Tom Brady suffered two interceptions in the first quarter and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 29-19 to Washington Football on Sunday.
The Buccaneers suffered a second straight loss and also lost the services of center tackle Vita Vea on the last play of a 19-play, 80-yard streak that confirmed Washington’s victory (3-6).
Brady also suffered two interceptions in a loss to the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago. He completed 23 of his 34 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
The Buccaneers (6-3) never found their rhythm, as Brady was intercepted twice in his first six assists. The Bucs have missed the end zone in the first half for just a fifth time in the past two seasons.
On the Washington side, quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Carter in the third quarter. Heinickie completed 26 of his 32 passes for 256 yards.
Falcons 3 – Cowboys 43
PHOTO RON JENKINS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mike Davis (28) and Micah Parsons (11)
Ezekiel Elliott scored two rushing touchdowns, Nahshon Wright also reached the end zone after a blocked punt and the Dallas Cowboys crushed the Atlanta Falcons 43-3.
A week after seeing their winning streak be held back to six by the Denver Broncos, the Cowboys (7-2) have recovered.
Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb and Elliott to wrap up two streaks kept alive with converted fourth downs, all before halftime.
Dorance Armstrong capped the first half by blocking a clearance from Dustin Colquitt with one arm. Wright recovered the ball and made it through to the end zone with 37 seconds left at the half.
The Cowboys set a team record with 29 points in the second quarter and they had their largest halftime lead since 1971 (36-3).
Matt Ryan guided the Falcons (4-5) to 20 for the Cowboys in just four games in his first possession, which led to a field goal. He didn’t go back that deep into Cowboys territory for the rest of the game.
Ryan suffered two interceptions and was substituted behind center in the third quarter.
Prescott completed 24 of 31 passes for 296 yards and a major rushing, while Ryan was 9-for-21 for 117 yards.
Browns 7 – Patriots 45
PHOTO BOB DECHIARA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Herb Miller (29) and K’Keal Harry (1)
Mac Jones threw three touchdown passes, Rhamondre Stevenson had 100 rushing yards and two majors and they helped the New England Patriots crush the Cleveland Browns 45-7.
The Browns lost the services of quarterback Baker Mayfield with a knee injury. He left the field with difficulty in the third quarter after conceding two solid contacts.
Case Keenum took over from Mayfield.
The Patriots (6-4) won a fourth straight game. The Browns (5-5) have lost four of their last six games and still haven’t won in New England since 1992, when Bill Belichick was their coach.
Jones completed 19 of 23 passes for 198 yards. Hunter Henry caught two touchdown passes.
The Browns were without star running back Nick Chubb, who tested positive for COVID-19. The Browns were limited to 217 yards on offense and were 1-for-11 on third downs.
Titans 23 – Saint 21
PHOTO STEVE ROBERTS, USA TODAY SPORTS
Deonte Harris (11) and Jayon Brown (55)
Ryan Tannehill ran and pitched for majors and the Tennessee Titans defeated the New Orleans Saints 23-21 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to six.
The Titans (8-2) became the second team in NFL history to win five straight games against teams that made the playoffs the previous season, after the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003. The Titans have an overall record 7-0 this season against teams that made the playoffs in 2020.
The Saints (5-4) suffered a second straight loss since losing the services of quarterback Jameis Winston for the remainder of the campaign due to a ligament tear in one knee.
Against the Titans, they were also deprived of a trio of starters. All-star running back Alvin Kamara (knee), tackle Terron Armstead (knee and shoulder) and defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson (foot) were also missing.
Still, the Saints were in on until the end.
Trevor Siemian threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Callaway with 1:16 left, bringing the Saints two points behind the Titans. However, Adam Trautman was penalized for moving before the surrender, pushing the Saints back to the 7-line for their attempted two-run conversion.
Siemian’s pass to Mark Ingram in the corner of the end zone was incomplete. It was the Saints’ eighth consecutive failed two-point transformation attempt in recent years.
The Titans recovered the short kick and were able to confirm their victory.
Kicker Brian Johnson had missed two transformations by a point earlier in the game, which would have changed the picture late in the game.
The Titans, leaders of the American Association, took advantage of a little luck to extend their streak.
A questionable penalty for harshness against the quarterback erased a Tannehill interception in the end zone. He then scored a touchdown on a one-yard run, which put the Titans ahead 13-6. Tannehill also escaped a late throw in the third quarter, but receiver AJ Brown recovered the ball for a gain of six yards and a first down.
Dylan Cole snatched the ball from Deonte Harris on the kickoff return in the third quarter, which set the table for a two-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to MyCole Pruitt.