Bengals (6-0) equal team’s best start,
Green Bay’s 6-0, too; Detroit gets first win on Prater’s overtime kick.
Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes and the unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals won their sixth straight to match the team’s best start to a season with a 34-21 road victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
With star receiver A.J. Green covered much of the game, Dalton completed TD passes to Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert and Jeremy Hill. Dalton finished 22-of-33 for 243 yards for Cincinnati, which was also 6-0 to start the 1975 and ’88 seasons.
“I told Andy to just throw it because I’m going to run and get it,” Jones said, referring to his 42-yard, over-the-shoulder catch that eventually set up his 10-yard TD on the Bengals’ opening drive of the second half. “If you’re going to take away one person, we’ve got six, seven other people that can do the job.”
The Bengals broke the game open by scoring 17 points on their first three second-half possessions to build a 34-14 lead.
The Bills (3-3) were undone by injuries and several penalties that allowed the Bengals to enjoy an average drive start of midfield in the first half.
Packers 27, Chargers 20
Green Bay stopped San Diego on fourth-and-goal from the 3 with 15 seconds left at Lambeau Field and overcame a career day by Philip Rivers to hold off San Diego (2-4).
Rivers set career highs with 43 completions, 65 attempts and 503 yards passing. He threw for two TDs.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 255 yards and two TDs to help the Packers remain unbeaten. James Starks (10 carries, 112 yards) had TDs on a 65-yard run and a 5-yard pass in the first quarter.
Lions 37, Bears 34 (OT)
Matt Prater kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:29 left in overtime to give host Detroit (1-5) its first victory.
Matthew Stafford heaved a 57-yard pass to Calvin Johnson to set up the kick for the Lions (1-5). Johnson finished with six receptions for 166 yards; Stafford (27-of-42) threw for 405 yards and four scores.
Robbie Gould kicked a 29-yard field goal for the Bears (2-4) as time expired in regulation.
Steelers 25, Cardinals 13
Carson Palmer was 29-of-45 for 421 yards and a TD, but he also threw two interceptions as Arizona (4-2) fell for the second time in three games.
Martavis Bryant caught six passes for 137 yards and two TDs for host Pittsburgh (4-2).
Vikings 16, Chiefs 10
Rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs had 129 yards on seven catches, Teddy Bridgewater threw for 249 yards and a score, and host Minnesota (3-2) played well enough early to survive a ragged finish.
Alex Smith (22 for 37, 282 yards) threw a 42-yard TD pass to Albert Wilson midway through the fourth, but Kansas City (1-5) couldn’t get any closer.
49ers 25, Ravens 20
Colin Kaepernick threw a 76-yard TD pass to ex-Ravens star Torrey Smith, Phil Dawson kicked four field goals and host San Francisco (2-4) held off Baltimore (1-5) to snap a four-game losing streak and extend the Ravens’ worst start.
Anquan Boldin — a Super Bowl star for the Ravens against the Niners — made a 51-yard reception late that set up Quinton Patton’s 21-yard TD catch.
Texans 31, Jaguars 20
Brian Hoyer (24-of-36, 293 yards) threw three TD passes on third down, including two in the fourth quarter to DeAndre Hopkins, as Houston (2-4) dealt host Jacksonville (1-5) its fourth straight loss.
Midway through the fourth quarter after Andre Hall intercepted a Blake Bortles pass and returned it 41 yards for a score and a 31-14 lead. It was the sixth pick-six thrown by Bortles in 19 career starts.
Dolphins 38, Titans 10
Defensive end Cameron Wake got his first four sacks this season and also forced two fumbles by Tennessee rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota — all in the first half — and Miami (2-3) snapped a three-game skid by winning in Dan Campbell’s debut on the road as interim coach.
Lamar Miller ran for 113 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries for the Dolphins, who gave Tennessee (1-4) its fourth loss in a row.