Patriots dominate Panthers

(Charlotte) The Patriots’ defense took a beating on quarterback Sam Darnold and the New England squad defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-6 on Sunday.

The game was relatively close in the first half, but the Patriots tightened the noose on Darnold, who threw an interception on three straight possessions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by JC Jackson.

Jackson also intercepted a pass from Darnold in the end zone as the Panthers (4-5) tried to come back. Jamie Collins managed the other theft for the Patriots (5-4), who obtained a third straight victory.

Rookie QB Mac Jones let his defense guide him, completing 12 of 18 passes for 139 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and an interception.

The Patriots were efficient with their rushing play as they rushed in for 151 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson was the best at this side of the game, getting 62 yards on 10 carries.

The return to the game of running back Christian McCaffrey has not helped the cause of the Panthers, who have lost five of their last six outings. McCaffrey had 52 rushing yards and 54 passing yards.

Raiders 16 – Giants 23

Quincy Roche produced a crucial fumble late in the game and the New York Giants upset the Las Vegas Raiders 23-16.

The Raiders (5-3) threatened with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, but Roche lost the ball to quarterback Derek Carr and Leonard Williams recovered the item to confirm the Giants’ victory ( 3-6).

The Giants’ offense only got six points from two field goals in the second half, but the defense did the job to stop the Raiders, but also help offensively.

On the Raiders’ first possession in the third quarter, Carr threw an interception into the hands of Xavier McKinney, who returned the ball 41 yards for a major that gave the Giants a 17-13 lead.

McKinney re-hit Carr in the fourth quarter, setting the table for a 38-yard field goal from Graham Gano.

Carr completed 30 of his 46 passes for gains of 296 yards. He threw a touchdown pass, but his three turnovers took a toll on the Raiders, who were trying to keep the Los Angeles Chargers at bay for the top spot in the West Section of the American Association.

Browns 41-Bengals 16

Baker Mayfield threw two touchdowns, Nick Chubb had 137 rushing yards and the Cleveland Browns, propelled by the 99-yard interception return for Denzel Ward’s major early in the game, took a beating Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals 41-16.

The Browns (5-4) entered the game in a desperate search for a win, after suffering three losses in four games. Their situation deteriorated on Wednesday when their all-star wide-end Odell Beckham Jr. was sidelined from the squad because of his attitude, forcing the club to release him.

However, as was the case last year, Mayfield played in a much more inspired fashion after Beckham suffered a knee injury that ended his season – in Cincinnati. The Browns quarterback showed his precision and the Browns offered their best performance of the season against the Bengals (5-4), who suffered numerous penalties en route to their second loss in a row.

Burrow threw two interceptions and suffered five sacks – including three from cornerback Troy Hill – and Bengals rookie wide-end Ja’Marr Chase dropped two assists, including one in the end zone.

Jaguars 9 – Bills 6

The Jacksonville Jaguars counted on the best Josh Allen on Sunday, as the young linebacker had an interception, a quarterback sack and recovered a fumble in his team’s narrow 9-6 win over the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills’ star quarterback, who bears the same name as the Jags linebacker, made three turnovers, including two in the second half. He hadn’t made the slightest turnaround in the second half this season before this meeting.

The Bills (5-3) suffered a second loss in seven games. The Jaguars (2-6) rebounded after being crushed last week by the Seahawks in Seattle.

Allen of the Bills completed 31 of 47 passing attempts for 264 yards, two interceptions and a fumble.

Texans 9 – Dolphins 17

The Miami Dolphins generated 244 yards on the air and took advantage of a surprise starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s touchdown pass on Sunday en route to a 17-9 victory over the Houston Texans.

This match between two teams with identical 1-7 pre-game records and each going through a seven-game losing streak has lived up – or not – to expectations. It was the game in which there were the most turnovers in the last five seasons in the NFL.

The Dolphins (2-7) and Texans (1-8) totaled nine turnovers. The Dolphins took five, the Texans four, and surprisingly the Floridians won.

It was the Dolphins’ first victory despite having committed five turnovers since Oct. 18, 1990. The Dolphins had gone 0-21 in such circumstances since that time. And it was the game with the most turnovers in the NFL since the one that had nine between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs on September 25, 2016.

Brissett replaced Tua Tagovailoa again, who missed the game due to an injury to the finger of the hand with which he throws the ball.

Jaylen Waddle caught eight passes for 83 yards for the Dolphins. Myles Gaskin scored one touchdown on the ground, and Mack Hollins another via the air.

Falcons 27 – Saints 25

Younghoe Koo put in a 29-yard field goal in the dying moments and the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 27-25.

Koo had the chance to give his team the win after quarterback Matt Ryan threw a 64-yard pass to Cordarrelle Patterson with one minute remaining.

Ryan had 343 aerial yards and joined Olamide Zaccheaus twice for a touchdown. The veteran quarterback added a middle grounding.

The Saints trailed 24-6 with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter, but took the lead by one point when Trevor Siemian threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills, with 61 seconds left. .

The New Orleans side then missed a two-point convert for a second time in the game, opening the door for the Falcons.

Ryan only needed one game to hurt the Saints. Patterson ended the game with six catches for 126 yards.

Vikings 31 – Ravens 34 (Prol.)

Justin Tucker put in a 36-yard field goal with just 16 seconds left in overtime and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Minnesota Vikings 34-31.

The Ravens (6-2) erased a 14-point delay in the third quarter and overcame an Anthony Barr interception on their first possession in overtime.

Barr deflected a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson and he caught the ball to give possession to the Vikings (3-5) at their line of 38. The Minnesota troop, however, cleared the ball after three unsuccessful games.

This winning kick from Tucker was easier than the one he had pulled off earlier this season. He sent the ball between the posts a record 66 yards to lead the Ravens to a victory over the Detroit Lions.

It was a third overtime game for both teams this season. They had divided the honors of their first two parties.

It’s another tough setback for the Vikings, who haven’t lost by more than seven points in their five losses this season.