Return TDs rare pair in ’22
It was a week of happy returns in the NFL.
After only one kick or punt was returned for a touchdown in the first 10 weeks of the season, two were taken back in memorable fashion Sunday.
Cordarrelle Patterson scored on a kickoff return for the Falcons and Marcus Jones did it on a punt for the Patriots.
That marked just the second time in the last three seasons that there was a kick and punt return touchdown on the same day. It also happened on Dec. 26, 2021.
Patterson’s 103-yard return against the Bears was the record-breaking ninth kickoff return touchdown in his career. Patterson broke the mark he had shared with with Leon Washington and Josh Cribbs.
Seven of Patterson’s return touchdowns have been at least 100 yards, while no one else has more than three.
While Patterson’s return could be somewhat expected based on his history, Jones provided an improbable ending to the Patriots 10-3 win over the Jets.
Jones’ 84-yard punt return with 5 seconds remaining marked the first time in at least 40 years when the first touchdown of a game came in the final minute on a defensive or special teams TD.
It was the sixth game-winning punt return TD in the final 2 minutes of regulation or overtime since the merger.
Giving thanks
The Lions are coming into their annual Thanksgiving game on a roll for a change.
They won their third straight game Sunday to give them three wins in a row headed into the holiday for the second time since the merger. The only other time that happened was in 2017 when their three-game winning streak was snapped with a 30-23 loss to the Vikings.
That started a run of five straight Thanksgiving losses that the Lions (4-6) take into Thursday’s game against the Bills (7-3).
The Thanksgiving slate that also features the Giants (7-3) visiting the Cowboys (7-3) and the Vikings (8-2) hosting the Patriots (6-4) is one of the best in recent memory. The combined .650 winning percentage for the six teams playing Thursday is the third best since the NFL went to three Thanksgiving games in 2006, trailing only the .700 from 2011 and .636 from 2014.
Magic men
Derek Carr and Davante Adams have generated some overtime magic in their careers and now have done it as teammates.
Carr and Adams connected on a 35-yard TD pass Sunday to beat the Broncos 22-16 in overtime and add to their impressive overtime resumes.
Carr is now tied for the second most TD passes in OT in NFL history with three, trailing Drew Bledsoe by one. But all of Carr’s strikes have come from at least 30 yards out, the most of any quarterback.
The win also improved the Raiders record in OT with Carr in the game to 8-1.
Adams scored his third career OT touchdown after doing it twice with the Packers, tying Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson for the most in NFL history.