New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Seahawks top Cowboys in shootout
DK Metcalf made up for a huge first-half blunder by catching a 29-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson with 1:47 remaining, and the Seattle Seahawks held off the Dallas Cowboys 38-31 on Sunday.
Wilson threw five touchdown passes, setting a record for most scoring passes in the first three games of a season with 14. Patrick Mahomes threw for 13 TDs in his MVP season of 2018. Wilson became the first QB to have at least four TD passes in each of the first three games.
It was Metcalf who found redemption in the closing minutes. Metcalf appeared to have a walk-in touchdown after hauling in a deep pass from Wilson late in the first quarter. But he was careless with the ball in the final few steps before the goal line, and Dallas cornerback Trevon Diggs came up from behind and knocked the ball free. It went out of the end zone for a touchback.
Instead of a touchdown and 16-3 lead for Seattle, it was a 62-yard reception and a forgettable moment. Metcalf was mostly quiet after his mistake as Tyler Lockett became the favorite target for Wilson. But when Seattle needed a big play late, Wilson f loated a pass into the end zone and allowed Metcalf to run underneath it for the deciding touchdown.
Wilson was 27 of 40 for 315 yards. His latest bit of fourth-quarter magic ruined Dak Prescott’s attempt at a second straight major comeback.
Dallas trailed 30-15 after Prescott fumbled on the first play of the second half and Wilson subsequently threw his fourth TD pass. But Prescott threw TD passes of 42 yards to Cedrick Wilson and 43 yards to Michael Gallup, and Greg Zuerlein’s 42-yard field goal with 4:03 left gave Dallas a 31-30 lead.
Prescott had one last chance after Metcalf’s TD reception. He led the Cowboys to the Seattle 22 but was sacked by rookie Alton Robinson on second down, and Dallas had use its final timeout with 16 seconds left. On third down, Prescott’s desperation throw to the end zone was intercepted by Ryan Neal.
Prescott finished 37 of 57 for 472 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He set career highs for yards and attempts.
While Prescott became the latest QB to have a big day against Seattle’s leaky secondary, the Seahawks held Ezekiel Elliott in check. Elliott finished with 34 yards rushing on 14 carries and scored on a 1-yard run in the first half. Chicago 30, Atlanta 26: The Falcons suffered their second straight fourth-quarter collapse after leading by two touchdowns. Bears backup Nick Foles threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Atlanta became the first team in NFL history lose back-to-back games in which it led by 15 or more points in the final period.
Tennessee 31, Minnesota 30: Stephen Gostkowski made his career-high sixth field goal of game, a 55-yarder with 1:48 left that lifted undefeated Tennessee to victory. Derrick Henry rushed for 119 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns for the Titans, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2008 after trailing for most of the game.
Cinncinati 23, Philadelphia 23 (OT): Cinncinati’s Joe Burrow tossed a pair of TD passes to Tee Higgins in regulation and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz dove into the end zone to tie the game with less than a minute left in regulation. Jake Elliott lined up for a 59-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in OT, but a false start forced the Eagles to punt and play for the tie.
Carolina 21, L.A. Chargers 16: Carolina’s defense forced three L.A. turnovers and Joey Slye kicked five field goals to pace the Panthers. Carolina had not recorded a sack and allowed 65 points in their first two games but looked like a different unit. They sacked Justin Herbert twice and converted three turnovers into 12 points.
Tampa Bay 28, Denver 10: Tom Brady threw three TD passes and Shaq Barrett celebrated his homecoming with a pair of sacks, one for a safety for the Buccaneers. With his first road win for the Bucs, Brady evened his career record against the Broncos at 9-9 with just his fifth win in a dozen trips to Denver.
Detroit 26, Arizona 23: Matt Prater made a 39-yard field goal as time expired, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and Detroit snapped an 11-game losing streak with the win. It was Prater’s 15th game-winning kick with less than 2 minutes to play in the fourth quarter or overtime.
Pittsburgh 28, Houston 21: James Conner ran for 109 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. The game turned early in the fourth when Houston QB DeShaun Watson was intercepted deep in Pittsburgh territory with the Texans leading 21-20. Pittsburgh put together a 12play 79-yard drive, with Conner scoring with 6:24 to go.
Cleveland 34, Washington 20: Baker Mayfield threw two TD passes, Nick Chubb ran for two more and the Browns moved over .500 for the first time since 2014 with a win over Washington which lost rookie defensive end Chase Young to a groin injury. With their second straight win, the Browns are 2-1 for the first time since 2011.