NFL 2020 Week 9 Recap
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers was the Thursday night game. Last year the 49ers humiliated the Packers twice, but the 49ers are a shell of what they were last year. The Packers immediately marched down the field after a touchback. Rodgers threw a gorgeous 36 yard bomb to Davante Adams for a touchdown and a 7-0 Packers lead. The 49ers moved from their own 20 to a 3rd and goal at the 4. Nick Mullens went to Cracraft for the touchdown, but on further review it was ruled incomplete. Robbie Gould hit the 22 yard field goal, but after that the Packers put the game away. An interception of Mullens set the Packers up at the Frisco 38. On 4th and 1 from the San Francisco 18, Rodgers hit Adams for 4. On 3rd and 5 from the 9, Rodgers threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. Rodgers hit Marcedes Lewis for the score midway through the second quarter to make it 14-3 Packers. The Packers got it back and soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 18. Rodgers was intercepted but the defense had too many men on the field. On 3rd and 5 from their own 28, Rodgers ran for 7. Rodgers then went deep to Marques Valses-Scantling for a 52 yard touchdown bomb to make it 21-3 Packers. In the third quarter the Packers faced 3rd and 7 from their own 23. Rodgers went deep to Adams for 49 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Frisco 21, Rodgers hit Adams for 11. On 3rd and goal at the one, Rodgers found Valdes-Scantling to make it 28-3 Packers. Green Bay added 2 field goals and the 49ers in the fourth quarter got a pair of garbage touchdowns. 34-17 Packers
Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills — Roberts returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Seattle 45. On the 3rd play from scrimmage, Josh Allen went deep to Ian McKenzie for a 25 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bills. The Bills got it back at their own 28 and Allen hit Davis for 15 and Brown for 13. On 3rd and 2 just past midfield, Allen went to Cole Beasley for gains of 9 and 7. Allen went to Singletary for 22. Allen ran for 7 and hit Kroft for a one yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bills. The Seahawks moved 70 yards in 10 plays and 6 minutes to a 4th and 1 at the Buffalo 5. Pete Carroll decided to go for it. Wilson went to the end zone and was intercepted for a touchback. The Bills moved 54 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Seattle 19 in the second quarter, Allen was sacked twice. Tyler Bass hit the 44 yard field goal as the Bills were dominating 17-0.
The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 22. Wilson threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 25 yard gain. Wilson then threw a perfect bomb to DK Metcalf for a 41 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Dallas got stopped. Pete Carroll went for it again and this time Wilson got the yard to get the Seahawks within 17-7. Yet after a touchback the Bills came back in a big way. Allen hit Brown for 18 and Stefan Diggs for a pair of 21 yard gains. Allen went to Brown for 11 and Davis for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Bills with 4 minutes left in the half. The Seahawks soon faced 2nd and 12 at their own 23. Wilson went to Hollister for 16. On 3rd and 2 from his own 47, Wilson hit Hollister for 19. On 2nd and 3 from the Buffalo 27, Wilson threw incomplete twice. Jason Myers hit the 45 yard field goal to get the Seahawks within 24-10. The Bills missed a 61 yard field goal to end the half, but the Seahawks began the third quarter by fumbling. The Bills took over at the Seattle 23. On 2nd and goal at the 2, a short pass lost 2 yards and the Allen threw incomplete. Bass hit the 22 yard field goal to make it 27-10 Bills.
The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 6 from their own 29. Wilson hit Moore for 6, Metcalf for 27, Hollister for 13, Metcalf for 10 and Greg Olsen for 5. On 3rd and 8 from the Buffalo 16, Wilson hit Hollister for 11. Dallas ran for the 4 yard touchdown to get the Seahawks within 27-17. The Seahawks got it back at their own 30 and Wilson hit Dissly for 26. On the next play roughing the passer added 15. Yet on 2nd and 5 from the Buffalo 24, a run lost 2 and Wilson threw incomplete. Myers hit from 44 to get the Seahawks within 27-20 after three quarters.
The Bills took over at their own 18. Allen hit Moss for 20 and Diggs for 25. On 3rd and 11 from the Seattle 34, Allen was sacked but illegal contact instead kept the drive going. On 3rd and 16 from the Seattle 35, Allen went to Brown for 33 yards. Moss ran for a one yard touchdown with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation to give the Bills breathing room up 34-20. The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 25 at their own 10 after consecutive sacks of Wilson. Wilson went deep and was intercepted. White returned the intercepted 28 yards to the Seattle 3. On the next play Allen got around the end for a 41-20 Bills lead with 9 1/2 minutes left.
The Seahawks kept fighting. After a touchback, Wilson hit Lockett for 11 and then went deep to Moore for a 55 yard touchdown. The Seahawks were within 41-27. The Seahawks got it back and faced 3rd and 2 from their own 28 with 6 1/2 minutes left. Wilson was sacked and fumbled. The Bills recovered at the Seattle 19. Bass hit the 31 yard field goal to make it 44-27 Bills with 4 minutes left and put the game out of reach. Seattle did score once more, but that was it. Wilson was 28 of 41 for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns but also with 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles. Allen was a lights out 31 of 38 for 415 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Allen was sacked 7 times and Wilson was sacked 5 times. The Seahawks have the league’s worst pass defense, but 5 turnovers by the offense including 4 by Wilson did not help matters. A rematch of this game would be well worth the price of admission. 44-34 Bills
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts — A pair of good teams slugged it out. In the first quarter the Colts had 3rd and 6 at their own 39. Philip Rivers hit Pitman for 13 and Zach Pascal for 20. Harris ran for 16. Taylor ran for a one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Colts. Late in the first quarter the Colts had 1st and 10 at the Baltimore 45. Taylor ran for 9 yards but then fumbled the ball. Clark recovered it for the Ravens and weaved through traffic, hurdling Rivers on the way to a 65 yard defensive touchdown and a 7-7 game. With 5 minutes left in the half the Colts faced 3rd and 8 at their own 9. Rivers threw incomplete, but roughing the passer kept the drive going. The 11 play 68 yard drive allowed Blankenship to hit a 43 yard field goal as the Colts led 10-7 at the break.
In the third quarter the Ravens fumbled but one play later the Rivers threw a very controversial interception. Replay clearly showed an incomplete pass, but the referees blew it and the Ravens took over at their own 46. Jackson ran for 3, 20 and 4. Jackson hit Boyle for 12 and Andrews for 4. On 3rd and goal at the one, Edwards got in. The 10 play, 54 yard, 5 minute drive and the Ravens up 14-10 after three quarters. The Ravens got it back at their own 25. Jackson hit Boykin for 11 and Boyle for 9. On 4th and 3 from the Indy 43, John Harbaugh decided to go for it. JK Dobbins got around the end for just enough as the third quarter ended. The Ravens began the fourth quarter with smash mouth football. Dobbins gained 3, Jackson ran for 8, Edwards gained 5. Dobbins ran for 8 and one. On 3rd and 1 from the indy 9, Jackson ran it in himself. With 11 minutes left in regulation, the 14 play, 75 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive had the Ravens up 21-10. Justin Tucker added a 48 yard field goal at the 2 minute warning as suffocation Baltimore defense got the Ravens another hard-nosed win. 24-10 Ravens
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars — Both teams are 1-6, but they came out smoking. On 3rd and 8 from their own 27 on the third play from scrimmage, Luton went deep to DJ Chark for a 73 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Jaguars lead. 2 plays after a touchback the game was tied. David Johnson ran for 18 and DeShaun watson and Brandon Cooks connected on a 57 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. The Texans got it back at their own 19. Watson went to Darren Fells for 19 and Atkins for 9. Yet on 2nd and 1 from the Jaguars 34, a run lost 2 yards and Watson threw incomplete. Kaimi Fairbairn nailed a 54 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Texans. The Texans got it back at their own 30. They moved to a 3rd and 11 at the Jags 36. Watson gained 10 with defensive unnecessary roughness adding 15. Yet the Texans settled for a 30 yard Fairbairn field goal in the second quarter to lead 13-7.
After a touchback, Luton hit Chark for 5 and Robinson ran for 12 and 3. Luton hit Tyler Eifert for 17 and Robinson gained another 6, 8, 3, 3, 11, and finally, the one yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the game was tied 13-13. With 2:11 left in the half the Texans took over at their own 2. Defensive offside moved the ball to the 7. Defensive pass interference on a deep ball meant a 50 yard gain. Watson then ran for 9, hit Johnson for 10, and ran for 16 down to the one. Johnson got the last yard with 30 seconds left in the half as the 98 yard drive had the Texans up 20-13.
That was enough time for a 39 yard kickoff return to set up the Jaguars at their own 41. Luton hit Thompson for 12 and 6 and Josh Lambo drilled a 59 yard field goal to get the Jaguars within 20-16. In the third quarter the Jaguars moved from their own 9 to a 3rd and 5 at the Houston 40. Luton went deep and was intercepted by Hargreaves at the Houston 19. On 3rd and 6 from their own 23, Watson went deep to Will Fuller for a 77 yard touchdown and a 27-16 Texans lead. The Jaguars after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Houston 11. A short completion lost a yard. Lambo hit the 30 yard field goal to get the Jaguars within 27-19 after three quarters. With 3 minutes left the Jaguars took over at their own 20. Luton hit Conley for 10, Thompson for 13, Eifert for 12, Chark for 20 and Eifert for 12. With 90 seconds left, Luton ran for the 13 yard touchdown. It came down to the 2 point try to tie the game. Luton threw incomplete. His valiant attempt in replacing the injured Gardner Minshew fell one completion short. 27-25 Texans
Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans — The Titans began at their own 22. From their own 34, Ryan Tannehill hit AJ Brown for 38 yards. That was enough for Stephen Gostkowski to hit a 40 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Titans. The Titans got it back at their own 9 and Derrick Henry bulldozed for gains of 6, 2, 2 and 4. On 3rd and 6 from their own 23, Tannehill hit Brown for 17. On 3rd and 7 from their own 43, Tannehill hit Firkser for 9. On 3rd and 2 from the Chicago 40, Tannehill went deep to Brown for the touchdown to make it 10-0 Titans. In the third quarter the Bears moved from their own 27 to a 3rd and 13 at the Titans 30. A short pass lost 4 yards and was fumbled. King picked up the fumble and rumbled 63 yards for a defensive touchdown as the Titans led 17-0 after three quarters. The Bears responded with a 15 play, 63 yard, 7 minute drive. Yet on 1st and goal at the 4, Nick Foles was sacked, a run went nowhere, and Foles threw incomplete. Cairo Santos hit a 22 yard field goal with 12 1/2 minuets left in regulation to avoid the shutout. The Titans took over at their own 24. Henry ran for 26. Tannehill hit Brown for 6, Firkser for 12, Smith for 30, and Smith again for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 24-3 Titans.
Nick Foles has led miracle comebacks before, including 3 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. He needed to do it again. After a touchback, Foles hit Robinson for gains of 5 and 27 and Montgomery for 13. On 4th and 5 from the Titans 25, Foles hit Miller for 12 with a facemask adding 7 more. Foles hit Ryan Nall for a 6 yard touchdown to get the Bears within 24-10 with 5 minutes left. The Titans went 3 and out and the Bears took over at their own 39 with 4 minutes left. A short completion as fumbled and the Titans took over. Yet the Titans went 3 and out again as the Bears took over at their own 20 with 2:01 to play. Foles hit Nall for 16. Roughing the passer on the next play added 15. On 3rd and 8 from the Titans 46, Foles threw incomplete but defensive unnecessary roughness meant 15 more yards. Foles hit All for 12, Robinson for 11 and Jimmy Graham for an 8 yard touchdown. With one minute left the bears were within 7 points. At this point their miracles ran out as the onside kick failed. The Bears have lost 3 straight after a 5-1 start. 24-17 Titans
Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs — The only way to beat the Chiefs is to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field. The Panthers began with a 15 play, 75 yard, 9 minute drive. The Panthers finally had Christian McCaffrey back. Teddy Bridgewater hit Mccaffrey for 7, Robbie Anderson for 4, and Davis for 12. On 3rd and 4 from the Chiefs 40, McCaffrey ran for 5. On 3rd and 6 from the Chiefs 31, Bridgewater hit Moore for 7. On 4th and 3 from the Chiefs 9, Matt Rhule decided to go for it. A perfectly executed screen pass led to Bridgewater hitting McCaffrey for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers. The Chiefs soon faced 3rd and 8 on their own 27. Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill for 14, Travis Kelce for 10 and Carl Edwards-Helaire for 8 with unnecessary roughness on the previousnplay adding 15. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Carolina 21, Mahomes threw 3 straight incompletions. Harrison Butker hit the 39 yard field goal to get the Chiefs within 7-3.
The Panthers in the second quarter took over at their own 26. They had to punt on 4th and 7 from their own 45. Matt Rhule called a fake punt that was executed perfectly. Charlton threw a deep pass to Zylstra for a 28 yard gain. Bridgewater then went to McCaffrey for 7 and Curtis Samuel for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Panthers. After a touchback, Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman for gains of 6 and 32. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Carolina 37, Mahomes again threw 3 straight incompletions. Walrus Andy Reid trusted Butker with a 55 yard field goal try, and Butker delivered to get the Chiefs within 14-6. The Chiefs got it back at their own 35 and Mahomes hit Kelce for 23 and Hill for 7. From the Carolina 28, Mahomes hit Kelce for 5 and 8 and Hill for 14 down to the one. Mahomes hit Robinson for the touchdown as the Chiefs were within 14-13 with 3:45 left in the half. The Panthers took over at their own 21. On 3rd and 4 from their own 41, Bridgewater threw incomplete but roughing the passer kept the drive going. The drive died at the Chiefs 32, but Joey Slye hit a 47 yard field goal to put the Panthers up 17-13 at the intermission.
The third quarter began ugly. Butker missed a 48 yard field goal for the Chiefs. Then Slye had a 51 yard try for the Panthers drink off the upright no good. The Chiefs soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 44. Mahomes went deep to Kelce for 44 yards. Mahomes hit Edwards-Claire for a 4 yard touchdown as the Chiefs led 20-17. The Chiefs got it back at their own 31. Mahomes ht Hardman for 10. On 3rd and 5 from their own 46, Mahomes went deep to Hill for 26 and to Hill again for the 28 yard touchdown. Only 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Chiefs led 26-17 after the failed extra point.
The Panthers took over at their own 30 and Bridgewater went deep to Samuel for 28 yards. With 13 minutes left, Matt Rhule decided to go for it on 4th and 14 at the Chiefs 46. Bridgewater took off running and dove in the air between 2 tacklers. His gutty effort meant 15 yards and a key first down. Bridgewater then went deep to McCaffrey, who made a leaping catch for a 24 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Bridgewater ran it in himself for the touchdown. The Panthers were within 26-24 with 10 1/2 minutes to play. With plenty of time left, Rhule opted for an onside kick. The Panthers recovered, but they touched the ball after only 9 yards. The Chiefs took over at the Carolina 39. On 3rd and 2 from the Carolina 31, Mahomes hit Kelce for 13. On 3rd and 7 from the Carolina 15, the defense jumped offside. On 3rd and 2, Mahomes gained 6. Mahoems hit Hill for a 2 yard touchdown as the Chiefs led 33-24 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Panthers soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Bridgewater went to Samuel for 11, McCaffrey for 9, Anderson for 22, Samuel for 11, Davis for 5 and Anderson for 3. Just before the 2 minute warning, the Panthers needing 2 scores faced 3rd and 2 at the Chiefs 7. McCaffrey ran for 6 and then for the one yard touchdown. With 1:55 left, the Panthers were back within 2. The Panthers held on defense and got the ball back at their own 9 with 1:26 left and 0 timeouts. On 3rd and 5 from their own 28, Bridgewater went to Samuel for 23 yards and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 9 seconds left. A short pass gained nothing and left only 5 seconds. Another incompletion left 2 seconds. Rather than give Slye a fighting chance, they brought him in for a 67 yard field goal try for the win and NFL history. The kick never had a chance, going way wide by a country mile as the Chiefs escaped. It was a heart-stopper, but the Chiefs are 8-1, making Andy Reid a most Happy Walrus indeed. 33-31 Chiefs
New York Giants at Washington Election Frauds — league rules prevented this game from being canceled. The Giants gambled on 4th and 1 from the Washington 35. Naturally they didn’t make it. On the next play Kyle Allen hit Gibson for a 21 yard gain, but Gibson fumbled it and Jabril Peppers recovered it for the Giants. From their own 19, Daniel Jones went deep to Mack for a 50 yard gain. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Washington 20, Jones threw 3 straight incompletions. Graham Gano hit a 38 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Giants. Later on the non-Redskins fumbled a punt and the Giants took over at the Washington 16. Gallman ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Giants.
The non-Redskins did move from their own 26 to a 2nd and 4 at the Giants 10. A false start and offensive holding killed the drive. Dustin Hopkins hit a 48 yard field, but the Giants came right back. After a touchback, the Giants faced 3rd and 5 at their own 41. Jones hit Shepard for 21. Gano hit a 48 yard field goal to make it 13-3 Giants. The Giants got it back at their own 23. Alfred Morris gashed his former team for gains of 11, 19 and 5. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 40, Jones hit Board for 10. Morris ran for another 8 and one. Jones went to Evan Engram for a 16 yard touchdown as the Giants were dominating 20-3 with 2 minutes left in the half.
The game changed drastically in the second half. The No-Names began the third quarter facing 2nd and 6 at their own 29. Kyle Allen went out injured in the first half with an ankle injury and had to be taken off the field with a cart. Alex Smith, who recently recovered from a life-threatening leg injury of his own, played the rest of the game. Smith is known for dinking and dunking but he can throw the deep ball. He went deep to Sims for a 45 yard gain. From the Giants 18, Gibson ran for 6, 11 and the one yard touchdown to get the No-Names within 20-10. The Giants after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 7 at the Washington 22. Yet a sack and offensive holding killed the drive. Gano hit a 42 yard field goal and the Giants were up 23-10.
The Redskins soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 27. Smith connected with Sims for a 33 yard gain. On 2nd and 13 from the Giants 43, Smith hit Wright for 15. On 3rd and 14 from the Giants 32, Smith hit Mickissic for only 6. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hopkins hit from 44 to get the No-Names within 23-13. The Redskins got it back at their own 16 and struck quickly. Smith hit McKissic and Wright for a pair of 8 yard gains. Smith then went deep to Terry mcLaurin, who broke through pathetic attempts at tackling and raced for a 68 yard touchdown. With 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation the No-Names were within a field goal. The Giants managed to take 5 minutes off the clock while gaining only 9 yards. The Riveras took over at their own 11 and moved to a 3rd and 10 at the Giants 40 with 2:18 to play. Smith was intercepted by Peppers. The Election Frauds took their timeouts on defense and got the ball back at their own 28 with 1:48 left. From their 32, Smith went over the middle and was intercepted again by Ryan. The Deficits could not overcome the deficit as the Giants improved to 2-0 against Washington and winless against everyone else. 23-20 Giants
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings — Both teams came in under .500 but the Vikings were coming off a big road win over Green Bay. The Vikings took over at their own 33. Calvin Cook ran for 13. Cousins hit Kyle Rudolph and Jefferson for a pair of 22 yard gains. Cook ran for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Vikings. The Lions took 6 1/2 minutes to move 12 plays but Matt Prater missed a 46 yard field goal. From their own 36, Cook ran for 9 and 11. Cousins went deep to Adam Thielen for 30 yards. Cousins hit Smith for a 9 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Vikings led 13-0.
The Lions again drove the ball well on a 15 play, 75 yard drive that consumed 8 minutes. Yet on 3rd and goal at the one, Adrian Peterson was blown up for a 4 yard loss. Prater hit the 23 yard field goal in the second quarter to get the Lions on the board. The Lions got it back at their own 28 and defensive pass interference added 7 yards. Matthew Stafford hit Cephus for 20 and Danny Amendola for 8. On 3rd and 6 from the Minnesota 26, Stafford hit Hockensen for 11 and Jones for the 15 yard touchdown to get the Lions within 13-10.
The Vikings took over at their own 13 with 1:15 left in the half. Cousins hit Thielen for 8, Rudolph for 10 and Thielen for 29. Cook ran for 13 and Cousins hit Abdullah for a 22 yard touchdown as the Vikings took a 20-10 lead to the locker rooms. In the third quarter the Vikings faced 3rd and 5 at their own 28. Cousins went deep to Justin Jefferson for 35 yards. Cook gained 12 and 4. On 3rd and 6 from the Detroit 21, Cousins threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant an 18 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Cousins hit Irv Smith for the touchdown. Midway through the third quarter, the Vikings led 27-10.
Then came some ugliness. The Lions moved from their own 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Minnesota 20. Stafford was then intercepted. The Vikings had to punt and the Lions blocked it. The Lions took over at the Minnesota 22. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Stafford went to the end zone and was intercepted again for a touchback. The Lions got it back to start the fourth quarter at their own 31. Stafford hit Jones for 12 and Swift for gains of 9 and 19. On the next play Stafford was sacked and left the game hurt. On 3rd and 9 from the Minnesota 27, Chase Daniel threw incomplete. Needing 3 scores with 11 minutes left, Matt Patricia opted for the field goal. Prater hit from 45 and the Lions were within 27-13. After all of that, the Viking put the game away 20 seconds later after a touchback. Cook broke free for a 70 yard touchdown to make it 34-13. The Vikings may wish to work on their special teams, since the Lions blocked another punt to set up one more touchdown. 34-20 Vikings
Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons — The Broncos overcame a 21 point second half deficit to win last week while the Falcons have blown several double digit fourth quarter leads. Early on Matt Ryan after a touchback hit Hurt for 11 and Julio Jones for 5. On 3rd and 5 from his own 41, Ryan hit Zaccheaus for the required 5. Todd Gurley ran for 4 and 13. On 3rd and 7 from the Denver 34, Ryan threw incomplete. Younghoe Koo hit the 52 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Falcons. The Falcons got it back and faced 3rd and 4 from their own 21. Ryan hit Gage for 8 and Jones for 6. On 3rd and 1 from their own 38, Smith got the yard. On 3rd and 11 just shy of midfield, Ryan went bombs away to Zaccheaus for a 51 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Falcons.
The Broncos finally got going after a touchback. Drew Lock hit Jerry Jeudy for 18 and Hamler for 14. Hamler ran for 15. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Atlanta 25, Lock threw 3 straight incompletions. Brandon McManus hit a 43 yard field goal to get the Broncos on the board in the second quarter. The Falcons soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 32. Ryan hit Zaccheaus for 5, Jones for 11, and Zaccheaus deep for a 42 yard gain. On 3rd and 6 from the Denver r9, Ryan hit Brandon Powell for the touchdown to make it 17-3 Falcons. The Falcons got it back at their own 16 and moved 67 yards on 12 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet on 2nd and 7 from the Denver 10, Ryan threw incomplete and was then sacked. Koo hit the 35 yard field goal as the Falcons led 20-3 at halftime.
The Broncos moved in the third quarter from their own 35 to a 1st and 10 at the Atlanta 25. Yet a pair of incompletions sandwiched around a 2 yard run ended the drive. McManus hit from 41 to get the Broncos within 20-6. Matty Ice was quickly intercepted, but the Broncos could not capitalize. The Falcons got it back at their own 20. A roughing the passer call and defensive unnecessary roughness moved the chains and gave the Falcons 30 free yards. Ryan ran for 12 and went to Julio Jones for a 21 yard touchdown. With 6:20 to play in the third quarter the Falcons led 27-6. However, the Broncos overcome deficits and the Falcons blow leads.
The Broncos faced 3rd and 6 at their own 34. Lock went to Jeudy for gains of 7 and 24. The fourth quarter began with the Broncos facing 3rd and 3 at the Atlanta 28. Lock went to Hamilton for just enough. On 3rd and 5 from the Atlanta 20, Lock went to Jeudy for the touchdown. With 13 minutes left in regulation the Broncos were within 27-13. They got the ball back and Lock was quickly intercepted to set up the Falcons at the Denver 12. Two plays later Gurley ran for a 4 yard touchdown. With 9 minutes left in regulation, the Falcons led 34-13.
The Broncos after a touchback saw Lock hit Hamer for 36 yards. Yet on 3rd and 6 from the Atlanta 35, Lock threw incomplete twice. The Broncos got it back at their own 31 needing 3 scores with 5 1/2 minutes left. Lock ran for 16 and hit Fast for 11. Defensive pass interference added 14. Lock went to Vannett for 11 and ran for 8. On 3rd and 2 from the Atlanta 9, Lock hit Tim Patrick for the touchdown. With 4 minutes left, the Broncos were within 34-20. The Broncos got it back with 3:17 left at their own 18. Lock went to Hamler for 3 and 9 with defensive unnecessary roughness adding 15. Lock went deep to Jeudy for 41 and ran for the 10 yard touchdown. A pair of drives that each took 90 seconds had the Broncos within 7 with 1:52 to play. The Broncos again held on defense and got it back at their own 20 with 38 seconds left. Lock threw 3 straight incompletions. With 23 seconds left on 4th and 10, Lock fumbled the snap out of the shotgun. This time the Falcons avoided a complete meltdown. 34-27 Falcons
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers — The former teams of Oakland and San Diego met in Los Angeles. Early on after an exchange of punts the Chargers missed an early opportunity when Mike Badgley missed a 48 yard field goal. The Raiders took over at their own 38 and Josh Jacobs ran for 10 and 4. Derek Carr hit Darren Waller for 6. On 3rd and 10 from the Chargers 42, Carr went to Jalen Richard for 19. Davante Booker got around the end for a 23 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Raiders lead. The Chargers soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 25. Justin Herbert hit Hunter Henry for 11 and Keenan Allen for 17. On 3rd and 6 from the Raiders 41, Herbert hit Allen for 13. Ballage ripped off a 14 yard gain. The second quarter began with the Chargers facing 3rd and 4 at the 8. Herbert only gained 3. On 4th and 1 from the 5, Anthony Lynn decided to go for it. Ballage ran it in for a 7-7 game.
A field position game in the second quarter had the Chargers punting on 4th and 14 from their own 7. The Raiders took over with a short field at the Chargers 44. Henry Ruggs ran for 10 and Josh Jacobs ran for 7 and 4. On 3rd and 1 from the Chargers 14, Jacobs got around the end and made a dive from the 3 yard line and somehow broke the plane of the goal. Jacobs was way out of bounds but his foot never came down because he was on a player. The touchdown stood as the Raiders led again 14-7.
A sack of Herbert had the Chargers facing 2nd and 16 from their own 19. Herbert hit Guyton for 9 and on 3rd and 7 found Hunter Henry for 10. Herbert went to Williams for 21. With 1:45 left in the half the Chargers faced 3rd and 16 at the Raiders 44. Jon Gruden called a timeout on defense. The hope was to get a stop and get the ball back. This strategy often backfires because it gives the offense more time to plan a play rather than race to the line in a panic. Herbert hit Williams for just enough. Herbert then went deep to Allen for a 27 yard touchdown. With 26 seconds left in the half the game was tied 14-14 after the 10 play, 75 yard, 5 minute drive. After a touchback, all the Raiders had to do was take a knee. Instead Jon Gruden picked the worst time to get aggressive. Carr was sacked and fumbled and the Chargers recovered at the Raiders 27 yard line with 8 seconds left. Badgley hit a 45 yard field goal for a gift 17-14 Chargers lead. 2 scores in the final 30 seconds had the Raiders deflated.
In the third quarter the Raiders shook off the blunders. Jalen Richard returned the kickoff 44 yards to the Raiders 45. Jacobs ran for 10. On 3rd and 10 Carr went deep to Nelson Agholor for a 45 yard touchdown bomb and a 21-17 Raiders lead. The Raiders got it back and faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Carr went deep to Hunter Renfrow for a 53 yard gain. On 3rd and 10 from the Chargers 16, Carr scrambled up the middle. He normally slides but this time he leapt over the top for a 12 yard gain. Carr hit Darren Waller for the 2 yard touchdown. Midway through the third quarter, the Raiders led 28-17. The Raiders had all the momentum, but they do not handle prosperity well. They do not finish games.
The Chargers soon aced 3rd and 1 at their own 36. Kelley gained 2. Herbert then went deep to Johnson for a 50 yard gain. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Raiders 11, Herbert threw 3 straight incompletions. Badgley hit the 29 yard field goal to get the Chargers within 28-20. The Raiders moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 2 at the Chargers 42. Carr went deep and hit Ruggs, but he was out of bounds. The fourth quarter began with Jon Gruden deciding to go for it on 4th and 2. It was just gamesmanship as the Chargers failed to jump offside. The Raiders punted and the Chargers took over at their own 18. Herbert hit Allen for 10 and Henry for gains of 7 and 23. Herbert hit Kelley for 12 and Ballage ran for gains of 9 and 6. On 3rd and goal at the 9, Herbert threw incomplete but defensive holding meant 1st and goal at the 4. Herbert moved back for his life and tossed a floater before getting belted. Nabers caught it for the touchdown but Herbert stayed down. He had to come out for one play as Tyrod Taylor came in for the 2 point conversion. Taylor scrambled all over the field and got past several tacklers, but Nick Kwaitkowski drilled him short. The Chargers were within 28-26 with 9 minutes left in regulation.
The Raiders as expected went 3 and out. Yet just when it looked like the Chargers had all the momentum, they messed up. Hill fumbled the punt and the Raiders recovered it at the Chargers 31 yard line. Carr hit Agholor for 10. On 3rd and 7 from the Chargers 18, Carr hit Waller for only 5. On 4th and 2 from the Chargers 13, a touchdown would ice the game. Jon Gruden took no chances. Daniel Carlson hit the 31 yard field goal. The Raiders led 31-26 with 4:40 to play, but it would be up to the much maligned Raiders pass defense to get a stop when it mattered.
The Chargers faced 3rd and 1 from their own 34. Herbert hit Allen for 8 yards. On the next play Herbert got drilled, as offensive holding pushed the Chargers back. At the 2 minute warning, the Chargers faced a critical 3rd and 6 at their own 47. Herbert escaped a sack and ran for the sticks, coming up inches short. Anthony Lynn called the Chargers first timeout with 1:25 to play. It all came down to 4th and inches from the Raiders 48. Herbert pitched it to Ballage for 4 yards. Herbert then hit Ballage for 11 as the Chargers took their 2nd timeout with 55 seconds left at the Raiders 34. Herbert hit Kelley for 5 and 6 with 32 seconds left. Herbert hit Kelly for 4 as the Chargers took their final timeout with 25 seconds left. Herbert went to Williams for 16 and spiked the ball with 6 seconds left. 4 yards separated the teams. Herbert threw a fade to Williams. He had it in his hands but at the very last moment it was broken up. One second remained as Williams remained on the ground. The 15 play, 71 yard drive came down to one final play. One second. 4 yards. Herbert threw another fade to Parham as the defender fought for it. Parham came down with it as the Chargers celebrated a 32-31 win and the Raiders protested the catch. Unlike the election, this dispute only needed a few agonizing minutes to resolve. Replay clearly showed that the ball hit the ground. The Chargers lost another gut-wrenched and the Raider somehow survived to get to 5-3. Carr only had 160 yards passing but the Raiders also rushed for 160. As Al Davis said, it doesn’t have to look pretty as long as you win. Just Win Baby. 31-26 Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys – The Steelers entered the NFL’s lone unbeaten team. The Cowboys are a dumpster fire. With Dak Prescott out for the year and Andy Dalton still suffering fro a concussion, third string quarterback Ben DiNucci was not getting it done. The fourth string quarterback is Garrett Gilbert, a journeyman who is on his 7th team since 2014. In his 6 years he has thrown 6 passes, completing 2 of them. All Pittsburgh had to do was roll over a lifeless Dallas team. Cue ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman: “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES!” In the first quarter the Cowboys moved 65 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Pittsburgh 14, a pair of runs went nowhere and Gilbert was sacked. Greg Zuerlein hit a 38 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cowboys. In the second quarter the Steelers moved from their own 30 to a 4th and 1 at the Pittsburgh 35. mike Tomlin went for it and Bennie Snell got stuffed. Gilbert then ran for gains of 15 and 11 and hit Schultz for 16. On 3rd and 7 from the Pittsburgh 20, Gilbert went to CeeDee Lamb for Gilbert’s first NFL touchdown pass and a 10-0 Cowboys lead. Special teams gave the Cowboys phenomenal field position when Canaday fielded a punt at his own 6 yard line. Canady lateraled to Goodwin, who outraced the coverage for 83 yards down to the Pittsburgh 11. A penalty moved the ball back to the 31, leading to a 44 yard Zuerlein field goal. In a shocker, the Cowboys led 13-0 with 4 minutes left in the half.
The Steelers finally woke up after a touchback. Ben Roethlisberger hit Juju Smith-Schuster for 8, Chase Claypool for 9 and Johnson for 13 at the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and 6 from their own 41, Big Ben hit Eric Ebron for 9, Claypool for 10, Ebron for 5, and Washington for a 17 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Steelers were within 13-6. Only 1:10 remained in the half but that was enough time for the Cowboys to self-destruct. The Cowboys fumbled and the Steelers took over at the Dallas 39. With 2 seconds left Chris Boswell came in for a 54 yard field goal. The kick was no good but the Steelers got a break when they were penalized for a false start. A false start cannot be declined. So Boswell got a second chance from 59 yards out, and nailed that one as the Steelers trailed 13-9.
The Cowboys began the third quarter at their own 23. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 5, 8 and 3. On 3rd and 2 from the Pittsburgh 43, Pollard gained 20. On 1st and 10 from the Pittsburgh 23, Gilbert was sacked and then threw incomplete twice. Zuerlein hit from 45 to put the Cowboys up 16-9. The Cowboys after a touchback got it back and moved 53 yards in 12 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. On 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 22 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Mike McCarthy made a fateful decision. He opted not to go for it. Zuerlein hit the 39 yard field goal. The Cowboys led 19-9 and were smelling upset.
The Cowboys defense had been solid all game, but they finally broke. After a touchback, Roethoisberger hit Smith-Schuster for 20. On 3rd and 10 from his own 45, Roethlisberger again hit Smith-Schuster for 20. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger went deep to Smith-Schuster for a 31 yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked but the Steelers were within 19-15. Dowdle returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to the Pittsburgh 36. The Cowboys had a chance to do real damage. With 12 minutes left in regulation, on 3rd and goal at the 5, Gilbert was intercepted by Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers took over at their own one yard line. Roethlisberger hit McCloud for 8. On 3rd and 2 from their own 9, Roethlisberger hit Claypool for 7, McCloud for 8, Johnson for 9 and Claypool for 14. Roethlisberegr was sacked and fumbled. Smith recovered it and returned it 22 yards to the Pittsburgh 21. Yet it was all for naught as illegal contact on the defense kept the drive going. McFarland rn for 6 with 15 more tacked on for unnecessary roughness. On 3rd and 7 from the Dallas 24, Roethlisberger threw incomplete. Boswell hit the 43 yard field goal as the Steelers trailed 19-18 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Steelers got it back at their own 21 with 4 minutes left. On 3rd and 10 Roethlisberger threw incomplete but a roughing the passer was a lifeline for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger hit Claypool for 9 and Johnson for a 42 yard gain. Roethlisberger hit Claypool for 5 and Ebron for the 8 yard touchdown. The 79 yard march had the Steelers up by 5 with 2:19 to play. After a touchback, the Cowboys faced 4th and 8 at their own 41 with 1:45 left. Gilbert got belted by 2 defenders for a brutal 17 yard loss. The game appeared over but the Cowboys still had 2 timeouts. They took them on defense. On 4th and 1 from the Dallas 15, a field goal would make it an 8 point game. Mike Tomlin went for it all. James Conner got blown up for a 4 yard loss.
The Cowboys had life. They had 38 seconds to go 81 yards. Gilbert went deep to Lamb for 32 yards. On 3rd and 10 just past midfield, Gilbert hit Michael Gallup for 20. With 4 seconds left, it came down to one play on 3rd and 4 from the Pittsburgh 23. Garrettt Gilbert had a chance to etch his name in Cowboys and NFL lore with one play. He avoided the rush, stepped up in the pocket, and fired over the middle tot he end zone. It was knocked away incomplete. The Cowboys fought with a ton of heart, but the Steelers remained unbeaten. Despite winning 6 Super Bowls, the Steelers had never been 8-0 before. Even the Steel Curtain teams did not do that. The 2020 team under Mike Tomlin has. 24-19 Steelers
Miami Dolphins at Arizona Cardinals — Josh Rosen played for Arizona 2 years ago and Miami last year. This year Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa were the starters. Tagovailoa had a terrible debut but won. Early on the Cardinals moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 3 at the Miami 45. Murray was sacked and fumbled. Lawson picked it up and raced 36 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Dolphins led 7-0 and for the 2nd straight week were winning without offense. After another touchback, a defensive pass interference call meant 20 more yards. On 3rd and 6 just shy of midfield, Murray hit kirk for gains of 8 and 10 and Larry Fitzgerald for 17. On 3rd and 9 from the miami 14, Murray ran for 10 and then hit Williams for the 4 yard touchdown. The 10 play, 75 yard drive made it 7-7.
The Dolphins brought their offense on this day as well. Short gains after a touchback followed by offensive holding had the Dolphins facing 2nd and 20 at their own 36. Tagovailoa was sacked but a defensive facemask meant 15 yards forward. Tagovailoa hit Williams for 11, ran for 5, and hit Gesicki for 17 and Smythe for 19. Howard ran for the 2 yard touchdown for a 14-7 Dolphins lead. After a touchback the Cardinals needed only 90 seconds. Murray went to Fitzgerald for 16. On 3rd and 7 from their own 44, Murray went deep to kirk for a 56 yard touchdown to start the second quarter and make it 14-14.
After a touchback, Tagovailoa went deep to Williams for 35 yards. Ahmed ran for a 19 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Arizona 9, Tagovailoa hit Williams for the touchdown. 3 straight touchdown drives had the Dolphins up 21-14. The Cardinals moved easily from their own 25 to a 2nd and 4 at the Miami 13. A run lost 6 yards and Murray threw incomplete. Zane Gonzalez hit a 37 yard field goal to get the Cardinals within 21-17. With 46 seconds left in the half the Dolphins took over at their own 36. Tagovailoa hit Grant for 16 and after a sack hit Laird for 17. Sanders drilled a 56 yard field goal to end the half with the Dolphins up 24-17.
The Cardinals began the third quarter at their own 13. Murray hit Hopkins for 17, Foster for 7 and Kirk for 14. Defensive pass interference on an incompletion added 18 yards. Murray hit Darrell Daniels for a 21 yard touchdown for a 24-24 game. The Cardinals took over at their own 16. Murray hit Fitzgerald for 11 and Hopkins for 6. With 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter on 4th and 1 from their own 46, Kliff Kingsbury decided to go for it. Murray threw incomplete but their were offsetting penalties. Defensive pass interference was nullified by an ineligible receiver. Given a second chance, Kingsbury went for it again. Murray ran for a 28 yard gain. On 2nd and 13 from the Miami 29, Murray threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 4 yards and a first down. Murray hit Edmonds for 10 and ran for a 12 yard touchdown himself. With 2 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Cardinals led 31-24.
The Dolphins got it back at their own 7 yard line and soon faced 3rd and 9 from their own 8. Tagovailoa hit Parker for 14. On 3rd and 4 from their own 28, Tagovailoa ran for 6. A defensive foul for lowering the head to initiate contact on the next play meant 15 more yards. Tagovailoa went to Parker for 17 and Grant for 6. Tagovailoa then ran for 17 and found Mack Hollins for an 11 yard touchdown. With 11 12/2 minutes left in regulation, this game was tied 31-31.
The Cardinals moved from their own 27 to a 4th and 1 at their own 47 midway through the fourth quarter. Kliff Kingsbury decided to go for it. Jones gained 4. With 5:20 to play the Cardinals faced 4th and 1 at the Miami 40. Kingsbury again gambled and this time he lost as Edmonds got stuffed. Tagovailoa hit Gesicki for 19. On 3rd and 10 from the Arizona 41, a completion from Tagovailoa to Grant only gained 9. With 3 1/2 minutes left on 4th and 1 from the Arizona 32, Brian Flores took no chances. Jason Sanders nailed the 50 yard field goal to give the Dolphins the lead. After a touchback, Murray went deep to Kirk for 35 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 41, Murray threw incomplete at the 2 minute warning. This time on 4th and 1 Kingsbury decided not to gamble for the win. Zane Gonzalez came in for a 49 yard field goal to tie it. The kick was no good. The Cardinals had all 3 timeouts. The Dolphins faced 3rd and 1 at their own 48 with 1:05 left. Tagovailoa kept it himself and gutted out the yard and then took a couple knees to run out the clock. Tua is 2-0 as a starter and both teams are 5-3 after this thrilling game. 34-31 Dolphins
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the Sunday night game. The Big storyline was obviously Tom Brady against Drew Brees. Another storyline was head case Antonio Brown coming back from his 8 game suspension and playing four his 4th team in a year. Michael Thomas was also back on the field after missing most of the season due to injuries and suspension. Yet the real storyline is that the 5-2 Saints were playing against the 6-2 Buccaneers for the NFC South lead. The Saints won at home in the season opener 34-23 but now the rematch was in rainy Tampa. Early on it was all Saints. The Saints took over at their own 35. Brees hit Alvin Kamara for 6, Thomas for 8, Hill for 11 and Callaway for 6. Ob 3rd and 3 from the Tamp Bay 33, Sean Payton brought in taysom Hill for one play. Hill hit Jared Cook for 19 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Tampa 14, Brees went to Smith for the touchdown and the 7-0 Saints lead. Late in the first quarter the Buccaneers punted on 4th and 8 from their own 4. A short punt gave the saints a short field at the Tampa 35. Kamara gained 17. Brees hit Thomas for 8 and on the last play of the first quarter hit Trautman for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Saints.
A 15 yard punt return gave the Saints the ball back only 40 seconds later at midfield. On 2nd and 16 from their own 44, Brees went to Hill for 21. Taysom Hill lined up at quarterback again and this time ran for 23 yards, hurdling a pair of defenders. Brees hit Emanuel Sanders for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 21-0 Saints. The Buccaneers did not even have a first down. From their own 23, they finally got one when Brady hit Johnson for 11 yards. Yet on the next lay, a short pass was deflected and intercepted by the big man Onyemata. The Saints took over at the Tampa 27. On 3rd and 5, Brees hit Sanders for 9. Hill gained 12 down to the one. Kamara got the yard as the Saints were winning in shocking fashion up 28-0. It was the biggest first half deficit Brady had ever faced in his 21 year career.
The Buccaneers moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 6 at the Saints 38. A pass from Brady to Chris Godwin was dropped. Bruce Arians went for it on 4th and 6 and Brady went bombs away for all the marbles to Rob Gronkowski. The ball was just overthrown incomplete with 5 minutes left in the half. Kamara ran for 11. Brees hit Thomas for 20 and Sanders for 12. At the 2 minute warning, the Saints faced 3rd and 7 at the Patriots 18. A pass to Cook past the first down marker saw him get hit and lose the ball incomplete. Wil Lutz hit the 36 yard field goal as the Saints were rolling up 31-0. With 1:49 left after a touchback, Brady hit Brown for 10 and Evans for 22 Brady then went deep and was intercepted at the Saints 15. The second half was a formality. A 10 play, 70 yard, 7 minute drive led to a 3 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Hill with 9 minutes remaining to make it 38-0 Saints. The Saints sweet the season series. Brees’s 4 touchdown passes moved him ahead of Brady on the all time list 564 to 561. The Buccaneers kicked a field goal with 6 minutes left to avoid the shutout. Up by 35 with 6 minutes left, Brees took a seat and his backup Jameis Winston came in for some mop up against his old team. The Buccaneers also set an infamous record for fewest rushing attempts in a game. The Buccaneers only rushed 5 times for a total of 7 yards, and the last rushing attempt was Blaine Gabbert taking a knee. 38-3 Saints
New England Patriots at New York Jets was the Monday night game. These are not the same Patriots. They are a 2-5 team. However, surely they could steamroll over an 0-8 Jets team. With Sam Darnold out, aging Joe Flacco would be starting. To sum up ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman: “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES!” The Jets began with Frank Gore gaining 5, 4, and one 3rd and 1 at their own 34, a critical 3. Joe Flacco went to Griffin for 5 and to Mims for 26 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Patriots 17, Flacco threw incomplete. Castillo hit the 35 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Jets. After a touchback, Harris ran 12 and 3. On 3rd and 5 from the Jets 46, Can Newton hit Byrd for 8 and Meyers deep for 33 yards. Newton ran for the 5 yard touchdown as the Patriots led 7-3.
In the second quarter the Jets took over at their own 7 yard line. Perine ran for 7 and one. On 3rd and 2 from their own 15, Flacco went to Berrios for 13, Mims for 17, and Perriman for a 50 yard touchdown bomb. Flacco can still throw the long ball as the Jets led 10-7. The Patriots moved after a touchback to a 4th and 1 at the Jets 39. Bill Belichick decided to go for it and James white got blown up for a 4 yard loss. From their own 43, Flacco hit Griffin for 23 yards. That was enough for Castillo to hit a 50 year field goal to put the Jets up 13-7. The Patriots took over at their own 19. Newton hit Johnson for 6 and Meyers for 13. Newton was belted for a 10 yard loss, but a horrendous roughing the passer call on a textbook legal hit gave the Patriots 15 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Jets 43, Newton hit Meyers for 15. Nick Folk hit a 45 yard field goal to get the Patriots within 13-10 with one minute left in the half. Rater than take a knee from their own 23, Adam Gase got aggressive. He hit Mims for 15. Defensive pass interference added 42 yards. Flacco then went to Crowder for a 20 yard touchdown as the Jets had the stunning halftime lead.
The Patriots began the third quarter at their own 22. Harris ran for 11 and 2. Newton hit Meyers for 20. Burkhead ran for 5, 5, 3, and on 3rd and 2 from the Jets 24, another 7. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 11, B urkhead got just enough. Harris ran for 6 and Burkhead got the last yard. The 13 play, 78 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive had the Patriots within 20-17. After a touchback, Flaccon hit Gore for 8 and Crowder for 6. On 3rd and 1 from their own 45, Perine gained 3. Flacco hit Perriman for 19. On 3rd and 9 from the Patriots 32, Flacco hit Perriman for 12 and again for the 15 yard touchdown. After three quarters, the 11 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive meant. Jets were winning a shocker up 27-17.
The Patriots took over to begin the fourth quarter at their own 32. On 3rd and 6 from their own 36, Newton hit Byrd for 10 and Meyers for 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Jets 34, Newton gained 2. Burkhead gained 7 and Harris added 6. On 3rd and 1 from the Jets 10, Newton got nailed for a 4 yard loss. On 4th and 5 from the Jets 14, the Jets got called for too many men on the field. Those types of errors normally kill the Jets. Yet on 2nd and goal from the 7, offensive holding killed the drive. On 3rd and goal at the 13, Newton only gained 3. After a staggering 17 plays and 58 yards on a drive that ate up 9 1/2 minutes, the the Patriots settled for a 29 yard Folk field goal to get within 27-20 with 6 minutes left in regulation.
The Jets took over from their own 18. On the first play from scrimmage, Flacco went deep and was intercepted. The Patriots took over at their own 28. On 3rd and 10, Newton threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Harris gained 21. On 3rd and 20 from their own 44, Newton went to Meyers for 19. On 4th and 1 from the Jets 37, Newton gained 3. Newton then hit Byrd for 31 yards as Byrd criss-crossed the field down to the Jets 3 yard line. On 2nd and goal from the one, Newton got stopped as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and goal from the one, Newton crashed just over the plane of the goal for a 27-27 game.
The Jets went nowhere and the Patriots got it back at their own 22 with 47 seconds left. What happened next was inevitable. Newton hit White for 11. With 22 seconds left the Patriots faced 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Newton gained 5 and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 8 seconds left. Newton then went to Meyers for 20 yards as the Patriots took their last timeout with 3 seconds left. Folk came in for a 51 yard field goal try for the win. If ever a game did not deserve overtime, this was it. Of course, the kick was good. The Jets find new creative ways to lose. Adam Gase at 0-9 still has not been fired. The Jets are still winless, witless and worthless. The deal with the devil that the Evil Hoodie Bill Belichick made has still not expired. 30-27 Patriots.