(Indianapolis) Leonard Fournette put an end to his four touchdown performance by scoring on a 28-yard rush with just 20 seconds remaining in the game on Sunday, concluding a victorious comeback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-31 against the Colts at Indianapolis.
Tom Brady led the Buccaneers attack (8-3). On the last streak, he made eight plays for 75 yards after taking possession of the ball with 3:29 to go. In total, Fournette carried the ball 17 times for gains of 100 yards and three touchdowns. He added a paid reception on Brady’s only touchdown pass in the game.
This is a second consecutive victory for the reigning Super Bowl champions. In Brady’s case, he improved his career record to 16-4 against the Colts.
Taking advantage of the last twenty seconds on the clock, the Colts (6-6) almost caused overtime. Isaiah Rodgers first returned the punt for 71 yards to the Bucs 32 line. However, Carson Wentz’s first pass could not be completed and then with no time left cornerback Pierre Desir intercepted the ball on the last play near the goal line.
The difference was played out in the turnovers. The Bucs managed to turn three turnovers into 17 points. And while the Colts held the 24-14 lead at halftime, the Bucs were able to turn things around in the next two quarters.
Jets 21 – Texans 14
Zach Wilson had 145 air yards, in addition to running into the end zone himself for a touchdown on his return to play from a knee injury, and the New York Jets have ended their three-game losing streak by taking the Houston Texans 21-14.
Wilson, 2e overall pick in the most recent NFL Draft, had missed the last four games. He also seemed a little rusty at the start of the game, committing himself in particular in an interception, but he recovered to lead the Jets (3-8) to victory. He even allowed himself a touchdown on a short four-yard run in the third quarter.
Late in the game, the Jets were able to convert two fourth downs to opening games during an offensive streak that culminated with Matt Ammendola’s 37-yard field goal to take the score to 21-14 with about three minutes. and a half to play.
The Texans (2-9), who were hoping to build on the momentum of a surprise win over the Titans last week, looked good early in the game, but the attack ran out of gas. Tyrod Taylor threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter to take the lead 14-3, but was unable to produce anything thereafter. He finished the game with 158 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Late in the game, the Texans had the opportunity to tie the game, but Bryce Hall knocked down a pass to Nico Collins on a fourth down and two yards to go. The Jets thus recovered the ball and had only to let the time pass.
Eagles 7 – Giants 13
The New York Giants defense pitted against Jalen Hurts, intercepting the young quarterback three times, and limiting the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense to its lowest production of the season in a 13-7 victory.
Daniel Jones joined Philadelphia native Chris Myarick on a one-yard pass and Graham Gano posted field goals of 35 and 39 yards to allow the Giants (4-7) to end the team’s short two-game winning streak. Eagles (5-7).
The latter were their own worst enemy in defeat. They made four turnovers, including a breakaway from running back Boston Scott, recovered by the Giants at their 40-line with 1: 34 remaining in the game.
The Eagles did have one last chance to touch the ball in the last minute of play. They got a first try at the Giants’ 27-line. Hurts then threw three passes, one of which almost paid off. He joined Jalen Reagor who was heading towards the end zone, but the receiver was unable to control the ball. Another pass to Reagor, just in front of the goal line, could not be completed as well.
Panthers 10 – Dolphins 33
Tua Tagovailoa was virtually flawless, as opponent Cam Newton had the worst game of his professional career, statistically speaking, and the Miami Dolphins crushed the Carolina Panthers 33-10.
In all three phases of the game, the Dolphins seemed to have all the answers.
Jaylen Waddle had nine receptions to post his best yardage of the season, scoring 137, in addition to registering a major. Then the Dolphins’ defense was treated to a feast of five quarterback sacks and three interceptions at Newton’s expense.
Myles Gaskin contributed to the party with two short-run touchdowns. With the win, the Dolphins (5-7) become the sixth team in NFL history to string together four wins after a 1-7 start to the season. Duke Riley also shone by blocking a punt, which led to a touchdown for the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa won the quarterfinals duel, completing 27 of his 31 passes for gains of 230 yards and a touchdown. Newton gave way in the fourth quarter after making just five of his 21 assists. The Panthers (5-7), cash a seventh defeat in their last nine clashes.
Titans 13 – Patriots 36
Mac Jones threw two touchdown passes and the New England Patriots defense produced three turnovers en route to a sixth straight victory. This time it was the Tennessee Titans who tasted Patriots medicine 36-13.
The victory ended the Patriots’ two-game losing streak against the Titans. The Pats (8-4) increased their record to 6-1 this season against teams in the American Conference.
Rookie Jones completed 23 of his 32 passes for gains of 310 yards. Kendrick Bourne caught both of the Pats’ touchdown passes and finished the game with five receptions and 61 yards.
The Titans (8-4) tried to keep up the pace early in the game, but were quickly passed due to a series of errors, including three escapes from the running backs and one interception. Ryan Tannehill finished his day with 11 completed passes in 21 attempts for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Steelers 10 – Bengals 41
Joe Mixon set a new personal mark with 165 yards rushing, in addition to registering two touchdowns, then Joe Burrow added a rushing touchdown and another passing in a landslide victory for the Cincinnati Bengals 41-10 over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With this victory, the Bengals swept away for the first time since 2009 their series of games against the Steelers. This is the Bengals’ third straight win over their rivals in the North Section of the American Conference. Previously, the Steelers had won the previous eleven matches.
The Steelers (5-5-1) have not won in their last three games while the Bengals (7-4), are positioned favorably to advance to the NFL playoffs.
The Bengals have scored points in each of their first four streaks on offense. Then, former Steelers member Mike Hilton intercepted a pass from Ben Roethlisberger before returning the ball to the end zone. At halftime, the Bengals’ lead was already 31-3.
Roethlisberger suffered two interceptions and three sacks, amassing 263 yards and one touchdown pass late in the game.
His opponent, Burrow, completed 20 of his 24 passes for 190 yards.
Falcons 21 – Jaguars 14
Cordarrelle Patterson hit two touchdowns on his return to play after suffering an ankle injury and the Atlanta Falcons returned to victory for the first time in three weeks thanks to a 21-14 victory over the poor Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Falcons (5-6) had not crossed the end zone in their last two clashes, scoring only a meager field goal during this slump.
They got to work playing “smarter football” against the Jaguars (2-9) and they were rewarded.
The Jaguars also contributed to their own loss as Trevor Lawrence committed with an interception in the second offensive series. Then, James Robinson dropped the ball in the next streak.
The Falcons believed they had turned Robinson’s turnaround into a field goal, but a penalty on defense earned them a first try. Patterson then took the opportunity to squeeze through an opening in the middle of the field to reach the end zone after a 12-yard run.
Early in the game, Patterson also had a major on a seven-yard rush. He finished the game with 108 rushing yards and 27 flying yards.
Broncos 28 – Chargers 7
Rookie Patrick Surtain II intercepted two Justin Herbert passes, including a 70-yard return for a major, and the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 28-7 on Sunday.
This important victory for the Broncos (6-5) set the stage for a duel against the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) for the first place of the West section of the American Association.
Surtain’s first interception came in the end zone, following an attempted knockdown to Jared Cook in the fourth quarter. The Broncos took advantage of the turnaround to register a touchdown when Teddy Bridgewater threw a nine-yard pass to Eric Saubert to take the score to 21-7.
His second interception came a little later, when Surtain grabbed a ball that hit Austin Ekeler’s hands. The Broncos player sprinted along the sideline to extend the lead to 28-7.
The Broncos’ defense rose in the game, which was marked by a brief absence from Bridgewater with a lower right leg injury and losses to offensive linemen Calvin Andreson and Dalton Risner.
Bridgewater came back in the third quarter and the Broncos confirmed their victory by running with the ball. They amassed 147 rushing yards against the NFL’s worst running defense.
The Chargers’ first two offensive streaks in the second half totaled about 20 games and elapsed over 14 minutes of play, but they did not give up any points.
Dustin Hopkins initially missed his first field goal attempt, over a distance of 52 yards. Surtain then made his first interception at the expense of Herbert.
Vikings 26 – 49ers 34
Deebo Samuel scored two rushing touchdowns before leaving the game with injury and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 34-26.
This duel between two teams fighting for a playoff spot was very exciting as there were six touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 99-yard return for a major from Vikings player Kene Nwangwu.
The 49ers (6-5), however, managed a few more games, especially halfway in the fourth quarter, when they held back the Vikings in fourth down and goals. The San Francisco squad have won their last three games.
Jimmy Garoppolo threw a touchdown pass and for gains of 230 yards, but the 49ers once again relied on the attack on the ground. Samuel became the first wide receiver since the merger of the two leagues to earn five majors per race in one season.
Samuel carried the ball six times for 66 yards and he also caught a ball for 15 yards before leaving the game. Elijah Mitchell added 133 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes to Adam Thielen for the Vikings (5-6). He was, however, the victim of an interception that set the stage for a short offensive streak from the 49ers.