Comeback Lions stun Vikes, Cowboys hit 7-1
Matthew Stafford says he would like to avoid being down late in the fourth quarter at all costs. The Detroit Lions quarterback sure looks comfortable in those situations this season. Maybe because he has had plenty of practice.
Stafford threw a 28-yard TD pass to Golden Tate, who vaulted into the end zone in overtime to give the Lions a 22-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
After Matt Prater kicked a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter to force OT, Tate finished the opening drive when he ran through arm tackles by Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith and leaped in for the winning score.
“Our guys have been able to do it. Not just do it once or twice, they’ve been able to do it a number of times,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said of his team’s ability to come back from fourth-quarter deficits in all five of their victories. “I do think they have the level of comfort with it. It’s a tough situation to be in, but they don’t flinch.” COWBOYS 35, BROWNS 10: Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and quieted talk about the need for Tony Romo to return, helping Dallas hand winless Cleveland to its ninth loss of the season. Rookie Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 92 yards and scored twice, while durable tight end Jason Witten racked up 134 yards receiving for the Cowboys, off to their best start since 2007 at 7-1. GIANTS 28, EAGLES 23: Eli Manning threw for four touchdowns and New York’s defence had two interceptions and three stops on fourth downs to beat Philadelphia. The Giants won their third straight game, holding off the Eagles after Manning was intercepted with less than two minutes to go. Two of Manning’s touchdowns went to Odell Beckham Jr., with the others to Roger Lewis Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Manning moved into ninth place in yards passing with 46,428. Manning, in his 13th NFL season, threw for 257 yards against Philadelphia. He passed Vinny Testaverde, who had 46,233 yards through the air.
RAVENS 21, STEELERS 14: Baltimore QB Joe Flacco threw a 95-yard TD pass to Mike Wallace, and the Ravens’ D frustrated Ben Roethlisberger, back at the helm of the Pittsburgh offence after missing three weeks recovering from knee surgery.
CHARGERS 43, TITANS 35: Melvin Gordon ran for a career-high 196 yards and scored the go-ahead TD on a one-yard run, and defensive backs Dwight Lowery and Brandon Flowers scored on turnovers by Marcus Mariota to lead the Chargers over Tennessee, which still hasn’t won in San Diego since 1990. The Chargers won two days before the team will ask voters to approve a billion-dollar subsidy for a new downtown stadium to replace Qualcomm Stadium.
COLTS 31, PACKERS 26: Frank Gore rushed for two touchdowns, Jordan Todman had a tone-setting 99-yard return on the opening kickoff and Indianapolis held on for the win.
SAINTS 41, 49ERS 23: Drew Brees threw a pair of TD passes to Michael Thomas and another to Mark Ingram, who also ran for a 75-yard score a week after being benched and New Orleans won on the road over lowly San Francisco, now 1-7.
PANTHERS 13, RAMS 10: Cam Newton persevered despite five sacks to pass for 225 yards and a TD, and Carolina’s defence shut down Los Angeles. Newton’s offence managed just 244 total yards in a defencedominated game. CHIEFS 19, JAGUARS 14: Kansas City’s defence stuffed Jacksonville on fourth down with less than two minutes left deep in its own territory, preserving the Chiefs’ 10th straight home victory.