumbled again. The Chiefs took over with another short field at the Indy 21. Mahomes hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 10 and Clyde Edwards-Helaire for 9. Edwards-Helaire ran it in for the one yard touchdown. Walrus Andy Reid went for a 2 point conversion and Mahomes hit Kelce successfully for a 14-10 Chiefs lead at halftime.
Andy Reid made an interesting decision as the Chiefs took over at their own 46 with 34 seconds left. Yet offensive holding and an incompletion meant 2nd and 20 with 20 seconds left. Reid for some reason decided not to try a Hail Mary or try and get in field goal range. He opted to run out the clock. Given the high octane Chiefs offense, it seemed to be a strange decision. The third quarter saw the Chiefs take over at their own 31 and moved to a 2nd and goal at the 2. A run went nowhere and Mahomes then threw incomplete. Andy Reid again decided not to gamble. Ammendola after a false start hit from 26 to make it 17-10 Chiefs. After a touchback, the Colts held the ball 5 minutes on a 10 play drive. On 2nd and 3 from the Colts 19, a run lost 3 yards. On 3rd and 6, Ryan was sacked. McLaughlin nailed a 51 yard field goal to get the Colts within 17-13.
The Chiefs from their own 12 moved 64 yards in 10 plays. Yet 90 seconds into the fourth quarter on 4th and 11 from the Indy 24, Andy Reid went with a fake field goal. Townsend’s pass was incomplete. The Colts moved to a 4th and 1 at the Kansas City 31. With 11 minutes left, Frank Reich went for it. Taylor got stopped for no gain. The Chiefs then moved to a 2nd and 7 at the Indy 16. Mahomes threw incomplete twice. Amendola came in for a 34 yard field goal try to extend the lead with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation. His kick was no good. The Colts soon faced 4th and 1 from their own 33 with 6 1/2 minutes left. Reich gambled again knowing that failing to convert would pretty much end things. Ryan gained 2 key yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Indy 39, Ryan was sacked for an 8 yard loss.
Yet an absolutely mindless unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the defense turned what should have been 4th and 14 into a 1st and 10 with 5 minutes left. With 1:55 left and the Colts facing 2nd and 20 from the Chiefs 39 after offensive holding, Taylor gained 13 and Ryan hit Pierce for 14. The Colts wrapped up the staggering 16 play, 76 yard, 8 minute drive with a 12 yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Jelani Woods. Down by 3, the Chiefs took over at their own 30 with 18 seconds left. Ryan hit Marques Valdez-Scantling for 24. With 8 seconds left, the Chiefs were at the Indy 46. They still had 2 timeouts. One more completion would mean a long field goal try for overtime. Yet Mahomes was intercepted by McLeod. In an absolute shocker, the Chiefs were knocked from the unbeaten ranks. Cue ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman: “THAT’S why they PLAY the GAMES!” 20-17 Colts
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins — For the first time in 30 years back when Jim Kelly and Dan Marino were lighting it up, these teams faced off both unbeaten. The Bills were for real. Despite overcoming a 35-14 deficit to win last week, The Dolphins were still a question mark. This one saw both teams lay the lumber in the scorching Miami heat as temperatures on the field topped 100 degrees. After an opening touchback, the Bills went right to work. On the first play from scrimmage, Josh Allen went deep to Stefan Diggs for a 28 yard gain. Allen then went to Singletary for 19 and to Gilliam for 14 and 8. On 3rd and goal at the one, Allen was rocked for a one yard loss. Sean Mcdermott went for it. On 4th and goal at the 2, Allen hit Singletary for the touchdown as the 10 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive had the Bills up 7-0. The Bills got it back and soon faced 3rd and 8 from their own 14. Allen got sacked and fumbled. Melvin Ingram recovered for the defense at the Buffalo 6. On 3rd and goal from the one, Chase Edmonds got in to tie the game 7-7.
The Bills after a touchback mounted another long drive. Allen hit McKenzie for 7, Dawson knox for 8, and Singletary for 8 more. The second quarter began with the Bills facing 4th and 2 at the Miami 30. Sean McDermott again went for it and Allen gained 3. A sack of Allen meant 2nd and 19 at the Miami 36. Allen went to McKenzie for 27. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Allen hit McKenzie for the touchdown. The 14 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive had the Bills up 14-7. From their own 17, the Dolphins again responded. Tua Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill for 11, Smythe for 13, Jalen Waddle for 17, Mike Gesicki for 6, and Cracraft for an 11 yard touchdown and a 14-14 halftime tie.
In the third quarter, the Bills were pinned by a great punt at their own 2 yard line. They then mounted the drive of the year. 20…yes, 20…plays. 87 yards. 9 1/2 minutes. Yet despite grinding the ball all the way down to a 1st and goal at the 6, a false start was followed by 3 straight Allen incompletions. Tyler Bass hit a 30 yard field goal. The only points of the third quarter had the Bills up 17-14. Yet the fourth quarter began with Bass missing a 38 yard field goal that would have extended the lead. The Dolphins got it back at their own 28. Tagovailoa went deep to Waddle for 32 yards. A sack of Tagovailoa had the Dolphins facing 3rd and 22 from their own 48 with 11 1/2 minutes left. Buffalo’s stingy defense had a key breakdown at the worst time. Tagovailoa went bombs away to Waddle for a 45 yard gain. On 2nd and goal at the 5, Tagovailoa threw incomplete but a questionable late hit penalty meant 1st and goal at the 3. It was not that hard of a shove. Edmonds ran it in on the next play to put the Dolphins up 21-17 with 10 minutes left.
The Bills then mounted another insanely long drive. 17 plays. 73 yards. Nearly 8 1/2 minutes. At the 2 minute warning, the Bills had 2nd and goal at the one. Out of the shotgun, Allen lost a yard. Then he threw incomplete. On 4th and goal at the 2, Allen threw incomplete again. Yet the Bills still had 2 timeouts. With 1:40 left, the Dolphins had 3rd and 11 from their own one. With the Bills out of timeouts, the entire football world knows that you run the ball every single time in that situation to take the clock down to one minute. Again, you run the ball every…single…time. Instead, Tagovailoa threw incomplete and the clock stopped. Then came the weirdness knows as the “butt-punt. From the back of his own end zone, Morestead tried to punt. Yet a ferocious rush by the Bills resulted in Morstead kicking the ball straight into the rear end of his own offensive lineman. The ball went backward for a safety.
Now the Bills were only down by 2 points and would get the ball back. This time without a rush in his face, Morestead punted a rocket ball 74 yards. Crowder returned it 17 yards to the Buffalo 23. The Bills had 1:25 to work with and needed only a field goal to win it. With 27 seconds left, the Bills had 1st and 10 at the Miami 43. Only a few more yards were needed for long field goal range. After an incompletion, offensive holding was a killer. Now 18 seconds remained and the Bills were at their own 47 facing 2nd and 20. Rather than work the sideline, Allen went to McKenzie for 12. Yet McKenzie did not get out of bounds. A field goal try would have been from 59 yards, but the Bills never got a chance. The clock hit zeroes as Allen flung his helmet in disgust. In a slugfest, it was the Dolphins with the 3-0 record. Unlike the “butt-fumble” that came in a 42-0 loss, the butt-punt will soon be forgotten thanks to the brutally tough victory. 21-19 Dolphins
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings — Last week the Lions finally looked like they were turning the corner while the Vikings realized they were not as good as their opening week win. The game started ugly as Austin Seibert missed a 48 yard field goal for the Lions and Greg Joseph from 56 for the Vikings was also no good. The latter miss gave the Lions excellent field position at their own 46. Jared Goff went to Jamaal Williams for 17. On 4th and 5 at the Minnesota 32 after an incompletion, Dan Campbell turned into a wild man gambler throughout the day. He passed up a very makable 50 yard field goal try and went for it. Goff went to St. Brown for 30. Williams got the lsat 2 yards for a 7-0 Lions lead. The Lions got it back at their own 30 and Williams ran for 4 and 12. On 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 45, it was time for another Campbell gamble. Williams gained 5. On 4th and 1 from the Minnesota 31, yet another Campbell gamble came about. Goff hit Reynolds for 17, St. Brown for 9, and TJ Hockensen for the 5 yard touchdown to give the Lions the surprising 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Vikings took over at their own 20 and finally got going . Kirk Cousins hit Ham for 12. Alexander Mattison ran for 6 and 9. On 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 37, Cousins hit Smith for 17. Dalvin Cook ran for 13. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Cousins threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. Cousins hit Adam Thielen for the touchdown to get the Vikings within 14-7. The Lions moved from their own 14 to a 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. This time a Campbell gamble saw Goff throw incomplete to give the Vikings a short field. On 4th and 6 from the Detroit 45, this time it was Kevin O’Connell taking the risk. Cousins hit Thielen for just enough and then again for 14. On 3rd and 4 from the Detroit 19, Cousins hit Thielen yet again for 15. Cook ran for the touchdown as the teams went to the half knotted up 14-14.
The Lions took over at their own 32 and held the ball for 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 4th and 2 from the Minnesota 46, another Campbell gamble had Goff hitting Reynolds for 16. On 3rd and 2 from the Minnesota 22, Goff threw incomplete. With the game tied, this time Dan Campbell kept things sane. Seibert hit the 40 yard field goal to put the Lions up 17-14. The Vikings failed to tie the game when Joseph was again no good from 56. The Lions soon faced 3rd and 3 at the Minnesota 47. Goff hit St. Brown for 8 and Reynolds for 26. Williams ran for a 13 yard touchdown as the Lions again had the surprising lead on the road 24-14 after three quarters. The Vikings then fumbled the ball and the Lions recovered at their own 42. Yet a chance to ice the game was delayed when Goff threw incomplete twice and on 3rd and 10 gained only 3 as the third quarter ended.
With 10 1/2 minutes left, the Vikings took over at their own 43. Cousins hit Mundt for 11 and Thielen for 10. A pair of defensive holding penalties added 10 more yards. Cousins hit Mundt for 12. Mattison ran for the 6 yard touchdown to get the Vikings within 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter. The Lions moved from their own 22 to a 4th and 1 at the Minnesota 30. A field goal would not put the game away, so it was time for another Dan Campbell gamble with 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Williams got stopped cold. Yet on 4th and 8 from his own 47 with 2 1/2 minutes left, Cousins threw incomplete. The Lions tried to run down the clock but the Vikings took their timeouts on defense.
With 1:14 left, the Lions faced 4th and 4 at the Minnesota 36. This time there were only tough options. A field goal would still not put the game away, but Dan Campbell was done gambling for the day. Yet playing it safe backfired when sievert from 54 missed again. Then the Detroit defense melted down. From his own 44, Cousins went to Osborn for 28 and then back to Osborne for the other 28 and the touchdown. With 45 seconds left, the Vikings had the 4 point lead. After a touchback, Goff quickly hit Reynolds for 25 to midfield and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 23 seconds left. Goff went deep incomplete and on 3rd and 10 his desperation Hail Mary was intercepted. The Lions were game, but they could not finish the job. 28-24 Vikings
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots — The Ravens blew a 21 point lead last week in a stunning home loss. Yet of all the coaches that has been able to consistently beat Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh is at the top of the list. The Ravens in the first quarter faced 3rd and 5 at their own 36. Lamar Jackson scrambled for 8 yards. Jackson hit Mark Andrews for 17, 11 and 6 and Ricard for 12. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 5, Jackson hit Andrews for the touchdown to cap the 11 play, 69 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive and make it 7-0 Ravens. The Patriots moved from their own 22 to a 2nd and 6 at the Baltimore 16. Offensive holding killed the drive. Nick Folk hit a 35 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to get the Patriots within 7-3.
A field position game hd the Patriots moving from their own 41 to a 4th and 3 at the Baltimore 33. Bill Belichick decided to go for it rather than try a 51 yard field goal. Mac Jones hit Kendrick Bourne for no gain. Yet Jackson was soon intercepted, and Jones returned the pick 15 yards to the Baltimore 32. Raimondre Stevenson ran for 6, 16 and 2. Jones ran for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Patriots. The Ravens soon faced 2nd and 14 at their own 21. Jackson ran for 17. Jackson hit JK Dobbins for 11. Hill ran for 11 more. Jackson added 11 more. Jackson hit Andrews for a 16 yard touchdown. With only 30 seconds left in the half, the Ravens were back up 14-10.
After a touchback, 30 seconds was enough time. Jones hit Stevenson for 11 and Bourne for 22 and 10. Folk nailed a 50 yard field goal to get the Patriots within 14-13. The Patriots in the third quarter after a touchback saw Jones go deep to Parker for a 36 yard gain and again for 25 more. Damien Harris ran for the 2 yard touchdown to have the Patriots up 20-14. The Ravens soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Jackson hit Devin Duvernay for 21. Hill ran for 9 and then broke free for a 34 yard gain. Jackson hit Josh Oliver for a one yard touchdown as the Ravens retook the lead 21-20.
The Ravens got a jolt of momentum when Duvernay returned a punt 43 yards to the New England 44. Jackson then rumbled for a 38 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Jackson hit Duvernay for the touchdown as the Ravens led 28-20. Two plays after a touchback, Jones was intercepted by Bynes to give the Ravens a short field at the New England 43. Justin Tucker blasted a 56 yard field goal as 17 unanswered points had the Ravens up 31-20 after three quarters.
After a touchback, Jones went to Stevenson for 7 and Parker for 24 more. On 4th and 1 from the Baltimore 17 only 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Patriots needed 2 scores. Kicking the field goal would make it a one score game, but the New England defense had failed to stop Jackson. Bill Belichick went for it and Jones hit Smith for 8 and the 8 more. Stevenson got the last yard and then caught the 2 point conversion pass from Jones. Yet on further review, Stevenson was ruled down by contact as the 2 point try failed. The Patriots were within 31-26 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. On the first play after a touchback, Jackson hit Bateman for 24 yards but Bateman fumbled and Jabril Peppers returned it 12 yards. The Patriots had golden field position at the Baltimore 39 with a chance to take the lead.
The Patriots moved to a 1st and goal at the 10. A swing pass lost 4 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 10 with 9 minutes left, Jones went to the end zone for the lead and was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey for a touchback. The Patriots got it back and faced 3rd and 6 from their own 33 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. Jones went deep to Nelson Agholor for 28 yards but Agholor fumbled and the Ravens recovered at their own 27. Jackson went to Bateman for a 35 yard gain. Jackson then ran for 20. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 9, Jackson ran it in to put the game out of reach with 3 minutes left. Jones threw one more interception. Jackson threw for 4 touchdown passes and was also the leading rusher with 107 yards and a 5th touchdown. 37-26 Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets — Last week the Jets trailed by 13 with 1:55 left and somehow won on the road with Joe Flacco. The defending AFC Champion Bengals were a surprising 0-2. This game brought a return to sanity. After a touchback, Joe Burrow hit Tyler Boyd for 13. On 3rd and 9 from his own 39, Burrow went to Tee Higgins for gains of 19 and 14. On 3rd and 8 from the Jets 26, Burrow went to Boyd for 22. A touchdown pass was nullified by offensive holding, leading to 3rd and goal at the 12. Burrow went to Perine for the touchdown. The Bengals led 7-0.
The Jets managed to get first quarter field goals of 50 and 40 from Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein, but trading field goals for touchdowns was not going to get the job done. The second field goal was set up by a fumble and a short field. The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 9 at their own 26. Burrow threw incomplete but defensive unnecessary roughness gave the Bengals 15 yards. On the last play of the first quarter with the Bengals facing 3rd and 7 at their own 44, Burrow connected with Boyd for a 56 yard touchdown and a 14-6 Bengals lead.
The Bengals expanded the lead with Evan McPherson hitting field goals of 22 and 43, with the latter kick set up by an interception of Flacco. Zuerlein hit his third field goal from 52 to end the half but the Jets still trailed 20-9. The Jets began the third quarter by fumbling to set up the Bengals at the Jets 24. Burrow went to Boyd for 14. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for the touchdown to make it 27-9 Bengals. The Jets managed a fourth field goal late in the third quarter, but nothing else. The fourth quarter saw the Jets offer up a fumble and an interception and the Bengals miss a field goal that did not affect the game. 27-12 Bengals
Las Vegas Raiders at Tennessee Titans — Both of these playoff teams from last year started 0-2. The Titans were blasted by 34 points last week while the Raiders had an epic collapse in blowing a 20 point lead. After a touchback, the Titans moved with ease. Ryan Tannehill hit derrick Henry for 23. On 3rd and 10 from his own 45, Tannehill hit Austin Hooper for 11. Henry ran for 9 and 10 and Burks added 8. On 2nd and 12 from the Raider 27, Tannehill hit Robert Woods for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Raiders 2, Tannehill hit geoff Swaim for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Titans.
After a touchback, the Raiders caught a break with a 36 yard defensive pass interference penalty. On 3rd and 15 from the Tennessee 41, Derek Carr hit Mack hollins for 20. Josh Jacobs gained 10. Yet the same issues that have plagued the Raiders for years remain. On 3rd and 2 from the Tennessee 3, Carr threw incomplete. Daniel Carlson hit the 21 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 7-3.
After a touchback, Henry ran for 2, caught a pass for 13, and ran for 5 more. Tannehill then went deep to Woods for 41 yards. Tannehill went to Burks for 13 down to the one. Henry got in himself to make it 14-3 Titans. After a touchback, Carr went to Foster Moreau for gains of 22 and 14. Carr hit Jacobs for 6 and Davante Adams for 18. Jacobs ran for 11. Carr hit Adams for a 5 yard touchdown to get the Raiders back within 14-10.
The Titans soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 28. Tannehill went to Westbrook-Ikhine for 10. Henry ran for 10. Tannehill found Woods for 21. Henry ran for 6 and then 24 down to the one. Tannehill got in himself. 3 drives meant 3 touchdowns and a 21-10 Titans lead. With one minute left in the half and the Raiders back at their own 13, Josh McDaniels showed why he is a terrible play-caller. His stubborn refusal to run the ball in obvious running situations in favor of his West Coast Offense dink and dunk passes is why the raiders keep losing. An incompletion stopped the clock. A sack on 3rd and 4 allowed the Titans to get the ball back just past midfield with 21 seconds left. Tannehill hit Westbrook-Ikhine for 15. Bullock hit a 48 yard field goal to end the half with the Titans up 24-10.
The Raiders defense pitched a shutout in the second half. The question would be if their inept offense led by boy genius Josh McDaniels would get out of his own way and let the players win. The Raiders after a second half touchback embarked on a 14 play, 61 yard, 8 minute drive. Yet again, the red zone was a nightmare. On 2nd and 7 from the Tennessee 12, McDaniels called one of his West Coast Offense dink and dunk passes for 3 yards. Throwing past the first down marker is lost on this guy. On 3rd and 4 from the 9, a false start was followed by an incompletion. Carlson hit from 32 but the Raiders still trailed 24-13.
Tannehill was then intercepted to give the raiders golden field position at the Tennessee 31. They were already in field goal range. Even 3 straight runs into the line would not harm them. Instead, boy genius McDaniels kept passing. Offensive holding was followed by short passes. On 3rd and 13 they were still in field goal range. Then came a delay of game. Then on 3rd and 18 came a West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass that somehow lost 2 yards. This is Josh McDaniels. This is the West Coast Offense. This is the Raiders pushing themselves out of field goal range.
The Titans moved from their own 2 yard line to a 3rd and 1 at the Raiders 41. Yet the defense ,are a big stop and blasted Henry for a 3 yard loss. Mike Vrabel went for it on 4th and 4 and Tannehill threw incomplete. The Raiders moved all the way to a 3rd and 3 at the Tennessee 6 yard line. With 9 1/2 minutes left, the Raiders had 2 chances to gain 3 yards. They have a bell cow in Jacobs. Yet McDaniels instead called for a low percentage rifle pass over the middle where only bad things happen. Darren Waller should have caught the ball for the touchdown. Yet it bounced off of his hands and was intercepted by Byard, who returned it 24 yards to the Titans 20. Again, the hapless Raiders offense came up empty.
The Raiders got it back at their own 20 with 6 minutes left and moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Tennessee 17. As expected, the red zone meant failure. Carr threw incomplete. Carlson hit the 35 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 24-16 with 3 1/2 minutes left. The silver and black defense forced a 3 and out as only 30 seconds came off the clock. The Raiders from their own 19 had a full 3 minutes to work with. Carr hit Jacobs for 13. With 2:13 left, the Raiders were down to 4th and 15 from their own 27. This was their last gasp.
Carr went bombs away to Mack Hollins for a 48 yard gain. With 1:37 left, it was again desperation time. On 4th and 10 from the Tennessee 14, Carr threw incomplete. Yet defensive holding meant 1st and goal at the 9. With 1:14 left it was again do or die. On 4th and goal at the 9, Carr threw a jump ball fade and Hollins out-muscled the defender. The Raiders last week could not close out an opponent. This week they refused to die as Tennessee could not close them out. Yet there was one difference. Last week the Raiders gave up the 2 point conversion that forced overtime. This week the Tennessee defense did not. Carr threw over the middle into traffic, where bad things happen. This time the result was an incompletion. The onside kick failed. The Raiders are the only 0-3 team in the NFL. Josh McDaniels is the Joe Biden of the NFL, a lifelong assistant not suited to be the boss. 24-22 Titans
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders — Carson Wentz was hoping to get revenge against the team that drafted him and cast him away. The Eagles had never beaten the Commanders, who have only existed for 2 weeks. Despite a scoreless first quarter, this game was over by halftime. Jake Elliott hit a 32 yard field goal for the Eagles to start the second quarter. 2 plays later the Commanders fumbled and the Eagles took over at the Washington 24. On 2nd and 9, Jalen Hurts went to Dallas Goedert for a 23 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Eagles.
The Eagles got it back at their own 36 and defensive pass interference added 17 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 42, Hurts hit Smith for 31 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the Washington 9, Hurts went to AJ Brown for the touchdown to make it 17-0 Eagles with 3 minutes left in the half. The Eagles got it back at the 2 minute warning and faced 3rd and 2 at their own 20. Hurts hit Zach Pascal for 4. Hurts went to Brown for 15, Smith for 16, and Smith again for a 44 yard touchdown to make it 24-0 Eagles. Last week the Eagles led 24-7 at the half and their offense took the entire second half off, allowing the defense to pick a shutout. This week the Eagles offense took the second half off again, and the defense did give up a fourth quarter touchdown. Yet they are 3-0 and winning with efficient offense and tough defense. 24-8 Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers — Doug Pederson was expected to revive Trevor Lawrence and turn the Jaguars around, but it would take time. The Chargers were considered an elite team. Justin Herbert was ill but played. The blowout did materialize, but not as expected. The first quarter was scoreless. The Jaguars eventually took over at their own 33 and Lawrence got going. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Chargers 11, a run gained one yard followed by an incompletion. On 3rd and 9 from the Chargers 10, Lawrence hit Jones for only 6. Pederson opted for the field goal and Riley Patterson hit from 22 on the first play of the second quarter to make it 3-0 Jaguars. Herbert was immediately intercepted, giving the Jaguars 1st and goal at the 5. Yet a run went nowhere and Lawrence threw incomplete twice. Patterson hit from 23. The Jaguars led 6-0.
The Chargers were lucky to still be in the game, but their luck then ran out. They fumbled on their next series and the Jaguars had another short field at the Chargers 28. On 3rd and 8, Lawrence hit Evan Engram for 9 and Bay Jones for the 14 yard touchdown to make it 13-0 Jaguars. The Chargers responded with a 75 yard drive. Herbert hit Mike Williams for a 15 yard touchdown. The chargers were within 13-7, but the Jaguars kept coming. After a touchback, the Jaguars moved 70 yards in 11 plays and 5 minutes. Patterson hit his third field goal from 23 to make it 16-7 Jaguars. In the third quarter the Chargers moved 68 yards in 10 plays. Yet despite 1st and goal at the 7, Herbert threw 3 straight incompletions. Dustin Hopkins hit from 25 to get the Chargers within 16-10 only 3 minutes into the second half.
After that, the Jaguars turned out the lights. After a touchback, Lawrence hit Jones for 16 and Kirk for 9. After Lawrence threw incomplete on 3rd and 1 from midfield, Doug Pederson gambled. On 4th and 1, James Robinson ran for the 50 yard touchdown to make it 23-10 Jaguars. The Jaguars got it back at their own 40 and mounted a 14 play, 60 yard drive that gobbled up 8 1/2 minutes off the clock. Again, Pederson trusted his players. On 2nd and 1 from the Chargers 6, a pair of runs went nowhere. Yet on 4th and 1, Pederson went for it and Lawrence gained 2 up the gut on the quarterback sneak. Lawrence hit Kirk for a 4 yard touchdown and Engram for a 2 point conversion to make it 31-10 Jaguars. In the fourth quarter the Jaguars grinded the Chargers into dust with a 14 play, 68 yard, 9 minute drive. On 3rd and goal at the 11, Lawrence hit Jones for one more touchdown. The Jaguars are 2-1. Pederson needed only 3 games to turn them around. 38-10 Jaguars
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals — Last week the Cardinals overcame a 20 point second half deficit to win a road shocker while the Rams barely avoided blowing a 25 point lead. The Rams blasted the Cardinals in the playoffs last year and picked up where they left off. A blocked punt set up the Rams at the Arizona 35. Despite 1st and goal at the 4, Matthew Stafford completed a pass for no gain and threw a pair of incompletions. Matt Gay hit a 22 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Rams. A 22 yard punt gave the Rams the ball back at their own 42. From midfield, Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for 19. Cooper Kupp ran for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Rams. The Rams got it back at their own 20 and Stafford hit Blanton for 28 and Skowronek for 26. Gay hit a 40 yard second quarter field goal to make it 13-0 Rams.
The Cardinals tried to make a game of it from their own 30. A mind-numbing 19 play, 65 yard drive ate 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. Yet despite 1st and goal at the 3, a run was blown up for a 2 yard loss and Kyler murray threw incomplete twice. Matt Prater hit a 23 yard field goal. Prater would also connect from 43 to end the half. In the third quarter the Cardinals from their own 11 had another lengthy 16 play, 58 yard, 8 minute drive. A crazed Kliff Kingsbury even went for it on 4th and 1 from his own 20 and James Conner gained 5. Yet the drive died at the Rams 30. Prater hit his third field goal from 49 to get the Cardinals within 13-9.
Yet the Cardinals inability to crack the end zone was their undoing. The Rams soon faced 3rd and 11 from their own 24. Stafford hit Kupp for just enough and Higgins for 26 more. Cam Akers then gashed the defense for gains of 5, 14, 6, and the 14 yard touchdown to make it 20-9 Rams after three quarters. The Cardinals after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Rams 26. After Murray threw incomplete, Kliff Kingsbury had to go for it with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Murray threw incomplete again. The Rams moved from their own 26 to a 2nd and goal at the one. Yet with 6:46 to play, the Rams again could not seal the win. Akers fumbled the ball away. Again, the Cardinals moved at a snails pace, needing 17 plays to go 84 yards in 5 1/2 minutes. With one minute left and needing 2 scores, Kingsbury on 4th and 4 at the Rams 13 opted for the field goal. Prater hit his fourth one from 31 but the onside kick failed. 20-12 Rams
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks — A pair of below average teams came together and played a pretty good football game. The Seahawks after a touchback moved 61 yards in 11 plays. Yet despite 2nd and 3 at the Atlanta 14, Rashad Penny got stopped for no gain and Geno Smith threw incomplete on 3rd and 3. Jason Myers hit the 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Seahawks. The Falcons soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Marcus Mariota hit Kenny Pitts for 14, Anthony Firkser for 22, and Pitts again for 21. Mariota got the last yard himself to make it 7-3 Falcons.
The Seahawks took over at their own 26. Smith hit DK Metcalf for 14. On 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Smith went deep to Parkinson for 36 and then to Will Dissly for an 18 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Seahawks. After a touchback, the Falcons moved to a 2nd and 6 at the seattle 7. Yet offensive holding and a sack killed the drive. Younghoe Koo hit a 41 yard field goal to end a very exciting first quarter with the teams deadlocked 10-10.
In the second quarter the Falcons got it back at their own 11. Mariota went deep to London for 30. A sack had the Falcons facing 3rd and 19 at their own 33. Mariota went deep to Zaccheaus for 26. On 3rd and 5 from the Seattle 36, Mariota hit Pitts for 19. Cordarelle Patterson ran for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Falcons. The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 28. Smith hit Tyler Lockett for just enough and Noah Want for 16 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Atlanta 41, a run went nowhere. Pete Carroll decided to go for it rather than try a 59 yard field goal. Smith went deep to Goodwin for 23 and then to Metcalf for an 18 yard touchdown and a 17-17 tie.
The Seahawks took over at their own 20 with 3 minutes left in the half and moved 67 yards in 13 plays. With 22 seconds left the Seahawks had 2nd and 3 at the Atlanta 13 and all of their timeouts. Smith threw incomplete twice. Myers hit from 31 as the third lead change of the game had the Seahawks up 20-17. In the third quarter after a touchback, the Falcons moved to a 2nd and 6 at the Seattle 24. Then came an incompletion, a false start, and a sack. Koo bailed the Falcons out with a 54 yard field goal for the third tie of the game at 20-20.
The Seahawks after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Atlanta 7. Smith threw incomplete. Pete Carroll played it safe and Myers hit from 25 to make it 23-20 Seahawks. After a touchback, Paterson raced for a 40 yard gain and then ripped off 18 more. On 3rd and 7 from the Seattle 14, Mariota hit London for the touchdown. The fourth lead change of the game had the Falcons up 27-23 after three exciting quarters. Yet the fourth quarter was quiet. The Falcons took 5 1/2 minutes off the clock and moved from their own 10 to a 2nd and 7 at the Seattle 34. Yet Mariota was hit and fumbled. The Seahawks took over at their own 37 with 5 minutes left and a chance to win it. At the 2 minutes warning, the Seahawks faced 3rd and 8 at the Atlanta 28. Smith was sacked. On 4th and 18, Smith went deep and was intercepted. The goal line was the difference. The Falcons scored touchdowns and the Seahawks kicked field goals. 27-23 Falcons
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tom Brady always sees to beat Aaron Rodgers, with 2 of those wins in Green Bay including the NFC Title Game. The Buccaneers took over after a touchback and held the ball for 6 minutes and 10 plays. On 2nd and 4 from the Green Bay 20, a run lost a yard and Brady was sacked don 3rd and 5. Ryan Succop hit a 45 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Buccaneers. The Bucs offense then took the remaining 21 minutes of the half off. After a touchback, Aaron Jones ran for 3 and 10 and caught a pass from Rodgers for 8. Rodgers then went to Romeo Doubs for 21. On 3rd and 6 from the Tampa 29, Rodgers went to Randall Cobb for 17. On 3rd and 3 from the Tampa 5, Rodgers went to Doubs for the touchdown and the 7-3 Packers lead.
The Packers got it back and began the second quarter facing 3rd and 8 at their own 31. Rodgers hit Robert Tonyan for 9 and Doubs for 9 more. On 3rd and 7 from the Tampa 45, Rodgers hit Lazard for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Tampa 29, Rodgers hit Davis for 23 and Lazard for the 6 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Packers. The Packers got it back at their own 38 and moved to a 3rd and goal at the 5 just before the 2 minute warning. Rodgers hit Jones for 3, but in trying to cross the goal line Jones was belted by 2 defenders and fumbled. The Buccaneers recovered for a touchback. Rather than lead 21-3, the Packers offense took the entire second half off. Asking the defense to preserve a win over Brady with only 14 points was not a great strategy.
The Buccaneers in the final 2 minutes of the half moved form their 25 to a 2nd and 10 at the Green Bay 40 with 51 seconds left. Brady hit Perriman for 14 but Perriman fumbled the ball away. In the third quarter the Buccaneers fumbled the ball away again. The Packers faced 3rd and 5 at their own 40. Rodgers was intercepted to give the Buccaneers a short field at the Green Bay 47. On 3rd and 9 from the Green Bay 27, Brady went deep incomplete. Succop hit from 45 as the Buccaneers were within 14-6. The final 21 minutes were about defense. With 3 minutes left in regulation, the Buccaneers began their last drive at their own 11. With 14 seconds left, the Buccaneers had 3rd and goal at the one. Brady went to Russell Gage for the touchdown. Everything came down to the 2 point conversion to force overtime. A killer delay of game penalty moved the try from the 2 to the 7. Brady fired incomplete. Yes, Brady threw his helmet again. Meanwhile, Rodgers finally beat Brady again. These are 2 first ballot hall of famers, but this game was about two spectacular defenses. 14-12 Packers
San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos was the Sunday night game.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson have benefited from some nasty defenses over the years, and this night was no exception. The 49ers took over in the first quarter at their own 25. Garoppolo went to Brandon Aiyuk for 20. Wilson ran for 37. Garoppolo went back to Aiyuk for a 3 yard touchdown. the 49ers led 7-0, but would not reach the end zone again. Brandon McManus nailed a 55 yard second quarter field goal to get the Broncos within 7-3. In the third quarter from his own 2 yard line, Garoppolo was sacked in the end zone for a safety as the Broncos got within 7-5. The Broncos failed to take the lead after the free kick when McManus missed from 53.
A brutal field position game had the 49ers taking over at the Denver 41 to start the fourth quarter. On 4th and 2 and points at a premium, Kyle Shanahan opted for the field goal. Robbie Gould delivered from 51 as the 49ers led 10-5. The Broncos faced 3rd and 1 at their own 29 with 9 minutes left. Melvin Gordon gained 4. On 3rd and 10 from his own 33, Wilson hit Hinton for 27. On 3rd and 5 from the Frisco 24, Wilson hit Sutton for 19. Gordon ran it in from the one to put the Broncos up by one point with 4 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback, the 49ers faced 1st and 10 at their own 48. Garoppolo was intercepted just before the 2 minute warning. The 49ers took their 3 timeouts on defense and the 49ers got the ball back at their own 15 with 1:42 left needing only a field goal to win. Garoppolo was sacked. On 2nd and 22 from their own 3, Garoppolo hit Wilson for 16 but he fumbled the ball away to end this ugly game. 11-10 Broncos
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants was the Monday night game. Nobody expected the Giants to be 2-0. The Cowboys again started Cooper Rush in place of the injured Dak Prescott. The first 39 minutes were a hideous slugfest. Graham Gano missed a 47 yard field goal try for the Giants. Bret Maher hit from 26 for the Cowboys. In the second quarter Gano hit from 42 to tie the game. Maher hit from 28 for a 6-3 Cowboys lead. Maher missed from 59 to end the half. In the third quarter Gano hit from 51 for a 6-6 game.
The Giants took over at their own 23 midway through the third quarter. Daniel Jones ran for 14 and hit Sills for 14 more. Saquon Barkley ran for a 36 yard touchdown. After nearly 40 minutes, the first trip to the end zone by either team had the Giants up 13-6. After a touchback, Rush went to CeeDee Lamb for 17. On 3rd and 1 just past midfield, Ezekiel Elliott gained 2. Rush hit Hendershot for 29 and Brown for 6. On 3rd and goal at the one, Elliott got in for a 13-13 tie after three quarters.
The Cowboys got the ball back at their own 11 to start the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 1, the defense jumped. Tony Pollard ran for 10 and Rush hit Lamb for 17. On 4th and 4 from the Giants 41, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it knowing a failed conversion would give the Giants gift field position. Rush hit Lamb for just enough. Rush hit Hendershot for 10, Lamb for 26 down to the one, and Lamb again for the touchdown. with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Cowboys led 20-13.
The Giants offense went nowhere and a 28 yard punt return gave the Cowboys a short field at the Giants 35. On 3rd and 1, Rush threw incomplete. Up by 7, Mike McCarthy was not in a gambling mood. Maher hit from 44 as 17 unanswered points gave the Cowboys a cushion up 23-13 with 6 minutes left. The Giants after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 22 with 4 minutes left. A pair of Jones incompletions and an intentional grounding call meant 4th and 21. Gano delivered from 51 to get the Giants back within 7 with 3 1/2 minutes left. The Giants held on defense and got the ball back at their own 9 yard line with 1:45 left. On 2nd and 15 from their own 16 with 1:17 left, Jones was intercepted. 23-16 Cowboys
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