Cowboys run over Panthers’ top defense
ARLINGTON — Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys ran over the NFL’s No. 1 defense, answering a little history from the legs of Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold.
Elliott carried 20 times for 143 yards in the twotime rushing champion’s first triple-digit game of the season, Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and the Cowboys beat the Panthers 36-28 on Sunday.
Elliott scored the first touchdown as the Cowboys (3-1) rolled up 245 yards on the ground after the Panthers allowed just 135 total in the first three games while also leading the league in passing yards and total yards.
“They’re a good defense,” Elliott said after finishing with his most yards since 2018. “They bring a lot of different fronts. They run a lot of different things so they’re going to change it up on you. They haven’t seen an offense like us this year.”
Darnold had two rushing scores to become the first NFL quarterback with at least five TDs on the ground in the first four games.
Trevon Diggs had two interceptions for an NFLleading five while becoming the first Dallas player with a pick in each of the first four games since the 1970 merger.
CARDINALS 37, RAMS 20
Kyler Murray passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 39 more yards in a virtuoso performance, and the Arizona Cardinals extended their longest unbeaten start since 2012. A.J. Green caught a 41-yard TD pass, Chase Edmonds ran for 120 yards and James Conner rushed for two short scores for Arizona (4-0), which finally beat Sean McVay for the first time in nine tries.
Matthew Stafford went 26 of 41 for 280 yards and two touchdowns in his first ineffective performance with the Rams (3-1).
GIANTS 27, SAINTS 21
Saquon Barkley ran for a 6-yard touchdown in overtime after Daniel Jones passed for a careerhigh 402 yards, and visiting New York rallied for itsfirst win of the season.
The Saints, playing in New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Ida struck on Aug. 29, led 21-10 in the fourth quarter before Jones and Barkley combined for a 54-yard touchdown pass that ignited the comeback.
Jameis Winston passed for 226 yards and a touchdown, and reserve quarterback Taysom Hill ran for two TDs for the Saints.
JETS 27, TITANS 24 (OT)
Matt Ammendola kicked a 22-yard field goal in overtime, and then Randy Bullock was wide left on a potential tying 49-yarder with 15 seconds left to give host New York its first victory.
After the Jets took the lead in the extra period but failed to seal it with a touchdown despite getting to the 1-yard line, Ryan Tannehill — playing without injured receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Brown — marched the Titans downfield with the help of two fourth-down conversions.
PACKERS 27, STEELERS 17
Aaron Rodgers connected with Randall Cobb for two touchdowns and ran for another score as host Green Bay won its third straight. Cobb caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put the Packers (3-1) ahead for good. That short throw was the 420th TD pass of Rodgers’ career, tying Dan Marino for sixth all-time.
SEAHAWKS 28, 49ERS 21
Russell Wilson overcame a shaky start to throw for two touchdowns and run for a third and visiting Seattle rebounded from back-to-back losses by beating San Francisco.
RAVENS 23, BRONCOS 7
Lamar Jackson threw for 316 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to a diving Marquis Brown, and Baltimore used a relentless defense to swat host Denver from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Ravens (3-1) won their third consecutive game following an overtime loss to Las Vegas in the opener.
CHIEFS 42, EAGLES 30
Patrick Mahomes threw five touchdown passes three different ways, including three to Tyreek Hill, and Kansas City beat host Philadelphia.
Andy Reid returned to Philadelphia and earned his 100th career win with the Chiefs, becoming the first coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two teams. Reid’s 140 victories with the Eagles are the most in franchise history.
Jalen Hurts threw for a career-high 387 yards and two TDs but Philadelphia (1-3) couldn’t keep up with Kansas City’s high-powered offense.
WASHINGTON 34 FALCONS 30
Taylor Heinicke adlibbed a 30-yard touchdown pass to J.D. McKissic with 33 seconds remaining, rallying Washington over host Atlanta. Returning to the area where he grew up, Heinicke completed 23 of 33 for 290 yards and three TDs — two in the final 3:52 to pull it out for Washington (2-2).
BROWNS 14, VIKINGS 7
Myles Garrett and the visiting Cleveland defense produced another dominant performance, giving coach Kevin Stefanski a victory over his old team in Minnesota.
BEARS 24, LIONS 14
Rookie Justin Fields brushed off a nightmarish first start, and host Chicago bounced back from one of the worst offensive performances the NFL has seen to beat winless Detroit. Fields and the Bears (2-2) were in much better form coming off a brutal loss at Cleveland last week.
COLTS 27, DOLPHINS 17
Carson Wentz threw a pair of touchdown passes to Mo Alie-Cox, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 103 yards and a score and visiting Indianapolis got its first win of the season by topping sputtering Miami.