Vikings keep Rodgers off field late, nip Packers 34-31
MINNEAPOLIS — 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 threetime 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.
Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 169 yards and two scores, including a third-down catch against rookie Eric Stokes that Cousins delivered for a 23-yard touchdown while being decked on a blitz by Darnell Savage.
TEXANS 22, TITANS 13
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tyrod Taylor ran for two touchdowns and threw for 107 yards and Houston snapped the NFL’s longest active skid, beating Tennessee to end the league’s longest winning streak.
Desmond King had two of the Texans’ four interceptions — three in the fourth quarter to snuff out the Titans’ attempted rally. Houston turned those and a fumbled punt into 13 points. The Texans also had two sacks.
CHIEFS 19, COWBOYS 9
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 63 yards and a touchdown in his return from injured reserve, Chris Jones and the Kansas City defense made life miserable for Dak Prescott, and the Chiefs beat Dallas.
Patrick Mahomes was 23 of 37 for 260 yards with an interception and a fumble for Kansas City, but he was bailed out by a defense that played its best game of the year.
COLTS 41, BILLS 15
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Jonathan Taylor set a franchise record by scoring five times and took over the NFL lead in both yards rushing and touchdowns as Indianapolis routed Buffalo.
Taylor scored three times in the first half, including a 23-yard catch, en route to the first five-touchdown game in the league this season.
Taylor finished with a season-high 185 yards rushing and four touchdowns and has 1,122 yards this season after beginning the day tied for the league lead with the injured Derrick Henry of Tennessee. Taylor has 14 touchdowns, moving ahead of Arizona’s James Conner, who began the day with 12.
RAVENS 16, BEARS 13
CHICAGO — Subbing for star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley led a winning drive capped by Devonta Freeman’s 3-yard run with 22 seconds remaining, and Baltimore beat Chicago.
Jackson was sidelined by illness for the AFC North-leading Ravens (7-3), who ruled him out 90 minutes before kickoff. The 2019 MVP was a full participant in practice Friday after being held out the previous two days. Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday the illness was not COVID-19.
CARDINALS 23, SEAHAWKS 13
SEATTLE — Colt McCoy was outstanding filling in for Kyler Murray, throwing for 328 yards and two touchdowns, Arizona beat Seattle.
For the second straight season, McCoy was a backup thrust into a starting role at Seattle and walked away with a victory. Last year, McCoy was with the New York Giants. This season, it was with Murray missing a third straight game due to an ankle injury.
FOOTBALL TEAM 27, PANTHERS 21
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Heinicke threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns against the league’s top-ranked pass defense, and Washington beat Carolina in Cam Newton’s return to Bank of America Stadium.
Terry McLaurin had five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown for Washington (4-6) and former Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who won in his return to Carolina.
Newton, making his first start since signing a one-year contract to return to the Panthers, threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 24-yard score.
But Newton’s final two potential game-winning drives ended when the Panthers turned the ball over on downs. Daron Payne and James Smith-Williams sacked Newton with 1:11 left to seal the game.
EAGLES 40, SAINTS 29
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns, Darius Slay returned an interception for a score and Philadelphia beat New Orleans.
The Eagles led 20-7 with under a minute left in the second quarter when Slay stepped in front of Siemian’s pass intended for Deonte Harris and returned it 51 yards for his third TD in four games.
BROWNS 13, LIONS 10
CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb caught a touchdown pass and ran for 130 yards as Cleveland Browns held on to avoid a season-wrecking upset and keep Detroit winless.
Chubb returned to Cleveland’s lineup after a one-game absence due to COVID-19.
He caught a 5-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield and then helped the Browns (6-5) run out the clock. Chubb gained 36 yards on the final drive.
BENGALS 32, RAIDERS 13
LAS VEGAS — Joe Mixon rushed for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns and Cincinnati beat Las Vegas.
Joe Burrow was 20 of 29 for 148 yards and a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase for Cincinnati. Chase leads all rookies with eight touchdowns this season.
Bakersfield Christian graduate Derek Carr finished 19 of 27 for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Tight end Darren Waller caught seven passes for 116 yards.
DOLPHINS 24, JETS 17
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tua Tagovailoa threw a go-ahead 5-yard touchdown pass to Myles Gaskin early in the fourth quarter and Miami hung on to beat New York for its third straight victory.
A week after an impressive win over Baltimore, the Dolphins (4-7) overcame some penalties — and the Jets had some sloppy plays of their own — to get their first three-game winning streak since winning five in a row in the middle of last season.