Vikings knock out Rodgers, defeat Packers
MINNEAPOLIS — Harrison Smith led Minnesota’s defense in a thorough dismantling of Green Bay, as the Vikings knocked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers out of the game Sunday with a broken collarbone during a 23-10 victory that drastically altered the course of the NFC North.
Smith had 1½ sacks on safety blitzes, a diving interception and two pass breakups, helping the Vikings (4-2) limit the injury-depleted Packers to a season-low 227 yards.
Anthony Barr, who later left with a concussion, delivered the game-changing hit on Green Bay’s second drive when he took Rodgers hard to the turf as the two-time NFL MVP followed through on a pass.
Rodgers fell on his throwing shoulder, and the Packers (4-2) announced he could miss the remainder of the season.
Case Keenum, making his fourth start in place of the injured Sam Bradford, went 24for-38 for 239 yards without top wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
STEELERS 19, CHIEFS 13
Le’Veon Bell ran for 179 yards and a touchdown, Antonio Brown made an acrobatic touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, and Pittsburgh handed the NFL’s only unbeaten team its first loss.
Host Kansas City (5-1) had a chance after Brown’s 51-yard reception made it 19-10, moving quickly downfield and getting a 33-yard field goal from Harrison Butker. And when the Chiefs’ defense forced a quick threeand-out, Tyreek Hill’s 32-yard punt return gave them the ball with 1:48 to go.
But after the Steelers (4-2) gave up a first down, James Harrison sacked Alex Smith on third-and-10, and the quarterback’s incomplete pass on fourth down left the NFL with no perfect teams.
PATRIOTS 24, JETS 17
Tom Brady set the NFL record for regular-season victories by a quarterback, getting his 187th, leading New England to a win at New York.
New York (3-3) had a chance to tie the game after getting the ball back with 1:53 remaining, but the Patriots’ 32nd-ranked overall defense held on — forcing Josh McCown to throw incomplete on a desperation heave on fourth-and-17 from the 50 and ending the Jets’ threegame winning streak.
Brady broke a tie with Peyton Manning and Brett Favre for the record as the Patriots improved to 4-2.
CHARGERS 17, RAIDERS 16
Nick Novak kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play, and Los Angeles took advantage of a key missed extra point by Giorgio Tavecchio to win at Oakland.
The Chargers (2-4) had been done in by poor kicks this season, losing twice on misses by former kicker Younghoe Koo. Novak missed a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter, but it was a missed extra point by Tavecchio — after a high snap by Jon Condo early in the fourth quarter — that was the difference in a fourth straight loss by the Raiders (2-4).
CARDINALS 38, BUCCANEERS 33
Adrian Peterson rushed for two touchdowns and 134 yards in an impressive Arizona debut, and the Cardinals held off a furious second-half rally by visiting Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers (2-3) lost quarterback Jameis Winston to a right shoulder injury in the second quarter, with the Cardinals (3-3) leading 21-0. But backup Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns to bring Tampa Bay back from a 31-0 third-quarter deficit.
BEARS 27, RAVENS 24
Connor Barth kicked a 40-yard field goal with 2:08 left in overtime, and Chicago used a 167-yard rushing effort by Jordan Howard to win at Baltimore.
The Bears (2-4) blew a 14-point lead in the second half before coming through in overtime behind Howard, whose 53-yard run put Chicago at the Baltimore 40. After rookie Mitchell Trubisky completed an 18-yard pass to Kendall Wright, Barth delivered the winner.
Baltimore fell to 3-3.
DOLPHINS 20, FALCONS 17
Jay Cutler threw two touchdown passes, Cody Parkey kicked a pair of field goals, and Miami rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to win at Atlanta.
Matt Ryan had another crucial interception with the Falcons (3-2) in position to at least attempt a tying field goal. Cordrea Tankersley got a hand on a pass intended for Austin Hooper and Reshad Jones swooped in to make the clinching interception with 39 seconds remaining, allowing the Dolphins to improve to 3-2.
RAMS 27, JAGUARS 17
Pharoh Cooper returned the opening kickoff 103 yards, one of two special-teams touchdowns that helped Los Angeles (4-2) win at Jacksonville (3-3).
The Rams also blocked a punt for a score and a 10-point lead in the first half.
SAINTS 52, LIONS 38
Running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combined for 237 yards from scrimmage, and New Orleans’ resurgent defense forced five turnovers and scored a franchise-record three times in a win over visiting Detroit.
New Orleans (3-2), which has a winning record for the first time since its last playoff season in 2013, built a five-touchdown lead, only to gut out a remarkable bid by Detroit (3-3) to pull off the greatest comeback in NFL history.
WASHINGTON 26, 49ERS 24
Washington’s Kirk Cousins threw for two touchdowns, ran for a score, and had an interception as part of an inconsistent performance in a win over visiting San Francisco.
Washington (3-2) blew a 17-point lead before barely holding on against the 49ers (0-6).
GIANTS 23, BRONCOS 10
Eli Manning ignored the loss of four wide receivers, and New York capped a stormy week of injuries and infighting by stunning host Denver.
The Giants (1-5) pulled off one of the season’s biggest upsets by dominating the Broncos (3-2) in every phase from start to finish.