Purdy, 49ers defense shut down Brady, Buccaneers
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. » Brock Purdy threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in his first career start as San Francisco’s vaunted defense spoiled Tom Brady’s Bay Area homecoming in a 35-7 win over Tampa Bay Sunday.
Purdy outplaying the NFL’s most accomplished quarterback ever was partially overshadowed by another key injury for the 49ers (9-4).
A week after losing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a broken left foot that opened the door for Purdy to start, the Niners lost star receiver Deebo Samuel to an ankle injury that forced him to be taken off the field in tears on a cart.
The 49ers thoroughly dominated Brady and Tampa Bay (6-7) to win their sixth straight game. The last pick in the 2022 draft led the Niners to five touchdowns on their first seven possessions. Purdy finished 16 of 21 for 185 yards and two TDs. Christian McCaffrey ran for 119 yards, including a 38-yard TD, and scored on a 27-yard pass.
Brady finished 34 for 55 for 253 yards with one TD and two interceptions. LIONS 34, VIKINGS 23 » Jared Goff threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, leading Detroit past NFC North-leading Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins threw for 425 yards, including a franchise-record 223 to Justin Jefferson on 11 catches, for the Vikings (10-3).
Goff completed 27 of 39 passes for Detroit (6-7). He started the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams. Goff threw a tiebreaking, 48-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark. COWBOYS 27, TEXANS 23 » Ezekiel Elliott scored the go-ahead touchdown with 41 seconds remaining.
Houston (1-11-1) appeared in position to end a sevengame losing streak after Dak Prescott threw an interception inside the Dallas 10 with 5:37 to go and the Texans leading by three. The Cowboys (10-3) stiffened, stuffing backup quarterback Jeff Driskel on a fourth-down run to give Prescott another shot starting just outside his own goal line.
The quarterback delivered, starting with a 21-yard completion to Dalton Schultz from the 2. An 18-yarder to Schultz put Dallas at the Houston 4. Elliott scored on third down from the 2 to cap the 98-yard, 11-play drive. BILLS 20, JETS 12 » Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score on consecutive possessions.
Allen’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox in the closing minute of the second quarter led to Buffalo scoring on four consecutive drives, capped by a pair of field goals by Tyler Bass, including a 49-yarder.
JAGUARS 36, TITANS 22 » Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 368 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score, as Jacksonville won at Tennessee for the first time since 2013.
The Jaguars (5-8) snapped a five-game skid against their oldest division rival with just their second victory in this series in 11 games.
BENGALS 23, BROWNS 10 » Joe Burrow shook off a sloppy start to throw two touchdown passes as Cincinnati ended a five-game skid to its
Ohio rival.
CHIEFS 34, BRONCOS 28 » L’Jarius Sneed intercepted Denver backup quarterback Brett Rypien late in the fourth quarter, and Patrick Mahomes atoned for a threeinterception day.
RAVENS 16, STEELERS 14 » J.K. Dobbins ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in his return from a knee injury, and Baltimore overcame the loss of backup quarterback Tyler Huntley.
PANTHERS 30, SEAHAWKS 24 » Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear ran for touchdowns, Sam Darnold threw a TD pass, and Carolina stayed in the thick of the NFC South race.