The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bears rookie QB Fields sacked nine times in 26-6 loss to Browns
Myles Garrett recorded a franchise-record 4½ sacks on Justin Fields, and Cleveland brought down Chicago’s rookie quarterback nine times holding — him to one net yard passing
in his first NFL start as the — Browns thumped the Bears 26-6 on Sunday.
Garrett had a field day against Fields, who was thrust into the lineup after veteran Andy Dalton injured his knee last week. The Bears (1-2) wanted to be patient and not play the No. 11 overall pick until he was ready.
The Browns (2-1) didn’t cut him any breaks, and their defense, which had been criticized for its performances in the first two games, got it together at Fields’ expense and held Chicago to only 47 yards and six first downs.
The former Ohio State star was under pressure from the start. He completed just 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards. The Bears’ biggest offensive play came on a pass interference call that wiped out an interception and gained 48 yards.
Jadeveon Clowney added two sacks for the Browns.
Cleveland thoroughly dominated, outgaining Chicago 418-47.
Kareem Hunt scored on a 29-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 155 yards rushing (81) and receiving (74) combined. Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper and completed five passes for 77 yards to star Odell Beckham Jr., who played for the first time since a season-ending knee injury last Oct. 25.
Cardinals 31, Jaguars 19: Byron Murphy intercepted two passes, including one he returned for a touchdown following a botched trick play, and Arizona rallied to beat the skidding Jacksonville.
The Cardinals improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2015. The Jaguars (0-3) lost their 18th straight game, leaving them eight shy of the NFL record for futility.
Matt Prater’s attempt at a 68-yard field goal for Arizona fell short and was returned 109 yards for a touchdown by Jacksonville’s Jamal Agnew.
Bengals 24, Steelers 10: Joe Burrow threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including two to rookie Ja’marr Chase, and Cincinnati handled listless Pittsburgh.
Burrow connected on a 17-yard strike to Tyler Boyd and found Chase for 34-yard and 9-yard scores as the Bengals (2-1) won at Heinz Field for the first time since 2015.
Bills 43, Washington 21: Josh Allen quieted his early season critics and own self-doubts by throwing four touchdown passes and scoring another rushing for Buffalo in a rout of the Washington Football Team.
Allen, who had been unhappy with his inconsistencies and 56% completion percentage through two games, finished 32 of 43 for 358 yards. It marked Allen’s fifth career game with four TDS passing and 300 yards passing.
Saints 28, Patriots 13: Jameis Winston threw two touchdown passes, Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception for a score to help New Orleans beat the Patriots. New England is 0-2 at home for the first time since 2000, Bill Belichick’s first season as coach.
A week after a career-low passer rating Winston showed better command of the offense, completing 13 of 21 passes for 128 yards. Taysom Hill ran for a touchdown and Alvin Kamara rushed 24 times for 89 yards and had a receiving TD. He got support from a defense that made Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones’ life miserable, with three sacks, 11 hits and three interceptions.
Titans 25, Colts 16: Ryan Tannehill threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns and Tennessee held off Indianapolis to grab an early tiebreaker in the AFC South.
The Titans (2-1) are the defending AFC South champs with a healthy Derrick Henry. The reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year ran for 113 yards, topping the 100-yard mark for a sixth straight division game.
Carson Wentz started for Indianapolis after being questionable with a pair of sprained ankles. He never ran even once, choosing to throw the ball away repeatedly when pressured. He finished with 194 yards passing.
Ravens 19, Lions 17: Justin Tucker set an NFL record with a 66-yard field goal, bouncing it through off the crossbar as time expired to lift Baltimore to a win over Detroit.
The kick topped the 64-yard field goal Matt Prater made for Denver against San Francisco on Dec. 8, 2013.
Baltimore (2-1) went into the fourth quarter with a 16-7 lead and ended up trailing briefly. Jared Goff was 22 of 30 for 217 yards and D’andre Swift had 107 yards of offense and a score for Detroit (0-3).
Raiders 31, Dolphins 28 (OT): Las Vegas won its second overtime game in three weeks to improve to 3-0, the first time the franchise has begun a season that well since 2002.
Daniel Carlson, who had missed what turned out to be a significant extra point in regulation, kicked two field goals in overtime to help secure the win at home.
The Raiders totaled 493 net yards, compared to 330 from Miami.
Vikings 30, Seahawks 17: Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes before halftime for Minnesota and guided three clock-draining field goal drives after that for the Vikings’ accelerated first win over Seattle in 12 years.
Alexander Mattison stepped in for the injured Dalvin Cook and racked up 171 total yards, rushing 18 times for 76 yards in the second half as the Vikings (1-2) seized control with 23 straight points. They beat Seattle for the first time with Pete Carroll as coach and Russell Wilson as the quarterback.
Cousins went 30 for 38 for 323 yards in his third consecutive turnover-free game.
Wilson went 23 for 32 for 298 yards and a touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf, and Chris Carson carried 12 times for 80 yards and a core.
Broncos 26, Jets 0: Von Miller led a Denver defense that sacked Zach Wilson five times, intercepted him twice and limited the rookie to 160 yards passing in the Broncos’ win over New York.
Denver is off to its first 3-0 start in five seasons. But the victory could prove costly: the Broncos lost three more players to injuries, giving them seven so far.
The Jets (0-3) became the third NFL team to lose a dozen consecutive games in September.