Vikings outlast Rodgers, Packers with last-second FG
Greg Joseph made a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give the Minnesota Vikings a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, finishing a classic back-and-forth with Aaron Rodgers by making sure the three-time NFL MVP didn’t get to touch the ball last.
Kirk Cousins passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings (5-5), who watched yet another game come down to the final play after Rodgers threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half.
Unable to practice much at all this week because of a toe injury, after missing much of the first half of the month with COVID-19, Rodgers finished 23 for 33 for a season-high 385 yards.
Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 169 yards and two scores, including a thirddown catch against rookie Eric Stokes that Cousins delivered for a 23-yard touchdown while being decked on a blitz by Darnell Savage. Dalvin Cook ran in the 2-point conversion to make up for an earlier missed extra point by Joseph.
Then on the next play from scrimmage, Rodgers threw a rainbow to Marquez Valdes-Scantling streaking past safety Xavier Woods for a 75-yard score to tie the game just before the two-minute warning.
When the Vikings regained the ball, Cousins nearly cost himself the comeback by slightly underthrowing Jefferson, whom Savage darted in front of to intercept the ball. He bobbled it on the way down, though, and a replay review overturned the call.
Colts 41, Bills 15: The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor set a franchise record by scoring five times, and took over the NFL lead in both yards rushing and touchdowns.
Taylor scored three times in the first half, including a 23-yard catch, en route to becoming the NFL’s first player with five TDs in one game since New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara had six TDs rushing in a 52-33 win over Minnesota last Christmas Day.
The Bills (6-4) ceded their lead atop the AFC East, falling a half-game behind — guess who? — New England, which Buffalo will play twice over the next five weeks. The Colts improved to 6-5. Eagles 40, Saints 29: Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and Darius Slay returned an interception for a score to lead the Eagles.
The Eagles (5-6) have won two in a row for the first time this season and rookie coach Nick Sirianni earned his first victory at home in five tries.
The Saints (5-5) dropped their third straight since losing quarterback Jameis Winston to a season-ending ACL injury during a 36-27 win over Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay.
Trevor Siemian threw three touchdown passes, including one to former Dayton standout Adam Trautman, and two picks and ran for a score without several missing starters around him. Four-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara and tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk didn’t play.
Texans 22, Titans 13:
Tyrod Taylor ran for two touchdowns and threw for 107 yards and the Houston Texans snapped an eightgame losing streak.
The Texans (2-8) hadn’t scored a TD on the road since Sept. 19.
The Titans (8-3) snapped their six-game winning streak with their first loss since Oct. 3.
49ers 30, Jaguars 10:
Jimmy Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes for the third consecutive week, and San Francisco dominated.
Coming off their best game of the season — a 31-10 stunner against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night — the 49ers (5-5) traveled cross-country on a short week and looked every bit like a playoff contender for the second time in six days.
They scored on their first five possessions, including opening the game with a 20-play field-goal drive that took more than 13 minutes, and set the tone for what would be another long day for the Jaguars (2-8).
Washington 27, Panthers 21: Taylor Heinicke threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns against the league’s top-ranked pass defense, and Washington spoiled Cam Newton’s return to Bank of America Stadium.
Newton, making his first start since signing a oneyear contract to return to the Panthers, threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 24-yard score.
Dolphins 24, Jets 17: Tua Tagovailoa threw a go-ahead 5-yard touchdown pass to Myles Gaskin early in the fourth quarter and the Miami Dolphins hung on for their third straight victory.